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Federal cavalry resisted Hill's advanced brigades successfully till Reynolds had brought the First Corps forward in support and ordered the two other nearest corps to follow at the double quick。 Reynolds was killed early in the day； but not before his well trained eye had taken in the situation at a glance and his sure judgment had half committed both armies to that famous field。
The full commitment came shortly after； when Meade sent Hancock forward to command the three corps and Buford's cavalry in their attempt to stem the Confederate advance。 Howard was then the senior general on the field； having taken over from Doubleday； who had succeeded Reynolds。 But he at once agreed that such a strong position should be held and that Hancock should proceed to rectify the lines。 This was no easy task； for Ewell's Confederates had meanwhile come down from the north and driven in the Federal flank on the already hard…pressed front。 The front thereupon gave way and fell back in confusion。 But Hancock's masterly work was quickly done and the Federal line was reestablished so well that the Confederates paused in their attack and waited for the morrow。
The Confederates had got as good as they gave； much to their disgust。 Archer； one of their best brigadiers； felt particularly sore when most of his men were rounded up by Meredith's 〃Iron Brigade。〃 When Doubleday saw his old West Point friend a prisoner he shook hands cordially； saying； 〃Well； Archer； I AM glad to see you！〃 But Archer answered； 〃Well； I'm not so glad to see YOUnot by a damned sight！〃 The fact was that the excellent Federal defense had come as a very unpleasing surprise upon the rather too cocksure Confederates。 Buford's cavalry and Reynolds's infantry had staunchly withstood superior numbers； while Lieutenant Bayard Wilkeson actually held back a Confederate division for some time with the guns of Battery G； Fourth U。 S。 Artillery。 This heroic youth； only nineteen years of age； kept his men in action； though they were suffering terrible losses； till two converging batteries brought him down。
He was well matched by a veteran of over seventy； John Burns； an old soldier； whom the sound of battle drew from his little home like the trumpet…call to arms。 In his swallow…tailed； brass…buttoned； old…fashioned coatee； Burns seemed a very comic sight to the nearest boys in blue until they found he really meant to join them and that he knew a thing or two of war。 〃Which way are the rebels？〃 he asked； 〃and where are our troops？ I know how to fightI've fit before。〃 So he did； and he fought to good purpose till wounded three times。
Late in the evening Meade arrived and inspected the lines by moonlight。 Having ordered every remaining man to hasten forward he faced the second day with wellfounded anxiety lest Lee's full strength should break through before his own last men were up。 His right was not safe against surprise by the Confederates who slept at the foot of Culp's Hill； and his left was in imminent danger from Longstreet's corps。 But on the second day Longstreet marked his disagreement with Lee's plans by delaying his attack till Warren； with admirable judgment； had ordered the Round Tops to be seized at the double quick and held to the last extremity。 Then； after wasting enough time for this to be done； Longstreet attacked and was repulsed； though his men fought very well。 Meanwhile Ewell； whose attack against the right was to synchronize with Longstreet's against the left； was delayed by Longstreet till the afternoon； when he carried Culp's Hill。
This was the only Confederate success； for Early failed to carry Cemetery Hill； the adjoining high ground； which formed the right center； and the rest of the Federal line remained intact； though not without desperate struggles。
The third was the decisive day； and on it Meade rose to the height of his unappreciated skill。 This was the first great battle in which all the chief Federals worked so well together and the first in which the commander…in…chief used reserves with such excellent effect； throwing them in at exactly the right moment and at the proper place。 But these indispensable qualities were not of the kind that the public wanted to acclaim； or； indeed； of the kind that they could understand。
Meade was determined to clear his flanks。 So he began at dawn to attack Ewell on Culp's Hill and kept on doggedly till； after four hours of strenuous fighting； he had driven him off。 By this time Meade saw that Lee was not going to press home any serious attack against the Round Tops and Devil's Den on the left。 So the main interest of the whole battle shifted to the center of the field； where Lee was massing for a final charge。 The idea had been to synchronize three cooperating movements against Meade's whole position。 His left was to have been held by a demonstration in force by Longstreet against the Devil's Den and Round Tops； while Ewell held Culp's Hill； which seemed to be at his mercy； and which would flank any Federal retreat。 At the same time Meade's center was to have been rushed by Pickett's fresh division supported by three attached brigades。 But though the central force was ready before nine o'clock it never stepped off till three； so great was Longstreet's delay in ordering Pickett's advance。 Meanwhile the Federals had made Culp's Hill quite safe against Ewell。 So all depended now on the one last desperate assault against the Federal center。
This immortal assault is known as Pickett's Charge because it was made by Pickett's division of Longstreet's corps supported by three brigades from Hill'sWilcox's； Perry's； and Pettigrew's。 The whole formed a mass of about ten thousand men。 If they broke the Federal line in two； then every supporting Confederate was to follow； while the rest turned the flanks。 If they failed； then the battle must be lost。
Hour after hour passed by。 But it was not till well past one that Longstreet opened fire with a hundred and forty guns。 Hunt had seventy…seven ready to reply。 But after firing for half an hour he ceased； wishing to reserve his ammunition for use against the charging infantry。 This encouraged the Confederate gunners； who thought they had silenced him。 They then continued for some time； preparing the way for the charge； but firing too high and doing little execution against the Federal infantry； who were lying down； mostly under cover。 Hunt's guns were more exposed and formed better targets； so some of them suffered severely： none more than those of Battery A； Fourth U。S。 Artillery。 This gallant battery had three of its limbers blown up and replaced。 Wheels were also smashed to pieces and guns put out of action； till only a single gun； with men enough to handle it； was left with only a single officer。 This heroic young lieutenant； Alonzo H。 Cushing （brother to the naval Cushing who destroyed the Albemarle）； then ran his gun up to the fence and fired his last round through it into Pickett's men as he himself fell dead。
Pickett advanced at three o'clock； to the breathless admiration of both friend and foe。 He had a mile of open ground to cover。 But his three lines marched forward as steadily and blithely as if the occasion was a gala one and they were on parade。 The Co