Killer Angels, The - Michael Shaara [48]
"Granted. But the situation has changed."
"In what way?"
"We cannot disengage. We have already pushed them back. How can we move off in the face of the enemy?"
Longstreet pointed. "Very simply. Around to the right. He will occupy those heights and wait to see what we are going to do. He always has. Meade is new to the command. He will not move quickly."
Lee put his hand to his face. He looked toward the hill and saw the broken Union corps falling back up the slope.
He felt only one urge: to press on and get it done. He said nothing, turning away. There was a messenger from General Ewell. Lee recognized the man.
Captain James Power Smith, Ewell's aide. The Captain was delighted to see the Commanding General.
Ewell's message was cautious: "General Ewell says he will direct Early and Rodes to move forward, but he requests support of General Hill on his right.
He says that there is a strong Union position south of the town which should be taken at once."
Lee asked which position Ewell meant. He handed Smith the glasses. Smith said the position was beyond the one in front, at the top of which there was a cemetery.
Lee looked at his watch. It was almost five o'clock. Still two hours of daylight. He said to Longstreet, "General, how far way is your lead division?"
"McLaws. About six miles. He is beyond Johnson's train of wagons."
Lee shook his head. To Smith he said, "I have no force to attack the hill.
General Hill's Corps has had hard fighting.
Tell General Ewell to take that hill if at all possible. Have you seen Major Taylor?"
"No, sir."
"You must just have passed him."
Lee sent Smith away. He remembered: he had ordered artillery to fire on the hill, but none was firing. He sent to find out why. He began to realize he was really very tired.
But if a strong Union force was on a hill to the south...
but without Longstreet's Corps a general assault was impossible. Where was the artillery? Where was Hill? Why had Early and Rodes stopped their attacks? He could see the town below choked with soldiers, horses, but there was no advance.
He turned, saw Longstreet watching him. He had the look of a man suppressing his thoughts. Lee said, "Say it, General."
"We shouldn't have attacked here, General. Heth had his orders."
Lee waved a hand. "I know that. But we have pushed them back."
"In the morning we will be outnumbered."
Lee shrugged. Numbers were meaningless. "Had I paid attention to numbers, General..." Lee left the rest unsaid.
Longstreet said, "If we moved south, toward Washington, we could fight on ground of our choosing."
"The enemy is here. General. We did not want the fight, but the fight is here.
What if I ask this army to retreat?"
"They will do as you order."
Lee shook his head again. He was growing weary of this.
Why didn't Ewell's assault begin? A cautious commander, new to his command.
And A.P. Hill is sick. Yet we won.
The soldiers won. Lee pointed toward the hill.
"They will probably retreat. Or Ewell will push them off.
But if Meade is there tomorrow, I will attack him."
"If Meade is there," Longstreet said implacably, "it is because he wants you to attack him."
That was enough. Lee thought: docile men do not make good soldiers. He said nothing. Longstreet could see the conversation was at an end. He said, "I'll bring my boys up as soon as I can."
Lee nodded. As Longstreet was going. Lee said, "General."
"Yes, sir?"
"Your spy was correct in his reports. Had it not been for that report, this army might have been destroyed in detail. I thank you."
Longstreet nodded. If the compliment pleased him, he did not show it. He moved off.
Lee stood alone, troubled. He had had enough of defensive war. The King of Spades. Let us attack, and let it be done. I am extraordinarily tired. You are an old man. And if something happens to you?
He picked up the glasses, waiting for Ewell's attack. No attack