n and a close
and severe struggle ensued for four hours among the trees and rocks.
Ruger's division of the Twelfth Corps came up and formed on the
rebel left, taking them in flank and threatening them in reverse.
Indeed, as the rest of our line were not engaged, there was plenty
of support for Geary. Troops were sent him, including Shaler's
brigade, which took the front, and was soon warmly engaged in re-
establishing the line.

At about 11 A.M., finding the contest hopeless, and his retreat
threatened by a force sent down to Rock Creek, Johnson yielded
slowly and reluctantly to a charge made by Geary's division, gave
up the position and withdrew to Rock Creek, where he remained until
night.

Our line was once more intact. All that the enemy had gained by
dogged determination and desperate bravery was lost from a lack of
co-ordination, caused perhaps by the great difficulty of communicating
orders over this long concave line where every route was swept by
our fire.

Lee had now attacked both flanks of the Army of the Potomac without
having been able to establish himself permanently on either.
Notwithstanding the repulse of the previous day he was very desirous
of turning the left, for once well posted there he could secure
his own retreat while interposing between Meade and Washington.
He rode over with Longstreet to that end of the line to see what
could be done. General Wofford, who commanded a brigade of McLaws'
division, writes in a recent letter to General Crawford, United
States Army, as follows: "Lee and Longstreet came to my brigade
Friday morning before the artillery opened fire. I told him that
the afternoon before, I nearly reached the crest. He asked if I
could not go there now. I replied, 'No, General, I think not.'
He said quickly, 'Why not?' 'Because,' I said, 'General, the enemy
have had all night to intrench and reinforce. I had been pursuing
a broken enemy and the situation was now very different.'"

Having failed at each extremity, it only remained to Lee to retreat,
or attack the centre. Such high expectations had been formed in
the Southern States in regard to his conquest of the North that he
determined to make another effort. He still had Pickett's division,
the flower of Virginia, which had not been engaged, and which was
full of enthusiasm. He resolved to launch them against our centre,
supported on either flank by the advance of the main portion of
the army. He had hoped tha