Each side had now sent forward reinforcements to support the vanguards, and an obstinate struggle ensued, the proportions of the fight gradually increasing, until the action became a regular battle.  Hill, although suffering from indisposition, which the pallor of his face indicated, met the Federal attack with his habitual resolution.  He was hard pressed, however, when fortunately one of General Ewell’s divisions, under Rodes, debouched from the Carlisle road, running northward from Gettysburg, and came to his assistance.  Ewell had just begun to move from Carlisle toward Harrisburg—­his second division, under Early, being at York—­when a dispatch from Lee reached him, directing him to return, and “proceed to Gettysburg or Cashtown, as his circumstances might direct.”  He promptly obeyed, encamped within about eight miles of Gettysburg on the evening of the 30th, and was now moving toward Cashtown, where Johnson’s division of his corps then was, when Hill sent him word that he needed his assistance.  Rodes was promptly sent forward to the field of action.  Early was ordered to hurry back, and Rodes soon reached the battle-field, where he formed his line on high ground, opposite the Federal right.

The appearance of this important reenforcement relieved Hill, and caused the enemy to extend his right to face Rodes.  The Federal line thus resembled a crescent, the left half, fronting Hill, toward the northwest; and the right, half-fronting Rodes, toward the north—­the town of Gettysburg being in rear of the curve.  An obstinate attack was made by the enemy and by Rodes at nearly the same moment.  The loss on both sides was heavy, but Rodes succeeded in shaking the Federal right, when Early made his appearance from the direction of York.  This compelled the Federal force to still farther extend its right, to meet the new attack.  The movement greatly weakened them.  Rodes charged their centre with impetuosity; Early came in on their right, with Gordon’s brigade in front, and under this combined attack the Federal troops gave way, and retreated in great disorder to and through Gettysburg, leaving the ground covered with their dead and wounded to the number of about five thousand, and the same number of prisoners in the hands of the Confederates.

The first collision of the two armies had thus resulted in a clear Southern victory, and it is to be regretted that this important success was not followed up by the seizure of the Cemetery Range, south of the town, which it was in the power of the Southern forces at that time to do.  To whom the blame—­if blame there be—­of this failure, is justly chargeable, the writer of these pages is unable to state.  All that he has been able to ascertain with certainty is the following:  As soon as the Federal forces gave way, General Lee rode forward, and at about four o’clock in the afternoon was posted on an elevated point of Seminary Ridge, from which he could see the broken lines of the enemy rapidly