Success at this moment would have decided the event of the battle of Gettysburg, and in all probability that of the war.  All that was needed was a single brigade upon either side—­a force sufficient to seize the crest, for neither side held it—­and with this brigade a rare good fortune, or rather the prompt energy of a single officer, according to Northern historians, supplied the Federal commander.  Hood’s line was rushing up with cheers to occupy the crest, which here takes the form of a separate peak, and is known as “Little Round Top,” when General Warren, chief-engineer of the army, who was passing, saw the importance of the position, and determined, at all hazards, to defend it.  He accordingly ordered the Federal signal-party, which had used the peak as a signal-station, but were hastily folding up their flags, to remain where they were, laid violent hands upon a brigade which was passing, and ordered it to occupy the crest; and, when Hood’s men rushed up the rocky slope with yells of triumph, they were suddenly met by a fusillade from the newly-arrived brigade, delivered full in their faces.  A violent struggle ensued for the possession of the heights.  The men fought hand to hand on the summit, and the issue remained for some time doubtful.  At last it was decided in favor of the Federal troops, who succeeded in driving Hood’s men from the hill, the summit of which was speedily crowned with artillery, which opened a destructive fire upon the retreating Southerners.  They fell back sullenly, leaving the ground strewed with their dead and wounded.  Hood had been wounded, and many of his best officers had fallen.  For an instant he had grasped in his strong hand the prize which would have been worth ten times the amount of blood shed; but he had been unable to retain his hold; he was falling back from the coveted crest, pursued by that roar of the enemy’s cannon which seemed to rejoice in his discomfiture.

An obstinate struggle was meanwhile taking place in the vicinity of the Peach Orchard, where the left of Hood and the division of McLaws had struck the front of General Sickles, and were now pressing his line back steadily toward the ridge in his rear.  In spite of resolute resistance the Federal troops at this point were pushed back to a wheat-field in the rear of the Peach Orchard, and, following up this advantage, Longstreet charged them and broke their line, which fell back in disorder toward the high ground in rear.  In this attack McLaws was assisted by Hill’s right division—­that of Anderson.  With this force Longstreet continued to press forward, and, piercing the Federal line, seemed about to inflict upon them a great disaster by seizing the commanding position occupied by the Federal left.  Nothing appears to have saved them at this moment from decisive defeat but the masterly concentration of reenforcements after reenforcements at the point of danger.  The heavy reserves under Generals Sykes and Sedgwick were opposite this point, and other troops were hastened