him, was in the solidity and courage of his troops.  Little did he know when he made the assertion that so soon his seventeen thousand men were to be pitted against the whole army of the Potomac.  Still, no battle was ever considered decisive until Longstreet, with his cool, steady head, his heart of steel and troops who acknowledged no superior, or scarcely equal, in ancient or modern times, in endurance and courage, had measured strength with the enemy.  This I give, not as a personal view, but as the feelings, the confidence and pardonable pride of the troops of the 1st corps.

As A.P.  Hill and Ewell had had their bout the day before, it was a foregone conclusion that Longstreet’s time to measure strength was near at hand, and the men braced themselves accordingly for the ordeal.

A ridge running parallel with that behind which the enemy stood, but not near so precipitous or rugged, and about a mile distant, with a gentle decline towards the base of the opposite ridge, was to be the base of the battle ground of the day.  This plain or gentle slope between the two armies, a mile in extent, was mostly open fields covered with grain or other crops, with here and there a farm house, orchard and garden.  It seems from reports since made that Lee had not matured his plan of battle until late in the forenoon.  He called a council of war of his principal Lieutenant to discuss plans and feasibilities.  It was a long time undecided whether Ewell should lead the battle on the right, or allow Longstreet to throw his whole corps on the Round Top and break away these strongholds, the very citadel to Meade’s whole line.  The latter was agreed upon, much against the judgment of General Longstreet but Lee’s orders were imperative, and obeyed with alacrity.  At ten o’clock the movement began for the formation of the columns of assault.  Along and in rear of the ridge we marched at a slow and halting gait.  The Washington artillery had preceded us, and soon afterwards Alexander’s battery passed to select positions.  We marched and countermarched, first to the right, then to the left.  As we thus marched we had little opportunity as yet to view the strongholds of the enemy on the opposite ridge, nor the incline between, which was soon to be strewn with the dead and dying.  Occasionally a General would ride to the crest and take a survey of the surroundings.  No cannon had yet been fired on either side, and everything was quiet and still save the tread of the thousands in motion, as if preparing for a great review.

Longstreet passed us once or twice, but he had his eyes cast to the ground, as if in a deep study, his mind disturbed, and had more the look of gloom than I had ever noticed before.  Well might the great chieftain look cast down with the weight of this great responsibility resting upon him.  There seemed to be an air of heaviness hanging around all.  The soldiers trod with a firm but seeming heavy tread.  Not that there was any want of confidence or doubt