Gettysburg

'I understand Pickett did it right this time.'

'Masterful,' Lee replied. 'If it hadn't been for one regiment holding out, diverting Armistead, we might have bagged the lot.'

'Sir, that still leaves four of their corps unaccounted for.'

'Where you are, the road toward Westminster, that's where you will see them next.'

'You mean Union Mills.'

'Yes, where the road crosses Pipe Creek. That's what he'll drive for.'

'You expect everything then on that flank?' Longstreet asked, cradling the mug of tea and then taking another sip.

'Yes.'

'What about Taneytown?'

'If his intent had truly been to try and cut our flanking march, the time to act was this time yesterday. Meade sent down only one corps, and I suspect that the commander of that corps took upon himself the responsibility of hitting as hard as he did. If he had been backed up by another corps, he'd have cut us apart today.

'No,' Lee continued, 'Taneytown is not his focus. It's Union Mills.'

'Tomorrow then?'

'Five corps most likely. Maybe one in reserve or back even at Gettysburg. The last report from Stuart, dated at noon today, reported a mass movement of troops on the road from Gettysburg toward Westminster. But some infantry, Stuart identified it as Eleventh Corps, remains at Gettysburg and still holds the high ground there.' 'And what of Stuart, sir?'

'He's doing his tasks as ordered. He continues to shadow Gettysburg, but reports, as well, that he has heavily engaged the Union cavalry on the road from Gettysburg to Hanover. The results are not conclusive, but at least he is keeping them occupied, which is all he need do at the moment.'

Lee turned and looked off.

'At dawn,' Lee said, his voice now cool, eyes half-closed as if he were looking off into some distant land, 'they'll open with a barrage, every gun they have. Under cover of that, they'll advance. It won't be piecemeal, as at Fredericksburg. I suspect Meade is still bitter about that fight, how he almost broke through when commanding his division there but wasn't backed up. Meade will have time to think about this, and he will come in with everything at once. His goal will be to overwhelm with sheer numbers.'

Lee fell silent and like Longstreet he sipped at his tea.

'We've lost fifteen thousand men so far in this campaign,' Lee whispered. 'Johnson's division is shattered almost beyond repair. Hood has taken heavy losses as well. We can't afford another day of losses like the last three.'

'I know that, sir. But we're dug in now.'

'You'll finally have that defensive battle you've talked about so much,' Lee offered.

Longstreet looked over at his commander, not sure if there was a touch of reproach in the last comment

'Your placement of men?' Lee asked.

'Two brigades of McLaws's astride the road and to the left Next is Anderson, then Pender, Pettigrew, and Early on the left Rodes is the reserve, with one of his brigades to the right of McLaws.

'Our front is about four miles, the left extending to a bend in the creek, which again refuses the flank; the land below is marshy. It's not as dense a line as I would like, roughly one rifle per foot.' 'Artillery?'

'Alexander has done an excellent job,' and Longstreet nodded toward his artillery chief, who was gathered with the staff over by the blacksmith shop.

'He's warned me, though, that if Hunt brings up all his reserves, it will be hard going with counter-battery. We'll have somewhere around a hundred and twenty guns on the line.'

'Supplies?'

'That's the good news, sir. McLaws is overseeing the movement of captured supplies up from Westminster. I believe he sent a list up to you.'

Lee nodded.

'We're moving up every captured round we can lay our hands on,' Longstreet continued. 'Wagons loaded with shovels and entrenching tools are getting the highest priority at the moment. There's plenty of rations as well. We can stay here for a week, fighting a pitched battle throughout and still have supplies left over. In fact we would have more supplies than we have ever had before. The Union army does have its supply system mastered.'

'Have one of your people draw up a detailed map for me, then have them go over it with Walter. I want place names clearly marked so there is no confusion. Major topographical features to be shown and the placement of troops indicated.

'Copies are to then go to each division commander. Communicate to McLaws as well that I want the tightest security on Westminster. Property of civilians is to be protected and aid given to those displaced and injured. Any soldier who violates the law will be dealt with harshly, swiftly, and publicly before the citizens of that town.'

Longstreet nodded in agreement

'I want a list of those civilians who died. Personal letters of regret signed by me will be sent to each of their families, along with offers of compensation. I'll not have the Northern press blame us for that tragedy or lay accusations of abuse on us.'

'The Yankees started that fire, sir.'

'Yes, but it is we who now hold that town.'

'Yes, sir.'

'I'm establishing my headquarters here. That will put me equidistant between the two wings of the army.' 'Sir, regarding the arrangement of troops.' 'Yes?'

'Two of the divisions of my corps are on the left I have units from Hill and Ewell mixed in together on the right The placement was haphazard in a way without regard to unit designations.'

'You filled them in as needed,' Lee replied.

'Yes, sir. There's no way to sort it out now. Its just that…' and his voice trailed off.

In the darkness he took another long sip on the mug of tea, nearly draining it

Lee sighed.

'General Longstreet though it is not official, I have decided, at least for this moment to relieve General Hill of his responsibilities without relieving him of his command.'

'Sir?'

'He is sick.'

Lee said nothing more, but his distaste for the origin of the illness was obvious in his tone of voice.

'For the remainder of this campaign, you shall command the right wing centered at Union Mills comprised of the divisions just described. Ewell will command the left centered on Taneytown, and Stuart will command the forces north of the Union army.'

'Early might not like it' Longstreet offered.

The dislike between Longstreet and Early was a barely concealed secret. Several of the division commanders who had served under Jackson looked upon Longstreet as a slow plodder.

Lee slapped the side of the pew with an open hand. 'I don't care who likes or dislikes it!' he snapped. 'We are here to win this battle. Everything else, likes, dislikes, vanity, and pride, are to be left behind. If someone disagrees with that, I will hand them their discharge and they can go home. Do I make myself clear, General?' 'Yes, sir.'

The outburst was loud enough that the staff who had been standing at a respectful distance stiffened, hearing every word. Good, it was theatrics, but at times a general needed to resort to that

'I give you authority to relieve any division commander who does not comply with your orders'-he hesitated for a moment-'as I would relieve you as well, General Longstreet if you did not comply with mine.'

'Yes, sir.'

He caught the sense of surprise and even a touch of resentment in Longstreet's 'Yes, sir.' Good, let everyone standing in the shadows hear this exchange as well.

It was something he had realized back in Chambersburg less than a week ago. If this campaign was to be won, ultimately it would be on his shoulders whether it was indeed won or lost He must seize firm control. There could be no moment of hesitation, no questioning, no confusion. An army must have a single sense of purpose and mission, deriving from its commander clear down to the lowest mule driver or cook. If not when the crisis came,