Could the Confederates have taken Cemetery Hill on that late afternoon of July 1? Ewell's division commander, Jubal Early, and a self-assigned aide, Isaac Trimble, seemed to believe they could. Early conferred with Ewell several times about the Union position on the heights, and both times he concluded that taking the hill was of the utmost and critical importance to the Southern armies. Trimble, too, saw the possibilities here. He argued and pleaded with Ewell to allow him to take a good brigade (and even regiment) so he could take the hill.
General Lee, who arrived on the battlefield around 4pm, was at first upset that a fight had begun without his army being fully concentrated. When he saw the advantage his forces had gained, however, his mood quickly changed. He sent his own staff officer to find General Ewell and verbally issue him the order to take Cemetery Hill "if practicable." At the same time Lee's major was riding to Ewell, a rider send by Ewell was delivering a message to Lee telling him that Ewell, if he was to attack the heights (something Ewell knew was important), he would need support from A.P. Hill's corps. Lee replied, saying that Hill's men were much too weary to continue the fight. Ewell, if he was to attack, would have to do it alone.
As the first message from Lee arrived, Ewell was puzzled by Lee's verbal order that left much discretion to the II Corps commander. He was still under the order not to cause a general engagement, for Lee reiterated that order after the "if practicable" message was received. Staring up at the heavily fortified Union position on the hill, Ewell received the second message from Lee concerning Hill's corps. As the night was growing nearer, and the bulk of his men tired from the day's fighting, Ewell decided not to attack, thus creating one of the biggest controversies of the Civil War.
Was Ewell right in not attacking, or did he act insubordinately? What were the reasons behind his decision? Did he ultimately lose the Battle of Gettysburg? These are questions that will be explored in part III of "Ewell At Gettysburg" Until then, what do you think?
To be continued soon
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