Edward Porter Alexander, Military memoirs of a Confederate: a critical narrative

But by eleven o'clock, Ewell was all up and had taken a line in the forest which he was able to maintain all day and until darkness ended the fighting. He had even captured two 24-Pr. howitzers in a counter-charge, and, during the night, he managed to intrench himself. Gens. J. M. Jones and Stafford had both been killed and Pegram severely wounded.

Hill, on the 5th, had met the enemy's cavalry at Parker's store, and, driving them before him, had pushed down the Plank road. Meanwhile, when Grant had discovered Ewell in his front and attacked with the 5th, and part of the 6th, corps, he had halted the 2d corps on the Brock road, on which it had been marching, and had ordered the remainder of the 6th to advance up the Plank road that they might come upon the flank of Ewell. As the latter already had enough to occupy him, it was well that Hill, about noon, encountered the skirmishers of the 6th. Having orders not to bring on an action until the arrival of Longstreet, and having only Heth's division present, Hill halted and formed line of battle, but did not attack.

Grant, however, was promptly notified of Heth's arrival, and, knowing that Longstreet, having to come from beyond Gordonsville, could not arrive that day, he redoubled his efforts to destroy both Hill and Ewell before night. So Hancock with the whole of the 2d corps, 28,000, and the smaller half of the 6th, say 10,000 men, was ordered to attack Hill's two divisions, Heth and Wilcox, of about 7000 each.

Hancock, though ordered to lose no time, delayed for an hour or two in order to complete some intrenchments already started along the Brock road, so as to have something to fall back upon in case of disaster. This delay was of great value to Hill, enabling him to partially select and prepare his ground. This day, May 5, was Grant's day, full of golden opportunities. May 4 would have been Lee's day, had he prearranged his camps so as to enable him to concentrate his army more promptly where he knew that Grant would cross. The 6th, after Longstreet's arrival, would belong to the chapter of accidents. Grant seems