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[432] to beware of this.1 It was with the view to provide against this menace that, in attacking in the morning, Hancock advanced only his right divisions, and allowed his left, under Gibbon, to remain on the original line on the Brock road; sc that, in throwing forward his right, he pivoted on his left, and, with that flank, clung to the road on which it was expected Longstreet would come up. Now, at the time Hancock began his attack, Longstreet was really making the movement indicated; but the assault was executed with such energy, and so completely disrupted Hill, that Lee found it necessary to recall Longstreet from his flank march, and bring him forward to meet the more pressing necessity in front. Hancock, however, unaware of this, still looked nervously to his left; and though, after the successful advance of his right, he directed General Gibbon to advance with Barlow's division, and press the enemy's right, the approach of Longstreet's corps on the flank gave such constant apprehension, that Gibbon advanced only one brigade (that of Colonel Frank), which, after an obstinate resistance, succeeded in forming connection with the left of the advanced line.2 This apprehension was, throughout the forenoon, constantly revived and strengthened by various incidents that befell. Thus, about eight o'clock, an outburst of fight was heard considerably to the left, where Sheridan, with a division of horse, had engaged the enemy; but, instead of his encountering Longstreet, as Hancock supposed, it turned out to be Stuart's cavalry he had met. Some time after this, there came in a report that infantry was moving up on the Brock road from the direction of Todd's Tavern, about two miles from Hancock's left; and as

1 Hancock: Report of the Battle of the Wilderness.

2 ‘I do not know why my order to attack with Barlow's division was not more fully carried out; but it was probably owing to the apprehended approach of Longstreet's corps on my left about that time. But had my left advanced, as directed by me in several orders, I believe the overthrow of the enemy would have been assured. At all events, an attack on the enemy's right by the troops of Barlow's division would have prevented the turning of the left of Mott's division, which occurred later in the day.’—Hancock's Report

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