Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 3.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

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[89] possesses all the necessary qualities to supply his place, is at Falmouth; Warren has gone during the night to join Sedgwick; General Van Alen, who signs every order in the absence of Butterfield, has not the requisite authority to assume command or to transfer it to another; Couch, who would be entitled to this command by right of seniority, is at Chancellorsville, but he does not consider himself justified in exercising its functions so long as he has not been regularly appointed, and he issues no orders.

In the midst of these painful uncertainties the Confederates, who have again formed their ranks, are beginning to attack the positions of Fairview on all sides. An important fact has revived their courage. Perry's brigade, posted at the extreme left of Anderson, above the Furnace, has ascended Lewis' Creek, and is come to the aid of Archer at the foot of the hill of Hazel Grove. Lee—who fully understands the importance of making a final effort to unite the two sections of his army which had been separated since the day previous—accompanies him. His presence affords ample evidence to the soldiers of the Second corps that this junction, which is the crowning act of their chief's splendid manoeuvre, has been effected. Lee himself gives the order for this new attack. Henceforth, Anderson and McLaws have no further need of sparing their troops. They attack with unwonted vigor Geary's and Hancock's line of battle, upon which their artillery concentrates a destructive fire, whilst that of Stuart, taking advantage of the falling back of this line upon the plateau, enfilades it. Anderson dislodges Geary from the earthworks which surmount the plateau at the point where the Plank Road begins its downward course on the south side. Archer and Perry reach the cemetery by way of the slopes fronting Hazel Grove. All the rest of the line, composed of an inextricable mixture of regiments and companies, is put in motion all at once; the movement extends north of the road.

The Confederates reach the plateau from every direction, notwithstanding the stubborn defence of the Federals, who, having nearly exhausted all their ammunition, fight with side-arms. Sickles sends Major Tremaine once more to Headquarters to ask for assistance: his mission is as unsuccessful as the preceding one. The Confederate artillery, following the assailants, ranges its batteries