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

---

[641] He has pursued his way as far as the vicinity of the Reever house, situated on a hill whence a very extended view can be obtained: his pickets are posted on Cress' Ridge, while he extends his line south-west, in order to join Slocum's right near Rock Creek. Stuart is yet some distance off, but Lee, justly fearing that the Union cavalry, whose presence has been revealed at Hanover, may harass his left, has ordered Jenkins to cover this wing. When Johnson advances in the afternoon; for the purpose of attacking Culp's Hill, he is instructed to, make a reconnoissance with his brigade as far as the summit of Brinkerhoff's Ridge. But Gregg, apprised of his approach in time, sends some of McIntosh's cavalry to oppose him. The latter reach the ridge at the same time as their adversaries, and after a short fight, in which Jenkins is seriously wounded, they remain masters of the position. In the mean time, the Confederate cavalry, so imprudently scattered by Lee, are hastening from every direction—to precede him if he should push forward, or to cover his retreat if he should be vanquished, Imboden has left McConnellsburg, after destroying the bridges of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad; Jones and Robertson, left by Lee among the defiles of the Blue Ridge, have at last been summoned by him, and cross the Potomac at Williamsport. They are all to join him in the course of the following day.

As two electric clouds, driven by contrary winds, are attracted toward each other by an irresistible force until the lightning, flashing at the point of their contact, gives the signal of the approaching storm, so in the same way the two hostile armies, both marching somewhat at random, find themselves forcibly drawn toward the spot which a fortuitous encounter had designated, and the spark ignited on the morning of the 1st of July near Gettysburg has speedily brought about the terrible storm of the 2d. We have stated the reason why the Confederates have not given up the aggressive role. They have acquitted themselves during its performance with the courage and ardor that have so frequently secured victory to them. Nevertheless, they have not achieved the results which they thought themselves entitled to expect from their enormous sacrifices. The condition of the battlefield has been against them, and in favor of the Federals,