two o'clock in the
afternoon
Hill , who saw his coming with unmeasured joy , shifted his men until they were fully in touch with those of Rodes , the whole now forming a great curving line of battle frowning with guns , the troops burning for a new attack . Harry looked up at the sun , which long ago had pierced the mists and vapors , but not the smoke . He saw to his surprise that it had reached and passed the zenith . It must now be at least two o'clock in the afternoon . He was about to look at his watch when the Southern trumpets at that moment sounded the charge , and , knowing no other way to go , he and Dalton fell in with the Invincibles . Howard was in command of the Northern army at this time , and from a roof of a house in Gettysburg he had been watching the Southern advance . He and Doubleday gathered all their strength to meet it , and , despite the new troops brought by Rodes , Hill was unable to drive them back .