noon
For several hours they listened to the thunder of the guns on the left , and then they knew by the movement of the sound that the Southern wing had been driven back , not far it is true , but still it had been compelled to yield , and again Harry 's heart sank . But it rose once more when he concluded that Lee must be massing his forces in the center . The left wing had been allowed to fight against overwhelming numbers in order that the rest of the army might be left free to strike a crushing blow . Then noon came and the battle on their left died completely . Once more the great silence held the field and Harry was mystified and awed . Lee , as calm and impassive as ever , said little . The ridges confronted one another , bristling with cannon but the armies were motionless .