He saw the flash of the guns and the rising smoke, but the center of the Army of Northern Virginia and the other wing did not yet move.

He looked questioningly at Dalton and Dalton looked questioningly at him.
They expected every instant that the combat would spread along the entire front, but it did not.

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.