"I was wounded about the time I suppose the enemy’s second line got into our batteries, -- probably a little before that. As described to me afterwards, the result, I think, will carry out my idea in regard to it, because the enemy broke through, forced back my weakest brigade under General Webb, got into our batteries, and the men were so close that the officers on each side were using their pistols on each other, and the men frequently clubbed their muskets, and the clothes of men on both sides were burned by the powder of exploding cartridges. An officer of my staff, Lieutenant Haskell, had been sent by me, just previously to the attack, to General Meade with a message that the enemy were coming. He got back on the top of the hill hunting for me, and was there when this brigade was forced back, and, without waiting orders from me, he rode off to the left and ordered all the troops of the divisions there to the right. As they came up helter-skelter, everybody for himself, with their officers among them, they commenced firing upon these rebels as they were coming into our lines."
Source: From Manassas to Appomattox
Longstreet uses this quote in his memoirs to indicate the depth of the Union lines and how easily even the weakest point could be reinforced within minutes. Many who criticized Longstreet's performance on July 3rd claim that when these breaches were made in the Union line, he should have sent Hood and McLaws in to the fray, but Longstreet quite effectively argues that by the time his own reinforcements could have been brought foward, these holes would have already been plugged. Thus, his own troops would have been dispatched in detail.
Commentary
Portion of Union General Gibbon’s report relating to the Confederate assault on July 3rd near his position: