What can I say... It was Impressive.
Here is a portion, fairly large portion, of Jackson After action Report to review that events leading up to the battle.
"General: I have the honor herewith to submit to you a report of the operations of my command from August 15 to September 5, 1862, embracing the several engagements of Manassas Junction, Bristoe Station, Ox Hill, and so much of the battle of Groveton (on August 28, 29, and 30) as was fought by the troops under my command: On August 15, in obedience to instructions from the commanding General, I left my encampment, near Gordonsville, and, passing Orange Court-House, encamped in the evening near Mount Pisgah Church, where I remained until the 20th, when, in accordance with my instructions, while General Longstreet was crossing the Rapidan at Raccoon Ford, I crossed the same river at Somerville Ford. The command en. camped for the night near Stevensburg.
My command at this time comprised Ewell's, A. P. Hill's, and Jackson's divisions. Ewell's was composed of the brigades of Generals Lawton, Early, Hays (Colonel Forno commanding), and Trimble, with the batteries of William D. Brown, W. F. Dement, J. W. Latimer, W. L Baithis, and L E D'Aquin A P Hill's division was composed of the brigades of Generals Branch, Gregg, Field, Pender, Archer, and Colonel Thomas, with the batteries of C. M. Braxton. H. G. Latham, W. G. Crenshaw, D. G. Mcintosh, Greenlee Davidson, and W. J. Pegram. Jackson's division, commanded by Brig. Gen. William B. Taliaferro, was composed of Winder's brigade, Colonel Baylor commanding; Colonel Campbell's brigade, Maj. John Seddon commanding; Brig. Gen. William B. Taliaferro's brigade, Col. A. G. Taliaferro commanding, and Starke's brigade, with the batteries of Brockenbrough, [George W.] Wooding, W. T. Poague, Joseph Carpenter, W. H. Caskie, and Charles I. Raine.
Major-General Stuart, with his cavalry, co-operated during the expedition, and I shall more than once have to acknowledge my obligations for the valuable and efficient aid which he rendered.
Early on the morning of the 21st the command left its encampment and moved in the direction of Beverly Ford, on the Rappahannock, General Taliaferro's command in the lead. On approaching the ford the enemy was seen on the opposite bank. Batteries of that division, under the direction of Major Shumaker, chief of artillery, were placed in position, which, after a short resistance (as reported by General Taliaferro), silenced the enemy's guns and dispersed his infantry. Major-General Stuart had crossed with a portion of his cavalry, supported by some pieces of artillery, and after skirmishing with the enemy a few hours, taking some prisoners and arms, returned with the information that the Federal forces were moving in strength upon his position and were close at hand. The enemy soon appeared on the opposite bank, and an animated firing was opened and, to a considerable extent, kept up across the river for the rest of the day between the Federal artillery and the batteries of Taliaferro's command.
On the following morning (22d) the three divisions continued their march up the bank of the Rappahannock, General Ewell in the advance, and crossed Hazel River, one of its tributaries, at Wellford's Mill, near which General Trimble was left with his brigade to protect the flank of our wagon train from the enemy, who was moving up the north side of the Rappahannock simultaneously with the advance of our troops on the south side.
About 12 m. a small party surprised part of the train and captured some ambulances and mules, which were, however, soon recovered and some prisoners taken, who gave information that a more considerable Federal force had crossed the river.
About 4 p.m. General Trimble, supported by General Hood (who was the advance of Longstreet's command), had a sharp engagement with his force, in which, after gallantly charging and taking a number of prisoners, they drove the residue with severe loss across the river, under the protection of the guns of the main body of the Federal Army on the opposite side. In the mean time the command passed Freeman's Ford, which it found strongly guarded, and moved on to a point opposite the Fauquier White Sulphur Springs, where we found the bridge destroyed and other evidence that the enemy was in close proximity.
In the afternoon of the 22d the Thirteenth Georgia Colonel M. Douglass, Brown's and Dement's batteries of four guns each, and Early's brigade, crossing over, took possession of the Springs and adjacent heights, and taking some prisoners and incurring some risk from the rain and sudden rise of the water, which for a few hours cut off communication with the main body. In this critical situation the skill and presence of mind of General Early was favorably displayed. It was deemed advisable not to attempt a passage at that point, but to proceed higher up the river. By dawn on the morning of the 24th General Early, by means of a temporary bridge which had been constructed for his relief, had his troops and artillery safely on the southern side.
On the 24th there was a fierce cannonade between General Hill's artillery and that of the enemy across the river. In the mean time General Stuart, who had preceded me, crossed the Rappahannock, striking the enemy in his rear, making his brilliant night attack upon his camp at Catlett's Station, capturing many prisoners, personal baggage of General Pope, and his dispatch book, containing information of value to us in this expedition. In the evening we moved near Jeffersonton.
Pursuing the instructions of the commanding general. I left Jeffersonton on the morning of the 25th to throw my command between Washington City and the army of General Pope and to break up his railroad communication with the Federal capital. Taking the route by Amissville, crossing Hedgeman River (one of the tributaries of the Rappahannock) at Henson's Mill, and moving via Orleans, we reached the vicinity of Salem after a severe day's march, and bivouacked there for the night.
On the next day .(26th) the march was continued, diverging to the right at Salem, crossing the Bull Run Mountain through Thoroughfare Gap, and passing Gainesville, reached Bristoe Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, after sunset. At Gainesville I was joined by General Stuart, who, after leaving the vicinity of Waterloo Bridge about 2 a.m., had by a rapid march come up in time to render all needful assistance. He kept upon my right flank during the residue of the day. My command was now in rear of General Pope's army, separating it from the Federal capital and its base of supply.
As we approached Bristoe Station the sound of cars coining from the direction of Warrenton Junction was heard, and General Ewell divided his force so as to take simultaneous possession of two points of the railroad. Colonel T. T. Munford, with the Second Virginia Cavalry, co-operated in this movement. Two trains of cars and some prisoners were captured, the largest portion of the small Federal force at that point making its escape.
Learning that the enemy had collected at Manassas Junction, a station about 7 miles distant, stores of great value, I deemed it important that no time should be lost in securing them. Notwithstanding the darkness of the night and the fatiguing march, which would since dawn be over 30 miles before reaching the Junction, Brigadier-General Trimble volunteered to proceed there forthwith with the Twenty first North Carolina, Lieutenant-Colonel S. Fulton commanding, and the Twenty-first Georgia, Major T. C. Glover commanding--in all about 500 men--and capture the place. I accepted the gallant offer and gave him orders to move without delay. In order to increase the prospect of success Major-General Stuart, with a portion of his cavalry, was subsequently directed to move forward, and, as the ranking officer, to take command of the expedition. The duty was cheerfully undertaken by all who were assigned to it and most promptly and successfully executed. Notwithstanding the Federal fire of musketry and artillery our infantry dispersed the troops placed there for the defense of the place, and captured 8 guns, with 72 horses, equipments, and ammunition complete, immense supplies of commissary and quartermaster's stores, upward of 200 new tents; and General Trimble also reports the capture of over 300 prisoners and 175 horses, exclusive of those belonging to the artillery, besides recovering over 200 negroes.
The next morning the divisions under command of Generals Hill and Taliaferro moved to Manassas Junction, the division of General Ewell remaining at Bristoe Station. About a mile before reaching the Junction Colonel, W. S. H. Baylor encountered and dispersed a regiment of Federal cavalry. Soon after the advance of the troops from Bristoe Station reached the Junction they were fired upon by a distant battery of the enemy posted in the direction of the battle-field of Manassas. This artillery was soon driven off, and retreated in the direction of Centreville. Soon after a considerable body of Federal infantry, under Brigadier-General Taylor, of New Jersey, came in sight, having, it is believed, that morning left Alexandria in the cars, and boldly pushed forward to recover the position and stores which had been lost the previous night. The advance was made with great spirit and determination and under a leader worthy of a better cause. Assailed by the batteries of Poague and Carpenter and some of General Hill's division, and apparently seeing that there was danger of its retreat being cut off by our other troops if it continued to move forward, it soon commenced retreating, and being subjected to a heavy fire from our batteries was soon routed, leaving its killed and wounded upon the field. Several brigades of General Hill's division pressed forward in pursuit. In this conflict the Federal commander, General Taylor, was mortally wounded. Our loss was small.
In the afternoon of the same day heavy columns of the enemy were seen approaching Bristoe Station from the direction of Warrenton Junction and on the right of the railroad. General Ewell promptly made his dispositions to meet them. So soon as the enemy came within range the batteries of his division opened upon them from their several positions, as did also the Sixth and Eighth Louisiana and Sixtieth Georgia Regiments. By this combined fire two columns of the enemy, of not less than a brigade each, were driven back; but fresh columns soon supplied their places, and it was obvious that the enemy was advancing in heavy force. General Ewell's instructions were, if hard pressed, to fall back and join the main command at Manassas Junction, and orders were accordingly given for the withdrawal of his forces north of Broad Run. At the moment of issuing this order a portion of the troops were actively engaged and the enemy advancing, and yet the withdrawal of the infantry and artillery was conducted with perfect order, General Early closing up the rear. The Federals halted near Bristoe Station, and General Ewell moved without further molestation, Colonel Munford, of the Second, and Colonel T. L. Rosser, of the Fifth, Virginia Cavalry bringing up his rear to Manassas. The destruction of the railroad bridge across Broad Run was intrusted to Lieutenant (now Captain) J. K. Boswell, of the Engineer Corps, under whose superintendence the duty was promptly and efficiently executed. Orders were given to supply the troops with rations and other articles which they could properly make subservient to their use from the captured property. It was vast in quantity and of great value, comprising 50,000 pounds of bacon, 1,000 barrels of corned beef, 2,000 barrels of salt pork, 2,000 barrels of flour, quartermaster's, ordnance, and sutler's stores deposited in buildings and filling two trains of cars. Having appropriated all that we could use, and unwilling that the residue should again fall into the hands of the enemy, who took possession of the place next day, orders were given to destroy all that remained after supplying the immediate wants of the army. This was done during the night. General Taliaferro moved his division that night across to the Warrenton and Alexandria turnpike, pursuing the road to Sudley's Mill, and crossing the turnpike in the vicinity of Groveton, halted near the battle-field of July 21, 1861. Ewell's and Hill's divisions joined Jackson's on the 28th."
On 29th of August, Jackson scaned that clear field in front of his left and center, and could see large federal regiments moving about. Jackson had arranged his men in a comact front, a mear 3,000 yards long. He arranged his guns along a slight elevation behind a strong position which included an old railroad cut. After marching a stunning 54 miles in two days, Jackson had to hold on until Longstreet could follow the same route and reenforce him. Jackson had 23,000 men to face Pope's 50,000 or so.
At about 9 in the morning, Jackson sent Stuart to go and find Lee and Longstreet and report their progress.Stuart found them, not far away, and by 10:30, the approach of the relief column was plain to Jackson's men in their defenses.
The first Union attacks were light, and mostly towards the middle of Jackson's lines. One attack was led by a gallent Major on a horse, who was shot down, and the confederate officer in charge scorned his men for shooting such a courageous man. He did so in ear shot of Ol' Stonewall, who replied to the officer "NO, Captain, the men are right, Kill the brave ones, They lead the others."
The union attacks became progressivly stronger all along the front. Fighting was esspecially hot in AP Hill's front, where the union advance was covered by Trees. A gap in his line allowed federal troops a place to escape the storm, and when a new attack wave came they all rose up and broke Hill's lines. Hill called up reserves and in through hot, hand to hand fighting, restored the line. About Noon there was a lull.
Soon, the Federals attacked again, and again punctured hills lines only to be thrown back by a counter attack by Maxcy Greggs brigade that would leave 600 men on the field by days end. Gregg when asked if he could hold replied, "He would hold through anything."...He still had the bayonet.
At about this point, Kyd Douglas was on hand to take a message to jackson for AP Hill. It stated that the Next attack would crush Hill's lines despite all he could do. This was bad news, for though longstreet was on the field, he was not read to reinforce Jackson. Therefore, Jackson sent the Reply,"tell him if they attack he must beat them." Hill did so and when he sent word, Jackson replied," Tell him i knew he would do it."
The line was not safe, however, and the federals succedded in pushing back gregg's men to the ridge, where he exclaimed, sword drawn, "let us die here,my men, let us die here." Reserves came up and Greggs men lay down after 7 hours of hard fighting. Jackson was seen walking down the railroad cut, urging his men on, oblvious to sniper fire.
The day would end, with jackson repulsing the enemy on his own, for Longstreet would not advance his men, even though lee ordered it, saying the ground was to forbiding. Longstreet ended the day with a limited move forward that was meant to get his men in place for an attack the next day.
At 3 pm the next day, there was a single cannon shot, signaling a general advance of the union army. Jackson sent a messenger off to longstreet for reinforcements. Hills lines were pierced and reserves were quickly replacing the lost. At about this time, Longstreet's artillery opened up, catching the entire federal army in the flank. Jackson's counter attacked timed perfectly with longstreet's opening cannon fire on te flank sent jacksons wing in an advance with the enemy fleeing before them. Longstreet in turn advanced his divisions in to the fight.
About the time the confederate rush reached its climax, Longstreet sent jackson a message offering congratulations and more reinforcments. Jackson replied to the messenger,"Tell General Longstreet htat i am obliged to him, but i dont need them now: if he gets hard pressed, ill send him reinforcements."
Through all that Jackson had accomplished, Longstreet still was able to criticize him though. He said," Leaving the borken ranks for jackson to deal with, our fight was made against the lines near my front. Jackson failed to pull up even on the left, which gave opportunity for some of the enemy's batteries to trun their fire across the right wing as we advanced ... It was severly threatening upon General Lee ... who would ride under it, notwithstanding appeals to avoid it."
The days battle ended with the Federals in full retreat. Lee planed for jackson to pursue the enemy even though he was battered. He did so, sloshing through the rain soaked roads and engaging a wing of popes army on september 1st, at a battle known as Chantilly or Ox Hill. Phil Kearny, promient Union General, was a casualtie of this battle along with some thousand federals and 500 confederates. This was the last battle of the Campaign.
Ben
Here is a portion, fairly large portion, of Jackson After action Report to review that events leading up to the battle.
"General: I have the honor herewith to submit to you a report of the operations of my command from August 15 to September 5, 1862, embracing the several engagements of Manassas Junction, Bristoe Station, Ox Hill, and so much of the battle of Groveton (on August 28, 29, and 30) as was fought by the troops under my command: On August 15, in obedience to instructions from the commanding General, I left my encampment, near Gordonsville, and, passing Orange Court-House, encamped in the evening near Mount Pisgah Church, where I remained until the 20th, when, in accordance with my instructions, while General Longstreet was crossing the Rapidan at Raccoon Ford, I crossed the same river at Somerville Ford. The command en. camped for the night near Stevensburg.
My command at this time comprised Ewell's, A. P. Hill's, and Jackson's divisions. Ewell's was composed of the brigades of Generals Lawton, Early, Hays (Colonel Forno commanding), and Trimble, with the batteries of William D. Brown, W. F. Dement, J. W. Latimer, W. L Baithis, and L E D'Aquin A P Hill's division was composed of the brigades of Generals Branch, Gregg, Field, Pender, Archer, and Colonel Thomas, with the batteries of C. M. Braxton. H. G. Latham, W. G. Crenshaw, D. G. Mcintosh, Greenlee Davidson, and W. J. Pegram. Jackson's division, commanded by Brig. Gen. William B. Taliaferro, was composed of Winder's brigade, Colonel Baylor commanding; Colonel Campbell's brigade, Maj. John Seddon commanding; Brig. Gen. William B. Taliaferro's brigade, Col. A. G. Taliaferro commanding, and Starke's brigade, with the batteries of Brockenbrough, [George W.] Wooding, W. T. Poague, Joseph Carpenter, W. H. Caskie, and Charles I. Raine.
Major-General Stuart, with his cavalry, co-operated during the expedition, and I shall more than once have to acknowledge my obligations for the valuable and efficient aid which he rendered.
Early on the morning of the 21st the command left its encampment and moved in the direction of Beverly Ford, on the Rappahannock, General Taliaferro's command in the lead. On approaching the ford the enemy was seen on the opposite bank. Batteries of that division, under the direction of Major Shumaker, chief of artillery, were placed in position, which, after a short resistance (as reported by General Taliaferro), silenced the enemy's guns and dispersed his infantry. Major-General Stuart had crossed with a portion of his cavalry, supported by some pieces of artillery, and after skirmishing with the enemy a few hours, taking some prisoners and arms, returned with the information that the Federal forces were moving in strength upon his position and were close at hand. The enemy soon appeared on the opposite bank, and an animated firing was opened and, to a considerable extent, kept up across the river for the rest of the day between the Federal artillery and the batteries of Taliaferro's command.
On the following morning (22d) the three divisions continued their march up the bank of the Rappahannock, General Ewell in the advance, and crossed Hazel River, one of its tributaries, at Wellford's Mill, near which General Trimble was left with his brigade to protect the flank of our wagon train from the enemy, who was moving up the north side of the Rappahannock simultaneously with the advance of our troops on the south side.
About 12 m. a small party surprised part of the train and captured some ambulances and mules, which were, however, soon recovered and some prisoners taken, who gave information that a more considerable Federal force had crossed the river.
About 4 p.m. General Trimble, supported by General Hood (who was the advance of Longstreet's command), had a sharp engagement with his force, in which, after gallantly charging and taking a number of prisoners, they drove the residue with severe loss across the river, under the protection of the guns of the main body of the Federal Army on the opposite side. In the mean time the command passed Freeman's Ford, which it found strongly guarded, and moved on to a point opposite the Fauquier White Sulphur Springs, where we found the bridge destroyed and other evidence that the enemy was in close proximity.
In the afternoon of the 22d the Thirteenth Georgia Colonel M. Douglass, Brown's and Dement's batteries of four guns each, and Early's brigade, crossing over, took possession of the Springs and adjacent heights, and taking some prisoners and incurring some risk from the rain and sudden rise of the water, which for a few hours cut off communication with the main body. In this critical situation the skill and presence of mind of General Early was favorably displayed. It was deemed advisable not to attempt a passage at that point, but to proceed higher up the river. By dawn on the morning of the 24th General Early, by means of a temporary bridge which had been constructed for his relief, had his troops and artillery safely on the southern side.
On the 24th there was a fierce cannonade between General Hill's artillery and that of the enemy across the river. In the mean time General Stuart, who had preceded me, crossed the Rappahannock, striking the enemy in his rear, making his brilliant night attack upon his camp at Catlett's Station, capturing many prisoners, personal baggage of General Pope, and his dispatch book, containing information of value to us in this expedition. In the evening we moved near Jeffersonton.
Pursuing the instructions of the commanding general. I left Jeffersonton on the morning of the 25th to throw my command between Washington City and the army of General Pope and to break up his railroad communication with the Federal capital. Taking the route by Amissville, crossing Hedgeman River (one of the tributaries of the Rappahannock) at Henson's Mill, and moving via Orleans, we reached the vicinity of Salem after a severe day's march, and bivouacked there for the night.
On the next day .(26th) the march was continued, diverging to the right at Salem, crossing the Bull Run Mountain through Thoroughfare Gap, and passing Gainesville, reached Bristoe Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, after sunset. At Gainesville I was joined by General Stuart, who, after leaving the vicinity of Waterloo Bridge about 2 a.m., had by a rapid march come up in time to render all needful assistance. He kept upon my right flank during the residue of the day. My command was now in rear of General Pope's army, separating it from the Federal capital and its base of supply.
As we approached Bristoe Station the sound of cars coining from the direction of Warrenton Junction was heard, and General Ewell divided his force so as to take simultaneous possession of two points of the railroad. Colonel T. T. Munford, with the Second Virginia Cavalry, co-operated in this movement. Two trains of cars and some prisoners were captured, the largest portion of the small Federal force at that point making its escape.
Learning that the enemy had collected at Manassas Junction, a station about 7 miles distant, stores of great value, I deemed it important that no time should be lost in securing them. Notwithstanding the darkness of the night and the fatiguing march, which would since dawn be over 30 miles before reaching the Junction, Brigadier-General Trimble volunteered to proceed there forthwith with the Twenty first North Carolina, Lieutenant-Colonel S. Fulton commanding, and the Twenty-first Georgia, Major T. C. Glover commanding--in all about 500 men--and capture the place. I accepted the gallant offer and gave him orders to move without delay. In order to increase the prospect of success Major-General Stuart, with a portion of his cavalry, was subsequently directed to move forward, and, as the ranking officer, to take command of the expedition. The duty was cheerfully undertaken by all who were assigned to it and most promptly and successfully executed. Notwithstanding the Federal fire of musketry and artillery our infantry dispersed the troops placed there for the defense of the place, and captured 8 guns, with 72 horses, equipments, and ammunition complete, immense supplies of commissary and quartermaster's stores, upward of 200 new tents; and General Trimble also reports the capture of over 300 prisoners and 175 horses, exclusive of those belonging to the artillery, besides recovering over 200 negroes.
The next morning the divisions under command of Generals Hill and Taliaferro moved to Manassas Junction, the division of General Ewell remaining at Bristoe Station. About a mile before reaching the Junction Colonel, W. S. H. Baylor encountered and dispersed a regiment of Federal cavalry. Soon after the advance of the troops from Bristoe Station reached the Junction they were fired upon by a distant battery of the enemy posted in the direction of the battle-field of Manassas. This artillery was soon driven off, and retreated in the direction of Centreville. Soon after a considerable body of Federal infantry, under Brigadier-General Taylor, of New Jersey, came in sight, having, it is believed, that morning left Alexandria in the cars, and boldly pushed forward to recover the position and stores which had been lost the previous night. The advance was made with great spirit and determination and under a leader worthy of a better cause. Assailed by the batteries of Poague and Carpenter and some of General Hill's division, and apparently seeing that there was danger of its retreat being cut off by our other troops if it continued to move forward, it soon commenced retreating, and being subjected to a heavy fire from our batteries was soon routed, leaving its killed and wounded upon the field. Several brigades of General Hill's division pressed forward in pursuit. In this conflict the Federal commander, General Taylor, was mortally wounded. Our loss was small.
In the afternoon of the same day heavy columns of the enemy were seen approaching Bristoe Station from the direction of Warrenton Junction and on the right of the railroad. General Ewell promptly made his dispositions to meet them. So soon as the enemy came within range the batteries of his division opened upon them from their several positions, as did also the Sixth and Eighth Louisiana and Sixtieth Georgia Regiments. By this combined fire two columns of the enemy, of not less than a brigade each, were driven back; but fresh columns soon supplied their places, and it was obvious that the enemy was advancing in heavy force. General Ewell's instructions were, if hard pressed, to fall back and join the main command at Manassas Junction, and orders were accordingly given for the withdrawal of his forces north of Broad Run. At the moment of issuing this order a portion of the troops were actively engaged and the enemy advancing, and yet the withdrawal of the infantry and artillery was conducted with perfect order, General Early closing up the rear. The Federals halted near Bristoe Station, and General Ewell moved without further molestation, Colonel Munford, of the Second, and Colonel T. L. Rosser, of the Fifth, Virginia Cavalry bringing up his rear to Manassas. The destruction of the railroad bridge across Broad Run was intrusted to Lieutenant (now Captain) J. K. Boswell, of the Engineer Corps, under whose superintendence the duty was promptly and efficiently executed. Orders were given to supply the troops with rations and other articles which they could properly make subservient to their use from the captured property. It was vast in quantity and of great value, comprising 50,000 pounds of bacon, 1,000 barrels of corned beef, 2,000 barrels of salt pork, 2,000 barrels of flour, quartermaster's, ordnance, and sutler's stores deposited in buildings and filling two trains of cars. Having appropriated all that we could use, and unwilling that the residue should again fall into the hands of the enemy, who took possession of the place next day, orders were given to destroy all that remained after supplying the immediate wants of the army. This was done during the night. General Taliaferro moved his division that night across to the Warrenton and Alexandria turnpike, pursuing the road to Sudley's Mill, and crossing the turnpike in the vicinity of Groveton, halted near the battle-field of July 21, 1861. Ewell's and Hill's divisions joined Jackson's on the 28th."
On 29th of August, Jackson scaned that clear field in front of his left and center, and could see large federal regiments moving about. Jackson had arranged his men in a comact front, a mear 3,000 yards long. He arranged his guns along a slight elevation behind a strong position which included an old railroad cut. After marching a stunning 54 miles in two days, Jackson had to hold on until Longstreet could follow the same route and reenforce him. Jackson had 23,000 men to face Pope's 50,000 or so.
At about 9 in the morning, Jackson sent Stuart to go and find Lee and Longstreet and report their progress.Stuart found them, not far away, and by 10:30, the approach of the relief column was plain to Jackson's men in their defenses.
The first Union attacks were light, and mostly towards the middle of Jackson's lines. One attack was led by a gallent Major on a horse, who was shot down, and the confederate officer in charge scorned his men for shooting such a courageous man. He did so in ear shot of Ol' Stonewall, who replied to the officer "NO, Captain, the men are right, Kill the brave ones, They lead the others."
The union attacks became progressivly stronger all along the front. Fighting was esspecially hot in AP Hill's front, where the union advance was covered by Trees. A gap in his line allowed federal troops a place to escape the storm, and when a new attack wave came they all rose up and broke Hill's lines. Hill called up reserves and in through hot, hand to hand fighting, restored the line. About Noon there was a lull.
Soon, the Federals attacked again, and again punctured hills lines only to be thrown back by a counter attack by Maxcy Greggs brigade that would leave 600 men on the field by days end. Gregg when asked if he could hold replied, "He would hold through anything."...He still had the bayonet.
At about this point, Kyd Douglas was on hand to take a message to jackson for AP Hill. It stated that the Next attack would crush Hill's lines despite all he could do. This was bad news, for though longstreet was on the field, he was not read to reinforce Jackson. Therefore, Jackson sent the Reply,"tell him if they attack he must beat them." Hill did so and when he sent word, Jackson replied," Tell him i knew he would do it."
The line was not safe, however, and the federals succedded in pushing back gregg's men to the ridge, where he exclaimed, sword drawn, "let us die here,my men, let us die here." Reserves came up and Greggs men lay down after 7 hours of hard fighting. Jackson was seen walking down the railroad cut, urging his men on, oblvious to sniper fire.
The day would end, with jackson repulsing the enemy on his own, for Longstreet would not advance his men, even though lee ordered it, saying the ground was to forbiding. Longstreet ended the day with a limited move forward that was meant to get his men in place for an attack the next day.
At 3 pm the next day, there was a single cannon shot, signaling a general advance of the union army. Jackson sent a messenger off to longstreet for reinforcements. Hills lines were pierced and reserves were quickly replacing the lost. At about this time, Longstreet's artillery opened up, catching the entire federal army in the flank. Jackson's counter attacked timed perfectly with longstreet's opening cannon fire on te flank sent jacksons wing in an advance with the enemy fleeing before them. Longstreet in turn advanced his divisions in to the fight.
About the time the confederate rush reached its climax, Longstreet sent jackson a message offering congratulations and more reinforcments. Jackson replied to the messenger,"Tell General Longstreet htat i am obliged to him, but i dont need them now: if he gets hard pressed, ill send him reinforcements."
Through all that Jackson had accomplished, Longstreet still was able to criticize him though. He said," Leaving the borken ranks for jackson to deal with, our fight was made against the lines near my front. Jackson failed to pull up even on the left, which gave opportunity for some of the enemy's batteries to trun their fire across the right wing as we advanced ... It was severly threatening upon General Lee ... who would ride under it, notwithstanding appeals to avoid it."
The days battle ended with the Federals in full retreat. Lee planed for jackson to pursue the enemy even though he was battered. He did so, sloshing through the rain soaked roads and engaging a wing of popes army on september 1st, at a battle known as Chantilly or Ox Hill. Phil Kearny, promient Union General, was a casualtie of this battle along with some thousand federals and 500 confederates. This was the last battle of the Campaign.
Ben
