Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/123

Rh where that crossed the turnpike, by its elevation of about 100 feet above the level of Bull run. Bee was holding this admirable position with his two brigades on opposite sides of Imboden's battery (which he had borrowed from Jackson's brigade), in full view of Evans' contention on the opposite side of Young's branch valley, and was opening with his artillery upon the Federal batteries opposed to Evans, when he received the latter's request for aid, which he answered by advising Evans to withdraw to his position on the Henry hill. Still full of fight, Evans was unwilling to retreat, and renewed his appeal for reinforcements. As it was plain to be seen that the visibly swelling numbers of McDowell's advance were giving them great advantages over Evans in the combat, Bee yielded to his appeal and led his two brigades across the valley under fire of the enemy's well served artillery, and threw them into the contention, one regiment in the woods held by Evans, two along a fence extending to the right, and two, under Bartow, extending the right still further, but at right angles along the edge of a wood, not more than 100 yards from the Federal left, where the combat, at short range, quickly became sharp and deadly. The superior numbers of the Federal infantry failed to make any headway against this stubborn vanguard, although the powerful batteries of Griffin were playing on Bee's whole line, until two strong brigades from Heintzelman's division, arriving on the field, extended the line of fire on the Federal right, and a six-gun battery of rifled 10-pounders took part from a strong position behind the Sudley road. While contending with these odds, the brigades of Sherman and Keyes, of Tyler's division, under orders from McDowell to force the stone bridge, crossed at a ford above that bridge and moved into position on the Federal left, so lengthening that as to overlap Bee and force him to retire, which he began to do, steadily, covered by the fire of Imboden's guns and of Hampton's legion from the Henry plateau and his own retiring howitzers; but the Federal fire that followed was so fierce and heavy that the Confederates were soon thrown into confusion, and the greater part of them retreated, discomfited, across Young's branch, and sought safety around the sheltering spur to the right of the stone bridge.

While this brave battle of Evans and Bee was going on,