Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/283

Rh his left, on a hearth leveled for burning charcoal, on the slope of the terrace overlooking the stream valley and from the crest of which a dense forest extended eastward, for miles toward the Blue ridge, he placed six guns, with a supporting force above them in the woods looking across a ravine, through which a run made its way from the mountains toward the river. His main body he disposed along a narrow road at right angles to the main road and leading to the river at Lewis' mill, the fences of which were a good defense in his front, which was concealed by an extensive field of standing wheat just ready for the harvest. Tyler's command consisted of two Pennsylvania, four Ohio, one West Virginia and one Indiana regiment, with 16 guns, and a detachment of West Virginia cavalry, in all about 3,000 men.

Nearing the Federal position. Winder deployed with his right in the edge of the woods on the slope of the same terrace occupied by Tyler's left, with the ravine intervening, extending his left toward the river, placing batteries in the road near his right and on swells of the broad bottoms toward his left. The Lewiston farmhouse, with its numerous outbuildings, was between the lines of the combatants near the foot of the wooded terrace. As he advanced. Winder soon found that his lines were commanded and enfiladed by the Federal battery on the coal hearth. He then sent Colonel Allen with two Virginia regiments and two guns into the forest on the terrace, on his right, to attempt to flank the Federal left and capture the battery that was impeding his progress, but he was met and promptly driven back by the superior fire of that battery and by the volleys of the four Federal regiments that were supporting it. To create a diversion, he sent the Fifth Virginia to his left to attack the Federal right, in which it met with some success, but this was promptly checked by Tyler, who reinforced his right with three regiments and drove the Fifth back after a stubborn fight. Finding that his 1,200 men were not equal to the enemy's tactic force, and that he was getting the worst of the battle. Winder called upon Jackson, who was watching the combat just in the rear of its center, for reinforcements. He sent Taylor's Seventh Louisiana, with batteries, to the left, but the Federals were still gaining ground in that direction. Just then the main body of Taylor's brigade, led by Taylor