Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/159

Rh, the heavy firing in front gave notice that the battle had commenced. I was then directed by General Jackson to send a brigade to the support of Taliaferro, who was in line of battle on the right of the main road. Thomas was sent on this duty, and formed his line immediately in front of Taliaferro's. Lieutenant-Colonel Walker placed Pegram's and Fleet's batteries in eligible positions in front, of Early's brigade (General Taliaferro's right). Branch, Archer and Fender, as they came up, were successively formed on the left of the road. Winder's brigade, immediately in front of Branch, being hard pressed, broke, and many fugitives came back. Without waiting for the formation of the entire line Branch was immediately ordered forward, and passing through the broken brigade, received the enemy's fire, promptly returned it, checked the pursuit, and in turn drove them back, and relieved Taliaferro's flank. The enemy, driven across an open field, had rallied in a wood skirting it. Branch was engaged when Archer came up, and with Pender on the left, the enemy were charged across this field, the brigade of Archer being subjected to a very heavy fire. General Thomas on the right had been ordered by General Jackson to the right to support Early's brigade. Quite a large portion of both Early's and Taliaferro's brigades had been thrown into confusion, some of the regiments standing firm, the Fourteenth and Twenty-first Virginia and Twelfth Georgia. Thomas formed his line of battle along a fence bordering a corn-field, through which the enemy were advancing. After a short contest, the enemy were hurled back. Pegram's and Fleet's batteries, the latter under command of Lieutenant Hardy, did heavy execution this day, and drove back several attempts to capture their guns. The Fourteenth Georgia, under the gallant Folsom, having been separated from the rest of the brigade by our fugitives, charged the enemy, and with brilliant success. The enemy had now been driven from every part of the field, but made an attempt to retrieve his fortunes by cavalry charge. Their squadrons, advancing across an open field in front of Branch, exposed their flank to him, and encountering deadly fire from the Fourteenth Georgia and Twelfth Virginia, had many saddles emptied, and fled in utter disorder. *  *   *

During the advance of the enemy to the rear, the guns of Jackson's division becoming exposed, they were withdrawn. At this critical moment Branch's brigade of A. P. Hill's division, with