Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 40.djvu/90

86 As Lane and McGowan advanced, they lost touch and moved without support on either flank. McGowan struck Hayman's brigade while the latter was changing position and threw it into greater disorder, after which it encountered Mott's and Ruger's brigades, and after a fierce fight was itself thrown back upon its starting point.

Lane supported by Brockenbrough, with Pender on his left attacked the centre of the Federal line at the Plank road, where the 3d Maryland was overwhelmed and a number of prisoners and a section of artillery captured while firing charges of canister. The 115th Pennsylvania was ordered to take the place of the Maryland regiment, but refused to budge from its tracks. The 5th and 8th New Jersey came to the rescue and a desperate fight ensued with great loss to both sides. There was charge and counter-charge. The ground was won and lost, and won again. Pender reinforced, attacked the left of Berry's division held by the 1st Massachusetts supported by the 11th New Jersey, and Berry regarding his position critical sent to Hooker for aid. Shortly afterward he was killed crossing the road, and Carr succeeded to the command. The two regiments were both badly shattered and compelled to fall back and reform in rear of the artillery at Fairview, while Franklin's brigade was rushed to the front in their stead. The remainder of Carr's line gave way from left to right as Pender and Thomas in succession fell upon its flank. French's division with some accessions from Hancock came to its rescue and formed obliquely to the Plank road. Lane's brigade which had suffered severely was compelled to retire and reform after the loss of one-third its strength. Mott's and Ruger's success, and French's advance made it a stand off fight, and Stuart ordered up his second line. Colston put in two brigades on either side of the road, but to meet a pressure on the right shifted Paxton to the south of the road, just in time to meet the Federal attack which was sweeping everything before it. Colston describes it as a critical moment. McGowan's and Pender's troops had exhausted their ammunition and were hugging their breastworks. One of the fiercest battles of the day followed. Paxton was killed, and also Garnett commanding