Part 44 (2/2)
The two Generals put spurs to their horses and dashed to the scene of action, sending their couriers flying to countermand their first orders.
They reached the scene at the moment Bee's and Evans' shattered lines were taking refuge in a wooded ravine and Jackson had moved his men into a position to breast the shock of the enemy's avalanche.
In his excitement Johnston seized the colors of the fourth Alabama regiment and offered to lead them in a charge.
Beauregard leaped from his horse, faced the troops and shouted:
”I have come to die with you!”
The first of the reserves were rus.h.i.+ng to the front in a desperate effort to save the day. But in spite of the presence of the two Commanding Generals, in spite of the living stone wall Jackson had thrown in the path of the Union hosts, a large part of the crushed left wing could not be stopped and in mad panic broke for the rear toward Mana.s.sas Junction.
The fate of the Southern army hung on the problem of holding the hill behind Jackson's brigade. On its b.l.o.o.d.y slopes his men crouched with rifles leveled and from them poured a steady flame into the ranks of the charging Union columns.
Beauregard led the right wing of his newly formed battle line and Jackson the center in a desperate charge. The Union ranks were pierced and driven, only to re-form instantly and hurl their a.s.sailants back to their former position. Charge and counter-charge followed in rapid and terrible succession.
The Confederates were being slowly overwhelmed. The combined Union divisions now consisted of an enveloping battle line of twenty thousand infantry, seven companies of cavalry and twenty-four pieces of artillery, while behind them yet hung ten thousand reserves eager to rush into action.
Beauregard's combined forces defending the hill were scarcely seven thousand men. At two o'clock the desperate Southern commander succeeded in bringing up additional regiments from his right wing. Two brigades at last were thrown into the storm center and a shout rose from the hard-pressed Confederates. Again they charged, drove the Union hosts back and captured a battery of artillery.
The hill was saved and the enemy driven across the turnpike into the woods.
McDowell now hurried in a division of his reserves and re-formed his battle line for the final grand a.s.sault. Once more he demonstrated his skill by throwing his right wing into a wide circling movement to envelop the Confederate position on its left flank.
The scene was magnificent. As far as the eye could reach the glittering bayonets of the Union infantry could be seen sweeping steadily through field and wood flanked by its cavalry. Beauregard watched the cordon of steel draw around his hard-pressed men and planted his regiments with desperate determination to hurl them back.
Far off in the distance rose a new cloud of dust in the direction of the Mana.s.sas railroad. At their head was lifted a flag whose folds drooped in the hot, blistering July air. They were moving directly on the rear of McDowell's circling right wing.
If they were Union reserves the day was lost.
The Southerner lifted his field gla.s.ses and watched the drooping flag now shrouded in dust--now emerging in the blazing sun. His gla.s.ses were not strong enough. He could not make out its colors.
Beauregard turned to Colonel Evans, whose little regiment had fought with sullen desperation since sunrise.
”I can't make out that flag. If it's Patterson's army from the valley--G.o.d help us--”
”It may be Elzey and Kirby Smith's regiments,” Evans replied. ”They're lost somewhere along the road from Winchester.”
Again Beauregard strained his eyes on the steadily advancing flag. It was a moment of crus.h.i.+ng agony.
”I'm afraid it's Patterson's men. We must fall back on our last reserve--”
He quickly lowered his gla.s.ses.
”I haven't a courier left, Colonel. You must help me--”
”Certainly, General.”
”Find Johnston, and ask him to at once ma.s.s the reserves to support and protect our retreat--”
Evans started immediately to execute the order.
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