The battle did not commence until ten o’clock, owing to the dense fog, through which the light of the sun could scarcely pierce.  At that hour the mist lifted and rolled away, and the Confederates posted on the ridge saw a heavy column of infantry advancing to attack their right, near the Hamilton House.  This force was Meade’s division, supported by Gibbon’s, with a third in reserve, General Franklin having put in action as many troops as his orders ("a division at least”) permitted.  General Meade was arrested for some time by a minute but most annoying obstacle.  Stuart had placed a single piece of artillery, under Major John Pelham, near the point where the old Richmond and River roads meet—­that is, directly on the flank of the advancing column—­and this gun now opened a rapid and determined fire upon General Meade.  Major Pelham—­almost a boy in years—­continued to hold his exposed position with great gallantry, although the enemy opened fire upon him with several batteries, killing a number of his gunners.  General Lee witnessed this duel from the hill on which he had taken his stand, and is said to have exclaimed, “It is glorious to see such courage in one so young!” [Footnote:  General Lee’s opinion of Major Pelham appears from his report, in which he styles the young officer “the gallant Pelham,” and says:  “Four batteries immediately turned upon him, but he sustained their heavy fire with the unflinching courage that ever distinguished him.”  Pelham fell at Kelly’s Ford in March, 1863.]

Pelham continued the cannonade for about two hours, only retiring when he received a peremptory order from Jackson to do so; and it would seem that this one gun caused a considerable delay in the attack.  “Meade advanced across the plain, but had not proceeded far,” says Mr. Swinton, “before he was compelled to stop and silence a battery that Stuart had posted on the Port Royal road.”  Having brushed away this annoying obstacle, General Meade, with a force which he states to have amounted to ten thousand men, advanced rapidly to attack the hill upon which the Confederates awaited him.  He was suffered to approach within a few hundred yards, when Jackson’s artillery, under Colonel Walker, posted near the end of the ridge, opened a sudden and furious fire, which threw the Federal line into temporary confusion.  The troops soon rallied, however, and advanced again to the attack, which fell on Jackson’s front line under A.P.  Hill.  The struggle which now ensued was fierce and bloody, but, a gap having been left between the brigades of Archer and Lane, the enemy pierced the opening, turning the left of one brigade and the right of the other, pressed on, attacked Gregg’s brigade of Hill’s reserve, threw it into confusion, and seemed about to carry the crest.  Gregg’s brigade was quickly rallied, however, by its brave commander, who soon afterward fell, mortally wounded; the further progress of the enemy was checked, and, Jackson’s second line rapidly advancing, the enemy were met and