It was now past two o’clock in the afternoon, and General Lee listened with anxiety for the sound of guns from the left, which would herald the approach of General Jackson.  Nothing was heard from that quarter, however, and affairs were growing critical.  The Confederate attack had been repulsed—­the Federal position seemed impregnable—­and “it became apparent,” says General Lee, “that the enemy were gradually gaining ground.”  Under these circumstances, General McClellan might adopt either one of the two courses both alike dangerous to the Confederates.  He might cross a heavy force to the assistance of General Porter, thus enabling that officer to assume the offensive; or, finding Lee thus checked, he might advance on Magruder, crush the small force under him, and seize on Richmond, which would be at his mercy.  It was thus necessary to act without delay, while awaiting the appearance of Jackson.  General Lee, accordingly, directed General Longstreet, who had taken position to the right of Cold Harbor, to make a feint against the Federal left, and thus relieve the pressure on Hill.  Longstreet proceeded with promptness to obey the order; advanced in face of a heavy fire, and with a cross-fire of artillery raking his right from over the Chickahominy, and made the feint which had been ordered by General Lee.  It effected nothing; and, to attain the desired result, it was found necessary to turn the feint into a real attack.  This Longstreet proceeded to do, first dispersing with a single volley a force of cavalry which had the temerity to charge his infantry.  As he advanced and attacked the powerful position before him, the roar of guns, succeeded by loud cheers, was heard on the left of Lee’s line.

Jackson had arrived and thrown his troops into action without delay.  He then rode forward to Cold Harbor, where General Lee awaited him, and the two soldiers shook hands in the midst of tumultuous cheering from the troops, who had received intelligence that Jackson’s corps had joined them.  The contrast between the two men was extremely striking.  We have presented a brief sketch of Lee’s personal appearance upon the occasion—­of the grave commander-in-chief, with his erect and graceful seat in the saddle, his imposing dignity of demeanor, and his calm and measured tones, as deliberate as though he were in a drawing-room.  Jackson was a very different personage.  He was clad in a dingy old coat, wore a discolored cadet-cap, tilted almost upon his nose, and rode a rawboned horse, with short stirrups, which raised his knees in the most ungraceful manner.  Neither in his face nor figure was there the least indication of the great faculties of the man, and a more awkward-looking personage it would be impossible to imagine.  In his hand he held a lemon, which he sucked from time to time, and his demeanor was abstracted and absent.

As Jackson approached, Lee rode toward him and greeted him with a cordial pressure of the hand.