[Footnote 1:  The hour of Longstreet’s arrival has been strangely a subject of discussion.  The truth is stated in the reports of Lee, Longstreet, Jones, and other officers.  But General Pope was ignorant of Longstreet’s presence at five in the evening; and General Porter, his subordinate, was dismissed from the army for not at that hour attacking Jackson’s right, declared by General Pope to be undefended.  Longstreet was in line of battle by noon.]

VI.

THE SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS.

Lee’s order of battle for the coming action was peculiar.  It resembled an open V, with the opening toward the enemy—­Jackson’s corps forming the left wing, and extending from near Sudley, to a point in rear of the small village of Groveton, Longstreet’s corps forming the right wing, and reaching from Jackson’s right to and beyond the Warrenton road which runs to Stonebridge.

The field of battle was nearly identical with that of July 21, 1861.  The only difference was, that the Confederates occupied the ground formerly held by the Federal troops, and that the latter attacked, as Johnston and Beauregard had attacked, from the direction of Manassas, and the tableland around the well-known Henry House.

The Southern order of battle seems to have contemplated a movement on one or both of General Pope’s flanks while he attacked in front.  An assault on either wing would expose him to danger from the other, and it will be seen that the fate of the battle was decided by this judicious arrangement of the Confederate commander.

The action began a little after noon, when the Federal right, consisting of the troops of Generals Banks, Sigel, and others, advanced and made a vigorous attack on Jackson’s left, under A.P.  Hill.  An obstinate conflict ensued, the opposing lines fighting almost bayonet to bayonet, “delivering their volleys into each other at the distance of ten paces.”  At the first charge, an interval between two of Hill’s brigades was penetrated by the enemy, and that wing of Jackson’s corps was in great danger of being driven back.  This disaster was, however, prevented by the prompt stand made by two or three regiments; the enemy was checked, and a prompt counter-charge drove the Federal assaulting columns back into the woods.

The attempt to break Jackson’s line at this point was not, however, abandoned.  The Federal troops returned again and again to the encounter, and General Hill reported “six separate and distinct assaults” made upon him.  They were all repulsed, in which important assistance was rendered by General Early.  That brave officer attacked with vigor, and, aided by the fire of the Confederate artillery from the elevated ground in Jackson’s rear, drove the enemy before him with such slaughter that one of their regiments is said to have carried back but three men.

This assault of the enemy had been of so determined a character, that General Lee, in order to relieve his left, had directed Hood and Evans, near his centre, to advance and attack the left of the assaulting column.  Hood was about to do so, when he found a heavy force advancing to charge his own line.  A warm engagement followed, which resulted in the repulse of the enemy, and Hood followed them a considerable distance, inflicting heavy loss.