Along the edge of the pines Jackson placed his regiments, with six guns to support them.  Lying in rear of the guns were the 4th and 27th Virginia; on the right was the 5th; on the left the 2nd and 33rd.  Both flanks were in the woods, and Stuart, whom Jackson had called upon to secure his left, was watching the ground beyond the road.  To the front, for a space of five hundred yards, stretched the level crest of the hill; and the ground beyond the Henry House, dipping to the valley of Young’s Branch, where the Federals were now gathering, was wholly unseen.  But as the tactics of Wellington so often proved, a position from which the view is limited, well in rear of a crest line, may be exceedingly strong for defence, provided that troops who hold it can use the bayonet.  It would be difficult in the extreme for the Federals to pave the way for their attack with artillery.  From the guns on the Matthews Hill the Virginia regiments were well sheltered, and the range was long.  To do effective work the hostile batteries would have to cross Young’s Branch, ascend the Henry Hill, and come into action within five hundred yards of Jackson’s line.  Even if they were able to hold their ground at so short a range, they could make no accurate practice under the fire of the Confederate marksmen.

12 noon.

In rear of Jackson’s line, Bee, Bartow, and Evans were rallying their men, when Johnston and Beauregard, compelled, by the unexpected movement of the Federals, to abandon all idea of attack, appeared upon the Henry Hill.  They were accompanied by two batteries of artillery, Pendleton’s and Alburtis’.  The colours of the broken regiments were ordered to the front, and the men rallied, taking post on Jackson’s right.  The moment was critical.  The blue masses of the Federals, the dust rolling high above them, were already descending the opposite slopes.  The guns flashed fiercely through the yellow cloud; and the Confederate force was but a handful.  Three brigades had been summoned from the fords; but the nearest was four miles distant, and many of the troops upon the plateau were already half-demoralised by retreat.  The generals set themselves to revive the courage of their soldiers.  Beauregard galloped along the line, cheering the regiments in every portion of the field, and then, with the colour-bearers accompanying him, rode forward to the crest.  Johnston was equally conspicuous.  The enemy’s shells were bursting on every side, and the shouts of the Confederates, recognising their leaders as they dashed across the front, redoubled the uproar.  Meanwhile, before the centre of his line, with an unconcern which had a marvellous effect on his untried command, Jackson rode slowly to and fro.  Except that his face was a little paler, and his eyes brighter, he looked exactly as his men had seen him so often on parade; and as he passed along the crest above them they heard from time to time the reassuring words, uttered in a tone which betrayed no trace of excitement, “Steady, men! steady! all’s well!”