to see General Jackson himself walking quickly down the railroad cut, examining our position, and calmly looking into the wood that concealed the enemy!  Strange to say, he was not molested.”  Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13 page 27.) Ammunition had already given out; many of the men had but two or three cartridges remaining, and the volunteers who ran the gauntlet to procure fresh supplies were many of them shot down.  Moreover, nine hours’ fighting, much of it at close range, had piled the corpses thick upon the railroad, and the ranks of Hill’s brigades were terribly attenuated.  The second line had already been brought up to fill the gaps, and every brigade had been heavily engaged.

4 P.M.

It was about four o’clock, and for a short space the pressure on the Confederate lines relaxed.  The continuous roar of the artillery dwindled to a fitful cannonade; and along the edge of the wood, drooping under the heat, where the foliage was white with the dust of battle, the skirmishers let their rifles cool.  But the Valley soldiers knew that their respite would be short.  The Federal masses were still marching and counter-marching on the opposite hills; from the forest beyond long columns streamed steadily to the front, and near the Warrenton turnpike fresh batteries were coming into action.

Pope had ordered Kearney and Reno to make a fresh attack.  The former, one of the most dashing officers in the Federal army, disposed his division in two lines.  Reno, in the same formation, deployed upon Kearney’s right, and with their flank resting on Bull Run the five brigades went forward to the charge.  The Confederate batteries, posted on the ridge in rear, swept the open ground along the stream; but, regardless of their fire, the Federals came rapidly to close quarters, and seized the railroad.

4.30 P.M.

When Hill saw this formidable storm bursting on his lines he felt that the supreme moment had arrived.  Would Gregg, on whose front the division of Reno was bearing down, be able to hold his own?  That gallant soldier, although more than one half of his command lay dead or wounded, replied, in answer to his chief’s enquiry, that his ammunition was almost expended, but that he had still the bayonet.  Nevertheless, the pressure was too heavy for his wearied troops.  Foot by foot they were forced back, and, at the same moment, Thomas, Field, and Branch, still fighting desperately, were compelled to yield their ground.  Hill, anxiously looking for succour, had already called on Early.  The enemy, swarming across the railroad, had penetrated to a point three hundred yards within the Confederate position.  But the grey line was not yet shattered.  The men of the Light Division, though borne backwards by the rush, still faced towards the foe; and Early’s brigade, supported by two regiments of Lawton’s division, advanced with levelled bayonets, drove through the tumult, and opposed a solid line to the crowd of Federals.