September 18.

When the day dawned the Confederate divisions, reinforced by some 5000 or 6000 stragglers, held the same position as the previous evening, and over against them, seen dimly through the mist, lay the Federal lines.  The skirmishers, crouching behind the shattered fences, confronted each other at short range; the guns of both armies were unlimbered, and the masses of infantry, further to the rear, lay ready for instant conflict.  But not a shot was fired.  The sun rose higher in the heavens; the warm breath of the autumn morning rustled in the woods, but still the same strange silence prevailed.  The men spoke in undertones, watching intently the movements of staff officers and orderlies; but the ranks lay as still as the inanimate forms, half hidden by the trodden corn, which lay so thickly between the lines; and as the hours passed on without stir or shot, the Southern generals acknowledged that Lee’s daring in offering battle was fully justified.  The enemy’s aggressive strength was evidently exhausted; and then arose the question, Could the Confederates attack?  It would seem that the possibility of a great counterstroke had already been the subject of debate, and that Lee, despite the failure of the previous evening, and Jackson’s adverse report, believed that the Federal right might be outflanked and overwhelmed.  “During the morning,” writes General Stephen D. Lee, “a courier from headquarters came to my battalion of artillery with a message that the Commander-in-Chief wished to see me.  I followed the courier, and on meeting General Lee, he said, “Colonel Lee, I wish you to go with this courier to General Jackson, and say that I sent you to report to him.”  I replied, “General, shall I take my batteries with me?” He said, “No, just say that I told you to report to him, and he will tell you what he wants.”  I soon reached General Jackson.  He was dismounted, with but few persons round him.  He said to me, “Colonel Lee, I wish you to take a ride with me,” and we rode to the left of our lines with but one courier, I think.  We soon reached a considerable hill and dismounted.  General Jackson then said, “Let us go up this hill, and be careful not to expose yourself, for the Federal sharpshooters are not far off.”  The hill bore evidence of fierce fight the day before.* (* Evidently the ridge which had been held by Stuart on the 17th.) A battery of artillery had been on it, and there were wrecked caissons, broken wheels, dead bodies, and dead horses around.  General Jackson said:  “Colonel, I wish you to take your glasses and carefully examine the Federal line of battle.”  I did so, and saw a remarkably strong line of battle, with more troops than I knew General Lee had.  After locating the different batteries, unlimbered and ready for action, and noting the strong skirmish line, in front of the dense masses of infantry, I said to him, “General, that is a very strong position, and there is a large force there.”  He said, “Yes.