Hancock followed Hill’s retreating forces, in the morning, a mile or more.  He maintained this position until, along in the afternoon, Longstreet came upon him.  The retreating column of Hill meeting reinforcements that had not yet been engaged, became encouraged and returned with them.  They were enabled, from the density of the forest, to approach within a few hundred yards of our advance before being discovered.  Falling upon a brigade of Hancock’s corps thrown to the advance, they swept it away almost instantly.  The enemy followed up his advantage and soon came upon Mott’s division, which fell back in great confusion.  Hancock made dispositions to hold his advanced position, but after holding it for a time, fell back into the position that he had held in the morning, which was strongly intrenched.  In this engagement the intrepid Wadsworth while trying to rally his men was mortally wounded and fell into the hands of the enemy.  The enemy followed up, but made no immediate attack.

The Confederate General Jenkins was killed and Longstreet seriously wounded in this engagement.  Longstreet had to leave the field, not to resume command for many weeks.  His loss was a severe one to Lee, and compensated in a great measure for the mishap, or misapprehensions, which had fallen to our lot during the day.

After Longstreet’s removal from the field Lee took command of his right in person.  He was not able, however, to rally his men to attack Hancock’s position, and withdrew from our front for the purpose of reforming.  Hancock sent a brigade to clear his front of all remnants that might be left of Longstreet’s or Hill’s commands.  This brigade having been formed at right angles to the intrenchments held by Hancock’s command, swept down the whole length of them from left to right.  A brigade of the enemy was encountered in this move; but it broke and disappeared without a contest.

Firing was continued after this, but with less fury.  Burnside had not yet been able to get up to render any assistance.  But it was now only about nine in the morning, and he was getting into position on Hancock’s right.

At 4.15 in the afternoon Lee attacked our left.  His line moved up to within a hundred yards of ours and opened a heavy fire.  This status was maintained for about half an hour.  Then a part of Mott’s division and Ward’s brigade of Birney’s division gave way and retired in disorder.  The enemy under R. H. Anderson took advantage of this and pushed through our line, planting their flags on a part of the intrenchments not on fire.  But owing to the efforts of Hancock, their success was but temporary.  Carroll, of Gibbon’s division, moved at a double quick with his brigade and drove back the enemy, inflicting great loss.  Fighting had continued from five in the morning sometimes along the whole line, at other times only in places.  The ground fought over had varied in width, but averaged three-quarters