George H. Gordon, From Brook Farm to Cedar Mountain

[179] and made up his mind therefore to attack Jackson and drive him away from this threatening position. Schenck made no objections (he was the ranking officer), and Milroy with his own brigade (the 25th, 75th, and 32d Ohio, and 3d Virginia regiments), and one regiment of Schenck's brigade (82d Ohio), moved forward to the hill. The whole force Milroy reported to be from 2,200 to 2,300 men. It was nearly three o'clock in the afternoon when Jackson saw the Federals advancing, and formed his line to meet them. The 52d Virginia on the left (the 58th in support), the 12th Georgia in the centre, on the crest of the hill, and the 44th Virginia on the right, near a ravine, formed a curved line, convex towards their enemy. The foot of the hill was wooded; and not until this was passed did the 25th and 75th Ohio, under Colonel McLean, meet the Confederate skirmishers and push them back to the Confederate line of battle, when a fierce encounter took place. While this was going on, Milroy sent his 32d and 82d Ohio and 3d Virginia to turn the Confederate right. But Jackson was up to that: he had placed the 31st and 25th Virginia where they could be used to frustrate such an attempt.

Notwithstanding the Confederate reinforcements, the Federals fought on, attacking simultaneously the enemy's left, centre, and right. But the Confederates found cover in undulations of the ground; and having also the advantage of position, they held their line, despite the most persistent efforts to dislodge them. The occupation by the Confederates of an elevated piece of woods on their right and rear materially interfered with further Federal efforts to turn the flank of Jackson's line. Night came on. The battle, which had lasted four hours,--from half-past 4 to halfpast eight,--ended with the retreat of the Federals.¹