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Withers's 18th regiment of Cocke's brigade, with Hampton's Legion, followed the charge, and captured several rifled pieces, which were instantly turned against the enemy with effect.
While the Federal troops had been driven back on our right, across the turnpike and beyond Young's Branch, the woods on our left yet swarmed with them.
Just then arrived, most opportunely, Kershaw's 2d and Cash's 8th South Carolina regiments.
They were led through the oaks, east of the Sudley-Brentsville road, where, after sweeping the enemy before them, they took up a commanding position on the west, and opened a galling fire upon those commands—including the regular infantry—which had rallied in the southwest angle of the plateau, under cover of a strong Federal brigade.
Kemper's battery, evolving northward by the same road, joined with signal effect in the attack on the enemy's right.
Preston's 28th regiment of Cocke's brigade had also come up. It encountered some Michigan troops on the way, and captured Colonel Wilcox, their brigade commander.
Our army had received another important reinforcement.
While these stirring events were taking place (3 P. M.) part of Brigadier-General Kirby Smith's command, some seventeen hundred infantry of Elzey's brigade, and Beckham's battery, were seen hurrying to the field, from Camp Pickens (Manassas), where they had arrived by rail, two or three hours before.
General Johnston had directed them to the left of our line, where he thought reinforcements were most needed.
Just as they reached their position, south of the Henry House, General Smith was severely wounded, and compelled to retire to the rear.
His place was filled by Colonel Elzey, an officer of merit, who displayed great discernment in selecting the ground for the battery attached to his command.
Its accurate firing, under Lieutenant Beckham, occasioned much damage to the Federal right.
Colonel Early, who should have moved up with his command, at noon, did not receive the order to do so until 2 P. M. He appeared upon the field just after Elzey, with Kemper's 7th Virginia, Hay's 7th Louisiana, and Barksdale's 13th Mississippi.
He was drawn up in line of battle near Chinn's House, flanking the enemy's right.
The clouds of dust raised by the advance of his force, in a direction from which none of our troops were expected at the time, had caused the keenest anxiety to General Beauregard, who thought it might be another column of the
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