Two hundred and fifty against two thousand five hundred.
During the morning of the 24th
Wilson arrived upon the ridge, about one mile from the bridge.
He fixed his headquarters in the
[
53]
lawn of
Mr. McPhail's house, whence he could view the field of battle and all its approaches, and convinced that he would encounter stout resistance he made his preparations accordingly.
About 4 P. M. he moved two thousand five hundred dismounted riflemen under a brigade commander to make the attack.
The line advanced over this plain, which sweeps from the base of the ridge to the river bank.
No shot was fired, except from the cannon, as it approached in fine array, until within about fifty yards of the bridge, and every eye of the assailants was fixed upon the field-works and men beyond the river, when at
Coleman's command the force under the bank arose, and as one man poured in their unexpected fire.
The centre of the
Federal line was torn out—scarce a man of it escaped wounds or death—and the whole force soon fell back to the hills to reorganize its attack, and again advanced to be repulsed as before.
By this time night was falling and
General Wilson was convinced that he had to encounter greater resistance than he could overcome without great loss of time and men. This conviction was strengthened by
Mrs. McPhail, who told him that the force before him had been greatly increased since his approach had become known; that she had heard frequent arrivals of the trains from
Danville and the cheers when they reached the bridge with reinforcements from
Danville and
Charlotte, and that he would probably find ten thousand men to beat in the morning.
