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[298] this position, when Porter made his great attack, Warren had stubbornly covered the left flank of his chief. But the reverse sustained by the latter obliged him to fall back with the remainder of the corps. Jackson's soldiers, however, did not follow up their success to any great extent. They had cruelly suffered in the recent battles; and Lee, relying upon their vigor, had not reinforced them. By this means he had been able to mass all his forces upon his right wing, which was to strike the decisive blow against the enemy. Consequently, while King and a portion of Siegel's corps found no great difficulty in maintaining themselves in the centre in the midst of an intermittent fire of musketry, the battle raged with increased violence south of the road, where the Federals were severely pressed. It was five o'clock in the evening. Siegel detached Milroy's brigade in that direction; but not having taken a good position, it could not check the assailants, while Reynolds, who, as we have said, formed the extreme left, finally lost a portion of the ridge of Bald Hill. McLean's brigade, posted near him, thus became uncovered and exposed to an enfilading fire; the Confederates took advantage of this, and by a vigorous charge made themselves masters of all this height. It was in vain that Siegel sent Kolter's brigade to recapture it, which bravely rushed to the assault. It was repulsed after seeing its commander struck down. From the point they occupied, the Confederates, having entire command of the road, took the left wing and the centre of their adversary in the rear, menacing his communications with the stone bridge. The Federals were compelled to retire in great haste, so as not to lose this indispensable line of retreat. Indeed, Longstreet was following up his success. His artillery, posted on the heights, swept the main road; his troops were advancing and already preparing to carry the hill crowned by the Henry House. But at this juncture they were checked by Buchanan's brigade of regular infantry, whose unfaltering stand under a terrific fire vindicated the reputation of the troops daelite of which it was composed. This brigade was soon reinforced by that of Tower of Ricketts' division, which vied with them in ardor. Reynolds having again come into line, his two brigades under Meade and Seymour joined these troops, forming a nucleus around which grouped regiments and batteries that had

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