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| Wilderness church — the scene of Jackson's second rush The shots that riddled the roof of this humble meeting-house were fired on an evening of triumph and panic. Beyond the church, as the sun sank low on May 2d, stretched the main Union line, Howard's Eleventh Corps. The troops had stacked their arms and lay at ease. Supper was cooking. Suddenly bugle-calls came from the west. Then a roar of human voices swept the forest. A double battle-line in gray burst from the woods, ran over the gunners, and shattered the divisions into fragments. Gallant Federal officers did their best to re-form their lines. With the little church at about the center, a stand was made by five thousand men of Schurz's division, with some of Devens'--but without respite Jackson gave the call to advance. After twenty minutes of furious fighting, the Confederate battle-flag flew in the clearing. It was then that the fugitives from the Eleventh Corps came in sight. |
