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About one P. M. the main attack on the right began by a furious cannonade, under cover of which these compact lines of infantry advanced against
Hill's front.
They were received as before by our batteries, by whose fire they were momentarily checked, but soon recovering, they pressed forward until coming within range of our infantry the contest became fierce and bloody.
Archer and
Lane repulsed that portion of the line immediately in front of them; but before the interval between these commands could be closed, the enemy pressed through in overwhelming numbers and turned the left of
Archer and the right of
Lane.
Attacked in front and flank two regiments of the former and the brigade of the latter, after a brave and obstinate resistance, gave way.
Archer held his line with the First Tennessee, and with the Fifth Alabama battalion, assisted by the Forty-seventh Virginia regiment and the Twenty-second Virginia battalion, continued the struggle until the arrival of reinforcements.
Thomas came gallantly to the relief of
Lane, and joined by the Seventh and part of the Eighteenth North Carolina of that brigade, repulsed the column that had broken
Lane's line and drove it back to the road.
In the meantime a large force had penetrated the woods as far as
Hill's reserves, nd encountered
Gregg's brigade.
The attack was so sudden and unexpected that
Orr's rifles, mistaking the enemy for our own troops retiring, were thrown into confusion.
While in the act of rallying them that brave soldier and true patriot,
Brigadier-General Maxey Gregg, fell mortally wounded.
After this battle our brigade was ordered to “
Moss neck,” below
Fredericksburg, and went into winter quarters in the woods around the residence of
a Mr. Corbin.
