Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 2.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

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[288] the stone bridge, so as to form the right wing of the army. Siegel and Reynolds were to form the centre and take position at Groveton to attack Jackson in front. McDowell and Porter were once more to retrace their steps, and from Manassas to throw themselves on the right flank of the enemy near the Gainesville road.

But Jackson had no idea of beating a retreat, for he was now certain of Longstreet's support. The latter was approaching with three of his four divisions, that of Anderson having been left behind; at the time when McDowell was leaving Manassas in the vain hope of forestalling him at Gainesville, he had already passed that point. Jackson, on his side, was drawing his line close, and taking up strong positions from Sudeley Springs to Groveton behind the unfinished embankments he had occupied the day before; he thus rested his left on Bull Run and extended his right so as to cover the Gainesville road, by which Longstreet was expected to debouch. It was in this position that Siegel came to attack him while Pope was trying to collect the different portions of his army.

The left of the Confederate line was formed by Hill's division; the centre by Ewell's, commanded by Lawton; the third by Taliaferro's division, under Starke, which lay across the Gainesville road and commanded all its approaches. Heintzelman and Reno on the right, McDowell and Porter on the left, had a long road to travel. Siegel therefore, who was almost touching the enemy, opened the fight single-handed at half-past 6 in the morning. Schurz' division, which had deployed to the right of the turnpike, attacked Lawton vigorously, while Milroy, with his brigade and a battery in the centre near the Stone House, and Schenck on the left of the road, cannonaded Starke's troops. The battle soon raged along the whole line. The Federals were gaining ground, especially on their left; for, Longstreet not having arrived, Jackson's right was still exposed. But that general, finding that his left was not menaced, soon concentrated his forces against Siegel, who had been contending alone for the last four hours, and whose soldiers were beginning to give way. Lawton had resumed the offensive, and the Federals could scarcely hold him in check. Just as Schenck was preparing to go to Schurz' assistance, he was