Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 3.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

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[67] the woods extend in a south-easterly direction, he orders Rodes to send a portion of his troops to occupy them. The Confederates, as we have stated, have taken possession of these works in the vicinity of the road, but have abandoned them after Pleasonton's cannonade, and this line has remained unoccupied between the two opposing parties.

Being desirous of reconnoitring in person this position, which gives him the key to the whole system of Hooker's interior defences, Jackson presses forward, followed only by a few mounted men, whilst Hill, without waiting for the remainder of his division, takes Lane's brigade, which, having escorted the artillery along the road, is the first at hand, and posts it in front of Rodes' division. This and Colston's division being in the greatest state of confusion, it has been found impossible to detach a line of skirmishers from it in order to clear the wood in front of them. Hill has ordered Lane to employ one regiment in forming this line, but Jackson passes on before the order has been executed, and, ignorant of this fact, he advances without mistrust in the direction of the enemy. Hill, seeing him before him, follows him close with his staff. It is ten o'clock in the evening. The night is dark; a profound silence has succeeded the din of battle. The exhausted conquerors are waiting for the third line to take their place, and confine themselves to keeping up a brisk fire along their line of skirmishers, which has finally taken position on the outskirts of the wood. On the side of the Federals, Sickles, always ready for an attack, has asked Hooker for permission to take the offensive with his three divisions as soon as he shall have been able to organize his line of battle. In the mean while, Berry's and Birney's battalions, the latter south, the former north, of the position defended by Pleasonton, cause their skirmishers to advance, who drive back those of the enemy and cautiously penetrate into the forest. Birney's skirmishers soon perceive the group of mounted men on the road formed by Jackson's staff, and open fire upon them. The Confederate general, perceiving his error, rushes hurriedly into the wood, northward, in order to avoid the bullets and join, through the thicket, his line formed on that side by the Eighteenth North Carolina, which is stationed about one hundred yards in the rear; Hill