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Hill and the ridge above, which halted and took position behind the embankment of the road.
In the valley between Guest's and Downman's houses, was observed a considerable body of infantry, and at Downman's house a battery of artillery.
Gordon threw out his skirmishers and made preparations to descend the hill and cross over Hazel Run above Marye's Hill.
Andrews placed Graham's battery in position on the road and opened on the infantry in the valley, which moved out of the way. Two large bodies of infantry, supposed to be brigades, each then moved over the ridge just beyond the Alum Spring Mill, threatening Gordon's left, as he was advancing.
Graham turned his guns on them and soon drove them off up the ridge.
Gordon then made a dash across the run and after a sharp engagement drove off the infantry behind the road embankment, capturing some prisoners and securing several baggage and subsistence wagons, a battery wagon, and a forge-with their teams,--which were passing up the road with the infantry he encountered.
This gave us the possession of Marye's and Cemetery Hills again, and cut the enemy's connection with Fredericksburg.
Arriving soon after with Smith's brigade I threw it across Hazel Run to the support of Gordon, the batteries from the Stafford Heights opening a heavy fire on it as it descended Lee's Hill.
Barksdale's brigade, which had halted in the rear without orders, was then sent for, to occupy the stone wall at the foot of Marye's Hill, and General Barksdale was ordered to move rapidly into the town if not held by too large a force, get possession of the bridge, and secure a camp of wagons seen at the lower part of the town.
When Graham's guns were operating upon the bodies of infantry in the valley between Guest's and Downmann's houses and those threatening Gordon's flank, the enemy's battery-at Downman's house,--opened fire on them, but as soon as the infantry was disposed of, Graham turned his two 20 pounder Parrots on the enemy's guns, which returned
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