Late in the morning after DuPont's artillery bombardment, Colonel Augustus Moor reinforced his brigade with the 28th Ohio and advanced over the crossroad toward the Confederate position, but a withering and steady fire of musketry and artillery checked the attack. The flanks of the Union line collapsed, leaving the 28th Ohio alone in the center as the 45th Virginia counterattacked and threatened to drive it from the field. Moor ordered his men to lie down and fire, reducing their exposure, and their crashing volley slowed the attacking Confederates. Lieutenant Henry Ocker recalled that the regiment lay flat on their bellies, loaded their muskets on their backs, suffered great losses from the mass of fire aimed at them, and yet held position while other regiments on both sides fell back. Meanwhile, General Julius Stahel dismounted some of his cavalry one thousand feet to the front to support the Ohioans on their flanks and cover their withdrawal, aided by heavy fire from Federal cannon. The 28th Ohio then crawled rearward, stopping at times to fire, until reaching a place where they could stand and march safely into the woods. After repulsing Hunter's second assault, Confederate General William E. Jones saw an opportunity for a large-scale counterattack and repositioned troops for an assault, including moving regiments from General John C. Vaughn's Tennessee brigade from his right rear to his left wing, but in doing so opened a dangerous gap in his line five hundred yards behind.