The Confederate Right

At the beginning of the battle, the Confederate right flank extended toward the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike at the bottom of the hill to the right, and the main Union attack struck this part of the Confederate line. As Union pressure mounted, the Confederate position was endangered, and reinforcements under Confederate Gen. William A. Taliaferro arrived from the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike over the ridge behind and hurried into line. As the battle progressed, the right flank was bent back at a right angle to meet the increasing pressure. Thick smoke and the setting sun added to the chaos on the battlefield. Confederate Gen. Edward "Allegheny" Johnson, commanding the forces on the ridge, was severely wounded in the ankle and removed from the field, and Taliaferro assumed command. Confederate Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, directing reinforcements from the valley below, sent his mapmaker, Jedediah Hotchkiss, to find Taliaferro and instruct him to hold his position. Hotchkiss later recalled scrambling to the top of the mountain after the fighting had only just ceased and finding everything in confusion, with men mixed up, searching for the wounded, and reforming in anticipation of another attack. After delivering his message to Taliaferro, Hotchkiss rejoined Jackson, and they soon received word that the battle had ended.

Virginia · United States