The Confederates on Manor's Hill

Shortly after noon, Confederate forces attacked the Federals on the River Road and Manor's Hill line and met little resistance because Union commander Gen. Franz Sigel, seeing his troops were outmanned, had ordered most of them to withdraw to Bushong's Hill, about a mile away, to form a new line with additional troops just arriving on the field. Sigel left the 18th Connecticut and 123rd Ohio on Rice's Hill, four hundred yards to the front, hoping they could slow the Confederates long enough for the new position on Bushong's Hill to be established. After reaching this height in the wake of the withdrawing Federals, the Confederates paused to reform their lines before resuming the attack. Southern artillery opened fire and engaged Union cannon, while to the east a company of the 22nd Virginia cleared New Market of Federals and Gen. John Imboden took his cavalry on a sweeping move to the other side of Smith Creek. Gen. Gabriel Wharton's brigade formed the bulk of the troops on the high ground, with the VMI Cadets in reserve and four cannon of Jackson's Battery, commanded by Lt. Randolph H. Blain, providing artillery support. Breckinridge also moved the 26th Virginia Battalion, part of Gen. John Echols brigade, to the left end of the line in hopes of turning the Union flank, while Echols accompanied the 20th and left the rest of his brigade near the Valley Pike under the command of Col. George S. Patton. Just before the next advance, Breckinridge galloped up to this height, and about 2pm the Confederates moved forward to attack the Rice's Hill line, advancing across the ground ahead as the infantry raised the Rebel yell and Jackson's guns fired in support, unleashing a storm of shot and shell against the outmanned Federals.

New Market, Virginia · United States