noon
And it was glorious , if rude . In front of that squad was a whole army-corps . The corps was advancing , supported by a tremendous artillery fire , to crush them -- and the tatterdemalions defied and laughed at them . This all took place before noon . Longstreet had come in from the north of the James with his skeleton regiments ; and these opposed a bold front to the enemy on the right , while Gordon commanding the left , below the city , was thundering . A cordon hemmed in the little army now , in the suburbs of Petersburg . The right , on the Boydton road , was carried away ; and the left beyond James River .