one o'clock
The guns of the Northern batteries at once replied , and for some hours the artillery duel continued , the Federal guns doing heavy execution . For a time attacks were threatened from various points , but about ten o'clock , when the fog lifted , a mass of some 55,000 troops advanced against Jackson . They were suffered to come within 800 yards before a gun was fired , and then fourteen guns opened upon them with such effect that they fell back in confusion . At one o'clock another attempt was made , covered by a tremendous fire of artillery . For a time the columns of attack were kept at bay by the fire of the Confederate batteries , but they advanced with great resolution , pushed their way through Jackson 's first line , and forced them to fall back . Jackson brought up his second line and drove the enemy back with great slaughter until his advance was checked by the fire of the Northern artillery . All day the fight went on , the Federals attempting to crush the Confederate artillery by the weight of their fire in order that their infantry columns might again advance .