nine o'clock at night
His army was still divided by the Chickahominy River , but he had so thoroughly bridged its treacherous waters he apparently had no fear of coming results . On June the 27th Stonewall Jackson had slipped from the Shenandoah Valley , baffling two armies converging on him from different directions , and with a single tiger leap had landed his indomitable little army by Lee 's side . Anticipating his arrival , the Confederate general had hurled Hill 's corps against the Union right wing under Porter . Throughout the day of the 26th and until nine o'clock at night the battle raged with unabated fury . The losses on both sides were frightful and neither had gained a victory . But at nine o'clock the Federal Commander ordered his right wing to retreat five miles to Gaines Mill and cover his withdrawal of heavy guns and supplies . They were ordered at all hazards to hold Jackson 's fresh troops at bay until this undertaking was well under way .