Noon
Beauregard , called by the cannon , arrived upon the field only an hour before noon , meeting on the way many fugitives , whom he and his officers drove back into the battle . Hampton 's South Carolina Legion , which reached Richmond only that morning , came by train and landed directly upon the battlefield about noon . In five minutes it was in the thick of the battle , and it alone stemmed a terrific rush of Sherman , when all others gave way . Noon had passed and the heart of McDowell swelled with exultation . The Northern troops were still gaining ground , and at many points the Southern line was crushed . Some of the recruits in gray , their nerves shaken horribly , were beginning to run . But fresh troops coming up met them and turned them back to the field .