two o'clock
Hour after hour passed , and the thunder deepened on the Warrenton road ; then the General learned , with unutterable chagrin , that his order for an advance on Centreville had miscarried , that a brilliant plan had been frustrated , and that new combinations and dispositions must now be resorted to . The regiment to which Major Huntingdon was attached was ordered to the support of the left wing , and reached the distant position in an almost incredibly short time , while two regiments of the brigade to which Colonel Aubrey belonged were sent forward to the same point as a reserve . Like incarnations of victory , Beauregard and Johnston swept to the front where the conflict was most deadly ; everywhere , at sight of them , our thin ranks dashed forward , and were mowed down by the fire of Rickett 's and Griffin 's batteries , which crowned the position they were so eager to regain . At half-past two o'clock the awful contest was at its height ; the rattle of musketry , the ceaseless whistle of rifle balls , the deafening boom of artillery , the hurtling hail of shot , the explosion of shell , dense volumes of smoke shrouding the combatants , and clouds of dust boiling up on all sides , lent unutterable horror to a scene which , to cold , dispassionate observers , might have seemed sublime . As the vastly superior numbers of the Federals forced our stubborn bands to give back slowly , an order came from General Beauregard for the right of his line , except the reserves , to advance , and recover the long and desperately disputed plateau . With a shout , the shattered lines sprang upon the foe and forced them temporarily back . Major Huntingdon 's horse was shot under him ; he disengaged himself and marched on foot , waving his sword and uttering words of encouragement .