The Confederates, pouring after, occupied the intrench-
ments left empty by Sickles' advance to the south. Jackson
seemed destined to sweep everything before him in a terrible
rout, but, out of the streaming crowd of fugitives, some bat-
teries belonging to the Eleventh Corps were halted on high
ground near Fair View and turned upon the enemy. New
batteries were added to them and their fire began to check
the ardor of the onslaught. Berry's division of Sickles' corps,
which was still in reserve, was hurried forward and formed
in line across the valley in front of the guns. A brigade from
the Second Corps was thrown into this line. Pleasonton,
returning from his expedition with Sickles, hurried forward
two regiments of cavalry to charge the victorious enemy.
Under cover of this heroic diversion he gathered more artillery
and rallied some fugitives to its support. Before the Confed-
erates could overcome its resistance Sickles led into the breach
the advance of his corps which he was now striving to bring
back from its perilous isolation.
From the northeast Sykes' division was racing to the assist-
ance of the crumbling right. Our Battalion, having been on




ROUTE OF THE SECOND BATTALION, MAY, 1S61, TO MAY, 1803



THE WAR OF THE REBELLION 145

respect of their commands. Whatever the Administration
may have thought of McClellan, it must be said that he won,
and never lost, the affections of his men to a degree second
only to the devotion of those who followed "The Little Cor-
poral." In a similar manner he was known everywhere among
his soldiery as "Little Mac," and survivors of the Army of
the Potomac yet so speak lovingly of their former commander.
Against him, especially these criticisms seemed to be directed.
