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FIGHTING JACKSON AT KERNSTOWN.

Near 2 p. m. Jackson again moved forward to the attack with artillery andinfantry, while his cavalry threatened my left flank. His advancing columncame boldly forward, seemingly intent upon driving us from our position andmoving directly forward to Winchester. My gallant line of skirmishersopened their fire upon the deploying column, but were forced back undercover of our main line, which once more poured its destructive fire from riflesand batteries into the ranks of the gallant enemy, and again compelled himto fall back to the point from which he had advanced. While making thissecond attempt by direct attack, Jackson was moving troops to his left, withthe aim of passing beyond my right. Colonel Tyler coming to the front inperson just after this last repulse of the enemy, I pointed out the unpro-tected condition of my right and the open and unoccupied position beyondit, and the movement of the enemy’s forces in that direction, and directedhim to move his brigade as quickly as possible to secure the position. I alsoordered what cavalry I had to move to the right of Tyler’s brigade and in sup-port of it. When repulsed in the last attack, the enemy’s troops retreatedfrom the front of my right toward the point in the woods where Jackson hadmassed his forces for an attack against my extreme right, and to move aroundthat flank. Satisfied by this and other movements from the enemy’s light ofhis intentions, I prepared to meet him and end the contest. At 8:30 p. m. theenemy commenced his movement, announcing it by solid shot upon my linefrom the hills behind which his forces were moving, and advanced across theopen field toward the point to which I had ordered Tyler’s brigade. Theenemy’s skirmishers, advancing, met Tyler’s just as they were emerging fromthe wood and checked their advance. Tyler soon deployed and, advancing,forced this line back to their main line now under protection of a stone-wall,when the enemy poured such fire from his muskets and batteries as to checkTyler’s farther advance.

The enemy made frequent attempts to advance, but they were held byTyler’s gallant men to their cover, and the battle now raged in all its fury,neither line giving way. Jackson had withdrawn his brigades from his right,leaving only a small force to guard that flank. To meet his masses, nowmoving to force Tyler back, regiments and batteries were drawn from ourleft to strengthen our center. The time having come for the decisive move-ment, my First Brigade, with the supports from the left, and Sullivan’s, weremade ready. Directing Colonel Sullivan to follow the movements of forceson our right, I ordered the line forward. With a quick move at right-half-wheel, the gallant fellows, under Harrow, Patrick, Foster, Murray, and Voris,with loud cheers, dashed forward through the terrific storm of shot and shellfrom the enemy’s stone-wall and batteries; nor did they halt or falter until theenemy was driven from his protection, and his advancing lines were checked.Our line now had the wall so long held by Jackson. But soon the sturdy foe,reenforced, advanced again to retake the position; they were met by men asgallant and as determined as themselves, and in answer to their wild “ rebelyell ” loud cheers were given from our line as it dashed forward. With Tyler’sgallant brigade and our fearless little band of cavalry rounding his flank,