Cornfield

The 79th New York was now under fire from Thomas' Brigade on the left who had come up to replace Gregg's Brigade at the edge of the cornfield. Early's Brigade also began to present a front as it organized a second line of defense. With Early's presence, the routed Louisiana regiments steadied, and joined his line.

At this moment, as described in the 79th New York's regimental history,

"The enemy were in heavy force on the left, although driven in the front, and the contest now raged with great fury over the cornfield."

Indeed, Steven's charge had drifted to the northwest as had the rest of the 1st Division aligned to his left. Accordingly, the Confederate right was obliged to do so as well. The maelstrom of the conflict was now wholly into the cornfield and western woods.

The Confederates had finished their ill timed maneuvering and were now somewhat organized. General Jubal Early's Brigade and the Louisiana regiments formed the eastern battleline to the front of the grass field. Thomas', Pender's, and Branch's Brigades continued the battleline to the west wrapping it around the northern boundary of the cornfield. Gregg's and Field's Brigades formed a second line behind the three brigades as they reorganized their regiments.

Command of the 1st Division, IX Corps now passed on to Colonel Christ of the 50th Pennsylvania. Christ was heavily engaged on the left and was unable to reform the Division. To the right, the 28th Massachusetts and the 79th New York with their general dead, short of ammunition and