4:30 PM |
"The Attack" |
| It was now 4:30 pm... General Stevens had
deployed the main body of his 1st Division and elements of Reno's 2nd Division in a 45
acre field southeast of the Reid house extending east across West Ox Road and into thick
woods. Benjamin's reinforced battery had a field of fire from near the railroad grade that
covered the fields and crest of Ox Hill as well as West Ox Road itself. The still ailing
General Reno had now arrived with Ferrero's 2nd Brigade of the 2nd Division and yielded
tactical control of the battle to General Stevens. Stevens must have suspected that Jackson was in the process of deploying his troops too. He decided not to wait for his own troops to fully deploy or for reinforcements to arrive before starting his attack. Furthermore, his deployment was on a narrow front so as to maximize the fire power of his outnumbered troops right at the point of attack. Ominous looking clouds darkened even more and a wind kicked up from the south as the Union troops started once again to advance across the grass field led by General Stevens' old regiment, the 79th New York. The Confederates sent little fire at them and some Union officers questioned if the enemy hadn't already withdrawn. Just as Captain William Lusk mentioned this to Captain Hazard Stevens, the New Yorkers were caught in several thunderous volleys from Confederate brigades along the wood line, causing numerous casualties and wounding Captain Hazard Stevens in the hip and arm. (this was the exchange of fire that the troops at Germantown had probably heard). General Stevens was following the Highlanders and was able to stop and check on his wounded son. Leaving him in the care of a Corporal, the General continued his advance with the New Yorkers. It was the last time Hazard would see his father alive. |
