[81] under Stuart's lead, and by the two other lines, that have passed beyond the clearing of Dowdall's Tavern in order to get back into the wood. Paxton, having arrived from the Wolfrey house during the night, has rallied the rest of Colston's troops, and deployed his battalions north of the road, resting his left on Nicholls' brigade: the front of the division is formed, on the right, by the brigade the command of which Colston has given to Colonel Warren, and by that of Jones. Rodes' division follows this first line closely. Its chief, after having restored order in its ranks, has placed O'Neal's brigade, and then Iverson's, to the left of the road; on the other side Ramseur's and Doles'; Colquitt, still farther back, is held in reserve.
As Hill's right was making the movement which was to bring it in front of the positions occupied by Birney, the latter, in compliance with Hooker's instructions, was preparing to abandon those positions in order to fall back upon the heights of Fairview. Graham's brigade had alone remained in the logworks which traverse the wood, and which it had recaptured during the night. Archer's soldiers finding themselves suddenly brought face to face with their enemies, did not wait for the signal of attack that Stuart was to give them. They rushed upon them so fiercely that Ward's brigade had to return in all haste to support Graham. The battle was again raging, and the retreat of the Federals was the more difficult that their adversaries, not believing it to be a voluntary act, became encouraged by this easy triumph. Several dismounted pieces of Federal cannon were abandoned. Finally, after a sanguinary struggle, in which Graham's and Ward's soldiers defended themselves foot by foot, the whole of Birney's division retired to take position between Fairview and the road, east of Lewis' Creek. Archer started in pursuit, and attacked it in this new position, but was repulsed with loss, and compelled to fall back on the height of Hazel Grove. The movement he had made in order to occupy this height had separated him from the rest of the line, and he was not strong enough to resume the offensive. But he had cause to be satisfied for the time being with the commanding position that the Federals had voluntarily abandoned to him. The thin mist which had hovered over the battlefield at this early hour having disappeared, Stuart,
