[714] this rear-guard, have taken a strong position upon a piece of ground behind some wooden enclosures. The Federal guns are well posted; Chambliss, and Robertson next, charge them in vain both in front and in flank.--They are repulsed: Jenkins' troops are made to dismount for the purpose of dislodging the small Federal force. The latter does not, however, yield as yet before such superior forces. While the artillery keeps the enemy's line in check the Fifth New York charges it sword in hand. But it is driven back by the Fifth North Carolina and the Eleventh Virginia. Jones' brigade determines the defeat of the Federals, who are vigorously driven back along the Williamsport road. Kilpatrick witnesses their appearance closely followed by Stuart's four brigades. He has not a moment to lose in order to avoid the fate which he thought he was on the point of making Imboden suffer. Rallying the Fifth New York, he succeeds in stopping these new adversaries for a sufficient length of time to enable him to withdraw the troops engaged before Williamsport and bring back his two brigades on the Boonsboroa road. This movement uncovers Buford's right, who finds himself, in his turn, menaced in flank by Stuart and in front by Lee. Devin, passing to the first line, protects the retreat of the remainder of the two divisions, which, following the Boonsboroa road, halt for the night at some distance from that village.
During the combat Longstreet arrives at Hagerstown with his heads of column. Notwithstanding the extreme fatigue of his men, who have made two forced marches, he only halts them halfway from Williamsport, so as to be able to protect Imboden against any new attack. Pickett, after giving some rest to his division, conducts the prisoners entrusted to his care as far as the banks of the river. Lee's supply-train is saved.
There was nothing left for the Federal cavalry to do but to watch the movements of the enemy's infantry. On the 7th, while Meade's whole army was at last in motion, that of Lee was completing the last stage which brought it near the Potomac. During the evening Johnson's division, which closed the march, arrived at Hagerstown. Being obliged to halt for the water to subside or till the construction of a bridge might enable him to re-enter Virginia, Lee concentrated all his army near this village, so as to
