The head of Col. Hunter’s column and Col. Nathan Evans’ Confederates continued their firefight around Matthews Hill along a front about 300 yards wide. Col. Burnside probably felt some relief when the 1st Rhode Island finally slid into position next to its sister regiment. Whether the words Hunter spoke after his wound forced him to relinquish his command—“Burnside, I leave the matter in your hands”—offered the same sensation is unknown.1
Given his desperate situation, no relief washed over Shanks Evans. He was heavily outnumbered and needed help if he was to maintain his position. About this point he discerned a weakness in the Federal line, possibly brought about by gap created when the 2nd Rhode Island sidled to the left to make room for the newly arriving 1st Rhode Island. Evans decided on a bold action. The colonel turned to Maj. Wheat and ordered him to assault Reynolds’ Federal battery with his Louisianians. It was about 10:45 a.m. (No. 1 on map).
The Louisianians charged with a yell and opened a fire that knocked down several artillerymen and horses. The attack was launched at a vulnerable time for the Federals, for only the 2nd Rhode Island was ready to repel it. Many of the men, however, had either run out of ammunition and were scrounging the dead and wounded for additional cartridges, or their guns were so fouled by the heat of firing that they had to bang their ramrods against rocks or fence posts to seat their charges. The net result dramatically reduced the regiment’s effective defensive fire. One soldier in the 2nd Rhode Island remembered it as “the most terrible moment of this terrific contest.” Wheat’s men reached a point just twenty yards from the battery when a concentrated fire from the 1st Rhode Island, which had finally arrived at the front, rocked their ranks. The two regiments within firing range “gave a most hideous scream” and fired volley after volley into the stunned Louisiana troops. Unable to fall back to their original position on the right side of the 4th South Carolina, the Louisianians retreated east across the Manassas-Sudley Road. Though unsuccessful, Wheat’s charge slowed the Federal advance along the Manassas-Sudley Road.2
Wheat’s precipitous withdrawal dramatically reduced the length of Evans’ right flank, making it vulnerable to a Federal flanking movement. The Federals already overlapped his left flank with Reynolds’ battery. Evans had earlier sent an urgent message to Gen. Bee to bring up reinforcements. Bee, however, did not like the position Evans had selected to make a stand, and suggested Evans fall back to Bee’s position on Henry Hill (No. 2 on map). When Evans refused, a reluctant Bee moved to reinforce him. Riding over to the 4th Alabama, he called out, “Up Alabamians!” and led them forward. Down Henry Hill they ran, and then up the steep slope of Buck Hill, all the while under fire by Reynolds’ battery. When they spotted the long line of Alabamians approaching, Evans’ men cheered their approval. Bee deployed the Alabamians in the woods formerly occupied by Wheat’s men on the right side of the 4th South Carolina. To their front was a cornfield, and beyond it was the smoke pouring from the muskets of the Federals deployed on the summit of Matthews Hill. The commander of the 4th Alabama, Col. Egbert Jones, ordered his men to lie down and protect themselves as much as possible.3
Realizing that the Alabamians were insufficient to stem the Federal advance, Bee ordered up the remainder of his command. Some of the officers gave short remarks to calm their inexperienced men. The 8th Georgia and 2nd Mississippi, together with two additional companies of the 11th Mississippi, moved down the hill toward the Warrenton Turnpike. The 7th Georgia did not advance to Matthews Hill, instead occupying a reserve position in the turnpike in front of the Robinson house. Federal guns opened fire on the exposed troops, creating havoc in the ranks until they reached the road and moved up Buck Hill toward Matthews Hill. In all, Bee had with him perhaps 2,500 men and with Evans’ remaining men, the defenders of Matthews Hill now numbered some 3,300 strong.4