For many Confederates on the field, the capture of Griffin’s isolated guns was the turning point of the battle, but the fighting was far from over. The 14th Brooklyn, its members dressed in their French-style Chasseur uniforms, advanced quickly southwest across the Manassas-Sudley Road toward the pair of captured guns. (They had been held back to support the exposed guns.) Gen. McDowell himself ordered the regiment to “advance in line up the hill on the right of the [Sudley-Manassas] road leading through the enemy’s lines.” The charge to capture the pieces and subsequent celebrations had disordered the 33rd Virginia, leaving the soldiers in no shape to take on the approaching line of battle, which extended beyond its left flank (No. 1 on map). The fire opened by the troops from Brooklyn a mere forty yards distant dropped many of the Virginians to the ground. Unable to coordinate a timely defense, they fell back in disorder when the New Yorkers closed the distance and drove the Rebels from the captured guns.
The retreat exposed the left flank of the 2nd Virginia, the next regiment in Gen. Jackson’s line (No. 2 on map). The 2nd’s commander, Col. James Allen, tried to refuse several companies to meet the new threat. The effort, recalled a private in the 2nd Virginia, was “an unfortunate move. Few men can retire calmly under a galling fire, and the execution of this order resulted in stampeding some good soldiers.” The rest of the regiment misunderstood the order and fell back with the 33rd Virginia. Allen rode after his men in an effort to get them back to the firing line, but a shell smashed a limb on a pine tree and sent giant splinters flying through the air. One of them hit Col. Allen and temporarily blinded him. After establishing a firm position on Henry Hill and driving back initial Federal advances, Jackson’s left flank was disintegrating and heading for the rear (No. 3 on map).1
Instead of pursuing the fleeing Virginians, the New Yorkers turned their attention to the long line of Confederate artillery deployed in front of the enemy line. A single enemy regiment (14th Brooklyn) now had the left flank of Jackson’s line and threatened to unravel the entire position. One of Col. Arthur Cumming’s officers in the 33rd Virginia announced to Jackson, “General, the day is going against us.” Jackson fixed the man with a hard stare. “If you think so, sir,” he replied, “you had better not say anything about it.”2
The hard-charging 14th Brooklyn, nicknamed the “Red-Legged Devils” because of their colorful Chasseur-pattern uniforms of red pants, trimmed jackets, blue blouses, and red kepis, created havoc all out of proportion to their numbers. As one New Yorker recalled it, “our boys were mowing them down in fine style.” With the confidence of combat veterans, the 14th Brooklyn concentrated their efforts against the batteries on their left. The guns seemed especially vulnerable because no infantry support was readily visible. Jackson, however, was keenly aware of the unfolding tactical situation and was not about to be beaten so easily. Riding over to the 4th and 27th Virginia, he ordered them to prepare to charge the enemy (No. 4 on map). He also directed a few of his guns to withdraw from their vulnerable positions. “Reserve your fire until they come within 50 yards, then fire and give them the bayonet, and when you charge, yell like furies,” ordered Jackson. His calm leadership inspired the green troops by encouraging them that they could successfully repel the Federal charge. Lt. Col. Francis Lackland, now in command of the 2nd Virginia, gathered about 100 men together and joined the 4th Virginia. Jackson now had more than enough men to stop and drive back the attack of the 14th Brooklyn. Once their new position was established, the Virginians opened fire.3
Meanwhile, Col. William “Extra Billy” Smith with three companies of the 49th Virginia, a pair of companies from the 11th Mississippi of Gen. Bee’s brigade, and one company from the 4th South Carolina of Nathan Evans’ brigade—about 450 men all told—slid into position on the left of Jackson’s line. The 6th North Carolina of Bee’s brigade, fresh off the train from Piedmont Station in their mixture of blue and gray uniforms, together with seven companies of the 2nd Mississippi, were also approaching.4