The survivors of Iverson’s, O’Neal’s, and Daniel’s brigades regrouped in the fields south of Oak Hill. Rodes’ fourth brigade under Brig. Gen. Stephen Ramseur, a small organization (about 1,000 soldiers) that had been in the rear guarding wagons, joined them under the shadow of Oak Hill. Ramseur’s Brigade was a veteran unit and its commander was widely considered to be one of the finest young combat officers in Lee’s army. Once reorganized, Rodes issued orders for his men to move south and help drive Federal troops off Oak Ridge.1
General Ramseur divided his brigade. The 2nd and 4th North Carolina marched east to support O’Neal’s Brigade while Ramseur accompanied the 14th and 30th North Carolina south with Daniel’s men and Iverson’s shattered brigade. On the way, Ramseur encountered Col. Cullen Battle of the 3rd Alabama (O’Neal’s Brigade) and asked if the Alabamians would assist him. Battle responded affirmatively and the three regiments maneuvered into line of battle. Ramseur was about to attack across the same deadly ground that Iverson’s unfortunates had recently traversed when an officer suggested Ramseur shift his regiments leftward and attack the apex of the Federal line. The 2nd and 4th North Carolina, meanwhile, had traveled only a few hundred yards before Rodes recalled them. He feared the Federals were planning to attack his own position on Oak Hill. The two North Carolina regiments remained near Oak Hill for only a few minutes before orders were issued to carry out their original directive to attack the Federal positions on Oak Ridge.2
With the 3rd Alabama on the right, the 30th North Carolina in the center, and the 14th North Carolina on the left, Ramseur prepared to strike Paul’s line. Other Confederate troops also maneuvered into position. When Rodes released the 2nd and 4th North Carolina, they moved due east before turning south. O’Neal’s Alabama brigade moved up into the gap between the two wings of Ramseur’s Brigade and, on the right of the 3rd Alabama, the remnant of Iverson’s Brigade, including the fresh 12th North Carolina, prepared its advance. The 43rd and 53rd North Carolina of Daniel’s Brigade angled into position to attack the Federal line in the woods south of Forney field, where the remnants of Cutler’s and Paul’s brigades had formed a line.3
Looking west across Forney’s field, the 94th New York, 16th Maine, and 107th New York of Paul’s brigade watched Iverson’s regiments approach. Paul’s other regiments, the 104th New York and 13th Massachusetts, faced north by northwest—at nearly a right angle to the rest of the line. They faced Mummasburg Road, where O’Neal’s Brigade and the left wing of Ramseur’s Brigade closed on them from the north.4
Holding the far right of Rodes’ attenuated divisional front was Daniels, whose brigade advanced on a line extending well beyond the flank of the 94th New York and across the front of Cutler’s bloodied brigade. To counter this threat, all but one regiment of Baxter’s brigade marched quickly south from Oak Ridge to reinforce Cutler and support Stewart’s battery, deployed on either side of Chambersburg Pike. Baxter’s 97th New York remained behind briefly before joining its comrades in their shift south. Its men were almost out of ammunition. Cutler’s brigade soon received orders to move farther south to support Federal batteries on Seminary Ridge, which left the protection of that part of the field and Stewart’s guns to Baxter.5
Heavy skirmishing erupted prior to the final Confederate push against the right wing of the I Corps on Oak Ridge. On the north end of the Federal line, the 13th Massachusetts and 104th New York of Paul’s brigade engaged Ramseur’s skirmish line along Mummasburg Road. Both regiments attacked the Confederate skirmishers, scooping up scores of prisoners. The men of the 97th New York (Baxter) and the 94th New York, the 16th Maine, and the 107th Pennsylvania (Paul) exchanged fire with Iverson’s regiments. Some of these Federals charged across Forney’s Field, but were quickly driven back. Although no one fighting on Oak Ridge or in Shead’s Woods could have known it, the battle was about to take a dramatic turn.6