Sometime after 6:00 p.m., Brig. Gen. John M. Jones marched his brigade back from Benner’s Hill and took up a position on the right flank of Maj. Gen. Edward Johnson’s division. The brigade deployed from left to right as follows: 21st Virginia – 48th Virginia – 42nd Virginia – 50th Virginia. (The position of the 44th Virginia is not known.) Francis Nicholls’ Brigade, under Col. Jesse Williams, deployed on Jones’ left, its disposition unknown except that the 1st Louisiana occupied the right flank. Brig. Gen. George Steuart’s brigade was next in line, deployed left to right as follows: 10th Virginia – 37th Virginia – 23rd Virginia – 1st Maryland Battalion – 3rd North Carolina. Six companies of the 1st North Carolina formed as a reserve on the right side of the line, while its four remaining companies stayed on picket duty east of Rock Creek. James Walker’s Stonewall Brigade held the left divisional front. The 2nd Virginia was engaged in a heavy skirmish with the 9th Massachusetts of Col. Jacob Sweitzer’s brigade (James Barnes’ division, Sykes’ V Corps) and three cavalry regiments from Col. John McIntosh’s brigade on Brinkerhoff Ridge. This action kept Walker’s entire brigade out of the July 2 fight for Culp’s Hill.11
When couriers arrived on lathered horses, Johnson’s men knew what was in store for them. Commands rang out: “Forward—guide center!” The time was approaching 7:00 p.m. The initial part of the charge was most harrowing, as the men traversed open terrain under Union guns before crossing Rock Creek. Driving back the Federal skirmish line, the three Confederate brigades moved steadily forward. “Our whole line moved forward in handsome order,” wrote Lt. Col. L. Salyer of the 50th Virginia, Jones’ Brigade. More casualties fell from the ranks when the Confederate battle line encountered Federal infantry in position behind large rock formations. Driving them back, the line splashed across Rock Creek.12
The initial part of the attack was particularly difficult for “Maryland” Steuart’s Brigade, driving generally west against the southeast sector of Culp’s Hill. In order to bring his left wing to bear, Steuart performed a “right half-wheel,” rotating in a clockwise fashion while the 3rd North Carolina on the right maintained its connection with Nicholls’ Brigade. The 1st Maryland Battalion maintained its connection with the North Carolinians, while the three Virginia regiments undertook this complex movement. This activity, performed while moving across rough terrain, disrupted Steuart’s left regiments. The result was that the right wing portion of the brigade moved ahead faster than the left wing. Reaching the creek, the men splashed across in waist-high water and scrambled up the steep banks. Only Nicholl’s (Williams') men indicated that they halted and reformed their ranks after crossing the stream.13
Because of the thick forest in front of them and the growing darkness, “Pap” Greene’s men could not see what was going on at the bottom of the hill. They were experienced enough to know the significance of the gunfire along Rock Creek, followed a few minutes later by the sudden reappearance of the 78th New York, which had been on the skirmish line. The regiment formed in the “rear of our [102nd New York’s] right wing.” Word passed along the line that Greene’s orders were to “hold the works under all circumstances.” George Carr of the 149th New York could not see the Louisianans’ initial approach, but recalled how the skirmish line “came running back followed by a Confederate line of battle, yelping and howling in its particular manner.” Moments felt like years. “The pale faces, staring eye-balls, and nervous hands grasping loaded muskets, told how terrible were those moments of suspense.”14
Help for the undermanned far right of the entire Union army was on the way. Realizing the terrible danger the army faced, General Howard quickly dispatched Col. George von Amsberg’s brigade from Cemetery Hill to support Greene’s men. A staff officer from the I Corps directed two regiments, the 61st Ohio and 157th New York, toward the right side of Greene’s line. The remaining two regiments tapped to support Culp’s Hill, the 82nd Illinois and 45th New York, were led astray by an XI Corps staff officer; they never entered the fight.15