The rebel force, as it charged out of the woods, was certainly three times as large as that of General Sykes; yet the latter showed no disposition to quail; but, after giving a moment’s glance to satisfy their curiosity, every soldier brought his musket to his shoulder, and five thousand bullets were sent into the rebel line. Such steadiness appalled them. They were unprepared for it. Their front rank quailed before it. The sudden thinning of their numbers amazed and frightened them. They discharged their pieces recklessly and broke in confusion. But there was no flight for them. The heavy bodies behind them, to whom the front ranks had been a bulwark, protecting them from the murderous volley of the Union regulars, were steady and determined. They, absorbed the front rank in the second, and still moved forward—firm, unshaken, confident. Meantime the Union men reloaded their pieces, and simultaneously a volley was fired from both sides; and then, from the brow above, the Union artillery opened with canister and grape, shooting over the heads of the National troops and dealing destruction and confusion to the enemy. And as the loud cannon continued its work with fearful rapidity the order was given to “fire at will”—an order that was copied by the enemy—and the continuous roar of musketry that followed almost deadened the reports of the artillery. It was the first fight of the great battle, and for nearly twenty minutes both parties stood firm, as though nothing could lead them to give the prestige of a first success to the other. But, although outnumbered, General Sykes’ division had an advantage in the support of artillery, which, while his infantry held the rebels in check, made huge gaps in their ranks. Still they yelled and shouted defiance, and attempted charges and continued their firing, rank after rank of them being broken and thrown back in confusion, while their officers shouted, and ordered, and stormed, and cursed, in the vain effort to rally them to a persistent, determined charge. They fought well. They fought as none but Americans can fight. But with musketry alone they could not contend against both artillery and musketry. It was simply murder on the part of their officers to attempt to hold them to it; and their officers began to appreciate the fact when nearly half their column had been placed _hors de combat_; and then the order was given to retire. [Illustration: “STONEWALL” JACKSON.]