mall party. The gap was penetrated on the run
and a fire opened on the exposed flanks of the Confederates which
started them from the cover of their works and the stone wall. At
this juncture the division, as ordered, poured a destructive fire
upon the now exposed Confederates, and at once charging across the
field, drove the enemy in utter rout. A panic seized Gordon's
troops, who were the first struck, then spread to Kershaw's and
Ramseur's divisions, successively on Gordon's right.(19)

I quote from the report of Colonel Emerson, commanding my First
Brigade, in which he describes the final battle, including the
breaking of Early's line:

"The brigade lay here under a fire of shell until about 4 P.M.,
when Captain Smith came with an order to move forward connecting
on the left with the Second Brigade. The brigade moved through
the woods, when it received a very heavy fire on the right flank,
under which it was broken, but soon reformed in its old position,
and again moved forward to a stone fence, the enemy being behind
another stone wall in front with a clear field intervening. There
was a stone wall running from the right flank of the brigade to
the wall behind which the enemy lay. Some of my men lay scattered
along this last named wall. The First Division lay to the right
and in advance, nearly parallel with the enemy. Everything appeared
to be at a deadlock, with heavy firing of artillery and musketry.
At this stage Colonel Keifer, commanding division, came to me and
inquired what men were those lying along the wall running from our
line to the enemy's, and ordered me to send them forward to flank
the enemy and drive them from their position. The execution of
the order was entrusted to Captain H. W. Day, Inspector of the
[Second] Brigade, who proceeded along the wall, and getting on the
enemy's flank dislodged them, when the brigade was moved rapidly
forward, in connection with the Second Brigade, and did not stop
until we arrived in the works of the Nineteenth Corps, when, in
accordance with orders from Colonel Keifer, the brigade went into
its position of the morning, got its _breakfast_, and encamped,
satisfied that it had done a good day's work before breakfast."(20)

Also from a report of Colonel Ball, commanding Second Brigade:

"About 3 P.M. the whole army advanced in one line upon the enemy.
Immediately before advancing the troops were withdrawn to the left,
and my left connected with the Sec