preparing to strike a heavy blow.

The Eleventh Corps had not the slightest idea that it was about
to be assailed. The men were not even in line. Many of them had
stacked their muskets and were lounging about, some playing
cards, others cooking supper, intermingled with the pack-mules
and beef cattle. While they were thus utterly unprepared
Jackson's gray-clad veterans pushed straight through the forest
and rushed fiercely to the attack. The first notice the troops of
the Eleventh Corps received did not come from the pickets, but
from the deer, rabbits and foxes which, fleeing from their
coverts at the approach of the Confederates, suddenly came
running over and into the Union lines. In another minute the
frightened pickets came tumbling back, and right behind them came
the long files of charging, yelling Confederates; With one fierce
rush Jackson's men swept over the Union lines, and at a blow the
Eleventh Corps became a horde of panicstruck fugitives. Some of
the regiments resisted for a few moments, and then they too were
carried away in the flight.

For a while it seemed as if the whole army would be swept off;
but Hooker and his subordinates exerted every effort to restore
order. It was imperative to gain time so that the untouched
portions of the army could form across the line of the
Confederate advance.

Keenan's regiment of Pennsylvania cavalry, but four hundred
sabers strong, was accordingly sent full against the front of the
ten thousand victorious Confederates.