Not in vain had Jackson trained his foot cavalry to march faster anywhere than any other troops in the world.
Harry saw the Virginians sink down behind the fence, the crest of which a moment later blazed with fire for a long distance.

He saw the whole front line of the Northern troops disappear, while those behind were thrown into confusion.

The Southerners poured in a second volley before they could recover and the whole force broke and retreated.

Other troops were brought up but in the face of everything the Virginians held the fence.
But Shields was an able officer.

Moreover he and Jackson had been thrown together in former years, and he knew him.