The whole was a huge turmoil of fire, smoke, confusion and death.

The weight upon them seemed at last to become overwhelming.

In spite of courage the most heroic, and dreadful losses, the right of Thomas was driven back, his center was compelled to wheel about, but his left where the Winchester regiment stood with others held on.

Thomas himself was there among them, still cool and impassive in face of threatened ruin.
About twenty thousand men were around Thomas, and they alone stood between the Union army and destruction.

At all other points it had been not only defeated, but routed.