As night fell the enemy poured across the bridges, and Barksdale, contesting every foot of ground, fell back through the burning city and took up a position behind a stone wall in its rear.
Throughout the day not a single shot had been fired by the Confederate artillery, which was very inferior in power to that of the enemy, as General Lee had no wish finally to hinder the passage of the Federals; the stubborn resistance of Barksdale's force being only intended to give him time to concentrate all his army as soon as he knew for certain the point at which the enemy was going to cross; and he did not wish, therefore, to risk the destruction of any of his batteries by calling down the Federal fire upon them.
During the day the troops were all brought up into position.

Longstreet was on the left and Jackson on the right, while the guns, forty-seven in number, were in readiness to take up their post in the morning on the slopes in front of them.

On the extreme right General Stuart was posted with his cavalry and horse artillery.

The night passed quietly and by daybreak the troops were all drawn up in their positions.
As soon as the sun rose it was seen that during the night the enemy had thrown more bridges across and that the greater portion of the army was already over.

They were, indeed, already in movement against the Confederate position, their attack being directed toward the portion of the line held by Jackson's division.