When this was attempted, Sedgwick detached Wharton's brigade from Newton's right, and sent it to reinforce that part of the line.

At 6 P.M.
three guns were fired as a signal from Alexander's battery and the Confederate forces pressed forward to the attack.

Newton's front was not assailed, and the right of Brooks' division easily repulsed the enemy who advanced in that direction, with the fire of the artillery and the skirmish line alone.
The main effort of the evening was made by Early's division, which advanced in columns of battalions, to turn Howe's left, and cut that flank off from the river.

Howe's artillery, under charge of Major J.Watts de Peyster, a mere youth, was admirably posted and did great execution on these heavy columns.

De Peyster himself rode out and established a battery, a considerable distance in advance of the main line, and the enemy pressed forward eagerly to capture it; after doing so they were suddenly confronted by several regiments in ambush, which rose up and delivered a fire which threw Hays' and Hoke's brigades into great confusion, and caused them to make a precipitate retreat.