The Order for Retreat

The Order for Retreat. . , Northern commander Colonel Nathan Kimball 1.5 miles away (over the hill on your right) on Prichard's Hill faced the threat of defeat. He decided to seize the initiative and order a second assault against the Southern artillery atop Sandy Ridge. At approximately 5:00 p.m., the first of these troops arrived, causing some of the Southern artillery to withdraw and threatening the Southern right flank behind the stone wall., The troops behind the stone wall were now under Southern Brigadier General Richard B. Garnett's command. "Stonewall" Jackson was not near the front lines., By 6:00 p.m., things were looking desperate to Garnett. His men were gathering ammunition from fallen comrades. He encouraged them to "aim low and pick your men." Now fighting in two directions, casualties mounting, ammunition nearly exhausted, darkness imminent, and no orders to the contrary from Jackson, Garnett made the decision to withdraw his troops from the stone wall just minutes before sunset., Jackson was furious., Within ten days Jackson ordered Garnett arrested and relieved of command for "neglect of duty on March 23 at Kernstown." In August, a court-martial convened but was interrupted by the war and never finished. Garnet died riding a horse in Pickett's Charge.