Heintzelman,  had  taken  position  on  the  Lee's  Mill  road,  coming
near  Fort  Magruder  quite  early  in  the  morning.  At  half  past
7  o'clock,  Hooker  began  an  attack  on  the  works  in  his
front.  The  enemy  gathered  in  superior  force  at  this  point,
and  the  contest  continued  for  hours,  Gen.  Heintzelman  anx-
iously awaiting  the  appearance  of  Kearney's  division,  which
he  had  sent  for  in  the  morning.  A  heavy  rain  had  commenced
the  night  before,  which  continued  until  the  following  morning,
impeding  the  movement  of  troops,  but  not  interrupting  the
determined  purpose  to  carry  the  enemy's  works.  Hooker  had
suffered  serious  loss,  his  ammunition  was  giving  out,  and  his
troops  were  becoming  exhausted,  when  at  length,  after  3
o'clock,  Gen  Kearney  arrived  with  his  men,  and  was  ordered  by
Heintzelman  at  once  to  attack,  which  he  did  so  vigorously  as
to  drive  the  enemy  back  at  all  points,  and  to  relieve  Hooker,
whose  left  flank  was  in  imminent  danger.
