 Intense Confederate and especially Union artillery fire continued for at least an hour , slackening at about 2 : 30 pm . At about 3 : 30 pm , Lewis Armistead noticed Union skirmishers creeping towards his men where the grand battery on the Confederate right flank was , nearly within rifle range of them . Armistead sent three regiments ( about half of his brigade ) from his command to push back the skirmishers , thus beginning the infantry part of the battle . The skirmishers were repelled quickly , but Armistead 's men found themselves in the midst of an intense Union barrage . The Confederates decided to nestle themselves in a ravine along the hill 's slant . This position protected them from the fire , but pinned them down on the slopes of Malvern Hill , unsupported by either infantry or artillery . They did not have enough men to advance any further and retreating would have put them back into the crossfire . 
