 Ransom 's men managed to come closer to the Union line than any Confederates that day , guided by the flashing light of the cannons amidst an encroaching darkness ; however , George Sykes 's artillery repelled that attack . The brigades of Kershaw and Semmes , sent earlier by Lee , arrived to the front while Ransom was moving to attack in another position . Semmes and Kershaw were quickly sent in ; they too were repulsed not long after . Semmes was west of the junction of Carter 's Mill Road and Willis Church Road , in the vicinity of Barksdale , Mahone and Wright . Semmes made the final charge of the day west of these roads , and like the charges before , it was to little effect . Kershaw angled east , in the area where Toombs , Anderson and Cobb had attacked . This was an area of great confusion . Kershaw 's troops arrived ahead of all the reinforcements sent by Jackson , and took fire from both friendly and hostile forces : from Confederates behind them firing wildly and Federals in front firing effectively . Kershaw 's men retreated in rout . The brigades behind Kershaw charged incoherently , with some men pushing forward , and others getting separated from their units or confused when they encountered groups of retreating Confederates . Disorganized , retreating soldiers from various units were so numerous that they slowed Jackson 's men to nearly a standstill . Jackson 's unit commanders attempted to organize their various regiments and rally the retreaters to join in , but it was all to very little effect . A few units fought fiercely against Union infantry and artillery . In particular , three regiments of Barlow 's brigade made it close enough to Union lines to engage in hand @-@ to @-@ hand combat with the troops of Brig. Gen. Daniel Sickles before being driven back . 
