Wet Ammunition and Bayonets
Of all the recorded incidents of the Battle of Ox Hill (Chantilly), one of the most written about is the severe thunderstorm that erupted as the battle began. Driven by gale force winds, the rain came in torrents from the south, and blew straight into the faces of the Confederates.
Along this side of the Reid’s cornfield, and later shifting westward along this same line, elements of Confederate Maj. Gen. A. P. Hill’s division fought off two successive Federal attacks in the blinding rain. Soldiers of Branch’s North Carolina brigade said they found it impossible to keep their cartridges dry or muskets from choking and used every round of ammunition. When Gen. Branch notified Gen. Hill that his ammunition was running low, Hill’s order was to hold the position, and if need be, to meet the attack with bayonets.
As the rain soaked the soldiers and their paper cartridges, hundreds of rifles and muskets became useless, and there seemed to be nothing left to do but withdraw and give the drenched soldiers time to pull wet charges and dry their weapons. About that time, General Hill sent an aid to General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson with the message: “My compliments to General Jackson and my request to be permitted to take my command out of the line because my ammunition is wet.” Jackson listened critically and answered dryly: “Give my compliments to General Hill, and tell him the enemy’s ammunition is just as wet as his and to stay where he is.”