Confederate general Jubal Early commanded the 2nd Corps of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia which fought under a square flag of the rectangular one so often flown today (the Confederate Naval Ensign).
At the time of the attack, the chances of the Confederacy were greatly in decline and it was hoped this sudden feint might convince Union to send troops from the Petersburg, Virginia, front to defend the capital.
As soon as the target of this Confederate attack was known to Grant, he sent some 17,000 troops to the capital's defense. In the meantime, back in D.C., Union officers started scrounging up as many troops as they could from the wounded soldiers recovering and government clerks, essentially anyone who could carry a weapon. They were sent out to man the defenses.
Early ordered his leading division of troops to immediately begin an attack on Fort Stevens. At one point, Confederates did find a gap in the Union defenses that could have been a huge turnaround in the battle. Had they been able to exploit it they would have had a direct route to the Washington Navy Yard, the U.S. Treasury as well as a myriad of warehouses with food, medicine and ordnance.
However, Early's troops had been on the march for quite awhile and were too exhausted to make good on the break.
--Old Secesh
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