The movement of Hayes men to Johnson’s left caused other problems for the Confederates as well. Ideally Johnson would have just shifted the brigades of Witcher and Steuart to the left to cover the gap. But that was not practical in this case. There was no connection between Johnson’s right and the left of Wilcox’s Third Corps division. Instead there just a skirmish line of one regiment, the 21st Va. from Witcher’s brigade across the gap. If the gap was to be closed at all, the Third Corps would have to do it. Accordingly later in the day Lane’s North Carolina brigade was moved from its position near the brick kiln to the divisions far left overlooking Meadow Run. The brigade commander Brig. Gen. James Lane, saw an opportunity to fulfill his mission while using a shorter line. Receiving permission from Wilcox he extended his left down to and across the marshy ground near the Run.
Looking from the original line of Confederate works along the high ground left of the toe out toward the Landram House site.
The Mule Shoe, Facts and Myths 