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Chapter 23
July 4, 1863
Just a few dozen yards north of where James Longstreet was reviewing his corps' performance, the clash between Lafayette McLaws' 6,900 strong division and John Reynolds' corps of 11,200 men was more reminiscent of a boxing match or bar brawl than a line battle. The terrain was densely overgrown with trees and shrubs, so both sides encountered each other more surprisingly than planned. Since Reynolds' numerical superiority was negated by McLaws' higher elevations, the fight was almost balanced. Both commands could score hits, but for some time it did not look like a knock-out would occur.
Around 9:30 a.m. the Iron Brigade of James Wadsworth's division spearheaded a determined assault in the center of Reynolds' attack formation and managed to break through William Wofford's brigade with a dashing and splendid executed bayonet attack. The scattered Georgians were streaming towards the rear and brigade leader Solomon Meredith was just about to order his regimental commanders to widen the breach when again the shrill rebel yell sounded to their front.
Only seconds later, 1,600 Mississippians with gray-haired and roaring William Barksdale at their head crashed into the ranks of the Midwesterners, their formation broken up by their successful advance. The following ten minutes eclipsed even the close combat around Hood's old brigade. After firing a salvo point blank, the southerners closed the remaining distance and began to beat their opponents like savages with their rifle butts, who paid them back in kind with their bayonets.
The men of the Iron Brigade were slowly but surely pushed back by the disadvantage of the sloping slope in their backs. When finally the freshly gathered Georgians of William Wofford tore up their left flank, Meredith gave the order to retreat with a heavy heart.
To honor the bravery and death defiance of her opponents, Barksdale ordered to cease the firing during the retreat of their foes. He then joined the most senior captured Union officer, Lieutenant Colonel Rufus R. Dawes, who had been overpowered with half of his 6th Wisconsin by the 21st Mississippi, in shaking hands and congratulating him and his men on their accomplishments. The exhausted Dawes returned the gesture and saluted stiffly before he and his men were herded to the rear as prisoners of war.
After a brief respite, the fighting continued without any side gaining a significant advantage. Brigadier General Paul Semmes was hit twice in the shoulder while steadying his Georgians in the face of a renewed assault by Abner Doubleday's division and had to be carried off the field. On the Union side, Brigadier Generals Gabriel Paul and Georg Stannard went down as well. Combat continued to rage well into the afternoon of that bloody July 4, 1863.
Maj. Gen. Lafayette McLaws, CSA.
Chapter 23
July 4, 1863
Just a few dozen yards north of where James Longstreet was reviewing his corps' performance, the clash between Lafayette McLaws' 6,900 strong division and John Reynolds' corps of 11,200 men was more reminiscent of a boxing match or bar brawl than a line battle. The terrain was densely overgrown with trees and shrubs, so both sides encountered each other more surprisingly than planned. Since Reynolds' numerical superiority was negated by McLaws' higher elevations, the fight was almost balanced. Both commands could score hits, but for some time it did not look like a knock-out would occur.
Around 9:30 a.m. the Iron Brigade of James Wadsworth's division spearheaded a determined assault in the center of Reynolds' attack formation and managed to break through William Wofford's brigade with a dashing and splendid executed bayonet attack. The scattered Georgians were streaming towards the rear and brigade leader Solomon Meredith was just about to order his regimental commanders to widen the breach when again the shrill rebel yell sounded to their front.
Only seconds later, 1,600 Mississippians with gray-haired and roaring William Barksdale at their head crashed into the ranks of the Midwesterners, their formation broken up by their successful advance. The following ten minutes eclipsed even the close combat around Hood's old brigade. After firing a salvo point blank, the southerners closed the remaining distance and began to beat their opponents like savages with their rifle butts, who paid them back in kind with their bayonets.
The men of the Iron Brigade were slowly but surely pushed back by the disadvantage of the sloping slope in their backs. When finally the freshly gathered Georgians of William Wofford tore up their left flank, Meredith gave the order to retreat with a heavy heart.
To honor the bravery and death defiance of her opponents, Barksdale ordered to cease the firing during the retreat of their foes. He then joined the most senior captured Union officer, Lieutenant Colonel Rufus R. Dawes, who had been overpowered with half of his 6th Wisconsin by the 21st Mississippi, in shaking hands and congratulating him and his men on their accomplishments. The exhausted Dawes returned the gesture and saluted stiffly before he and his men were herded to the rear as prisoners of war.
After a brief respite, the fighting continued without any side gaining a significant advantage. Brigadier General Paul Semmes was hit twice in the shoulder while steadying his Georgians in the face of a renewed assault by Abner Doubleday's division and had to be carried off the field. On the Union side, Brigadier Generals Gabriel Paul and Georg Stannard went down as well. Combat continued to rage well into the afternoon of that bloody July 4, 1863.
Maj. Gen. Lafayette McLaws, CSA.
- Lothar
- Word Count: 470