Following the Flag, from August 1861 to November 1862, with the Army of the PotomacCoffin, Charles Carleton
History
Following the Flag, from August 1861 to November 1862, with the Army of the Potomac
Coffin, Charles Carleton
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns
Patrick and Gibbons were moved down to the turnpike. The troops were
enthusiastic. They had driven the enemy, had captured battle-flags and
prisoners.
Gordon and Crawford advanced over the mown field, across the turnpike,
into the woods, and poured in their fire. Jackson replied. The woods
were all aflame. From every tree, and knoll, and ledge, and hillock,
there were volleys of musketry, and flashes of artillery.
It was a terrible fire. Gordon and Crawford were close upon the Rebel
lines, behind the ledges and the breastwork which they had thrown up.
They almost broke through. A little more power, the support of another
brigade, the pushing in of another division at this moment, and Jackson
would have been forced from his stronghold; and if driven from that
position he must fight in the smooth fields beyond, or be folded back
upon the center and right, with the door half opened for Hooker to
march upon Shepardstown and cut off the retreat.
It is nearly nine o'clock when Gordon and Crawford stand within three
hundred feet of the Rebel line, in the woods northwest of the church.
They face west. They fight Grigsby, Stafford, and Stuart of Jackson's
corps.
It is a critical moment with Jackson. The Yankees must be repulsed or
all is lost. Early's and Hood's divisions are behind the church.
Early moves north, sweeping past the church. He strikes Crawford's
flank and rear, and forces him back. Green hastens up to sustain
Crawford, and is also driven across the turnpike into the field nearly
to the strip of woods west of it.
SUMNER'S ATTACK.
Sedgwick's division of Sumner's corps has been coming into line in
Miller's cornfield. If it had been earlier on the ground it would
have been of infinite value. It is a noble division, led by an able
commander.
General Sumner himself is there, gray-haired, sober, vigilant,
watchful. He examines the ground and the positions of the enemy.
Sedgwick forms his division in three lines. Dana in front, Gorman
in the second, and Howard in the third line. They pass in front of
Mansfield's troops towards the church.
Jackson has been hurrying up reinforcements. The troops which have been
on the march from Harper's Ferry are brought in.
"By this time," says Jackson, "the expected reinforcements, consisting
of Semmes's, and Anderson's, and a part of Barksdale's, of McLaw's
division, arrived, and the whole, including Grigsby's command, now
united, charged upon the enemy, checking his advance, then driving him
back with great slaughter."[64]
[Footnote 64: Jackson's Report, Southern History, Vol. II. p. 133.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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