History of the Nineteenth Army CorpsIrwin, Richard B. (Richard Biddle)
History
History of the Nineteenth Army Corps
Irwin, Richard B. (Richard Biddle)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Regimental histories; United States. Army. Corps, 19th
About daylight Breckinridge moved to the attack in a summer fog so
dense that those engaged could at first distinguish neither friend
nor enemy. The blow fell first, and heavily, upon the centre and
right, held by the 14th Maine, 21st Indiana, and 6th Michigan. As
our troops were pressed back by the vigor of the first onset, the
exposed camps of the 14th Maine, 7th Vermont, and 21st Indiana fell
into the hands of the Confederates. The 9th Connecticut, with
Manning's battery, moved to the support of the 14th Maine and 21st
Indiana, on the right of the former, and the 4th Wisconsin formed
on the left of the 14th. Further to the right, the 30th Massachusetts
advanced to the support of the 21st Indiana and 6th Michigan,
covering the interval between the two battalions to replace the
7th Vermont. In the first fighting in the darkness and the fog
this regiment had been roughly handled; its colonel fell, a momentary
confusion followed, and the regiment drifted back into a convenient
position, where it was soon reformed, under Captain Porter. Nims
brought his guns into battery on the right of the 6th Michigan.
The battle was short, but the fighting was severe; both sides
suffered heavily, and each fell into some disorder. At different
moments both wings of the Confederate force were broken, and fell
back in something not very unlike panic. The colors of the 4th
Louisiana were captured by the 6th Michigan. As the fog lifted,
under the influence of the increasing heat, it became clear to both
sides that the attack had failed. The force of the fierce Confederate
outset was quite spent. The Union lines, however thinned and
shattered, remained in possession of the prize. "It was now ten
o'clock," says Breckinridge. "We had listened in vain for the guns
of the _Arkansas_: I saw around me not more than 1,000 exhausted
men." The battle was over. Indeed it had been over for some hours;
these words probably indicate the period when the Confederate
commander gave up his last hope.
The _Arkansas_, disabled within sight of the goal by an accident
to her machinery, was run ashore and destroyed by her commander to
save her from capture. The Confederate losses were about 84 killed,
313 wounded, and 56 missing; total, 453. Clark was severely wounded
and made prisoner. Allen was killed, and two other brigade commanders
wounded. Helm, Hunt, and Thompson had been previously disabled by
an accident during the night panic.
The Union losses were 84 killed, 266 wounded, and 33 missing; total,
383. The heaviest loss fell upon the 21st Indiana, which suffered
126 casualties, and upon the 14th Maine, which reported 118. Of
the killed, 36, or nearly one half, belonged to the 14th Maine,
while more than two thirds of the killed and nearly two thirds of
the total belonged to that regiment and the 21st Indiana. The 4th
Wisconsin, being posted quite to the left of the point of attack,
was not engaged.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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