Links

Illustration - Sherman's Capture

Sherman’s Capture

(Excerpt from Jackson’s Option)

Pond and Gibson continued their independent and uncoordinated attacks with the intent of dislodging Sherman’s right flank. With pressure coming from his center and left, Sherman had no reserves to commit in support of the right. As a result, the need for a redeployment of forces and a partial commitment of the reserve had little effect on what was to follow.

By 9:30, McDowell’s Brigade was withdrawing rapidly toward a tree line on the Eastern edge of Ben Howell Field. Gibson’s attack on the 40th Illinois had similar results and the 40th approached the southwest corner of Ben Howell Field as McDowell’s Brigade was crossing it.

Cleburne’s left wing plus Breckinridge’s two brigades had only just begun their attack at 9:30. Given the loss of support from the 40th Illinois, the 72nd Ohio turned back to defend their flank. Buckland’s 48th Ohio was struggling to protect Nispel’s artillery that was in turn supporting the 48th’s defense.

With the Union left collapsing and steady success by the Confederates on the Union center and right, the entire Union right and center were North of the Purdy-Hamburg Road at 10:00 a.m. McDowell’s Brigade ceased to exist after Pond and Gibson launched a pounding attack that enveloped both his flanks. Anderson, who had rejoined Bragg’s First Division, shielded them from attack by Buckland’s remaining forces.

While the Confederate left had preserved some semblance of command unity, the Confederate center was a mass of co-mingled units fighting their own private battles.

Taking the initiative, Bragg collaborated with Breckinridge to launch a final assault all along their line. As the Rebels dashed across the field screaming at the tops of their lungs, the Union right collapsed in total panic, turning back on itself over and over until the Union Army of the Tennessee no longer offered a line of resistance. It was a tangled ball of frightened men looking for any escape they could find from the carnage.

Wharton’s Texas Rangers and Wirt Adam’s Mississippi Cavalry, who had been posted on Bragg’s left, swooped down from the northwest. Artillery rounds were falling behind the Union lines to add to the frenzy. Emerging from a small patch of woods West of the Pittsburg-Corinth Road, the Texas Rangers spotted what appeared to be cavalry 50 yards in front of them in Woolf Field.

Dresser’s captured artillery had been turned on its former Union owners and shells exploded across the field knocking several horsemen to the ground. As Wharton’s Rangers charged to meet what they believed to be Union cavalry, the captured artillery was silenced to avoid an accident. The bluecoats drew their pistols in defiance firing a few rounds as they backed away.

Spotting an officer, whose horse had been killed and who was isolated from his men, Wharton advanced with several of his men and the officer dropped his pistol and raised his hands in surrender. The officer was wheezing badly with what appeared to be an asthma attack.

“You are my prisoner,” Jack Wharton said plainly. “What is your name, sir?”

Holding his head erect, the officer whose left hand was wrapped in a handkerchief said with equal directness, “You son-of-a-bitch, I am William T. Sherman.”

“Well, ain’t war hell, General,” Wharton replied. “Let’s show the General some Southern hospitality. Take him to General Beauregard.”

	"Reconstructed Yankee” News
		Reconstructed Yankee is in the early stages of becoming a film! Two producers and a director are interested. A production company has been identified. Stay tuned for breaking news!