THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN OF 1862: THROUGH ARKANSAS EYES I have walked the part of the charge route of the 3rd Arkansas and 27th North Carolina that is still open to the public and have placed small Confederate flags in Mumma’s Lane to commemorate their valor many times. Since I reenact with the 3rd Arkansas I feel a special affinity with …
THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN OF 1862: THROUGH ARKANSAS EYES The 3rd Arkansas, 27th North Carolina and Cobb’s Brigade had turned from an easterly advance to a southerly advance. There were probably two reasons for this. One was Col. Cooke’s order to his color bearer. And two, since entering Mumma’s Swale, the 3rd Arkansas had been in serious fight with the 1st …
THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN OF 1862: THROUGH ARKANSAS EYES Can you imagine thescene the Union Forces witnessed when they finally overran the Sunken Road? It was said you could walk from the beginning of the lane to the end without touching the ground. You would be walking on the bodies of the Confederate dead and wounded. Can you imagine the scene …
THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN OF 1862: THROUGH ARKANSAS EYES Colonel Cooke saw his chance; ordered his regiments up; and put them into battle line with the 3rd Arkansas on the right and the 27th NC on the left. At that time one of the weirdest exchanges in the Civil War took place. A 3rd Arkansas soldier approached the Colonel with a …
THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN OF 1862: THROUGH ARKANSAS EYES When Ransom’s Brigade of Walker’s Division joined with the McLaw’s Division at the south of the West Woods, they hit the 5500 man Union Division under General Sedgwich. This was a division in Sumner’s II Corps. The Confederates hit the Union Division in the left flank and their rear and it was …
THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN OF 1862: THROUGH ARKANSAS EYES Manning’s Brigade pulled back and took their wounded commander to a place south of the West Woods. Many of the other Confederate Brigades had participated in chasing the Union Forces out of the north part of the West Woods. However, due to cannonade by Union cannon positions reinforced by Union Infantry along …
THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN OF 1862: THROUGH ARKANSAS EYES I have been in Civil War Reenactments were we have charged the enemy shoulder to shoulder in Battalion Line of Battle of 4 to 5 five companies consisting of about 125 to 150 men. In small battle scenarios we usually “take a hit”, fall and play dead when we want to. In …
THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN OF 1862: THROUGH ARKANSAS EYES Walker’s Division had been listening to the fire from the north with the knowledge that the battle would ultimately get to them. At about 9:00 AM a staff officer galloped up to Walker’s Command Post and ordered the division to go north at the double quick. D. R Jones’ Division was now …
THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN OF 1862: THROUGH ARKANSAS EYES All of the division completed the crossing and marched toward Sharpsburg. At the western edge of the town the division halted and men went to sleep by the roadside. An incessant cannonade was heard from the 3rd‘sposition north and east of the town. The 3rd along with the division was roused from …
THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN OF 1862: THROUGH ARKANSAS EYES It is hard to explain the desperation of infantrymen in Civil War Battles when they know they can’t hold against the enemy due to overwhelming numbers. The likelihood of being killed or taken prisoner can cause a rout to ensue. Some units will just turn and run. Others due to their leadership …