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April
6th 1862 the melody of the dawn chorus was shattered by the opening
artillery barrage and the sweeping attack of General Albert Sydney
Johnston’s Confederate (CSA) troops across Fraley field. General
Ulysses S Grant’s Union (US) troops were taken by surprise
having not yet broken camp (fig 1). |
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A
desperate battle erupted with the US troops having to fall back
on the left flank and in the centre. But fortunately because of
an uncoordinated attack in the centre the CSA were countered by
a US brigade and were forced back (fig 2). |
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On
the US left the field was lost and a viscous fight occurred across
the sucked road of the Hornets Nest. The initial US counter attack
in the centre was checked and slowly pushed back, but a second gained
steam and the CSA were pushed back once again. On the right the
CSA pushed consciously into the wood to engage the US troops, whilst
a brigade flanked around it (fig 3). |
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Having
contacted the road towards Pittsburg Landing the flanking brigade
dashed to cut-off the US supply lines. Seeing their jeopardy the
US withdrew a brigade to secure the crossing, but it arrived too
late. The now weaken centre could not withstand the CSA pressure
and gave way. The CSA continued the assault through the wood of
the US right, causing the US troops to slowly give their ground.
General Grant having now moved to the left flank of the US army,
now launched a counter attack with all available brigades (fig 4). |
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The
final stage of the battle was a desperate action at Pittsburg Landing,
were the shattered US brigades attempted to check the CSA without
success. The US left continued to sweep the CSA brigades away, but
the landing was lost and the Confederation claimed a Victory (fig
5). |
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