John Bell Hood’s Division In The Battle Of Chickamauga: A Historical Analysis [Illustated Edition] by Kyle J. Foley

Author:Kyle J. Foley [Foley, Kyle J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ACW
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
Published: 2014-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

The fighting shifted toward the Viniard House and Farm, where the Federals had fought back Bushrod Johnson’s previous attacks, but at a cost. The day’s battle had taken a toll on Heg’s and Carlin’s troops, and their ranks were depleted. However, the Federals had not planned to give up the defense so easily. Earlier, Brigadier General Thomas Wood, 1st Division, Crittenden’s XXIst Corps, realized the Davis needed support and directed his 1st Brigade, under the command of Colonel George Buell, to form a battle line on Lafayette Road behind Carlin. Buell deployed his troops in two lines parallel to the road to confront the Confederate assault. From there, Buell’s troops held the ground north and west of the Viniard’s farm, with open fields of fire ideal to engage their enemy’s advance. Buell also brought four light guns from Wood’s divisional artillery, most likely the 8th Indiana Light Artillery, and placed them in the center of his formation.

Robertson’s Brigade charged Heg’s and Carlin’s positions near the log house a second time. However, this charge forced most of Heg’s and Carlin’s men to run west, seeking the protective fire of Wilder’s Spencer rifles. Robertson charge was bold, but costly. He lost his regimental commanders of the 1st, 4th, and 5th Texas regiments to wounds they received during the charge.{80}

The driven Federals left several pieces of artillery and fell back to a line of timber a quarter of a mile west of Lafayette Road.{81} Unable to sustain the fight against the superior Federal numbers and firepower, Robertson’s men were forced to withdraw from their position back toward the main Confederate line. As they slowly fell back through the farm and beyond the position from which they had previously driven the Federals, Robertson’s troops again came under heavy, accurate artillery fire from the guns and repeating rifles of Wilder’s mounted infantry brigade.{82} Wilder’s infantry pursued the Texans during their retreat. In desperation, Robertson’s troops turned about and drove the Federal forces from their barricaded position for the second time. Robertson, now wanting to hold onto the only high ground in the Viniard Field, sent for artillery and infantry to support. He would not receive the artillery support, but did receive support from Benning’s infantry.{83}

Benning had been out of the fight most of the day. Law kept the Georgians at bay, waiting for the decisive moment of the division’s engagement to employ them. When Robertson’s request for artillery support reached him, and with no artillery supporting the division, all Law could send were Benning’s troops.{84} Between 1545 and 1600, Law directed the “Rock” Brigade, under Benning’s command, to advance 200 yards in support of Robertson against the what remained of Davis’ troops and Buell’s men defending terrain parallel to the western side of Lafayette Road.{85}

Benning’s troops advanced forward to within 100 yards of the Viniard House.{86} There, he readied his forces for the assault in conjunction with Robertson, supporting the latter’s left flank with the 15th Georgia Regiment, under the command of Colonel DuBose. Together, the Georgians and Texans assaulted the Federal defenses.

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