Valley Thunder by Charles Knight

Author:Charles Knight
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Bisac Code 1: HIS036050
ISBN: eBook ISBN: 9781611210545
Publisher: Savas Beatie
Published: 2010-05-09T16:00:00+00:00

Colonel Jacob Campbell (postwar)

Library of Congress

As Wharton’s Brigade and the VMI Cadets were advancing west of the Valley Pike, John Echols’ two Virginia organizations—the 22nd Virginia and 23rd Virginia Battalion—were advancing east of the Pike. After disposing of Stahel’s ill-advised Federal cavalry attack, Echols’ Virginians forced the withdrawal of Ewing’s battery. Once these guns were gone, only small isolated pockets of the enemy remained in Echols’ front. The lack of effective resistance allowed the ill brigade commander to turn his full attention to the embattled Federals still fighting beyond the Pike. And directly on his left-front was the exposed flank of the 54th Pennsylvania.

While Echols was driving northward and preparing to fall upon Campbell’s flank, the Pennsylvanians were standing their ground against the assaulting 62nd Virginia. Casualties mounted quickly. “The smoke was so thick I could see nothing in front,” observed a Pennsylvania sergeant, who “was kept busy pulling our men back out of the line as [they] were killed or wounded.”60 Henry Helsel of Company I was hit nine times and left for dead but somehow survived, albeit with the loss of his right arm and a bullet he carried in his leg for decades.61 The toll in officers was especially high. Lieutenant Colonel John P. Linton was wounded, wrote Campbell, “but remained upon the field rallying and encouraging the men until the final close of the action, rendering most valuable and efficient service.”62 Capt. Edwin Geisinger of Company H was mortally wounded and Lieutenant Killpatrick, of the same company, was seriously injured and carried off the field.63 Company E’s Capt. Patrick Graham suffered a horrendous wound when a bullet struck him in his left eye. He was left for dead on the field.64

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