30 March 2014
Positions at Crane - 12 noon
Here are the current approximate positions as at 12:00 noon. The right of the Federal position west of Crane Junction is actually in the open. The woods do not extend as far north as indicated on the map.
23 March 2014
Hard to Hold Onto Guns
From 8:00 to 10:00 a.m., several guns changed hands. The 139th USCT continued to work its way through Capt. Blair's Alabama Battery and captured two guns. It was given orders to withdraw and was unable to carry off the guns before they were re-taken by 67th Mississippi and returned to Capt. Blair. The Army of the Arkansas 6th Division moved into the woods to the west, leaving the southwest corner of South Younger Field uncontested and allowing Capt. Blair to send men to make a field repair of his No. 3 Gun that had been captured earlier and disabled. It will be out of the fight for the day, but can be taken off the field.
The 200th Indiana took a 12lb Armstrong Rifle from Capt. Hanks' Galveston Light Artillery, but was unable to pull it off the field. It was retaken and routed. The 227th Ohio had similar luck with a 12lb Napoleon from Capt. Stubbs' 2nd Confederate Light Artillery. Both Stubbs' and Hanks' Batteries belong to the 7th Division, Department of the Eastern Frontier and were firing canister into advancing Federals from their position in South Younger Woods.
While the Federals took several guns, but did not manage to hold on to any of them, the Department of the Eastern Frontier charged several guns south of Crane Junction as the guns were starting to withdraw. The 16th Kentucky managed to capture one 12lb Napoleon of Capt. Burke's 16th Independent Battery Michigan Light Artillery. They not only were able to carry it off the field, but turned it onto the flanks of a 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, AOA, and it routed the 58th Missouri as the Brigade as falling back under pressure from Schuyler's Florida Brigade (3rd Division, DEF).
Although canister shells have been reduced per gun, batteries from both sides have done heavy damage to the enemy on July 3rd and July 4th.
The 200th Indiana took a 12lb Armstrong Rifle from Capt. Hanks' Galveston Light Artillery, but was unable to pull it off the field. It was retaken and routed. The 227th Ohio had similar luck with a 12lb Napoleon from Capt. Stubbs' 2nd Confederate Light Artillery. Both Stubbs' and Hanks' Batteries belong to the 7th Division, Department of the Eastern Frontier and were firing canister into advancing Federals from their position in South Younger Woods.
While the Federals took several guns, but did not manage to hold on to any of them, the Department of the Eastern Frontier charged several guns south of Crane Junction as the guns were starting to withdraw. The 16th Kentucky managed to capture one 12lb Napoleon of Capt. Burke's 16th Independent Battery Michigan Light Artillery. They not only were able to carry it off the field, but turned it onto the flanks of a 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, AOA, and it routed the 58th Missouri as the Brigade as falling back under pressure from Schuyler's Florida Brigade (3rd Division, DEF).
Although canister shells have been reduced per gun, batteries from both sides have done heavy damage to the enemy on July 3rd and July 4th.
20 March 2014
Brigade Commanders Down - July 4th - 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
A number of brigade commanders were casualties in the early morning phase of July 4th. Some of these brigade commanders were regimental commander the previous day. Several brigades have lost all of the regiment commanders during the two days of fighting and are commanded by Lieutenant Colonels or Colonels from regiments belonging to other brigades.
ARMY OF THE ARKANSAS:
Division Commander: Brig. Gen. Benjamin Piatt, 4th Division, was slightly wounded, but is still in the field. He was wounded by the 21st Missouri as went forward with his 2nd Brigade into a gap in the enemy line.
Note: Maj. Gen. Wm. Mallory, 1st Division, has recovered sufficiently from the previous afternoon's wounds and is on the field with his division.
Brigade Commanders:
3rd Brigade, 1st Division: Col. John F. Jury was killed by the 30th South Carolina while advancing with his brigade in attempt to gain the rear of the 7th Division. The brigade is under James Statterfield of the 170th Illinois is now in command of the brigade.
1st Brigade, 2nd Division: Brig. Gen Vincent A. Osgood was killed in action by the 22nd Missouri during a counter attack as his brigade was assaulting the 3rd Division of the Department of the Eastern Frontier. Command of the brigade then fell to Colonels, Philo S. Morton, Daniel Moore and Robert Staten, all of whom were killed by the 17th Missouri. The 1st Brigade, 2nd Division is now in command of Col. A. Sourwait of the 15th Minnesota.
2nd Brigade, 3rd Division: Colonel Robert Weiler was mortally wounded by the 78th Alabama while leading his brigade against Gage's Battery and the left of 1st Brigade, 6th Division. The brigade has lost all of its colonels from the previous day's fighting and is currently under command of Lieut. Col. Abraham Bowers of the 64th Kentucky.
2nd Brigade, 4th Division: Colonel James Forquer was killed in action by the 21st Missouri leading his brigade into a gap in the enemy line. All the colonels in the brigade have been killed and the brigade is under command of Lieut. Col. Alfred A. Scott of the 184th Indiana.
1st Brigade, 6th Division: Brig. Gen. Joseph C. Kitchen was killed by the 70th Alabama in an attack against 1st Brigade, 6th Division of the Department of the Eastern Frontier. The brigade is under commander of Col. Artimis Finley, 131st USCT.
2nd Brigade, 6th Division: Col. Edward Noyles was severely wounded by the 70th Alabama while assaulting the right of 1st Brigade, 6th Division DEF and Blair's Alabama Battery. The brigade is under command of Col. John W. Quinn, 139th USCT.
DEPARTMENT OF THE EASTERN FRONTIER:
1st Brigade, 7th Division: Col. Saul Orbison was severely wounded by the 40th Michigan during an attack on his brigade's position. The brigade is now under command of Col. Edgar J. Raymonds, 33rd Louisiana.
3rd Brigade, 7th Division: Brig. General Hezekiah P. Holt was killed in action by the 177th Illinois while defending against an attack on his brigade's position. The brigade is now under command of Col. Elton Reed, 11th Confederate States Regiment.
And the day is just starting.....
ARMY OF THE ARKANSAS:
Division Commander: Brig. Gen. Benjamin Piatt, 4th Division, was slightly wounded, but is still in the field. He was wounded by the 21st Missouri as went forward with his 2nd Brigade into a gap in the enemy line.
Note: Maj. Gen. Wm. Mallory, 1st Division, has recovered sufficiently from the previous afternoon's wounds and is on the field with his division.
Brigade Commanders:
3rd Brigade, 1st Division: Col. John F. Jury was killed by the 30th South Carolina while advancing with his brigade in attempt to gain the rear of the 7th Division. The brigade is under James Statterfield of the 170th Illinois is now in command of the brigade.
1st Brigade, 2nd Division: Brig. Gen Vincent A. Osgood was killed in action by the 22nd Missouri during a counter attack as his brigade was assaulting the 3rd Division of the Department of the Eastern Frontier. Command of the brigade then fell to Colonels, Philo S. Morton, Daniel Moore and Robert Staten, all of whom were killed by the 17th Missouri. The 1st Brigade, 2nd Division is now in command of Col. A. Sourwait of the 15th Minnesota.
2nd Brigade, 3rd Division: Colonel Robert Weiler was mortally wounded by the 78th Alabama while leading his brigade against Gage's Battery and the left of 1st Brigade, 6th Division. The brigade has lost all of its colonels from the previous day's fighting and is currently under command of Lieut. Col. Abraham Bowers of the 64th Kentucky.
2nd Brigade, 4th Division: Colonel James Forquer was killed in action by the 21st Missouri leading his brigade into a gap in the enemy line. All the colonels in the brigade have been killed and the brigade is under command of Lieut. Col. Alfred A. Scott of the 184th Indiana.
1st Brigade, 6th Division: Brig. Gen. Joseph C. Kitchen was killed by the 70th Alabama in an attack against 1st Brigade, 6th Division of the Department of the Eastern Frontier. The brigade is under commander of Col. Artimis Finley, 131st USCT.
2nd Brigade, 6th Division: Col. Edward Noyles was severely wounded by the 70th Alabama while assaulting the right of 1st Brigade, 6th Division DEF and Blair's Alabama Battery. The brigade is under command of Col. John W. Quinn, 139th USCT.
DEPARTMENT OF THE EASTERN FRONTIER:
1st Brigade, 7th Division: Col. Saul Orbison was severely wounded by the 40th Michigan during an attack on his brigade's position. The brigade is now under command of Col. Edgar J. Raymonds, 33rd Louisiana.
3rd Brigade, 7th Division: Brig. General Hezekiah P. Holt was killed in action by the 177th Illinois while defending against an attack on his brigade's position. The brigade is now under command of Col. Elton Reed, 11th Confederate States Regiment.
And the day is just starting.....
19 March 2014
Capt. Blair's No. 3 Gun Disabled and Up for Grabs
Just before 8:00 a.m., elements of the US 6th Division came up in support of Rooney's 3rd Division which was assaulting positions held by Garrett's and Gowan's Divisions along Friendship Road. Brig. Gen. Joseph Kitchen's 1st Brigade, 6th Division, Army of the Arkansas came up on the left of Rooney, but was stopped by McElhanan's (under Col. James Sinclair) 1st Brigade, 6th Division Department of the Eastern Frontier. Kitchen was killed and the attack stalled, causing Casey's 3rd Brigade to come up and join the attack.
Col. Noyles' Brigade (2nd Brigade, 6th Division) had moved from a position in support of artillery in South Younger Field and marched south down Friendship Road to support Rooney's attack. It launched an attack into Col. Sinclair's right flank, routing the 68th Tennessee and also overrunning the left of Capt. Alfred Blair's Alabama Battery (which was facing north). Noyles was severely wounded. At 8:00 a.m., his men are still fighting on the right of Sinclair's Brigade and among Blair's guns, as Gregg's Brigade is starting a counter-attack from the east side of Blair's battery.
The 139th United States Colored Troops captured Blair's No. 3 gun, but was unable to carry the gun off the field. (I did not see it happen and can't see where it was assigned in the Federal Batteries, so it must have been routed soon after.) Blair's No. 1 gun is also reported as captured, but it was routed and then captured by a distant unit and then routed again. Guns that are routed and captured by chance are not counted as captured guns in sims and it will be recorded as routed.
The captured No. 3 gun (3 inch ordnance) is officially declared disabled next to the Friendship Road in the contested area. It cannot be easily hauled off the field and cannot be used again on July 4th. The army that possesses the area when it is no longer contested will take possession of the gun and it will be assigned to a battery in WIA4.
In WIA2, Hudson's 6th Iowa Battery was attacked by Matheny's Brigade and they hauled off a gun. In WIA3, Captain Hudson has a 5-gun battery and Lieutenant Nixon's Georgia Battery is a 7-gun battery as a result. Will Blair's No. 3 gun end up with the Federal or Confederate Army in WIA4? The position is still hotly contested and there is no way to tell.
Col. Noyles' Brigade (2nd Brigade, 6th Division) had moved from a position in support of artillery in South Younger Field and marched south down Friendship Road to support Rooney's attack. It launched an attack into Col. Sinclair's right flank, routing the 68th Tennessee and also overrunning the left of Capt. Alfred Blair's Alabama Battery (which was facing north). Noyles was severely wounded. At 8:00 a.m., his men are still fighting on the right of Sinclair's Brigade and among Blair's guns, as Gregg's Brigade is starting a counter-attack from the east side of Blair's battery.
The 139th United States Colored Troops captured Blair's No. 3 gun, but was unable to carry the gun off the field. (I did not see it happen and can't see where it was assigned in the Federal Batteries, so it must have been routed soon after.) Blair's No. 1 gun is also reported as captured, but it was routed and then captured by a distant unit and then routed again. Guns that are routed and captured by chance are not counted as captured guns in sims and it will be recorded as routed.
The captured No. 3 gun (3 inch ordnance) is officially declared disabled next to the Friendship Road in the contested area. It cannot be easily hauled off the field and cannot be used again on July 4th. The army that possesses the area when it is no longer contested will take possession of the gun and it will be assigned to a battery in WIA4.
In WIA2, Hudson's 6th Iowa Battery was attacked by Matheny's Brigade and they hauled off a gun. In WIA3, Captain Hudson has a 5-gun battery and Lieutenant Nixon's Georgia Battery is a 7-gun battery as a result. Will Blair's No. 3 gun end up with the Federal or Confederate Army in WIA4? The position is still hotly contested and there is no way to tell.
17 March 2014
Fighting Commences - July 4th
From 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. fighting resumed at Crane as the Federals launched assaults against the Confederate line in South Younger Woods. The fighting was concentrated on the Federal Right with the two lines fighting east - west across the Friendship Road. There was also fighting further east in the woods centered on the Confederate 7th Division's position.
At Crane Junction, the Federal 2nd Division attacked the Confederate 3rd Division and was struck by a strong counter attack.
There is a light cavalry skirmish at the Aaron Farm north of Younger Junction and cavalry fighting at Indian Cave Hill (Friendship).
At Crane Junction, the Federal 2nd Division attacked the Confederate 3rd Division and was struck by a strong counter attack.
There is a light cavalry skirmish at the Aaron Farm north of Younger Junction and cavalry fighting at Indian Cave Hill (Friendship).
04 March 2014
July 3rd Maps
In very broad terms, the action at Crane from late morning until dusk looked something like this:
02 March 2014
Brigade with Over 20% Casualties on July 3rd
The following brigade has losses of over 20% on July 3rd:
1. 3/2/DEF (Matheny): 38%
2. 1/2/DEF (Parish): 37%
3. 2/4/AOA (Morton): 33%
4. 2/2/DEF (Williamson): 31%
5. 1/1/AOA (Pease): 30%
6. 3/1/AOA (Wood): 30%
7. 2/5/AOA (Potts) 30%
8. 2/1/AOA (Hollosetter): 27%
9. 1/3/AOA (Bryan): 26%
10: 2/6/DEF (Prince): 26%
11: 2/1/DEF (Norris) 24%
12 3/4/AOA (Hutchinson): 24%
Sometimes it is better to be driven off. Matheny and Parish held very strongly, as did Norris, but took heavy losses as a result.
Williamson was broken primarily by Potts (Nagle's left) in the first assaults.
Bryan tangled with Norris and Bryan got the worst of it, although Norris continued to take losses from past of other assaults by AOA 3rd and 6th Divisions.
Hollosetter and Wood struck Matheny and Parish and couldn't move them. Wood has been advancing from the south and had his flank hit by regiments from Prince and Williamson who had retreated and were resting where Wood's flank passed.
Prince was the only DEF brigade to get hit by canister when it ventured into South Younger Field to try to get on the flank of a 6th Division brigade.
4th Division took heavy losses in their first assault against Smead's initial position, when Matheny moved in as a rear guard. It also took losses against Wales and Parish.
1. 3/2/DEF (Matheny): 38%
2. 1/2/DEF (Parish): 37%
3. 2/4/AOA (Morton): 33%
4. 2/2/DEF (Williamson): 31%
5. 1/1/AOA (Pease): 30%
6. 3/1/AOA (Wood): 30%
7. 2/5/AOA (Potts) 30%
8. 2/1/AOA (Hollosetter): 27%
9. 1/3/AOA (Bryan): 26%
10: 2/6/DEF (Prince): 26%
11: 2/1/DEF (Norris) 24%
12 3/4/AOA (Hutchinson): 24%
Sometimes it is better to be driven off. Matheny and Parish held very strongly, as did Norris, but took heavy losses as a result.
Williamson was broken primarily by Potts (Nagle's left) in the first assaults.
Bryan tangled with Norris and Bryan got the worst of it, although Norris continued to take losses from past of other assaults by AOA 3rd and 6th Divisions.
Hollosetter and Wood struck Matheny and Parish and couldn't move them. Wood has been advancing from the south and had his flank hit by regiments from Prince and Williamson who had retreated and were resting where Wood's flank passed.
Prince was the only DEF brigade to get hit by canister when it ventured into South Younger Field to try to get on the flank of a 6th Division brigade.
4th Division took heavy losses in their first assault against Smead's initial position, when Matheny moved in as a rear guard. It also took losses against Wales and Parish.
Heaviest Losses (%) by Division on July 3rd
The top five divisions for heaviest loss in casualties as a % of opening strength for July 3rd were:
1. 2nd Division, Department of the Eastern Frontier (Smead): 34%
2. 1st Division, Army of the Arkansas (Mallory): 22%
3. 4th Division, Army of the Arkansas (Piatt): 22%
4. 3rd Division, Army of the Arkansas (Rooney): 19%
5. 5th Division, Army of the Arkansas (Nagle): 18%
Gowan and Garret were very close runners up.
Smead was largely engaged against Mallory, Piatt and Nagle.
Smead never engaged Rooney. Rooney's losses were almost all against Gowan.
Nagle's losses were heaviest in the initial attacks across South Younger Field and when 2/5 pushed forward as Smead's first position collapsed.
1. 2nd Division, Department of the Eastern Frontier (Smead): 34%
2. 1st Division, Army of the Arkansas (Mallory): 22%
3. 4th Division, Army of the Arkansas (Piatt): 22%
4. 3rd Division, Army of the Arkansas (Rooney): 19%
5. 5th Division, Army of the Arkansas (Nagle): 18%
Gowan and Garret were very close runners up.
Smead was largely engaged against Mallory, Piatt and Nagle.
Smead never engaged Rooney. Rooney's losses were almost all against Gowan.
Nagle's losses were heaviest in the initial attacks across South Younger Field and when 2/5 pushed forward as Smead's first position collapsed.
01 March 2014
Brigade Commanders Down - 3rd July
As darkness fell on July 3rd, the following Brigade Commanders were among the killed or severely wounded:
ARMY OF THE ARKANSAS:
- Brig. Gen. Louis H. Pease (1st Brig., 1st Div): Killed
- Col. John D. Hollosetter (2nd Brig., 1st Div.): Wounded
- Col. Elmer Wood (3rd Brig., 1st Div.): Killed
- Col. Alonzo B. Hammond (2nd Brig., 2nd Div): Killed
- Brig. Gen. Albert G. Bryan (1st Brig, 3rd Div.): Killed
- Col. Samuel C. Stratton (2nd Brig, 3rd Div.): Killed
- Brig. Gen. Oliver Holtman (3rd Brig, 4th Div.): Killed
- Col. Henry J. Morton (2nd Brig, 4th Div.): Wounded
- Col. James F. Hutchinson (3rd Brig,, 4th Div): Wounded
- Col. John D. Potts (2nd Brig, 5th Div.): Killed
DEPARTMENT OF THE EASTERN FRONTIER:
- Brig. Gen. Charles F. Randall (2nd Brig., Cav. Div.): Mortally Wounded
- Brig. Gen. William Parrish (1st Brig, 2nd Div): Wounded and Captured
- Brig. Gen. Horatio G. P. Williamson (2nd Brig, 2nd Div): Killed
- Capt. Ferdinand Otis (3rd Div. Artillery): Killed
- Brig. Gen. Edward McElhanan (1st Brig, 6th Div): Killed
- Brig. Gen. John G. Prince (2nd Brig, 6th Div): Wounded
- Brig Gen. Edgar Roach (1st Brig., 7th Div): Killed
ARMY OF THE ARKANSAS:
- Brig. Gen. Louis H. Pease (1st Brig., 1st Div): Killed
- Col. John D. Hollosetter (2nd Brig., 1st Div.): Wounded
- Col. Elmer Wood (3rd Brig., 1st Div.): Killed
- Col. Alonzo B. Hammond (2nd Brig., 2nd Div): Killed
- Brig. Gen. Albert G. Bryan (1st Brig, 3rd Div.): Killed
- Col. Samuel C. Stratton (2nd Brig, 3rd Div.): Killed
- Brig. Gen. Oliver Holtman (3rd Brig, 4th Div.): Killed
- Col. Henry J. Morton (2nd Brig, 4th Div.): Wounded
- Col. James F. Hutchinson (3rd Brig,, 4th Div): Wounded
- Col. John D. Potts (2nd Brig, 5th Div.): Killed
DEPARTMENT OF THE EASTERN FRONTIER:
- Brig. Gen. Charles F. Randall (2nd Brig., Cav. Div.): Mortally Wounded
- Brig. Gen. William Parrish (1st Brig, 2nd Div): Wounded and Captured
- Brig. Gen. Horatio G. P. Williamson (2nd Brig, 2nd Div): Killed
- Capt. Ferdinand Otis (3rd Div. Artillery): Killed
- Brig. Gen. Edward McElhanan (1st Brig, 6th Div): Killed
- Brig. Gen. John G. Prince (2nd Brig, 6th Div): Wounded
- Brig Gen. Edgar Roach (1st Brig., 7th Div): Killed
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