William A. Frassanito, Early Photography at Gettysburg (Gettysburg: Thomas Publications, 1995), 268-278. He played about as hands-off a role at the battle as it is possible to imagine a commander doing.. color or tint (assuming the original has any), you can generally purchase a quality copy of 3. That same incident also made the Southern papers, which boasted that a McClellan Sharpshooter had been picked off by a Kentucky hunter.. Send Students on School Field Trips to Battlefields Your Gift Tripled! Close your men quickly to the left. Exhibited: "The Civil War in America" at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., 2012-2013. The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 56,000 acres in 25 states! Contrary to popular belief, Confederate sharpshooters were not all snipers. Change). total: 1,815 They forced their negroes to load their cannon, an officer in the 1st U.S.S.S. Notably, the mans youthful features and the lack of gore on the body present a somewhat sanitized and romanticized version of death at Gettysburg. Using a hollow tree for concealment was just one of the innovative tactics sharpshooters used in confronting each other. History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. Captain Albert Edwards, now in command of the 24th Michigan, began to quickly look for the regiment's missing flag. site.). Show your pride in battlefield preservation by shopping in our store. Feeding his regiments into the fight west of Gettysburg, he had expected that his veteran infantry would have little trouble driving off whatever mixture of cavalrymen and militia lay to his front. Honeycutt would share his colonel's fate with a bullet to the head. Early the next day Berdans men pushed forward toward the outer defenses of Yorktown. Soldiers--Confederate--Pennsylvania--Gettysburg--1860-1870, - Despite the growing enemy fire, the 24th pressed forward. Left image Superintendent Jessee Cox (right) speaks about a rare Civil War-era revolving rifle during a Stillwell, Okla., homeschoolers visit Wednesday afernoon, Oct. 12, 2011, inside the Hindman Hall Museum at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park in Arkansas. Years of weather and traffic have shifted some of the rocks in this area, but enough has remained unchanged that the location can be easily determined. Every purchase supports the mission. Web- A clipping from Confederate veterans, v. 33 glued to back of the mount of LOT 4168, no. William A. Frassanito,Early Photography at Gettysburg(Gettysburg: Thomas Publications, 1995), 268-278. When the Southerner called out, the Union soldier informed his adversary of the miss, so that he would not mark down any more Yankees than he was entitled to., As one might suspect, Berdans men were coveted targets for the enemy. Credit: Library of Congress. Soldiers collapsed along the march. Although heavy and cumbersome, these were extremely accurate weapons. The rebel infantry, he wrote, which at first responded with a vigorous fire, found that exposure of a head meant grave danger, if not death., As Ripley stated, deadly shots from the sharpshooters made manning the Confederate defenses dangerous work. officer, and I will give them the credit of having as good shots as I ever saw, and some better than I want to see again.. The most comprehensive and authoritative history site on the Internet. After Christmas, Blunt and Herron were on the move again. - Corresponding print is in All too often, they found them. Stay up-to-date on our FREE educational resources & professional development opportunities, all designed to support your work teaching American history. 7. WebConfederate States of America: Commanders and leaders; Brig. 1 photographic print : albumen ; 7 1/2 x 9 1/2 in. For guidance about compiling full citations consult Foremost among them: William Shea, professor of history at the University of Arkansas in Monticello, who has argued that the slighting of the war in the West hampers the ability to understand it. The U.S. War Department accepted his offer, and when news of the sharpshooter venture and Berdans call for marksmen was published in Northern newspapers, recruits from several states traveled to his camp of instruction in Weehawken, N.J. To prove they were capable, the eager volunteers had to pass a rigorous shooting testplace 10 consecutive shots in a 10-inch bulls-eye at 200 yards. (sheet), Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA, ppmsca 33066 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.33066, ppmsca 33067 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.33067. By the aid of a glass I could see his black mug peeping from behind a tree. With the 26ths men reforming on their colonel and colors, Private Frank Honeycutt moved forward to take the flag from his colonel. When enough satisfactory recruits were available, the 1st United States Sharp Shooters was mustered in, with four companies from New York, three from Michigan and one each from New Hampshire, Vermont and Wisconsin. So if you were a Union army commander, you had a lot of leeway to deal with issues as you saw fit.. At a time when a single photograph required time and expensive materials to produce, there must have been something about this particular body which captured the photographers attention. Left image Satisfied with this achievement, and waiting for the rest of the army to catch up, the sharpshooters remained until morning. Credit: NPS Photo. The battle between the 26th North Carolina and the 24th Michigan rapidly reached its climax. William A. Frassanito, Early Photography at Gettysburg (Gettysburg: Thomas Publications, 1995), 294-306. - sadly noted. Learn more about who the Confederate "sharpshooter" may have been on our blog. As Burgwyn fell to the forested floor he was momentarily heldaloft withinthe folds of the battle flag that he so proudly held. As he did so Brown fired, and my joker fell, with a bullet through him. Holly April Houser, historical park interpreter, speaks about the Latta House as they stand on the house's back porch during a Stillwell, Okla., homeschoolers visit Wednesday afernoon, Oct. 12, 2011, at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park in Arkansas. The Confederate resurgence alarmed Brig. Looking over the land in front of him, Heth was determined that his afternoon attack would deliver the victory that he knew was expected of him. Gettysburg : Thomas Publications, 1995, page 277.) California Joe was well liked and highly respected by his comrades, and his name appears in many sharpshooter accounts of Yorktown. Dont shoot unless the Rebels open the ball were the instructions given, but as one sharpshooter noted, the enemy initiated the contest everyday. He was also careful to follow his other instructions: Whenever you see a head, hit it., Once General McClellans line of entrenchments had closed on the earthworks at Yorktown, the Confederates realized they needed to abandon their defenses. Views include camp architecture at Brandy Station, Yorktown, 1 photographic print on card mount : albumen ; 6 5/8 x 9 in. Author Robert F. ONeill reconsiders three overlooked 1863 cavalry clashes. The plight of the wounded, on both sides, following the battle was horrible. Benson Carrying his regiments flag up the slopes of Seminary Ridge, Col. Morrow received a non-lethal wound to the head. Right image | Photograph showing a dead Confederate soldier and his gun. Reaching the southern edge of Herbst Woods, the Michigan men were quickly greeted by Confederate bullets. O'Sullivan, Timothy H, and Alexander Gardner, photographer. The Morrow House served as headquarters for the Confederacy during the Battle of Prairie Grove, Dec. 7, 1862, as seen Wednesday morning, Oct. 12, 2011, at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park in Arkansas. In some cases, a surrogate (substitute image) is Adjusting his range, he tried two more shots, missing both times. Berdan ordered out a company as skirmishers, while the rest of the regiment advanced within close supporting distance. John Laughton, Jr.; ANV, Mahones Brigade, Sharpshooter Battalion WebUnion performance on November 16, at the Battle of Campbells Station, 16 miles west of Knoxville, played out like moves on a chess board, according to one observer. A member of the 1st U.S.S.S. Forward men, forward, for Gods sake, and drive those fellows out of those woods.. Much to the mens disappointment, other than exchanging shots with some enemy cavalrymen who quickly rode off, little occurred during that initial outing. Credit: Library of Congress. Learn more about who the Confederate "sharpshooter" may have been on our blog. On May 9, 1864, General John Sedgwick became the highest ranking United States soldier to be killed in the U.S. Civil War when a sharpshooter killed him at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House.But despite Sedgwicks leadership and his bravery, he is most known for his last words. WebGoodnight Robicheaux (died 1879). Pressed in front, flank, and rear, many of Archers men barely escaped the Union vise. Shea says the Civil War west of the Mississippi has been largely overlooked by historians in part because of the brutality and complexity of the conflict. On April 19, Companies A and C, under Major Casper Trepp, were sent to Brig. On the latter expedition, Roosevelt's personal physician was threatened by a wild boar, and Collier tackled it and stabbed it to death. The soldiers were excited to have an opportunity for action, but as one officer acknowledged, their first brush with the enemy would likely be significant: Their reputation [could] be made or lost on this reconnaissance.. Section 1. the Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, The American Battlefield Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Originally produced in Gardners Photographic Sketchbook of the War, this photograph has become one of the most recognizable images of the Civil War. Martin claimed that just after the battle he saw a dead Confederate lying upon his back behind a stone wall who had been killed by a Federal artillery fire. We immediately deployed as skirmishers and closed in towards the fort, recalled a sharpshooter in the advance party. Sunny skies. Credit: Library of Congress. The attack was supposed to be meningitis. According to Martin T. McMahon, Brevet Major-General, U.S.V. 4. Schofield had fallen ill and the task of rescuing Blunt fell to Herron. It had taken Blunt about 12 hours to discover that Hindman had moved toward Fayetteville. Hindman decided to move his army closer to Little Rock. Reduced and redrawn version of the index map in the U.S. Army, Corps of Engineer's Military Maps Illustrated the Operations of the Armies of the Potomac & James Beveridge, John L. - Vaughan, David B. Hiram Berdan's green-coated marksmen of the 1st United States Sharp Shooters made things miserable for the Confederates around Yorktown, Virginia. Elements of the image align perfectly with the Good Death. Both attacks failed and the Union regiments were driven back after suffering heavy losses. This modern view of Devil's Den also shows the western slope of Little Round Top in the distance to the right. One of the men noted that made them feel like privileged characters.. Photograph. Jackie Mar 30, 1934 - Apr 26, 2023, SEARCY SR., Charles Dec 26, 1930 - Apr 16, 2023, Plans for B&B Theatres move forward in Joplin, Wally Kennedy: Joplin Furniture Co. building has new ownership, Joplin man works dream job this weekend at NFL Draft, Businessman calls for city to tax or ban sale of small liquor bottles, Accessory to Oklahoma girls' slayings to be released from prison, Area teams compete at Redbird Invitational track meet, Of course they are excited: Band reuniting for album anniversary, Musical producers add realism to Bonnie and Clyde's romance. A small fight, on Nov. 28, 1862, a prelude to what would happen about a week later, left 475 men on both sides casualties of the battle of Cane Hill. [digital file from original photograph, front], [digital file from original photograph, back], LC-DIG-ppmsca-33066 (digital file from original photograph, front) The terms Slaughter Pen and Devils Den were often used interchangeably following the battle, making some photographs difficult to place based on title alone. were relieved and retired to the woods in the rear. This narrative was reconstructed chiefly from the work of historian William Shea, including his books, Fields of Blood: The Prairie Grove Campaign, Pea Ridge, Civil War Campaign in the West, and his contribution to the Civil War Battlefield Guide, as well as interviews with the author and the staff at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park. were the companies to which the above soldier referred. A dead Confederate soldier lies amidst debris near Devils Den, with a gun and hat near his head. [11] Noted sharpshooters [ edit] He sent a message to Hindman urging an attack. Learn more about who the Confederate "sharpshooter" may have been on our blog. Many veterans of Western campaigns and battles shared the same sentiment, including Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman. This photograph depicts two dead Confederate soldiers in the Slaughter Pen. He was bold, reckless, aggressive, and he took tremendous chances, Shea said. The whole thing was illuminated, Shea said. As the 24th took up station on their new line, Private August Earnest, holding the regiments colors, was killed. HistoryNet.com is brought to you by HistoryNet LLC, the worlds largest publisher of history magazines. Johan, where are you? Another tragic facet of the battle was how many of the Confederates were local residents. The modern photograph of this area reveals the Plum Run footbridge and the slope of Little Round Top in the distance. Credit: NPS Photo. That night, Hindman took stock of his supplies and determined that he could not sustain another battle. Gen. Mosby Parsons. Shea describes Blunt as a man who wrote affectionate letters to his wife, but also indulged in prostitutes; a corrupt military administrator, but also the most aggressive general west of the Mississippi. One of Berdans men recalled that when he peered out of his trench, a ball flattened the corner of my cap down on my head. Seeing the man fall to the ground, the enemy marksman thought he had a kill. Instead, aside from a few men who carried civilian rifles with telescopic sites, they would carry Colt five-shot revolving rifles into their first real action. Waiting for the optimal chance to strike their enemy, the Union line unleashed a devastating fire that drove back the Confederate attackers. Alfred Waud sits perched on a rock in Devils Den, overlooking the second days battlefield in front of him. 19 identifies the soldier depicted as Andrew Johnston Hoge. WebGardner & O'Sullivan - Confederate Sharpshooter in Original Location near Devils Den Then & Now Left image A dead Confederate soldier lies amidst debris near Devils Den, with a gun and hat near his head. The tenacity of the 26ths assault forced the 24th Michigan back to a third line in the woods. In early 1862, a Union army under the command of Maj. Gen. Samuel Curtis pushed the Confederates out of Missouri and crossed the border into Arkansas. Through their efforts on the picket line and in silencing the enemy artillery, another proud marksman boasted, Our regiment won great laurelsand thousands of wonderful stories are told., With Berdans men causing so many problems, Southern sharpshooters were assigned to handle the menace. Around midnight, the Confederates slipped out of their lines and began the long, cold march back to Van Buren. Sketch Artist Alfred Waud in Devil's Den Then & Now. Having a regiment raised in western Washington County and then fighting its first big battle there is tragedy. The Army of Northern Viriginia dressed in Blue. Photograph shows a Rebel sharpshooter lying on the ground behind a wall of stones and between two large rocks; his rifle leans against the wall of stones. To die within sight of your own house is very grim.. record ("About This Item") with your request. Our FREE Virtual Teacher Institute is the can't miss online educator event of the summer. This photograph, taken by Peter Weaver on November 11, 1863, depicts a group of men posing as dead soldiers among rocks in the Slaughter Pen. But like all the preceding color bearers from the 26th this day, Lane too would be struck down. During their first day of combat, they had suffered three killed and six wounded. A Kansas soldier camped on the battlefield wrote afterward of the eerie wails that night: Not one living rational soul who survived that night at Prairie Grove will ever forget it to his dying day.. The Michiganers continued to fall all around Morrow. Rather, they were frequently deployed as brigade skirmish battalions specializing in marksmanship and field craft, scouting, skirmish drill, outpost duties, and Grand Guard. Advancing through fields and woods in the rain, they made contact with the enemy around 10 a.m. Upwards of 200 Confederates who failed to run early, including General Archer himself, quickly surrendered to the Iron Brigade. Opposite their position, a Confederate with a telescopic rifle began shooting through each of the openings until a U.S.S.S. Credit: Library of Congress. The Union major wrote after the war: Why so many monuments at Gettysburg when no stone marks the spot where the 37th like a wall of fire rolled back the waves of treason and rebellion? The sharpshooters were quickly proving that they deserved to be included among the Army of the Potomacs elite. Low 41F. Library of Congress Duplication Services. Hindman set up headquarters nearly a mile away and never visited the battle line throughout the day. Subscribe to the American Battlefield Trust's quarterly email series of curated stories for the curious-minded sort! He had been shot in the chest at Pea Ridge in March of that year, and had been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Berdans sharpshooters, assigned to General Porters 1st Division of the III Corps, were among the first of McClellans troops to board transport ships for Fortress Monroe, located at the very tip of the Peninsula. Upon their arrival, Berdans men did not have to wait long for action. Gettysburg, Upon spotting the approaching Union troops, Confederate artillerymen fired some shells in their direction, which sent the troops diving for cover. Those guys had a lot to lose if Arkansas didnt act to protect slavery.. Probably the most effective troops in the late civil war for the number of men engaged, were the sharpshooters. There were only two pieces of artillery there, and as fast as a head would appear over the earthwork our boys would pick him off. Berdans men took cover behind stumps and other friendly projections [and] the Rebels could not see anything to shoot at. The Confederates soon deemed it too dangerous to remain unsupported and retired with their artillery pieces. Right image In the course of the next week, more Union soldiers arrived at Fortress Monroe, and preparations were made for an advance in force toward the Confederate defenses at Yorktown. The same location today shows little change. Learn more about who the Confederate "sharpshooter" may have been on our blog. It was nearly a full moon. (ca. The 26th North Carolina maintained perfectly dressed lines as they descended into the wheatfield in front of Willougbys Run. (image), 11 x 14 in. Leaping across the water, Kelly fell to the ground, hit by shrapnel in the leg. Credit: Library of Congress. It was on that occasion that Old Californy did such splendid service.. Everything he did in the Prairie Grove Campaign was basically right until he got to Prairie Grove and then the burden of battlefield leadership became a little too much for him. The body of this soldier would be moved by the photographers from this location to another one some 40 yards away, where he would become the subject of one of Gettysburgs most indelible images. We cant quite reach with our imaginations how grim it must have been.. Left image Such battalions shall constitute parts of the brigades to which they belong, and shall have such field and staff officers as are authorized by law for similar battalions, to be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Map of the region between Gettysburg, Pa. and Appomattox court house, Va. : including all the Constitution, by-laws and list of membership, arranged by counties and camps. While Hindman was rebuilding his army, Union forces returned to Arkansas in October 1862 and converged on the Pea Ridge battlefield. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Pictures of the modern Palmetto Sharpshooters. The works seemed strong, and McClellan decided the best course of action would be a siege operation. SECTION 1. The rock formations near Devils Den remain unchanged in a modern photo of this location. Herron was present at Prairie Grove, but thats it. Newspapermen flocked to Weehawken to see the exhibitions and write accounts about the training. Lieutenant Colonel J.R. Lane, after checking on the mortally wounded Burgwyn, quickly assumed command of the regiment. This photograph, taken by Alexander Gardner's assistant Timothy O'Sullivan, depicts a dead Confederate soldier at the likely location of his death on the western side of Devils Den. Blunt, who now occupied Cane Hill, sent a desperate call to Springfield, Mo., for reinforcements. The same rocks near Devils Den are unassuming today. Berdan and Lieut.-Col. Ripley, of the Sharpshooters, deserve great credit throughout the siege for pushing forward the rifle pits close to the enemys works, and keeping down the fire of the enemys sharpshooters. Many other officers and men lauded the sharpshooters as well, but all the praise the Union marksmen garnered might well have been summarized in one sentence written by a soldier in New Yorks Excelsior Brigade. Artillerymen were a favorite target, and unfortunate were the gunners who had to stand up to load their cannons. Credit: NPS Photo. Finally, after marching nearly 20 miles, they spotted a makeshift earthwork near a stream crossing. The 2nd U.S.S.S. The sharpshooters in Companies C and E took up positions behind a fence, 800 yards from the enemy works, and set their sights and scopes on the artillerymen. The next morning, Union troops made another grisly discovery. Once again they had been chosen to lead the way. Sharpshooting--Pennsylvania--Gettysburg--1860-1870, - Staged Photo at Devil's Den Then & Now. The geography of Northern Arkansas played a major role in the Prairie Grove campaign. The shattered remains of the Iron Brigade filed quickly behind a barricade of rails erected on Seminary Ridge and awaited the next assault from the Confederates. WebCivil War. O'Sullivan, Timothy H, and Alexander Gardner, photographer. More about Copyright and other Restrictions. was killed in an advanced rifle pit, some Confederates managed to get to his body. The superior numbers of the North Carolinians, however, began to overwhelm the 24th Michigan. We now arranged our plans. They were armed with civilian target rifles (as were a few men in other companies). Goodnight is one of the seven men enlisted to help defend the town of Rose Creek. The hard-pressed Union soldiers would hold off one more attack, but it was becoming increasingly clear that this position too would need to be abandoned. This staged photograph was taken more than four months after the battle, by Peter Weaver, on November 11, 1863 and depicts "dead Confederates" strewn among the rocks of Devil's Den. Who would you vote for between the two leading candidates if the presidential election were held tomorrow? - Greenhut, Joseph B. Confederate Veteran Association of Kentucky, Boyd, John - Confederate Veteran Association of Kentucky, Prints & Photographs Online Catalog (Library of Congress), December 1862October 1863 - The Civil War in America. Bodies, some blasted in two, lay frozen on the ground near headless torsos. The Confederate sharpshooters at Devil's Den were only 500 yards from here. So much so, one scholar contends, that it closely resembles a postmortem photograph. Hindman arranged for the return of two Missouri regiments taken by Van Dorn to Mississippi. These two units suffered more casualties than any other regiments in their respective armies. A replica Civil War cannon sits in the walkway leading up to the Hindman Hall Museum for the Battle of Prairie Grove, Dec. 7, 1862, on Wednesday morning, Oct. 12, 2011, at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park in Arkansas. Just something that was accurate to shoot for them. Right image the Prints and Photographs Reading Room. They realized he wasnt a military genius, but they loved him because they might look left or right on a battlefield and there would be Gen. Blunt, standing a few feet away shooting at the Confederates.. Herron was a young and confident general, known among the troops for his snappy dress. Marmaduke was told the size and location of Blunts army by local secessionists who had visited the camp. Pressing further into Archer's right flank, the 24th Michigan and the 19th Indiana struck and overlappedthe 13th Alabama, forcing them to rapidly retire towards Herrs Ridge. A dead soldier lies in front of rocks near Devils Den. About noon, Brig. Corporal Charles Bellore, who had carried the 24ths colors since Sergeant Pecks death during the morning assault, was killed near the second line. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.. Clear skies. 1 photographic print : albumen ; 19.1 x 23.5 cm. SANDERS, Rev. WebWhitworth Sharpshooters were the Confederates' answer to the Union sharpshooter regiments, and they used the British Whitworth rifle. Once the sharpshooters realized the projectiles were flying harmlessly overhead, however, they got up and pressed on, driving the enemy skirmishers before them. Is the item digitized? | Civil War-era photographs, most used in Gardner's Photographic Sketch Book of the War. the Library of Congress because of rights considerations, but you have access to larger size images on The one thing it wasnt was simple.. William A. Frassanito, Early Photography at Gettysburg (Gettysburg: Thomas Publications, 1995), 294-306. Kellys friend, L.A. Thomas, picked the flag up and began to move up the hillside. While most of the regiment made it safely to the banks of Willoughbys Run, the 26ths color guard, always a tempting target, suffered much heavier losses. Stamped on verso: Source unknown. For the first several miles of the advance, the sharpshooters met no resistance; the Confederate cavalry remained just ahead, keeping close watch on the armys movements. Eight other members of the 26th's color guard joined Mansfield at the front. For several days in May 1862, the green-coated marksmenof the 1st United States Sharp Shooters had made things miserable for the Confederates manning the lines around Yorktown, Virginia. Other materials require appointments for later the same day or in the future. Gen. J.H. Brown had his sight elevated for fifteen hundred yards! The value of this branch of the service became so apparent that companies and battalions were organized in most of the brigades of infantry Cpt. As related by the regiment's commanding officer, Col. James Morehead, in a rare one-on-one encounter Pvt. Maj. Henry Frisbie of the 37th Illinois a Union veteran of the campaign that culminated near here in December 1862 wondered after the Civil War why events in the East so often overshadowed events in the West. He has written numerous books on the Civil War, including histories of the Pea Ridge and Vicksburg campaigns. The 26th paused to return fire and then made a dash for the tangled banks of Willoughbys Run. Private John Stamper grabbed the regiments colors as they entered into the brush near the stream but fell before he made it across. A little after 9 that night, the men of the 1st U.S.S.S. The 24th Michigan was moved to Culp's Hill - the Union's vulnerable right flank - to help shore up that critical position. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.. O'Sullivan, Timothy H. - Gardner, Alexander. Herron embarked on a series of forced marches that would see his army traverse the difficult landscape between Springfield and Fayetteville in just four days. Old Californy is in his glory., Aside from the larger detachments sent to other units, individual groups of sharpshooters were also deployed to help man picket outposts. Despite taking heavy casualties during the morning counterattack, the Iron Brigade had performed brilliantly once again. He is buried in the family plot in the Cane Creek Cemetery, off White Oak Road, near McKinnon, Tennessee. Blunts attack forced Marmaduke back across the mountains to Van Buren, but he would soon return with Hindmans force of nearly 12,000. When a shot supposedly fired by a Southern soldier ensconced high in a tree killed a private from Berdans New Hampshire company, Colonel Ripley took matters into his own hands. It seems he occupied a hollow tree more than 1,000 yards in front of their line. He began to consider how best to disengage, but at that moment heard a barrage of artillery from an unexpected direction. As the Tarheels began their climb up the hill, the Federal soldiers and artillery held their fire. Nov 28 1949. On a crisp December day in 1862, a Confederate army of nearly 12,000 men under the command of Maj. Gen. Thomas Hindman took the field against two smaller Union armies totaling about 9,000 men under Brig.