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11. The Second Contest at the Railroad Cut
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CHAPTER 11 The Second Contest at the Railroad Cut MOST INVITING TO RODES-EVEN WHILE HE WAS CONTENDING with Robinson on Oak Ridge-was the seemingly exposed right flank of Doubleday's line on McPherson Ridge. But, as Davis' brigade of Heth's division had discovered in the morning, this Union right flank was partly protected by the railroad cuts in the two crests of McPherson Ridge. In mid-morning, as will be recalled, a great many of Davis' men had been captured or shot down in the cut in the more easterly crest of the ridge. But now Daniel's brigade of Rodes' division determined to renew the experiment at the railroad, with hopes of driving the Nationals back in short order. Long before the Southern infantry leapt forward to the attack, their brethren manning the cannon had been pounding and softening up the Federals for several hours. The Confederate artillery, in fact, had one of its best days of the war on July I, 1863; and it played no small part in contributing to the finally successful Southern efforts to drive back Stone's small Bucktail brigade of Rowley's division, posted on the westernmost crest of McPherson Ridge just soum of the Chambersburg pike. The Confederate batteries, as mentioned before, were posted just beyond the crest of Herr Ridge, in a line roughly perpendicular to the pike. On the right (south) was Wallace's battery; then, in order to the left (north) were Rice's battery, Marye's battery, and the two Whitworth breechloading guns near the pike. Continuing the line north of the road were McGraw's battery, Crenshaw's battery, Maurin's bat101 tery, and, on Hill's extreme left, on a slight rise of ground east of Willoughby Run, Brander's battery. Later, Johnson's and Hurt's batteries went into position near the Hagerstown road on the extreme Confederate right.1 With the destructive fire of Carter's batteries on Oak Hill and jones's beyond Rock Creek added to that of Hill's guns on Herr Ridge, the Federal lines of the First and Eleventh Corps were exposed to the fearful fire of nearly sixty Confederate pieces, while being able to muster only thirty-six in reply.2 As O'Neal attacked Robinson from the north-before Iverson moved forward from the west-a gap opened between these two Confederate brigades. Consequently, when Iverson charged forward toward the stone wall on Oak Ridge, he was impelled to bear a bit to the left (north) to try to close this gap. This action resulted in the exposure of the left of Daniel's brigade, which was in support of Iverson on the latter's right-rear. Therefore, both of Daniel's flanks were in the air, although not being menaced then by any likely Federal attack or encirclingmovement.3 Daniel's veteran brigade totaled approximately 2,300 effectives, and its commander-a Tarheel, West Pointer, and Louisiana plantation owner-was himself a seasoned officer.4 Being about 200 yards in Iverson 's right-rear5 and unable to assist his neighbor directly, Daniel instructed his right wing to change front to the right (south), and to move down to and then along the Chambersburg pike so as to threaten the left flank of Robinson and Cutler.6 The Confederate brigadier was soon to find that this was easy to order but difficult to achieve, owing to the unyielding resistance of Stone's Union ~rigade, posted along the pike at the westernmost crest of McPherson Ridge. Actually, Daniel's object of reaching and then moving eastward along the pike to Seminary Ridge, and then falling upon Cutler's or Robinson's left flank was unrealistic. At first, Daniel's 43rd, 53rd, and pnd North Carolina regiments remained behind, vainly trying to assist Iverson in dislodging Baxter. While they were thus engaged, Daniel moved southward toward the railroad grading with his 2nd North Carolina battalion (Lieutenant Colonel H.L. Andrews) and 45th North Carolina regiment (Lieutenant Colonel S.H. Boyd).7 As these two units advanced southward, Cutler's blue brigade, which had been firing northward against Iverson 's right, wheeled backward to its line on Oak Ridge facing west, and opened a heavy flanking musketry fire on Daniel's left.8 102 [34.228.40.212] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 07:54 GMT) Meanwhile, the steady enfilading fire from Hill's artillery on Herr Ridge to the west inflicted casualties on Stone's 143rd...