Withdrawal to the Split-Rail Fence

Withdrawal to the Split-Rail Fence (HM1GHR)

Location: Wildersville, TN 38388 Cochise County
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Country: United States of America
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N 35° 47.303', W 88° 23.327'

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Inscription

Two Futile Charges



The Union line, positioned about one-quarter mile north of here, made two futile charges against the Confederate guns. Forrest then ordered a general advance and his line, utilizing a frightful barrage of artillery and small arms fire, began to tighten the arc around the Union position.



Withdrawal to the Fence



The pressure of the combined firepower forced the Union troops to withdraw from the high ground. They fell back to this position, taking cover behind a split-rail fence much like that before you.



"Right at half past 11 we were brought under a terrific fire of shell, grape and canister. We lay behind a fence at the edge of a strip of timber, while across in front of us some 500 yards were planted the enemy's cannon they were planted on a ridge within full view and had we not lain down while we were there many more must have been killed." — Private William H. Peter, 122nd Illinois



Shells Shattered the Brittle Rails



The split-rail fence provided no protection. Shells shattered the brittle rails, turning them into instruments of death. Private Joseph Hotz, 50th Indiana, later wrote his wife, "? many a poor soldier lost his life and many lost arms and legs. It was a fearful sight."



Dunham realized that the Confederate artillery must be silenced if his men were to survive, let alone emerge victorious.
Details
HM NumberHM1GHR
Tags
Placed ByParker's Crossroads Battlefield Association
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Thursday, September 18th, 2014 at 2:19pm PDT -07:00
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Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)16S E 374494 N 3961367
Decimal Degrees35.78838333, -88.38878333
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 35° 47.303', W 88° 23.327'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds35° 47' 18.18" N, 88° 23' 19.62" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)731
Which side of the road?Marker is on the right when traveling East
Closest Postal AddressAt or near 1 Unnamed Road, Wildersville TN 38388, US
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

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