Confederate Ravine

Here is the report of Mercer's GA brigade, to the left of Finley's Florida Brigade of Bates/Brown's Division...
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Captain Smith's account, previously given, mentions charging after two federal guns on their skirmish line, etc. These are particularly mentioned in the official reports of Lowery's Brigade, to Mercer's left...
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Col. Weir of the 5th Miss. volunteers commanding Lowery's brigade reported directly:
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View attachment 412675
To the right of Lowrey’s brigade, General Brown led Bate’s division forward and commenced his right wheel as instructed. After marching only a few hundred yards, his brigades found themselves funneled into a deep ravine that caused his forces to become bogged down in a tributary to Flint River. This was a ravine that dropped in elevation more than thirty feet and rose again for more than fifty feet within a one-hundred and fifty yard distance. For those of Brown’s division that may have made it to the opposite hilltop, they were confronted by strong breastworks and a storm of lead hurled at their heads as the broke the crest of the enemy hill. Brown’s division came to a standstill in the ravine. Carter’s brigade and the remainder of Cheatham’s division under Maney—minus Strahl’s brigade that supported Brown’s advance—took position on a hill about four-hundred yards in rear or east of Brown’s troops. The attack fared no better in front of Lee’s corps, and his two divisions were shot to pieces as they advanced against the well-entrenched enemy positions across extremely rugged terrain. With any success clearly out of reach, both Cleburne and Hardee were reluctant to commit the only reserve simply to reinforce failure; thus, Cheatham’s division retained its position on the hill to prevent an enemy counter-attack until nightfall. Slowly, the remnants of Bate’s division and Strahl’s brigade straggled back through Cheatham’s lines and reorganized in their rear. The fight had been short, but not particularly bloody for Cleburne’s corps. The same couldn’t be said for Lee’s two divisions that were already desperately low in morale. Aside from Strahl’s brigade, only a few casualties were suffered by the remainder of Cheatham’s division from stray rifle balls or exploding shells.
This battle is rather strange; the Confederates attack an entrenched Federal line, and are repulsed...but with surprisingly few casualties. Basing his belief on Lee's report of his corps in the battle, Hood placed blame for the failure on the cowardice of his men, how they had grown too soft behind breastworks and were unwilling to make an offensive. This was proved untrue in November...at a heavy cost.
 
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