Wheeler's Cavalry at Pickett's Mill

[C. Cash]

The Battle of Pickett's Mill was much more of a dismounted Cavalry battle than what is being depicted in modern histories. For about an hour, there was no on the immediate right of Granbury except roughly 1000 of Wheelers dismounted cavalrymen(350 of Kelly's men and about 700 of Humes/Ashby's Brigade, led by Col. JT Wheeler). This line of Cavalry to Granbury's right held Hazen's left until Baucum and Lowrey were sent for at 5:30. Yet modern maps and histories show the latter two showing up to reinforce force no one in particular. Original sources dispel this and are clear that the dismounted Cavalry(Ashby's Brigade of Hume's Div. and two small brigades of Kelly's Div.) played a much greater role in front of and to the right of Granbury, fighting desperately to hold back Hazen's left, than previously thought. And Gen. Wheeler was right there in the middle of it. Here is my evidence for the above and for the map that accompanies it. https://www.westerntheatercivilwar....s-tennessee-cavalry-brigade-at-pickett-s-mill

 

[C. Cash]

Very little interest regarding Pickett's Mill, apparently, but the info will at least be out there for others researching the battle in the future.

Defending the Confederate Cavalry on the Atlanta Campaign

It was a common joke amongst the infantry that “no one had ever seen a dead cavalryman,” and tensions between the two branches of ser...

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[bdtex]

I've had the Pickett's Mill Battlefield State Historic Site website bookmarked for 2-3 years for a future visit. I've heard that it's one of the most well-preserved battlefields left from the Atlanta Campaign. Most of my battle reading is in anticipation of future visits. I don't see me making it to any Atlanta Campaign sites for a couple of years at least. That doesn't mean there's no interest there for me. I just haven't gotten to it yet. This sub-forum has no Forum Host. That's one reason you got no replies.

 

[C. Cash]

You will love seeing it. It's relatively pristine. Good to see it in both winter and spring. Go in Winter to see the lay of the land without the leaves(you can better see the ridge the Cav. fought on too) and Spring to see it in full vegetation. One can easily understand how confused the fight was in the thick brush. They have one of Key's howitzers there which wrought carnage on Gibson's Brigade and the right of Hazen. Makes the hairs stand on end to think it was there just yards away during the battle.

 

[bdtex]

You will love seeing it. It's relatively pristine. Good to see it in both winter and spring. Go in Winter to see the lay of the land without the leaves(you can better see the ridge the Cav. fought on too) and Spring to see it in full vegetation. One can easily understand how confused the fight was in the thick brush. They have one of Key's howitzers there too which wrought carnage on Gibson's Brigade and the right of Hazen. Makes the hairs stand on end to think it was there just yards away during the battle.

It's nice to visit battlefields on or close to the date of the battle. Realistically, if I ever get there it will be in the fall or winter. The website says that the museum is only open Friday-Sunday.

 

[C. Cash]

It's nice to visit battlefields on or close to the date of the battle. Realistically, if I ever get there it will be in the fall or winter. The website says that the museum is only

Yes....they do some reenactments there around the 27th of May. I have yet to catch these. Bring lots of water. The gravity of what happened there in that little patch of real estate always hits pretty hard. Heroes all.

 

[jepridgen]

It's a great little park that is surprisingly untouched considering suburban encroachment. I live right up the road. Done the reenactment there as well. My unit has a long standing relationship with the park. It's only a small "skirmish" but still cool because of you are on the actual battlefield. Reenactors are there mainly for the educational aspects of seeing drill and campsites, etc. The park also lets a cannon fire into the ravine from very near where Keys battery actually fought. There's a nice period cabin there on the site of an actual homestead.

 

[C. Cash]

My ggGrand Dad JM Cash served with Co. B of the 5th TN Cav(McKenzie's) detailed above in the chronicle of Ashby's Brigade. I wanted to learn more about his unit and I kept reading from different narratives that out of 490 men they lost 143 at Pickett's Mill, holding off Hazen's center/left until Cleburne sent reinforcements . I was assured by numerous folks that wrote books and articles that this was in error and these men merely skirmished with Scribner. But it turns out after gathering all available evidence, they did hold Hazen + Scribner's 2 regts for the duration(40 mins-1 hour), engaging in a see saw battle for ridge along the modern cavalry trail. As Baucum and Lowrey were finally sent in at 5:30 to reinforce them the dismounted Cavalry had already driven Hazen + 2 Scribner Regts. across the Western fence of the cornfield, according to two of my sources. Probably because Hazen was out of ammo and demoralized that few of Gibson and Knefler's men were coming to support them.

 

[C. Cash]

Top:General William Wirt Allen led the Alabama Brigade of Cavalry(Kelly's Division) About 250 men and 40 casualties

Bottom: Colonel James T. Wheeler led Ashby's Brigade of Tennessee Cavalry(Humes Division) About 700 men, over 161 casualties: no figures for 2 regiments who only report losing heavily. Wheeler would have 3 horses killed under him at Pickett's Mill. It was said he was 6'6" tall. Over a foot taller than Gen. Wheeler.

Hannon(Kelly's Division) was also there with only 100 men and reported 30 casualties. Well over 231 casualties for Gen. Wheeler's troopers which never get added to the casualty totals. But they kept the Confederate right from collapsing in on Granbury.

 

[C. Cash]

Another little known aspect of this battle is the Gallantry of Gibson's Federals, who suffered the heaviest casualties on 27 May. Those who had survived the massive carnage in the ravine in front of Granbury did not fade off to the rear as one would expect . Hundereds of these men found their way left to fight alongside Hazen and Knefler. That's astounding considering what had just experienced and witnessed. Scenes that made hardened Infantrymen sick to their stomach. The stuff of Infantry Legend right there.