Existing comment:
"The Jaws of Death":
Sedgwick's division entered the West Woods.
"The last of the charging lines had gone beyond, and was sweeping majestically into the jaws of death when the mass seemed to halt, while from the front line spouted forth a long angry sheet of flame from innumerable gun barrels. Men were falling fast now, as unseen batteries were pelting the lines with an iron storm, and Confederate bullets were finding the object of their flight."
Confederate infantry and artillery hit the Union lines from three directions. Sedgwick was wounded. Major General Edwin Sumner, Second Corps commander, was helpless:
"Back boys, for God's sake, move back! You are in a bad fix!"
In about 15 minutes, Sedgwick's division had lost almost 2,300 men killed and wounded -- about half their original number.
"Where the line stood, the ground was covered in blue."
The Confederates pursued the Federals out of the woods and were themselves cut down by waiting infantry and artillery.
When it was almost over, a Twelfth Corps division commanded by Brig. Gen. George Green -- a division left over from Mansfield's earlier attack -- finally reached the Dunker Church. They received no support and were driven back after a couple of hours. |