Existing comment:
Wasted Gallantry
4:30pm - 5:30pm
This painting shows a gallant but futile charge by the 7th Maine Infantry. Several hours after the fighting had ended at Bloody Lane, a Union officer ordered Major Thomas Hyde to advance his men through the Piper cornfield and attack. The men from Maine faced a galling fire from the Confederate infantry and artillery.
Major Hyde, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions, said all of the color guard was "shot down but one, who brought off our flag riddled with balls." In 20 minutes, this regiment suffered more than 50 percent casualties, yet the charge did nothing to advance the Union plan of attack. This was not the first or last time in the Civil War that misguided officers squandered the lives of brave men. |