The Battle of Shaunsburg Part 2

 The battle of Shaunsburg began to develop with an aggressive right hook by the attacking Confederate army. Reinforcements were slow to arrive but the Brigades on the field began to come into range of each other.

Union batteries holding a hill in the Union center unleash on the approaching Confederates.

5:20pm-6:00pm

Barksdale’s Mississippi Brigade continued to advance with artillery support against three regiments of the Iron Brigade who marched out to meet them. The Black Hats charged the cannon that had been blasting them but were instead intercepted by four of Barksdale’s regiments led by Barksdale himself.  The Confederates crashed into the Western Brigade and knocked it back in disorder, routing one regiment and throwing two others into disorder. The Rebels were disordered as much by success as the Yankees were by defeat.  

Directly to the left of the charge the Texas Brigade tangled with two other regiments of the Iron Brigade and were ready to get stuck in when Union cavalry stampeded up the road behind the Union line, dismounted and fired repeaters to great effect. The charge of the Texas Brigade was broken up in confusion. The horse artillery and another cavalry regiment blasted the Mississippians who attempted to reform to face them.   

Shaken but not routed, the Iron Brigade fires into the Mississippians 

In the Confederate center left Hampton’s cavalry caught the Second New Hampshire marching in column along a road in front of them. They charged.  In the resulting melee the New Hampshire regiment is killed or captured to a man as sabres and pistols make short work of them.  The cavalry in turn sustained heavy losses from fire from both left and right as several Union regiments and a battery of guns moved to seal the breach.  One Cavalry Battalion fled and Hampton is wounded in the attack.   

A Union volley empties Confederate saddles. 

Meanwhile on the Union far right Hancock’s entire Corp is on the field in strength  

Look at that strength 

In two hours of fighting 22410 Union soldiers (half on the field) suffered approximately 780 casualties. In that same time 23580 Confederate soldiers (half on the field) suffered 1360 casualties.  The Union left and center are pressured but have not broken.  The battle continues.

Looking across from the Union right and Confederate left