Major General Richard H Anderson (Jim) took to the field with his division under A.P Hill’s Third Corps. The following Brigadier Generals were present, each with their own brigade and staff under their command; Brigadier Generals Cadmus M Wilcox (Daniel), William Mahone, Ambrose R Wright and Carnot Posey. The Colonel David Lang led a smaller and much battered brigade taking over the deposed Perry. We were fortunate enough to also have three companies from the Sumter GA Artillery attached to the division, led respectively by the Captains Hugh M Ross, George M Patterson and John T Wingfield.
The objective issued was to be a pair of crossroads at the base of Prince Hill, these would turn out to be hotly contested. With movement orders issued as per the composition and competency of each brigade, the Confederates were first to move upon the objective without any hindrance or whiff of the Yankee blue blood. Maj Gen Anderson took the opportunity to properly assess the lay of the land , seeing fit to maintain current orders.
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As one may observe, the relatively open fields provided immense opportunity for both defilade and enfilade upon the encroaching Federal forces. Brig Gen Mahone and Col Lang deployed to the west of the crossroads, the artillery detachments of the Sumter GA Artillery to the immediate south west, Brig Gen Posey to the southern flank of the fields, and finally Brig Gens Wilcox and Wright to the extended south east. Mahone pushed his regiments forwards to seize the initiative against the oncoming Union troops – their bugle calls being heard approaching from the north east of the crossroads, cutting across and down the flank of the hill.
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All other brigades were kept in reserve, leaving open the line of sight for the artillery pieces whom had now unlimbered and begun firing.
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With the first shots fired by both Malone and the Sumter artillery, we entered into a lengthy engagement that would bridge almost three hours. Mahone’s Virginia regiments managed to blunt the first wave of the Union (believed to be Vermont boys), and took quite the beating for it. With the initial Federal forces regathering Brig Gen Mahone was returned back to rest, the objective being retaken and occupied by Col Lang and his Floridians. One may also observe here in the far distance the brigade of Wilcox awaiting further orders.
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Brig Gen Wilcox (Daniel) supported the movement, alongside that of Posey’s brigade – both would regroup once Mahone had retreated. Unfortunately, Lang’s choler got the best of him and took all three of his regiments into fervour. He would take his men in pursuit of the Union up into the dense woodlands above our position; all courier messages to reach the gentleman were blocked. There was little indication as to how the fighting fared, other than the acrid fog of spent powder drifting about the treetops. Col Lang would emerge from the hillside some time later with all but one of his brave Floridian regiments spent entirely.
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[OOC: no pictures of the charge or the fighting, we literally couldn't see anything but the smoke over the trees anyway]
From here on to the end of the engagement, the Union forces would feed piecemeal their power over the crest of the hill and down onto the field. With the initiative in the Confederates favour, and a firm hold upon the objective (for the Union second division was nowhere to be seen), Maj Gen Anderson saw it fit to issue orders for a general advancement upon the hill.
Both Wilcox and Mahone bore the brunt of this responsibility; each holding whilst the other moved, steadily moving themselves up the hill. Their advance was supported primarily by Company A of Captain Hugh M Ross’ artillery whom were repositioned upon the southern flank of the hillside. From this position of strength, Wright’s brigade entirely flanked what was known to be left of the Union and came in upon them to the east.
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Unfortunately upon cresting the hill, Mahone, Wright and Wilcox became entangled in a lengthy and rather desperate struggle with the second Union division. It would become apparent to the Maj Gen Anderson at this point that the Federals had kept their entire second division in reserve on the other north flank of the hill where we were unable to espy them until engagement. Further fighting took place, steadily pushing the embattled Yankees backwards down the hill.
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Brig Gen Wilcox distinguished himself in particular, and likely assisted in turning this stage of the fighting, with the liberation and acquirement of several Union artillery pieces. These cannon were swiftly turned upon their previous northern owners and let fire into the blue. With the Union pushed largely off the northern side of the hill, Maj Gen Anderson deemed it a victory and halted the advance.