Morrison's Brigade

On February 13, 1862, about 10 a.m., Colonel William R. Morrison's Brigade of Brigadier General John A. McClernand's Division, including the 17th Illinois under Major Francis M. Smith and the 49th Illinois under Lieutenant Colonel Phineas Pease, crossed Indian Creek Valley and took position in the woods west of here within a quarter mile of the trenches. About noon, with the 48th Illinois attached, it was ordered to attack Maney's Battery. Forming in line of battle under cover of the woods, the brigade advanced with the 49th Illinois on the right, the 48th Illinois on the left, and the 17th Illinois in the center, while a company deployed as skirmishers preceded each regiment. The brigade climbed the steep hillside and struggled through almost impenetrable felled trees, but when it approached within 50 paces of the trenches, it came under severe crossfire from Confederate artillery and musketry. Though reinforced by the 45th Illinois, which crossed the valley from Wynn's Ferry Road and formed on the right, every effort to take the Confederate position failed after about an hour of fighting. Colonel Morrison, leading the assault, was wounded by a musket ball, and severe losses forced the brigade to withdraw. The 45th and 48th Regiments rejoined Wallace's Brigade along Wynn's Ferry Road, and because of Morrison's disability, the 49th and 17th Illinois were temporarily attached to Wallace's Brigade.

Dover, Tennessee · United States