A division of African-American troops in Burnside’s Ninth Corps was supposed to lead the attack after the mine explosion, and for weeks had rehearsed to serve as the spearhead of the assault, but late on July 29 Union army commander George G. Meade, fearing public outcry if they suffered heavy casualties, ordered Burnside to choose another all-white division instead. Burnside, who had advocated using the African-American troops, let his division commanders draw straws for the assignment, and James Ledlie, his weakest division commander, was chosen. The unprepared white troops faltered, and the attack collapsed into chaos and tragedy. The African-American division entered the battle at 8 a.m., after the fighting had degenerated into a brutal, confused brawl, and suffered more than 200 dead and another 400 missing, many of them dead as well, more than any other Union division in the battle.