The Attack on Rice's Hill

Early in the afternoon, the 18th Connecticut and 123rd Ohio infantry regiments formed a short-lived Union defensive line on Rice's Hill after Gen. Franz Sigel withdrew his outflanked troops from Manor's Hill and ordered the two regiments to slow the Confederate pursuit while he prepared a new position on Bushong's Hill. The other end of the line extended onto the Rice Farm and was anchored by Capt. Alfred von Kleiser's battery on the Valley Turnpike, but the Confederates were close behind. Union Col. Augustus Moor reported that the Federals were hardly in line when the Confederates advanced in two strong lines that far overlapped their own, and one Federal recalled that as the Confederates appeared over Manor's Hill they poured in such a storm of shot and shell that the air seemed alive with bullets. Many Federals were hit, including Edmund Snyder of the 123rd Ohio, who was struck in the groin, and Maj. Horace Kellogg, who commanded the 123rd Ohio Infantry, was wounded. After a short but resolute struggle, the outflanked Federals gave way and retreated in chaos, but their brief resistance bought Sigel valuable time to form his new, stronger line on Bushong's Hill.

Virginia · United States