Dibrell's Position

Colonel George Dibrell placed his dismounted cavalry on a rise southeast of the Parker house for what he called the regiment's first regular battle as cavalry. East of Colonel Alonzo Napier and across the cotton field from the 122nd Illinois, this position included Sergeant Nat Baxter's 12-pounder howitzer, which had disabled one of the three Union artillery pieces that morning during the engagement at Hicks field and then kept the Illinois troops pinned down at close range with canister. Confederate artillery, arranged from east to west along a line north of the cotton field, punished the Federal forces, with two guns at the west end of Forrest's line, Lieutenant John Morton's two guns in the center, and the rest of Freeman's battery covering the east end. Firing as fast as possible, these guns rained lead on Colonel Dunham's line, while Colonel John Rinaker of the 122nd Illinois recalled ten Confederate pieces opening furiously from 300 to 600 yards with grape, canister, shell, and solid shot. The smoke clouded the battlefield and added to the confusion, and with Union artillery ammunition exhausted early in the fight, the bombardment inflicted heavy casualties on the Union defenders.

Parker's Crossroads, Tennessee · United States