A Stand Up Fight

Union Brig. Gen. John Gibbon advanced through the woods with his men intent on driving off the Confederate artillery, but after discovering Stonewall Jackson's infantry in force and finding one regiment badly involved, he ordered the rest of the brigade rapidly forward in support. They promptly formed in line, and for more than an hour an intense musketry duel rolled along the two battle lines as deadly volleys continued into the growing darkness. Though outnumbered and exposed, the Union line held its ground and returned fire with discipline and great effect, while fence rails gave little protection to the Stonewall Brigade less than 50 yards in front. Gibbon was pleased with his largely untested Midwestern troops, whose Black Hat Brigade, named for their distinctive black Hardee hats, had first proved its tenacity at Second Manassas and here stood firm against an overwhelming force of Stonewall Jackson's battle-hardened veterans. Losses on both sides were frightful: Gibbon's brigade lost 725 out of 1,937 men, the 56th Pennsylvania and 76th New York of Abner Doubleday's brigade lost 236 of about 550 men, and the Stonewall Brigade lost 340 of 850 men; one in three men who fought here were casualties. John Gibbon had been reared in North Carolina and had three brothers in the Confederate army.

Haymarket, Virginia · United States