Morell’s Division, USA

In fierce fighting involving Morell’s Division of the U.S. Army, Confederate attackers rushed downhill in line of battle but struggled to cross a swamp waist deep in thick mud while the 1st U.S. Sharpshooters fired Sharp’s rifles at very close range, so near that aiming was unnecessary. Participants recalled an intense metallic din of musketry, and the battle raged furiously under tremendous fire that lopped trees and sent branches and leaves falling like snowflakes while bullets flew like a hailstorm.

Virginia · United States