Short of Total Victory

Thousands of Confederates swept downhill from Chinn Ridge, crossed Chinn Branch, and crashed through these woods toward Sudley Road, aiming for the Stone House intersection and a chance to cut off any Union retreat. At the last minute, regiments of Pennsylvania Reserves and U.S. Regulars ran from Henry Hill and took position along the road cut, while artillery from the hill behind them lobbed shells in this direction and Union small arms fire tore through the trees. Here the Confederate counterattack lost momentum. The hour's fighting on Chinn Ridge gave the Union just enough time to establish this defense along Sudley Road. Confederates launched repeated, disjointed assaults along the half-mile line but could not quite break through, and darkness fell before they could concentrate their forces for this last opportunity to annihilate the Union Army.

Sudley, Virginia · United States