A Fire Terrible In Its Intensity

Forrest planned to encircle the Union position with artillery, relying on his guns to fight the battle rather than committing his dismounted troops to close small arms combat. After the engagement at Hicks' field, he ordered part of Captain Samuel L. Freeman's Battery into position here, supported by Major Nicholas N. Cox's dismounted Tennessee Cavalry Battalion. Freeman's cannon occupied this low rise, which commanded a broad view of the battlefield, while additional artillery was placed to the southeast. The Confederate guns became highly effective, concentrating fire on several parts of the Federal line and enfilading part of it. Confederate artillery maintained a constant fire despite Federal attempts to silence the guns by shooting down the artillerists. Colonel Cyrus Dunham twice ordered charges by units on his right flank against the guns, but both attacks failed under deadly double canister fire. After the second charge faltered, Forrest ordered an advance, and the Federal troops fell back to a new position behind a split-rail fence at the edge of the woods visible to the south.

Parker's Crossroads, Tennessee · United States