Military
5
Union General J.H. Hobart Ward's brigade fought desperately to hold the line on Houck's Ridge, anchoring the left flank of the Third Corps. For 30 minutes Confederate artillery pounded the Union position, then Confederate General John B. Hood's division began its assault. Wave after wave of Southerners advanced, hitting Ward's men "like an avalanche." Union soldiers unleashed murderous fire, but the Confederates were relentless. Ward reported his single line advanced and retired, time after time for 90 minutes, but the Confederates were unstoppable. Ward's line finally collapsed and his brigade retreated, leaving Southern troops holding the ridge. Difficult and impassable terrain and artillery fire complicated and slowed the Confederate advance, but the determined Southerners succeeded in taking the ridge. The 99th Pennsylvania infantry likely carried flank markers into action here, and during the fighting on Houck's Ridge this unit lost 110 men killed, wounded, or captured.
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Pennsylvania · United States
