Alpheus Williams alone on the Culp Farm (PART 2)

[nyy6242]

The 150th NY of Lockwoods Brigade is ordered to drive the rebels off from our right flank. They fixed bayonets and charged.

The attachment screen0016_2010-10-11.jpg is no longer available

Fighting was close...the 150th NY didn't realize they were about to be engaged with 2-3 large rebel units that were intermingled. This wasn't going to be pretty.

The attachment screen0017_2010-10-11.jpg is no longer available

The 150th NY is forced to retreat after suffering 140+ casualties in hand to hand combat. The rebels didn't budge. I needed to plug this hole. I had an available 4 gun battery 300 yds distant. I rolled it up to plug the hole.

The attachment screen0018_2010-10-11.jpg is no longer available

Meanwhile, on the left flank. All is quiet. McDougall's men anxiously await orders to assist Ruger and Lockwood on the right flank.

The attachment screen0019_2010-10-11.jpg is no longer available

My right flank is beginning to crumble...the salient I created is working against me. My regiments posted along the fence line are taking heavy casualties.

The attachment screen0020_2010-10-11.jpg is no longer available

A courier is sent immediately to John Geary, roughly a mile away. He is told to provide a defensive line on the opposite side of the creek, east of Gettysburg. Geary knows a general retreat by Williams division is imminent.

The attachment screen0021_2010-10-11.jpg is no longer available

I sent the 1st Maryland Potomac Home Guard of Lockwood's Brigade to work on the rebel right flank. I thought this might take some pressure off of my own right flank....we'll see.

The attachment screen0022_2010-10-11.jpg is no longer available

A battery from Geary's division arrives and sets up across the creek overlooking the Culp Farm. From this position, they can see that Alpheus Williams is heavily engaged on 3 fronts. It isn't looking good.

The attachment screen0023_2010-10-11.jpg is no longer available

Ruger has had enough...he's lost over 70% of his brigade. Lockwood's men refuse to fight, their morale is in the tank. McDougall has only lost about 200 men and is now being attacked on his right flank. Lockwood and Ruger begin to fall back to the creek. What started out as a general organized retreat, has become a rout. McDougall is ordered to provide cover fire so that the remaining two federal brigades and batteries can safely make it across the creek.

The attachment screen0024_2010-10-11.jpg is no longer available

The 27th Indiana of Ruger's Brigade...has bee shot to pieces. More than half its men were left on the field. It retreated in good fashion east of the Culp Farm.

The attachment screen0025_2010-10-11.jpg is no longer available

MORE TO COME...


- JNewton