Ambush at Bunker's Ford. (1 Viewer)

[Captain]

UKReb, here's a picture for you. This is at that boyscout event and this is the left flank of the Confederate line on the Cloyd's Mtn. battlefield as it is today. This was taken on Sunday afternoon so most of the scouts had already left. I was about to limber up my gun and head out myself. While searching through these pics I found a couple that will make great backdrops for dios. I had forgotten that I took them.

 

[UKReb]

UKReb, here's a picture for you. This is at that boyscout event and this is the left flank of the Confederate line on the Cloyd's Mtn. battlefield as it is today. This was taken on Sunday afternoon so most of the scouts had already left. I was about to limber up my gun and head out myself. While searching through these pics I found a couple that will make great backdrops for dios. I had forgotten that I took them.

Looks like Albert Jenkins sure picked the high ground for this scrap, he was a darn good cavalry officer -apparently had a massive beard that hung halfway down his chest- he led a daring 500 mile raid into Western Virginia and Ohio which brought him to the attention of Lee. He also received a serious head wound at Gettysburg that he never fully recovered from.

Crook, unlike Grant, when he saw the position that Jenkins had placed his troops (which your photograph perfectly illustrates) decided a frontal attack would be suicide and took him in the flanks I believe with one of the Ohio regiments led by one of your future presidents you mentioned a Colonel Rutherford B Hayes which finally broke Jenkins line. As we said tremendous casualties on both sides-Was this the battle where the woodlands were set alight by musket fire and incinerated dozens of wounded men?
Thanks for posting have never seen any photos of this battlefield before.

Reb

 

[Captain]

I am not an expert on this battle, I only know the bare bones but, after Breckenridge who was in this area left with all the troops to go stop the advance in the Valley which became the battle of New Market (about 130 mile northeast of here). Tiger John McCausland was in charge. Word came that Crook was advancing from the North and Tiger John made his defensive line (I believe) atop the next low ridge visible in the previous picture. The original roadbed is also visible in the picure as it winds around below the house. Jenkins arrived and took command and (wisely) moved the
line back, increasing his field of fire and giving him a creek in his front. The Confederate line straddled the main road. In this next picture is the main federal advance area and was the greatest kiling ground.

(Funny how developers have a knack for building right on the most hallowed of ground) Crook tried to get to the Confederate right flank but got lost while other regiments were throwing themselves at the Confederate front and sustaining terrible losses. Crook finally got a local guide to get him around the Confederate right and his assault collapsed the Confederate line which was cracking at several points. The Confederates attempted to reform a line after a strategic redeployment (running for their lives) a couple of miles to the rear at an area known as "the stand" where elements of Kentucky Cavalry arrived and attempted to stem the tide. There, Captain Cleburn (2nd or 5th Kentucky Cavalry and kin to Patrick) was killed and still lies buried in an area beside the Highway that is pictured. The Confederates fled into Dublin Depot and then by rail and road to current day Radford Va. where the Federal goal of destroying the Va. & Tn. Rail line and the "long bridge" across the New River was met. Dublin was of course burned.

 

[Captain]

Danged if this little conversation aint got me all fired up to start that Cloyd's Mountain Diorama!!! I better go get started painted lots of little 1/72 figures !!!!!