7th OVI
Corporal
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2009
- Messages
- 598
Here is my first post of a diorama, hope it measures up to the other ones on the forum. The images are in black and white as well as a little out of focus in the spirit of Brady, Gardner, Sullivan, Barnard, Anthony and other pioneers of photography. Here is the story.
On Friday July 3rd, 1863 the Confederates of Ewell’s 2nd Corps had tried unsuccessfully to take Culp’s Hill with repeated assaults against the Federal 12th Corps. One of the last attacks pitted two old foes against each other. The men of the Stonewall Brigade (Walkers’ Brigade) against the men of Candy’s Brigade which had met on a number of occasions in the Shenandoah Valley, Cedar Mountain and Chancellorsville. The Confederates would make the assault with 4 of the 5 regiments (4th, 5th, 27th and 33rd Va.) from the Stonewall Brigade in two lines. The four regiments numbered less than 1,000 men of the brigade. The plan was to move quickly, put down a heavy fire and then a big push. They would strike the Federals at a low spot in their defenses which was occupied by the 7th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI) and other regiments of Candy’s Brigade. The 7th OVI had defended the position all morning through every assault. The Stonewall Brigade was ordered to the right and to form their lines at the base of the hill. They would move forward at the double quick through the trees and rocks to an open area in front of the Federals, quickly form, lay down a heavy fire (perhaps fire by file by company), than when the Federal fire slackened, make a push up the hill and take the Federal defenses. The 7th prepared for the assault by getting additional ammunition some of which was delivered by Major Crane of the 7th. He was heard to say when handing out the packs of ten, “Help yourself White Star and make good use of it for the prisoners say that Ewell is going to break through here if it takes every man he has.” They also pulled forward the reserve companies and moved them into line for the next assualt.
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Major Crane is pulling forward the men and putting them in position in this image.
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Col. Creighton, seeing the Stonewall Brigade forming for the attack in a compact 2 line formation, ordered his men to fire by rank, by company, starting with the front rank, than the second, over and over, commencing on his command. He would get the men ready pull his revolver and wait for the right moment.
[/IMG]
The Stonewall Brigade formed, loaded, IMG]
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and then moved forward at the double quick.
[/IMG]
The trees and rocks of Culp’s Hill broke their ranks and formations making it difficult for officers to direct their troops. As they moved up the hill they noticed that the federals were not firing, which convinced the officers not to stop and reform their ranks but to push even harder forward to the clearing.
[/IMG]
The Stonewall Brigade broke out of the tree line, and quickly tried to form to begin firing.
[/IMG]
For a few brief seconds, the silence was deafing and then... to be continued.
On Friday July 3rd, 1863 the Confederates of Ewell’s 2nd Corps had tried unsuccessfully to take Culp’s Hill with repeated assaults against the Federal 12th Corps. One of the last attacks pitted two old foes against each other. The men of the Stonewall Brigade (Walkers’ Brigade) against the men of Candy’s Brigade which had met on a number of occasions in the Shenandoah Valley, Cedar Mountain and Chancellorsville. The Confederates would make the assault with 4 of the 5 regiments (4th, 5th, 27th and 33rd Va.) from the Stonewall Brigade in two lines. The four regiments numbered less than 1,000 men of the brigade. The plan was to move quickly, put down a heavy fire and then a big push. They would strike the Federals at a low spot in their defenses which was occupied by the 7th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI) and other regiments of Candy’s Brigade. The 7th OVI had defended the position all morning through every assault. The Stonewall Brigade was ordered to the right and to form their lines at the base of the hill. They would move forward at the double quick through the trees and rocks to an open area in front of the Federals, quickly form, lay down a heavy fire (perhaps fire by file by company), than when the Federal fire slackened, make a push up the hill and take the Federal defenses. The 7th prepared for the assault by getting additional ammunition some of which was delivered by Major Crane of the 7th. He was heard to say when handing out the packs of ten, “Help yourself White Star and make good use of it for the prisoners say that Ewell is going to break through here if it takes every man he has.” They also pulled forward the reserve companies and moved them into line for the next assualt.
Major Crane is pulling forward the men and putting them in position in this image.
Col. Creighton, seeing the Stonewall Brigade forming for the attack in a compact 2 line formation, ordered his men to fire by rank, by company, starting with the front rank, than the second, over and over, commencing on his command. He would get the men ready pull his revolver and wait for the right moment.
The Stonewall Brigade formed, loaded, IMG]
and then moved forward at the double quick.
The trees and rocks of Culp’s Hill broke their ranks and formations making it difficult for officers to direct their troops. As they moved up the hill they noticed that the federals were not firing, which convinced the officers not to stop and reform their ranks but to push even harder forward to the clearing.
The Stonewall Brigade broke out of the tree line, and quickly tried to form to begin firing.
For a few brief seconds, the silence was deafing and then... to be continued.
