ACW Peninsular Campaign - Part Nine.

0245 1st June 1862, Choke Heights.

Major Gustas gathered up the final sentries covering the eastern side of Choke Heights, a couple of slouch hats and a tree branch, that could pass for a musket barrel, left in strategic positions among the rocks at the summit. They would be visible against the skyline at dawn for any enemy picket looking up.
A lot of 6th Alabama's non combat equipment was to be left in situ, alongside the campfires that still burned, too risky and potentially noisy to attempt to move in the darkness.
The men moved slowly and silently in single file to the western edge of the summit. Major Gustas had a final look back and was satisfied, it would likely be three hours or more before the enemy discovered that they had gone...


Exactly one hour later in the small town of Stockton, Major Phelan was rising from his bed to organize the move of his battery. The officers and men of Carter's Battery had been told to grab a good nights sleep as he intended to move out at 0530 sharp. They would breakfast, limber up the teams and be on the road at first light. He would have left earlier, but darkness made the journey for horse teams, limbers, guns and supply wagons, around the tip of North Inlet, with its sheer drop foolish. He would be of little use to the rest of the brigade if all his guns ended up smashed at the foot of the cliffs. He would be at Crow Bridge by 0730, he hoped that would be soon enough...


The arrival of Carter's Battery at Crow Bridge is observed and reported by Union skirmishers.

0800 1st June 1862, north of the Crow River.

1st Division begin their attack. Brigadier John Newton's 3rd Brigade (minus 18th New York), in column left of picture will advance to the Crow River and engage the enemy after an artillery barrage by 'A' Battery 1st Massachusetts and 'E' Battery 1st New York. Skirmishers out in front.

Once the enemy is engaged by 3rd Brigade, Brigadier W. Taylor's 1st Brigade will advance down the road to take the bridge.

They too will be preceded by skirmishers.

Cavalry will patrol on both flanks of the advance and can be used to exploit any breakthrough if such is achieved.

A formidable attack force.

Skirmishers to the fore.

Clouds temporarily obscure the sun in this atmospheric shot.

Union brigades passing either side of the Murray Farm.

Brigadier Robert E. Rodes' half brigade braces for the attack, Carter's Battery rushing to take its place in the line. However, Colonel George B. Anderson's Brigade, which had departed Clanfield just before 0600, was now just two miles south of Crow Bridge.

It almost 0900 before soldiers of the 18th New York, after a careful and stealthy climb, discovered that the enemy had evacuated the heights. Even from the top they could see no sign of the former occupants. This was because the 6th Alabama along with the Flying Cavalry Brigade were already south of Paytonville and had linked up with 12th Alabama at the junction of West Road and Stockton Road.


The next post will feature a full report on the battle for Crow Bridge