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(3-01) South view of Porter's
Field, across road from previous marker. New Battlefield Marker (1999):
By 10:00 a.m. on June 10, 1864, Col. George Waring's Federal cavalry had
reached the Cross Roads. The troops deployed on either side of the Baldwyn
Road in the woods at the western edge of a cleared field, one-half mile
east of the Cross Roads. Skirmishing between one of Waring's squadrons and
advance Confederate squads had already taken place further east on the
Baldwyn Road. Facing Waring's troops from the opposite hilltop across a
small creek was Col. Hylan B. Lyon's brigade which was soon reinforced by
Col. Edmund W. Rucker's brigade on the left. When Col. William W.
Johnson's cavalry arrived and was positioned on the right of Lyon's,
Forrest exploited his advantage in numbers and launched a series of
attacks.
...the enemy advanced in strong force
from the woods opposite to us, and a heavy engagement ensued which
resulted in their repulse. Subsequently they made two other desperate
attempts to take our position, one on the left and one on the right of the
road. These attacks were exceedingly fierce, each consisting of a double
line of skirmishers with an infantry line of battle, and a column of
support behind, apparently numbering 4, 4000 men. The first of these
assaults was repulsed...
Col. George E. Waring jr.
Fourth Missouri Cavalry
commanding First Brigade
Forrest's first two attacks (a general
frontal assault and a second against Waring's left) were repulsed, but his
third succeeded in breaching the Union line between Waring's right flank
and Col. Edward Winslow's left. (200 yards south of this location) The
Union retreated to a new position one quarter mile from the Cross Roads
...the second one, after a hand-to-hand
fight, was successful, and forced back my right, although the whole Second
New Jersey and reserve of the Seventh Indiana were brought into
action....After falling back a short distance I succeeded in forming a
second line, which was held until the infantry came up and relieved my
command which was much fatigued and out of ammunition...
Col. George E. Waring Jr. |
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(3-01)
South view of Porter's Field, a few yards west of marker in previous photo.
New
Battlefield Marker (1999): Brig. Gen. Benjamin Grierson's Federal
cavalry (3,300 troops) left Stubbs plantation (nine miles northwest of
Brice's Cross Roads) at daybreak on June 10, 1864. By 10:00 a.m. the cavalry
had reached Brice's Cross Roads and advance units had encountered "a
heavy force of the enemy" along the Baldwyn Road. The cavalry was
dismounted and deployed on either side of the road, in the woods at the
western edge of a cleared field, one-half mile east of the Cross Roads. Col.
George Waring's brigade was astride the road and Col. Edward Winslow's
brigade was on the right of Waring's ...I
informed (Gen. Sturgis) that I had an advantageous position and could hold
it if the infantry was brought up promptly. The enemy advanced upon us in
large numbers, with double line of skirmishers and line of battle...
Brig. Gen. B. H. Grierson
Cavalry Division (US) By noon
Forrest had three brigades on the field (Lyon, Johnson and Rucker) and
outnumbered the Federal cavalry in front of him. Forrest's first two attacks
(a general frontal assault and a second against Waring's left) were
repulsed, but his third succeeded in breaching the Union line between
Waring's right flank and Winslow's left (immediately southwest of this
location). The Union retreated to new positions one quarter mile from the
Cross Roads ...The enemy was in
very thick brush. I could not tell the exact position of the enemy's
line...I had moved forward but a short distance when the enemy fired a
volley by which Lieutenant Dillon and many others of the company were severely
wounded. The left of the regiment was obliged to fall back. As I heard the
enemy advancing through the brush I ordered the regiment to lie close to the
ground. (The Confederates) charged us twice in this position, but were
driven back with heavy loss. We lay here about two hours within sixty yards
of the enemy, the brush being so thick that we could not see them...
Maj. Abial R. Pierce
Fourth Iowa Cavalry |
