The Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board

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I very seldom can add anything to Bryan's information, but I have great interest in the 25th Ark. and can share these bits of information.

1. You can use Google maps to get a satellite view of the battlefield (and you can almost make out the dark spot where the Brock house might have been located. Also with Google and a good computer you can further go down to the Lafayette Road to get a soldier's eye view of the terrain (interesting to me).

2. After reading the Peter Cozzens account of the battle, I wrote the following to my family (with a map/not included)

I'm reading a book about the Battle of Chickamauga (This Terrible Sound by Peter Cozzens) and ran across an account of the part of the fighting that most likely resulted in Great Grandpa Hayley's second of three major wounds. I thought I'd write about this while it's fresh in my mind.

I'll spare you the overall action and try to stay with the 25th Arkansas Infantry.

Most of the battlefield was covered with scrub oak and undergrowth. Soldiers had very short field of vision until they got up to a cleared field. So, the overall battle was reduced to mini-battles on small farms. This event takes place on the Brock field in an effort to turn the Federal left on the Viniard Farm and perhaps capture the Widow Glenn cabin (which was General Rosecrans Headquarters). The 25th was in McNair's Brigade but, due to reduced size, a provisional organization of Gregg's Brigade, Bushrod Johnson's Division of Hood's command, Longstreet's Corps.

This took place on the first day of two days of major fighting (Sept. 19 and 20, 1863). The 25th Ark., 39th N.C., 7th Texas, and 30th Tenn., regiments attacked toward the Brock House, scattering the Federals of the 35th Illinois. Only a few hundred yards of cornfield lay between them and the Widow Glenn House. When they came up to the Brock House the fenceline to their left erupted with a withering fire from the Spencer repeating rifles of Wilders's Brigade. A virtual sheet of flame disintigrated the left companies of the 25th. Their commander, Colonel Eli Hufstedler, was hit with 5 bullets before he fell from his horse. As the 25th fell back to the La Fayette Road they were hit by cannister from two mountain howitzers of Ely Lilly's battery. As fast as the impetuous attack had started, it was over. Maybe 30 minutes at the very most.

Grandpa was newly elected 3rd Lt. and most likely company commander (as each company by this time had less than 20 soldiers). He was wounded in the right leg. He went to a hospital in Cassville, Ga. and was there six weeks until he recovered enough to join his regiment in Mississippi. The 25th went into this battle with 133 men and lost 61 killed and wounded. A regiment should have ten companies of 100+ men each.

This was the only action of the battle in which the 25th was involved (except a chance encounter with another Union force an hour later. However, by that time the 25th was in no shape to fight, and gave ground).

PS. Wilder's men were in reserve of the Federal Line of Battle. Noticing the Confederate advance they moved to the fence line with their repeaters. While most other Civil War soldiers had single shot, muzzle loading, cap and ball rifles. Wilder's men all bought their own modern rifles ($35 ea.), a lever action Spencer seven shot repeater, that made them singularly formidible. They were also mounted on horses and mules to make them more manuverable (mounted rifles as opposed to cavalry).

Happy Hunting!

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