Existing comment:
(Stop 12) Donelson's Advance:
When Donelson's brigade moved into this valley, they were met with a deadly surprise. The rolling terrain had prevented the Confederates from seeing all of the Union troop positions. When the Confederates reached this valley, they became trapped in a deadly crossfire as Union artillery fired at them from both the west and the south.
Shells exploded overhead and cannonballs crashed into the Southern lines, but the brigade surged forward. Casualties were horrible from the crossfire, and the accurate fire from the two Union batteries spun the Southern troops into confusion. Donelson's lines wavered and changed direction twice. The unexpected artillery barrage nearly ended Donelson's advance.
Although the fire from two Union artillery batteries had killed and wounded dozens of soldiers and had caused chaos in the Southern lines, the Confederates reformed and continued their attack. Pressing the Union soldiers, Donelson's brigade drove a Union infantry regiment out from behind a fence and continued westward up the valley.
"I ascertained from the fire of another battery of the enemy's further on our right that I did not have the proper direction. I accordingly gave orders for a charge..."
-- Confederate Brigadier General Daniel Donelson, Brigade Commander |