Near Doswell in Hanover County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
One Brigade Alone
May 24, 1864 3:00 - 4:00pm
— Gray Trail —
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, July 18, 2009
1. One Brigade Alone Marker
Inscription.
One Brigade Alone. May 24, 1864 3:00 - 4:00pm. The first unit of the Union Ninth Corps to cross the North Anna was Brigadier General James H. Ledlie’s brigade. His 1,500 infantrymen were ready to advance by 3:00 p.m., despite having been soaked up to their armpits while crossing the river. Unfortunately for the Federals, one of the worst generals in the Union army commanded them. Ledlie had commanded the brigade for only seven days and had obtained little knowledge of his men. Worse, the general had consumed a large amount of whiskey and was dreadfully drunk when he led his men into battle. When he approached the Confederate trenches in the area before you, Ledlie ordered one of his regiments to test the Confederate line. The 35th Massachusetts advanced into what was then an open field but were easily routed. The survivors hurriedly returned to the relative safety of Ledlie’s main battle line., “The General was inspired with that artificial courage known throughout the army as ‘Dutch courage,’ the quantity of which seemed to be sufficient to sustain him through this or any other trying ordeal, but the quality was not of the enduring kind.” Captain John Anderson, 57th Massachusetts Infantry, Ledlie’s Brigade, (sidebar) , Presented to the people of the United States by the loyal legion of battlefield students known as The Bearss Brigade., (captions) , Brigadier General James H. Ledlie , Officers of the 56th Massachusetts Infantry, Ledlie's Brigade
The first unit of the Union Ninth Corps to cross the North Anna was Brigadier General James H. Ledlie’s brigade. His 1,500 infantrymen were ready to advance by 3:00 p.m., despite having been soaked up to their armpits while crossing the river. Unfortunately for the Federals, one of the worst generals in the Union army commanded them. Ledlie had commanded the brigade for only seven days and had obtained little knowledge of his men. Worse, the general had consumed a large amount of whiskey and was dreadfully drunk when he led his men into battle. When he approached the Confederate trenches in the area before you, Ledlie ordered one of his regiments to test the Confederate line. The 35th Massachusetts advanced into what was then an open field but were easily routed. The survivors hurriedly returned to the relative safety of Ledlie’s main battle line.
“The General was inspired with that artificial courage known throughout the army as ‘Dutch courage,’ the quantity of which seemed to be sufficient to sustain him through this or any other trying ordeal, but the quality was not of the enduring kind.” Captain John Anderson, 57th Massachusetts Infantry, Ledlie’s Brigade
(sidebar)
Presented to the people of the United States by the loyal legion of battlefield students known as The Bearss Brigade.
(captions)
Brigadier
Click or scan to see this page online
General James H. Ledlie
Officers of the 56th Massachusetts Infantry, Ledlie's Brigade
Erected 1998 by Blue & Gray Education Society, Hanover County Parks and Recreation Department. (Marker Number Stop 4.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is May 24, 1864.
Location. 37° 53.134′ N, 77° 29.861′ W. Marker is near Doswell, Virginia, in Hanover County. Marker can be reached from Verndon Road (Virginia Route 684) 0.2 miles west of New Market Mill Road (Virginia Route 685), on the right when traveling west. Located along the "Gray Trail" in North Anna Battlefield Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11576 Verdon Rd, Doswell VA 23047, United States of America. Touch for directions.
5. North Anna Battlefield Park Entrance (Verdon Rd)
Photographed By Mathew Brady, circa 1865
6. Gen. James H. Ledlie
National Archives Identifier 527981
The General Crushed Stone Company
7. North Anna Battlefield Park "Gray" Trail.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 14, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 19, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,148 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on July 19, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 2. submitted on February 25, 2020. 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 19, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 6. submitted on February 25, 2020. 7. submitted on July 19, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.