Dunham Takes the Offensive

Dunham Takes the Offensive. . "The Union forces made a stubborn fight and defended their positions with marked valor, but the Confederate fire was too galling for mortals to stand." , Lieut. John W. Morton, CSA, The change of front was made under a severe fire of small-arms, from which 12 or 20 men of my regiment were wounded." , Col. John L. Rinaker, 122nd Illinois, "The enemy moved past the cross-roads" , Colonel Cyrus Dunham mistakenly thought that General Nathan Bedford Forrest's cavalry had rushed along Rock Springs Road in an effort to escape. The Union colonel ordered his soldiers to "change front.", The line of Union soldiers facing west, parallel to the Lexington-Huntingdon road, swung north. With one end of their line anchored on the road, they aligned east-west on a low ridge parallel to Forrest's dismounted troopers to their north, on what is now Wildersville Road. Dunham didn't realize it, but his action put the Union brigade right where Forrest wanted it., "A vigorous attack was commenced" , Forrest began his attack as Dunham moved his brigade into position. The Indiana colonel had pushed skirmishers forward into Wildersville Road. Forrest's troopers quickly pushed them back and brought up the artillery, which began pounding the Union position. , Confederate fire raked the Union line, particularly its eastern end. Forrest employed his artillery to great effect, but his troops also kept up a constant fire with their small arms. Dunham's line, exposed on the ridge, took a beating from the Confederate weapons., (captions) , "The Halt of the Line of Battle" by Edwin Forbes, ca 1863. , Col. John Rinaker, 122nd Illinois Infantry