Marmaduke's Defense Line, October 23, 1864

Marmaduke's Defense Line, October 23, 1864. . , "While directing this charge, I was severely wounded in the left leg by a rifle ball. Finding that no bones were broken, I continued to press forward with the command ... [Sometime later] being unable to continue longer on horseback, I directed Colonel [Frederick W.] Benteen to assume command of the brigade." Union Col. Edward F. Winslow, commanding Fourth Brigade, Lt. Col. Frederick W Benteen, 10th Missouri Cavalry, assumed command of Winslow's brigade. Two days later on October 25 led the brigade to victory over Marmaduke's Confederates at the Battle of Mine Creek. After the war, Benteen entered the regular US Army as a captain in the 7th US cavalry and commanded a battalion during Custer's Little Bighorn Expedition in 1876., (captions) Edward F. Winslow . Frederick W. Benteen, You are standing 75 yards in front of the center of the Confederate defense line. Looking to the east toward the tree line 800 yards in the distance, there the Byram's Ford Road emerged from the trees and continued westward toward your position., As the road approached this hill where you are standing, it turned northwest and passed by the log house shown in this 1895 photograph. The log house stood 90 yards downhill from where you are now., (captions) John S. Marmaduke . Alfred Pleasonton, On October 23, Maj. Gen. John S. Marmaduke commanded a cavalry division of 2,700 troops. Opposing them were 2,500 Union cavalrymen under the command of Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton., Winslow's brigade of 1,100 troops was in front of you on the Union left. Philips' brigade of 1,400 troops was deployed south of the Byram's Ford Road to your right., At 10 am, Colonel Winslow ordered both brigades to move up the hill and attack., This close quarters fighting lasted over an hour. The Confederates were running low on ammunition and General Marmaduke ordered his men to withdraw from the fight. The Union victory on this portion of the battlefield was complete., "The enemy came upon me in the full enthusiasm of pursuit, and though my brigade contended nobly with the foe for two hours and strewed the open field in our front with his dead, our ammunition exhausted, we were forced to leave the field again to the enemy." Confederate Brig. Gen. John B. Clark, Jr., commanding Marmaduke's Brigade, (captions) John B. Clark, Jr . Confederate Sharpshooter . John F. Philips, "The dislodgment of the enemy from this formidable position necessitated the hurling against him the entire brigade dismounted ... The enemy occupied not only the ground but the very tree tops, their sharpshooters having climbed into these, singling out and shooting our officers and men with fearful success." Union Col. John F. Philips, commanding First Brigade