The Vulnerable Left Flank

The Vulnerable Left Flank. "An overdose of devil". , You're standing near the left end of the Confederate infanty line during the Battle of Fisher's Hill. Confederate Gen. Bryan Grimes's brigade, part of Gen. Stephen Ramseur's division, held this position, supported by artillery. Beyond them, to the west, the only defenders were dismounted southern cavalry, commanded by Gen. Lunsford Lomax. Grimes, like most of the Confederates, had no faith in Lomax's troops, believing "that the cavalry would run if attacked.", On September 21, Grimes's men "created breastworks, and prepared for the advance of the enemy, and felt very secure of holding the position." But that sense of security was an illusion., When Union Gen. George Crook launched his flank attack at 4:00 p.m. on September 22, the Confederate cavalry - overwhelmed and in danger of being surrounded - soon broke. Confederate artilleryman M.S. Watts said, "Our cavalry rushed down like the swine with an overdose of devil.", As Crook's men continued forward, Grimes's brigade was squarely in their path. Grimes shifted three of his regiments to face west, while he kept his other two regiments facing north - forming his brigade into an L-shape at the end of the line., Hearing the explosion of gunfire when the Federals attacked the cavalry, Gen. Ramseur tried to reinforce Grimes by ordering Gen. William Cox to move his brigade "in the direction of the firing." Cox "double-quicked" and positioned his men 150 yards to the left of Grimes, joined by some of Lomax's rallied cavalrymen. But after "a brisk skirmish with some of Crook's men," the number of attackers swelled, and Cox's and Lomax's men broke - leaving Grimes's brigade alone to face the onrushing Federals., (Captions), Gen. Bryan Grimes , Courtesy University of North Carolina, Gen. William Cox