Death in the Clover

Death in the Clover. "Lying on the Field as Thick as Black Birds". Midday , The members of the 8th New York were advancing jauntily across this clover-filled field when, reaching this point, the world suddenly turned upside down. "The thickets [behind the fence] stirred suddenly [and] southern riflemen rose swiftly on their feet," and "a sheet of fire ran along the line.", A wall of flame exploded in the faces of the shocked Germans and bullets tore into their bodies, mowing them down. Men on both sides were stunned. "I never saw men double up and fall so fast," Confederate Pvt. Ben Culpepper recalled. A watching Pennsylvanian described "murderous fire...bringing death and destruction." The Confederates poured out only a few volleys before the survivors fled, "going so fast down the hill you might have played marbles on their coattails.", Heavy smoke from the gray gunpowder covered the field. When it blew away, it revealed a horrific scene. "The dead and wounded yankees was lying on the field as thick as black birds," a Georgia soldier recalled. The Union advance had been quickly and devastatingly repulsed., (sidebar) , New York Times correspondent Charles H. Webb visited this ground in the morning after the battle. "The poor fellows lie around..." he wrote. "Some on the very spot where they fell, others propped up against the fences where they crawled to die... Many of them lie on their backs with their arms stretched [out] in the attitude of men who have thrown themselves on the ground to rest and suddenly sunk into slumber.", "Many of our wounded have lain upon the field all night... I am glad to learn that they have been kindly treated by the Southern soldiers. Two Germans have just told me how the latter came during the night, covered them over with blankets, brought them water, and in some cases washed their wounds.", (captions) , From a sketch by Edwin Forbes , Union Gen. Louis Blenker organized the 8th New York Volunteer Infantry at the outbreak of the war. At Cross Keys, he commanded "Blenker's Division", which included the 8th New York. Courtesy Library of Congress., This marker was made possible through the generosity of the Lee-Jackson Educational Foundation