Milroy Moves Forward

Milroy Moves Forward. "Preaching to the Rebels". , Mid-Morning to Mid-Afternoon , After advancing to this area, Union commander Gen. John C. Fremont's forces deployed on a line that began here and stretched nearly a mile and a half to your left. Although the Federal soldiers here could see the daunting Confederate position on "an amphitheater of hills" a mile in front of you, some were relieved to finally come to grips with their opponents. As one Ohio soldier said, "The day had now come which [we] had sought for about 16 days.", Fremont and his staff "galloped in the direction of the firing" to examine the Confederate position. Reaching the Armentrout farm, a half mile to your left front [see map]. the group was examining the "somewhat precipitous" Mill Creek Ridge when cannon shells plowed into the ground around them , spurring them to beat a retreat to safer ground., Union Gen, Robert H. Milroy moved his cannon forward to the Armentrout farm, where they "commenced preaching" to the rebels. He also brought his infantry forward, deploying them in a ravine that sheltered them from Confederate fire., The opposing batteries exchanged blasts for almost six hours. One Union battery was positioned in a clump of trees where shrieking Confederate shells ripped "holes through large oaks" and smashed off thick limbs. When the muzzle flashes from their own guns set leaves and underbrush on fire, the flames and choking smoke forced them to move., Receiving no direction from Fremont, Milroy grew increasingly impatient. In mid-afternoon, he rode to find "the best wat of getting my [infantry] regiments up where they could use their rifles" to attack the Confederates atop the ridge. Discovering a gully that emptied into Mill Creek at the base of the ridge, Milroy sent his men forward... not realizing that Confederate skirmishers were waiting, concealed, in the tall grass., This marker was made possible through the generosity of the Cross Keys-Mill Creek Ruritan Club, (captions) , The artillery duel from behind the Union right. The Armentrout house is on the left. , Union Gen. Robert H. Milroy. Courtesy Library of Congress.