Trimble Moves North

Trimble Moves North. "A Circutious Route Through the Woods". , Mid-Morning , You're standing near the right end of the Confederate line at the beginning of the battle. Three regiments of Gen. Isaac Trimble's brigade were deployed here: the 21st North Carolina to your left, protecting Confederate cannon, the 21st Georgia directly in front of you, and the 16th Mississippi to your right. Trimble's fourth regiment, the 15th Alabama, was a mile in advance of the Confederate line, where they were the first southerners to engage Union troops., Trimble disliked the position here on this bluff. It was "somewhat retired from" (behind) the front, and the heavy tree cover made it difficult to organize his line. Riding forward a half mile, he found a "more advantageous" position behind a fence line atop a wooded ridge, with an open clover field to its front. Although advancing to that point would create a gap in the Confederate line, Trimble was confident the artillery would protect his left., Leaving the 21st North Carolina to support the artillery, Trimble moved the 21st Georgia and 16th Mississippi forward, taking "a circuitous route through the woods" to hide the movement from enemy eyes. The 15th Alabama followed, having rejoined the brigade after pulling back to the main line., Partway there, Confederate scout Lamar Fontaine encountered the column and warned they were angling too far west and in danger of being cut off by the advancing Federals. The cantankerous Trimble (whom Fontaine described as "a small man with a naked sword in his hand") demanded, "who the hell is this gentleman?" but quickly accepted Fontaine's identity and said, "show us where they are... we are anxious to meet them.", (captions) , Confederate Gen. Isaac Trimble. Courtesy Library of Congress. , Lamar Fontaine