Assault On Parsons' Ridge

Assault On Parsons' Ridge. Perryville . The Battle For Kentucky. , Maney’s attacking Confederates immediately discovered the lethal danger of attacking the eight Union cannon on top of the ridge in front of you. Some sought cover behind a split-rail fence, but the Union artillery shattered the rails, killing and wounding scores of soldiers. The Confederate attack slowed and then stopped., With bullets smashing against the remaining wooden rails, the Confederates traded gunfire with Union infantry. As casualties mounted, the Southern officers knew their men had to take the hill. If they attempted a retreat, they would be cut apart by the Union artillery that survived. Urging their men forward, the officers crossed the fence to lead a renewed charge., The intensity of the Union defense atop this steep slope stopped the Confederates again, only halfway to their objective. Lying down to escape the cannon fire, Maney’s men desperately loaded and fired their single-shot muskets as best they could., As soon as the fence was reached in full view of the battery, such a storm of shell, grape, canister, and Minie balls was turned loose upon us as no troops scarcely ever before encountered. Large boughs were torn from the trees; the trees themselves shattered as if by lightning, and the ground plowed in deep furrows. , - Confederate Lieutenant Colonel William Frierson 27th Tennessee Infantry, [We] came to a high fence at the edge of the wood, at which time it seemed impossible for humanity to go farther; such was the havoc and destruction that had taken place in [our] ranks. , - Confederate Colonel George C. Porter 6th Tennessee Infantry, (Caption):, From the hill in front of you a battery of eight cannons commanded by First Lieutenant Charles C. Parsons (above) rained fire on the advancing Confederates.