The Battle Ends

The Battle Ends. . This panoramic view reveals many of the key scenes associated with the close of the battle. The landscape here has changed very little. When the left of Porter’s line disintegrated just before sunset, much of it fell back through this ground. Desperate rearguard fighting occurred here. Union cavalry, anxious to buy time for the artillery to escape, launched a small counterattack from the low ground bordering the Chickahominy River. It ended in disaster when Southern infantrymen, firing volleys, easily repulsed the charge. As darkness fell, thousands of Union and Confederate soldiers swarmed these fields, some on their way to the river and safety, others jubilant in victory., (A) Grapevine Bridge on the Chickahominy River, two miles distant. It was here that William H. French’s brigade, piloted by a young staff officer named George Custer, crossed the river as a support late in the battle. , (B) Alexander’s Bridge, a short distance upstream from Grapevine Bridge. The famous Irish Brigade, commanded by Thomas F. Meagher, probably crossed here on its way to reenforce Porter. , (C) Union cavalry formed in this low ground near the Chickahominy River prior to making its ill-fated charge at the close of the battle. , (D) Woodbury’s Bridge. More of Porter’s men recrossed the river here than at any other bridge. , (E) Treeline denoting the course of the Chickahominy River, which runs from right to left across your view. , (F) High ground at Gouldin’s Farm across the river where several large Union cannon, including some 4-1/2 inch rifled siege guns firing 25-pound shells, blasted the edge of the Confederate attacks all afternoon. , (G) At the end of the battle, union artillery established on knolls and hillcocks like this one, facing west, fought valiantly to keep Southern infantry away. Firing canister at very close range, “Large gaps could be seen in his [the Confederates’] ranks in front of the batteries…” Nonetheless, several of the cannon could not be hauled away in time and were captured. , (H) This treeline marks the course of Boatswain’s Creek as it bends back toward the Chickahominy River. James Longstreet’s division-the far right of the Confederate army-emerged from those tree late in the battle.