At noon on day one of the campaign, Bowen's Brigade (McCown) was in the center of Price's Division, with McRae's and Fagan's Brigades to its left, Parsons' Brigade to its right, and Churchhill's Brigade in reserve to its rear. The left of Bowen's Brigade (6th Missouri) was at Valley Road, with the rest of the brigade in or near the cemetery and copse of cedar trees on the west side of the cemetery. Price's Division had skirmished earlier in the morning with 4th Division / VI Corps, which occupied Sitesville town at the junction of the Valley and Sitesville Roads. They were also aware of at least two other divisions belonging to the Union XII Corps that were deployed to their right front near Johnson's Meadow.
Because of woods and the nature of the terrain around Johnson's Creek, the Confederates were unable to detect two Union divisions to the west of Price: 4th Division, Cavalry Corps at Utt and 4th Division XII Corps. The Federals had not intentionally concealed these units, but they derived the benefit of the topography around their assigned positions. The cavalry division could be seen at the start of the midday phase of the 1st Day of Sitesville, as it galloped across a hill northwest of Vandegrif's Woods. The cavalry was moving around Price's Division (Bowen) to cut off its line of retreat to the west and south. Brigadier Bowen strengthened his position at the cemetery, other divisions also started movements that resulted in the near destruction of Price's Division.
Major General Martin Luther Smith's Division, which had been at the Potts Farm, was redeployed at McGee Hill to help secure that critical objective on the battlefield. As Smith moved away from Price's right flank, the two divisions of the XII Corps advanced on the cemetery in conjunction with the 4th Division, VI Corps moving east from Sitesville and assaulting Price's line. With Smith having vacated Potts, there was nothing to divert the left of the XII Corps away from its assault towards the cemetery.
The VI Corps struck Price's Division first, with 3rd Brigade, 4th Division (Brigadier General Joseph A. Mower) advancing along the north side of Valley Road and 1st Brigade, 4th Division (Brigadier General Hugh Ewing) advancing along the south side. As the VI Corps engaged the front of Bowen's Brigade (McCown), the XII Corps broke through Parson's Brigade to McCown's right. In hand to hand fighting, the right of Bowen's Missouri Brigade (McCown) was overwhelmed. The 2nd Missouri was captured by the 84th Indiana (3rd Brigade, 4th Division, XII Corps). The 5th Missouri was captured by the 23rd Pennsylvania (3rd Brigade, 4th Division VI Corps), and the 1st Missouri was captured by the 94th New York (3rd Brigade, 4th Division, XXI Corps) after close quarters fighting with the 17th Kentucky (3rd Brigade, 4th Division, VI Corps). Having been the meeting point of two assaulting divisions, entire right and front-center of Bowen's Brigade was captured.
On the left of Bowen's Brigade, the 6th Missouri fought Mower's 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, VI Corps before being routed by elements of 3rd Division, XII Corps that had arrived in support. Colonel McCown fell during the fighting, killed by the 6th Maine (3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, XII Corps). Only the 3rd Missouri remained on the field from Bowen's Brigade as the shattered division rallied at Sitesville Church to the east and then withdrew to a position at the Douglass Farm. Joined by the remnants of the 6th Missouri at night, Bowen's Brigade (2 regiments strong) will take the field under the command of Major James K. McDowell of the 3rd Missouri for day two of the campaign.
Bowen's Brigade, Price's Division, I Corps, Army of the Mountains (CSA)
(Brigadier General John Bowen, Colonel James McCown (KIA), Major James McDowell):
1st Missouri
2nd Missouri
3rd Missouri
5th Missouri
6th Missouri
Total Loss: 72.2%
Note: The collapse of Bowen's Brigade can be seen in the engagement video from about 18:30 - 21:15
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