Officer Down! Action at Cedar Grove (July 17th)

On July 17th, Confederates advanced on Union forces occupying Cedar Grove from two directions.

The right section of Battery "A," 1st Ohio Light Artillery (under Lieutenant Goodspeed) opens the engagement by firing on Confederate cavalry approaching from Clinton up the Cedar Grove Road. 

The cavalry enters Cedar Grove and begins advancing on the Federal guns.  The Federal infantry is facing Confederate infantry that is advancing from the opposite direction. 

Lieutenant Goodspeed's guns start firing down the main street in Cedar Grove. 

1st Battalion, 2nd Tennessee Cavalry faces into the guns and prepares to engage, but is hit by canister and falls back. 

As the cavalry reals under canister fire, the 3rd Kentucky infantry advances to engage the 1st Ohio Volunteer Infantry. 

The 1st Ohio, still enamored with their havelocks, returns fire and holds along the Kingston Road at the edge of town. 

A section of Confederate artillery deploys to the rear and opens fire in support of the 3rd Kentucky. 

As the infantry engages, the Confederate cavalry reforms and advances again on the Federal guns. 

Occupied with the cavalry advance through town, Lieutenant Goodspeed's section continues to fire west into the cavalry and is unable to support the 1st Ohio to their immediate east. 

The infantry fight remains along static lines, as the Confederate cavalry attempts to push through town against the Union rear..

Taking cover in town, the Tennessee cavalrymen are able to open fire on Goodspeed's guns, wounding some of the gun crew. Although the 1st Ohio is still holding, the Federals have taken significant losses and their guns are threatened. A retreat is ordered and they withdraw to Greenville to the north. 

The Confederates taken Cedar Grove, but Brigadier General Simon B. Buckner, a rising star in the District of Tennessee, has fallen on the field. His status is not yet known.