Melee in the Middle of Town: Newtown (July 23rd)

A section of Union artillery departed Newtown on the morning of July 23rd, heading for Sagarville to join a planned attack there. It had not gotten far, when it was intercepted by a regiment of Confederate infantry on the march from Sagarville to Newtown. The section returned to join the 4th Ohio Regiment in Newtown, which was to be the point of convergence of three advancing Confederate units. A battalion of cavalry was advancing on Newtown from Strawderman to the west, another battalion of cavalry was moving north from Whitmer, and the 1st Kentucky (CSA) was advancing from the east.

The 1st Kentuck (CSA) passes the Gifford farm as it advances on Newtown.

2nd Battalion, 2nd Tennessee Cavalry advancing on Newtown from the south.

3rd Battalion, 2nd Tennessee Cavalry advancing eastward along the Kingston Road toward Newtown. 

The left section of Battery "A," 1st Ohio Light Artillery opened the engagement by firing on the enemy cavalry approaching from the south. The Confederate battalion (2nd Battalion, 2nd Tennessee Cavalry under Captain Morris Dees), had received criticism for failing to come up in support of the attack on Newtown on July 11th. This time, the battalion held firm and continued advancing against the Union forces in town.

The left section of Battery "A," 1st Ohio Light Artillery opens up on Captain Dees' 2nd Battalion, 2nd Tennessee Cavalry.

Captain Dees' battalion advanced to within range and opened fire on the guns of Battery "A," while receiving canister in return and musket fire from the 4th Ohio.

The 3rd Battalion, 2nd Tennessee halted briefly out of range, but then moved forward after the 1st Kentucky began exchanging fire with the infantry. The Confederate cavalry stopped and fired from their positions, as the 1st Kentucky fired as they aggressively advanced toward the center of town.

With the enemy on three sides, the Union artillery began taking some losses from the 2nd Tennessee cavalry, who refused to budge despite heavy canister fire. The 4th Ohio was forced to change targets from one enemy to the other, as the 1st Kentucky moved into town from the east.

Having gained a foothold in town, the 1st Kentucky did not stop. They charged against the Federal guns at the cross roads in the center of town, capturing one gun.

The 4th Ohio launched a counter charge and hand-to-hand fighting ensued in the middle of town around the damaged gun. The 4th Ohio triumphed, throwing the 1st Kentucky out of the town and forcing the Confederates to withdraw. All of the 1st Kentucky's field officers were left on the field killed or wounded and the regiment retreated under command of a Captain.

This scenario was run just by scripting the 4th Ohio on hold, the Confederates on attack, and sending all of the Confederates in the direction of Newtown by road. No other interventions were done. It was one of those engagements when I watched and just said, "Wow!"  It was pretty impressive fighting on both sides, but the 4th Ohio came out of the MVP of the engagement in the middle of dire circumstances.