Day One Highest Losses: No. 1

Just after giving the initial orders to commence operations in the North Branch Campaign, Army of the Mountains commander General Robert E. Lee became indisposed and left for Richmond.  Lieutenant General Theolphilus Holmes (I Corps) assumed command of the army. Major General Sterling Price assumed command of the I Corps, and Brigadier General John Bowens took command of Price's Division. As the officers quickly moved into their new commands, Colonel James McCown (5th Missouri) assumed command of Bowen's Brigade, which was deployed at the cemetery just east of Sitesville.

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

Day One Highest Losses: No. 2

The collision of Colquitt's and Rosecrans' Division along Trout Run is now established in the history of the Battle of Sagarsville and the North Branch Campaign. 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, V Corps was one of the Union brigades involved in the action. Commanded by Brigadier General Frank Nickerson, the brigade was quickly entangled with all three of Colquitt's Confederate brigades around midday on the first day of the campaign.

Nickerson himself was killed by the 3rd South Carolina (from Pettigrew's Brigade) early in the fighting.  The 103rd and 122nd New York were fighting near where Nickerson went down, taking heavy losses from Pettigrew's Brigade, while also engaging and routing the 1st North Carolina from Shoup's Brigade. The 103rd was eventually routed by the same regiment that had killed Nickerson, with the 122nd being routed as well.

The 123rd New York killed Brigadier General Pettigrew during the action and fought against units from Pettigrews, Shoup's and Armstrong's Brigades. It assisted in the rout of the 5th Louisiana (Armstrong), and 15th and 21st North Carolina (Shoup), before being routed and captured en masse by the 13th South Carolina. The 10th Ohio was also captured en masse.

By the time the two divisions began to disengage, the 3rd Brigade had only two regiments left: the 109th and 111 Pennsylvania. The 109th has been in the rear and escaped essentially unscathed. The 111th had taken some losses while engaging the 9th Louisiana and 1st Battalion Georgia Sharpshooters (Armstrong). Lieutenant Colonel Thomas M. Walker of the 111th commanded the brigade during the late afternoon and evening phase of the Battle of Sagarville, but Colonel William Heine, 103rd New York, will assume command for day two of the North Branch Campaign.

3rd Brigade, 4th Division, V Corps, Army of the South Branch (US) (Brigadier General Franklin Nickerson (KIA), Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Walker, Colonel William Heine): 

103rd New York State Volunteers
122nd New York State Volunteers
123rd New York State Volunteers
10th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
109th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry
111th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry

Total Loss: 59.1%

Day One Highest Losses: No. 3

The Battle of Sagarville started in the morning phase of day one of the North Branch Campaign. Elements of the Union I Corps (Thomas) and V Corps (Hancock) advanced east from Newtown on Kingston Road towards Sagarville. The 1st Cavalry Division was leading the way.  Their first obstacle in reaching Sagarville was a Confederate linebelonging to Lieutenant General James Longstreet's I Corps, Army of the Mountains deployed on a ridge to the east of the Piper Farm. Longstreet had posted Semmes' Brigade (Forney's Division) on the north side of Kingston Road and Baldwin's Brigade in a hedge line that ran across the top of the ridge south of the road. Another brigade was posted in Piper's Woods to the south of Baldwin. 

Forney's line included the 15th Battalion Mississippi Sharpshooters, which opened fire on the advancing cavalry from a distance. The Confederate line was also supported by artillery to its rear and the cavalry was turned back before it could successfully engage the infantry deployed on the ridge. 

As the cavalry was falling back, the 2nd Division, I Corps began to form between Trout Run and the Piper Farm for an assault on the Confederate line. The 1st Brigade (Colonel Newell Gleason) was the first to arrive and start forming. While waiting for the rest of the division to come up, the 36th Illinois was targeted by the Mississippi sharpshooters and took heavy loss without being able to return fire. Finally, the division started its advance, with the 1st Brigade straddling Kingston Road.

As the brigade ascended Piper Ridge, it engaged with Baldwin's Brigade to the right and Semmes' Brigade to the left.  The 36th Illinois was on the right and took heavy losses from the 25th Tennessee (Baldwin) and was routed. The 87th Indiana lost over 180 men to Cobb's Georgia Legion (Semmes), before being routed by the 17th Tennessee firing on its rear from the other side of the road. Joined by a brigade of US Regulars from 2nd Division, V Corps on its left, the 150th Pennsylvania (Bucktails) and 8th Michigan continued the attack on Semmes' line, also taking heavy losses from Cobb's Georgia Legion. The 8th Michigan broke through along Kingston Road and routed Gun No. 4 of the Pulaski Georgia Battery that was supporting the infantry to its front. Forney's line collapsed and started a retreat towards Sagarville to the east. 

During the midday phase of the battle, 1st Brigade (now only two regiments strong) was initially moved south from Piper and then east through the Lester Farm. The brigade advanced against a Confederate line on the northwest slopes of Bowlen Hill and engaged with William Walker's Brigade, Barksdale's Division. The 8th Michigan assisted in routing the 4th Mississippi and the 150th Pennsylvania routed the 39th Mississippi. The brigade then took part in the afternoon advance that entered the town of Sagarville, ending the battle and day one of the campaign. Despite being ain a position to rout an artillery crew at one point, very few of the brigade's losses during the day were to artillery fire. Sagarville was an infantry vs. infantry fight for 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, I Corps as it attacked enemy positions on ridges and hills. 

1st Brigade, 2nd Division, I Corps (Colonel Newell Gleason):

36th Illinois Volunteer Infantry

87th Indiana Volunteer Infantry

150th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry

8th Michigan Volunteer Infantry

Day One Losses: 54.5%

Colonel Newell Gleason

Day One Highest Losses: No. 4

The Confederates never intended to fight near Cosner's Gap on day one of the campaign. They had ordered three divisions (Pickett, Rodes, and Pender) to advance west on Clinton Pike into Franklin and Hutton Mills. This movement was blocked by the Union cavalry corps' 3rd Division under Major General David Birney. Birney advanced east on Clinton Pike and deployed his division between the Powell Farm and Cosner's Gap, allowing the Union VI Corps to arrive and deploy behind him.

The 1st Brigade of Birney's Division, under Brigadier General Samuel Sturgis, was assigned  skirmish line duty to the division's front. As Sturgis' men were deploying, two Confederate divisions came down off of Durham Ridge, through the Village of Cosner's Gap, and began an attack on the Powell Farm. Pickett's Division was advancing north of the Clinton Pike, with Pender to the south of the Pike. Sturgis' cavalry was immediately engaged.

The left of Sturgis' line engaged Daniel's and Kershaw's Brigades from Pickett's Division. The 1st Massachusetts and 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry fought primarily with the 9th, 10th and 18th Alabama, trying to delay their advance as the VI Corps took position. Sturgis moved to bolster this part of his line and was killed by the 20th Alabama.  Sometime during this fighting in the fields northeast of Powell, Confederate Brigadier General Joseph Kershaw as also killed. With Sturgis dead and Pickett's men pressing forward, the 1st Brigade's left collapsed and the 1st Massachusetts and 1st Pennsylvania were routed.

On the right of the line. the 8th Illinois Cavalry was fighting due east of the Powell buildings and engaged with the 41st and 44th Alabama. The Alabamans were part of J. K. Jackson's Brigade, which led Pender's assault. The right, particularly the 2nd Rhode Island, also took heavy fire from Pender's sharpshooters, which were deployed to the east in the orchards around the Village of Cosner's Gap. The two regiments gave way and the VI Corps continued the fighting around Powell.

Colonel William Gamble of the 8th Illinois assumed command of the brigade, prior to receiving orders to move to Mt. Zion Church with the rest of the division. The 3rd Cavalry Division was moving in the rear of the column as it passed through Marion and moved south on the Madison Pike. The 2nd Division began engaging the enemy (Colquitt's Division) at the cross roads near Mt. Zion Church without much success. Gamble's Brigade moved forward to support the left of the 2nd Cavalry Divison near the church, and lost 150 men in the fighting before darkness stopped the action.

1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps (Brigadier General Samuel Sturgis (KIA), Colonel William Gamble):
1st Massachusetts Cavalry
1st Pennsylvania Cavalry
8th Illinois Cavalry
2nd Rhode Island Cavalry

Losses in Day One: 54.3%

Colonel William Gamble will command 1st Brigade at the start of the 2nd day of the North Branch Campaign.

Day One Highest Losses: No. 5

As Forney's and Barksdale's Divisions were trying to hold onto Sagarville and fighting back a midday assault by the Army of the South Branch's I Corps and V Corps, Brigadier General Alfred Colquitt's Division arrived at Debussy on the Madison Pike from Mt. Zion Church. Colquitt was ordered to deploy south of Debussy and started moving south on a trail through the woods on the west bank of Trout Run.

At the same time, the 4th Division, V Corps (Major General William Rosecrans) had been ordered to extend the Union left. Rosecrans' Division had been resting near Colvin and had not taken part in the fighting during the morning. To move to the Union left, Rosecrans moved his division east on Kingston Road and then north on a path through the woods along the west bank of Trout Run. His intention was to move east again to support the left flank of Major General Abner Doubleday's 2nd Division V Corps, engaged near Finch's Woods. Rosecrans' men would never arrive on Doubleday's left, because they were on a collision course with Colquitt.

The two divisions literally ran into each other in the woods without time to deploy. The fighting became a jumbled mess, with minimal brigade cohesion.  One of Colquitt's Brigades was Pettigrew's Brigade, commander by Brigadier General James Pettigrew. Pettigrew fell early in the fighting, killed by men from the 123rd New York (3rd Brigade, 4th Division, V Corps). The 123rd was in turn captured by the 13th South Carolina, one of Pettigrew's regiments. The 13th was then routed by the 107th Pennsylvania, 9th Ohio and 3rd New Jersey, representing three different brigades of their division. 

Pettigrew's Brigade fought valiantly, with the 2nd South Caroline killing Brigade General Alfred E. Torbert and capturing the 13th New Jersey from the 4th (New Jersey) Brigade of Rosecrans' Division. The 2nd South Carolina was then routed by the 2nd New Jersey.  By the end of the day, Pettigrew's Brigade had only one regiment left (14th South Carolina) whose commander (Colonel Abner Perrin) assumed command of the brigade. Despite heavy losses, the brigade is expected to return to the field on the morning of Day Two of the campaign. 

Pettigrew's Brigade, Coquitt's Division, I Corps (Brigadier General James Pettigrew (KIA), Colonel Abner Perrin):

2nd South Carolina

3rd South Carolina

7th South Carolina

13th South Carolina

14th South Carolina

Day One Losses: 51%

Day One Highest Losses by Brigade: Nos. 6 - 10

Here is a count down of the 10 highest losses (loss as % of beginning strength) on day one of the campaign by brigade, starting with those ranked 6 - 10: