Action at Romney - Afternoon of Day 5 (Part I)

On the afternoon of Day 5 of the campaign, Lander's 1st Brigade (Kimball) and 3rd Brigade (Tyler) returned to Romney. Colonel Erastus Tyler's men entered the field near Evan's Farm, across which they had fled after being defeated near Romney on Day 2.  Kimball's men approached Leith,  where they had unsuccessfully fought Garnett's and Burks' Brigades on the morning of Day 3 of the campaign, before retreating to Hanging Rocks. On Day5, the Federals encountered a much reduced garrison at Romney. Taliaferro's Brigade held the town with the Allegheny and Hampden Artilleries, with his force split between Evans Farm and Leith.

The Federals deployed their infantry, unlimbered their artillery and opened fire, with the 1st Company Massachusetts Sharpshooters also opening fire near Evans Farm. The Confederates immediately began to withdraw, with the Federals in pursuit.

Confederate Infantry Forms Columns to leave the Leith Farm as Capt. Marye's Battery begins the withdrawal to Romney town.

Captain Clarks' Battery fires at Confederates withdrawing at Leith.

Colonel Kimball has overall field command, handing command of the 1st Brigade to Colonel Osborne, who pursues the enemy across the Leith Farm towards Romney.

The 23rd and 37th Virginia abandon the Evans Farm and retreat across the Covered Bridge while under fire from Captain Huntington's Battery and Captain Saunders' Sharpshooters.

Colonel Tyler's Brigade wastes no time pursuing the enemy.

The Confederates withdrew all the way to town, with the 3rd Arkansas and 1st Georgia defending the north side of town with the Hampden Light Artillery (Captain Marye) deployed in an orchard in the northeast corner of town. Ashby's Cavalry deployed along a fence line east of town.  On the western edge of town, the 23rd and 37th Virginia deployed, with the Allegheny Artillery (Capt. Carpenter) deployed in an orchard in the southwest corner of town.

Lander's 1st Brigade advanced up the Green Spring Road (Moorefield and North Branch Turnpike) as far as the Riker house and deployed, waiting for Battery "E" of the 4th US Artillery (Capt. Clark) to arrive and deploy. Colonel Tyler's Brigade advanced past the Hook Farm and deployed facing town, with Battery "H" of the 1st Ohio Light Artillery (Capt. Huntington) to his front. Capt. Saunder's company of Massachusetts Sharpshooters deployed off to Tyler's right and opened fire on the 37th Virginia and Allegheny Artillery. The two sides were in their second positions by 4:25 p.m. and shelled each others lines.

At 4:30 p.m. the Federal lines stepped out in an attack on the Confederate positions. The 1st Brigade advanced through Capt. Clark's guns, with the 84th Pennsylvania moving slightly off to the right. The 39th Illinois moved at a somewhat left oblique, as the 14th Indiana attacked straight down the Green Spring Road with the 7th (West) Virginia on its right. The 14th was the first to stop and engage, exchanging fire with the 1st Georgia.  The 39th Illinois moved into a copse of trees and engaged Ashby's Cavalry to their front, as the 7th West Virginia engaged the 3rd Arkansas, with the 84th Pennsylvania advancing towards the 3rd Arkansas' left flank. In the orchard, Marye's Battery (Hampden Light Artillery) has started firing canister into the 39th Illinois and 14th Indiana to good effect.

On the west side of Romney, Tyler's Brigade stepped off at the same time at the 1st Brigade, with the 29th Ohio marching wide on the right and the 66th Ohio moving at a left oblique. The 29th was delayed slightly while moving through the Athey Farm. As they were passing through the Athey buildings, fire from Capt. Saunders' sharpshooters became too much for the 37th Virginia, which fell back slightly. Tyler's men advanced, with the 7th Ohio engaging Capt. Carpenter's Battery (Allegheny Artillery), which responded with canister.  The 7th Indiana has also stopped to engage, as the 66th Ohio, 29th Ohio and 1st (West Virginia) continue their advance against the Confederate line in town.

The outcome of the engagement is anything but certain. The Federals outnumber the Confederate defenders, but Union guns and sharpshooters were ineffective at disabling Confederate guns before their assault. As canister flies, the action around Carpenter's Battery is likely to be a critical factor in the file result of the day and who controls Romney at the end of Day5.  Can Carpenter's men hold out longer than the infantry attacking it (29th Ohio, 7th Indiana, and 7th Ohio)? The 84th Pennsylvania and 66th Ohio also represent threats to the Confederate line, because the could possibly exploit the gap between the 23rd Virginia and 3rd Arkansas. 

More to come...