Heavy Fighting in Woods NE of Romney, Day 1 - 17:00-17:20

At 17:20 on Day One of the Campaign, Colonel Erastus B. Tyler had Clark's Battery "E," 4th US Artillery deployed in a field south of the Rogers Farm and supported by the 7th and 66th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The other four regiments of his brigade were deployed in the woods west of Rogers Run, facing four regiments of Garnett's Brigade, also in the woods, on a slight hill on the opposite side of the stream. The 7th and 66th Ohio moved at the double quick around the northern edge of the woods to attack the Confederate right, as Capt. Clark repositioned his battery, moving the left section to the left rear of infantry and the other two sections into the woods. The infantry then advanced forward towards the enemy lurking in the woods before them.

7th and 66th Ohio move at the double quick from the Rogers fields to find and attack the Confederate right, as Capt. Clark starts to redeploy his guns.

As soon as the Federal infantry reached Rogers Run, the Confederate line opened fire.

The 33rd Virginia on the Confederate right opens fire at the advancing Federals.

The 7th Ohio takes its first losses as it reaches the creek bed at Rogers Run.

The Federal right crossing Rogers Run under fire as the center engages.  

The left of the Stonewall Brigade engages.

The 66th Ohio Volunteer Infantry struggling to get a position of advantage on the Confederate left flank

As the two lines were engaged, a Confederate militia regiment appeared out of the woods to the north, where Jackson's line had previously been deployed. It immediately advanced against Capt. Clark's left section and opened fire. The Union gunners fired a few rounds of canister, but were taking heavy losses. The 7th Ohio, already wavering under fire from the 33rd Virginia Infantry, tried to turn back to defend the guns, but was under too much pressure and broke into the woods to the rear. The 66th, also engaged with the 33rd Virginia, tried to disengage to turn and fight the militia, but also broke. Within a short time, the two Federal regiments and both guns of Clark's left section were no longer active combatants in the engagement.

Confederate militia attacks Capt. Clark's left section.

The Federal line had gotten bogged down in the creek bed, but eventually got under cover of the woods. The Stonewall Brigade, however, was true to its reputation this evening. Although missing the 4th Virginia, Garnett's men kept up a steady fire on the enemy without giving any ground. The 29th Ohio then gave way on the left of the Union line and the Virginia militia started to fire on the Union flank.

The embattled Union left.

Militia advancing on the flank.  

At 17:40, Jackson has brought a battery up on his right flank, firing canister into the Federal left. Capt. Clark also has his remaining four guns in position and they have started firing canister across the stream into the Confederate line. Union losses have been heavy, but the fighting continues...