Mine Creek Battlefield

-Charging Federals Hit Confederate Line-

You should be able to see Trail Marker 5 off in the distance south of where you are standing at Trail Marker 4. Just follow the trail straight ahead (south) to the next marker.

Mine Creek Battlefield Trail Marker 5 Looking South

Maj. Abial R. Pierce in command of the 4th Iowa Cavalry was stuck behind the halted 10th Missouri Cavalry. He decided that he needed to move to his left t0 get around the "traffic jam." He was successful and ordered the regiment to charge the Confederate right flank. As they charged forward, two companies, A and K, of the 4th Iowa had to move further left to avoid a ravine blocking their movement forward. In veering left they were able to flank the Confederate position. The 4th Iowa Cavalry attacked Brig. Gen. John B. Clark Jr.'s Brigade from the rear and sent the Confederates retreating in disarray. The rest of Benteen's Brigade followed the lead of the 4th Iowa and charged the Confederates. At this point Philips' Brigade remounted and charged the Confederate left.

Now you have reached the Confederate line and are standing where the Union Cavalry charge crashed into the Confederate defenders. Just to the east of where you are standing was Clark's Brigade from Marmaduke's Division. Just to the west of where you are standing was Freeman's Brigade from Marmaduke's Division.

If you look to the southeast, you can almost see Major Pierce leading his regiment and hitting the Clark's Brigade from the rear. Freeman's Brigade turned and ran before the charging Federals even reached them. Earlier they had suffered many casualties from the withering fire at the hands of Philips' dismounted brigade. Their retreat exposed Brig. Gen. William L. Cabell's right flank to the attacking Federals. The 7th Missouri State Militia (MSM) Cavalry commanded by Lt. Col. Thomas T. Crittenden broke through the right center and flanked Cabell's Brigade.

Maj. Abial R. Pierce described his charge against the Confederate line.

Our lines were formed in front of the enemy, and not far from them. I formed my regiment on the left of the second line, one half extending past the left flank of the first line, and my extreme left about even with the right flank of the enemy's lines. Just as the regiment came into line, the charge was sounded. Our lines moved forward to within 300 yards of the enemy's lines, when a terrific fire was poured into us from cannon and small arms. The front line halted; the right of the second line halted, trembling under the heavy fire from the enemy. The Fourth did not halt, but swept on, every horse at full speed, and every man yelling like a demon. The right of the regiment, which was in the rear of the Tenth Missouri, was obliged to pass through that regiment, thereby slackening its speed and causing a half right wheel in my line. We struck the enemy's lines on the extreme right, scattering them as we came up. My regiment was the first to break the enemy's lines, and we had crushed in quite a distance of his right before our other regiments, in front of the enemy's left, advanced.

Maj. Abial R. Pierce

Brig. Gen. John B. Clark, Jr.

Brig. Gen. William L. Cabell