The second day began with our examination of the activity of Confederate division commander McIver Law's two brigades - Benning and Robertson.

Assembled around the Visitor Center map, the group followed Jim's blue and gray markers as he explained the movement of the two brigades and the ground that we would cover.

From the Visitor Center, the group carpooled to the Brotherton Road just east of LaFayette Road. Here, we looked east where Benning's and Robertson's Brigades assembled. These men, along with 11,000 more Confederate troops from Longstreet's command, prepared for the advance west into the Union line.

As Jim holds up the map, Dave points to Confederate front line units just ahead of Law's men. Longstreet's formation was not exactly what he had wanted at the time of the attack, but he did make do with what he had. Part of Polk's Wing overlapped near here. This was one of the very few instances when the Confederates had too many men in one place at one time!

The map closeup clearly shows the gap in the Union line just prior to Longstreet's forward movement.

With the Georgia Monument in the background, the group followed Benning's Brigade across the LaFayette Road to this ground at Poe Field. Benning's men turned due north after crossing the road as it came into contact with the broken Union line.

This is the scene Benning faced as his men form an east-west line facing north beside Poe Field.

The fighting raged back and forth on this ground as Benning tried to hold his own. But the group, pounded by rain and "under attack" by lightning & thunder, decided to take an early lunch break and resume the fight afterwards.