The second day began with our examination of the conflict between Major General Thomas Hindman's Confederate division and Brigadier General Phil Sheridan's Union division. In particular, we examined the advance of Anderson's and Manigault's brigades as they broadly advanced toward the Widow Glenn's cabin and Lytle Hill around noon on Sept. 20, 1863.

We ventured out into the woods (with the ever present rain) to stand at the right flank of Davis' Brigade, Sheridan's Division. We would have gone a bit further, to the LaFayette Road, had it not been for the "wet weather drainage ditch" which was quickly turning into a small creek . Fortunately, we did not have to ford (or swim) this obstacle, but we did take a moment to hear about the action in this area.

We exited the woods and walked into south Dyer field. It was here that several small outbuildings for the Dyer tan yard and nitre vats were located. We also found ourselves in the middle of Deas Brigade as it moved west across LaFayette Road, through the woods to this spot before it ran into Sheridan's men.

At left, Jim points out our location relative to the action at this spot on the 20th of September.

Below, we viewed south Dyer field toward Lytle Hill. It was here that Liaboldts men came down the hill from the woods in column of regiments. Deas' Alabamians overlapped them and scattered the column back over the hill. Lytle's brigade made better cover of the woods and was able to keep Liaboldt's rout from spreading throughout Sheridan's division.

Our group ventured south from Dyer field to a point near the 11th Indiana Battery and the junction of Lytle and Walworth's two brigades. Along this road, both Deas and Anderson's Brigades came out of the woods to the right to attack the Union positions in the woods on the left. At left, we stood where the 24th Wisconsin and the 11th Indiana Battery exchanged fire with the 50th Alabama of Deas Brigade.

We stopped at the spot where the 11th Indiana Battery was located when Lytle's brigade awaited Deas attack here in south Dyer field. After Liaboldt is thrown into confusion, Lytle and Walworth formed in the woods here to repel both Anderson & Deas' brigades. The action did not last long as the Union Brigades had to pull out and move north due to Longstreet's breakthrough at the Brotherton cabin.

From Lytle Hill, we see an open view of Dyer Field. We listened to Jim and Dave tell of Liaboldt's Brigade as it marched down this hill only to be routed by Deas; and, about Lytle's Brigade holding out against Deas' attack a little later in the day. In the very distant center, we see the ground that Johnson's Confederates crossed as they came out of the woods on the right through the hole in the federal line.

Here, we took a moment to reflect on the wounding and death of brigade commander, Brigadier General William Haines Lytle. Although his brigade held up pretty well against Hindman's onslaught, General Lytle was very busy trying to hold together the troops in this area when he was shot and mortally wounded. He was soon discovered by the advancing Confederates. Out of respect due to his pre-war fame, a guard was placed over his body. Although it is debated today just where he may have fallen wounded, we learned that the years have taken its toll on Lytle's cannonball pyramid marker. Lytle's is deep in the woods and has been vandalized. Although attempts at repairing it (concrete cannon balls were used at one time), the present marker has just the bottom layer of cannon balls. Jim stated that the marker may regain its more recognized stack just as soon as a nice supply of iron 8" naval shells is cast! From here, we walked south to the north-end of Glenn Field.

Our group marches out to a position held by Walworth's brigade in north Glenn field. As Hindman's division crosses LaFayette Road shortly after the 11:00 AM breakthrough, his two left-most brigades came into this field.

Looking east, in the background, the treeline of the LaFayette Road can be seen to the right. Manigault's Brigade came out of those woods and headed due west. We stood near the treeline on the west side of LaFayette Road that served as the northern border to the Glenn farm. Part of Anderson's Brigade (the 7th & 9th Mississippi regiments) waded through the woods here when they ran into Walworth's Illinois regiments. Anderson's 41st Mississippi was in the clear (headed toward us in the photo at left).

Here, we went out a bit further into the Glenn Field. We are standing about where Manigault's Brigade was when it was fired upon. Manigault was completely exposed in this field when Wilder's Brigade, with his Spencer repeating rifles, opened on the hapless Alabamians. The firepower from all six of Wilder's regiments "sounded like a whole infantry corps" according to the folks in Longstreet's command. Wilder advanced somewhat toward Manigault which eventually forced him to retire all the way to the LaFayette Road - and for the time being, put a hold on Hindman's advance.

Our group encounters a pelting from the rain as we gathered in Glenn field to hear Jim and Dave explain the troop movements all around us.

Lower left, we see Jim and Dave strolling toward the Widow Glenn's farm cabin (now Wilder Tower). They are about where the 98th Illinois and 39th Indiana Regiments of Wilder's Brigade stood prior to their firing upon and advancing toward Manigault. From there, we walked north along Wilder's line.

Below, we took a moment here to remember Union Private Merrit James Simonds, Co. K, 42nd Illinois, Walworth's Brigade. He was wounded in the leg very near here during the brigade's struggle against Anderson's Confederate Brigade. Due to the nature of his wound, he had to be left behind as his unit, and the battle, moved northward. He layed on the field for several days with little to no care from his Confederate captors. But, he kept a diary and was able to write about his experiences while on this field over the next few days.

So ended the first half of this day. We covered quite a bit of ground and gained a much better understanding of the troop movements in this section of the park...something that could not be attained without this "hands-on" experience!