We Are The Eagles

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." --- Lamentations 3:22-23

Birthdays this week: Sue Sanders (March 15), Jason Hall (March 20), Christine Thompson and David Harper (March 21)

Our hearts and thoughts go out to the family of David McManus. David passed away Saturday at the age of 81.

Spring has sprung, but the weather is still back and forth. We start this work week with a light snow Sunday night.

The last part of James L. Boney's "Battle of Marks' Mills": "In the meantime, Colonel Gunter’s battalion had closed in on a log cabin that stood on the left of the road. Here they captured 17 more Federal soldiers. Gunter reformed his men and moved in the direction of the log house. Upon his arrival, he found that the fighting had ceased in that area. The Confederates had taken the second Union position. A profound silence now fell upon the battlefield. Then from the west came the sounds of marching feet and the rattle of battle gear. The 77^th Ohio was marching to the scene of the action.  When they reached the battle area, they found the road blocked by Dockery’s small brigade. Not to be taken prisoner without a fight, they move forward and the battle began again.

General Cabell, hearing the sounds of battle to his west, began to reform his brigade. Placing two mounted regiments of Shelby’s that had just arrived on his right and the footsoldiers on his left, he moved to the assistance of General Dockery who was slowly being forced back toward the crest of the hill by the fierce attack of the 77^th Ohio. The firing once again became heavy and continuous along the entire length of Cabell’s line. Earlier, General Fagan had pulled Colonel John Harrell’s battalion out of the line and placed them in the woods north of the road. From their vantage point they could see the 77^th Ohio as they moved along the road. Harrell’s battalion moved forward and attacked the Federals on their left flank. At the same time Cabell and Dockery’s commands struck them from the front. After an hour of hard fighting, seeing that their position was hopeless, most of the 77^th surrendered. 

The third and final position had been taken by the victorious Confederates. The time: 1 p.m., April 25^th 1864.

The Battle of Marks’ Mill was over. Bugles were heard singing over the nearly two mile-wide battlefront calling the Confederate commands together. But some of the men would not rejoin their command until dark. They had gone into the woods after the few Federals who had managed to escape. 

For the Confederates, the battle was a complete victory. For the Federals, a complete disaster. The battle, which lasted for five hours, was both bloody and costly. In comparison to the numbers engaged, the casualties were high on both sides. The Union forces had engaged 1600 men. Of these 100 were killed, 250 wounded, and 1000 captured. Only 250 managed to make good their escape. The Confederates had engaged 2500 men. They suffered 110 killed, 228 wounded, and 40 missing.

The Union dead were buried on the Marks’ plantation and the wounded were carried to the home of John Harvie Marks. The Confederate dead were buried at the Warren Crane place. The wounded were carried into the homes of Watt Smith, Bill Davis, and Warren Crane.

In addition to capturing most of Drake’s command, the Confederates captured six cannon, hundreds of small-arms, four flags and a mail wagon containing $175,000 in greenbacks. That night the Confederates were treated to a sumptuous meal prepared of food taken from the captured wagons."

Please feel free to share items of interest for this column before Monday.  This will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com.  Go Eagles.