Action East of the Ox Road
While General Stevens’ division attacked Confederate forces on this side (west) of the Ox Road, units from General Jesse Reno’s division entered the woods east of Ox Road to protect Stevens’ flank. These troops included two regiments having vague orders to “find the enemy”.
One of those regiments, the 21st Massachusetts, stumbled through the darkened woods just before 5:00 P.M., their line of battle broken by fallen trees and underbrush. As the thunderstorm erupted, the regiment halted to reform their lines.
As the men adjusted their ranks, several shouts of “Rebels!” were heard along the line. Then, according to Capt. Charles Walcott, “While most of our poor fellows stood with their guns at the shoulder, one of the deadliest volleys ever fired rolled upon us from our right and front…the whole regiment seemed to be lying bleeding on the ground…nearly a hundred of our men, dead and wounded, lay there with their officers.”