Conclusion of Battle

The tremendous explosion of the mine caused a hole in the earth 200 feet long, 60 feet wide, and about 25 feet deep in the center. The force of the explosion scared Ledlie’s troops into inaction. They sat unmoving, transfixed by the destruction they had just witnessed. Finally, after about ten minutes, Ledlie’s troops moved forward, and immediately occupied the crater made by the explosion. After the initial confusion of the explosion, the Confederates responded swiftly.

Potter and Willcox’s troops' attempts to move along the trenches on the flanks were halted almost immediately by Confederate mortar fire. Soon, the mortar fire was joined by enfilade fire from Confederate batteries to the north and south. Impatient, Meade wanted the crest beyond the crater taken.

Inside the crater, confusion reigned. Ledlie’s commanders did not know what to do next. Ledlie had never briefed his commanders on Meade’s objective of taking the crest beyond the crater and now, he could not be found. Unknown to his troops when they had advanced on the crater, Ledlie retired to a bombproof with a bottle of rum. With Potter and Willcox’s troops pinned down, Burnside ordered Ferrero’s troops to reinforce Ledlie’s troops. By that time, the Confederate artillery fire had increased tremendously. Initially, Ferrero’s troops had some success to the right of the crater, but were eventually driven into the crater by enemy fire. As more and more Union soldiers entered the crater, it became increasingly more difficult for any one to move around. As his soldiers entered the crater, Ferrero abandoned the fight and joined Ledlie in the bombproof.

General Grant's Campaign: The Charge on Cemetery Ridge after Explosion. From Harper's Weekly, v.8, 1864.

Colonel Henry G. Thomas, brigade commander under Ferrero, was finally able to form about two hundred of his men beyond the crater. The order was given to charge. Outside of the crater, the Confederates were preparing to counterattack. When the Confederates saw Thomas’ African American troops, they were incensed. The Confederates struck ferociously. Isolated and outnumbered, the African American soldiers attempted to retreat. The majority of Thomas’ men never made it back to the crater.

By 9:30 a.m., almost all advantages gained by using the mine were gone. Meade and Grant ordered Burnside to retreat. Burnside, unwillingly to admit his plan had failed, did not acknowledge receipt of the order. Finally, around noon, Burnside ordered the withdrawal of the troops in the crater. However, it was too late. Shortly after Burnside ordered the soldiers to abandon the crater, Confederate Brigadier General John C. Sanders’ Alabama brigade charged it. A massacre ensued. For fifteen minutes, the Alabamians killed any soldier in sight. In some areas of the crater, the bodies were eight deep. By 1:00 p.m., the troops left in the crater surrendered. The battle was lost. Shortly, after the battle, Private Nathaniel McLean Gywnne's arm was amputated. The 13th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry would muster him in with a retroactive date to the first time he tried to enlist with them.

In the aftermath of the battle, charges were brought against Burnside, Ledlie, Ferrero, Willcox, and Colonel Zenas R. Bliss. The court of inquiry censured all the officers. Ledlie was relieved of command. Ferrero, Willcox, and Bliss remained in their positions. In 1865, a Joint Congressional Committee on the Conduct of War would vindicate Burnside, but he would never be assigned to duty again.

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