Alan J. Pitts
church pews used as breastworks....
Sat Apr 14 12:34:41 2001


After a partial review of reports from the Federal XV Corps which did most of the fighting at Ezra Church, it seems likely that the flag captured was that of the 19th Alabama. Aside from battlefield identification (perhaps the strongest evidence), the 48th Illinois appears to have been toward the left-center of the Federal line, not the left as previously stated.

Federal reports describe their line as a right angle with the framed church just inside the apex. Maps shown on plates LVI (7) and LIX(7) of the Official Atlas represent the line as a somewhat more acute angle. Col. Hugo Wangelin of the 12th Missouri says "benches were taken out of the church and filled with knapsacks to serve as breast-works, and doubtless did better service than ever before." The 1st Division of the XV Corps formed on the left side of the church, facing east, while the 4th and 2nd Divisions took position on the right, facing south-southwest.

The 48th Illinois which claimed the capture belonged to 3rd Brigade of the 4th Division. This brigade joined the 1st Division on its left, the 48th Illinois being the right element of this brigade. It was relieved by the 90th Illinois after its men exhausted all cartridges available for their Smith & Wesson rifles. The brigade commander mentions that Confederate colors were planted within twenty paces of his line. He further notes that the color bearer of the 30th Louisiana (Gibson's Brigade, Clayton's Division) was shot down to the left of the church along the line of the 70th Ohio, the flag later being carried off by soldiers of the 46th Ohio.

Viewing this attack from the Confederate side, Clayton's Division formed on the right and Hindman's (directed by Brig.Gen. John C. Brown) on the left. Their direction of attack was such that they converged on opposite sides of the Federal salient at Ezra Church. Gibson's Brigade, which lost the previously mentioned flag near the church, was the left brigade in Clayton's line, while Deas' Brigade, led by Brig. Gen. George D. Johnston, formed the right element of Hindman's Division.

The report of Lt. Col. Harry T. Toulmin, senior surviving officer of Deas' Brigade, includes the following statement:

an order to charge was given, which was gallantly responded to, and a portion of the brigade, being parts of the Nineteenth, Twenty-second, and Fiftieth Alabama Regiments, succeeded in reaching the enemy s position, the first and last planting their colors on his works, and the third having its ensign killed in a few paces of them.

The Federal summary report claims the capture of five Confederate battleflags in this engagement. Aside from those lost by the 19th Alabama and 30th Louisiana, I do not yet know to whom the others belonged. Based on Toulmin's report, I would not be surprised to learn that the colors of the 22nd and 50th Alabama were also numbered among those taken by the enemy.