The Courier's Bulletin -- #05 -- The Third Battle of Cumberland, Maryland

 Courier' Bulletin #05

- In a final, futile attempt to dislodge J. E. Johnston from his position at Cumberland, Patterson's Department of Pennsylvania advances on the Confederate position on October 21, 1861.

Strength Report:

Department of Pennsylvania (Patterson):

Men: 9,900

Cavalry: 0

Guns: 12

 Army of the Shenandoah (Johnston): 

Men: 12,789

Cavalry: 0

Guns: 27

Telegram(s):

-  Johnston's force deploys in two segments, holding defenses along a thickly wooded stream to the north-east of Cumberland. Lawton's division (Bee & Bartow) holds the left, guarding a designated ford in the stream. Wade's division (AP Hill, EK Smith, and Jackson) holds the right further down the stream, guarding the approach to a bridge. Patterson's skirmishers discover the gap between Lawton and Wade, at a 45 degree bend in the stream, and attempt to exploit it.

- Before Johnston's infantry can engage Patterson's brigades, Johnston's artillery interdicting Union movement, Patterson sends two brigades between the Confederate divisions. Lawton immediately abandons his prepared positions opposite the ford and races to the bend in the stream, beating the Union brigades. Wade sends Hill in emergency support from the right. The Union brigades make it to the stream, under the cover of trees on either bank, and meet stiff resistance from the Confederate-occupied heights opposite. 

- In a veritable slaughter, Bee, Bartow, and AP Hill cut the Union brigades to pieces, inflicting over 50% casualties as the Union boys attempt to cross the stream under fire. Four more of Patterson's brigades attempt to provide cover from their own positions on the heights, on their side of the stream, but unsuccessfully. With the Union forces repulsed at little cost to Johnston, he orders a counter assault across the stream. 

- Bartow and Hill lead the charge, followed by Bee and EK Smith.  Two more Union brigades are smashed in close combat, destroying their cohesion, but Confederate forces begin to sustain casualties; the climb up the opposite bank comes under heavy fire from a farm on the left. A retreat would risk further loss of life at no reward, so Johnston orders Wade and Lawton on.

- Bartow and Hill, still followed by Bee and EK Smith, begin to tire, but press on as half of Patterson's force wavers just within reach. The Union positions at the farm are breeched as Bartow and then Hill make contact with Patterson's reserve brigades. It is here that Bartow falls. Pressing his men forward, General Bartow is felled before he is able to observe the final Union rout from the field. 

Casualty Report:

- Union Casualties: 2,304 men (318 killed)

- Confederate Casualties: 904 men (159 killed)

- General Bartow is succeeded by Colonel Henry Heth.

- Johnston continues to hold Cumberland, and with so many Union forces drawn West in an attempt to dislodge him, P. G. T. Beauregard's Army of the Potomac, 'til now static in its positions south of Alexandria, VA, begins to march on Washington.