May 24, 1864 3:00pm - 4:00pm

The first unit of the Union Ninth Corps to cross the North Anna was Brigadier General James H. Ledlie's brigade. His 1,500 infantrymen were ready to advance by 3:00 p.m., despite having been soaked up to their armpits while crossing the river. Unfortunately for the Federals, one of the worst generals in the Union army commanded them. Ledlie had commanded the brigade for only seven days and had obtained little knowledge of his men. Worse, the general had consumed a large amount of whiskey and was dreadfully drunk when he led his men into battle. When he approached the Confederate trenches in the area before you, Ledlie ordered one of his regiments to test the Confederate line. The 35th Massachusetts advanced into what was then an open field but were easily routed. The survivors hurriedly returned to the relative safety of Ledlie's main battle line.

"The General was inspired with that artificial courage known throughout the army as ?Dutch courage,' the quantity of which seemed to be sufficient to sustain him through this or any other trying ordeal, but the quality was not of the enduring kind." Captain John Anderson, 57th Massachusetts Infantry, Ledlie's Brigade

(sidebar)
Presented to the people of the United States by the loyal legion of battlefield students known as The Bearss Brigade.

Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.

Show me all markers in:  Doswell, VA  |  Hanover County  |  23047  |  Virginia  |  United States of America

Battle on the Skirmish Line
Run for Safety
The Heart of Dixie
Colonel Weisiger's Virginians
The Ox Ford Road
Men from Massachusetts
Like the Coming of a Cyclone
"Come on to Richmond"
"Save yourselves if you can"
The Inverted V

• GPX
• KML
• LOC

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.