Battle of Weeburg Day Two

As the next day dawned, the armies fell in and prepared to renew the fight. The Rebels had received considerable reinforcements overnight while only a solitary company of Highlanders and the field hospital had arrived to reinforce the town.

General Lannigan had reinforced General Gray's Brigade on his right and ordered it to renew the assault on Town Hill at first light. Brigadier Strombecker was promised reinforcements and ordered to advance and hold the enemy's right in check. Finally General Byrd's Brigade which had arrived in the centre was ordered to advance and pin the enemy defending the town itself.

Heavily outnumbered, General Douglas had little choice but to hold his ground until more reinforcements arrived. The Grenadiers and the battery held Town Hill and the Western edge of town. Brigadier Ross was given the dual task of holding the rest of the town and pushing forward to make room for the expected reinforcements who would attack up the right flank.

The sun had barely broken though the morning mist when the rebel batteries opened fire with deadly precision. In minutes the Dominion artillery had been silenced and forced to withdraw.

Under heavy artillery and rifle fire the Grenadiers struggled to hold the line and General Douglas was forced to deploy the Highlanders in support.

 Byrd's Brigade advanced as ordered and engaged the defenders of the village. Despite the cover of the houses, the attackers greatly outnumbered the defenders and slowly wore them down. A fresh company of Highlanders had to be committed just to hold the line. 

On the far side of town, a rash advance by Strombecker's Brigade was repulsed with heavy losses.

Suddenly the Grenadiers, having lost over half their numbers, could stand no more and broke. A handful of men rallied in the streets of the town and the Highlanders and B battery held firm but the line was growing woefully thin.

The storm of artillery and rifle fire eventually proved too much for the Highlanders as well and the remnants were forced back into  town.

Small groups of Grenadiers and Highlanders rallied and prepared for a last ditch defence of Weeburg but General Douglas' army had lost heavily and was now outnumbered nearly two to one. He gave the order to begin a fighting retreat. At least the missing reserves were nearby and able to help cover the retreat.