Battle of Gypsum Ridge Pt2

 

Close and deadly action on the Ridge.

On their left, the Dominion's first attack on the village
was repulsed as was a rather ragged rush forward by the grenadiers. On the ridge, a steady stream of Rebel companies were thrown into the gaps as they appeared.

At last, the Rifles forced their way into the village while the Grenadiers fell back to reorganize. The Rebels took advantage of the break to rearrange their units, sending fresh units into the line and pulling the dismounted cavalry back from the wall to ride to the open flank .

Accurate fire from the Dominion artillery managed to silence the Rebel battery just in time for a renewed Dominion assault. The fighting was fierce and prolonged.

The Grenadiers did not have the strength to storm the wall and were taking such heavy casualties that General Douglas feared they might be forced to retreat but the Rebel line was flanked and the exposed units suffered from heavy and accurate fire. The last straw came when the Director General's Bodyguard remounted and swept around the flank, driving all opposition before them.