Part Eight: The Fighting around LaGrange
Lovell's Collapse
By 8 AM the fighting on Lovell’s front had become desperate. Numerous units were routing rearwards and others were becoming increasingly isolated as the Federals attacked all around them. Following orders from Beauregard to fall back slowly but not to risk losing his division, Lovell attempted to consolidate his lines as he gave ground ahead of the Union advance. But the Federal attack continued. The 22nd Mississippi was routed next and all along the line the Confederates were driven back by overwhelming Union numbers. Breckinridge rode into the maelstrom and helped rally the units as the lines tried desperately to fall back in some order without being cut-off and captured. But it was no use. The Union forces drove them all back from their positions and were soon in full possession of the battlefield on this front. The men of Lovell’s Division were in full retreat by 8:40 AM.
It had been a bloody and painful morning for the men of Lovell’s Division. Lovell’s force consisted of 5,255 men when the fighting began at dawn. By 9 AM the division was reduced to 3,329 men having taken nearly 40% casualties. Rushing to the support of Lovell’s Division were the 3rd, 5th, and 7th Kentucky of the Orphan Brigade. These veterans were bringing six cannons with them to build a new line closer to LaGrange and across the direct road into the town from where Lovell’s Division was being driven from. At 9 AM the full retreat began as the Kentuckians of the Orphan Brigade moved forward to cover Lovell’s retreat.
Beauregard wrote to Breckinridge that, “I believe Lovell's Division has prevented a large amount of enemy infantry from joining the fight on Hickory Pike and advancing on Grand Junction. Although I know this fight has come at a cost, your boys have bought us time in return. You must now pull back Lovell's Division and keep withdrawing towards the southeast as quickly as possible, to tie in with Armstrong's Cavalry on their right flank. This must be immediate as the gap between Lovell and Armstrong is very dangerous as it could be readily exploited by the enemy if we don't plug the hole.”
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Lovell's Division is driven back.
LaGrange Road
As the fighting raged along Lovell’s front, the fighting on the LaGrange Road sputtered out. Hebert’s Brigade fell back to the south ahead of the combined Union infantry and cavalry units then skirmishing with them north of LaGrange. Hebert would follow orders to reconstitute his line further south and to stay on the left flank of Lovell’s Division as it attempted to hold on northeast of LaGrange.
But as Hebert fell back he was pursued by McArthur’s cavalrymen and the infantry brigade of US Regulars attached to his force. McArthur sought to keep up the pressure on the Rebels and keep them from sending any help towards Lovell’s embattled force to the east. Hebert fell all the way back to his original line which he held earlier in the morning and where his artillery was still emplaced guarding the northern approach to LaGrange. But with the collapse of Lovell’s Division to the east it was no longer safe to keep Hebert’s men positioned so far north of LaGrange. Hebert began to fall back towards the town and a new defensive line which would tie into Lovell’s reforming division then coming in on his right flank. McArthur’s pursuit ended as Hebert retreated southward.
Events on other parts of the battlefield would soon bring a close to the fighting around LaGrange.