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Copyright 2001 by Tom Redman of Redman Illustrations. All rights reserved.
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"We twice tried to recross the field, and succeeded the second time in getting as far as to the log-house on the south side of the field, where we retook a few pieces of artillery, and which position we held until fresh troops arrived. ...Our loss on the 19th in killed, wounded, and missing was: Commissioned officers, 7; enlisted men, 59." |
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--Captain
Mons Grinager of Company K |
This carefully researched and meticulously rendered painting by noted artist Tom Redman portrays the 15th Wisconsin of Heg's Brigade charging the Confederate 4th Texas Infantry of Robertson's Texas Brigade. This action took place late on the afternoon of September 19, 1863, just north of Viniard's Farm, near Chickamauga Creek, Georgia.
The painting depicts the 15th's already thinned ranks as it once again advanced across Brock's Field toward the Texans on the east side of the Lafayette Road. Tom has captured the dusty red dirt of that drought-stricken field, strewn with dead and wounded men, the 15th's soldiers leaning forward into the hail of bullets as if walking into a wind-driven storm, and in the distance the seemingly harmless white smoke from Confederate muskets as the Texans fired at the 15th from the tree line and the log schoolhouse on the right.
The fighting at Chickamauga was the second bloodiest battle of the entire American Civil War. The 15th went into it with 176 soldiers and lost 63% of them killed, wounded, or missing -- one of the very highest casualty rates of any regiment in the battle.
The 15th Wisconsin website is greatly indebted to Tom Redman for his generosity in allowing this painting to be posted here, without charge, for all to see and learn from.
This page Copyright by Scott Cantwell Meeker of Deep
Vee Productions.
All rights reserved. Created June 5, 2001. Last updated June
6, 2001.