Cockrell's Orphan Brigade

Confederate soldiers defended the steep rocky slopes of Pigeon from this position.

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

North of Burnt Hickory Rd, on the slope of Pigeon Hill

Significance:

Historic earthworks and location of a unit of Confederate soldiers from Missouri.

Designation:

National Battlefield Park

Amenities

3 listed

Benches/Seating, Cellular Signal, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

This was a Confederate defensive position occupied by Brigadier General Francis Cockrell’s ‘Orphan’ Brigade. A veteran collection of seven regiments, the 1^st MO Brigade had fought since the beginning of the war at battles like Corinth and Vicksburg. They were responsible for holding the position on these rocky slopes against the furious Union assaults. On the offense was Brigadier General Giles Smiths’ brigade. The terrain and defensive works of the Confederates proved to be extremely effective in holding them off. While a few Union soldiers managed to make it to the works themselves, they were quickly killed or wounded. In recounting the Confederate response to the assault, Private James Bradley of the 3^rd and 5^th Consolidated MO regiment writes “Suddenly as if the mountain had burst wide open from crest to base along the ridge, and poured forth all the pent-up fire of buried ages, a blaze shot out of the whole length of the Confederate line… The enemy did not reel or stagger, they were literally swept down the mountain side”. James A. Kennerly of the 1^st and 4^th Consolidated MO regiment wrote “We mowed them down like hay, killing one colonel, on major, and.. several other officers.”  If you look at the wayside sign here, you may notice that the rock in the phot is just a few yards ahead of you. This is a rare visible remnant from the past.