Situated just south of the Graveyard Road, the Stockade Redan formed the center of a group of fortifications that beat back two major Union assaults.
The northernmost of these fortification, a lunette, or half moon shaped earthwork, was occupied by the 27th Louisiana Infantry.
From here the Confederates could direct fire at any Union troops who made it to the base of the Stockade Redan. Further blocking Federal hopes on the Graveyard Road, Confederate engineers built a poplar log wall that connected both fortifications.
Another fort, Green's Redan, was positioned 75 yards south of the Stockade Redan to bring fire to bear on any Union troops who went in that direction.
It was along this road during the May 19th attack that Orion P. Howe, a 14-year old Drummer Boy, received serious wounds while attempting to get ammunition for his comrades in the 55th Illinois Infantry Regiment.
The brave young man, though seriously wounded and bleeding badly, made his way through the hail of bullets and shell toward the rear, where he found General William T. Sherman, and gave him the message for more ammunition.
He was later awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery. After the war, Howe attended the US Naval Academy, but settled down as a dentist in Missouri.
The fighting at the Stockade Redan on May 19th and May 22nd, typified that of other positions along the Confederate lines, with Union forces huddled at the base of the fortifications, unable to move forward and unable to escape, waiting on night to come so they could get back to their lines.
But while they waited on darkness to come, the Confederates tossed artillery shells over the walls at them. In some cases the Union soldiers caught them and tossed them back, both sides playing a deadly game of survival.
