Storm of Lead

Storm of Lead. Battle of Westport . Byram's Ford . Big Blue Battlefield . 23 October 1864. , At dawn on October 23, this now quiet creek crossing bristled with Confederate skirmishers. They lay in wait on the frosty ground behind log breast works in the dense underbrush on the high bank on the right and front., Smoke from their camp fires hung in the air. An occasional sharp shrill crack of Federal rifle fire pierced the still. As the sun rose, dismounted Federal horse soldiers scrambled down the Byram's Ford Road from the high east bluff behind you toward this spot., Crawling over the low ground here, they fired their repeating rifles at the Confederates on the opposite high river bank. The rapid heavy fire of bullets from 1000 Federal guns created a deafening roar., When the Federal advance reached this spot, the Confederates in your front and right unleashed a powerful barrage from their 800 guns. A "perfect hail storm of lead" passed between the contending forces here. Confederate artillery shells screamed through the air over the crossing., Federal soldiers rushed to the foot of the high bank on your right, and clawed their way toward the Confederate line atop the bank. A second line of Federals waded across Byram's Ford in front of you, flanking the Confederates., Under the withering storm of lead, the Confederates withdrew across the open flood plain, on your right, to Bloody Hill where the battle continued to rage for another four hours, deciding the outcome of the Battle of Westport and the fate of Missouri., Wounded and dead soldiers littered this area. A Federal officer crossing this area the next day wrote,

"Here were the unmistakable marks of stern and cruel war. The evidence of a fearsome bloodied conflict was around us. A sad sight of old and youth, gray hairs of age laying beside the smooth face of boyhood. The enemy took a stubborn and determined stand here." , George Sawin, 58th Illinois Infantry