Colonel P. Regis de Trobriand’s brigade (Birney’s division, III Corps) held the sector between Ward’s brigade on Houck’s Ridge and Graham’s brigade in the Peach Orchard. This area included Stony Hill and the Wheatfield.
Throwing the 3rd Michigan out on the skirmish line to the northwest, de Trobriand deployed the rest of the brigade along Rose Run facing southwest. The 110th Pennsylvania was on the right of the line, with the 5th Michigan on its left. The 40th New York and 17th Maine occupied the rear. The latter rushed to a stone wall in the Wheatfield as the Confederate attack began, helping repel the attack of the 3rd Arkansas (Robertson’s Brigade) by firing into its left flank. The 40th New York was sent south to help defend Devil’s Den, leaving a yawning gap between the 17th Maine and 5th Michigan.1
The Confederate brigade under Brig. Gen. George “Tige” Anderson moved forward to support Robertson’s advance. Anderson, however, was unsure exactly where Robertson was fighting, so he did the next best thing and marched to the sound of the guns, which was most pronounced in the Wheatfield-Stony Hill sector. His men quickly stepped across the open fields toward the Federal positions with fire from Captain George Winslow’s battery in the Wheatfield and from massed artillery in the Peach Orchard harassing every step. The brigade deployed from left to right as follows: 9th Georgia – 8th Georgia – 11th Georgia – 59th Georgia. The 8th and 9th Georgia regiments headed toward Stony Hill, while the 11th Georgia pointed toward the Wheatfield. The 59th Georgia on the right of the line fell in line with the 3rd Arkansas to take on the right side of Ward’s brigade.2
Crossing Rose Run, Anderson’s men encountered irregular ground with large rocks that wreaked havoc on the dressed ranks. It was in this area that Federal infantry now opened fire on Anderson’s men. “Our line did not waver under the galling musketry, but came on almost at a run, firing vigorously,” noted one Confederate soldier.3
After helping repel the initial attack of the 3rd Arkansas on their left, the men of the 17th Maine in the Wheatfield watched the 11th Georgia approaching on their right, “concealing themselves as much as possible, and using the shelter of the bank of the main branch of Plum Run,” remembered an officer.4
As the 8th and 9th Georgia approached Stony Hill, the 115th Pennsylvania and 8th New Jersey of Col. George Burling’s brigade arrived to fill the gap between the 17th Maine and 5th Michigan. The 8th Georgia attacked the 115th Pennsylvania and 8th New Jersey, while the 9th Georgia hit the 5th Michigan and 110th Pennsylvania.5
Colonel de Trobriand described this position on the right as a “strong one, in a wood commanding a narrow ravine, which the enemy attempted in vain to cross under our fire.” Deadly Federal fire forced the Confederates to take cover behind the banks of Rose Run. The right of the 110th Pennsylvania extended beyond the left flank of the 9th Georgia, and according to one Confederate officer, “bullets were coming from our front; enfilading from our left; and also diagonally from our rear.” Anderson refused his left three companies to face this threat.6
Finding a gap on the right of the 8th New Jersey, the right side of the 9th Georgia and part of the 8th Georgia quickly exploited it, forcing the New Jersey soldiers to abandon their position and pull back. The 115th Pennsylvania soon followed, retreating through the Wheatfield before halting to support Winslow’s belching guns. The 17th Maine held firm, refusing its right flank and throwing enfilade fire into the Georgians. The 5th Michigan and 110th Pennsylvania at the other end of the line also sent volleys into the attacking enemy formations.
With little to show for his hour of fighting the stubborn enemy except scores of dead and wounded soldiers, “Tige” Anderson pulled his brigade rearward to reform it and await the arrival of reinforcements.7