Kearny's Death

The 21st Massachusetts was still reorganizing it's ranks from it's disastrous encounter with Trimble's Brigade east of West Ox Road when the one-armed General Kearny came riding up from across the grass field. Kearny reigned his horse in and told the 21st to advance to the edge of the cornfield and protect Birney's right. The commanding officer argued with Kearny that he needed more time to reorganize and load his weapons with dry ammunition. Under Kearny's threat of having a battery fire on them, the 21st advanced, scarcely 200 men in all, to the cornfield. The regiment then halted as Company G deployed a skirmish line and promptly captured an officer and private from the 49th Georgia of Thomas' Brigade. General Kearny was furious that the regiment had halted. Not believing the Confederate line was so close, even after the two prisoners were captured, Kearny decided to do his own personal reconnaissance. He spurred his horse forward into the cornfield and came upon a unrecognizable group of muddy soldiers near the wood line.
General Kearny asked what troops they were. The soldiers responded "the 49th Georgia" and then called for his surrender. Kearny immediately wheeled
his horse around, laid flat Indian style, and tried to gallop away. In the thick mud he had gone less than 30 yards before a .52 caliber ball struck him from behind, traveling through his abdomen and lodging between the skin and sternum in his chest. General Kearny fell off his mount killed instantly.
The Union had now lost two of their most respected generals in as many hours. Lincoln could ill afford to lose both Kearny and Stevens, especially after General Pope's dismal performance at Second Manassas. Not only were these two generals experienced commanders but they were also being considered for higher commands. Had Kearny not been killed, he would have most likely at one point become the commander of the Union Army. It was a sad day for the Union cause indeed.