Ross' Battery - 2nd Michigan Light Artillery

This line of guns around the Peach Orchard represents Ross' Battery — 2nd Michigan Light Artillery — Hurlbut's Division.

In carrying out an attack on Grant's forces, General Albert S. Johnston's main objective was to turn the Union left and drive it away from Pittsburg Landing. As the morning's fighting progressed on April 6, 1862, knowledge of the exact Federal positions on this flank was not entirely understood or misinterpreted. Alerted of additional enemy units on his right, Johnston was determined to follow up. Two Union brigades under General Stephen Hurlbut fell into line at the edge of Sarah Bell's orchard.

Into the afternoon, this became the scene of intense fighting as Confederates charged through the peach trees to face Hurlbut's men and a few regiments from General W. H. L. Wallace's Division that arrived. Many could recall the blossoms being ripped off the trees and falling to the ground. Confederate General John C. Breckinridge accompanied Johnston as roughly one-third of the army was directed to engage the Federals here. Somewhere nearby, Johnston himself was mortally wounded as he rode forward to personally motivate the attack.