as barksdale's men pushed toward sickles's headquarters near the trostle barn, the general and his staff began to move to the rear, when a cannonball caught sickles in the right leg. he was carried off in a stretcher, sitting up and puffing on his cigar, attempting to encourage his men. that evening his leg was amputated, and he returned to washington, d.c. gen. birney assumed command of the iii corps, which was soon rendered ineffective as a fighting force.