Year: 1863

key to the whole position. The Goth New Jersey
was to take the lead, ours to follow and support
them, and other regiments were to advance on
our right and left. The boys started with conf
dence and alacrty, cheering as they went. The
rebels opened on us from every piece they had
from 24-pounder to pocket pistol. Our bat
teries played over our heads and helped US all
they could. The air seemed to be full of kissing
shot and bursting shells. The roar was terrific
and it required men of nerve to stand it. The
Jerseys faltered they did not run, but their reg
iment became so completely broken up that but
little could be expected Of them. There didn't
seem to be any ranks anywhere. They were scat
tered all over the ground, so that shell could
hardly burst amiss Behind every tree, stump, or
whatever would shelter them, they could be seen
hiding away from the storm of iron hail and COM
pletey paralyzed with terror. Some of them we
forced into our ranks, but such were found to be
too demoralzed in the knees to be capable of eff
tective service. We approached deep ditch
and, as we expected. it was filed with the trem-





and deaths. A rebel shell struck in the ditch
just as we came up to it, filling our faces with
dirt, and burying number of the Jerseys, where
the boys mallciously hoped they would remain
till the resurrection. Col. Grant saw at once
that to expect anything from that regiment would
be hanging his hopes on a rope Of sand, so he or
dered the second Vermont to the right of them,
and we rushed up the hill ahead. Some from the
Jersey regiment, more brave than the rest, joined
with us and fought like heroes till the engage
ment was over


The hill up which we charged, was covered with
brush besides being very steep and every way
difficult to climb At the right there was deep
ravine also filled with brush and felled trees. The
right of the regiment had to make their way up
through this. The rebs had set fire to the brush
on the top of the hill, and the hot, suffocating
smoke drifted into our faces, but we moved
straight onward, regardless of everything. The
air was intensely hot and sultry, the fire of the
rebel musketry as we neared the top of the hill,
was hot, too, but not man hinched. While we
were crossing the flat and till we got to the foot
of the hill, our regiment kept in as good line as
if they were on drill. Among this brush and
smoke and bullets, this, Of course, was impossible
We halted moment 10 rebel rifle pit to take
breath, when at the word from COL Grant, " Up
now, my brave boys and give it to them, we
pushed forward as fast as possible. There were
! plenty Of opportunities for towards to hide and
skulk from duty, as we were getting up through
that brush, but do not know of a single man who
avalled himself of them. Our skirmishers drove
! the gunners away from two excellant pieces of
artillery and captured them


AT the top of the hill we were met with a more
terrific shower of bullets than before. For mo-
ment our regiment wavered. A little way beyond
US through the smoke, the rebels could be seen
hesating the same way. Their officers were try
ing to rally them. 1t was critical moment If
our men would come forward now they would
certainly drive them moment more and all
might be lost. The crisis was imneut. immense
consequences hung poised on q few seconds of
time. Some OF the rebels were panic-stricken and
running, some were rallying to renew the fight
A bold attack from them just then, would certain
Iy have driven our men, so would bold attack
from US drive them. Now was the precious mo-
ment to strike. Oh! flour boys only would rally
thank God they did. They rallied in soutly,
and drove the rebs to the emnence beyond Here
they held line for some time, but by the time
our supports came up, they had skedaddled out