350 NortH Carorina Troops, 1861-’65.

the woods (Confederate right) was defended by Biddien
Pennsylvania Brigade of four regiments with Cooper s Bat-
tery in the centre, the open space on the right of the woods
(Confederate left) was defended by Stone’s Pennsylvania
Brigade with three regiments. Stewart’s Battery B, Fourth
United States Artillery attached to the Iron Brigade, was
posted on the right and rear supporting Stone’s Brigade, but
in a position to sweep any part of the field. A Northas
writer says: ‘There is no doubt, more men fell at Stewart’s
guns than in any other battery in the Union armies.” Com-
pany F, of the Twenty-sixth Regiment, was on the left of the
colors. Company E on the right and Companies A and G
near the centre. The position of these companies nearest the
flag accounts for their disproportionate losses in the battle.

A member of the Twenty-sixth regiment thus describes
the situation: ‘‘While we were still lying down impatiently
waiting to begin the engagement, the right of the regiment
was greatly annoyed by some sharpshooters stationed on the
top of a large old farm house to our right. Colonel Burgwyn
ordered a man sent forward to take them down, when Lieuten-
ant J. A. Lowe, of Company G, volunteered. Creeping for-
ward along a fence until he got a position from whence he
could see the men behind the chimney who were doing the
shooting, he soon silenced them. os

During all this time, Hill was bringing up his Corps an
placing it in position. Colonel Burgwyn became quite impa-
tient to engage the enemy, saying we were losing precious
time; but Hill did not come, and we had nothing to do but to
wait for his arrival on the field. However, we were keeping
our men as quiet and comfortable as possible, sending details
to the rear for water, and watching the movements of the en-
emy. The enemy’s sharpshooters occasionally reminded us
that we had better cling close to the bosom of old mother
earth.

Many words of encouragement were spoken and some =~
were indulged in. Religious services were not held, as t
should have been, owing to the absence of our Chaplains.
this time the enemy were moving with great fears *
Directly in our front across the wheat field was a wooded hi

Se geen pee eR AYE RT reat er ere

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ieee tain

TWEnNTy-SIxtH REGIMENT. 351

(McPherson’s woods). On this hill the enemy placed what we
were afterwards informed was their famous “Iron Brigade.”
They wore tall, bell-erowned black hats, which made them
conspicuous in the line. The sun was now high in the heav-
ens. General Ewell’s Corps had come up on our left and had
engaged the enemy. Never was a grander sight beheld. The
lines extended more than a mile, all distinctly visible to us.
When the battle waxed hot, now one of the armies would be
driven, now the other, while neither seemed to gain any ad-
vantage. The roar of artillery, the crack of musketry and
the shouts of the combatants, added grandeur and solemnity
to the scene. Suddenly there came down the line the long
awaited command “Attention.” The time of this command
could not have been more inopportune; for our line had in-
spected the enemy and we well knew the desperateness of the
charge we were to make; but with the greatest quickness the
regiment obeyed. All to a man were at once up and ready,
every officer at his post, Colonel Burgwyn in the center, Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Lane on the right, Major Jones on the left.
Our gallant standard-bearer, J. B. Mansfield, at once stepped
to his position—four paces to the front, and the eight color
guards to their proper places. At the command “Forward,
march !” all to a man stepped off, apparently as willingly and
as proudly as if they were on review. The enemy at once
opened fire, killing and wounding some, but their aim was
too high to be very effective. All kept the step and made as
pretty and perfect a line as regiment ever made, every man
endeavoring to keep dressed on the colors. We opened fire on
the enemy. On, on, we went, our men yet in perfect line, until
we reached the branch (Willoughby’s Run) in the ravine.
Here the briers, reeds and underbrush made it difficult to pass,
and there was some crowding in the centre, and the enemy’s
artillery (Cooper’s Battery) on our right, getting an enfilade
fire upon us, our loss was frightful; but our men crossed in
good order and immediately were in proper position again,
and up the hill we went, firing now with better execution.
The engagement was becoming desperate. It seemed that
the bullets were as thick as hail stones in a storm. At his
post on the right of the regiment and ignorant as to what was