Page:Decisive Battles Since Waterloo.djvu/274

240 There were still far too few troops on the ground to resist the Confederate army for any length of time, but Reynolds determined to hold it in check as long as possible, until help could come. He led his troops down the Cashtown road, to cut off all passage there. Meredith made a dash for the wood where Archer had entered, and Reynolds hastened to join the Iron Brigade in its attack. While encouraging the soldiers, General Reynolds was shot through the head and fell dead. He was one of the ablest of Meade's officers, and his death was a great loss to the national cause. It was then 10.45. Meredith advanced with such rapidity that he captured one thousand prisoners, and drove the enemy down the slope at the point of the bayonet. Wadsworth's three regiments were attacked by Davis, and compelled to fall back to the Oak Hill Ridge, where they took shelter in a thick wood. Doubleday sent the Sixth Wisconsin to them, and, by a sharp attack on Davis' lines threw them into confusion, and captured two entire regiments with their colors. Heth moved up to take the place of Archer and Davis, while Doubleday formed his lines anew and awaited events. He was gladdened by the arrival of Rowley and Robinson's divisions. The Confederate army now moved forward again. Brockenbrough tried to out-flank Biddle on the left, while Pettigrew hurled himself on Stone. The latter's brigade was formed of Pennsylvania lumbermen, called "Bucktails," from the ornaments attached to their hats. They were fighting on their native soil, and this filled them with an enthusiasm which laughed at death. Their position was exposed, and many were slain, but they held their ground and shouted "We've come to stay."

It was no use attacking such men as these, and the Confederates again fell back discomfited. An artillery