Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/599

 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 519 COLONEL COLVILL S CHARGE. The second was an act of the 1st Minnesota at the battle of Gettysburg, in July. isi;:5. It appears that two companies had been detached as skirmishers, while the remaining eighl com- panies, consisting of 2(12 men, were sent to the center of the tine, just vacated by Sickles* advance to support battery C of the 4th Tinted States Artillery. The following is quoted from the history of the regiment: "No other troops were then near us. and we stood by this battery in full view of Sickles' troops in Peach Orchard, half a mile to the front. With the gravest appre- hension we saw Sickles' men give way before the heavier forces of Longstreet and Hill and come back slowly at first and rallying at short intervals, but- at length broken and in utter disorder, rushing down the slope, across the low ground and up the slope on our side and past our position to the rear, followed by a strong force. There was no organized force to oppose them except our handful of 2(>2 men. Most soldiers in the fatce of the near advance of such an overpowering force would have caught the panic and joined the retreating masses. But the 1st Minne- sota had never yet retired without orders, nor deserted any post, and desperate as the situation seemed, and as it was, they stood firm against whatever might come. "Just then General Hancock, with a single aid. rode up at full speed and for a moment vainly endeavored to rally Sickles' retreating force. Reserves had been sent for but were too far away to hope to reach the critical position until it would be occu- pied by the enemy, unless that enemy were stopped. Quickly leaving the fugitives, Hancock spurred to where we stood, call- ing out as he reached us. 'What regiment is this.'" '1st Minne- sota.' replied Colonel Colvill. 'Charge those lines,' commanded Hancock. Every man realized in an instant what that order meant — death or wounds to us all; the sacrifice of the regiment to gain a few minutes' time and save the position, and probably the battlefield, and every man accepted the sacrifice, responding to Colvill 's orders, rapidly given. The regiment, in perfect line, with arms at 'right shoulder shift,' was in a moment sweeping- down the slope directly upon the enemy's center. No hesitation, no stopping to fire, though the men fell fast at every stride, before the concentrated fire of the whole Confederate force di- rected upon us as soon as the movement was observed. Silently, without orders, and almost from the start, double-quick had changed to utmost speed, for in utmost speed lay the only hope that any of us would pass through that storm of lead and strike the enemy. 'Charge!' shouted Colvill. as we neared their first line; and with leveled bayonets at full speed, we rushed upon it;