Page:History of the Forty-eighth Regiment, M.V.M. during the Civil War (IA historyoffortyei00plumm).pdf/79

 Noonan, James Walsley, Thomas Scully, Peter McCauley, Patrick Manus, William A. Murphy, Patrick Murray, James O'Connell, Wm. Powers, James Quigley, Patrick Riley, James Spear, Edward Slyne, William Tagget, Hugh Willey; Co. I, Capt. Smith, Lieut. Ricker, Lieut. Bassett; Co. K, Lieut. Harding, Privates Daniel Crowley, Ed. Ryan, J. Gallagher, James Rand, J. Keenan.

May 27. Before the men had had their breakfast orders were received to assault the enemy's works. Immediately we advanced quietly to the extreme edge of the woods where we laid on our arms till about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, the "Forlorn Hope" under command of Lieut.-Col. O'Brien in the advance. At that hour and before the main line had fairly formed for the assault we received a volley from the enemy's guns and at the same time the zip of the rebel bullets was getting unpleasantly frequent. General Augur, who stood very near, seeing the men dodge their heads at the disagreeable sound said, "No use boys to dodge them after you hear them," a fact we soon learned by experience. The "Forlorn Hope" had commenced the charge, O'Brien saying, "Come boys! pick up your bundles and follow me," and General Augur gave the command, "Forward the Brigade," and the whole brigade advanced into the "slashings." The whole forest of large trees and small had been felled and the limbs lopped off and left upon the ground, which was entirely covered with the stumps, logs and brush; and through this almost impenetrable Cheveux de Frise, the men attempted to charge, and over which a perfect storm of shell, cannister and rifle bullets flew like hail; no formation could be maintained