. The story of American heroism; thrilling narratives of personal adventures during the great Civil war, as told by the medal winners and roll of honor men . hour or moreafter the explosion when we receivedorders to get under arms as quietly aspossible, and proceed by the ravines andcovered way towards the mine. Just obefore reaching it, the regiment washalted and ordered to unsling knap-sacks, fix bayonets and leave everythingbehind except arms and ammunition. The16th knew what that meant, for it was nottheir first bayonet charge. We had been meetinga number of demoralized troops retreating,
. The story of American heroism; thrilling narratives of personal adventures during the great Civil war, as told by the medal winners and roll of honor men . hour or moreafter the explosion when we receivedorders to get under arms as quietly aspossible, and proceed by the ravines andcovered way towards the mine. Just obefore reaching it, the regiment washalted and ordered to unsling knap-sacks, fix bayonets and leave everythingbehind except arms and ammunition. The16th knew what that meant, for it was nottheir first bayonet charge. We had been meetinga number of demoralized troops retreating, orcrowded, from the mine, who gave the most discouraging reports that every-thing was lost; but I never saw the 16th more cheerful or determined, thanit was when it faced the crater. We had been in Mahones command from the beginning of the war, andin many battles had learned to expect victory and never question an had implicit confidence in our general and as we filed out into the littlevalley between Paines house and the crater. General Mahone met us as cheer-fully as if he were inviting us to breakfast, and placed the regiment in line with. Colonel R Whitehead. 470 THE STORY OF as much coolness and precision as if he were laying out a raihoad. As faras we could see, up and down our works, they were occupied by Union troops,and scores of Union flags waved proudly in defiance. It was a magnificentsight; the head of (leneral Grants army about to pour into Petersburg, andour worn and depleted lines were ordered to drive them back. But oh!What confusion in those magnificent ranks — apparently without a Mahone had told us that lioth generals, R. E. Lee and Beauregard,were in the fight, watching our movements from Paines house, only a fewrods away. The enemy seemed aliout to charge us as we formed; then, hesi-tated and retired to meet us in our works. That was where they lost thebattle. The Confederates all along the line rose without an order as far as Iha
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