Slaughter Pen Farm
Second Assault
With the failur of Gen. Nelson Taylor's advance, Gen. John Gibbon sent in Col. Peter Lyle's Brigade. Taylor shifted some of his remaining regiments to the right and joined in Lyle's assault. Together, Taylor and Lyle formed a six-regiment front and attacked toward the railroad. When the Federals reached the small rise in front of you, Gen. James H. Lane's North Carolinians again opened up a murderous fire, and the Union attack stopped to return fire. Soon Union troops were running out of ammunition. To support his floundering front, Gibbon called up his last reserve - Col. Adrian Root's brigade.
"We went midst the bursting of shells and whistling of bullets; we could feel the wind caused by them, but the boys went on, loading and firing as they went."
- Pvt. S. Dean Canan, 136th Pennsylvania Infantry, USA
"I have Not time to Give you the particulars of the fight as I wish but will Say that it was the hardest fight that I have ever been in."
- Pvt. William G. Morris, 37th North Carolina Infantry, CSA
(Sidebar):
Advance the Colors
Three of the five Medals of Honor awarded on this field were given to men in Col. Peter Lyle's brigade, who risked life and limb to keep the flags raised and the chances for successful charge alive. It took two hands to carry a flag, so the bearer could not defend himself at the same time. To sling one's rifle, carry the flag, and make oneself a target while guiding the unit was an act of courage all soldiers admired.
SERGEANT PHILIP PETTY, 136th Pennsylvania Infantry, "seized the flag as it fell from the hands of the color bearer in the hottest of the engagement." He then, "planted the flag staff in the ground on the front line and continued firing until" he retired under orders with his flag.
PRIVATE MARTIN SCHUBERT, 26th New York Infantry, ignored a medical furlough and fought in the battle saying, "I though the Government needed me on the battlefield rather than at home." With several color bearers down, he picked up the flag and carried it ahead of the regiment until a bullet entered his side, a bullet that stayed there for years after the Civil War.
PRIVATE JOSEPH KEENE saw the flag of the 26th New York Infantry laying on the ground. Like Martin Schubert, he hoisted the flag and advanced with the regiment. He bore the colors throughout the fight and got them safely off the field.
Marker can be reached from Tidewater Trail (U.S. 17), on the right when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
