This brilliant affair, at the Battle of Williamsburg, is thus described by a corresponded of the New York World:
There burst from the woods on our right flank a battalion of rebel, cavalry! There, to the right and left of the horse, three regiments of infantry supporting it!
A terrible moment! Four thousand infantry marching in at the same period of the battle turned and routed our eighteen thousand and Bull Run. But a year has passed since then. Yankees have learned how and when to fight.
Gen. Hancock was equal to the crisis. Forming his infantry in a minute against this sudden attack, he held them in magnificent order, while the rebel foot and horse came on, cheering, firing, and charging in gallant and imposing style. Our artillery wheeled and poured hot volleys into them as they came, and over five thousand muskets riddled them through and through. But they kept on – nearer – nearer – closing up, and cheering, and sure of their power to sweep us before them.
Thus swifter than I can write it, until their line, now broken and irregular, was panting within two hundred yards of our own unwavering column. Then Hancock showed himself the coolest and bravest of the brave. Taking off his hat, and using the courtly prefix of olden time, he said “Ready, now! Gentlemen, CHARGE!” Our whole line swept forward, as the reaper’s sickle goes through the corn. Its keen edge had not yet touched the enemy when the latter broke simultaneously, fled in confusion to the rear of its stronghold, and the field of Williamsburg was won.
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 17, 1862, p. 2
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