"I Expect We Had Better Charge"

"I Expect We Had Better Charge". Bristoe Station 1863. , As the North Carolinians moved down the slope behind you, Union artillery took a heavy toll on the Confederate infantry. A shell-burst killed Heth's horse, while another severely wounded both Kirkland and Cooke, taking them out of the fight. The surprised Carolinians also saw the extent of the Union infantry line for the first time. Men of the 1st Minnesota acted as skirmishers on the north side of the railroad and began to scurry up over the railroad embankment to join their comrades., Cooke's Brigade halted here and began to fire on the Union defenders ahead of you behind the railroad embankment. Col. Edward D. Hall, a former politician and sheriff commanding the 46th North CArolina, learned he was now in command of the brigade as senior colonel. Hall moved to the center of the brigade and halted the firing of the North Carolinians as he walked., Hall met Lt. Col. George F. Whitfield, now commanding the 27th North Carolina near where you are standing. Whitfield shouted that "he would lose all his men if they remained where they were, and he must either move them back or make a charge." Hall simply replied, "I expect that we had better charge.", Whitfield ran back to his regiment and led them forward down the hill at the double quick, "men falling at almost every step." The rest of the brigade quickly joined the attack as well.,

"The point from which we started the charge was distinctly marked; at least four and in some cases ten men from each company lying dead or wounded in that line." , , A History of the Guilford Greys