Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Harvard Memorial Biographies

[97] object of forming a new line not outflanked by the Rebels, who had occasioned the first order by breaking in and putting to flight the gunners some few rods on our right. . . . I knew that one's voice could not be heard, but that an example could be seen. So I immediately rushed at the head of my company to the critical spot, and got there just in time, for there was hardly a soul there, and several Rebels were already over the fence, and their masses were thick close behind it. Two thirds of my company were killed or wounded here. But reinforcements shortly arrived. Our regiment soon reformed line under Macy; but he was shot just as they marched, in perfect order, up to the critical spot. Their gallantry here is attested by the number killed,—one third as many as the wounded. Most of our dead were found at this spot close to the Rebel lines.

The close of this action found Abbott in command of his regiment, with two officers only to assist him. Colonel Revere had received his death-wound the day before, Lieutenant-Colonel Macy had lost a hand; and of the ten officers and two hundred and eighteen men who went into action, but three officers and one hundred and sixteen men remained unhurt.

When the Army of the Potomac fell back to the neighborhood of Warrenton, in October, 1863, the Second Corps formed the rear-guard, and did much marching and some fighting. Abbott (then major) was at that time in command of the Twentieth. As the Second Division, to which the Twentieth had been attached from the beginning of its history, approached Bristoe Station, on the 14th of October, the enemy, in line of battle, were seen sweeping down upon the flank of the marching column. They were advancing in three lines, as at Gettysburg, and extremely near, and the movement was so sudden and unexpected, that the position was critical in the extreme. But the troops preserved their presence of mind, and promptly threw themselves behind the railroad embankment, parallel to which they had been marching. The advance of the enemy was magnificent, but their repulse was terrible. Major Abbott waited till they were within a few paces, and then delivered a fire that crushed the line in his front. The regiments on his right