Friday, June 27th (1862), battle of Cold Harbor. Our regiment on reserve marched and countermarched all day; about half-past 5 moved forward, got under enemy's fire before six. Shells flew thick and fast—got where the minie-balls occasionally would reach. Colonel Johnson got blood up, said, “ Men, I have offered to lead forward the line that never yet broke—never can be broken. Forward, quick march, guide center!” The old regiment marched proudly forward. “Halt, order arms!” and the lines were dressed, and guns ordered like
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that you wait until he can bring up the Stonewall brigade to your support!’
In a minute the Stonewall brigade was found on the right, and General Winder directed Colonel Johnson to take direction of the line and charge.
As they rose the crest, the batteries became visible near the McGee house, the orchard and sunken road between us and the McGee house being filled with Yankees, who were covered by the road and a breastwork of knapsacks.
Just then a disorderly crowd, composed of parts of some regiments broken in this desperate charge, recoiled past the Stonewall brigade and Marylanders.
‘Steady, men!
Steady!’
were the words with which the line was held firm.
Then while the canister screamed above them, they were reformed and put through the manual of arms by Colonel Johnson as deliberately as if on dress parade.
His object was to distract the attention of the men from the terrible fire and death around them, and make them look alone toward their commanding officer.
The charge was now made with the old-time cheer.
Over everything they went, pell-mell into the road, over the fence, through the orchard, by the house.
But the batteries were gone.
They found two guns in the road that night.
No further stand was made by the enemy, and the battle of Cold Harbor was won. It is proper—to put on record a contemporaneous account of the manual of arms, written that night by Orderly-Sergeant Robert Cushing, of the First Maryland regiment.
He was killed at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863.
Atlanta, Ga. 1899.
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