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reform brigades outside of the crater under the severe fire of front and rear as it would be to marshal bees into line after upsetting the hive, or to hold dress parade in front of a charging enemy,” wrote a Federal officer.
Griffin's brigade of Potter's division was advanced, but, meeting a severe fire, fell back in the crater.
Every organization melted away, as soon as it entered this hole in the ground, into a mass of human beings clinging to the almost perpendicular sides.
The other brigade of Potter's division now advanced, but got no farther than the abandoned traverses and intrenchments; and then Wilcox, with the third and last division of Burnside's white troops, started forward.
The crater was filled with men at this time, the thermometer above ninety degrees, and the sun beating down in the great hole caused much suffering.
No more troops could get in. Wilcox was left out, and with a part of his command attempted to carry some of the works on the Confederate right of the crater, but only held them a short time.
Orders were being constantly sent to push forward and occupy Cemetery Hill, but were not relished and not obeyed.
It was now two hours after the explosion of the mine; Burnside determined to let loose the real dogs of war, and ordered General Edward Ferrero with his black division to advance, pass the white troops, and carry the crest of Cemetery Hill at all hazards.
Ferrero did not think it advisable to move his troops in, as there were already three divisions of white troops in his front “huddled together” ; but Burnside said the order was peremptory.
The colored division moved out to death or glory; its commander did not, but sought the “bomb-proof” where Ledlie was. These troops, moving by the flank, passed around the crater and attempted to advance, but a deadly fire enveloped them and they broke in disorder, some falling back to the crater, while a majority ran back to the Union defenses.
General Ord's Eighteenth Corps was now ordered to go forward.
He had difficulty in getting through the Ninth Corps intrenchments; the parapets and abatis were not prepared for an exit, and the covered ways were crowded with the soldiers
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