George H. Gordon, From Brook Farm to Cedar Mountain

[299] enemy turned upon them, was borne to the ears of the Tenth Maine as they lay there idle in the northern edge of the woods, their hearts beating with an excitement and an apprehension which one must feel to depict. One of the officers¹ of this regiment went forward through the woods and saw part of Geary's brigade of Ohio troops in the road advancing by flank. Before this officer were the wheat-field, the shocks, and the opposite belt, as described. The firing was then still farther to the front, but out of sight.

When the assault we have described had been checked, and our troops were being driven back in confusion, Major Perkins, of Banks's staff, ordered Colonel Beal, commanding the Tenth Maine, to advance through the woods,² telling him it was Banks's order. Accordingly this regiment moved out into the wheat-field, first passing down a slight hill, then over a ridge at right angles to the road, then down again. Colonel Beal knew only that his brigade was somewhere in front, that it was not in sight; and he was told that an Ohio regiment on the left of the road was also advancing. The prospect that confronted the regiment as it entered upon this murderous pathway was this: The distance from the woods to those opposite, in the edge of which the enemy's musketry was both heard and seen, was less than six hundred yards; the Ohio troops (Geary's brigade) were retreating slowly along the road, turning often to fire upon the increasing numbers of the enemy. Yet the Tenth Maine pressed on until it came to the ridge which has been described. Then were seen the remnants of Crawford's brigade coming back to their right, leaving a clear way for them to fire. The enemy now rapidly filled the woods in front and opened on the Maine regiment,