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History of Cambria County, V.2

312 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
the stone fence. In this assault was the 27th Connecticut Regiment of Zook's brigade, and Haucock's division. George T. Swank, another citizen of Johnstown, had enlisted in this regiment while he was engaged as a printer on Horace Greeley's New York Tribune.
    While the Cambria troops were passing the brick house on the side, the 27th Connecticut was advancing on the other. The continuous fire of musketry and artillery on the heights was furious, the stone wall was a sheet of flame, yet the Union boys reached a point somewhere between 20 to 200 yards of the fence before they were forced to lie on the ground for protection. The enemy being protected, did not suffer so great a loss and kept up the deadly fire.
    Thus the situation passed until dusk, when Gen. Butterfield, the corps commander, was directed by the imperative order of Hooker and Burnside to make another attack, as Marye's Heights must be taken before nightfall. The brave Humphreys, dismounted, again led his division against the stone wall and the artillery. Our men did not fire a shot, but with a hurrah and with fixed bayonets they made a charge to capture the hill. A staff officer gave him a horse, and again Humphreys went ahead, cheering his men to capture the works or die in the effort. Many did forfeit their lives and many more were wounded. The fire grew more destructive and the second assult on Marye's Heights closed in defeat as darkness came over the field.
    It was on this dreadful field of death that Adjutant James C. Noon, of Ebensburg, was killed while receiving and order at the side of his leader, as will hereinafter appear. It was in this charge that Capt. John M. Jones and First Lieut. William A. Scott lost their lives. Brave and good men were they.
    Thus at nightfall Lee was the victor on the gory field of Fredericksburg. Burnside insisted that Franklin had not carried out his instructions in not sending a larger division to lead, and in not giving Meade proper support. No good reason has ever been given why it was not done. Mr. Lincoln visited the army while it was in camp, and in leaving the general officers to return to Washington, he said; "Gentlemen, in your next battle put in all your men."
    On the 14th and 15th Burnside's army recrossed the river and went into camp in its old quarters at Falmouth. It has


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Created: 24 Mar 2003, Last Updated:
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Lynne Canterbury, Diann Olsen and contributors