Henry Wilson Storey's History of Cambria County, V.II, p.336

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History of Cambria County, V.2

336 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

his brigade in that direction and aid Col. Vincent's brigade in holding that important position. In obedience to this order the brigade filed out, first the 12th Pennsylvania Reserves, next the 5th, and then the 10th, which unmasked the right of my regiment.
    While these movements were going on the battle in our front became terrific and very soon we could see that our troops were being driven back. At this moment, and just as I was about to move to the left with my regiment, Major Speer of the division staff rode up and said; “Col. Jackson, Gen. Crawford directs that you remain in position and hold this hill at all hazards.” In obedience to this order I faced my regiment to the front and moved forward to the position just vacated by the Twelfth regiment, and ordered the men to lie down and withhold their fire until I would give the command.
    This very trying order was most heroically obeyed as we were wholly exposed to the galling fire of the enemy from the direction of the Devil's Den, and quite a number of my officers and men were here killed and wounded.
    Our position gave us a complete view of much of the day's battle-field, including the wheat-field and part of the peach orchard beyond, together with the woods on the right and left of the wheat-field and the greater part of Devil's Den, that stronghold so tenaciously held by the foe.
    A discouraging, yet a sublime, view it was about 6 o'clock, that hot July afternoon.
    The enemy forcing back foot by foot the struggling heroes of the 3d Corps (Gen. Sickles) and the 1st Division of the 5th Corps (Gen. Barnes), down through the wheat-fields and the woods on the right and left of the wheat-field, while the artillery to our right and left were playing upon them with shot and shell. Still on they came, a seeming irresistible mass of living gray.
    All this time my regiment remained quiet and motionless save in carrying back our killed and wounded. The men hugged the ground closely, which, by the help of a scrubby growth of pine which stood along the western slope of the hill (Little Round Top), screened them from the enemy's view. The smoke by this time had literally filled the valley in our front, and it was almost impossible to even see the troops.
    It was a trying moment. We could with difficulty see a column commencing to ascend the slope, but could not tell whether it was our troops retreating, or the enemy advancing. Finally two men came up the hill and as they approached me, I inquired if the front was clear of our men. They replied: “Yes; those fellows (pointing to the line moving up the hill a few rods in our front) are Johnnies.” I immediately gave the command to fire, which was obeyed with alacrity, and we poured a terrible volley into the very faces of the enemy. This evidently

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336	HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
his brigade in that direction and aid Col. Vincent's brigade in holding that important position. In obedience to this order the brigade filed out, first the 12th Pennsylvania Reserves, next the 5th, and then the 10th, which unmasked the right of my regiment. While these movements were going on the battle in our front became terrific and very soon we could see that our troops were being driven back. At this moment, and just as I was about to move to the left with my regiment, Major Speer of the division staff rode up and said; “Col. Jackson, Gen. Crawford directs that you remain in position and hold this hill at all hazards.” In obedience to this order I faced my regiment to the front and moved forward to the position just vacated by the Twelfth regiment, and ordered the men to lie down and withhold their fire until I would give the command. This very trying order was most heroically obeyed as we were wholly exposed to the galling fire of the enemy from the direction of the Devil's Den, and quite a number of my officers and men were here killed and wounded. Our position gave us a complete view of much of the day's battle-field, including the wheat-field and part of the peach orchard beyond, together with the woods on the right and left of the wheat-field and the greater part of Devil's Den, that stronghold so tenaciously held by the foe. A discouraging, yet a sublime, view it was about 6 o'clock, that hot July afternoon. The enemy forcing back foot by foot the struggling heroes of the 3d Corps (Gen. Sickles) and the 1st Division of the 5th Corps (Gen. Barnes), down through the wheat-fields and the woods on the right and left of the wheat-field, while the artillery to our right and left were playing upon them with shot and shell. Still on they came, a seeming irresistible mass of living gray. All this time my regiment remained quiet and motionless save in carrying back our killed and wounded. The men hugged the ground closely, which, by the help of a scrubby growth of pine which stood along the western slope of the hill (Little Round Top), screened them from the enemy's view. The smoke by this time had literally filled the valley in our front, and it was almost impossible to even see the troops. It was a trying moment. We could with difficulty see a column commencing to ascend the slope, but could not tell whether it was our troops retreating, or the enemy advancing. Finally two men came up the hill and as they approached me, I inquired if the front was clear of our men. They replied: “Yes; those fellows (pointing to the line moving up the hill a few rods in our front) are Johnnies.” I immediately gave the command to fire, which was obeyed with alacrity, and we poured a terrible volley into the very faces of the enemy. This evidently