An order came to Col. Brown to advance his men. They started forward in double-column on the center and—to use the colonel's expression—with "alacrity."
"Battalion, halt!" somebody yelled.
The batterymen were shouting and Co. G were wondering why they were being taken through a battery while it was firing.
"About, face!"
And they returned and moved to the left of the battery and then forward down the slope, the boys of Battery I firing over their heads.
Proceeding forward two hundred yards, the regiment deployed in line of battle. A line of rebel skirmishers were coming over the rise in their front. The rebs to the number of fifty or so, threw down their guns and came forward and surrendered. Several men were detailed to take the prisoners to the rear.
Off on the right, skirmishers were very busy. Shells were flying toward them from two rebel batteries.
"Battalion, double-column on the center—March! Right wheel!"
Then it was, under lively shelling, those much-abused fellows quarter-wheeled to the right, as steadily as if on their quiet parade ground.
Again they went forward and over a rail fence, into a field of wheat standing ready for the reaper. Then came the order to deploy column.