SEVENTH REGIMENT INFANTRY. 273

brevetted Brigadier for this action, was again wounded later in the campaign, and
brevetted Major-General.

A Forlorn Hope.

Upon the fall of these two ranking officers, the command of the division, or what
there was of it in sight (the two left brigades having been repulsed or mingled with the
Maryland brigade), was promptly assumed by the Colonel of the Seventh Maryland. The
situation, at that moment, was very plainly that of a forlorn hope, calling for nothing
but quick and reckless work. What remained of the movement was no longer a column,
but a bunched and ragged line. At points where the enemy's fire was most concentrated,
the drone of bullets blended into a throbbing wail, like that of a sonorous telegraph wire
pulsing in a strong wind, punctuated by the pert zip of the closer shots. The din and
racket were such that but few could have heard the commands: "Hold your fire ! Dou-
ble quick !" What was plainly seen in front, was the sudden appearance of the new
commander, pointing with sabre to the breastworks, and trotting up towards them, until
horse and rider came down. , Following closely, was Captain Anderson, of the Seventh,
and when he fell, or possibly before he fell, all was over.

The unordered retreat left these two officers lying within ten paces of the works,
Anderson having stopped three bullets while taking a step forward, just after an unsuc-
cessful attempt to extricate Phelps from the weight of his dying horse. Anderson was
well in the lead of everything when he fell, and for his conspicuous gallantry on this
occasion, and in the Wilderness, was subsequently brevetted up to lieutenant-colonel.
He commanded one of the Washington County companies (Co. I).

Capture and Rescue.

After two hopeless attempts at escape, in one of which he was severely wounded
and in the other waylaid and robbed by stragglers, Phelps was taken back to a Con-
federate field hospital, where he had not only proper but exceptional treatment, and
the next day was recaptured, together with over three hundred Union prisoners,
by Sheridan's cavalry at Beaver Dam Station. He was present at the battle of
Yellow Tavern where General Stuart was mortally wounded, and at the battles of Meadow
Bridge and Mechanicsville, where the enemy, commanded by Bragg and under the eye
of the Southern President, Jeff. Davis, made a desperate fight for the defense of Rich-
mond. Returning to Baltimore by the James River route, he was honorably discharged
in September, 1864, upon resignation and surgeon's certificate of disability, brevetted
Brigadier-General, and elected to Congress. Among the prisoners recaptured as above
were Lieutenant Lightner of Company F (Carroll County) and Sergeant Walton of Com-
pany K (Baltimore City).

I/osses.

The loss of the Maryland brigade in this action was one hundred and ninety-two
killed, wounded and missing. Its present effective was about one thousand and fifty;
but of this number, the Fourth Maryland, as before stated, made the charge with another
brigade, and company D of the Seventh was detached in support of a battery. The
actual charge was made by about seven hundred men.

The loss of the Seventh was ten killed, two officers and thirty-seven men wounded,
and six prisoners. Among the killed was the brave color sergeant, George Stockham,