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About 8 o'clock on the morning of the 3d I made my way to the right of the
battalion to see how it was faring. Company A had suffered dreadfully, and I
found Captain Murray much distressed over the slaughter of his men. The
Third North Carolina, being still more exposed than Company A, was almost
annihilated, and Colonel Parsely informed me he had but nineteen men left, and,
as he spoke, one of them fell dead in Captain Murray's lap. "And now," said the
gallant Parsley, " I have but eighteen."

To add to our difficulties, the men were almost out of ammunition, but a
noble spirit promptly responded to their call, and Lieutenant R. H. McKim, aide
to General Steuart, started off through the dreadful fire, and safely returned with
the much-needed supply.

At the request of Captain Murray, I took the responsibility of allowing him
to withdraw his men a short distance, and shelter them behind some rocks, for
a few minutes' rest. He had not been gone over ten minutes when the gallant
Captain George Williamson, acting Adjutant-General of the brigade, came up
and ordered me to move my battalion by the left flank, file to the right, and unite
with the right of the Virginians, formed in a strip of wood. I saw in an instant
the object of the movement, and told Captain Williamson " it was nothing less
than murder to send men into that slaughter-pen." Captain Williamson agreed
with me, and, moreover, said that General Steuart strongly disapproved of it,
but that the order from General Edward Johnson was imperative.

Sending for Captain Murray, I imparted the order to him, and directed
him to take his place in line. Having great confidence in Captain Murray, and
knowing the veteran material of which his company was largely composed, and
he being the Senior Captain, I assigned him to the command of the right of the
battalion, believing I could better control the comparatively raw companies on
the left in our desperate undertaking; but, as subsequent events proved, the new
men fought as gallantly as the veterans.

Filing to the left, and then to the right, all the companies of the battalion but
two crossed a stone fence running parallel with the log breastworks, and about
one hundred yards distant. The companies on the left of the stone fence formed
on the edge of the woods, but on emerging from its cover had a field to cross
without any shelter whatever, whilst the two companies on the right of the
stone fence were sheltered by the woods throughout the whole charge. On our
left were the three Virginia regiments and the First North Carolina.

The line being formed, I passed along the front of the battalion and observed
the expression on many faces to see if the men realized the gravity of the situation.
If they did they betrayed no weakness, but to the contrary seemed eager to be led
forward. It was a dreadful moment, the moment before the order was to be
given that would usher so many souls into eternity.