ides had suffered
heavily. As the sun was going down behind the mountains that
autumnal evening it became apparent something decisive must take
place or night would end the day of blood leaving the enemy in
possession of the principal part of the battle-field.

So confident was Early of final victory that, earlier, in the day,
he ordered up his headquarters and supply trains, and by 4 P.M.
they commenced to arrive on the field.

It must be remembered that the two armies had been manoeuvring and
fighting for twelve hours, with little food or rest and an insufficient
supply of water. Exhausted troops may be held in line, especially
when under some cover, but it is difficult to move then in a charge
with the spirit essential to success. There remained a considerable
interval between Wheaton's left and my right. An illustrative
incident again occurred here in resupplying our men with ammunition.
Three mules loaded with boxes filled with cartridges were conducted
by an ordnance sergeant through the interval on my right in open
view of both armies, and with indifferent leisure to and behind
the stone wall occupied by the Confederates. The sergeant and his
party were not fired on. Word was passed along the line for my
division to make a charge on a given signal, and all subordinate
officers were instructed to use the utmost exertion to make it a
success. The incident of the sergeant and his party going into
the enemy's line served to suggest to me the possibility of
penetrating it with a small body of our soldiers.

Before giving an order to charge, I instructed Colonel Emerson,
commanding the First Brigade, to hastily form, under a competent
staff officer, a small body of men, and direct them to advance
rapidly along the west of a stone wall extending traversely from
my right to the enemy's position, and to penetrate through a gap
between two of the enemy's brigades, with instructions to open an
enfilading fire on him as soon as his flank was reached. The gap
was between two of Gordon's brigades. The order was promptly and
handsomely executed, and its execution produced the desired effect.
Captain H. W. Day (151st New York, Acting Brigade Inspector) was
charged with the execution of this order.(18)

The party consisted of about 125 men, each of whom knew that if
unsuccessful death or capture must follow. Colonel Moses H. Granger
(122d Ohio) voluntarily aided, and, in some sense, directed the
movement of this s