Battle Along the Railroad

The devastating crossfire provided by the 60th Georgia to your right on the other side of the railroad tracks had nearly an entire Federal brigade pinned down in this field. The Georgians used the cuts and fills along the railroad as a parapet to fire into the Federal line. Brig. Gen. Nelson Taylor of the Excelsior Brigade came onto the field and noticed this predicament. He ordered his two reserve regiments, the 70th and 72nd New York Infantry, to wheel right and attack here along the knoll where they could fire down upon the 60th Georgia.

Across the railroad, the 5th New Jersey Infantry moved up along the tracks. They now gained a perfect line of fire down on the 60th Georgia and wasted little time in making their shots count. The outflanked Georgians could no longer hold their line and broke for the safety of their main line of defense along the Brentsville Road. The sight of fleeing Confederates brought Taylor's men to their feet in a charge, planting their colors on the railroad.

(Sidebar): [O]ur color bearer was ordered to raise our flag over the bank, which was done. The firing did not cease however until the flag had been shown two or three times, and their officers told them repeatedly that they were firing on their own men?our color bearer had a very narrow escape while he stood halfway up the bank with the flag raised. A ball struck the flag cutting it half off? — Corp. Alfred Bellard, 5th New Jersey Infantry

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