As the North Carolinians moved down the slope, Union artillery took a heavy toll on the Confederate infantry. A shell burst killed Heth's horse, while another severely wounded both Kirkland and Cooke, taking them out of the fight. The surprised Carolinians also saw the full extent of the Union infantry line for the first time. Men of the 1st Minnesota acted as skirmishers on the north side of the railroad and began to scurry up over the railroad embankment to join their comrades. Cooke's Brigade halted and began to fire on the Union defenders behind the railroad embankment. Colonel Edward D. Hall, commanding the 46th North Carolina, learned he was now in command of the brigade as senior colonel. Hall moved to the center of the brigade and halted the firing of the North Carolinians as he walked. Hall met Lieutenant Colonel George F. Whitfield, now commanding the 27th North Carolina, who shouted that he would lose all his men if they remained where they were and must either move them back or make a charge. Hall replied, "I expect that we had better charge." Whitfield ran back to his regiment and led them forward down the hill at the double quick, with men falling at almost every step, and the rest of the brigade quickly joined the attack. The point from which they started the charge was distinctly marked by at least four and in some cases ten men from each company lying dead or wounded in that line.