Despite the disaster that had befallen the 35th Massachusetts, General Ledlie became more determined to secure Ox Ford and, against the orders of his division commander, ordered his unsupported brigade to assault the Confederate trenches. Mahone’s Confederates let the Federals advance well into the field and then, when Ledlie’s soldiers were within two hundred yards, opened deadly artillery and rifle fire on them. As rain from a heavy thunderstorm burst into their faces, Ledlie’s men took shelter from the Confederate fire in the ravine just before you. Captain John Anderson of the 57th Massachusetts Infantry recalled that after proceeding a short distance all semblance of a line was lost in a wild, tumultuous rush, with the more reckless far to the front and the cautious scattered back but still coming on, while many Confederate soldiers stood upon their breastworks and taunted them, “Come on Yank, come on to Richmond.” 2d Lieutenant Gerhard Luhn of the 4th United States Infantry wrote that he had been under the worst fire he had experienced during the war, losing 8 out of his company of 38, with men dropping all around him.