That Order Meant Death

As Confederates breached a gap in the Union line, Union General Winfield Hancock ordered the veteran soldiers of the 1st Minnesota to charge and buy time for reinforcements to arrive. Outnumbered six to one, the regiment advanced after fixing bayonets, knowing the attack would likely bring death or wounds to nearly all of them. Starting the war with over 1,000 men, only 262 remained on July 2, and in the furious assault man after man fell. The charge by the 1st Minnesota, together with attacking Union units on either side, forced the Confederates to retreat, but the regiment lost 215 killed, wounded, or captured.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania · United States