Deadly Day for Excelsior Brigade

Before the fighting along the railroad, Brigadier General Nelson Taylor’s New York brigade, known as the Excelsior Brigade, entered the field here with little knowledge of the situation. Seeing the unequal fight before him, Taylor acted at once, sending three regiments at the run to Carr’s left to steady the Federal line and prevent a Confederate flanking movement, while placing two reserve regiments on the right to confront the 60th Georgia along the railroad. The New Yorkers came under blistering fire from Louisiana regiments and answered with equal ferocity. The 71st New York Infantry, called the Jackson Light Infantry and made up of men from New York City, Newark, and a company from Philadelphia, suffered heavily, losing more than 100 of the 250 men engaged, including Lieutenant Colonel Henry Potter. The 73rd New York Infantry, made up almost entirely of volunteer firemen from New York City, lost 53 of the 107 men it took into the fight. On Taylor’s left, the 74th New York Infantry, also primarily from New York City, lost 8 officers and more than 60 men in this field.

Linton Hall, Virginia · United States