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In this resolve he was supported by every officer and man of his brigade.
When
General Hill sent to ask if he could hold out, says
McGowan, ‘he replied modestly he thought he could, adding, as if casually, that his ammunition was about expended, but he still had the bayonet.’
And on the bayonet the brigade was now to rely, as the most desperate assault from fresh forces in its front was about to come.
The rush and noise of the advance were heard, the volleys of musketry swept over and through the thinned ranks of
Gregg, and in another moment the charging lines of the enemy were mounting the banks of the railroad cut and rushing upon him. Meeting this heaviest assault of the day, and fighting, first with their last cartridges, and then with the bayonet, the men of the brigade gave slowly back.
They were not driven far from their battle line, when
Gregg's call for help was answered by
General Hill.
Branch and
Field were sent in, and with portions of their brigades met and turned the tide of assault.
Gregg's men were rallied by their commanders, and the Virginians, North Carolinians and South Carolinians drove back the great assault across and beyond the railroad, and again
Gregg's line was formed.
But the brigade, after fighting for several hours, was worn out and its last round of ammunition expended.
The gallant and heroic Marshall fell in this last conflict, as well as his able lieutenant-colonel, D. A. Ledbetter. Colonels McGowan and Barnes, Lieutenant-Colonel Farrow, and Majors Brockman and McCorkle were wounded and borne from the field.
Captains and lieutenants and their brave men lay dead in every part of the field.
It was evident that another grand assault must be met. ‘Casting about for help,’ says General Hill, ‘fortunately it was here reported to me that the brigades of Generals Lawton and Early were near by, and sending to them, they promptly moved to my front at the most ’
