Our line of battle was ... on the Taneytown Road, and commanding a view of about one-third of the field of action. On each side of this road opposite the cemetery was a stone wall, and our position was taken in the road and against the outer wall.

The monuments and headstones were laid down and the crest of (Cemetery) hill was soon covered with our batteries. The skirmish line (400 yards in front of the line of battle) was a strong one and a lively exchange of shots took place whenever a relief went out.

On the third day, at 1:00 p.m., a single gun boomed forth a signal. For two savage hours the air above and about us was filled with hissing, shrieking, howling messengers of death; a roaring, raging, withering hell of missiles, a pandemonium of unearthly sounds.

It was during this time that the colors of the 136th received their �baptism of fire�. They were not displayed as a target, but carefully rolled and encased, stood leaning against the wall. A shell struck the wall near them and exploded, killing two men, wounding three others, and striking the flag, which, when unfurled, showed the staff nearly one-half cut asunder and a line of 13 holes somewhat larger than the stars in its field.

The sun no longer glares fiercely down with a blistering heat, but gleams redly through the smoky air. The guns of the enemy still thunder from the crest of Seminary Ridge, but the missiles no longer pass over us. They are directed at a point some 400 yards to our left. We rise somewhat cautiously to our feet and look out across the valley. We see the gleam of gun barrels as the indistinct gray lines emerge from the opposite woods, their line of march directed on the brigade next to our own on the left. 1

Again our guns open fire on the advancing columns, while the enemy continues to serve us with shell over the heads of their moving lines. Occasionally a well directed shot makes a gap in the approaching ranks. They lose the touch of elbows but press gallantly forward. The advance reaches a stout board fence. They are now within musket range. They climb the fence; many fall, some forward, some backward. The wounded in great numbers are seen passing to the rear. The alignment is lost; the different lines are merged into a seething, struggling mass, that surges onward like waves of an angry ocean.

Then the roar of cannon gives place to the rattle and crash of musketry, and the enemy, still pressing forward, is lost to our view behind a grove of trees. 2 Wave after wave ... rolled on, only to be dashed, broken and scattered against that wall of patriotism.

Just as the enemy was passing from our view behind the grove, a regiment that had, unobserved by us, taken position a little to our left and some 200 yards in front, arose from the ground, where it had been lying, changed direction by a left wheel,and delivered a volley on the enemy�s flank. 3 This regiment had a new stand of colors, and the silken stripes bore in golden letters the story of honorable service.

Again that gallant little regiment gave volley after volley on the broken, retreating ranks of the enemy. But all was obscured in smoke. Then, through a rift in the clouds of battle, was seen that solitary flag waving in victory. _________________________________________________________________

1 [Pickett�s Charge];

2 [Ziegler�s Grove];

3 [This appears to be the 8th Ohio Infantry; and, at a little earlier point, possibly elements of the 136th New York skirmish lines, according to �Into the Fight; Pickett�s Charge at Gettysburg� by John Priest 1998].

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