18th Georgia Infantry

Once again, as at Coal Harbor, we heard the command "Trail arms!" & knew what that meant. It was to be an advance without perceptible halt on our part. Do or die, victory or death! At "Forward, quick-time, march!", we stepped off again in perfect unison, a thousand Confederates, bone tired & starving but with a burning fury for the hated Yankees. The fugitives to our front had just passed through or around our advancing lines, & now we saw the black-hatted Yanks coming on in style. Ruff, his fighting blood up, called out "Looky there boys, at them black hats! Let's go knock them off!" Wild laughter & the piercing "Rebel-Yell," is heard again & at the command "Fire!" a rolling volley blasted forth, delivered from the hip—as at Coal Harbor—instantly killing scores of the enemy & halting his advance. In an instant came the command "Fix bayonets!" & this was, again done without halting. All knew what would come next. "Double-time, March" came the command & a yell, more like a tortured scream bellowed forth from every throat. Off we went at charge bayonet & at the double-quick. The ranks of the Yanks, men of the most-vaunted Wisconsin Black Hat Brigade, shuddered & broke, turning at once & flying through the corn.

Capt. James L. Lemon
Feed Them the Cold Steel! Being the Wartime Recollection of Capt James Lile Lemon, Co A, 18th Georgia Infantry, CSA edited by Mark Lemon