300 seconds

Every July 2, I like to read this essay by Robert Bateman in Esquire about the 1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment at Gettysburg: 

...General Hancock sees a single American regiment available. But, though it is a "regiment," this is in name only at this point. A "regiment," at the beginning of the war, would be roughly 1,000 men. Before Hancock stand 262 men in American blue. Coming towards them, little more than 250 yards away now, are two entire brigades of rebels. Most directly, half of that force -- probably about some 1,500 men from a rebel brigade -- were coming dead at them. Perhaps a thousand more, at least two entire additional regiments, were on-line with that main attack, though probably unseen by Hancock. But what does that matter? The odds were, already, beyond comprehension.

"My God! All these all the men we have here...What regiment is this?" Hancock yelled.

"First Minnesota," responded the colonel, a fellow named Colvill.

The two men remember what was said next slightly differently. Colvill recalls Hancock then said, "Charge those lines." Hancock remembered his order as, "Colonel, do you see those colors? (Pointing towards the multiple flags of the southern regiments in the two Confederate brigades.) Then take them!" I do not suppose it matters now which one remembered more accurately. The effect was the same...

Read the whole thing. I hope you enjoy, and appreciate their sacrifice.