Evan M. Woodward

Advanced between the lines, demanded and received the surrender of the 19th Georgia Infantry (C.S.A.) and captured their battle flag.

As he later related it:

At Fredericksburg the Pennsylvania Reserves held the left of our line, and when we charged the rifle-pits, our brigade struck the left of Archer's and passed up the Heights. I saw that the pit was still held by the enemy, and, knowing the danger of leaving an armed foe in our rear, I succeeded in halting some twenty men, and, with them attacked the pit from high ground in the rear, hoping to hold the occupants in position until assistance came. In about twenty minutes the Seventh Reserves advanced, halted some three hundred yards in our front, and opened fire, their balls passing over the enemy into our men.

Instantly realizing that we should be wiped out if something were not done, I sheathed my sword, and. with my hat in hand, advanced between the lines to the rifle-pits, stopped the fire of my own men and that of the enemy, and demanded and received the surrender of the Nineteenth Georgia regiment. The rebel color-bearer attempted to escape up the heights with his flag, but I headed him off and captured it ...

By this time all but five men of my small party were killed or wounded, and, seeing the impossibility of holding the prisoners with this handful, I crossed the rifle-pits, and, with a Confederate on each side, advanced towards the Seventh, waving my hat and thereby stopping their destructive fire. Returning to the rifle-pits, I got the Johnnies out, and sent them with their arms and accoutrements over to the Seventh. They numbered over three hundred, and were the only prisoners taken in this battle.

With the remainder of my men I advanced up the Heights and joined the brigade, which was soon after crushed out and driven over the rifle-pits. During this fight thirteen bullets pierced my clothing and hat, but I felt that my own men could not kill me while I was saving their lives. It was this conviction which gave me courage to step between the firing lines and stop the deadly fusillade. 1