After the collapse of the Union lines at the Peach Orchard Gen. Hancock saw that Confederate troops were about to pour through a gap in his lines. Hancock road out to assess the situation and found only the 1st Minnesota Regiment in this part of the battlefield.

Hancock ordered the Minnesotans to charge the approaching Confederate troops. They responded immediately with fixed bayonets and advanced at the double quick into an enemy force that outnumbered them 4-1. The charge of the 1st Minnesota stalled the Confederate advance but at a great cost. Of the 262 Minnesotans who made the charge only 47 escaped death or injury.