willard's men stopped the advance of brig. gen. william barksdale, who had captured the union position at the peach orchard and then pressed forward toward cemetery ridge. willard ordered the two regiments on his right forward, pushing the confederates back. some of willard's men are reported to have yelled, as they charged, "remember harpers ferry!". the new yorkers recovered abandoned union guns, but came under heavy fire from confederate artillery after crossing plum run. willard had just ordered his men back to their start line when he was hit in the face by an artillery round. he died on the spot, leaving command of the brigade to col. eliakim sherrill. the brigade report, filed by lt. col. james m. bull of the 126th new york, gives a detailed account of this counterattack.