as hancock rode north to find additional reinforcements, he saw wilcox's brigade nearing the base of the ridge, aiming at a gap in the union line. the timing was critical, and hancock chose the only troops at hand, the men of the 1st minnesota, harrow's brigade, of the 2nd division of the ii corps. they were originally placed there to guard thomas's u.s. battery. he pointed to a confederate flag over the advancing line and shouted to col. william colvill, "advance, colonel, and take those colors!" the 262 minnesotans charged the alabama brigade with bayonets fixed, and they blunted their advance at plum run but at horrible cost—215 casualties (82%), including 40 deaths or mortal wounds, one of the largest regimental single-action losses of the war. despite overwhelming confederate numbers, the small 1st minnesota, with the support of willard's brigade on their left, checked wilcox's advance and the alabamians were forced to withdraw.