, 1879-06-12


Eleventh Corps and was driving
them in the widest confusion along
towards the centre Of our line. In
their flight they passed through a
woods, just beyond which in clear
ing, lay four of Sickles' batteries,
and flying artillery battery, and the
Eighth Pennsylvania cavalry of
Gen Plessonton. The batteries were
not in position, but were parked
waiting orders. Through their lines
dashed the panic stricken fugitivss,
hotly pursued by .jackson's immense
corps Of over twenty thousand men.
The field became a sight for IL paint
er. Infantry, artillery, ambalanees,
pack mules negroes and stragglers,
the morse scared men I ever looked
upon, came tearing like mad past us.
The batteries had no common COM
rnander, but each captain excitedly
acted for himself. "Battery-left
wheel. Fire to the rear. In Bat
terry - Caissons pass your pieces,
,rot - march ~ and a frightened
bugIer, caught only the word "trot,"
and sounded it and no more. 1t
rang out clear above the worse than
Babel many took it for general
stampede signal, and across the field
aud down the hill, and across stone
wall near its foot, in that famous ra.
vine dashed several caissons and a
few guns. Fix prolonge TO fire
retiring" "With canistsr-load."
On came the fugitives, nearer and
nearer through the sounding woods
came thal Confederate yell, and the
rush OF Stonewall JacksoL's victori
aus legions. Sickles was almost
mile away, pushing through the
woods with his splendid corps. Not
Federal muskst was in sight ex-
cept what the Eleventh corps men
were bearing to the rear as rapidly
as legs could carry them. We must
make our fight against tremendous
odds alone-ive batteries Of us and
three hundred cavalrymen-not over
six hundred men, all told. On swept
twenty thousand Confederatss, and
we were not yet ready to 6gh.. Our
line was confusion worse confound-
cd guns stood pointing whitherso
ever the excited cannonser listed,
and at the first fire one half of us
would blow the other half
into eternity, and StoAewall
would have Hooker's headquarters,
and double up our whole army-a
cheering prospect that (! The sun
had set behind the woods, and
through them yet faster, in the thick.
eniag gloom, rushed Jackson's
troops. Suddenly out in front of
our guns rode Gen. Plsasohton.
Above the din rang his shrill voice !:
"AIign those pieces !" 1t was II
work of many minutes, and Stone,
wall was now just upon us. Time !!
Oh for ten minutes time How to
get it! There sat Major keenan, and
his three hundred horssmen. Here
was the sacriice, which, if every
man were a patriot like Arnold
Winkel reid, would give US those
precious minutes. General Pleasan-
ton said quickly to keenan,, Major
you must charge in those woods with
your regiment, and hold the enemy
till | get those guns in position.
You must do it at al! cost" Pleas
anton says: ct was just the same aS
saying you must be killed." but
with a smile he replied, General, !
will do it," Oh what a sight was
| that =! Would to God some Amer.
lean Tennyson might see that sight
and lift those humble names into i'm.
mortality! Three hundred troopers
with despset spurs and flashing
sabres, rushed at the throats OF
twenty thousand armed mon. No
body had bIundered, but somebody
must die to save the army--that was
all So mad blow did they strike
in Jackson's very teeth thas he stop.
ped his onward rush to reform his
iines-surely there must be more
coming-no single regiment could
be charging his army single handed
, and when no more bold riders
came then it was that brave Keen.
an died, at the head OF his regiment,
and whole platoOns psrished with
their feet in Il o stirrups But they
did not die in vain. Ten minutes