Daily Republican., 1882-05-03
TAE BRAVE THREE HUNDRED.
Tee Fight In which N'0nswall
Jackson Received His Death

Jackson Resolved His Death
| Wound.
He had completely surprised How.
ard 3 Eleventh Corps, and was driving
them in the widest c,nfusion toward
the centre of our line. In the fight they
passed through woods, just beyond
which, in a clearing, lay four of
Siekles' batteries, flying artillery aud
the Eighth Psnnsy ylvania cavalry. The
batteries we're not i" position, but were
packed" awaiting orders. Through
their lines dashed the fugitives, holly
pursued by Jackson's immense corps of
20, 900 men. Infantry, artillery, cav.
airy, ambulances, pack mules, ne.
groes and stragglers, the worst scared
men ever looked upon, came tearing
past as If they were mad Batteries
had no commanders, but each captain
acted tor himself. "Bittery, left
wheel, fire 10 rear. NJ battery; caisons,
pass your pieces trot, march |" and the
frightened bugler caught only the word
"tIot" and sounded it the more. 1t
rang out clear above the worse than
Babel Many tooK 1t as a general
stampede signal, and across the field,
and down the hill and over stone wall
near its foot, in that famous ravine,
dashed several caisons and few guns.
Elk prolong, to fire retiring !" with
canister-load p
On came the fugitives; nearer and
nearer through the woods came that
Confederate yell and the rush of Stone.
wall Jacksons victorious legions. Sick.
los was almost q mile away, pushing
through the woods with his splendid
corps. Not Federal musket was in
sight, except what the Eleventh corps
men bore to the rear as rapidly as our
legs could carry them. We must have
made our fight against those tremend.
GUS odds alone Five batteries of us
and 300 cavalry-not over 800 men all
told.
On swept the 20, 900 Confederates, and
we were not yet ready to fgh. Our
line was confused worse ccniounded
guns stood pointing whitheysoever; the
excited canDoneers listened, and at the
first fire one half of US would blow the
other half into eternity; and Stonewall
would have Hooker'S headquarter3 and
double up the entire army-a cheering
prospect that The sun had sol
beyond the woods and through
them, yet faster in the thlckssing
gloom rushed Jackson's troops. |
Suddenly out in front of our guns
rode the familiar form Of General Pleas
anton. Above the dio rosa his shrill |
voice, "Align those pieces |" 1t was
work of many minutes, and Stonewall |
was just now upon us. Time oh, for
ton minutes time How to get it
There sat Major Keenan,, with his 300
horsenen. Here was a sacrifice, which
II every man was patriot like Arnold |
would give us thoee
precious minutes General Pleasanton
said quickly to Keenan, "Major you
must charge into those woods with your
men and hold the enemy in check until
got those guns In position. You must
10 it at any cost" Keenan, said cts
Just the same as saying; you must be
killed but with a smile), General,
III do it,"
Oh, what a sight was that Would
hat some American Tennyson might
have seen It, and lift those humble
names into Immortality Three hun
lred troopers, with deep set spurs and
lashing sabers, rushed for the throats
If 10000 armed men. Nobody had
but somebody must die for
bs army--that was all.
So IN ad blow did they strike In Jack
sons very teeth, that he stopped his on
" ard rush to reform his lines. Surely
here must be more coming. No single
'egiment could be charging his army
single handed-and when no other bold
riders came, then it was that brave
keenan, died at the head of his regi-
nent, and the whole platoon died with
,Eeir feet in the stirrups.
But they did not die in vain. Ten min
ties purchased at that fearful cost to us,
was costlier to Jackson. When he
,ame on again flesh and blood could
lot stand befare our terrific canister
ire. His veterans quailed before the
lrocco ofdeath. He rode mp to rectify
lis lin4ss was mistaken in the gathering
darkness for one Of our cavalrymen,
md was shot by one Of his own soldiers.
Our "three times three bad hardly
'eased to ring. when Sickles, who had
'ushed ahead of his veterans, hurryingi
o our support, rode up among our guns
md called out: "You have done nobly,
'oys! Stand firm, and in ten minutes
III have ten thousand men here, who
ont know anything but fight" " He
vas as good as his word, and quickly
he old third corps filed in behind the
,uns, aud Jackson's famous corps had
eceived it's first defeat.
Three hundred men made Their
nopeln live through centuries six
undred men at Balaklava rode 10 fame
n sight of the world; but the cynicism
+ America has left to slumber in uu-
nown graves, beneath the pine g-ovss
f Chancelorville, band of men
hose deeds ware as worthy Of a name
q those w hich nnats ha va sr II tr th nnh