The National tribune., 1882-09-23
The History of a Bloody Day in the
Annals Of the War.
A DESPERATE CHARGE.
How Gen. Stonewall Jackson
Received His Death Wound.
CONTINUED from last ,Ceek.l

And now, with the right of our line all
gone, with yawning gap where Sickles's
corps and Williams's division had previ-
ously been posted, with Lee laundering
against our centre and left, and Jackson
taking all our Gefences in reverse, his first
line being close on Charlottesville itself, it
seemed as if the total rout of the army was
inevitable
Just before this attack Hooker had de-
cided to interpose more force between the
wings of the rebel army, in order to perma-
nently dissever Jackson from the main body
If Sickles had been allowed to attack the
left flank of the enemy opposite the Fur
mace, rs he requested permission to do earlier
in the afternoon, this cooperative movement
could hardly have failed to produce great
results; afterward it was too late to attempt
| it. AS already stated, Williams's division
| struck Anderson in front on Birneys left,
and Geary attacked McLaws's across the
Plank Road to the right of Hancock Geary
found the enemy strongly posted, and, as he
made no progress, returned to his works
When the rout of the Eleventh Corps took
place, Williams also hastened back but was
fired on by Jackson's troops, who now occu-
pied the intrenchments he had left Sickles
thinks if this had not occurred, several regi-
ments of the enemy would have been cut off
from the main body.
A STAMPEDE.
The constantly increasing uproar, and the
wild rush Of fugitives past the Chancellors-
vile House, told Hooker what had occurred,
and rousef him to convulsive life. His staff
charged on the flying crowd but failed to
stop them, and it became necessary to form
line of fresh troops speedily, for Jackson in
his onward march was sweeping everything
before him. It was not easy to find an ade-
qnate force for this emergency, for the whole
line was now actively engaged, Slocum being
attacked on the south, and Couch and Meade
on the east. Fortunately, Berry's division
was held in reserve, and was available. They
were true and tried men, and went forward
at once to the rescue. Berry was directed to
form across the Plank Road, drive the rebels
back and retake the lost intrenchments; an
order easy to give, but very difficult to exc
cute. In fact, the most he could do under
the circumstances, was to form his line in
the valley opposite Fairview, and hold his
position there, the enemy already having
possession of the higher ground beyond.
Before Berry went out Warren had already
stopped several of the Eleventh Corps batter
les, and had formed them across the Plank
Road behind the position the infantry as
sumed. The fire of these guns was very
destructive and was the principal agent in
checking the enemy. As soon as they formed
in line, Warren gave orders to Colonel Brest,
chief of artillery to the Twelfth Corps, to
post more batteries on the eminence called
Fairview, to the rear and left of the Others
Few people appreciate the steadiness and
courage required, when all around is flight
and confusion, for a force to make its way
through crowds of fugitives, advance stead
lily to the post of danger in front and meet
the exulting enemy, while others are seeking
safety in the rear. Such men are heroes, and
far more worthy of honor than those who
fight in the full blaze of successful warfare.
The thickets being unfavorable to cavalry,
Sickles had sent Pleasonton back to Hazel
Grove with two mounted regiments, the
Eighth New York, the Seventeenth Penn
sylyania, and Martins battery, while the
Sixth New York was scouting the woods
dismOunted. Upon reaching the open space
which he had left when he went to the front,
Pleasonton found the place full of the debris
of the cOmbat-msn, horses, caiSsons, ambu-
lances, all rushing furiously to the rear. To
clear the way he charged on the flying mass,
at Sickless suggestion, who had ridden in
advance of his troops which were still be-
hind at the Furnace. Sickles directed Pleas
Onton to take command of the artillery and
the latter hastily collected twenty-five guns,
consisting Of his own and the Third Corps
batteries. Unfortunately there was no time
to load or aim, for the rebels were close at
hand, and their triumphant yells were heard
as they took possession of the works Busch
beck had so gallantly defended. In another
moment our troops would have been COM
PEELED to give up this advantageous position,
which was on an eminence overlooking
Charlottesville and the Plank Road, and
which was really the key of the battlefield. |
A DESPERATE ALTERNATIVE
There was but one way to delay Jackson. |
Some force must be sacrificed, and Pleas
Onton ordered Major Peter keenan,, COM
the Eighth Pennsylvania cavalry, |
to charge the ten thousand men in front |
with his four hundred Keenan, knew if he |
threw his little force into that seething mass
of infantry, horses and men would go down !
ON all sides, and there would be few left to |
tell the tale. A sad smile lit up his noble |
as he said, "GeneraI, I aciU do |
it," At thirty-four years of age, literally |
impaled on the bayonets of the enemy, he
laid down his life and saved the army from |
capture and his country from the unutter-
able degradation of the establishment of |
slavery in the northern States. History will |
record the service rendered ON that occasion
as worthy to be classed with the sacrifices of |
Arnold Winckelried in Switzerland and the |
Chevalier d'Assas in France.
1.