The Arkansaw traveler. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1882-1???, 1883-04-07
A RIDE TO DEATH.
Charge of Keenan, and His Troopers, al
the Battle of Charlottesville.
Philadelphia Times.

the Battle of Chanc ellorsville
Philadelphia Times.
ust twenty years ago the cavalry corps
Of the army Of the Potomac was organ
ized under General Hooker, then about
to- begin his campaign against Lee. Soon
afterward the battle of Charlottesville
was fought. by way OF anniversary piece,
Colonel Theodore ". bean, OF the stafi
of the first cavalry division, under Cen
sketch for the columns Of the Heekiy
Times. The following extract from
Colonel Beans article deals with one of
the most stirring episodes of the great
war
The situation in rear Of the eleventh
corps, at o'clock p. m, was cramped
and pregnant with unpleasant and mys-
FERROUS expectancy. The skirmish-line
of the enemy, that had pressed the union
forces back to their line Of works, followed
up near enough &c draw a volley from
the line OF the eleventh corps. The
roads upon which the union troops re-
tired. the extent of the line from which
the volley issued, with tbs additional in
formation received from Lee and lack
son, from local scouts, who knew every
foot OF the ground, enabled the latter Of
hcer to locate with precision the exact
point where Hookers right rested. A
painful silence followed the volley, and
for perhaps an hour scarcely shot was
heard from either side Meantime.
Pleasanton's brigade of cavalry retired
behind the temporary works of the elev-
enth and twelfth corps, and were all, with
the exception Of the sixth New York, well
In hand at a point near where the road
to the United States ford intersects the
Orange plank road. Immediately in the
rear Of the eleventh corps, in a field Of
FIVE OF six acres, was large ambulance
train, a herd Of cattle. a small acre Of
pack-mules, and led horses, colored SER
wants, with the usual number Of bum
mers" and cofee-makers, that always
hang upon the rear Of an army. The
lull and fancied security Of the hour be-
guiled the tired and weary cavalymen,
10 whom orders had been given to loosen
the girth, unbr,dle, and feed from the
nose-bags, with the cautionary suggestion
TO keep the men we'll in hand.
That the commander OF the army of
the Potomac was we'll advised by reports
received on the field of the movement.
direction and numbers of Jackson's COL
umn, seems well attested Experienced,
watchful officers Of the eighth and seventh
Pennsylvania regiments, felt they should
have been supported in an effort to hold
the.open country to the right of the
Orange plank road. until the enemy de-
ployed the troops marked by its cavalry.
Had two divisions Of infantry been
thrown forward to the open country on
tho old turnpike road, in the direction of
Wilderness tavern, Jackson's movement
would have been uncovered, thu surprise
IN great measure avoided. and
the force Of his attack broken. The
enemy were in possession OF the open
country referred to, With knowledge of
the extent and locality of the union lines.
every road leading to the right wing be-
ing held by them. Hooker troops were
hemmed in like sheep in fold, differing
only IN consciousness of impending
slaughter.
IL was At this hour that General
Hooker was most hopelcssly deceived By
the movements of Lee and Jackson. The
la,ter's circuilous movement for the right
..&'tN ~ shS NhAcb was
by the officer as withdrawal from the
aeld of battle So thoroughly was the
commander Of the union forces imbued
with this conception, that he ordered
General Siokles. with the third corps, to
pursue Jackson, and directed General
pleasanton, with his brigade of cavalry,
to follow HIM up, and do all the dam
age he could" From reports made to
Pleasanton by Colonies Hughey, Devin
and Kellogg, all of whom had been
pressed back by the enemy on the right,
not less than from observations made by
himself and staff. their officers did not
share the datiering view of the situation
taken by the commander. Therefore he
sent forward the sixth New York to CO.
operate with Sickles, and held the eighth
and seventeenth Pennsylvania regiments
for an impending emergency, which, If
not anticipated by Others, he felt to be
near at hand, and fraught with danger.
This sagacicus resolution, suggestive of
safety to Sickles, with a reserve in hand
for crisis, should it occur, was most for
tunate for the day, and saved the army
from great disaster" as will be pres
entity seen.
1t was perhaps o'clock in the evening,
when sharp firing was heard on the right
If Dexstuss division ,,hosn v;.xh. a - ~. 4