Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-02-23
WHAT SAVED HOOKER.
How q twenty-five Gun Battery
Filled the Gap At Chancell0rs.


FILLED the Gap At Chancellors-
willie.
If M Quad in Detroit Free Press.
The movement of Jackson across
Hooker's flank at Charlottesville and
around to his rear was complete sur
prise. BY 6 o'clock in the evening his
lines of battle were formed and the
order to advance was given. Scouts
had reported the Eleventh corps in his
front, and the attack was as swift and
disastrous as a whirlwind. Most Of
the Federals in the Eleventh
were preparing supper or eating
it. Ii there we're any pickets in rear Of
the Federal army they were picked up
so suddenly that no general alarm was
given. All of a sudden the mighty
tread of battleline and the crash of
musketry fell upon the ears OF the I'M
, s1specting Federals, and the panic
winch ensued was but the natural
male. A few men got into line here
and there. but the resistance melted
away as the line advanced. 1t was a
furious fire which Jackson's mon poured
into the Eleventh. They were elated
and enthusiastic. And they swarmed
through the pine forest as if their num-
bers were endless.
Men have said that the panic would
have extended no farther, and that the
corps would have speedily recovered
from the surprise, and men have written
that but for one mans GOODNESS ut the
critical moment Jackson would have
driven wedge into the Federal army
Gen. Pleasanton, then commanding
three regiments of cavalry and field
battery, lay in position to be run over
by the frightened fugitives as they
sought place of safety. In the midst
of the most embarrassing confusion he
sent regiment of dismounted cavalry
forward to form line and check the
Confederates. and the other regiments,
mounted, at once charged into the mass
of fugitives and drove them clear Oft
the field on the left of the plank road.
Then. one by one, twenty-five guns
we're brought to the front and UNI
limbered. The spot where each gun
STOOD was plain to view in 1881, and
may be for several years to come. 1t
was in the cleared field to the left OF
the Charlottesville plank road, and
about half mile below the famous
brick house. The guns enfiladed Jack
sons whole front, and the moment his
lines broke cover they were met with
such storms of canister that whole regi-
ments lay down after the first volley.
For the first quarter of On hour these
guns were supported by cavalry alone
but as regiment after regiment was
picked up, whirled about, and sent to
the gap, the support soon became di.
vision. Other batteries. were rushed
down the plank or across the fields, and
by and by Jackson's golden moment
had passed. The Federal army had
faced to the rear, and the great gap had
been closed by artillery.
just at shutdown Jackson grew FESTIVE
under the terrific fire, and ordered q
general advance. Long lines Of men
sprang to their feet and rushed forward
with cheers and yells, determined to
have the guns. 1t did not seem as il
an, thing living could cross that open
space of 600 feet with such a tornado Of
canister sweeping over it, but whole
regiments charged up to within fifty
sect, and scores OF Confederates dashed
in among guns and were killed there
The charge was repulsed, but to be
made again and again. When night
had settled down jackson gave it up
He. could not drive his wedge past the
muzzle of Pleasanton's guns. He haG
hoodwinked Hooker, routed whole
corps, and laid his plans for great
victory. That storm of canister checked
him-death brought his plans tt
naught. @-
The Confederates who advanced
against these guns defed death ter
thousand times over. Those who were
xii Ell were in most instances riddlet
and torn to pieces. The burial parties
found corpses with fifty wounds, ant
leads, legs and arms were scattered al
along the front. Not one single wounded
man was found on that battery front
On the right flank, where the guns hat
an entilade on the plank road, the raj
fences were torn into splinters, thu
ground cut as by hundred drags, ant
scor es of Confederates lying in the
highway bitches were wounded by
stones, splinters and fragments of rocks
\ Cotton Caterpillar Preventive.
Georgia lntelligencer.