Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-03-19
STORIES OF THE WAR.
KEENAN'S CHARGE-BY CHARLES LED
YARD NORTON.

Atb O'Clock on the afternoon of May 2,
1863, the extreme right of the army OF the
Potomac lay behind its stacked arms III
the carelessness of fancied security. An
hour later it was in utter ana dlSaStrouS
route carrying PAM c with 1t as wagons,
guns, and men rushed heller skelter to
the rear. Close behind the melee came
Stonewall Jackson's corps in compact or
der of battle, firing into the fugitlves
whenever opportunity offered and yelling
as only Confederate soldiers could yell, to
keep them in motion
But there came a sudden check. A col
umn of horsemen debouched at SWING
ing trot from narrow wood road cleav-
ing the disordered mass of panic stricken
Federal soldiery At its head rode tall,
splendidly-mounted officer, with a long
flowing beard without an instants
pause, with sabers drawn and accouter-
ments jingling, the squadron broke into
gallop and rode witha cheer straight upon,
The advancing line of battle. The tai
officer was Major Peter Keenan, and the
men who followed him, about 400 of them,
the Eighth Pennsylvania cavalry.
This charge, literally desperate in char
Rcter, has i'll many respects no parallel IN
the annals of the war. Other exploits
there were on both sides involving equal
daring, but certain of the attendant cir
cumstances render this exceptionally
dramatic 1t was one of the prellmina-
ries of the great battle of Chancellors-
vile. 1t followed day or desultory
fighting, and preceded night during
which neither side could do much more
than prepare for the next days conflict.
Historically, therefore, it is independent
Of any grand tactical movements. 1t was
ordered on the impulse OF moment, to
meet pressing crisis. 1t was no blum
der, but effected the temporary diversion
that was intended, and was indirectly re.
sponsible for the subsequent death OF
''Stonewal" Jackson, a loss from which
the Confederacy never recovered.
The irregular and unexpected attendant
circumstances have, however, surrounded
the affair with a cloud of contradictory
evidence which renders it extremely diff
cult for anyone, whether participant or
not. to be sure Of his facts.
The writer hereof is well aware that the
accuracy of the following account, drawn
from various personal and published
sources of information, will be called IN
question in certain particulars. he can
only say that he has CONSULTED all Hvalla-
BILE authorities, and, reconciling differ
ences where he could, has drawn his own
conclusions.
The I'd day of May, 1868, was oppressive
w warm The two armies were manGu-
vering for position south Of the Rapidan.
the Federals, under Maj. Gen. Joseph
Hooker, had just crossed the river on pom
tocns, and pushed southwark until they
held the plank road running from Fred
ericksburg to Orange. Their right, con
sisting of the Eleventh corps, held the
road about a mile west OF ChancrllorS-
vile. Next, and turning sharp angle
to the westward, was part of the Third
corps under Gen. Daniel f.. Sickles. With
in this angle, upon an elevation properly
known as Hazel Grove, but sometimes er'
roneously referred to as Falrview, were
parked three batteries of artillery belong
ing to the Sd corps, halted there to await
orders.
At daybreak the Confederate line ex-
tended from near the Rappahannock west
ward, facing the Federal forces on line
generally parallel and at times within
sight. At early dawn, according to the
Confederate accounts, Gems. lee ana
Jackson were sitting by the roadside in
consultation when Gen. j. f. b. stuart
commanding the cavalry division, rode up
and reported that the right of the Federal
army was ''all in the air'-eXposed, that
is, to attack without adequate means OF
defense jackson Immediately asked per-
mission to march his corps, 10000 strong,
through the dense woods and crush the
Federal right. Lee may well have hesita-
ted to weaken SO seriously his own force
in Rockers front, but whatever doubts he
NAV have felt at such q bold move, ne
gave his consent, and with Stuart's caval-
ry to mask the movement Jackson set out
on his detour of five or six miles, follow
ing narrow wood roads and keeping some.
thing like a mile in front OF the Federal
positions.
There were sharp eyes on the watch
however, and by O'Clock Gen. Sickles
with Pleasanton's cavalry, was very Wig
orously feeling the strength of the march
Jig column. 1t was at first surmlsed that
the Confederates were in retreat TOWARD
GordOnville, but numerous prisoners, IN
GLIDING an entire regiment-the 23d Geor
gia-were brought in, and cross eXamina
ton justified the inference that the move
ment meant fight" not retreat. Wort
was at once sent to Hooker and Howard
The latter had been directed early in Thu
morning (93O a. M to hold himself il
readiness tor flank attack, but no ex
trsordiuary precautions were taken, ant
when Jackson approached his obJectlv
point, near the Orange plank road, late II
the afternoon, Stuart was able TO plo
him to an eminence whence the who'll
18th corps could be seen with stacke
arms, comfortably bivouacked behin
field abatis. Here sat these two daShln
Confederate leaders on their horses an
watched through their field glasses game
az cards IN progress, company COOKS oVe
their fires, and men killing beeves for tn
next issue Of rations 1t must have bee
trium chant moment for jackson, an
although only about two hours OF ual
light we've left Che sun SET on that day /
653) he hurried forward his arrangement
and by O'Clock was ready for The aSSaul
AS his lines moved forward the Woo
were swept clean of wild game, and dee
turkeys and rabbits led the advance "a
tack upon the Federal lines. So evidel
was it that an attack was imminent tn
some of the more experienced of HOY
ards subordiuates took measures or q
tense on their own responsibility, bl
these measures could not affect the gener
disposition of the corps, and when TN rus
of Jackson's men came it found the Fe
erals totally unprepared.
No troops in the world can stand a mar
ATTACK unless there liz time to cham
front, in which case it is no longer tiar
as concerns that portion OF the comman
Ii the extreme end of line is thrown in
confusion and its organization lost, par
must ensue. This is precisely what ha
pened with the 18th corps. The INN
date attacking force was, some lO,C
strong a large detachment had been Sc
back to repeI Sickles) and made the
tack IN three lines, simply walk
through the Federal bivouacs and drlyi
everything before them.
II is not easy to start panic in an
gpuized body OF men when they are rea