Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-05-01

well aware that when he curled those long legs
try to cast his skin. The course was marked by
guidons TO be kept on the righ. hand, and was
about three-quarters of a mile in circumference.
AT the word a fair start was effected. The gray
mare bottled at the word and Morris being I'M
able TO control her with a watering-bridie, she
ran into the woods. Frank Reynolds, with a
Jockey eye Tor a turn, Rugged the second flag
so closely that he got into swampy ground and
the chestnut sank almost to his shoulders. He
made one or two desperate efforts, but
was in too far, and ended by rolling on
Reynolds, whose accurate get-up was sadly
smirched. The filly knocked over the hurdles,
took the bitches in her stride. and galloped in
an easy winner of the first heat. Morris, al
though distanced, got permission to start again,
Inc he i b H thing by his ms
curb, but still chung to his blanket. The heat
resulted In a beautiful finish between him and
Cavanagh. 1t was gallant sight to this
boy, who had never ridden a race in his lfe
leading the veteran steeple-chaser a length
over all the obstacles to the last ditch Just as
the gray mare gathered some Irishmen seated
on the ground jumped up to cheer. The mare,
frightened, baked, and Morris having stir
rups, was thrown up on her neck. He recovered
hlmself neatly, and made the take
standing jump, but it was too late The Bull
almost on the post. Just as the race was fin
lshed, from the belt of woods bordering both
banks OF the Chickahominy came the faint
t ttu Oh musketry, presently punctuated by
the deep explosion OF artillery, until itswelled
INTO Inc deep roar of n hard fight.
STIRRING SCENES.
An alde-de-camp rode up and ordered US all
at once to our commands. That was the battle
OF Seven Pines, and while on one bank of the
river we were riding races on the other Casey's
men were yainly trying to stem the fierce rush
of Johnston's battalions. All that night sum
ners corps worked like beavers in the mud and
water to make corduroy bridge to replace the
one which the rise in the river had swept away,
and by daylight the greater part of the First
DIVISION were across the river. We were hurried
to the front, and about eleven o'clock found
ourselves on the field of Fair Oaks. By the
time the battery got up, the hottest kind OF a
night was going on. l afterwards heard the in
ceSsant roll of musketry at the Wilderness and
at Spottsylvania, but understanding this my
first serious battle, still believe that while it
lasted the firing at Fair Oaks was unsurpassed
In the campaigns of Virginia. The battery was
not actively engaged until the close of the
highland then one section sent forward
10 shell the retreating enemy, but was held in
readiness about half a mile in rear of the actual
scene OF conflict, which was hidden from view
by a thick but narrow belt of woods.
, We could follow the tuctuating fortunes of
the day by the way the fire advanced and re-
tired. accompanied by the solid cheers of our
men and the sharp, continuous yell of the
enemy. Presently The fire came nearer with
an increased crash ON the other side and !, per
ceptible slackening on ours. In few minutes
stragglers and wounded men began to emerge
from the timber. The first brigade of our divi-
sion was being driven in. General Sumner
sent in the next brigade, Howard IS, and with
this fresh force the fire again resumed it's full
volume reaching the Climax OF this battle. A
nearer approach of the fire, another lull in our
direction and wild yells. meant Il second re-
pulse, and now we saw General Sumner ride up
10 the Irish Brigade, but bare quarter of Il
mile on our right front. We saw his hat off
and his gray locks barred as he evidently made
a short speech, probably the only one OF the
old herO's life We learned afterwards that he
told them that they We're his last hope; if they
failed him all was lost; but, said he, ''IlI go my
stars on you, pointing to his shoulder-strapS.
Il want to see how lrishmen fight, and when
you run I'll run too A hearty cheer greeted
his last words, and the brigade moved into
the woods with the air OF men who were
going to stay. \ fresh crash showed when
they struck the enemy. For a few minutes
the hre was deaening, then it began to
retire. The yells gave way to long continuous
cheers an aide gallOped up to order u section of
artillery to follow our advancing line, and the
battle OF Fair Oaks was won. 1t was an inspir-
ing opening of II heroic history, and from that
day General Summer Swore by the Irish Brig
ade. During the latter part OF the action, au
officer dashed up to General Sumner wearing
a cap heavily laced with gold.a jacket similarly
ornamented, with long grizzled mOustache
curied up to his eyes. BE saluted and gave a
report of the close OF the action. General
sumner said, THAT was gallant charge OF
your brigade, Captain Gossin.' abe CAD, SIR"
said JACK, raising his cap, 1--WE gave them q
healthy DASH"
EXIT SOLDIER OF FORTUNE.
While lying in the intrenchments at Fair
Oaks an ornamental appendage to the brigade
staff faded from view. Major Warrington was
an eminently aristocratic gentleman, with a
fine naughty profile IA fresh com pie Xion, slightly
Redeemed by good cheer, distinctly suggesting
old port, hair and mOustache beautifully
silvered, manners courtly, with just shade of
arrogance, In Keeping with the report which
was current and not disbelieved, that he was a
son OF George the Fourth General Meagher told
me he was Inclined 10 believe It'll. He was a sort
OF volunteer aide, belonged TO nothing that we
knew OF, and justified his status by doing
nothing. Major Cavanagh now the gallant
veteran commanding the historical Sixty
ninth) was commanding the pcket-line and
hreing between the opposing pickets suddenly
began. General Meagher sent Warrington with
AN order To Cavanagn, which was not complied
with. When asked why he had not obeyed
the instructions, Cavanagh replied that he
had received none. The general asked
Major Warrington if he had delivered them
and the latter seemed inclined to evade the
question and TO shuttle Off Oh Cavanagh the re-
sponsibility. The two men were confronted
the scion oil royalty and the bulIet-headed Irish,
man, as rough "a chestnut burr and as brave
as a game-cock. When Cavalagh plainly init
mated that Warrington had found the bullets
too numerous To fulfil his orders, the latter
said, drawing himself up proudly, 81 don't be-
lieve you know who am sir ..Indade said
Cavanagh, I'm not sure We know yourself But
I'm tOwld We claim to be bastard OF George
~. By all accounts your father as dirty a
ever had a son, I'm thinking he'd be Just such
a shirk and pOitrOOn we've proved yourself
this day, Major Warrington A few days after
il was politely intimated to the elderly swell
that his services could be dispensed with.
About this time.
HoGANS IMMORTAL BATTERY
ceased to exist as an organization. 1t was broken
up. and one section attached to each of the
OIueT tuItc DdltcIlcS Vi tue ulNlSlO0, PettitS.
Franks and ours. 1 am not sure what WAS
done with Hogan. / think he remained with
the brigade in some nominal capacity Tor "a
while, but finally disappeared from view in Il
cloud oil official disapprobatiOn of his habit of
selling government horses and falling to salts
factorily account for them. Lieutenants Rorty
and ODOnohue both did gallant service. The
former being appointed ordnance officer of the
division, filled the post with Zeal and marked
ability until his death at Gettysburg The lat
ter was attached for some months 10 our bat
terry, and fell most calamity at Chancellors-
willie. In charge of the detachment assigned to
was an old sergeant, Henessey, who had been
in the British service as brave soldier as ever
stepped, straight and well set up with a formal
courtesy that nothing could affect. During the
hottest part of our artillery duel at White Oak
swamp with three of the enemy's batteries
Henessey approached me- and drawing himself
up, gave the old British salute i'll a manner
lery in any American theater. He reported
that his piece was hot that he hesitated to
put in a cartridge. L told him to cease firing
and sponge with water. He gave another s;.-
lutte, and, facing about with rigid precision
went back To command his gun in his Wonted
gallant style.
A REGIMENTAL DUEL.
An interesting episode in the history of the
brigade was the encounter at Malvern Hill in
the dusk of the evening. between the Eighty
Tigers, "A battalion from New Orleans com
manded by the famous Colonel Wheat was
called They were the deSperadoes of the South
ern service, and, meeting the Irishmen unex-
pectediy at close quarters, fought with their
knives and pistols. The 1rishmen, ignoring