The Irish standard., 1898-06-11
ON SOUTHERN BATTLEFIELD5.
The Writer Puts a New Light on
Heroic Incidents.
CHARGE AT MARYE'S HEIGHTS.
What London Punch Brutally Said
of Their Yal0r.

The following true story of the battle
OF Charlottesville. where Gen. Thomas
Francis Meagher led the Irish Brigade.
is given by one who was there:
This battle of Charlottesville is
painfully memorable on account of the
severe defeat suffered by the union arms
ana the sublime heroism displayed by
the relic of the once powerful Irish Brig
ade. This battle was fought between
the Army of the Potomac, under Gen.
Hooker, and the corfederates under
Gen. Lee. The union forces had been
somewhat demoralized by the defeat at
Fredericksburg, but Hooker, who had
only recently assumed command, had
restored its efficiency and discipline to a
great extent.
The army numbered $4,000 men, of
whom $4,000 were cavalry. 1t lay on
the left bank of the Rappahannock.
While the enemy occupied the heights
across the river. The confederate army
was made up Of the corps under Long
street and Jackson, but Longstreet, with
several divisions, had been sent to
North Carolina, so that there remained
about $4,000 men, of whom 5000 were
cavalry Hooker made an effort on
April ~ to turn the left flank SO as to
fall on the rear, and in the meantime
sent nearly all his cavalry to try to
cut Of communication with Richmond
He came very near accomplishing This
movement successfully and effecting a
concentration of forces near Chancel-
lorsvllle on the night of April 80 Of 49,
Ooo, While Gen. Sickles, with $4,000 more
was but few hours behind. It was
not till the evening Of that day that Gen.
Lee learned that Hooker had turned his
flank and had force in his rear ful1v
equal to his own.
On the evening of April 20, Gen.
Meagher received notice from Gen. Han
cock to join him with tho command.
The Irish Brigade left their camp at 1
o'clock in the morning, and as their
way lay through thick forest, saws a
war correspondent, supposed to be occu-
pied by rebel sharpshooters, we had to
proceed with great caution. About noon
next day we halted to give the troops
rest
About six in the evening we resumed
our march, the brigade bringing up the
extreme left of the second army corps.
The brigade picketed for the night, COM
manding a ford on the south side of the
river About noon next day we re-
sumed our march to place called
Scott's Mills-a ford within a few miles
OF Charlottesville, and very unim-
portant position. Here we arrived at
10 o'clock Friday night.
Gen. Meagher on Saturday had to
throw line across the roads and into
the woods at Scott's Mills, in order to
intercept the panic-stricken fugitives
who came rushing along, but finding
their retreat thus cut off had to reioin
the army. The result of the days fight
ing was that our troops had driven back
the enemy over mile in the center, and
had reinforcenlents been thrown in to
follow up our advantage the enemy
might have been crushed.
On Sunday morning, May 8, at 8
o'clock the battle was resumed. At 8
Gen. Meagher received orders to adj
vance the brigade to the front to sun
port the Fifth Maine battery. As the
Irish Brigade marched through the COL
umns they were loudly and repeatedly
cheered. AS they marched through
the woods shot and shell poured like
hail around them.
When Meagher reached the end of the
road he turned the head of the column
and deployed into the woods. His cs-
capes here were almost miraculous; for
though men were falling on every side
he boldly rode on, all the timo cheering
his men by word and example. Here
shell burst behind him, where he had
just left, killing four of our men. The
brigade remained in the woods for about
two hours under q most destructive fire
Of shot and SHE'LL
lie 9th Maine battery was placed at
the opening of the wood, commanding
the plain toward charlottesville. This
battery was we'll worked, and did good
execution; fo- not until all the men and
horses were killed Or wounded did it
cease firing. A corporal and one pri-
vate alone remained, and finally them
selves unable to work the guns, they
blew up the caissons.
1t was then that the Irish Brigade
was ordered to their relief. The bri-
gade again steadily formed a line and
dashed into the open plain, pouring one
destructive fire on the enemy. who were