The Irish standard., 1898-06-11

directing the movement.
AS the Irish Brigade advanced
through the road they met the 14Oth
Pennsylvania, with one of the guns,
which they were unable to carry for
want Of help. Here the remnant of the
Irish Brigade-for it numbered only $50
men going into action-did good serv-
ice; for, had the rebels seized the bat
terry and turned it upon our army, reg
ular panic might have ensued, for at the
same time several regiments on the
right and left were giving way.
AS the Irish Brigade reached the plain
at the end of the wood, Gen. Hancocls
rode up to Gen. Meagher, and very en-
phatically called out, Gen. Meagher,
you command the retreat" Thus did
the men of the Irish Brigade enact the
scene Of Gaines Hill over again; and
by their opportune presence at this crit
ical moment, and their indomitable res
,lution, prevent a temporary panic frcia
aegenerating into an utter and irreme-
diable defeat.
OF the $40 men of the Irish Brigade led
into action, only 2S0 appeared next
morning. 1t was at this battle that the
! confederate general, "Stonewall" jack
| son, received the wound which caused
| his death few days after. After surpris-
ing and driving back the union lines he
rode out with some Of his officers to re-
connoitre. Returning, the party were
mistaken for Unionists, and fired on by
his own men. Three bullets struck him
wounding him fatally. He fingered till
/ the 10th. His death was an irreparable
I, loss to the confederate cause
{ Previous to this engagement Gen.
Meagher asked permission to be allowed
to come to New York in order to recruit
his command, the recent battle in which
tho Irish Brigade was engaged, all
but annihilating the ranks of the brave
regiments which composed the intrepid
brigade.
Previous to Charlottesville, the Irish
Brigade had been hurled against i'm
pregnable positions, and wasted upon
undertakings where success was impos-
sible. The slopes before Frederickburs
were soaked with their blood, the plains
OF Antietam and the woods Of Murfrees-
boro were theaters of their valor, and
tho hottest positions of the fiercest en-
| gagcments had been theirs from the
outbreak of the war;
| After this battle, Gen. Meagher wrote
/, to Secretary Stanton rendering his res
ignation as brigadier general in COM
mand of the vestige of the Irish Brig
ade, assuring him that his services were
freely at the summons and disposition
OF tho government in any capacity that
could prove useful; but his memorial
was in vain, and never was even ac-
lSnowledged Stanton and the other Off
cials in Washington had evidently for
gotten the words of the London Times
correspondent in describing the charge
of the Irish Brigade at the battle OF
Fredericksburg
ITO the Irish Brigade, commanded by
Gen. Meagher," said this English CORES
pondent, "was principally committed
the desperate task of bursting out of
the town Of Fredericksburg and form
ing, under the whitening fire of the con-
federate batteries, to attack Maryes
Heights, towering Immediately in their
front Never at Fontenoy, Albuera
nor at Waterloo, was there moro un-
doubted courage displayed by the sons
of Erin than during those six frantic
dashes which they directed against the
almost impregnable position of the foe
The bodies which lie in dense
masses within 40 yards of the muzzles
of Col. Walton's guns are the best evi-
dence what manner of men they WERE
When the news of Gen. Meagher's res.
ignation reached England, the papers ol
that country gave advice to the Ameri,
cans. Well knowing that it was strik-
ing keynote of English feeling, Punch
fastened to Shrek out its rejoicing over
that event, and to exult that so many
Irish soldiers had been swept from the
face of the earth. We shall place be.
fore our readers the expression of this
inhuman satisfaction.
"'1is an i'll wind that blows nobody
good. The civil war in America may
have bereft the North of many valuable
citizens, but has also lightened it o1
considerable number of rowdies and ruf.
fans.
Gen. Thomas Francis Meagher has
resigned the command of the Irish Brig.
ade. Except as food for POWDER wha
use could the Yankees have made of the
heroes lately under his command. They
have served their turn, and been con.
sumed in fitting employment for fugitive
traitors to the British crown.
'"They have perished in warning as
mercenary soldiers for the price o.
blood, to subjugate men who are fight.
ing for their country. So may the foes
of England fall! But now having USED
up all their Irish, had not our Yankee
friends better conclude peace with the
South and cave in rather than subject
themselves to conscription, and be.
gin to spend really valuable lives in 6
hopeless struggle? They have worked
the rcwdicS and the Irish ont Of the I'M.