Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-23

The large pine tree under which Lee
| and Jackson held their last consultation
| the one at which Jackson suggested the
| movement by which he nanked and routed
! 4oyyard's Eleventh Corps-is stlH stand
ing al the junction Of the Furnace ana
| Plank roads, out in the country, on the
| way to Charlottesville. The road down
which Jackson rode toward his command
| winds in and out among the pines and
| was examined with interest by the party.
In the mean time, however, some earth
works had been passed There was
| where Lee waited for Hooker" said some
| one in the party.
The Chancellor House is not far from
the pine tree already mentioned. il IS
not wholly the wartime house. which was
burned a good many years ago. but the
western end Is nearly intact. The present
porch is not the one upon which General
Hooker was standing when he was struck
by a piece Of shell but the broad steps OF
stone are the remnants Of the old struc-
ture. I'm the olden days Of fage-coach
travelling the Chancellor tavern was
halfway house. and every morning anu
evening the stage coaches stopped there
no less than thirty-siX relays Of horses
being kept i'm the spacious stables. In
wartime there was q great deal OF open
field in front of the house, but OF late
years this has been covered win
growth of stubDy pines, so That the APP
poarance of the landscape Is somewhat
changed In would take too long 10 re
haarse the whole story OF the Chancellors-
Vile fight II is sufficient TO say that
when the field becomes part Of the Ma
tIonal Park and is dotted with monu-
noents TO mark the positions of the va
rious forces II will be fully as interesting
as Gettvsbury. There still remain many
Of the earthworks thrown up by the
armies. and the sites of graves are sun
visible in the woods. The party drove
along a road which followed the trenches
dug by men Of the Twelfth corps, over 10
Hazel Grove which was a conspicuous
uoint during the battle. IT is not set
Element. as its name implies. but soil
tarv farmhouse ON hill, which was the
position of a. battery. The magnificent
spring which was so useful 10 the army
SIN remains giving forth splendid now
Of delicious water.
THE STORY OF KEENANS DEATH.
1t was very near this farmhouse that
Kccnans Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry
was stationed. The story Of the charge
of this regiment and keenan's death is
known 10 every reader Of the Chancel-
louisville campaign. and as generally re-
lated is intensely dramatic. The version
with which / was most familiar told how
Major keenan,, who was commanding
the regiment was directed TO charge the
advancing column of Jacksops men as
they came down the road. with a smlle
upon his face. he replied. 1t is death,
but will do IT," and then. at the head
of his column. he plunged into the seetn-
ing mass Of Confederates, Ike second
Arnold Winkelried. and WAS slaughtered
with his entire command. The short time
which the charge occupied, however was
sufficient for the Union forces To get
battery into position and thus protect 10
some extent the rear Of HOwards re-
treating column.
But Major Morris says that this story
although so thrilling, is-not true. 'hee-
nan was over there" he said, pointing
short distance away "and was ordered
TO 20 out and stop stragglers Of How
ards corps who were coming down the
road The route OF the corps was not
then known. He moved in columns OF
two5 out that road yonder, which leaus
into the main pike. When ne emerged
from the woods he found himself sur
rounded by Confederates. There were
only two things TO 90. either TO retreat
or charge He chose the latter, and rush
ed pell-mell into the enemy, thinking 70
cut his way in and then out again. He
had no idea that he was attacking the
whole of Jacksons army. No order was
given him to charge. The story is all
romance
Whether romance or not there was
something particularly stirring as we
came 10 the road where the cavalry en-
the enemy, 10 think of that gal
liant and desperate effort which the Penn
sylVania men made. Very few of them.
If any escaped Major keenan, was killed
and many OF his officers. The enemy
were as thick as bees, and We appeared
to- be among thousands OF them In a
was the description when one
Of the officers afterward wrote Of his eX-
Jerience.
WHERE sTONEWALL JACKSON
FELL.
The resinous odor of pines filled the air
MS the party stood by the simple shaft
)n the roadside that marks the spot
where Stonewall Jackson fell on the night
of May D 1868. shot by his own men as
be was returning from reconnoiterlnS
expedition. II is granite column, with
on each OF the four sides.
one Of these repeats Jacksons last
words-"Let us pass over the river and
rest under the shade of the trees'-and
another gives Bees famous sentence at
Mama saic, mere STATUS JbthShl 4lhc q
stone wall" The third inscription is Lees
tribute TO the dead commander and the
fourth is the name ana Gate Of death.
Near by in the woods is the monument
erected 10 the memory Of the dead mem
bers' of the Coils ZOuavos. stone shaft
with "a copper tablet containing the names
Of the heroes.
4 mile up the road is the house Of
man named Tally, who was Jackson's
guide during tie flank movement upon
Howard. Tally is 4 well-preserved man.
Of rOtund build. with a white imperial |
beard. AS he stood on the lawn OF his
home. while the party awaited lunch, he
pointed out the Hill not fan away. to the
top of which he guided Jackson. so that
the latter might look down upon the
Union army. Tally was with Jackson
al the last conference with Lee. and
brought the army around by field and