Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1902-10-16
Vivid War Memories.


Foot Cavalry.
He's IA the saddle n0w. Fali gai
Steady the whole brigade.
HIS et the ford. cut on; wen win
His way out. bali and blade.
What matter u our shoes are werns
what matter II our fest are tnrnf
Quick step we're with him before morn:
That's gtonewall Jaekson's way.
John Wtliiamson Palmer
In the Philadelphia Ledger A.
w. X. /" contributes an article rerni.
niscent Of "Stonewall" Jackson : :
foot cavalry and Of great interest
here. He says:
When one is at Fredericksbu
he experiences an Irresistible grav-
itation toward ChanceIlorsville. Ev-
cry mile between the two points was
thickly sown with the seeds of bat
tie in the lovely springtime of '63,
and the fact that this is the edge OF
the Wilderness" where Grant S
army writhed on its way to Rich
mond," imparts to it additional at
traction.
One reads in war lore of the Rev.
Meizi Chancellor, who resided, dur
ing Hooker's battle, not at Chancel-
lorsville, but at Dowdall's Tavern.
The writer met his son, and might
have profited by his company as
guide, even down to the Bloody
Angle" at Spottsylvania, bat for the
fact that he was unwell, the wealth
er cold and the roads exceedingly
rough. AS il was, / concluded to
emulate "Stonewall" Jackson's IA
nous foot cavalry" after getting a
fair start by rail.
A narrow gauge road, entitled the
Potomac, fredericksburg and Pied
mont, runs train a day each way
between Fredericksburg and Or
ange, some thirty eight miles apart.
1t was unfinished" during war
days, and might be regarded by fas-
tidious frequenters of Pullmans and
Wagners as still answering that des-
cription, but to me it was particu-
larly welcome. The rate of the fare
is greater one way than the excur-
sion rate in the vicinity of Philadel-
phia, and round trips are not sold.
The road skirts the National Gem
etery, and crosses Hazen Run, land
mark in the fredericksburg fight.
Through q ravine between Willis
Hill and Lees hill ION which were
the headquarters of the Confederate
commander), it picks it way west
ward, crossing the meridian of Chan
cellorsville about two and a halt
miles to the south. / at first pur-
posed leaving the train at Catherine
Furnace, but was informed that the
crossroad would be better from AL.
rich.
Confederate Courtesy.
The gentleman who sat in front
Of me seemed too young to have seen
service, but he told me he had fol.
lowed the Confederate flag Mt IA
years of age. Across the aisle sat q
lawyer, who courteously impaired
valuable information. He, too, had
fought with Lee, and had spent sew.
eral months in a Northern prison
A Bell and Everett man originally
and opposed to secession, neverthe
less he was moved from his political
mornings when Sumter was fired
on and it seemed that Virginia would
become q battlefield. The conduc
tor, too, had tasted OF the universal
Southern military experience, and
regretted having to leave so kindly
q company.
1t was easy to perceive that ! was
on the borders of the Wilderness as
I alighted from the train 10 miles
from Fredericksburg. A very agree
able lady, daughter of Confeder
ate colonel, politely showed me tn,
historic Plank Road, and invited IN,
to apply to her husband in town fol
any information might desire; ther
turned my back on Spottsylvania
and journeyed up the Cartharpir
road. Very soon / appreciated Mr.
Chancellor's reference to the high
ways, and felt perfectly content tha
l was not in carriage. At the juno
ton of this rough road with the Or
ange Plank Road halted to review
the typography Of the battle.
Fighting Joe" Hooker succeeded
Burnside as commander of the arm,
of the Potomac It was near tn,
close of January, '63, when he wa
appointed, and the interval between
that date and the latter days of Apri
was spent in preparation for nev
campaign. Hooker's plan was in
tuitively felicitous, and the first par
Of it was consummated to perfection
Lee still lay at Fredericksburg, bu
Longstreet, with part OF his corps
was at Suffolk, attempting to odispos
sess the Union General Peck. /
was Hooker's purpose to steal
march upon Lees rear; and toeffec