The Irish standard., 1909-05-08

The battle of Chancellorsvillei Is pain
defeat suffered by the Union arms and
the sublime heroism displayed by the
relic of the once powerful Irish Bri
gade. Hooker commanded the Union
army and Lee the Confederates. The
Union army numbered 10000 men.
$4,000 cavalry, and occupied the left
bank OF the Rappahannock, while the
Confederate army Of $4,000. of whom
5000 were cavalry. occupied the
On April II. Hooker made all effort
to turn the enemy's left flank so as to
fall on the rear, eending his cavalry
to cut off communications with Rich
mond. Success nearly attended Hook
er's plans, and an urmy Of $4,000 men
by April 30 were at Charlottesville.
Till this was effected Lee did not learn
that this army was In his rear. On the
evening Of April 20 General Meagher
received notice. from General Hancock
to join him with his command. The
Irish Brigade left their camp at 1
o'clock in the morning, and cas- their
way led through ;. thick forest" says
n war correspondent. Supposed to be
Occupied 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 re-
sumed our march. the Brigade bring
ing up the extreme left OF the second
army corps. The Brigade picketed for
the night. commanding n ford on the
south side of tho river. About noon
next day we resumed our march to a
place called Scott's Mills--a ford with
in a. few miles Of Chancellorsvillc, and
4; very important position. Here VIC
arrived at 10 o'clock Friday night.
General MeaRher on Saturday had to
throw a line across the road and into
the woods at SCOTS Mills, in order to
intercept the panic stricken fugitives.
who came rushing along. but finding
their retreat thus cut off had to re-
join the army. The result of the days
fighting was that our troops had driven
back the enemy over mile in the CEN
tor.
On May Q there were some unilnpor-
tant skirmishes Sunday, May 3, broke
forth bright and clear. About five in
the morning the bnttle was resumed, so
nercely that the booming of artillery
earthquake. About eight o'clock in
the morning General Meaghcr re-
ceived orders to advance the Brigade
to the front to support the Fifth
Maine Battery. AS the Irish Brigade
marched through the columns that
lined the way they were loudly and
repeatedly cheercd. AS they marched
through the woods shot and shell
poured like hail around them.
When Meagher reached the end Of
the road he deploved into the woods.
His escapes we're almost miraculous;
for. though men wer- railing on every
side, he boldly rode on all the time
cheering his men BY word and example,
Here a shell burst behind him. where
he had just left, killing four Of his
men. For two hours the Brigade re-
manned in the woods under a. most de-
structive fire of shot and shell. The
Fifth 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; for not until all the men
were killed or wounded did it cease
firing, finally blowing 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 nre on the enemy, who
were advancing 70 seize the guns.
which drove them back in confusion