The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-08-12
MAJOR KEENAN'S
HEROIC CHARGE
At Uhancellorsville as Peri
lous as the Light Brigade
Of Immortal Memory at
Balakava andwit Saved
Hookers Right Wing.

Editor James NJ. Swank of the Bull
letin OF the American Iron and Steel
Association says that while "Sheri-
dams Ride" Barbara Fritchie'' and
"rhe Battle Hymn of the Republic"
are most frequently referred to as
stirring and superior war poems, few
appear to know aught of another war
poem of merit, "Keenan's Charge"
written by George Parsons Lathrop
of Boston. which he thinks Is the
best of all.
The historical errors of the poem do
not affect the great fact that Keen
an heroically led his men in a charge
at Charlottesville that was as peril
Gus from its beginning as the charge
nj Balakava. Nor do they affect the
| fact the charge was made with fear
| ful loss. or even slightly dim the
glory that Is claimed flp Il that II
saved a wing Of Hooker's army from
| overwhelming defeat. This was In
May, 1853.
Major keenan, was Peter Keenan,,
the son of poor Irish parents, born in
York. Livingston county. New York,
| In 1884. In 1861 he was living IN
Il
| l'thographer Adjutant General Tho
mas J. Stewart advises us that Keen
an entered the military service from
| Philadelphia In 1861 as captain OF
Company c Of the Eighth Regiment
OF Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry.
and that he was promoted from the
captain TO be major. Captain ]. T..
Giles of Hazleton, Pa, who succeeded
| TO the command OF Company c, has
| written a correct account of the
| charge.
1.-The regiment, standing to horse at
| Hazel Grove, was ordered to report
quickly to General Howard, as his
Eleventh Corps upon the right had
broken The regiment moved rapidly
along a narrow road. and before
reaching the plank road the enemy
advance line had already crossed the
| road on which the regiment was
moving. Keenan,, al the head, natural
| born leader that he was, ordered the
Charge OF his own initiative. and
reaching the plank road lie wheeled
into the dense mass of confederate In
fantry upon the road. He and the
| other two officers. Capthinsl Arrow
smith and Adjutant Hadducl<, riding
| at the head. fell dead, ana most of
the leading squadron were killed or
disabled. The charge had the effect,
which Keenan, foresaw, of staying the
enemy's advance. The batteries were
got into position ana new lines were
formed to meet the confederate on
siaught. which was repelIed II was
Keenan's magnificent leadership that
did II. He was a magnificent ieader
and the regiment idolized him as such
after General Gregg. Its loved colonel.
was promoted 10 the commend OF the
Second Division of Cavalry of the
Army of the Potomac"
Here Is the poem as Il appears in
Stedman's American Anthology" :"
Mr.. Lathrop died In 1898.
KEENAN'S CHARGE.
7 he sun had set;
The leaves with dew were wet;
Down fell bloody dusk
on the woods that second OF NAV.
Where stonewalrs corps, like beast
OF prey
Tore through with angry tusk,
rhey've trapped ms, boysl"
Rose from our flank voice.
With a rush OF steel and smoke.
On came the rebels straight,
| Eager as love and Wild az hate.
And our line reeled and broke:
Broke and fled. :
NO one stayed-but the dead!
WIN curses, shrleks and cries
Horses and wagons and men
Tumbled back through the shuddering
glen,
And above us the fading skies. "a
There's one hope stili-Ja stla
Inose batteries parked on the hill,
Battery wheel (mid the roar,
| Pass pieces; fix prolonge To FIRE
Retiring Trot!"t In the panic dire
A7mgle rings "Trot!"-and no more.
The horses plunged, .e-il
me cannon lurohed and luneed
To Join the helpless rout.
But suddenly rode form sras
1 calmly In front of the human storm
win a stern, commanding shout.