The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1912-06-20
REMAINS Arr
TO AIRING ON
He Lost an Arm Fighting the
Mexicans and Fell In
Northern Virginia.


the troop were known wherever they
went, as the horses they rode were
the best that could be secured and
were all gray. It was at Cherubusco
that Kearny came into notice and lost
his left arm. Had he been supported
by force of infantry when he made
his famous charge he would have cap
tured Mexico that day. A month lat
er General Scott, with his army, en-
tered the City of Mexico, but the first
man who entered the gate of the cap
tured capital. sword in hand. was
Kearny.
On his return to New York in 184S
the Union club presented to Kearny a
magnificent sword, the same blade
which was buried with him fourteen
years later. In the summer Of 1851 he
was sent to California, where he took
part in the campaign against the Rogue
river Indians, who at that period
were the most warlike and most diff
cult to subdue Of all the tribes on the
Pacific coast. Officers who took part
In that campaign used to wonder how
Kearny kept his saddle on all occa-
sions, one armed as he was, even when
the march lay along mountain rocks
| most dangerous and often seemingly
fmpracticable for soldier on horse
back.
A Journey Around the World.
In the fall Of 1851 he again resigned
from the army and made trip around
the world, being with the French in the
war in northern Italy in 1859. Being
apprised Of the near approach of hostil-
tiles between the north and the south
in this country in the spring of 1861,
Kearny returned to New York and i'm
mediately went to Washington to offer
his services to the president. In spite
OF his record In Algiers, his bravery in
the Mexican war and his experience in
| the west against the Indians, he was
rejected, being without political influ-
ence, and he returned to New York.
He then went to Albany to lay before
Governor Morgan his claim to a high
position in the volunteer forces of the
the newspapers Of New York city at
the time said: Ellis valuable experience
should not be refused at this time,
when we are SO sadly in want of expe-
rienced commanders without faint of
treason.''
After weeks Of waiting at Albany
while men of lesser ability were ap-
pointed to command brigades, he re-
turned to Washington in disgust.
There a friend saw him and presented
his claims to the governor of New Jer-
sey, and on July 25. 1861, President
Lincoln appointed Kearny a brigadier
general, with rank from May II, and
assigned him to the command of the
First New Jersey brigade, in Frank
| Inns division of the Army Of the Poto-
mac. Within twenty-four hours after
receiving notice of his appointment
Kearny joined his troops in front Of
Alexandria,
The Death of Kearny.
Kearny served through the engage
ments in the peninsular campaign with
the Army Of Virginia from the Rapi-
dan to Warrenton and in May, 1862,
received command Of the Third diyi-
sion. His commission as major gen.
eral bears the date of July Z, 1862, but
was never received by him. The ad-
venture which cost his life was in no
| way unusual for him, as there are
many accounts Of Incidents to prove
| his reckless courage. e..
On the night Of Sept. /, 1862, there
was violent storm. Birney asked
Kearny for brigade to fill gap on
his right. At this time it was raining
hard. General Kearny was on a black
horse and covered with an india rub
Der cloak. He determined to see for
himself if such a danger existed as a
gap in the Union lines. The smoke
from the battle was low. AS the two
officers leaped ditch Kearny's horse
SHE'D, and he remarked how disagree
able it was that horse should behave
80 in battle. Birney warned Kearny
not to go ahead and urged him to re-
main, saying he would ride into the
enemy's lines, but Kearny retorted
with testing remark about Birney's
caution and dashed ahead.
| This was the last Birney ever saw
OF his friend. 1t was afterward learn
ed that Kearny suddenly came. upon
Georgia regiment. Perceiving danger.
he shouted, Don't fire-Pm friendp,
but instantly wheeled his horse around
and, lying fiat upon the animal, had
escaped many bullets when one struck
him at the bottom Of the spine and.
ranging upward. killed him almost in,
stantly.
| AS Kearny did not return Birney
supposed he had been taken prisoner
and assumed command Of the division.
During the night Of Sept. the Fed
erals were busy in removing the
wounded and burying the dead. About
10 p. m. Confederate officer sent =
flag to General Birney and said that
he had within his lines the body Of
I N