Part 10 (1/2)

At Churubusco ended the spectacular career of the celebrated San Patricios battalion of Irish deserters, who deserted to the American army on the Canadian border and afterwards deserted to the Mexicans from the Texan border, fighting against the American in every Mexican war battle of consequence from Palo Alto to Churubusco. After capture the leaders and many of the men were court-martialed and shot; their commander, the notorious Thomas Riley, among the latter. The survivors were branded in the cheek with the letter ”D” as a symbol of their treachery.

General Kearney resigned from the army in 1851 and made a tour of the world. He then went to France and fought in the war of that country against Italy. At Magenta, while he was leading the daring and hazardous charge that turned the situation and won Algiers to France, _he charged with the bridle in his teeth_.

For his bravery he received the Cross of the Legion of Honor, being the first American thus honored.

When the Civil War cloud burst, he came back to the United States and was made brigadier general in the Federal army and given the command of the First New Jersey Brigade.

His timely arrival at Williamsburg saved the day for the Federals.

In the engagement at Fair Oaks,

”Where the red volleys poured, where the clamor rose highest, Where the aim from the thicket was surest and nighest,”

there was no charge like Kearney's.

”How he strode his brown steed! How we saw his blade brighten, In the one hand still left,--and the reins in his teeth!”

General Oliver O. Howard lost his _right_ arm in this battle. When the amputation was taking place, he looked grimly up at General Kearney, who was present, and remarked, ”We'll buy our gloves together, after this.”

At Chantilly, a few days after the second battle of Bull Run, wherein he forced the gallant Stonewall Jackson back, he penetrated into the Confederate lines and met his death.

The Confederates had won. The dusk had fallen and General Kearney was reconnoitering after placing his division.

”He rode right into our men,” feelingly relates a Confederate soldier, ”then stopping suddenly, called out,

”'What troops are these?'”

[Ill.u.s.tration: ”WHAT TROOPS ARE THESE?”]

Some one replied, ”Hays' Mississippi Brigade.”

He turned quickly in an attempt to escape. A shower of bullets fell about him. He leaned forward as if to protect himself, but a ball struck him in the spine. He reeled and fell.

Under the white flag of truce, General Lee sent his remains to General Hooker, who had the body transported to New York, where it was interred with becoming honors.

”Oh, evil the black shroud of night of Chantilly, That hid him from sight of his brave men and tried.”

KEARNEY AT SEVEN PINES

SO that soldierly legend is still on its journey,-- That story of Kearney who knew not how to yield!

'Twas the day when with Jameson, fierce Berry, and Birney, Against twenty thousand he rallied the field.

Where the red volleys poured, where the clamor rose highest, Where the dead lay in clumps through the dwarf oak and pine, Where the aim from the thicket was surest and nighest,-- No charge like Phil Kearney's along the whole line.

When the battle went ill, and the bravest were solemn Near the dark Seven Pines, where we still held our ground He rode down the length of the withering column, And his heart at our war cry leapt up with a bound.

He snuffed like his charger, the wind of the powder,-- His sword waved us on and we answered the sign; Loud our cheer as we rushed, but his laugh rang the louder, ”There's the devil's own fun, boys, along the whole line!”

How he strode his brown steed! How we saw his blade brighten, In the one hand still left,--and the reins in his teeth!

He laughed like a boy when the holidays heighten, But a soldier's glance shot from his visor beneath.

Up came the reserves to the mellay infernal, Asking where to go in,--through the clearing or pine?

”O, anywhere! Forward! 'Tis all the same, Colonel!