Chapter Sixty-Eight The Emergency of 1863 Part II
Chapter Sixty-Eight
The Emergency of 1863
Part II
The Emergency of 1863
Part II
From “Kearny the Magnificent” by Roger Galton
NorthWestern
"As soon as General Reynolds arrived in Washington he met with General Kearny and Secretary Stanton in the War Office. Von Steinwehr's XI Corps and Meade's IV Corps had already marched north to join Humphrey and Stevens. Reynolds had arrived with the first elements of XII Corps. Soon after Sickles and Hancock would pass through with their corps. Rodman's VI Corps was bringing up the rear...
The Chain Bridge over the Potomac over which many in the Army of the Potomac would pass
Kearny ordered Reynolds forward to take command of the four corps now near Monocacy. Kearny, reluctantly would remain behind in Washington, and forward the remaining troops to Reynolds...
Stanton demanded to know what steps would be taken to secure the capitol. Jackson's "attack" at Monocacy and rough handling of the IX Corps had unsettled Washington. Was it not possible that Lee could again turn and threaten the capitol while the Army of the Potomac marched north? Had not General Kearny reduced the garrison of the capitol to augment his garrisons in Virginia? Should not at least a corps be held back to screen Washington or an element of the Army of the James brought up to expand the garrison?
Kearny's AG, Lieutenant Colonel Chauncey McKeever, who was present reported that "while General Reynolds only indicated his disapproval by his expression and the occasional 'tut', the Secretary was roughly handled by General Kearny who rounded on the Secretary's faintheartedness". For the moment Stanton agreed that Reynolds should have the whole of the Army of the Potomac at his disposal..."
From "The Emergency of 1863" by Dr. Teddy Gilette
Greeley Press 1981
"It had happened before, both during the war, and previously but it was always unexpected. General Kearny and his staff had ridden out to meet General Hancock as his troops crossed the Chain Bridge to Washington. It is unknown what startled General Kearny's horse. It was a newly purchased mount and Kearny had doubtless not fully understood its temperament yet...
Kearny was an exceptional horseman, but it is often forgotten he only had one hand to manage the reins, and was often to be found with reins in his mouth while he manged something else with his free hand...
The horse fell and rolled over the General. Rolled not once but twice over the General. Captains Louis Fitzgerald and James C. Briscoe of Kearny's staff were immediately off their horses, as was General Hancock to see to General Kearny. He was unconscious. Captain George W. Mindil of the staff was immediately sent to find Kearny's personal surgeon, Doctor William H. Pancoast. In the meantime, men of Standard's Vermont Brigade [III Division, I Corps] found a stretcher and carried Kearny to the nearby Morrison House..."
Captain George W. Mindil
From “The War Between the States” by Otis R. Mayhew
Sword & Musket 1992
"There was no panic in the War Office, but there was an air of fear and uncertainty when news of Kearny's accident arrived. Secretary Stanton and General Halleck met to frame a recommendation to the President. General Reynolds was more than capable of leading the Army of the Potomac against Lee. However the Secretary's concern for Washington remained and it was fanned by the ever cautious Halleck. Their recommendation to the President was thus: Hancock's I Corps would continue its march to join Reynolds, but the final corps, Rodman's VI Corps, would be held in Washington for the moment until Lee's intentions were fully developed. An order was also to be sent to General Peck that he was to forward a division to Washington to reinforce the garrison. Perhaps upon its arrival Rodman's forces might be released...
The President was naturally concerned for General Kearny. Hay's minutes confirm the President's concern at the idea of dividing his forces once again on the eve of a major battle. However the Secretary and General Halleck were adamant that to do otherwise was to expose the capitol to potential attack. Further, once Peck's troops had arrived, the three could revisit the situation and hopefully General Kearny would have recovered sufficiently to advise the President. The President assented..."
Doctor William Pancoast
From "The Emergency of 1863" by Dr. Teddy Gilette
Greeley Press 1981
"President Lincoln took to horse and was shortly at the Morrison House to see General Kearny's condition for himself. Dr. Pancoast's assessment was troubling. The General was still unconscious several hours after the accident. He had an obvious injury to the head and there was serious bruising to the torso. Dr. Pancoast did not believe there were internal injuries to the General's body but he could not yet speak to the seriousness of the head injury. He had sent for several other "specialists" with whom to consult including his father Jospeh Pancoast who was in the city. He assured the President, everything that could be done for General Kearny would be done..."
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