George Parsons Lathrop, perhaps best known as a novelist, was born
in Honolulu, Sandwich Islands, August 25, 1851, and died in New
York City, April 19, 1898.
During the second day of the battle of Chancellorsville, May 2, 1863,
General Pleasanton was endeavoring to get twenty-two guns into a vital
position as “Stonewall” Jackson made a sudden advance. Every instant’s
delay was precious, at whatever cost it was purchased, so Pleasanton
ordered Major Keenan, commanding the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry (four
hundred strong), to charge the advancing ten thousand of the enemy.
General Alfred Pleasanton was born in Washington, D. C., June 7, 1824.
He was a West Point graduate, and served in the Mexican War and in
several Indian wars. He was the commander of the Union cavalry at the
battle of Gettysburg.
Major Peter Keenan was born in York, New York, November 9, 1834. He was
a resident of Philadelphia when the Civil War broke out, and assisted in
recruiting the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, in which he was made a
captain. Having attained the rank of major, he was in command of his
regiment at the battle of Chancellorsville, as above stated.
=Stanza 1.= “‘Stonewall’s’ Corps.” See “Barbara Frietchie.”