Description
Litho carte view of Union General Philip Kearny. An experienced soldier prior to the war, Kearny offered his services to the national government and to his native state, and, no command being conceded him, entered the volunteer service as commander of the 1st N. J. brigade. He was subsequently given by President Lincoln a commission as brigadier-general of volunteers, and was assigned to command the 1st N. J. brigade in Gen. William B. Franklin’s division, Army of the Potomac. Kearny would be present at the battle of Williamsburg, where, arriving at 2:30 p. m., he reinforced Gen. Hooker’s division, recovered the ground lost and turned defeat into victory. He served through the engagements of the Peninsula, then, with the Army of Virginia, from Rapidan to Warrenton. He was given command of a division in May, 1862, and was given a commission as major-general of volunteers to bear the date of July 4, which, however, never reached him. At the second battle of Bull Run he was in command on the right and forced Jackson’s corps back against Gen. Longstreet’s men and was killed on the battleground of Chantilly, Va. on September 1, 1862. Gen. Kearny had, while reconnoitering, inadvertently penetrated the Confederate lines and was trying to escape when he was shot through the spine and instantly killed. His remains were sent by Lee under flag of truce to Gen. Hooker, and in City Park, Newark, N. J., the citizens of New Jersey erected a statue to his memory. Gen. Scott said of Kearny, “He was the bravest man I ever knew and the most perfect soldier.”. This view remains housed in the original albumen page in which it was found. A period pencil inscription across the front reads, “Maj. Gen. Philip Kearny Killed at Chantilly 1862″. The reverse of the card bears an identical pencil inscription. Back marked by Anthony.
