"Yankee Doodle" Saves the Day

John Hartwell

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Poet Walt Whitman spent most of the war years as a volunteer in army hospitals in and around Washington. All that time he kept notebooks, jotting down notes on the many hundreds of sick and wounded soldiers he helped. Often he gave their names, regiments, and home towns, details of their injuries, their background stories, etc. In the North American Review, vol. 144 (1887), he published an article containing "Some War Memoranda -- Jotted Down at the Time."

I find this incident in my notes (I suppose from "chinning" in hospital with some sick or wounded soldier who knew of it):
When Kilpatrick and his forces were cut off at Brandy Station (last of September, '63, or thereabouts), and the bands struck up "Yankee Doodle" there were not cannon enough in the Southern Confederacy to keep him and them "in." It was when Meade fell back. K. had his cavalry division (perhaps 5,000 men), and the rebs, in superior force, had surrounded them. Things looked exceedingly desperate. K. had two fine bands, and ordered them up immediately; they joined and played "Yankee Doodle" with a will. It went through the men like lightning — but to inspire, not to unnerve. Every man seemed a giant. They charged like a cyclone, and cut their way out. Their loss was but 20. It was about two in the afternoon.

No idea if that's true or not. Maybe some soldier was telling Walt a tall tale -- or, maybe Walt was stretching things a bit himself. Has anyone familiar with Brandy Station heard anything similar?
 
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Think I'm with Cavalry Charger, would have to believe it, or a version of it. It's not just the music portion which rings true. We see a LOT more literary fluff attached to stories like this, in general? It's a pretty stark report devoid of words like ' gallant ' and ' heroic ', ' patriotic ', etc. We might know ' K ' was a.. well... a toolbag dressed up but Whitman didn't comment either way. ' Charge like a cyclone ' isn't even unnecessary garnish, seems descriptive of what ( may have ) happened?

Brandy Station scholar would know where 'K' was and when. The 2 p.m. thing sure breaks it down.
 
Walt had apparently been given a somewhat exuberant account of an event that occurred in October, 1863 ...

"... on the open plain between Culpeper and Brandy Station and to the left of the railroad. The wagons of the two brigades were in the advance, as we were retiring. It was a bright October afternoon and one could see for a considerable distance ahead. A stream called Mountain Run had to be crossed and we noticed confusion at it, though it was probably a mile ahead. Presently some one appeared and reported that the enemy were in position directly across our line of march on the opposite side of the run. To their left they had a battery which had the range of the little bridge over which our entire column must pass to cross Mountain Run. It thus seemed that we were likely to be cut off and the only alternative was to charge right through this force directly in our front. Kilpatrick gave orders to Custer to charge with his entire command and we then advanced in practically five columns. This was a fine sight and a thrilling moment. Pleasanton's staff and escort, Kilpatrick's staff and escort, and Custer's three or four regiments. When we arrived within a reasonable charging distance of the enemy posted as I have described, Custer ordered his band to strike up Yankee Doodle; the men on hearing this began cheering when the bugle sounded the charge. The five columns rushed forward and the enemy broke before we reached them, moving into the woods on their left and our right, across the railroad. I remember one gallant Confederate riding out in an effort to rally their men, standing in plain sight with his battle-flag stuck in the ground, holding it off from his horse at arm's length, but it was of no use, and he finally was obliged to retire."​
[Meyer, Henry C., Civil War Experiences, 1911, pp. 43-44]​
 
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