USA > Maine > First Maine bugle, 1890 (history of 1st Maine Cavalry) > Part 12
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When the District of Columbia boys were transferred to the First Maine Cavalry that regiment was recruited with veteran soldiers. Every one of them had seen hard service in its worst form, and there was not a coward among them, unless it was myself. The District of Columbias kept up the good reputation of the First Maine Cavalry until the close of the war. I remember when we were on the march, time and again, expecting every hour to be ordered into battle, or to have a skirmish with the rebels, how the in- fantry boys used to run out to the road when they were encamped near where we would be marching along, and call out, " What regiment. boys?" and we would call back " First Maine!" then they would call for three cheers for the First Maine Cavalry, and we could hear them say to each other, " We will have a night's rest to-night.
-
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WHAT THE COMRADES HAVE TO SAY.
boys, and we can look for fighting to- morrow, for the First Maine Cavalry is in our front." Oh. how those words from those brave infantry boys would make our hearts swell with pride !
Shortly after the transfer I was de- tailed as bugler in Capt. John D. My- rick's Company. K. and remained as such until the close of the war. It was not long before I could blow all the calls, and was detailed for a short time as bugler at head-quarters. I did not have the pleasure of being at the re- union at Auburn, but I have read about it in the "First Bugle Call." God bless our dear general and com- rade. J. P. Cilley, for his kind and generous remarks regarding our dear friend and comrade Major Myrick, who had, but a short time before, passed over to the beautiful land be- yond. Gen. Cilley said : " The history of Company K is largely the military history of Major Myrick; " also. that his military bearing impressed itself on his company. and that the stand- ing of Company K was due in great measure to the bearing and appear- ance of its commander. I thought how true that all was. Yes. comrades. when we lost Major Myrick from our ranks, we lost a true friend and a hard and enthusiastic worker for our asso- ciation. But what is our loss to that of his bereaved widow and daughters? Major Myrick was a good man, a brave soldier, and an accomplished officer. I have seen him on many a bloody battle-field and he was always at his post at the head of his company. calm and collected. I have thought many a time that he must have borne a charmed life. The same can be said of every officer that came home. And I want to say, comrades, that the fighting qualities of the First Maine Cavalry were. in a great degree, due to the brave officers of that regiment.
There was not one officer, from Gen. Smith down to the sergeant, that would ask a man to go where he would not go himself. Every man had per- fect confidence in his commander, and when he said " Fight," fight it was.
A few months ago, when my mother was on her death-bed, she placed in my hands a letter she had received from Captain Myrick which I never had known of before. It was written in camp of the First Maine Cavalry at Petersburg. Va., twenty-six years ago. It is so personal and speaks in such earnest praise of and affection for me that I could not think of presenting it in this communication, but there is one passage of a more general nature which I am sure our comrades will be glad to read, as showing the leading characteristics of one whom we knew as a thoroughly conscientious, brave. Christian soldier and gentleman, com- bining the tenderness of a woman with the true nobility of manhood. He writes : -
" I have always felt a deep sense of my great responsibility to the men whom Providence has committed to my charge. I have watched over their welfare and interests, and labored as 1 thought for their good: but above all is the solemn duty I owe to the parents and friends of such as Charlie. adrift. as it were. and in the midst of the temptations of army life."
You can imagine. comrades, how a letter so full of generous words for and affectionate interest in her son must have gladdened my mother's heart in those days of strife in the field and anxiety at home.
I was in every fight the District of Columbias were in, except two or three skirmishes, and in every battle the First Maine was engaged in after the transfer. I had three horses shot from under me and never received a
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scratch except the wound at Roanoke Bridge on Wilson's Raid. I will not trespass on your patience longer, com- rades, and trust you will excuse me for speaking so much of myself.
I hope every comrade will tell us something of his experience while in the District of Columbia or First Maine, and that you will go to Houl- ton to our next re-union. It is not at many more of these that we can hope to meet on earth, as the most of us are getting along in years. I believe I was the youngest one in the regi- ment.
Yours in F. C. & L.,
1 CHARLES B. KENNEY, Formerly Bugler Company K, First Maine Cavalry.
(See pp. 345, 464. 317, History.)
Thomas C. Gray's Experience on the Dahlgren Raid.
I was on the Dahlgren Raid and rode a horse called " Little Snap," a curly-haired chestnut horse formerly ridden by Capt. Spurling. In the charge of Tuesday evening and night inside of the outer lines of the enemy's work, my horse was shot and fell on my leg, holding me there for some time; just as I got my foot extricated two young rebs without any arms jumped out of the woods and grabbed me, and said, "You damned Yank, we've got you!" Said I, "What are you going to do with me?" "Damne we are going to hang you." " I do not doubt you in the least." I walked along with them a piece, looked up at them, they had hold of my shoulders, and I took my hands and reached out behind, getting them by the shoulders, and threw them on their faces in the swamp. I held the left one down while I stamped the other down into the
muck and sand and jumped on the tother on the small of his back with both my feet, having on heavy cavalry boots, and then I got up and ran : looking up I saw a red horse with a white face coming towards me. which stopped by me. I mounted him. I heard the rebel pickets firing and I rode on till I came to our lines, and went into the command. The horse belonged to Lieut. Harris, commander of Co. F, from which a Co. F man had been shot.
We rode all that night, and the next morning Lieut. Harris asked me "Where did you get that horse ?" I told him, and he said he would see Lieut. Foster about him: I rode the horse, say twenty-four or forty-eight hours when he was taken by Lieut. Harris; and I walked the rest of the way till we reached Butler's lines.
THOMAS C. GRAY, Co. D First Maine Cavalry.
(See p. 519, History.)
Letter from Corporal Herman R. Green, Co. MM.
CAMBRIDGE, MASS, May 15. 1890. J. P. CILLEY, ESQ.
Dear Sir- I feel a certain pride in my war record, and if there are any remarks to be made, would like to have stated, as shown in regimental reports, that I was with the First Maine Cavalry three years without ever being on the sick list, without ever having one day's leave of absence. or off duty except for a few days, when wounded.
Every comrade knows what all those months and years of service meant for the First Maine Cavalry.
Yours truly, HERMAN R. GREEN.
(See pp. 649, History and also page of illustra. tions in Bugle, Call No. I.)
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WHAT THE COMRADES HAVE TO SAY.
.
Letter from Roscoe R. Bangs, Co. L.
WESCOTT, Neb .. August 6. 1890.
In regard to offering corrections to history, I will say that Freeland L. Holman, Sergeant of my Co., L, was taken prisoner at Ground Squirrel Bridge, May 11, 1864. instead of at St. Mary's Church, June 24, 1864. He was my tent-mate at that time, and when we mounted to charge, for some reason (and I think it was on account of his horse becoming unmanageable), he did not mount and charge with us, for when we came back over the ground we started from he was there, and still unmounted. I shouted to him to mount or something to that effect, but I know he must have been taken prisoner right there where I saw him last, and if any of Co. L boys should see this I think they will agree with me in saying that he was a brave soldier, loved and respected by all who knew him, and especially by all of Co. L.
Respectfully yours, R. R. BANGS. (See pp. 635, 632, History.)
A Word from George W. Eaton, Co. B.
Mrs. Eaton, wife of George W. Eaton: Co. B. writes to Gen. Cilley, under date of Aug. 4th. 1890, as fol- lows :
"George received the Bugle all right. He was very, very much pleased with it, and also very glad to feel that he was remembered by his old comrades yet. His health is very poor ; so much so that he will be unable to attend the reunion in Bos- ton. He wishes to very much, but it would not be safe for him to go. He is very anxious to see all his old com- rades again, and wishes to be remem- bered to them all."
(Sce f. 490, Ilistory.)
Letter from IE. W. Williams, Co. D, Tenth New York Cavalry.
ROME, N. Y., Aug. 7, 1890. GEN. J. P. CILLEY, Rockland, Me.
"Hark! I hear the bugle sound- ing."- Call No. 1. That must be Reveille. If it was, its sound was not as harsh and unfeeling as a good many reveilles I have heard previously. May the First Maine. Bugle sound loud enough to be heard and answered by every surviving member of Gen. D. McM. Gregg's old Cavalry Divi- tion. August 12th and 13th, the Tenth New York Cavalry Veteran Associa- tion will hold their reunion at Glovers- ville, N. Y., and will carry the First Maine Bugle and " blow" it for them. One error in my letter -- First Penn- sylvania, First New Jersey and Sixth Ohio instead of First New York Cav- alry. Hope I will always have twenty- five cents to answer the Bugle Call.
Yours in F. C. and L., W. W. WILLIAMS. III E. Thomas St., Rome, N. Y.
(See Bugle Call No. I. We have a long letter from Comrade Williams for the next Call.)
Wounding of Lieut. Cutler, Co. B.
While the regiment was near the remote part of their reconnoissance, in the fall of '63, the enemy attacked the Division, and the wounding of Lieut. Cutler, then on Gen. Gregg's staff, is thus described by Clifton W. Wiles, of Co. L, Ioth N. Y. Cavalry. in a letter to Gen. Cilley :
About 2 P. M. orders were received for our regiment to re-cross the river, and we immediately moved out, cross- ing on the bridge, Col. J. I. Gregg, I believe, being in our advance. While we were crossing, a portion of our brigade. the Fourth Pennsylvania Cav- alry, were skirmishing dismounted with the enemy's advance. As we
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
moved up the hill the fire became lively, and the enemy pushed them back. When nearly to the top of the hill we formed line, mounted, and opened fire. The dismounted Fourth Pennsylvania cavalrywere then ordered to make their way to the other side of the river, and they very properly lost no time in doing so. We immediately became hotly engaged, some of our squadrons charging the enemy's skir- mishers back, when we discovered a battery of artillery getting into posi- tion. Just at this time my horse received a musket ball through his body, and I was ordered to get back across the river, and proceeded to fol- low the excellent example of the Fourth Pennsylvania as fast as the bleeding condition of my horse would permit. When near one third of the way from our line to the river, I saw a wounded officer reeling in his saddle, and a young man, whom I took to be a surgeon's assistant, or orderly, en- deavoring to hold him on his saddle while they were slowly making their way back toward the bridge. I did not have much time to spare just at that time, but I could plainly see that with the progress they were making they could not reach the bridge before our lines would be broken and the bridge swept by artillery. I rode to the left side of the officer, who proved to be Lieut. Cutler of the First Maine Cavalry, and asked him if I could be of assistance in helping him from the field. He appeared to be in great pain, and begged that I would help him over the river. I placed my right arm through his left. and with the assistance of the comrade on his right succeeded in holding him upright in the saddle, he all the time urging us to make more haste. or we would surely be cut off. We appreciated and shared his anxiety, and pushed on
as fast as possible. When we reached the bridge the pioneers were pulling it up and we were the last to cross. I remember looking back just then and seeing my comrades coming, broken and flying, towards the river, while the top of the hill was covered with confederates. Just then their artillery opened and it seemed to me that a hundred tornadoes had broken upon us; how many pieces of artillery they had I never knew, there were all we cared to see. We made our way up the bank and out on the Bealton road. over which our ambulances and wagons had gone. when the storm opened. As soon as we reached par- tial shelter, I left the lieutenant with the comrade, after we had taken him from his horse; his strength giving out we could hold him on no longer. After some search I found an ambu- lance, but had some difficulty to get the driver to go back under fire of the confederate guns. I used some pretty strong language, not especially adapted for a Sunday-School class, and posi- tively informed him if he did not go back with me, that there would be a vacancy on that driver's seat in less than one York minute, and I meant it; time was too limited to enter into any argument. He reconsidered, and accompanied me back, when we found Lieut. Cutler lying on the ground. When we were placing him in the ambulance he inquired my regiment and name. and expressed the great appreciation he felt for the little I had done: and away they went toward Bealton. As soon as my anxiety and excitement was gone I began to look around to see what condition I was in : there I was alone in a pine thicket. confederate shells making the air and trees tremble over my head, my horse reeling under me, and the blood dropping from his sides: in less than
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OBITUARIES.
ten minutes he was dead and I was making my way toward Bealton with my arms and worldly possessions over my shoulder. I never met Lieut. Cut- ler again. I am now unable to say in what part of the body Lieut. Cutler was wounded. as I made no examina- tion. nor saw any made: but I sup-
posed he was shot through the body. I do not remember that he lost much, if any, blood while we were taking him back. I remember that we were so anxious to get him out of reach of fire that we gave his person but little attention.
(See p. 401, History.)
OBITUARIES.
Col. Daniel S. Curtiss was born June 28, 1814, and died at Washington, D. C. February 6. 1890.
His early life was passed in western New York, where he acquired an education by night study, and an ap- prenticeship in the office of the Roch- ester Journal, the pioneer paper of that city, edited by Henry O'Reilley. Here, during the administration of Martin Van Buren he edited The Rochester Daily Advertiser, and later edited and published a weekly paper at Perry, Wyoming Co., in the same state.
In IS-, with his parents, two brothers, and two sisters, he joined a then considerable exodus from New York to Michigan, settling in the vil- lage of Tecumseh, where he edited and published the first weekly paper of that town. Here he married Miss Jeannette Holmes a resident of Te- cumseh, who lived but fifteen months after her marriage, and died leaving him an infant son but three weeks old. This son. Ambrose Birney Curtiss. arriving at his majority the first year of the rebellion, enlisted at Adrian, and gave to his country three years of the fierce, efficient service in the Fourth Michigan Infantry, which char- acterized that regiment all during the war. Later he served as second lieutenant in the Eighth United
States Cavalry, at Fort Whipple, Ari- sona Territory, where for gallant ser- vice he received a promotion to the rank of first lieutenant, but resigned his commission at the expiration of three years. After the death of his wife at Tecumseh. entrusting his in- fant son to the care of his mother and sisters, Mr. Curtiss returned to Roch- ester and engaged with his old-time employer, Henry O'Reilly, in construct- ing a line of telegraph through the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and the then territory of Minnesota. The task of selection of route, erection of lines, and establishment of offices was entrusted to Mr. Curtiss and a young companion, and during the several years of travel on that work he col- lected notes, and published in 1852 quite an extended description of nearly all their " principal cities and towns. with the resources of those States. their lands, mines, improvements. conveyances, markets, etc.," entitled " Western Portraiture."
During this year he again moved. with his parents and one sister, to the prairie where now stands the magni- ficent city of Chicago, his home being eighteen miles from the central portion of this great metropolis. Here he brought his second wife, Miss Abby Allen of Pomfret. Conn., a young authoress of some celebrity, familiarly
e
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known to New England Journalism as " Nilla." Here he was a writer for the Chicago Tribune.
From Chicago he moved to Madi- son, Wisconsin, where he edited the Madison Journal, and where, in 1859, he suffered a second bereavement in the loss of his wife, who left him a daughter and a son, the latter surviving the mother but a year.
He then went to Oconomowoc, where he published the Free Press, but at the beginning of the war of the Rebellion he entered in the service of the Union, and recruited a Wisconsin company, going out as its captain ; but subsequently was commissioned major of the First District of Columbia Cay- alry, by President Lincoln, and served with honor, being three times wounded, in that body until the close of the war, when he was breveted colonel. by which title he has since been familiarly known.
After the close of the war he held a position in the Treasury Department for some years and later in the Depart- ment of Agriculture. For an interval of three years he conducted the Mary- land Farmer at Baltimore, returning again to Washington to a post in the First Auditor's Office, Treasury De- partment, where he continued until his death. During this time, for several years he was a contributor to the National Farmer. He also wrote and article on " Wheat Culture," of which a second edition was published about a year since.
In 1883 he married his third wife, Mrs. Maria Mann of Rochester, daugh- ter of his early patron Henry O'Reilly.
His last illness was brief, though for a year he had been in failing health. His wife and daughter sur- vive him.
Public spirited to an eminent degree, he took an active part in various public movements, including the anti-
slavery movement many years before the war, the temperance movement then and more recently at Washington. and the organization of the "Patrons of Husbandry," especially in Virginia. where he organized local granges un- til there was a sufficient number to permit the establishment of a State grange. He was one of the earliest advocates of the principle finally em- bodied in the " Homestead law."
He was fittingly buried at Arlington Heights, where rests the country's honored dead.
(See p. 457, History.)
Abiezar Veazie, of Co. B, died Thursday morning, Aug. 14th, last. His death was caused by a sudden attack of hemorrhage, and occurred in Canton Hall, Malden, Mass., where Edwin Libby Post, with which de- ceased was attending the National Encampment, was entertained by Hiram G. Berry Post of that city. He seemed to be in his usual state of health during the preceding days and on that morning. He rose early, pur- chased a morning paper, and sat down to read it, a few of his comrades sit- ting near him. He suddenly rose from his chair and stepped forward. making this remark-" Look at this. boys; I am bleeding to death." The blood was flowing from his mouth. Prompt assistance was rendered him. but the hemorrhage could not be checked. and he died in twenty minutes. not speaking again. He did not appear to suffer much pain. His funeral occurred on the following Sun- day afternoon at his late residence on Rankin Street, Rockland. The burial service of the Grand Army of the Republic was used, Edwin Libby Post attending in a body, four com- rades of this Regiment, Frank Pacott,
C
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OBITUARIES.
Thomas H. Benner, George B. Yea- ton, and Gen. Jonathan P. Cilley serv- ing as pall bearers. Deceased was also a member of Rockland Lodge of Masons, and that fraternity was well represented on the occasion.
(See p. 496, History.)
Sergeant Major Albert C. Dam, died in Bellevue Hospital, New York, May 15th, last, of pneumonia, after an ill- ness of about five days. Comrade Dam was the son of Thomas J. and Jane Dam, of Portland, and a grand- son of the late Francis Radoux, the centennarian, who was a lieutenant under Napoleon Bonaparte. He at- tended the public schools, and after receiving his education became clerk for Augustus Robinson, dealer in peri- odicals in that city. When the First District of Columbia Cavalry was organized, he enlisted in Capt. Andrew M. Benson's company and was ap- pointed sergeant. Upon the consoli- dation of that regiment with the First Maine Cavalry he was transferred to Co. M. He served as regimental ordnance sergeant until May, 1865, when he was appointed sergeant- major, and came home with the regi- ment. On his return he was book- keeper for Bailey & Noyes, book- sellers in Portland. When his uncle. Andrew Dam, took the Astor House and Union Square Hotels in New York City, Comrade Dam became a clerk at the Astor. and was later trans- ferred to the Union Square. He was very popular with the patrons of these houses. For a time, while his uncle was sick at the south. attended by his son, Comrade Dam was acting man- ager of the Union Square. After the death of his uncle, he returned to Portland, where he formed a co- partnership with his father-in-law, W.
W. Lothrop, the firm carrying on a wholesale furnishing goods business in that city. After a year or two the firm wound up its business, and Com- rade Dam became the first proprietor of the Union Station café. About two years ago he went to Atlantic City, N. J., and became clerk at the Atlantic House, but for a year pre- vious to his death he had been cashier of the Hoffman House, New York. He was a member of Ancient Land- mark . Lodge, and Mount Vernon Royal Arch Chapter of Masons. He leaves a widow and two children.
(See pp. 461, 646, History.)
George R. Cameron, of Co. C, of Camden, Me., while at work rigging on board the bark J. H. Bowers, at Rock- port, Monday morning, December 8th, 1890, fell from the main lower topmast to the deck, and was killed instantly. The funeral services were held at the family residence on Mechanic street the following Wednesday afternoon, and were largely attended by members of Geo. S. Cobb and Fred A. Norwood G. A. R. Posts, also G. F. Burgess Engine Co. Mr. Cameron leaves a widow and two children. He was about 43 years of age.
(See p. 505, History.)
Word has been received of the death of Lieutenant James W. Poor, in September, but no particulars have been received, therefore, a biographi- cal sketch must be postponed to some future Call.
(See pp. 460, 4SI, History.)
DIED. - In Fort Fairfield. Me., August 15th, r$70, Daniel W. Haines, Commissary Sergeant.
(See pp. 461, 529. History.)
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Andrew Fisher, of Co. M. died August 14th last. at his home at Peaks Island.
(See p. 651. History.)
Deacon John G. Cummings, one of the first members of the Baptist church of Biddeford, died Monday night, aged 59 years. He was widely known in York county, having for ten years been in the tin-ware business there. He was a private in Company I, First Maine Cavalry. His wife and five children survive him. One of his sons is the Rev. John E. Cummings, Baptist missionary to Burmah.
(See p. 600, History.)
Thomas P. Moore. a pensioner at the Togus Soldiers' Home. had been suffering for a long time from com- plaints resulting from wounds received in the army, in which he served cred- itably as an enlisted man in Co. E, First Maine Cavalry. Upon the 14th of this month he said to his nurse, " I believe I'm about ready to die, so I Hl shave and change my clothes," which he did, and returned to bed as happy as a lark. Upon the 16th he was taken from it a corpse. says the Kennebec Reporter.
(See p. 536. History.)
[No record of the year or month accompa- nied these last two notices .-- ED.]
FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
Entered at the Post Office, Rockland, Me., as Second-Class Matter.
CAMPAIGN II. JANUARY, 1891. CALL 3.
" The neighing troops, the flashing blade, The Bugle's stirring blast."
PUBLISHED QUARTERLY, AND WILL CONTAIN THE PROCEEDINGS OF
THE YEARLY REUNIONS OF THE FIRST MAINE CAVALRY, MATTERS OF HISTORIC VALUE TO THE REGIMENT, AND ITEMS OF PERSONAL INTEREST TO ALL THE MEMBERS.
THE ROLL CALL. .
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