USA > Maine > First Maine bugle, 1890 (history of 1st Maine Cavalry) > Part 16
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OF THE
FIRST MAINE CAVALRY. .
The fourteenth annual reunion was held at Portland, June 24th, 1885, and was rather an impromptu affair, though none the less pleasant on that account. In fact, from the numbers present, especially the numbers who came from a great distance. and from the spirit which pervaded the reunion, it may be set down as one of the pleasantest and most successful. At the reunion at Eastport, in 1884, Canton was selected as the place for the next annual reunion, "with the provision that the officers shall have discretionary power to change the place of meeting if necessary." So it was supposed that the next re- union was to be held at Canton, and some of the comrades were looking forward to the pleasures of the reunion at that place later in season. But the National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic at Portland in June, called together so many comrades of the grand old regiment, not only those resid- ing in the State but from all parts of the country, that after the Encampment actually commenced it was thought best to have the reunion of the regiment at that time, which was done, and though the notice was short, and reached but few except those already gathered at Portland, the attendance was very large -- larger, it was estimated, than at any previous reunion of the regiment.
The arrangements for the comfort of the comrades of the regiment who attended the Grand Army Encampment were ample. Early in June a meeting of the comrades of the regi- ment residing in Portland was held at the office of Captain
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FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REUNION.
Charles W. Ford, to consider what should be done for the entertainment of visiting comrades of the regiment during the week of the National Encampment, June 23 - 26. As buta few comrades responded to the call, no organization was effected, and no definite action was taken. Several suggestions were made, some of which were afterwards carried out. One of them was by Major Sidney W. Thaxter, to the effect that a large tent be procured from the quartermaster of the encamp- ment, to be pitched in a suitable location, to be used as head- quarters of the regiment, and to be kept open day and night for the accommodation of all who wished to avail themselves of its shelter and of the refreshments there supplied. On the morn- ing of June 21st a place was assigned the regiment, near Con- gress street, and near the headquarters of the encampment, and Major Thaxter and Comrade Charles F. Dam, of Co. F, visited the designated location to sec that the tent was properly pitched and that everything was made comfortable for the comrades. To their surprise they found the ground which had been assigned to this regiment, guarded by a major of another Maine regiment, who had selected this particular location for his com- mand. Some conversation, military, emphatic and otherwise, took place, when the other major candidly informed the cavalry- men that he should hold possession of this ground if he had to fight for it. The cavalrymen wisely decided not to fight unless there was something worth fighting for, especially as they were not in good fighting trim, so they gracefully yielded the point in dispute, and departed to seek a better location, knowing full well that the ground thus kept from them was wet, uneven, and not at all a first-class place for a tent for visiting comrades. At this juncture they were joined by Comrade Winsor B. Smith, of Co. K, who, though barely able to walk, started with them to find a camp-ground. Major Thaxter was obliged to leave them to go to headquarters, but the other two continued on, and Comrade Smith selected a spot which was accepted, and was covered by the First Maine Cavalry tent during the En- campment. This was Comrade Smith's last labor for the old regiment which he loved so well. After this work was done
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
he started away, and when a few rods from Comrade Dam he called to him. Comrade Dam responded to the call, and on reaching Comrade Smith, the latter took from his pocket a bunch of keys, and selecting one he handed it to Comrade Dan, saying, "Charley, take this key; it is the key to the case in the Grand Army Hall wherein is kept our old regimental flag : I wish you to keep it, unless otherwise ordered by the associa- tion, until your life is, like mine, nearly closed, and then pass it to some resident comrade of Bosworth Post for further keep- ing." He then left Comrade Dam, his parting words being, " If I am spared to meet the old boys again I will be willing to go, but I do not think I shall." Comrade Dam said a few cheering words to him as he left, but did not see him again alive, for Comrade Smith was dying while his comrades were engaged with their business meeting.
Monday evening, June 22d, a meeting of the officers of the association was held, at which it was decided that it would be best, under the circumstances, to hold the annual reunion at Portland during that week, and the evening of Wednesday, the 24th, was chosen. It was then too late to procure a suitable hall, or a caterer for the banquet, but the local comrades took hold of the matter and did the best they could, which was remarkably well. Through the influence of Major Thaxter, who was then one of the directors of the Portland Fraternity, the use of the hall of this association on Free street was secured, on the payment of the necessary expenses. The hall was small, seating only about one hundred, but it was the only place that could be obtained in Portland at that time. The next morning a general meeting of the comrades of the regiment was held at Fraternity Hall, at which Comrade Dam was authorized to pro- cure something for a Junch for the comrades in reunion assem- bled. In answer to questions as to what to procure, Major George M. Brown suggested that a generous supply of salt fish. crackers and lemonade would be satisfactory. Indeed, that seemed to be about all that could be obtained in the way of refreshments at that time. Accompanied by other comrades to share the burden, Comrade Dam procured salt fish, crackers.
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FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REUNION.
bananas, oranges, lemons, ice, cheese, etc., etc., as well as paper napkins, plates, etc. The plan was to pass the loaded plates around after the meeting, while the comrades were seated, but alas, the best plans are subject to change. The comrades began to arrive about seven o'clock, and as they passed the small room where the assistants who were to pass around the plates were in waiting, they saw the display of refreshments, and in a moment their field spirit came up and they helped themselves. This was the beginning of fun not laid down in the programme. To complete the refreshment story at this point it may be said that when the time arrived for their distri- bution, it was found that instead of passing the refreshments around, all the assistants could do was to deposit them in a jumble on the table and let the comrades help themselves. A generous supply of lemonade had been provided for, to be served in a small ante-room, but a break in the water-pipe in an adjoining street had caused the supply of water to be limited to such an amount as Comrade Dam could carry in a single bucket from a store two blocks away, which only made matters worse, as it kept the crowd of comrades lingering in anticipa- tion. Many were the good-natured expressions heard as to the prohibitory laws of the good old State of Maine, which on that occasion seemed to include water.
The comrades began to gather by seven o'clock in the event- ing, and very soon Fraternity Hall was packed with the com- rades of the regiment, and their wives and daughters, while there were present quite a number from other regiments of the State, who were looking for old comrades whom they had not seen for years. And there were the usual hearty greetings.of comrades toward each other, more than usual, for that matter, as there were many present who live far away, and who are able to join in the pleasures of regimental reunion but seldom. Nearly every State in the Union. and every company in the regiment were -represented. A very pleasant feature of this gathering was the presence of quite a number of the comrades of the Pennsylvania regiments with which the First Maine was brigaded so long, (the Second, Fourth, Eighth, and Sixteenth
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
Pennsylvania Cavalry regiments), and the greetings between the comrades of the different regiments were most cordial, the sight of each other calling up many memories of marches, bat- tles and campaigns in which each bore a noble part. The hall was decorated with yellow hues, and even the fruit served was of the same cavalry color - oranges, bananas, etc.
THE BUSINESS MEETING.
The business meeting was presided over by Major George M. Brown, The following were elected officers for the ensuing year : -
President, - Capt. Zenas Vaughan, of Skowhegan. Vice-President, - Lieut. John R. Andrews, of Saco. Secretary, -- Lieut. Orrin S. Haskell. of Pittsfield. Treasurer, Gen. J. P. Cilley, of Rockland.
Skowhegan was selected as the place for the next annual reunion.
The question of whether or not to continue the publication of the reunion pamphlets, which had been discontinued since the reunion in Brunswick in 1882, was called up by Gen. Cilley, and elicited a warm discussion. It was argued on the one side that it would be better to discontinue these publica- tions, and save the money as a fund for the publication of the History of the Regiment at some future time, while on the other hand, the comrades who reside in other States far away. led by Comrade Riley L. Jones of Co. G, ("Jones of G " ) now of Michi- gan, pleaded that as they are unable to attend the reunions often, they very much like to receive the reunion pamphlets, to learn what the comrades way down in their native State are doing -- that it was like receiving a good long letter from home. Before this question was decided, the Historian, Lient. Edward P. Tobie, was called upon to make a report as to the progress made on the history, and gave the gratifying information that the history was virtually completed ; that through the kindness and energy of Gen. Charles H. Smith during the past year. he had been furnished with the complete rosters of all the compa- nies the roster of which he had before been unable to obtain,
0
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FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REUNION.
and though he had not put the material into shape, yet he was ready to do so any time the association was ready to publish the history. This statement settled the question under discussion, and it was decided to make a fund for the publication of the history instead of publishing the pamphlets. To further the matter, Comrades J. P. Cilley, George M. Brown and Edw. P. Tobie were appointed a committee on publication.
There was but little business to transact and the meeting was quickly transformed into a stirring camp-fire, in which speech and story followed each other fast and furious, and that with little formality. Several of the Pennsylvania comrades were called upon and added their quota to the enjoyment of the hour, all of them being given a rousing reception in honor of themselves, of their regiment, of the old Second Brigade, Second Cavalry Division, and of the stirring times when they served together under the loved Col. J. Irwin Gregg, and the grand Gen. David MeM. Gregg, whose names were cheered to the echo. Comrade Tobie called attention to the fact that this evening was an anniversary of an engagement which every member of the glorious old Division should remember --- the twenty-first anniversary of the fight at St. Mary's Church, June 24th, 1864. This turned the current of thought and story in a new direction, and that battle was fought over again. It was a rattling good camp-fire and full of real pleasure. In the course of time the refreshments were served, as stated above, and the comrades separated for the camp ground, for their Post headquarters, and for other reunions and festivities. .
The next morning the comrades were saddened by the word that Comrade Winsor B. Smith of Co. K, whom all loved, and whose presence at the reunions, -anywhere that the comrades met, -- was always welcome, would meet with them no more. He had passed away the evening before, at the very time that the comrades were gathering at the hall. A special meeting of the association was called to take action on his death, at which it was voted to attend his funeral in a body, and nearly fifty comrades of the regiment did so, each wearing a suitable badge of mourning procured for the occasion.
i
:
FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
CAMPAIGN II.
JANUARY, 1891. CALL 3.
The Cavalry Once More to the Front.
At a meeting of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Historical Society of Rhode Island, held recently, a paper was read, entitled, "The Capture of Morris Island," giving a full account thereof, and includ- ing the services of the Third Rhode Island Heavy Artillery in the military operations. The paper was a good one, which goes with- out saying, as its author and reader was Chaplain of the Third Rhode Island, a respected clergyman, a good soldier, an enthusiastic vet- eran, and a loved comrade. At the close of the paper, as is the custom in that society, there was an opportunity for a free discus- sion of the paper, and the inter- change of such thoughts as the subject-matter of the paper had called up. The President of the Society, a cavalryman of the First Rhode Island (the regiment which received our six companies with open arms on our first arrival at Catlett's Station in April. 1862, of which carbines were borrowed to kill beef for us), took occasion to compliment the paper, and then
to compliment the regiment. In the course of his remarks he said he was on Morris Island January 17th, 1864, when he visited the Cum- mings Point Battery, and . saw the Third Rhode Island throwing thirty-pound Parrott shells into Charleston once in five minutes. Much to his surprise an infantry- man got up, and in the name of a comrade of the Third Heavy, who sat behind him and had coached him, said he was sorry to spoil a good cavalry story, but no thirty- pound gun would throw a shot more than two or three miles, and that it was a hundred-pound Par- rott that was doing the execution spoken of To this the President replied, " I 'know a thirty-pound Parrott when I see it." To this the " doughboy " replied, pointing to the "heavy," " Here's the man who fired the gun." The Presi- dent continued, "I don't care who fired the gun, and notwithstanding the heavy fire of infantry and artillery, the cavalry will maintain the position. In addition I will state that the thirty-pound gun I
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EDITORIAL.
saw there that day threw more than 4000 shells into Charleston before it burst." This last was another statement to deny, and the whole matter was ridiculed by others of the "heavies," and there was some fun made at the expense of the cavalryman President in particular, and the cavalry in gen- eral. It has been customary in this society, from its first year to the present time, to indulge in good-natured raillery against the cavalry, but in this sort of skir- mishing the cavalrymen have al- ways held their own. On this occasion the laugh was turned upon the troopers by a "heavy" saying, "we don't allow any cav- alrymen to tell us what we did in our own regiment-they told us too many things that weren't so in the service." The chaplain, who is also the historian of the Third Rhode Island, was appealed to, and confirmed the statement of the President, saying the fact is recorded in the history of the regi- ment, and can also be found in Gen. Gilmore's official report, but as the chaplain was a cavalryman of the First Rhode Island before he became a "heavy" of the Third, his confirmation was looked upon simply as a cavalryman's story, which was placed by the side of that of the President. The jokes against the cavalry were kept up, and the "doughboys" and the " heavies " seemed to have
the best of it when the meeting adjourned. At the next meeting, one month later, the cavalrymen were present in full force and ready for the fray, with sabres drawn, pistols loaded, carbines slung, and plenty of ammunition -not to fight on the main ques- tion, for that, they knew, would take care of itself, but to repel any attack from the opposing arms of the service. When the matter was brought up by the President, the "heavy" who fired the hundred- pound Parrott, and who coached the " doughboy " to deny the thirty- pound Parrott story in the first place, arose and sort of acknowl- edged that he was mistaken, but read extracts from a letter written by himself from Morris Island to his home in December, 1863, to prove that he had charge of the hundred-pound Parrott which was throwing shells into Charleston, and to show that he thought he was correct in what he said at the previous meeting. Then the "doughboy" who had been pushed to the front by the " heavy," arose, and saying he never did like to support artillery, and he never would again, made a graceful apol- ogy for contradicting the Presi- dent's statement, as he had exam- ined into the matter, and found that the statement was correct. More than this, he had written to an old artilleryman, now in the regular army, asking about the
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
matter, and had received a letter in reply containing a full account of this famous gun, confirming the President's statement, and ending with "I do not know which side you are on in this controversy, but if on the affirmative I congratulate you ; if on the other side, I sym- pathize with you." There was other talk upon the subject, until all on the contrary side had ac- knowledged their mistake. During this it was learned that this same thirty-pound Parrott gun threw 4206 shells into Charleston, and that when it burst the pieces were gathered up and bound together, and an inscription put on the wrecked gun, giving a record of its service under Gen. Charles R. Brayton, chief of artillery, and the gun was sent to West Point as an object lesson to the cadets. In fact this gun was the most famous one in that department, if not in the whole service. To cap the climax, a light artilleryman, who had en- joyed the whole discussion, stated that while in the Army of the Potomac he had, under direction of the chief of artillery, tried the same experiment, in the same way, and met with like success. That evening there was not one bit of fun poked at the cavalry, who were well satisfied with their vic- tory if they did not have their expected encounter and conse- quent fun.
The Association Badge.
At the reunion in Boston last August, the badge proposed by the committee and adopted by the association the previous year was ready for delivery, and very many of the comrades promptly supplied themselves with one. The badge, of which the illustration on the third page of this CALL gives a fair idea, is a very pretty one, and sprang at once into favor with the boys. It is of gold, mounted on a double strip of yellow ribbon ("and the right kind of yellow, too," said a comrade of the First Rhode Island Cavalry on seeing one.) The bar at the top is in shape of a Henry rifle, and bears on the stock the legend, " Ist Me. Cav." Pending from this by spur straps are the crossed sabres, while rising from the centre of the sabres is a pine tree, the emblem of our loved state. Below the sabres is a horse-shoe surrounding a horse's head. The whole is neat and appropriate, and the comrades may well be proud to wear one, and to leave one to his family as a memento of his service in the grand old regiment, and of the glorious reunions of the comrades. The price of the badge is $2.50, and any comrade may procure one by sending that amount, with twelve cents for postage, to Gen. J. P. Cilley, Rockland, Me. By the way, in the haste of preparing the badges for the reunion, some
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EDITORIAL.
of them were imperfectly finished, and have become tarnished. These will be exchanged and made good.
Major Henry C. Hall strikes the key note, when he says, in a private letter, "Our history is in- deed valuable, but it covers but a small part of the record of the regiment. The BUGLE can, and doubtless will, be a fitting supple- ment wherein personal incidents of value may find a place." That's what we want, what the comrades want -- personal incidents and reminiscences. Let all the com- rades remember this.
Comrade Wilbur F. Lunt, for- merly First Sergeant Co. G, has been honored by being appointed by the President (which appoint- ment has been confirmed), a mem- ber of the Board of General Appraisers of Merchandise., This is a life position, with a salary of $7000 a year, and necessitates the residence of Comrade Lunt in New York City. The comrades will all rejoice in his good fortune.
The vexatious delays by which the publication of the October CALL, as well as the present one, Were postponed so long, have been overcome, and we now hope and capect to issue the BUGLE regu- Lirly in the months of its various dites
In the CALL for April we shall publish the address delivered at the dedication of the cavalry shaft on the field of Gettysburg, by Lieut. Col. William Brooke-Rawle, of the Third Pennsylvania Cav- alry.
The long and interesting letter from Comrade Williams of the Tenth New York Cavalry, prom- ised in this CALL, has been una- voidably crowded out, but will appear in the next CALL.
Annual Meeting and Banquet.
The Massachusetts branch of the First Maine Cavalry held their annual meeting and banquet on the evening of January 29th, 1891. The following report is taken from the Boston Globe of the next morning :-
The First Maine Cavalry Associa- tion of Massachusetts, the Bay State contingent of that famous regiment whose deeds are enrolled high on the scroll of the nation's history, and whose colors bear the record of more battles than any other regiment in the army of the Union, held its annual meeting and dined at the Crawford house last evening.
The early portion of the evening was devoted to an informal reception in the spacious parlors of the hotel, and many of the comrades and their families who had journeyed from their homes in the Pine Tree State received a cor- dial welcome from the Boston veterans of the regiment.
At 8.05 Comrade G. N. Harris called the meeting to order, and after the transaction of routine business, officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: President, Maj. Henry C. Ilall: first vice-president, Lieut. Geo. F. Jewett ; second vice-president,
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
Joseph R. Curtis; treasurer, Col. Albion C. Drinkwater; secretary, Charles A. F. Emery ; executive com- mittee, Gilbert N. Harris, Patrick F. Sheviin and Albert Edgecomb.
A vote of thanks was given to the retiring president, Comrade G. N. Harris, after which "roast beef " sounded and the company marched to the mess hall, where the annual ban- quet was served.
Comrade G. N. Harris presided, the blessing was invoked by Comrade Augustus L. Ordway, and Col. Charles F. King and Mr. Charles B. Rohan were the guests of the association.
Among those in attendance were : Gen. J. P. Cilley, Rockland, Me., Mr. G. N. Harris, Mrs. G. N. Harris, Capt. Black Hawk Putnam, Maj. H. C. Hall, Mr. A. L. Ordway. Mrs. Ordway, Mr. C. A. F. Emery, Miss Florence Curtis, Mr. H. M. Thompson, Mrs. Thomp- son, Mrs. Davis, Mr. F. W. Green, Mr. P. F. Shevlin, Mrs. Shevlin, Mr. A. M. Shevlin, Mr. D. W. Davis, Col. Albion C. Drinkwater. Lieut. George F. Jewett, Mrs. Jewett, Lieut. E. P. Tobie, Mrs. Tobie, Mr. A. D. French, Waltham, Mrs. E. A. French, Mr. Geo. W. Gray, Mrs. Gray, Mr. Joseph R. Cur- tis, Mr. Thomas B. Pulsifer, Mrs. Pul- sifer, Mr. D. W. Gage, Mrs Gage, Mr.
John M. Perkins, Mr. William Morang, Mr. N. L. Owen, Mr. C. O. Stone.
The after-dinner exercises were in- formal in character, and embraced reminiscences of army life and brief addresses by Comrade G. N. Harris, Gen. J. P. Cilley, Col. Charles F: King, Maj. H. C. Hall, Lieut. George F. Jewett, Lieut. Edward P. Tobic, Col. Albion C. Drinkwater, Mr. Joseph R. Curtis, Mr. P. F. Shevlin and others.
First Maine Cavalry Club at Bangor.
A number of the comrades of the regiment met in Bangor on the evening of the fifteenth of Septem- ber last and organized the "First Maine Cavalry Club of Bangor." with the following officers :
President. - Dr. MELVIN PREBLE. Vice-President. - VOLNEY H. Foss. Secretary. - EDWARD JORDAN. Treasurer. - WARREN A. JORDAN.
The club starts with about 35 members.
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IVHAT THE COMRADES HAVE TO SAY.
WHAT THE COMRADES HAVE TO SAY.
Letter from Lieut. Horatio S. Libby, Co. C.
BOSTON, MASS., Nov. 12th. 1890. Lient. EDw. P. TOBIE.
Dear Comrade - I recall a little epi- sode that occurred in the early spring of 1862, while we were in camp at Warrenton Junction, which I fancy may be of interest to many comrades and readers of the BUGLE. You will remember that at this time we were in Abercrombie's Brigade.
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