USA > Maine > First Maine bugle, 1890 (history of 1st Maine Cavalry) > Part 27
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One may well feel proud of being able to say " my regiment," of such an one as that was, and of its surviving members as comrades, and they in turn may feel proud that they have had such a historian.
Yours truly, J. ALBERT MONROE.
(Civil Engineer, formerly Chief of Artillery, Army of the Potomac.)
PORTLAND, ME., Nov. 11th, 1887.
MY DEAR TOBIE : -- Your book came to me in due time and I sat down to examine, read and admire. I wanted to read it through before answering yours, but I find I am sorely pressed for time and shall not be able to do the justice to it for some days to come, which I wish to do.
So Tobie, accept my thanks, listen to me while I hurrah ! You have cer- tainly got the best regimental history I have seen yet, and I have a goodly number, you know. All I have shown it to have expressed great interest in it, too.
One thing especially comes to me, and that is the gain by delay - by tak- ing time to have it right and good. I wish I could try mine all over again -- but then I might as well wish to live life all over.
Well, Bro. Tobie, you may "swell with pride " now as much as you please. You have built a monument for the old First Maine Cavalry that will endure when all these granite affairs have crumbled.
Yours etc., JOHN M. GOULD.
(Historian First, Tenth and Twenty-ninth Maine Regiments, and Secretary regimental association.)
General and Ex-president RUTHERFORD B. HAYES, writes : -- " I recall no regimental history that is equal to it. The great number of excellent portraits is especially noticeable and to be commended. Maine seems to be ahead, if we may judge by Major Gould's First Tenth and Twenty-ninth Infantry and this volume.
J. S. PIERSON, New York, writes : - " I must express, in a line, my admir- ation for the beauty and cheapness of your First Maine Cavalry just received. I get every regimental history that appears, and can recall none quite its equal in print, illustrations, and general getting up."
N. M. RITTENHOUSE, late of the Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, of Balti- more Terra Cotta Works, Md., writes :- " The book is better than anything of the kind I have yet seen, and I am very much pleased with it and would not be without it."
C. M. WILEs, secretary of the tenth New York Cavalry Association, Cortland N. Y. writes :- " It is one of the best regimental histories that I ever saw.
P
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True, your grand old regiment made history for itself, but your author has admirably collected it and placed it in form. I only wish our old regiment could have as good a record of their service."
E. O. VAN BROCKLIN, late Bugler Co. I., Tenth New York Cavalry writes General J. P. CILLEY: Dear General :- Your circular calling my attention to the history of your excellent regiment is at hand. I have just finished reading it, and do not hesitate to say that it is without any exception the most interesting, the best prepared, and finest history of any regimental or- ganization that I have had the pleasure to read. Again thanking you, the committee, and Mr. Tobie, also members of your veteran organization for having such an excellent historian, and for being permitted to read such a truthful history of this most superb cavalry regiment.
Lieut. MARK BROWNELL, late of Tenth New York Cavalry, 58 Greenbush St., Cortland, N. Y., writes as follows ;- " J. P. CILLEY :- Dear Comrade :- The history is at hand and I have sat here since I had my tea at six, and it is now eleven, devouring its contents. It is grand, magnificent, and the deeds it records fill me with pride that I was indirectly associated with such a grand regiment. Please convey to the author my hearty thanks, and assure him of my thor- ough appreciation of his work. It is a monument to every man in the com- inand.
NEWSPAPER NOTICES.
A. FASCINATING STORY OF THE FIRST MAINE CAVALRY .- When one takes up the latest regimental history - that of the First Maine Cavalry - he will consider that he is getting a good deal of bulk for his money, and later he will not quarrel with the quality. It is a pretentious volume of 737 pages, though 250 of these are taken up with a very elaborate and. painstaking roster and interesting statistics. The volume is remarkably well printed by Emery & Hughes, and is published by the regimental association. Lieut. Edward P. Tobie is the historian, and associated with him on the publishing com- mittee are such men as Gen. J. P. Cilley, and Col. A. C. Drinkwater. This association, unlike some which might be named, evidently recognizes the value of its historian's efforts, and the work of Lieut. Tobie is certainly val- uable. He has demonstrated his peculiar fitness for this work. It is a his- tory manifestly intended for the survivors of the First Maine Cavalry, being undeviatingly devoted to the details of the regiment's experiences. The story is vigorously told, and does not aim at literary finish. There are graphic passages here and there which will catch the eye of the alien reader, such as the following wherein the author depicts the incidents of the first " mount " after receiving the horses in the initial camp at Augusta : " Most of the horses had never before been ridden on the back, and most of the men knew as little about it as did the -horses. There was kicking and rearing, and running and jumping, and lying down and falling down on the part of the horses, and swearing and yelling, and getting thrown and being kicked, and getting, hurt and sore in various ways, by the men. There was crowding in the ranks, and getting out ofplace, and striving to get back into place, and pushing for-
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ward and hanging back, and going backward and sideways, and all ways but the right way, and all sorts of haps and inishaps, amusing to look back upon now."
The young American of the post-bellum generation has a sort of vague idea of the hardships of the great war, but has no conception of what some of the Union's defenders endured before they even gotinto the enemy's country. Strange, indeed, sounds the story that these Maine cavalrymen camped all winter -'61 and '62- at the capital of their State in open tents, and much of that time without any stoves. The historian says: "It was estimated on good authority that the regiment lost that winter more than two hundred men by death and disability on account of the cold weather and the insuffi- cient means of protection."
This regiment was raised in September, 1861, but did not get to Washing- ton until the last of March, 1862. General Butler wanted the horses for some of his batteries, and persistently strove to have the First Maine Cavalry dis- mounted and discharged. Mr. Blaine, then Speaker of the House in the Maine Legislature, took a hand, and after he had had several set-toos with Secretary Stanton, the First Maine Cavalry was left on its horses.
In the organization of this regiment there were some peculiar features. Col. Goddard issued two orders, either of which would have rendered "Scott's 900 " thoughtful, and both of which would have driven every member of the 17Sth New York to an insane asylum. One was that the colonel would allow of no profanity by officers or men. The other was that "he would recom- mend for commission in the regiment, no man, or recognize as such any non- commissioned officer, who did not sign a regimental temperance pledge." . The character of the men in this organization may be inferred from the fact that most of the men took the pledge -- in one company every man signing it.
Five months after organization, these warriors got their sabres, and be- gan to catch an inkling of real war. Their first real shaking up was in Banks' spring campaign of 1862 in the Shendoah valley. One may guess the regi- ment, or some portion of it - like many another green cavalry command - was not very well handled by field officers. After this time, the command shared in the vicissitudes of the Potomac army to the end.
Lieut. Tobie has done an admirable piece of work in writing this history, and he has enjoyed the advantage of tapping sources of information more generous than those within reach of most such historians. It is possible that this book, good as it is, may not be so complete and true a " history " as it should be to deserve that name. In the note of the committee on history appears this passage : " One of these negative determinations was that no unpleasant thing should appear relating to the personal record of any com- rade." Now there was a total of 103 officers and 3226 men in that regiment from first to last; so that it seems impossible that, governed by the above de- termination, the historian could write symmetrical "history" in true perspec- tive. Perhaps it was the intention to present a satisfactory story of this regi- ment with all unpleasant facts elliminated. This volume is far ahead of any other of its kind in the feature of portraits. An excellent portrait of Gen.
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C. H. Smith stands for the frontispiece, and there are 69 pages of pictures, a large proportion of them being of the best sort for such a work- i. e., show- ing the officers and men as they looked when in the service. Unstinted praise is due to this happy effort to immortalize the soldier countenances of this command.
One of these portraits is unusually sad in its suggestion. At the foot of the picture is the inscription : " Capt. John A. Heald; killed in the charge on Lee's train, April 6, 1865." This officer was one of the last victims of the rebellion. Two days more, and no fatal bullet would ever again come from Lee's army. [" History of the First Maine Cavalry 1861-1865." By Edward I'. Tobie. Published by the Associaton ; S vo, pp. 737. Press of Emery & Hughes, Boston, 1887. ]-Boston Herald, Dec. 13th, 1887.
HISTORY OF THE FIRST MAINE CAVALRY. A great many regimental his- tories have come under our observation during the last fifteen or twenty years, but we do not remember one in the long list which was superior in literary or mechanical workmanship, more painstaking or more interesting, than that of the First Maine Cavalry. The volume is written by Mr. Edward P. . Tobie and is published under the auspices of a committee of the regimental association,- whose countenances, as they are grouped in a portrait at the close of the volume, seem to reflect an honest and justifiable pride in the success of this undertaking. The imprint of Emery & Hughes, 146 Oliver street, ap- pears upon the title page. The book is an octavo of over 700 pages, printed from large, clear type, and bound substantially in half morocco, with mar- bled edges. Not the least noteworthy feature of the book is the multitude of portraits of officers and men- nearly three hundred in all, which are scat- tered though it. These add a special personal interest to the narrative of the occurrences in which these men and their comrades were participants. The regiment had a dashing and gallant career. It bore upon its flag the names of twenty-nine battles in which it had an honorable part, and these were in addition to many minor engagements. Fully half of the regiment were killed or wounded, or died from disease or in prison ; and it is not surprising that the survivors cherish with pride the memory of the brave achievements with which the history of the regiment is filled. The author was second lieutenant in Company E, and was a sharer in all the experiences of the regiment from the enlistment to the mustering out after the war was over. The basis of his history is a diary which he kept at the time. His account of the battles in which the regiment was engaged is clear and vivid. He has enlivened and diversified the history by narratives of personal experience or espisodes of life in camp or in the field, contributed by comrades. The roster has been prepared with great care, and biographical details are given concerning most of the members of the regiment who are dead. Alto- gether, the book not only reflects credit upon all concerned in its preparation, and upon the regiment whose experiences it chronicles, but it has a broader interest from the side-light which it throws upon the military movements in which the regiment took part, and, from this point of view, is to be reckoned an addition to the literature of the war .-- Boston Journal, Feb. 10th, ISSS.
At the annual reunion of 1886 of the First Maine Cavalry, a committee was
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
appointed on the publication of the history of this famous Maine regiment, which took part in the largest number of engagements of any regiment in the service during the war. How well the committee performed this duty is shown in the handsome volume of 765 pages, just issued The compilation and editing of the work was a labor of love by the historian, being Comrade Edward P. Tobie, of Pawtucket, R.I. Three hundred and seven portraits of comrades, a complete roster and list of engagements, aside from the narra- tive of the regiment's eventful history, make it a valuable souvenir of the war to the veterans of the First Maine. - Boston Globe.
HISTORY OF THE FIRST MAINE CAVALRY. By Lieut. Edward P. Tobie. Published by the First Maine Cavalry Association. No cavalry regiment in the army which crushed the rebellion played a more conspicuous part than the First Maine. It was organized in the fall of 1861, of as good material as could be found in that grand old State, and served until the surrender at Ap- pomattox, doing splendid work on every field on which it was engaged. The story of these momentous four years has been most admirably told in a book of seven hundred twenty-seven pages, gotten up in the best style of typography by the firin of Emery & Hughes, Boston, and illustrated by three hundred and seven portraits and other pictures. No amount of expense or care has been spared in making this a book worthy of the regiment and its history. It is as fine a volume as is turned out by any publishing house, and the matter in it is well written, well compiled and well presented. The book is a model for all other regimental histories. We cannot hope that any one can do bet- ter, but we trust many will equal it .- Vational Tribune, March ist, ISS8.
Every Maine veteran, wherever he may now be located, will be greatly inter- ested in this noble work. The members of the First Maine Cavalry, those who survive, and those who can rightfully claim by inheritance a share in their fair fame, may well be proud of the book. It is a large, well printed volume, with illustrations comprising three hundred and seven portraits of com- rades and scenes in camp and field. Many of the illustrations are full-page. As these pictures are from photographs and drawings taken during the war, they are far more interesting to the veterans than any recent pictures would be. They show the old uniform, equipments, horses, camp scenes and sur- roundings, which bring back the old times most vividly. The author of the history has evinced the utmost patience in research and examination of doc- uments, and the greatest assiduity in obtaining testimony so as to fill out the narrratives of every campaign and every battle. There are some four hundred and forty-eight of these large pages of the history proper. Then comes a full roster of the regiment. Then is added the names of the battles inscribed upon the flag and the celebrated order of General Meade, specifying all the organiza- tions of the Army of the Potomac entitled to have the names of the battles upon their colors. An alphabetical index to the roster makes it easy to refer to any name. Some of the portraits are not only excellent as likenesses but are remarkably well engraved-such for instance, as that of Chaplain Tefft, Col. C. H. Smith, and Gen. J. P. Cilley.
It must not be supposed that this volume would possess an interest and valute to no one except members of the First Maine Cavalry. It is, to be sure, a model as a regimental history. But in the account of the famous Dahl-
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gren raid, for example, it is substantially the history of all the troops en- gaged or in anywise related.
So, also, of the "Wilson .Raid," "Brandy Station," and all the various campaigns, forced marches, skirmishes and battles-they all have their close relations to the movements of the entire army and the great work of the Army of the Potomac will be better understood by reading such a detailed and exact account. You find an almost indispensable side light upon the Gettysburg campaign, "the Wilderness," the campaigns around Petersburg and even Appomattox and Lee's surrender. Some of the accounts of partici- pants in various engagements are quoted and are wonderfully clear and vivid. As an instance of this is the narrative of Gen. Jonathan P. Cilley of the heroic doings of the regiment at Dinwiddie Court House, the last of March, 1865, paving the way for the great victory at Five Forks the next day. The regiment then belonged to Sheridan's command and its conduct was com- mended by him : " where Smith's brigade so gallantly repulsed the enemy," and by its brigade commander : " The conduct of the First Maine is deserv- ing of special mention." Among the officers who originally belonged to the First Maine Cavalry but afterwards were promoted in other divisions of the army, was Lieut. Llewellyn G. Estes, who became the adjutant general to Major General Kilpatrick and held this important position when Kilpatrick commanded Sherman's cavalry on the famous march to the sea. Estes was brevetted brigadier-general for his gallantry. Among the enlisted men of this regiment who survived the war and have since been distinguished in civil life may be mentioned Hon. Daniel F. Davis who became Govenor of Maine. Kind expressions of appreciation of the book have been received from surviving comrades from all parts of the country. Any native of Maine who retains an affection for and pride in his native State will want a copy. Every veteran of whatever State who is desirous of having a clear and inter- esting and reliable record of the old campaigns cannot go amiss in sending to General Cilley for this handsome volume .- Farm, Field and Stockman. Chicago, Dec. 21st, 1889.
We have received from Comrade E. P. Tobie, the historian, a copy of the First Maine Cavalry. It is a very large volume, nicely printed and bound, and profusely illustrated. It is the finest regimental history that ever came to our notice. Comrade Tobie and his comrades of the regiment may well feel proud of it .- Veteran's Advocate.
HISTORY OF THE FIRST MAINE CAVALRY, IS61-65. by Edwad P. Tobie : published by the First Maine Cavalry Association. This book, prepared by Mr. Edward P. Tobie, historian of the association, was presented to the writer as a Christmas present and also as a token of friendship. It is a val- uable history of the First Maine Regiment, and the writer returns his heart- felt thanks for the valuable gift. The book contains seven hundred and sixteen pages, carefully indexed, and more than three hundred photographs of the officers and privates of the regiment, and also camp scenes. The photographs represent the members as they were in the field, and as private citizens after the regiment returned. It is a book that will be especially valuable to the members of the association, and a valuable addition to the history of the rebellion .--- Central Falls Visitor, December 30th, 1887.
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DEDICATION
-OF THE-
CAVALRY SHAFT AT GETTYSBURG.
[Condensed from the Official Report published by the Committee, and used here by per mission.]
Appreciating the importance of bringing more prominently into notice and of perpetuating a proper recognition of the services of the cavalry and artillery, which contended so successfully on the right Bank of the Army of the Potomac during the Battle of Gettysburg with the confederate cavalry under General J. E. B. Stuart, and which, by their gallant fight on July 3d, 1863, contributed largely to the momentous victory of that day, a convention of the survivors of that portion of the battle was held at Shippensburg, Pennsylvania,
on September 17th, ISSI. It was then proposed to mark the field of the fight with a plain but conspicuous granite shaft, having upon it a simple inscription. In furtherance of this object the following executive committee was chosen, to which was conceded full authority to decide upon the design of the shaft, the inscription to be placed thereon and the location, to raise the necessary funds therefor, and to superintend its erection :--
GENERAL JOHN B. MCINTOSH, late commander of the first Brigade, Second Cavalry Division, chairman.
GENERAL J. IRVIN GREGG, late commander of the Third Brigade, Second Cavalry Division.
COLONEL GEORGE GRAY, late of the Sixth Michigan Cavalry, Custer's Brigade, Third Cavalry Division.
GENERAL ALEXANDER C. M. PENNINGTON, formerly of the Second, now of the Fourth U. S. Artillery.
COLONEL CHARLES TREICHEL, late of the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, First Brigade, Second Cavalry Division, treasurer.
In order to assist the executive committee in its labors a local committee was appointed, consisting of :-
CAPTAIN WILLIAM E. MILLER, of Carlisle, Pa., chairman.
CAPTAIN SAMUEL C. WAGNER, of Newville, Pa., and
PRIVATE WILLIAM H. MARTIN, of Chester, Pa.
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CAVALRY SHAFT AT GETTYSBURG.
As soon as the subscriptions warranted the erection of the shaft designs and proposals were asked for, and those submitted by Mr., P. F. Eisenbrown of the Eagle Marble and Granite Works of Read- ing, Pa., were adopted, and the shaft was ordered. It is cut out of light gray New Hampshire granite, in nine pieces, weighing in all twenty-six tons, and stands twenty-nine feet in height, the base be- ing seven feet broad. In accordance with an arrangement with the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association, that body purchased a piece of ground on the Lott farm sixty feet square, with a carriage road approach from the Low Dutch road of. the width of twenty feet. In selecting the site the executive committee had in view the importance of so placing the shaft as to render it visible from a distance, and at the same time to mark the place upon which the great hand-to-hand sabre-fight took place. The shaft can be dis- tinctly seen from East Cemetery Hill, from which point the greater part of the entire battle-field is visible. From that position the rela- tive importance of the cavalry fight can best be judged, and the effect of the resistance of the attack of the confederate cavalry can best be appreciated.
The day selected by the executive committee for the dedication of the shaft, Wednesday, October 15th, 1884, proved to be a most favorable one. The bracing atmosphere, mellowed by the genial rays of the sun, and the brilliancy of coloring in the landscape, heightened by the beautiful autumnal tints of the foliage, combined to make the day one long to be remembered. The admirable ar- rangements for the exercises of the dedication, made by Dr. Theo- dore T. Tate, of Gettysburg, formerly assistant surgeon Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, left nothing to be desired. At two o'clock in the afternoon, the hour appointed for the beginning of the exer- cises, a large assemblage was gathered around the shaft. Conspic- uous among those present were General David McM. Gregg, who had commanded the Union cavalry in the fight which took place on the ground on July 3d, 1863; Generals John B. McIntosh and J. Irvin Gregg, who had commanded two of the brigades engaged, and General Henry J. Hunt, the chief of artillery of the Army of the Potomac during the battle of Gettysburg. The occasion received additional interest from the fact that the annual reunions of the As- sociations of the Third and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry Regi- ments were so timed as to take place at Gettysburg on the date of
* See page 176 History for picture of shaft and inscription.
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
the dedication of the shaft. The " State Capital Band " of Harris- burg, Pa., was in attendance, and discoursed excellent and enliven- ing music during the proceedings.
The meeting was organized by Captain William E. Miller, the chairman of the local committee, who announced Major-General David McM. Gregg, as the presiding officer of the day. The Presi- dent called upon the Reverend Percy Clinton Webber, S. T. B., M. A., Rector of St. Andrews' Protestant Episcopal Church, Tioga, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, to open the exercises with prayer, after which President Gregg spoke as follows :
ADDRESS OF GENERAL D. MCM. GREGG.
MY FELLOW-SOLDIERS AND FELLOW-CITIZENS :- There are times and occasions in the life of every man when he is possessed of feelings and emotions that are well nigh indescribable, and at such times it would be espe- cially difficult for one to express the feeling of another. I regret that I can but so lamely express what I feel at this time. You will believe, however, that I do not employ the expression in any conventional sense, when I say that this is one of the very happiest days of my life. And why should it not be? Am I not again, after nearly twenty years' separation, united with sol- diers, with some of whom I served for more than three years in the war of the rebellion, and whose fortunes I shared, whether on the march, in camp, or engaged in battle; united again with those whose friendship I prize more highly than that of any other men on earth.
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