USA > Maine > First Maine bugle, 1890 (history of 1st Maine Cavalry) > Part 29
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Comrades ! it is to commemorate this action that you and I are here to-day. After twenty years have passed we now meet where we fought and where we conquered, and where we now erect this beautiful shaft as our Ebenezer to which our children and their children may, through all the coming ages, point with pride as the place where their ancestors fought that the " Govern- ment of the people by the people, and for the people, should not perish from the earth."
Captain William E. Miller was pleasantly introduced by the President, and responded in a few words, thanking the President for his kind expressions and the comrades present for their warm greeting extended to him.
Rev. Percy Clinton Webber, upon being called upon, made a stirring patriotic speech, and Major H. C. Weir, so long assistant adjutant general of the Second Cavalry Division, responded to a call in a few amusing remarks.
Major J. Edward Carpenter of the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry,
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upon being introduced, gave a vivid resume of the scenes enacted by the various brigades of the Second Division of Cavalry, both before and after the fight at Gettysburg.
The President then introduced Colonel Hampton S. Thomas, of the First Pennsylvania Cavalry, who sang in capital style "The Regu- lar Army, Oh!" with grand choral accompaniment by the assem- blage.
The hour for separation having arrived, Rev. Mr. Webber pro- nounced the benediction and the President said, " Comrades farewell ! God bless you all," which closed the exercises.
CAPT. BIGELOW'S VISIT TO RICHMOND. [MELROSE, Mass., May 4th, IS91.
LIEUT. EDW. P. TOBIE :-
My Dear Comrade; -- This highly interesting account of Capt. Bigelow's " Excursion " to Richmond in the Autumn of 1862 was related by him to one of our esteemed citizens, R. P. Barry Esq., and was read before the " Round- about Club " in this town several years ago. It has the approval of Capt. Bigelow and will be very interesting matter for the columns of the " Bugle."
Yours in F. C. and L, HORATIO S. LIBBY. ] One stormy afternoon, scated in my friend Bigelow's* office, after the completion of one of our cotton trades (which were usually of that pleasant description where the seller and buyer feel equally satis- fied), the captain said to me, " Barry, did I ever tell you of my trip to Richmond, in 1862?" I replied in the negative, and said I should like to hear it. "Well it's a long story, and perhaps you haven't the time." I said I had " all the time there was " and if he would lend me a cigar, I would try to bear the narration. The cigar was pro- duced, and the captain told me the following story, the particulars of which I believe to be strictly true, though a little remarkable, and in recording the story I have aimed at giving as near as possible his own language, without embellishment or addition of any kind.
In November, 1862, I was captain and commissary in the Second Division of Cavalry, Army of the Potomac. We were encamped near Frederick, Md., and had passed through one of those periods of comparative quiet and idleness that sometimes took place between the great movements of our armies. My wife had come down to
* See pp. 455, 542, History,
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CAPT. BIGELOW'S VISIT TO RICHMOND.
pay me a visit, and was staying with friends at the hotel in Fred- erick. For a day or two there had been notes of preparation in the air. I had promised my wife I would see her again, but the march- ing orders came suddenly, I joined my command, and we marched down to the Potomac. I thought the movement was only a change of camp, and supposed I should have opportunity to ride back and say good bye to my wife, but we marched on across the river, and down into Virginia, skirting Thoroughfare mountains, and after three days march went into camp, with some apparent intention of mak- ing a short stay, I applied to the lieutenant colonel of my regi- ment (the colonel, being ill at Frederick, had remained there) for twelve days leave of absence, telling him that I had some stores at Frederick that I wished to look after. The leave was granted, but he told me that he doubted if I could use it, as the general was re- fusing transportation to every one, and cancelling all leaves of absence. On applying at headquarters I found my colonel's sur- mise correct ; I was refused transportation. You can perhaps con- ceive that I was disappointed and angry, and as I rode slowly back to my regiment an idea entered my head which I proceeded im- mediately to carry out, I sent my sergeant back to camp with my sword, and ordered him to say nothing of my absence till occasion demanded. I kept my pistols, and quietly rode along to the camp exit. I had made up my mind if I could pass the guards to ride alone to Frederick. The distance was about seventy-five miles, a portion of which was through a rough country and debatable ground, but we had just passed over it, I knew the road well enough, I had a good horse under me, I was younger then than I am now, and in fine I decided to go. I had as I have told you, a leave of absence from my lieutenant colonel commanding my regiment, but it was not coun- tersigned by the general, nor had I any pass ; but I passed the camp guard on the run, saluting the officer as I went through. When I came to the pickets I anticipated trouble ; the man on guard stepped into the road as I came toward him, and evidently intended to halt me, but I moved on slowly, taking out my paper as I came near him ; he wheeled to the right, brought his musket to his shoulder, and saluted as I passed slowly by. Once beyond the pickets .I put spurs to my horse, and galloped along for some time without meeting a soul. At the first cross roads I met my old friend Nason, who was doing detached service with the Sanitary Commission. He was waiting for an ambulance containing supplies which had been for.
ز
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some reason delayed, and he was evidently uneasy about its non-arri- val, feared it had been captured, advised meto turn back with him. If I had been wise I should have done this, but "wilful will wi' hae its way,"and I said good bye and cantered steadily along toward the Poto- mac. It was now past noon and the roads had been good, but they be- came a little rough as I approached the mountains, and I had to lessen my speed. I had just passed a fork in the road, and was passing through a piece of wood when I was startled out of a brown study by the thundering of horses' hoofs behind me, and low yells of "Halt! Surrender !" One glance over my shoulder showed me a clump of horsemen riding at full gallop, the leader and one or two others holding their pistols and carbines in that easy, unconcerned way in which you doubtless have seen them hold them when they are medita- ting a shot on the wing. I rapidly concluded that my horse was too tired to try to out-run them, even if I wanted to try it with the desultory fire in the rear from a half dozen pistols and carbines, which I cer- tainly did not, and so I halted, wheeled my horse's nose into the road, and waited for my friends to come up. The first order of the leader was " Git off that horse," but I told him it was hardly necessary --- they had a horse apiece and I had one. If I was going away with them or they with me, we could get along more rapidly if we all rode. They laughed and assented, but asked me for my pistols, which I handed over, and we went along quite pleasantly together. One of my captors had a small confederate flag in the bridle of his horse, and I remarked to him that when I made a capture, I always pulled down the flag, and at the same time took it in my hand-" Keep it captain, if you want it," said my friend. That night we slept in a barn near the road, and the next morning wound our way up one of the worst roads I ever travelled to their camp, which I found was on the very top of a spur of the Thoroughfare mountains. As we passed up the side and reached the top, one of the loveliest views on which my eye ever rested was spread out before me. In the dis- ' tance I could see the white tents of an army, and I even fancied I could locate my own camp, but it was probably not so. As I reck- oned I was fully twenty miles distant. I breakfasted with the cap- tain of the men who captured me. Later in the day he sent me under guard of one of his men to Gen. Jackson's headquarters, on the other side of the range, near Winchester. At the captain's sug- gestion I left my horse with him, and he kindly loaned me one of his, which his trooper was to bring back after seeing mne safe to Jackson.
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We arrived late - I was delivered to the officer of the guard, who took me up to his mess and introduced me to his brother officers, some of whom composed the general's staff. They said they were sorry they could give me no supper, but a very good lunch of sardines, crackers, cake and wine was set out and I partook heartily. I found afterward that these niceties were a part of the contents of my friend Nason's ambulance, for which he was waiting the day before at the cross roads. That night I shared the tent of the officer of the guard, and the next day, Sunday, was invited to dine at the officers' mess. The most perfect discipline reigned in the camp. The soldiers saluted me as I passed from one tent to another. Every thing was quiet ; no rowdyism or noise. Great fires of logs burned between the lines of tents, for the morning was frosty. About nine o'clock, sitting in the guard tent, an officer said, "There goes the " old man " to church." I stepped to the front of the tent and got my first look at Gen. Stonewall Jackson, who was on his way to Winchester to attend church. A stern dark man, sitting his horse squarely, his equipments plain, a uniform rather the worse for wear -- every inch a soldier. I saluted. The general acknowledged it mechanically, and passed down into the valley. Later in the day I suggested to my friends that while my visit was very pleasant in every way, I felt that I must not prolong it unduly, but they replied that I must wait till Monday ; the " old man " (always Jackson) did not like to have any unnecessary business brought to him on Sunday. So on Monday I had the pleasure of an audience by favor of my friend, the adjutant general, told my story, and suggested that as I had seen nothing of their army or its movements it would perhaps be just as well to just give me a safe conduct through the lines and let me go on my way as though I had not been captured. The general smiled grimly and said, " While the suggestion might be a good one from Capt. Bigelow's standpoint, the rules which governed nations at war were somewhat different, and he thought Capt. Bigelow had better be paroled and sent to Richmond, there to be duly exchanged." This terminated the interview, and the parole was duly prepared and signed by Jackson, and a clause inserted making it obligatory on all confederate officers to pass me through the lines at first opportunity. The other prisoners in camp, who had been picked up here and there by scouts and skirmishers, were to march under guard to Richmond. I did not like this feature at all, and that night over the card table I said so to my new friends. Some
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of them were going to Richmond on leave of absence and one of them said, " We will get transportation for you, and you can go along with us," and to my great comfort they were as good as their word. The adjutant general gave me a letter to Gen. Stuart's headquarters, at Winchester, and on Wednesday I presented myself to the aston- ished officer of transportation and asked for a pass to Richmond via Stanton. The order was handed me and I had the rest of the day on my hands. I met here an old friend from Maine, of whom I bor- rowed ten dollars in confederate money, and the next day went by stage to Stanton, thence by railroad to Richmond. Our journey to Richmond was very jolly. We told stories, sang songs, smoked, the canteen went the rounds, and when we reached Richmond I was really sorry to part from them, the more so perhaps as I was on my way to prison and they were free men. Before separating I asked them to recommend me to a good hotel in Richmond as I never liked to go to a second rate house. This amused them im- mensely, and they said I must go to the Spotswood. Now this was just what I meant to do, as I had no idea of spending the night in prison if I could avoid it, so taking a carriage I drove to the Spots- wood, and walking into the office, registered my name -- Capt. Big- elow, Second Division Cavalry, Army of the Potomac. The aston- ished clerk asked me if I wanted a room. I said " yes," and as I had no baggage I would pay for one day in advance as I believed that was the custom at most hotels. The clerk said politely that it was quite optional with me. I asked him if he had any choice as to the kind of money I should pay, to which he replied that he had an objection to United States money. I told him I was equally willing to pay in confederate money, and passed over the ten dollars which I had borrowed at Winchester. After putting myself into the hands of the barber I went in to supper. The great dining-room of the hotel was filled with guests, a large majority being confederate officers. I was seated with a general on one side and a colonel on the other, and if I had not had a good appetite, the concentrated gaze of a hun- dred or two men might have disturbed me, but I was too intent on getting a return for the money I had just paid the clerk to permit of any curtailment of the supper. The negro waiters tumbled over each other in their eagerness to serve me. I suppose the uniform had not been seen in that room for certainly a year, (I forgot to say that just before my capture I had obtained a new uniform and was looking very fine.) After tea, as I smoked my cigar in the rotunda of
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the hotel, it occurred to me that I might go to the theatre, and find- ing tickets were for sale in the house, I bought one and walked to the theatre, where again I was the observed of all observers. I have sometimes wondered that I was not arrested or called to account, but probably each officer thought it was " none of his business," -- at all events, I was not questioned nor molested in any way. The next day, after a refreshing night's rest, I walked down to Gen. Winder's quarters and surrendered myself, showed him my papers, and was by him sent under guard to Capt. Turner, who asked if I was the gentleman who stopped at the Spotswood the night before, to which I of course said " yes." At the call of a hand- bell a guard appeared at the door, by whom I was conducted into the officer's room in the great tobacco factory, known then and since as Libby Prison. Here I was received with a shout of wel- come. Several familiar faces appeared in the crowd. I was turned about and admired, my new uniform attracting much praise. My prison friends were looking rather seedy, but seemed not at all depressed. I forgot to say that before leaving Capt. Turner I called his attention to the language of my parole, making it obligatory that I should be sent through the lines without delay, on which he said curtly that I would go north to-morrow, and sure enough the next day we went to Petersburg, and from there via City Point by steamer to Annapolis, where was situated, as you know, the pa- role camp, where all prisoners reported and were cared for until exchanged, when they were sent back to their respective regiments. As I had other plans however than this, I slipped on one side, and took train for Frederick, arriving there in just eleven days from the time I left camp on my twelve days leave of absence. My col- onel was still here ; I told him of my adventures, and by his advice wrote to the lieutenant colonel, reporting my presence at Frederick, and asking an extension of my leave of absence. The colonel sug- gested that this might save me from trouble and possible disgrace. I followed his advice, and afterward learned that my letter was received at camp on the afternoon of my twelfth day of absence. My wife I found had returned home, so I returned to Annapolis, but on my way down met a brother officer who advised me not to go into camp. I had previously told him that I meant to get a pass to go home and spend my Thanksgiving. He assured me that I could not get a leave of absence, and once in camp I would have to stay there. My luck had been so good up to this time that I had become a little reck-
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less and to decided go to Massachusetts. But how to get away was the question. I had no pass, and the inspection at Annapolis June- tion was very rigid, no officer or soldier being allowed to go north without a pass. I waited at the depot until the train arrived, keeping myselfout of sight till the last moment ; when the last bell rang I rushed through the depot as though I had just arrived. The officer of the guard of course stopped me-" Your pass - I must see your pass." I unbuttoned my overcoat and under coat and searched in my pockets, the train starting in meantime. I pulled out a paper, the train was well under way, " Go along, confound you, I guess its all right," I made a leap for the platform, and was off for Massa- chusetts. At Philadelphia I got another scare. the inspecting offi- cer passing through the trains, but my luck still befriended me, and to made a long story short, on Thanksgiving Day I had the pleasure of carving the turkey, surrounded by admiring friends, to whom I related all my adventures.
I could make a long story of my return to parole camp, and of sundry little difficulties that I had to overcome in order to get back creditably to my regiment, but my exchange was finally effected, and I returned very gladly to active duty.
In the remaining years of the war I went through many adven- tures of one sort and another, but upon no incident in my soldier life do I look back with more enjoyment and satisfaction, than on my visit to Richmond in IS62.
COMRADE MONROE DAGGETT'S FIRST OVATION.
ST. MARIES, KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho, May 22d, IS91. GEN. J. P. CILLEY :
Deur Comrade -I wrote you recently, inclosing $3.62 for badge and Bugle. Since then I have received the Bugle for April, 1891, and allow me just here to state that I yield to no member of the grand old regiment in admiration of the Bugle, and in appreciation of the efforts of yourself and Comrade Tobie and all others interested in the good work of producing a work that every member and every member's relatives should help to sustain. I listen with due obedience to your command : " Attention, comrades of the First Maine !" and I appreciate every word of your remarks. I am much astonished that the three previous Calls have not brought
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evrey man into line ; but, colonel, there is one call that you have omitted that when sounded from headquarters of the First Maine Cavalry never failed to bring every man into line, armed and equipped and ready for action. I referto boots and saddles. . Sound boots and saddles, colonel, and you will find every blue bellied mother's son in line and in position of " Prepare to mount " in the usual time of five minutes. When line of battle is formed, and the command, " Draw sabres !" isgiven, certainly no man will have the cheek to raise his hand from his hip without the requisite one dollar to pay for the Bugle one year. I am very far from being a traveling National Bank, but I can usually dig up a dollar or two for the Bugle, &c.
It pleases me much to read the letters of comrades, giving accounts of old times. Every man ought to lend a hand. Those stories are refreshing, indeed. Don't be bashful, boys. Come to the front and do as the lads used to do down at the front when change was short. " Ante and pass the buck."
If there is no objection I will ante to give you a starter by giving an account of my first ovation. As some of you will remember, I got dismounted (in the usual way, horse shot) at Upperville, June 21st, 1863. [ See pages 169 and 172 History.] After the engage- ment was closed I backed my saddle back through town to where we camped that night. I walked back to Aldie with the command, but have forgotten how I got my saddle back. The afternoon be- fore we started for Gettysburg I was ordered to fall in for Camp Stoneman (dismounted camp). We had gone but a short distance when I met my uncle, Charley Lyon, (brigade blacksmith), [See page 531, picture page 112, History. ] who had an extra horse that he had picked up that day, which he gave me, and without orders I went back to the company, found my saddle, and commenced pre- paring for the night march. Captain Ellis [See page 526, History] examined my horse, and said : "Before morning you will wish that you had gone to the dismounted camp. That horse is played out now." I did not think so, but before we had marched an hour I did think so. Jack Heald [Sce page 526, picture page 416, His- tory ], a sergeant then, who was riding by my side, said : " Dag- gett, you are a foot cavalryman this time. Now the best thing you can do is to take it afoot until you can steal another horse." I took his advice; the boys kept my horse in the ranks and I played foot cavalryman every rod of the way to Gettysburg. I became better known on that march than before. Colonel .
-
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Smith frequently inquired how I was standing the march. I was not absent from the command one hour until the fifth of July, when we left Gettysburg for Chambersburg. About noon my old horse caved in, and I fell out, with Captain Ellis' consent, with instructions to get along the best that I could, and get to the regiment again as soon as possible ; that he had no horse for me and could not help me. Jack Knapp, [See page 535, History ] of Company E, a recruit, thought he had seen service enough and resigned, leaving his horse with me, an old played out animal. I sold my own horse to a farmer for $to, and went in pursuit of the regiment on foot, leading Knapp's horse. The day after leaving Chambersburg I fell in with Bob Mc- Clain, Co. F, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, who was in the same fix as myself. Misery loves company, so Bob and I kept together. In about two days we reached the summit of the mountains, going over into Maryland. We were then behind the rear guard-forag- ing was better there than further in advance. Foraging was rather short on the main traveled road, so we took a detour into the woods in search of breakfast. We soon found a cooper shop occupied by an old bachelor and two maiden sisters. We ordered breakfast and ere long sat down to a sumptuous meal. We were enjoying it hugely when I looked out of the window and saw two of Mosby's men in the act of dismounting near the house. In very much less time than it takes to tell the story we took our revolvers from our holsters and stepped out to the corner of the house, where our wor- thies had to come around to get us. On turning the corner the first thing that was presented to their view was two large sized Colt's revolvers, accompanied with the command " Hands up !" which they obeyed very reluctantly. We first relieved them of their arms, and then took them into the house and invited them to share our breakfast, which they did, they sitting on one side of the table and Bob and I on the other, with our revolvers by our plates. After breakfast we saddled up their horses with our own saddles, and presented the cooper with our horses and the rebel's saddles. We mounted their horses, put our prisoners in advance, and started for Wolfsville, Maryland -- distance six miles -- at a double quick gait. We did not believe that foraging was as safe a business in the rear as we had imagined it. We overtook the provost guard at Wolfsville, and turned over our prisoners to Sergeant D. H. Jones, Sixth Regular Cavalry, in charge of the provost guard, taking his receipt for our rebs. We joined our companies (Bob and I) in a few days more, and the first
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inquiry from Jack Heald was "Daggett, old boy, where did you steal that horse?" I produced my receipt from Sergeant Jones to Captain Ellis, and soon became the center of attraction. That was the best horse that I ever threw a leg over before or since, and I have rode many times since then.
After leaving Harper's Ferry on July 15th, [See page Ist History] we went to near Charlestown, where a skirmish took place and I would have been captured only for my rebel horse. As many of you will remember, there was a low ridge or horseback between where our regiment halted in the woods and the town. Major Brown with companies MI and E was sent out to see what was on the other side of the horseback, and how far Charlestown was away. Arriving at the horseback, Ross Leeman of Company M [See page 653 History] was sent to the top of the ridge on a voyage of discovery, where, with- out making any report, he opened fire. Captain Ellis was then or- dered to send three or four men to the assistance of Leeman. I was one of the party sent, hitching my horse to a fence and going up on foot. There was plenty of rebels in sight so we all commenced firing. My carbine, (a Sharp's) soon became plugged up, and I got out my prim- ing wire and began probing at the tube to get it into operation again. I was much interested, and time flew quickly. When I was ready for action again I found myself deserted-every man was back to his company and mounted. I had several rods to run and two fences to get over and no time to lose, as three or four hundred rebel cavalry bad come through the gap in the horseback to our left and were trying to cut us off. I mounted as soon as possible, but the command was out of the reach of me and the rebel cavalry, and I was in for it. Particular attention was paid to me by my friends in gray, and before I reached the woods to the left of where our regi- ment was I thought that every mother's son of a reb had shot at me and in strong language ordered me to halt, which I most respect- fully declined to do, and when I came to the fence along the edge of the wood my new horse sailed over it like a bird, and I was saved from Andersonville. Colonel Smith was the first man to congratu !- late me on my escape. This was my first ovation.
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