USA > Maine > First Maine bugle, 1892 (history of 1st Maine Cavalry) > Part 16
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Anticipations.
The comrades, one and all, will be pleased to learn that Major Sidney W. Thaxter is
to prepare an article on "Stone- wall Jackson " for the BUGLE, and they will look for it anx- iously.
Comrade Sidney W. Clark has also promised to furnish the BUGLE with sketches of his service and of the move- ments of Co. A. The more the merrier.
Revore House.
Our Association enjoyed the hospitalities of this hotel in 1889, and Landlord Merrow will be glad to welcome any of the comrades who will make themselves known to him as members of the old regiment.
Maine Benefit Association.
Comrade Milton F. Ricker is the manager of this com- pany and their good success attests the quality of his work.
Sign Painting.
Bugler Charles F. Dam, who was one of the Councilmen of Portland last year, has a very large contract with Brown & Josselyn of that city, to paint signs advertising the Washburn Crosby flour. Comrades as they see these signs in differ- ent parts of the State will please recognize the handi- work of our comrade of Co. F.
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THE ASSEMBLY. 69
Our Introduction.
In reply to a request for an introduction to this Call, Gen. Cilley replied "It is its own best introduction. Its pages have become familiar and en- doared to all the comrades of the old regiment. Its increased size is evidence of more prompt and satisfactory financial re- plies from members of the association. It now contains nearly as many pages as a number of the North Ameri- can Review, and actually more reading matter. It is the won- der of other regimental asso- ciations, and bids fair, in its way, to be as great a success in a financial and literary point of view as the history of our regiment, and in addition to all this there is one result at- tained that is worth more than all the cost of both history and the BUGLE - the joy and in- spiration awakened in so many
comrades' lives by the inter- change of the simple, kindly letters printed as echoes. Read the letter of Capt. Wm. S. Howe in the July Call and reflect. Read the letter of James D. Card of Eastern Maine in the October Call and the awakened reply of John P. Perry of the western part of New England, printed in this issue, and realize that the BU- GLE has brought these two comrades together, who have not seen each other since the war closed, and who may never meet face to face. See how the letters from Walter Sylves- ter of the Soldiers' National Home, Leavenworth, Kan., have interested Joseph T. Dar- ling of Malaga, Cal.
Similar incidences are al- most innumerable and they are just as happy as they are abundant."
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
BUGLE ECHOES.
Hark ! through the quiet evening air their song Floats forth with wild, sweet rhythm and glad refrain. They sing the conquest of the spirit strong, The soul that wrests the victory from pain.
LETTERS FROM THE COMRADES.
MAINELAND, Nebraska, April 12th, IS86. FRIEND M. B. COOK :-- Your letter re- ceived asking the question, " Where are you?" I am still in the land of the living, located in Nebra-la, Cass Co .. thirty-five miles from Omahy in a south- west course. Maineland is my post- ofice and I am the postmaster. This is a farming community an I f am a farmer myself, raising stock and grain. Ikft Maine soon after my discharge and went to Iowa; staid there three years and then came to Nebraska, where I have been ever since. I went back cast three years ago ant male a visit. It don't seem twenty three years since I last saw you, but it is so nevertheless, and a great change has toon place in that time. Many of our ell comedes have gone to their loug and silent home. My hair is quite gray ant I begin to realize that I am an oll veteran in word as well as deed. Now about my fam- ily. I have been married nineteen vers and hove live childlees, three boys and two girls, quite good sperimens How isthat? Can yeta tite I have thought ah ut you tho gsopis of times and wondered where voll were and what we were up to. I Wewon't seen one of our old Company B men since the war chispi.
S. M. HO.DEN.
[ Hfist. p. 457.]
PORTLAND, Maine, Nov, 224, 1891. DEAR GEN. : --- William II. Richards, [His. p. 521, pic. p. 32, call 7] was a playmate of my youth. We were boys of twelve years of age together an I grew up together next door neighbors.
He was first in the Twenty-fifth Maine, Company H. He had a brother, Calvin D., a little older than myself. (I was a little older than Willi un.) He was out in the Thirty-third Massachusetts, a corporal-do not know what company. Hle was shot soon after he went out and sent home.
Po bad another older brother that used to be a meniber of one of the mix- tio companies of Boston before the war -- Boston Light Infantry, I think. I think he was a lieutenant in the Fifth Regiment. His name was Charles T. Am not certain as to the middle letter.
He was connected with the Dos! ! Fournal for years-a printer by tra ie. They have a sister in South Boston, a Mrs. Warner, living on Broadway. There was a younger brother, Jesse, who is now dead; and still a younger one, Frank, who, I think is also dead. The nic ther is dead; Her name was Ella. Their father I am toll is alive yet: bis name is Thomas T., I think. He is a painter by trade. William IT. was in Company M., First District Columbia ( av-
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BUGLE ECHOES.
atry, and I was in Company L. William died in some rebel prison, whether it was Andersonville or .Saulsbury, I can- men say; but it was one or the offer.
He was captured before the transfer. John Jones ( Hist. p. 535) the man I en- listed with, also died in prison. I think he was captured in the Wilson raid. I think Richards was captured at Syca- more Church but won't be sure. His battalion was stationed at Cox Mills and in falling back to Sycamore church, were nearly all captured.
A. D. Newbold, (Hist. p. 49),) was a tentmate of mine in the District Columbia Cavalry for a while. The last I heard of bim he was connected with the Inter-Ocean, a paper published in Chicago, Id. Think he is there now. There were two tent- mates whom I had when we were at Bermuda Hundred in the breastworks. named, Hanson Hutchins, ( Hist. p. 530) and Marcellos Hoben, ( Hist. p. 530.) They lived in the vicinity of Bangor somewhere. I have never seen or heard of them since the war, although I have been in Bangor considerable. ( Hutchins Uves in Emma -- FD.)
Thomas J. Horrie, (Wist. P. 335). also a fentmate of mine in the District Colum- bia Cavalry, died in Panama after the war.
Yours very respectfully, JAS. II. MEPRITE, TEKAMAH, Neb., Dec. 4th, 1891.
I received last BUGLE and wished so uruch that I could have been at the re- union at Houlton. I shall never forget our reunion at Boston where I met so many of my old comrades of Co. ... whom I had not seen since we were mustered out. How the boys had changed. We hardly knew each other. it did me lots of good to grasp them by the hand once more and talk over our army Me. I felt doubly repaid for the long distance I traveled and the expense I had incurred to attend the reunion.
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I hope to meet a good number of boys in Washington next year. In the BUGLE I have read a number of com- rades' recollections of Aldie, Middle- burg and Upperville. I enjoy reading them. It calls up many things that came under my observation. I remem- ber after the fight at Aldie I was de- tailed with others to bury the deadl. We had to take these bodies into the valley from the hills to bury them. We used a two-wheeled cart. I think some of the boys will remember it. In the Middleburg fight in our charges and countercharges I stopped to help a wounded comrade who was very badly wounded in the face and hip. He said I could do him no good but gave me his diary, watch and pocket book to give his captain. About that time the rebels were right on me and I had to " get up and dust." I reported to cap- tain and turned the things over to him. We then charged the rebels back. I went with one of his company and we found him alive. He was taken back to hospital and got well. I have for- gotten his name or to what company he belonged. I hope if he sees this he will write me or to the BUGLE.
Upperville! I have a silver cup to remember that fight from Col. Evans, of the Fifth North Carolina Cavalry, who charged our regiment having half of his men killed and the rest taken prisoners. Hle was at the head of his regiment and as he came up to ours he struck one of Company M's men over the head with a sabre and about the same time fell mor- tally wounded. I got the cup and some other things. On the cup was engraved the name of " Lizzie Johnson." I now have and greatly prive the cup.
I hope to hear more from Co. A. in the BUGLE and hope the boys will open up with those sixteen shooters, for I know there was no company did more hard fighting than ours.
Yours fraternally, EDWARD P. WORCESTER. [ [ist. p. 475.]
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
SAGINAW, Mich., Dec. 2d, 1891. DEAR GENERAL :-- I was somewhat dis- appointed when reading the last BUGLE, in your report of the members whom you met at Detroit, for you took my name and address. I was also at Fort Wayne at Gen. Smith's reception. I saw you for the first time since I saw you get wounded at Middleton. I ani commander of the Grand Army of the Republic Post here and had my Post in line when you were marching by. You halted in front of us and I got into your ranks and saw you and Frank Bickford. I know you were busy while in Detroit, so much to see to that you could not remember everything. I hope meet you in Washington.
I prize the badge very much and the History and the BUGLE. I think every regiment ought to have a history. I would give almost anything to have a history of my last regiment, the Thirty- First Maine. I was with that regiment every day from its organization until it was mustered out, except three months that I was laid up with a wound re- ceived at Cold Harbor in June, IS6.4.
I ain doing well and have two smart boys, one twelve years of age and the other seven. My health is good.
Yours in F. C. & L. 1 .. W. LYON. [Ifist. p. 597.]
NEWPORT, VE., Dec. 15th, IS91. COMRADE CH.LEY :- In answer to yours of late, concerning W. II. H. Goding. he and I enlisted at the same time with the same officer, and were mustered at the same thne. He is about six months younger than I. His father and mine were some relation and we were school- mates.
We were enrolled on the first day of March JSos aul I was discharged the ?Ist day of May, 1862, by reason of
disability, at Washington, D. C., from Company L., First Maine Cavahy. My name is not in the History and I desire it corrected. HARRISON GOING.
[Name added to January Koll Call, IS92.]
NECEDAR, Wis., Dec. 29, IS91.
DEAR COMRADE TOME: - I did not know that there was an association of the grand old regiment until the reunion at Milwaukee. Since then I have got regular copies of the BUGLE and the History. I remember you well by sight. I have read the History from a to zed and I will assure you I would not part with it for its weight in gold. By some mistake in the History they have me as from Anson when it ought to be Clin- ton. I have shown my history to a good many old veterans and they all say that it is the best thing they have seen about the war, and I feel very proud of it; and let me say, God bless you, Comrade Tobie, for your part and all connected in getting it up. With much love to you and the old veterans of First Maine I will close. I may write something to put in the BeGur in the future. I know but one of the old! boys in this State -- that is Win. II. Luce, of Rice Lake, Wis. I think he is well and prospering.
Respectfully your comrade, JAMES W. HARIMAN, Co. F. [Hist. p. 534.]
MALAGA, Cal., Jan. 5th, 1892. DEAR COMRADE: -- You must excuse the delay. I will send some money soon for the BUGIE, which I am so glad to get. I have a picture of myself, taken just before I enlisted, and one that I hal taken two months ago, that I want to go in the BuGLE as soon as I am able to do it. This will not be long now as my vineyard is coming along first rate. I expect quite a crop this year. Give my
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regards to any of the boys you sec. I think they will all remember " Joe, the caterer." I tell you we are all getting od and will soon pass beyond the need of any pensions. We didl the country good service and the oldl soldiers should be remembered by the coming genera- tion. It makes me feel sad to see so much opposition in the papers to giving the old soldiers pensions. Perhaps I shall be able to meet some of you in Washington next year.
Truly yours, JOSEPH T. DARLING. [ ITist. p. 548.]
SPRINGFIELD, Me., Jan. 6, 1892.
GEN. J. P. CILLLY :-- Orrin L. Good- win passed away September 27th, ISS9. I thought I would answer your letter and say that he had a young veteran who would like to have the BUGLE sent to him. MRS. ORRIN L. GOODWIN. [Iist. p. 585.]
ST. MARIES, KOOTEMAI CO., Idaho, January roth, 1892.
GEN. CILLEY :- Enclosed find the pre- requisite dollar for the BUGLE. I am looking anxiously for this month's Call. Since my last letter to you I have been to Spokane and found Capt. Boyd. 1 was pleased indeed to meet him. I vis- ited with him two days. Ile is in a bet- ter state of health and looks younger than I expected to find him; is but little gray and is just about as lively on foot as from '61 to '65. If occasion required he would still be fit for service, say as a substitute for a colonel of cavalry. Oh, yes, he'd do for a little job like that; probably very few now that would be better. He is in the butcher business and doing finely. As regards his family, I would feel a little more at liberty to write my views of all of them if I lived farther away, but you see they read the BasDE, and I notice that you have quite a labit of giving your letters from the
old boys to the editor of the BUGLE, and as I sometimes go to Spokane, and here- after shall always call on the young man, (Capt. Boyd, I mean.) I don't dare to be too personal in my remarks. But suffice it to say that he is proud of his family, and so should I be if I had such a pair of daughters (15 and 17 years respect- ively.) as he has. His wife looks quite young, excepting a little gray, cujeys good health, and has a remarkably happy faculty of making the world pleasant for her friends. I found her so, at least. She is a sister to Len. Merriam of our first band, who also lives in Spokane. The captain has one son and one daugh- ter married, and two daughters and one son-the youngest-at home. His old- est son is in business with him, and is a very business-like gentleman. Capt. Boyd will be in the Rocky Mountain squad, at our reunion at Chicago in '93. I also met Ellas Vose of Co. D in Spo- kane. Ile has a nice family and lives in fine style. He was shot through the right lung at Shepardstown, Va., July 16, 1863, and still doesn't look to be over 35 years of age. Yours in F., C. and 1 ...
MONROE DAGGETT. [ist. pp. 323, 437, 4%, 512, 631, 613, 500 ; } ic. pp. 481, 445.]
January 241th, IS92.
GEN. CILLEY :- I am the daughter of Gustavus MeClure. He was born No- vember 2, 1841, at Bangor. My mother was Julia 1. Patterson. She was born May 16, 1853. They were married May 26, ISSO. I was born December 2, 1883, at Beaver Falls, Minn., and now live in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. My papa was a good soldier. He died May 17, 1590. I like the BUGLE, because I know papa would have enjoyed reading about his comrades and telling me about his life as a soldier.
BESSIE MCCLURE, aged eight years.
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
PITTSBURG, Pa., Jan. 30th, 1892. GEN. J. P. CILLEY :
My Dear Sir and Comrade, - Your fa- vor of 25th inst. duly received, and in reply I would say that I was informed by Maj. Maitland several years since of the history of your noble regiment and pro- cured a copy of the same at once. It is a history you may well feel proud of; not only you and your comrades, but al! who formed the old Second Brigade, Second Division Cavalry Corps. I have read and re-read this very interesting work and very often use same as a refer- ence book in looking up matters pertain- ing to my own regiment, for to s certain extent, your history is ours. Ours is not a history of the regiment, but a miere beginning. Where and when we will finish it, I know not. You well know the difficulties in a work of this kind, especially at this late day. I will be pleased to subscribe for the FIRST MAINE BUGLE and will send our partial history in return Monday next, Feb. Ist. No work interests me as much as the history of regiments which composed our old brigade and division. You are doing a noble work and deserve the thanks of your comrades.
Fraterually yours, W. H. HOLLINGWOOD, 4th Pa. Cav.
303 Athens St., S. BOSTON, Mass. February 4th, 1892. GEN. J. P. CILLEY :
Dear Sir,-I have tried as best I could! to gather for you dates and facts concern- ing the Mitchell family, of which John, of the First Maine Cavalry, was a miett !- ber. I shall not be able to tell you any- thing about my grandparents, except that my father's parents were born in Ches- terville, Me., and mother's parents in Hebron, Me. I have heard my mother say that grandmother Mitchell was found dead in her bed without having been
sick. She was a widow at the tin.c. Grandfather Mitchell's name was John. My mother's father's name was Zophia- niah Bumpus. My grandparents a'l passed away during my young years, so I remember very little about them. Mi; father was born in Chesterville, Me., July 28, 18oo; died November 15, 1880, aged So years: name, William Mitchell. My mother, Nancy Mitchell, formerly Nancy Bumpus, was born in Fayette, Me., No- vember 3, 1800, and died November 3, ISSS, aged SS years. I can not romem- ber the date of their marriage, only that it was in 1325. Their family of nine children are all gone except myself and two sisters. My brother, John Mitchell, [ Hist. p. 571 and Call 3, p. Go,] was born in Livermore, Me., the 25th of October, 1835, and died March 12, 1367, aged 32 years; unmarried. My brothers Josiah and Joseph Mitchell, enlisted the 25th of August, 1852, in the Sixteenth Maine. Josiah was corporal in Capt. Marston's company, ( C); was discharged for chronic diarrhea after six months. Joseph died in just three months after leaving home, with diphtheria. My broth- er Josiah died April IS, sSS9,aged 58 years. He was Past Con mander of Kimball Pos :. G. A. R., Livermore Falls. My own name is Mary E. Walker; born in fry, Me., August 1, IS39; was marriel Au- gust 30th, twenty-five years later to San- ford M. Walker; five years later our only child was born, November 30, in Lynn. Mass., Susan A. Walker. She is twenty- two years of age, and was married June 24, 1890. Her husband's name is Edward E. Meson, of Cambridge, Mass. To them was born the 12th of June last. little Edith.
Respectfully, MRS. M. E. WALKER. LIBERTY. N. Y., Feb. Sth, 1892.
GEN. J. F. CILIEN :
Dear Comrade, -Can you tell me why the Second Mounted Rifles were not
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BUGLE ECHOES.
given credit for the BellGeld raid? 1 asked the president of our association and he said he did not know, but the adjutant general of the State of New York says we are not given credit for that raid on the records of the War Department or in hisoffice in the records of ,the regi- ment. While we were there my company lost two men captured and one wounded. I think we had not over eight companies on the raid. Two or more companies were sent back from Nottaway Run to pick up stragglers and had a sharp fight at Hatcher's Run, where Lieutenint Newman, of Co. M, was killed, and First Sergeant Geo. Thayer of same compiny wounded badly.
I remain yours in F., C. &. L., EDGAR CUFMENTS, 2nd N. V. Mounted Rifles.
NOTE .-- The probable reason of the omission of Bellfield from the list of battles to be borne by the Second New York Mounted Rifles was that the com- mander preferred that of Hatcher's Kun. It was not advisable to give both as they occurred on the same days. The time covered by the Gen. Order No. 10. A. of P., includes only to December 31, 186.1. The Hatcher's Run of February 5th, 1864, is not included in the Battle Order. J. P. CILLEY.
NEW ORLEANS. La., Feb. 17th, 19)2.
GEN. J. P. CILLIY :- My father, Aure- Hus Parker, ( Hist. p. 4$3.) is very sick, and we have had four doctors in the Inst week. They give us no hope and say he may linger this way for weeks. Kin Hy send the Bronn to him as he is very anxious to get it. During the last four Weeks in which he has battle! for life, he has made frequent inquiries for the Jan- uary BUOLE.
Very truly, LILIAN GERTRUDE, No. 571 Coup St. The following, taken from the Very Delta, of New Orleans, shows the bon-
orable position held by our worthy com- rade, and that he was a favorite among his associates as he was with bis regiment : "The death of Mr. Aurelius Parker March 20th, IS92, private secretary of Major Eaton, postmaster, saddened the post office division. Mr. Parker was not only most efficient and conscientious in the discharge of his duties, but affable ard a general favorite."
NATIONAL CITY, Cal., Feb. 9th, 1892. DEAR GEN. : - Enclosed find postal note for Sa.co to pay for the Bronx. I enjoy reading the BUGLE very mich indeed, and I hope that all the First Maine Cavalry boys are taking it. I have recently sold iny property in Na- tional City and shall soon move about one hundred miles north of this place, where I shall stay until warm weather, so address for the present,
Yours truly, A. A. ROBINSON, Moreno, Cal.
| Hist. p. 597.]
32 Bridge St., LOWELL, Mass., February 18th, 1892.
DEAR COMRADE: - I hove meant to say before that I am pleased with the BUGLE CALLS and will pay for them as soon as I get straightened. If I am spared I hope to be present at the next reunion. I feel sorry that I have not been able to pay for the BUGLE, forit has done me good to read them when I have been feeling blue. I shall be able to make that account all right before long. Hoping you will continue to send them to me, I am yours in F., C. & L.
GEORGE NORTHROP, Co. G. [Ilist. p. 563.]
919 Westminster St., WASHINGTON, D. C. February 24th, '92.
GIN. J. P. CULEY :
Dear Vomrade, -- Your favor of the zoth inst, with copy of the BOULE, was duly received, and both gave me much
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
pleasure. You may not remember me personally, but I was an old officer of the Second Pennsylvania Cavalry - captain of Co. II -- and remember very well when the First Maine and our regiment joined in action for the first time. The first time I ever remember secing your Colonel Smith was at a little skirmish hear the Rappahannock, between Kelley's and Beverly's Fords, when our gallant Major, Charles Taggart was mortally wounded. Our regiment was driving the ememy when Colonel Smith rode up and gave us orders, This fight continued all day, our regiment driving the rebels for five miles to Rappahannock Station, the enemy consisting of Gen. W. H. Fitz- Hugh Lee's brigade of cavalry and one regiment of infantry with a piece of artillery. This was on October 22d, 1863, our regiment having been brigaded with yours on the roth of October, 1863. On the 23rd, we had another skirmish with the enemy, but after some severe efforts we were forced to retire to Beal- ton. Our brigade acquaintanceship com- menced amidst the smoke of battle and was cemented on many a hard fought field. I was compelled to resign Sep- tember 26th, 1864, owing to being injured by a vicious horse, and then accepted a lieutenancy in the Signal Corps, U. S. A., where I served until July, 1865, and was honorably mustered out. This much in the way of preliminary. After the close of the war I moved west, remaining there for eighteen years, when I returned cast, and finding that no monument had been erected on the battle field of Get- tysburg to mark our regiment's position, I interested myself, and had one erected, assembling the regiment after much trouble for the preliminary work. I send you herewith a pamphlet which will give you some i lea of this event and our re- union, the first we have had since the war. We bad annual reunions until I went to Europe in ISyo, since which
time none have been held. I am now at work to have another here at the time of the Grand Army of the Republic encampment. I approve of the ilea expressed in your letter and hope it will bear fruit. As opportunity occurs I will show your letter and the BUGLE to such of my regimental comrades as I can meet, but our boys are willely scattered all over the country, and it is very hard work to reach them. I wish we had the spirit which your regiment has displayed. For years I have been trying to gather material for a regimental history, but rec- ords are missing and comrades seem unwilling to assist, and so year after year passes by without any accomplishment of the purpose. I have read with great in- terest the History of the First Maine Cavalry, and wish we could get one in as good shape, but I doubt if it will ever be accomplished. Perhaps through the BUGLE supplement as proposed, a feeling might be aroused among our survivors to do something towards this end. I have been sick all winter, and am slowly recovering, which renders it hard for me to do much now. But I will interest myself in the suggestion made by you, and at the first opportunity that occurs will bring it to the attention of the regi- ment, and in the meantime will call the individual attention of comrades to it.
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