First Maine bugle, 1892 (history of 1st Maine Cavalry), Part 20

Author: Tobie, Edward P. (Edward Parsons), 1838-; United States. Army. Maine Cavalry Regiment, 1st (1861-1865). Reunion; Cavalry Society of the Armies of the United States; First Maine Cavalry Association
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Rockland, Me. : First Maine Cavalry Association
Number of Pages: 854

USA > Maine > First Maine bugle, 1892 (history of 1st Maine Cavalry) > Part 20

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STORY OF THE FIRST PIG KILLED BY THE FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.

" In the beginning God created the heavens and carth." So in the beginning of the rebellion He also created the First Maine Cavalry Regiment. And the first idea of its members was to crush the southern rebellion and punish copperheads even in the state of Maine.

Every citizen who came into the First Maine Cavalry camp to peddle apples, cider, milk, etc., or for any other purpose, was tested by the boys of the First Maine for his loyal or disloyal sentiments, and soon all disloyal people living near camp were located by the boys. We had just got fairly settled down to business in old Camp Penobscot on the fair grounds in Augusta, trying to " play sojer " with pine laths for sabres, when Governor Washburne issued a Thanksgiving proclamation and Col. John Goddard, in command of the regiment. forthwith ordered the camp guard to load their old rusty guns with ball cartridges, and he also curtailed the number of passes to be given during Thanksgiving week. On the eve of this memoral le Thanksgiving many of us had secured passes and those who failed resolved not :) be disappointed in having a good old-fashioned dinner. As several and myself were enjoying our passes in a walk near the State Arsenal grounds on that pleasant even- ing, we met two or three of our band boys, one of whom had a live pig undler

TWENTIETH ANNUAL REUNION.

bis ar. On approaching us he who had the pig asked me if I thought it fot enough to bake. On scratching piggy's ribs a happy thoughit struck me, that I'd like to have it for my own Thanksgiving dinner, and I replied, " I'd be ashamed to be seen in the street with it under my arm," which answered the purpose. The possessor of the pig then said, " What shall we do with it?" I inquired if the former owner was secesh and he said " yes," but the pig was loyal and it never grunted when it was asked to ' jinc'er.' I said " Then he'd be willing to spill his Mood on the altar of his country." Then I drew my knife (which I still retain and which is now thirty years old) and the pig willingly sacrificed its life and blood for the good of mankind and as a Thanksgiving offering."

The sacrifice was then placed inside the iron fence on the arsenal ground and we all returned to camp as our passes were nearly out. I called up Charles De Furbush at midnight and we passed the guards out and in, bringing with us the coveted pig. The company cook having water hot, dressed our pig in grand style and it was stuffed and roasted to a "t" by some lady friends of the company from Bangor. We invited the band boys to dine with us, which invitation they politely declined. But the dinner proved a grand success. The affair got adrift among the good people of Augusta and the initiated in Company A would hear remarks and jokes in regard to the pig, etc., but suspicion pointed to the Fifteenth Maine Infantry, and we would make all sorts of inquiries as to who would do such a bold trick, al- ways taking care to keep ourselves above suspicion. One lady sail she would like to have seen them carrying off her pig -- she would have laughed and let them go. But thereby hangs a tale.

We are off for the seat of war. During three years service we passed through hard scenes enough to make one forget his grandmother and obliterate every trace of his former life, but such was not the case with me.

Now we leave our good oldl Maine And march to meet our nation's foe, Caring not how soon we meet him, Bound to follow where he may go. Yes! we leave dear friends behind us, To all we bid a fond adieu, And when we give our three years' service With honor we'll return to you.

The service of the regiment is too well known to give in detail what I saw and experienced in the field during my three years service, but on returning from the war I found

Joy and sadness closely mingled For us who reached our native State - Joy in meeting friends and neighbors; Sadness for those who patient wait 'Till th' shrill bugles of the angels Sound their final reveille And to th' roll call we've all answered " Here!" and marched to eternity.

On reaching Maine I went on a visit to the western part of the State, and as I re- turned, taking the cars at Leeds Junction, a stranger among strangers, a lady occupy- ing the seat behind me asked the old familiar question, " To what regiment do you ...

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FIRST MAINE BUGIE ..

belong?" I answered, " First Maine Cavalry." Next question. " What Company " Company A." "Did you know William Boyd?" " Yes" " Gas Inger- if Len Meriam?" " Yes." "Estabrook, Putnam," and a host of others to which I - wered in the affirmative and learning the lady was acquainted with all she 1. mentioned I said, " Dont forget to ask when you see him if he ronca . bers the night before Thanksgiving, 1861, when he was near the arsenal grown is el of the Kennebec river at Augusta. Then the lady lookel me in the eye with : knowing smile and asked, " Was it the time you stole the pig?" At this question. was thunderstruck. Had I met Pinkerton in disguise, and hal I been sha lowe for three years and why should this particular question be put to nie on floden minutes acquaintance was my first thought, and then I resolved to find ofit with whom I had met and succeeded finally before we got to Bangor as she had a body friend with her who was from the same place.

Some years after my wife and I were on a visit to Aroostook County when we met the lady in question, who had married one of the comrades mentioned alve, and the comrade calls out, " Halt!" and I replied, " I'll dismount, advance and give the countersign." The First Maine comrade introduced his wife to me, and a: we shook hands with her I asked, " Was it the time you stole the pig?" which ques- tion needed an explanation to her husband and my wife, and after they were falls initiated we had a good hearty laugh right then and there. So you see the ol! adage made true that " murder will out."

Chaplain Samuel A. Fuller was next called upon to speak but declined on account of indisposition.

Lieutenant Tobie read the following, prepared for the occa- sion :

THE FIRST MAINE BOY AT THE GATE.

BY EDWARD D. TOBIE.

Saint Peter, at the gate of Heaven, Behell the soul of one Who had with hope of entrance come - His earthly service done.

The spirit gave his name, and told Of what had been his lot On earth, and what his life: alas ! Saint Peter knew him not.

He'd been no saint - he'll simply tried To do his level best Where he'd been placed, and now had come For his eternal rest. 'Twas all in vain. Saint Peter said, With pity in his face: " I'm very sorry for you, but There's here for you no place."

TWENTIETH ANNUAL REUNION.

The spirit turned -- with head erect; No fear bad he; e'en hel! For him no terrors had, as onve We heard Kilpatrick tell.

But as he turned, Saint Peter saw, Etched in by sun and rain, Something upon his back which told He had not lived in vain.

Then spoke the saint, " Your back gives proof You've worn the Union blue, And on the blue, in graceful curves, Two stripes of yellow hue."

" Oh yes," the soul replied, " 1 served In those grand, glorious years When freedom won abiding place Beyond all doubts and fears;

'Twas with the cavalry I fought -- Oft did my carbine crack; And not a foeman ever saw Those stripes upon my back."

What army were you in? " inquired Saint Peter, with a smile, As if he wished to hold the soul To chat with him a while.

" The grand Potomac Army," said The soul in joyous tone --- " The best and bravest army, saint, On which the sun e'er shone."

Saint Peter nodded, and replied : " Your words are chosen well; It was a glorious army -- but Your regiment please tell."

" The Old First Maine! " the soul sang out, And o'er his face there spread A pride and glory all his own. Saint Peter quickly said :

" The Old First Maine! Come in, come in ! And be at home for aye; Here's many a comrade, and the rest Will rally here some day, When all life's battles have been fought, Its victories nobly won; Then shall the Great Commander say, ' Brave Old First Maine, well done !'"

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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.

Gen. Cilley then addressed the comrades earnestly in royal to the BUGLE, and Lieut. Tobie followed upon the same subject the former asking support financially in behalf of the comry not themselves able to pay for it, and the latter in belief letters and sketches of war reminiscences from every commad .. Comrades Sheahan and Clark then amused the comrades with more stories, each in his own peculiar way.

After music by the band, Lieut. Horatio S. Libby, of Me rose, Mass., read a poem entitled "The Regimental Reunion." from the Century Magazine, as follows :

REGIMENTAL REUNION.

It is twenty years, my comrades, twenty solid years to date, Since we were stripling captains, dapper youngsters slim and straight; And now in portly manhood, wise and serious, we are met, To gossip of the stirring times of sword and bayonet.

Our portly manhood, as above, our silvered heads and all, May be respected, more or less, by circles large or small; But my comrades, all the honors of our civil walks and ways Seem but empty to the glory of the old heroic days.

Yet the martial pomp and grandeur, failing somehow to connect, Were not always clearly present at the time, I recollect. There were dusty, weary marches, not romantic in the least, More especially if rations chanced to fail for man or beast. There were times when haurin nature had to murmur just a bit; There were seasons of bad language, yes, the truth I must admit; There were bivouacs in the rain or snow, black darkness overhead, The sodden ground beneath us, with a fence-rail for a bed.

But what appetites for Jobscouse, and what dinners large and free, Supplemented by a canteen full of " Commissary B; " With the haughty Southron's hoe-cake, and the colored aunty's pie, And a streamlet for a finger-bowl, if one meandered by.

Do you remember, comrades, how we fought and overcame Those guerilla dacks aud turkeys, war-like pigs and other game? And those savage rebel chickens, who would die, but never yield, Whom we faced with deathless valor on so many a Southern field? Though we murmured, though our language was at times a trifle queer, Though we had but little reverence even for a brigadier, Though we grumbled at the government with almost every breath, Yet we faced the gray battalions, all undaunted to the death. We fought them and we killed them, and they killed us in return; But we never thought to hate them, and we never cared to learn.

TWENTIETH ANNUAL REUNION. 10

We met them on the picket lines, with flags of truce between; They were " Johnnies," we were " Yanks," and better friends were never seen.

What anomalies and contrasts! I recall a day in June, When the world was warm with summer, and the birds were all in tune; Peace and beauty all about us, death and danger just ahea 1, Ou our faces careless courage, in our hearts a sober dread.

Then the skirmish line went forward, and the only sounds we heard Were the hum of droning insects and the carol of a bird; Till, far off, a flash of fire, and a little cloud went by, Like an angel's mantle floating down from out the azure sky.

Then a shell went screaming o'er us, and the air at once was rife With a million whispering hornets, swiftly searching for a life; And the birds and insects fed away before the " rebel yell," The thunder of the battle, and the furious flames of hell.

Other memories come thronging. When our shoulder straps were new We were nearly all the world, but now, alas, we are so few; Then we marched with ringing footsteps, looking gayly to the fore; Now with wistful, dreamy glances we look back to days of yore.

If the spirits of the dead revisit earth for weal or woe, We might fancy they would join us, those dear friends of long ago. Hush, who knows what ghostly comrades may have come with noiseless feet, In the old familiar friendliness, to make our band complete? DAVID L. PROUDFUI.

MORE ADDRESSES.

Comrade Charles E. Jacks, of Boston, was then called upon. He spoke earnestly and eloquently upon the feelings which the comrades had for each other, saying it surpasses the love of women, and closed with vivid descriptions of the charge of the regiment at Farmville, and the fight at Appomattox on the morning of Lee's surrender.

Dr. Theo. J. Batchelder spoke of the heroism of the mothers, wives, sisters and sweethearts, who sent their sons, husbands. brothers and lovers to the war with a " God bless you," and then waited patiently: at home day after day and week after week to hear from the loved ones.

Capt. Cary then introduced Comrade Gilbert N. Harris, the newly elected president of the association, who spoke briefly, thanking the association for the honor conferred upon him by his election, and paying high tribute to Gen. Charles H. Smith, our old commander, and to Co. E, which went from this locality.

FIRST MAINE BUGLE.

Capt. John W. Freeze was next called upon. He responded briefly, saying : "It is said there is a pontoon bridge over the last river we have to cross. I came very near crossing that bridge a few months ago by a fall. I have lost my voice an ! cannot speak. I thank you cordially for this invitation, but i: is impossible for me to speak."

Then there was music by the band, and then the ladies served the veterans and friends with ice cream, cake, etc., and the de- cidedly pleasant reunion of the First Maine Cavalry was over. The larger portion of the comrades and families departed for their homes Friday morning, but some remained a few days, having become so enamored of that part of the country that they wished to see more of it.

THE MASSACHUSETTS BRANCH.

A special meeting of the Massachusetts Branch of the First Maine Cavalry Association was held Aug. 19th, 1891, to make arrangements for the comrades living in Boston and vicinity to attend this reunion. Comrades Gilbert N. Harris and Charles A. F. Emery were chosen a committee to make terms with the railroad companies and notify the comrades. The result of this was that the comrades from Boston and vicinity were enabled to procure tickets for Houlton and return for $10, by the Bos- ton and Maine railroad.

AFTER APPOMATTOX.

NO. IV .- FORT DARLING.

BY MAJOR HENRY C. HALL.

In the eastern part of the county, bordering on the James river, about seven miles below Richmond, is a line of high hills rising abruptly in some places two hundred feet above the water, known as Drury's Bluffs. At our first visit here we met Major Drury, the proprietor of a large plantation lying along the river which includes these bluffs. At this time he was superin- tending his farming operations which were varied and extensive. He was a man then apparently about forty years of age and more than six feet in height, with a full, florid face, strong fea- tures and commanding presence, all indicating courage, will and energy sufficient to control a plantation of unruly darkies or to command an army corps if need be.

He had been an ardent rebel and had carnestly supported the confederacy that was, and he now reluctantly submitted to the inevitable. At first he seemed little inclined to engage us in conversation-only to briefly but kindly reply to our questions -- but when he was informed as to our position in relation to the government of the county, and that we desired his sugges- tions and counsel and the aid and co-operation of all good citi- zens in our efforts to preserve order and to afford protection to persons and property, he seemed to half realize the fact that the government he had tried so hard and in vain to destroy was now offering him and his protection and security when the powers of the state and of the county had ceased with the confederacy, and the icy surface of his rigid features began to warm and break, and he soon became interested, social and friendly. He modestly and manfully expressed his gratitude for our call, and promised us any aid he could render in our new and peculiar duties. After a short discussion of the sub-

FIRST MAINE BUGIE.

jects of our call, he volunteered to go with us to the summit of the bluffs, where he related and explained an incident of the war, that to my mind is without parallel in the history of that long and eventful struggle, and of which he was the hero on the confederate side. He said that he carly recognized the inger tance and value of these bluffs in the defense of the confederde capitol if it should be threatened by a naval or marine foro. from below, and that he as carly called the attention of the new government to the necessity of some defensive works along the river and particularly at these bluffs, but no heed was given to his warnings.

After the great naval engagement at Hampton Roads, in which the little Monitor disabled the rebel ram Merrimac, he was more solicitous than before, and again appealed to the con- federate government to do something to save the capitol from impending danger, and especially from inviting attack from the "strange craft" below, for between these bluffs and Richmond there was not a gun nor any obstruction to prevent an unar- mored vessel from steaming right up to the wharves of the rebel capitol; but for some cause or for no cause his pleadings were again unheeded. He had embarked in the new move- ment deliberately and from choice. and he resolved that no slight nor insult, however unjust and unmerited, should alienate him from his allegiance to the new government.

He accordingly set his slaves to work and in a short time he had quite a formidable earthwork laid out and erected on the highest and most commanding bluff, which he christened Fort Darling. With his own money he purchased three field pieces, two three- inch howitzers and one twelve pound Napoleon, and mounted them in his new fort to defend the new capitol and the honor of the stars and bars. He drilled and trained his men daily, taught them their places and how to handle the guns, and in a for weeks had quite an efficient battery of light artillery. While the men were engaged in the field he kept a sentinel posted with a tin horn on a commanding eminence to sound the alarm when the expected fleet should heave in sight. Days grew in- to weeks and weeks into months and the horn was still silent.

AFTER APPOMATTOX.

The darkies at length began to think that they would never have a chance to "shoot off de big guns" they had kept so clean, new and nice ; that the Yankees were too shrewd and wise to come in sight of such destructive pieces ; but at last. on the 16th of May, 1862, early in the morning, the expectant horn sounded the dread alarm, when all excitedly hurried to the fort, where in a few moments they were gazing in breathless suspen- at the black smoke of a steamer approaching in the distance Soon another appeared and another. The river was full of them ! Were they veritable Yankee gun boats, or were they a friendly fleet from below seeking safety in flight ? A shot will tell. Bang ! goes a gun to the great delight of the trembling dar- kies, and instantly an answering shot came screaming through the air, terrifying the darkies into a mob of senseless maniacs The situation now was not only grave and critical, but it seemed absolutely hopeless. Before noon the confederate capitol will surely be in the hands of the abolition hordes of the North ! For what could one man with three small field pieces and a fow ignorant. unwilling slaves do against the heavy guns and ex- perienced seamon of a formidable fleet of five victorious ves- sels, led by that naval wonder of wonders, the impenetrable monitor ! Almost any other man in the world, when that fleet came to anchor, would have fled to Richmond to save himself and inform the city of the certain doom that shortly awaits it. But of better stuff-of heroic timber-was he made. He foit that the very existence of the confederacy was in his hands, and he resolved to save it or to sell his life most dearly in its do- fensc.

By the application of vigorous physical persuasion some of the less frightend darkies were induced to return to the guns, and as their fright wore away they loaded and replaced the guns while the valliant master sighted and fired them. When the fire from the fleet was rapid he said it was impossible to keep a man at the guns or even in sight, but as soon as the fire slack- ened they would return again and work like trojans. At length the little monitor raised her anchor and steamed right up to the fort as though to run by. She was now harmless as she could

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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.

not elevate her guns to reach the summit. Major Drury ob serving this, hastily ran his guns to the water side of the fort and dropped solid shot down on to the back of the little mon- ster, which rolled off as drops of water from the back of a due'. She quickly reversed her engines and took position as before. Firing continued at long range for some time but no further at- tempt was made to pass the fort and at noon firing ceased and the fleet withdrew.

I submit the following report and abstracts from the con- manders in the Federal fleet :

REPORT OF COMMANDER JOHN RODGERS.

U. S. STEAMER GALENA, OFF CITY POINT, JAMES RIVER. MAY 16th, IS62. SIR : I have the honor to report that this vessel, the Aroostook, the Monitor and Port Royal, with the Naugatuck, move up the river, getting aground several times but meeting with no artificial impediments until we arrived at Ward's Blu.i, within about eight miles of Richmond, where we encountered a heavy battery and two separate barriers formed of piles an't steamboats and sail vessels. The pilots both say they saw the Yorktown and Jamestown among the number. The banks of the river we found lined with rifle pits from which sharpshooters annoyed the men at the guns. These would hinder the removal of the obstructions unless driven away by a land force.

The Galena ran within about 600 yards of the battery as near the piles as it was deemed proper to go, let go her anchor and then at 7.45 A. M., opened fire upon the battery. The wooden vessels as directed anchored about 1300 yards below. The Monitor was near, and at 9 o'clock she passed just above the Galena but found that her gans could not be elevated enough to reach the battery. She then dropped a little below us and made her shots effective. At five minutes after 12 the Galena had ex- pended nearly all her ammunition and I made a signal to discontinue the action. We hod but six Parrot charges and not a single filled 9-inch shell. We had 13 killed! and II wounded. The rifled too-pounder of the Nangatuck burst, half the part alatt the trunions going overboad. She was therefore disabled.

Lieut. Newman, the executive officer, was conspicuous for his gallant and effective service. Mr. Washburn, acting master, behaved admirably. These are selections from among the number. The Aroostook, the Naugatuck and Port Royal took the stations previously assigned them and did everything that was possible. The Monitor could not have done better. The barrier is such that the boats of the enemy, even if they have any, cannot possibly pass out and ours cannot pass in.

I have the honor to be your obe lient servant, JOHN RODGERS, Commander U. S. V.

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1 : 1

.AFTER APPOMATTOX. 25

lieut. Wm. Jeffers, comman ling the Monitor reported. (Extract.) "At half past ; I discovered an extensive fortification on an elevation of about 2co feet, with several small batteries, all apparently mounting guns of the heaviest calibre. The fire of the enemy was remarkably well directed but mainly towards this vessel. She was struck three times. I am happy to report no casualties. In conclusion permit me to say the action was most gallantly fought against great odds an 1 with the usual elect against earthworks. As long as our vesssels kept up a rapid fire they rarely returned our fire, but the moment our fire slackened they remanned their gin.s. It is impossibl. to reduce such works except with the aid of a land force."

Commodore Goldsborough, flog officer, closes his report with the following : "Tby James river is now opened from its mouth to Ward's or Drury's bluf, or in other words, up to $ miles of Richmond, where, as you will perceive by Commander Rod- geis' report of the fight, it is seriously obstructed."

The confederate authorities were now greatly alarmed and thoroughly aroused. They realized the great perils to which they had left themselves exposed, perils that had been bravely averted, and not by any means or measures of theirs, but by the intelligence and zeal of one courageous and devoted confederate whose early counsels and whose later appeals had been disre- garded and unnoticed. But for the early action of Major Drury, Richmond must surely have been at the mercy of our guns that day. Indeed, as it was, Major Drury well said that had the Yankee commander of the fleet possessed persistence equal to his courage, he would have steamed past the fort with at least three of his vessels and tied up at the wharves of Rich- mond.

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