USA > Maine > First Maine bugle, 1892 (history of 1st Maine Cavalry) > Part 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38
.
49
THE COUNTRY FOR WHICH YOU FOUGHT.
necessary to cross a canal, over which a temporary bridge had been built by placing a single planl: from one shore to a horse in the centre of the canal and another plank from there to the other shore. This horse rested on a flat boat, and the wind blew so strongly and the waves ran so high (it was close to the lake ) that there was too much mo tion to the planks for my equilibrium. Ed. went across all right, but when I reached the centre and was standing directly over the boat, I found myself .very dizzy -- actually seasick ; only think of it, seasick in the World's Fair grounds-and 1 was obliged to crawl to shore on my hands and knees, while Ed. stood and laughed at me. The waters of Lake Michigan beat against the shore as heavily as do the waters of the ocean at Portland, throwing the spray high in the air, and we watched the breakers for some time with a new idea of the force of the lake waters.
One thing surprised us in Chicago, viz., that the residents of the city know so little about it. We were in the vicinity of South Park and wished to make it a visit. Five different resi- dents, whom we met at or near their homes, located it in as many directions, and yet it was only a very short distance away from where they then were. The only man who knew anything about it, or who could or would tell anything definite about it. was a cross-looking car conductor whom I had set down as a sort of gruff specimen of humanity but whose rough-looking exterior concealed some knowledge and gentlemanly courtesy. Again, we found during our travels a handsome large building. It was not until we inquired of the tenth man that we learned that it was the city and county building, known as " the twins," and yet all of whom we asked had the appearance of being residents of Chicago. Another large, handsome building, evidently a public building, we were unable to learn the name or use of until the next day, when we found it was the Post office.
Monday morning we paid our first visit to an old friend, for- merly of Lewiston-Duncan D. Garcelon-and after a season of questions and answers about friends, he took us over to the Board of Trade. We had heard this institution given all sorts
·
50
FIRST MAINE BUGLE,
of names indicating turmoil and confusion, yet were not wody prepared for what we saw and heard there. In one porticalot the room were seventy-five to a hundred min, mostly young men, shouting and gesticulating like so many mad men and neither the shouts nor the gesticulations could we understand. It required but a few moments explanation by our friend, of the mysteries of one finger, two fingers, five fingers, ten finger -. etc., and of the palin of the hand turned outward or inward.to enable us to have some idea of what was going on, and we looked with astonishment to see ten, twenty-five and even nay thousand bushels of wheat bought and sold by the wave of a hand. It was interesting to watch this proceeding, but at the same time we were inclined to feel somewhat overcome by the magnitude of the rapid transactions. We watched this wheat ring for some time -- long enough to see more wheat bought and sold than there is in the whole country-and there was a. strange fascination in it. It was noticeable that most of the men thus engaged were young men, and they purchased of di. - posed of thousands of bushels as nonchalantly as two boys would swap marbles. At times the price would take a sudden rise or fall, and then the excitement grew intense until we conid understand the remark of a very much interested spectator, "I don't wonder that they are all young men-a man couldn't live long in that business -- I don't want any of it." There were similar scenes in the corn and pork rings, but business was not as brisk there.
We also visited the top of the tower of the Auditorium Hotel-the highest tower in the city --- and from there had a fine view of the city, which intensified the belief in the expres- sion used once before, " Chicago is a big city." Both of us fult inclined to consider Chicago the one city in the country really worth living in. There was something about it which captivated us, and we were ready to settle down and re- main there-after the journey was over.
LIBBY PRE-ON.
In the afternoon, by the courtesy of the managers, we visit- ed the old " Libby Prison," which has been taken from Rich-
51
THE COUNTRY FOR WHICH YOU FOTONY.
mond to Chicago and placed on exhibition. I visited this place hesitatingly. I was inclined to think it a mistake to preserve this relic of the war in this manner, as I thought it might " have a tendency to keep alive the memories and hatreds of the war," now so long gone by. This feeling fled entirely before the visit was over, and I felt that it was well to have it preserved as a testimony to the heroism, fidelity, patience and long-suffering of the brave men of the north, and as an incentive to patriotism to all, especially the young, who shall visit it. As for its " keeping alive the hatreds of the war," you know, comrades, that there was never any ill feeling between the brave boys in blue and the equally brave boys in gray; you remember our friendly confabs and our friendly trades with the " Johnnies " on picket ; some of you will remember, as do J, that even when prisoners of war we were well treated as long as we were in the hands of the enemy's soldiers. There never was any hatred between the soldiers of the two armies and therefore none can be kept alive or resuscitated. We respected them for their bravery, their courage, their fidelity to what they firmly believed was right, and they respected us in like manner. Each knew, too well, alas ! that the other was brave.
Some of you, perhaps, may fancy my feelings as I stood near the end of the building, and looking up, as I did in June, 1863, saw, as I did then. the sign, "S. Libby & Son, Grocers and Ship Chandlers." It looks just as it did then. Then I was wounded and lame and a prisoner about to be confined within the building's walls. I had been limping through the streets of Richmond, with my wounded comrades, with a sink- ing heart, and only realized that the prison was reached as we halted and I read the sign. How that sign stared at me as I stood there in pain and fear and dread. How my thoughts went back to that June day of 1863, as I again read the same sign on this lovely day of May, 1892, and how all the scenes of the old days came up before inc. But I will not weary your patience by going over them now. We passed inside the building and registered. Do you, comrades, who visited the prison as involuntary guests during the war, remember how
1
1
:
- شمـ
-
52
FIRST MAINE BULGE.
you were there registered? The prison is full of war relie every conceivable kind, which it would be worth a day of any one's time to examine, but I had no taste of time for them. There is a large picture portraying the tunnel by which some of our boys escaped from the prison, and one of the boys who then escaped was explaining it, but that was of no intel .. to me. Straight up stairs I went, interested to see if memory served me rightly as to the location of the room in which J was confined. If it did, I knew I should recognize as soon as I saw it, the very spot where I laid my head while sleeping in the prison in 1863, and that there would be no doubt about !! My memory did serve me rightly. Not in the first room, or the second, did I find anything that looked natural, but in the fourth -- there was the place, with all the surroundings ---- the door, the window, the stairway, the hatchway (then used for sanitary purposes), everything just as I remembered it. For a moment it seemed as if I had been away from the room caly long enough to have it cleaned up. Comrades, do you bk. !! me that as I stood there, gazing upon the very place where my body lay so long ago and under such circumstances, the very place where my head lay upon the window sill, as the old memories came rushing back --- do you blame me that I was overcome by my emotions and my eyes filled with tears ?. Do you know that I am proud of those tears? Do you know at that moment, as the old scenes came up before me as vividly as they could under no other circumstances, that I was more than ever proud that I tried to do my whole duty, with you, in those stirring days? Do you wonder that as I stood there and thought of the comrades who were there with me so long ago, of the thousands of other comrades who were there, of all the comrades who bore a noble part for country's sake in that dark time, do you wonder that I experienced a change of heart, and believed that it is a good thing to have the old Libby Prison thus preserved, with all its unpleasant memories? ! can not tell all my thoughts as I stood there in the old pris o. but some of you at least will understand them. And I think Ed realized something of them, and obtained a clearer iden cf
2 3
53
THE COUNTRY FOR WHICH YOU FOUGHT
what war means than ever before. After my pilgrimage to this spot, I had no heart to gaze at the thousands of war relics stored in the prison, but we came away, each of us filled with new emotions --- each of us, I trust, better citizens for this brief visit. And even now, as I write, though I have seen very many interesting things and strange scenes since this visit, I find my eyes again filling with tears as I think of it, and the visit to the old prison is among the most vivid recollections of the whole trip.
THE CRUISE OF THE ESSEX.
With letters from home and friends to cheer us on our way, we left Chicago at nightfall of Monday, May ninth, taking passage in Pull- man car Essex, which car was destined to be our home for nearly three weeks, and three weeks of wondrous travel, sight seeing and enjoyment. It was not a handsome car ; it had CHARLES A. LEE. not the latest improvements; its accommoda- tions were scanty; the only place that could be utilized for a smoking room was the small room where the porter slept, in which two could smoke comfortably and into which four might squeeze by bidding good bye to comfort ; it was old and weather beaten and out of date; it rattled and shook so that writing was impossible and very few letters were written while it was in mo- tion ; it was an uncomfortable car, anyway, and the porter was as uncomfortable as the car; yet that car carried us safely for nearly three weeks, giving us a glorious ride, such as we never had be- fore-probably never will have again-so I have only good words for the old rattletrap of a thing, and pleasant memories of the many days we shook and swayed and lurched and rocked over the country in it. The passengers on the Essex were as follows :
-
Mrs. E. Jeannette Abbott and husband, Chicago, Il., Elite Vares. Col. and Mrs. John C. Bundy. Chicago, Religio-Philosophical Journal.
1
1
1
54
FIRST ALAINL BUGLI.
John H. Campbell and wife, Phenix. R. L., Paratuvet Falls; Gleaner.
Miles B. Castle and wife, Sandwich, Ill., Illinois Suffragist.
Frances L. Dusenberry and brother, Chicago, Chicago I'm- an's News.
Irving A. Ewing, Monmouth, ILL., Daily Review.
J. Y. Gilmore and wife, New Orleans, La., Sugar Bowl war Farm Journal.
Ida A. Harper, Indianapolis, Ind., Veres.
B. B. Herbert and wife, Chicago, National Journalist
Mrs. Addie E. Heron, Chicago, Hom? . Irt.
Caroline A. Huling, Chicago, Justitia.
Charles A. Lee, Pawtucket, R. J., Gazette and Chronicle.
Tom W. Neal and wife, Dyersburg, Tenn., State Gasetie.
Mrs. Sarah Wilder Pratt, Chicago, The Christian Science.
George C. Rankin, Monmouth, Ill., Republican.
George A. Smith and wife, Woonsocket, R. I., Evening Re- porter.
Cora L. Stockham and mother. Chicago, Wintergarten Maga- sine.
Edward P. Tobie and son, Pawtucket, R. L., First Maite Bugle.
Kate Will, Chicago, Journal of Industrial Education.
George O. Willard and daughter, Providence, R. I., The Critic.
W. Bent Wilson and wife, La Fayette, Ind., Morning For- nal.
These were our fellow passengers during the glorious ride, and a right jovial party it proved 5 to be. Coming from several states though they did, and being to a large extent strangers to cach 56 other though they were, they got soon settled down into pleasant travelling companionship, and it is probable there was no other car in the B. B. HERGERT. three trains which carried the excursionists across the country in which the relations of the occupants were more pleasant, or in which there was more real enjoy-
--------
1
1
:
i
55
THE COUNTRY FOR WHICH YOU FOUGHT.
ment of the ride and real fun. Verily, it was a pleasant party the Essex carried. We were now on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad, and in the immediate charge of Kou- ert E. Breder, passenger agent of that con- pany, who filled the bill to perfection. Il: was not only gentlemanly and courteou- al- W. BENT WILSON. ways, but efficient, and his presence as well as his supervision added greatly to the pleasure and success of the journey over this road.
FIRST DAY OF THE CRUISE.
We were barely outside of Chicago when the engine became derailed and we lost an hour or two. This accident, we found. was a precautionary measure. Ed, who was on the trip for what he could see and learn, and whose eyes were always open. promptly investigated the matter, and learned that we were pear the grade crossing of another railroad, and that the switch was so constructed that when a train was going over the crossing on one road there was no possibility of a train on the other road attempting to do the same thing and thus colliding. The last train there, if the engineer didn't see the signal in time to stop it, must run off the track. That was MIS. E.JEANETTE ABBOTT our case exactly. By running off the track we had avoided a collision, with all the word means. I was somewhat amused a few days later at hearing the accident spoken of as a special interposition of Divine Providence in behalf of this party, when I knew that the Divine Providence part was in putting it into the minds of the railroad company to adopt this precaution, noor in behalf of this particular party, but in behalf of all passenger. on the road.
The first night in the Essex was not a particularly comfort- able one. We had not become used to our new quarters, and it was virtually the first night in the sleeper for all of the- really so for most of us. We got up Tuesday morning in nol
1
2
56
FIRST MAINE BUGIE.
the best of humor, and found we were four h behind time, having had to run very caref on account of a superabundance of rain, brin ing a flood. And we dragged along all day for the same reason, finally being obliged to les. the road and take another one on account of ; large rock having been washed down upon th MILES B. CASTLE, track. All through the state of Missouri then were evidences of the heavy rains and of their effects upon the railroad and upon the country. In the morning we pas- .: Medille, the scene of an accident the previous week, and saw the wrecked cars lying by the side of the road, anm the debris generally. We crossed the repaired bridge, the unusual number of supports giving me a feeling of insecurity by their very number instead a sense of safety. We were per- fectly content to lose time all day long in the interest of safety, and we could see the need of it. Being so much water there was little else to see. Being behind time we were late at the dining stations, and those of us who were not provided with lunch baskets had little to eat, and that at irregular times. In spite of all these discomforts the passengers on the Essex did not become down-hearted. We spent the time in getting acquainted with each other, and the time did not drag as did the train. Vet we were all happy when the IRVING A. EWING. train rolled into Kansas City nine or ten hours late.
The first thought on arriving at Kansas City was a good square meal. This Ed and I found at a restaurant near the depot and I enjoyed it hugely-though perhaps not so much as I did a Col- tain supper of fried ham and sweet potatoes once upon a time. the result of a foraging expedition while on one of Sheridan's raids. This attended to we had a bit of stroll around the city. to improve the little time we had there. We found Kansis City a wonderful place for "getting up stairs." It seemed if we could get nowhere without climbing stairs, and remark- ably long flights too. Ed and I took a cable car ride through
THE COUNTRY FOR WHICH YOU FOUGHT.
the city, sizing up the wide, straight street, and the substantial looking buildings, and becoming very well pleased with the city. But our pleasure was somewhat modified by finding ourselves on the wrong car, with scant time to get to the depot, having gone out of our way in our ignorance of the street car GEORGE O. WILLARD. lines. Then we found that it was quite as hard to go down stairs in a hurry as to go up, and there seemed to be many more stairs to go down than we had climbed. And when we were not going down stairs we were tramping through much mud. We reached the depot in time, however, and had some to spare Having acquired a little wisdom by experience, we procured a lunch basket and had.it filled, determined to hence- forth be independent of dining stations and lunch counters.
While performing my toilet this morning I was accosted by J. Y. Gilmore, of Louisiana, who, noticing the Grand Army button in the lappel of my coat, offered his hand and announced that he was a confederate soldier, having served in an Alabama regiment in the army of Northern Virginia, during the war. I took the proffered hand cordially, (yes, with the memory of my visit to Libby Prison only a few hours previous), the same as you would have done if you had met him, armed and ready to shoot, on picket, long years ago, and we had quite a pleas- ant conversation, the forerunner of several during the cruise of the Essex .. He told me that he carried a Yankee ballet in his body as a memento of the war, and as I have carried a rebel bullet since Brandy Station I could sympathize with him. We had some chaff, of course, during which he said he did not know but the bullet he had carried so long was sent over by me. To this I replied that if he sent over the one I carry, I hoped he was carrying one from me. So between badinage and good square wholesome talk we had a pleasant season.
SECOND DAY OF THE CRUST.
Wednesday morning, May eleventh, the passengers in the Essex found themselves feeling splendidly. We had become some-
!
1 :
2
58.
FIRST MAINE BUGIE.
what used to life in a sleeping car. and had Lad a good night's rest; the sun way shining bright ly, which was something new; we were ridin. through a fine country ---- Kansas -with 1.03 -01 much to see in the way of scenery, perhaps. but a country it was good to see, with evidences vi prosperity over the farms ; and more thing at GEORGE A. SMITH. we had an excellent breakfast, well served. in good season, at Kingsley. So the whole day was most ering- able. Ed and I rode a good part of the day on the car platformy. the better to sec, a method which Ed followed for the greater portion of the journey. We were regaled during the ride with a brief glance at numberless prairie dogs-we were smart enough generally to see only the disappearance of the lively little creatures -- as well as glances at fast disappearing jack rabbits. At Dodge City Ed had to set his watch back another hour, but mine kept right on, and my computation of time in- came more complex. It was now twelve o'clock with us when it was two o'clock at home.
About noon the train arrived at La Junta, Colo., (pronounced by the residents as if spelled "La Hunter," with a long u), where a short stay was made. After a lunch, Ed and I took a stroll up town, visiting the office of the Otero County Democrat. We found the edi- tor a genial customer, full of push and enter- prise, and about to make his paper into a daily. MRS. SABAR WILDER: PLATT. In answer to questions he said, in his immitable way. "I want a reporter who will hustle ; there is no trouble to get news here; we've over four thousand inhabitants ; a man can go out any evening and get local news enough to fill up the paper; you must remember we've got three saloons here : oh, no, this is not a bad place to live at all -- there has not been more than seven or eight men killed here this year." H. was invited to join the excursion, but declined, saying, as cooly as he said everything, " I cannot-my partner is in jail." One of the Rhode Island delegates, to let his new friend down easily,
1
THE COUNTRY FOR WHICH YOU FOUGHT. 50 . remarked, " That's nothing-when I left hoje there were fifteen libel suits pending against my chief." " But," replied the La Junta o li- tor, "My partner is not in jail for libel -- he was too ready with his pen -- he made a two dollar city warrant into a twenty dollar war- = rant; there were several things like that ( OL. JOHN C. BUNDY. against him, but that was the only one that was proven ; but it hurt me and it hurt the paper and he will have to leave the firm." This editor was proud of his city- as he had a right to be --- proud of its enterprise, proud of its growth, proud of its streets, and more than all proud of the two large, fine-looking school houses, one of which had just been completed on money hired in Boston at six per cent .. a rate of interest unprecedented in that country. We bade the La Junta editor good bye with a feeling that success would be his, for he deserves it.
At La Junta I had the pleasure of meeting my old friend, Manton H. Luther, a reporter with me on the Providence Your- nal, for several years, now one of the proprietors of the Nation- al Journalist, Chicago, also a delegate to the National Editorial Convention and the official stenographic reporter of the mitce- ings. He is looking well -- better than he ever did in Rhode Island, and it was good to see him in so good condition. Wie had a nice chat about old times and old incidents. I met him several times during the journey, for he accompanied the cx- cursion though on another train, and we had several opportu- nities to revive old memories of newspaper life.
In the afternoon we arrived at Pueblo, Col., a city the nann of which we had some difficulty in learning to pronounce. It seemed as though each citizen gave his tongue a different twist in calling the name until we were satisfied in giving the mouth a couple of convulsive twitches and saying "blow." But never mind about the dificulties in regard to the name, the city is all right every time. We here received a royal reception. The citizens were at the depot in crowds, and all appeared glad to see us. The famous Cow Boy Band, formerly of Dodge City.
2
60
FIRST MAINE BUGIE.
and known throughout the country by that name, but now of Pueblo, was there, and the way that band rattled off patrith stirring airs was enough to make the ordinary band of Nor England look to its laurels, with its high toned, and so far as the street and the parade are concerned, senseless music. When the band struck up " Dixie" I found my confederate friend, and grabbing him by the hand compelled him to dance with me to his great enjoyment, and a little later compelled life 5, dance to the tune of "Marching through Georgia" where my enjoyment was increased. We never stopped to consider what the good people of Pueblo might think to see these two gray- headed old duffers -- we both wear the gray now-" kicking up' like two boys. The people here were glad to see us. There was no doubt about that, and they made us glad we came. The hour passed here was a decidedly pleasant one, and we left Pueblo with regret, even if we couldn't pronounce the name satisfactorily.
Early in the evening we rolled into Colorado Springs, about twelve hours later than we should have arrived there, but as already said, the delay was in the interest of safety, and there was no cause for complaint. This evening was passed by the greater portion of the excursionists very pleasantly at Broad- moor Casino, where a brilliant reception was held in honor of George W. Childs, of the Philadelphia Ledger.
This morning I had another pleasant confab with my con- federate friend, during which I told several of the old army stories which you have heard so often but which were new to him, and he told several which were new to me. In speaking of the friendly relations which existed between the pickets of the two armies, he related an incident that occurred in front of Petersburg. During one of the lulls in the firing, a party of the pickets of both sides, among which was my friend, met half way between the lines for a social chat. Naturally enough their conversation turned upon their rations, and there was the usual ex- change of U'nion coffee and sugar for rebeltobacco, whenone ofthe Yanks happened to say something about the sutler and the good things he had for sale. This recital aroused the appetite
-54
1
1
1
1
M. H. ID THEP.
: If CAMPBELL.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.