USA > Maine > First Maine bugle, 1892 (history of 1st Maine Cavalry) > Part 29
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There were two battalions present, and squadrons were ha- tily formed for the charge. Kilpatrick iole side by side sinh Col. Douty, and giving three rousing cheers, with waving satin the calvacade swept down an incline toward the vit riol enemy. The field was cleared at the first dash and onderd t Maine boys rode in excited pursuit until they struck a viim mounted line behind a stone wall. At this point thesite ranks suffered severely for a moment, but the impetus of the charge bore them through the confederate line, whi d :s routed and driven from the field. Col. Douty fell at the long wall, pierced with two bullets. This affair cost eight Padre seventeen wounded. Two days later, at Middleburg, the re :- ment charged a position screened by woods and a stone wall and carried it, losing three officers and eight men Fille; and twenty-seven wounded.
In the Gettysburg battle the First Maine missed the heavy fighting of Gregg's division, the brigade changing places will Custer in the great combat of July 3d. On the return marci: however, at Shepardstown on the Potomac, July 16th, & 1 -: nine killed and seventeen wounded in an affair with the con- federate rear guard.
The campaign of 1863 in the Army of the Potomac war on of warfare in the saddle for the cavalry. The mounted im s- try phase came late in the following year, but before the so- mance period faded the First Maine had one more chane 5 win unique distinction for daring work. A detail of three hundred was chosen by Kilpatrick to ride on the famous mid to Richmond in February, 1864. Later, when Kilpatrick anni the rash Dahlgren divided forces, five companies of the Main boys headed the little column of five hundred which Dahlser led with such fatal results against the works of the confed !- ate capital. This ride of unexamplel wildness and bonesry cost the regiment seven deaths in battle and five woundel.
HISTORY FIRST LINE CALALPY.
besides eighteen deaths in prison and eighteen lingering cap- tives. Then followed the cra of swift rides and shorte rights of dismounted cavalry.
On the HIth of May, 1864, in Sheridan's Richnad aud, she First Maine was rear guard when Stuart was defeated at Yellow Tavern. The Maine boys fought on foot and of horseball :. and broke for the first time, under the pressure of a whole bri- gade. The loss was nine killed and twelve wounded.
The next fight of the regiment was as warm as any cavalry engagement on record, and Gregg's division again bor ; the brunt. This was at St. Mary's church, Va., June 24th, when Wade Hampton with a large mounted force attempted to cut off Grant's wagon train passing from the Pamunkey to the James river. The First Maine took the lead of the division, and when the troops saw that they cried out, "Fight to-day, boys; the First Maine's in the advance."
Gregg dismounted his men and built rude breastworks, and then the Maine men opened the fight and ended it. using but! carbines and revolvers.
Though ordered to retire the men did so slowly, turning at every ridge and fence and clump of trees for one more volley. So they held on till a battery came to their aid, and they belp ed to defend that when it ran out of ammunition. Of the two hundred and sixty men engaged seventeen were killed and twenty-nine wounded. Hampton was held up until the wayon train was beyond reach. Sheridan left the Army of the Po- tomac Aug. 1, 1864, but Gregg's division remained behind at Petersburg, followed the fortunes of Hancock in his expedition . on the confederate flanks. The regiment added two battles to its list during August, and in September was re-enforced by cight companies of Maine troops transferred from the First Dis- trict of Columbia Cavalry. The strength was about five han- dred with this increase. On Oct. 27th at Boydton Road sixteen were killed and fifty-six wounded in a savage fight with Wade Hampton's mounted forces.
The First Maine at that time belonged to a brigade com- manded by Col. C. H. Smith, its former leader, who was a cap-
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
tain in the regiment in 1861. Cilley, the first recruit and the. first man wounded, had gravitated to the top and led the right- ment.
The highest casualty list of all was at Dinwiddie Court House, March 3 Ist, 1865, the preliminary of Five Forks. Sheridan's cavalry was forced to give ground all day and at length Smith's brigade was called upon to defend a creck crossing against heavy odds. The First Maine dismounted and advanced in a deployed line to meet charging cavalry. They opened fire with Spen- cer and Henry rifles, seven and sixteen shooters, and the confederate column trembled, wavered and part- ed right and left, soon to TWIN SERGEANTS OF COMPANY A. [The brothers S. W. and P. M. Clark.] melt away in a formless wreck of dead horses and men. In this fight the First Maine's loss was twenty-seven killed and sixty-six wounded.
At Appomattox, Smith's brigade was placed in the last gap opened to Lee, the Lynchburg road. The fighting on Sunday, April 9th, that ended in Lee's surrender, began on the front of the First Maine, and its loss there was seven killed and thirteen wounded.
The total loss of the regiment killed and mortally wound- ed was fifteen officers and one hundred and fifty -nine men, the highest suffered by any cavalry regiment in the entire Union army. The First Maine was organized and led throughout by volunteer officers. It lost one colonel, one lieutenant colonel, and one chaplain killed in action. At St. Mary's Church its colonel, lieutenant colonel and a major were wounded.
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HISTORY FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
And all this noble record was made by average men. The twin sergeants, whose pictures from photographs taken during the war accompany this sketch, would not stand out of 19 artist's canvas so grandly as do some of the Uhlans and Dias goons that rode at Gravellotte and Sedan, but they are types of the First Maine troops, for whom there can be no grander eulogy than the simple record of their persistent daring. An- other thing, I have stated that the regiment was led by vobis teers, early in its career a cast iron rule of anti-profanig and total abstinence was promulgated at headquarters. This may not signify anything, but some wags would have it that for troopers in the field there was no redeeming vice left except fighting, hence the thirty-six battles on the First Maine's fag.
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FIRST MAINE BUGIL.
HISTORY FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
1861-1865.
BY EDWARD P. TOBJE.
Your attention is called to the History of the First Major Cavalry, and to the fact that such works are necessary to di. justice to the men and officers of each regiment, and that it is a duty as well as a pleasure to patronize other regiment- and promote such efforts.
The history of the First Maine Cavalry has attempted and accomplished what no other regiment, to this date, ha. dared to do, viz: present steel plate engravings and photo gela ine portraits of men and officers to the extent of 307 faces and places. These pictures alone costing $2500 for an edition of 1000 copies. It contains 827 pages, Svo. and is bound in half morocco.
The price per copy, with full illustrations is $5, with 35 cents for postage or express ; without pictures, or rather with nine pages of pictures, $3, with 25 cents for postage of Cx- press, both editions bound in half morocco.
The following commendations are given with the hope of encouraging other associations in their efforts to perpetuate their services and record, and with the trust that your in- terest in the history will be aroused enough to induce you to send for a copy. Address,
J. P. CILLEY.
Treasurer First Maine Cavalry Association.
Rockland, Maine.
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HISTORY COMMEND. ITIONS.
Commendations.
General David McM. Gregg, of Reading, Rogn. who com- manded the Second Division, Cavalry Corps, A. P., in which the regiment served for more than two years, thus wit concerning this history :
MR. E. P. TOPIE,
My Dear Sir : I have just finished reading the History of the First Maine Ca .. alry, and quit the book for the present, feeling that the author is entitled to :'.0 files: commendation from every reader who had aught to do with the regiment, 00.5. ing the War of the Rebellion. Notwithstanding the conlens .. i p ciforesti the limits of the single volume, our old battles and skirmishes are graphically an torb. filly described. You may weH be proud of your work, and in its seremplis' nimi you have placed under obligations to you, all the survivors of your regiment at the friends of the deceased. Indeed, your associates in the Second Cavalry Doisi . gladlly accept the obligation resting upon them that you have so fairly described the campaigns of the Division.
Col. Charles H. Smith, commanding Nineteenth United States Infantry, formerly Colonel Commanding First Maine Cavalry and Third Brigade, Second Division, Cavalry Corps. A. P., writes :
My Dear Tobie: I have the history, have read it, and am well satisfied. la'. mire the tone and independence of the book. It shows on every page that it was not written in the interest of, nor to the prejudice of anybolly. It manifesti o- to treat every one, in every place, fairly. I like it in all its details. The ill.suat 18 are admirable. The company rosters are a most valuable feature, and better d ... ] thought you could do for them. Even the indexes are perfect. Publishing Gers: - 1 Orders No. Io in full was a happy thought. The book is better in every respect to I expected to find it.
The associate editor of the Century Magazine, in charge of the war articles, writes :
EDWARD P. TOBIE,
Dear Sir: Your volume strikes us on first inspection as being a model regimen- tal history in its arrangement and materials.
E. A. Paul, Mt. Pleasant, D. C., historiah of the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac, writes :
EDWARD P. Tour,
Dear Sir: I think your history of the First Maine Cavalry the most interesting OF any work of the kind I have yet read, and I have read a great many histories per- taining to the war.
Major John M. Gould, Portland, Me., historian of the First, Tenth, and Twenty-ninth Maine Regiments, writes :
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FIRST MAINE BUGIE.
My Dear Tobie: You have certainly got the best regimental istor Il permet yet, and I have a goodly number, you know. All I have shown it ty balt ainsi great interest in it, too. You may " swell with prile' now as much as your per. You have built a monument for the Old First Meine Cavalry that will cal radijoen all these granite affairs have crumbled.
General and ex-president Rutherford B. Hayes write :
" I recall no regimental history that is equal to it. The great number of . 0 1ml portraits is especially noticeable and to be commended. Moine seems to Beche l if we may judge by Major Gould's First, Tenth and Twenty-ninth Infantry al lin volume."
Col. J. Albert Monroe, civil engineer, formerly Chief of Ar- tillery, Army of the Potomac, writes :
My Dear Tobie: I have seen and read many histories of the War of th IS In. general and special, political and military, of corps, regiments, batteries and cory | s. Of them all I have seen none so complete in its particular fieldlos is this work of ;mirs and the committee of which you were the moving spirit and the working force. have become charmed with the excellent idea of presenting so many por. since old comrades as they appeared in the field. These portraits of the old 12 and sabres, as well as the faces above them, inust awaken in the minds of th comrades memories of more than an ordinary nature, and bring to then again retrospect of 1861-65
Lieutenant Benjamin A. Osborn, Watsonville, Cal., writes :
I am delighted with the history and the numerous pictures, and can scar s :s. strain myself from adding my voice to that grand cheer like that of old which ross above the thunder of hoofs and clang of sabres."
N. B. Webb of Boulder City, Col., writes :
" I think it a remarkable book. Vid scenes forgotten revived, but I was not p.t. pared to have the old feelings so vividly resurrected."
Following are extracts from a few of the notices receival from the press :
A great many regimentol histories have come under our observation darin- the last fifteen or twenty years, but we do not remember one in the long list which. . is superior in literary or mechanical workmanship, more painst thing or ihore interest. ing, than that of the First Mame Cavalry. The author was a sharer in all the cv- periences of the regiment from the enlistment to the mustering out after the war was over. His account of the battles in which the regiment was engaged is der and vivid. He has enlivened and diversined the history by narratives of pers wal experience or episodes of life in camp or in the field, contributed by comet's. The roster has been prepared with great care, and biographie I details are given concerning most of the members of the regiment who are deal. Altogether fs book not only reflects credit upon all con em d in its preparation, and up s: t. regiment whose experiences it chronicles, but it has a broader itperest from the sole-
HISTORY COMMENDATIONS. 19
light which it throws upon the military movement. i which the regiment tik part, and from this point of view, is to be reckoned an addition to the lereture of the war .- Boston Journal, February 10, ISSS.
Lieut. Tobie has done an admirable piece of work in writing th . history, ami he has enjoyed the advantage of tapping sources of information more general the n those within reach of most such historians. This volume is for aheel of any other of its kind in the feature of portraits. An excellent portrait of Gen. C. H. sat. stands for the frontispiece, and there are 69 pages of pictures, a large proportir. of them being of the best sort for such a work, i. c., showing the Gifts and men as they looked when in the service. Unstinted praise is due to this hoppe cort t immortalize the soldier countenances of this command .-- Boston Ilarak, Decen! 13, 1887.
It is the finest regimental history that ever came to our notice. Conrade Tolie and his comrades of the regiment may well feel proud of it .- V'apren's 17-come, Concord, N. H.
It is a book that will be especially valuable to the members of the association., and a valuable addition to the history of the Rebellion .-- Central Falls Visiter, Deception 30, ISS7.
At the annual reunion of 1886 of the First Maine Cavalry, a contattoe was ap- pointed on the publication of the history of this famous Maine regiment, which took part in the largest number of engagements of any regiment in the service durire. the war. How well the committee performed this duty is shown in the hawt ste volume of 765 pages just issued. The compilation and editing of the work was labor of love by the historian, being Comrade Edward P. Tobie, of Pawtucket, R. I. Three hundred and seven portraits of comrades, a complete roster and lit of ch. gagements, aside from the narrative of the regiment's eventful history, make it a valuable souvenir of the war to the veterans of the First Maine .-- Boston Daily G. ..
It is a model as a regimental history. But in the account of the famous Dahlgren. raid, for example, it is substantially the history of all the troops engaged or in any. wise related. So, also, of the " Wilson Raid," " Brandy Station, and . !! the var ) : campaigns, forced marches, skirmishes and battles-they all have their close gele. tions to the movements of the entire army and the great work of the Army of the Potomac will be better understood by reading such detailed an exact auchdas You find an almost indispensible side light up on the Gett sous campaign. " sie Wilderness," the campaign around Petersburg and even Appellation and Let's Sur- render. Some of the accounts of participants in various engagements are quite and are wonderfully clear and vivid. Every veteran of whatever Sive who is . sirous of having a clear and interesting and reliable record of the old campata cannot go amiss in sending for this handsome volume .- Mars, A.tien. ? Se Amer. Chicago. Dec. 21st, 1859.
J. S. Pierson, New York, writes :
"I must express in a line my admiration for the beauty and chanymess of your love. Maine Cavalry just received. I get every regimental history that appears, and i recall none quite its equal in print, illustrations, an I general getting up."
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FIRST MAINE BUGIE.
N. M. Rittenhouse, late of the 16th Pa. Cavalry, of Baltimore, Md., Terra Cotta Works, writes :
" The book is better than anything of the kind I have yet seen, and I ant \ _!! much pleased with it and would not be without it."
C. M. Wiles, secretary of roth New York Cavalry Associa- tion, Cortland, N. Y., writes :
It is one of the best regimental histories that I ever saw. Try., your gran ; col regiment made history for itself, but your author has admirably collectel ; or ! placed it in form.
"I only wish that our old regiment could have as good a record of their service" Mrs. Charles A. Coleman, of Benton Falls, Maine, writes :
"My husband says it surpasses his expectations in every way. Our som to i very proud of it, but a shade of disappointment passes over his face when he d not see his father's picture there. It is as you said it would be : the neglect a spelce of regret."
E. O. Van Brocklin, late Bugler Co. L, roth New Yorl: Car- alry, writes ;
GEN. J. P. CILLEY,
Dear General: Your circular calling my attention to the history of your evechen regiment is at hand. I have just finished reading it, and do not hesitate to say th ..: .: is without any exception the most interesting, best preparel, and finest history i any regimental organization that I have had the pleasure to read. Again thinking you, the committee and Mr. Tobie, also members of your veteran organization ! : having such an excellent historian, being permitted to read such a truthful hist r. of this most superb cavalry regiment.
The National Tribune of March 1, 1888, speaks thus :
" No cavalry regiment in the army which crashedl the Rebellion played a no: conspicuous part than the First Maine. It was organized in the fall of ISI UM as good material as could be found in that grand old state, and served until the sur- render of Appomattox, doing splendid work on every fell on which it was er .. gaged."
" The story of these momentous four years has been most admitably told i: .. book of $27 pages, gotten up in the best style of typography by the firm of Every & Hughes, Boston, and illustrated by 30; portraits and other pictures. No anou :: of expense or care has been spared in making this book worthy of the rest .: and its history. It is as fine a volume as is turned out by any politiskhg house. and the matter in it is well written, well compiled and well presented. The bock is a model for all Other regimental histories."
Maj. Robert Bell, Twenty-first Pennsylvania Cavalry, Granites Hill, Pa., writes :
" You can scarcely imagine the amount of good it did me to have an opportunity to read up that grand old regiment, the First Maine Cavalry, the bonner Cavalry reg. ment of the war."
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HISTORY COMMENDATIONS.
Monroe Daggett, of Coeur d'Alene, Dakota Tenhoy, white: The history is supremely grand. It must certainly full the most extravagant do- sires of all."
Rev. W. F. Bickford, of Berkely, Cal., writes :
" It is a marvellous production and a beautiful volume. The historie and others of the committee have pluck, patience, and perseverance, to say nothing of cti.r qualities."
Horace S. Cole, of Fergus Falls, Minn., writes :
" The history is a book I shall prize above all others, and I think the comrades are deeply indebted to the committee for the manner in which it has been brought out."
James V. Wood of David City, Neb., writes :
"I am much pleased with the History and such a feast as I have hi resding it, It is much better in every respect than I expected. The pictures telerwhile in the service were so good that I could! name all those I was acquainted with."
Dr. Chas. B. Kenney, of Brooklyn, N. Y., writes :
" I have finished reading the History of the First Maine Cavalry f. i the fourth time. It is a book that every member of the Regiment ought to be prend cf."
A Comrade's wife, writes thus from East Boston, Mass :
"I can never write words to express what joy it gives me to read the BUGIE an ] all the comrades letters, and the noble deeds done by the First Maine Cavalry."
WV. A. Collingwood, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, Pittsburg. Pa., writes :
" It is a History you may well be proud of; not only you and your comrades, bol ali who formed the old Second Brig ule, Second Division, Cavalry Coups. They read and re-read this very interesting work and very often used the same as a reference isol in looking up matters pertaining to my own regiment, for to a certain extent, your his- tory is ours."
Lieut. Mark Brownell, late of roth N. Y. Cavalry, 58 Green- bush St .. Cortland, N. Y., writes as follows :
J. P. CIL.LEY,
Dear Comrade: The history is in hand and I have sat here since I had my tea at 6 and it is now 11, devouring its contents.
It is grand, magnificent, and the deeds it records ti's me with jille that I wos indirectly associated with such a grand regiment. Please convert to the author m. hearty thanks, and assure him of ing therough appreciation of his work. I. . .. monument to every man in the command.
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FIRST MAINE BUGIE
First Maine Bugle.
I will send you, if desired, on receipt of price. a copy of the FIRST MAINE BUGLE, in hopes that the quarterly not m terest you, and that your desire to promote the object .: such publication will prompt you to subscribe for the smile. Its purpose and contents are set forth on the title page and its object is to encourage an "esprit de corps" in all Cavalry Regimental Associations, and increase the honor and love due the multitude of such regiments taking pride in their record. Among other things, the design of the quarterly is to publish a page of portraits of comrades in each issue, portrait accurate and the best produced in this state of theart. These portraits are of great value and will increase in value in coal- ing years. It contains some 112 pages, 6 1-2 x 9 1-2.
If the above commend itself to your approval, J desire much. in behalf of the Association to receive your subscrip- tion.
Very truly yours, J. P. CIL.LEY, Treasurer First Maine Cavalry Associatione.
General Order No. 10. Headquarters Army of the Potomac, March 7, 1865;
This order is the only authority for the various Regiments in the Army of the Potomac, to inscribe or bear on their colors the names of battles.
It contains the names of two hundred and sixty-three Rost- ments, and is a most valuable and interesting record.
The original order was never circulatel in any wider man- ner that through the regular army channels, and hence is en- tirely out of print and cannot be obtained.
To meet the general demand for copies of this order from G. A. R. Posts, and old comrades from every part of our land, i: has been reprinted by the First Maine Cavalry Association. and is offered through the Treasurer of that organization, at a price that will only cover the cost of reprinting and distribu- tion. It is in pamphlet form, making 24 pages, 6x9 inches. Price 10 cents.
FIRST MAINE BUGLE
Entered at the Post Ofice, Rockland, M ... as Swand Clay. Mehr.
CAMPAIGN II. OCTOBER, 1892. CALL TO.
" The neighing troops, the flashing bla le, The Bugle's stirring blast."
PUBLISHED QUARTERLY, JULY, OCTOBER, JANUARY AND APRIL, AND WILL CONILH THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE YEARLY REUNIONS OF THE FIRST MAINE CAVALRY, MATTERS OF HISTORIC VALUE TO THE REGI- MENT, AND ITEMS OF PERSONAL INTEREST TO ALL ITS MEMBERS. IT IS ALSO THE ORGAN OF THE CAVALRY SOCIETY OF THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES AND WILL CONTAIN THE YEARLY PROCEEDINGS OF THAT SOCH TY AND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE MOUNTED REGIMENTS WHICH PARTICIPATED IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
PRICE ONE DOLLAR A YEAR, OR TWENTY-FIVE CENTS A CALL
REUNION AT WASHINGTON, D. C. September 22nd, 1892.
EDITOR, EDWARD P. TONIE, PAWTUCKET, R. I.
Published by the First Maine Cavalry Association.
ADDRESS, J. P. CILLEY, Treasurer, ROCKLAND, MAINE.
MINERAL PALACE, PUEBLO, COL.
MINERAL PALACE. PUEBLO, COL. (INTERIOR VIEWV.)
The Country for Which You Fought.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS OF A TRIP TO THE PACIFIC CONT.
BY THE EDITOR.
II .- FROM COLORADO TO SAN FRANCISCO. FOURTH DAY OF THE CRUISE OF THE LASSEN.
Upon leaving the mineral palace at Pueblo, with all its grandeur and all its beauty, we again boarded the Essex, ready for more riding over the country, and by ten o'clock were up and away. Before five o'clock the morning of Friday, May thirteenth, I was awake and enjoying the scenery around the Raton mountains from the window of the upper berth, but m. view was soon cut short by the train entering the Raton tunnel. We became better acquainted with tunnels before the jeurne; was over. That early morning ride was a grand one, with ever- varying scenery, and I was glad I was awakened so early and was thus able to enjoy it. We stopped at Las Vegas for break- fast, having left Colorado in the night and ent sel upop po domain of New Mexico. During the forenoon we met troep. of the regular army -- cavalry and infantry -- on their way fress station's in New Mexico and Arizona, to stations further ca .. The cavalry was portion of a colored regiment, and the troppi is seemed to be free and easy, much as we were when in the fiel !. But I could not fancy the uniform-it didn't strike ins so favor- ably as the uniform which we wore, and I suppose nothing ever will seem quite so appropriate for troopers as did that old ar ... uniform. At the same time, the sight of these soldiers sent my thoughts back to the old army days, and for a season I again reveled in the old reminiscences.
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