USA > Maine > First Maine bugle, 1892 (history of 1st Maine Cavalry) > Part 33
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FIRST MUNE LUGLA.
" nothing but a schooner in the way, -ir; " and propl - ru-Jowi to their doors and to the decks to see what was casting such a commotion, just as the anchor was let go with a romi and we quietly swung to and ran our mooring line, as though ve had done that thing all our lives.
Here about one hundred letters were brought aboard amid much rejoicing, for many had not heard from home at all durip the trip.
By the time we were ready to make what we hoped wouh! prove the last departure from a Labrador harbor. the Best morning, the wind, which had changed in the night and was blowing in exactly the opposite direction, had become so strong that the little steam launch of Bayne & Co., which had been tendered us to tow us out of the harbor, was not powerfel enough to pull the schooner against it. The other entrance, for like all the rest this Labrador harbor was merely a " tickle" and had its two entrances, was narrow, shoal, and had such short turns that it seemed impossible to run so large a vessel as the Julia through it. However, our impatience would not brook the uncertain delay of waiting for the wind to change, so taking on board the best pilot that town of pilots coukl afford. we made the attempt. Three times we held our breaths, alindst, as we anxiously watched the great green spots in the water. indicating sunken rocks, glide under our counter or along our side, while the steady voice of the weatherbeater old man at the fore rigging sounded " port," then in quick, sharp, seem- ingly anxious tones, " now starboard-hard ! " and again " port - lively now," and the graceful vessel turned to the right or left, just grazing the rock or ledge, as though. she too could see just how near to them it was safe to go and yet pass through without a scrape. It was a decided relief to all, and the silet. c on board, that had been broken only by the rush of wind and water, the pilot's voice and the creaking of the wheel as it was whirled around by the skillful hands of the captain, samlen'y ceased, when the pilot left his place and walked slov by art. praising the admirable way in which the vessel behave I at the critical points, and apparently unconscious that in the eyes of twenty college boys he had performed an almost impossible font.
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BOWDOIN BOYS IN LABRADOR.
After a hard pull to windward for two of us, to set the pilot ashore, and a wet and rough time getting aboard agate, amit after our laugh at the expense of the mate, who had ca i off our shore warp, as we started out of the harbor, and then loi been unable to catch the schooner, which was equally upable to wait for him in the narrow passage, and who had, therefort, to row all the way after us at the top of his speed, and only cough us when we lay to to send off the pilot; we made everything, snug and started down the straits, hoping to reach Canso with- out further delay.
That was not our fortune, however, for soon the wind hauled ahead, and with a strong current against us it was impossible to make any progress, so after jumping in a most lively manner all day, in the chops of Belle Isle, we made a harbor for the night at Chateau Bay, in almost the same spot where we had wait d two dreary days two months before. The next day we worked along the coast, but at night again put in to what proved our last, as well as our first harbor on the Labrador - Red Bay. Here we found a mail steamer and were allowed irregularly to open the bag to Battle Harbor and take out that which belonged to us, much to our delight, of course, for it gave us news com- . paratively fresh, that is, not over a month old, from home.
Here, also, we laid in a supply of the only fruit that Labrador produces, called " bake apple." It is a berry of a beautiful waxen color when ripe, otherwise looking much like a large raspberry, and having a most peculiar flavor, which we learnm. to like, and grew very fond of, when the berries were server. stewed with sugar. We had been deprived of fresh fruit ; long that we should probably have learned to like anything. however odd its flavor, that had its general characteristics.
Here, too, we again fell in with our little Halifax trader, which gave us so hot a race to Halifax in the coming week, both va- sels arriving at Halifax within an hour of each other, after sport- ing at the same time from Red Bay and keeping within sight nearly all the time. At length the wind came to the south. in! we started, laying our course west, along the Labrador shore. .. as to get a windward position and be able to " fetch " Ciao
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FIRST MAINE BUGIE.
when the wind came around to the west, as it is curtain to de that season of the year, compelling us to " tack ship " and stand right out against the stormy Gulf of St. Lawrence. They southwesterly winds had been our dread, for they blow. co strongly and in September make the Gulf so rough that gets to windward against them is impossible. Hence our satisfaction can be imagined as we sped along the Labrador coast that day. the wind becoming a trifle easterly, so as to allow us to "start our sheets" and at the same time steadily increase our ofing. getting such a weatherly position for Canso that the moment the expected change of direction began we promptly "tacked ship " and at the worst had a leading wind across.
For three days we hobnobbed with the little " Minnie Mac across the Gulf. The first thing we did in the morning was to hunt her up with the glasses from aloft, if not in sight from the deck, and the last thing in order at night were speculations in: to where we should next see her. The difference in the bull ! of the two vessels, the one being shoal and centerboard. the other deep and heavily laden, made the race a zigzag. When the wind favored a little and the sheets could be "cased" then the shoal model would push ahead, but when the wind cante more nearly ahead, and we had to plunge squarely into a hard sca, then the deeper draught and heavier lading told to advan- tage.
During this time we were not idle on board. The Grand River men were beginning to feel vigorous again, and their now and data had to be worked up. The collections, too, though largely packed away securely for the rough voyage, yet gave plenty of occupation to those not otherwise employed, while the few really industriously inclined used their supertleod- energy in seeing to it that the lazy were given no opportunity to enjoy their idleness.
The morning of the fourth day the coasts of Cape Breton were in sight, but the wind came straight out of the Gut of Canso in half a gale, and then our rival, owing to her greater weight, forged ahead, and it seemed that we were to be beaten. However, much to our amusement, when we got a few miles of
BOWDOIN BOYS IN LABRADOR.
the mouth of the Gut, we found a calm, into which the . Mimpe Mac" had run and where she stayed till we came up. With us also came a breeze, and we forged ahead of her into the anchorage at Port Hawksbury just as we had said de woah! do when we left Red Bay. Here we spent the rest of the dley, lays ing in a stock of much needed fresh provisions, an lsen !'n .. nine of our college base-ballists, at the invitation of the Port Hawkesbury nine, to give them some points on the game. About the fifth inning the game closed on account of duchess, with score in Bowdoin's favor something about 30 0.
A short run brought us into Little Canso, where ve had to turn to the west to go along the Nova Scotia coast to Holifx, but fog shut down so we spent a day inspecting the plant of the Mackay-Bennett cable, which has its terminus at Hazel Hill, about two miles from Canso, finding some very agreeable acquaintances in the persons of Mr. Dickinson, the manager. and Mr. Upham, his first assistant electrical expert, who proveli to be a Castine man and was delighted to meet some Yana from his old cruising grounds, Penobscot Bay, and getting some interesting knowledge concerning ocean telegraphy. It seemed strange, to say the least, to be in communication, as we wer; with a ship out in mid-Atlantic, repairing a cable, ani to have an answer from Ireland to our message in less than a mobiluss after it was sent.
With one stop on account of fog and threatening sortie reached Halifax in two more days. The introduction to it. though, was not so pleasant, for as we were running up the har- bor solid shot from one of the shore batteries came droppin. around us and skipping by us, altogether too near for comfort. However, no damage was done beyond the injury threatened to Her Majesty's property in the proposition for a while considere! to call away boarders, land and take the battery. We found! later that it was merely target practice and nothing disrespect- fully intended towards the flag flying from our peak, sorwere satisfied that we had not made any hostile response.
Once ashore the hospitable Haligonians began by inviting the Professor and others to a dinner at the Halifax Club. The Best
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FIRST MAINE BUGVE
day we enjoyed an official reception, and accompanied by If mier Fielding and members of his Cabins, Contul Gorom Frye and other gentlemen, were taken on an excursion aboop the beautiful harbor in the steam yacht of one of our city tainers, given a dinner and right royally tou ted at one of ; public buildings, and were finally taken to the Yacht Val, House for a final reception.
At Halifax some of our party fearing more debo in rete g Rockland, left us, so with diminished numbers bet plenty of enthusiasm we made ready for the last stage of the world After some rather amusing experiences with our assistant -1 0- ard or " cookce," who seemed to reason that because he h. J been so long deprived of the luxuries of modern civilization h should employ the first opportunity he had to enjoy them. in making himself incapable of doing so, and who was bryde: aboard the morning we sailed only after a somewhat prolop. m search, we " squared away " for Cape Sable. The fine for shot ran us nearly down there, but just as we thought to escape to provoking calms that delayed us in this vicinity on the corose i trip, we found the wind drawing ahead and filing. A day N. spent in slowly working around the caps, drifting back much of the time, and then we struck one of the southerly for who's that are too well known on the Maine coast. We were in woo :s on which our captain had been bred, and so we pushed on ist. the night, looking eagerly or listening inteadly as the darkness closed over us for some sign of approaching land. it isad just about eleven, when it seemed we could not stand the stegene of knowing that thousands of rocks were just should bel . just where they were, and yet equally unwilling to stop them when so near home, we heard the sound of the breakers a. ! standing cautiously in on finding the water very deep, wo made Mt. Desert rock light. It was a welcome sight, and ft to there an easy matter to shape our course for home. alt di- break we could still see nothing, but towank room. the wall being light and our progress slow, we pas of the di soft. hon of refuge on the Wooden Ball Island, and soon the Min. De showed us the mouth of Penobscot's beautiful bay, and the way
NUMBER FOUR. 49
after we dropped our anchor in the long wished for Rockland harbor, and the cruise of the Julia Decker and bei crew of Bowdoin boys was ended.
The account would be incomplete, though, were reference omitted to the royal welcome that awaited us at Rockland. Upon landing we found the church bells ringing, and the city's business for the moment stopped, while the city fathers as well as a goodly number of her sons and daughters greeted us at the wharf. In the evening there was another reception, and there the expedition as such appeared for the last time, and as thic most fitting way in which we could express our gratitude at the interest shown in our work and safe return, as well as to con- tribute our share towards the evening's entertainment, the Bow - doin College Labrador Expedition Glee Club rendered, as its last selection, a popular college song, of which the burden was, as also the title, " The wild man of Borneo has just come to town."
JONATHAN P. CILLEY, JR.
Number Four.
BY C. C. HASSLER, CO. L, 2IST PENN. CAV.
NOTE: This poem will need no explanation to oll sol liers, by to cthers it is less to state that whenever cavalry is dismounted to go into battle the contenan l is countei off into fours and he that is number " four " is detailed to hold the horses while nail - bers " one," " two " and " three" go into the fight. We are remain led just now, of a little story about a regiment which was to go into a very hot engifoment. It was to be a nasty fight and by no means a desirable job. The common I was given to count off. Number " four," supposing of course they would be detailed t. holl the hers -, instead of saying " four " when the count reached them shoute In b N'y," out they s .e surprised, when the count was completed, to hear the Colonel say, " Number three wal hold the horses. Number " one," " two " and " bully " will go into the attack. We are very much pleased with this dialect poem by Comma le Hassler .- Kr.
Say poys, I tells you now some lings I tells you not pefore. About dot gavalry dot fite on foot'ne' in de var, Vere one, doo, dree, gits all de braise vile number four n.ust sthay. And holl dem hosses, in de bush so dey not runs avay.
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FIRST MAINE. BUGLE.
Mine garbine it was nice und glean, min : sabre alvay, bare, Mine bistols dey vos gocked und brime 1, and ready for a po; But efery time, and efery time ve lick dem robs sobe 1191, Bromotion nefer comes to me for I vas number four.
I rides, all day long, mit dem poys, on bicket I do thand. I comes me out, on dress barade, mit sabre in mise hand; I drills mit dem, und makes de cuts, und points und barrys de, A solcher I vos bound to make, as good as vore de plo : I schwore before I leave mine home und fou and prebie- dear, Dot flag should nefer be disgraced vile mine good sword vas por; But ach " mein Gott " how many dines haf I yust stood anti schwore, To see dem poys dismount to fite, vile I vas number four.
Und vile dem horses champ und gick I holds dem mit nite han :, De deeper in dem spurs I sthick de more dey vill not sthond; Dem shells dey grach, de pullets sing, de poys dey yell und shout, I yust can sthand und listen, vile I makes me nodings ou', I gits no cheffrons on mine goat, no rel el flags I take, I say, " by chings," mit all my might, dot was one big mistake; Dot var might sooner haf been done, und ve been Home | cfore, If when dem rebels dey vos killed dere vos no number for.
De var long times vos over now, I sure vos glad of dot. I lifs at home in berce mit all gontented mit my lot; I looks around upon dem gals und leelle sht bby poys. Dot makes de house sometimes yust ring, mit lafter und mit t. is :;
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Dere's Fritz und Carl, und Chon, und Choe, und Nich, und land. Chake.
Kathrine und Gretchen und Louise, a cholly crow I dey role; Dose dwins I hef not gounted vile dey rolls upon de !. .. Dey more as pays for all I lose ven I vos number foer.
Dot Chaplain say, dat up on high, anoder vorld dere vos. Mit golden streets und bearly gates all open side for es: I guess dem Chenrals get in first, den Garnels by dere site. De Machars und de Gaptains all, in chariots vill ride. Und den de poys vill march by fours dem gates in columns the. o. [Maybe, some gray git mixed up dere, long mit de gallant ph. : " But ven de Captain say " come in, sthay here forever more" Vill I sthay out, dem horses mit ef I by number four?
I dinks me not. No gountersign is needed at det gate, De poys who early git in dere vill meet lose sat are hte: Und reaching out dere han Is vill say, " of Loongrade, vele she lone, Long dimes ve votch und vait for you, vile on dot earth you raam." Ten thousand harps vill music blay, ten the usand vofees shir. De sweetest notes dot eter made dowe marks of heaven ring: Vile white winged gaards around dot throne, Will softly. grand'; va , Down to dot gate un I say, " ve gounts no number four." Bloomington, Ill.
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TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REUNION.
Twenty-First Annual Reunion.
UP THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY AND ON TO APPOMATTOX.
BY GEN. J. P. CILLEY.
Most of the rivers of the United States trend southward a. they run to the ocean. In like manner the tread of the Veter ans of the Republic in September was toward the city of Wach- ington, and the reports of the railroads centering in that city show that over three hundred thousand old soldiers and their friends were carried into the capital of the nation during the term of the National G. A. R. Encampment. It is supposons that nearly one hundred thousand of the vast throng were old soldiers, though a much less number participated in the grand march that filled Pennsylvania Avenue from 9 A. M. till 6 P. M. Like the grand review of 1865 the sight and cadence of sound from so great an army of veterans will never again stir the hearts and souls of a mighty nation.
Maine was well represented in the magnificent procession. The yellow ribbon and symbolic badge of our regiment was noticeable all through its column and was also occasionally seen in the ranks of veterans from other states.
The story of our twenty-first reunion at Washington cannot be separately told. The " First of Maine" formed only a small fractional part of the hosts assembled from east and west. I can only skirmish in vicinity of a full account of what the members of our regiment saw and performed at the encamp ment. I will tell only what came neder my observation, what I enjoyed, commencing at the very start, Thursday evening, Sept. 15, 1892, on the steamer Penobscot. Many and varied were the excursions from Maine to Washington. Why I ches the route described will be evident as you read the ground it covered. On the steamer the G. A. R. Posts at Scarsport. Cas- tine and Belfast were well represented-Silas Leach, cur forase
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FIRST MAINE BUGIE.
master, bearing the honors of the regiment from Cashingare Sergeant Samuel Gurney that of Belfast. We recruited Sad for William Trimble of Calais, while at Boston, and the set of or. alry fours for the route were full. Commdes from the Poet ! Littleton, N. H., and from the Granite State generally comple to the Maine and New Hampshire excursion and filled the stoonur at Providence for New York, Friday night, and Saturday at three o'clock P. M. saw us on the field of Gettysburg. What areve Motor that field was. We rode out on the Emmittsburg road through the grounds of the second day's fight, then on and through the Devil's Den, where we dismounted and most gallantly stood t! . fire of the Gatling gun like appearance of a photographer's camera. Here a comrade of the Fourth Maine Infantry, whowe name has escaped my memory, with his eyes glistening with increasing recognition of the landscape, sprang over the rou l ground and exclaimed: "This is the identical spot when I stood and fired shot after shot into the column of the Reje. So intent was I on my work that I did not notice they wer swinging around my rear till I was swept from this very ground a prisoner." Then over Little Round Top on foot, where the Twentieth Maine did most valiant service, not only protes:s this part of the field but capturing as many prisoners as their own ranks numbered.
A magnificent view of the field is obtained from the top of Little Round Top, where the Forty-fourth New York stood and which is to be marked by one of the largest and most expe :.- sive monuments of the Monumental field, forty-four feet high. with an outlook from its top.
Then along the extended line from the left to right of our position, finding the field substantially the same as it was July 3. 1863. Away in front was the long line of woods behind wwf.in Lee deployed his men and massed his artillery ; close at hand the site where our artillery returned the thunder of his ga and caused the earth and air to quake : there the wide ficklder ss which Picket's men came with full ranks and audacious darin !: here the rebel general Armistead fell. The spot is mulle. I From it I looked across the open field to the woods that pur-
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TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REUNION.
tained the rebel line, turned to our line that extended to my right and left, to the position of our artillery, and felt like uncovering my head to do homage to the brave men who in face of such a fire of artillery and musketry had charged do far and so valiantly.
Monuments to the rebellious hosts have been religiously excluded from the grounds, but no prouder monument of sit- ple valor stands among the numerous and costly granite memo- rials than the simple words " Here is where Gen. Arinistead fell."
Then on and on to Cemetery Hill and beyond. From this hill the long line to Round Top can again be viewed, and here the line turns with its fish hook curve and afforded a magnificent position for our artillery to enfilade the ranks of the advancing enemy. Night now drew her shades over us and clothed in mystery and religious awe the field, of all other fields, of valor and monumental art. No other battle ground on all the wide face of our country is so costly and beautifully marked or can be so easily read. You can see the whole event recorded before you, and over it all hangs the inspiration of Lincoln's undying words-making a perfect atmosphere to hold the record of valor and art, the sacrifices and effort of a mighty nation to redeem herself.
But where were the cavalry in those days of concentrated war? The eyes of a novice can not sec nor understand the valor and importance of the cavalry part of Gettysburg. We wished much to see the grounds where our regiment enacted its part in the fight of July 3. We were scheduled to leave at seven o'clock. The First Maine monument is four miles to the east of Gettysburg, and the road is rough and hilly. Up before four o'clock and with breakfast by lamplight, before the day dawned, Trimble, Leach and myself, and Capt. Carson, who having heard our voices in the dark, joined us, fresh from his bed with no breakfast, and away we went to the cavalry grounds on the right flank.
Our regimental monument is admirably placed for observation from the roadside. It is beautiful in design and all we coul ? desire. Away on the right points the cavalry shaft in honor of
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FIRST MAINE BUGIE.
Gregg's Division, while the wide field to the right and left mmol towards Gettysburg tells the story of the many acre- and osteo: grounds necessary for the maneuvers and fighting of monster! men, making the lines of infantry fight, where nearly seventy thousand men were packed, seem in comparison nation am! contracted. On our return we inspected and paid homage se the beautiful monument of the tenth New York Cavalry, & boi. bears above the coat of arms of that State the proud hemrent a horse in bronze resting on a rectangular pedestal nive 6. above the base. These New Yorkers were a good set of boy in the field, and have gained good positions in political ann social life since their discharge. Away to the left, in a fick! alot removed from the road, was another monument to a cavalry regiment, but we did not have time to reach it for we mu 1 b . at the depot at Gettysburg village at 7 A. M.
We must pause a moment to relate a peculiar experience of comrade Trimble. July fifth, 1863, as we moved through Get- tysburg in pursuit of Lee, and in the square through which the Hanover road passes, where muskets were piled up like copi- wood, he saw a drug store just opening, and having been afflicted with army itch, which infection with that of army lice were enemies more frequently met and fought than the reb themselves, he dismounted without halting and ran into tin store and in curt words directed the apothecary to put him up ! pound of sulphur, and without returning thanks or pay he was back on his horse with the sulphur. The sulphur did sieht good service that Trimble's conscience has never been fully quiet concerning the pay for the same. At Gettysburg h troubled conscience directed him to the square where in appali- ing distinction stood the store as of old. He entered. An old man looked at him and he saw the identical druggist before him. Trimble told him he owed a bill at that store and Ind called to pay it. The old gentleman looked perplexe!, and said, " I do not know you ; you must be in the wrong place. Trimble then told the occasion and the o! ! mas found in had a slight remembrance of the act. but concluded the account was outlawed by lapse of time, and refused to take any pay.
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We were on time and for a short distance on the railroad bud oversight of a portion of the ground of the fight of July first, and then in vicinity and overlooking much of Lee's line of retreat, and a most beautiful line of outlook of mountain and valley scenery. We curved around the railroad station of Prospect and Summit, and swung southward towards Cumber- land Valley, which from our high position in the mountains, lay almost at our feet, smiling in beauty, till entranced at its charms we halted for an hour at the Wood Park at Pen-Mar to worship the Sabbath of September eighteenth by gazing at the myrial, of peach orchards that filled the valley, and climbed the mountain's side till they reached the line of the railroad.
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