USA > Maine > First Maine bugle, 1892 (history of 1st Maine Cavalry) > Part 35
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From this time on enthusiasm was rampant, and the speakers, arome whoni for. Capt. Farsons of the First Vermont Cavalry; Moj. Hall of the Sol Ves Var, n of Washington; Maj. Cummings of the First New York; Cap. Chambers of 10 Second Pennsylvania, and Geo. A. B. Nettleton, formal, of the Soul Of : Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, were heartils received. Th remarks of the letto, when he referred to the rights of old soldiers to be rewarded from Undle sont', sin, lus for their services, were applauded with especial emphasis.
The mention by the speakers of such famous cavalry les lys o Shesiden, Come Farnsworth, Kilpatrick, and Gregg aroused unbounded enthusinsri, 5od Loonght f .g ward another feature of this reunion which promises to have lasting results. Italy sentiment expressed generally by the speakers that the fu'l and fair history of the services of the cavalry corps had not yet been written, and neifler he, thever as- soldier been commemorated in monument. After some (scassi !! ti sentiromnit Vos formulated in two resolutions; one for a committee consisting of one repre witt chosen by each cavalry organization to look up the official recopisan! for mye on see that they record accurately the cavalry services. Another simil . committ = = t consider the question of erecting a bronze statue in this city to some famdont. 19 leader of the typical cavalryman. These resolutions were carried, the Court ... appointed, and the meeting adjourned.
THE GLORIOUS RECORD OF THE FIRST MAINE CAVALIY.
A reunion of the First Maine Cavalry was held Thers lay. The restent lins rim most remarkable record of the war in the number of bottles fought artment . de 1565 the War Department authorized it to put the homes of twentyairy barthes . its banners, and they are inscribed now with that proal recort. There.ihear hla well-known organization in Maine and publishes a magazine, . Liv. Nos i They have a large delegation in Washington and the reunion the wall and. Among those present were Gen. J. P. Cilly, Gen. llewellyn G. F .. . Many K. Capt. Ulmer, Capt. Carson and Capt. Black Hawk Putnam. The ret reunion of the association will be held in Lewiston, Me. The history of the regimet NIEKEDY. lished, and it fills a volume two inches thick with stories of Had bought battle. . pictures.
FRAISE GIVEN MEMBERS OF THE SIXTEENTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVAIRS.
The Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry held its reunion in the Waste Lot 11. afternoon at three o'clock, J. R. Carlan, president, pre Wing Species vos by Judge Russell R. Pealer, J. D. Miller, and John D. Follman of Michig P- B. Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry belonged to Sheridan's corps, an ! were regarde ..
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fighters from " way back." Each of the speakers had only words of proje for the men, and the applause was frequent. There was great praise given Washington for the splendid manner in which the men had been entertain al, and when referente a to made to the lavish expenditure of money there was a storm of applime.
SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY HELD AN ENJOYALLE POURON.
Thursday evening Sheridan tent was filled with survivor of the Second Perry Brown Cavalry and their friends and one of the most enthusiastic and caioy Able re vooor of the encampment was the result of the meeting. The Second Permis larin Ces.i. is one of the historic veteran cavalry regimen's of the Army of the loomte, hand been selected by every commanding gereial of that army for duty at Frade ries on account of its efficiency and fine military bearing. For several years it servel in the second brigade, second division, under then. Greg, and always enjoyed the surface of that brave cavalry commonder. About two Hundred an ! fifty survivors of the . re- iment still exist, its total number of enlistments having aggre gate i about two thor ogpl. Its fine and costly bronze monument near Gen. Meade's headquarters at Getty burg is one of the meritorious works of art on that historic fiell, having been designed by J. K. Ellicott, the sculptor, of this city.
Capt. Albert N. Seip, now residing in this city and who has been presi lent of the regimental association for the past five years, presided, and J. J. Galbraith, who did- served efficiently for the same period as secretary, recordet the proceedings. Cap: B. Chambers, a member of the Virginia Legislature, was elected to serve as a repre- sentative of the regiment on the committee of the cavalry corps th erect a month of in this city in honor of the cavalry. Commade J. J. Galbraith was selected to re- sent the regiment in the corps committee on correction of the cavalry records. The assemblage was stirred when Capt. Scip exhibited the oll an I torn cavalry guidon of Company A which he saved at the battle of Gettysburg an i which he treasures as a precious relic of his command.
Stirring and enthusiastic addresses were made by Comme les B. Chandlers, U.S. Clark, who recited very pathetically " The Old Canteen; " Wm. C. Frew, F. H. Arm- strong. who read a fine poem; Dr. A. B. Porter. A. N. Seip and others. Capt. Will. C. Frew was elected president, J. J. Gallwith secretary, B. Chambers treasurer, and Albert N. Seip historian for the ensuing voar, Commade George W. Carr, det ch think division railroad mail services city post office, one of the members of the regi- ment present, was only fourteen years of age when he enliste 1, and isched like one of the Sons of Veterans among the old white heads there assente 1.
I had anticipated and planned to attend the reunions of a lot of cavalry regiments, but it was simply impossible to move from the tent assigned to our regenent, and thus fail to nicet the varying stream of old comrades there appearing. I did attend the reunion of the Cavalry Corps. I did enjoy it but not fully. There was something of the town meeting about it that separated it from the gathering of comrades from one regiment with one- ness of purpose and oneness of experience.
I did attend the reunion of the Twentieth Maine Infantry, the night of September twenty-first. They were entertained at Mt.
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Pleasant by Gen. Spear, and it was a right good Tempom hoyzer in all its incidental relations, and most hospitably enterton of the general.
The evening of September twenty-second I found lareais n my disposal and attended the reunion of the First Marsdan" Cavalry and the Second Pennsylvania Cavalry. I 1: 0 observer only, sitting in the shade of the tent, watching de manner of proceeding and the remarks. Both were er mibyl with speeches, but the reunion of the Second Pem-vier.in Cor- alry interested me most. We knew that regiment better .nl were in friendly relations with many of its members. Tony continued their session for a much longer time than the Find Maryland and seemed reluctant to depart. There was caloni: a strong bond of affection between its members. This fact v.o. largely due to the influence of the president, Capt. Seip. 1.lo has done so much for the good of the association that no meme ber could fail to recognize and return his kindness. Captured all the comrades of our regiment will know and remember foot his letters in the BUGLE. He is a gentlemanly, whok-son man. I had the joy of meeting Col. Robinson of the Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. How clearly I remember his app name and action at Sailor Creek April 6, 1895, when the Sixterm. Pennsylvania and First Maine went forward as one, in mere of Shepherdstown and fields previously fought together. Juni .. R. R. Pealer of the Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry ard nos Three Rivers, Michigan, shook me by the hand and the occasion of my acquaintance formed with him at the crowded entrans to the Russell House at Detroit last year was brought to miou !- ory, when the instant removal of the disagreeable pressure on annoyance of a crowd was occasioned by the glad fact that a Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry comrade stood by my side. I met also Edgar Clement of the Second New York Mounted Rifles, whose letters in the BUGLE have made him Inode to! Gen. E. M. Whitaker of the First Connecticut and Second N York Cavalry was a glad acquaintance, and Chaplain Jean til Bradley of the Tenth New York Cavalry, brought joy by bi- saintly countenance and good will.
TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL PEUVIALE .
September twenty-three brought a choms foi rest wbli an excursion down the river Potomac with the members of the encampment. A delightsome, pleasant day and a most enjoy- able trip. I had been down and up the river before in war ti. p. but was then preoccupied by responsibilhy or heedices by wounds and never as on this day realized what a wide, grated and magnificent river the Potomac was, and it was revealed to me why Washington erected his mansion on ite banks Med desired to have the capital of the republic at the upper part of its wide expansc.
At Indian Point we landed and viewed the proving grave! of the United States navy for the new heavy ordnances, gul in fact for the smaller ordnance and repeating cannon. All the guns with their mechanism are in fact attractive in an artistic point of view, as well as impressive from their powerful rangs One of the five-inch guns was fired for our benefit and ve watched with interest the high leap of the projectile b fought struck the startled waters, which sprang heavenward anl ... wondered to see it leap and leap till nearly out of sight on the- distant surface of the Potomac waters.
On the steamer we were well fed and happy. On our rouges as the shades of evening drew around us, the comrades gather in the saloon and passed complimentary resolutions to theson mittees of the Potomac Department and the city of Washington for their magnificent work in receiving, caring for an I entered- ing the veterans and the National Encamparent. Capt. Par- wa of the First Vermont Cavalry, presided. As the chairman of the Washington Committee, Edson rose and replied to the res- olution, he received an ovation that shock th steamer. Antes various speakers, Capt. Jack Crawford of New Mexico, addrescd the boys in cow boy style. It was rough and pathetic at times. but most comical and wholly inspiring. Its efect was tomake- uous cheers and laughter. At its close Thomas J. Luttrell ot the Fortieth Virginia Infantry confederate service and a mamhi of the Washington Committee, was called out. As his six por and two inches of stature, clothed in a greyish sit, beld thherr attention, he commenced to speak in an impressive and fratethin!
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
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manner, but through it ran a tone of sadness in marked contrast with the speeches of the boys in blue, that sobered entirely the entire throng. In the hush that followed his remarks a comrade with a rich voice commenced to sing, " We are tenting to-night, boys, on the old camp ground." He sang it with fervor, sway- ing the audience with his hands as he moved them with his voice. I looked around as best I could, and tears were stream- ing from the eyes of all the vast number of grey headed men crowded into the large saloon. I never saw so full a response to the memories that held us all.
( To be continued.)
Capt. J. P. Carson's Devotion to His Regiment. BY GEN. J. P. CILLEY.
Capt. Carson was taken sick just after the battle of Cold Harbor June 2nd, 1864, and was taken next day to St. James Church, used as a hospital, when he was so affected by his illness that in his own language he did not care whether he lived or whether he died, but rather preferred the latter as the least painful. When the hospital at the church was broken up he was moved to a hospital boat stationed near White House Landing. Here he remained sick with a severe form of typhoid fever till the regiment were well on the way to the Trevillian Raid and the boat was ready to start for Washington. The morning before she was ready to move the tide left her with her guards inclined towards the wharf and about four feet from it. The more he contemplated the position of the wharf the more the desire grew strong to reach it and return to his regiment. He went to the surgeon in charge and asked him if it would be safe for him to return to his regiment. The curt reply was that he wasn't fit for duty and it would be with his sickness simply delivering himself into death's hands. The captain returned to the deck; and the wharf, as the way of access to his loved regiment, won the day. He went over
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.1 SKIRMISH AT LITTLE AUBURN, VA.
the side and stood again in the " sacred soil." He found quar- ters and subsistence among the trains and quarter master sup- plies at the Landing and waited the return of his regiment. It came in due time and with it his horse and accoutrements, and he was once more in the saddle and in the line of active duty. Immediately came the fight at Black Creek the long march to the Chickahominy, the long and fearful day at St. Mary's Church where so many of our comrades lay down to rest forever. As we fell back and back, wearied and unre- lieved, keeping the enemy at pistol distance, at the last stand he saw a place to make a barricade of rail and forced the men to construct such barricade and take post behind it till he had nearly two hundred men in position, when came the mounted charge of the rebels carrying all before it. As this charge flanked the barricade the only thing to be done was to get out of it before they were cut off. This he successfully performed and was making good progress for a new position when he came upon Lieut. Gordon wearied and unable to go any farther, lack- ing the sand that enabled Carson to hold the field in spite of his fever and debility, unwilling to abandon his Lieutenant, he tried to help him along till the rebs swung their lines around them and captured both. The sequel of the fever was a long term of imprisonment and exposure in rebel prisons. He has yet to look for his reward for early rejoining his regiment and his efforts to save a brother officer.
A Skirmish at Little Auburn, Va. BY C. W. WILES, (IOTH N. Y. CAV. ) DELAWARE, OHIO.
In October, 1863, Lee's army made an attempt to pass around the right flank of the "Army of the Potomac," and interpose a force between them and Washington. Meade therefore ordered a retreat of his whole army. October 12th the cavalry guarding his right flank had a sharp brush with the enemy at Sulphur Springs, at the crossing of the Rappa-
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
hannock River, and falling back before a heavy force found themselves near Little Auburn, a small cross road village. On the evening of the 13th our regiment covering the rear, Capt. George Vanderbilt was ordered back on picket just after dark. Moving out of camp less than a half mile they placed their reserves in a small grove of oaks, through which ran a wood road and posted a line of videttes just beyond the grove. They soon discovered that in their immediate front was a large camp of the enemy, and from the numbers of fires it was evident that a large portion of the Confederate Army was there, and that they would probably move forward again in the morning.
Word was immediately sent to the headquarters of the regiment, and it was evident that the picket guard would get no sleep that night, as parties of the enemy were liable to run against them at any time. So they prepared to give them a warm reception in the morning when they should advance. A1 strong rail fence ran along the side of the woods toward the enemy, and where the wood road passed through was a heavy gate. This being the point where the advancing enemy would probably reach them first in the morning, they built a strong barricade of rails and timber. Then back at the edge of the wood toward our camp, along which ran another strong fence, a second barricade was built, leaving just space for the little squad of horsemen to pass around when a retreat was ordered.
Although the enemy was so near that loud talking in their camp could be heard and their camp guards seen, they ap- peared to have no knowledge that our forces were so near, and our pickets took every precaution against making their presence known. Every ear and eye was strained to catch the faintest indication of an advance by the enemy. Nearly an hour before daylight signs of activity were manifest in portions of their camp and our boys were aware that in a few minutes the enemy would be upon them, and a struggle against great odds to hold them back, necessary.
Capt Vanderbilt formed his little force of thirty-five or forty men across the road in rear of the outer barricade with their
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A SKIRMISHI AT LITTLE AUBLASS, D.L.
carbines ready. Presently the tramp of horses and rattling of sabers out in the darkness atmounced their approach. . 1; they drew near the Captain sang out, "Halt, who comes there." The only response was an order from the Confederate officer. "Draw sabers, charge," and on they came through the darkness, not knowing what they were to meet. When within fifty yards of the rail fence and barricade the captain gave the order, "fire!" and a sheet of flame sprang out from the carbines that ilbing- nated the night and horses and riders went down. In an in- stant almost their line struck our barricade, which was too strong for them, and horses and riders rolled over each other. Before they had recovered from their astonishment we gave them another volley and they fell back out of sight. This repulse put our men in high spirits, although aware that at the first light of day the enemy would easily push us back. In a short time the enemy recovered from their surprise and advanced more cautiously, extending their Ranks well to the right and left as if to learn the extent of our line, and as daylight was fast approaching our captain, aware that his small force would be soon flanked and captured if he remained longer, gave them one more volley and fell back to the sec- ond barricade. Being unopposed the enemy soon passed the fence and first barricade, and believing that our small squad had fallen back in confusion came galloping through the open timber nearly up to the second fence before the light was sufficient to see our small party, when our boys gave them another volley and they broke for the rear again.
But in a few minutes it was evident that their lines on either flank were advancing again and we fell back toward the regi- ment which was now mounting. One squadron under Capt. Thomas Johnson, charged down the road with sabers, when the enemy opened fire and several horses and men went down. among them the horse of the gallant captain, who so fel! that Johnson was unable to get away and was made a prisoner. and for more than a year suffered and starved as a guest at " Hotel Libby." Col. Avery having orders not to further oppose the advance of the enemy ordered the regiment back
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and the retreat was continued until near Bristoe where we found Gen. Warren with the Fith Corps swinging into line; and as the enemy came on he advanced, striking them in flank, and rolled them up, capturing many prisoners.
COMMENTS ON THE ABOVE.
The account of Comrade Wiles is another feature of the peculiar intermixture of the two opposing armies in the retro- grade movement of October, 1863. The night of October twelfth our regiment was in the rear of the Twelfth Virginia Cavalry and walked into their camp. The night of the thir- teenth, Stuart's Cavalry advanced to Auburn and beyond toward Catlett's Station, and the Second Corps marched at night to their rear and encamped near Auburn, directly behind them, and the Fifth Corps were on their left flank and the moving Union wagon train in their front. Stuart was in a trap, but hic thus describes the situation, with a little touch of confidence that came after the affair was over and which did not exist at the time :
Stuart retraced his steps to Auburn, if perchance a passage might still be forced at that point. A brief reconnoisance developed the fact that he was securely enclosed between two large marching columns of the enemy, and that any attempt to force his way through could be successful, if at all, only at a great sacrifice .- Campaigns of Stuart's Cavalry, p. 389.
"Our left flank, which extended across the road to Catlett's, was our weak point, and against this a strong attack was directed. It was all-important to repel this for our only means of egress lay in that direction. Colonel Rufin now led the First North Carolina Cavalry in a mounted charge. He rode over a strong line of skie- mishers, most of whom surrendered; but his charge was broken by the close line of battle beyond, and his men returned and reformed for another attack, but left bebild them for dead their gallant leader. The enemy's advance was checked, and, scizing the favorable moment the artillery and wagons were withdrawn from the hills, an!, passing in rear of the enemy's position the whole command was extricated from its perilous situation. Stuart had expected when he commenced the attack that le would be aidedl by a vigorous movement of our troops from Warrenton, and he ha : hoped that the combined assault would inflict serious damage upon the enemy, an? perhaps bring on a general engagement."-Idem, P. 392.
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THE ASSEMBLY.
THE ASSEMBLY. "Saddle up, pack up, and be ready to move out immediately."
The next call of the BUGLE, to be issued next January, will be the annual Roll Cali, and we need the assistance of every living comrade to make this roll call complete. So every one of you look out the roll in the last January Call and wherever you find the name of a comrade which is not properly filled out, sit right down now-don't wait until to-morrow-and write to the editor or to Gen. Cilley, giving the full facts. If there is the name of a comrade with- out his address, and you know the address, send it along. If there is the name of a com- rade who has died, and there is no mention of the fact, send the time and place of death at once. Anything that is not correct, write and have it corrected. This must be attended to at once in order to be in season for the printer. If the comrades will attend to this they will assist in making
as complete a roll call as ever was made. By the memories of the comrades, living and dead, we urge you to do this much for them.
With the next call will com- mence a new campaign. Cam- paign II., which was entered upon for the purpose of pre- senting the reports of our re- unions to the comrades, is finished. The report of the last reunion, at Washington, may be found in this Call. Ten times has the BUGLE vis- ited the comrades, each time bringing them an account of one of the glorious reunions of our regiment. This was the foundation of the BUGLE. But each time also has it brought them an increasing amount of reading matter of more interest to them than to anyone else, until our pages have been. crowded and we have been obliged to enlarge our borders many times.
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
Hereafter we shall have an account of a reunion but once a year. But the BUGLE will continue to visit the comrades four times a year, just the same, and will continue to be filled with interesting reading matter prepared solely for the comrades and their families. Something, however, must take the place of the accounts of the reunions. Now there will be room for the sketches by the comrades which have been promised from time to time -- room for sketches such as only the comrades can write. The sketches which the comrades have already furnished are full of life and of interest to every other com- rade. Every comrade who has enjoyed these sketches owes it to every other com- rand to prepare one for them to read. The pages of the BUGLE are open to all. There is not a comrade but can write an interesting sketch of service if he will only try. And nothing is more readable to the comrades than what is written by other comrades. So, comrades, the BUGLE be- longs to you-it is yours, and upon you depends the manner in which its pages shall be
filled. If you will do your duty to yourself and to cach other as you did to the coun- try long years ago, then the BUGLE will thrill your hearts as of old.
Take hold and help, com- rades, on the roll call.
We have in hand for publi- cation as soon as practicable, the following sketches: "A Cavalry Reminisence," being an account of the famous ride to Little Washington in the autumn of 1863, by Lieut. Horatio S. Libby ; a stirring narrative of the escape of Capt. Andrew M. Benson from a rebel prison in 1864; an ac- count of the First Cavalry Fight at Kelly's Ford, March 17th, 1863, by Maj. Frank W. Hess, United States Army; and " With Gregg in the Get- tysburg Campaign," by Lieut .- Col. William Brooke-Rawle, Third Pennsylvania Cavalry.
Rally, comrades, and assist in making the roll call com- plete.
Another of Maj. Hall's in- teresting sketches in the series entitled "After Appomattox,"
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THE ASSEMBLY.
is published in this Call, and the gallant Major has promis- ed another sketch for the Jan- uary Call.
We call attention to the poem by Comrade Charles C. Hassler, Co. I, Twenty- first Pennsylvania Cavalry, en- titled " Number Four." We have several selections from his pen which will be given in due time.
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