USA > Maine > First Maine bugle, 1892 (history of 1st Maine Cavalry) > Part 37
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With best regards, I am yours truly, BESKY T. BAPTISL.
EASTPORT, ME., SEPT. 3, 1892. GEN. J. P. CILLES :
My Dear General .- I enclose one dollar and fifty cents to meet your small account rendered. I think the BIGLE increases in interest with every number. If I were in a position to be of any special serviceto the First Maive I would certainly go to Washington, but I expect that the G. A. R. will als we nearly all interest and each one will want to devote as much time as pas- sible to sight-seeing. I hope the westh- er may be favorable an Tak will have . good that. Shall expect a good account in the next BUGLE.
Yours truly, C. H. SMITH.
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BUGLE ECHOES.
BAY POINT HOTEL, ROCKLAND BREAK- WATER, ROCKLAND, MIF., AUG. 20, 1892.
COL. J. P. CILLEY :
Dear Colonel,-I thank you cordially for the April and July copies of your First Maine BUGLE, which I find very entertaining and interesting.
Yours truly, FITZ JOHN PORTER.
DOVER SOUTH MILLS, ME., AUG. 23, 1S92. GEN. CILLEY :
Dear Sir, -- Father received the BUGLE and he is glad to get it. Ile is sick all the time and has a small pension of eight dollars a month. He is not able to pay for the BUGLE, but he is glad to get one any time. He takes great in- terest in reading them.
Yours truly, ALLIE F., Daughter of Aaron Bartlett, Co. M.
In the same mail with this letter came a contribution from Fred D. Lynn of Co. B., now of Togus, Me., of one dol- lar for a deserving comrade, and by the gift, the daughter of Comrale Partlett received an answer to her commanica- tion .- J. P. C.
BELFAST, ME., Sept. 11th, IS92. GEN. CILLEY :
Dear Sir,-We received the April BUGLE, also the July number and were very much pleased with the April num- ber containing my husband's history. The July number is also very interesting. I should have written and sent the money but we have been sic! about all summer. George says if he could only be well enough and could afford to go to just one of the reunions he would be most thank ful. fle wishes to be kindiv remembered to all his old comrades.
Very truly, MRS. GEO. W. EATON.
FRANCISTOWN, N. IL., NJPT. 7, 1892. GEN. J. P. CH.LEY :
Dear Sir and Comrade, -- Please find one dollar for the " BrGLE." I am de- lighted with the idea of irs connection with the Cavalry Society.
Yours sincerely, A. H. BIXBY, Maj. ist R. I. Cav.
DELAPLANE, Va., Oct. 13th, 1892. T J. SANFORD, EsQ., Marlboro, Mass :
Dear Sir, -. Your very pleasant letter of roth inst just at hand, and with much pleasure I have just read it to my famil; as from a Yankee friend. I am much gratified to know that you had a mach more pleasant trip to Richmond, Va., than your boys had in the sixties. You found that our boys in peace . could give just as warm receptions to our Yankee friends as we could in war. Thank God those days are gone. the Bag is our fhy. and he, she or it that offers insult to that flag will find in vs poor ragged Johnnies a foe that is strong to defend. I feel certain could those who wore the blue mingle with the Sonthert boys, that not many months would elapse before every vestige of war feeling would vanish, and the feeling that should characterize and inspire every heart should be most friendly. May the pleasant hours spent by you and your comrades in our Vir- ginia State be the foreranier of many yet to come. All visitors are thrice welcomed to our state. To you and those gentlemen I had the pleasure of meeting with you I extend a cor lial invitation to visit me at my home. It will give mes me and my family pleasure to have you with us. Remember this Johnny Kindly to them. With pleasure permit me tos-y. " Hurrah for the Union and the ling." Hoping to hear from you some time, I am Very truly your friend !.
WILLIAM A. RUCKER.
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
BANGOR, Me, Oct. 25th, 1892.
MY DEAR GENERAL:
You remember we left Washington together on Saturday the 24th, about noon, separating at Harper's Ferry, you going up the Shenandoah Valley while I was bound for Shepardstown, Antie- tam, etc. I stopped at Harper's Ferry for a short visit at quarters I occupied there in April and May, 1862, met one resident who was there at that time, the owner of the house used for head- quarters by Gen. Miles and also by Gen. Beal, then commanding the Tenth Maine Infantry. At next station up the Poto- mac orders were " Change cars for An- tietam, etc." and I found myself stranded at 3 P. M. with no train till 9.30, no hotel, no anything of interest to me. I strayed into a store near by, when a gentleman who came in to make some purchase, noticing my cavalry badge, asked me where I had served, and under what generals. My reply led him to ask if I was at the Shepardstown fight. I told him I was. " Well," said he, " I was under Rosser opposite you that day." Further conversation brought out the fact that we were also opposite at Aldie, Middleburg, Upperville and some other fights. Wehad a very interesting interview at the close of which he in- vited me to go over with him a few miles to his place and spend the Sab- bath. I declined with thanks and re- turned to the depot to see what the prospects were for getting away or something to eat, if I stayed till the late train. An hour later, he being ready to start for home came and re- newed his invitation so very cordially, I surrendered at once, finding my captor to be Major McDonald of the Twelfth Virginia Cavalry, a member of which once swore at Major Thaxter. After driving about four miks we approached the family mansion, beautifully placed in a thirty-acre grove of oaks. The farm
or place contains four hundred and Any acres and had been in possession of hi, wife 's family for a hundred and thirty years -- since 1760. I was presented to a charming lady on the sunny si le of forty apparently, and when, I could hardly believe was the mother of eight grown or growing children, seven of whom were soon after sitting with me at a bounteous Virginia supper. Sunday morning all assembled for family prayers just before breakfast, and later the Major drove me over to the station for a train to Sharpsburg. thus ending a very pleasant episode of my Washing- ton trip. A few miles by rail brought me to Sharpsburg and I spent a portion of the day in Antietam Cemetery, a lovely spot, kept in perfect order by the U. S. Government. Monday forenvon I spent in Hagerstown with a family with whom my wife boarded several weeks of the winter of '62 and '63, went to Gettysburg the same afternoon, where I spent all Tuesday, driving over the battle field with a guide who was in the battle and lives in Gettysburg, thus being well posted. The whole trip was a grand occasion, the last of the kind I am likely to undertake.
Very truly yours, G. M. BROWN.
[ Elist. pp. 456, 641.]
BLOOMINGTON, IL.L., SEPT. 20, '92. GEN. J. P. GILLEY :
Dear Sir and Comrade :- Yours of Aug. 3Ist at hand, I am glad to be able to comply with your request and inclose you a copy of "No 4." I also send you my favorite, "Going Down the Hill." and also " Only One Flag in Percession." I think this is enough for the present, but have some that I shall have to copy as I usually only retain one copy of tach. I would not so readily comply with the request you make if it were not for the high esteem I hold for the First
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BUGLE ECHOES.
Maine Cavalry. I consider it an houor to be in any way in company with the survivors of that regiment. In falling back from the burning and destroying of the station and bridge at Stony Creek, Va., December Ist, 18644, our regiment was the rear guard of the brigade, and the way those Johnnies burried us was a caution. Several times we formed, by squadrons on either side of the road to allow the column to pass, then held them in check until another was formed farther on. But just at a time when they, the Rebs., got so close to the rear of the column as to throw it into confusion, we saw a light ahead in the woods on the roadside, back of the fire stood two hundred men of the First Maine Cavalry with you at their head, waiting for the enemy. And I shall never forget the music of those 16-shoot- ers when the Rebs ran into them and you charged their confused colums. That was the last we heard of the enemy on that occasion. So if I can do any- thing to aid you in making your BUGLE CALL heard with pleasure and interest to the members of our regiment as well as yours, I shall be glad indeed to do so. Both myself and family read with interest, "The Bowdoin Boys in Labra- dor." Please let me know what pieces you have of my production and I will then know what to send you in future.
Fraternally yours, C. C. HASSLER, Co. L., 2Ist Pa. Cav.
ANDERSON, Ind., Oct. 19th, 1892. GEN. CILLEY :
Sit,-Having met to-day a gentleman from my old home, the State of Maine, I made some inquiries about the late mem- bers of the First Maine Cavalry, if he could tell me of any who were living and where. Hereferred me to you ; I had the impression that you did not survive your wound. I would like, to hear from
you and if, as this man says, you are editing a magazine which gives an ac- count of all the old boys I would like to subscribe for it. Please let me know the sum required and I will remit the same. I was indeed please ! to hear of you and that you still lived. I was a member of Co. C, First Maine Cavalry, for nearly four years, being discharged one month ahead of the regiment with about twenty others. I hope to hear from you and that you will give my love to the boys at your next reunion. [am traveling for a confectionery house of Indianapolis, Ind., selling candy. My home is 210 Hoyet Ave., Indianapolis, Ind., where I have a fine little family of two beautiful daughters and two sons, and I would be pleased if you come to Indi- anapolis to Encampment next year to have you make us a call.
Most respectfully yours, WILLIAM O. ELLIOT. [ Hist. p. 500. As William Elliot.]
STRONG, Me., Oct. 8th, 1892. GEN. CILLEY :
Dear Comrade -- I have received the First Maine BUGLE since it has been printed and have thought I should be able to pay for it some time, but now I shall not be able to. Last Memorial Day while I was attending Memorial services at Strong I lost all my build- ings by fire; lost everything, no insur- ance-one four-year-old colt, two pigs and all of my farming tools, so you see that I am not able to pay for the BUGIF. My health is very poor, I cannot do any work, and and it will be but a short time before I shall answer the last roll call. With many thanks to you and the com- radles of the First Maine Cavalry, I am Yours in F. C. & L., EDMUND T. BANGS, Private, Co. I ..
[IlIst. p. 635.]
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
ROME, N. Y., Oct. 29, 1892.
GEN. J. P. CILLEY :
Dear Comrade .- I intended to write you a long time ago, but my memory is very poor, almost a total wreck. I have been living in hopes that I could man- age in some manner to pay for your BUGLE that you so kindly sent me. All the income I have in this world is my pension, and my doctor bills have been so large they with my other experses has used up my income and more too, or I would have remitted to you for the BUGLE. The copies that I have receive l I have had bound in good substantial form. My health was so poor that I could not go to Washington. If I had been able to attend I would surely have skirmished around until I found you. My disease is locomoter ataxia, so that I am hardly able to walk, besides total deafness. I will close by wishing you and all the readers of the First Maine Bagle a long and happy life. And when the heavenly bugle sounds may we all rally around the Throne of Grace.
Yours in F. C. & L. W. W. WILLIAMS, Co. Il, roth N. Y. Cav.
NORTH LEEDS, Nov. 3d, 1592. COMRADE CILLEY :
I thank you for sending me the BUGLE; readling its pages brings to mind the times that tried men's souls. I was a recruit in Company Food my first service was on Kilpatrick's Raid where I had my horse shot under me, my left arm broken and was taken prisoner and confined in Libby Prison sixty days and then paroled. Government was so pleased with my services that they gave my two dollars per month pension. I am able to do but very little work. It is very hard for me to get along. I would!
like one of the badges and if you will send me one on my honor as a cofre rade I will send you the pay for it as soon as I can.
Yours respectfully in F. C. & L., ARAD E. GHILFT.
[ Hist. p. co]]
MARLBORO, Mass, Oct. 21th, 1992. GEN. J. P. CILLEY :
Dear Comrade, -- What a glorious tip we had to Washington. I shall never forget it. I went to Alexanddia, lr-d- ericksburg, Richmond and Petersbourg and looked them all over, also Gettys- burg on our return home. Atsong other gentleman that I met was William A. Rucker, late a member of Second Vir- ginia Cavalry, who fought our regiment through the whole war, was in the battles of Aldie, Middleburg and Upperville and lives near Aldie. He insisted upon iny visiting at his home. I have received a letter from him and as it seems to Lave the true soldier ring I send it for the BUGLE.
THOMAS J. SANFORD. [Hist. p. 212.]
William Trimble, oft v. C, Calais, Me. writes : " I am not satisSed with the position of the First Maine Cavalry monument. I think it ought to be en the ledge where we supperiel a bettery on the third day of the fight, when the rebel prisoners came on our left, and ) saw Gen. Sickels, as I was told, carried by us on a stretcher sitting up and! smoking a cigar. I dil not have time to find the plice while at Gettysburg, Sept. 15th, but have it charly in my memory. Would like to Have a fuller account written of Lieut. George S. Kimball. I was with him in the charge at Middleburg when he was killed. A braver man never lived.
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GENEALOGICAL ..
GENEALOGICAL.
" There is no honor in rank or title or official station, no pride of family or of wealth, like the honor and pride which belong to the survivors of that great strug.,lo which preserved constitutional liberty on the face of the earth."
ABBREVIATIONS .-- b., born; d., died ; dau., danghter; disch., discharged, en., culisted; ilist., History : m. married ; D., page; res., resided,
HORATIO SMITH LIBBY.
,
Horatio Smith Libby, (Ilist. P. 501); b. Sept. 30, 1839; res. Melrose, Mass .; oc., route agent; m. Frances Ayres, dau. of Charles Washington and Frances Eliza ( Huckins) Ayres, June 1, 1871.
CHILDREN.
Horatio Ayers, b. March $9, IS; 6. William Parker, b. Dec. 23, 1877. Marguerite, b. Feb. 16, ISSo.
Lieut. Horatio S. Libby was the son of William Libby, b. March 13, 1812; res., Gardiner, Me,; d. Oct. 5, 18SI; 14., Sept. 9, 1837, Martha Tilden (Smith) Libby, now living at Skowhegan, Me., with her daughter, Mrs. George B. Saf- ford, whose busband is an honorary member of the Skowhegan Association. Lieut. Libby is the ninth generation from John Libby, who emigrated from England in 1630 and settled at Black Point, now Scarboro. His great grand- father ( Dominicus) was a soldier of the revolution. His maternal grandfather,
EBENEZER SMITH,
Served eight long years in the war of the Revolution, as private, sergeant, sergeant-major, Hestenant and captain. Ife first volunteered in Sept., 1775, 65 private; promoted to sergeant aud ser- geant-major until he was commissione !!
as lieutenant from Jan. 1, 1777, under Capt. John Bailey, in the Eighth Masti- chusetts Continental tegiment, com- manded by Col. Michael Jackson; march- ed to Boston, there remaining for a time, then to Albany, N. Y .; from thence he was, with a detachinent, detailed for service at Cherry Valley, Osvege, Co .. N. Y., to protest the inhabitords and property from destruction by an expert- ed invasion of a body of In lians and Tories, in July, 1777. The enemy, after reconnoitering the place, retired without making an attack. Soon after, he marched north to Fort Stanwie, nowy Rome, Oneida Co., N. Y., the objective point of a large force of British, Toses and Indians, under the noted Indian warrior Brats, all comman led ly Col. St. Leger, where he was beseiged for twenty-one days. This fort after con- siderable repairs, it: 1770 and 1977 was sometimes referred to as Fort Schuyler, but the more familiar name was " Ston- wix." The siege commenced Aug. 2. and was abandoned Aug. 22, 1777, 000 during that period the locality was the scene of military activity with battles to prevent relief sent from reaching the besieged party. After the enemy had sotired he was orderel to re-join Lis regiment, which was with the main army under Gen, Gates at Stillwater. Sar-
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE,
atoga county, New York, opposing the advance of Gen. Burgoyne, and he par- ticipated in the battles at that place Sept. 19th and Oct. 7th, which preceed- ed the surrender of the British army at Saratoga, Oct. 17th, 1777. During this time of events in Saratoga county, the enemy in large force, with war vessels, had ascended the Chesapeake Bay and occupied Philadelphia, Sept. 26th, 1777, and Capt. Smith with his regiment, after the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne, soon marched for Pennsylvania to join the army under Gen. Washington, who early in December went into winter quarters at the historic camp at Valley Forge, in Chester County, Pennsylvania, where with great privation for want of food and clothing the winter of 1777-8 was passed.
Capt. John Bailey had been dismissed from the service by a general court martial, and Lieut. Smith was transfer- red to the company of Capt. John Burnham in the same regiment, where he remained until commissioned as Capt. to rank as such from Sept. 16th, 1780, in the Eighth regiment. When the en- emy evacuated Philadelphia, June 18th, 1778, he with the army under Gen. Washington left Valley Forge in pursuit, overtaking them while crossing New Jersey at Monmouth, where a battle took place June 28th, 17;8 (an excessively hot day) after which the pursuit continued to New Brunswick, where war vessels were assembled to transport the retreat- ing enemy to New York City. From thence the American army marched to and crossed the Hadson River and oc- cupied the military posts in the high- lands.
Ile was one of the volunteers under Gen. Wayne when he stormed and captured the Fort at Story Point, N. Y., on the Hudson River, July 16th. 1779. There is on file a certificate from the Governor of Massachusetts, dated July 29th, 17So, which authorized him to
act as captain-lieutenant, indicating u" ually the commander of a company. lis commission as captain gave him rank: as such from Sept. 16th, 1780, which was issued by Congress, in the smur .. regiment. His company was di-ben led in June, 1783, at Soldier's Fortune, near West Point, N. Y. The General So- ciety of Cincinnati was organivel about May, 1783, just prior to the partjul re- duction of the army in the succeeding June, and he joined the Massachuset's Society in August, 1783. During the war of 1812 he was appointed lieutenant- colonel in February, 1813, by Preci lenc James Madison, but oning to his age and family considerations he dil not go into actual service. He died at Wo,l- wich, Sept. 4th, 1824.
JOHN LIBBY, THE LMIGRANT.
[From the " Libby Family in America," prepared by Charles T. Libby, Esq., of Portland.'
John Libby was for many years one of the town's principal planters, but he took no part in the affairs of the prov- ince, and little, so far as is known, in the management of the town. It inej- dentally appears, however, that he was a constable in 1664, and his name stands first of the four selectmen in a town grant bearing date 1669. His name, except as constable, does not appear at all in the Provincial Court records, and that at a period when quarrels and liti- gations were the order of the day, and indictments were issued for the most trivial offences an I on most questionable testimony. That in point of morality he took a stand far above his class is very evident from a comparison between his accounts while on Richmond's Island and those of his fellow fishermen; whereas most of them spent their entire wages for spirits and tolacco he used no tobacco and very little intoxicating drink of any sort, while very nearly all
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GENEALOGICAL ..
that he did use was wine. He seems to have practiced that quiet, correct, peace- ful mode of life which has always char- acterized his descendants. In Phillip's War, in which were devastated all the more exposed settlements of Maine, John Libby suffered in common with the other inhabitants. He lost every- thing he had except his plantation. In the late summer of 1675 hostile Indians began to appear at Black Point, shooting cattle, etc. Those of the inhabitants who lived at any distance from the garrison (and among them John Libby) were compelled to leave their habitations for the safer abode. Their crops had to be gathered under the protection of sol- diers, who went from Boston. The burning of John Libby's house was re- corded in the diary of Capt. Joshua Scottow, who had charge of the Boston soldiers, as follows :
"Sept. 7, 1675, Being Lord's Day --- the enemy -- before of their designs early in the morning burnt those houses and barns our Capne saved the day before- they burnt also eight or nine deserted houses belonging to Libby and children."
In October, 1670, Black Point garri- son was deserted and most of the in- habitants fled to Boston. The able- bodied men returned soon after and again took possession of the garrison, which the Indians, contrary to their cus- tom, had left unturnt. Probably the women and children did not return till the close of the war. At any rate, John Libby with his wife and younger children were in Boston the moth of July, 1677, and on that date petitioned the Governor and Council there as- sembled that his sons, Henry and All- thony, on whom he stated he was de- pendent for support, might be dis- changed from the Black Point garrison. The petition was granted the same day. He returned to Black Point probably very soon after. There was no serious
trouble tiere subs got to June, IG7, and April 12th, 167's terms of peace were finally ratified. In a short tine Black Point had regained something of its former prosperity, and in the few remaining years of his life John Libby acquired a comfortable property. H- died at about eighty years of age.
THOMAS BENTON PULSIELK.
Thomas Benton Pulsifer, (Hist. p. 521); b. April 2, 1842; res. Vermouth, Mass .; oc. physician; m. June 1, 18se, Annie Gorham, b. Sept. 3, 1859, dau. of Benjamin and Clara Gorham.
CHILDREN.
Carrie Rust, b. April 17, ISSI.
Mary Anno, b. Nov. 3, ISS2, d. April 28, ISS5,
Gorham, b. April 1, ISS7.
Thomas B. Pulsifer was the son of Moses Rust Pulsifer, b. Oct. 1700, res Ellsworth, Me., and Mary Strodt Denig b. ISoo, who were married 181g. M . es R. was the son of Jonathan and Polly (Rust) Pulsifer, the son of David Pol. sifer, the grindson of Benedict Tubiter. Mary S. Dunn was the dau. of Copt. Josiah Dumm and Sauch Lagres, dan of Thomas Barnes. Polly Rust was the dau. of Moses and Sarah (Choate) Dunn.
CHARLES H. PICKARD.
Charles H. Pickard (Ilist. P. 4 14); m. Nora F. Cappers, of Levant, Sept. I, IS66.
CHILDREN. Carrie E., b. June 3, 1S57. Mamie, b. June 5. 1570. Annette, b. Jaly 10, 1875. Res. Hormoon, till iSoo, when he moved to Levant, where he died May Io, 1879.
SAMUTI W. PALMER.
Samuel W. Fabner, ( Ilist. p. 484): 1. at Pittston, Feb. 21, 1543; en. at Fitts- ton; m. Lucretia S. Richardson.
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
CHILDREN.
Ona Mabell, b. Feb. 6, 1873. Roy Livingston, b. Nov. 29, 1574.
After disch. was travelling until l'eb. 1866, when he located at Charlestown, Mass., and res. there except two years in Glenwood, Mass., formerly East Med- ford; was employed in Charlestown navy yard as blacksmith for two years, and after that was travelling salesman in the steel business; Rebublican; Universa- list; d. at Charlestown, March 4, ISS5, of apoplexy.
Comrade Palmer told the following story of his service with the regiment : I joined the regiment at Long Bridge, marched to Washington, and from there went with the regiment to Frederick City, Md., there I re-enlisted in Fourth Regiment Infantry, went to New York herbor, drilled for two months, then sent to the front, I think to Brooks Station. I then ran away and came to First Maine at camp in woods just before going into winter quarters at Camp Bayard. When the regiment broke quarters in spring of 1863, I, being on sick list with chronic diarrhoea was sent to Aquia Creek, and to Washington and from there to United States General Hospital, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia. I returned to the regiment at Bealton station, I think, and was with the regiment until May 28th, 1865, at which time I was discharge.l. During the time with the regiment had three bullets through my clothes, one through the top of my hat, some bullet knocking splinters from rail hurt my right eye badly, which was in bad condition for a month or two. This happened when on Sheridan's raid to Richmond on the same day that Capt. Loring was wound- ed, which my parents saw by newspapers and they thought I was sure to come home either crippled for life or to die, but, thank God, Iam all right except loss of hearing in my right ear while in Camp Bayard.
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