USA > Maine > First Maine bugle, 1893 (history of 1st Maine Cavalry) > Part 11
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Come all you dashing cavalrymen As you go riding by, All mounted on your horses You appear to us so high. Look down upon the Twenty-first And pity them I pray, They were ordered to be dismounted On the twenty-first of May : CHORUS.
Hurrah, hurrah for the Twenty-first so true They left their homes and firesides the rebels to subdue.
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
We reorganized in February, The spring of sixty-four, A regiment of cavalry, Twelve hundred men or more. We encamped in Franklin county Until we were called away, And ordered to be dismounted On the twenty-first of May .- CHO.
We left the town of Chambersburg Our journey to pursue, A regiment of cavalry Of soldiers brave and true.
We marched along to Washington; Our hearts were light and gay, But there we were dismounted On the twenty-first of May .--- CHO.
They took our horses from us, Placed the musket in our hand, And then straightway they ordered us To report in Dixie's land. Our men like all true soldiers Had not a word to say, Although we were dismounted On the twenty-first of May .-- CHO.
We reported to General Warren, It was on the first of June, And then assigned to his brave corps With a fight expected soon. And there we did our duty, The general did say. Although we were dismounted On the twenty-first of May .- CHO.
At the battle of Cold Harbor, It was on the first of June, It was there our gallant colonel Received a serious wound, But our brave men and officers They had not seen the worst, For some lay dead and wounded Of the gallant Twenty-first .--- CHO.
We have a gallant lea ler yet, Who never knew a fear, He has fought to put rebellion down --. I think it's his fourth year.
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A CAVALRY REMINISCENCE.
His name is Maj. O. B. Knowles, A youth scarce twenty-two, Commanding now the Twenty-first Of soldiers brave and true .-- CHO.
But now we have our horses, And to muskets bid adieu; We have always done our duty To sustain our colors true. I hope the war will soon be done, And rebellion be no more,
Then we can all go home in peace To Pennsylvania's shore .--- CHO.
As I do not wish to weary you, I now will close my song. I thought when I commenced it It would not be so long. But now we've seen the elephant And nothing more to say, We don't rue now being dismounted On the twenty-first of May .-- CHO.
A Cavalry Reminiscence.
BY LIEUT. HORATIO C. LIBBY.
In the autumn of 1863, the glorious old Army of the Potomac was lying in camp in the vicinity of the historic Rappahannock, the gallant Second Corps about the village of Culpepper, and the "eyes of the army" -- the cavalry -- at the front on the Rapidan and Robertson rivers, watching the pickets of the enemy and making occasional raids into their lines. During the movement which had placed our army in the position as above stated, the writer was ordered by the colonel of his regiment to report to General D. McM. Gregg, commanding the Second Division, for duty, and was attached to his staff for a brief period. On the retreat which soon followed he rejoined the regiment at Culpepper. The last day of our arrival in the vicinity of the Rapidan had been accompanied by a down pour of rain. The night closed down upon us dark, damp and dismal. Headquarters were established in a grove of pines. We made
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
ourselves as comfortable as possible with no other shelter than. the friendly trees around us. Securing our faithful horses, sad- dled and bridled, to the trees, and wrapping our blankets about us, we lay down to rest but not to sleep. About midnight an orderly came to where we lay and said the general wanted us. We found him sitting on a fallen tree with a piece of paper on his knee, diligently writing by the light of a candle. Several of the staff were about him. He soon finished his task, and pass- ing it to us, requested us to read it, that we might know the import of the writing in case events should occur which would compel us to destroy it. It was an important request to Gene- ral Warren, commanding the Second Corps, asking that an infantry support be sent to his aid. We were at the extreme front, several miles from them. The intervening country was roamed ovar by guerillas and there was a possibility of being captured by them. He further said, "Take as many men as you require." We took one and were quickly en route. We arrived before daylight, fortunately without any mishap, at General Warren's headquarters, located in the Court House yard at Culpepper. We soon found a sentinel who was informed of the immediate necessity of disturbing General Warren's slum- bers. He went to a tent and called up one of the staff, who at once took us to the general's quarters. He " turned out" and soon had a candle burning, and then we gave him the message. After reading it he looked up and pleasantly said, "You boys are up there too far. Inform General Gregg that I will send the infantry support immediately." Having successfully carried out our instructions we started on our return ride, and safely reached headquarters, at daylight. The following days were sunny and calm. From the high hills on the opposite side of the river, the signals of the enemy were seen working rapidly. In a few days'it was made evident by the movements of their troops that General Lee was making an effort to get around our right flank. 'Thereupon our army fell slowly back, the cavalry as usual protecting the rear and flanks.
At Amisville, near Sulphur Springs, on the Upper Rappa- hannock, our regiment with the battalion of another was sent
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A CAVALRY REMINISCENCE.
on reconnoisance to the right flank and rear towards Little Washington, at the base of the Blue Ridge mountains near Thornton's Gap. We marched in the early morning, on one of the brightest days of October, and arrived at our destination without mecting any opposition. On the distant hills guerillas were occasionally seen, watching our movements. During the day a detachment of twelve men, in command of an officer, was sent back to corps headquarters to report our position. They were " cut off," and after destroying their equipments and allow- ing their horses to go free, endeavored to escape through the woods to our lines, but were all eventually captured by Mosby's men, near Thoroughfare Gap. The officer escaped and entered our lines several days after. The others were not so successful in eluding the vigilance of their captors and were taken to Richmond, but fortunately for them, were soon after exchanged. The return march was not of particular interest, until we approached the vicinity of our bivouac of the previous night. The shades of night were falling as we marched along, and the enemy was near, but of that fact we were not aware. Orders had been given to find a suitable ground for the night, which must be accessible to water for the horses and for the men to " make coffee." We were expecting to bivouac at any moment. Suddenly a volley of fire arms at the front greeted our ears. We halted, and observing a house in the shelter of a grove, with a light burning dimly in a window, the writer dismounted and running to the door rapped quickly. A woman appeared and upon asking her what troops were in the vicinity she readily replied, " A. P. Hill's corps." This was startling. The answer was reported to the colonel, who thereupon went to the house, and received the same reply. Men and horses were weary. Our position was somewhat critical. Instant flight was our only chance to escape capture. "Fours right-about !" was quietly given -which placed my company at the front of the column, and tak- ing the gallop we kept that pace until we arrived at Gaine's Cross Roads, several miles from our place of adventure. Here a young colored guide was secured. He rode at our side sev- eral hours. He was glad to do us such good service, but,
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
naturally, was very nervous and dared not speak above a whis- per. An occasional shot in the distance on our right flank alarmed him. He was fearful of being captured. We assured him there was no danger of that-the rebels were too far away. He guided us as far as his knowledge of the country would permit, leading us through the woods, over one of the roads General Lee's force traveled during his memorable march to Pennsylvania and historic Gettysburg. He informed us where we would find a white man who would further direct our march, but he was not inclined to do so. He insisted that he was not familiar with the country. We compelled him to go with us to the colonel, who upon further questioning him allowed him to return to his home. Our colored guide left us and we have often wondered what became of him. However, the colonel secured a reluctant guide; in fact he at first refused, but the colonel offering to pay him well for his services he concluded to accept the position. Furthermore he informed him that at any indication of treachery he would be instantly shot. The colo- nel kept this guide with him and directed the movements of the column from the rear.
We had three guides during the night. The writer relates only what came under his own observation. We crossed the forks of the Upper Rappahannock, and thence proceeded onward over high and rocky hills, until we reached the turnpike leading to Warrenton. It was yet dark when we arrived at the outskirts of the town, where we halted. Very soon a clock in a not far distant town rang out the hour of three. We had not encountered any pickets-had not been challenged. It seemed very strange-it was suspicious. The colonel and a member of the staff had come to the front and were discussing probabilities. Was it better to charge through the town with the command, or send in a dismounted man and await the result? The colonel returned to the rear, not having come to any decision. In a moment a staff officer came in great haste from beyond the head of the column. Asking for the colonel he was directed to the rear. Quickly came the command, "Fours right-about," and we were again on the gallop until we reached Water Moun-
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A CAVALRY REMINISCENCE.
tain near by, and moved along its base as rapidly as the nature of the ground would permit. Through fields and woods, over stone walls and fences, on we hastened. We soon learned that we were flanking the town by the left, the reason for which we knew later on. We will narrate the stirring incident that deter- mined this sudden movement to the rear and flank. When the column halted it appeared that this officer had proceeded some distance beyond the front rank when he discovered a dim light from a bivouac fire, not far from the pike or road. Upon fur- ther examination he discovered some sleeping soldiers. Dis- mounting and giving one of them a gentle shake he asked him " What regiment?" "Twelfth," the drowsy soldier replied. The answer was not definite, and making another effort to arouse him he asked him "Twelfth what?" "Twelfth Virginia, you damn fool," the now exasperated soldier growled out. That was sufficiently clear and gave us the information we most desired in our uncertain position. The officer said " All right, all right," and hastily leaving the disturbed trooper to finish his dreams, reported his adventure. Hence our flanking movement. We reached our lines about seven o'clock A. M. at New Baltimore, having been in the saddle quite thirty hours, and marching more than a hundred miles. We had gained information which was of great importance to the commanding general of the army. At corps headquarters they had taken it for granted that the regiment had been captured and had omitted us from a requisition for " rations and forage." They were as delighted to see us as we were to escape. Men and horses were worn, weary and hungry. After resting several hours we proceeded to Fairfax Court House for our necessary supplies, but we were again required for other and pressing duty.
At Bull Run we were obliged to pass over the ground on which the Second Corps was encamped, the commanding gen- eral of which requested the colonel to proceed to Manassas and " develop the enemy." The colonel demurred, giving as a very good reason our weak condition. But the general thought lightly of it. The result was the head of the column was directed towards Manassas. After crossing Bull Run skirmish-
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
ers were thrown out, and we advanced slowly and with caution until we approached the vicinity of Manassas, where we observed a heavy troop of cavalry coming from the opposite direction. They deployed skirmishers, and moving towards us opened fire. We had developed the enemy in numbers too numerous for us to cope with, and therefore we fell slowly back, exchanging shots with the enemy's advance, who were not inclined to press us very hard. They moved with caution, seeming to fear a " trap." Desultory firing was kept up until we again reached Bull Run, where we prepared to fight " on foot." All dismounted except every fourth man, whose duty it was to look after the horses of the dismounted men and lead them to the rear. The dismounted men moved forward and awaited in line the final onset of the enemy. They soon came in a largely superior force, compelling us to retire in a hurried manner. In the meantime General Warren had been advised of the course of events and had prepared to receive them. We left them in the hands of the gallant Second Corps, who gave them a warm reception. They could not get through their strong lines; it was a bulwark they could not force, and so we left them.
We remounted our jaded horses, and directing our hungry force to Fairfax Court House, arriving there at ten P. M. and after drawing our supplies we laid our tired bodies down for a much needed rest. Thus ended one of the most exciting and eventful of our many rides.
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" WHEN HE WAS A SOLDIER BOY"
" When He Was a Soldier Boy." BY MARY STEWART.
My love he went for a soldier once, And marched to the sound of the drum; With his coat of blue and his carbine new He longed for the foe to come, There were those who wept when he marched away, A long farewell to joy ! But his face was bright and his footstep light When he was a soldier boy.
For who would stay at work in the fields When Honor calls to her side? My love he heard the bugle blow, And he never would turn and hide !
But he followed the call through cold and wet And suns that scorch and destroy, And laughed at the pains of day and night When he was a soldier boy.
The deadly rifle bullet's ring, The crash of falling shell, The long, dull whirr of the cannon ball, He knew each of them well; And whether behind the breastwork's screen, Or out where the troops deploy, He took true aim through smoke and flame, For he was a soldier boy,
And all the years that he marched and fought I was a girl at play ; I did not know I should love him at all, And be his wife to-day. And though he is truest and best of men --- What love is without alloy ?--- I wish I had been his sweetheart then, When he was a soldier boy !
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
The Country for Which You Fought.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS OF A TRIP TO THE PACIFIC COAST.
BY THE EDITOR.
IV .- SAN FRANCISCO AND HER CHINATOWN.
Lonesome and homesick, Ed and I went to bed in the little hotel at Colfax after the Essex had passed out of our sight for- ever on the evening of May 28th last. We had some rather amusing experiences at Colfax and this hotel, but managed to get some sleep and were awakened in time to take the two o'clock in the morning train for San Francisco, which, however, did not arrive until nearer five. We had a long ride to San Francisco, as the flood in the river had not subsided and we had to ride ninety miles further than the usual route. We reached San Francisco about four o'clock in the afternoon and lay down to take a little nap before going out in the evening. This little nap lasted until the next morning, and then we began to realize that we were becoming tired from so much sight-seeing. But we felt greatly refreshed the next morning.
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This was Memorial Day-May 30th. We went down town early, found my old schoolmate, Joseph H. Litchfield, now a business man and prominent citizen of San Francisco, a com- rade of the Grand Army of the Republic, and from him learned where Lincoln Post formed for the parade. To this Post belonged Comrade George E. Jumper, of Company G, the only one of the company now living, besides myself, who went out and came back with the regiment, and who was captured and taken to Libby Prison with me at Brandy Station. I wanted to sce him. I had failed to find his name and address in the city directory, though I found it in the directory of the year before, and knew no better way to find him than to visit his Post. It was a very unpleasant sensation, this missing his name from the
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THE COUNTRY FOR WHICH YOU FOUGHT.
directory of this year when it was in the year before. It might mean almost anything, from moving out of the city to death, and it gave me a very uncomfortable feeling. But hoping for the best, I found Lincoln Post, and commenced my search for Comrade Jumper. Even in his own Post I found it no casy matter to get track of him. Many did not know him, and many who did know him did not know what had become of him. In speaking to one comrade about him, I said, as one means of identification, " He was a tall, dark-whiskered man," to which he quickly replied, "Well, you want to look for a tall, gray- whiskered man, now." I saw the point and continued the search with different eyes. But I did not succeed in finding him. I did find where he works, though, and learned that he had moved to Oakland, which accounted for his not being in the line, for so few knowing anything about him, and for his name not being in the directory. So I had to give up seeing him that day.
MEMORIAL DAY PARADE.
Charley and Ernest Wilson, the two sons of our host, had taken us in charge for the day, and they gave us a great day. But first, we naturally waited to see the Memorial Day proces- sion, and were well repaid for so doing, as the parade was a grand one, indeed. It was headed by several companies of police, marching with a front which extended clear across the wide street, while three or four companies were armed with Winchester rifles, a sight novel to our eyes. Then we learned that the entire police force of the city is armed with Winches- ters and drilled in their use, so they know how to use them when occasion requires. Following the police were the United States troops and the State troops, in all their glory, and though there was some good marching, and the cavalry made a good appearance, yet they did not look as they did when we rode with Sheridan - I don't believe I ever shall become well acquainted with the modern uniforms, especially of the cavalry. The veterans of the Mexican war made a good showing in the line, and did not look so much older than did very many of our
1
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own comrades, But the Posts of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic made the finest appearance --- the finest I ever saw, and I say this without hesitation. There was a very large number of them, and they marched well. Not only this, but every com- rade of them all has a history, and has assisted in making some of the history of the country and of this glorious State. And when it is remembered that of all this vast array, very few if any of the comrades are natives of the State, but almost to a man served in the regiments from other States, one gets a new idea of the make-up of the American soldier and of California. The Sons of Veterans followed their fathers, with a lighter step, perhaps, but not with a surer, nor with a lighter heart. The display of flowers was simply immense. No State in the Union can furnish fiowers in such profusion as this, and even here the display was something ususual. Not only were there wreaths and bouquets in abundance, but some very large and handsome set pieces. One of these which I particularly remember, was a floral imitation of the ship Yorktown -- a very handsome piece of work; also a handsome, large floral monument, and many others. I was pleased to see in the line with the comrades, two colored comrades marching along with proud step, and no man felt any less pleasant because they were there. This attracted my attention all the more forcibly for the reason that on the last day of my ride in the Essex, my confederate friend kindly loaned me a copy of a New Orleans paper which he had just received, giving an account of the disbandment of the Depart- ment of Louisiana Grand Army of the Republic on account of the race question. Still I must say, if the resolutions passed by that Department are correct, as I have no cause to doubt, there was at least some excuse for that action. But I have never forgotten how good those colored troops looked as they relieved us on the field on the morning at Appomattox.
A GLANCE AT SAN FRANCISCO.
After the parade had passed, Charley and Ernest took us around San Francisco as much as they could in a single day. I liked San Francisco. So did Ed. To me it seemed to be
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THE COUNTRY FOR WHICH YOU FOUGHT.
the finest city we had seen --- better by far, than Chicago. There are not so many tall buildings as in Chicago -- they do not erect them tall through fear of earthquakes, -- but there are many very fine buildings, and a more solid, substantial appearance over all. A view of Chicago from one of the tall buildings, with here and there another tall building, suggests a man's mouth with only an occasional tooth. A view of San Francisco gives a more even, compact appearance. In Chicago, one must climb to the top of a building, by elevator or otherwise, to obtain a view of the city. In San Francisco one has only to jump into a cable car and in a few moments, it matters not much in which direction he rides, he has a fine view of the city, and can vary this view the further he rides. Chicago is too level; San Fran- cisco is all hills. The cable car service is as good in one city as the other, so far as we could see, but in San Francisco a ride gives one never-ending, ever-varying, always interesting views of the city. Chicago is a great city-a very great city --- larger than San Francisco, but I would be satisfied to live in San Francisco. The streets are wide and straight, and everything about the city looks clean and neat. As to the people of the two cities, we did not see enough of them to make a comparison, but I should say there is more " push and go" in Chicago. Chicago ought to have the World's Fair -- there is no doubt of that-but give me San Francisco to visit or to live in. These are my impres- sions from a brief visit to both cities.
It would be tedious to attempt to tell all that we saw in this wonderful city on this wonderful day, so a brief glance will suf- fice. We visited the famous Sutro Heights-a magnificent park made and owned by a private citizen but thrown open to the public at all times; the Cliff House, from which we watched the countless seals on Seal Rock, looking in the distance, as one visitor remarked, " like so many maggots on a huge piece of meat "-not an elegant comparison, but very expressive and quite correct ; the Golden Gate Park, where hours can be passed, with something new and interesting to see every moment. And wherever we went, all was new, all was worth seeing, all added to the high opinion we had at first formed of the city, and we
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FIRST MAINE BUGIE.
were inclined to pity those of our excursion party who had had no really good opportunity to sec San Francisco.
COMRADE JUMPER.
On Tuesday Ed and I started out to find our old comrade. Sergeant Jumper, (Lieutenant Jumper is his proper title, but Sergeant comes more natural, as we knew him the better by that title). We found him, and I was at once reminded of the remark of the comrade the day before, " You must look for a tall, gray-whiskered man, now." Still, Comrade Jumper is not nearly so gray as are many of those who were dark-haired in '61. The years that have passed since we were mustered out have told upon him, of course, as they have upon all of us, but not so much as upon most of us. Was he glad to see me? Were you, comrades, ever glad to see the next relief on a dark stormy night when standing picket? Were you happy on that famous day at Appomattox, when you learned officially that Gen. Lee had surrendered? Was I glad to see him? You can all answer that question for yourselves, better than I can. My throat fills up and my eyes water, now, as I write and think of this meeting. I knew him almost imme- diately, as I was looking for him and expected he would be there, but he looked at me long before he recognized me, and then only until I laughed, for he had no idea that I had left the little State of Rhode Island. But didn't the old memories come up in the minds of each of us? We did not talk much -- we could not, -- but there was a deal of thinking for a few moments. I had the pleasure of seeing his oldest son, also -- a fine looking young man, of whom any father might well be proud. This son has just begun to learn the business of paper-hanging and decorating -- the business his father follows -- while a younger son is still in school. Comrade Jumper is looking well, and though he feels the effects of four years of very active cam- paigning you will be glad to hear that he bids fair to live many years yet. I did not have time to visit him at his home, much as I wished to, but I did make a second call upon him, at his work. He hasn't forgotten the old days, not at all, and while
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