USA > Maine > First Maine bugle, 1893 (history of 1st Maine Cavalry) > Part 14
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A TRIBUTE TO FRESTON'S HISTORY.
officers to be sent to the front or disbanded. However, as sum- mer drew near, "fishing and flirting" rendered the men more contented and the warlike disposition of the regiment found expression in the capacity of horse marines in the capture of the schooner Resolution with twenty-two men, including a con- federate Lieutenant with a new uniform under his citizen dress.
We next see the gallant regiment encamped in Patterson Park, Baltimore, the last of June, 1862, and the historian modestly says, "the ladies of that city gathered in large numbers to sec their dress parades." While we know it was the fine forms of the New York boys that drew them and held their admiration till August 15th found them near the field of honor at Blan- densburg.
August 29th, 1862, found them in Virginia and their first ser- vice in front of the enemy. Like our own first experience it was not entirely as desired by all, for Capt. Pratt writes "it was very dark when I reached the Pike where I fell in with a large body of rebel cavalry and became their guest." Col. Mumford of the Second Virginia Cavalry was the entertainer of Capt. Pratt and his thirty men. From this time forward their regimental history was parallel and in line with our own. July 1863 as the regiment from Brinkerhoff Ridge looked towards the village of its first love and military life, one can imagine the excitement of men and officers and the determination to make every one do his duty. Lieut. A. J. Edson filled with such spirit, made one poor fellow of his company who was a constitutional coward, stand to the work by placing Bob Evans on one side and Joe McKeegan in his rear to keep him in place and at work. When the firing began, off went this fellow's carbine straight in the air. "Hold on," shouted Evans, "there are no rebels in that direction, you'll kill an angel !" And so through the entire vol- ume, from the picture in front to the opposite view of the same picture, on the last page of the cover, the history is horse all the way through, and a delicious feeling of fresh air and en- joyment even under disagreeable conditions and surroundings pervade the work.
True regimental naratives stand in the same relation to more pretentious histories, as biographies stand to works of general
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history. They are bright and sparkling with individual acts and personal characteristics.
The volume is Svo., 710 pages and 200 fine portraits, prices : Yellow vellum cloth, $5.00; sheep, $6.50; half calf or half morocco, $7.50; full morocco, $10.00. Address, H. E. Hayes. 346 Stuyvesant Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Incidents of Cavalry Service.
BY C. W. WILES, DELAWARE, OHIO, TENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY.
During the winter of 1862 and 1863 while the Army of the Potomac was in quarters near Belle Plain, Virginia, the cavalry was occupied in picket duty along the lower Rappahannock river about twenty miles from our camp, detachments of two or three hundred men being sent out for ten days and at the ex- piration of that time were relieved by others. While this duty was not as pleasant as life in the comfortable winter quarters. it was enjoyed by the soldiers as it gave them opportunity to pro- cure butter, milk, eggs, and other luxuries not found in camp, this portion of the country called the Neck not having been over-run by either army.
Our regiment was associated with the First Maine and First New Jersey forming Kilpatrick's Old Brigade and a portion of Gregg's division. Having just returned to our camp from a tour of picket duty, April 8, 1863, the whole division was or- dered out for a grand review. The division, after the review, was drawn up in an open square in the center of which we ob- served a blacksmith's forge wagon with fire lighted. We then suspected that we were to be spectators of something more than a review. Soon two men were brought in under guard, taken to the forge, the left halves of their heads shaved clean to the scalp and then hot irons from the forge were applied to their left shoulders and the letter D branded so deep that if they are alive at this day they have a reminder of that occasion with
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INCIDENTS OF CAVALRY SERVICE.
them. The escort then formed, and with large cards on their backs bearing the word "Deserter" they were drummed out of camp.
A young lieutenant from our regiment had recently been at- tached to Gen. Gregg's staff as aide-de-camp, a position he was very proud of and improved every opportunity to display his fine form and good clothes. During some maneuvers of the division he was sent with orders to our brigade commander Gen. Kilpatrick. Having performed the duty, he saluted the general, wheeled his horse and dashed away to report to Gen. Gregg. Unluckily his horse struck one of those bottomless mud holes and nearly turned a somersault, landing the officer in the mud and water. As he crawled out he was hardly to be recog- nized as the same being who had but a few moments before presented such a fine appearance. But determined to do his duty he mounted his horse, and dripping with mud and water he reported to Gen. Gregg. The general returned his salute and after listening to his report quietly suggested that he could be excused from further duty for the day if he so desired. It is needless to add that he was very glad to retire and change his clothing. Since the war he has been heard to remark that no man can realize his feelings as he took that tumble in full view of his chief and the whole division. Further information on the subject can be obtained of Major L. L. Barney of Elmira, N. Y.
During one of our tours of picket duty along the lower Rappahannock word was brought to Major Waters, commanding our grand reserve, that some soldiers had visited the fine plan- tation of Mr. Mason and "stolen" some of his horses. Two or three officers and as many men were ordered to visit Mr. Mason, ascertain the facts and report, foraging at that time being considered a great crime. One bright winter day the parties detailed mounted their horses and after a brisk gallop of six or eight miles arrived at his home. He occupied a rich farm of several hundred acres, and standing back from the road, surrounded by fine trees and a large number of negro houses, was the mansion, he at this time owning some two hundred
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negroes. Riding up to the house we fastened our horses to the conveniently arranged horse rack and approached the mansion. Mr. Mason met us at the porch and being informed of the object of our visit, cordially invited us to enter, when he proceeded to elaborate upon the dastardly outrage of the Yankee cavalrymen in running off his horses and persuading his negroes to escape. Of course we greatly sympathized with him and were prepared to pursue the villains anywhere. He brought out some fine old peach brandy and clay pipes and we drank and smoked while he talked, impressing upon us the fact that the villains must be pursued, captured, punished and the horses returned. We were fortifying ourselves for the task before us, in fact we were all pretty well fortified before leaving. He proudly pointed to the portrait of a fine looking young man and remarked that it was his son who was an officer in the con- federate service. Our interview of several hours was finally terminated by a luncheon of hominy and milk and a final glass of peach. We assured him that the matter would be fully reported to headquarters and then bade him good day and rode back to camp. We never heard that the horses were returned or that the villains were discovered.
Killed by the Committee. AUGUSTA, ME., March 9th, 1893 GENERAL J. P. CILLEY,
Dear General,-I had your petition referred to the committee on military affairs. Capt. Samuel W. Lane informs me that no hearing will be given, and also that it is not likely to be favorably reported. Yours truly,
W. S. WHITE.
The Encampment of the G. A. R. held at Rockland Feb. 10th, 1893, petitioned the Legislature to aid in the publication of regimental histories, as has been done in various ways by nearly every Northern state except Maine. Several regimental asse- ciations sought the same object. Our association sent in many
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KILLED BY THE COMMITTEE.
petitions for this purpose, with reasons stated for the recogni- tion of its publications, which in truth present as important his- turical facts with genealogical and biographical material as the publications of the Maine Historical Society and at one-third the expense. From twelve hundred to fifteen hundred men of our regiment went to the front without one dollar of bounty. A large portion of the First District Columbia Cavalry, which so grandly reinforced us in Sept. 1864, were promised fifty-five dollars state bounty but were never paid and their claim for the same remains on file in the Adjutant General's office of Maine. In addition, the carefully accumulated earnings of Capt. George J. Summat, who fell at Aldie June 17th, 1863, have been covered into the Treasury of Maine with no apparent recognition of the soldier or his regiment. At that same battle of Aldie, the spirit of the regiment was voiced and our right arms held aloft by the shout of Joe Coffin from the ranks, "Here's for the honor of old Maine!" Words of inspiration as well as words of prophecy. Now, as then, we find our best compensation in the consciousness of well doing. "The song that from the heart is poured, is in itself a rich reward." Comrades, as your arms held aloft the fame of the regiment and the honor of old Maine for four long years of war, so now raise them for your own good name and the preservation of your own good record. The State will simply look on.
Bring out the good old bugle, boys ! we'll sing another song, Sing it with a spirit that will start the world along.
President Lincoln's Last Speech.
BY CHAS, D. JONES, CO. H.
In the early part of the month of April, 1865, I found myself on a United States transport steamer bound from City Point to Washington, freighted with wounded Union soldiers from the engagements following the fall of Petersburg. I learned upon reaching Washington that President Lincoln had just returned from Richmond, where he had been visiting immediately after
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its fall. The city of Washington was under joyful excitement over the fall of Richmond and the surrender of Lee. As sam as I could be relieved of my duties (which were assisting the removal of the wounded from the steamer to the varios. hospitals) I went out on Pennsylvania avenue where I found bon-fires burning, fire-works flashing from all parts of the city. and bands playing jubilantly ; all of the public and many of. the private buildings were brilliantly illuminated, the capitol i .. particular looking like a great cloud of fire-illuminated as i: was from basement to dome. The streets were thronged will. civilians and soldiers; and it was no uncommon sight to see soldiers meet and embrace each other, throwing their hats high in the air, hugging, kissing, and cheering. In fact everybody seemed to be intoxicated with joy. I with the crowd moved towards the White House. The evening was dark and foggy --- it was raining some. A crowd was encircling the White House, numbering perhaps ten thousand, civilians and soldiers. Should and cheers went up for the President, and finally in response to the call of the multitude for a speech, the President stepped out upon the brilliantly illuminated balcony. I had seen the Pres- ident quite a number of times before, and during the war when he wore a care-worn, exhausted look, but upon this occasion he appeared very much changed; the wrinkles of care had dis- appeared from his face, and great joy was visible in every fedt ure, and as he commenced to speak the vast multitude became so silent that every utterance of the President could be dis- tinctly heard to the outer edges of the circle of listeners. Hi- first sentence I now distinctly remember. It was: " My coun- trymen, we meet to-night with great gladness of heart." H. continued to speak for perhaps half an hour. There was noth- ing in his remarks that bore any evidence of exultation over the fall of the foe, but they were directed more particularly to the coming question of reconstructing the States. I never have been able to find in any historical works that speech, and I would not dare attempt to repeat any of it from memory.
While I was standing in this brilliant light I looked back upon the outer circle of the crowd, where it was very dark, and the
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PRESIDENT LINCOLN''S LAST SPEECH.
thought came to me then: "Is there not some enemy of the President in this vast crowd who would gladly take his life?" And as I thought of it I grew quite nervous. What an oppor- tunity was offered of shooting the President from the ambush in the shrubbery of the grounds, for by the aid of the darkness the chances of escape would have been good-far better than on the night he received the fatal shot. I felt greatly relieved when the President retired into the White House. The crowd after he retired remained for some time, cheering, and bands playing, and loud calls were made for Gen. Butler, whom the crowd seemed to think was at the White House. I saw no evi- dence and could learn nothing to lead me to believe that Gen. Butler was present.
This was on Thursday evening, and upon the following day a salute by order of the President was fired at meridian from every piece of artillery in the forts encircling the city, many hundred guns being simultaneously discharged. On the fol- lowing evening I attended Ford's theatre where the play " Amer- ican Cousin " was performed. I was very much pleased with it and decided that I would go the following evening, but when the time arrived I found that I was unable to be relieved of my duties in season to attend that evening. I retired and some- where after midnight I was aroused from my sleep by hearing the outcry upon the street: " The President has been shot." It was usually a noisy street; in fact I had become so accus- tomed to it that it took a great deal to awake me, but that cry aroused me at once. I arose and seated myself upon the side of the bed and at once accepted this as true, and for some little time I fell into meditation as to the result to the country in the loss of the President. In going out upon the street I learned that the President was not yet dead. Cavalry were patroling all the principal streets of the city, great excitement prevailing. The assassins of the President and Seward were supposed to be concealed in the city, and learning that an attempt had been made upon the life of the vice president also, it appeared that there was a great conspiracy to destroy the President and his cabinet. ] remained up the rest of the night, receiving reports
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every half hour of the condition of the President, until about seven in the morning, when the last one announced his death. A great change had come over the city : exceeding joy turned into deep grief; all the public buildings that had been so brill- iantly illuminated a few nights before were draped in black ; all business was suspended. The President's body was taken to the rotunda of the capitol, where I went and viewed it as it lay in state. Thousands of civilians and soldiers for days passed in through the broad cast doors, past his casket, taking a short. sad look at the lamented chieftain, and passed out through the west doors. Never was a ruler so loved and lamented.
Knox County Branch Association OF THE FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
Some forty members of the First Maine Cavalry, the resi- dents of Knox County and members of the State Encampment, assembled in the vestry of the First Baptist Church, Rockland, Thursday evening, Feb. 9th, 1893, and after the banquet the following members, by appropriate remarks or stories and inci- dents of their cavalry service, received the applause of those . present.
Gideon Tower re-acted his charge at Beaver Dam Station. Major Brown "was there" as usual, and after his first speech narrated some of the sad and pathetic stories of our service. Samuel Burrows gave his repeated escapes from the camp af Augusta and showed he would have been a dangerous person to incarcerate in Andersonville. Comrade Samuel Shorey could not make a speech, but told of a laughable repeal of an order from Gen. Gregg by the sudden appearance of a dis- mounted Company B. man, Phenix, with a noisy bag of hens. Capt. Melville B. Cook read a very interesting account of some of the army exploits of Eugene F. Jones and Charles B. Phenix. who were mere boys, under seventeen years of age, and also read the official copy of an order from Gen. Meade compli-
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KNOX COUNTY BRANCH ASSOCIATION.
menting the bravery in action of Samuel J. Gurney, Samuel Shorey and Charles B. Phenix.
Frank Pacott spoke for the Istes of the Sea, being a native of Martinique, in the West Indies. Capt. John P. Carson, Capt. Jacob B. Loring, Lermond K. Fales, Thomas H. Benner, Oliver E. Copeland, William G. Besse, whose brother was shot by Benner's side Oct. 27th, 1864, Marcellus M. Parker, Charles D. Jones, and a large number of others came to the front and added to the interest and happiness of the occasion.
The banquet was a simple one but most happy in all its rela- tions of renewed friendship and social enjoyment. The meet- ing of comrades from the different parts of the State with those of this county was the occasion of bringing together some old friends who had not seen each other since war times, whose efforts to recall each other's countenances and names were both laughable and pathetic.
The following officers were elected : President, J. P. Cilley ; Vice Presidents, Melville B. Cook, Alfred C. Strout, J. Frank Burton, Burnham C. Sleeper, Frank Pacott, Gideon Tower, Franklin A. Oxton, Alvin A. Carter, Eugene F. Jones, Fred A. Ripley; Secretary, Chas. D. Jones; Treasurer, Marcellus M. Parker.
Comrade Nelson S. Fales of the Seventh Maine Volunteers was elected an honorary member of the Association for the sake of his three brothers who served in the First Maine Cavalry, two of whom lost their lives from wounds received in battle. Five Fales brother were in the army, three of whom died from wounds, and the remaining two were both wounded, Nelson S. being very severely disabled.
General .Cilley brought Comrade Tower to his feet and to the front by the following remarks :
In many cases the activity and courage of the men on the skirmish line and the advance, without the direction of officers or commanders, have determined lines of battles and brought on engagements that were never planned, but which formed them- selves without order from commanders.
The successful issue of the triumphant action at Sailors' Creek was largely accom- plished by a stray cavalry man riding from one side of our forces to the other through what was supposed to be the rebel position, and reporting to Gen. Sheridan that there was no enemy in front of that part of his line or between the opposite division of bis
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
cavalry. At Aldie, after the disastrous repulse of the First Massachusetts Cavalry with severe loss, when Kilpatrick rode to the First Maine Cavalry and shouted, "Men of Maine, you saved the day at Brandy Station ! Now save it at Aldie!" as the order to charge was given, "Joe" Coffin of Company G shouted from the ranks in more than inspiring strains, and with a voice that reached every man in the regiment, " Here's to the honor of Old Maine !" and his shout proved the words of prophecy as well as words of inspiration.
A minor instance of this power in the ranks occurred in 1864 which has a little shade of the ludicrous to relieve the historic strain : Its hero was our well known Corporal Tower of Company B. His previous service in Company G, Twenty-Sixth Maine Infantry, in Louisiana and before Port Hudson had prepared him for his work in Virginia.
In Sheridan's Raid towards Richmond in May 1864 it became necessary to clear the road from a strong opposing force of rebel cavalry, and Company B was ordered to charge and open the passage. Gideon rode a powerful horse that was a little awkward and headstrong, always disposed to do the unexpected thing. In the charge, instead of obeying the reins to go round, a clump of pine trees, he dashed for the middle of the trees and in his efforts to surmount one of them, found himself almost at the top, and when the tree bent down, his forefeet were a yard or so from the ground. Gideon felt the up and down motion as his horse was swiuing up and down with the swaying of the tree and thought his horse was still at the full gallop, and under the inspiration of the charge, when every corporal in the ranks feels as though he commanded the whole army, shouted with a sort of triumphant command, "Charge, charge !"
Then all at once he realized that he was renewing his infantile experience of riding a rocking-horse pivoted by a spring on its hind legs. He grabbed the horse's mane with his left hand, and leaning over his horse's head, changing the tone of his voice to one of disgust, but still as strenuous, he growled, "Climb! Climb!" And the horse's fore feet came down to the ground, while the recurring sway of the pine tree sent his rear quarters so high into the sky that the shoes of his hind feet went hissing through the air like a three-inch Whitworth shell.
The appalled rebels turned their horses and found safety in their speed. except two or three who stood dazed and paralyzed till a few minutes after their capture, when they had time to close their eyes and mouths and exclaim, " Are you uns mounted on horses that can climb trees?"
SERGEANT M. B. COOK'S RESPONSE.
There are some men whose memory is always associated with us when we look back upon the stirring times which we have met here to-night to celebrate. I have in mind the names of two such comrades. Both were young, one seventeen and the other a year older, although the muster rolls will proclaim each older than that. They were firm friends at the commencement of their service, which began at the organica- tion of our regiment, and they have continued that relationship until the present date. They were from the town of Union and both were as full of mischief as it is pos- sible for two persons to be. Their first captain, Gen. Cilley, will bear me out in that remark.
Not knowing the cause of their enlistment we will say it was pure patriotism, but still I think it might possibly be for a good time, for that was what they had clear up
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KNOX COUNTY BRANCH ASSOCIATION.
to the end of the war. Both re-enlisted in the field, came home on a furlough and returned together, and both served on many a bard-fought field. Neither ever flinched when danger came but bore his share with the bravest, and never in all the four years' service was there a faltering in duty or a shrinking from danger. Both also were fortunate enough to return to their homes and become good citizens of our State. I allude to Eugene F. Jones and Charles B. Phenix, soldiers known throughout the First Maine Cavalry.
Their first adventure in the cavalry was at Augusta, where they left the ranks of the company unobserved at morning water call, and through the day raced their horses upon the ice of the Kennebec, joining the company at night when the horses were again taken to drink, and would have escaped detection if one of the horses had not ilied shortly after reaching the stable. This caused an investigation, in which one said his horse had the spring halt and he had only " tried to get it out of him !"
Their next act together was after Sheridan's famous raid in rear of Lee's army, when he penetrated the outer lines of Richmond and retired for supplies to the banks of the James river. A squad was detailed from each company under a sergeant to forage for food, and feed for the horses, and no foraging party could rely upon certain success unless these two were of the number. Many times these expeditions were not all pleasure but required the nerve and bravery of brave men to get safely back to company or command. This was another reason why these boys were gladly enrolled in such a squad. They never were known to desert a comrade or run from danger when help was needed.
The party marched a long way from camp, surrounded a house occupied by Pennsyl- vania soldiers on the same mission, ordered them to report at once to their regiment, and then commenced the search for food. It was soon found that there was more than could be carried on horseback. The ever-ready Jones sighted two old army mules, while Phenix discovered an old carriage (he had a Columbus mind for discovery ) and in les ; time than it takes to write it a harness was improvised, the mules and carriage united, the top of the old vehicle thrown back, and the whole filled to the uttermost with butter, sugar, meal, flour, hams and corn. Just then the report of a carbine and a cheer from the Discoverer proclaimed another America in a flock of sheep and a Ing. Two sheep were killed and soon graced the volante, and the pig was caught and fastened to the same. Jones hitched a cord to the pig's hind leg, then mounted the near mule, his horse being fastened to the rear of the carriage with a sheep upon his back. Then Phenix assumed command and gave the order, " Forward, March."' When nearing camp the squad drew sabres and marched forward in their most mili- tary manner, not a smile on their bronzed faces, even when Phenix gave the muttered order to sound the rally, and Eugene pulled with vigor on the cord attached to the pig's leg, and the wild squeal of victory resounded !
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