USA > Maine > First Maine bugle, 1893 (history of 1st Maine Cavalry) > Part 16
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Yours truly, R. W. PORTER.
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BUGLE ECHONS.
BENTLEY CREEK, Pa., Jan. 30, 1893. J. P. CILLEY :
Dear Comrade. - Enclosed find one dollar in payment of the First Maine BUGLE. It is a good work and will do much to perpetuate the deeds of the old troopers of Gregg's Division. I have a history of your regiment, also of the First New Jersey, Second New York and my own, the Tenth New York Cavalry. I take great pleasure in comparing notes, where our regiments were engaged together. Since the days of '63 to '65 1 have had a profound respect for the First Maine Cavalry. Their courage and valor were never questioned; in saying that I do no injustice to any cavalry regiment, for they were each a band of heroes and their rank and file represented the high- est type of American manhood.
I am yours fraternally,
E. M. TUTON, Co. E, toth N. Y. Cav. AUBURN, KINGS CO., N. S., Jan. 6th, 1893. GENERAL J. P. CILLEY,
Dear Sir, --- I thank you for your kind- ness in sending me the First Maine BUCLE. I have been laid up with rheumatism and have not earned Sio in two years, bat in a few months will be all right again and then I will pay all arrears, so put my name down for a BUGLE every time it blows. I am just crazy to have a First Maine Cavalry Badge and will have one as soon as I can.
Until then I am yours,
ELISHA DEW. HARRIS.
Hist. p. 543.
SANTA CRUZ, CAL., Jan. 8th, 1893. GEN. J. P. CILLEY,
Dear Sir and Comrade, - I have just been reading the last BUGLE and think it is about time for me to fall in and pay my dues. Thinking it may be of inter- est to some of my old comrades, I send you with this a picture of myself, taken
at Alexandria, Va., in Sept. 1563, after being four months a prisoner, two months at Lynchburg and two months on Belle Isle. Enclosed please find order for fifteen dollars-four for picture, two fifty for badge of First Maine Cavalry, three dollars for dues, three fifty for BUGLE Campaign II., and for Campaign III., and the balance to be applied to sub- scription for BUGLE for Comrade Ed- mund T. Bangs, who, I see by the BUGLE, has been unfortunate. Please inform me as to date of the next reunion, as I intend to visit the East sometime this year and wish to time my visit so as to attend the reunion and fall in line once more with the " boys " and answer to the roll-call, " Here."
Yours fraternally, JAMES B. PEAKES, Co. A, Ist Me. Cav.
Hist. p. 475.
BRADFORD CENTER, Me., Jan, Joth, 1893.
J. P. CILLEY,
Dear Comrade,-I received three Calls of the First Maine BUGLE and hasten to thank you for forwarding, and my dear old comrade and tentmate, Perley Lowe, for my New Year's present. I have never met with the boys at a reunion, but intend to, if I live; will be very thankful if you can keep me posted in regard to reunions of regiment. After thanking you for your kindness, I am yours for truth, W. E. BAILEY.
Hist. p. 583.
ONTARIO, Story Co., Jowa., Jan. 9th, 1893.
GEN. J. P. CILLEY,
Dear Sir,-I thank you for sending me the BUGLE. 1 inclose one dollar to pay for one year's subscription. My wife and I are very much interested in its pages. We have lived here fifteen years, and in all that time have seen not one of the old First Maine boys. We are going to
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
send for the History as as soon as we can. I want to show some of my many friends out here that the grand old Foto- mac Army had its finger in the pie, too. Here they think the Cumberland Army fought the war all through to the end. I was a raw recruit in February, '64, 3. mere stripling of eighteen years, and though I know nothing of the hard fought battles previous to that time, I was with the regiment and shared its hardships and fortunes from the time of enlistment until the close at Appomattox.
Yours respectfully,
C. A. WENTWORTH, Co. M.
Hist. p. 656.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Jan. 14th, 1893. GEN. J. P. CILLEY,
General and Comrade, - We send you by this mail a copy of " Massachusetts in the War." Certainly the BUGLE Is a very interesting publication, and I have already read more in it than I often do, with my manifold duties, in any like publication.
Fraternally yours,
JAMES J .. BOWEN.
MASSACHUSETTS IN THJ. WAR-1861- 65. By James L. Bowen; 1050 pp .; 62 hne portraits, Cloth, $4; half leather with paper or cloth sides, or library calf, $4.75; full black leather, $5.50. Sent prepaid on receipt of price.
It staggers imagination to contemplate the amount of research involved in the preparation of this volume. The book itself is in evidence to show that Mr. Bowen has hesitated at no labor that was necessary to perfect his purpose. It proves also that the mass of material became bis servant and not his master. Its place is among the histories, and it is likely to crowd certain volumes that make greater pretensions. It is full of inter- est, modest and manly in tone, free from puffery and pregnant with incentive to better citizenship. For such a book there should always be a corchal welcome .-- Boston Times.
ARCADIA, N. Y., Jan. 16th, 1393. GEN. J. P. CILLEY,
Dear Sir, -- I received a copy of the First Maine BUGLE a short time ago, and what a flood of reminiscences it brings to my mind. My hrst knowledge of the First Maine was at Camp Bayart, Virginia, near Arquia Creek where I joined them from a sick bed, and then followed the stoneman Raid where we got better acquainted. Next at Brano; Station came full fellowship. Col. Kil- patrick, who commanded our brigade at Brandy Station, thought there was no regiment equal to the Second New York Cavalry (or Harris Light ) and be wanted them to take the advance as the Tenth and First Maine had not been in a charge of this kind. How well I remember that charge; the First Maine was on the right, the Second New York in the cen- ter and our regiment, the Tenth, on the left. When we got about four or five rods from the rebel line which was charg. ing up towards us, the Second New York broke all up and ran into our reginent, driving us into a post and rail fence, and then the First Maine, which I consider the best cavalry regiment in the Army of the Potomac, taking them as a whole. did some grand work. In my opinion they saved both our regiments, the Tenth New York and Second New York, for had they not checked the rebel charge when we were all in confusion they could have cut us all up. After we had got straitened, Kilpatrick's aide rode up to me and said he wished me to charge over by the station on the knoll. I gave the order " Platoons left about wheel," and about two-thirds of the regiment followed me in the charge. I charged through a regiment of rebs and through the hoi- low to the next knoll, where I captured two guns and thirteen rebs. The gurs had been lett by Col. Wyndham of the First New Jersey of the First Brigade. I could not get them off as I had no har-
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ness. The next day Kilpatrick called the Second New York Cavalry cowards, and when he got up his petition to send to Washington for a brigadiership not one in that regiment signed it, except Major Coons. The First Maine boys signed it, also the Tenth New York, and it was through them that he got his com- mission. There was one incident con- nected with the fight that I heard at the time and I guess it was a true one. It was said that one of the First Maine boys captured a confederate flag. Kilpatrick sent an orderly up to the regiment after it, and the First Mains boy told the orderly very politely that he had cap- tured the flag, but that there were more flags of the same kind out in front and that if Kilpatrick wanted one bad he had better go out and get one for himself. He cut the flag off the statt and wound it around his body under his shirt and Kilpatrick never got it. At Aldie our regiment did not partake, but we stood upon the rising ground and saw the First Maine charge and where you lost that noble man, Col. Douty. Our next meet- ing was at Middleburg where I made probably the grandest charge ever made. It was on the nineteenth of June; our wivision after Aldie went towards Ashby's Gap. Kilpatrick and Buford went towards Snicker's Gap. We met the rebs just beyond Middleburg ( Mosby's old home) on the nineteenth. The sit- uation was like this: The Tenth New York was divided; four companies were in a wheat held on the left of the road acting as skirmishers; the balance of the regiment was in the road on columns of tours; the First Maine was on the lett of the road. About ten o'clock Kil- patrick, who had got back in person, although hus division was not back yet, said to Gregg, " Why don't you send in the Tenth New York and charge that wood and drive them out?" I was in the road at the head of the column when
Gregg's aide came up to me and said, " Major, Gen. Gregg wants you to take a squadron and charge that wood; if you find when you get there that it is too hot, fall back, but charge as far as you can." I took the First Squadron, Cos. F and I, fifty men, and charged. Just as I entered the wood Lieut. Hawes was shot, and it drew hus horse across the column and cut off about three files. I said, " Hawes, my man, what is the matter?" He said, " I am shot, major," and he put up his hand to bis vest and I saw the blood push through his hngers. I then turned to Lieut. Boyd and said, " Let's go as far as the blacksmith shop at the top of the ridge." I ordered them forward, Boyd raised his hand and said " Come on, boys," when he was shot through the head, filling over againist ine, his head striking my leg. I then charged with the rest of the men to the saop where then battery had been, but they numbered it up and went back about bait a mie and fred agam at us. When I got to the knoll I could See the regunents fling vil to the right, several regiments, I should think about three to four thousand mien. I then turned and marched back. When I got out of the woods and stopped by the side of the road i found I had five men lett. Co. I had one man, Sergt. Perry, and Co. I. a corporal, two privates and a musician. It there is any instance in the history of nations where nity men charged a large number and actually arove them and where the ntty lost all but tive men, I have yet to read it, Whhe I was stopping by the fence Col. Smith, who was now in command of the Fust Maine since the death of Douty, rode up to the fence and asked me if I would be so kind as to relieve a captain of the First Mame who was on the left of the woods; his lieutenant had been saut and disabled. I told him i would, and left obhqued through the wheat field to where the captain was and placed my men on
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
the picket line. At the battle of Gettys- . burg in the afternoon and evening of the third, when we fought near Wolf's Hill, I do not remember seeing the First Maine. I think they must have been on some other part of the line. But after the battle, when we went through the long line of dead bodies that the rebs had neglected to bury, the Tenth headed the column and the First Maine was right behind us when we got beyond the town and captured that hospital with all the rebs and began to pick up the strag- glers. We knew then that we had been victorious. We had no fighting that day except a slight skirmish with the rear guard of the rebs just as we went over the mountains, but we encamped in an orchard on the outskirts of Chambers- burg and there was a captain in the First Maine with whom I had got quite well acquainted, but I forget his name at this time. He said, " Let's go down town," and I said " Come on," and when we got in the town we found the citizens had not heard of our victory and we were the first to inform them. They unlocked their pianos and gave us some fine music and singing. The captain of the First Maine had a fine bass volte and he sung Kingsley's " Three Fishers," and it was bordering on the hour when graveyards yawn when we got back to camp. Please forgive this long scrawl. I did not intend to make it so long when I began, but when one begins to tell over old camp histories there is no stopping until the paper gives out.
Yours respectfully, JOHN H. KEMPER, Late Major roth N. Y. Cav.
Hist. N. Y. Cav. p. 272, also'pp. 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, where Lieut. A. J. Edson, Corp. David L. Wallace, Lieut. John B. Bufium also describe the Middleburg affair. The Rag captured by the First Maine Cavalry at Brandy Station now hangs as a trophy in the State capitol at Augusta.
WASHINGTON BARRACKS, D. C., Jan. 19th, IS)3.
MY DEAR GENERAL,
Yours of the 11th inst. has been. received, also Call io of the BUGLE, on the general "get up" and typographical appearance of which I congratulate yo most heartily. You certainly have iny permission to make any use of " Kelly's Ford and the Volunteer Cavalry " you may deem proper. There are some things which I would add to it if I hal time to take up the subject again, but I have not. If you have time, read my article in the January number of the Journal of the Military Institution. * I recollect you very well indeed. Those were great days, days of great doings, and few of us thought what an important part we were playing in history. As time clears away the fog and mist the dignity of our performances, even pro- fessionally, is enhanced greatly. The wisdom of our strategy and tactics, not- withstanding the numerous mistakes, is appreciated more and more by foreign military writers. In the spirit of that Camaraderie engendered only in war, I am truly yours,
FRANK W. HESS,
Major 3d & 5th Pa. Vol. Cav. and 3d U. S. Art.
BATH, Jan. 20th, 1893.
J. P. CILLEY, EsQ.,
Dear Sir,-I received by morning mail a copy of the First Maine Cavalry BUGLE, for which accept my sincere thanks. Were I in a position to subscribe for it I should be happy to do so. My son is on the U. S. S. Woodbury. Had ny husband lived he would have been in the High School, he being qualified to enter at that time. He may desire to be en- rolled as one of the Sons of the First of Maine. Very respectfully.
MARY A. COFFIN, Widow of John Coffin, Co. G, Ist Me. Cav.
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MELVERN, Kansas, Jan. 20th, 1893. DEAR COMRADE,
Success to your efforts. Long live the BUGLE.
Yours,
CYRUS CASE.
Hist. p. 501.
So. LAGRANGE, Me., Jan. 20th, 1893. GEN. CHI LEY,
Dear Comrade - I can give you a sketch of my capture as I should tell it to you, for I am no great hand to tell a story or to write of myself. but I will do the best I can. I was taken at Dinwid- die Court House the last day of March, 1865. When I was captured I was in the water. We went across the creek mounted, then we dismounted, hitched together our horses and the No. Four men took them, and we formed a skirmish line, our company on the left -- there were only two companies, K and M- when the Johnnies charged us in line of battle. I was taken in the water and shall remember it until the last day for I have been a used up man ever since. I arose from the water and fired one shot, and a good one it was, too. It counted one for me. I then dropped my gun, belt and revolver into the water. The first greeting I had was, " Surrender, you blue bellied Yankee." I felt proud to think they did not call me anything worse. The next thing they did was to grab my hat, then start mne for the rear, if they had any. They took me back where one of our men lay wounded; they were stripping him -- his name was An- drew Fisher. I did not see him after- wards. A Johnny came along and asked me how I would swap boots. I told him they would not fit, but he made me sit down, hauled them off, and they were just a fit. He made a few jumps and away he went. The next start was Johnny with an old horse. There was not meat enough on his bones to rot his hide if he had been killed. He took me
and started for the rear and had a pick at me. I thought I could handle him alone but he put his old revolver up to my ear all cocked. I could feel the cool breath of it and gave up beat. Then he made me take hold of the saddle and trot alongside the old horse like a dog. The poor old horse did the best he could, but I did not have to double quick to keep up. He handed me over to the provost guard, or I suppose it was. They received me very kindly, in their way, by calling me everything they could think of. The captain-I never shall forget him, and if I were going to my mother's funeral and should meet him I would stop and kill him-was the nastiest man I saw while with them and had the worst tongue. He sat there with an old revol- ver and there was nothing but what he called me, and if I made a reply he would draw a bead on me and threaten to shoot, so I had to lie low and grit my teeth, but it was not my good will but my fear. The next thing I got was an order from the cavalry general for the guard to take me over where he and his staff were. They did so, but I did not feel proud to think the general wanted to see me. He asked me a lot of questions and all the answers I gave him were, " I don't know." Ile asked me what I did know and I replied I was not supposed to know any- thing. He said he didn't think I did know much, and told them to take me back, and I heard him tell his staff if there was anyone of us that had anything they wanted, to go and take it. We were pretty well picked then. We were some- thing like a barber's shop, first come first served. The next start was for Rich- mond, but when we got to South Side railroad we found they were having trouble there. Then they took us to a river and were going to ferry us across in an old leaky skow. The water was high and they had two large negroes to handle the craft. The Johnnies were in more
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of a hurry to get out of the way than we were so they took a load of them first, horses, officers and privates, and we sat on the bank and watched the progress. They started out but coull not manage their craft and down the river they went, and we never saw them again, and for my part I did not want to. Then they started us again with light marching orders both inside and out. We went to a stream, but the bridge was gone. They got what they called a boat. It looked more like a coffin, They could take in three at a time. They took them to where they could reach bottom, made them get out and warle ashore. They only got a few across before the cavalry drove them from that way of ferrying that day. We met them coming from Richmond and were making good time. The fifth night they stopped us for refresh- ments, it being the first time we had been allowed that privilege since we started with them. They gave us about a pint and a half of meal for two. We mixed it up and baked it on a board. Some- time in the night we took up the line of march again. The next stopping place . was at some court house; do not know the name. There they were badly con- fused, and were blowing up their caisons and ammunition. We made a short halt and started again. Some confederate officers, looking at us, said we did not look any better than their men nor any better dressed. I told him if the whole confederate army had been through him he would not look so well as we did. That night I think they stopped us for refreshments again. These consisted of one ear of hard corn on the cob, but it was quite a treat. I got two, for I drew one from a poor comrade who had laid his down for something, and not knowing he had gone without eating as long as I had, i took it, His appetite was poor; they had struck him over the head with a gun and he did not feel very well. Then
we took the railroad for Farmville; we crossed a long bridge; before we got there they were getting ready to barn it. W. landed in Farmville at sunrise, where we formed a line. Gen. Lee rode along a .. asked the guard if we had anything u. eat and they told him no. He told theo to get three days' rations of flour and bacon and give to us. They got the rations but we got none, as they kept them all for themselves. Before the rations were dealt out and while we were looking to see where our share was com- ing in and wondering how we were to carry it, for we had hardly a pocket left, the cavalry took them ou the other side of the town we could see them. They ran us out, and that night we stopped for a spell and almost froze. They would not let us have any fire and it was very cold. Then we started for Appomattox; marched about all night and in the moth- ing were in full sight of the Court House. We could see things were not all right, for their artillery seemed to all be down over the hill and they were badly con- fused. We saw the flag of truce when it went forward, but did not know what it meant. Soon we found out and cheered until we were so hoarse that we could hardly speak. They tried to keep us still but it was no use. That night they let us go. Sumner P. Packard, who had been with me since my capture, and 1 stopped with the Fifth Regulars that night. They did everything they could to make us happy; gave us plenty to eat, blankets, pipes, tobacco, knives, wood, tent and everything for our comfort. The next morning we started for our reg- iment. We made some inquiries but no on : knew until we saw Gen. Sheridan, I think it was. He told us where to go and we found the regiment just starting out to escort Gens. Lee and Grant to Burkesville Junction. The men gave us plenty to eat, and me a mule to ride and I started after them. From that time I
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was cared for until I was taken sick and sent to the hospital and from there home. Yours, etc., LLEWELLYN GREEN.
Hiet. p. 652.
WINDSOR, Missouri, Jan. 23d, 1893. MY DEAR GENERAL,
I received the history, also the BUGLES and reports in due time. Doubtless you think it strange at not receiving a reply. Well, in the first place, when they came I was away from home, and in the next place if you send a hungry old soldier such a feast you ought not to expect to hear from him until he has devoured it at least. I have been separated from all my old comrades since the war; now this book has caused me to live those three years over again, and what a pleas- ant time I have had. It has brought all the boys back to me; some I had nearly forgotten. Yet with this grand book I can find a few little faults. Now if there is anything an old soldier ought to be proud of it is his long term of service. In the roster of Co. I, my enlistment is correct; I was discharged by General Order No. 83, no dates given. Now the citizen reader won't know whether I served three years or three weeks. Capt. Corson's picture on page 215 does not look quite right put in sideways. He used to come up to the Johnnies " front- face," bat then you know his right eye is a little out of kilter and he always was proud. Now I am reading the BUGLES; they are grand, just the place to till in all the little items that were left out in the history. I have them from Call 2 to 10, and each number gets bigger and better. You are doing splendidly; I think you will not have to d -- n the boys again. If I were capable I would try and write up some of the little exciting scenes that I passed through in those three bloody years to help the BUGLE along. Long may she blow ! Now do not think I am
finding fault with the history, I only wonder how it was gotten up so well with. the old boys all scattered over the world, and I feel under great obligations to Tobie, yourself and all the comrades who worked so hard to get it up. Inclosed find six dollars, four dollars for BUGLES and reports received and two dollars for copies of the BUGLE for 1893, one copy to be sent to Edward T. Bangs, Strong, Me .; if he is supplied, send it to Richard Cram, Bradley; if they are supplied send it to some one else, the other to
Yours truly, CHARLES F. DAVIS,
Hist. p. 634.
NOTE .-- Comrade Bangs was supplied by James B. Peakes, and this contribu- tion goes to Comrade Cram. If Com- rade Davis had noticed the explanation given on page 250 of the history he would have seen that General Order No. 83 was dated May 8, 1805, and gives the reason why he was discharged.
BOISE CITY, Idaho, Jan. 23d, 1893. GEN. J. P. CIL.LEY :
Dear Comrade, --- Yours of Jan. 25th was received yesterday, forwarded from my home, St. Maries. Last May at our Department Encampment I was appointed on a committee on legislation. Our principal duty was the establishing of a soldiers' home in Idaho. I prepared and had introduced in the House a bill for that purpose; it passed thirty-one to one and is now before the Senate where I expect favorable action in the near future. If I succeed I shall feel that I have accomplished a good work. I am single handed in the fight. None of the com- mittee but myself put in an appearance. I intended to send you an article for the January BUCLE on my experience in the Intantry. I had it nearly written before I lett home and intended to bring it with me and finish it here, but I forgot it, 50 you will not get it until I return home,
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which will be about March first. It is nearly a thousand miles to my home by the route I have to travel so I can't return until I finish my work. I am going to the National Encampment this year if nothing gets in the way; my plans are all laid. I am afraid that I can't get so far east as Maine. It will be much of a disappointment to the First Maine Cay- alry boys west of the Rocky Mountains that the regiment did not have its reunion at the time of the National Encampment, but I presume we will meet many of you at the encampment and Columbian Expo- sition. Yours in F. C. & L.,
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