USA > Maine > First Maine bugle, 1893 (history of 1st Maine Cavalry) > Part 21
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15
FIRST CAVALRY BATTLE AT KELLY'S FORD, VA.
hibition of nervousness or unsteadiness shown by our people on the south side of the Rappahannock this day. This is a state- ment which it will be well to keep in mind, as we shall presently see it does not agree with the recollections of one of the histo- rians of this event.
. A little after this a charge was made by about a regiment of the Confederates, perhaps not so great a number, on Mcln- tosh's right, with a view, apparently, of obtaining possession of Wheatley's house and outbuildings. Gregg (Col. Irvin ), who com- manded the Sixteenth Pennsylvania, dismounted a squadron or two, and hurrying them forward toward the buildings, a brisk fight for the possession of them ensued, resulting in the enemy retiring with several empty saddles. A few moments later came another charge. According to Maj. McClellan, Gen. Stuart's historian. this was the Third Virginia Cavalry, joined by the Fifth This charge was not delivered on anything. It was a "charge in air." They rode down along a fence, on the other side of which was the First Rhode Island and Sixth Ohio in column of fours. This fence was perpendicular really to both lines of battle. They cried out lustily, however, and fired their pistols at our people, but when they discovered they were heading into the regimen: that was deployed across their front and using its carbines, they turned off toward the left and retired in the direction from which they had come. These two regiments were badly shaken up, and would have been charged as they retired, but Gen. Averell had no troops in position from which an effective charge could have been made; besides, Lee's strength had not yet been de- veloped, and there was plenty of time left in which to do the charging.
Immediately after the Virginians had passed Duffie's flank (who was at the time in column of fours moving to the front under orders to gain ground in that direction, thus advancing the left of Averell's general line) he passed through a gap in the stone fence. and formed his leading regiment (his own, Ist R. I.) in line. This was without orders. It is presumed that the temptation to pitch into men who so boldly threw them- selves at him was too much for the volatile Frenchman, and he
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
was resolved at all hazzards to try his hand at the charging too, He had not long to wait, for as Averell advanced McIntosh on his right up to and past Wheatley's house, clearing the ground from the charge of the Confederate left, just described, Lee himself, with, according to McClellan, his First, Second and Fourth regiments, moved out against Averell's left. They came on in fine style, and were met at a short distance from our line by Duffie. Here came the first real saber contest of the war in the East. The First Rhode Island was well instructed and was kept well in hand, and charged compactly, according to the dril !- book. The shock would have pleased the most critical of old- school cavalrymen, so far as the behavior under it of the Rhode Islanders was concerned.
The Virginians, too, stood up well to their work, but used their pistols rather freely. Soon after this meeting was heard the shout remembered and spoken of by so many, from the Confederates, "draw your pistols, you Yanks, and fight like gentlemen." But as our men had established to their own sat- isfaction the fact that they were gentlemen, and were now anxious to fix their status as cavalrymen, they replied only with cut. point, parry and thrust. When the banter was heard, they were encouraged, for they knew that the saber was doing it> work. As the enemy's line broke up and retired they were pursued a little too far by some of our men, and, as a squadron or two of fresh Confederates were thrown into the melee. two officers and eighteen men of Duffie's regiment were captured. This reinforcement to their charge was met by a charge of two or three squadrons from McIntosh, but it failed to recapture the men who had been made prisoners. The enemy had now been driven at every point, and Lee withdrew from the field, taking up a position about one mile further to the rear.
( To be continued)
17
MY MULE.
My Mule.
BY CHAPLAIN SAMUEL A. FULLER.
In 1863 the regiment started from Camp Bayard on the Stoneman raid, Monday, April 13th. After the first day's march it bivouacked at Deep Run. This was my first ex- perience so it may be inferred that some blunder might occur in arranging for a three weeks march on horseback. Chaplains were only entitled to one-half of a mule, to be shared with the assistant surgeon, but our kind hearted Quartermaster Ulmer decided he would give me a whole one. Teams are not ex- pected to accompany raids, but ours did as far as Bealton. For the first time mules' backs were to replace army wagons, so I packed my mule which was a very old one, so heavily with books, necessary clothing and camp utensils, that he broke down before he had made a half day's march and Spear had a lovely time getting him to the first bivouac, which I learned some two hours after we had supped, by seeing him hobble in- to camp led and pulled by Ed Spear, my orderly and some of the boys. Before retiring to sleep we found it necessary to move the mule about ten feet, which had to be done by lifting him bodily to his place for the night, for he was unable to move a limb. On that mule I had some fifty dollars worth of truck that could with difficulty be replaced, which I felt could not then be spared, so I resolved if he could not move in the morn- ing with the regiment, I would stay with him alone until the teams came up as they were only some three or four hours in the rear. This Col. Douty postively forbade. He said I would stand no chance from the quartermaster. Spear also urgently assured me it was dangerous business and we all knew that offi- cers and men had been captured a few rods from the column. Still I disobeyed Col. Douty and informed Spear that he could keep on with the regiment, to which he replied more forcibly than ceremoniously, "that he'd be darned if he would." Never
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FIRST MAINE RUGLE.
shall I forget the moment as I sat on my horse in the rear of the column as it disappeared down the hill that morning in April at Deep Run. I never felt so lonesome in my life as when the last fours passed from my view. I felt as one would be supposed to if he were the last man left on the earth, my be- loved regiment had left me, what next? The boys I loved 30 dearly had gone, would the guerillas come? My plan was if they did to run for it ---- I had a good horse -- towards the regi- ment if they came from the opposite direction and vice versa for the teams. I had no arms, I could not fight. I must run. It is needless to say I was all eyes and ears. Richmond ap- peared my destination but I could not resist my determination to stay where I was in the road until the teams came. I was determined to stand by that mule and pack, live or die. I knew it was not sensible, but could not resist. The regiment could not have been gone more than fifteen minutes, it seemed longer, when I distinctly heard the familiar clank of sabres and was ready for a start. I had no idea of Federals it must be Rebs. When suddenly from the direction of the night's bivouac seven horsemen came galloping towards me whom I instantly recognized as our boys. Good old Ned Spear whom I always liked and now loved, with six good stalwart soldiers, rode up to me and announced themselves as my guard. I wish I knew the other six of those men who had volunteered to stand by their disobedient chaplain. Those good fellows had fallen out from their companies, ready and determined to sell out dearly before their chaplain should take any journey than that pursued by the old regiment.
19
RECOLLECTIONS OF APPOMATTOX. .
Recollections of Appomattox.
BY J. L. PRAY, SIGNAL CORPS ARMY OF POTOMAC.
Long marches at the rate of thirty-five miles per day had now brought us into Appomattox county. While the country here was some improvement on much of the country over which we had passed, it was far from being a first class farming region. We would occasionally pass what scemed a fair farm, reason- ably well opened up, but the distance between them took much more space than the farms did.
At this stage of the campaign our cavalry was playing great havoc among the enemy's wagon trains, as well as capturing many prisoners and their regimental flags. Our roadway was strewn with abandoned wagons and military stores.
The Yankee cavalryman was everywhere, especially in the advance. The horsemen seemed to snuff the victory not very far off. There we saw Custer in the height of his glory, with his tall form, long hair, jaunty cavalry suit, and the characteris- tic red necktie, who had already the well earned reputation of being the most dashing cavalry general in the service. With him we saw his captured flags. They were in the hands of his escort, and consisted of regimental flags and colors, battery and cavalry guidons, and brigade headquarter flags. You would have taken his cavalcade to be a company of Rushs' lancers.
I think we spent the night of April eighth, or part of it, about six or seven miles from Appomattox court house. We were called out before daylight on the morning of the ninth, and were soon under headway. Soon after daylight, or say about six o'clock in the morning, our party struck Appomattox station. I think the infantry of our corps was deployed gener- ally to the right of this point, facing the enemy. At the rail- road station we found several cars that were said to contain sup- plies for the confederate army. This point had been reached some time during the night by the Twenty-fourth corps, and a
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
detachment from that corps was in charge of the captured stores. Here I met Lieut. Lew Hebenthall, of Co. K, Sixty- seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in charge of the guards. After a brief conversation with the lieutenant on the outlook, we rode toward the court house, some two and a half or three miles distant. The open fields near by gave evidence of great haste on the part of the enemy's ordnance train. Artillery am- munition was scattered about, and there were other evidences of meeting the enemy. As we neared the vicinity of the vil- lage, the country became more open, and we soon came up to the cavalry line. Presently my comrade, Sergeant Marcy, ob- served a horseman coming with a white flag, and some one near by sang out: "They have surrendered." We urged our horses to a gallop. The man with the flag we soon met, and he passed rapidly on to our rear. He was a well dressed confed- erate officer, with a white flag mounted on a short staff. I think the flag was probably a large white handkerchief. As he rode by on the gallop, he held the flag low, or about even with his body. I think he was in search of our corps or general officers. We hastened to the outside line of our cavalry, which we found about on a line with the south side of the village of Appomattox Court House. Our party struck the village at the junction of a road striking the Lynchburg road, at a blacksmith shop. At the moment we arrived, although it was said that there had been orders given along both lines to cease firing, there was still skirmishing-now and then a shot. I recollect of a poor cavalryman being wounded near us a few minutes after our striking that part of the line, and he was very angry at the rebels for wounding him after the order to cease firing. We, as signal corps men, were very anxious to open communication at once, and as I was approaching the mansard roof, of what I have since learned was the Scars house, with a view of establishing a station thereon, I was approached by an officer who probably belonged to the cavalry, who thought it not allowable to estab- lish a station there, as it would be between the lines.
We thought we could easily locate the headquarters of the Sixth and Second Corps on the right of the column, but were
--
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RECOLLECTIONS OF APPOMATTOX.
obliged to swing our flag from the ground, and elicited no response. The white and red flag now in the possession of the memorial association at Toledo is the one we used there. The army of Northern Virginia was now in full view, and their skir- mish line was in musket range. The left wing of the army of the Potomac was squarely across their pathway. We had out- marched the Johnnies.
The cavalry picket was soon relieved by the infantry, and the village was left between the lines the remainder of that day. Very shortly our corps commander and staff were upon the line, but our main line of infantry was held some little distance back, and although we were very, very weary from our long days of marching and exceedingly short nights of bivouac, every one was astir.
The great day of jubilee had come, and we knew that day that the ninth of April would be known as surrender day during the remaining lifetime of the nation. The afternoon was gen- erally spent by the troops in making themselves as comfortable as possible, for both men and beast had been repeatedly urged and urged, until rest was absolutely necessary. The privileges of signal men enabled us to go beyond the lines, and some of our party familiarized themselves with the village and the ene- my's camp. Some of the boys had had the good fortune to see the famous confederate commander on horseback at the time of the meeting with Gen. Grant at the McLean house. Not being able to see the meeting there, I took a ride to their camp by passing through the village and out on the Lynchburg road toward Farmville, along which the army of northern Virginia was then encamped.
The village of Appomattox is built on the slope of a hill, along which diagonally runs the Lynchburg pike. Passing the court house and village brings us to low ground or a narrow vale. At that point was a turn in the road ; in the curve on the left were a few scattering apple trees, and a little further along a log cabin. As I was riding around this curve at the foot of the slope, I found three or four Johnnies chopping at the remain- ing trunk of an apple tree that was lately cut down. I asked
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
them what their object was, and their story was that Lee and Grant had met under that tree, and they were after pieces for mementoes. I think the great apple tree story was from rebel sources. As I passed on up the slope along the pike, I passed the enemy's camp lying on both sides. I soon came in sight of general headquarters, which I desired to investigate. Passing by in front and around to the rear a short distance, I met a young rebel that was evidently connected with headquarters. With him I had quite a visit. He told me that the two men we could see sitting in the open marquee tent one was General R. L. Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, and that the other officer was his (the boy's) father, General Walker, chief of artillery. Having seen Lee's portrait so many times, I was enabled to at once recognize him.
I found the young man, like most of the southern young men, still filled with a rebel spirit, and did not think the con- federacy at all "done up" because they were captured. We would find that the whole South was against us yet, and this war would never end until the South was independent. My visit was more for curiosity and information than for discussing the political differences, and after I had learned all I could from the young man, I remounted and started on my return, and rode back by the same road. Again feeling anxious to know just how glad the average Virginia soldier was to see the beautiful dawn of a long looked for peace, I turned my horse to the roadside, near a group of confederate soldiers of a Virginia regiment, and remarked, "Well, boys, I hope you are pleased that this war is about over," hoping to word it so that it would not stir them up too much. There seemed to be but very little disposition at first to talk to me. Presently a lieutenant that had been at another part of the company approached as if I had some official message to communicate. When he found I was only visiting he assured me that that was no choice of theirs, and although they were at that time overpowered, they were not whipped, and never would be. They could never, never be at peace with us northern fellows. He did not like me now any better than he did before this happened, and
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RECOLLECTIONS OF APPOMATTOX.
he would just as soon shoot me then as at any former time. "Oh, well," I told him, "I hope you will think better of us later on," and turned my horse to the middle of the road, and walked a few steps, when it occurred to me, owing to my absence from camp some little time, that I had better hurry up. Yes, I gal- loped back on the Lynchburg road, feeling satisfied with the investigation.
On the following day we learned that the work of making out paroles was going on at the court house, and in company with my old friend, James Cumming, of the Sixty-seventh Ohio In- fantry, now of Bowling Green, Ohio, I went down there and visited that famous temple of justice. It was quite an old fashioned structure, and must by this time appear as much a relic of antiquity as the venerable court house now used by Lucas county. I think that the comrades of the Sixty-seventh Ohio would bear me out in the statement that Appomattox Court House was not celebrated for its architectural beauty.
It was about the twelfth of April when the formal surrender of arms took place on the high ground in the rear, of the village. And now I want to say right here, that if there ever was a red letter day in the calendar of events of my lifetime, that it was the occasion of that formal surrender. The ground was elc- vated and regular where the arms were to be stacked. This distinction was given to the First division, Fifth army corps, and was received especially by Bartlett's old brigade. That brigade was called out in its best tog to receive the surrender of arms of the confederate army, and formed in line, double ranks, came to front face and stood at attention. The rebel infantry, about 10,000, or what was left, marched up by brigades, halted, stacked their arms on the ground, reformed and marched back to their camp. Some left occasionally a drum, now and then a battered brass horn, and I saw a few flag staffs, but no flags ; did not see any rebel flags passed over there. The turning over of the cannon and cavalry equipments, I think was less formal. In fact, that was "scattering" in its way, anyway. But as I stood there in the crowd of soldiers from the other two di- visions of the Fifth and the Twenty-fourth Corps, and saw those
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
fellows come up and leave their arms, and go off in order, I felt that was the real external surrender. I could not see what could be more humiliating, and this certainly was the least that could be expected of them.
In my communication to the Cannoneer last summer, I urged him to put in his book a full page picture of the surrender of arms. I think if any bit of history so interesting to the Ameri- can people has been neglected, it has been that part of the history at Appomattox. I remember the impression that was made upon me by a picture in the old history of the United States, where the surrender of Cornwallis was illustrated by a full page picture. I think there is lots of history in a true pic- ture that will impress especially the young.
Detailed from Dismounted Camp.
BY LIEUTENANT SAMUEL C. SMITH.
In July, 1864, when Gen. Early made his demonstration towards Washington, it was my ill luck to be on duty at Dis- mounted Camp near City Point. Together with the Sixth Corps, all the dismounted men and officeis in charge were or- dered to the front. Embarking at Light House Point in the evening of July 6th, we arrived at Baltimore on the morning of the 8th, and on the same day were transported to Washington. Probably the authorities at Washington were never more thor- oughly alarmed for the safety of the Capitol, unless they were immediately after the first battle of Bull Run. There were no officers or soldiers loafing on the streets, all were ordered to the rescue. It was a close call. If Gen. Lew Wallace had not met Early at Monocacy and delayed him a day or two, he could have entered Washington with his forces, for we had scarcely soldiers enough there to man the guns in the forts. We were first ordered to Camp Stoneman, from where a part of our forces were sent out dismounted and a part mounted. Officers
1
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DETAILED FROM DISMOUNTED CAMP.
were assigned to commands rather promiscuously. In the hurried distribution I was given the command of a company of seventy-five mounted men, froin three regiments. There were several such companies all under the command of Major Darl- ing. We marched out Seventh street to Fort Stevens or Slo- cum, I am not sure which, arriving there about the same time that the Sixth Corps did. The enemy was in force and in plain sight and the guns in the fort were playing on them trying to drive them back. The Sixth Corps advanced outside the fort and after severe skirmishing succeeded in driving them back, while "we held the fort." While we were thus employed there came out from Washington the most unique body of soldiers, if soldiers they could be called, ever scen during the war. . It was composed of clerks and laborers from the quarter master's de- partment, armed, but in citizen dress of every conceivable style. Their appearance is better imagined than described. After re- maining here till all immediate danger was apparently passed we marched to Bladensburg, that historic battlefield where affairs of honor have so often been settled. After remaining here one day the enemy retreated up the Potomac, we followed them at a safe distance to Poolsville where we rested a day to hang a de- serter and to allow the enemy to cross the Potomac unmolested. The next day we crossed the river, and after marching through Leesburg and several miles beyond I was ordered back to Lees- burg to hold the town till the Nineteenth Corps came up. Pickets were placed in all roads leading out of town with orders to allow no one to leave or enter town without my permission. The citizens chafed somewhat under the blockade but as I might never again be governor of a town I proposed to enjoy the honor and power. As usual Mosby was supposed to be near by but we were not molested. After remaining here two nights and one day, the Nineteenth Corps having arrived, we rejoined our command and followed in the wake of the enemy to Snick- erville, where we met our advance forces retreating towards Washington which was again supposed to be in danger, from where or by whom I never knew, but we returned there all the same, and after a few days in camp marched up the Potomac
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
again and after various wanderings found ourselves at Halltown on picket. Just at this time, Sheridan's forces having arrived. they pushed on up the valley and left us to our fate. Why we were not relieved I never knew, but after holding our position several days and living on the country, our supplies having been exhausted, I sent a messenger with a note to the commandant at Harper's Ferry asking for orders, and in reply was ordered to Boliver and to report in person at headquarters of Gen. Max Weber. This I did without delay, and soon after at my request was ordered to relinquish my command and report to my regi- ment in front of Petersburg, where I arrived just in time for the battle of Reams Station. While picketing near Boliver, when our forage and rations were nearly exhausted the boys re- ported having discovered a good bin of corn and a flock of sheep and asked for instructions. I told them that our horses must have corn but that I could give them no instructions about sheep. They went after corn and perhaps the sheep suffered. The owner invited me to dinner which invitation I accepted. I gave him a receipt for the corn for which I hope he received payment.
My Experience as Prisoner of War.
BY MARCELLUS M. PARKER, CO. B.
A few days prior to the battle of Chancellorsville, General Stoneman was ordered to get in the rear of the rebel forces. destroy their railroads, and cut their communications with Rich- mond. Our force consisted of nearly the whole Cavalry Corps. Army of the Potomac. We crossed the Rapidan river at Raccoon ford, April 30, 1863, and arrived at Louisa Court House, on the morning of May 2d. The few rebel cavalry there dusted up the road towards Gordonsville. We were very tired, and our horses much jaded by their long march. We had been on the move since April 2Sth.
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MY EXPERIENCE AS PRISONER OF WAR.
We were soon called to attention by Capt. Tucker, who told us his orders were to march up the Gordonsville road and find what cavalry was there, to drive them to Gordonsville if possi- ble, and if we had to retreat, to fall back to Ashland, or towns south of the railroad. Gen. Stoneman would be there next day. We mustered forty-eight men in all, thirty men of our company, B. and eighteen of Company I, under Lieut. Andrews. Com- pany B and Company I all had black horses. No one was to yo unless he felt able, and whose horse was in good condition. As we passed the last vidette he said to us: " There are lots of Johnnies up the road."
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