USA > Maine > First Maine bugle, 1893 (history of 1st Maine Cavalry) > Part 36
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Yours truly, FRANK W. HESS, Major 3rd Pa. Cav.
15 Park St., BELFAST, Me., June 25, 1893. GEN. J. P. CILLEY,
Dear Sir :- We have received the copy of the History all right and we thank you a thousand times for your kindness in making it up to three dollars. George is delighted with it, he has laughed more since he has been reading it, thon he has for the last six months, for it brings everything back so plainly to his mind.
I tell him I think it will Leep han frum having the blues so much www. The it is very interesting myself. Godt about the same as when I write b fre He has not had the chili's so often, hogy We also received the other day a n.det. zine from you; we thank you very mot b for it, it is very interesting an ! you were. very kind to soud it. A short ti.om . .. George and I were speaking of yor iro wishing we had one of your pi teor . Well, wefound it in the Histor -; Gorge was so pleased. I wish Georg . comet have had the money to sparty hood als picture in the History, but hey Main t. George sends kind regards to yoo, she. same from myself.
MRS. GEORGE W. HADON.
26 HI St., N. F. WASHINGTON, D.C., June 25th, 1503. GEN. J. P. CILLEY,
My DearSw :- I have just completed the last of the manuscript for the book. entitled, "Gettysburg," which gives A nie history of both armies front June 200. 1853 to the 4th, of July 1863 Throug! the politeness of Gen. F. W. Whittaker, a personal friend of my own, I wis shown your Brott Call. My aftention was calledl by the General to a letter of Maj. John H. Kemper of the ! ! , N. Y. Cav. Vols. relating to the "Het Bey' at Upperville June 21, 1863. I mugs! admit I was never more surprised it :.. life than I was to peruse the statement Major Kemper makes as to the cavalry charge of the detachment of the 10 . N. Y. at Upperville. In justice to the cavalry and of the service. I shall over be willing to do cre.hit to the knials of the saddle: but I shall picture d'or falts as taken from official records, which are authentic, and then let the "Stretchur " of truth peruse the facts-ani sar mm more. On the 21st, of June, Ger. Vlre : Pleasanton . 4th 1400o cavalry with thise batteries of light artillery met Job stuart
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BUGLE I.CHOES.
at Upperville, where a general engage- ment took place and where four brigades of Cav. were closely engaged, the 3rd, brigade 2nd, division participated, also part of the ist, brigade 2nd, Div. The 3rd brigade consisted of the ist Me. Cav. Vols., roth N. Y., 4th Pa. and 16th Pa. Vols. The Ist, brigade of 3r.l Div. consisting of the fifth N. Y., eighteenth Pa. Ist, Vermont and ist. West Virginia Cav. also took a most prominent part in this battle and with all the severe fighting that was done for two hours there was not an officer killed on the Union side. There were twelve enlisted men killed, thirteen officers woundel, one hundred and seventeen enlisted men wounded, one officer missing and sixty men missing ---- total two hundred and nine-all includ- ing the twelve killed. I am a New Yorker and was in the Ira Harris Guards, but I say without fear or favor, likes or prejudices, that the Ist, Mine Cavalry was the best regiment of "mounted devils on horse back" that served in the war of the Rebellion, and next this noble command let me meritize a list of war- riors worthy of my pen. Ist, West Va. Cav., 5th, N. Y. Cav. (Ira Hartis) Ist, Vermont, 2nd, N. Y. Harris Light, Ist, 5th, 6th, and 7th, Mich. Cav. 6th, N. Y. 4th, Pa. and Ist, Ind. The 18th, Pa. Cav. of our brigade ( Ist, brigade 2nd, Div.) was never known to charge up a precipice or ride their horses up the sides of trees; but they were one of the four links of our brigade cham
JULIUS D. RHODES. Late Capt. Co. D. 4th, U. S. Cav.
Capt. Rhodes is the sole Pension attor - ney in Washington who has been awarded a Medal of Honor by act of Congress. -Ed
WEST PARIS, Me .. June 29th, 1893. GEN. J. P. CILLEY,
Dear Sir :- The April BUGLE was gladly received. I love to read it; every
word utfred in itinage by or about the boys is interesting to me. I have been able to meet them hat a few times sol shall probably never the hem again On- til the roll is called by the Great I Ama. I have been unable to do any work or follow my trade since 1994. Since that time I have not earned enough ts sop - port my family. Was striken with partial paralysis on the 24th, of Leb, and i n now only a question of weeks with nes.
Respectfully, G. W. BRYANT.
Hist. p. 632.
RONO, Perry Co., Ind., July 5, 1893. GEN. J. P. CILLEY,
Dear Sir and Comrale :- I have re- ceived three numbers of the Boulf all answer to the Roll Call. I am not in good health and n tfinancially in con :- tion to make a remittance for your valu- able paper sent to me, so kindly asde: thanks for favors past. I hope the BUGLE may long survive. I was shop a: Gettysburg, July gul, 1863, and my horse was shot at the same time in thre- M.for- ent places. I have had five different horses shot while I was on them. I was shot through the right leg and water crutches five months, causing varias. veins to appear on the left kg. I tien Jaid crutches aside and went back to the front again but now must wear an eliste stocking to keep the veins from burstus. My horse was shot at Hanover, Pa., 00 June 30, 1863. I got another and he was shot three times in the third of Jel; in the charge on the stone fence where Farnsworth was Fiel. I also tal horses shot in the Viler at Wytheville. and at Lynchburg; I was with Mien. Cook in Fisher's INI fight where we jasei the breastworks and took three guns and everything they bal. We also charged the breastworks at Winchester on Sont 19th, 1864, with Com. Averell I have been in tights in all the Gaps in Blue
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
Ridge, Paris, Snickers, Ashby's, Brown's, Thoroughfare Gap, Aldie, Middleburg, Upperville, Manassas, Blue Run, Brents- ville, Salein, Rapidan, Kelly's Ford, Falmouth, Front Royal, Rood's Hill, Newmarket, Mt. Jackson, Culpepper, Slaughter Mountain, Gordonsvill., Duni- fries, Chambersburg, P.i., Luray, Harrison- burg, Liberty, Port Republic, etc. I was in three fights at Winchester and was driven over the Potomac at Williamsport by Fitz Hugh Lee and flanked while on picket at Falling Waters and ran for it. I swam the Potomac with twenty men and got over safely. Always in the front, you bet! I have been in seventy-five battles and skirmishes. I was with a dozen generals. Was with Shields and promoted in the first fight at Winchester, March 23, 1862. With Stahl, Windham, Custer, Pleasanton, Powell, Torhet, Aver- ell, Buford, Bayard, Kilpatrick, Farns- worth, Sheri lan, Heintz. Iman and others.
Your friend and comra le, ARTHUR S. PALMER, Late Lieut. Ist Va. Vol. Cav. 61-65.
WASHINGTON, D. C., July 6th, 1893. GEN. J. P. LILLEY,
Dear Sir and Comrade :- Tour of the First Mame BUGLES trumpeted into my hands last evening and you can rest as- sured they were cordially appreciated. I have suspended all business in my office to peruse the writings of those dear knights of the saidle. If there is any one thing I like and one a little better than another, it is to hear from those modern Murats of the War of the Re- bellion who knew what it was to devour "sow be ly," mule meat with the hair on, gutta percha pork and hard tack that would test their dental formations; such comrades holl a dear nook in my Ameri- can chest that nothing but time can ever obliterate from that sacred chamber of "bosom and memory" and as I yearly advance on the roadway of life the fond
memories of that excitable past refer back dark sha low, as well as Eller tinted sunbeams of unspeakable jos. I have just returned from the historie feld of Gettysburg, where it was my pleasure to extend the warm hand of comrade-ir to those old veterans who under the cloud of battle shared with me tre fy= of victory and felt also sympathetic con- dolence over reverses. The meeting . .. unspeakably grand, and the day wassore to ever. be remembered by the " dough boys," and "chicken thieves" as we can- alrymen were termed, but ch! hos cruelly false was the title. Who ever knew of a cavalryman stealing? 1pt , answers from the shaly vales of the sunny South -- no one ! No infantrynon was ever near enough to our cavaly to know what we did for had there been, enconiums of praise would have bien louder than thunder in our honor. They only saw us when we were returning fors our victories, which vas nfiles in their- fantry's advance, and when they wou !! see a whole ham dangling by the site of the saddle, or a secession rooster tic ' un the pummel of our raw hi le chair, they innocently supposed the fight was ov 0 2 smoke house or hen roost. The por infantry, plo lding along like Jew po- dlers, with their packs, (knapsa :) weighted down with sixty rounds of moulded death, an off gun and haver. sack that was as empty as a Free Will Baptist contribution box. Who coat blame them for feeling antagonistic to tile "mounted death" on horseback? lis one, sympathize with the poor dear boys and say from the depths of my heart --- God bless them. They dil well. whit we need no one to say what the ca-ahy performed, because the record's of t's war depict our glory with captured arte- lery and battle flags. Three cheers : : the infantry, and two tigers for the cov. alry. JULIUS D. RHODES, Co. F 5th, N. Y. Cav.
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BUGLE ECHOES.
The following letter from Gen. Smith in explanation of his article in April Call and concerning Lieut. Libby's " Cavalry Reminiscences" in same Call will be found interesting.
1728 Q St., N. W. WASHINGTON, D. C., June 11th, 1893.
DEAR GENFRAL,
The April BUGLE is just received. I did not intend to imply that there were mounted men in front of the dismounted men at Ap. omattox. The dismounted men protected their own front; the men with horses protected their own front and ower flank. If the New York Kides were not where I have always thought and said they were, I hope someone will discover where they were and make their position plain. It would not dis- turb me much to discover that I am mis- taken.
Yours truly,
C. II. SMITH.
1728 Q St., N. W. WASHINGTON, D. C., June 11th, 1893. MY DEAR LIBBY,
I have just read with pleasure your "Cavalry Reminiscences " in the April BUGLE. If you had referred to my ac- count of our famous night's ride in the History, beginning at page one hundred ninety-three, I think you would have avoided a few errors. We started from Sulphur Springs ; Amisville is nearly six miles westward, some three miles beyond Jefferson. Thornton's Cap cuts the Inountain at Sperryville, some four miles beyond Little Washington; the regiment went to the latter place, a detachment went on to Spertyville. When cut off by Hill's corps near Amisville on our return we acted with deliberation. I de- ployed two companies before I ordered the retreat. During the retreat to Gaine's cross roads Boothby was at the head of the colomo and in command there. I do not think he took any gait faster than a walk for any considerable
distance. He certainly del not pilop the colon four or five a . I . - drew the two deployed companies and followed at a walk and captured wo prisoners who followed us in our retreat. At Gaine's cross roads I again waited for the column to pass an Lunii the folkets were called in. Boothle comprunt at the head of the column with the Mlile colored guide. I was unable to pass the column in the woods un ilor hod pael beyond the knowledge of the game when it had to halt. After that I rode a' the herd of the columin. A small advance guard preceded the column. You wille, the colonel kept this guide with him and directed the movements of the colenin from the rear, the meaning is not chat. When we encountered the Twelfth Vir- ginia while I was instructing a volunteer how to ride into camp and ascertain which command it was, Thayer with his usual directne's rode into camp hims. T. I had no intention of charging through. My policy was to avoid the enemy and get out, not to engage him. There was no retreat at that time. There wasno " Fours right about," except for tie al- vance guard, which returned to the main column. The Lead of the column simply turned to the left through a gap vitre fence. At Centreville I learned this our division was at Fairfax Station an i started! to go there when I met Gen. Warren who was returning from Meide's head- quarters. He informed me that Meade authorized him to take charge of any cavalry that he could find, and send it to the front to find the enemy. We had been resting substantially for twenty-four hours, I do not think any objection was raised to our going. That evening; w. marched to Fairfax Station, not to Fair- fax Court House. The former is four miles southeast from the latter. Papers like yours do a world of gool. Tre: serve to correct erroneous impressions. I hope you will give us through the
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FIRST MAINE BUGI.F.
BUCLE the benefit of others. I am writ- ing this in haste and confusion. Hope to hear from you. Yours sincerely,
C. H. SMITH.
BOSTON, Mass., July 17th, 1893.
MY DEAR GENERAL,
Your interesting letter came to me just as I was about departing for the Dirigo State to take a much needed rest of four weeks, the longest that I have had at one time in twenty-eight years-at the beau- tiful village of Skowhegan, where I tar- ried with my brother-in-law, George D. Safford, who is an honorary member of the Skowbegan Branch Association at that town. He takes as much interest in our grand old regiment as does any Vet. of the First Maine. He is a vet- eran of the Eleventh and Twenty-ninth Maine, and a "jolly good fellow is be." I thought to have replied to you while at Skowhe gan, but the fact is I was so busy taking a rest that I had not time or incli- nation to do anything else, as I devoted myself most earnestly to that purpose ! Several comrades of the regiment are living there. I had the pleasure of meet- ing many of them, among whom was jovial George Goodwin, and Charlie Sinith. Like the most of us they are all busy with the activities of life. I re- turn full of the " Pine tree " air, and of love for my native State. As the abo- rigines said, it did me " heap good." I have to confess that the article was writ- ten before the history was published. The " Reminiscences " had been previ- ously printed in the Boston Journal, which brought up the question of guides. Two comrades asserted that we had only one guide, and that one was a white man. I sent to you all the clippings from the Journal and your reply settled the ques- tion of guides, which proved that I was correct in my statement, and also brought out the further fact that we had three guides during the night. The BUGLE
article was a fiore elaboran: st tement of the Journal's story. My a'l 000 v. not called to any errois at that mit .. It is not at all probable that we Amen! the entire distance; we trofted partof the way. When we cacoun'erel A. P. Hill's corps at Amistille we chat well direction by " Fours right about" ames brought the lett of the reghaent to tor front of the column, and Company ( being the rear company when nogle i front was now at the head of oidoin. I was with the advance guerd and ine col- ored guil. was at my sile omal he les us. Lieut. Col. Boothby was in command and rode at the head of the coloom. I do not now recall how many nen I bat with the advance, but I remember dura the march that Maj. Thaxter came m; and ordered two men further tothe fr . ! , which was done. As we were appre.en. ing that part of the county with wort our little guide was not fanihar he sol he knew a white man who would geile us. It was reported to Lieut. Col. Begin - by, who thereupon or lered m. toy land a few men and go ahead with the guel, which I did. We found the 10 º , which, standing some distance frit the road, i placed a guard at the road! !. with instructions to have the regent halt should it come up while at the hovre I returned with the guide to ste the fear of the column passing on. 1 presse forward to the head of the color.r., which soon haked, and the man was tanti over to you. Was that the " pont " guide we had? My impression was that you found he was not of any use to us. That was the last I know of guides is this memorable night. Up to this time the guide was at my side with the a . vance. Thereafter the mistakeamnes cam from the rear, presumediy from the head of the column. After out httle guile left us I recollect that we started in a wrong direction and word come to the advance to go another way. It was said
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BUGLE F.CHOF.S.
at the time that had we kept on we would have encountered a brigade of the enemy's cavalry. When we halted in the vicinity of Warrenton the regiment was still left in front. When the dis- covery of Major Thaxter was made known the command "Fours right about" was given and the column was again right in front, and C was in its proper position in the rear con pany again. We trotted back a short distance and then to the right into the field and thence onward. I remember that there were some conjectures among us as to the probability of the Johnnies charging down some of the roads we had to cross. Of the statement that you demurred at the request of General Warren I have no personal knowledge. Frecall that some officer made the remark at the time. I find that I have made several errors in regard to localities. You are correct. I thank you for calling my attention to them. It is important in these matters
that the details be made correct. We were too busy at the time to make any note of them. Many of the events made a vivid impression; others are but a faint memory. Many years have passed since those brave days, and in writing of them in these latter years it is not unusual that errors are made. In compliance with instructions from Massachusetts Head- quarters, G. A. R., I was detailed with other comrades to other schools by the commander of our post, U S. Grant Post 4, of Melrose, to address the school chil- dren in the Mary A. Livermore school, on the experience of some comrade. The exercises were very interesting, consisting of patriotic recitations and singing. When I arose to speak what a joyous clay ping of hands. I thanked them for their cordial greetings to the Grand Army of the Republic, which I had the honor and pleasure to represent. I then told them about the cavalry service, what it was, and its beauties, and with a map
pointed out the movement of the wine which led up to the adventure we 1 -jap the memorable nigut ap Remof 1 :0. 0 said that my colonel bal written a very in eresting a count of the night's adoem tares, which I would real, as it much better then Icouldtelli. Fthere. upon read your narrative as ralas tin the History, and it goes without sight , they were very much interested in : These exercises occurred the day before Memorial Day. Ham, dear geidral, Sincerely yours.
HORATIO S. I MET.
PETERSBURG, VA., July 28th, 1593. GEN. J. P. CILLEY :
My Dear Sir- - I owe you many arab. gies, which I now make, for my delay mb replying to your letter of the twenti- ninth of April, suggesting an exchange of "War Talks of Confederate Voet ans" with your publication, a nuin! er or two of which you sent me and which I read with very intel interest. 1 400 tale very much pleasure in making .l. exchange for our camp lijfrary. Thoma are many old confederates, espe toly cavalrymen, in our camp who will be, le myself, interested in reading the accounts given by the federal veterans. If you were to make up the party of olt federal soldiers and come down to Personer get horses and ride through Dinwidl- over the old battlefieldis I am sittshed that you would receiver hearty vel it Without exception, according to rye perience and observation during the row nearly thirty years that have elapse i sime the close of the late war, whenever ex- federal and ex-confederate sollers : hoo saw active service in the fiel l meci, their interviews have been pleasant. There were many such agreeable meetings in. this city and in Richmond last Sepre- ber when a large number of members . : the Grand Army of the Republic vatel these cities. Yours, very respectful ,
GEO. S. BERNARD.
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FIRST MAINE BUGIE
WAKEFIELD, Mass., Aug. 21st. 1893. COMRADE
J. P. CILLEY :-- I am sorry it happens so that I shall not be able to be present at the reunion, but as one of the boys of '61 of Co. "I". I fail to pen my feclings in regard to it and if I am permitted by the Lord's help to see another year, 1 shall do my best to attend. I find the BUGLE growing in interest and enjoy it hugely. I will remit my subscription next month and wish to have my picture in the same. Wishing you and the rest of the old boys of the old First Maine « Cavalry a pleasant and happy time With God's help and blessing I remain yours
In F. C. and L., C. B. TABOR.
WINN, Aug. 27th, 1893.
GEN. J. P. CILLEY,
Dear Comrade --- I have just received a BUGLE. I thought I was ou' in the cold as I had not received one since last fall, but l thank the Lord, and the giver of this most pleasant gift. I wish that I was able to give a thousand to my regi- ment; it would go there as freely as water, but I have not a dollar to my name. I thought I wouldl write a word to the boys about the Thanksgiving din- ner we had in Phila. elphia, or had it to get. We started from Bangor for the front and stopped at the place mentioned. There we were used well and had a good time. We had the fun of hearing a black man play the Yankee Jew's Ilarp with a mouth that God gave him. Those few days were days of pleasure to me and, I think, to all who were present in the barracks. But the dinner the citi- zens got np! It was not a small affair, but bounteous and large. We were as jolly as jolly could be, but our joy of anticipation did not last long, for at ten o'clock in the morning orders came to march. We got ready and marched to the boat and crossed the river and ate
our Thanksgiving dinner in the cars. it
Sag's rations, at & mise and wife hind us was a Chestines Faique .. went on to Warrenton. I said then, Cal bless the people of Philadelphia, am! ! say it now. If I could have the wohl my heart I would wish that all of de- First Maine Cavalry that are now MOT might meet in that generous and mol city of brotherly love.
Yours in F., C. ant I.,
ORRIN F. LEWIN.
LANSINGBURGH, N. Y., Sept. 13th, sen3. GEN. J. P. CILLEY,
Dear Sir and Comrade - I rettesd r the First Maine Cavalry as one of Die bravest and most efficient of cavaley in. ganizations, and regard the Int ds ats must admirable expriment of our thore great tenets, as well as that which the the heart of every man who ever bestrings a horse and swung a sabre, but I ans deeply occupied with the problem of bad to live upon fourteen d Hars per meteh. with a useless right arm ( witness ii) per- manship) and a broken constitution tet I really cannot see my way to spore the funds. My own ele cavalry round (no braver ever existed), has a history of it's one hundred and seventy-two & tan. which I have had to forego for tin so - cause. I think you will see the forvent my reasons. Yours beartily,
R. W. EDWARDS, 5th N. Y. Cat
MILWAUKEE, Wis., Sept. 14th, 150 .. GEN. J. P. CILLLG,
Sir and Comrade-I received twme ies of the First Moise BUDE frumes oy April and July numbers, the first I have ever seen. The Backup makes vola. .. es'ing reading for all First Maine Coon boys. General. I am paort I am bre ; in Milwaukee on my pension, but I cen
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BUGLE F.CHOFS.
afford to take the Bugir. Juclosed please find one dollar for the Becue from April last. If I can ever afford it I will send for a First Maine Cavalry badge.
I remain, very respectfully, REDMOND O'CONNELL.
AUBURN, Me., Oct. 6th, 1893. CEN. J. P. CILLEY,
Dear Sir-I have the extra issue of the First Maine BUGLE. I had heard something of the action of the associa- tion in relation to the matter, and am pleased to learn that the BUGLE will con- tinue to blow. I feel that under your efficient management this publication is of personal interest to every ex-soldier as well as a contribution of permanent vulue to the history of the late war. If I un- derstand the cabalistic signs upon the fourth page of this issue, I am somewhat your debtor, and I herewith hand you check for two dollars in payment of what I owe and for another year. Wishing you and the BUGLE the most abundant success, I am
Yours very truly, MILTON F. RICKER.
Hist. p. 633.
70 Winter St., PORTLAND, Oct. 5th, 1893. DEAR GENERAL,
Extra of September, 1893, Call 4, Campaign III., is received. I believe I did not send you anything for last BUGLE, and one before last, for the reason that I was away both times and did not have time to even look at them. I am very sorry I could not get to the reunion. My time is not my own and it came when I was very busy. My will was good enough. I heard from the boys as regards finances. I am in favor of keeping the BUGLE go- ing. Let her blow. I'll pay for one blast at least. Inclosed please find five dollars. Yours very respectfully,
JAMES II. MERRILL.
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