USA > Maine > First Maine bugle, 1893 (history of 1st Maine Cavalry) > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
57
THE COUNTRY FOR. WHICH YOU FOUGHT.
which box was round on the bottom and was placed at the head of a short sluice. By a rough handle attached to the box, the miner rocked it back and forth as fast as he chose, all the time keeping the other hand employed in pouring water into the box as fast as he wished. A pleasant looking old "Forty-niner" met my inquisitive disposition half-way, and allowed me to work his little gold-finding machine. Under his direction I rocked out several grains of gold, but so in- terested was I in watching the operation that I did not notice that a stranger stood by -- a woman -- and carefully picked up and took care of every grain as fast as I rocked it out, for sou- venirs. Ed managed to save one grain, however, and I gave up the work with a feeling that however much of a success I might be in rocking out the gold, I certainly was not a success in keeping it. Then we saw the "long tom," and the sluice, which are merely improvements on the pan and the rocker, and though they had a rough, unfinished look. they did the business for many a miner in the golden days. We strolled about the mine hither and thither at will, seeing much that was of interest. The miners themselves were well worth seeing. They were ordinary looking men, but when one thought of their trials and triumphs in the early days --- the days from which they take their name -- thought that each one of them has a history, thought of their labors, their patience, their perseverance, their failures and their successes, they did not look so ordinary. We got a bit of the flavor of the early days from one of these argonauts, who, with his miner's outfit complete, his pan, his cooking utensils, his pick, his big boots, his blankets, his tent, had camped in one portion of the mine. His clothes were the worse for wear, and had been patched many times with whatever patch was handy without regard to color or texture, which gave a very picturesque appearance as well as a touch of the old times. He had a little camp fire very much like one of our own little camp fires, comrades. while campaigning in Virginia, over which was toasting a small piece of meat on a stick, reminding me of our own first attempts at cookery. at "Camp Misery," on our
58
FIRST MAINE BUGIE.
arrival at Catlett's Station in 1862. Close by the fire was a stick standing up in the ground, on which was a placard bearing the legend. "Hard Luck Camp." But the hero of this camp, with all his ragged and patched clothing, did not seem to be quite so much a victim of hard luck as his vol. untary "get-up" was intended to indicate. We found him very communicative concerning the days when his appear- ance and the legend above his little camp were solemn facts. and from him we obtained much interesting information and were again reminded of the old song.
" Oh the gold is thar, most any whar, And we'll take it out rich with an iron bar; And whar 'tis thick, with a spade or pick, We'll take out lumps as big as a brick. * * * And how 'twill sound, as the word goes round Of our picking up gold by the dozen pound."
Over acres and acres of this old mining ground we traveled, all the time nearing a hill in the distance. This hill is es- timated to contain twenty-three millions of dollars' worth of gold, only waiting to be taken from its bed- which would be taken from its bed as soon as im- droved machinery could do it, if it were allowed to be done. But there is too much gravel in the hill to pay to work the mine in the slower modes of pan and rocker, or long tom and sluice. To make it pay the mine must be worked by what is called " hydraulic mining," and there is an injuction on this method of mining, so that this rich mine has been lying idle for ten years. It was claimed that the washing down of this immense amount of gravel, boulders. etc., into the river below, caused the river to overflow its banks, doing much damage to agriculture-so much damage that the State Legislature took up the matter and forbade this system of mining. But since our visit there the United States Court has removed this injunction, in part, at least, and this hill, as well as others, will soon be yielding its riches for the benefit of the State of California, as well as the
THE COUNTRY FOR WHICH YOU FOUGHT. 59
whole country. When we arrived near this hill, we found the tables spread for us, and gladly we sat down to " an old- fashioned miners' breakfast." With rough boards for a table, with tin dishes, in the open air, we ate heartily, the principal food being baked beans in half a dozen varieties, with brown bread to match. It was a good breakfast and enjoyed all the more for the morning's exercise and the unaccustomed sur- roundings. All the time we were eating an immense stream of water had been playing upon the side of the hill close by us. We had noticed it, but had given it little thought until the ap- petite was satisfied. Now we learned that we were to be given an illustration of hydraulic mining. This stream was some ten inches through, and was washing down the side of that hill wonderfully. In due time we learned that this powerful stream was thrown by gravity alone, and that the machine which con- trolled it is called the monitor. We watched this awhile and then did as the others did, viz., walked along to see where all this sand which was coming down from the hill went to. We found it all ran through a large sluice, so long that we did not go to the lower end of it. A quarter of a mile or so from the monitor was a little furnace, with everything in readiness to separate the precious metal from the quicksilver put into the sluice to hold it. and to change its form from grains and small nuggets into larger nuggets. After the stream had been play- ing awhile the water was shut off and the work of cleaning up commenced. Then it was found that all the way in the sluice were placed blocks of wood a little distance apart, to catch the gold as it sank to the bottom of the sluice, allowing the lighter gravel to flow off. Miners began to remove some of these blocks to get at the gold. Then one could get some idea of the excitement in the early days. Although our party expected to get nothing from the "cleaning up," they watched the operation with cager eyes, and soon every one was showing a vast deal of excitement --- more than there was any warrant for personally-the excitement of gold hunting. The faces were a curious study for a while, and something of the fascination of gold for itself mingled with the excitement of seeing it taken from the earth,
-
60
FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
was exhibited. The sluice was "cleaned up" only a short dis- tance, but when what gold was obtained came from the little furnace and was weighed, it was found there were two nuggets -- one of the value of one hundred and fifty-three dollars, which was presented to our association, and the other of the value of about sixty dollars, which was presented to the Governor of the State, who was with the excursion at this time -- two hundred and thirteen dollars in gold after so little work. This told a wonderful story to be sure, but when we were told by the miners that when the sluice was cleaned up the entire length, there would be a quantity of gold obtained sufficient to pay all the expenses of the day's trip and enjoyment, the wonder was increased, and grave doubts were expressed of the wisdom of the injunction which prevented the gold being taken from the mountain, when it can apparently be so easily done.
QUARTZ MINING.
After a morning which brings up the most vivid memories of the whole trip, we again boarded the Essex and returned to Colfax, where we took open cars on the Grass Valley narrow gauge railroad. Then came a wild ride, indeed. Over ravines and through hills, twisting here and there, with rapidly ever- varying scenery growing wilder and more wild as we rode, now running along by the side of some hill which bore no evidence of having ever been trod by foot of man, now over a shaky- looking trestle hung above a wild ravine hundreds of feet below. the ride was one of oft-changing excitement. There was a spice of danger in it all. which added its own fascinating sensation to the ride. But there was no real danger, and after riding about an hour through this wild region, we suddenly rounded into a sta- tion where four or five hundred children had gathered to meet us. This was a surprise. We had seen no signs of civilization for miles-we could see none now, except these children. But on embarking from the car we soon found quite a little city nestled in among the hills-the city known as Grass Valley. But one had to go about the city considerably to see it, so well were the houses hidden among the hills and trees. A roman-
THE COUNTRY FOR WHICH YOU FOUGHT. 61
tically situated city, surely, and a very pretty one, when one has a little acquaintance with it. Dinner was served, and then we took carriages for a ride about the city and to visit some of the famous quartz mines for which that region is noted. We had obtained an idea of placer mining in the morning, and were now to be introduced to quartz mining. Ed and I had the good fortune to board a carriage which went to the famous Idaho mine, the richest and deepest gold mine in the world -- three thousand feet deep in solid gold-bearing quartz. We watched the ponderous machinery for awhile, saw the "cages" disappear in the earth only to return loaded with quartz taken out of the earth so deep, and looked about and asked questions at will, but all seemed to be possessed of the idea that they wanted to go down into the mine. This they were allowed to do, but as there were so many of us, it was thought best to go only one thousand feet into the earth, on account of time. This was readily agreed to, of course. Then in little parties of six or eight, commenced the visit to the regions underground. Just here were seen some of the peculiarities of human nature. Curiosity was strong. but it could not in all cases entirely over- come fear. There might be danger in it. To be sure here were miners who had been down into this mine every day for years without accident, but even this did not entirely assure the timid. There might be an accident, you know, and it would be awful. It is curious that the ladies of the party had less of this fear than did the men. Some of the men got upon the cage very hesitatingly with their wives. One of my companions of the Essex said to me just before starting on this downward ex- cursion, "I shall be a happy man when I get upon top of the earth again." "Why do you go?" said I. "Well, I want the experience, and I want to go, and my wife wants to go, too, and I don't want her to go alone." I tried to assure him by ask- ing, "You are insured against accidents, are you not?" "Yes," he replied, "but that doesn't include mining," and he said this so honestly and with such a lugubrious air, that I was very much amused. But he went down. Ed and I went down, of course, and had a splendid time a thousand feet below the
-
62
FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
surface of the earth. I was amused, though, when we landed down there, to see my friend of the accident insurance hurry- ing toward the cage as if anxious to get to the top of the earth once more. We had with our cage load a miner who had worked in this mine, down in the earth, for twenty years, and he proved to be an intelligent and interesting guide. What sensations did we have down in the ground? Well, I was conscious only of the sensation of being very much interested in quartz mining and what I could see and learn about it. The fact that I was so far from the surface of the earth did not occur to me after the descent was accomplished and we were fairly in the mine. All was new and strange, and we had only the light of candles, one of which each of us carried, but all idea of being under ground was gone until we were ready to make the ascent. I had feared that there might be a difficulty in breathing so far from the atmosphere, but once in the mine I never thought of this, and went hither and thither, and saw what I could, and asked questions, without a thought of breathing. In fact. it was not until I was again on top of the earth that I thought of it, when my curiosity was aroused, and I told one of the miners of my fear. He laughed a bit and explained that the mine was perfectly ventilated, even to the lowest depths. We learned by this experience how the quartz is brought up from the mine, then ground to powder, and then washed out of this powdered rock in much the same way as it is washed from the gravel -- on the same principle, but by more extensive means.
We were allowed to take some specimens of the gold quartz, and after a pleasant ride over the hills upon which the city rests, and a good idea of the rare beauties of its location, we again boarded the narrow gauge cars for another wild ride back to Colfax. As Ed and I boarded the car we got into conversation with an old miner and learned much that was in- teresting about this part of our great country. I learned more. As our conversation took one turn after another, I learned that he was from the good old state of Maine, and that he was a brother of Orlando A. Hayford, one of the original mem- bers of Co. G, of our regiment, who received a bullet in
THE COUNTRY FOR WHICH YOU FOUGHT. 63
the thigh at the battle of Shepardstown, from the effects of which he died only a few years ago. 'This brother's name is James B. Hayford. He was in California when the war broke out, and when the opportunity offered he enlisted in the battalion of cavalry which was sent east and became a part of a Mass- achusetts cavalry regiment. He was taken prisoner, was con- fined a while in Libby Prison and elsewhere, but came through the war all right, and after the muster-out returned home, but his old love returned to him, and he went back to California, where he seems to be prospering. I remember his brother Orlando very well. He was one of the men who realized from the first what the war meant, and went into it with a determin- ation to do his best as long as he lived, or until the war was ended. When we were picketing along the Rappahannock in the winter of 1862-3, he and I were on post together one dark, stormy night, when I had a long conversation with him, and for the first time learned what manner of man he was, and I think that conversation with him that night gave me some new ideas about the war and what it meant to the country. After he was wounded, I visited him in the hospital at Baltimore, when I found him, though suffering from a wound which did not heal for years, and then only with an operation performed years after the bullet struck bim, still firm in his determination to fight to the end, if he got able, and still without a regret that he had enlisted to fight in the cause of freedom. So I had 2 very pleasant conversation with my new found Union cavalry friend.
GOOD BYE TO THE ESSEX.
The ride back to Colfax was equally grand with the ride to Grass Valley, but I did not enjoy it so well. The greatest, brightest day of the whole trip was over, and when we arrived at Colfax, where the good car Essex was waiting for us, Ed and I were to bid good-bye to our friends of the car-our friends of nineteen days of wonderful riding about the country. At Colfax the trains were to be made up for the journey home-one train by way of Portland, Oregon, and the other to go straight to
64
FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
Ogden. But Ed and I did not propose to be hustled out of tl.c great State of California in any such manner. We had been hustled ever since we reached the State's borders, and had had a grand time, every hour, but we had not seen anything of San Francisco, and more than that, we had not paid the promised visit to my sister at Riverside. So we intended to stop in the State a while longer, to see more of her wonders. But it was anything but pleasant to bid good-bye to our friends of the Essex, or to the old car itself. We had formed some very pleasant acquaintances during that ride --- all in the car seemed like old-time friends, so rapidly does friendship ripen under such circumstances -- and there was a good deal of the leaving home feeling in bidding them good-bye-never to see many of them again. We bade them farewell with a kindly feeling and a fill- ing up of the throat, saw the good old car Essex roll away into the darkness, and Ed and I were left alone more than three thousand miles from home. Is it to be wondered at that we felt a little lonesome and even homesick, as the train left us? Good-bye, old Essex -- you carried us safely thousands of miles, and are entitled to our gratitude. You were our home for nearly three weeks, and a wonderful home you were. May you never know disaster. After we left you, you continued on your journey, and finally left your passengers and our friends safely at their homes. Good-bye, friends, who were with us in the Essex. May your lives be prosperous and happy, and your memories of the excursion to California be always with you. Ed and I will remember you all long and with pleasure.
( To be continued.)
The members of the Essex family have been saddened by the death of one of their number, Col. John C. Bundy, who passed away from earthly cares on the sixth of August last. His co-laborers in the world's broad field of battle have offered their testimonials to his virtues and his services, and it remains for us, who knew him only as one of the Essex family, to speak of him as a fellow traveler on a journey less serious than that of life, and to say that the memories of Col. Bundy are of the pleasantest. We also wish to convey to his family our sympathy with them at this hour. Col. Bundy served the country during the war as a cavalryman, so there was a subtle bond between us sach as only comrades can understand .- En.
ED AND i.
ORMEDIER
CFOCHI.
FRED R. DUSENBERRY.
GEORGE C. RANKIN
MISS FRANCES L. DUSENBERRY.
SOME OF THE ESSEX FAMILY.
65
GOING DOWN THE HILL.
Going Down the Hill. BY CHAS. C. HASSLER, Co. I, Twenty-first Pennsylvania Cavalry. There are times when gloom and sadness Banish all the joys of life, There are times when love and kindness Cheer us in this world of strife; There are times when clouds above us Throw their shadows on our way, There are times when those who love us Help to drive our cares away; But the clouds have silver linings That with patience are revealed, And our sorrows and repinings Are with love and kindness healed. Time's remorseless hand has taught us, That, disguise it as we will, We, as well as they who fought us, Now are going down the hill.
Arms that once could swing the sabre With a nerve of truest steel, Now soon weary while at labor From infirmities they feel. Graceful forms of manly beauty Glowed with health and honest pride, Never faltering when duty Led the way where heroes died; Over mountain, through the valley, On with buoyant hearts they go, Sound the charge, advance or rally; All were welcome near the foe. Time has wrought a transformation, Changed them as by artist's skill; They who saved the land and nation Now are going down the hill.
Shiloh's field will bloom with roses; In the Wilderness will grow Daisies where the dead reposes, Daisies white as driven snow; Unknown, peacefully they slumber, Unknown here but known to God;
66
FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
He can tell their names and number, Resting 'neath the quiet sod. Bless the thought, 'tis fitly blended With another, bright and fair, That when this life's journey's ended They a crown of life shall wear. Angel voices swell the chorus, " Peace on earth, to men good will," Soon we'll join those gone before us, Just before us down the hill.
With the current some are drifting Down the stream of life in peace, Others heavy burdens bearing,
Wonder when their cares will cease. Some are cheered by those that love them, Happy homes and bounteous store, Others mourn for those above them Waiting, on the other shore. Father, in thy keeping take them, Guard them on life's journey through; Do not leave them or forsake them Many be their days of few. Honor, fame and martial glory, Never more their souls shall thrill, Time confirms the sad, sad story, They are going down the hill.
AFTER APPOMATTOX.
BY MAJOR HENRY C. HALL.
VI .- THE YANKEE REBEL.
We had been at the Court House but a few days when a white-haired old man, leaning on a long staff, came into camp and inquired if we were really Maine men -- said he had heard that we were. We informed him that we were veritable " Down East" Yankees, and that if he had any longing sentiments of secession still clinging to him we would willingly aid him in removing them. He said he had no such sentiments nor ever had-that he was a Union man and always had been, and a State of Maine man at that. He told us he was a native of
AFTER APPOMATTOX. 67
Farmington, in Franklin county; that he came there a short time before the war begun and had settled on a tract of timber land about a mile distant, which he had purchased ; that he had commenced the erection of a saw-mill on a small stream running through it, and was about to begin the manu- facture of lumber from the abundant pine, when the war came on and terminated his plans of operation. He proved to be Thomas Chase, the father of the celebrated poet, " Florence Percy," author of "Rock me to Sleep, Mother" and other beau- tiful ballads. Captain Daggett and some others remembered and recognized him. When he left Maine he was best known as the " people's lawyer," though he was an itinerant preacher at one time and a perpetual candidate for political honors. He was an ardent pro-slavery Democrat, and for some time before he emigrated the abolitionists of his section of the State made the political atmosphere so warm he was unable to endure it, and accordingly he moved into a more congenial clime, where he could enjoy and practice his political religion with none to molest or annoy. He had a most pitiful story to tell of what he had suffered at the hands of the confederates on account of his loyalty to the Union and his reverence for the old flag. He said, upon tender of worthless promises to pay, his property had been taken from him and converted to military uses; that he had been subjected to personal insults and abuse and had been threatened with imprisonment for his fealty to the old government; and last, his only son had been conscripted into the rebel army. His story was well told and interesting, and he not unnaturally won our sympathy. The presence of Maine men near him, sons of his carlier friends and neighbors, made the old man's heart light and his step elastic as he left us to tall his lonely family that he had seen Maine men that day, and that he had shaken the hands of boys from old Franklin.
When he had gone we made some inquiries of the citizens about the country seat who knew him, for evidence to confirm some of the remarkable statements he had made to us, and we were surprised to learn that he was one of the earliest and most violent advocates of secession in the whole State of
68
FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
Virginia; that he called on Governor Letcher at two differ- ent times and entreated the governor to give him a thousand men of the State troops and he would seize Fortress Monroe and secure it to the confederacy. The governor inforincd him that the legislature, then in session, was at that time considering the great question of secession, and until the legislative branch of the government had taken some action in the premises at least, the action sought would be not only unconstitutional but revolutionary, and he therefore declined to consider the request. We were also informed that his fears of violence and of imprisonment never existed, that they were merely inven- tions to win our sympathy and to cover his great sins. His on, who was so cruelly conscripted, deserted at the first of- portunity. The old man was very kind and neighborly, but we could not refrain from telling him that he had imposed upon us by his assertions of loyalty to the Union and his tale of suffering for the old government and its flag when in truth he had been an ardent old rebel as long as there was a ray of , hope for success.
He made no retractions or denials and never voluntarily alluded to those unpleasant topics afterwards. He visited us often at our camp and we called on him at his home.
His family at this time consisted of himself, his wife (a second wife -- not the mother of " Florence Percy") and two daughters, aged about sixteen and eighteen years respectively. His son had not returned from Maine whither he went after his desertion.
We were relieved the last of July and mustered out the first day of August. When we left the Court House the old man and his family manifested deep regret and sincere sorrow, and we could not prevent a feeling of sadness as we realized their pitiable situation. He was old and poor, feeble and friendless --- as poor in moral and political influence as in ma- terial blessings Indeed, he seemed isolated and alone among those whom he had earlier counseled and encouraged to acts of treason and rebellion. The people of the South had been led to believe that if war should result from their acts of seces-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.