USA > Maine > First Maine bugle, 1893 (history of 1st Maine Cavalry) > Part 9
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stand together and pour out a libation to the gods of memory and good fellowship? Let what wells up in your heart and memory, refresh and quench that thirst for compan- ionship and loyalty, which marks and characterizes our regimental association in a most enduring manner. We com- mence in this issue Campaign "three." Campaign "one" was the printed proceedings of our first eleven reunions, Cam- paign "two," our next ten re- union proceedings reinforced by double and treble amount of story, song and history, which gave pre-eminence to our first campaign; and now Campaign "three" comes be- fore us with wider interests and better prospects.
The Cavalry Society of the Armies of the United States has formed itself in column under our leadership and the BUGLE notes are heard from East to West and from North
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
to South, over our land. We are mounted on horses well trained and in saddles that hold us comfortably and firmly. Let us ride proudly as the ty- pical knights of old, "without fear and without reproach" re- membering kindly and with fraternal greetings those of our number who are dismount- ed or sick and disabled, and thus need our help and en- couragement; and the close of 1893 shall add to the good record of our valor and fidelity.
The last of the series of in- teresting sketches by Major Henry C. Hall under the title, " After Appomattox," appears in this Call, but the comrades will be pleeasd to read other sketches from the same pen -- say sketches of scenes and events at or before Appomat- tox.
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Sergeant John M. Perkins of Co. I, editor of the Grand Army Record, Boston, Mass, visited Tower Post No. 17, G. A. R., Pawtucket, R. I .. Dec. 19th, on the occasion of the official visit to the Post, of the Department officers, known in that little state as
"Grand Rounds," and mp . a very interesting addre upon the matters of associa. membership in the Gran .. Army of the Republic and keeping up the interest of t comrades in the meetings . their Posts.
President W. DeW. Hyde. Bowdoin College under det . of Nov. 23, 1892, writes
BOWDOIN COLLEGE, BRUNSWICK, M ... Nov. 23, 1892. GEN. J. P. CILLEY :
Dear Sir, -- I thank you for the al. vance sheets of "Bowdoin Boys i .. Labrador." As Sallust says : "In print ..: arduum videtur res gestas scribere; ca facta dictis sunt exaequanda." In this case the diction is equal to the deel. the clear and vivacious style of t. writer is fully up to the level of the brilliant achievements he narrates.
The intrinsic interest of the story, and its connection with the State ar ;. the College, ought to secure for it s wile reading. Very truly yours, WILLIAM DEW. HYDE.
In April issue we hope to commence an interesting ac- count by the writer of the " Bowdoin Boys in Labrador of a twenty-five hundred miles ride on a bicych. through Holland, up the Rhine, over the mountains of Switz- erland and down through Ger- many, which will interest our sons as well as the older mem- bers of the association.
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THE ASSEMBLY.
Those who intend making a trip to California will find no pleasanter route or better service than by the new fast passenger train from Chicago, just put on by the Santa Fe route. This train is made up of dining cars for all meals to Kansas City. Pullman Pal- acc sleeping cars between Chicago and Los Angeles or San Diego, and a free reclin- ing chair car between Chica- go and Los Angeles. This new train is put on at the re- quest of and to accommodate the road's large and growing Southern California traffic, and will make the trip across the continent, not only a pleasure but a real luxury, the mere thought of which is enough to make one who loves to travel downright envious,
The Roll Call.
We present you with the roll call again, comrades, and do not hesitate to pronounce it the most complete roll call of its kind ever presented to the survivors of a regi- ment, or the friends of de- ceased comrades." Now we want you, as you look it over and memory calls up the faces and the scenes suggested
by the names, if you see any- thing that is not right or in- complete, to sit down at once before it passes out of your memory and to write to us what the correction or the addition should be, so that the roll call may be even more complete. You may know of the residence of some comrade or of some com- rade's death, which should appear in the roll call, but which does not appear, and which very likely will not ap- pear, unless you attend to it. This, comrades, is addressed to every one of you individ- ually.
Captain John H. Harmony.
We learn with sadness that Capt. Harmony of the 2Ist Pennsylvania Cavalry who was Inspector of our Brigade on General Smith Staff, has been removed by death the last year.
Sons of the First of Maine!
Recruits, in every sense that young blood and fresh hopes can typify, we ask you to en- list and serve with us in these Campaigns of Story, Biogra- phy, Travel and History. We need your names and support.
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
Subscriptions.
Hereafter the treasurer's account will be kept by "Cam- paigns" instead of by "Calls" and all comrades are urged to pay by the year and pay in advance.
The Land of Sunshine.
We are obliged to omit ref- erence to this attractive local- ity. Write to Jno. J. Byrne, 723 Monadnock Block, Chi- cago, for a copy.
Genealogical.
We have a large number of family records on hand but are obliged to omit them in this issue for want of room. In the April Call we shall have more pages to devote to genealogical facts and person- al history.
Maps.
We give you in this Call a map of Appomatox and the location of the final scenes of the rebellion and the final consummation of all our battles from Bull Run, Gettysburg, Wilderness, the Siege of Petersburg and Richmond and the march from Atlanta to the Sea. Nature herself never created a more appropriate or wider amphi- theatre than the hills around
Appomatox Court House af forded for the display of the troops in front and on the Southern flank of that village. The position of forces here gathered have never been le- cated on any map and their right establishment is an his .. toric endeavor that should be accurately accomplished. The Reunion of the Cavalry of the Army of the Potomac held at Washington, Sept. 1893, ap- pointed a large committee of one from each regiment to ali the war department in deter- mining the position of the Car- alry organizations in the va- rious engagements of the war. This was vital and most im- portant for even Gen. Sheridas in his memoirs inadvertently put Crook and Mackenzie di- visions as covering some by- roads instead of on the import- ant Lynchburg road, where the Third Brigade held from one till nearly 10 o'clock the morning of April 9th, and when our regiment suffered a loss of men, killed and mortally wounded, greater than any other regiment pres- ent on that day. All the Cav- alry of the Army of the Poto- mac were present and their position on that historic field should be correctly shown.
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BUGLE ECHIOES.
BUGLE ECHOES.
Then the skirmish line went forward, and the only sounds we heard Were the hum of droning insects and the carol of a bird; Till, far off, a flash of fire, and a little cloud went by, Like an angel's mantle floating down from out the azure sky.
LETTERS FROM
SACO, Me., Oct. 26, 1892.
CEN. J. P. CILLEY :
Dear Sir,-I have been sick and have lost my right eye and the other one is very weak so I am not able to read or write bat little but thank you for sending the BUGLE to me for my wife reids to me;, I enjoy it much. I am back on my dues for the BuGLE but you shall have it all as soon as I can spare that amount. I send our family record.
Yours with much respect, DANIEL J. MEEDS. (Ilist. p. 604.)
SKOWHEGAN, WISCONSIN, Nov. S, 1892. GEN, J. P. CILLEY :
Dear Sir :-- I was left with two young boys and only my pension. I turned my Brasical education to practical use, but now my sorrow is that my younger boy at fifteen mast have school. My sister consoles me by saying he will succeed with much less education than the aver- age boy, but the assurance he has marked ability renters my grief the greater. However, he is so young, some door may he opened for hint. I have much to be thankful for in the fact that my boys are b th honorable and devoted to their mother. With thanks for your trouble, Yours most respectfully,
FLORENCE M. CHADBOURNE.
THE COMRADES.
FERGUS FALLS, Minn, Nov. 17, 1892. GEN. J. P. CILLEY :
Dear Comrade, -Enclosed please find draft for $5.00; place the same to my credit on BUGLE account. I am sorry I cannot attend your reunions, hope my business will be so that I can leave next year. I am much interested in the BUGLE and all the First Maine Cavalry boys should help keep it blowing. Was much interested in Maj. Hall's account of the Chit Wheel story, knowing Ser- geant C. of Co. A very well. It is .a true account of the affair.
I am, truly yours, II. S. COLE, Late Capt. Co. A, First Maine Cav.
HOULTON, Me., Nov. 28th, 1892.
J. P. CILLEY :
Dear Sir,-Enclosed find twenty-five cents in stamps for which please send BUGLE October number. I want to hear all about Washington encampment. I was there at that reunion of First Maine Cavalry. I as very sorry indeed that I did not have the pleasure of meeting you. I am very fond of the BUGLE, nothing gives me more pleasure than to peruse it. I carry it into our corps to have its poetry read. Please send at once to
MRS. HARRIET MUNSON, Care of L. Munson, Houlton, Me.
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
599 WASHINGTON BOULEVARD, CHICAGO, III., Nov. 19, 1822. GEN. J. P. CILLEY :
Dear General,-Among the thousands of privates who first and last were under your command in the old First Maine you can be expected to remember but few of us personally, but none of us are likely to forget you. I was one of the D. C. boys; in a sharp little fight Aug. 22, 1864, at Reams Station I got a bullet through the " hind leg" which sent me to the cavalry corps hospital near City Point. This mishap saved me (per- laps) from being taken in with the boys and beeves when the Johnnies made that smart little cattle raid near Sycamore church, While at the hospi- tal Sergeant Samuel L. Buzzell, of Co. H, First Maine (Hist. P. 579) was brought there with the wound from which the brave fellow died after a too long delayed amputation had been per- formed. I remember heading him call in a perfectly clear voice to the attend- ant. "George, the arter; has broken open," and when the blankets were thrown off the life blood spurted high over the cut, the nurse promptly placed a thumb on the broken artery and the surgeons were called but nothing could be done, and calmly the brave spirit passed away with a courage not born of the battle field.
After recovery from my wound and a fever I went to the Dismounted Camp, where I starved and shivered through the winter-I say starved for the rations received were not much more than half what we always got elsewhere, but by getting an order those who were fortu- nate enough to have money could buy all the bread and pork they wanted. I shall always believe that somebody stole our rations and made money sel- ling them back to us. I cannot think of it to this day without indignation and would give something to know who was to blame.
I was sent to the First Maine & f .. weeks before the last campaign an bord with you at Dinwiddie. I think we she agree that was a hot place. I was in the extreme left of our line when C. dashing but useless cavalry charge was made up the bank of that creek an: into the face of a regiment like ( ... armed with repeating rifles, in corm.s. with many others I suppose I l .. .. through my gun sight at the dasti? officer who led the charge. I a lmit hav. ing been scared a good many times but this time there was no more thought of danger than I have when I stand on : "run way " waiting for a deer and I felt about the same; it did not seem to mic as if any of them were ever going to get away and I wondered when my corbine was empty why so few were lying on the ground, and after the exultation of the moment had passed and I crossed the field near where the dead officer lay, a pang of pity and regret for the bol! soldier and his daring men, our country- men, who had fallen passed over may mind. I pray God our country may never see fighting again, but if it must let it not be among ourselves.
The real business of the day came later, and with a pine tree in front of me I was doing my best sighting under the smoke for grey legs one of the boys near me was shot through the legs an : before he was helped to the rear Ish niet- ed, " Give me all your cartridges," an ! he handed me fourteen rounds. I was very mach interested while working them off, so much so that I actually for- got all about danger, but when the las: shot was gone and the game we wanted was very near us I looked around to find some one to borrow from, but the only ones I saw whom I knew were Capt. Hall and yourself. I rushed up to my captain and shouted, " Where's the company"; he didn't seem to know exactly but I suppose as they got out of ammunition they felt they had no fut-
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BUGLE ECHOES.
ther business there at that time. You and Capt. Hall seemed to see rea- sons why you should go back; I saw the same reasons, a good many of them, grey ones, and General, I kept just as near you as I could but though I used to think I was a pretty good runner, you got to the pile of rails that West Virginia Cavalry Regiment was making a breast- work of a few moments before I fell over completely pumped out. Somebody has said, " It's fun to hunt the tiger, but when the tiger hunts you-well, the fun is over." . General I beg your pardon, I didn't intend when I sat down to spend part of the evening talking to you. and the boys, to inflict my personal mera- ories of the last campaign on you and if it were to anybody else but to my old comrades I would tear up what I have written, for old soldiers are liable to get to be " chestnuts " to the rising genera- tion, I fear, but when I started out I intendel only to tell you of a plan I have long cherished and hope sometime to be able to carry out and perhaps one or more of the ol i regiment would like to join. It is this-we would go to Petersburg, get sa bille horses and ride over the ground of our last campaign down to Dinwiddie and along the old line of march as near as we could to Appomattox. Does this scheme strike any of the readers of the BUGLE as worth while? If so, I would like to hear from them and we will see if we can arrange the trip. I ride a good deal now and enjoy it very much. I have passed three winters in the South since the war and know that good saddle horses can be hal anywhere there.
Yours very truly, PERLEY LOWE, Co. IL. [ fet. p. 587.] .
NOTE .-- These miniature pictures of battles are very fascinating to partici-
pants. They seem meagre and with no prospective of time or distance or acces- sory facts but they show what the indi- vidual soldier saw and how oblivious he is to all except his own worl :. The rea- son for haste to reach the rails was, we had held the enemy at bay till Custer's men could organize in the rear, and our next stand must be at the breast works, until behind them we were between two fires. The ride over the grounds of our last campaign has been my dream as it has of many other comrades, and I hope comrade Lowe's plan may be executed .--- J. P. C.
ST. Louis, Mo., Dec. 21st, 1892. GEN. J. P. CILLEY,
Dear Sir and Comrade :-- I have just received the "First Maine Bugle" for October. I also received Jnly number, but not April number, I suppose that it must have miscarried. I was one of the select fifty from the Ninth New York Cavalry, Capt. T. D. Brown command- ing on the Kilpatrick raid. Well do I remember that on the morning of March and after leaving Richmond, the Ninth New York detatchment was rear guard and we were sumewhat encumbered by bags of potatoes, turkeys, etc., gathered from storehouses and barns, where we had called, when we were suddenly at- tacked by Hampton Cavalry and a squadron of the grand old First Maine came to our assistance. I would like to hear from any comrade that has a vivid recollection of that great expelition for the liberation of our men imprisoned at Libby. As time closes in upon us, our interest in the war increases, while our memory is letting go, and we begin to lean on each other.
Very Truly Yours, WM. G. HILLS, 301 North Second St.
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
ASHLAND, Mass., Dec. 4th, 1892. GEN. J. P. CILLEY :
Dear Comrade-I have not received ny October BUGLE and think it perhaps has been sent to Somerville, my last address, I have moved to Ashland, Mass., to take charge of The Woman's Educational and Industrial Union Farm, situated here. I am short of funds at present writing but will send my dues next month -- about the tenth. I think the Labrador papers are tip- top and the BUGLE is full of everything interesting to me. It makes me laugh to read some of the stories told by the boys, and I think if we should all write our experi- ences while out South it would make a book more full of comic and odd as well as serious and daring experiences than was ever published. What a grand lot of men there were in the old regiment and what a lot of boys. A good many not twenty years old and how they are scattered now all over the world you might say, in all kinds of business and situations, public and private. Do you think you can find another regiment in the service like it? I do not believe you can. If I ever chose a record to leave behind me for my children, it would be as it is-IIe was a member of the First Maine Cavalry.
Yours respectfully, NELSON S. FORSYTH. (Hist. p. 560.)
WARSAW, N. Y., Dec. 5th, 1892. J. P. CILLEY, Treasurer, Etc.,
Dear Sir and Comrade .- Am in re- ceipt of First Maine BUGLE, extra, Cam- paign IL, July 1892, Call 9. I am not sure when it came, found it in my mail this morning. Looked it over, see sev- eral items that came under my own ob- servation when serving with Generals Pleasanton and Sheridan and later with Grant at Army headquarters. Like the spirit and tone of out put and wish to
know if I can procure the back numbers from the first, the price so that the His- tory and the three can be remitted for together. These histories and records must be written up soon for the actors are rapidly surrendering to the only enemy that could every time overpower the U. S. Volunteer.
Fraternally yours, A. B. LAWRENCE.
NATIONAL MILITARY HOME, Ohio, December 20th, 1892.
Dear Sir,-I enclose one dollar for the First Maine BUGLE for 1892. It seems to me you give it the wrong name as the trumpet is for cavalry, the bugle for infantry and artillery. The First Maine Cavalry and all the 1861 regiments did their full duty in the Army of the Potomac as I by actual seeing know, for I was four years in the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry. I still carry a rebel ball in my left shoulder, crippled for life. I amn,
Truly yours, FRANCIS HAVILAND,
Capt. Fourth Pa. Cav.
401 BOLTON AVE, CLEVELAND, OHIO, Dec. 23d, 1$92. GENERAL CILLEY,
Dear Oll Comrade .- Please find en- closed two dollars to pay for the BUGLE for '92 and '93, I would not be without the BUGLE for it is worth its weight in gold. To one who heard it blow from '61 to '65, the sound of the BUGLE stirs up vivid recollections, we hear again the roar of artillery and infantry. No one can fully describe it; one must have shared the charge to know anything about it. Wishing you and all the boys all the compliments of the season, I remain,
Yours in F. C. and I. A. L. KNAUFF. Captain A. D. C.
Y
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BUGLE ECHOES.
DAVIS, MACOME CO., MICH. Dec. soth, 1892. COMRADE J. P. CILLEY :
I received the First Maine BCGLE; it was sent to John Harmon, Bugler Twenty-Fourth New York Cavalry. Now I was in the Twenty-Fourth New York Cavalry and was bugler of Com- pany 1. and my name is john Hannan. I was countel as a bugler but I carried a gun most of the time and threw the bugle away. I was wounded April 6, 1865, at Sailor's Creek. I have looked at the BUGLE and think it is very good. .
Very respectfully yours, JOHN IIANNAN.
ASSYRIA, MICH., Dec. 24, 1892. GEN. J. P. CILLEY,
Dear Sir and Comrade :-- I have come to the conclusion that most of the com- rades of Company I, are ashamed of their war record, as I read the BUGLE and find very little they have to say. Company I, wake up. The BUGLE has blown reveille. It did not take very long to get into line if we heard the report of a gun or the whiz of a shell when we were at the front, and why should it now ? It is my greatest joy to read the sayings of com- rades. I would like to ask the comrades if they remember the charge we made on Farmville, how my horse ran away with me, and took me into the town among the Johnnies, and how close I stood behind that old brick building when they opened fire from the hill, and what a raid we made upon the old to- bacco house. Well do I remember the first time I saw the First Maine Cavalry. It was at the Battle of Cedar Mountain, Virginia, August 9th, IS62. I was wounded and taken to the rear and passed the First Maine drawn up in line, ready to make a charge on the Johnnies or on a ketde of baked beans-I did not stop to ascertain which. I belonged to Company HI, Tenth Maine Volunteers
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at that time and after my time was out in May, 1363, I reinlisted in Company I, "First of Maine" and joined the Regi- ment at Warrenton, Va., and my first introduction was on Dahlgren raid to Richmond in the spring of 1864. and I was in all of the subsequent raids and fights of the regiment until our final muster out at Augusta. Being so far from my native state I have never at- tended any of the reunions of our oll regiment, except that one, good fortune let me attend in Detroit at the encamp- ment 1391, which never will be forgotten. Send the good old BUGLE and I send you two dollars to pay up and one for Jan- uary. I will send before long for the History. Yours in F. C. and L.,
[Hiet., p. 600.]
ARTEMUS COOMBS.
YARMOUTH, Mass., Dec. 17, 1892.
DEAR GENERAL:
Once more the BCGLE refreshes cur memories with dear of I names and inci- dents -- some ausing, some glorious and some tender and pathetic, but all full of the sweetest, happiest memories. The letters from recipients of BUGLE belong- ing to other states and organizations in the union as well as confederate army are very interesting. It causes a feeling of sa Iness to know men who battled manfully for what they believed to be right should in old age be reduced by disease and misfortune. I am glad you are able to send them BUGLES and hope there will be enough voluntary contribu- tions to enable you to sapply them to many veterans, both blue ant gray. I enclose you a trifle and if it more than pays my arrears please accept balance as a donation to BUGLE fund.
Very truly yours, THOMAS B. PULSIFER. The Doctor's balance for BUGLE fund was $3.50. He had previously given for same object, $4. [ Hist. p. 521.]
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FIRST MAINE BUGLE.
CALAIS, ME., Dec. 18th, 1892.
GEN. J. P. CILLEY,
Dear Comrade .-- I have received the BUGLE and was greatly pleased with the account you wrote of our trip to Washington. I would like to write for the BUGLE but my education makes me reticent. I often think of the winter we were in Augusta under "lath" drill and discipline. They fed us one time on sour bread and after marching to the tables and right dressing, the boys tried a new drill by playing haliover with their loaves; there were apparently more than five hundred in the air at one time and Capt. Smith in a dignified man- ner asked Lieut. Montgomery why he did not command them to stop; his answer was, "I have commanded them but they won't mind." I believe one loaf accidently took the Colonel in the ear and Co. G. had to come into line and get a lecture. Result, we got better bread. We were a green crowd in military mat- ters, but we knew good bread. I often think of our first camp on Capitol Hill, Washington, in the mud, where we drew our first mules. The teamster of Co. D. undertook to handle one but his mule stood up and brought his fore paw on his nose, but immediately got a little mil- itary instruction from the teamster that he never forgot. Most every thing seems like a dream, our first march into Vir- ginia, the three days sleet and snow storm at Weaversville, without tents or any- thing to eat for man or horse and still other pleasant memories of our Fourth of July at Warrenton junction, also our jollification after the battle of Brandy Station. I shall never forget my ex- perience on the Warrenton Pike after we had returned into Virginia from Gettysburg, my company was reduced to eleven men, not a commissioned officer present; Sergeants Libby and Brooks only commanded us. We did picket duty on the pike and they woke me up at
midnight and sent me to my post alone. I thought I could go right to it on the pike by the path through the oak grove but I got on the wrong path, ran against a fence, jumped over expecting to land on the pike but behold it was an open field. I saw a shanty, made for it and saw a man dodge around it. My heart was in my mouth, I was about as scared as he was, until I found he was a darkey. I asked if there were any Yanks around here, he answered me by directing with his hand to all points of the compass and I was no wiser than before. I hunted around till I found a track and followed it to the pike, but was so turned around I did not know which way to go, but at last went to the left aud struck what I thought were Rebs. They were lying down with gray blankets over them, would rise and look at me, but I con- cluded if they said nothing I would be mum also. At last I heard a Sergeant ordering his relief to fall in and I knew him. I hailed him and told him I thought the vidette on my post had been captured, he said he was there last time he was out, so I went back with him and found my man growling about his extra two hours of picket duty. We are often called "Hospital Bummers" and all such names, we do not claim perfection but my conviction is, that most of the boys dreaded hospitals, for instance Jerome Ridley of my company lost his voice, he would not stay in hospital but kept com- ing back. Ile came one icy time, when we were encamped near the railroad at Camp Stoneman between Falmouth and Acquia Creek, cold and every thing frozen. In spite of the cold and inability to speak, he was glad to be with his com- pany. Having a supply of ginger in my saddle bags, I acted as doctor, and gave him a big dose and put him in a shelter tent between his brother and another comrade with a fire at his feet& The fire inside and out made so much heat that
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