USA > Maine > History of the First Maine cavalry, 1861-1865, V. 1 > Part 2
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xix
CONTENTS.
ROSTER OF THE REGIMENT.
PAGE
FIELD AND STAFF
451
COMPANY A
465
COMPANY B
481
COMPANY C
500
COMPANY D
513
COMPANY E
526
COMPANY F
541
COMPANY G
558
COMPANY H
578
COMPANY I
594
COMPANY K
611
COMPANY L
631
COMPANY M
644
GRAND RECAPITULATION
659
FIRST DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
660
LIST OF CASUALTIES.
1$62
669
1863
671
1804
675
FIRST DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA .
682
1865
686
RECAPITULATION
688
1
THE BATTLE-FLAG
693
GENERAL ORDER NO. 10
. 695
INDEX TO ROSTER 719
CARD FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION . 783
EdiceTobie Historian
FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
CHAPTER I.
THE WINTER IN MAINE.
ORGANIZATION OF THE REGIMENT. - CHARACTER OF ITS MEN. - THE FIRST MAN. - THE FIRST LETTER FROM CAMP. - ROSTER OF OFFICERS AND MAKE-UP OF THE REGIMENT AT THE MUSTER-IN. - THE WINTER AT CAMP PENOBSCOT. - CAMP RUMORS. - LIFE IN TENTS DURING A MAINE WINTER. - SANITARY CONDITION OF THE MEN. - FUNERAL PROCES- SIONS. - THAT " EXTRA BLANKET."-THE HORSES AND THEIR CARE. - DRILL, MOUNTED AND DISMOUNTED. - THE " SAILOR ON HORSEBACK." - THE RATIONS. - PAY-DAY. - THE TWENTY-TWO DOLLARS BOUNTY. - MORAL TONE OF THE REGIMENT. - THE PROFANITY AND TEMPERANCE ORDERS. - DISCIPLINE. - RUNNING GUARD. - PLEASANT MEMORIES. - CHANGES IN THE OFFICERS. - ON THE WAY TO WASHINGTON. - ARRI- VAL AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL. - IN CAMP ON CAPITOL HILL. - THE FIRST DETAIL. - ARMED AND EQUIPPED.
T HIE First Maine Cavalry was organized in the fall of 1861, under authority from the War Department. The first ten regiments of infantry, recruited under an act of the Legislature passed at a special session, on the twenty- fifth of the preceding April, were organized, or nearly so, and the greater portion of them had already gone to the front, when there came from Washington authority to enlist five more regiments of infantry, a regiment of cavalry, a company of sharp- shooters, and six batteries of light artillery, to serve three years, or during the war. Up to this time the War Department seemed to have little faith in cavalry, which afterwards proved to be so important and useful a branch of the service, and offers of mounted troops, and of light artillery, also, had been refused.
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2
FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
This authority was received about the first of September, but not till the eleventh was the order for recruiting the new regi- ments issued by the state authorities, and it was some days later than that, that the necessary papers for enlisting the regiment of cavalry were put into the hands of parties in different sections of the state. . Recruiting went forward rapidly. By the first of October the men began to rendezvous at Augusta; on the nine- teenth five companies were mustered into service, and in the early part of November the regiment of twelve companies was full and the organization complete, the regiment having been raised in a- shorter time than any similar organization in any other state.
The men composing the regiment were of the best class that went from the state, which their record proves, and for several reasons. At that time the war of the rebellion had begun to be considered as likely to be a long and a bloody war. The idea, so fondly indulged in at first, that it would end in sixty, or at most ninety days, had been thoroughly dispelled. Bull Run, with all its disasters, was then a matter of sad, humili- ating history. That the south meant fight to the bitter end was certain, and that its army had the advantage in organiza- tion and in military discipline, if not in numbers, as well as in the prestige of success and the benefit of being on the defensive, was also certain. The battle of Bull Run had waked up the north as nothing else could have done. A large propor- tion of the men who enlisted subsequent to that time did so from purely patriotic motives and after calmly thinking over the matter, because they felt that the country really needed them and they must go, cost what it might. They had had opportunities to learn from the experiences of those already in the field something of what the service really was, and had weighed carefully all sides of the question. They knew full well that if they enlisted they surrendered their freedom, their personality, in a great measure, their very thoughts and convic- tions, almost, into other hands, which to many was worse than facing death itself ; and they were willing to make all that sac- rifice. They felt that they were to encounter hardship, and suffering, and danger, beyond anything they then could imagine ; yet they were willing, for country's sake, to brave all. With
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CHARACTER OF THE MEN.
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this understanding of what they were about to do, and of what it entailed upon them, they enlisted.
And there were reasons why this regiment secured the very best of the superior class of men that enlisted at that time. In the first place, it was-announced that a better class of men was required for this service, as the grade was higher, and only men of superior intelligence were wanted. Recruiting officers were instructed to enlist "none but sound, able-bodied men in all respects, between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five years, of correct morals and temperate habits, active, intelligent, vigorous and hardy, weighing not less than one hundred and twenty- five or more than one hundred and sixty pounds." These requirements were generally answered, and many men were refused by the recruiting officer and the medical examiner, who enlisted and were accepted in other regiments almost immedi- ately afterwards. Recruiting officers were given large fields to select from, and thus could, in a great measure, take their pick of the men offered, the regiment being apportioned among the several counties of the state - four companies to be recruited from two counties each, and the remaining eight, each from a different county. This plan was carried out as far as prac- ticable, and thus the regiment was more completely a state regiment than any other, being made up from all parts of the state. Then many of the men, having looked into the matter carefully, had concluded that one great source of the dissatis- faction with the service on the part of those already in the field, arose from the fact of being obliged to lie almost idle in camp day after day, relieved only by the dull routine of guard duty. which bred uneasiness, homesickness, and even disease, and they concluded that in the cavalry service there would be more to keep them busy; there were the horses to be cared for always, and there was, as they thought, a prospect of more duty in scouting, etc. Then the idea of long and forced marches on foot led many who feared they would not be able to endure this portion of the service to prefer a service in which they would ride. Then there hung about the cavalry service a dash and an excitement which attracted those men who had read and remembered the glorious achievements of " Light Horse Harry "
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FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
and his brigade, and of . Morgan's Men " in the revolutionary war, or who had devoured the story of "Charles O'Malley," and similar works. In short, men who had read much in his- tory or in fiction, preferred the cavalry service. The Lewis- ton Journal of January 24, 1862, in a correspondence from Augusta, gives another reason for this fact, and also compliments the men of the regiment in these words: " We could not avoid noticing the noble bearing and almost universal indications of intelligence of a high order in the faces of the members of the cavalry, as they rode through the streets on their chargers a few days since. It may be, as intimated by the Professor in the Atlantic, that it makes common men look dignified and impe- rious to sit on a horse. This is probably so, and may furnish the explanation why the cavalry service - certainly much harder than the infantry - has been sought after by so many men of means. Men - and sometimes women - like to rule, and if it is only a horse, it yields some satisfaction. The con- querors of the world are always represented on horseback, and from Marcus Aurelius in Roman bronze down to the ‘man on horseback ' in Gen. Cushing's prophetic speech, the saddle has been the true seat of empire."
John Goddard, of Cape Elizabeth, a man well-known through- out the state, was selected by the state authorities as colonel of the regiment at the earliest inception of its organization, and the remaining field and staff officers soon after, and all went actively at work. The first name borne on the rolls of the regi- ment was that of Jonathan P. Cilley, of Thomaston (afterwards lieutenant colonel and brevet brigadier general), who had, pre- vious to this time. recruited men for a battery of light artillery, which the state refused to accept. Receiving an intimation that a cavalry regiment was to be raised in the state, he at once telegraphed to Gov. Washburn for authority to enlist men, and received a telegram dated September third, to commence. He immediately made out a roll. signed his name at the head, and secured several names before he received the regular enlisting papers, which was not till some days afterwards, when the enlistment was done over again according to the form prescribed in the army regulations. He went to Augusta with twenty-six
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THE EARLY DAYS IN CAMP.
men on the thirtieth of September, - the first squad that arrived there for the regiment. This squad, in the immediate charge of Melville B. Cook, afterwards sergeant, camped on the parade-ground in front of the State House that night, and in a day or two went into camp in the enclosure of the State Fair Association, which was destined to be the camp-ground of the regiment for the coming winter - afterwards named "Camp Penobscot." A squad of men from Penobscot county arrived on the ground the next day, and a day or two later, October third, a squad from Androscoggin county. The state of affairs there at this time, together with the spirit of the men, are indicated in a letter, one of the first, if not the first letter, written in the camp of the First Maine Cavalry, which is given verbatim, with such explanations in brackets as are necessary : -
IN A HORSE-STALL ON THE AGRICULTURAL FAIR GROUNDS, NEARLY OPPOSITE THE CAPITOL, AUGUSTA, MAINE, October 4, 1861.
DEAR FATHER: - Here I am. all right, sitting on the bed, and using an inverted nail cask for a table. We arrived here yesterday, at about the usual time for the afternoon train. We were filed out of the car, and marched up to the State House, when each of us was presented with a bed-tick and a towel, and admonished to be careful of them. Then we were marched down to the fair-ground. and found no tents. The five that were sent over the day before had done their work well, and got everything fixed but tents; but those not being in town, couldn't be very handily put up. We broke ranks and were shown where the straw was quartered, and a gentle hint given that we could sleep better if our ticks were filled. We took the hint. and in a short time our boys might have been seen straggling along. each with a straw bed on his shoulder. We were ordered to put them into the horse-stalls, as those were to be our quarters for the night. These stalls are decently well built and quite warm, being boarded up all round, and well covered. I happened to get into a good one. and lay last night on a shelf. Cook came along and said supper was ready. Sorter hungry, and had no trouble in finding the table. It was our first camp meal. and we had plenty of sport. It was a good supper, too, and if we get half as good right along, I won't grumble at all. We had cold salt beef (good), meat hash (good), hard and soft bread (good). boiled rice (can't say whether or no it was good, never having formed a friendship for the article), and some tip- top coffee, sweetened with molasses, but good. We had a merry time, and ate plenty. We were somewhat amused by hearing one inquiring. " Where is the butter ?" and many other such expressions. After supper we went to the State House and got some good, large, warm blankets, and then started for a stroll down town. We got back about half-past seven, and
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FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
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having nothing special to do, turned into our quarters. We had four in this stall, and after fixing ourselves comfortably, we lay down to sleep. But no sleep at present. We were most all green at camping out, and it was sport for us to listen to the various remarks, good, bad, and indifferent, of the several new sojers. The partitions between the stalls are not made clear up, so we could hear all that was going on. We had no light, so we detailed a man to find one, who soon came back with couple inches of candle. which he stuck into a potato, and then nailed the potato to the side of the house. We lay listening till some after nine, after which I have no recollec- tion till about three o'clock, when I woke up and found the same noise I left. I soon got over that, and the next I knew I heard the cook getting breakfast. We got up, went down to the spring and washed and combed - up, and then breakfast was ready. We had baked beans (very good), hard and soft bread, cold meat, rice, etc., and milk for our coffee. A nice break- fast. While we were eating, our colonel came along on horseback, took a keen glance along the table, and passed on to the other companies. Break- fast over, most of the boys strolled off, while I staid in the quarters and marked my bed, blanket. etc. That done, I went up to the State House to see the sights, and found most of our boys at the top. They had been down to the city and purchased a foot ball and a base ball, by contribution. and were on the way back. We kicked the foot ball round a spell, and then "fell in" for drill. We were drilled by Lieut. Col. Height, or Haight [Hight], who forces his words out in this way: " FORWARD, Hoven! " which caused us some little sport, though we dared not show it. Then volunteers were called for to go to work on the stables, and I was one of the respon- dents, and for about four hours I was a carpenter. Liked it pretty well. It seems I. W., Jr. [Gov. Washburn] said the horses must stay in the open air; but our colonel said the horses must be taken care of if the men were not; and so the sojers are being carpenters by turns. Our Loys like the appearance of the colonel very much, and this forenoon one of them was feeling awtul good by the thought that the colonel spoke to him privately. On being questioned, however, as to what he said, he replied : " He told me to . hush up.'" No more Frag there. The boys are kicking the foot ball now, and, judging by the noise they make, are having a good time. I shall help them soon.
There are about three hundred on the ground now. The Penobscot com- pany came day before yesterday with full ranks, and there is quite a strong delegation from Lincoln county [Knox and Waldo]. About fifty from Han- cock county came in this afternoon, and I think they will fare rather slim to-night. The Eleventh Infantry are camped by our side, and directly opposite the Capitol. Part of a company of sharp-shooters are also in camp there. The infantry have got a tip-top camp-ground, but if the man was here that told me the fair-ground was a beautiful place for camping. I think I could convune him in a few minutes that he was mistaken. The race-track is very good for parade, but the inside was sown down to oats this season, and the stubble now sticks up promiscuously, and in case of rain it will be horrible. We don't care, though, as we are Uncle Sam's men. We have had a good time so far, and all are in tip-top spirits. We have a good cook, and everything for him to work with. Potatoes at every meal,
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THIE ORGANIZATION COMPLETE.
so far. No riot has yet occurred, but I heard several swearing last night that if that "fellow don't stop thumbing on that guitar, I'll break it to-morrow." The guitar is well so far. We don't know how long we shall play horses, but our tents are expected every day. I feel tip-top, and think I am going to like it. Slept well last night, and waked up this morning without being called, feeling as clear as a quill.
From this time the state fair-ground rapidly assumed the appearance of a camp, as one squad after another arrived and began a new line of tents inside the race-track. The several companies retained their original camping-ground, and when the regiment was completed, the companies were in the follow- ing order : Co. B on the right, and then A, F, I, M, K, E, L, G, H, D, C. The " judges' stand " was taken for a hospital, and the barn at the entrance to the grounds for a guard-house. At the further end of the grounds six stables, substantially made and comfortable in arrangement, were constructed, mainly by the enlisted men, of sufficient size and length to accommodate the horses of two companies each. The horses also soon began to arrive, and new men were coming in daily. During the month of October considerable dismounted drill was indulged in, some guard duty and much fatigue duty were performed, and the men made themselves comfortable in their tents, etc., but on the whole the month may be said to have been spent in organizing, and on the fifth day of November the last company was mustered in, and the organization was completed, as fol- lows : -
FIELD AND STAFF.
(Mustered October 31.)
COLONEL, LIEUTENANT COLONEL,
MAJORS,
ADJUTANT. QUARTERMASTER, SURGEON. ASSISTANT SURGEON, CHAPLAIN,
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JOHN GODDARD, Cape Elizabeth. THOMAS HIGHT, U. S. Army. SAMUEL H. ALLEN, Thomaston. DAVID P. STOWELL, Canton. CALVIN S. DOUTY, Dover. BENJAMIN F. TUCKER, U. S. Army. EDWARD M. PATTEN, Portland. GEORGE W. COLBY, Richmond.
GEORGE D. HALEY, Eastport. BENJAMIN F. TEFT, Bangor.
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FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
SERGEANT MAJOR. ADDISON P. RUSSELL, Houlton.
QUARTERMASTER SERGEANT. EUSTIS C. BIGELOW, Portland.
: COMMISSARY SERGEANT. CHARLES S. CROSBY, Bangor.
HOSPITAL STEWARD. SAMUEL C. LOVEJOY, Rockland.
PRINCIPAL MUSICIANS.
ARTEMAS D. BICKFORD, Houlton.
( WILLIAM L. BOYD, Houlton. !
COMPANY A. - PENOBSCOT COUNTY. (Mustered in October 19.)
CAPTAIN, WARREN L. WHITNEY, Newburg.
FIRST LIEUTENANT. SIDNEY W. THAXTER, Bangor.
SECOND LIEUTENANT. JOSEPH C. HILL, Kennebunk.
Six sergeants, eight corporals, two buglers, two farriers, seventy-two privates.
COMPANY B. -- KNOX AND WALDO COUNTIES. (Mustered in October 19.)
CAPTAIN, JONATHAN P. CILLEY, Thomaston. FIRST LIEUTENANT. WILLIAM P. COLEMAN, Lincolnville.
SECOND LIEUTENANT. FRANK M. CUTLER, Union.
Six sergeants, eight corporals, two buglers, two farriers, one wagoner, one saddler, seventy-three privates.
COMPANY C .- KENNEBEC COUNTY. :(Mustered in October 20.)
CAPTAIN, ROBERT F. DYER. Augusta.
FIRST LIEUTENANT. DUDLEY L. HAINES, Readfield.
SECOND LIEUTENANT. GEORGE S. KIMBALL. Gardiner.
Six sergeants, eight corporals. two buglers, two farriers, one wagoner, one saddler, seventy-five privates.
COMPANY D. - WASHINGTON AND HANCOCK COUNTIES.
(Mustered in October 19.)
CAPTAIN, CHARLES H. SMITH. Eastport.
FIRST LIEUTENANT, ANDREW B. SPURLING, Orland.
SECOND LIEUTENANT. WILLIAM MONTGOMERY, Orland.
Six sergeants, eight corporals, two buglers, two farriers, two wagoners, one saddler, seventy-three privates.
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ROSTER OF THE REGIMENT.
COMPANY E. - AROOSTOOK COUNTY. (Mustered in October 19.)
CAPTAIN? BLACK HAWK PUTNAM. Houlton.
FIRST LIEUTENANT, JOHN H. GODDARD, Portland. SECOND LIEUTENANT, OSCAR S. ELLIS, Lincoln.
Six sergeants, eight corporals, one bugler, one wagoner, one saddler, seventy-four privates.
COMPANY F .- CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
(Mustered in October 19.)
CAPTAIN, NATHAN MAYHEW, Portland.
FIRST LIEUTENANT, STEPHEN BOOTHBY, Portland.
SECOND LIEUTENANT, JARVIS C. STEVENS, Portland.
Six sergeants, eight corporals, two buglers, two farriers, one wagoner, one saddler, seventy-three privates.
COMPANY G. - ANDROSCOGGIN AND OXFORD COUNTIES.
(Mustered in October 31.)
CAPTAIN, AUGUSTUS J. BURBANK, Lewiston. ZEBULON B. BLETHEN. Lewiston.
FIRST LIEUTENANT,
SECOND LIEUTENANT, ISAAC G. VIRGIN, Dixfield.
Six sergeants, eight corporals, two buglers, two farriers, one wagoner, one saddler, seventy-three privates.
COMPANY H .- SOMERSET COUNTY.
(Mustered in November 5.)
CAPTAIN. GEORGE J. SUMMAT. U. S. Army.
FIRST LIEUTENANT, CHARLES H. BAKER, Skowhegan. SECOND LIEUTENANT. JOHN R. WEBB. St. Albans.
Six sergeants, eight corporals, two buglers, two farriers, one wagoner. one saddler, seventy-three privates.
COMPANY I. - YORK COUNTY. (Mustered in October 31.)
CAPTAIN. LOUIS O. COWAN. Biddeford.
FIRST LIEUTENANT. PAUL CHADBOURNE, Waterboro. SECOND LIEUTENANT. FRANK W. PRAY, Shapleigh.
Seven sergeants, eight corporals, two buglers, one wagoner, seventy-tive Privates.
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FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
COMPANY K. - SAGADAHOC, AROOSTOOK, AND LINCOLN COUNTIES.
(Mustered in November 2.)
CAPTAIN, GEORGE PRINCE, Bath.
FIRST LIEUTENANT, GEORGE CARY. Houlton.
SECOND LIEUTENANT, JOHN D. MYRICK, Augusta.
Six sergeants, eight corporals, two buglers, two farriers, one wagoner, seventy-two privates.
COMPANY L .- FRANKLIN COUNTY. (Mustered in November 1.)
CAPTAIN, REUBEN B. JENNINGS, Farmington.
FIRST LIEUTENANT. CONSTANTINE TAYLOR, U. S. Army.
SECOND LIEUTENANT, GEORGE WESTON, Oldtown.
Six sergeants, eight corporals, two musicians, two farriers, one wagoner, two saddlers, seventy-six privates.
COMPANY M. - PISCATAQUIS, PENOBSCOT, AND HANCOCK COUNTIES.
(Mustered in October 31.)
CAPTAIN. GEORGE M. BROWN, Bangor.
FIRST LIEUTENANT, JOHN C. C. BOWEN. Boston, Mass.
SECOND LIEUTENANT, EVAN S. PILLSBURY, Guilford.
Six sergeants, eight corporals, two buglers, two farriers, one wagoner, one saddler, sixty-eight privates.
The history of the regiment from its organization until the next spring, contains no scenes of excitement or danger, and no record of daring deeds or of battle-fields, yet 'tis a part of the whole, and during that time the men learned something of ser- vice. something of discipline, something of drill, something of suffering - all preparatory for what was to follow. At first, it was expected the regiment would go to Washington before cold weather set in : then 'twas changed to go to New York for the winter; then came thick and fast rumors of going; of being disbanded, and the nien mustered out ; of joining Butler's ex- pedition : of marching to Harrisburg, Pa., and thence going by cars to Washington ; of marching through New England, any
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ALMOST DISBANDED.
way; of marching to Portland, and there taking transports for South Carolina; of marching to Providence, R. I., and there taking transports for Annapolis, Md .; of going to Texas ; of the horses being taken away and the men mustered out; and of most everything else except what actually occurred, namely, the regiment remained in Augusta all winter, and a cold winter it was, too, the men living in tents. So fast were different stories circulated and contradicted, that everything was in a state of uncertainty ; and when the regiment was actually ordered to the front, few even then believed it would ever leave Augusta.
That there was reason for some of these rumors there is no doubt. Hon. James G. Blaine, in a speech at the regimental reunion held in Augusta, in 1878, said :-
About the time the regiment was ready to move there was a change in the War Department, Mr. Cameron going out and Mr. Stanton coming in; and there was a feeling at that time that Secretary Cameron had been extravagant, especially in the enlistment of cavalry ; and a general order went out to disband all the volunteer cavalry regiments in the country at that time. It happened that Gov. Washburn - because I was personally acquainted with the new Secretary of War, Stanton-asked me to go to Washington. I happened at that time to be Speaker of the House of Representatives of Maine, and I left the chair, a speaker pro tem. being appointed, and went to Washington, to represent that if every other cavalry regiment should be disbanded, the Union could never be saved unless the First Maine went out. And I went on that mission, and I had sundry and divers interviews with Mr. Stanton, who seemed to be utterly implacable. I had the great aid of Vice President Hamlin, whose kinsman I am glad to sre among our guests this evening; of our great senator, Mr. Fessenden; of his great associate, Mr. Morrill. But with all this able influence that was brought to bear, I think it would have been ineffectual, had it not turned out that a regular army officer, who had been down here on some sort of duty, came to the War Department, and with a good, round, square cavalry oath, if there is such a thing, told Stanton that there never had been such a regiment mounted in the United States as that, and he could not afford to disband it. Accordingly the regiment was moved within three weeks from this time.
These extracts from " Rebellion Record " point in the same direction : -
HD. QRS. OF DEP'T OF NEW ENGLAND, BOSTON, Feb. 12, 1862.
THE HON. SEC'Y OF WAR: - I must again call attention to the Maine cavalry regiment, if I am to have the horses. If not, I must purchase
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