USA > Maine > History of the First Maine cavalry, 1861-1865, V. 1 > Part 22
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I will not repeat what we did next, but come to the part that relates to my feelings. As the regiment moved off, left in front, my battalion took the rear. In order to observe what the enemy might do, I took position in rear of my battalion. Now the rear in the daytime and on a good road is not a desirable place when the column moves at a rapid walk; but at night. through by-ways and woods, and over fords and other obstacles, the rear is a most awful place. Every obstacle would cause each set of fours to string out into twos or in single file, and thus multiply by four the time needed to pass such obstructions, increasing arithmetically toward the rear, and then close up at a trot with the same ratio of time. It may be well that daylight should never shine on the darkness and disorder of the rear of that night. I think it was only equalled by the disorder and blackness of the rear that caused the horse which bore our wounded acting adjutant. Tobie. to the rear on the day at Farmville to fall dead at the sight, and induced
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the limping adjutant to return to the front and solemnly remark: "Let me die here, colonel; I shall not go to the rear again, even if I am hit in both boots."
I rode a brown horse named Bug, compactly built, which I knew would carry me as long as any man in the regiment was carried. He had an easy- going lope, but his trot was terrible. And a trot was the only gait he could use over the rough roads of that night. I tried to ride so I would go up twice to every going down once; but my feelings gave me to understand that I went down twice to every time I rose once. Col. Joe Peaks expressed very forcibly my feelings, when on the staff of Gov. Connor at the muster at Brunswick, when the staff at sharp pace followed the governor on the main street to the Tontine Hotel. He rode a hard-trotting, green horse. and bore it as long as he could, when he unbottled himself with: "Pound! pound! d-n you!" Since that memorable night I have never heard the word "rear" mentioned without a strong temptation to swear.
At one time during the night I dismounted and stood near my horse. and when the column started he followed. I found I could hardly walk. and was obliged to call to some comrade to bring the horse back to me. I felt a little alarmed at my condition, and worked my way to the front. where the marching is always easier, and reached the front just as Maj. Thaxter returned from his visit to the rebel camp, where, from the natural kindness of his disposition, he thanked a man for calling him "a d-n fool."
I lived several ages that night; and when the halt for rest came the next morning at New Market, I dismounted, after a fashion, to find I could not stand on my feet. Short rest, and again in the saddle till near noon, when we halted in open field, and I found a bush some two feet high, put my head in the shade of that, and went to sleep. The command slept an hour or so. When I woke up the sun was shining hot upon my head, and I was suffering from a violent headache.
That night we bivouacked near the road on which the wagon trains were moving. Noise and shouting all night. The accompanying stream of strag- glers and train guards would swing in and out over our resting-place. and kept the headquarter guard in constant motion and the officers growling most of the night. The next day we marched in various directions, took up various positions, and were in supporting distance when the heavy vol- leys rose and fell and filled all the air at Bristow Station. At night our regiment, still separate from its brigade, bivouacked at the western side of Bull Run stream till midnight, when we were informed that all the infantry had passed that stream, and that safety demanded we should take post on the other side.
We crossed. In darkness and rain we searched for room to encamp. Two or three places were tried, but it brought part of our regiment into this general's headquarters, or the grounds of that division, till at last we found a place, and had a short time for more sleep. The next day again to the front. to develop the enemy's designs and ascertain what was in front. We had quite a prolonged skirmish, which was sharp at times. Lieut. Coleman sang out at one time as though hit and wounded badly. and through his blouse could be seen the holes of a bullet. I turned to
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help him, and found the bullet had passed directly across his back, but had not torn his flesh.
The ford across the stream was a devious one; and wishing to do some- thing and to have an opportunity to rest, I sat on my horse in the midst of the stream and directed the men how to cross. The enemy had a cross-fire on this ford, and it was quite lively there; but I felt too tired to move, and remained till our regiment had all passed. We were then held in reserve and marched to this place and that, and at night moved towards Fairfax Station. I was now aching from head to foot. After several halts to find suitable grounds, we went into camp near the station. McFarland helped me from my horse, and I rolled up in a blanket by a log. He afterwards brought me some coffee, but I told him not to touch or come near me. I awoke the next morning powerless to move, and with acute diarrhea. There was a shanty near by. To this my men carried me. It had one room. and was occupied by an Irishman and his wife. I made a bargain for the privilege of occupying a lounge made of rough boards, on which I placed my blanket.
Soon an angel of mercy came in the form of Mrs. Sampson, and gave me a bottle of Santa Cruz rum and some old newspapers: and for the next few days I have little remembrance of what took place, or what time elapsed. I never felt like lying so perfectly still. with the necessity of getting up constantly and regularly. But the Santa Cruz rum relieved my pains, and the newspapers were useful. In less than a week I could not distinguish one day from another, yet when the regiment moved I went on duty with it; but good Lord deliver me from such exhaustion again.
When the regiment reached Bristow Station at noon of the thirteenth, the men had been in their saddles almost continuously for more than thirty-six hours, and had marched from one hun- dred to one hundred and twenty-five miles. This was, indeed. a splendid reconnaissance. although not a gun was fired by the . adventurous force, and it required great caution and persever- ance to escape from the snare into which the little force had fallen. And the escape was something more than mere good luck. From the time the command reached Amisville on the return, Col. Smith had never a doubt of getting out ; it was only a question of how to get out best, and convey the information obtained to headquarters the soonest ; how to get around the enemy before daylight ; and every movement was deliberately planned and executed. The regiment lost twenty-three men on this expedition ; twelve captured while bearing despatches, and the remainder by their horses giving out, and also lost thirty horses.
A private of Co. A. who was overpowered by sleep while the
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regiment was halted near Warrenton, and who failed to awake when the regiment started, was aroused at daylight by the rebel drums and bugles, and being ignorant of the fact that the enemy was about him, as well as of the route the regiment took, conti- dently mounted his horse and rode into Warrenton. He soon discovered into what sort of company he had fallen ; and draw- ing his overcoat about him to conceal his blue uniform, he shuffled along on a Virginia-gaited horse, unsuspected by the rebel cavalry that occupied the town. He avoided the pickets by making a circuit, and reached the Union lines in safety.
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Peter Como, of Co. K, had the misfortune to have his horse go down under him when the advance was attacked near Amis- ville ; but he had no idea of being taken prisoner, having always had a fear of that, thinking that he might be taken for a mulatto and shot (he had a very dark complexion, and it was generally understood had Indian blood in him), and handing his arms and equipments to his more fortunate comrades, he ran along on foot. He was soon lost sight of in the darkness. but when morning dawned he made his appearance, well worn out with his cruel trip, and was at once mounted and cared for. It was a wonderful feat, and required marvellous powers of endurance; and it is doubtful if another man in the regiment could have gone through the same experience.
Sergt. Smith, of Co. K, at the reunion in Portland, 1874. thus told a story concerning this expedition, "dedicated, with- out permission, to Maj. Brown ": -
On our famous ride to Little Washington. the regiment was under the command of Col. Smith, the leading battalion under a major. Co. K. with Capt. Myrick. was at the head of the column: a part of K. as advance guard. under Lient. Ford. and Peter Como and myself several rods in advance of all. The colonel was of course anxious to get over the road as fast as possible : but as Peter and I wended our way as fast as we thought safe. we would see at every turn and cut in the road. and behind the angles of the stone walls. men with guns in their hands, that we knew too well were after a shot at us. consequently we would halt to investigate. Then the colonel would find fault with the major, the major with the captain. the captain with Lieut. Ford, and he with us. Then the major would come galloping up, and demand of Peter and me what in thunder we were afraid of, all of which was very annoying to Peter and me. After repeating this several times, We vame around a turn in the road, and saw on the right hand side of the road.
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some distance in front of us, a large house, with quite a thick hedge on the side next to us, and at right angles with the road. As we had seen armed men come out of every house on the way thus far, we naturally halted now to take a look about: and as we did so saw a platoon of men run round the corner of the house by file, and come into line just behind the hedge, ready to dispute our advance. Just as the last files were disappearing behind the hedge. the gallant major came dashing up, and saw them himself, with their guns glistening in the sun. " There." said he. " you have found something $ . definite at last, and I am glad of it. Now we'll have something to do!" With rapid movements, flashing eye and emphatic orders, he moved Co. K to one side of the road (they having been in advance all day were to be held in reserve), brought up the next two companies, and tearing down the stone wall on the left of the road. placed them in line behind a hill that rose conven- iently there. where they could not be seen from the enemy's line .. Then with visions of glory and renown flitting through his active brain, he gave his instructions. He was to ride alone to the top of the hill. where he could see the whole field of action, and if the enemy were not in too heavy force, raise his hat, when the two squadrons were to charge up the hill, and on around the rear of the house and hedge, Co. K was to stand fast, while the fourth squadron charged up the road, and thus surround and capture the entire party. All this was arranged quicker than I can tell it, and the major started; and as he proudly and fearlessly rode up the hill, he seemed at least two inches taller than ever before, and I fancied I saw him glance at the strap on his shoulder, to see if the gold leaf was not already turning to silver. He reached the top. took in the situation at a single glance, and gave the signal. Forward went the three squadrons, as the First Maine ever went when called on. up over the hill in almost perfect line. down across the slope. with the gallant major still far in advance: then sweeping around the house as the other squadron came charging up the road, they completely sur- rounded about seven little colored children. from two to three feet high. and frightened them almost to death!
During the skirmish near Bull Run on the fifteenth, Surg. Stevens wanted to hear the minnies whistle, just to see how it would seem : and, though advised by the hospital steward to forbear the pleasure, persisted in his determination and went out toward the contesting lines, until he was met by Col. Smith. who ordered him to go to the rear and take care of him- self. The tone and manner of the colonel led the doctor to believe there might be some danger as well as all pleasure in this scientific research. and he lost no time in obeying. After cross- ing the run, however, his old curiosity returned and overcame him, and he halted. He had been there but a few moments when a partially spent bullet struck the horse of the steward who had accompanied the surgeon, and it was wonderful how
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suddenly the latter became aware of the fact that his services might be wanted " if some of those poor boys should get hurt." And saying, with due army emphasis. "We must get out of this," he was off with all speed, the steward sending after him, as a parting solace : " Don't be alarmed; we are not in imminent danger."
. When the regiment got home with the brigade again, on the sixteenth, it was learned that both Gen. and Col. Gregg had given the regiment up for lost; and so sure were they of this, that orders had been issued to draw no rations or forage for the First Maine, as they had fallen into the enemy's hands.
Gen. Meade, in General Orders No. 97, Headquarters Army of the Potomac, Centreville, October 17, 1863, bears testimony to " the activity, zeal and gallantry of the whole cavalry corps, and to the efficient and arduous services rendered in all the recent operations from Rapidan to Centreville."
The rebel army had gone as far north as Gen. Lee thought advisable, evidently not caring to risk a third battle on the old Bull Run field, and was now taking the back track, while Gen. Meade was following it up closely. The regiment remained in the vicinity of Fairfax Station two or three days, and then, with the brigade, brought up the rear of the army in its advance, reaching Gainesville as escort for a large train on the twenty- first, Warrenton about midnight that night, and Fayetteville on the twenty-third. On the twenty-third the Second Pennsylva- nia Cavalry went on a scout toward the Rappahannock, found the enemy at Bealton, and engaged them. As soon as the firing commenced. Col. Smith was ordered to move out with the First Maine to the support of the Second, and to assume command. He did so, but this regiment was not engaged. The Second pressed the enemy to the vicinity of Rappahannock Station, where Col. Smith stopped the advance, and threw out a strong picket line. As soon as the line was established the whole command was ordered back, and found the force had been moved back a couple of miles toward Warrenton. Next day Col. Smith was ordered to take the same two regiments and repeat the operation. This time the Second drove the enemy as before. while the First Maine moved on the flank toward Beverly ford.
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This time the picket line was formed and remained there. During this skirmish Lieut. Smith, of Co. I, was wounded in the arm. and his horse was killed. The force that Col. Smith developed at Rappahannock Station was the same force that the Sixth corps had the engagement with a few days later.
The regiment remained in the vicinity of Fayetteville, pick- eting the Rappahannock in the vicinity of Freeman's ford. scouting. etc., until November eighth; and while here a little picket incident occurred which is well worthy to go on record, as illustrating the feeling existing between the pickets of the two armies. At the ford the Union and Confederate pickets were very near together, and conversation between them was freely indulged in when the officers of either side were not within hearing. One day a rebel picket wanted to come over and trade with the Yankee picket of this regiment for a knife, and the latter promised him a safe return. Over he came, and the two had a cordial greeting, and were haggling as to the amount of rebel tobacco that would purchase a Yankee knife. when who should come along but the officer of the day. He at once ordered the gray visitor under arrest, but the Yankee picket said : " No; I promised him if he would come over he should go back, and he is going. I am to blame in this matter. and not he; if any one is to be punished, let it be I." Ile- then explained the matter to the officer, who, knowing him to be a good soldier, finally decided to let the rebel picket go . this time, but warned him not to get caught again in that way. The Yankee, in speaking of this afterwards, said: "Well. I always did want to shake the hand of a real live rebel before he had been tamed, and now I have done it I am satisfied."
On the seventh there were sounds of heavy cannonading in the direction of Rappahannock Station, where a battle was being fought, and that night the piekets in front of the regiment dis- appeared. . The morning of the eighth the pickets were called in, and the regiment took up the line of march to Morrisville. taking a look at Bealton again on the way. The regiment remained in this vicinity, picketing in rear and on the left of the army, doing a very little scouting and some drilling, until the twenty-fourth. During this short season of comparative
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rest the boys enjoyed themselves finely. The picketing was not hard; that is to say, there were generally men enough to make four or more reliefs. The weather was for the most part fine, though a little inclined to be cold, and one morning (tenth) the boys tried to make fun of packing up their goods and chattels with about an inch of snow frozen to everything, and there was more sociability around the cheerful camp-fires. when camp-fires first began to be needed for comfort, and the regiment was expecting all the time to move, than at any other time. The boys would gather around the fires and talk and laugh and joke, and put in such big rations of real enjoyment those evenings as were unknown when the closer winter quar- ters kept them more in their own houses, or the warmer weather made fires necessary only for cooking. The regiment was on picket at United States and Richardson's fords, some distance down the Rappahannock, near Hartwood church and Falmouth. on the tenth and eleventh, and a portion at Crittenden's Mills and Barrett's ford from the thirteenth to the sixteenth, with another portion at Ellis' ford at the same time, beside occa- sional bursts of picketing in the rear of the camp, standing camp guard mounted, serving as guard for trains, etc.
While at Ellis' ford a patrol of half a dozen men was sent to Kemper's ford, a distance of two or three miles through the woods, every four hours, night and day, to keep a sort of watch over that ford. It was a lonesome ride, but nothing unpleasant occurred. One night the sergeant in charge of the midnight patrol, belonging to Co. G, was not feeling very well, and requested a corporal, who was not on detail just then, to make the trip for him. The corporal, who had been over the route in the daytime, readily agreed to relieve his comrade, and away he went. On arriving at the ford and finding everything quiet, the corporal said to his men. " Boys, there's a pile of cabbages in that garden (pointing to a house near by) ; if you want some of them, two or three of you may go and get some, and I'll wait for you ; and while you are about it, you may bring me one or two. also.". The patrol carried back ten or a dozen of those cabbages, and while enjoying the eating of them the next day noon, the officer in command of the company came down upon
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them fiercely. The woman who owned the garden had been to headquarters with a terrible story of vandalism on the part of the patrol the night before. According to her story they had broken down the fence, stolen all the cabbages she had got laid by for the winter (some two hundred, she said), and committed other depredations. This had come down from headquarters through the regular channels, till it got to Co. G, where it nat- urally stopped. The officer in command was furious, saying his company was getting a powerful reputation for stealing, and it had got to be stopped. He called the sergeant of each patrol to him, and to his surprise, not one of them knew anything about the matter at all; and as he knew nothing about the corporal's going up with the patrol on one trip, he finally, after a right smart of sputtering, became convinced that his company was clear from blame that time, anyhow. All this time the guilty corporal was quietly listening to the remarks of his officer, and eating some of the very cabbage the officer was growling about : and he always averred that neither before nor since did he ever eat cabbage that tasted really good to him, thus proving the truth of the old saying, " Stolen fruit is the sweetest."
On the twenty-fourth of November a forward movement of the whole army was commenced, with the intention of trying once more to whip the rebel forces before going into winter quarters. This movement is written down in history as the "Battle at Mine Run," or the " First Campaign in the Wilder- ness." The First Maine crossed the Rappahannock at Ellis' ford, and marching to the Rapidan, a portion stood picket that night and the next day at Ely's ford, while the rest went into camp near Richardsville. On the twenty-sixth the Rapidan was crossed, and the division took the left of the army. This was Thanksgiving Day in Maine. The day was cold and raw, and the marching tedious, and the boys will be forgiven if they drew pictures of home as they took their Thanksgiving dinner of coll hard bread and cold water. on a cold day, riding along in the enemy's country, or as they went into camp at night with a pros- pect of a night of suffering in the open air. But it was wonder- ful how quickly the cheerful camp-fire and the cup of hot coffee put life and new spirit into them, and how happy they were
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half an hour after hearing the welcome order "Go into camp." which was given just after dark near White Hall, while piekets were posted in the direction of Parker's store. The boys slept well that night, and next morning found a heavy frost over everything. The division was in the saddle and on the march early, the First brigade in the advance, passing the Fifth corps · by daylight on the Gordonsville plank road, and was soon in the "Wilderness," a large tract of land closely grown with small trees, vines, etc. The advance found the enemy in the forenoon near Hooper's or New Hope church, and immedi- ately engaged him. The skirmish lasted till nearly night, the Second brigade supporting the First, and though not actively engaged, the regiment was within hearing of the minnies and the shells for several long hours. If ever time dragged it was to the boys on that day, as they lay on the ground hour after hour, listening to the sounds of battle in the distance ; judging by the varying cheers and yells which side was getting the best of it; expecting every moment to be called into action in the place most needed, and on that very account the worst ; encour- aged occasionally by seeing the wounded and the killed carried by them to the rear, thus giving them more vivid realization of the horrors of war than they could get in any other way, even by the aid of experience and memory or by being in. the battle themselves, because they were now free from excitement and had nothing else to think about ; and watching the sounds of the stray bullets and shells as they came over them. Infi- nitely to be preferred, as far as comfort is concerned, is a posi- tion in " the thick of it," to this waiting in expectancy. About an hour before dark the cavalry was relieved by infantry, and the boy's settled down into the joyful anticipation of getting a night's sleep.
But sleep was not for the boys of the First Maine, or for a part of them, just yet, for six companies were sent off to the right, under command of Lieut. Col. Boothby, to open commu- nication with Gen. Meade's headquarters. Away they went, through woods and across a large field by the side of woods, till just at dark the advance struck a snag. Just what that snag was did not then appear, but it was composed of armed
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men who disputed the passage of the little force. A skirmish line of two companies was formed and sent into the woods. while the rest remained drawn up in fours in the road. For half an hour or so a quite brisk skirmish fire was kept up, the bullets of the opposing force whistling loudly and angrily through the still night air, directly over the heads of the boys · in the road, and striking in the trees and fence beyond them. It was no pleasant pastime to sit quietly there during that half hour, though the boys made the best of it, and joked and laughed as best they were able to do. One thing was said that night which shows how men sometimes behave under fire. While the bullets were whistling their crossest, one of the tall- est sergeants in the regiment, who was at the head of his com- , pany, noticed a large persimmon tree standing near him, and quietly remarked: "There's a persimmon tree, boys; I wish those rebs would load their muskets with persimmons, and pucker up their muzzles." Whoever has eaten half-ripe persim- mons will appreciate the remark, and it is needless to say that the danger was forgotten for a moment. Finally, finding there was too strong a force in the woods to allow any communication with army headquarters that night, the attempt was abandoned. and the little force rejoined the rest of the regiment. having suffered no loss, and camped for the night with orders for the whole regiment to start early the next morning and " connect with headquarters anyhow."
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