USA > Maine > History of the First Maine cavalry, 1861-1865, V. 1 > Part 4
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23
RUNNING GUARD.
Those of a recklesss disposition, who had not yet learned that the first duty of the soldier was to obey without question, or, as they put it themselves, who "dared to run guard," did so, and secured all the enjoyment of so doing; while those who were actuated by a spirit of honor, who would do nothing they could not do openly, -and there were very many such, -stayed in camp and made the best of it, though they could not help feeling that injustice was done them. Good and true men, liv- ing but a few miles from Augusta, were not allowed to, and did not, visit their homes after first going into camp, while others paid stolen visits, more than once, and enjoyed them all the more because they were stolen. It is no discredit, really, to those who ran guard that they did so. For the most part, they performed their duty faithfully and cheerfully while in camp, obeyed orders promptly, and were good soldiers ; and it is not to be wondered at, that they should take the risk of dis- covery and punishment, for the sake of seeing their friends once more, or for the pleasures of civil life, when it was almost certain that in a short time these pleasures would be beyond their reach. Instead of being blamed, should they not, rather, now that it is all past, be considered fortunate, in that they did have the courage to take the risk ? Punishment was severe for such, as for all breaches of discipline, and several wore the ball and chain for absenting themselves from camp, only to repeat the operation as soon as possible after the fetters were removed. Drunkenness was also severely punished, but the cases that came to the knowledge of the officers, or, in fact, that occurred at all, were comparatively few.
The orders of the camp, with the exception of those in regard to leaving it, were generally acquiesced in as cheerfully as could be expected. under the circumstances, and the camp always presented a quiet, orderly, neat appearance, barring the show, and ice, and slosh, and mud, with which it was afflicted. The various calls were answered promptly, no matter what the weather; and if now and then there was growling, it was not strange, and it was the right of the soldier from time immemo- rial. The men learned, while in Camp Penobscot, to obey, in so far as they could do so without violating their own sense of
24
FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
justice and necessity. It was not until they got into real service, and the presence of actual danger, that they carried this lesson to the fullest extent, and obeyed all orders, at whatever personal cost. They learned, while in Camp Penobscot, to respect their officers (as was natural they should do), only so far as the officers merited it by their conduct, or they were forced to by the Army Regulations. In the field, they respected those whose ability and courage won their respect, and none others, though they obeyed all, and treated all with the necessary out- ward respect. The lessons taught at Augusta, though not then fully learned, had a direct and powerful influence for good over the whole career of the regiment. It has been said that the regiment would not have won the proud position which it did, but for the severity of the discipline of the five months in Augusta. Referring to all necessary discipline, there is no doubt of the truth of the statement.
But it was not all discomfort and discontent at Camp Penob- scot. The men had many things to comfort them, and make them happy. . There were visits from friends to cheer them, and to start them anew in their service life. There were excursions from Portland, Lewiston, and elsewhere, to take up their atten- tion, and vary the monotony of the weary routine. There was a good dinner Thanksgiving Day, furnished by the friends of the men and of the regiment, in such abundant measure, that the taste of hardtack was unknown for two or three days after- ward. And, above all, there were cheering letters from kind friends at home, from wives, mothers, sisters, sweethearts, fathers, and brothers, the reading of which did them good, --- more than the writers knew,-and made their situation not only bearable, but even pleasant, and a source of pride. Then there were papers, and other reading matter, sent to the men in large quantities, which filled up pleasantly and profitably many an otherwise lonesome hour, and were borrowed, and lent, and read, by this one and that one, till literally read to pieces. An arrangement was early made to have the mails brought to and carried from the regiment daily, which proved to be a great blessing, and for which the men could not then, nor can they now. be too thankful. Then there was fun in abundance in
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25
ORDERED TO THE FRONT.
camp, with song, and story, and jest, and dance, and with striv- ing to live up to the idea, as far as was possible, under which they enlisted ; viz., to make the best of everything, and to be jolly under all circumstances. Some of those evenings in the tents, with the "wart on the tent-pole," as the stoves were facetiously called, sending out a glowing heat, and the men clustered around, telling stories, or joking, or reading, or sing- ing. or playing euchre, or other games, will never be forgotten, and now hold a place in the pleasantest of memory's corners. Then there was the consciousness of doing one's duty, of serving his loved country, though in a humbler and a different way from what was anticipated, yet serving it all the same, and all the time fitting for a more efficient, a nobler, a more glorious service by-and-by. All these, together with an occasional pass "down town," or a short furlough, served to keep the men in good spirits, in spite of surroundings which would have caused less patriotic and less noble men to surrender to circumstances and lie down to die.
During the winter some changes were made among the officers of the regiment. Col. Goddard, finding that his own business was suffering in his absence, felt compelled to resign, and did so, to take effect on March first, at which time he called the regiment together at his headquarters, and made a farewell address. Maj. Allen was commissioned colonel, Capt. Whitney of Co. A was commissioned major, in place of Maj. Allen, and Lieut. Thaxter of Co. A was commissioned captain, in place of Capt. Whitney. Lieut. Col. Hight resigned on being super- seded by Maj. Allen, and returned to the command of his rumpany, in the United States dragoons, but the vacancy caused by his resignation was not filled at that time. There were also a few changes among the line officers.
The first of March orders were received for the regiment to be transported to Washington by rail, a battalion of four compa- nies to go at a time, and the first battalion to start on the tenth. So many times had rumors been floating about the camp to a like effect, that not much confidence was placed in this order. It was generally considered too good news to be true ; and as the departure was postponed from day to day, for different assigned
26
FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
reasons, till the fourteenth. confidence grew less. Finally, on the morning of Friday, the fourteenth, after Cos. A, D, E, and F, had struck their tents, and were packed up, in spite of the fact that orders were received not to start just yet, - and these orders were repeated three or four times during the day, according to rumors, -- Col. Allen concluded, as all was ready, to start; and these companies started. Eight horses and their riders were put into each box freight car, with a bale of hay for feed ; the horses were stalled, four in each end of the car, facing inwards, with the hay in the centre ; and the men stayed between the two rows of horses, to take care of them. The train started about dark, but had not gone more than a dozen miles before the rear portion became unshackled, and the two rear cars, con- taining men and horses belonging to Co. E, were tipped over. Fortunately, no one was hurt; the rest of the train was stopped, half the wrecked men went on in the train, and the others, with the horses, returned to camp, to go with the next squad. This battalion reached the National capital in due season, having left Col. Allen in New York, suffering from illness.
The second battalion, composed of Cos. B, H, I, and M, was ordered to start on the sixteenth, but a heavy snow storm set in, -- the heaviest of the season, - which delayed their departure till the twentieth, when they also started, under command of Maj. Douty, and arrived in Washington without accident. on the twenty-fourth. On this last-named date the remaining battalion, comprising Cos. C. G. K, and L, under command of Maj. Stowell, also took their departure, Co. G, the last com- pany to bid farewell to Camp Penobscot, giving the camp three rousing cheers as they marched out, with three more for the good old state of Maine, as they marched by the State House. Soon after starting, Quartermaster Sergt. MeIntire, of Co. G, while attempting to soothe a nervous horse, was thrown from the car and severely injured ; he was taken back to Augusta, and rejoined the regiment in a few weeks. The route taken was to New York by box cars, as already stated, thence by steam ferry to Elizabeth City, N. J., and thence, the horses in cattle cars, and the men in passenger cars, via Harrisburg, to Baltimore and Washington. The third battalion arrived in
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27
AT WASHINGTON.
Washington the morning of the twenty-eighth, having got a good square meal at the rooms of the "Union Relief Associa- tion " at Baltimore, just after midnight. The men tried to take breakfast at the "Soldiers' Retreat," but the "retreat " was so filthy, the rations were served in such a slovenly manner, and the general surroundings were so gloomy, that they could eat but little, and there was a feeling of homesickness and despon- dency, more general, probably, than at any other time in the history of the regiment. The forenoon was spent at the "Sol- diers' Rest," a place no more pleasant or inviting than the "retreat," and in waiting by the side of the railroad, a mile or more from the station, for the train with the horses, which arrived about noon ; and before night this battalion had joined the remainder of the regiment, in camp on Capitol Hill. As it reached there at a late hour, but few of the men pitched tents, the remainder sleeping that night in some old buildings, where they suffered more from cold than they had done amid the cold and snows of their native state, at Camp Penobscot.
The next day, twenty-ninth, tents were pitched, and the boys made themselves as comfortable as possible, though a down east acquaintance, in the form of a cold snow storm, paid them a visit which lasted a couple of days. Previous to this time (nine- teenth), a detail from Co. D, under command of Capt. Smith and Lieuts. Goddard and Stevens, had been sent to Upton's Hill, Va., to guard a large amount of government property, left there when the Army of the Potomac left its winter quarters, early in the month,- the first detail from the regiment,- and now a relief was sent out there. During the day sabres and pistols were issued to the last battalion (the other two bat- talions had already been supplied), and the boys began to feel that they were soldiers in fact, as well as in name. Rumors were current in camp that Gens. Fremont and Banks had both made application for this regiment, as soon as they learned it had left Maine ; however this may be, orders were received on this day for five companies to proceed to Harper's Ferry, to serve under Gen. Banks. And thus the First Maine Cavalry. on the twenty-ninth of March, 1862, five months after its organ- ization, was at Washington, armed and equipped, and a portion of it under marching orders.
CHAPTER II.
THE CAMPAIGN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.
GUARDING THE BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD. - INCIDENTS AT MAR- TINSBURG. - THE " INTOXICATION OF POWER." -UNDER GEN. BANKS. - THE FIRST DUTY IN PRESENCE OF THE ENEMY .- THE FIRST SKIRMISH AND THE FIRST CHARGE. - SKIRMISH NEAR STRASBURG. - BANKS' RETREAT. - PREPARING TO FIGHT. - "I CAME HERE TO FIGHT, CAP- TAIN." - AN IMPORTANT SCOUTING EXPEDITION. - STUBBORN RESIST- ANCE TO ASHBY'S FORCE. - VALUABLE SERVICES OF THE FIRST MAINE BATTALION. - THE FIRST CASUALTY. - "THE MIDDLETOWN DISAS- TER." - A FEARFUL CHARGE. - ESCAPE OF THE BATTALION. - BATTLE OF WINCHESTER. - RETREAT ACROSS THE POTOMAC. - EXPERIENCES OF THE FIRST WOUNDED MAN. - A PRISON EXPERIENCE. - INCIDENTS OF THE DISASTER. - THE RETURN UP THE VALLEY. - MORE SKIRMISHING. - THE BATTALION REJOINS THE REGIMENT.
S C UNDAY morning, March thirtieth, in accordance with the orders received the day previous, Cos. A, B, E, H, and M, under command of Maj. Douty, started to march to Harper's Ferry, by way of Frederick. As this battalion was destined to first meet the enemy in combat, it is proper that its fortunes should be first followed. On arriving at Harper's Ferry it was joined to what was known as the " Railroad Brigade," commanded by Col. Miles, the duty of which was to guard the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and prevent squads of the enemy, guerillas, or southern sympathizers, from making raids on the road, burning bridges, tearing up the track, or otherwise injur- ing the road (which would do serious damage to the Union cause ), and to seout around the country in search of the enemy in whatever guise. This duty was for the most part arduous and tiresome, for the simple reason that guard duty was the hardest portion of the service. being dull, as well as hard and constant work. The several companies were separated, and assigned to duty at different points along the road, Co. A being
29
THIE TROUBLED CLOCK.
stationed at Martinsburg, Co. B at Great Cacapon River. Co. E at Black River Creek. Co. H at Hancock, and Co. M at Har- per's Ferry, Co. B being furthest west. There was little to relieve the tedium of the duty, after the first novelty of camp life in active service wore off ; an occasional scout after gue- · rillas or to "feel " some noisy secessionist, some of which trips were very pleasant, being the only variety the boys enjoyed, except such as they found for themselves.
This story is told of two Co. A boys, while at. Martins- burg : -
Co. A had been in camp at Martinsburg but a few days, when Sergt. C. and a comrade obtained a pass to visit the town, to return by two o'clock that afternoon. They busied themselves very pleasantly about the streets until nearly noon, and were growing hungry and considering the matter of dinner, when a neatly-attired, middle-aged woman came out from a store, and started up the street, ahead of them. As she noticed the old flag (at the provost marshal's office) waving above her, she gracefully bounded over the curbstone into the gutter, where mud and water were flowing ankle deep, and waded there a few steps before again taking the sidewalk, rather than pass under the "hated rag." The sergeant, his ire a bit roused, quietly remarked. " There: where she lives we'll dine to-day." " Agreed," replied his comrade; and. unnoticed, they followed her, until she entered a nice-looking brick dwelling. They were quickly at the bell-pull, which was answered by a tidy-looking little colored girl, who ran into the sitting-room with fright, the Maine boys following her. The mistress of the house was much surprised at their audacity, but they apologized to her for their rude- ness, with all the grace they could command, and seated themselves before the fire. After a long time waiting, one of the comrades asked the woman the time of day, to which she replied that she did not know, as there was some trouble with her clock. and it did not go. " Why, sergeant." said the other, a happy thought striking him, " perhaps you might repair it for her; you used to do such work, when you were at home." At this her sullen features wore a look of gladness, as she asked, " Are you a jeweler ?"
" That was my business, before I came here," replied the sergeant, with an air of indifference.
"I would give almost anything if you would repair it, for I miss it so much. I hardly know what to do without it."
" I should be pleased to examine your clock, and, if possible, to put it in order for you; but our time must be nearly up, and we have had no dinner yet."
"Come right into the dining-room; dinner is all ready, and on the table. and you shall be as welcome as you are kind and generous," said the now thoroughly gracious woman.
They did not require a second invitation, and it is needless to say they did no discredit to the soldiers' traditional excellent appetite. When they were
30
FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
satisfied, they proceeded to examine the troubled clock, an ancient time- piece, standing in the corner of the room. The sergeant looked at it with as professional an air as he could assume, never having seen the inside of a clock before, and then called for a screw-driver and hammer, which were brought to him. He carefully took the clock to pieces, and examined the works long and critically_all the time wondering how he was to get out of the serape, while the woman stood by, anxious to see her clock once more in running order. Finally, he told her that he had found the cause of the trouble - " the chit-wheel was gone." The use of this important wheel he eloquently explained to her, and then saying a new one could be procured, he cut out a paper pattern. the like of which was never before seen, and sent his comrade down town to get one as quick as he could, as they had already stayed over their time. The comrade departed, and the sergeant waited patiently for a while, still carefully scrutinizing the dissected clock, and then bade the woman good-by. leaving the works scattered about the table, saying he feared his comrade had been captured by the provost guard, and that he would also get into trouble, if he did not return. The boys re- turned to camp, reported to their commanding officer, and saved a reprimand by telling their little story. The story was not long in getting through the camp, and the " chit-wheel" was a source of merriment for many a day, the boys long remembering the woman wading in the gutter, the nice, warm dinner, and the old, troubled clock; and even now, they sometimes wonder "how the old thing works."
When Co. A left Martinsburg, Corp. Sidney W. Clark was detailed to remain there a few days, to take care of the sick, who were distributed around at private houses, as the hospital was broken up, and he was the only Union soldier in the town. Among others left there sick was his brother, Private Prentice M. Clark. One day, as the corporal and his brother were riding through the streets, the latter saw a rebel flag flying from a window of one of the houses, and, as he called the corporal's attention to it, they were greeted with a shower of stones and brick-bats, from thirty or forty yelling old men and boys. They rode along. without paying any attention to this salute ; but when they returned, and were again stoned, the corporal suddenly turned his horse upon the crowd, at full speed, when they retired. Reining his horse upon the sidewalk to the win- dow, he pulled down the flag and took it away with him, and, after that, was not molested while he remained there.
An incident that occurred to Capt. Cilley, while his com- pany (B) was on the way to Great Cacapon River, by rail, gives a good bit of human nature, and illustrates the "intoxi-
31
WITH GEN. BANKS.
vation" of the power of command. It was evident the train would not reach the station till near midnight, and Capt. C'illey felt some anxiety in regard to unloading the horses in the dark. So strong did this anxiety become, that at one of the stations he went forward to see the conductor, who was with the engineer on the engine, and very meekly suggested that it would be difficult and dangerous to unload horses from the cars at night. To his surprise, the conductor turned to him, and as meekly replied, "Sir, the train is under your com- mand." Stopping a moment, to drink in the pleasant dissipa- tion of his anxiety, and the delicious feeling of authority, in an entirely different tone and manner, the captain gave orders to the conductor: "You will go to the nearest turn-out in the vicinity of Great Cacapon, and wait on the turn-out till morning, when you will proceed to Great Cacapon, and notify me of your readiness to unload." The order was obeyed.
After a short time of guard and scouting duty, during which a number of guerillas and a quantity of arms were captured (one scouting party of twenty being gone four days, and cap- turing eight prisoners and seven horses), Co. B was ordered to Berkley Hot Springs, Bath, where two large stables furnished quarters for the horses, and the celebrated hot springs and marble baths excellent bathing opportunities for the men.
The several companies remained on duty as stated, till the ninth of May, when orders were received, at night, to join the forces under Gen. Banks; and on the twelfth the battalion was together at Newmarket, and attached to the cavalry brigade commanded by Gen. Hatch. During this march the battalion lost three horses, apparently by poisoning. From here all bag- gage was sent to the rear, except what could be carried in the saddle-bags and on the horses, which began to look like "hot work " in prospect, an idea which did not lose force from the rumors that prevailed, that Stonewall Jackson's force was near by. A few days later, it moved up the valley beyond Stras- burg, and performed its first picket duty and scouting in the vicinity of the enemy's forces. Nothing of importance trans- pired till the twentieth, when Cos. B, II, and M, under com- mand of Lieut. Col. Douty (who had been promoted from
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FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
major, on the tenth, in place of Lieut. Col. Hight) made a reconnoissance to Woodstock, where they found the rebels, and had a smart skirmish with them, ending in a charge by a portion of Co. B. under command of Lieut. Cutler, which drove the enemy through the village, and our little force took temporary possession of it. On the twenty-second, Cos. H and M, under command of Capt. Brown, had a skirmish beyond Strasburg. These skirmishes, in which the men gave evidence that they had in them such stuff as cavaliers are made of, were good training for what was so soon coming.
Gen. Banks had possession of the valley of the Shenan- doah, with a force of but seven thousand men, Gen. Shields' division of ten thousand having been sent to other fields. Of this force, about four thousand were at Strasburg, where were the general's headquarters, two thousand were guarding rail- roads at distant points, and one regiment, the First Maryland Cavalry. together with a small force of infantry and one see- tion of artillery .- in all about one thousand men, all under command of Col. Kenley, of the First Maryland, - was at Front Royal, nearly a dozen miles away. The withdrawal of Shields' division opened the door for an attempt by Stonewall Jackson to capture the whole of Banks' force, for he aimed at nothing less, and regain possession of the valley. With his usual rapidity of action. his force, full twenty-five thousand strong. was set in motion : and on the twenty-third of May he attacked the force at Front Royal. and almost entirely destroyed it. though the men fought like heroes. Intelligence of this, and also of the advance of the enemy in the direction of Strasburg, and his strength, reached Gen. Banks the same evening. There could be but one interpretation of the movement, which was. that Jackson intended to get between Banks' force and Win- chester, thus intercepting supplies and re-enforcements, and cut off all possibility of retreat. Instant decision and action were necessary on the part of Gen. Banks. Three courses were left to him. as he says, in his official report, -first. to retreat across Little North Mountain to the Potomac River on the west: second. an attack upon the enemy's flanks on the Front Royal road: third. a rapid movement direct upon Win-
33
STONEWALL JACKSON'S WAY.
chester, with a view to anticipate the enemy's occupation of the town by seizing it himself, thus placing his command in com- munication with its original base of operations, in the line of re-enforcements by Harper's Ferry and Martinsburg, and secur- ing a safe retreat, in case of disaster. To remain at Strasburg was to be surrounded; to move over the mountains was to abandon the train at the outset, and subject the command to flank attacks, without possibility of succor ; and to attack, the enemy being in such overwhelming force, could only result in certain destruction. It was therefore determined to enter the lists with the enemy in a race or a battle, as the latter should choose, for the possession of Winchester, the key of the valley, and to Gen. Banks the position of safety.
Preparations were at once made to carry out this idea, though it was after nine o'clock the next morning, Saturday, the twenty- fourth, before the column was on the march toward Winchester, the cavalry under Gen. Hatch being left at Strasburg as rear guard for the army, with orders to remain there as long as pos- sible, and keep the enemy in check, the attack being expected in that direction. But to attack there was not Stonewall Jack- son's way ; he had sent Ewell along the pike from Front Royal to Winchester, to reach the latter place before Banks, if possi- ble, and Ewell had started several hours before Banks. The two armies were now marching on the two sides of an equilat- eral triangle, of which the road from Strasburg to Front Royal was the base, and the pikes from both these places toward Win- chester the two sides. There was little difference between the distances on either road, and Ewell, with a larger force than Banks, had some hours the start, and a good prospect of reach- ing Winchester and choosing his own position before Banks' dilatory force should arrive. Then Jackson, after Ewell was well on the way, sent a large force of cavalry, infantry, and artillery, under command of Gen. Ashby, of cavalry fame, across to Middletown, seven miles from Strasburg, and four from Newtown, where the two pikes intersected, by a dirt road, to strike Banks in the rear, and bring him between the two forces, thus compelling him to surrender. A force of the enemy arrived at Middletown before the advance of Banks' column,
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