USA > Maine > History of the First Maine cavalry, 1861-1865, V. 2 > Part 11
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QUARTERMASTERS.
PATTEN, EDWARD M. - Res. Portland; com. Oct. 11, 01; resigned May 8, '62.
GRIFFIN, ANDREW. - Res. Bangor; com. May 8, '62; res. March 9, 63.
458
FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
UJIMIER, CLARENCE D. - Private Co. D: pro. regt. q. m. sergt. July 1, '62, and com. q. m. March 17, 63; detailed a. a. q. m. 3d brig. 2d div. c. c. Oct. 18, '64, and served as such till he resigned, May 26, '65. [See Co. D.]
COMMISSARIES.
BIGELOW, EUSTACE C. - Res. Portland; mus. regt. q. m. sergt. Oet. 31, '61; com. 2d lieut. Co. F, May 23, '62, and 1st lieut. and regt. com'sy Sept. 6, '62: In Nov. '62, obtained a leave of absence, intending to go to Frederick, Md. ; was refused transportation, therefore started across the country horseback and alone; was captured near Middle- burg, Va., and taken to Stonewall Jackson's hd. qrs. (near Win- chester), and remained there three days, but not under guard: was then paroled, and from Gen. Stewart. at Winchester, obtained trans- portation ria Staunton to Richmond by coach and rail; went to Spots- . wood Hotel, Richmond, and registered as ". E. C. Bigelow. Lieut. and C. S. 1st Maine Cav. A. of P." ; attended the theatre, and walked about the city unmolested. Reached Frederick in eleven days, ria City Point and Annapolis. The leave of absence was for twelve days. Reported by letter to Col. Douty in the field on the day the leave of absence ex- pired, and no one in the army had any knowledge of the capture until this letter was received; paroled prisoner at Annapolis till March, '63. when rejoined regt. ; served as com'sy 2d brig. 2d div. c. c., and on staff of Gen. Gregg. as com'sy 2d div. c. c. in summer of '63: injured by his horse falling on him, while serving on Gen. Gregg's staff, and was disch. for dis. at seminary hospital, Georgetown, D. C., Dec. 30, '63. [See Co. F.]
B OWMAN. MARTIN T. V. - Corp. Co. C; appointed com'sy sergt. May 1. '62; re-en. Dec. '63: com. com'sy Feb. 9. '64; served with the regt. till the m. o., Aug. 1. '65, except short terms of service as a. c. s. 3d brig. 2d div .. and 2d div. c. c .; lieut. col. on staffs of Governors Gear and Sherman, of Iowa. [See Co. C, and p. 84.]
SURGEONS.
C OLBY. GEORGE W. - Res. Richmond: com. surg. Oet. 31, '61; served with regt. till June. 63, when he was detailed as surg. of the 2d brig. 2d div. c. c., and afterwards as surg. gen. 2d div. c. c .; m. o. Nov. 25, '64, at the ex. of ser. and was afterwards com. surg. U. S. Vols. and attached to 2d div. c. c., where he served till the close of the war. [See p. 260.]
S
TEVENS. HORACE. - Res. Skowhegan; com. assist. surg. March 26. . and surg. Nov. 25. '64: served as surg. of cavalry depot, City Point. Dec. 64 to June, '65; surg. 3d brig. 2d div. c. e. June, '65; rejoined regt. and m. o. with it Aug. 1, '65. [See p. 206, 296.]
ASSISTANT SURGEONS.
TTALEY, GEORGE W. - Res. Eastport; com. assist. surg. Nov. 4. 61: captured and paroled at Middletown. during the retreat of Gen. Banks. May 24. '62: disch. Nov. 15. 62. [See. pp. 37, 40. 44.]
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459
ROSTER OF FIELD AND STAFF.
DATTEN, SUMNER A. - Res. Monson: com. assist. surg. June 30. 62: with regt. at battles of Cedar Mountain and Second Bull Run: in charge of regt. hospital. Frederick. Md .: com. surg. board of enrol- ment, Fourth Maine District. April, '63, and served in this capacity till close of the war.
PARKER, ALEXANDER M. - Res. Westbrook: com. assist. surg. March 26, '63: pris. in action July 15, '63, at Halltown: disch. for dis. Sept. 1. '64. [See pp. 180, 181.]
A
TORTHROP, GEORGE J. - Served as hospital steward 1st and 10th Maine Inf. regts .: com. assist. surg. 1st D. C. Cav. March 29. '64: joined regt. at tr. Sept. '64, and was on duty, acting as surg. most of the time, till m. o. with the regt. Aug. 1, '65.
B ODFISH. FRANK. - Res. Waterville; en. 21st regt. Maine Vols. '62: ap. hospital steward: com. assist. surg. 56th Ill. regt. '64, and was with Gen. Sherman on his march to the sea; com. assist. surg. 1st Maine Cav. April 22. '65. and served till the m. o. of regt. Aug. 1, '65.
CHAPLAINS.
T EFT, BENJAMIN F. - Res. Bangor: com. Nov. 20. '61: in Washington and vicinity, looking after the sick of the regt., the mails, etc., during summer of '62; resigned Dec. 24. '62. [See pp. 22. 49, 61.]
ULLER, SAMUEL. - Res. Brewer: com. Nov. 29, '62: with regt. during F winter of $62-3: resigned May 5. 03.
B ARTLETT, GEORGE W. - Res. Litchfield: com. Feb. 13. '64, and joined regt. at once: a " fighting chaplain;" killed in action near Coal Har- bor, June 2. '64. [See pp. 245, 259. 260, 265, 280.]
Rev. Mr. BARTLETT was a native of Litchfield. Me .. and for some time was pastor of the Unitarian society in Augusta. On the twenty-eighth of De- cember, 1861. he was appointed chaplain of the 14th regiment. which he accompanied to New Orleans, participating in the dangers and hardships of the campaign which succeeded the occupation of that city by our forces under Gen. Butler. Soon after the battle of Baton Rouge, in which he dis- tingnished himself as a volunteer aid to Gen. Nickerson. he resigned his commission and returned home. where he spent nearly a year. while sutter- ing from fever and ague caught in the swamps of Louisiana. In the meantime he was drafted and rejected for disability. Soon afterwards. however, he volunteered. thinking himself able to serve in the cavalry. but was again rejected. Subsequently, on the thirteenth of February. 184. be was appointed chaplain of the First Maine Cavalry. A devoted friend gives a sketch of his character, from which this is taken: -
Never any man died who seems less dead. or whom it is easier to recall to life. Nor would it seem to me very miraculous if. looking up. I should see him standing at the door. For he had such abundance of life, it did not seem possible for him to die. His nature was perpetual childhood and spring. luxuriant, healthy, and gay. If sad at all. it was like the spring shower. to leave all greener and more smiling than before. He was never anxious or careworn. When there was likely to be an explosion of wrath in his presence. he could undermine it, and instead of thunder and light- ning, you would see clear sky and west wind. This he could easily co. because he never shared in anything petty, envious, or troublesome. He
.
460
FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
overcome obstinacy and bad temper by his undisturbed good nature, not with words or crackling thorns; and he uplifted the despairing and melan- choly heart. not by commiseration. but with an unaffected buoyancy. Whoso clung to him would find himself carried into a serene port. As some go to the seashore or mountains for reinvigoration, so you might go to him for courage and mutual health. It was hard to find any fault with him. for it was so evident that what he was, he was by nature, and not by art or intention. Being so. he acted so, and he was willing to leave things in this world pretty much to their own destiny. He found little fault with men or things, and to give advice was something he rarely ventured upon. What needed mending, he left for time and the Maker to mend. . . . He was good for every mood. He carried the health of the mountain wind with him whithersoever he went. It was his part to make every one happy and at ease. The thickest ice broke under him, or the thinnest would bear him. He was capable of the highest and most ancient form of friendship - gave himself wholly and all he had. He believed with Socrates, that the posses- sions of friends are common, and acted upon it, so that he passed through the world as he came into it. unencumbered with worldly goods, contented. cheerful, admirable in his life and glorious in his death. . . . He cannot be mourned as one having an unfinished life, for it was perfect in each moment. There was nothing which men call promise in him. The promise was in what he was, not what he was to be or do. Again. it cannot be ealled unfinished, because he gave it for his country, and there is uo death more fitting or complete for the citizen of a free republice. He who was so beloved by his relations and friends, so happy in himself, and who fell at last in so good a canse, could ask no other gift from good fortune .- Adju- tant General's Report, 1864-5.
M ERRILL, SAMUEL H. - Res. Portlaud: com. 1st D. C. Cav. Feb. 19. '64; joined regt. at tr., and served with it till the m. o. Aug. 1, '65. Author of "Campaigns of the First Maiue and First District of Colum- bia Cavalry." [See pp. 157, 167, 169, 219, 233, 243, 262, 270, 294, 320-355, 365, 367, 376. 377, 407.]
Chaplain MERRILL, of whose decease we have just heard with pain, needs no eulogimn at my hands. You knew him well; he was loved and esteemed by all. If it could ever be said of any man. it could be most emphatically said of him. that he was " the right man in the right place": for he was as good and faithful a chaplain as ever held the office. Both in camp and on the battle-field. he closely imitated his Master: for he, like Him. " went about doing good." Other men in his position would think it enough to do what was set before them: but he waited for no man to, point ont the ways of usefulness. He sought and found them for himself: and yet noth- ing. as you all know, ever did him so great a pleasure as to be informed where he could be of service to his suffering comrades and to his country's cause. To bless the soldier, to encourage him in the hour of danger. to impart to him the consolations of religion when stricken down, was more than his meat and drink. But I need uot enlarge, you know it all. His memory is sacred to every one of you: it will remain with you till your own dying day. - REV. DR. TEFT, at reunion in Bangor, 1873.
NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF. SERGEANT MAJORS.
CLIFFORD. ELISHA A .- Ap. sergt. maj. from Co. F, Feb. 16. '63; wd. in action at Shepardstown. July 16, 63; resigned sergt. maj.'s warrant Jan. 81. 64, and assigned to Co. F. [See Co. F.]
POOR. JAMES W .- Sorgt. Co. B: ap. sergt. maj. Feb. 1, '64; com. 1-t lieut. Co. B. Dee. 16, 64. [See Co. B.]
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461
ROSTER OF NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
TOBIE. EDWARD P., Jr. - Sergt. Co. G: ap. sergt. maj. Dec. 12. '64: wd. slightly in action Sailor's Creek. April 6, and in the charge at Farmville. April 7, 65, but did not leave the regt .: horse killed under him at the last-named engagement: performed the duties of adjt. of regt. during the campaign of the spring of $65. - the last campaign A. P., and was made honorable mention of in the official report of that campaign. for good conduet: eom. 2d lieut. Co. E. May 8. '65. [See Cos. G and E. and pp. 202. 394. 403. 415. 434.]
DAM. ALBERT C .- 1st sergt. Co. M: ap. sergt. maj. May 3. '65: served with regt. till the m. o. Aug. 1, '65. [See Co. M.]
QUARTERMASTER SERGEANTS.
HASKELL, ORRIN S. - Ap. from Co. A, March 9, '63: re-en. as veteran Dec. 29. '63: com. 2d lieut. Co. A. Feb. 9. '64. [See Co. A.]
SHACKFORD. EBED L. - Ap. from Co. D. Feb. 12. '64; served till ex. of ser. Nov. 25. 64. and then in. o. [See Co. D.]
JORDAN, EDWARD. - Sergt. Co. M: ap. q. m. sergt. Nov. 5, '64; com. 2d lieut. Co. M. Dec. 12. 64. [See Co. M.]
GILMAN, DANIEL W .- Sergt. Co. H; ap. q. m. sergt. Dec. 12, '64, and served as such till m. o. of regt. Aug. 1, '65. [See Co. H.]
COMMISSARY SERGEANTS.
CROSBY, CHARLES S. - Res. Bangor; ap. Nov. 11, '61; disch. in :62. COOK. NATHAN V. - Sergt. Co. H; ap. com'sy sergt. March 1. 64, and served as such till ex. of ser. Nov. 25, '64. [See Co. H.]
HAINES. DANIEL W. - Sergt. Co. E: ap. com'sy sergt. Dec. 12, '64. and served as such till m. o. of regt. Aug. 1, '65. [See Co. E.]
HOSPITAL STEWARDS.
LOVEJOY, SAMUEL C. - Res. Rockland: ap. Oct. 14. '61; on detached service at hospital 2d div. e. c. '63; rejoined regt. and m. o. Nov. 25. '04. ex. of ser.
GATCHELL. EMERY T .- Ap. Sept. 28. 62. from Co. K: re-en. Dec. '63: on duty at brig. hospital winter of '63-4: sunstruck in action at St. Mary's church. June 27. '64. and returned to duty ten days later: served till regt. was m. o. Ang. 1, '65. [See Co. K, and pp. 163, 180.]
KAME. JOHN M. - Ap. in Nov. '64, from Co. M, and served till m. o. of regt. Aug. 1, '65. [See Co. M.]
SADDLER SERGEANT.
NORWOOD, HENRY W. - Saddler Co. L: ap. regt. saddler sergt. March 1. '63: re-en. Dec. 63: on duty at cavalry depot. City Point, winter of 64-5: rejoined regt. and m. o. with it Aug. 1, 65. [See Co. L.]
PRINCIPAL MUSICLAN.
BICKFORD, ARTEMAS D. -- Res. Houlton; mus. Oet. 19, '61: diseh. in '62.
CHIEF BUGLERS.
SAWYER. HUDSON. - Bugler Co. D: ap. chief bugler Aug. 26. '62: disch. by order War Dept. Feb. 1. '6). [See (o. D.]
BRICK. ISAAC C. - Bugler Co. (': ap. chief bugler May 1. '63, and served as such till ex. of ser. Nov. 25. 04. Fee Co. (.] BAKER, WELLINGTON P. - Ap. from Co. H, Dee. 5. 64; served till m. o. of regt. Aug. 1. '65. [See Co. H.]
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463
FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
VETERINARY SURGEON.
BURTON, ELBRIDGE. - Sergt. Co. B: ap. veterinary surg. Nov. 4, '64, and served as such till m. o. of regt. Aug. 1, '65. At Sailor's Creek, April 6, he rendered gallant service, the rebel general, Corse, surrendering to him. [See Co. B.]
RECAPITULATION.
The field and staff membered in all fifty-seven persons, many of whom, it will be seen, served in different grades, thirty-seven belonging to the field and staff proper, and twenty to the non-commissioned staff.
The field officers were, four colonels, three lieutenant colonels, and nine majors. The staff officers consisted of five adjutants, three quartermasters, two commissaries, two surgeons, five assistant surgeons, and four chaplains. Of these, thirteen joined the staff at the organization of the regiment, and the same number joined the regiment at the same time in different com- panies and were promoted to the statf; four were transferred from the First District of Columbia Cavalry, three were commissioned from civil life in 1862, two in 1863, and one in 1864 and 1865 each. Fifteen resigned, twelve were mustered out with the regiment, two were killed in action and one died of wounds, three were discharged for promotion in the regiment, two mustered out for expiration of their term of service, one was discharged for disability and one was discharged by order. Ten served less than one year, ten more than one year and less than two, four more than two years and less than three, five three years or more, and eight during the entire service of the regiment, though not all the time on the staff.
Of the non-commissioned staff, four were sergeant majors, four quarter- master sergeants, three commissary sergeants, three hospital stewards, one saddler sergeant, one principal musician, three chief buglers, and one veteri- nary surgeon. Of these, three were mnstered on the non-commissioned statt at the organization of the regiment, thirteen joined the regiment at that time in different companies and were promoted, three were transferred from the First District of Columbia Cavalry, and one was enlisted in 1862 and after- wards promoted. Nine were mustered out with the regiment, five at the expiration of their three years' term of service, three were commissioned in the regiment, two discharged for disability, and one by order of the War Department. Their terms of service, although of course not all the time on the staff, was, one less than one year, five more than one and less than two years, five three years or more, and nine during the whole time the regiment was in the service.
FIELD AND STAFF ROLL OF HONOR.
COLONEL CALVIN S. DOUTY, Dover; killed in action at Aldie, Va .. June 17, '63.
LIEUTENANT COLONEL STEPHEN BOOTHBY, Portland: died June 6. '64, from wounds received in action May 10, '64, at Beaver Dam Sta- tion, Va., on Sheridan's raid to Richmond.
CHAPLAIN GEORGE W. BARTLETT, Litchfield; killed in action near Coal Harbor, Va., June 2, 64.
463
ROSTER OF BANDS.
FIRST BAND.
[Organized with the regt. and m. 6. Aug. 26, '62, by order War Dept. See pp. 16, SS.]
DAVIS, ALEXANDER S. - Leader: age 37; res. Houlton; mus. Oct. 19. '61. BOYD, WILLIAM L. - Res. Amherst: joined soon after organization, and tr. to Co. Mat m. o. of band. [See Co. M.]
CATES, SOLOMON B. - Age 33: res. Houlton: mus. Oct. 19. '61.
CHAPMAN, MARCELLUS G. - Mus. shortly after organization.
DENN, JOHN. - Age 16: res. Hallowell; mus. Oct. 19, '61: died in Augusta.
ESTABROOK, EDWARD M. - Age 24: res. Houlton: mus. Oct. 19. '61.
FRISBIE, RANDOLPH R. - Age 18: res. Houlton; mus. Oct. 19, '61; died of small-pox at Washington, April 12, '62.
FURBER, FRANK M. - Res. Lewiston: inus. soon after organization.
GOODWIN, TRISTRAM. - Tr. from Co. L. [See Co. L.]
GREEN, ALDEN A. - Age 24; res. Houlton; mus. Oct. 19, '61.
HAZELTINE, ROBERT. - Joined soon after organization.
ILISLEY, HORACE C. - Res. Harrison: died in Augusta before being mus.
INGERSOLL, AUGUSTUS W. - Age 21: res. Houlton; mus. Oct. 19, '61.
JUNKINS, ROBERT P. - Tr. from Co. L. [See Co. L.]
LOVERING, JOHN. - Age 18: res. Houlton: mus. Oct. 19, '61.
MANSUR, WARREN. - Age 22; res. Houlton; mus. Oct. 26. '61.
MERRIAM, LEONARD B. - Age 26; res. Houlton: mus. Oct. 19, '61:
PACKARD, COBBITT L. - Tr. from Co. K. Feb. 28. '62. [See Co. K.]
PIERCE, ALFRED. - Tr. from Co. F. April 20, '62, and tr. back to Co. F at m. o. of band. [See Co. F.]
PIERCE, FRANK W. - Age 19; res. Houlton: mus. Oct. 19, '61.
RAND, CHARLES E. - Age 22; res. Standish: mus. Nov. '61; disch. for dis. March, '62.
STACKPOLE, WILLIAM. - Tr. from Co. I. [See Co. I.]
TRUE, AMMI M., JR. - Age 22; res. Houlton: mus. Nov. 2. '61.
THUEWORTHY, JEREMIAH. - Age 26; res. Houlton; mus. Oct. 19, '61.
THE LAST BAND OF THE REGIMENT.
The last band was organized with the First District of Columbia Cavalry from the enlisted men belonging to the different companies of that regiment. At the time of the transfer most of its members joined the regiment, and the organization was kept alive till the regiment was mustered out, performing good service as a band. furnishing music at headquarters, also at brigade headquarters, on occasions of ceremony. in camp, and hurling a musical defiance and fighting a musical duel with a rebel band during the hotly contested fight at Dinwiddie Court House, March 31, '65. [See pp. 862, 392. 402, 421, 432. 435.]
It was made up as follows : -
BIGELOW, LEVI E .. Co. H. - Leader and E-flat cornet: res. Skowhegan. BRAY, HENRY I ... Co. M. - B-flat cornet: res. Skowhegan.
ELLSWORTH. RUFUS G., Co. L. - E-flat bass; res. Freeman.
EMERY, CHARLES A. F., Co. A .- B-flat tener; res. Skowhegan.
464
FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
FOLSOM, OLIVER J., Co. E. - Cymbals; res. Etna.
GILBERT, JOSIAH R .. Co. G. - B-flat cornet: res. North Vassalboro.
GILBERT, WILLIAM W .. Co. G. - B-flat bass: res. North Vassalboro.
GILMORE, ROBERT J .. Co. I. - B-flat tenor; res. Wiscasset.
KAME. JOHN M., Co. M. - res. North Berwick; ap. hospital steward soon after the tr.
KENNEY, CHARLES B., Co. K. - Res. Cape Elizabeth; joined co. as bugler soon after the tr.
LONG, THOMAS J .. Co. K. - Side drum: res. Portland.
MCDONALD. ALBERT L., Co. I. - E-flat bass; res. Orono.
MOORE, EBER S .. Co. A. - E-flat cornet: res. North Anson.
MORGRIDGE, SAMUEL T .. Co. I. - B-flat tenor: res. Castine.
OAKES, GEORGE E., Co. I. - E-flat bass; res. Mars Hill.
ORDWAY, CALEB F .. Co. H. - E-flat alto: res. Orono. OWEN, NATHANIEL L .. Co. M. - Bass drum; res. Skowhegan.
WELLS, ESAU, Co. I. - E-flat cornet: res. Biddeford.
WOODSOM. JACOB H .. Co. G. - E-flat alto; res. North Vassalboro; left band to be com'sy sergt. Co. G.
YOUNG, GEORGE M., Co. G. - E-flat alto; res. Skowhegan.
465
ROSTER OF COMPANY A.
COMPANY A.
CAPTAINS.
WHITNEY, WARREN L. - Age 27; res. Newburg; mus. Oct. 19, '61; com. maj. March 24, '62. [See field and staff, and p. 25.]
THAXTER, SIDNEY W. - Age 22; res. Bangor; mus. Oct. 19, '61, as 1st lieut .; com. capt. March 24, '62, and maj. June 18, '63. [Sce field and staff, and pp. 25, 48.]
ESTES, LLEWELLYN G. - Age 21; res. Oldtown; mns. Oct. 19, '61, as sergt .; com. 1st lieut. March 24, '62: wd. at Middletown, May 24, '62 (instead of pris. as on p. 37): pris, near Warrenton, Aug. 22,' 62; ex. and rejoined co. Dec. 21; on duty at hd. qrs. 1st brig. 3d div. c. c. from March, '63, till June, and then as a. a. g. 3d div. c. c .; com. capt. June 18, '63, and capt. and a. a. g. U. S. Vols. Dec. '63, when he was attached to 3d div. c. c., commanded by Gen. Kilpatrick; relieved from duty in the A. P. in April, '64, at the request of Gen. Kilpatrick, and assigned to duty as adj. gen. of cav., military div. of the Mississippi, and as such served through all the Georgia and Carolina campaigns; com. maj. Sept. '64, and lieut. col. and col. by brevet in March. '65: adj. gen. of western North Carolina, comprising forty-one counties, from March to Sept. 30, '65; breveted brig. gen. Sept. 30, '65, when he resigned his position in the army. [See pp. 37, 144, 242, 244.]
COLE, HORACE S .- Age 21; res. Hampden; mus. Oct. 19, '61, as sergt .; pro. Ist sergt. '62: com. 2d lieut. Feb. 5, '63, and Ist lieut. June 18, '63. comdg. co. from July 1, '63; com. capt. Dec. 31, '63; m. o. Nov. 25, 04, ex. of ser. [See pp. 181-183, 244.]
FREESE, JOHN W. - Age 30; res. Houlton; mus. Co. A, 7th Me. Inf. Aug. 21, '61: disch. Feb. '64, to accept commission in 1st D. C. Cav .; mus. Co. K, Ist D. C. Feb. 18, '64, as capt .: joined co. at tr .; slightly wd. in charge on Lee's retreating train, April 6, '65, but did not leave the regt .; commanded battalion in the last campaign, and breveted maj. for meri- torious services : detailed as sub-superintendent Freedmen's Bureau, District of Nottaway, July, '65; m. o. with regt. [See pp. 357, 363. 374, 415, 438. 441.]
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
COLBATH, MILES. - Age 25; res. Exeter; mus. Oct. 19, '61, as private; pro. sergt. '62: com. 2d lieut. June 18, '63, and Ist lieut. Dec. 31. '63; on special duty at dismounted camp from April 25, '64, till Sept. 3. 64, when disch.
HASKELL. ORRIN S. - Age 26; res. Levant; mus. Oct. 19, '61, as private: served as clerk for co. : pro. regt. q. m. sergt. March 9, '63; com. 2d lieut. Feb. 9, '64, and Ist. lieut. Sept. 3, '64; a. a. q. m. cav. depot, Sept. '64; acting r. q. m. from Oct. 18, '64, till June 25, 65; sent to Maine with the dismounted men, June 25, '65; rejoined co. and mn. o. with regt.
466
FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
MOUNTFORT. VINCENT. - Age 39; res. Bowdoin; mus. Co. K, Ist D. C.
Feb. 6, '64: killed at Sycamore church, Sept. 16, 04. [See pp. 349, 354. 356, 357.]
VINCENT MOUNTFORT was one of the twelve children of William Mont- fort, an old resident of the town of Brunswick. Me. and was born in the month of January. 1825. While yet in his teens, he sailed on a voyage to the West Indies in a merchant vessel, and an opportunity being there offered. he entered on board of a United States man-of-war, where he served for a con- siderable time. Returning home, he entered upon the business of a joiner and builder, in which business he was engaged in the town of Bowdoin at the time of the opening of the rebellion. In stature, he was above me- diun height, broad shouldered and muscular, with a face indicating much firmness. determination. and courage. On the twenty-seventh day of Or- tober. 1862, he was commissioned first lieutenant of Co. K. in the Twenty- fourth regiment of Maine infantry, and with his regiment served in the Department of the Gulf at the seige of Port Hudson. He was promoted to be captain of his company, Aug. 15, 1863, was mustered out with his regi- ment ten days later. and returned home to Bowdoin. It was not in his nature to remain a non-combatant, and when orders were issued to recruit for the First District of Columbia Cavalry, he was commissioned first lien- tenant in Co. K. his commission bearing date the sixth day of February. 1864. While taking leave of his friends at the village store in Bowdoin. at the time of his departure to join his regiment. he remarked that he would never allow himself to be made a prisoner by the enemy. That this was not a mere idle assertion, was fully confirmed by his subsequent conduct. Pro- ceeding to the front with his company, he was always present for duty, and participated in several engagements on the Wilson raid. in June, 1864. and in the engagement near Reams' Station, on the Weldon Railroad. on the twenty- second of August following. after which, with the mounted men of his regi- ment, he was engaged in picket duty in the rear of the left of the army. then investing Petersburg.
One day. not long before his death. Lient. Mountfort. while in command of the picket line, in company with a corporal rode outside the line to a plantation house. While there, he perceived a squad of rebel cavalry mov- ing at a gallop out of the woods, with the intention of entting him off and making him a prisoner. Putting spurs to his horse he started at a gallop for the picket line. but the enemy was so near that he could not gain the road which led down the slope to a bridge across a brook. and so was obliged to proceed through the fieldl with the enemy close at hand. on the opposite side of the road, keeping up a brisk fire upon him with their pistols. As he neared the brook he perceived that it would not be possible for him to eross it without gaining the road, which at this point was some ten feet below the level of the field. Without hesitating. however, he boldly spurred his horse over the bank, and with the corporal crossed the bridge in safety, when men from the picket post came to his assistance, and the enemy quickly retreated. Shortly after this the lieutenant wrote in a letter addressed to'a member of his family. that it was the last time he would run away from the rebels.
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