USA > Maine > History of the First Maine cavalry, 1861-1865, V. 2 > Part 3
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One thing was noticeable on this days' march - that, notwith- standing Gen. Grant had extended the line only the day before. workmen were engaged in extending Gen. Grant's railroad to furnish forage and rations to the troops-making the railroad keep pace with the extension of the lines.
The object of the movement was accomplished. The lines had been extended two or three miles, and the army had wound itself so much further around Petersburg (it should be stated that the infantry had some severe fighting and lost heavily in the engagement of the sixth), and early next morning the regi- ment started for camp, and soon after noon the boys were at home again in their quarters.
Then came six or seven weeks more of life in winter quarters. with its attendant picket duty, scouting, camp duty. ete., and with little variation. The next Sunday the regimental chapel - a large building made of logs by the pioneers of the regiment. under the direction of Col. Cilley, covered with canvas and warmed by a stove furnished by the United States Christian Commission -was dedicated with appropriate exercises, and from that time services were held quite regularly by Chaplain
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Merrill. During the month of February the regiment was paid for the four months ending December 31, 1864, and the money was very welcome, assisting wonderfully in making the boys comfortable.
The morning of March twenty-fifth the boys in camp (the greater portion of the regiment was on picket) were awakened by the sound of heavy and continuous artillery firing off to the right. While wondering and conjecturing what this meant. orders were received for the brigade, including what of this regiment was in camp, under command of Capt. Myrick, to saddle up and go to the rescue. The command moved along the line of works till when near Fort Steadman it met a squad of some two thousand rebel prisoners just captured. Then it was learned that the enemy had made a fierce attack on Fort Steadman and had succeeded in capturing it, but that the Union forces had retaken the fort and captured all these prisoners. There was nothing for this command to do ; never- theless. it was ordered to report to Maj. Gen. Parke, command- ing Ninth corps, to be in readiness in case of another attack. and remained in the woods-nowhere -without camp equipage or blankets, a couple of days, the boys not being really com- fortable or happy the while, and then was sent back into camp. Then came a few days more in camp, and then the boys bade good-by to their last winter quarters.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE LAST GRAND CAMPAIGN.
ROSTER OF OFFICERS, MARCH 29, 1865. - LEAVING WINTER QUARTERS. - WELCOME BACK TO SHERIDAN. - THE FIGHT AT DINWIDDIE COURT HOUSE. - A DAY OR TWO OF COMPARATIVE REST. - ACROSS THE SOUTH SIDE RAILROAD. - PETERSBURG CAPTURED, RICHMOND EVAC- CATED, AND THE REBEL ARMY FLEEING. - THE PURSUIT. - AT JET- TERSVILLE. - FIRST CHARGE ON LEE'S TRAIN. - FIGIIT AT SAILOR'S CREEK. - SECOND AND SUCCESSFUL CHARGE ON LEE'S TRAIN. - SKIRMISH AT BRIERY CREEK. - CHARGE INTO FARMVILLE. - FORAG- ING MADE EASY. - THE NIGHT BEFORE APPOMATTOX. - THE MORNING AT APPOMATTOX. - SURRENDER OF GEN. LEE. - ON THE BACK TRACK. - DEATH OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN. - IN CAMP NEAR PETERSBURG. - LAST EXPEDITION OF THE FIRST MAINE CAVALRY. - HONORS TO GALLANT OFFICERS. - LAST CAMP OF THE FIRST MAINE CAVALRY. - TAKING CARE OF THE PEOPLE. - CAVALRY MEN TURNED SCHOOL- MASTERS. - MUSTER-OUT. - THE RETURN HOME. - CONCLUSION.
M ANY changes had been made in the officers of the regi- ment during the past year. and upon entering upon the spring campaign of 1865 the roster was made up as follows, with residence and date of rank. " D. C." at the end of a name indicating that the officer was transferred from the First District of Columbia Cavalry : -
FIELD AND STAFF.
Colonel, CHARLES H. SMITH. Eastport, June 18, 1863, brevet brigadier gen- eral commmanding Third brigade, Second division. Cavalry corps.
Lieutenant Colonel. JONATHAN P. CILLEY, Thomaston. July 11, 1864. com- manding regiment.
Majors, CONSTANTINE TAYLOR. U. S. Army, February 18, 1864, serving on the division staff.
BENJAMIN F. TUCKER. U. S. Army. July 11. 1864, in command of Cavalry Depot, City Point.
PAUL CHADBOURNE. Waterboro'. December 22, 1864. commanding Second New York Mounted Litles.
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FIELD AND STAFF - Continued.
Adjutant, THADDEUS LITTLE, Bristol. March 25. 1865. Quartermaster, CLARENCE D. ULMER. Rockland. March 17. 1863, serving as quartermaster Third brigade. Second division, Cavalry corps.
Surgeon, HORACE STEVENS, Skowhegan, November 25, 1864, on duty at Cavalry Depot. City Point.
Assistant Surgeon. GEORGE J. NORTHROP (D. C.). Portland. March 20, 1864.
Commissary, MARTIN T. V. BOWMAN. Hallowell, February 9, 1864.
Chaplain, SAMUEL H. MERRILL (D. C.), Portland, February 19, 1864.
NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
Sergeant Major. EDWARD P. TOBIE, Jr., Lewiston, December 12, 1864. Quartermaster Sergeant, DANIEL H. GILMAN (D. C.), Momouth. December 12, 1864.
Commissary Sergeant, DANIEL W. HAINES, Fort Fairfield. December 12. 1864. Hospital Stewards. EMERY T. GATCHELL, Brunswick, September 28. 1862. JOHN M. KAME (D. C.). North Berwick, November, 1864. Saddler Sergeant, HENRY W. NORWOOD. Bangor, March 1. 1863.
Band Leader. LEVI E. BIGELOW (D. C.). Skowhegan. February 11, 1864.
Chief Bugler, WELLINGTON P. BAKER. Bingham, December 5. 1864.
Veterinary Surgeon, ELBRIDGE BURTON, Thomaston. November 4, 1864.
COMPANY OFFICERS.
CO. A. - Captain, JOHN W. FREESE (D. C.), Houlton, February 18, 1864. First Lieutenant, ORRIN S. HASKELL, Levant, September 3, 1864. serving as regimental quartermaster.
Second Lieutenant, LEANDER M. COMINS (D. C.), Lincoln, Febri- ary 20, 1864.
CO. B. - Captain, JACOB B. LORING, Thomaston, July 11, 1864. First Lieutenant. JAMES W. POOR. Belfast, December 16, 1864. Second Lieutenant, HENRY D. FULLER (D. C.), Corinth, March 28. 1864.
CO. C. - Captain, ANDREW M. BENSON (D. C.), Oldtown, February 16, 1884. First Lieutenant. JONATHAN K. BROOKS, Bowdoinham. November 28. 1864.
Second Lieutenant. WILLIAM S. FARWELL (D. C.). Rockland. February 26. 1864.
CO. D. - Captain, WILLIAM S. HOWE (D. C.), Stetson, commissioned by the President, October 15. 1868.
First Lieutenant, EDWARD P. MERRILL (D. C.). Portland, March 30, 1864. Second Lieutenant. JAMES E. STAYNER, Eastport. December 2. 1.544. CO. E. - Captain, JOHN A. HEALD, Lincoln. July 16, 1864. First Lieutenant, GEORGE W. HUSSEY, Houlton, June 20, 1-63. Second Lieutenant, BENJAMIN A. OSBORNE, Lincoln. March 20. 1×65.
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STARTING ON THE LAST CAMPAIGN.
COMPANY OFFICERS - Continued ..
co. F. - Captain, ANDREW H. BIBBER, Eastport. July 11. 1864. First Lieutenant, JOEL WILSON, Gorham. August 25, 1864. Second Lieutenant, LORENZO WHITE. Portland. August 25, 1864.
CO. G. - Captain, CHARLES C. CHASE (D. C.), Portland, February 20. 1864. First Lieutenant, JAMES H. RUSSELL (D. C.), Houlton, February 25, 1804.
CO. H. - Captain, HENRY C. HALL, Starks, June 18. 1863.
First Lieutenant, JAMES MAGUIRE (D. C.), Augusta, June 25, 1864. Second Lieutenant, JOSEPH W. LEE (D. C.), Calais, February 24, 1864.
CO. I. - Captain, THOMAS G. WEBBER (D. C.), Gorham, February 23, 1864. First Lieutenant, LEVI H. DAGGETT, New Sharon, December 2. 1864. Second Lieutenant, J. F. McKUSICK (D. C.), Warren. January 5, 1864. CO. K. - Captain, JOHN D. MYRICK, Augusta, January 4. 1863. First Lieutenant. GEORGE F. JEWETT. Bath. November 22, 1864.
CO. L. - Captain, WILLIAM L. BOYD, Houlton. March 25. 1865. First Lieutenant, CHARLES O. GORDON, Phillips, April 4, 1864. Second Lieutenant, WILLIAM J. CROOKER, Alton, December 21, 1864.
CO. M. - Captain, ZENAS VAUGHAN, Freeman. June 4. 1863. First Lieutenant, CHARLES K. JOHNSON, Carmel. July 20, 1863. Second Lieutenant, EDWARD JORDAN, Bangor, December 12, 1804.
During the winter the Twenty-first Pennsylvania regiment had been transferred from the Third brigade to the Second, and the Thirteenth Ohio had been transferred to the Third brigade.
On Tuesday, the twenty-eighth of March, the regiment was ordered to be ready to move, with the division, at six o'clock the next morning, and it was ready in time, the actual effective strength of the regiment that morning being nineteen officers and four hundred and ninety-two men. As the men left the vamp and formed in line with the brigade, a short distance from camp, they felt somewhat blue. They were going to enter upon a campaign which they had every reason to expect would be a fighting campaign. under a new and untried com- mander, Gen. George Crooke, who had taken command of the Second cavalry division on the twenty-seventh. and whom the men knew but little about (Gen. David MeM. Gregg, their tried commander for two years, whom they loved and believed was the peer of any division cavalry general in the field, having resigned), and the experience of the latter part of the summer
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before had taught them that the service of one cavalry division to the whole Army of the Potomac was a hard service. There- fore they were not at that time in a really enthusiastic mood. But while waiting in the line they saw a force approaching, and soon recognized " Little Phil Sheridan's " headquarter flag. and then " Little Phil " himself, with his staff and his famous scouts. The cheers that rent the air told no uncertain tale. and with those cheers went out all the distrust or forebodings with which the men had been tormented. Then they were ready to go anywhere, or to fight anything. They were new men in a moment. What was in store for them they knew not. nor really cared, for they were with Sheridan, once more a part of his glorious cavalry, and they knew with him at their head they were safe. Part of them might lay down their lives. to be sure. - a few be taken prisoners, to suffer all the horrors of Belle Isle and of Andersonville, - others might be wounded. to linger and suffer a while, only to die, or perchance recover sufficiently to live long years as cripples, - but the majority would come out all right, with the glories of victory. They had begun to believe that under that intrepid leader they could whip anything that could be brought against them, as they had already done on many fields now famous. Still every one was full of conjecture as to the plans of Gen. Grant - as to what was to be attempted, and as to the probable result.
It was cold and cheerless, and marching was hard, but the men were in good spirits, for was not Sheridan there ? The regiment went into bivouac that night near Dinwiddie Court House, and picketed the horses as for the night only : but the next morning dawned drizzly, wet, uncomfortable, almost for- bidding any movement, and threatening to hold the force mud- bound for a week. at least. That day the regiment remained there, the boys making themselves as comfortable as possible. taking the boards from an old barn, which stood near by. to raise themselves from the wet ground, and using fence rails in wasteful extravagance, to keep their fires bright and their bodies warm.
A little incident occurred here which shows how soldiers take advantage of circumstances. In Co. I was an old soldier-
"GO TO THE AID OF THE PICKETS." 387
a graduate from the English army - and a good soldier. Every one in the regiment, almost. knew him, from a peculiar- ity he had of putting his hat into his bosom when going into a fight, and going in bareheaded. During this day he came into camp carrying a very small calf -too small, almost. to walk, certainly too young to be of use for food. There was a general expression of disapprobation at this, and he was greeted with cries of " Shame ! " " Steal a little calf like that !" " What in the world can you do with it?" etc. ; but he paid no · attention to any of them, and marched right along like a man who knew what he was about. He fastened the calf close by his tent, where its bleatings were piteous to hear. It was not long before the men saw what was up, for the cow, attracted by the cries of her offspring, came to its rescue, when the soldier caught and milked her, and then let her and the calf go off happy. He had a good supper of hardtack and milk that night as the result of his strategy.
The next day was Friday, March thirty-first, and dawned much like its predecessor, giving a prospect of remaining there that day also. About the middle of the forenoon the regiment was ordered to saddle and pack. and be ready to move at a moment's notice. By this time the clouds had cleared away. and the sun was shining brightly. About eleven o'clock lively tiring was heard in the direction whence the remainder of the brigade had previously gone. Soon an orderly rode up to Col. Cilley with the order: " Go to the aid of the piekets at once." The regiment mounted, rode a mile or more, and drew up in line in a large open field, behind a rising ground. On the right was the road, and resting on it. woods - pine. with no under- growth or brush. On the left. a short distance away. were woods. In front could be seen only the hill. The firing had stopped -all was quiet. The boys learned. by one of those mysterious ways by which orders and plans sometimes became known to all the command almost before the general had settled what they were to be, that they were there to hold the crossing of a creek - Great Cat Tail Creek, or Chamberlain's Creek, they were then told it was. but since then it has been called by various names. One battalion, under command of
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Capt. Myrick, was sent out scouting beyond the pickets and across the creek, to see what was there. The order was passed through the remainder of the regiment to be prepared to fight on foot at any time. The men were already counted off by fours, of course, and now the bridles of horses Nos. 1, 2, and 3. were given to the No. 4 man to hold, - his part in the coming action being to take care of the four horses, -with orders to "look out for my grain," " take care of my haversack," and a thousand and one instructions. The sabres were strapped to the saddles. and all superfluities taken from the person and fastened to the saddle or put in the saddle-bags. The grain bags and all baggage were strapped firmer on the saddles - they might go through some heavy shaking before the riders again got to them. The cartridge boxes were filled to their utmost capacity - the spare cartridges in the saddle-bags were put in the pockets -- the carbines were examined - the Spen- cer's loaded carefully with their seven deadly messengers, while the Henry's were wound up to unwind and set flying sixteen humming birds. to sing in the ears of the enemy. The can- teens that were full were thrown over the shoulders -there was no knowing how much a man might want a drink of water before he again saw his horse. The traps were taken care of by each one as if sure of coming back. while at the same time everything of value was left with the led horses, as if there was a chance of not returning. Then the boys took it easy till called for - sitting down, lying down, sleeping, even, writing. -perhaps the last line home -smoking, laughing, joking. anything but what looked like expecting every moment to fight, but all knowing their places, and ready to "fall in " at the first note of warning.
At the headquarters of the regiment a group of officers was collected. talking over the prospects of a fight and the probable result, both on the regiment and on the rebellion. A captain borrowed a needle and thread, with which he sewed up some money in the watch pocket of his pants, concealing it as well as he could, saving. " No knowing what may happen - I may go to Richmond this trip." Another officer took the hint and sewed his up in his vest. The adjutant inquired the time. "Twenty
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minutes of one." "In about four hours the rebs will come down on us with one of their thundering sunset charges," replied he. A young lieutenant, who had not yet christened his shoulder straps in the smoke of battle, and who was evidently a little anxious as to his behavior in his first fight as an officer, replied. with a nervous smile, "I am afraid they won't wait till then."
Hark! there is firing in front! the scouts have run into the enemy ! " ATTENTION !" shouts Col. Cilley, and the men spring into position as by one motion, and await further orders. It is only a scattering fire, soon quieted, and they settle back into the lazy, listless positions of before. Not long do they remain so this time, however, for suddenly the firing commences again, and nearer and more rapidly than before. Evidently Capt. Myrick's battalion is being driven back, though their carbines are rattling heartily, and the boys know the battalion too well to think they are retreating any faster than they can be pushed ; there is no run to them. Gen. Smith, commanding the brigade. and his staff, who have been down to the creek, ride back to the top of the hill in front. Col. Cilley calls the men to attention again, and now they remain so. An orderly from the front rides up to Gen. Smith, talks a moment, and then a staff officer starts from him toward the headquarters of the regiment. The boys know by the intuition of experience what that means, and are ready. Col. Cilley and his staff mount, the men anticipate his first order, and almost before he opens his mouth are "fours right," and marching toward the road at a quick step. The command is not a great distance from the top of the hill, yet the men can see that Gen. Smith is anxious - they do not move fast enough. As if a staff officer might not give the order just right, Gen. Smith himself rides to Col. Cilley and tells him to " move faster ; they are driving us : you must stop them; deploy your men across the field to the left of the road and move to the crest of the hill as fast as possible." The men hardly need instructions. One motion of Col. Cilley's arm and each one seems to know-just where he is wanted, and in as quick time as the regiment ever made on foot. they are in line across the field and moving for the crest. As they gain the top what a sight greets their eyes. The woods on the right extend along the road
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FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
to the creek, some two hundred yards ; on the left of the road. directly in front of the regiment, is an open field to the creek. which is skirted on each side by a scrubby thicket, and beyond the creek are woods : on the left of the field and of the regiment are woods nearly to the creek. The Second New York Mounted Rifles, commanded by Maj. Chadbourne, of this regiment. who had been wounded, holds the woods on the right of the road. while this regiment extends across the field to the woods on the left. The ground is a gentle descent. As the regiment reaches the top of the hill. the road close to it is filled with wounded men and officers on their way to the rear, mixed in with the led horses of Capt. Myrick's battalion, while a little further on his men are fighting manfully, but being slowly pressed back, and less than a hundred yards away. In the road, just coming out of the thicket, is a body of the enemy's cavalry, charging toward the regiment, swinging their sabres and yelling like demons, and in the field is a strong line of dismounted men (Fifth North Carolina, whose commander, Col. McNeil. was killed), advanc- ing and keeping up a lively fire. One moment later and the position had been lost.
The instant the boys could see over the hill. hardly waiting for the command "CHARGE!" which rang out in clear tones from Col. Cilley, they opened fire, and with a cheer started for the enemy. It was no place for a standing fight -it was too late for that - a quick, impulsive charge was all that could save the field then, and that might not, and the men understood it. That column of charging cavalry was a sight worth living to see. On they came, brave fellows. turning into the field a short distance from the creek, and still charging onward. and for a moment it seemed as if a hand-to-hand fight -mounted rebels against , dismounted boys in blue -was inevitable. But the repeaters in the hands of the brave boys from Maine were too much for them. On they came, but came no nearer. Men and horses went down, and the head of the column remained in nearly the same place. It was like a stream of water thrown from an engine against a heavy wind - a more powerful stroke on the brakes sends the stream a bit further. but the wind drives it back and keeps it just there. It was only for a few moments
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-- they found it was no use and retreated, the dismounted men in the field going with them. The Maine boys followed them, passing in their headlong charge killed and wounded rebel officers and men, and quickly gained the thicket, taking posi- tion there, while in the road they took position behind a breast- work of fence rails which had been thrown up by the pickets on duty there the night before:
To go back a little, when Capt. Myrick left the regiment with his battalion, to go scouting, he was ordered to cross the creek, reconnoitre the woods and adjacent country. As he neared the stream several picket shots were heard and several mounted rebels were seen among the timber on the other side. Halting the remainder of his battalion, he ordered First Sergt. Stevens, commanding Co. K, to cross the creek, dismount and deploy his men, and drive back any enemy he might encounter. Moving forward, Sergt. Stevens had reached the middle of the stream. when, turning a ledge. he came in view of a detachment of mounted men, who at once opened fire on him ; but urging on his men he crossed under this fire, the men leaped from their horses, double quicked into line, and charging the enemy. drove them back. Hearing the firing, Capt. Myrick crossed the creek and took command of the line, and finding the enemy was growing stronger, he ordered up Co. M. Upon reaching the summit of a hill he found himself confronting a line of infantry, supported by cavalry, whereupon he ordered his men to fall back in good order and recross the stream. On arriving at the creek the men threw themselves into the water among the horses, which protected them somewhat from the rebel fire, and on gaining the other shore were rallied and fell back slowly, fighting all the way, until the regiment arrived upon the scene, when it was rejoined by the battalion.
Now to return to the regiment. The flurry was over, - the men had only to hold the position after having taken it. - and the firing dwindled down to a scattering skirmish fire, the men on either side firing only when they could see an enemy to fire at. Col. Cilley and staff rode along the new line, examining the position, suggesting changes. ete .. and when all was arranged satisfactorily, dismounted, leaving the horses in charge of order-
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lies a short distance in rear of the line, and went down to the line in the woods at the right of the road and right of the regi- ment, which now extended across the road into the woods a short distance, while the remainder of the brigade stretched away to the right, through the woods and into a field beyond.
Shortly after the boys got settled on the skirmish line the regimental band came down in rear of the line, and before the boys knew it was there, struck up "Yankee Doodle," making those woods ring as they probably never did before. The boys received it with hearty cheers, and the rebels with yells and shouts of derision. In a short time a rebel band, over across, struck up "Dixie," at which the boys in blue yelled. That being finished, the First Maine band played " Red, White, and Blue," and the rebel band responded with " Bonnie Blue Flag." And till late in the afternoon the two bands kept up a musical duel, inspiring the men of their respective sides with their martial strains, - filling the boys in blue with patriotism, with love for the stars and stripes and love of country, - as one of the boys at the time expressed it : "That puts the fight right into me," - and doubtless inspiring the rebels with love and ardor for their cause, though their music sounded somewhat tame to Union ears compared with their own, and the boys in blue fancied the music of their band should awaken memories in the minds of the rebels which would cause them shame, -fighting against the old flag, - while all the time they were shooting at one another at every opportunity.
The afternoon was full of incidents. There was the usual amount of conversation between the opposing lines, - " cheap talk," perhaps, but it was thought fun by the men, doubtless of both sides; chafling, sneering, joking, and even advising. As one of the Maine boys fired into the woods a rebel sent back a laugh of defiance, with the words: "You'uns better keep your ammunition ; you'uns may want it before night ": a piece of advice many that heard it remembered later in the day, when cartridges were worth more than money.
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