USA > Maine > History of the First Maine cavalry, 1861-1865, V. 2 > Part 9
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GEN. SMITIT'S REPORT. 439
April seventh. pursuit was resumed in the morning. the Third brigade in advance. By marching rapidly we overtook the retreating column and skir- mishing commenced. At Briery Creek considerable resistance was offered. hnt a crossing was soon effected by means of the repeating rifle of the First Maine. when the whole brigade charged across and drove the enemy back. pressing him very closely till we reached Farmville. At this time Lieut. Col. Clark, of the Thirteenth Ohio, conducted the advance very gallantly. An orderly sent to halt the advance. seeing an organized body of the enemy just in front of the Thirteenth Ohio, mistook it for our advance. and riding up to it presented the compliments of the general commanding, with orders to halt. He was taken prisoner. and did not report the execution of this order till the evening of the ninth instant, after the surrender of Lee with his army. When we approached the town of Farmville. the enemy was making all haste to get his rear guard across the river. The brigade was ordered to charge, and did so in the most fearless manner. In this charge. the First Maine bore the brunt, and dashing through the town. drove out a superior force of the enemy offering obstinate resistance. In this charge. the colonel of the Forty-fourth Virginia was captured. In the evening of the same day the command marched to Prospect Station.
April eighth, marched to Appomattox Station. At nine o'clock in the evening I received orders from the major general commanding to move with my brigade on to the main road leading from Appomattox Court House to Lynchburg, and hold it against the approach of the enemy. I reached the road by a march of about two miles. and at a point about two and one-half miles from the court house. Feeling the importance of gaining as much ground as possible, to enable me. in case of an attack, to make fight till notice could be given and re-enforcements be got up, I advanced down the road cautiously. feeling my way at midnight. till I encountered and drove in the enemy's pickets, within half a mile of the court house. Then I ordered a section of three-inch guns, Lieut. Lord. Battery 1. Second United States Artillery, into position, dismounted three regiments (the First Maine. Sixth Ohio, and Second New York Mounted Rifles), threw up breastworks of rails, and awaited till daylight without blankets or fires.
At daylight the enemy advanced to the attack. and then the advantage of the position which I had obtained by pushing forward during the night. became apparent. My command was posted on a ridge, or kind of plateau. higher than any point at the enemy's command. Consequently, when his first attack was met by a rapid and vigorous opening from the section of artillery and a brisk fire from the skirmish line. being unable to ascertain the strength of my force except by direct assault, he desisted at the time, and occupied about two hours in manonvring, driving in my mounted men from the flank, etc., before he attempted to advance in force. I am of the opinion that had the position I held been left for the occupation of the enemy, he would have discovered my strength and contimed his march at daylight, gained full possession of the road, and extended his right beyond our left, thus, perhaps, producing a material difference in the result of the day. By the delay of these two hours our forces got into position, so that when my conmand retired before the enemy advancing in force. he was received with " Ready!" " Aim!" " Fire!" and the career of the Army of
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Northern Virginia was brought to an end. . . . I desire to make favorable mention of Capt. J. H. Harmony, Capt. Levi H. Daggett. Lieut. George F. Jewett, and Lient. Orlando N. Terry, members of my staff, for their striet attention to their duties and efficient service throughout the campaign.
Let it not be forgotton that in this last fight Gen. Smith's brigade of cavalry hore the greater part, and that the gallant First Maine Cavalry was the backbone of this brigade. So much for the part this regiment took in this last grand cam- paign. These extracts from Gen. Sheridan's. report of this campaign, will give the official account of some of the move- ments in which this regiment bore a part : -
On the morning of April fifth, Gen. Crooke was directed to send Gen. Davies' brigade to make a reconnoissance to Fame's cross-roads on our left and front. and ascertain if the enemy was making any movement towards that flank to escape. Gen. Davies struck a train of one hundred and eighty wagons, escorted by a considerable force of the enemy's cavalry, which he defeated, capturing five pieces of artillery. He destroyed the wagons, and brought in a large number of prisoners. Gregg's and Smith's brigades, of the Second division, were sent out to support Davies, and some heavy fight- ing ensued, the enemy having sent a strong force of infantry to attack and cut off Davies' brigade, which attempt was unsuccessful. During the after- noon, and after the arrival of the Second corps at Jetersville. the enemy demonstrated strongly in front of Jettersville against Smith's and Gregg's brigades of Crooke's cavalry, but no serious attack was made.
Early in the morning of April sixth. Gen. Crooke was ordered to move to the left to Deatonsville, followed by Custer's and Devin's divisions of Gen. Merritt's command. When near Deatonsville the enemy's trains were dis- covered moving in the direction of Burkesville or Farmville, escorted by heavy masses of infantry and cavalry. and it soon became evident that the whole of Lee's anmuy was attempting to make its escape. Crooke was at once ordered to attack the trains, and was notified that if the enemy was too strong. one of the divisions would pass him, while he held fast and pressed the enemy, and attack a point further on. and this division was ordered to do the same, and so on. alternating, as this system of attack would enable us finally to strike some weak point. This result was obtained just south of Sailor's Creek, and on the high ground over that stream. Custer took the road, and Crooke and Devin coming up to his support, sixteen pieces of artillery were captured, about four hundred wagons were destroyed, many prisoners taken, and three divisions of the enemy's infantry cut off from the line of retreat.
On the seventh instant the pursuit was continued early in the morning by the cavalry - Gen. Crooke in the advance. Gen. Crooke continued the direct pursuit, encountering the main body of the enemy at Farmville and again on the north side of the Appomattox, where the enemy's trains were
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GEN. SHERIDAN'S REPORT.
attacked by Gen. Gregg, and a sharp fight with the enemy's infantry ensued, in which Gen. Gregg was unfortunately captured.
On the morning of the eighth, Merritt and Mckenzie continued the march to Prospect Station, and Merritt's and Crooke's commands thenee moved towards Appomattox depot, a point on the Lynchburg Railroad five miles south of Appomattox Court House. Shortly after the march commenced, Sergt. White, one of my scouts, notified me that there were four trains of cars at Appomattox depot, loaded with supplies for Gen. Lee's army. Gens. Merritt and Crooke were at once notified to this effect, and the command was pushed on briskly for twenty-eight miles. Gen. Custer had the advance, and on nearing the depot, skilfully threw a force in rear of the trains and captured them. Without halting a moment he pushed on. driving the enemy (who had reached the depot about the same time as our cavalry) in the direc- tion of Appomattox Court House, capturing many prisoners and twenty-five pieces of artillery, a hospital train, and a large park of wagons. Gen. Devin coming up, went in on the right of Custer.
The fighting continued till after dark, the enemy being driven to Appo- mattox Court Honse. During the night, although we knew that the rem- nant of Lee's army was in our front, we hield fast with the cavalry to what we had gained. and ran the captured trains down the railroad to a point where they would be protected by our infantry that was coming up.
The Twenty-fourth and Fifth corps, and one division of the Twenty-fiftli corps, arrived about daylight on the ninth at Appomattox depot. After consulting with Gen. Ord, who was in command of these corps, I rode to the front, near Appomattox Court House, just as the enemy in heavy force was attacking the cavalry with the intention of breaking through our lines. I directed the cavalry, which was dismounted, to fall back gradually, resisting the enemy, so as to give time for the infantry to form its lines and march to the attack, after which to move off to the right flank and mount. This was done, and the enemy discontinued his attack as soon as he caught sight of our infantry. I moved my cavalry around the left of the enemy's line of battle, which was falling back rapidly (heavily pressed by the advance of the infantry), and was about to charge the trains and the confused masses of the enemy, when a white flag was presented to Gen. Custer. who had the advance, and who sent me the information at once that the enemy desired to surrender.
It should go on record. that for gallant and meritorious ser- vices in this last campaign. Col. Charles H. Smith, who had already been breveted brigadier general. received a brevet of major general ; Lieut. Col. Jonathan P. Cilley, previously brev- eted colonel, received a brevet of brigadier general ; Maj. Con- stantine Taylor received a brevet of lieutenant colonel; and Capts. John D. Myrick, Henry C. Hall, and John W. Freese received brevets of major.
The march of Monday, April tenth, was an easy one, on the
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FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
back track, the regiment going into camp about four o'clock in the afternoon near Prospect Station. At seven o'clock the next morning the boys were again in the saddle, the regiment serving as escort for Gen. Grant, and marched rapidly, reaching Burkes- ville Junction, a distance of twenty-five miles, before four o'clock in the afternoon. During this day's march the regiment passed by a large number of rebel prisoners, captured before the surrender, and on their way to Richmond. They seemed to be in good spirits, as the true soldier is under any circumstances. and on being told by one of the Maine troopers : "Keep up your courage, we have got your old leader, Gen. Lee, with us," (it was understood that Gen. Lee was with Gen. Grant, though that is uncertain) one of them replied: " Well, we have followed him a good many miles and we are not ashamed to follow him now,"- a spirit which no one could fail to admire.
A day was passed at Burkesville, and on the thirteenth the regiment started at daylight, marched to near Nottaway Court House and went into camp, holding guard mount in the after- noon. Here the regiment remained quietly two or three days.
On Sunday, the sixteenth, the news of the death of President Lincoln, at the hand of an assassin, was received officially and communicated to the regiment at dress parade. It is impos- sible to describe the feelings of the men at this news. It seemed for a time as if all for which they had fought and suffered was gone-as if the glories of the surrender of Gen. Lee were of no avail.
On Monday, the seventeenth, the regiment started again, . marching that day to near Wilson's Station, and the next after- noon reached Petersburg and went into camp.
Then came a season of quiet and rest till Monday, the twenty- fourth, when the cavalry started on another campaign, to go to North Carolina to help overpower Gen. Johnston, who had not yet been thoroughly tamed. Along the Boydton plank road, through Dinwiddie Court House, across the Nottaway and Meherrin rivers, through Boydton, across Staunton, Bannis- ter and Dan rivers, to South Boston, which was reached Friday. the twenty-eighth, where news was received of the surrender of Gen. Johnston, and orders were received to return - just as the.
GOOD-BY, "LITTLE PHIL." 443
regiment was almost in sight of North Carolina. Saturday, the twenty-ninth, the command started back by a different route. reaching Petersburg Wednesday, May third, and the regiment going into camp at Ettricks, a factory village a mile or more from Petersburg. This was a glorious march, a sort of pleasure trip. The weather was fine ; all nature was bright and cheery in its fresh spring green, and fairly laughed ; the march was through a country for the most part not devastated by war ; foraging was easy and forage plentiful, though the men were allowed to forage only what was necessary ; there was no picket duty to do. no advance guard duty to perform ; the marching was rather leisurely than otherwise ; at night the men, with the exception of the few detailed for guard, turned in and went to sleep with no fear of war's alarms -little that savored of real war, and yet. to look back upon it now, it may be doubted if the lack of excitement on that march did not rob it of some of its enjoy- ment. On Tuesday, May second. as the regiment reached Black's and White's Station, the boys saw " Little Phil Sheri- dan" going off on the cars. Then, for the first time, many of them fully realized their position, - they were about to part from the leader they loved so well and had followed through so many dangers, - they were soon to part from all their leaders. to be separated from their comrades; soon there would be no First Maine Cavalry save in memory ; and though happy at the thoughts of the closing of the war, of peace, and of home, many there were who could not help a lonesome, homesick feeling hanging over them the remainder of the afternoon.
An incident occurred on this return march which caused a deal of amusement at headquarters. George P. Andrews. of Co. D, who was and had for some time been a clerk in the adjutant's office, had a mare of which he was extremely fond. She was a snug-built, handsome animal, and he had a right to be fond of her and proud of her, too. She was a trotter and an easy rider, and it just did him good to see the boys look at him and admire the horse as he rode by, and he was justified in enjoying this, also. On the march toward Carolina the mare gave out, and he found, much to his regret. that he must leave her; so he hunted up an old citizen to whom he gave the mare.
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FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
making him promise, in the most solemn manner, that he would take good care of her. And if he shed tears as he bade his long time faithful friend good-by forever, they were tears that no man need be ashamed of. For months had they campaigned together, and he loved that horse - how much only the true cavalry man can understand. But he must have a new horse. This was a matter easily arranged. The boys had done some foraging in this new country, and horses were comparatively plenty. One was brought to him. One look at the horse was enough, but he was forced to make the best of it. It was a good, strong, intelligent horse, but it was long-legged. gaunt, and ungainly looking, - as different from his own snug-built, handsome pet as it was possible to be. He did not like the horse, that was evident. nor was he to blame for it. Next morning, when he mounted. he was more dissatisfied than ever, especially as there was a desire on the part of his friends to laugh at his unusual appearance, perched away up there on that great, tall horse. He was decidedly uncomfortable. - At one of the halts during the day's march he dismounted, as was customary, to rest a bit. When the order " Forward !" came. he attempted to jump on as usual, but forgetting the change of horses, he did not put enough energy into the operation, and fell short. His foot was caught in the stirrup, his hands were on the ground, and his body was between the stirrup and the ground. The horse started with the others, and the trooper was in a very uncomfortable, though extremely comical situa- tion, - dragged along by the foot in the stirrup and hobbling along on his hands. to prevent, if possible, the re-enforcements of his trousers from dipping into a mud puddle he was just then going through. In his plight and danger he could not forget the cause of it all. and he shouted out in mingled tones of anger and anxiety: " Why don't some one stop the plaguy long- legged old thing?
The camp at Ettricks was destined to be the last camp of the regiment. Here the First Maine remained until it was mustered out. There was little to do except the usual routine of camp and guard duty, with a goodly quantity of fatigue duty, and it was not long before the men got heartily sick of soldiering in
445
FREEDMEN'S BUREAU DUTY.
time of peace. They missed the excitement and rapid changes of actual war - camp duty was always distasteful to them - they preferred to be on the move. Although few if any of them really loved to fight. they would accept that with all its risks. in preference to this inactivity, and. besides, they felt that the need of their services no longer existed. When are we going home? What good are we doing now? The war is over. why can't we go home? were thoughts that arose daily and hourly in the minds of the boys. But they had learned patience, withal, and made the best of it. It was a dull. unpleasant season. though, and the weather was oppressive. A private letter from the regiment. dated June fifth, says: ". We have had men. brave men, too, faint in their tracks at guard mount, at eight o'clock in the morning, and at dress parade, at six o'clock in the even- ing, just on account of the heat."
On the twenty-first of May. Capt. Hall's battalion was sent to Chesterfield Court House to perform for Chesterfield County the duty afterwards performed by the Freedmen's Bureau; two companies were stationed near the coal mines at Clover Hill. under command of Capt. Wilson, one detachment at Chester Station, under command of Lieut. Merrill, and the other regi- ments of the brigade were sent to other counties for the same purpose, Col. Smith then being in charge of five counties, the official designation of the command being " District of the Nottaway." with headquarters at Ettricks, where the other two battalions of the regiment remained. The nature of the duties of Capt. Hall's battalion are set forth in the following order, dated May 20. 1865, and the duties of the other com- mands were similar : -
CAPT. HALL, FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
Captain : - The general commanding directs that you move, with your command, to Chesterfield Court House, for permanent duty. You are hereby appointed provost marshal of the county, and will administer the oath of allegiance to all entitled to it who may desire it. You will acquaint yourself, as soon as possible, with the condition and necessities of the county. You will keep negroes, as far as possible, with their old masters. when arrangements can be made satisfactory to both parties. You will make arrangements for keeping and employing all those for whom employ- ment cannot be found elsewhere. You will establish an employment
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FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
agency, from which laborers can be obtained by those desiring them. You will repress all disorders and disturbances, and prevent pillage. You will look properly to the interests of the people, and contribute in every possible way to the security, comfort, and prosperity of the county.
By command of Brevet Brig. Gen. C. H. SMITHI.
In July, while the Freedmen's Bureau was in process of organization, five officers were detailed from this regiment as " sub-superintendents of the Freedmen's Bureau," and each was assigned to a county; but before starting for their several destinations, though not until after all the details were arranged, the order came to muster out the regiment, and the officers were released from this detail.
There is one matter-one service performed by this regi- ment, or by men from this regiment -which must not be allowed to be forgotten. Ettricks was a factory village. The people were poor - poor in pocket, poor in spirit, and deficient in means to educate their children. A member of Co G, Perry Chandler by name, saw the condition of affairs, and, in the spirit of the Master, conceived the idea of opening a free school during the stay of the regiment there. He talked with the parents in the village about it, but met with little encourage- ment at first, as they were poor. He told them the school should be free. That was something they could not quite un- derstand, doubtless thinking it was some Yankee trick. But he finally got encouragement enough to begin, and then got permission of Col. Cilley to do his soldiering in that way. The first day he had forty scholars, and the number increased so rapidly that another man was detailed to assist him - Melvin Preble, of Co. K. who offered his services. Still more assistance was needed, and Miss Anna E. Trueman kindly offered her services, which were accepted. There was need of books, and Chaplain Merrill sent for some. The scholars ranged from four to sixteen years of age, and the schoolmaster said he was never in a schoolhouse where more interest was shown by the scholars. This school lasted till the regiment was ordered home - eight weeks. At the close of the school. the following resolutions were adopted unanimously at a large meeting of citizens of the village. held in the Methodist church : -
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MUSTERED OUT.
ETTRICKS VILLAGE, July 21, 1865.
We, a committee appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the feel- ings of the parents and children of the Ettricks Free School, due to Messrs. Perry Chandler, Melvin Preble, and Miss Anna E. Trueman, for voluntary and efficient services rendered the scholars as teachers, would submit the following for adoption : -
WHEREAS, Mr. Chandler, who was providentially thrown among us a stranger, and who voluntarily commenced the school, prompted by no other motive but to do good, and his two assistants acting from the same motive, therefore,
Resolved, That we, the parents and children, do most respectfully tender our sincere thanks for their valuable services rendered during the last eight weeks.
Resolved, Second, . That now Messrs. Chandler and Preble, who have been long absent from loved ones at home, have an opportunity to return, we assure them of our best wishes for them, and for a pleasant journey liome, and a prosperous future.
Resolved, Third, We assure them that they carry with them our heart- felt sympathy and earnest prayers, that if we never meet on earth again, may we meet in heaven.
Resolved, Fourth, That a copy of these resolutions be tendered to each of the above named teachers.
J. J. BAILEY. J. T. RETTER. J. L. TRUEMAN,
Committee.
It need hardly be said that Gen. Smith and Col. Cilley were much interested in the success of this school.
But there were signs of dissolution. April twenty-eighth an order was issued ordering the muster-out of all prisoners, con- valescents in hospitals, etc. May eighth an order was issued to muster out all one year men and cavalry men whose term of service expired before October first. This order went into effect May twenty-eighth, and took from the regiment some of the best of men, mainly men who had enlisted in 1862. and whose term of service had nearly expired. In June came an order to muster out all dismounted men. This order was carried into effect as soon as possible, and Monday, June twenty-sixth. three hundred and fifty men started for their homes in charge of five officers. . July eighteenth orders were received to prepare to muster out the regiment, but the rolls were not made out and the preparations completed until August first, on which day the regiment was duly mustered out of the United States service.
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FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
and Wednesday, August second, the command started for home on the steamer " Cossack," from City Point. After various vexatious delays, the captain of the steamer evidently not dar- ing to run his boat after dark. the steamer reached Portland on the afternoon of August eighth, after a tiresome passage on an old, worn-out boat, which it was rumored the underwriters. who examined her after the regiment disembarked, decided would not have floated another hour. The next day the command proceeded to Augusta, but it was not until the thirteenth that the rolls were signed and the men paid off and the First Maine Cavalry existed only in its grand and glorious history, - a his- tory of which every member, every citizen of the state. may well be proud, - a history which the state cannot afford to have forgotten. As for the comrades of the regiment. well may they take unto themselves the words of Gen. McClellan, in an order issued March 14, 1862: "When this sad war is over we will return to our homes and feel that we can ask no higher honor than the proud consciousness that we belonged to the Army of the Potomac." adding, always with honest pride, "and to the First Maine Cavalry."
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