vV'- •^.>, i sii \^^^. ^o.,,.^ .0^ -■^A '^ ^o^^^:r«^/%^ *«-^^-^~ ■'^^ .<^' ^V -\^ .^' S^ ^. .0 o. s- _.^^ .•^ % ^y /^. "^^, ^>. v^^ --^^^l^^ cP^ ^ c'^- f>. ■ ,.%= ^'^, " .^' '->» ^K> , '/■ ^, *, o. ,-0- V', - ■-o^^ I < y^ ^*. ■^' '^^.. - pi » .^^ -';.. , c:^ -^^ c^. A-^- "^^ v^' ^'^^ <^ O CO .•\^ ^^s^' ^ -^'^ A^ p SABRE AND BAYONET STORIES OF HEROISM AND HILITARY ADVENTURE: COLLECTED AND EDITED BY THEO. F. RODEN BOUGH BREVET BRIGADIER-GENERAL U. S. A. ILLUSTRATED [ ^ NEW YORK: G. W. Dillingham Co., Publishers, MDCCCXCVIL TWO COPIES RECEIVED Copyright 1886, by G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS. Copyright 1891, 1893, by G. W. DILLINGHAM. Copyright 1897, by G. W. DILLINGHAM CO. Sabre and Bayotiet. TO THE MEMORY OF CHARLES Mcknight leoser, COMRADE AND FRIEND, THIS BOOK IS INSCRIBED. PREFACE, ^^OME of these stories have been published before, ^-^ and theii- reception has encouraged the publishers to issue an edition comprising new material in a new and improved dress. The *' Romance of the Opequan " gives the actual experiences of an officer of the army at the battle of Winchester, Va., September 19, 1864; the names, only, of the officers mentioned being fictitious. The frontispiece is after a picture by Th. de Thulstrup^ and truthfully portrays the event described on page 27 of this book. CONTENTS. An Opequan Romance A Minnesota's Boy's First Battle Sergeant-Major Hincks' Exploit The Salient at vSpcttsylvania The Victors and the Spoils Three Thinking Bayonets With the Colors in War Time Plucking Victory from Defeat " Mad Clear Through " At the Cannon's Mouth The Path of Duty, the Road to Glory A Hero of Antietam Two Kinds of Courage A Lincoln Cavalryman .. Foiling an Assassin A Beau Sabreur "Red Cloud's" Baptism of Fire Trailing the Apaches A Spartan Band The Soldier-Scout's Story Little Wolf and White Hat Regulars of the Old School *' Chum " — A Meritorious Camp Follower 6 Page II 35 55 6i 85 103 117 147 152 167 171 185 192 198 215 229 245 255 282 307 326 332 360 ILLUSTRATIONS, FULL PAGES. The Charge at the Opequan Fighting the Battle o'er again " Come and Take it " . Sergeant-Major Hincks at Gettysburg Corporal Weeks and his Corps Commander Battle Relics Corporal Anderson's Brevet Sergeant Munsell's Flag Ginley's Last Shot Forrest Attacks the Train At the Cannon's Mouth Assault on Fort Sanders Marching to Gettysburg Sergeant Robinson's Gold Medal Confederate Colors and Captors Fort Phil Kearney '* A Friend Indeed" A Certificate of Merit Scout Chapman's Heroism Our Cavalry in Winter Page Frontispiece lO 34 56 60 %(> 102 116 148 161 166 170 191 214 228 244 254 272 281 30^ ILLUSTRATIONS. FOR TRAITS. Sergeant Merritt Major Hincks . . Corporal Weeks . Lieut. Fasnacht . Lieut. Gere . . . Private Dunlavy Corporal Monaghan Captain Anderson Capt. Munsell 117, Sergeant Cook . . Major Terry . . Lieut. Benjamin Captain Greig . . Sergeant Robinson Page Page 35 Payne, the Assassin . .221 55 Col. Tom Custwr . . 61 Rain-in-the-Face . . 66 Red Cloud .... 85 Lieut. -Col. Powell . 97 Captain King . . . 103 Sergeant Nihill . . Ill Sergeant Harrington T,Tf, 145 Private Evans . . . 152 Little Wolf and Captor 167 Col. Beall . . . 171 General Harney . 185 Colonel May . . 215 Sergeant Fegan . 229 238 245 247 255 271 282 307 325 332 339 343 351 MISCELLANEO US, Page Candle and Serpent . . 53 Sheridan's Cav'ry Badge 54 The Dietrich Farm . . 59 Where Pickett Halted 59 Relieving Wounded . 59 The Wilderness ... 84 Ancient Artillery . .115 Monument— 99TH P. V. . 131 Battle-flag — 99TH P. V. 146 Leading the Troops . . 165 After the Battle . . 169 At Close Quarters . .184 Fort McHenry, 1814 . 190 Victory The Happy Omen . . Medal of Honor . . Music on the Frontier x\ Musketeer . . . The Heliograph . . Adjutant's Office Company Kitchen . . The Courier . . . A Pack-Mule . . . Resting "Chum" Page . 190 • 225 . 226 • 243 • 253 . 257 . 270 • 277 • 324 • T^Z-^ • 359 • 3^^ t PART FIRST. 1861-1865. •My heart is fretting like a tethered steed's To join the heroes in their noble deeds. A noise of armies gathers in my ears : The Southern yells, the Northern battle-cheers; The endless volleys, ceaseless ac the roar Of the vexed ocean, brawling with its shore ; The groaning cannon, puffing at a breath Man's shreds and fragments through the jaws of death ; The rush of horses, and the whirring sway Of the keen sabre cleaving soul from clay; And over all, intelligible and clear As spoken language to a listening ear, The bugle orders the tumultuous herds, And leads the flocks of battle with its words." FIGHTING THE BATTLE O'ER AGAIN. IQ AN OPEQUAN ROMANCE. JT was the clay after the wedding. The young couple had departed to the usual accompaniment of rice, old slippers, and good wishes to pass the honeymoon on the great lakes and eventually to make a nest for them- selves in a northern city. He was a young civil engi- neer, a Pennsylvanian by birth ; she, a daughter of the Old Dominion. Two years before, while engaged at work upon a line of railway connecting a famous summer resort with the city of Norfolk, James Redbrook had met his fate in the person of a lovely girl, who appeared one day on the back of a frightened pony, with the bit between its teeth, making directly toward the edge of a bluff, above a deep and rocky ravine, a short distance awa}'. It was but, the work of a second for the young man to jump upon the back of his own mare, from which he had, fortunately, but just dismounted, and dash in pursuit. The pony had the start but the mare was more fleet. Just as the runawa}^ neared the precipice he swerved a little, ena- bling Redbrook to dash alongside ^nc} lift the almost un- 12 AN OPEQ UA N ROMA NC E. conscious girl from her saddle, as the pony tumbled head over heels into the ravine. Just then an agitated old gentleman mounted upon a gray horse, limping badly, appeared upon the scene ; in a moment he was out of the saddle and bending over the young woman, while Redbrook hastened to bring some water from the "■ branch " in the metal cup of his pocket-flask. The maiden was soon relieved and with her father — as the new comer proved to be — warmly ex- pressed their gratitude to her preserver for his prompt and gallant service. They were visitors at the '* Prin- cess Anne " as the great hostelry was called, and it is needless to say that Redbrook began, from that time, to take a deep interest in the personality of his new ac- quaintances. Major Thornton was a well-preserved relic of the Southern Confederacy, for which he had fought and bled until Appomattox made it a lost cause ; then, hang- ing up on the wall his trusty sword and reverently drawing a veil over the past, Thornton took his place in the ranks of those comrades who began a struggle for bread and butter. He was then but twenty-seven years of age, full of health and strength. Being popular he served his constituents in Congress for a term ; event- ually becoming identified with the development of his section, and at the time of our story (1890) was reputed ** well off." Although a widower he ^ad a charming daughter to comfort him. The young engineer became a devoted worshiper at the shrine of Mistress Betty Thornton, and after two A N OPEQ UAN ROMANCE. I ^ years' siege, the fortress capitulated. During this tiinc the families of the two principals had exchanged visits. In General Red brook, a retired officer of tlie army. Major Thornton found a congenial spirit. Although they had fought on opposite sides, they were simply two old soldiers of kindred tastes, fond of '' fighting their battles o'er again," and burning much incense of the weed to the memories of the Great War ; and so it was but nat- ural that the newly allied parents should hob-nob more cordially than ever, and that the General should accept, with pleasure, the Major's urgent appeal to remain at the Virginia homestead a few days longer. ** The Cedars " was a fine specimen of the so-called "Colonial style," still to be found in New England and Virginia; an imposing mansion planted originally in the midst of a grove of cedars, of which but four or five grim old sentinels had escaped the ravages of war and camp-fire. Under its roof-tree several generations of Thorntons had been brought into the world, and much generous hospi- tality had been dispensed. The Major and his guest sat, stretching their legs un- der the shining mahogany, after a dinner upon which Aunt Chloe had lavished her best efforts. " Old George," the sable butler had, with due solemnity, arranged the " materials " for a proper communion of martial souls; two heavy decanters, one of the wine of the country — " Maryland Club," the other of the famous Madeira brought over, long before, by the Major's grandfather, Commodore Thornton, and onl)^ produced on state occa- sions : also, cigars, pipes, and killikinnick. After seeing 14 AN' OPEQ UAN ROMANCE. that all things were in order, the glasses filled, and the warriors puffing contentedly, the old servant quietly withdrew. General Redbrook broke the silence. *' Major, you served in the cavalry, did you not?" "Yes, I began with Stuart on the Chickahominy in '62, and wound up with Fitz Lee in '65." " Ah, then you were one of the famous raiders who followed the gallant *' Jeb," when he galloped around McClellan's army, on a certain June day in the second year of the war. That was a wholesome lesson you taught us." " Well, you certainly learned your lesson well ; for the next year you rather turned the tables on us at Beverly Ford (or Brandy Station as we say), and after that, our re- spect, if not our love, for the Yankee troopers continued to increase. Our supply of horse-flesh grew scarce,, while yours seemed inexhaustible. We were armed with every conceivable weapon, from shot-guns and Enfield rifles to Harper's Ferry carbines of obsolete pattern, while your cavalry carried the latest Sharp's single- loaders, and toward the last, Spencer magazine carbines — with ammunition galore." " Yes, the government was very generous. No armies were ever so well fed, clothed, armed, and paid as those which carried the stars and stripes in those days," said the General. " Well," said Major Thornton, '' it is only fair to say that after Stuart's death, it was a common remark ^among our men that we'd rather fight the Yankee in- AN OPEQ l/AIS^ ROMANCE. 1 5 fantry any day than their best cavalry. And that re- minds nie of something- that occurred in the Shenandoah campaign of '64, where Early and Sheridan were chas- ing each other up and down the valley. In the regi- ment to which I belonged there was a recruit — a con- script — a little dried-up specimen of humanity, who had been a small country merchant; he had no stomach for fighting, and believed that all differences could be adjusted upona mercantile basis. One day our side lost a field- piece and orders were issued to re-capture it, if possible. As the men were settling themselves in their saddles, Private A , who was looking white and nervous, leaned forward and earnestly exclaimed : *' Hold on fellows ! Can't we settle this? It's nonsense going after that old gun anyhow. It ain't worth bloodshed. Let's chip in and buy the d — d thing!" The shout which greeted the proposal almost drowned the command to * move forward !' *' By the way, General, you lost your arm in the Shen- andoah, did you not?" " Yes, just in front of Winchester, in 1864. Yet my recollections of that time are very pleasant." *' I too, remember that day, but not at all pleasantly. As Sheridan aptly expressed it, we went * whirling through ' the old town after one of the hardest fisfhts I ever took part in. But your glass is empty — there, Gen- eral, that is more like. Let us drink to the memory of those who fell near the Opequan on that day. To the Blue and the Gray ! " Major," said General Redbrook, *' a curious thing i6 AN OPEQ Van romance. happened to me on that occasion ; or, rather, several things. If it will not bore you I will relate them." "By all means, my friend, it may perhaps revive my own recollections of that time." The whitehaired soldier paused a moment and then began : " My most vivid recollections are of the Campaign of '64 in the Shenandoah. The earlier operations there had not been glorious for the Union cause, and at the open- ing of the year mentioned, that fertile ,vale was, as you may remember, one of the principal granaries of the Con- federate army, which drew upon its resources with but little interference. *' General Grant determined to send Sheridan with part of the Army of the Potomac to change the situation. This force, called the Army of the Shenandoah, com- prised the Sixth, Eighth, and Nineteenth corps of infantry and Merritt's, Wilson's, and Averell's divisions of cavalry. Merritt's division consisted of the brigades of Devin, Custer and Lowell ; the latter, known as the Cavalry Re- serve Brigade (the ist, 2d, 5th U.S., ist N. Y. Dragoons and 2d Massachusetts regiments), was under Colonel Charles R. Lowell, a nephew of the poet-statesman ; a fine officer and gallant gentleman who fell at Cedar Creek. " Returning from a short leave, I found my regiment at Summit Point, near the Opequan Creek, some six miles south of Winchester. It had been on the war-path since the opening of the spring campaign, and although depleted to but two hundred officers and men was in ex- cellent fighting condition. It had a glorious history of AM OPEQUAN ROMANCE. ly daring and privation ; its standard had been carried be- yond the Rio Grande and into the Halls of the Montezu- mas ; its rolls bore the names of many who had cut and thrust their way to Fame. The graves of its heroic dead are among the orange groves of the Si. John's and the swamps of the Everglades; along the banks of the Mis- souri and dotting the Great Plains like milestones, mute witnesses that the Sword alike points the way to Empire and is potent for the preservation of Law and Order. Of this regiment, I, as senior officer present — although but a captain — was commanding officer. ** For some days the troops had been making prepara- tions for a movement ; tents had been struck, but our des- tination was yet a mystery. *' It was midnight, and many a soldier slumbered heav- ily, unconscious that he was on the verge of the sleep that knows no awakening; the embers of the camp-fires glowed here and there among the prostrate forms of Sheridan's troopers, and the stillness was only broken by the muffled tread of a sentry on the short grass, or by the stamping of a horse at the picket-line. ''Two hours later, the regiment with which we have most to do * led into line ' by squadrons, the troopers * standing to horse.' Suddenly the order to mount was given quietly and, moving out into the road, our com- mand took its place at the head of what, in the darkness, seemed a phantom host, bound — Whither? ** It was General Sheridan's plan — now a matter of history — to move his infantry by the Berryville road, directly upon the town of Winchester, while one divi- I g AN OPEQ UA N ROMANCE. sion of cavalry (Wilson's) operated on the left and to- ward the turnpike leading to the South. With tlie other (Merritt's) division, Torbert would cross the Opequan on the right of the Berry ville road at Ridgeway's (See- var*s) and Locke's fords, and after a junction with Aver- ell at Stephenson's depot, a few miles north of Winches- ter, sweep well around the enemy's left flank, in co-op- eration with the main army advancing on the town from the East. It was at the head of Lowell's column that we moved at two o'clock on the morning of September 19, 1864. " Arriving at a farmhouse, near the ford, the division, with the exception of Custer's brigade, which passed on to Locke's crossing, was dismounted ; a few men crept down to the water's edge, their movements covered by a heavy mist and tlie brawling of the creek over its rocky bottom. It was known that a Confederate cavalry picket, with some infantry as a reserve, confronted us. The opposite bank was precipitous and well covered with timber. About 5 A. M., a shot was heard, followed by two more: we had been discovered. Instantly a de- tachment under Lieutenant Harris, of 'Ours,' dashed across the regular ford, while the rest of the brigade, taking advantage of the diversion, crossed in front and after some difficulty effected a lodgment, and captured several prisoners of the original ' Stonewall Brigade.' Although briefi}^ told, this was not done in a moment. Harris with a brother officer and two orderlies were im- prisoned for some time in a railroad cut near the ford, exposed to the enemy's sharpshooters, who kept the AN OPEQUAN ROMANCE, I9 Yankees pinned against a stone abutment, from the shel- ter of which tliey emerged with the loss of one man wounded and one horse killed. Our troopers drew rein, for a moment, on the western bank of the Opequan. The orders required us to press forward rapidly. Every one was in high spirits ; the slight opposition at the crossing had sharpened our appetites for the proverbial *bowl of blood ' to which, in those days, playful refer- ence was often made, and of which, in these days. Major, we veterans agree to have had our fill. The day was charming, and the landscape stretching before us was suggestive of a picnic rather than of the red ruin soon to be wrought upon its face. " And here, as I recall the sensations of that hour, 1 am tempted to digress. Do you remember. Major, the realism of Frank Forrester's description of a fox-hunt- er's morning?" The Major took his pipe out of his mouth long enough to say he did. The General resumed. " Would that I might borrow that wonderful power for a moment, to do justice to the mystic charm of the soldier-sportsman's life in time of war. To rise with the sun on a crisp autumn morning; to take in with every breath an atmospheric cock-tail ; to plunge into a nat- ural bath-tub hewn out of the rock-bed of a mountain torrent; to join your own exclusive mess in a vigorous attack upon the steaming coffee, the savory broil, the brown-and-buttered flap-jack, spread in trim, biv- ouac fashion under the spreading branches of a noble oak. To do this, as the commander of a regiment of horse^ 26 AN OPEQVAN ROMANCE, with everything moving with the precision born of dis- cipline and experience; to feel that this gallant host is subject to your will, and that lives and reputations rest in your hand ; then, settling yourself in your saddle, you feel your charger's elastic step, his satin-like coat rivaling in brilliancy the polished mountings of his equipments, and his dilated nostrils scenting '' the battle afar off". Behind you, at proper distance, rides the K. O.'s orderly, and by his side the orderly bugler — the mouth-piece of authority. Next moves *' the Color Guard" — the silken standard borne by a grizzled veteran whose service-stripes indicate a score of years. After these, upon their claybank horses, sedately come the Pioneers ; then upon placid steeds appears the Band ; and finally, in successive troops, ride the Fighting Men. " Compare this cavalcade, its tramp of hoofs, its jingle of spurs, its rough-riding badinage, with the hunter's ride to the meet : drawing the enemy instead of the fox ; charging a dangerous foe, rather than following the hounds, and, finally, joining in the mel(fe of battle in place of being 'Mn at the death " of a poor little animal. •' But, my dear Major, you and I know that into one military campaign may be crowded the pleasure and pain of a lifetime ; and to one who has quaffed the strong waters of war time the wine of civil life is indeed in- sipid." Here the General took a long — breath and then took up the thread of his story : " Lowell's brigade again moved forward. Suddenly, some gray-clad horsemen appeared in our front. As we AN OPEQ UAN ROMANCE. 2 1 advanced they fell back toward a formidable barrier a quarter of a mile distant. The country was rolling, in- tersected by stone and rail fences, and was not unfavor- able for mounted operations. Behind the enemy's skirmisiiers was one of these fences, flanked by a forest. Along- this fence was a line of Wharton's infantry, form- ing the extreme left of Early's army. The sunlight danced upon their polished musket-barrels, while the butternut of their well-woin uniforms blended with their neutral-tinted breastwork. In the angle of their position, where it joined the woodland, a i2-pounder field gun was visible as well as a flag of ''stars and bars" which fluttered temptingly in the distance — just out of reach. " Since our start in the early morning, a number of detachments had been made from my regiment, so that, as we halted, it numbered hardly one hundred men. At this mornent a staff-offlcer dashed up to the brigade commander and spoke earnestly. '' Turning to me. Colonel Lowell said : "'Captain, I want you to move forward with your command, and second General Custer, who is about to charge. I will go with you.' " Taking a look ahead to pick out the best line of ap- proach to the enemy's position, the commands: ' Draw Sabre ! Trot — March !' followed in rapid succession. As we neared the angle, a ringing cheer was heard away on the right, and the dashing Custer, with his yel- low locks floating in the breeze, appeared at the head of his brigade, bearing down upon the foe. ""^ ^ Charge r and, like a whirlwind, our men swept to- 22 AN OPEQ UAN ROMANCE. ward the Confederate infantry. Their musketry fire was not very effective, being as a rule too low, although many of our horses bit the dust in the first hundred yards of our advance. "'Go for the flag!' shouted Lowell, which brought forth a cheer ; but the coveted prize was instantly with- drawn to the rear of the battery. It began to look as if we were going to capture a trophy, when a flash of fire burst in our faces, followed by a crashing sound. Then ensued a babel of Rebel yells and Yankee cries, the plunging of riderless horses, and our bugles sounding * the rally.' The charge was over ; and although no battle-flags were taken, we had effected the object of what would otherwise have been bravado on our part. Our movement was a feint, under cover of which part of Merritt's division had stolen upon the enemy's right and rear, causing him to retire and giving us once more the right of way to Winchester. Our regimental casual- ties were three killed and four wounded. "My own experience was peculiar. I had pulled up within fifty yards of our goal, and under cover of the dust and smoke was about to rejoin the regiment, which could be seen at some distance, reforming its broken ranks. Suddenly ' Old Salamander ' — who had carried me safely into and out of many a tight place before, staggered, halted, and refused to move ; conscious that the big brown target invited sharp-shooting, I dis- mounted and tried to lead him. He proved to be badly wounded, the blood spurting from five or six places in . his body. We were too near the enemy's line to render AN OPEQ UAN ROMANCE, 2 3 an attempt, on my part, to cross the open, on foot, par- ticularly safe ; while to remain longer meant a trip to Libby prison. My dilemma was noted by a gallant Ser- geant, who, of his own moticjn, galloped to my assist- ance. In a moment he had reined up ; jumping up be- hind him, I was carried back to the regiment under a parting salute from the enemy, which wounded the Ser- geant's horse in three places, so that, wild with pain and terror, he became unmanageable. It was with difficulty and the combined efforts of two of Lowell's staff that he was induced to halt with his double burden. As for me I was compelled to dismount a soldier, and for the rest of that eventful day, rode to the subdued clatter of the tin- cup, nose-bag, spare horse-shoe and other paraphernalia of a troop-horse's equipment. In England the Sergeant's feat would have been promptly rewarded with the V. C, but it was only the other day that, " For most dis- tinguished gallantry in action," on that occasion, the War Department awarded to Sergeant Schmidt the Con- gressional Medal of Honor. "About one o'clock in the day the division commander ordered a halt. Near brigade headquarters lounged sev- eral cavaliers. One, tall, blond-bearded and broad-shoul- dered, with a little scar on his brow just between the eyes, sat upon a boulder, resting his chin upon his hand ; McQuade was the adjutant-general of the division. Opposite, leaning against a tree, with hands crossed be- hind him, and puffing at a short briar pipe, stood Harris, whilom quartermaster of ' Ours.' The third person — 24 AN OPEQUAN ROMANCE. myself — was lying on his back thinking of nothing in par- ticular. *' * What's the matter, Mac?' said Harris, ' you look as serious as an owl, or as Tom Dewitt when his meer- schaum won't color. You've got a soft thing on the staff and you were born in the Switzerlaud of America. Now if you had an ounce of lead in your leg, like M , we could understand your blues.* " * The fact is,' said Mac, ' I had a peculiar dream last night and an odd feeling all day, as if something was about to happen to me or mine. By the wa}-,' continued he, ' what was the matter with ** Planter" this morning when we were going for that flag?' *' * Why,* said Harris, * the old rascal got the devil in his head and the bit between his teeth ; thought he was on the homestretch in a scrub at Fort Rile}- (as he has often been), and nearly carried me into the arms of Secesh. In the nick of time, the Sergeant-Major's horse was shot and tumbled in our path, enabling me to pull him up. I don't think he'll bolt again, as I've taken up the cheek- piece of his bridle and tightened the curb-chain, and he has acted in a very meek and penitent manner ever since.' " ' Well,' said I, ' you had better sell, trade, or give him away; you may depend upon it that a horse, once accus- tomed to the turf, makes a ver}'^ unreliable war-horse, and I fear he'll get you into trouble yet.' **' Nonsense, Redbrook, you're a croaker. By the way, how did you come by that hole in your sleeve? A IV OPEQ UAN ROMANCE. 2 5 By Jove! you have had a close call — a rifle-ball has gone through that, sure,' said Harris. " I had not observed it before. The blouse had * leg of mutton' sleeves, and this hole, round and clean, had passed through the cloth at'the angle of the elbow — just clearing the arm. It was evidently a souvenir of the niorning, when ' Salamander' stood up for rifle-prac- tice. " ' Well,' said I, ' if there is any truth in ' bullets never strike in the same place,' then, my dear Mac, your head and my arm are safe ; and as for you, Harris, ' an ounce of prevention,' etc., fits your case — at least for to-day.* '' The scar on INIcQuade's forehead was from a spent- ball which had struck him there in an affair some six months before. *' The firing had been growing more distant upon our left, toward which our course was gradually directed. The entire cavalry force under Torbert soon became engaged with the enemy, which gallantly contested every inch of giound. Several fine charges were here made by Devin and Custer, and many prisoners and sev- eral battle-flags were among the spoils. *' Halting for a moment, while my orderly filled our can- teens from a spring, McQuade came up ; he had just re- turned from participation in one of the affairs mentioned ; his eyes were bright, and all traces of the mid-day de- pression had vanished. '*'Did you notice how we drove them?' said he. 'Old Tommy (Uevin) has three battle-flags and lots of prisoners, and I think we have the "rebs " on the run« 26 AN OPEQUAN ROMANCE, You appear all right yet, Redbrook. No more holes in your sleeves, are there ? But,' he continued, ' wc agreed that bullets never strike twice in the same place, didn't we?' and waving his hand, off he galloped. *' It was near the close of the afternoon, when the army of General Sheridan had pressed that of General Early back to the old town. The Confederates were making a stout defense, had repulsed our infantry, and were seriously menacing the right of the line. * Little Phil' came riding over to the point on his right, where his infantry and cavalry lines joined, and where, as he reports ' the enemy was still fighting with obstinacy in the open ground in front of Winchester, and I ordered Torbert to collect his cavalry and charge, which was done simultaneously with the infantry's advance, and the enemy was routed.* * The enemy's cavalry,' says Early, ' again charged around my left flank and the men began to give way again.' " Our part in this movement is soon told. General Merritt reported ofificiall}^ : 'Soon Colonel Lowell (Re- serve Brigade) entered the lists. His heroic brigade — now reduced to about six hundred men — rode out fear- lessly within five hundred yards of the enemy's line of battle, on the left of which, resting on an old earth- work, was a two-gun battery. I'he order was given to charge the line and get the guns.' " I well remember the moment. Lowell with an air of quiet decision on his handsome face, rode in front of the brigade which was formed in close column, with my regiment leading. The ground in (rout was level as a AN OPEQUAN ROMANCE. 2/ floor. Not an obstacle appeared between our position and wliere the enemy's thin line of infantr}', already somewhat disordered, seemed nervously awaiting- us. A thousand yards to our right front, sharply outlined against the golden sunset was Averell's mounted division moving to the enemy's rear with the precision of parade. Behind Lowell were six hundred brave hearts and chaf- ing steeds — the horses knew wiiat was to be done as well as their riders. " The brigade commander waved his hand, and we moved forward at a quick pace, the sound of hoofs deadened somewhat by the elastic Virginia turf. At a bugle signal our horses took the trot, and the officers found it necessary to restrain the inclination of some of the men to force the pace ; but, generally, we were well in hand, when a musketry volley struck the head of the column and the leading squadron swerved for a moment; but with the cries of ' Forward! Forward!' they again pressed on. Within a hundred yards of the enemy 'GaUop!' i\\\([ ' CJiarge !' were heard and we were off, safely over a ditch and through the hostile skirmish line. *'In front of us a Southern standard-bearer' standing not upon tlie order of his going ' but showing a remark- ably bright set of horseshoes. To the right and left were individual horsemen of the enemy — some in full flight, and some turning to take a parting shot at their pursuers. To the right front were the guns of Lee's battery, which had opposed us in the morning, their out- lines partially concealed by the earthwork and the veil of smoke which curled above them. But one shot did 28 AN OPEQUAN ROMANCE. they get in at us and it passed over our hends. Harris had just pointed out the Confederate color-bearer as a possible prize, when off to the right, fifty yards away, a 'one more shot' fellow pulled up and aimed his carbine point blank at our party. The thought flashed through my head. ' He's trying for a bull's-eye on some of us,* and, instinctively, I gave my horse the spur. The next moment I felt a crushing shock in my right arm, as if it had been struck with an iron bar; it dropped to my side, and my sabre swung wildly, hanging by the sword knot from my wrist. The Confederate marksman had made his ' bull's-eye.* *' Promptly deciding that as a combatant I * lingered superfluous on the stage,' I tried to attract my orderly's attention ; it was the homestretch of the charge, how- ever, and that worthy, although immediately behind me, had a rapt gaze that saw nothing but the enemy. As I pulled to one side the brigade passed with a rushing sound, like Marryatt's East Indiaman, under a cloud of canvas, running before the wind. " In a moment I was alone between the armies. My horse's head was turned back in the direction of division headquarters, when the sound of hoofs fell on my ear. Looking off toward what had been the Confederate right, I saw three horsemen in gray coming toward me at full speed. Once more calling upon the troop horse, he dashed on belabored by the dangling sabre and stung b}^ the spur to fresh exertion. Lying flat along his neck and giving him free rein, every bound brought us nearer to our lines, a fact not without its effect upon the pur- A N OPEQ UAN ROMANCE. 2g suers, who contented themselves with emptying their re- volvers at the pursued, to whose ears the whistling of the balls, as they missed their mark, were anything but musical. Without pulling up, I now endeavored to free my wounded arm of the weight of solid metal which bore it down. Leaning over for this purpose, I tugged at the sword-knot when a ball struck my horse in the flank ; with a snort of pain and fright he plunged vio- lently and the next moment was riderless. Partially stunned I hiy surroimded by the debris of battle — dead men and horses, an overturned battery-wagon and aban- doned arms. "As predicted, Harris' horse ' Planter ' mistook the charge for a trial of speed, and despite his rider's efforts was soon a length or two ahead of the field and uncon- trollable. " It was Harris's misfortune to be captured, but not un- ti' within six hundred yards beyond where the enemy V AS first struck, and when dismounted in front of their second line by his horse falling. Nor did he suffer the humiliation of surrender of iiis sabre ; for as he fell to the ground with stunning force, its point entered the sod several inches, well nigh doubling the blade, which, in its recoil, tore the knot from his wrist, frying many feet through the air. As he afterward described the scene, a crowd of wild looking men surrounded him, threatening in their actions, but unable to repress such expressions as these : ' Great God ! what a charge ! How grandly you sailed in! What brigade ?' and as he replied, 'Cavalry l^eserve Brigade, First Division* they fairly tore his cloth. 30 AN OPEQUAN ROMANCE. ing-off, taking his gold watch and chain, pocket-book, cap, and even spnrs, and then tnrned him over to four infan- trymen. Tlie confusion and actual rout, produced by the successive charges of Merritt's First Cavalry Divi- sion, would appear incredible, did not Harris actually wit- ness them. To the right, a battery, with guns disabled and caissons shattered, was trying to make to the rear, the men and horses impeded by broken regiments of cav- alry and infantry. To the left, the dead and wounded in confused masses around their field-hospitals — many of the wounded in great excitement seeking shelter in Winches- ter; directly in front, an ambulance, the driver nervously clutching the reins, while six men were carrying to it the body of General Rodes. Not being able to account for the bullets which kept whizzing past, Harris turned and faced our own lines to discover the cause, and, if pos- sible, catch a last sight of the 'stars and stripes.' This is what he saw : '' The sun, well down in the West, mellowing every- thing with that peculiar golden hue which is the charm of our autumn days. To the left, our cavalry were hur- riedly forming for another and final charge. To the right, our infantry, in unbroken line, in the face of the enemy's deadly musketry, with banners unfurled, now enveloped in smoke, now bathed in the golden glory of the setting sun, were seen slowly but steadily pressing forward. Suddcnlv, above the almost deafening din and tumult of the conflict, an exultant shout broke forth, and simultaneously our cavalry and infantry line charged. As he stood on tiptoe to see the lines crash together, AN OPEQ UAN ROMANCE. 3 1 himself and guards were suddenly caught in the con- fused tide of a thoroughly beaten army — cavalry, artil- ery and infantry — broken, demoralized, and routed, hur- rying through Winchester. " As for me I had lain where I had fallen perhaps ten minutes, when I heard a horse galloping toward the spot. As (he rider pulled up, I saw that he was young, good looking and dressed in a gray uniform, evidently fresh from the tailor. Dismounting he came to me and, bend- ing down, gently relieved me of my belt on which hung a pistol and a small pair of field-glasses ; then he asked me if I was badly hurt, and producing a small flask offered me a drink. It was very fair whisky, but I was ready to certify that it was nectar. My gallant foe, as he re- mounted, remarked that as we were then behind the Union line of battle, it was not a good place for him. I thanked him for his timely succor. With a compassion- ate look on his open countenance he said: 'Sorry for you, my friend. We'll fight you as long as you can stand up, but we won't jump on a man when he's down ;' and with a wave of his hand he dashed ofT. *' Another quarter of an hour passed and another horse- man approached. This time it was a friend indeed — Colonel Lowell — who, missing me after the charge, had made another one thinking I had fallen into the enemy's hands ; returning, he had, unattended, started to go over the ground again. He was successful, and placing me upon his gray steed, like the Good Samaritan and gal- lant comrade that he was, helped me to headquarters. On the way we passed McQuade, who came forward 32 AN OPEQ UAN ROMANCE, with a question on his lips. I pointed to my arm. He started and exclaimed :/ What ! there f Ten minutes later poor Mac lay cold in death. He was carrying an order when a bullet struck him between the eyes, and on the scar of the spent-ball of the year before. His pre- sentiment came true and our superstition proved value- less. The three comrades of the midday halt had, by nightfall, been accounted for, respectively, among the casualties of the battle-field, as 'killed, wounded and missing !' " As the General described his experiences of the charge and the episode of the Confederate officer, Major Thorn- ton showed a marked interest. He took his pipe from his mouth and allowed it to grow cold ; his eyes had a far-away look ; once he half rose from his seat, and was evidently nervous and agitated. As the story came to a close the General said : "I am afraid I've bored you with my long-winded yarn." Thornton gazed intently at his guest for a moment, then put up his hand and said, *' Wait !" and rising from his seat passed into an adjoining room. In a few minutes the Major reappeared with a pair of field-glasses. Handing them to Redbrook he said: "Did you ever see those before ?" The General took them in his hand and examined them carefully. Upon each rim in gold letters were thQ AN- OPEQ UAN ROMANCE. 3 3 initials, *' C. M^K. L." Then he said, " Where did you get these ?" " Took them as 'contraband of war' from a wounded Union officer, at the time and place you mention, and I am now satisfied that you were that officer!" Both men by mutual impulse rose to their feet and silently clasped hands across the table. Major Thornton briefly described his adventures on the day in question. He had narrowly escaped capture at the hands of Custer's men, and eventually rejoined Fitz Lee's headquarters by a detour through the fields. The belt and pistol he had lost in the course of his sub- sequent service, but the little field-glass had been sent home and preserved as a trophy of war. It had proved to be something more. Originally belonging to a friend of Red brook's — Charlie L , (then a prisoner of war) its involuntary transfer on the field of battle seemed to have prompted an act of mercy, as it long after sealed the union of two quondam foes in bonds of friendship and love through that mysterious agency which some call Fate. COME AND TAKE IT ! ' 34 \ V J^c\^»^"" SERGEANT JOHN G. MERRITT, FIRST MINNESOTA INFANTRY. A MINNESOTA BOY'S FIRST BATTLE. PERHAPS the battle of Bull Run (or Manassas), which was fought on Virginia soil on a certain Sun- day in July, i86i, may be likened to one of three signal- guns : the capture of Fort Sumter being the first, and the battle of Gettysburg the third. The firing at Sumter warned men to. choose sides and to prepare for a struggle, long and severe ; how bitter, how bloody, none at the time dreamed. Bull Run and its famous stampede taught the lesson that something more was required to win battles than masses of armed men ; that courage without discipline was of little JO 36 A MINNESOTA BOY'S FIRST BATTLE. avail, and that the vast resources of the Government must be organized, drilled and led by experienced commanders ere victory could be ours. Gettysburg marked the "high tide" of the war; the roar of its cannon sounded the death knell of the Confeder- acy. Other battles were to be fought and thousands of men in blue and gray were to lie down in death on the same fields, but the preservation of the Union was assured when the sun went down behind the sheets of summer rain on the third day of Gettysburg. Somehow or other the name " Bull Run " is generally associated, in the minds of people who were not there, Vv^ith the idea of an amusing and, on one side, at least, an en- tirely disgraceful performance ; and this is quite natural. We are often told that ^r^Y impressions are strongest, but this hardly holds good of a defeated army : there the strongest impression is doubtless the last. Greatly ridiculed and denounced when it occurred, the battle of Bull Run is gradually finding its vindication. General Sherman says it was " one of the best planned battles" of the war, but one of the worst fought," and that "both armies were fairly defeated." General Johnston says: '' If the tactics of the Federals had been equal to their strategy, we should have been beaten." While therefore Bull Run will always be famous for its discreditable feat- ures, it is now known that in no other affair of the war were there more brilliant exhibitions of personal gallantry and heroism than on that historic field. Many of these ex- ploits were by boys of eighteen who faced death there for the first time. One of these, Sergeant JOIIN G. Merritt, GOING TO THE FRONT. 3; Company K, First Minnesota Infantry, who afterward re- ceived the Medal of Honor for gallantry at Bull Run, tells i.he story of his first battle so well that it is given here in his own words : GOING TO THE FRONT. " I was a sergeant in Co. K, First Regiment Minnesota Volunteers.^ The regiment broke camp at Centerville about three o'clock on the morning of Sunday, July 21, 1 861. With a soldier's equipments and three days' rations, we realized before sunrise that it was going to be a hot day. After we had been on the march for about a couple of miles we turned off the main road to the right ; we were delayed a good deal by fallen trees with sharpened points sticking towards us. Whenever we could we would double- quick, and, as the morning was very hot, the pace told on some of the men. "John Ball, the orderly sergeant of K Co., was sick and I was acting as orderly sergeant. As sick as Ball was, he came on the field, and I saw him standing near the regiment while they were engaged, with his arms folded, apparently the most unconcerned person of the lot ; he was a brave and fearless man. Captain Lester, Lieutenants Holtzbornf and Periam:): were the officers of the company. " We could hear the sound of cannon very distinctly about *" The brigade left camp near Centerville at 2.30 a.m. in the following order ;--ist Minnesota, Ricketts' Battery, sth Massachusetts. The Minnesota regiment was arranged with the two front companies as ready to act as skirmishers, the next three companies as the advanced guard, and the remainder of the regiment formed the head of the column . . , the brigade reached Bull Run about 11 a.m. after a march of about twelve miles,"— War Records, Co/. Franklin'' s Report. t Killed at Antietam. % Mortally wounded at Gettysburg. 38 A MINNESOTA BOY' S FIRST BATTLE. eight o'clock, and by ten or eleven o'clock we could plainly hear the sound of musketry ; by that time we knew we were going to have a fight. After I was satisfied that such was going to be the case, and being desirous of obtaining mili- tary distinction, I applied to Lieutenant Holtzborn, of my company, for the privilege of selecting four men for the pur- pose of capturing the first Confederate f^ag we could get. The lieutenant told me it was a hazardous undertaking, but said, after consultation with Captain Lester, I had per- mission. Sergeant Dudley, Privates Durfee, Grim and one other, whose name I have forgotten, readily consented to my proposal, and all agreed to follow me and to stick to one another under any circumstances. ** Before going into action, the whole regiment divested themselves of knapsacks, haversacks and blankets, and piled them in one large heap beside the road, thinking of course we would be back in a couple of hours — as soon as we had * crushed the Rebellion.' I and my four men in partic- ular carried nothing with us but our ammunition and guns. After we had supplied ourselves with water,^ and every- thing being now ready, orders were given to ' Forward ! ' and we immediately filed through a cluster of trees, where the dying and wounded were being brought on stretchers and blankets. Everything was at the height of excitement, as the roar of cannon and the incessant volleys of musketry were very heavy, and with an occasional stray shot coming * " At Sudley Springs, while awaiting the passage of the troops of the division in our front, I orJered forward the ist Brigade (Franklin's) to fill their canteens. Captain Wright led forward the Minnesota regiment to the left of the road which crossed the Run at this place. . . .^'—Colonel Heintzlemans Report. GOING INTO ACTION. -^ among us, you can rest assured the regiment was on the alert. " I never shall forget the first sight of dead, wounded and dying. Pity and sympathy, mingled with a feeling of fear, made me realize in an instant we were approaching death. But the feeling passed away as soon as it came. "■ So far as my recollection goes, when we got out into the open space we were ordered to the other side of the field, and in marching over, double-quick, we passed directly in the rear of our artillery, which was heavily engaged.^ It was very laughable and amusing to see some of the men jump and squat down, trying to dodge, in all manner of ways, the cannon shots from the Rebel guns ; and I was not slow at the dodging business myself. One of my com- pany would constantly run out of the ranks and up to the captain and say, 'Has the fight commenced yet? Has the fight commenced yet ? ' He was not long in finding out when the fight did commence. *' Arriving at what seemed to me the extreme right, we formed in line in a ravine, near some cavalry, and awaited orders. *' It was now about half-past one o'clock. We were soon ordered forward, and as we advanced rapidly to the brow of a plateau we knew we were soon to meet the enemy, face to face, at short range. Just before w^e got to the top ot the plateau the bugle sounded 'lie down.' With fixed bayonets and loaded rifles we were ready and anxious for business. In about a couple of minutes the bugle sounded * "At a little more than a mile from the ford we came upon the battlefield. Franklin's brigade was posted on the right of a wood near the centre of our line, and on ground ris- ing toward the enemy's ^osiUon."~-Ci>lonel Heintzleman s Report. 40 A MINNESOTA BOY'S FIRST BATTLE, ' stand up ' ; no sooner had we done so and were well in line when the command ' Forward ! ' was given. That brought us directly in j^lain sight and directly in front of a Jine of *Rebs.'"^' We were not more than thirty or thirty- five yards apart ; in fact we were so close that for a minute we did not know who they weref (I saw, about this time, General Heintzleman riding in plain view of the enemy). We saw their colors and all fired immediately ; in less than half a minute they gave us a round. We were ordered to lie down and load ; then we were ordered to stand up and fire. We had given them three or four rounds and they were slowly falling back, a little confused. When the smoke and dust would break away we could see them and their colors as plain as you can see a man across the street. Just at this time a single gun from Ricketts* Battery came directly to the rear of K Company, unlimbered, and in less than half a minute gave them a round of grape and canis- ter. The artillerymen immediately reloaded and gave them another dose of the same medicine. The second round threw them in utter confusion, and it was at that time myself and the men named above advanced double-quick on the Rebel color-bearer. We had no trouble in reaching him, as the smoke and dust had not risen, and from his * " I then led up the Minnesota regiment, which was also repulsed but retired in toler- ably g-ood order. It did good service in the woods on our right flank, and was among the last to retire, coming off the field with the 3d U. S. Infantry, . . .^'—Colonel Heintzle- mati's Report- t "The ist Minnesota Regiment moved from its position on the left of the field to the support of Ricketts' battery, and gallantly engaged the enemy at that point. It was so near that point, friends and foes were for a time confounded. The regiment be- haved exceedingly well, and finally retired from the field in good ord^r."'— Colonel Franklin's Report- A FIGHT FOR THE STANDARD. . j actions I thought he was under the impression he had been captured. A FIGHT FOR THE STANDARD. " The man who carried the colors was about five feet ten or eleven inches, dark complexioned, with black hair, slight mustache and black eyes ; he with others about him wore gray clothes and black slouch hats ; some one was trying to form them. The color-bearer had his coat unbuttoned, with his hat on the back of his head. As I got within a couple of feet of him I commanded him in a peremptory manner to surrender, and at the same time Dudley, Durfee and myself cocked our guns. I grabbed the colors out of his hand ; he and one or two more said, ' Don't shoot ! don't shoot ! ' " The flag was a red one with a white stripe running through the middle of it, with blue in one corner and some stars on it. As soon as I grabbed the colors out of the Johnnie's hands I told him to follow me quick, and at the same time told my men to get back to the regiment as soon as possible. Dudley, Grim and myself were laughing at the easy thing we had, and all of us running for the regi- ment as fast as we could go, when — bang ! bang! bang ! came 3 volley after us, killing Grim and the comrade whose name 1 have forgotten, and at the same time a dozen or more of Rebs ran after us, some of them hollering ' Kill the d d black abolition, red-shirt Yankee, . . . .' and at the same time gave us another round. From the sound it seemed as if a regiment was firing at us. That was the shot that killed young Durfee and wounded me in the le^; 43 A MINN E SO TA BOY'S FIRST BA TTLE. another bullet went through the breast-pocket of my shirt and shivered my pipe in pieces. I dropped my gun but held on to the flag, and was going about as fast on one leg as most men generally go on two ; but before I had gone ten feet I was hit over the head with what I thought was the stock of a musket. It knocked me down but did not knock me senseless. They immediately pulled the flag out of my hands and fell back on a run. " As they did so, Dudley came back to me (he had run ahead some little distance), helped me up and assisted me along as fast as I could go. How Dudley and I escaped with our lives seems almost incredible, and looks now as if we' had been hedged about with some halo of good luck. " From the firing of the gun of Ricketts' Battery to the time I was shot, not more than five or eight minutes had expired. What we did, we did quick and without cere- mony, and if we could have kept them off from us half a minute longer we would have been safe. As soon as we got back to the regiment and I realized the fact that I could not walk and was bleeding very fast, I took my sus- penders off and tied them as tight as I could above the wound, to keep from bleeding to death ; and at the same time asked Lieutenant Holtzborn, who happened to see me, to have some one assist me to the rear. This was dur- ing some change of position of the regiment. *' He ordered Sergeant Dudley and Private Durfee, a twin brother of the one who had just been killed, to carry me off. I put an arm round each of their necks and held on to them as they hurriedly walked along I GOING TO THE REAR. ^3 GOING TO THE REAR. '' The regiment was still fighting, and at this time a mounted officer, with his reins in one hand and a big navy revolver in the other, rode by us on a dead run ; turning round in his saddle he hollered out, ' Men of Minnesota, for God's sake don't disgrace your State ! ' — and he was off for Washington or some other safe place as fast as his big bay horse could carry him. It was an ocular and com- l)Iete demonstration of the advice a father gave to his son, ' Do as I say, but not as I do.' " As soon as we got to the foot of a little hill I fainted away on a spot where some horses had been standing. I was brought to by Dudley throwing some dirty water in my face. This immediately straightened me up, and taking hold of them as before we hurriedly moved off. By the time they got me to a house, which was being used as a temporary hospital, I began to feel sick at my stomach and very faint. Surgeons were dressing the wounds of some of Ellsworth's Zouaves, Michigan and Massachusetts menj and giving them stimulants. They gave me two or three swallows, which settled my stomach and made me feel bet- ter. The next thing 1 knew I was being pulled up and yanked along as fast as we could go. All commenced to move along at a break-neck gait. The retreat had com menced. And of all the helter-skelter, pell-mell, devil-take the-hindmost gang I ever saw, or heard tell of, or ever read about, that crazy crowd beat them all. They all went as if a cyclone had struck them. All was confusion, all disorder and every one acted as if the Johnnies were determined to have a Yankee apiece for supper ; and some of them would 44 A MINNESOTA BOY'S FIRST BATTLE. pass by and look at the wounded that were being carried and helped off, as much as to say, '■ They can ha.v e j/oii, but by golly they shan't catch me ! ' I don't believe there was ever a greater stampede of troops than there was between that house and the bridge. Dudley and Durfee saved my life without a doubt. Durfee would have abandoned me to Dudley's charge some time before if 1 had told him the truth about his brother, about whom he was constantly in- quiring. And here was an instance where ' evasion ' seemed better than telling the truth. His brother, as brave and daring a fellow as ever shouldered a musket, and very quiet and modest at all times, made a remark just before I grabbed the colors out of the color-bearer's hands that I shall never forget. 'Sergeant,' said he, 'when yoi. take it, hold on to it,' and in less than half a minute he was shot dead. Had I told his brother he had been killed or wounded he would have returned to his assistance immedi- ately, and that would have been the last of me. " I was the only one of the three that had any money, and we finally succeeded, after several attempts, in per- suading a teamster, with a four-horse wagon, to let them put me on the off-wheel horse, by giving him four one-dol- lar gold pieces and some sutler's tickets. Dudley remarked, ' Give him all you have got, as we might as well get broke here as anywhere. Riding the off-wheel horse brought my wounded left leg between the two horses and on top of the wagon tongue ; this caused me so much pain, I had to turn round on the horse so as not to have my leg hurt between the two horses. JWith one hand holding on to the root of his tail, and the other hmd behind me grasping A FA MO US KE TREA T. .^ the end of the hames, bare-headed, with a heavy red woollen shirt on (the whole regiment wore blue and red flannel shirts), all open at the collar and the sleeves rolled up, my face covered with blood and dirt, hair sticking straight up and matted full of old leaves and grass and ' sacred soil,' and with the w^orst looking wounded leg you ever saw, you can imagine what a pitiful but ludicrous sight I must have presented. There must be lots of men living yet who saw me just as I have described. I am sure I have not half described my appearance on that horse. A FAMOUS RETREAT. '* Everybody was hollering to get out of the way, and every one was running or trying to run. The road was full of troops, wagons, ambulances, artillery and some private conveyances ; all going as fast as they could go and acting just as if the whole Confederate Army was at their heels with fixed bayonets. The Rebs were shelling us and everything was at the height of confounded confusion. No one knew or cared anything about any one except themselves. The cursing and yelling of the teamsters, the pushing of those whose passage was being obstructed, and the groans and appeals for assistance from the wounded, all tended to make one believe that, as the teamster said, ' H — 11 had broke loose.' *' We arrived at the bridge a little before sundown. As its passage was obstructed by a big gun or caisson, and as we were being heavily shelled at that point, madness and con- fusion reigned supreme. The teamster could go no fur- ther. He jumped off his horse (he rode and drove with a 46 A MINNESOTA BOY'S FIRST BATTLE. jerk-rein), unhitched the near leader, cut the jerk-rein and away he went across the stream. The wagon was full of wounded, with pick-axes and shovels for a bed. AH of the wounded were begging to be helped across the Bull Run, a stream about eight or ten feet deep, and about twenty feet wide at that place. Just as the teamster mounted his horse one of the men in the wagon, w^th his arm in a sling, jumped out, and with one hand commenced unhitching the saddle-horse. I at the same time reached over my horse's haunches and unhooked both his traces, and at the same time appealed to the fellow to unfasten my horse's pole- chain ; it was impossible for me to do it, as I was back- wards on my horse. He did so, and as luck would have it the chain unhooked at the first pull ; he instantly mounted his horse, and turning around to the left rode into the stream. My horse, being the mate, jumped over the tongue of the wagon and followed him. The horses seemed as anxious to get away as the panic-stricken soldiers. Men and horses were in the stream plunging for the other side. '' As I was crossing, one of the Zouaves caught me by the wounded leg, with a view, I presume, of getting across. It hurt me so, I let go the horse's tail and gave him a punch in the head with my fist which loosened his hold on me very quick; before I resumed my tail-hold the horse was across and had struck into a gallop, following close to his mate. At that time a shell passed so close to his head he threw it up as if he had been suddenly jerked by the bit. That start.e.d the horses into a run, and I certainly thought I would be knocked off my beast as he galloped so fast under tjie low branches of tjje trees, raking and scratching JOHN GILPIN OUTDONE. i^ me on the back ; at times it felt as if I had been struck with a club, but the tail-hold and harness saved me. Pain and Fear were riding for life, with chances now in favor of the latter; you may be sure I was not going to lose the race by being pulled off. I believe the distance from Bull Run to Centerville is about six miles. I think the bridge where we crossed was about two miles from the battlefield, so I must have ridden that horse backwards about four miles — the most of the time as fast as he could go. We did not stop for anything — neither ditches nor fences. If the one-armed wounded soldier that rode my horse's mate fought as vigorously as he rode, he certainly knocked out more than one 'Gray-back.' I did not once have my horse's bridle-rein in my hand. I never saw my friend before nor since, and the only words we exchanged with one another were when he told me his horse was running away, and I said, ' For God's sake, let him go !' *' We arrived at Centerville about nine o'clock at night. I was helped off the horse by a regimental surgeon under some trees. The poor old horse was nearly exhausted, but was immediately remounted by a soldier who rode off. Surgeons were taking care of the wounded. They looked at my wound and told me I had better have my leg ampu- tated at once, but I would not consent to it. I was suffer ing very much from pain, and was nearly exhausted from loss of blood ; nothing in the world kept me up but excite ment. A four-horse wagon drove up and the soldiers that were being cared for were helped in. The confusion and hurry was still great. I begged them to let me get in the wagon, but an officer refused, saying there was no room 4^ A MINNESO TA BOY'S FIRS T BA TTL E. for me. I crawled to the wagon and got in over the front wheel while the others were being helped in the back end. I stayed in the wagon, although I was ordered out two or three times ; they were in too big a hurry to put me out. Off they drove as fast as they could get along. There were seven of us in the wagon, all badly wounded ; the driver and a soldier on the seat with him were not wounded : one drove and hollered, while the other whipped and cursed. It was very dark and I think it was raining. The road was still full of wagons, ambulances and straggling troops. We would go very fast at times, and then would stop for a few minutes until the teams ahead of us moved on. I think the driver was the worst scared of all of us, for he tried to drive by, and drive over, every- thing ; up hill and down, over stumps, logs and rocks ; we were continually being thrown or tossed from one side of the wagon to the other. THE SILENT PASSENGER. " We arrived at Fairfax Court House about midnight. I laid my head on a big fat fellow who had sprawled out at full length on the bottom of the wagon. We had been quarrelling all night about interfering with one another's wounds. I supposed the fat fellow had gone to sleep, and taking advantage of his position I laid my head on his stomach and immediately went to sleep myself. I thought it was the softest pillow I ever used. I don't know how long I laid there — perhaps half an hour ; we all went to sleep. We were awakened by being jolted about in the wagon, which was going down hill at a lively gait ; all were THE SILENT PASSENGER. 49 complaining about our wounds; two or three were groan- ing and whining. When the team would walk we would all go to sleep again — two or three of us using the fat fel- low as a pillow as before. I had a dispute with one of the men about my place on the fat fellow's stomach and made him move his head along and I resumed my former place. We laid as best we could in that position until daylight, when we discovered we had been using a dead man for a pillow ; the poor fellow had died about the time we left P^airfax, as he was very quiet at that place. I thought, the last time I laid my head on him, what a clever fellow he was to let us have such a comfortable position, and was sorry I had quarrelled with him the early part of the night. We kept him in the wagon until just before we arrived at the Long Bridge. Our pain and exhaustion silenced any scruples we otherwise would have had on such an occasion. " We were delayed at the bridge some time by the wagons and troops crossing. We got on the bridge about half past nine or ten o'clock, and must have been an hour cross- ing. When we arrived on Pennsylvania Avenue it was raining. The street was full of transportation of all kinds, and soldiers ; all moving in different directions. The six of us left in the wagon were completely worn out and ex- hausted from hunger, loss of blood, and neglect. My leg was very much swollen and very painful. The w^agon stopped between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets. Some ladies passed some wine into the wagon under the cover. All drank what they wanted. I drank a tin cup full ; it was delicious, but made me drunk immediately. I did not see the ladies, but the hand that passed the wine to mc 5 O A MINNESO TA BOY'S FIRS T BA TTL E. was small and white, with a silken sleeve, and with dia- monds on the fingers. The ladies also passed in some cold meat and bread, but we had no use then for bread or meat, as the wine was food and raiment. " We remained on the avenue about an hour before it was decided where to take us. Finally we were ordered to the E Street Hospital, where we were taken out of the wagon and surrounded by a large crowd of men, women and chil- dren, some laughing and others pitying the appearance of the wounded as they were being carried into the hospital. I was laid on a bed in a large room filled with wounded, mostly from the New York, New Hampshire and Massa- chusetts rep:iments. As soon as I was laid down, one of the Sisters of Mercy who were in attendance — God bless them — commenced washing my face with cold water. It was a delightful sensation and I immediately fell asleep. "When I woke up the doctors were around my bed ex- amining my wound and deciding whether they would ampu- tate it above or below the knee. I would not consent to amputation and they left me in charge of an attendant. HOSPITAL MEMORIES. • '* The New York papers contained a list of dead and wounded ; my name appeared among the list of dead. My father telegraphed the late Senator Grimes of Iowa, who was at that time a senator from that State, to find out, if he could, if I was dead or alive. The Senator learned I was in the E Street Hospital, and called on me Wednesday morning. As I had never seen him before, he introduced himself and made known his errand; after a few minutes HOSPITAL MEMORIES. ci cheerful conversation he bade me good-by and left. He immediately wrote to my father, and in a portion of his let- ter he said : '' ' I found your son, Sergeant Merritt, Wednesday morn- ing, in the E Street Hospital. He is badly wounded in the leg but seemed very cheerful when he told me the doctors had decided not to amputate it. He is a fine-looking young man, and when these trying times are over I hope his parents may again have the pleasure of taking to their bosom their brave and honored son.' Ex-Senator Windom, then a member from Minnesota in the House of Represent- atives, often called to see me at the hospital, and was exceedingly kind in every respect. '' The chaplain of our regiment called everyday. He was very deaf and very much devoted to my spiritual welfare. He would come right up to the bed holding a Bible in his hands, and put his mouth down to my ear and say in a loud voice, ' Good-morning, Sergeant. How did you sleep last night, Sergeant? Do you think you are im- proving, Sergeant? Let us pray: ' and down on his kneea he would get and pray for about five minutes, invoking especial aid and blessing on all of the wounded of the ist Minnesota Regiment, and would wind up by saying he hoped I would ' soon be able to report for duty to the reg- iment. Amen! Amen f ' He would get up, take up his cap and get out as quick as he came in. He was a good man, but it was the same questions and same prayers every morning except Sundays, when he would include for special blessing the soldier in the bed next to me. 2 52 A MINN ESQ TA BOY'S FIRS T BA TTLE. " John Hcenan, the pugilist, and a man by the name of Decker, ex-chief of the fire department of New York, called frequently to see one of the Zouaves, an old friend of theirs who laid in a bed next to me. I got well acquainted with Heenan. They would sit, one on my bed and the other on their friend's bed, and talk for half an hour or so, and always bring some little delicacies. Heenan told me, one morning, he understood I had captured a Rebel flag at Bull Run, and asked me what I had done with it. I pulled off the sheet and wet cloth on m)' wound and pointing to it said, ' I traded it off for that ! ' The sight of it made him sick at his stomach and he left the hospital. In two or three days they came in again, and as Heenan approached the bed he threw up both hands and said, laughing, ' No more leg ! ' After a few minutes I asked him if he would like to enlist in my regiment. He said, ' No, indeed ; from what I have seen,' looking toward my leg, ' I can do better fighting in the Ring than in the Field.' He was a fine- looking, clever fellow, and looked and acted more like a gentleman than a prize fighter. " While we were in camp near Alexandria, Va., before we went to Centervillc, we would occasionally do guard duty there. I was relieving guard one morning with a file of men, and on passing an open door of a private residence, there stood a couple of young girls, about sixteen or eight- een years old, laughing and making fun of the Yankee soldiers. One of them had on an apron representing the Confederate flag. I halted the men and told her to take it off. She said, 'You long-legged, hateful Yankee, I wouldn't take it off to save your good-for-nothing life ; ' and THE REWARD OF MERIT. 5, bcLl: pf the girls glared at us defiantly. We all laughed at thcfr pluck and moved on." THE REWARD OF MERIT. Sergeant Mcrritt remained in hospital about thirty days, when, having recovered from his wound, he rejoined his regiment in Maryland. His >ecord shows that he served with characteristic gallantry during the remainder of the war, and took part in all the battles of the famous Second Corps, Army of the Potomac. Long after the events which he hi» described, he received the bronze medal, with a letter, of which the following is a copy : War Depai^tment, Washington, April i, 1880. IR: 1 transmit to you the en- closed Medal of Honor, which, as the inscription shows, is from " The Congress to Sergeant John G. Merritt, Co. K, 1st Minnesota Volunteers." This medal is awarded to you under the provisions of law for gallantr)' at the battle of Bull Run, in July, 1861, where you were wounded while in advance of your regiment. In connection with this award I find occasion to remem- beM- with renewed i)leasure and gratitude the patriotism of 5_^ A MINNESOTA BOY'S FIRST BATTLE. Minnesota's citizen-, who in answer to my call as Governor, at the first dawn of the war period, valiantly responded with the cheers, the trumpets and the drums of the First Minne- sota Regiment, of which you were a member. Alex. Ramsey, Secretary of War, MAJOR WILLIAM B. HINCKS, FOURTEENTH tONN. INFANTRY. SERGEANT-MAJOR HINCKS' EXPLOIT. During the grand assault, the Fourteenth Connecticut Regiment was in position opposite the left of the enemy's advancing lines; this regiment was armed with Sharps' breech-loading rifles and their fire was very severe. Sergeant Wade of this regiment says: '' By this time the Fourteenth were all excited; they re- membered Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, and over the wall they went; nothing could stop them, and soon they were fighting hand-to-hand with the rebels. We captured six battle-flags and forty prisoners ; and over one hundred prisoners came in afterwards Oh, it was a glorious day for the old Fourteenth ! One of the lieuten- ant-colonels taken by our regiment, coming up to our thin 55 56 SERGF.AXT-MAJOR HINCKS' EXPLOIT. ^^ line, asked us where all our troops were, and being told that he could see all there were, exclaimed, * Oh ! that I had known it a half hour since.' Some of the prisoners told us that their generals told them that they were fighting noth- ing but the Penns\'lvania militia, but when they saw that ace of clubs, the trefoil badge of the Second Corps, they all exclaimed, ' We have been fighting the Army of the Potomac' " After the first fire from the Union side had taken effect, Sergeant-Major WiLLlAM B. HlNCKS, of the Four- teenth, saw, planted in the ground, some distance in front, a rebel flag. Around and on a Hne with it were a number of unwounded men who had thrown themselves down to avoid the heav}^ fire. He determined to capture the flag. Leap- ing over the wall, with nothing but his short sword in his hand, he ran straight for it. At the same time two or three others of his regiment had started for the same goal. One of these, an officer, was brought down by a bullet ere he had run ten yards. Hincks outstripped the others, reached the spot, and with a yell seized the colors by the staff, and waving his sword over his head was on his way back before those around could divine his purpose. Instantly a shower of bullets came all about him ; he was also exposed to a scattering fire from our troops. It was " running the gant- let " indeed. Hincks, in his dash across the neutral ground, seemed to bear a charmed life. As he neared his own lines he saw the men standing up, regardless of the leaden mes- sengers behind, and as he mounted the wall, trophy in hand, " the regiment, to a man, wildly cheered the gallant fellow. It i)roved to be the colors of the " Fourteenth Tennessee." 3 8 MARS AND CUPID AT GETTYSBURG. On the flag were inscribed the names of the following bat- tles in which it had been borne: '' Seven Pines," '' Mechan- icsville," "Cold Harbor," '' Shepardstown," ''Fredericks- burg," ''Chancellorsville," ''Ox Hill," "Harper's Ferry," " Sharpsburg," " Frazier's Farm," "Cedar Run," " Manas- sas." Major Hincks writes: "We were behind a low stone wall, such as may be seen on any New England farm. Par- allel to this wall, and perhaps 1 50 yards away, was a lane (Emmittsburg road?), on either side of which were the ruins of a wooden fence. My recollection is that our people began to fire as the front line of the enemy crossed this fence. This broke their front line ; their advance was checked and they began to fire. Then their color-bearer ran forward, planted his flag in the ground, and with several others — \ presume the color-guard — laid down beside it, our fire being very hot. At that time I was firing two Sharps' rifles which Lieut. Hawley was loading for me ; they be- longed to men wounded early in the day. . . . The regi- ment on our right fired buck-and-ball cartridges, and I think that I was in as much danger from them when I ran to get the flag as from the enemy. . . . One gun (cannon) which had been pushed out a few rods in front of our stone wall remained there during the charge, having been disabled. A daring Southerner jumped upon this gun and waved his hat; but did not live to tell the story. In going after the flag I ran past this gun, leaving it upon my left hand." WHER E I'lCKliTT's CHARGE EiNDED. t^ ^LlllMN. nil- UULNDLI) — V /* i ^ ^^v THE DIETRICH FARM. 69 CORPORAL JOHN H. WEEKS. I52D N. V. VOL, INFANTRY. THE SALIENT AT SPOTTSYLVANIA. THE Army of the Potomac, leaving its winter quarters at Brandy Station and Culpeper, with its shelter-tents folded on the top of the knapsacks, and its cartridge-boxes and haversacks well filled, had crossed the Rapidan River, for the last time, '' on to Richmond." For six days it had fought and marched through the Wilderness, and on May 11, 1864, had reached the neighbor- hood of Spottsylvania Court House, where General Lee, with the Army of Northern Virginia, barred the way. Never before had gigantic armies striven for the mas- tery in such dense forests, w^here in a single week forty thousand men had fallen, killed or wounded. The country from the Rapidan River to Spottsylvania Court House was an immense wood, with here and there a clearing or field that had in former years been cultivated for the raising of corn and tobacco. The male portion of 62 THE SALIENT A T SPO TTSYL VANIA. the population had nearly all gone further south, leaving the women and a few negroes at home. There was a projection in General Lee's line a short dis- tance north of the Court House, which military men call '* The Salient." General Grant determined that an assault should be made at that point- He issued orders at 3 P.M. to '* move three divisions of the Second Corps by the rear of the Fifth and Sixth Corps, under cover of the night, so as to join the Ninth Corps in a vigorous assault on the enemy at four o'clock A.M., to-morrow." He sent two staff officers to impress upon the commanders concerned the necessity of pushing forward vigorously. How these orders were carried out is related in the fol- lowing pages by two soldiers of Hancock's Corps — one from a Pennsylvania and one from a New York regiment. These men received two out of the fifteen Medals of Honor awarded by the Government to Grant's army for distin- guished service at Spottsylvania. Their statements were contributed upon the invitation of the Editor. I. CORPORAL WEEKS' STORY* " On the night of the ilth of May, 1864, we were relieved by the 5th Corps at Laurel Ridge (or Stony Ridge, I have forgotten which) after dark, and moved out of the works, with instructions to move as silently as possible ; not to allow our cups or bayonets to rattle or make any unneces- sary noise. We marched all night through a cold rain, * JOHN H. Weeks was born at Hampton, Windom County, Connecticut, March 15, 1845. Enlisted as private, '' H " i52d N. Y. Volunteers, August 28, 1862. Served in Second Corps, Army of the Potomac, until discharged as corporal, for wounds. May 25, 1865. CORPORAL WEEKS'- STORY, ^^ until just before the break of day, on the morning of the 1 2th, we were halted in line of battle, with orders to ' in place rest/ The report had been in circulation during the night that we were going to relieve the 6th Corps in the Reserve, that we might get a chance to rest, as we had been under fire constantly for six days ; and when we halted we could see the light of camp fires shining along the sky in our front, where we supposed were the 6th Corps. No sooner were we ordered to rest, than I threw myself down in the mud and fell asleep. In a Tew min- utes I was awakened by the tramp of a horse coming on a lope. I raised up and saw an aide ride to General Hancock (who happened to be near our right) and give the verbal order to the general, as near as I can remem.ber, as fol- lows : — ' Gen. Meade's compliments, and directs that you move your corps forward and occupy those works.* *'We were called to attention and ordered 'Forward, guide centre, march I ' Little did I think then what it would cost to obey that order, as I still thought it was the 6th Corps in our front.* " We were in the second line of battle, following close behind the first, till soon the Reb skirmishers commenced firing. Then for the first I began to realize that we had work before us. It was now getting quite light, but the fog prevented us from seeing far in our advance. We soon * General Grant says, " The ground over which Hancock had to pass to reach the enemy was ascending, and heavily wooded to within two or three hundred yards of the enemy's intrenchments. In front of Birney there was also a marsh to cross. But notwithstand- ing all these difficulties the troops pushed on in quick time without firing a gun, and ■vvhen within four or five hundred yards of the enemy's line broke out in loud cheers, and with a rush went up to and over the breastworks. Barlow and Birney entered almost simultaneously. Here a desperate hand-to-hand conflict took place. 64 THE SALIENT A T SPOTTSYL VANIA. came to an open field with a gradual ascent to near the top, where there had been heavy timber, which had been felled with the tops toward us and the boughs sharpened ; also wire stretched through the tree tops. Still beyond this obstruction were the enemy's works, which consisted of a ditch, eight feet wide and nearly as deep, with a row of sharpened stakes set in front, the points about breast high. Immediately in rear of the ditch were the breastworks, which were formed of the dirt thrown up from the ditch, making the distance from the bottom of the ditch to the top of the works from twelve to fourteen feet, without a chance of a foothold. " As soon as we came to the edge of the open field they opened on us with canister and musketry. The artillery had been massed at this point and all double-shotted with canister — thirty pieces, if I remember right. Such a storm of iron and lead I never saw before or since. It did not seem possible for a man to live to reach the crest of the hill and pass the obstructions ; but, as history tells, some did. But by the time we reached the ditch there was no line of battle, but a moving mass of yelling Yan- kees. We succeeded in wrenching the sharpened stalces from their places, and used them in crossing the ditch and scaling the works. When I think now of all the difficul- ties we had to overcome, with the flower of the rebel army behind such works pouring upon us a shower of lead, success seems impossible. It seemed to be an angle of their works where w^e made the charge, in shape of the letter V. Our right was on the left wing of the angle, so that when we got inside of the works we could still see the enemy on the The corps commander. 65 right wing opposing our men there from entering. It brought us in their rear. When we had sent our prisoners to the rear we still advanced, but very slowly, on account of our broken ranks. '' I saw the enemy give way at this time on the right wing, and amongst the rest was a stand of colors and color-guard. These men fired their muskets in a volley, and broke for the rear. They had to pass down our front to get out of the angle, and would have succeeded, but I made up my mind, as soon as I saw them start, that I must have those colors. I had also fired my gun, but had no time to reload. I ran up to the sergeant and snatched his colors from him, threw them on the ground and put my foot on them, cocked my empty gun, and told them the first one of them that moved out of his tracks I would shoot him down, and ordered them to throw down their guns and surrender. The ser- geant said to them, ' Boys, they have got the colors, let us go with the colors ; * so they threw down their guns and marched to the rear as my prisoners. When I got back to our line. Col. Curtiss told me to take them away, for we might get driven back at any moment. *' I recrossed the works and started for our rear, when I met General Hancock and staff going to the front. As he passed I saluted him. He returned the salute, and said, 'What have you got there?' I told him a stand of col- ors I had captured in the front. He then asked me if those were my prisoners. I told him they were. He looked at some of his staff and smiled (I thought at the time a little incredulously), for there were five or six lusty rebels and I was at that time about eighteen years old. e6 THE SALIENT A T SFO TTSYL VANIA. Then he said, ' You deliver your prisoners to the provost marshal and write your name, company and regiment with the date of the occasion on a slip of paper, and pin it on your colors, and turn them in to the adjutant of your regi- ment,' — which I did. 1 did not hear anything more about it till in the following winter when in Campbell Hospital, suffering from a wound received at the battle of Boydton Plank Road, on the left of Petersburg, I received a package. Upon opening it I found it to be a Medal of Honor." LIEUT. CHARLES H. FASNACHT, KINETV-NINTH PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY. 11. SERGEANT FASNACHT'S ADVENTURES.* "On the evening of the eleventh day of May, 1864, the Ninety-ninth Regiment Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers * Charles H. FASNACHTwas born March 27, 1842, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Enlisted in t86i, in the Ninety-ninth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers for three years. Re-enlisted February, 1864. Served continuously with his regiment, excepting seven months in hospital from wounds received at Chancellorsville and Spottsylvania. Pro- moted corporal and sergeant and mustered out of service, with regiment, as first lieuten- ant July, 1865. Received the Medal of Honor; Silver Medal from the Directors of th» U. S. Sanitary Fair at Philadelphia in 1864 ; and the Bronze " Kearney Badges THE NINETY-NINTH PENNSYLVANIA. 67 was lying back to the right of Spottsylvania Court House, Virixinia. The men were somewhat exhausted, havinp; had fighting and marching in the Wilderness since the 5th day of May. Rations were issued between seven and eight o'clock P.M. About nine o'clock P.M. the troops of the 2d Brigade, Brigadier-General J. Hobart Ward, 3d Di- vision (Birney), Second Corps (Hancock), received orders to fall in, and shortly afterward the march to the left com- menced. '' The Ninety-ninth was commanded by Colonel Edwin R. Biles, and was the leading regiment of the division, being preceded by Generals Birney and Ward, with their staff officers, and the pioneer corps. The night was very dark, and rain was falling nearly all the time. The men had orders to keep very quiet, and allow no noise from the rattling of canteens or other equipments. The rank-and- file had an idea that the Second Corps was marching for some vulnerable point of the enemy's line, and that as Birney's Division (composed of what was left of the old Third Corps) was leading, it meant that on the morrow desperate work was before us. '^Nothing occurred during this weary march until after midnight. We could hear, now and then, all through the night, away off to our left, the soldiers of Lee chopping wood ; while away off to our right could be heard the rumbling noise of artillery. The quiet and stillness of this steady march through rain and mud w^as almost unbear- able. Some of the men were tramping along almost asleep ; in fact, on several occasions muskets dropped from the shoulders of weary men. Now and then a comrade gg The salient a t seo tts yl vaat/a, would ask in a whisper, ' What does this mean ? ' ot^ ' Where are we going? ' But no answer could be given, as no one knew, except only those high in command. " Goitipany A of our regiment was leading, and kept well closed lip to Colonel Biles, who was just behind the staff of Generals Birhey and Ward. And as we were thus march- ing silently along, with a soldier's steady tramp, suddenly the horses and their riders in our front came back pell mell, scattering the men in every direction. Every man grasped his musket more tightly, with hand on trigger, believing the enemy was at hand. The cause of this stampede was soon discovered. A soldier in the pioneer corps in front had accidentally discharged his musket, which scared horses, Staff officers and others who were nean It must have been between one and two o'clock, on the morning of May 12, when the head of our column arrived at its place of destina- tion, and our company commenced to ' right by file into line ; ' and for a long while after, the troops were passing in our rear and forming in line to our left, with our regi- ment on the extreme right of our corps. The ground was wet and all around was darkness. The men in the ranks had no idea, as yet, of what was to be done in the morning. But the veteran soldiers who composed that line knew by instinct that daylight would see heavy fighting. With this belief, the men were soon ' lying on their arms,' dreaming of home and loved ones. The writer hereof was in ' light marching order,' having nothing but haversack, canteen and rubber blanket, besides his trusty Springfield musket. So with my rubber blanket wrapped around me, a soft spot in rear of the company was found, where I also was soon lost AN EARLY MORNING WALK. 69 in dreamland. About four o'clock in the morning I was awakened by being punched in the ribs with an officer's sword, and hearing a rustling noise, and low talk of the officers and men in my front. Jumping to my feet I dis- covered that the line was commencing to move forward. **The men were told that we were advancing to charge the enemy's works, supposed to be three-fourths of a mile in our front, but which could not be seen from our starting- point. Colonel Biles also ordered the men not to fire a shot or give a cheer until we were inside the rebel earth- works; this was to take the enemy by surprise. At start- ing, we advanced through a swamp, overgrown with briers and small trees. After going about one-third of a mile we came out into a clearing on high ground. The line by this time being somewhat out of shape, it was straightened while still advancing. It was now daylight, and the en- emy's works could be seen about one-third of a mile in our front, running along the edge of the woods, parallel with our advancing line of battle. '' These works looked formidable at that distance, and proved so, later on, when we crossed them. A great many low camp-fires were burning in the woods behind the enemy't, line, while still others were being started ; no doubt to dry clothing and to prepare for an early breakfast. The smoke of these fires, mingled with the fog, was hover- ing a few feet from the ground. What force the enemy had could not be known, as only here and there a sentry could be seen on the intrenchments ; nor did anyone in our line have time to scan very closely. " As our line came out in this open ground, where it got a ;o THE SALIENT A T SPOTTSYL VAiVIA. glimpse of the rebel earthworks, some soldier away off to our left, who could not hold in any longer, gave a cheer. It was against orders, but it started the cheering along our whole line, and the rebel pickets commenced to fire on us, while the enemy was seen to rush up to their works. But our line swept on. Colonel Biles told us now that the faster we went, and the quicker we got over the enemy's works, the better it would be for us. CAPTURING A FLAG AT SPOTTSYLVANIA. ' The assaulting column was composed of Birney's Divis- ion on the right. Barlow's Division on the left, with Mott and Gibbon's divisions supporting ; my company (A), 99th P. V. v., being on the extreme right of the line. As we advanced, it was discovered that on our right there was a gap in the line, which was afterward filled up by troops (I think) of the Sixth Corps. " When the colonel gave the order to get over the enemy's works, the regiment started on 'the double-quick.' At this time, and while yet five hundred yards distant, a rebel flag was raised over the works right in front of my com- pany. The man holding it, waved it to and fro, as if invit- ing us to come on. Long before this I had an ambition to capture a rebel flag in actual battle ; not to pick it up from where, perhaps, it had been lost by its bearer, who being shot down had left it on the ground ; I wanted to be able to say that it was actually a captured ^dig. " I was behind the company as a ' file closer,' being a sergeant at the time. I ran around the right and in front of the company. We had swept the enemy's pickets from THE ASSAULT. 71 before us ; the rebels were crowdin^^^ to their works ; their fire was getting very warm, and opposite the gap on our right the enemy had a battery which opened a flank fire on OLir regiment. By this time the Ninety-ninth was pretty close to the enemy's works, and their strength was evident. In times like this every man in the ranks must, for the time, be a general himself ; that is, he must be brave, use good judgment, make up his mind in a moment, and take advan- tage of every opportunity to overcome the enemy. In short, it is only when each private soldier is doing his whole duty, feeling the responsibility resting upon himself, that the general commanding wmII have his orders executed and his plans crowned with success. ''As we came nearer, the enemy's fire was very heavy, the ditch, about eight or ten feet wide in front of the w^orks, being nearly filled with water from the rain in the night. In front of the ditch limbs of trees had been placed, making a strong abatis. When our regiment came to this, the enemy's fire was making great gaps in our ranks, but we pressed on, tore away the obstructions, and jumped into the ditch (the water being over two feet deep at this point) and commenced to scale the w^orks. The rebel flag was still held up and waved, until just as I was about on top of the works calling to the color-bearer to surrender, and mak- ing a grab for it, the rebel sergeant, with several other sok diers, started off on a run up on the inside of the works. At this hour the smoke and fog were still near the ground in the woods, and one could see but a very short distance ahead. Tents to shelter the men from the rain, during the night, had been made hastily with blankets and canvas. 72 THE SALIENT A T SPOTTSYL VANIA. '* Thus it was not only impossible to see far into the dense woods, but it was hard to get through and over these obstructions. On account of the cheering of our men and the delay in starting, the enemy was aware of our move- ment before we got over his works. But the charge was still a surprise to many of them, and a grand result in the end, for we took over six thousand prisoners. The Confed- erate general, Ewell, made a narrow escape from capture.* '' When I jumped over the works I was followed by our whole regiment, Colonel Biles being right behind me. What a sight to behold ! Confusion all around. While many of the enemy had rallied to the works, numbers of them were found in their rude shelter-tents. Some were without their equipments ; they were firing in every direc- tion. Some had just begun to get their breakfast ; others would shoot through their tents. Our men tore down everything giving shelter to the enemy, using the butt-end of the musket and the bayonet. Our men seemed to be possessed of superhuman strength and a determination to conquer or die, right then and there. No one seemed to see or fear danger, and yet we were right in the midst of it, men falling all around us. " Immediately after our regiment had crossed the first line of works, Colonel Biles made a half-wheel to the right with the regiment, intending to move up and capture a bat- tery the enemy had there. * " Hancock's corps captured some 4000 prisoners — among them a division and brigade commander— 20 or more guns with their horses, caissons and ammunition, several thou- sand stand of arms and many colors. Hancock, as soon as the hand-to-hand conflict was over, turned the guns of the enemy against him, and advanced inside the rebel lines. About six o'clock I ordered Warren's Corps to the support of Hancock."— G^e-w, Granfs Metnoirs, CAPTURING A FLAG. m* " From the time that I first saw that rebel flag waving so defiantly in our faces, my sole object was to get it, and to that end all my energies were brought in play. So after I was inside of the works I took in the situation in a moment. Knowing the direction of our line of battle toward the left, and the open gap on our right, I concluded that the rebel color-bearer would try to escape by running up towards the right, and then cutting through the woods. I started on the run. diagonally through the woods, intending to head off the color-bearer. The distance I had to go would be shorter than his, and as one could see but a very short distance through smoke, fog and woods, I lost sight of the Hag for a few minutes. But I had run probably one hun- dred and fifty yards over all kinds of obstructions, when my calculations proved correct ; for suddenly right in front of me, through a clump of trees, came this same color-bearer, carrying aloft his flag, and behind him were five or six sol- diers, his color-guard. I brought my musket to my shoul- der, with hand on trigger, and as he did not see me as soon as I saw him, he ran ahnost up against my bayonet before he stopped. True, my musket was empty at this time, but the muzzle of an empty gun at such close quar- ters looks almost as dangerous as a loaded one, and he did not know but that it was loaded. The men behind him might have shot me down, but for some reason did not. *' So when we met at that instant I demanded his surren- der and the flag; he asked me not to shoot and reached the flag towards me. I did not lower my musket, but let the flag fall at my feet, and told him to go to my rear, which he did with his companions, who dropped their arms, I have 74 THE SA LIE NT A T SPO TTS YL VA NT A. often, since then, wondered why the men behind Liin did not shoot, but I suppose they were in the same fix as myself ; that is, their muskets were empty. When the color-bearer, who was a man fully six feet tall, had passed to my rear I placed my foot on the staff and tore the flag off. It was a flag inscribed with many battles, and the words ' 2d Louisi- ana Tigrcs! — a good fighting regiment in the Southern army, and one that we had met on many a battlefield before. While crowding the flag into my bosom under my blouse, absorbed in what I was doing, I cared little for what was taking place around me. I heard some one say, ' You had better let me have that.' On turning my head I dis- covered my colonel, for the first time, about twelve yards behind me, and about as many yards in front of the regi- ment ; he had taken the same direction with the regiment as I had. When I saw from whom came the voice, I gave him such a look (continuing to stow the flag away) that in after years he told me that he saw very plainly I did not wish to part with my prize, and he therefore told me to keep it. WITH THE WOUNDED UNDER FIRE. " By this time the regiment had advanced some distance to a line of works running at right angles from the first to the second line of defence, behind which the enemy had ral- lied to the support of some artillery. Our regiment at this time was on the flank and rear of these pieces, and the enemy, seeing the hopelessness of holding out, just as we were about charging, raised white flags, in the shape of handkerchiefs and pieces of tents, in token of surrender. WOUNDED AND UNDER FIRE. yi^ We called out to them to come over the works without their arms, and they embraced the opportunity as fast as possible. At this time a heavy fire from the second line of works was opened on us, while quite a large number who had been driven before us took refuge on the outside of the first line, and were also firing into us."^ Just as I had stepped back a few feet to make room for these men who were surrendering, a volley from the enemy on our right and front was poured into us, killing and wounding a large number. I fell shot, by a minie-ball, in my left leg at the knee joint. Brave Captain Lewis F. Waters of ' I,' and Lieutenant Henry S. Zeisert of ' D,' both fell alongside of me, instantly killed. '* I was picked up and carried back to the first line we had crossed, where Sergeants McGrann and Ursprung took me further back about one-half mile, when our provost-guard was met ; they ordered all the wounded, who could not walk, to be laid on the ground, and the carriers to return to their regiments. The men with the stretchers were not up yet, and we remained in this clearing for an hour or more. This one hour seemed an entire day, surrounded as I was by several hundred wounded men who could not walk. We laid on the bare ground like so many sheaves of wheat, unable to move or get out of reach of the enemy's shells and solid shot that were striking the ground all around us, their artillery having a good range of this part of the field. * " Lee made the most strenuous efTorts to regain the position he had lost. Troops were brought up and attacked Hancock furiously. Hancock was forced to fall back; but he did so slowly, with his face to the enemy, inflicting on them heavy loss, until behind the breastworks he had captured. These he turned, facing them the other way, and con- tinued to hold," — Gen. Grant'' s Memoirs. ^6 THE SALIENT A T SPO TTS YL VA NIA . With all my pain I couldn't help but smile at some of the odd expressions and ludicrous scenes, when a shell or solid shot would strike close to some unfortunate and scatter the dust all around. Some would berate the provost-guard, severely, for leaving us lying there, to be scared to death if not killed outright by the enemy's missiles ; others, with mangled arms or legs, would try and roll themselves away from a shell or round shot, as it struck the ground near them, making some witty remark. '' No pen can fully describe, nor pencil do justice to, this scene ; several acres of ground covered with wounded sol- diers, enduring untold pain, without attention or medical treatment, and under the constant fire of the enemy's artillery. It must be borne in mind that the bravest of the brave under such circumstances will weaken, and wish for a place of safety. '' At last, after an hour or so, the stretcher-bearers came, and I was taken away from this place to an ambulance, and driven to the rear, about two miles, to a little grove. On one side of this grove ran a small stream of water, and on the other a road, an open field beyond the road, a cornfield on the other side of the stream, a little rise or hill in our rear, and in front a heavy woods into which the road entered. These were the surroundings of the place where I was doomed to remain a prisoner for five days. *' It was probably a little after noon when we were brought to this place. There was great activity all the afternoon in loading up the wounded into ambulances, and toward even- ing heavy army wagons were used. As darkness had set in I saw the last wagon filled and drive away, as they said, fpr CAPTIVITY ON THE BA TTLEFIELD. 77 Fredericksburg Hospital. It now dawned upon me that I was one of the unfortunate two hundred and twenty who were doomed to remain, for we were soon told by a surgeon that one hospital steward and ten men were left in charge of us ; that we should try and be contented and see what would turn up in our favor; that he would do all he could to make us as comfortable as lay in his power. The sur- geon (whose name I have forgotten) had but a small amount of stores with him, and could give but little medi- cal treatment to us ; he and his men were busy day and night carrying water and food to us ; besides, they had to dig graves and bury, on an average, ten of our number daily. CAPTIVITY ON THE BATTLEFIELD. '* On the morning of May 13, about nine o'clock, a brigade of Confederate cavalry, under General Rosser (since Engineer of the Northern Pacific R. R.), and known as the ' Laurel Brigade ' (their badge being a sprig of green pinned on the left breast), came marching over the brow of the hill behind us. My place being quite close to the road, I heard the general give orders to one of his aides not to allow his men to go among the wounded, nor to disturb anything. But as soon as the head of the column had disappeared in the woods, the Confederates swarmed in' among us, asking all manner of questions, and teasing us with the assurance that soon the Army of the Potomac would be driven back across the Rappahannock River. But we were rather out- spoken in telling them that a new commander, * GRANT,* \yas at the head of our army, and that there would be ng ;3 THE SALIENT A T SPOTTSYL VANIA. retreat and no stop this side of Richmond. None of our wounded were molested, but the newcomers took nearly all the meat, sugar and coffee that had been left for us. " The evening before, we could hear firing until late at n'ght, and this morning the firing seemed further away; we were now told that we were outside of our lines, and that our army had moved further on towards Lee's right. After the Confederate cavalry had passed out of sight, into the woods, I concluded to look at my rebel flag, which was still in my bosom, not having looked at it since the day before, I asked the hospital steward to assist me. I had on at the time a short army blouse, made for me the winter previous by a Philadelphia tailor. It was lined throughout and filled in with cotton wadding. I took off my blouse and secreted the flag under a piece of old army blanket and placed it under my legs. We next opened the lining at the back of the blouse and pulled out all the wadding, then stuffed the rebel flag in and pinned up the lining, after which I put on the blouse ; and no one could notice it, except that I ap- peared rather stout. We had to be very careful while doing this so that no one could see the flag, especially the six wounded Confederates, who were lying about one hundred feet away from me. I was afraid that if the rebel soldiers should find it out they would take the flag away from me ; and as I had no other place to hide it, and as it was a trophy that I prized very highly, I determined to keep it with me as long as I possibly could. ** We had barely got through with our work when we heard scattered musketry in the direction the Confederate cavalry had taken, and in a very short time the whole brigade came ''THE LAUREL BRIGADE.'' 79 back pell mell ; the road not being wide enough, many of the cavalry came through the woods and brought back with them several wounded men. They had been gone only two or three hours, and all that we could find out as to their sudden return was that after they had gone out several miles they came across some of the Union cavalry, who drove them back. After this episode. General Rosser, with his brigade, made his camp right alongside of us in the open field, and remained four or five days. Their of^cers paid frequent visits to our wounded, conversing with us, and paying a good deal of attention to their own six wounded who lay amongst us. These Confederate officers told us that they were only camped there for the purpose of captur- ing our ambulances that would be sent there for us, and that then they would take us in our own wagons to Rich- mond. We were anxious to find out what would be our fate, and this was certainly bad news to us. The horrors of Libby Prison, Belle Isle, Andersonville and other Southern prisons, arose before us in their vivid forms, and I made up my mind that death would be my fate if I was taken on to Richmond. For three years past I had been striving with thousands of other Northern soldiers to get to the Confed- erate capital, and now that in all probability an opportunity would be given to go there I did not wish to accept it. I set my wits together to devise some plan whereby I could outflank this latest of Confederate movements on my lib- erty. I had some hopes that our cavalry would come in there after General Rosser, and find us and take us away. But five long, weary days passed and no sign of a Union go THE SALIENT A T STOTTSVL VAMIA. soldier coming from any direction. Was it any Wondef then that despondency took possession of all of us? Deliverance. ^^ On the afternoon of the fifth day of our captivity, several Confederate officers came among us and told us to be pre- pared to leave by next morning, as they would then bring their own conveyances and take us away. During these days I had planned out a course to take, and now I had but a few hours to make my preparations. I again called on the hospital steward, and told him my plan ; that he was to get me two small limbs with forks on them, and by wrap- ping pieces of old blankets around them I would make use of them for crutches. That in the night I would try and drag myself across the little run of water and into the corn- field, where I would hide myself until the Confederate cav- alry had departed with the wounded. I would then get out of the cornfield and run my chances of being picked up by some Union cavalry, or die in my effort to escape rather than go a wounded prisoner to Richmond. The hospital steward listened to my plan, told me it was risky, but he would assist me all he could, and wished me success. Be- fore dark, that evening, I was ready for my undertaking. But * man proposes and God disposes,' for while I was worrying my brain over what would be my fate in the next few days, a movement by some of our troops was being ex- ecuted for our rescue. " It seems that our situation had been made known to army headquarters, and a small division of infantry (I think it was Mott's White Diamond Division), and a battery of bUT OF BONDAGE. ^i artillery were on their way to our relief, and just before sunset, while sitting on the ground with my back against a tree, a wounded soldier, lying not far from me, cried out loud enough for all of us to hear him : ' Look up there on the hill ! ' Turning my head and looking towards the hill, I saw that a piece of artillery was unlimbering, and the in- fantry were moving up to support it, when several other pieces were run Up and placed in position. But the first piece fired one shot into General Rosser's cavalry before they knew that there were any Union troops near. The echo of the first shot had not died away before three more pieces were firing in rapid succession. In the Confederate camp all was confusion ; horses tore loose, officers were calling to the men, and everybody was looking out for his own safety. And it took General Rosser and his men but a very short time to get away from that place, and their speed was accelerated by the Union shot and shell. Never before nor since did I experience such real happiness as at that moment, when these friends, wearing the loyal blue uniform, came marching under the Stars and Stripes so unexpectedly to our rescue. There were wounded soldiers among our number, more dead than alive, who would rise up and faintly cheer at the sight of the old flag and friends, and then fall back exhausted, weeping for joy. Men grasped each other by the hand, and with tears in their eyes praised God for this unexpected deliverance. Yet in our feeble condition we tried to give a few parting words to General Rosser's men, as they so hastily took their departure. We twitted them on their unceremonious going away without us ; asked them how soon they would return ; but they paid S2 THE SALIENT A T SPO TTS YL VANIA. no heed to our remarks, and in a very few minutes they had all disappeared, leaving behind a few wounded and prisoners. In less than one half hour ambulances were driven up and we were carefully lifted into them, so that by eight o'clock that evening the last Union wounded soldier had been loaded and the ambulance train with its escort was ready to start for Fredericksburg. As already stated, there were two hundred and twenty of us who were brought here, but about fifty had died. ''It was about eight o'clock on the evening of May i6 that our train started. I had been placed on the seat with the driver, with my leg in a swing, and tied to the roof of the ambulance, and in driving along that night through the darkness, over rough roads, the wheels would strike a rut or stone and give my leg a jerk that would send the pain all through my body, and jolt those lying in behind, who would hurl uncomplimentary remarks at the driver, for causing them so much pain. About nine o'clock the next morning our train arrived at Fredericksburg, where it was intended to place us in hospitals; but all the houses that could be made use of were already filled with the wounded from the Wilderness. ■ MINISTERING ANGELS. ** We were then given coffee and bread, and after some delay our ambulance train was started off across the Rappa- hannock River, towards ' Belle Plain,' on the Potomac River, where we arrived early that evening. It was about nine o'clock that evening when I was carried on board of a barge which was afterwards towed out to a large Government MtNlSTEKING ANGELS. 83 boat in the middle of the stream. Shortly after, I was laid on the barge, where a few flickering lamps shed their dim light. I could hear sweet voices, followed by some of the ladies of the ' Sanitary Commissions.' These ^ minister- ing angels,' with lint, medicines, brandy, milk-punch and sandwiches, went from cot to cot, attending to the wounded and speaking words of good cheer. Surely the sick and wounded soldiers can never repay the debt of gratitude they owe to the loyal and patriotic women of the North, for the good work done by them in hospital and in camp during the dark days of the war. " During the night, our barge was towed out in the middle of the river alongside of the large steam-boat, to which its load of wounded was transferred, being placed on stretchers in rows, making several hundred in all. The flag attracted a great deal of attention in the hospital at Washington. One gentleman, when he saw it unfolded, with the name and number of the regiment it belonged to printed on its stripes, ' Second Louisiana Infantry, C. S. A.,' said he was in New Orleans in April, 1861, when this same flag was pre- sented to the regiment. At the Armory Square Hospital, to which I was taken, a screen was put up, a tub of water brought, and a good bath given me. During this process the surgeon came with a large glass of brandy and told me to drink it, and it seems to me, even at this late day, that was the best drink I ever tasted. T was now dressed with clean under-clothing, and placed in a bed on the right hand side, next to the entrance door, with my flag fastened on to the wall over my head ; and under the influence of what I had been drinking, and the sweet strains of music coming §4 TliE SALIENT A T SPO TTSYL VANlA. from a piano at the other end of the ward, I forgot my pain, and was soon lost in slumber. After going through with what I had the previous two weeks, I indeed now felt as if I was in Paradise. ^ ^ -vf ^ -x- * * " After remaining in hospital at Washington and Philadel- phia for nearly seven months, I rejoined my regiment in the fteld and served with it continuously until the close of the war." THE WILDERNESS — A YEAR AFTER. LIEUT THOMAS I'ARKE GKRE, FIFTH MINNESOTA INFANTRY. THE VICTORS AND THE SPOILS. IT was upon a crisp, bright day in February, 1865, that an interesting scene might have been witnessed in the War Department at Washington. The place itself was one of the lions which all pilgrims to the Shrine of the Constitution thought it the correct thing to visit. Young officers, who for the first time entered it on oflfi- cial business, did not entirely " leave Hope behind," but they were conscious of a chill in the region of the back- bone as the old green leather doors swung to behind them. The corridors were dark and damp, and had a musty odor from the tons of red-taped official papers which filled the countless pigeon-holes. And the messengers, sitting on guard at the doors of the various bureaux, had a stern and 8? BATTLE RELICS. S6 THE OLD WAR OFFICE. 87 mysterious air, befitting men filled with plans of battles and secrets of the Council Chamber. There are pleasant memories, also, of the ancient struct- ure ; of the time when the stone-llagged halls echoed the ponderous tread of General Scott, with the front of Mars himself; or resounded with the stride of General Harney, the military gladiator of his time ; or reflected the jingle of Charlie Ma}''s spurs, or rang with the jolly laugh of old Ben Beall, of the dragoons, as he bandied jests with Prince John Magruder, of the artillery, careless of the coming "chestnut bell." While, later on, the clank of Custer's sabre and Sheridan's quick footfalls mingled with the run- ning to and fro of orderlies, and the tinkle of the great Secretary's little bell. But the quaint, ark-shaped edifice has been torn down, and in its place has arisen an official palace of marble and iron and mahogany. In the new order of things one is not impressed, as in the olden time, with the Spartan simplicity which belongs to the God of War. I. NASHVILLE TROPHIES. Within the large reception-room of the War Department there had assembled, on the day already mentioned, about one hundred persons. They had been summoned by the Secretary of War to take part in the ceremony of receiving certain Confederate battle-flags captured at the battles before Nashville, in December, 1864. In the centre of the room were grouped fifteen gallant jnen who, in hand-to-hand co;nbat, bad perilled their lives 7 SS THE VICTORS AND THE SPOILS. to secure as trophies the tattered banners now proudly borne as spoils of war. These were generally young men - — some of them mere boys — whose bronzed faces were flushed with pride and excitement. In front of these, and in a sort of horseshoe formation, was another party. Sena- tors and Representatives, war governors, members of foreign legations, a cabinet minister, the Adjutant-general of the Army, and other distinguished personages had taken a half hour from their public duties to do honor to these brave Western soldiers. The spacious room had been cleared of furniture. Near the walls, on three sides, were arranged in continuous line a number of muskets, '' stacked." Suddenly the hum of con- versation ceased, and a short, stout man with square shoul- ders, and wearing eye-glasses, stepped out between the sol- diers and the civilians and unfolded a paper. This was the famous cabinet minister, whose name will always be asso- ciated with troublous times — our " Reign of Terror." He read as follows : Headquarters, Department of the Cumberland, Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 13, 1865. Special Field Orders, No. 38. (Extract:) XIX. By virtue of permission received from the Honorable Secretary of War, the fol- lowinfj named officers and enlisted men, captors of rebel battle-flags, at the battles of Franklin, Nov. 30, 1864, and the battles before Nashville, Dec. 15 and 16, 1864, will pro- ceed with the trophies to Washington, D. C, where they will report to the Honorable Secretary of War, turning over to him the flags now in their possession, after which they will rejoin their various commands in the field. The detachment will be in charge of ist Lieut, and Adjt. Thomas P. Gere, 5th Regt. Minn. Vet. Vol. Inf., who will be accountable for their good conduct while en route. The Qr. M. Depmt. will furnish the necessary transportation. ist Lt. (Adjt.) Thos. P. Gere, 5th Minn. V. V. Infantry, ist Lt. O. Colwell, " G" 95th Ohio V. Infantry, ist Lt. C. H. McCleary, " C " 72d Ohio V. Infantry. 1st Lt. W. T. Simmons, " C " nth Mo. Vol. Infantry. Sergt. A. Ramsbottom, " K " 97th O. V. Infantry. Sergt. W. Garrett, 41st O. V, Infantry. THOMAS PARKE GERE. g^ Corpl./- '''• Pctrlcs, " F " nth Mo. Vol. Infantry. Corpl. L. P. Koltenback, " F " 12th Iowa Vol. Infantry. Corpl. G. IV. Welch, "A" nth Mo. Vol. Infantry. Corpl. F. Carr, "D " 124th O. Vol. Infantry. Private O. W. Smith, " G " 95th O. V. Infantry. Private W. May, " H " 32d Iowa V. Infantry. Private G. Stokes, "C" i22d Ills. V. Infantry. Private yl./. Sloan, " H " 12th Iowa V. Infantry. Private Win. F. Moore, " C " 117th Ills. V. Infantry. Private D.J. Holcomb, " A " 41st Ohio V. Infantry. Corpl. //. Collins, 1st Tenn. Cavalry. By command of Major-General THOMAS, Wm. D. Whipple, Asst. Adjt. Gcnl. Lieutenant Gere's name was called. A slender and earnest-looking young man advanced, flag in hand, and made these remarks : "''" ''Mr. Secretary : I have the honor and pleasure to present to you the colors of the 4th Mississippi Infantry, C. S. A. " The capture was due, and should be credited, to the valor of the soldiers of Hubbard's Brigade, McArthur's Division of A. J. Smith's detachment, Army of Tennessee. It was the result of the final charge upon the enemy's works by that invincible command in the second day's bat- tle. Every soldier who participated in that assault shares the credit of the captured colors. " This brigade had a^ record previous to Nashville, and its services had been recognized in the promotion of its former lion-hearted leader, Joseph A. Mower, to be a major- general. '' Smith's detachment, ten thousand strong, made up from the Fifteenth and Seventeenth Army Corps, after fol- * Thomas Parke Gere was originally mustered as a private, Co. " B," Fifth Regiment Minnesota Infantry, Jan. 17, 1862, aged ig ; appointed ist sergeant, March 6, 1862; 2d lieutenant, March 14, 1862 ; ist lieutenant, August 20, 1862 ; regt. adjutant, March 19, 1863 ; brigade adjutant, March 7, 1864 ; discharged, April 5, by reason of expiration of term of service, go THE VICTORS AND THE SPOILS. lowinsf the fortunes of Grant and Sherman from Shiloh to Vicksburg, was, much to its regret, made an orphan by the order lending it for sixty days to the Red River expedition, but emerged with undimmed record from that campaign to join in the long chase of Price and Marmaduke '^" through Arkansas and Missouri, and arrived at Nashville just in time to take position as the right of the army confronting Hood. " Advancing south-westerly on the morning of December 15, from the Charlottesville Pike, in echelon, by brigades, the enemy was soon encountered and steadily driven, through continuous fighting, some three miles south ; at night our front was to the east within one-fourth mile of the Granny White Pike, our pickets on that road, and the enemy's left flank was completely enveloped. During the night he extended his line to the west some distance beyond our position, again fronting north ; to meet which dispositions our front was, on the morning of the i6th, changed to the south, and our portion of the line advanced to within three hundred yards of his position. Hubbard's Brigade, its left now on the Granny White Pike, just north of the Brent- wood Hills, was in an open field, protected only by such works as the soldier had learned to hastily construct under fire. The enemy's line was behind a stone wall, in front of which during the preceding night he had constructed a strong ditch and abatis ; and between us only a cornfield. Our batteries took position on higher ground to our rear, and opened upon the enemy's line. The enemy's batteries * See " Capturing a Major-General," p. 107. BATTLE OF NASHVILLE. OI in our front were in his main line, but the short distance between the Hnes prevented any exposure whatever. These rekitive positions were maintained until about 3.30 P.M., at which time we received the order to assault. Elo- quent speakers have detailed the history of the succeeding minutes that made the soft cornfield * the battle's gory meadow.' " The command swept through the carnage, over the works, capturing everything. In forming for the assault in two lines an interval was left between our brigade and the troops on our right, which subjected the brigade to an enfilading fire, but by sheer momentum the assaulting col- umn cut straight through and landed beyond the opposing line. Quickly discerning that the enemy in this interven- ing space were our prisoners, we sw^ept down their flank, pushing them to our rear. This is where the capture of these colors took place." I reached the works near the right of the brigade, but my horse could not cross the abatis and wall ; so with the troops hurrying along the enemy's works to our right we came upon the colors. I was a little in advance in this movement. The color-bearer leaped over the works toward our rear with the others, leaving the colors behind the works. I could not reach them, but compelled him to recross and deliver the flag. " That second day's battle at Nashville was the most complete rout of the enemy that I ever witnessed, and had the assault taken place as early as noon I don't think any- thing could have prevented the capture of Hood's entire * AIJ that follows is taken from a recent letter (Aug-., 1886) written by Lieut, Gere, g2 THE VICTORS AND THE SPOILS. army ; but it was wet and misty and soon became dark. The Rebs were completely broken up by that charge ; they were tired and hungry, and did not offer much opposition to capture after the works were reached. I carried a ^ revolver ' in hand during the melee, and as everybody was * shooting quite promiscuously ' they complied very promptly with our orders to move to our rear. I had been slightly wounded in the right wrist the day before, but for- got about it until the excitement was over." Lieut. Gere also delivered to the Secretary, on behalf of Lieut. Charles McCleary, who was absent, the flag of the 4th Florida Regiment. McCleary, being in advance of the Union line of battle, came upon the rebel color-bearer and color-guard. He called upon them to surrender, which they at first declined to do ; but, as he insisted, they finally yielded and were made his prisoners. Lieut. Oliver Colwell's trophy was also handed in by Mr. Gere. Lieut. William T. Simmons presented the flag of the 24th Louisiana. Sergeant Alfred Ramsbottom gave into the Secre- tary's hands the flag of the 2d Mississippi regiment, taken only after a hand-to-hand conflict. Sergeant WiLLIAM Garrett turned in the flag of the 13th Mississippi. Corporals James W. Parks and Luther B. Kalten BACK each brought forward a captured color ; the last named that of the 44th Mississippi. Corporal G. W. WELCH offered the flag of the 13th Aia CORPORAL COLLINS' REVENGE. 93 bama. He 'said that as the color-bearer was trying to es- cape he shot him and secured the trophy. When Corporal HARRISON COLLINS stepped out from the group the Secretary made a little speech to his deeply interested auditors. Said he : " General Croxton, who commands the force to which this man belongs, praises in the highest terms his gallantry. I am sure we will all be glad to hear the story of the capt- ure from the lips of this brave soldier." Corporal Cc llins blushed under the fire of so many big guns, and after the clapping of hands had subsided, with a little urging on the part of his comrades, he said : '* Well, gentlemen, there ain't much to tell, but I'll give you the story the best I can. You see, last December, when General Hood advanced toward Nashville, I saw that flag rally to the front. For thirteen days we fell back in good order before the enemy ; it looks now as if we were just drawing them on. That flag seemed to be in sight nearly all the time. I shot at it every time I got a chance, sometimes under embarrassing circumstances. It got to be so provoking that I made up my mind if we ever got a chance I'd pay those rebels for flaunting that there flag in our faces. After our army rested at Nashville for a week we advanced on the enemy, and it was now their turn to fall back, which they did, so fast, that on the second day it ended in a big stampede. On the third day I caught sight of my old friend, this flag. I was on duty with my regiment — the First Tennessee Cavalry — supporting a battery. The rebels made a stand at a creek which was bridged in our front. Part of them, with the flag, tried to 94 THE VICTORS AND THE SPOILS. cross lower down. Then I saw my chance. Some of us charged. I was soon close to the flag. The Confederate ofificer ordered some of his men to dismount and * fight on foot.' Our party halted here, but I forgot everything but the prize, and riding through the dismounted enemy, over- took the color-bearer and demanded the flag. He threw it on the ground. I dismounted and picked it up. " By this time I was some distance in advance, and as our bugle was sounding the ' rally ' I turned back with my trophy." Corporal FRANK Carr recaptured a U. S. guidon from the enemy. *' So you recaptured the old flag?" inquired the Secre- tary. '* Yes," was Carr's reply. " We made a charge and were repulsed. I got into the abatis, and couldn't get out. A Johnnie came up and told me to surrender. I wouldn't do it, but put on my bayonet and was going to stand a fight. The fellow had this flag sticking out of his breast. I grabbed it, and he turned and ran away." Private Otis W. Smith captured the battle-flag of the 6th Florida. He was one of the first to leap the rebel works, and took both flag and bearer. Private WiLLIAM MAY presented the flag of Borran- cood's Battery, and Private ANDREW J. SLOAN delivered the colors of the ist Louisiana Battery. Private GEORGE Stokes and DANIEL J. HOLCOMB also transferred, to the care of the War Department, Confeder- ate flags. Private William F. Moore told how he got his trophy^ WARLIKE TAPESTRY. 95 a battery flag of Cheatham's command. He said: "The color-bearer was in a small group of rebels and was trying to climb the hills. I shed my knapsack, took after him and a captain of the same regiment and captured both." As each man advanced to deliver his trophy it was re- ceived by a gray-headed veteran of the Mexican War, who, after unfurling the flag, laid it upon the musket-stacks pro- vided, and when the last silken standard had been placed there the effect was brilliant and thrilling. The varied hues of the rainbow lighted up the sombre apartment in a blaze of color. Each face, for the time at least, glowed with the patriotic spirit of the occasion, and reflected the warm tints of the tapestried walls. Was ever there a grander decoration to human habitation — to feudal castle or impe- rial palace — than these battle-flags? Embroidered by the hands of fair women, bearing upon their folds the names of bloody battles where brave Confederates had rallied under them again and again ; torn by conflict, worn by tempest, they had at last fallen by the fortune of war into the hands of the victor. The Secretary, beaming with genuine pleas- ure, now as Master of Ceremonies, presented each of the notable personages to the heroes of the hour; each received a hearty grasp of the hand and a word of encouragement which none of them was likely soon to forget. The trophies were then inspected by the company, and, when the last dignitary had been presented, all returned to their respective groups while the Secretary of War ad- dressed Lieutenant Gere and his comrades as follows : '' In behalf of the Government of the United States, I return to you its thanks, and the thanks of the people for ^6 THE inCTORS AND THE SPOILS. your gallantry. Accept also the gratitude of this Depart- ment for yourselves and for your comrades-in-arms. The Adjutant-general will be ordered to take charge of the flags with the descriptions you have this morning given, so as to connect your own individual histories with the noble actions by which they were captured. He will also be or- dered to present to each one of you a Medal of Honor, to be worn by you as a token and a recognition of your gallantry and distinguished services. I wish you all a safe return to your homes, and that you may long live to enjoy in peace the victories which have been won by you and your com- panions in arms. Lieutenant, I return to you and your command the thanks of the Department and of the Govern- ment, and you will make known to them the high estima- tion in which their services are held." Turning about, the Secretary, in an imperious manner, thus addressed the Adjutant-general of the Army, who was present, accompanied by the military chiefs of bureaux and officers temporarily in the city : " General Townsend, to your keeping I commend these sacred tokens of the courage, self-sacrifice and patriotism of our armies. You will cause a proper record to be made of the particulars of each capture, and present to each cap- tor, on behalf of the United States, a Medal of Honor suit- ably inscribed. ** You will publish in General Orders the names of these gallant soldiers, furnishing each with a copy of the order, to the end that their noble example may incite others to sim- ilar deeds. *' You will direct the Paymaster-general to pay to eacl^ officer and soldier a month's pay in advance. GAPTUkING A MAJOR-GEMERAL. Q^f *' And, finally, you will grant to each a furlough of thirty days, with free transportation to his home and thence to his regiment." As the detachment filed out of the apartment each man saluted the War Minister. Mr. Stanton seemed for the mo- ment to forget the grimness of official duty in the emotions that swayed the warm-hearted man. He waved his hand in acknowledgment, his eyes filled with tears, and as the last " boy in blue " disappeared the Secretary turned, without a word to his guests, and darted into his private room. TRIVATE JAMES DUNLAVY, THIRD IOWA VOL. CAVALRY. II. CAPTURING A MAJOR-GENERAL. In presenting the trophies of the battle of Nashville to the Secretary of War, Lieutenant Gere spoke of the long chase of Price and Marmaduke in Missouri and Arkansas by the very troops that returned to Tennessee in time to gain a victory over the famous leader. Hood, at Nashville. ^8 THE VICTORS AND THE SPOILS. The capture of the Confederate general, Marmaduke, was made by a young Iowa cavalryman, Private James DuN- LAVY,^ under circumstances which he relates in a letter from which an extract is here given. The Union forces consisted of two brigades of cavalry, commanded by Colonels Benteen and Phillips. General Sterling Price's forces were falling back, with the Yankees close upon their heels. Dunlavy says : " General Marmaduke had formed his division on the prairie to hold us while Price's train crossed Mine Creek. His position was bad, with Mine Creek to his rear, Benteen on his right and Phillips on his left. Col. Benteen's charges were made promptly, and, according to Gen. Cabell (Con- federate), 'just in the nick of time.' A moment later Cabell intended to charge upon Phillips. He had just passed the word for it when Benteen struck their right, capturing their artillery. Marmaduke's whole right and centre were completely stampeded. I was on the extreme right of my regiment, and was wounded in the arm by a piece of shell, which also hurt my horse. Just as Marma- duke's men ' broke,' my horse wheeled to the rear and my gun fell from my hand, but held by the sling. Just as quick as I could get my horse to the front, seeing my brigade far in advance to my right, I noticed troops. Thinking they were Federals I started for them, but soon found they were Marmaduke's men in full retreat. I noticed an officer in a Confederate uniform. This officer started in my direction, * James Duni.avy enlisted in Co. F, 30th Iowa Vol. Infantry (aged 18) ; re-enlisted Co. D, :!d Iowa Cavalry, 1863. Served during all campaigns in Tennessee, Missouri and Georgia until close of the war. Mustered out with regiment at Atlanta, Ga., April 9, 1865. Was graduated M.D. at Keokuk in 1870. A MUTUAL SURPRISE. 90 shouting, ' What do you mean, shootin^^- your o'wn men ! ' He was evidently trying to rally what he thought were his own men. I shot at him, but missed. I checked to a trot and he was soon by my side, and seemed surprised when I demanded his revolver. He handed it over, saying, ' I sur- render; thought I was with my own men.' I started to the rear, and as one of our men asked for the rebel horse, I ordered my prisoner to dismount, which he did in a very cool and military style. " I then started to the rear with him on double-quick. Had gone a short distance when he said that he had been up all night, and was very tired, and asked me if I would let him walk ; which I did. He wanted a horse, but I refused to tret him one. He then asked me to take him to General Pleasanton, as he was personally acquainted with him. *' I told liim that if the General could be found he should see him. He then remarked, ' I will tell you who I am/ Just then one of Pleasanton's staff came up, and my pris- oner introduced himself as General Marmaduke. I again started to the rear with the officer. He asked me in what troops' hands he was. 1 tc^ld him Iowa. He said he was glad he was in Iowa instead of Kansas. We had gone but a short distance when we met Gen. C. W. Blair, to whom 1 delivered my captive. Blair got a horse and mounted General Marmaduke, and asked me to accom- pany them to General Curtis. "General Blair introduced Marmaduke to Curtis, then myself as General Marmaduke's captor. General Curtis remarked, * Right from my own State,' and that he was acquainted with my father. I started to the field hospital 100 ^'^i^ VICTORS AND THE SPOILS. to get my arm dressed, when an officer rode up to me, shook my hand warmly, and said, ' My boy, you will hear of this day's work in years to come.' " Started, in company with a comrade, for the front, but had not gone far when my arm began to bleed and become so painful that I gave it up and returned to Fort Scott. " That night it rained ; my feelings can better be imag- ined than described. A boy away from home the first time ; a stranger in a strange place ; wet, wounded, dirty, hungry and homesick. But General Blair sent for me and treated me with great kindness. A load was thus removed from m}^ heart for which I shall ever be grateful. " As soon as my arm was well enough for duty, I left Fort Scott, carrying with me a vivid recollection of the kindness of the citizens, and as tokens of their friendship, from the ladies an elegant album and a beautiful copy of Tom Moore's poetical works, and from the men a brace of very handsome ' Colt's navy revolvers.' " A rather unique testimonial to military merit in the form of a Resolution of the Board of Supervisors of Davis County, Iowa, is in Dr. Dunlavy's possession. It reads as follows : Bloomfield, Iowa, Ja?i. 12, 1865. WHEREAS it has come to the knowledge of the citizens of this county that Private James Dunlavy, Co. D, 3d Iowa Cavalry, did in the late battle of Mine Creek, Kansas, between the Federal and Rebel forces, after being se- verely wounded in the arm, by his own personal daring and courage rush upon and compel the noted general, Marmaduke (rebel), to surrender to him as a prisoner of war. Therefore be it Resolved, that we hereby tender the said James Dunlavy the thanks of the A UNIQUE TESTIMONIAL. lot citizens of this county for his brave, faithful and distinguished services. Be it further Resolved^ that the clerk of the Board of Supervisors be directed to spread this proceeding upon the record of this Board, and that he furnish the said James Dunlavy with a copy of same under seal. I, William Law^ Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of Davis County, Iowa, certify that the foregoing is a correct copy of proceedings, had by said Board at its January term, 1S65. Witness my hand and Official Seal this 12th day of January, a.D. 1865. L. S. Wm. J. Law, Clerk. %Q Jill ttf TO0m ihfjt ^wcnfs ^lutU Ctniit. (Siffting: /oKi aniline IH^J and: 'a').,n/./^pe /^ '^//af. ""-*"":!5-uuil ■ ^ ' pw riioumni £ight HimSred and «'.v(j/-.A>UlSiN\)_„„ >^ d caimd thf Great Seal of the Stat* ,\.V.M In the year nf our I/>ri ^^^^K^^-^ 103 CORI'ORAL I'AlRUk II. MoNAGHAN, KOKTY-EIGHTH rHNNSVLVANIA INFANTRY. THREE THINKING BAYONETS. IN every army there may be found enlisted men who are not only able to obey orders intelligently under the eye of their commanding officer, but who can act with energy, ■courage and good judgment when thrown upon their own resources in an emergency. The armies of the United States have abounded with such men — especially in time of war. The " three thinking bayonets," whose adventures are described in this chapter, belong to the high type of Amer- ican soldiership referred to, and their gallantry was re- warded with the Medal. I. RECAPTURING THE COLORS. Patrick H. Monaghan,* formerly a corporal, Co. F, 48th Pennsylvania Volunteers, writes as follows: * Patrick H. Monaghan enlisted (at the age of eighteen) at Minersville, Pa., Aug. 12, 1861, in Co. F, 48th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Pjowoted Corporal 18. At- tached to Battery *' M," 3d l^. S. Artillery, Sept. to Dec, 1863. Sensed with Army of Potomac and in East Tennessee Campaign, until mustered out with regiment, July 17, 1865. MtuAi, OK Honor " for recapture of colors 7th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, June 17, 1864." 103 104 THREE THINKING BAYONETS. " My recollection of the affair of June 17, 1864, and the recapture of the colors of the 7th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, is as follows: ''After crossing the James River on the 15th of June, we marched rapidly towards Petersburg, and on the evening of the i6th debouched from a dense strip of woods, deployed, and double-quicked across a field toward the enemy's works. On our approach, a brigade of the Second Corps, which occupied a hastily constructed breastwork in front, advanced to carry the enemy's works. But after a des- perate attempt to storm them, they were repulsed with severe loss, especially in prisoners. It was then that the New York regiment lost its colors. This was late on the evening of the i6th. During the night we manoeuvred, crossing a marsh that intervened in single file, and took position closer to the rebel works. While in this position the most profound silence was maintained, as we could hear the enemy talking, and every man was notified to secure his tin cup and trappings so as to make no noise and be ready for a charge. Before daylight the order came, and we, with the 36th Massachusetts, dashed forward, under a heavy fire, leaped the enemy's breastworks, capturing four pieces of artillery, six hundred prisoners, and about a thou- sand stand of arms. '' In leaping the breastworks, a rebel fired, with his gun so close to the left side of my head that my hair was singed, my cheek slightly burned, and ear injured by the concussion so that I feel the effects of it yet. Thomas James, a comrade of mine, knocked a rebel down with his gun, and Isaac Lewis (another comrade) and a rebel fired HA ND- TO-HA ND. 10$ at each other, killing each other instantly. It was short, sharp work and we lost seventy-five men. The enemy fell back in confusion toward their second line, while our troops occupied the one just taken. A few of us — a strong skirmish line as it were — without orders, pursued them. Between the line just taken and tlie next, the ground was undulating, and a small stream of water flowed in a hollow thus formed. A growth of small trees and underbrush lined either bank of this stream. A part of the enemy made a stand here and delivered fire. As we dashed for- ward, firinof as w^e went, a \'oun«; man, whom I took for an officer, came towards us, with a handkerchief fastened to a rod, reached it to me and said he wished to surrender. I asked him to what regiment he belonged, and he replied, ' The litter corps ' (corresponding, I think, to our stretcher or ambulance corps). I directed him to the rear — the line just captured and held by our troops — and ran to the edge of the woods and fired. A man fell across the small stream with his head almost in the water, and immediately a tall rebel, who was near, threw^ down his gun, ran forward, caught him, sat on the bank \\\\\\ his feet in the water, and placed the head of the wounded man in his lap. I came forward, aimed my empty gun, and ordered both to sur- render and go to the rear. The tall man cried out, ' Don't shoot the Major!' I inquired, 'Major who?' and I understood him to sa}% ' Major Crawford of the 34th Ten- nessee.'" I asked the ]\Iajor to arise, and we both would help him back. But he said, ' No, I can't walk, I have just * I think he said "34th Tennessee," although it might have been "44th Tennessee," »s Robert Reed, of Co. " G," captured the colors of that regiment the same morning. Io6 THREE THINKING BAYONETS. been wounded. I think my hip is broken.' He seemed to be a man, forty or forty-five years of age, with a florid complexion, and a reddish beard, cHpped short. "I then ordered the tall man to go to the rear, but when he attempted to rise the Major moaned and said, * Please leave him with me, and you go and get some of your men to carry me back.' I replied, ' And he will be gone when I return.' He answered, ' I give you my word of honor that we both will remain until you come.' The other man said, ' I saw a stretcher (litter) in there. If we could get it you and I might be able to carry him.' Of course all this took place in less time than it takes me to tell it. I stepped a fe-w paces to the left in search of the stretcher, when a rebel, with a gun at a trail and a flag over his shoulder, came running toward me. When he saw me he attempted to use his piece, but I had him covered, and shouted to him to drop his gun and surrender. He dropped it, and I ran forward and took the colors from him. " I was so elated over getting those colors that I merely called to the prisoners to follow me, and not knowing whether they did or not, ran excitedly back to the line which was still firing over us, who were in the hollow, at the retreating rebels beyond the thicket. I fortunately approached my own company, who upon seeing me ceased firing, set up a cheer, while I leaped upon the breastworks and waved the flag. Lieut. John L. Williams, of our com- pany, jumped up, embraced me, and the boys pulled us both down, as the enemy had opened a pretty lively fire from their second line by this time. We unfurled the flag an i found it belonged to the 7th New York Heavy Artil- A GOOD DA y ' ^^ FISHING. 107 ler)'. The prisoners, except the few we had taken in the pursuit, had been sent to the rear by this time. The }oung man who first surrendered to me was still there, but was about being sent back under guard. When he saw me he said to the captain, ' I am his prisoner, I surrendered to him.' " I told the captain about the wounded major and the other two men. He ordered me to the rear with the pris- oner and the colors, and said he would attend to them. On my return I understood they were brought in. In the centre and on the left was an equally interesting time. As I started back I met Lieut. -Col. Pleasants, who com- manded the regiment. He congratulated me, and re- cjuested me to give him the colors, bring the prisoner to the rear, and report to him on my return. After some hes- itation I gave him the flag. I soon overtook the other prisoners, escorted by as numerous a guard, from various regiments, as they numbered. I turned over mine and returned to the front. In the mean time, the regiment had moved forward and were throwing up breastworks. It was from near this position, a week later, that we commenced the mine that we exploded on the 30th of July. " General Meade presented three others and me with Medals of Honor, December i6th, 1864, at Ninth Corps Headquarters in presence of a large part of the Army." II. A GOOD DAY'S FISHING. One of the operations resulting in the capture of Rich- mond was the affair of Hatcher's Run, October 27, 1864. Its object was to gain possession of the Southside Railroad, Io3 THREE THINKING BAYONETS. then an important line of supply for the Confederate army Although the attack was unsuccessful, there was some hard fighting and many curious happenings yet to -be told in print. One of these incidents is described by Alonzo Smith, then ist Sergeant (since lieutenant) 7th Michigan Veteran Volunteer Infantry." He says : '' I will give a sketch of what is known as the battle of Hatcher's Run, Va., Oct. 27, 1864, so far as my memory serves me. The 2d Division, 2d Corps, formed line of battle across the Boydton plank-road on quite a high ridge, facing towards the south and west. My regiment was a part of the left flanking brigade, with its right resting at or near said plank-road, extending the line to the left in front of the woods that were in our rear ; and on the left of the road, as we faced the south and west, our line formed a half cir- cle with centre in the advance, my regiment extending into the woods towards the plank-road. The brigade was composed of 19th and 20th Massachusetts, 42d and 59th New York, 1st Minnesota, 36th Wisconsin and 7th Michi- gan. The Confederates attacked our right and rear, cap- turing the artillery in position on our right. While in this position some stragglers came through the woods in rear of my regiment. Our colonel then deployed us to the left, towards the plank-road, to prevent any stragglers from passing our left, we being the left flanking regiment of in- fantry within sight or hearing; although we understood at * Alonzo Smith enlisted (on his nineteenth birth-day) Aug. 9, 1861, in the 7th Mich. Vol, Infantry. Promoted corporal, Apr., 1863 ; sergeant, Apr., 1864 ; first sergeant Nov., 1864 ; first lieutenant, Dec 9, 1864. Serried through campaigns, Army of the Potomac. PFounded at Antietam, in left thigh; at Gettysburg, in left wrist. Medal of Honor for capture of flag 26ih N. C. Inf., Oct. 27, 1864. A WHOLESALE SURRENDER. 109 the time that Gregg's Division of cavalry were the only troops on our left. Looking in our rear I saw quite a num- ber of men moving towards our line. Calling to Sergeant Thomas Smith, who happened to be near me, I asked him if he did not think they were ' Rebs.' After a thorough look in that direction he pronounced them to be ' Yanks,' and started to report to Colonel Lapoint, who then had charge of the picket-line a little in our advance. Feeling- somewhat uneasy as to our position, I went some fifteen or twenty rods to the rear and discovered the men to be Con- federates, coming directl}' toward me — every man for him- self. Stepping behind a large elm tree, I concluded to tr}' a demand for surrender as soon as they came near enough. '' With a loaded musket and fixed bayonet I awaited their approach. When w^ithin a rod or so, I stepped out from m}^ hiding-place and demanded a surrender, which they did not appear to heed. I made the second demand when their line officers came to the front, and I saw that none of them had side-arms. They said they would surrender to me if I would take them out of there all right. They wished to know if we had any troops in there, and in whcit direction I was going to take them out. I pointed to the direction of the plank-road, when the}' said it would be taking them back into their own lines. I informed them that we had a division only a few rods from me. Their officers then told the men to throw down their arms and surrender. I then called to Alfred Bordine and John Cramer, they being the first I saw after the surrender. ^' The good news soon reached the regiment and a guard jjQ THREE THINKING BAYONETS. formed who helped the discomfited Confederates to remove their cartridge-boxes, and I kindly became the color-bearer of the 26th North Carolina. Just as I had taken the colors from the sergeant, Colonel Lapoint came to the scene and wished to know what I had been doing. He then told me to take a guard and report to General Hancock, whose headquarters were in an open field to our left, and across the plank-road. I obeyed the order, and General Hancock directed mc to report the prisoners to the provost-marshal. " The same night the army fell back to their old camp, and through some mistake of the aides my regiment and the 59th N. Y. were left to their fate. When daylight came, the colonel discovered their position and started for the rear, but had not crossed the first field when a squad of rebel cavalry made a dash on them, which was repulsed by a volley from the boys in blue. They then formed a skir- mish line and kept under shelter of the woods. The color- bearer of the State flag took the flag from the staff and put it around his body, under his shirt ; the U. S. flag was torn to pieces, each man putting a piece in his pocket. *' After wandering through the woods, avoiding openings as much as possible, they became lost. Going 'to a log cabin they found an old negro, who was willing to pilot them to the Union lines, where they arrived after two days' tramping. The old contraband was sent to Monroe, Mich- igan, by the regiment, as a reward for his services. "The number of prisoners for which my regiment re- ceived credit at the engagement on Hatcher's Run, Va,, was 20 officers and 480 enlisted men." AJ^ IMDEPENDENT BA TTER Y. j j j This was an extraordinary haul for one lone fisherman, but shows what a thoroughly wide awake sergeant rnay do. BVT. CAPTAIN PLTKR T. ANDERSON, LATE CORFOKAL 31ST VVISC. INFANTRY. III. AN. INDEPENDENT BATTERY. In the year 1840, when Chicago was a village, among the arrivals there were two Norwegians — husband and wife — on their way to a new home in free America, where land was cheap and where industry and thrift have ever been rewarded with success. They settled in Wisconsin, on the banks of the East Pecatonica River, and erected a homestead, where iw due time numerous olive branches grew up around the worthy couple, and became the seasoned timber of which true American citizens and, when needed, good Union soldiers are made. When the great war came, two of the boys volun- teered to fight under the old flag. One, Gotack, gave his life to his country in one of the battles near Atlanta, in 1T:2 THREE THINKINQ BAYONETS. 1864. The other, Peter T. Anderson,'^ enlisted in a Wis- consin regiment at the age of sixteen, and iSefore the close of the war, in which he served to the bitter end, had given many proofs of his hardy Norway blood and his healthy American training. His is one of the few instances in which a private soldier has been honored with a brevet commission as captain, for a special act of gallantry in the presence of the enemy. Anderson had tramped with his regiment under General Sherman on the Great March to the Sea, and after the capture of Savannah, had found himself still under the lead- ership of '' Uncle Billy " — as Sherman was affectionately called by his men — close at the heels of the distinguished Confederate, Joe Johnston. Occasionally the enemy would turn and snap viciously at his pursuers. One of these occasions was at Bentonville, March 19, 1865. It is thus described by Captain Anderson, then Corporal Co. B, 31st Wisconsin Infantry: *' The morning opened fair and warm. About one o'clock, and just after dinner, we forded a stream. While we were crossing the stream our major, Robert Stepherson, asked me to fill his canteen with water and then get into an am- bulance and ride, as he thought I looked too sick to march. I told him I never had been in an ambulance and would rather stay with my company. We were ordered down * Peter T. Anderson enlisted Sept. 8, 1863, in Co. B, 31st Wisconsin Infantry. Pro- moted cor \,or^ " for g-allantry at Averysboro, N. C," March 16. 1865. Breveted captain Wisconsin Volunteers (page 112). Served in the Western Army continuously until mustered out with regiment at Louisville, July 8, 1865. Medal of Honor " for gallant conduct in saving gun of 14th Corps from capture," Bentonville, N. C, March 19, 1865. FALL TNG BACK LN GOOD ORDER. HJ close to the left of the turnpike leading to Bentonville ; the timber grew quite large and thick where we were formed in line of battle. About four rods in front of our regiment there was an open field ; about a quarter of a mile across it we could see the Rebs forming their lines. In the mean time, our men were cutting down trees and piling them up for temporary breastworks. There were only three regiments of our brigade there. We had only a few minutes to work, as the Rebs saw (or thought they saw) a chance of gobbling us up — a large gap between us and the 14th Corps. They fell upon both our flanks about the same time; our right flank gave way first. Our regiment was on the left flank and my Co. (B) on the extreme left. When we saw the Rebs were clear to our rear, on both of our flanks, we fell back in great disorder, some of the bo}'s going so far to the rear that they never got back until noon the next day. We ran towards the rear, on the other side of the pike, and behind where we formed our first line the 19th Indiana Battery was stationed. The men had aban- doned three of their guns. After most all of our brigade had passed them, some one (think it was one of the battery boys) shouted : ' For God's sake, save the battery ! ' " I said to one of our men (George Neamiah) that I was going back to get the battery ; he said I was a d — d fool if I did ; but back I went. The gun nearest the road was ' limbered up ' and ready to move. The team consisted of a pair of mules on the lead, while the 'swing ' and wheel- ers were horses. I soon got them started by using my ramrod for a whip. I only had about four rods to go to reach the pike. Just as I got to the pike, the rebels began XI4 THREE THINKING BAYONETS. to flock around me pretty thick. All the time I kept giv^ ing it to the horses with my ramrod. Once I undertook to get into the saddle of the wheel team ; just as I was going to mount a bullet struck the strap of the stirrup and cut it in two. The enemy began to think they were likely to lose their prize, and all began to shoot at me (or at the horses, as they were badly wounded), and some of them used pretty rough language, telling me to surrender. There was one Johnnie rode right up to me, with a Colt's revolver drawn and pointed at me, and shouted, ' Surrender ! you d — d Yankee.' He had hardly uttered the words before one of our boys shot him from his horse. " The Rebs followed me up close till they saw our brigade forming. Colonel West, taking command, said, ' We will hold this position or die right here.' My ramrod was bent double from trying to load my gun as I was running. So when I got to the regiment the colonel told me to go to the rear, as I could do no good there with a broken ramrod and my hand badly bruised. I took the gun and horses to the rear with me. As I approached the batteries that were massed in our rear, an officer (I think it was the chief of artillery) stepped in front of the works they had thrown up and asked me what battery I belonged to. I told him I was ' Independent.' I told him in a few words all I knew about it. Then he asked me if I would let him use the gun, and of course I consented. Then I went to the rear of the battery and sat down under a tree. I sat there about ten minutes when an orderly came along with a ram- rod in his hand. I asked him to give it to me as mine was broken. He gave it to me. I started right away for my RECONNOITRING. 115 company, and got there just as the rebels were making their second charge. They charged us five times, but we checked them every time. '' Just after dusk that evening the Major asked me to pick a few men to go with me to reconnoitre in our front, and see where the enemy were. Our regiment was instructed not to fire until we got in, even if we did shoot a httle in front of them. We started, and kept in the dark as much as possible ; several of the pitch-pine trees were burning, and made it quite light in some places. After advancing about two hundred yards several rebels jumped up and shouted, 'We surrender!' There were ten or twelve of them and onl}- five of us. We took them into our lines, w hich was just what they wanted. The next day we buried the dead of both armies, and on the twenty-first started for Raleigh, N. C, where we lay until the surrender of John- ston's army." iiG **f"- '>yi.'-% _J ( AJ i \!N 11AI;\IA MW Ml.\>ll,r. ;iNETY-MNTH I'ENNSVLVAXIA INFANTRV. WITH THE COLORS IN WAR TIME.^ JUST twent}' years after the Great Conflict, I am asked to give for publication my recollections of service as a color-sergeant, during the War of the Rebellion. It seems as if the subject of W^ar had been written almost threadbare : however, 1 will describe some incidents of my soldiering days. THE TRIALS OF A RECRUIT. I was born at Painted Post, Steuben County, N. Y., Jan- uary 5, 1843. ^^y ancestors, on my father's side, are traced to Sir Philip de M(a)unsell, who came from Normandy with ''William the Conqueror." His grandson. Sir John M(a)unsell, was Lord Chief Justice of England, in the tmie * Contributed by Captain Harvey May Mlnsell, at the request of the Editor. II Il3 WITH THE COLORS IN WAR TIME. of Henry III. My mother was a May, and one of her ancestors was John May, Esq., who came to America in 1640, from Mayfield, a town in the county of Sussex, Eng- land. At the time war was declared, and Fort Sumter fired upon, in the Spring of 1861, I had charge, for an uncle,* of a lumber yard at Oil City, Pa. Having been taught, from a boy up, that Slavery was wrong. President Lincoln's first call for 75,000 three-months volunteers naturally set me on fire, as it did almost every one throughout the Northern States. Oil City, at that time, was in the backwoods of Pennsylvania; before the days of railroads in that section. However, the people were intensely patriotic, and joined me in purchasing the materials for an immense flag, made by the ladies, hoisted to the top of a tall staff made of derrick poles, and unfurled to the breeze amid cheers from thousands of voices. That was a great day for Oil City, and the flag was a gentle reminder to all able-bodied men to fall into line and march off for the preservation of the Union. That flag did good service, and yet when the people of that region learn for the first time that the flag w^e all " rallied around " in 1 86 1 was as much like a rebel flag as any I ever saw, they will certainly be as much surprised as I was in making the discovery. However, such was the fact, and I have since enjoyed many a good laugh over it. The people were a little slow in Oil City, so I went to Franklin, seven miles distant, hoping to join a company there, but was too late. * Hamilton Stow, Esq., of Cincinnati. THE TRIALS OF A RECRUIT 119 Then I made Pittsburg my objective point. Arrived there one day too late. Sign posted up at all recruiting stations, " iV^* more nun zvanted ! '' Saw the officers, how- ever, and plead with them to "let me in," but all in vain. Besides, the daily papers announced to the public that the quota of 75,000 men under the President's call was full, and that twice as many more had offered than were wanted. Just then my eyes fell upon a recruiting advertisement in a Philadelphia newspaper. I opened a recruiting office in Pittsburg, and wrote, published and distributed several thousand copies of the most patriotic, '' soul-stirring " handbills ever flung to the wind in that ancient and honor- able town ; and they did the work, for in less than thirty- six hours I was on the cars with twenty-seven men, tick- eted for Philadelphia. Arriving there, all the men breakfasted at my expense, and before I could report and turn them, with myself, over to our French colonel, Romaine Lujeane, all but eleven deserted ; and by evening on that day but three men remained. The colonel ordered me back to Pittsburg that night, to take advantage of my circulars: result, thirty more recruits. Took them to Philadelphia, where all but four deserted. Those patriots simply wanted free transportation, and they got it ; but the seven who remained with me were seven of the best boys,— honest, true, brave, soldier boys, — in the United States Army. The fact is, I was only a boy m}'sclf, just past eighteen, and weighed less than a hun- dred pounds; but taken with the other seven (who were I20 WITH THE COLORS IN WAR TIME. about my age and weight), I felt like a giant, because I could now call myself one or eigJit at pleasure. From that time forward, I stood before the country In the ratio of one to seven, or^ as seven to one; and it cost me in shining gold just $65.25 to reach those proportions, as per following detailed statement : When I first arrived in Pittsburg I had just $75.00 2 days' board in that city, $3.00 Incidentals 2.50 5000 handbills 15.00 Transportation for 28 men to Philadelphia (paid by Government) 00.00 Loaned to a recruit (afterwards deserted) 25.00 Breakfast for 28 men in Philadelphia 7.00 52.50 Total cost of first invoice $52.50 22.50 My return trip to Pittsburg cost : I day's board 1.50 Incidentals 2.50 Transportation for 32 men (paid by Government) 00.00 Breakfast in Philadelphia for 32 men 8.00 Loaned recruit , .75 12.75 Total cost of second invoice $12.75 $9-75 Add cost of first invoice 52.50 Aggregate expense $65.25 and for that, we had eight recruits and $9.75 left. In round numbers each recruit cost ju.st $8.15. The Colonel was several weeks in filling his regiment, so it was among the first ready for service after President Lincoln made his first call for three-years men. The Colonel offered to promote me to a lieutenant, but I bash- fully declined the honor, for I knew nothing about military tactics. Was mustered into the U. S. Volunteer Service, with my seven ''good and true" recruits, July 26, 1861, we being the youngest, smallest, scrawniest-looking ''high privates in the rear rank," of any in the 32d Regiment (afterwards re-numbered the 99th) Pennsylvania Volun- ^'JOJJN BAKLE YCOKNr 1 2 1 teers. We were at first looked upon by everybody in the regiment, except the Colonel, as of no earthly value. The regiment was disciplined and sent to the front, but it took some time to get there. While on the route, it garrisoned, for a few days, Fort Davis, one of the chain of forts surrounding Washington, and located about two miles from the south side of the Anacostia River, com- monly known as the Eastern Branch of the Potomac. While there I was promoted corporal, and a few days later it was my misfortune to fight my first battle with an enemy not on the programme. It was brought about in this way : A day or two pre- vious, a very estimable young man by the name of Griffith in my company, " C," was taken with a cramp and drowned while he and the other members of the company were out bathing in the river. Griffith ventured out too far, in very deep water. His body sank, and remained at the bottom of the river. A detachment of men from Company C was at once despatched to the Navy Yard, with orders to secure a gun- boat or a heavy piece of ordnance on a barge, as soon as possible, and proceed to the spot in the river where the soldier went down, firing the cannon over the body until it rose to the surface. It was a tedious undertaking, so the men were worked by reliefs, changing every two hours. I was one, and just after I had been relieved, about eleven o'clock, one of the darkest nights I ever saw, a sergeant in my company, by the name of G R , and myself started for the fort. There were two or three ways of going, but, as it was so very dark, we concluded to take 122 WITH THE COLORS IN WAR TIME. the public highway. Sergeant R had been drinking just enough to make him boisterous when we started, but before we had travelled half a mile he became morose and ugly. We lost our way in the dark, at a place where sev- eral roads branched off. While slowly feeling our way in the dark, a horse and wagon came along, going in the same direction. The Sergeant wanted to ride, and made known his wants in the most vigorous manner possible. He yehed so loud that the horse and driver were alarmed, and in a moment were out of hearing. Then the Sergeant became very angry and laid down in the woods, declaring he would not move another inch. Supposing we were near our camp I travelled on, leaving him to follow at leisure. Within five minutes I heard a wagon, and saw a light in the road coming toward me at a rapid rate. It proved to be the same wagon that passed us, but this time it was crowded with soldiers, and each sol- dier had a loaded rifle, and each rifle had a fixed bayonet. In the next instant the wagon stopped, and the sergeant in charge called out, *' Who comes there?" I replied, " Friend with the countersign," and as I was advancing to give it, down came every rifle, with the muzzle pointing at me, and with the same movement, click, click, I heard the double action of the locks, as they cocked their pieces. Could there be anything more dreadful than to be unwittingly placed in such a position on a lonely road in the woods, in the middle of the darkest night, unarmed ^nd alone in a strange country? All the battles I after- ward saw, rolled into one, could not equal the terror of that supreme moment — just before they came to my relief, by A BRACE OF brigands:' 123 dragging me into the vehicle with them. They turned the horse and wagon around, and drove off at break-neck speed, finally landing me in the guard-house of an unknown regiment. Well, it was another relief to get there, although their treatment of me had not improved, for they handcuffed, shackled and tied me down. While one party was doing that another had driven away for the Sergeant, who, when found, was treated in like fashion. We had the guard- house, a large wall tent, all to ourselves; but it was doubly guarded by extra men, detailed for that purpose. About daybreak, the following morning, I learned ''con- fidentially" from the Officer of the Guard that the vehicle passing us on the road, and about which the Sergeant made such a row, was returning from Washington with the regi- mental mail. Frightened half out of his wits, in that lonely spot at the dead of night, by the sergeant's intem- perate yells, the young man drove into camp, rousing the whole regiment, exclaiming at the top of his voice that he had been attacked by two highwaymen. Sergeant R had commenced to sober up, and I shall never forget the look on his countenance when I told him we were a " brace of brigands," to be tried by '' drum-head court-martial" at nine o'clock that morning, to be con- victed, sentenced, and shot at twelve o'clock, noon, of that day. He believed every word of it, and well he might after such an ordeal as we had gone through the night previous. I wanted him to believe it, up to the very last moment, for had he let liquor alone, and gone along about his business, he would not haye dragged us into that 124 WITH THE COLORS IN WAR TIME. scrape. The Officer of the Guard secretly furnished, me with pencil, paper and envelope, that I might communicate with my regiment. I wrote a letter to my colonel, explain- ino- the whole thing, and the Officer of the Guard sent it over to him. About nine o'clock that morning we were marched out in front of the strange regiment (a new one), lectured by its colonel, and then asked by him what we had to say for our- selves. I looked off to my right, about that time, and dis- covered my company (C) marching toward us, and then I respectfully told the Colonel " nothing we could say, after such treatment, would be of any avail, and we would leave it to our regiment to settle with him." Just then the officer in charge of our company handed the Colonel a letter, demanding our immediate and unconditional release. We were released, there and then ; and from that day forward, as long as those two regiments remained near each other, whenever our men caught any of the others outside their camp, I regret to say, terrible battles were fought on our account. Sergeant R was never seen under the influence of liquor after that. He was an honest man and a brave sol- dier, and was, near the end of the war, a lieutenant in that same Company C when I became its captain. Colonel Lujeane and my captain (William J. Uhler) declared I had fought my first battle and won a great victory. I thought so then, and I think so now. As the result, I was promoted to sergeant*. Moral. — Never be caught in the company of a drunken man, under any circumstances what- ever, for you will have trouble when least expected, GETTYSBURG. GETTYSBURG. We were at the " Devil's Den," and the " Den " was locked, and the 99th, as I said before, held the " key." Only a hand- ful of men to arrest and keep at bay " His Satanic Majesty " and thirty thousand others, trying to get in. The members of the 99th, every man of them, looked like ghosts, and it was not until after I made that discovery that I c-rne to the conclusion they thought I was the only man in the reg- iment not frightened half out of his senses. Every second brought the advancing host nearer to us, and every second they remained in the distance counted thousands of men in our favor, for every one of us was cjuadrupling himself for the herculean struggle near at hand. The regiment ap- peared to be elastic, able to contract and expand to any length and breadth at will. 1 had the flag unfurled to the breeze in the front as in former battles, and every man looked to me and the flag as a guide, and I knew it, but they did not know I did. They had the guns, the bayonets, the bullets, the pluck, the courage; and we all felt safe in each other's hands. Not a solitary man of that little band, even for a mo- ment, thought of being driven from " tJie KeyT We were the " Davids," and on came the " Goliaths " to their destruction. Our little ''slings" did it. Column after column of the " flower," as Lee was pleased to call those of his army, was thrown against us, and for one hour and thirty-eight minutes we were kept busy hurling them back. It was solemnly said, by non-combatants and eye-Avit- nesses, that " men fell as the leaves fall in Autumn, before 126 WITH THE COLORS IN WAR TIME. those horrible discharges." " Faltering for an instant, the rebel columns seemed about to recede before the tempest , but their officers, who could be seen through the smoke of the conflict galloping and swinging their swords along the lines, rallied them anew, and the whole line sprang forward the next instant, as if to break through our own by mere weight of numbers." At many points along the 3d Corps line they did break through, but never for an instant at '' the key " ; but the key was finally flanked and had to be abandoned, but not until a new line of fresh troops had formed at the hinges of tJic door. " Only a Color-bearer," with colors riddled, and eleven bullet-holes in my clothes ; but the worst was not yeto I had survived the whirlwind, had looked down the throats of thousands of fiery guns, discharged without harm to my person, and now that we were compelled to go away from the " Den," out of that Hades of fire, and save ourselves and the flag from capture, immediate action and some engineering was required. I had a color-guard of eight corporals, and every man was killed or wounded. The rebels were pouring into our rear in vast numbers on both flanks. General Ward or- dered our regiment, or what was left of it, to fall back as quickly as possible. It got a good start, say about sixty feet, before I commenced to fall back, because I misunder- stood the order, and as several of our men were too badly wounded to leave the field, and yet able to load and fire at the enemy from where they fell, the thin line of rebels re- maining in our front, naturally thought our regiment was lyin^ down waiting for another charge. I retreated with ALL BLOWX TO PIECES: 12; the flag a few hundred yards in good order, but shortly a shell came whizzing past, then another, and still another, bursting all around me. One struck the ground, tearing it up, and burst right at my feet. • Stunned by the concussion, I tumbled into the depres- sion it made, and many of our men, who looked back and saw me fall, reported me dead. '' Munsell all blown to atoms by a shell, and the flag captured." That both the flag and myself were not captured was no fault of mine, for there we were for a long time, '' playing possum,' ' and I apparently dead as Julius Cx^sar. The staff laid along the surface of the ground in m}- front, under some rocks and bushes; the flag under my body, with my head and shoulders down in the depression, and my feet and legs out, as a wounded or dead man would naturally lie, stretched at full length, dur- ing a battle; for the fight was still raging on both flanks, and the rebels were working a battery which they had cap- tured at the *' Den." I was surrounded by low rocks and bushes, as well as by the rebels, and I dared not move from that position until the coast was clear to the rear; the only thing I feared was that a Johnnie might coi"Qe along and try his bayonet on me to see if I was really dead. Just about that time the 6th Corps swept down toward and past me, driving ever)' " Reb " before it. I jumped up and "skedaddled" to the rear, where my regiment had formed, quietl)' fell into line and unfurled the flag. Such a shouting I never heard before or since. Men who saw me fall, ''all blown to pieces with a shell," and "the flag cap- tured," came and looked at the flag, and felt of me to see J 28 WITH THE COLORS IN WAR TIME. if there wasn't some mistake or humbug about it, for I was ah'eady booked as among the " slain in battle." I saw more, accomplished more, in those few hours than during my whole life before. I quote from a personal letter to me from General Daniel E. Sickles, dated New York, Aug. 17, 1886. ^A ^ -;^ -:f 'K- -A- ^ -x- '.k *' The 99th Penn. Vol. — that noble regiment that stood the brunt of battle for hours in the '.Devil's Den,' cover- ing Round Top, the key of the Union position, while Gen- eral Meade was sending troops to hold it." I also give an extract from the report of the commanding officer of my regiment and brigade.^ " Camp in the Field (Near Warrenton, Va.), ''July 27, 1S63. '■'■Sir: — I have the honor to make the following report of- the part my com- mand took in the actions before Gettysburg on the ist, 2d and 3d inst. " The courageous conduct of Color-Sergeant Harvey M. Munsell, and the manner with which he bore the regimental colors during the conflict, has in- duced me to make special mention of his case, as one worthy of the most de- cided approval. " (Signed) John W. Moore, " Major Comd'g ()()f/i Pettn. Vols:' " Hdqrs. 2d Brig., ist Div., 3d Corps, "August 4, 1863. " Captain : — I have the honor to transmit a report of the action and move- ments of ray brigade on July ist, 2d, 3d and 4th : ************* "It would afford me much gratification to speak of others in the terms they * From the advance sheets oi the U. S. Records—" War of the Rebellion," Vol. XV.. 1880. HEROES OE THE COLOR-GUARD. j2q deserve, but space will not permit. I would respectfully refer to the regimen- tal reports for a detailed statement of the particular deeds of many other gal- lant otiicers. I cannot omit, however, the names of a few gallant non-commis- sioned officers, viz Sergeant H. M. MuNSEi.L, 99th Pennsylvania Volun- teers, . . . who by their bravery and example ins[)ired all in their vicinity. It is to be hoped that a suitable reward, by promotion and otherwise, will be awarded these splendid soldiers. " J. H. HoBART Ward, " Brigadier-General.^'' It is proper to mention, right here, three incidents in con- nection with our color-guard at the " Den." HEROES OF THE COLOR-GUARD. George Broadbent, from Lancaster City, Pa. ; young (about 18), tall, slim, light weight, fair complexion, always kind and gentle, and nick-named on that account, ''The Lady" ; ha., a mess-mate by the name of Charles Herb- STER, one of m)^ good and true Pittsburg recruits, and both were color-corporals. Each had a '' presentiment," a few hours before the battle, that he was going to be killed in the fight. They told everybody so, and made all their plans to die. 1 talked with them about the matter, and tried to ridicule the idea, but all to no purpose. My captain wanted to detail them on other duty till after the battle, but fight they would, and fight they did, and died as heroes there at the " Devil's Den." ''The Lady" had fired away nearly all his ammunition at the enemy in our front, and had just asked me what we would do after our last cartridges were gone, when a bullet from the enemy struck him square in the temple, right be- fore my eyes, killing him instantly. He fell to the earth, 130 With the colors in war time. the blood spurting out of the bullet-hole over his battle- begrimed face. Charles Herbster saw him fall, and was by his side in an instant, took out his handkerchief, wiped the blood from his dead comrade's face, kissed him, and said, " Poor Lady is dead!" On his knees, behind the body, Herbster planted himself, and again commenced loading and firing at the enemy in close company with GEORGE Setley, another one of my color-guard, from Lancaster, Pa. When we were compelled to abandon our position and go to the rear, I tried to get Herbster and Setley to go with us, as they were the only two of the color-guard, out of eight, not killed or wounded. Nothing could move them. There they were, riveted to the ground, avenging the lives of their comrades, and there we left them. Setley was frothing at the mouth with excitement and anger, and Herbster taking it as cool as a cucumber. Both were the best shots in the regiment, and both had done great execu- tion. The next day we found Herbster's body lying on top, and square across ''the Lady's," and both were com- pletely riddled with bullets. Setley had been wounded, was taken prisoner, and sub- sequently died in captivity. What a wreck I — annihilation we might say. Eight boys (they were nothing else) shot to death defending the Flag of their Country at a critical point, at a critical moment. Twenty-three years have passed since that terrible tragedy, and it is as fresh in my memory to-day as if but yesterday. Heroes they were, every inch of them, fighting, and dying martyrs in a good cause, as were all their com- rades who fought and died on that bloody field. Modern martyrs. 131 On the 2d day of last July, the 23d anniversary of the conflict, the surviving members of the 99th Pa. Vet. Vols, erected and dedicated a beautiful monument to the memory of all its fallen heroes, on the very spot at the Devil's Den where the little band of eight gave their lives that we might live as a Nation. That great leader in the noble army of martyrs, Abra- ham Lincoln, said, on the same spot, a few months after the battle : " We cannot consecrate nor hallow this fjround. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it far above our power to add or detract. The world will but little note, nor long remember what we say here ; but it can never forget what they didh.Qx:c. It is for us, the living, rather to dedicate ourselves to the unfinished work which they so nobly advanced ; to consecrate our- selves to the great task remaining, and to gather from the graves of these honored dead increased devotion to that cause for which they gave their lives. Here let us resolve that they shall not have died in vain ; that this nation shall, under God, have a new birth of freedom , and that government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish forever from the earth." Out of respect to the sacred memory of the heroes who consecrated with their life's blood the spot, where our beautiful and enduring monument now stands, 1 take pleasure in furnishing a miniature reproduction here. 13 132 WITH THE COLORS IN WAR TIME. MY "VETERAN FURLOUGH." From Pennsylvania we returned to Virginia, and during the Summer and Fall of 1863, the 99th was engaged in marching and fighting many small battles, such as Auburn, Kelly's Ford, Mine Run, Wapping Heights and Bartlett's Mills, in all of which I carried the flag, and, with my usual good luck, came out unharmed. January i, 1864, found the 99th at Brandy Station, Virginia, and during a tidal wave of patriotism that swept over our regiment about that time, nearly every man in it '* re-enlisted for the war," unless sooner shot, of course. As I had been right along with the veterans, through everything up to that date, I wouldn't, couldn't, and didn't desert them. The entire regiment received thirty days' furlough, and returned home to Philadelphia in a body. I shall long remember the day our regiment parted company with the Army. The feeling was something like that possessed by a strong, affectionate man leaving his famil}' for a long jour- ney. I thought, if the Army of the Potomac got into trouble with the enemy, during the absence of the 99th, it would have hard work to pull through without our assist- ance ; and when our regiment moved off, homeward bound, I felt as if the whole left flank of the Army was going with us, actually deserting those poor fellows left behind, — nearly a hundred thousand strong. Soon after arriving in Philadelphia I had my photograph taken, and for the novelty of the thing, give a fac-simile of it right here. I was 21 years of age, to a day, when it was struck off. ''A LITTLE EJV7'EJi7^A/NAfENT:'' 133 One afternoon a committee of officers from the 99th waited upon me, requesting the pleasure of my company at a little entertainment. I accepted, as a matter of course, without thinking much about it, for the officers had always been very kind. They wouldn't tell me a thing about it, except that it was a '' little entertainment." I didn't know whether it was an evening party, a ball, or a regimental drill, but I went to work and arrayed myself in my best, and when re- flected in a Continental Ho- tel mirror I scarcely knew myself, the transformation was so great. Satisfied that I looked well enough to be presented, if necessary, to Her Majesty, the Queen, I hurried off to the " little en-^ tertainment." Arriving at the place, I was sadly disappointed at not finding any ladies there. No one but the officers of my regiment, and their friends. In order to remove my embarrassment, the Colonel, Asher S. Leidy, of Philadel- phia, brought forth from its hiding-place one of the hand- somest American flags (made of heavy silk, and of the regulation size) I had ever seen.^ In a short and appro- priate speech, on behalf of himself and the other officers of the 99th Pa. Veteran Volunteers, he presented the flag to * See full-page engraving facing this chapter. j^^ WITH THE COLORS I^f WAR TIME. me, to keep as my personal property. With tears in his eyes, and in the presence of all his commissioned associates, who were likewise in tears, he thanked me for himself, and for them, and said that as I had successfully carried the regimental standard through all the. great battles in which the regiment had been engaged up to that date, and at the critical moment in each one I had never been found want- ing, they desired to acknowledge the fact in a fitting and substantial manner. "That flag," said the Colonel, "with the battles in golden letters on its stripes, and the engraved inscription on the silver plate attached to the staff, tells the whole story." The inscription reads as follows : Presented to Sergeant HARVEY M. MUNSELL,- Color-Bearer 99th Reg't Pa. Vet. Vols., By the Officers, for Meritorious Conduct on the above Fields. When the Colonel had finished his remarks, I was found blubbering too. I had always been considered iron-clad, and bomb-proof, but when it came to being bombarded with tears in that fashion, I surrendered, thanked the officers for the beautiful gift, and told them I had only done my duty as I understood it. If I had been the means of aid- ing, in the slightest degree, in maintaining the good reputa- tion of the Ninety-ninth, I was extremely happy, but it could only have been accomplished under certain condi- tions ; viz., by the aid of the officers and soldiers of that grand old regiment, who vigorously sustained me at all times, and more particularly at the critical moment in all the great battles in which we had been engaged. I was ANOTHER PRESENTIMENT. I^^ proud to say, not a solitary officer or man had ever been found wanting in a fight with the enemy,— that we had stood by each other, in fighting our battles with the com- mon enemy ; and because we were all of one mind, and stood by each other, shoulder to shoulder, we invariably won our battles. I again thanked them for their good opinion, and the honor bestowed upon me, and closed the '' little entertainment " by banqueting every one present with lemonade and ice-cream. WHAT CAME OF A PRESENTIMENT. Soon after I re-enlisted for the war, a feeling came over me, a sort of presentiment, — as in the case of Broadbent and Herbster, — that the next battle in which I carried the flag, I should be killed. That ugly sensation hung over me all the time I was home on my veteran furlough. On the re-assembling of the regiment at a camp near Philadelphia, after its leave of absence had expired, I brought the matter before my captain, and he tried to get my furlough extended sixty days, but without avail. The commanding ofificer of that department said it could not be done, — that every able-bodied man was wanted and needed at the front. From Philadelphia, the regiment went to Washington on its way to the field. I still kept on wondering how I could ho7iorably get rid of carrying the "old flag" in the next battle, and at last an idea struck me. The Government wanted officers for colored troops, and ^s there was a free military school in Philadelphia for I 36 WITH THE COLORS IN WAR TIME. applicants for commissions, I thought I would now try the Secretary of War. One afternoon I took my Kearney medal, and the flag presented by the officers, and started to see the Secre- tary of War. When I arrived at the War Department it was late, and many were ahead of me, on various kinds of business. Mr. Stanton received and listened to each man in his turn. It was nearly dark when it came my turn to meet the War Minister. Just before Mr. Stanton was ready to leave for home, I introduced myself to him ; he appeared tired and worn out by the day's work, and spoke short, and treated me rudely. Wanted to know what I was doing there, away from my regiment at that time of day. I answered politely, and at the same time unfurled my flag, and showed him the battles on it, and the inscription on the silver plate. There was only a dim light in his office, and I remember how he went and hunted a match, lit up everything that could be lighted, and then called in some staff officers and others to look at the flag. It was simply a grand, impromptu reception. Scarcely a word had passed between us up to that moment, but he looked first at me, then at the flag, and then at his army of aides. Finally Mr. Stanton asked me what I wanted. I told him I was a coward, and wanted to get out of the next fight. That blunt answer to his question nearly threw him into convulsions of laughter, and at the same time he whipped out of his side pocket a little memorandum book, and asked if there were any more '' cowards " like me in my regiment? I answered, "Yes, all alike," He took my SECRETARY STANTON'S ACTION. 137 name off of the silver plate on the flag-staff, wrote it in his book, and then asked for two more. I gave him the names of Captain John W. Moore and Lieutenant A. W. Bach- man, the latter a 2d lieutenant of my own company. At his request I gave him a short account of my service, and also told him about my '' presentiment." Mr. Stanton was apparently pleased with my record, for he said, in the presence of everybody there, when shaking me by the hand, that I was the only stranger, either soldier or civilian, who had ever asked him for a favor, without be- ing loaded down with letters, and who had brought such a living testimonial of any service they had rendered the United States Government. Those were about his words. He kept right on in the same strain, as follows : '^ I'll dis- charge you ; I'll promote you to a commissioned officer in the Regular Army ; I'll do anything in my power for you. Sergeant Munsell." That was certainly the happiest moment of my life, and I was almost willing to go back to my regiment, take the " Old Flag " into the next light, and be shot. I told Mr. Stanton, when thanking him, I did not want to be dis- charged or promoted, or anything of the kind ; but sim- ply wanted a furlough to attend the " Free Military School," in Philadelphia. He sat down and filled one out for me, himself, leaving it undated. He then wrote a letter to my colonel, requesting him to date the leave of absence the day I left the regiment, leaving the time optional with me. I took said furlough and letter to the Colonel, and he became furious ; tore up both of them, and put me in the cruard-house. Late that nigrht the gruard let me out, and 138 WITH THE COLORS IN WAR TIME. I went direct to Mr. Stanton's home and reported my trouble. He in turn became furious at the Colonel, wrote me another furlough, and sent me back to my regiment with an escort. This time the good colonel respected every- thing, and everybody, but Mr. Stanton never forgot the insult to his authority. I attended the ''Free Military School," then went before the Board of Examiners in Washington, and passed for what was then called a "ist Class, First Lieutenant," for a company of colored troops. The great battle of Spottsyl- vania had been fought in the mean time, and I having -^wz- ctssiuWy flajikcd it, took " French leave " of Washington and started for my old regiment at the front, arriving there just in time to take part in the battle of Cold Harbor, and all subsequent battles with the regiment, including those around Petersburg, and the first battle at Deep Bottom. While absent at the military school, I had been pro- moted to first lieutenant in my own company, C, 99th Pa. Vols., and took command as lieutenant in the regiment, at Cold Harbor, having been excused from going into a colored regiment. Then Captain Moore, Lieutenant Bach- man and myself were ordered home to raise a new regiment. That was the trio Mr. Stanton took down in his memo- randum book, and through him and General Birney the order was obtained. Moore was to have been colonel, Bachman, lieutenant-colonel, and I major, of the new regi- ment. PRISON AND PROxMOTION. Just before we could start home to recruit the new regi^ ment, I was taken prisoner. Moore and Bachman raised HOW TO MAKE CONSCE/PTS FIGHT. i^g the new regiment,— the 203d Penna. Vols.,— in Philadel- phia, in less than a month, and immediately marched with it to North Carolina. Colonel Moore was killed while lead- ing the 203d Pa., in the assault on Fort Fisher, and Bach- man was promoted colonel. Immediately after the battle of Cold Harbor, General Grant moved the Army of the Potomac to the south side of James River, in front of Petersburg, Va., and on June 17 or 18, 1864, the day after its arrival there, it fought a desperate battle in trying to capture that city. Our brigade had just received several invoices of raw re- cruits, made up in most part of conscripts, who were in- clined to be anything but patriotic and soldierly, — declared they wouldn't fight, and if taken into a battle would either desert to the enemy in front, or run away to the rear. They made no secret of their designs, so the commanders of regiments and brigades were compelled to take prompt and decisive action to thwart them, and they did it in the following way. More than half of the soldiers in the brig- ade were old veterans, and they were detailed and divided up into two parts, one part to be equally distributed throughout each company in every regiment, and the other part was sent out on the skirmish line, in charge of an offi- cer. I was placed in charge of those in front of our regi- ment, and before advancing to our position, each man was supplied with a spade, one day's rations of food and water, and 60 rounds of ammunition. Under cover of the darkness, about two o'clock in the mornine, we advanced on our hands and knees to within a few hundred feet of the rebel skirmish line, and then each 140 WITH THE COLORS IN WAR TIME. man dug a hole, large and deep enough to lie down and move about in comfortably, without being seen by the enemy. When daylight came our work was completed, and the rebels knew nothing about it. At 3 o'clock that after- noon the troops advanced to give battle to the enemy. The moment it had passed the skirmish line, which was itself a line of battle, in single file beneath the surface, the old veterans in the reoriments in front were ordered to shoot or bayonet any conscript refusing to fight, or caught deserting to the enemy, and the old soldiers in their holes on the skirmish line were sternly ordered to instantly kill any man trying to pass to the rear, unless wounded. There the poor conscripts were between two fires, — viz., the fire of the enemy in front, and the fire of their friends in the rear; besides the fire of the veterans in the ranks right alongside of them. They were completely cornered, and had to fight or die ; so rather than die without any show whatever for their lives, they stood square up to the rack and took their chances with the rest of us, and fought like demons. From that time on we had no more trouble with '' drafted men." During that battle the 99th had two adjutants killed. One, the regular adjutant of the regiment, was killed at the front, carrying orders to and fro. The Colonel appointed another on the spot, and sent him to the rear for some- thing. There, over half a mile from the skirmish line and the battlefield, and down in an immense ravine, where it seemed to be entirely free from danger, the new adjutant stopped to wash his hands and face in a little brook, and >vhile stooping over a stray bullet from the enemy came ''MAKING A MAN'' OF ME. I4I along and killed him. That adjutant was a poor man, while the other one was rich, but the bodies were both embalmed and sent home at the same time, to their rela- tives in Philadelphia. By a strange coincidence, the names and addresses to be placed on the boxes containing the remains, were by mistake changed ; that error caused great confusion in Philadelphia, for the box containing the remains of the poor man went to the rich man's relatives, and the other went to the poor man's friends. When the mistake was discovered, the wealthy people defrayed all the funeral expenses. In a little over a month after that battle I was captured on the skirmish line, at a place north of the James River, called *' Deep Bottom"; it was about the time of the great **JVIine explosion" in front of Petersburg. Our lines were not long enough by a mile or so, and the rebels came right around on our flank and rear. Before we knew it, more than a dozen of us were between two fires, and compelled to surrender or die. Not being ready to die just then, we surrendered. A rebel captain kicked off a board from a fence near, grabbed me by the shoulders, dragged me through, and said he ** would make a man of me." While saying that, he took my hat, a bran new one, put it on his own head, and placed his own old, greasy, slouch hat on my head, pulling it way down over my eyes and ears. The ridiculous busi- ness made us both laugh, right in the midst of the fighting, ^nd as he was ordering me to the rear, a shell from a mor- tar on one of our gun-boats in the James River came along, burst, and blew him to atoms. I made my way to the rear and to Libby Prison, under guard, just as fast as I could. 142 WITH THE COLORS IN WAR TIME. In about a month from that date, our army had a fight with the rebels on the Weldon Railroad, near Petersburg, and lost several thousand men, taken prisoners. The fol- lowing day the prisoners were brought to Richmond, and among them a few wounded colored men. They were all passed in review before " Dick " Turner, the fiend in charge of Libby Prison. The column stopped, and a wounded colored soldier, on crutches, who had almost bled to death, dropped down in his tracks, and Dick Turner gave him several heavy kicks trying to get him up. We hooted at him, through the prison grates. He ordered us back from the windows, under penalty of Instant death. We, like good soldiers, obeyed. At lO o'clock that night we were aroused from our slumbers by the music of a brass band marching into the prison, up stairs, and right into our sleeping apartment, a room fifty or sixty feet long, and about twenty feet wide. Said band was at the head of a file of rebel soldiers, with loaded guns and fixed bayonets commanded by '^ Dick," himself. He marched the band and soldiers around the room about half an hour, made every one of us (about 400, all officers) fall into line, between a double guard of rebel soldiers, at a charge bayonet, and then told us to commence *' marking time," and ordered the guard to shoot or bayonet the first man who stopped be- fore daylight the next morning, — said he would teach us to " hoot " at him again. That was the hardest night's work I ever did, and on an empty stomach too, for the wretch had cut off our rations of corn bread for that after- noon and evening. prom Libby we were taken to Salisbury, N. C, where PRISON- EXPERIENCES. 143 there were about ten thousand of our enlisted men, prison- ers of war. Nothing but a line of rebel guards separated the men from the officers within the enclosure, called a stockade. So we commenced to plot and plan for a break and escape. SUCCOR BY PROXY. By an oversight on our part the rebels found it out, and immediately sent the officers to Danville, Va., and there put us in an old tobacco warehouse that contained three floors. In order to be out of the way, I took up my posi- tion on the third floor, in the corner farthest from the stairs. A few days after our arrival there, a rebel officer came to the head of the stairs, on the floor where I existed, mounted an empty candle-box, and called out as follows; "Any you Yanks who would like to supply food to my brother, now a prisoner of war on Johnson's Island, Lake Erie, captured at Gettysburg, I will furnish you in return." Every officer jumped at the chance, and then I commenced to bemoan my situation, condemned myself for taking up a position so far from the head of the stairs, and mentally resolved never to do such a foolish thing again. There was a regular scramble among the officers to see who would be the " lucky one," when the rebel captain firmly told everybody he would not furnish them with any- thing until he first heard that his brother had been sup- plied. I saw and heard it all, and I saw every man leave the Captain as if by magic. Then I jumped up, and yelled at the top of my voice, saying /would do it. He instantly discovered me, pointed and yelled at the top of his voice, 144 WITH THE COLORS IN WAR TIME. saying, '' You are just the man I am looking for. I thought there was one honest man in this crowd, who was wiUing to trust me." He was Captain Hutter, a resident of Lynch- burg, Va. Although a rebel, he was an honest, upright, whole- souled man. He commenced supplying me from that moment, and kept it up till I was released from captivity. His brother wrote him from Johnson's Island, Lake Erie, that I had more than kept my part of the compact. That my friends had taken clothing, provisions, and money in great abundance to him, but as the United States Govern- ment was retaliating on prisoners of war, he was not allowed to accept. He wrote his brother in Danville the strongest letters in my behalf, telling him to do anything he could for me, which his brother in Danville did, from first to last ; fed me, and several of my prison friends, sumptuously. Went all the way to Richmond, and made " Dick " Turner, of Libby Prison, surrender all the money he had robbed us of when captured. Procured a special order from the C. S. Government for my exchange ; this was not used by me, as the general parole of prisoners was near at hand. He had me measured for a suit of clothes that was to have cost twenty-seven hundred and fifty dollars, in rebel money, but did not wait to get them, because I had to go North before they were finished."^ That was in 1865, just before the close of the war, when everything in the South was dear and scarce, and a barrel of flour was worth twelve hundred and fifty dollars. * It was said Captain Hutter was a son of one of the wealthiest men in the South be- fore the war. Owned several plantations, and several hundred slaves. Captain Hutter was ordnance officer at Danville, Va., at the time he met me in prison. WHEN JOHNNJk COMES MARCHING HOME: W, A TRANSFORMATION. On returning to my regiment, May 17, 1865, after I had been declared exchanged, I found a letter from the Ad- jutant-general of PennsyK^ania, enclosing me a commission as Captain of Company C, 99th Regiment, Pa. Veteran Volunteers, to rank from September 12, 1864. I was then just a little past twenty-one, and captain of the same company, in the same regiment, in which I enlisted as a "high private" in 1861, when but a little over eighteen years of age. This is a fac- simile of a photograph taken of me in a captain's uniform, July, 1865, soon after the war ended. My long and te- dious experience as a pris- oner of war had worn me down, and made me look thin and pale. However, I did not mind that, for look- ing back over my four long }'ears of the most active kind of service, barely touched upon in this article, I could not but feel thankful for hav- ing passed through the whirlpool of excitement and danger unharmed. Besides all that, the final victory had been gained. Slavery obliterated, the Rebellion crushed, and the Union saved. But what a contrast. The little, scrawny, eighteen-year- old boy, with a knapsack on his back, marching down Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, a Private in the rear 146 WITH THE COLORS IN WAR TIME. rank, and at the tail end of the regiment, in July, 1861 ; — and the same person marching down the same thorough- fare, after the war was over, Captain, commanding Com- pany Cj of the same regiment, during the Great Review, by the President and his Cabinet, of two hundred thou- sand men. • February 9th, 1866, the Secretary of War sent me a *' Medal of Honor," accompanied by a letter of transmittal. "War Department, Adjutant-General's Office, " Washington, February 9, 1866. **Sir: — Herewith I enclose the Medal of Honor which has been awarded you by the Secretary of War, under the Resolution of Congress, approved July 12, 1862, To provide for the presentation of 'Medals of Honor' to the Enlisted Men of the Army and Volunteer forces who have distinguished or may distinguish themselves in battle during the present Rebellion. " Please acknowledge its receipt. " Very respectfully, your obedient servant, " (Signed) E. D. Townsend, " Assistant Adjutant-General, *'To Harvey M. Munsell, Late Color-Sergt., 99th Regiment, P. V. V." battle-flag 99TH lA. \ OLUN IEERS. (carried through 13 BATTLES BY SERGEANT MUNSELLj PLUCKING VICTORY FROM DEFEAT. PATRICK GINLEY was born in Ireland, Dec. nth, 1822. His fondness for a military life developed early in life, and as a result, at twenty years of age, he enlisted in the Fifth Dragoon Guards of the British Army, and served eleven 3 ears. He re-enlisted in the Eighteenth Royal Irish Infantry, where he served six years. He served in the Crimea and was at the battles of Balak- lava, Inkcrman and Sebastopol. He also served in India during the mutin3\ Ginley came to this country in 1858, and made New York City his home. In 1859 ^^^ joined the 69th New York State Militia, and was with the regiment during its three months' service in 1861. Ginley was one of the first to re-enlist for the war when the regiment returned from Washington, and he served in the 69th Volunteers, until he was assigned to Hogan's battery. In May, 1862, he was attached to Ames' battery, First New York iVrtillery. He served in this battery until ^lav, 1864, when he was detailed as mounted orderly at Headquarters, Artillery Brigade , Second Army Corps. It was while on this detail that this brave soldier won the Medal of Honor. H7 148 GtNLEVS LOST SHOT. 149 During the battle of Reams' Station, Ginle}^ was told by General Hancock to accompany Colonel Walker, who was directed to go to General Barlow and find out what Confederate troops were in his front. On their way there they were exposed to a severe crossfire. To avoid this as much as possible, they made their way through a cut, which the orderl}^ had passed through some time before, and which led to some breastworks which had been occupied by our troops. These works were now held by the enemy, who were concealed behind their Colonel Walker, who was in advance, not knowinjr this, rode up to the breastworks and was immediatel}- made a prisoner. When Ginley saw this, he wheeled his horse around with the intention of escaping', but the enemy Wvcd at him and his hoi'se fell, pierced by several bullets. When the brave soldier, who was unharmed, extricated himself from his fallen horse, he found himself h ing near a piece of artillerv which had been abandoned and which was partially concealed from the enemv. He crawled over to it for shelter, but, seeing several charges of can- ister lying beside it, the idea came to him to load the gun. With tiie assistance of a Massachusetts soldier who was lying concealed near the gun, he rammed home three charges. The eneni}- discovered him. at his v/ork, and called out to him to surrender, as they came swarming out of the works veiling. Ginle}' pulled the lanyard, and there was a volcano of fire and smoke and screaming canister. He started to the rear, and in a few minutes ran into a Massachusetts regiment. His brave deed had been witnessed by our troops, and he was received with 150 PLUCKING VICTORY FROM DEFEAT, cheers. Our line, having been re-enforced, was now advancing, and Ginley with them. For awhile he assisted in the I2th New York Battery, carrying ammunition — but soon the infantry passed the guns, and seizing the colors of a regiment which had just been dropped by the color-bearer, who was shot, he ran ahead of the regiment, cheering them on. Soon the enemy gave way, and he planted the Rag on the breastworks where only a short time before he had fired the gun. The deadly effect of those three charges of canister could be plainly seen. The brave Massachusetts soldier who had assisted him was lying near the gun dead, not having been so fortu- nate as our hero in getting away. The following letters bear testimony to the gallantry of Private Ginley : I. Reams Station, Sept. 2T,rd, 1864. Sir,— The bearer of this note. Private Patrick Ginley, of Battery G, I St N. Y. Artillery, distinguished himself in the battle of Reams Station, August 25th. General Hunt desires that some report favorable to the bearer be made out, enabling him to be recommended for a medal, as, after having his horse shot, he served voluntarily with your batteiy. You will be kind enough to attend to this immediately, as his time expires on the 27lh inst. Very respectfully, W. S. Worth, Captain 8th U. S, Infantry, and Chief of General Hunt's Staff. To Commanding Officer 12th N. Y. Battery. HONORABLE MENTION, 151 II. Camp in front of Petersburg, 1 2th N. Y. Battery, Sept. i^rd, 1864. I take pleasure in recommending- to fa.'orable notice and suitable award. Private Patrick Ginley, Co., G. ist N. Y. Artillery, acting orderly in the Artillery Brigade, 2nd Army Cori)s. Private Ginley came under my i)articular notice in the action of Aug. 25th, 1864, at Reams Station, Va., where he was most efficient in assisting my cannoneers in carrying ammunition while the enemy were advancing upon the Battery, remaining with me until the enemy were close upon the guns, and then participating with the infantry in retaking the breastworks. G. W. Dauchy, Lt. Commanding 12th N. Y. Battery. Private Ginley's term of service expired Sept. 27tli, 1864, but he refused to take his discharge, and he remained as vohinteer orderly at Second Corps Head- quarters until Lee's surrender. SERGEANT JOHN H. COOK. II9TH ILLINOIS VOL. INFANTRY. MAD, CLEAR THROUGH." IN offering a sketch of my military career for publica- tion, I do it reluctantly, knowing I am far less worthy a place in History than many others whose names are men- tioned in the War Department list, in a single line, or those whose brave deeds will never be known. It was a long while ago, but there were scenes in my soldier life that memory recalls so vividly that they seem but yesterday. But I do not have to trust, entirely, to memory to tell my little story, as one of the '' Medal of Honor B( ys," of how I won my country's decoration. My mother, God bless her ! preserved all my war let- ters, numbering nearly one hundred. They are all in my possession now. They were written and mailed as regu- larly as possible, for I knew she was anxious to hear from her boy. I often turn to these quaint old letters for 152 FORAGIXG. 153 data and particulars of my soklier life. They are typical of a hot-headed soldier boy, filled with predictions of how soon the war would end, and of criticisms of what our Generals had done and should do. But, mainly chronicled fr(jm my diary, they tell of our marches, cam- paigns, battles and every important event that befel us, dwelling particularly on the doings oi my own Company, Regiment and Brigade. In August, 1862, I enlisted in Co. A, 119th Illinois In- fantry, at Camp Wood, Ouincy, 111. In a few days I was promoted to Sergeant. It was not long before our thirst for gore was somewhat satisfied by an order sending us to Tennessee, where we were strung out on a long line to guiird a railroad. ( )ur C()h)nel, and three companies were taken prison^ ers by General Forrest's force of nearly 10,000. My company built a stockade at Bunt^ n Station, and we worked hard to make our fortification invincible. We remained at this place, waiting for orders to move ; but none connng, we were soon out of provisions and liad to sul:>sist on what we C(juld " forage " from the plantations aiound us. This section of the country was then full of armed " Guerrillas," and we began to suffer hunger before we ventured out, in small squads, to hunt for rebel planta- tions ; but we had to do it or starve. I shall never forget owiz of our midiiiglit raids, wdien our captain and most of the company marched out nearly ten miles, arriv- ing at a large plantation an hour before daylight. We marched ncjiselessly up on the long porch, and *' ordered 154 MAD, CLEAR THROUGH: arms" with such a '* sickening thud" that it scared the old planter out of his wits. The darkies were sum- moned to prepare breakfast for us, an^ soon we were scattered about in squads in the different cabins, watch- ing the baking of corn pones and sweet potatoes. Soon, well satisfied with the best breakfast we had tasted for many a day, we loaded up two wagons and returned to our stockade. One of the boys thought he would carry home a bee- hive of hone}^ ; he shouldered it and ran for sweet life, thinking the bees would f^y out from the bottom of the hive and leave hini the sole possessor of the honey ; but the bees attacked him so vigorously that he was glad to drop the hive and run still faster. He- was a sorry look- ing object when daylight disclosed his features, his face being swollen to nearly twice its natural size. We were finally flooded out of our quarters by heavy rains. Cold weather set in and we had to wade nearly a quarter of a mile, knee deep in water, breaking the ice at every step. Finally we joined our regiment ; our colonel and the three companies having been exchanged, we were once more all together. From here we went to Memphis, where we lay in camp and drilled until we were thoroughly disciplined soldiers. In those days we did not believe that discipline and drill were necessary to make good soldiers. In this we had tiie backing of Col. Ingersol, commander of another Illinois regiment, who thoroughly despised what he called the *' show business." He believed that his regi- xnent would make up in bravery what it lacked in disci- " PINAFORE ' ' DISCIPLINE. 1 5 5 pline. I remember an anecdote which fully illustrated his regard for his men, as well as his good heart. It was just before the command moved South that the colonel was to be married. The weather was as disagree- able as one could imagine — snow, ice and cutting winds. Nevertheless the guards were on duty, just the same as they were where the fighting was expected. All of the arrangements for the marriage of the commander were made, when he rode out to the fair grounds to see the boys. Riding around the lines he discovered the pickets shivering, and his sympathies were thoroughly aroused. Finally he was halted by one poor fellow. *' Colonel," said he, " I am about to freeze. You must give me a bottle of whiskey, an overcoat, or relieve me, or you will move to the front with one less private." "■ You shall have all three," replied the colonel, and suiting the action to the word, he pulled off his overcoat, and as he h.in led it to the man, said : *' There's the overcoat. In the inside pocket you will find a bottle of whiskey, and you are relieved from duty." I passed nearly three months in the Union Hospital, was reported to my compan}^ as dead ; but I was a tough boy, got well, and rejoined my command in time for General Sherman's raid from Vicksburg to Meridian and back, a distance of nearly four hundred miles. About half way to Meridian we formed a junction with the 17th Army Corps. Our regiment was (tired out with the day's march of thirty miles, when, just at dark, our corps commander. General Hurlbut, issued orders Xhat >ye should pass the 17th Corps before halting. W^ 156 MAD, CLEkR THROUGH. had just struck the rear of that command, which was strung- out ahead of us for nearly twenty miles. Fo(jt- sore, tired, hungry and sleepy, we trudged along. F(jr awhile the air was blue with lanj^uage which will not bear repetition. It was nearly daylight when the frag- ment of our regiment halted. There were just four muskets of Company A to stack; mine was one of the four. The rest of the boys were straggling for nearly twenty miles. They had to catch up the next day. '' Uncle Billy " simply made us " hump it," until we reached our destination. We had but little fighting, for the Johnnies skedaddled as fast as we • came on to them. On our return to Vicksbuig, we received orders to join General Banks for his Red River campaign. To make this expedition, General Banks was required to communicate with Generals Sherman, Steele and Admiral Porter, as well as General Grant, and all five of these commanders understood and executed their orders in the same sense. Banks was assigned to the command, and the movement was to begin about the middle of Marcli, when Red River would be high and navigation on it by gunboats would be practicable. General Sher- man promptly arranged to send 10,000 men of the i6th and 17th Army Co.ps, under command of General A. J. Smith, to join Admiral Porter's fleet of gunboats. We arrived at the mouth of Red River on the 13th of March, and on the 14th assaulted the works of F'ort De Russy. General Smith's loss was 34 killed and wounded. We took 260 prisoners, 8 heavy guns, and 2 field pieces. SMITH'S GUERRILLASr 157 Admiral Porter at once pri^ceeded with his fleet up the river, and we, on our transports, landed at Alexan- dria ahead of time. Banks, detained in New Orleans, did not arrive until the end of March. He then received instructions from Lieutenant-General Grant (who had just taken command (^f the armies of the U. S.), that unless this campaign could be closed by the end of April, it should be abandoned. The i6th Corps was then to join the Army of the Tennessee for the Atlanta cam- paitrn, and Banks was to go against ^^lobile. General Halleck's orders were not revoked, and Banks was in a dilemma. He decided to tr}^ and take the trick before the limit of time set by General Grant. 1 well remember, when we were landed from our trans- ports, the bitter criticism of General Banks, on the disci- pline of the i6th Army Corps. Having got a report from his reviewing officer as to our manner of straggling and procuring " forage," he said : " I asked Sherman for io,OD3 of his best men, and he has sent me 10,000 d Guerrillas^ From that time until the end of the war, we carried with pride, the name of "Smith's Guerrillas." For nearly two years we had been constantly in the field, nianv times cut off from all supplies, and we had Icanud iccll the art of foraging. On the 3d of April, Banks' whole army was concentrated near Nachitoches. Franklin's Divisions of the 13th and 19th Army Corps, headed for Shreveport, started on the 7th. Our i6th Corps, taking up the line of march, now numbered 7,000 men, nearly 3,000 having been withdrawn to rejoin General McPherson. Meantime, before we 158 MAD, CLEAR THROUGH. reached Pleasant Hill (a distance of 33 miles, which we marched in a day and part of the night), the battle of Sabine Cross Roads had been fought, the 13th and 19th Corps badly whipped, and all hope of taking, or even nv7r//?>/^Shreveport was ended. Banks ordered a retreat, and at 8 o'clock the next morning, April 9th, his two corps took position of defence at Pleasant Hill. The wagon train, under escort of a brigade, was started back to Grand Ecore. Daylight had disclosed to the confederates the retreat of the Union forces, but about noon they found an oppos- ing solid front. I had previously been detailed as clerk to Brigade Quartermaster Delos Allen. The soldier who does his whole duty is a good enough soldier, but he who does more than his duty may be recognized as a better one. My duty on the day of the battle of Pleasant Hill was to remain at Brigade Headquarters, subject only to the order of my Brigade Quartermaster, and had I done so on this occasion, I should have been a non-combatant, the thought of which was distasteful to my soldier spirit ; so I told him I was going into the battle with my com- pany. Arming myself with a breech-loading Sharp's rifle, and " forty rounds," I joined them, taking my ser- geant's place in the rear of the company. I was without canteen, haversack or blanket, having only a good big plug of tobacco, my rifle and '* forty rounds." The position assigned my regiment was on the extreme left of the line, my company being posted in advance as skirmishers in the woods, We lay in thi§ PLEASANT HILL. 1 59 position from early in the morning until about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, witnessing, from our commanding posi- tion, the battle on the right and centre. We were ordered to hold our position at all hazards, as a flank movement of the enemy might be expected at any moment, which we must stubbornly resist before falling back. Our army had rather a disadvantage of ground ; the position was easily turned, and we could not stay in it for want of ivatcr. None was to be had. About 5 o'clock, the Confederates, having been heavily re-in- forced, made a furious assault on us, hammered in our centre, doubled up our right, and fell vigorously on our left, which was the weakest part of Gen. Emory's posi- tion. Here Benedict's brigade, outnumbered and crushed, gave way, and its brave leader fell dead. There was nothing left to stop the cyclone now but *' Smith's Guerrillas," and it seemed that we, in the woods, were to be flanked, and the whole army bagged. A sick'^ning feeling came over me as I took in the situa- t.'on. But " Smith's Guerrillas " had never been whipped; they were now to be put to the test. It was not long after we began to move further into the galling fire, that we could see the whole of our command advanc- ing in a gallant charge. The scene here recalled was too vivid to ever pass from my memory. The Rebs were coming through the woods to flank us. It looked to me like ten to one against us. Brave, dauntless, intrepid Lieutenant '* Jack " Ware, took command of our skirmishers and ordered me to lead the line. Advancing l6o MAD, CLEAR 7 H ROUGH. under a heavy musketry fire, and rapidly firing, 1 turned back to cheer on ■ the boys, when I saw old John Maclntyre, a brave and sturdy Scotchman (he was the pet and pride of Co. A.), throw up his left hand and fall forward. I ran back to him. Two or three of the boys gathered around him and we saw that he was instantly killed. Then I was mad — mad clear through. I ran forward again, rapidly firing my breech-loader. In a moment a musketry fire was focused on me ; the bullets whizzed around me thick. One went through my right coat sleev^e, another through my hat, and one so close to my cheek that 1 could feel it burn ; but I cared nothing for life or death. I was in to stay. It seemed to me just then that if our little company did not hold our ground that we should be flanked and our army defeated, and that if /did not do my duty, and cheer on our boys, they might not stand. It was here that I won my ''Medal of Honor " (upon recommendation of Lieu- tenant Ware). I had fired my *' forty rounds," my last cartridge was gone ; with my empty breech-loader still smoking, I raised it in my right hand, and with my hat waving in my left, ran forward, cheering on the boys. I felt a good deal as General Corse expressed himself in his famous dispatch to General Sherman : " I am out of provisions, I have lost an ear and part of a cheek bone, but I can whip all hell yet !" Well, our brave boys rallied ; it was a sudden rush. We took a niunber of prisoners and the Rebs gave way. Reinforcements came up, and soon our whole line advanced, and Company A shared fully in gaining ^ i6i 1 62 MAD, CLEAR THROUGH. great victory. That night, in passing among the dead and wounded, on the battlefield, I was implored by many for help, but the pleading of a Confederate officer, to carry him to the rear, to our field hospital, was more than I could withstand. 1 got a stretcher, and with another comrade, took him to the surgeon. I wonder if he is yet alive ! My company held the picket line that night. T had had nothing to eat all day. I was not very hungry, for I had chewed up my big plug of tobacco, but I was faint, and my vitals began to gnaw. Just as it was growing dark 1 picked up a haversack, slung it over my shoulder, and thrusting my hand into the broken crackers, I dis- covered they were saturated with blood — the life blood of some poor fellow — but in those daj^s a generous com- rade would " divide his last hard tack," and for the ask- ing I got half a cracker. It was not a princely banquet. We laid down in line, every man with his musket in his hand. Worn out from the previous day's march and the day's fighting, it took but a moment to hd asleep, but constantly changing our position, we could sleep but a few minutes at a time. We could plainly hear the rebel pickets. General Banks had held a council with his generals, and, thinking of his stranded fleet of gunboats above the rapids, on the shoals of Red River, and his source of supplies in danger of being cut off, he decided to retreat. This decision was bitterly opposed by Gen- eral Smith, but the retreat was ordered, and we left our dead and wounded on the field. We retreated all the FIGHT A7 TUPELO. 163 next day, and when we halted, we were a tired, worn- out lot of stragglers. I suppose everybody has heard how Admiral Porter's fleet was taken over the rapids, and saved, through the skill and genius of Lieutenant Colonel Bailey. We fought our way, being harrassed in the rear, all the way down to the mouth of Red River, our brigade losing, at Yellow Bayou, over two hundred men. The campai;^n was a failure ; it was not due to any fault of the rank and hie. A more valorous army was never in the field. The total force of Banks' Army was 31,303, his total losses in the campaign 5,245. After the Red River campaign, we Avere ordered back to Memphis. Forrest, with 10,000 men, had just whipped General Sturgis at Guntown, and we were to pay back the score, which we did, with good interest, at Tupelo, ^Nliss. In this battle my duty was carrying ammunition to our brio^ade. I was mounted, and took one box of cartridges at a time. My horse was shot under me. Our boys laid down on the side of a sloping hill, raising up only when charged by the Rebs. Every assault was repulsed with terrible slaughter. This was the worst licking Forrest's command ever got. On this expedition we subsisted on quarter rations, and green corn plucked from the field. An incident occurred on the march back to Memphis, which fondly lingers in my memory : Tired out from marching I had made up my mind to stop and rest. A short distance away, I spied a running stream. Going to it, I saw our regimental Quartermaster Sergeant sitting in the shade X64 MAD, CLEAR THROUGH. of a tree just in the act of opening a can of pine-apple. He invited me to share it with him. We look off our shoes, bathed our aching feet in the crystal stream and enjoyed that delicious pine-apple as I had never before or since relished canned fruit. I suppose that little stream still murmurs on, but of the " boys in bluj "' who tramped on by it, where are they now ! Our next campaign was from St. Louis through Missouri and back — several hundred miles. \Vj drove out Price and his force, and got to Nashville just in time to reinforce General Thomas, and there helped fight one of the decisive battles of the war. If I here pay a tribute to my own company — dear old Company A ! — it will not be out of place. Leaving Camp Wood, at Ouincy, 111., in 1862, Company A, 119th 111. Vols., was 100 strong. When mustered out in 1865, but 21 ofificers and men stood in line. While General Lee was surrendering the Confederate armies to General Grant, at Appomattox, April 9th, 1865, Company A was charging the works of Fort Blake- ley, and seven of our 28 were left on the field. One died of starvation, and sleeps with the 14,000 other Union martyrs in Andersonville ; another (his brother), escaped, but was run down witli bloodhounds, recap- tured, escaped again, and finally stood before Abraham Lincoln, a helpless and starved cripple for life. There was no privation, no fatigue, no hardship, that was not experienced by my regiment, and its dead lie sleeping in almost every Southern state. Let us not forget that noble sentiment ; RE TROSPEC no IV. " With cheers for the livin; With tears for the dead.' i6s As for myself, I am not so hotheaded and foolhardy after 26 years, but, under the same circumstances, I might do the same, for I would rather lie buried in the briars, brush and woods of Pleasant Hill, and sleep along- side of old John Maclntyre, and his many brave com- panions, than to be a coward before my comrades, or to desert the cause for which we fouprht. I think the proudest moment of my life was when complimented on the held by Lieutenant Ware. And next to that was when I received, from the War Depart- ment, the JAv/c?/ of Honor. It came engraved with this inscription : " The Conorress to Sergeant John H. Cook Company A. 119th Ills. Infamry, lur conspicuous bravery, at battle of Pleasant Hill, La., April 91.;, 1864." i66 MAJOR JOHN D. TERRY. TVVENTV-THIKI) MASS. INFANTRY. AT THE CANNON'S MOUTH. HERE is a soldier-like, modest account by Major John D. Terry, U. S. V., of the way in which he lost a foot and gained promotion and the Medal. Although he sought, and found, literally in the cannon's mouth, what men call Reputation, it has proved more enduring than the '' bubble " of which the poet speaks. '' On the 13th day of March, 1862, the 23d Regiment Mass. Vols., landed some fifteen miles below Newberne, N. C, mv arm still very sore and lame from a contused wound received in the fight at Roanoke Island, some few weeks before. Company '* E," in which I was a ser- geant, was recruited in the old historic town of Ply- mouth, Mass., of strong, healthy, robust young fellows, all of whom were accustomed to the management of boats, 167 l68 ^^ ^^^ OAiVNOJV'S MOUTH. and therefore we were detailed to man the boats and disembark the regiment. I had charge of the vessel's *' cutter," and worked very hard in order to make the most landings. After the regiment was all ashore we took up line of march by the right flank towards New- berne. It came on to rain very hard and the narrow road was in bad condition. Just before dark we went into bivouac in the woods, on the left of the road, having marched about thirteen miles that day, very hungry, cold, wet, sore and tired. My arm became very painful, and to sleep was entirely out of the question, and to make a lire was contrary to orders. Daylight, however, broke at last and with a little half cooked coffee and well soaked crackers, we were soon on our way to '' do or die," and almost before we knew it, were under fire, shooting away for dear life. In going from the road into and up through a little ravine — column of fours — the Colonel (John Kurtz) passed us and called to me to go with him. I had been acting as right general guide of the regi- ment. Soon afterwards the Cjlonel ordered me to go down the rear of the line and find the Lieutenant-Colo- nel. In obeying this order I saw that the regimental line was very ragged ; everybody seemed to be all mixed up with one another, and badly scattered from their own companies. I sought out Company E, and found the men brave as young lions, but in bad order and no offi- cer in command — captain wounded. I immediately re- ported these facts to the Colonel, whereupon to my great astonishment and delight, he ordered me to go back and take command of the company. I did so, and succeeded FRUITS OF VICTORY. 169 in getting the men well up and together, and they very soon became steady as old veterans. We had been tiring some little time when the Lieutenant-Colonel came to me and asked if I saw a single gun (12 Ibr.) that the enemy had got out in front of '' Fort Thompson," — this fort contained 12 guns. 1 answered him that I did. This single gun was doing our ranks great injury. The Lieutenant-Colonel then asked me if I thought we could charge and take it. We charged, we got the gun, the very last shot from which, before we reached it, got me with seven other comrades — including the Lieuten- ant-Colonel, killed. My foot was gone, and we were left on the field in very nearly the same spot as where we fell. Our regiment claimed this gun, and General Burn- side ordered that it should remain with the regiment. Some days after the fight (and my foot had been ampu- tated) Colonel Kurtz and General Burnside visited the Hospital (Academy), and the Colonel told me that I should have a commission. I got that, and the Con< gressional * Medal of Honor besides." I/O LIEUT. S. N. BENJAMIN. SECOND U. S. ARTILLEKY. THE PATH OF DUTY, THE ROAD TO GLORY. IN nearly all great wars, the warriors may be divided into two classes — the Volunteer and the Professional. The Yolunteer, called to arms to support a great prin- ciple, to preserve a good government or Bozzaris-like to " strike for altars and fires," is as innocent of warlike arts as the youthful David, but imbued with similar con- hdence he marches forth to meet Goliath, and in time comes back the peer in prowess of the soldier of the schools. The Regular, having made a business of soldiering during long and comparatively peaceful years, welcomes the st(3rm of strife with true professional ardor. He feels that his special training, experience in martial detail, habits of subordination, ability to cope with emergencies, power to plan and direct campaigns, are at .J7X 172 TtVO TYPES OF SOLDIERS. last to be tested. He may, or may not, be in sympathy with the causes of the war. But '* he knows his duty," and quietly goes about its performance. The true Volunteer type is sustained by patriotism and enthusiasm ; he represents the " People in Arms." H^ is often demonstrative, and seasons war's rude alarm with shouts and songs and noise galore. The Regular is restrained by his second nature. Disci- pline, from imitating his volunteer neighbor save in thcit camaraderie inseparable from soldier life, and when let loose in the phrenzy of the charge. At other times he is given to contemplation of prosaic things, like muster rolls, mules, clothing accounts, and the tendencies of cer- tain guard-house birds. Withal he is a model of endur- ance and obedience, and coolness under fire. Opposed to each other, these elements have brought ab:)ut the collapse of empires ; united, they have cemented, for all time, the subdivisions of the greatest Republic of modern times. The sketch which follows, happily illustrates this desir- able co-operation, and sets forth in some detail the sym- pathetic service of both elements, the brave deeds of a Regular told by his comrades of the Volunteers. Samuel N. Benjamin came of good Revolutionary stock, and after a careful home training was sent to the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, N. Y., from which he was graduated a Second Lieutenant May 6th, 1861, and was assigned to the Second United States Artillery. From the first, Benjamin seems to have attracted the attention of his superiors for devotion to dutv and con- THE PATH OF DUTY. I'j^ spicLious ability as the commander of a light battery — "the handsomest comnip.nd in the Army " as it has been called. And to this he had been detailed, owing to the scarcity of trained artillerists at the outbreak of the war. His first service was at Bull Run, where he commanded a section, and was reported as having " displayed great coolness, energy and skill." Later on, he was working like a beaver on the Peninsula, where, on crutches, he fought his battery, and where the gallant Kearny, after inquiring whose battery continued to fire from such a perilous position, exclaimed, '' It must be — for nobody but Benjamin would remain in such a hell-hole !"* In reporting the operations of his command to the Chief of Artillery, Captain Carlisle, referring to *' Garnett's Farm " and *' Malvern Hill," says of Lieutenant Benjamin that : " It is unnecessary for me to recount his valor and untiring energy from the day the battery left Washing- ton ; and in the affairs of the last week he was always present with the battery, directing and encouraging the men, although so entirely disabled as to be unable to stand without crutches, and could only be carried on a gun-carriage." " When General Reno was preparing to leave Fred- ericksburg, Lieutenant Benjamin learned, at the last hour, that it had been decided not to include his battery in that general's command, and he at once sought an * Remarks of Comrade L. C. Brackett, before Lafayette Post G. A. R., May 26th, 1886. m A HEAVY FIELD BATTERY. interview with General Burnslde, who stated that both Generals Reno and Stevens thought his twenty-pounders too far removed from a light battery to undertake forced marches, and perchance forced fighting while * on the wing,' but that the matter was entirely in the hands of General Reno. The lieutenant at once appealed to that commander, who said that his battery was to have been assigned to General Stevens' Division, but that that officer felt, as did General Burnside aid himself, that it might prove cumbersome ; but if General Stevens desired the battery, well and good. Seeking the presence of Gen- eral Stevens, who already admired the spirit of the young officer, he was assured that nothing but the heavy guns presented their mutual wishes from being gratified, but, in face of objections raised, he could not take the responsibility. '* ' Suppose I should move out with your column ?' said the lieutenant. '''Then I should be obliged to take care of you,' replied the gallant Stevens. " General Stevens never regretted the hint contained in his reply to the zealous Benjamin. The march to Raccoon Ford on the Rapidan, to Kelly's Ford on the Rappahannock (crossings the enemy found covered by the able Reno), developed the fact that Benjamin and his brave lieutenants. Lord, Graves, and Keeffe, with their gallant men, could make a light battery of twenty- pounders.' And so it proved on all the marches to August 29th, when, at Second Bull Run, to the jsnemy it proved a ' heavy field battery ' — so heavy, indeed, that THE PATH OF DUTY. 175 the enemy found it necessary to concentrate the fire of two full six-gun batteries, and a section of another to prevent its destructive work. ** I rem'^mber well this unequal duel when his battery of four twenty-pounders, supported by the gallant Roundheads, fought against such fearful odds. At tiniss, as I glanced from our pjsition, I could sse neithi^r men nor g.in, so dense was tlie smoke from his firing, and from the enemy's bursting shells. " The battery having suffered heavily in killed and wounded, and one gun disabled beyond further use. General Stevens, feeling that the sacrihce would be too great if allowed to battle longer against the enemy's fourteen pieces, ordered its withdrawal for the time being. On engaging the foe. Lieutenant Benjamin parted compan}' with one of his crutches, and before executing the ord^r to retire, he buried from the eyes of the enemy his crippled gun. " Lieutenant Benjamin's performance of duty through- out that campaign, and in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam, and Fredericksburg, won tor him the esteem and love of the oldicers and men of the Ninth Army Corps." [Comrade Brackett's remarks.] This tribute from the pen of one of the volunteer officers associated with Benjamin may be linked here with the testimony of the historian of the 79th N. Y. Volunteers. He says : '' We were joined at this time by Battery E. 2d U. S. Artillery, under command of Lieut. S. N. Benjamin, a skillful officer and perfect gentle- nian, between whom and the Highlanders a mutual admir- 1/6 FORT SANDERS, ation soon sprung up ^ ^ Whenever the Battery was short it was to us that Lieut. Benjamin came for help, and the boys always considered it an honor to serve under his orders. Passing over the faithful and important ser- vice of Benjamin's battery in Kentucky and Mississippi witli the Ninth Corps, we bring the reader to Tennessee aaJ the memorable Siege of Knoxville, where Benjamin, now Chief of Artillcr}^ performed his most distinguished professional act. It was the twelfth day of the siege (Nov. 29, 1863). The enemy's infantry under Gen. McLaws liad succeeded after a two days' struggle with our dismounted cavalry under Gen. Sanders, in finally pressing the Union troops back upon the earthworks in front of the city, lience- forth to be called Fort Sanders in memory of the gal- lant cavalryman who had given his life in order that the garrison might prepare for Longstreet's final effort to take the city. To Benjamin, still a lieutenant, was entrusted the honor of crossing swords with the famous Confederate. Prudent as he was valiant, our hero neglected no requisite precaution. In addition to the usual obsta- cles customarily placed in front of a threatened fortifi- cation, Benjamin had constructed a wire entanglement ■ — telegraph wire strung from stump to stump, immedi- ately in front of Fort Sanders. The force to man this work consisted of detachments from the looth Pa., 79th N. Y., and a Michigan regiment — not over 300 men in all, including 80 artillerymen. From the History of the 79th N. Y. Volunteers (" tb^ HIE PATH OF DUTY, 1 77 Highlanders "), a regiment forming part of Benjamin's support, is taken the following : '' Lieutenant Benjamin, in the absence of suitable hand-grenades, had prepared, some time before this, a number of twenty-pounder shells, to be used in case of an attack;, the fuses had been cut at twenty seconds, and would explode in a moment or two after they reached the bottom of the ditch. These shells had been laid in a row on the banquette tread at various points on the west and north fronts of the fort, ready for instant use. We often wished — as they were dangerous neighbors — that the *' darned things " were somewhere else. The cot- ton bales had been placed on the parapet, about two feet from the interior crest, which afforded standing room for us to look over the bales ; that was a dangerous out- look, however, and we seldom attempted to take obser- vations during the day-time. Even on a clear night our heads could be seen against the sky, and the enemy's fire was frequently drawn. Now we ventured to take fre- quent peeps over the bales and through the embrasures, but nothing could be seen or heard of the enemy, after they had driven in our pickets. '' We were obliged to remain in our places under arms all night. Ammunition b )xes had been opened, and beside our free pouches, each man had as many car- tridges piled up on the parapet before him as he would be likely to need. All the spare rifles that could be found were loaded, and nearly all our pieces were double shotted howitzers, In the northwest bastion they were 1/8 THE ASSAULT. double shotted with grape and canister, while '' number four" stood with lanyard in hand ready to fire. ^ ^ ^ '' Darkness had given place to the gray dawn, and we knew the enemy would not be long in making their appearance. ' Now boys ! look sharp ! Do you see them?' ' Yes, by ! There they come!' Instinctively one of our number levels his rifle to fire, but his hand is arrested by a comrade who remonstrates, ' You — — fool ! Don't draw their fire on us!' 'Now boys, into the fort as fast as your legs will carry you! '' De'il tak the hinmost," but look out for the wires !' It was a grand rush to the southwest angle. K number were tripped up by the entanglement. ' Long Andy ' went down. ' D n the wires,' he exclaimed, but was up again in an instant. A single plank only spanned the ditch, and in the scram- ble two or three were thrown over. Just as we were crowding the plank, the roar of artillery, volleys of mus- ketry and yells of the rebels broke upon our ears from the direction of the northwest bastion. Not a shot had been fired from the fort until the enemy were within fifty yards of the muzzles of our pieces. ' Hurry, boys! To your posts!' We were soon there and found our com- rades actively engaged in repelling the assault. "The attacking party had reached the ditch before we gained our positions, and a scene was being enacted diffi- cult for pen to describe. The artillery, depressed to the lowest point, was hurling double and triple charges of canister into the masses of the enemy. Some of our men were firing over the cotton bales, and others through the embrazures occupied by the artillery ; still others were 7 HE PATH OF vury. 179 pouring- a destructive flank fire from their rifles, and entilading- the ditch on both the north and west fronts. Both officers and men were shoutin^r and encourasrinp: each other. 'Give it to tliem, boys I Remember James Island! Remember James Island !' The enem}^ finding that the ditch barred tlicir progress, seemed at fault. They crowded about the edge, and, hoping to escape the murderous fire of our artillery and rifles, many jumped into the ditch. Now was Benjamin's opportunity, and assisted by Captain Baird, who held a burning stick, the twenty pounder shells were ignited and rolled down among- the living mass below. As they burst, yells, shrieks and groans attested the bloody work. Now the enem^^'s fire slackens, and we can see that man}- of them arc hurrying to the rear. A cheer goes up from our throats, but is instantly answered b}^ a chorus of yells from a fresh column of the enemy, who, nothing daunted by the repulse of their first line, now crowd up to the assault. The wires trip many and break their lines ; many fall to rise no more, but the living press forward.' ** General Jones (Confederate Army) says: 'Just before the advance the weather had been detestable. On the 28th a coid wave swept over the country, and the temperature fell below the freezing point. The parapet was hard frozen, and a heavy ice crop was formed by the moisture from the bank, which prevented the men from obtaining a foothold.' " Soon after four o'clock McLaws rode along the lines giving final instructions and assigning staff officers to I go THE REPULSE. accompany the different commands. General Jones con- tinues: 'When the artiller}^ fire ceased, the sharp- shooters opened and the two columns dashed forward to the assault. Then the Federal batteries opened and swept the ground in front. The abatis did not retard the advance an instant ; it was torn up and scattered by the living torrent. Many of the men tripped and fell over the wire entanglements, which caused some disturbance of the front line. They gathered themselves for an instant, under a destructive fire, on the brink of a ditch from seven to eight feet deep, twelve feet wide and surmounted on the further side by a parapet from twelve to thirteen feet high, making a distance of about twe::ty feet in height to the crest of the parapet.' " They sprang into the ditch until it was filled with men, swept by a deadly flank fire and triple charges of canister, and struggled with all their might to mount the parapet. In the absence of scaling ladders, the men mounted on the shoulders of their comrades to the top of the parapet. ''General Jones states that a soldier seized a handful of wet clay and clapped it on the fuse of a shell that Lieutenant Benjamin had rolled over in the ditch, ' in the vain hope of extinguishing it, and held it there until the shell exploded and tore him to pieces.' Flesh and blood could not withstand the tempest of iron and lead that swept through the ditch and over the glacis. . It was plainly impracticable to enter the fort at that point. Those who could fell back, first suddenly and slowly ; then the column broke and fell back in confusion. THE PATH OT" DUTY. l8l Those who could not escape surrendered." In a letter written by Benjamin in 1886, he says of the assault of Fort Sanders : '' The enemy in their charge entered the ditch at once, the wire threw down nearly, if not all of the front rank and most of the second, but there was such a mass of men that it was trodden down at once. "The enemy clambered up the parapet steadily, and were shot and bayoneted as they got on the top. A brigade of five strong regiments were in the first charge, and in about six minutes a second brigade of like strength arriv^ed with a rush that seemed bound to carry all before it. They planted three regimental battle flags on the top of our parapet, which we captured. The assault lasted some ten to fifteen minutes. It was a close affair, for they were Longstrcet's best men, and had been put on their mettle to take the fort. "I threw shells with lighted fuse into the ditch. The ditch was so crowded with men that they could not get out of the way of the explosions, and they w^ere mur- derous. " This raised the cry among them that their own bat- teries were firing on them. *' I had no scgar. I was smoking a pipe when the attack commenced, and sm')ked it during the fight, or until the tobacco gave out. Lit the fuse from a brand from the fire. '' In the actual assault seven men were killed in the fort and eight wounded. During the cannonade and the jg2 BENJAMIN'S TRIUMPH. assault some thirty more were killed and wounded in the immediate neighborhood of the fort. '' We picked up and gave them 497 dead and badly wounded, within seventy yards of the fort, as we did not vvish them to come close enough to inspect our works. I saw a great many dead and wounded on the ground be- yond our line, and think they must have lost 650 or 700, besides more than two liundred and fifty prisoners taken unhurt." The Commanding General reported of this brilliant action that, " To Benjamin's Battery, with such portions of Buckley's and Roemer's as were with them in the fort, the 79th Regiment N. Y. Vols., the 2d Regiment Mich. Vols., and a detachment of the 29th Regiment Mass Vols., is due the credit of repulsing a picked column of the enemy ; killing, wounding and taking prisoners there- from, treble their own number, besides capturing three stand of colors." Comrade Brackett in his address before Lafayette Post, frc^m which we have already quoted, says : "No military student in the world can afford to pass over the lesson to be drawn from the ability Lieutenant Benjamin displayed at Fort Sanders ; nor will he, for his attention will be riveted by the discrepancy in losses, to say nothing of speculation as to consequences, had Long- street succeeded. " Colonel (then Captain) Baird of the Seventy-ninth Highlanders, who held the burning brand for igniting the fuses of the shells that played such havoc in the ditch, recently said to me that it seemed but yesterday when THE PATH OF DUTY, 1 83 LieutCxnant Benjamin, as he thiew a shell, remarked in his quiet way, '' There, I think that will cool them down." Once more at Spottsylvania in 1864, the gallant young artillerist was to make his mark as the Chief of Artillery of the Ninth Corps. " Only a first lieutenant, yet experienced artiller}^ captains waived rank to serve under the accomplished officer, and eighty-four guns were ready to respond in thundering tones to his orders. From the 6th to the 12th of May, inclusive, the loss of our corps figured about fifty-five hundred, and among the wounded was our chief of artillery. " It was during the terrific struggle on the 12th, that the enemy's bullet pierced his neck. Riding to that portion of the field where he was directing and encouraging, I found him unmindful of self, though well aware of the dangerous character of his wound. My appeal to seek a surgeon was unheeded. A few minutes later I made a second appeal, but being again unheeded, and noticing that he was somewhat bewildered or growing faint from loss of blood, 1 seized the rein of his horse, and guiding it to the left and rear, a moment afterward placed him in charge of an artilleryman belonging to Twitchell's 7th Maine Battery. '* Not long since, in this very hall, when questioned by some comrades concerning this episode, he replied that when I forced him from the field he was unable to see where the land and sky came together. It can be truth- fully said that though dangerously wounded and aware 1 84 THE ROAD TO GLORY of the fact, he remained at his post of duty until the crisis of that engagement had passed. '' The great conflict was well nigh spent before the promotion of a single grade came to the subaltern who had many times performed the duty of a general officer. In July, 1864, he became a Captain, and subsequently received the well earned brevets of Major and Lieuten- ant Colonel U. S. A , ' for good conduct and gallant ser- vices.' Long after the War (1875), Colonel Benjamin was made an Assistant Adjutant General in the Regular Army. But the reward most highly prized was the Medal of Honor which was bestowed upon him for ' particu- larly distinguished service,' and as a fitting recognition of unblemished professional conduct in which unwavering devotion to duty shone out as the guiding star." CAPT. T. W. GREIG. SIXTY-FIRST N. Y. INFANTRY. A HERO OF ANTIETAM. LAFAYETTE POST, 140, Department N.Y., Grand Army of the Republic, had assembled in its hand- some rooms in Union Square, some years after the War, to witness the presentation of the bronze medal for valor which a great government had awarded to one of its gal- lant defenders, Captain Theodore W. Greig, 61 st Regi- ment, New York Volunteers, the Adjutant of the Post. The Council Chamber was filled with men who " had smelt powder;" those who had led and those who had followed. By a natural result of the plan of this great military fraternity, war-time positions were reversed. Among the officers of the Post were men who had patiently borne the burden and heat of the day in the ranks, with blistered feet and empty stomachs ; these now shared conspicuously with their former superiors 18S 1 86 A PRESENTATION, " the fruits of victory." On one side of the room, stand- ing modestly in the background — the rear rank of this veteran line now drawn up on parade — might be seen the erect form, strongly marked features and white hair of that corps commander, who, at Gettysburg, on the morning of the first day, did so much to repel the fierce Southern onslaught at the Cemetery. Near by stood one whose name had but recently been in all men's mouths, the soldier of science, the leader in a war with the elements, the returned Arctic explorer. With these, side by side, were comrades who had achieved civic honors, rulers of States, grave judges, successful advocates, great bankers, merchant princes, railroad kings ; these had all returned for the moment to the memories of the days ol *6i, when a knapsack, a canteen and a cartridge-box con- stituted their earthly possessions, and when their time was divided between fighting and foraging. One who has helped in some measure to preserve the history of the great American war medal, had been selected to hand the decoration to the gallant soldier who had won it. Impressed by the peculiar character of the assemblage — so eminently expressive of deeds rather than ivords — the comrade charged with this duty set forth, briefly but earnestly, the purpose of the medal, and the distinguished service for which it had been awarded, ^nd then pinned it to the veteran's breast. Captain Greig won his medal at Antietam. He was then a Lieutenant, commanding a company in the regi- pent already mentioned. His promotion had been gracju^l but deserved, frQ^^ the day he enlistee} in the A HERO OF ANTIETAM. 187 city of New York September 9, 1861, as a private sol- dier (at the ag-e of eighteen), and afterwards through the various non-commissioned grades, until he reached a com- mission (July I, 1862). Young, ardent, and a stranger to fear ; naturally taking to the indescribable fascination of a soldier's life in the held ; ambitious to excel in the performance of his duties ; it is not strange that Private Greig early attracted the attention of his superiors, and falling into the tide of promotion which flows so swiftly in War, and so slug- gishly in Peace, was ultimately swept onward and upward to the single bar of a First Lieutenant, and the command due a Captain. The morning of the battle of Antietam broke upon tw) sleeping hosts, who would fain have taken a later breakfast had Mars been propitious. The flower of the Confederacy, under their famous chieftain, flushed with a second victory on a famous and now historic field, and eager for the flesh pots of Pennsylvania, and the loot of Philadelphia, confidently girded up their loins to press back the blue-coated Yankees. The old Army of the Potomac, once more under its idolized leader '* Little Mac," his prestige increased by brief martyrdom within the defences of the Capital, rose calmly as was its wont, and shook itself as some monarch of the forest, who, disturbed by intruders, prepares to defend his home and family. The story of the bloody contest for supremacy which followed the rising of the sun on that lovely day in '62, js wc'! known to most of those who may see this page and 1 88 THE GALLANT SIXTY-FIRST. is not now repeated. Like two gladiators the grand armies rushed at each other, and strove and wrestled and fought like devils incarnate in a gigantic *' tug of war." Hour after hour passed, and still the victory hung in the balance. The heaps of the slain grew larger, the little pools of blood formed rivulets, and these quickly found their several ways to the beautiful stream which separated the armies, and grew momentarily more red and swollen. It was high noon, and there was a lull in the cannonad- ing ; the musketry fire slackened, while the panting soldiers replenished their cartridge boxes or moistened their lips from hot and dusty canteens, filled with tepid, muddy water. The gallant Sixty-first New York had been in the thickest of the fight as their decimated ranks plainly attested. Lieutenant Greig had been foremost in each advance of the line, and last to retire from positions no longer tenable. His blood was at fever heat and he chafed at the tacit truce for which exhausted human nature, on both sides, seemed responsible. Out in front the gray lines extended in vague and ghostly semblance, their dingy gray or butternut uni- forms blending with the trampled and dust-covered sod upon which they were posted. Just in front of the Six- ty-first there seemed a speck of color which proved on closer view to be a Confederate battle flag. Greig saw that it was planted firmly in the earth, as tempting and dangerous a sight as any false beacon that ever lured a A HERO OF ANTIETAM. 1 89 ship to destruction. Its bearer, in mocking spirit, had placed it a short distance in front of his regiment — the Fourth Alabama — feeling sure that with a thousand rifles at his back, bearing upon the path by which our enemy could reach it, the flag was out of danger. But he had *' reckoned without his host." He made no allow- ance for the spirit that men call heroism — that counts not the cost when lives are to be saved, battles won, or flags are to be captured. It was the work of an instant — the thought — the deed. With a wild rush over the short but deadly zone between the lines, the active boy reached the coveted trophy, seized the staff, threw it over his shoulder, turned, and alm^^t before the astonished Alabamians realized it, Grcig was half way back to his starting point. An exult- ant cheer went up from the Union lines, and a rapid but irregular firing was begun by Greig's friends to cover his retreat. But the enemy, wild with chagrin at this bold and successful raid by a single Yankee, sent after him a perfect shower of leaden rain. The daring offijcr had alm.ost reached the cover of the low stone fence behind which his men were sheltered, when a bul- let found its billet, and stretched him bleeding and insen- sible at their feet. The ball had entered the left side of his neck, narrowly escaping an artery. When Greig fell, he retained a firm hold of his nobly won trophy, so that it was with difficulty loosened from his grasp. After a long confinement in hospital, during which a well earned promotion came to him. Captain Greig reioined his regiment at Chancellorsville, and took part IQO THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOWr ill the bloody campaigns which followed — a veritable " valley of the shadow of death " through which our hero passed unscathed, and with a reputation of which grizzled veterans might be proud, was honorably mus- tered out of the service of the United States, October 9th, 1864. ?^^^^ 191 TWO KINDS OF COURAGE, WHEN a veteran, whose shield, bent and bruised from honorable service, bears mute testimony to the scenes of danger and death through which it has passed, calmly tells us that he once felt fear in the pres- ence of the enemy, we are slow to believe him ; particu- larly, if we are not of the Avarrior guild and unfamiliar with the various phases of military human nature. To such observers, the only type of hero is that which is insensible to fear. There are men who do not know what it is to be ''ner- vous," never have the toothache, sleep soundly through the night on tlie '* owl train," and can stand the extremes of temperature, hunger and thirst, without more emotion than an ox. This is an abnormal state of things, incon- sistent with a high order of intelligence or refinement. The true, knightly nature, is no more like that of the burl}^ animal mentioned, than is the temper of a Damas- cus blade that of a butcher's cleaver. The subject of this sketch, Joseph H. DeCastro, enlisted at the tender age of sixteen years and nioe 192 TIVO KINDS OF COi^RAGE. 19^ months, on x\ugust 12, 1 861, in Co. 1, 19th Massa. chusetts Volunteer Infantry. He served faithfully and g-allantly, in the ranks, through the privations and thirty- five of the battles of the Army of the Potomac, and was honorably mustered out of service July 3, 1865. At the Editor's request, DeCastro has furnished the following account of some incidents in his career. The words and the deeds they describe indicate that this soldier possesses both moral and physical courage — a combination not always found in brave men. " Possessed of a highly sensitive and nervous tempera- ment, my emotions when ordered into action, were peculiar, to say the least. ' Tlie spirit was willing but the flesh was weak.' It required moral determination of the most rigid character to set the machinery in motion which controlled the forward action of my almost par- alyzed limbs. *' I was obliged to appeal to every sense of patriotism, honor and duty, and without doubt the fear of disgrace, coupled with a stray bullet in the rear, were the potent factions that decided the contest, so that I was enabled to keep ' the touch of elbows ' with my more cour- ageous comrades. ^* Surely, to the average reader, this confession must appear strange in connection with the record of a soldier who braved the terrible dangers of the 'Seven days'' fighting on the Peninsula; volunteered to cross the Rappahannock in the pontoon boats, in the face of the murderous fire from the Rebel sharpshooters on the Fredericksburg shore ; two days later climbed the hill 194 ''THE THIRD DAVr beyond the town, amid such terrific slaughter that the ground could only be compared to ' the shambles of the butcher ; ' at Gettysburg assisted in rolling back the tide of invasion ; and, at last, had the glorious privilege of being ' in at the death ' with the immortal Grant at Appomattox. " Earl}^ on the morning of July 3rd, I rolled out of my single blanket, to the music of the birds, and feasted my eyes on the beauties of a landscape unsurpassed, in my estimation, by any under the wide canop}^ of Heaven. Our regiment lay a few yards in the rear of Cushing's and Rorty's batteries on the highest point of the Ceme- tery Ridge, in a direct line from the famous " clump of trees." " The boys busied themselves wifh the preparations nec- essary in getting up what proved to be a very slim break- fast ; as I looked around me and saw the smooth-faced chaps all the way from seventeen to twenty-two, with a sprinkling of older men, some with bright, cheerful looks, others with that grim determined look that tells of stern dut}^, iron discipline, and a high resolve to deserve well of their country on this or any other field, I could not but feel proud that my lot had been cast, in a military sense, among those who, from Ball's Bluff to the Peach Orchard of yesterday, had shown themselves soldiers worthy of undying fame. **As the scorching sun rose higher ni the heavens, we arranged our pieces of shelter-tents on the gun- stacks, to shut out as much as possible his too ardent rays, TIVO KINDS OF COURAGE. 1 95 and stretched ourselves to enjoy as much confort as we could under the circumstances. *' The combinations and strategy worked out at the General Headquarters, is a sealed book to the common S(^ldier. He is but a part of the machine, a cog in the wheel as it were, of the vast and stupendous power that causes him to be m^ved and manipulated like the pieces on a chess-board, to work out the designs of the master, ' Thinking bayonets,* as we were termed. Yet we could not think out what that day had in store for us. So the long hours until one o'clock were passed, some changing while others conversed and speculated regarding the om- inous silence in the lines of the enemy. Ten minutes past one the boom of a single gun in the direction of the Ceme- tery Ridge, its detonation hardly being noticed in our line. A moment later the ground shakes and trembles, the frightful roar of scores of deep-mouthed cannon, mounted on that grim ridge just across the fields of ripened wheat in our front, tells the story of the terrible carnage to come. The combined roar was deafening; it seemed to benumb every sense, and now the deadly missiles seeking their range, work havoc in our ranks as we lay as close to mother earth as men are ever permitted to get outside the grave. A grim veteran of the Crimea on my right, shouts in my ear, "This beats the storming of the Redan, They are giving it to us with more than a hundred guns.' On my left a young lieutenant presses me closely. I turn towards him, and at that instant a fragment of shell tears through his head, and tlie warm life blood is sprinkled in my face. Our batteries are being served 196 ^'FOR OLD MASSACHUSETfsr with a bravery born of desperation. Caisson after caisson is blown into the air, piece after piece is dis- mounted, and still the hell-born hail cuts and gashes and kills. This horrible carnival of death could only be htly described by the pen of a Dante. '' For two long hours, which seemed an eternity to us, this terrific hurricane of shot and shell pounded with resistless force, and then a calm. '' We breathed again. A moment later a comrade says to me, * Look there, Joe !' Away yonder across those lovely fields, at the base of that death-dealing ridge, from out the woods long lines of the South men were passing, marching as if on parade. Slowly, steadily they came, ranks well closed up, marching with a sublime courage worthy a better cause. They have crossed the Emmetsburg road, and re-formed their ranks with the utmost precision. *' At this moment Gen. Hancock rides up to our regi- ment and directs the Colonel to hold us in readiness. " The batteries in our front have just opened on those magnificent lines of gray, and the carnage in their ranks is fearful to contemplate ; it seemed almost like butchery, but on they came like a resistless torrent. The first line is among our batteries, and we get the word, ' Go in, boys, for the honor of old Massachusetts.' I took a firmer hold on the staff of the color I carried, and went in with the rest pell mell. The fighting was now hand to hand ; we were a confused mob that fought in the clumps of trees. I saw no less than eight regimental colors in a space that could be covered by one small battalion. In the TJrO KINDS OF COURAGE. I9; imjjctuoiis rush that foHowed, we became a c(3mpact, strugg-ling mass, all seeming to be bent on bloody work. Blue and Grey were inextricably mixed in all directions. I unfortunately became separated from my comrades, and while endeavoring to get back 1 had the good fortune to get in the hrst blow on a big rebel color-sergeant who attempted to down me. I struck him with mv color staff, and as he dropped I seized his flag and rushed back into our lines, where I soon found my Colonel, to whom 1 turned over the captured flag." The Colonel (A. F. Devereux) writes:''^ "At that instant a man broke through my lines and thrust a rebel battle flag into ni}^ hands. He never said a word, and darted back. It was Corporal Joseph H. DeCastro, one of my -color-bearers. He had knocked down a color-bearer in the enemy's lines with the staff of the jVIassachusetts State colors, seized the falling flag and dashed with it to me." The method of this exploit deserves a passing com- ment. One is at a loss to decide which feature to admire the most, — whether the conversion of his own color staff into a weapon, the unselfish and soldierh' impulse that led him to turn over his trophy to his colonel, or the business-like silence in which the transfer was made — " He )icvcr said a icord /" For " Ca])ture of flag 19th Va." at Gettysburg, Cor- poral DeCasti-o received the Medal of Honor at the hands of Major General George Meade. * " Some account of Pickett's charg^e at Gettysburg-," Mao^azine 0/ Am. Histiyrw July, 1887. A LINCOLN CAVALRYMAN. NOTHING, with regard lo the preparation to "put clown " the Great Rebellion, surprises the military student of to-day, so much, as the views of the Lincoln Administration, in 1861, upon the necessity for cavalry as a part of the Union forces. This detail of organization, Mr. Lincoln, harassed with larger cares, naturally left to his military advisers, Secre- tary Cameron and General Scott. The first named reflected the opinions, upon merely technical questions, of the venerable and distinguished commanding General. The latter, having achieved his professional successes, to a great extent, by the aid of infantry and artiller}^, realizing the expensive character of mounted troops, the scarcity in the North of men accustomed to the saddle, and, above all, the time required to make efficient cavalry from suitable raw material, was loth to sanction the acceptance of any mounted regiments in response to the first call for volunteers. This was made manifest to certain public spirited genilemen who, in 1861, tried to overcome the objecticns 198 A LINCOLN CAVALRYMAN. 199 of the military authorities. Scattered tliroughout the Eastern States, at the outbreak of the war, there were a few troops of militia cMvahy, more ornamental than use- ful ; most of these melted away in the process of the formation of infantry regimjiits to go to the front, or under the temptation for their mem.bers to become quartermasters, commissaries, aides de camp or even mounted orderlies. Some, however, preserved their independent organization, like the '• Philadelphia City Troop ;" while here and there a local taste for horses, and the military fever of the hour, took the shape of new organizations burning to flash their sabres in the sun of another Austerlitz. Anx)ng these was the " Philadelphia Light Horse," composed of gallant young men from the neighborhood of Germantown, Pa., and commanded by William Rotch Wister, a brilliant young lawyer of Phila- delphia. About May i, 1861, they went into a camp oi instruction at Chestnut Hill, a suburb of the Quaker City, and with an ex-dragoon (Mr. J. H. Stevenson) as an instructor, being good horsemen to start with, they made rapid progress in knowledge of the duties of cavalrymen in camp ; information which proved of inestimable value to a number of these gentlemen, who were subsequently commissioned, and, ultimately, rose to high rank. The entire expense of this preparation, of course, fell upon the patriotic youths who were burning to enter the service of their country — on horseback, if possible. About this time it was decided that the war was likely to last more than three months, and volunteers were 200 STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE. invited to enlist for ''three years or during the war." Very reluctantly, it would appear, the government decided to have one regiment of volunteer cavalry, and Colonel Carl Schurz was authorized to recruit for it with the proviso that the recruits must supply horses and equipments. He met with some success in New York and Philadelphia, with the aid of certain public-spirited gentlemen. Suddenlj^ Colonel Schurz was made min- ister to Spain, and the budding regiment was headless. The struggle for existence is well told by the historian of the regiment, from whose admirable chronicle''^' we shall make liberal quotations. The colonelcy was then offercvl to a regular officer, Avho accepted, provided the War Department would grant him a " loave of absence " for the purpose. Major Stevenson says : " Accordingly, hef set out at once, armed with a letter from Colonel Schurz to the Hon. Montgomery Blair, then Postmaster General. On presenting his credentials, Mr. Blair accompanied him to the War Department, and introduced him to the Secretar}-, Hon. Simon Cameron. Mr. Cameron said he could do nothing in the matter without the approbation of the adjutant-general or Gen- eral Scott, then commander-in-chief of the United States Army. Bailey could not get in to see the Adjutant-Gen- eral that day, so he repaired to the headquarters of Gen- *" History, First New York (Lincoln) Cavalry." — By J. H.Steven- son, Captain and Brevet-Major U. S. V., Harrisburg, 1879. t Lieut. Ezra H. Bailey. A LINCOLN CAVALRYMAN. 20I eral Scott. The general was very busy, so Bailey waited till after office hours, and then went to his residence. When he attempted to enter, however; he was stopped by a sentinel; but tlie general, who happened to be at the window, beckoned to the sentry to let him pass. The general seemed to be in a bad hum )r ; did not believe in granting leave to young officers of the regular army to command volunteer regiments, and didn't believe in vol- unteer cavalry anyhow ; said it would cost half a million of dollar's to mount and equip the regiment, and then it would take longer to get them ready for efficient service than it would to put down the Rebellion. (!) Bailey was much discouraged b\' this opinion, and left the august presence with hanging head and drooping spirits. The bright visions of a * prancing steed ' and a * vanquished foeman ' almost disappeared. The elegant uniform and clanging sabre, which always insures the cmiles of the- fair sex, where were they ? Bailey strolled moodily along for some distance, wHh(.Hit aim or object, until he was aroused by the crowd in front of the White Plouse, pressing in to see the renowned 'rail-splitter' from Illi- nois, then the Nation's honored President. He rallied his thoughts and joined the throng, in hopes of having an interview with * Uncle Abe,' trusting vaguely that some- thing advantageous to his mission would be the result. '* He soon found himself in the ' Blue Chamber,' scan- ning the person of the President, watching the play of his countenance, and listening to the original way in which he disposed of many of his visitors ; among whom were grave senators, pseudo generals and queer-looking 202 PRESIDENT LINCOLN, aspirants for military honors, contractors and pot-house politicians ; all having an ' axe to grind/ By and by the President turned towards Bailey, and, with a smile, said : ' Well, General, what can I do for you ?' Bailey was taken by surprise, but, collecting his wits, he smilingly replied : ' Not General yet, Mr. President, but hope to be if the war lasts long enough.' '' Mr. Lincoln seemed to appreciate the ready rejoin- der, and said : ' I hope the war will not last long enough to make generals of all who aspire to that position.' Bailey then informed the President of his mission to Washington. Mr. Lincoln said he did not like to inter- fere in army matters, unless it was absolutely necessary, and recommended Bailey to call upon the Secretary of War or General Scott. Bailey informed him that he had seen General Scott, but had. met with no encourage- ment, and that the Secretary of War would not listen to him at all. ' Oh !' said the President, ' it's the old story. You tried all other sources first, and then came to me as a last resort ?' ' Just so, Mr. President,' said Bailey, laugh- ingly, ' and I hope I shall not have come in vain ' The President said, with a smile, * I can't see why 3^ou should have so much difficulty about getting a colonel. Why, I coidd su})ply you with a hundred, from Illinois alone, inside of a week. Go back and tell Colonel Schurz to hurry up this regiment as soon as possible, and 1 will see that it is accepted.' Bailey set out for New York with a lighter heart, and, on arriving, reported the result of his mission. Captain O was disappointed, and so were the officers of the regiment, but recruiting went on, A LINCOLN CAVALRYMAN. 203 '' General Phil. Kearney had lately arrived from Europe, and a committee of the officers waited upon him to see if they could prevail upon him to become their colonel ; but he was in some way pledged to the Gover- nor of New Jersey, who shortly afterwards commissioned him brigadier-g-eneral. When asked if he knew any one whom he could recommend, he named Andrew T. McReynolds, who had served with him as a captain of dragoons in the war with Mexico, and had been wounded there, and breveted major for gallantry. ** A committee, composed of Colonel McReynolds and Captain A. W. Adams, William H. Boyd and Joseph K. Stearns, was dispatched to Washington to procure the ratification of the above transfer. The Secretary of War intimated to the Committee that, as Col. Schurz had been provided for, there seemed no reason to organ- ize a volunteer cavalry regiment. They then sought the President. *' Mr. Lincoln examined the papers, and endorsed them as follows: Hon. Secretary of War : Please say to Colonel A. T. McReynolds, that when he will present the cavalry regiment according to the within authority, they will be received under him as they would have been under Colonel Schurz. (Signed) A. Lincoln. June I J, 1S61. " Mr. Cameron said the committee must get the appro- val of General Scott, before the}' could get him to consent to the raising of volunteer cavalry. Captain Adams then 204 NAMING THE REGIMENT. set out to find the Commander-in-Chief. That officer was very busy, and it was hard to get an interview, but Adams had a friend at court, in the person of Schuyler Hamilton, who was a member of the General's staff, and through his influence the General sent a note of approval to the Secretary of War. '* This note seemed to take Mr. Cameron by surprise, and he very reluctantly endorsed the papers as follows : Approved, on condition that the whole of the regiment be at Wash- ington, or wherever ordered to be, by the ist day of August next, and portions of it before the 15th of July next. (Signed) SiMON Cameron. June 15, 1 86 1. '' He must have thought that these conditions would prove the overthrow of the whole scheme, and no doubt he laughed in his sleeve as he handed the papers to the committee. What a commentary this is upon the his- tory of the late civil war, which continued for four long years, and in which, from time to time, we had tJircc hundred rcgiincfits of volunteer cavalry, and iJirec tJiousajid regiments of volunteer infantry. '' While at the War office a discussion arose as to what name the regiment should be known by, and Colonel McReynolds promptly proposed ''THE LINCOLN CAVALRY," which was unanimously adf)pted by the committee ; all of whom thought the name appropriate, because Mr. Lincoln had called the regiment out, notr withstanding much opposition from those high in autbor^ A LINCOLN CAVALRYMAN. 205 itv around him. They thought also that the name would make the reg-imcnt popular and aid in recruiting. " When the President heard what the regiment had been named, he inquired wdio had ' christened the baby,' and when informed how it came about, he remarked that he was ' accused of being its father, and might as well own up.' He hoped, however, that the regiment would not consider the name as conferring honor upon it, but endeav^or, by brave deeds, to confer honor upon the name ; adding that he would watch its career with a great deal of solicitude." " The regiment reported for dut}' to General Franklin the day after the battle of Bull Run. Their first colli- sion with the enemy occurred during a reconnoissance made b)- Capt. Boyd's troop near Pohick Church, Va. Although the ' Lincolns ' retained possession ot the field, they lost one — Private Jacob Erwin— killed. It is claimed that he ' was the first cavalryuiaii killed in defense of the Union, and this tJic first cJiargc made by volunteer caualry in the war, on the Federal side.' " The regiment, although designated the " First N. Y. (Lincoln) Cavalry " was not, csj^ecially, representative of the I'^mpire State, comprising companies from New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan, with a persoiuiel of every nationality on the face of the globe, of which perhaps fifty per cent, were Americans. Passing over the service of this body of horse under McClellan on the Peninsula, Milrov in the Shenandoah Yalley, and Meade in Pennsylvania, during which it made a reputation on both sides of the line for great efficiency 206 EDWIN F. SAVACOOL. in partisan warfare and invaluable service in procuring information of the enemy's movements, the Lincoln caval- rymen returned to the Valley once more, to become a thorn in the side of the Confederacy. Major Stevenson says of them in concluding his stirring record : ^'During their term of service they had marched'thou- sands of miles ; had killed and wounded hundreds of the enemy ; and had captured about 4,000 prisoners, 3,000 horses, 400 wagons, 4 cannons, 1,000 muskets, 2,000 revolvers and 700 sabres." Where all were brave it is difficult to pick out one deserving especial notice. Yet sucli an one there was, and one or two incidents in his career will serve to illus- trate the character of the service and the sort of mettle required from a *' Lincoln cavalryman." Again we quote from the regimental historv : '' After being in the ' valley ' awhile, our men became so familiar with every road and path that we dispensed with the citizens, and organized a band of scouts from the men of our regiment. We had a number of brave fellows to whom adventure and danger were a pleasant excitement, and we soon had a body of the best scouts in the army. The principal men among them were Sav- ACOOL, Atkins and Vosburg, of Company K; Peavy and Valentine, of Company B ; and Forkey, Dunn and the Goubleman brothers, of Company D. On one occasion a party of these men went clear down to North Carolina- The}^ had plenty of Confederate mone}^ which they pro- cured from Philadelphia, in sheets, for a trifling sum ; the words ' fac sjjniic,' printed at the bottom of each A LINCOLN CAVALRYMAN. 207 note, so that it could easily be cut off. This money was pronounced genuine by the cashier of the bank at Win- chester, and passed current every wheie in Rebeldom. The boys always had plenty of poultry, eggs, butter, milk, etc., when on scout, without the trouble of taking them. They bouglit them, and were always welcomed b)' the inhabitants. " On the trip to North Carolina, the boys brought back a lot of hue horses and a negro whom they had pur- chased from his master for three thousand dollars ' fac simile' The poor darkey was ast(Miished when he found himself in the camp of the Yankees, a free man. *' Savacool went through the valley as a mail carrier, collecting letters at all the houses, and much information was obtained in this way. On one of his trips he met Gilmnr's battalion, and could not hide, so he boldly faced the music. He had captured many of these men, and was afraid some of them w^ould recognize him. Gilmor quizzed him closely, but his suspicions were allaj^ed by Savacool taking a letter from his pouch addressed to Gilmor himself. It was from a lad}' in Winchester, and he was so well pleased with the contents that he gave Savacool a pull at his canteen of apple-jack. He then informed Sa\acool that they were on their w^ay to burn the bridge of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad over Back Creek. *' Savacool had no sooner got away from them than he made a iletour, and i"ode for Martinsburg with all haste to inform Colonel McReynolds of what he had heard. Captain R. G. Prendergast was immediately sent to 208 BLACKFORD S CAPTURE. Back Creek Valley with one hundred men to look after* the bridge-burners. Fifty of the men were from our regiment, and fifty from the Twelfth Pennsylvania Cav- alry under Captain Henry. '' Prendergast, learning that the party were concealed in a piece of woods, disposed of his men so as to cut off retreat, and then charged into the ambush, capturing Captain Blackford and his lieutenant, and thirty men with all their arms, besides thirty-six horses with their equipments c">mplete. '' On our way up the Valle}^ Sergeant Edwin F. Savacool of Company K, of our regiment, was in the extreme advance, as he usually was, dressed in a full suit of Confederate gray, and ' roped in ' several prisoners. " Between Berry ville and Millwood he found a fine horse with full set of military equipments, tied to a fence, and his rider up a tree picking persimmons. He hailed the 'Johnnv' and told him he had better get down, as the Yankees were coming up the road from Berryville. " The fellow showed great alacrity in descending from the tree, but when he attempted to get his horse, Sava- cool pointed his revolver at him and informed him that he was a prisoner. * That's bad,' said the Johnny, heaving a sigh, and at once handed over his arms and accoutrements. Savacool turned his prisoner over to the first men who came up, and passed on ahead as before. '' On arriving at the Shenandoah River, near Front Royal, he learned from a negro that young Baylor, of A LixcoL.^ Cavalryman. 209 Mosby's gang, was at his mother's house, on the point of land between the forks of the river, which meet at that place. It was known as Richards' Farm House, Mrs. Baylor having married Mr. Richards. As Savacool entered, with C(^cked revolver, the inmates were much surprised, as tliey thought he was a Confederate soldier, on account of his clothing. '' While the old lady was talking to him, her son edged up and made a spring for his throat, at the same time grasping the pistol with one of his hands. Savacool pulled the trigger, causing the hammer to come down on Baylor's thumb, and he let go his hold and jumped behind his mother. She then begged Savacool not to shoot him, which he promised n(3t to do, provided he would quietlv surrender. This Baylor agreed to do, and Savacool took a seat, pistol in hand, to await the arrival of our troops. *' The old lady got up on a chair and began to rum- mage the shelves of a closet, and Savacool noticed her ] jutting something behind her as she turned to get down. His suspicions were aroused, and he told her to show her hands. She did not obey, but kept backing towards her son, and Savacool told her to halt or he would blow her son's brains out. " Slie then burst into tears, and begged him not to kill them, as she produced a small revolver from behind her back. At that moment we rode up, and Baylor was placed under guard ; his mother begging of us to treat him kindlv. If I am not mistaken he slipped away from the guard that night at Strasburg, and made his escape. 510 HE KNEW NO FEAR. "■ Edwin F. Savacool was, in inao}^ respects, one of the best, if not tlie very best soldier in our regiment. If any man ever possessed a ' heart that knew no fear,' that man was Savacool. His modesty was equal to his courage, and it was a long time before his merits were properly recognized. " He enlisted as a private in the first one hundred cavalry that left New York, and was transferred to the New York Lincoln Cavalry. He was promoted to a lieutenancy, in 1864, for his daring conduct in capturing, single-handed, the notorious Blackford, and for other daring deeds was soon promoted to a captaincy. He brought into camp, in two years and five months, single- handed, 72 ])risoners. Within live months he had hve horses shot under him. On the day before he was wounded the horse, which he rode, received seven balls. ** Hisservic:^!, and the severe wound he had just received won for him a commission ; and the colonel presented him with a costly pair of shoulder straps, in the presence of General McClellan, at our re-enlistment reception in New York, after overwhehning the poor fellow with praise, which confused and frightened him more than 'grimvisaged war' had ever done. '* On another occasion, Sergeant Charles N. Warren, of Company K, and a man named Hogan, were in advance of the advance guard, dressed in Confederate gray. On entering Newtown they went into a house and inquired if any of their men (meaning Confederates) were in town. 'What do you belong to?' said the lady of the house. *We belong to Gilmor's battalion,' was the reply. She A LLXCOLN . CA VALR \ 'MAN. 2 i i then informed them that Captain Blaclcford and half a dozen of his men were around the corner, in ' Aunt Mary's,' getting supper. This was a little inn kept by a widow lady, who went by the above name. " On hearing this, Warren rode back to meet the column, and told Sergeant Savacool, who was that day in command of his company, and these two, accompanied by several others, set out at a gallop to look after Black- ford. (This is the same Blackford who was captured in Back Creek Valley with his company, in the previous September; but had escaped from Fort McHenr}^ a short time afterwards.) " The approaching horses were heard by Blackford and his men, and they got out of the back door into the garden, and hid among the currant bushes. On entering the house Savacool inquired where Blackford and his men were, and * Aunt Mary ' stoutly denied having seen them. "Savacool and his men then passed through the house into the garden, and began a search. The 'Johnnies' were concealed in the farther end ; but fearing discovery, they broke cover, jumped over the garden fence, and made for the pines. Our men gave chase, firing at them and commanding them to surrender. Blackford was on top of the fence, and shouted, ' 1 surrender,' and the soldiers advanced to take him ; but the moment they lowered their pistols he leaped from the fence and ran for his life. Warren had captured one of the Johnnies, and was taking him back to the house, while Savacool pursued Blackford, each firing at the other as rapidly as 212 BLACKFORD'S DEATH. they could. At length Blackford was hit, and then he turned on his pursuer like a stag at bay. Savacool stopped also, and both took deliberate aim, each at the other. Both fired and both fell together. "Warren was just returning, after having delivered his prisoner, and on reaching Savacool he found he had been shot in the thigh, and seriously though not danger- ously wounded. Blackford called for help, and Warren ran to him and gave him a drink from his canteen ; but he was mortally wounded and died in a very few minutes. " By this time many of our men had reached the scene of this fatal duel, and Blackford's body was carried up to 'Aunt Mary's* and laid upon the table from which he had eaten his supper about fifteen minutes before. Such is War." On the morning of April 6, 1865, Lee's columns were discovered at Sailor's Creek, on a road leading directly to Burk's Station, on the Danville Railroad, which point they still hoped to make ; but the Sixth Corps, under General Wright, was ready to dispute the way, and a battle was begun by the enemy in order to force a pas- sage. At this battle Custer's division again covered itself with glory. The First New York (Lincoln) Cavalry were the first to enter the enemy's lines, and in so doing the brave and intrepid Captain Edwin F. Savacool was seri- ously wounded at the moment he snatched the first Con- federate battle flag from the hands of its bearer. Want of space prevents us from dwelling upon this A LINCOLN CAVALRYMAN 213 soldier's service on this day, for which a Medal of Honor was conferred. Suffice it t(^ say that as private, sergeant, lieutenant or captain, he had always done his whole duty. He was foremost in every action, inspiring his men with enthusiasm to follow where it was possible for soldiers to go. In his simplicity, manliness, and straightforwardness; in his discreet but fearless bravery, that won for him the admiration even of his enemies; in his large heart, with an intense hatred of the Rebellion, vet so full of p-ener- ous impulses and fervent love ot countr^^ we recognize the character of a true hero and patriot. yAe''i> :j::^tv^, FOILING AN ASSASSIN. FAC-SIMILE OF GOLD MEDAL (PAGE 2l8). 214 SERGEANT GKuRuK FOSTER ROIUNSON, NOW MAJOK AND PAVMASTEK f. S. A. FOILING AN ASSASSIN. TO the schoolboy of i860, *' the times that tried men's souls " meant the days of the American Revolution. The schoolboy of to-da}- learns that men's souls and bodies were sorely tried in a greater revolution, only twenty years ago, when blood was poured out like water to preserve the Union. The war closed with a traged\\ — the assassination of one of the greatest men and wisest rulers the world has ever seen. The enquiry into the circumstances of President Lincoln's death laid bare a foul conspiracy, which intended the destruction of the principal officers of our Government. The plot was only successful in one instance. Why it failed in another case may here be shown. In the year eighteen hundred and sixty-five, there stood 215 2 1 6 A FA MO US NEIGHB OR HO OD. in the City of Washington, not far from the White House, and on the eastern side of Lafayette Square, a plain, red- brick house. It had been a fashionable club house, but at the time mentioned it was the residence of the Secretary of State. The street was bordered by noble old trees, and although within a few yards of that famous thoroughfare, Pennsylvania Avenue, might almost have been a lane in the suburbs of some ancient provincial town, so prim and quiet and dull did it seem. Appearances were a trifle misleading as to its character. Over the well-swept cobble-stones had rolled the carriages of some of the noblest families of Eu- rope ; under the grateful shade had sauntered haughty dames and gallant cavaliers. Within these precincts there had been revelling and feasting and '' flow of soul." But these times had fled. War, with wrinkled front, had come and changed the sights and sounds. 'The marching regi- ment had taken the place of the handsome equipage ; the clanking dragoon had succeeded to the languishing beau, and the martial notes of " We're coming. Father Abraham, a hundred thousand more," had supplanted the softer strains of Strauss and Verdi. As the war period drew near the end, the little street be- came less frequented, and at the time mentioned, was rather avoided by vehicles, for the famous dweller in the house was very ill ; he had been thrown from his carriage and se- riously injured. -X- -;f -X- ^ -x- * * * ^:- " Swear to be loyal to me, to stick to me through all, and I will give you more money than }'ou ever dreamed of ! " After a pause came the answer in low but firm tones, *' / FOILING AN ASSASSIN. 2 1 J swear ! " The speakers were two young men ; the time, February, 1865 ; the place, a room in tlie principal hotel of Baltimore. One of these men was tall and slender, with piercini^ e^^es, and hair of raven hue. His dress was quiet in tone, but not in its first youth, and was worn with a care- less grace. His movements were quick and nervous, and a voice singularly melodious was one of his attractions. This man bore a name honored in his profession, albeit his place was not among the " stars."- But he was known to the public as a bright and promising actor, and to many as a genial companion. Who would have thought that here was the material for a conspirator — nay, a leader of conspirators ? For this man was John Wilkes Booth. Strongly in contrast was his companion. Almost gigan- tic in stature, broad-shouldered, muscular, he was a mag- nificent animal. His low brow% fierce, restless eyes, square, massive jaws and deliberate movements, indicated qualities Avhich, in the hands of an unscrupulous master, might be po- tent for evil. He was dressed in a motley assortment of clothes, half militar}', half civil, such as might have been selected at random in a cast-off clothing shop. His shoes were originally soldier's brogans, now worn to the welt, wdth the toes peeping through the uppers. A pair of faded light- blue trousers, torn and patched, frayed at the bottoms, and liberall}^ bespattered with mud, covered his legs. Around his brawn}^ chest was tightly drawn a dark-blue flannel shirt without collar, in lieu of which a red bandanna handkerchief was loosely knotted about his neck. A jacket of Confeder- ate-gray cloth, from which nearly all the buttons had dis- 2l8 A QUEER CUSTOMER. appeared, and a brown hat, completed the costume of Booth's singular guest. At that time, in Baltimore, it was not unusual to see men in such incongruous garb; stragglers or deserters from the Confederate army or Southern refugees. It was war time, and even the former dandy of his club, when on short leave, was glad to get into " cits " of a past date ; so that it was not wonderful that this tramp-like person should be per- mitted to pass the- portals of a fashionable hotel without question, in the company of the well-known actor. This " queer customer " was a bit of drift-wood from the war waves. He was reared in Florida, upon a small planta- tion, and without the advantages of education. At eighteen he enlisted in the Confederate army, fought gallantly, it was said, and after much wild adventure had left the sinking Southern ship and wandered to Baltimore; there, footsore, hungry, destitute and utterly friendless, he had stumbled across the actor. A long while before, he had once seen Booth upon the stage, in the velvet doublet and trunk hose of the days of Chivalry, in all the golden radiance of the footlights. His imagination had made the play real and the players noblemen, in every sense. So, when he met his stage-hero in the streets of Baltimore, he ventured to accost him. A brief conversation impressed Booth with the belief that this man could be made a useful instrument in the evil pur- pose he had in view. He was right. He had found the unfortunate wretch who was soon to be known to the civil- ized world by the name of Lewis Payne. ^ % -X- -x- * -X- -x- -x- f^ FOILING AN ASSASSIN. ^ iq The fourteenth day of April, eighteen hundred and sixty- five, was well-nigh spent. It lacked but three hours of mid- night, and the dimly lighted Washington streets were silent and almost deserted. It was the moment when theatre- goers begin to enjoy the play if it is good, or become bored and restless if it is otherwise. To the frequenters of Ford's Theatre there was, that evening, all the excitement of a " first night." The President and Mrs. Lincoln, with a couple of friends, were conspicuous in a box, thoroughly enjoying '' Our American Cousin," which, under the au- spices of that (long ago) favorite, Laura Keene, had been having a successful run. Had none among that gay throng any presentiment of calamity.^ At that moment, two men were in earnest consultation in an obscure drinking-saloon in a side street, near the theatre. In one we recognize our dramatic acquaintance; the other wears his hat pulled down over his ej^es. On a table before them are a couple of glasses, half full of an amber-colored liquid. With the exception of the bartender, they are the sole occupants of the room. In his nervous way, Booth puts his hand on the other's shoulder and whispers, " Re- member, try the medicine dodge first ; but see him sure. As soon as it is done, meet me at the bridge. Now go ; it is nearly time." Both rose to their feet. Booth's compan- ion towered above him as they clasped hands — for the last time in their lives, although they knew it not. The motion threw open the long brown-and-white-check overcoat worn by the stranger, and disclosed a belt, buckled tightly about his waist, in which was thrust a large knife, and from an 220 SERGEANT ROBINSON'S OPPORTUNITY. Open holster on the other side gleamed the silver-mounted handle of a revolver. A DESPERATE STRUGGLE. Within the domicile of the disabled Cabinet Minister all was quiet ; lights were turned low, and those persons not on duty prepared for bed. Mr. Frederick Seward (the Assist- ant-Secretary of State) was at his writing-table near his father's room. Major Augustus Seward was resting, pre- paratory to his regular watch, which would commence at midnight. In the sick-room the curtains were tightly drawn, and the shaded lamp cast a soft radiance upon the quaint furniture and the snow-white drapery of the couch 'upon which the invalid sought in vain the brief oblivion of sleep. The soldier-nurse, after a final glance at his charge, sank into the depths of an old-fashioned leathern arm-chair, and pick- ing up a book was about to open it, when he heard a ring at the bell. Sergeant Robinson was not a regular hospital nurse, but was himself barely convalescent from a severe wound received as a soldier of the Eighth Regiment of Maine Volunteer Infantry, at Bermuda Hundreds, Virginia, on the 20th of May, 1864. As soon as able, he was given light duty, and detailed to take care of Secretary Seward. The bell was answered by the colored boy, William. A hirge man in a light overcoat and slouch hat strode into the hall. He spoke hurriedly and roughly. " I want to see Mr. Seward. I have some medicine from Dr. Verdi." FOILING AN ASSASSIN. 221 "You can't see the Secretary; nobody 'lowed in his room," replied the faithful servant. " But I iimst see him, " said the stranger. William reflected that perhaps this was a messenger from the doctor, who might be allowed to see one of the family, to whom he would perhaps deliver his micssage. He moved towards the stairs leading to the second floor, closely fol- lowed by the stranger, who kept his right hand in his pocket. '' Don't tread so heavy," said William, as the stranger's boots came down solidly on the polished wood of the stair- way. As they reached the ■%. first landing, Frederick Seward i:-/' came forward. " 'Tis a messenger, sir, from «4: r^. the doctor. I told him he couldn't see the Secretary," PAYNE, THE ASSASSIN. . ,,^ ,,. said William. *' Of course my father can see no one ; he is very ill." " I must see him ; the doctor said so," persisted the man. '' But I tell you it is impossible," said the Assistant-Secre- tar)\ The man turned about as if to go down, and William went before him. Suddenl}-, with an exclamation— more like the growl of some wild beast— " You !" the stranger struck Frederick Seward a terrible blow, which felled him to the floor ; again he brought down the butt of his pistol on the defenceless head with crushing force. At this moment the door of the sick-room opened and 222 AN UNEQUAL STRUGGLE, Sergeant Robinson appeared. Before he could under- stand the situation, the assassin rushed at Robinson and struck at his throat with a knife. Robinson instinct- ively tried to ward off the blow, but received it upon his head and was knocked down. Bounding over Robinson, the would-be murderer rushed to the bed and befran to strike wildly with his knife at the throat of the Secretary. Already he had cut the flesh from one cheek to the bone, and the blood flowed in torrents over the pillow. Then the courage and resolution of his New England forefathers came gloriously to the support of our Maine volunteer. Although just from the hospital, with his wounded leg not yet healed, and enfeebled from his year of suffering, he sprang to his feet, and without one moment's hesitation, without one moment's thought for himself, save, as he afterward sdid, the thought that he must die to save the Secretary ; without a weapon of any description, he op- posed his naked hands to the armed and desperate ruffian. Robinson seized the assassin just as the deadly knife was about to be buried in the throat of the Secretary. Then commenced an unequal struggle, in which the chances seemed entirely in favor of the herculean stranger. Robin- son succeeded, at the expense of two deep cuts down his back and two more under the left shoulder-blade, in drag- ging the villain from the bed, but vainly tried to protect himself from blows which were rained upon his head with the butt of the pistol. By this time, Major Seward, aroused from slumber, ran in and also seized the desperado, and although himself cut and bruised, with Robinson's help pre- vented another attack upon the Secretary, who lay gasping FOIL tiVG A iV ASSASSIN: 223 and bleeding upon the floor, where he had falleh from his bed. And now, baffled in his dread purpose, and alarmed for his safety, the murderous intruder suddenly threw up his hands, exclaimed "I am mad! I am mad!" and rushed from the room. As he reached the threshold, he encoun- tered a State Department messenger and stabbed him also. It was but the work of a moment to throw his knife across the street, to jump, hatless, upon a horse standing at the door, and disappear in the darkness. William now ap- peared with re-enforcements from the military headquarters at the corner of the street. It was too late. Payne, — the instrument of a stronger mind, the blind tool of a fanatic, — had made good his escape. A HAPPY OMEN. It is unnecessary to dwell upon the events which fol- lowed : the excitement in the North over the murder of the President ; the pursuit, capture, trial, and conviction of the conspirators; and the slow but sure recovery of the wounded Secretary and his son. The distinguished gallantry and fidelity of Sergeant George Foster Robinson were brought to the notice of Con- gress, and it was decreed that a gold medal should be struck, in commemoration of his exploit, and that in addition the sum of five thousand dollars should be presented to. him. He was for some time a clerk in the office of the Quarter- master-General, at Washington, and in 1879 he was commis- sioned Major and Paymaster United States Army. The closing scenes of the Great Conspiracy were marked 224 A HAPPY OMEN. by some curious incidents. One of these, never before published, was told to the writer by an eye-witness, and seems a fitting conclusion to this story. It was late in the afternoon of the day upon which the murderer of Lincoln was captured, when an ambulance, drawn by four handsome mules, rattled along the road from Surrattsville, in Maryland, toward Washington. It con- tained Major-General Hancock and several officers of his staff. Colonels Tompkins, Morgan, Mitchell, Wilson and Parker. In the confusion and terror which filled the minds of the friends of the Government, men turned with firm trust to Hancock, — next to Grant, — as a strong arm to lean upon ; and a sense of relief was felt throughout the land when the presence at the Capital of these dauntless, cool-headed soldiers became generally known. As the party journeyed along, they chatted of the stirring and bloody war scenes they had witnessed. The great calamity that had just be- fallen the country was, of course, the leading topic, and doubt was expressed by one or two as to its effect upon the sections so lately estranged. The General, however, expressed his firm belief that nothing could prevent the re- establishment of " Peace within our borders." " The peo- ple have seen enough bloodshed ; they are tired of war and seek rest," said he. Just then, Colonel Tompkins, who was looking out over the landscape, and at the distant dome of the Capitol as it glowed in the warm tints of the setting sun, said to his neighbor, '' Parker, do you see anything peculiar about the sun ? " That officer cast a careless glance in the desired quarter, FOILING AI\r ASSASSIN. 22 tj and then quickly called the General's attention to a curious sight. Within the blood-red disc, now very low on the horizon, could be plainly seen, surrounded by a luminous haze, the outlines of a pair of clasped hands ! All saw it, and for a moment there was an impressive silence. As the phantom shape slowly melted away, Hancock said very gravely and earnestly, " Gentlemen, that is a happy omen ; it is the sign of Friendship. May it come to pass throughout Our Country! " THE MEDAL OF HONOR. 220 PART SECOND. 1 866-1 886. " O the dragoon bold, he scorns all care, As he goes around with his uncropped hair % He spends no thought on the evil star That sent him away to the border war. " His form in the saddle he lightly throws, And on the moonlight scout he goes, And merrily trolls some old-time song As over the trail he bounds along. " O blithe is the life that a soldier leads When a lawless freedom marks his deeds | And gay his path o'er the wildwood sod, Where a white man's foot hath never trod*' 227 r _^ ^=^- €i\ 11 ]] ...^i^-il"--' 1 Iri HI ^aMM^^m. ffl ^^^^^^B ^ff" ^^ ^-^^^"jl: "^^^rf 5^^^g K. ^ i^^^^^^i^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^"^"^ CONFEDERATE (^OLOKS CAPTURED AT SAILOR'S CREEK, VA., APR. 6, 1S65 WITH PORTRAITS OF THE CAPTORS (CUSTER'S CAVALRY DIVISION). (from a tintvpb this size.) VT. LIEUT.-COLONEL TOM CUSTER, LATE CAl'TAIN 7TH U. S. CAVALRY. A BEAU SABREUR.* J CAN NOT tell with what gratitude I embrace the op- portunity to add my tribute to the valor of one of the soldiers this book seeks to commemorate. Many a woman adds to the pang of bereavement, the sorrow of knowing that the grass has sprung up and faded, for over twenty years, on the graves of those who saved to us the unity of our beautiful land, and, alas! who now lie forgotten. Will not, then, the hearts of many fill with thankfulness that the brave deeds of those that are gone are here given anew to their Country, and that a monu- ment is raised to their " loved and lost " more lasting than "storied urn or animated bust?" In New Rumley, Ohio, on March 15, 1845, Emanuel and * This chapter is from the pen of Mrs. George A. Custer. 229 230 ^ BEAU SABREUR. Maria Custer received the gift of a son, the third tie that bound together still more closely their happy lives. The mother said in after years, even when pride for her success- ful boys filled her heart, that no time of her existence was so happy as when the door of the simple farm-house shut in, at dark, the little band about her. The war-drum burst in upon this contented home, and scattered her dear ones far and near. Her heart had grieved enough over the departure of her ambitious eldest, Armstrong,* who had implored his parents, four years before, to let him educate himself as a soldier. But after he had gone, she huddled the little curly-headed fellows that were left, more closely about her, and sang still, at her daily toil, for their comfort. In 1861 peace departed from the hearth-stone. The two striplings began to beg to go to the war. They finally agreed to be content if one was permitted. Nevin offered himself, but was declined ; although not an invalid, he was delicate. Then Tom rushed to get his chance, but the father had privately conferred with the local recruiting officer, and Tom was refused as under age. At last nothing could keep him. He sought another officer and was ac- cepted ; at sixteen he kissed the weeping mother and little sister Margaret, and was off to the wars as a private soldier. It was all the father could do to keep the fourteen-year- old boy, Boston, from going. Yet I hardly think the parent blamed the sons. He was, from his own boyhood, fond of "training-days," and had put his eldest son, Arm- strong, into a uniform when he was but a midget of four, and chuckled and admired the piping voice of the minia- * The late General George Armstrong Custer, U. S. A. ''OUR TOM." 2-^1 ture soldier when he called out a line from the schoolboy's elocution, that was practised in the home audience — "■ My Voice is for War." The boy Tom was sent to the Western army, and soon selected as orderly for General Negley, When I saw this officer, a year ago, he went back over twenty years and told me what a splendid soldier he had found our Tom. The praise one brave man gives another, irrespective of station, shone from his eyes, while he bore testimony in unstinted words to the courage and fidelity of the lad. In 1863, my husband was made a general officer, and found his oppor- tunity not only to send for his old school-mates and offer them places on his staff, but he began to plan for his brother to be transferred from the West to the Army of the Potomac. He obtained foi him a commission as Lieu- tenant in the 6th Michigan Cavalry, and not long after our marriage, in 1864, Tom found us in Virginia and became our boy. The amount of mothering and petty tyranny I exer- cised was not in proportion to my years, but he submitted to it all as only brave and big-souled men can do when as- sured of sincere, disinterested affection. His manners and self-culture became a serious study with him. He not only aimed to be a perfect soldier, but he was determined to take up his studies, interrupted by his early enlistment. Even in those busy times he bought himself school-books, and pored over them with patience in the evenings. He seemed to have come through unscathed by the coarseness of his surroundings as an enlisted man ; for though the best blood of our land was often in the ranks, there w^as a large element of lawlessness, beside, among the soldiers. A BEAU SABREUR. THE YOUNG AIDE-DE-CAMP. As soon as Tom was made aide-de-camp he followed his intrepid brother in charges, and was entrusted with the car- rying of important despatches and orders, which involved caution in traversing the enemy's country, and reliance upon his own judgment. He was invariably selected for the hardest work. If, after a tumultuous day, the General and his staff threw themselves down around the camp-fire to sleep and were awakened by the news that required one of them to saddle and start off for night duty, Tom was the one selected. I never heard that he even looked a mur- mur. I only know that I agreed with the staff when they used to say, " If any one thinks it is a soft thing to be a commanding officer's brother, he misses his guess." If I ever attempted to put in a protest for the nineteen-year- old boy, my husband argued with me that he must watch himself ; that he never made the slightest difference in disci- pline because Tom happened to be his brother. If the lad came in our room to report officially, the General received the Lieutenant in the most formal manner, but the moment the business was finished, Tom flung aside his sword and the two fell to scuffling, just as they used to in their merry boyhood days on the old farm in Ohio. Tom said little about his determination to try for medals, but he was just as eager for another, as ever, when he had taken his first flag at Namozine Church, April 2, 1865. Beside this, he was inspired to try again, as he found his brother, after whom he had modelled his life, was so proud of his achievement. General Custer had taken the first AT SAILOR'S CREEK. 233 Confederate colors of the war while serving as aide-de- camp on General McClellan's staff, in 1862. General Capehart, who commanded the Third Brigade of the Third Division, saw^ Tom take his second flag at Sailor's Creek, April 6, 1865. I quote from a recent letter he has kindly sent me regarding that day : " I saw^ your brother capture his second flag. It was in a charge made by my Brigade at Sailor's Creek, Virginia, against General Ewell's Corps. Having crossed the line of temporary works on the flank of the road, we were confronted by a supporting battle-line. It was from the second line that he wrested the colors, single-handed, and only a few paces to my right. As he approached the colors he received a shot in the face which knocked him back on his horse, but in a moment he was again upright in his saddle. Reaching out his right arm, he grasped the flag while the color-bearer reeled. The bullet from Tom's revolver must have pierced him in the region of the heart. As he was falling. Captain Custer wrenched the standard from his grasp and bore it away in triumph. ^For intrepidity I never saw this incident sur- passed." Major Farnham Lyon, who was a staff officer of General Custer's at that time, has written me that he recalls Tom's charge over- the rifle pits at Sailor's Creek, and his being wounded in the cheek. '' I know I felt at the time," he adds, '' that it was a great wonder he escaped w^th his life." General Whitaker, General Custer's chief of staff, bears testimony in a recent letter that '' Tom, on that day, fought like a lion." ■34 A BEAU SABREUR, A BATTLE-FLAG HARVEST. Major Allstrom of the 3d New Jersey Cavalry describes to me the melee in which General Custer's Division found themselves after the capture of nearly six miles of Con- federate trains ; also artillery and thirty-seven battle-flags. The confusion was great, and while the firing was still at its height, he saw our brother Tom dashing past him, his face streaming with blood from the wound he had received. The flag he had captured was flying out from the standard he still grasped. The Major, terrified at Tom's temerity in making himself so prominent an object for the enemy's sharpshooters, called out to him, saying, " For God's sake, Tom, furl that flag or they'll fire on you." Major Allstrom has in his possession a tintype,''^ taken by a camp photog- rapher twenty-one years ago, of two rows of ofificers and soldiers, holding in their hands the lances bearing the thirty- seven battle-flags captured that day. The men are in rough campaigning dress, their weather-beaten faces partly covered with all sorts of slouched hats, but above their brave heads is a line of tattered bunting that had but the day before led out the valiant South to the last desperate struggle of their waning cause. Major Allstrom stands in the front row with his captured colors. On the end of the line, our Tom, holding a standard in each hand. The thirty-six men were sent up to Washington to present in person their flags, and receive the recognition Congress made of their valor. I was in the Capitol at the time of f This is the original of the engrraving which faces the opening of this chapter. "/ 'VE GOT MY FLA Gr 23 C their arrival, wearily waiting for the war to close. The first knowledge I had that the colors were taken was the sight of a street-car filled with soldiers, and with flags streaming from every window as the horses were urged rapidly to the War Department. The street gamins fol- lowing, called out, " Hurrah for Custer's soldiers and their flags! " That was enough for me. I instantly joined the crowd on the walk and followed. On giving my name at Secretary Stanton's door, he admitted me,, and as each soldier presented his flag, I was introduced to him as the wife of their commander by Senator Harris, of New York. It was a very memorable day in my life, as well as in that of the dauntless men who had won distinction. My husband described to me, as soon as I saw him, some of the circumstances of Tom's wound. He was deeply moved as he talked. He said his first knowledge that his brother was shot was seeing Tom dashing tow- ard him, covered with blood. The ball had entered his cheek and passed out behind his ear. Only a short time before, a favorite color-bearer, whom my husband valued very highly, had been wounded in the face, and the bullet severed the jugular vein. He reeled in the saddle, and was dead almost instantly. The General, seeing Tom similarly wounded, was terribly startled, and expected that in a moment more the boy would totter in his saddle and his life ebb away. As he reached him, Tom called out, " Armstrong, the d — d rebels have shot me, but I've got my flag," and instantly set spurs to his horse to charge again. The General checked him, and told him to go to the rear and have his wound dressed. Evidently there was a trem- 230 A BEAU SABREUR. ble in the elder brother's voice, and the younger was em- boldened to disregard the direction. He was so full of fight no ordinary request checked him. Then the com- manding officer's tone was assumed, and my husband, see- ing the necessity of instant obedience, ordered him in arrest and to the rear. Poor Tom, hearing the order, which is the extreme resort of military discipline, had nothing to do but to report to a surgeon. We both felt immense pride in his valiant deed, and the black patch, planted in the midst of a very new and downy beard, was an ornament in our eyes for all the time it covered his wound. I remember that my husband was so proud of Tom's medals that he showed them to a general officer, who was our guest just before the campaign in Da- kota, in 1876. The officer was surprised to find Colonel Tom had two^ and told my husband, if he had his choice, he would rather have a medal for a flag than any brevet that " OUR TOM " ON THE FRONTIER. In 1866, Colonel Tom received an appointment as lieu- tenant to his brother's regiment, the Seventh Regular Cav- ahy. He reported for duty at Fort Riley, Kansas, and was received into our household as one of our family. From that time on, he was in all the campaigns and engagements of the regiment. It was an immense change to come down from the position of aide-de-camp on the staff of the com- mander of a division of thousands of cavalry, to the simple humdrum of a lieutenant of a company. It was a great test of the true metal of a man to adapt himself to the po- ON THE FRONTIER. 2^7 sition of a subaltern, after the independent and important duties with which he had so long been entrusted in the exciting scenes of the war. Tom's character bore this test. He was as conscientious and simple-hearted in the dis- charge of his company duty as if he had never known any other than that life. His brother, though never relaxing the strictness of discipline, continued to place more and more important trusts in Tom's hands, and proved, as years advanced, that his judgment and soldierly abilities stood uppermost in his mind, even among the tried and true of the Seventh Cavalry. In 1874, while the regiment was stationed at Fort Lincoln, Dakota, it became necessary to attempt the capture of a noted Indian murderer, Rain-in-the- Face. Captain Yates and Colonel Tom were selected to go to a post below us on the Missouri River, and secure the Indian as a prisoner. The story of the capture which fol- lows has already been told by me.^ " RAIN-IN-THE-FACE " AND HIS REVENGE. " In order, then, to deceive as to the purport of their ap- pearance at the Agency, the captain in command resorted to a ruse. He sent fifty men to the camp, ten miles away, to make inquiries for three Indians who had murdered citizens on the Red River the year before. Colonel Custer was or- dered to take five picked men and go to the trader's store, where the Indians resort constantly. This required great coolness and extreme patience, for they had to lounge about, seemingly indifferent, until they were certain the * " Boots and Saddles," by Mrs. Custer. New York . Harper Bros. ■38 A BEAU SABKEUR. right man was discovered. The cold made the Indians draw their blankets around them and over their heads. There is never any individuality about their dress, unless when arrayed for a council or dance; it was therefore almost impossible to tell one from the other. " Colonel Tom had to wait for hours, only looking fur- tively when the sharp eyes of these wary creatures were off guard. At last one of them loosened his blanket, and with the meagre descrip- tion that had been given him, Colonel Tom identified him as Rain - in - the - Face. Coming suddenly from be- hind, he threw his arms about him, and seized the Winchester rifle that the savage attempted to cock. He was taken entirely by surprise. No fear showed itself, but from the char- acteristically stolid face hate and revenge flashed out for an instant. He drew him- self up in an independent manner, to show his brother warriors that he did not dread death. " Among them he had been considered brave beyond pre- cedent, because he had dared to enter the Agency store at all, and so encounter the risk of arrest. The soldiers tied his hands and mounted guard over him. About thirty Indians surrounded them instantly, and one old orator com- " RAIN-IN-THE-FACE. RAIN-IN- THE-FA CE. ^39 menced an harangue to the others, inciting them to recap- ture their brother. Breathless excitement prevailed. At that moment the captain in command appeared in their midst. With the same coolness he had shown in the war, and during the six years of his Indian campaigns, he spoke to them, through an interpreter. With prudence and tact he explained to them that they intended to give the prisoner exactly the treatment a wdiite man would receive under like circumstances ; that nothing w^ould induce them to give him up ; and the better plan, to save bloodshed, would be. for the chiefs to withdraw and take with them their followers. Seeing that they could accomplish nothing by intimidation or by superior numbers, they had recourse to parley and proposed to compromise. They offered as a sacrifice two Indians, of the tribe, in exchange for Rain- in-the-Face. *'It was generosity like that of Artemus Ward, who of- fered his wife's relatives on the altar of his country, for they took care not to offer for sacrifice any but Indians of low rank. Rain-in-the-Face was a very distinguished warrior among them, and belonged to a family of six brothers, one of whom. Iron Horse, was very influential. The officers prevailed in the end, and the prisoner was taken to the cavalry camp. During the time that the Indians were op- posing his removal, the troopers had assembled around the entrance, ready for any emergency, and prepared to escort the murderer away. The Indians instantly vanished ; all went quickly and quietly to their camp, ten miles distant. Later in the day, a party of fifty mounted w^arriors dashed through the Agency to the road beyond, which had to be 246 A BEAU SABREUR. taken by our troopers on the way home. Of course our officers expected an attack from that party when they be- gan their homeward march ; to their surprise, they were unmolested. We learned afterwards that the mounted In- dians went to the camp of Two Bears to urge the young braves there to combine with them in the recapture of Rain-in-the-Face. Two Bears had long been friendly to the white man ; he was too old to fight, and prevented his young men from joining in the contemplated rescue. ''After the command had returned, and the officers had reported, General Custer sent for Rain-in-the-Face. He was tall, straight, and young. His face was quite im- perturbable. In a subsequent interview the General locked himself in his room with him. Through an in- terpreter, and with every clever question and infinite pa- tience, he spent hours in trying to induce the Indian to acknowledge his crime. The culprit's face finally lost its impervious look, and he showed some agitation. He gave a brief account of the murder, and the next day made a full confession before all the officers. He said neither of the white men was armed when attacked. He had shot the old man, but he did not die instantly, rid- ing a short distance before falling from his horse. He then went to him, and with his stone mallet beat out the last breath left. Before leaving him he shot his body full of arrows. The younger man signalled to them from among the bushes, and they knew that the manner in which he held up his hand was an overture of peace. When he reached him the white man gave him his hat as another and further petition for mercy, but he shot him at once, A^ INDIAN MUkDEREk. ^^I first with his gun and then with arrows. One of the latter entering his back, the dying man struggled to pull it through. Neither man was scalped, as the elder was bald and the younger had closely cropped hair. " This cruel story set the blood of the officers flowing hotly. They had already heard from one of the white scouts a description of P.ain-in-the-Face at a sun-dance, when he had betrayed himself as the murderer of the vet- erinary surgeon, by describing in triumph his beating out the brains of the old man with his mallet. After all this, it is not to be wondered at that each officer strode out of the room with blazing eyes." Two Indians, one of them Iron-Horse, had followed the cavalry up from the Agency, and asked to see their comrade. The General sent again for Rain-in-the-Face. He came into the room with clanking chains and with the guard at his heels. He was dressed in mourning. His leggings were black, and his sable blanket was belted by a band of white beads. One black feather stood erect on his head. Iron- Horse supposed that he was to be hung at once, and that this would be the final interview. The elder brother, be- lieving there was no hope, was very solemn. He removed his heavily-beaded and embroidered buffalo robe, and re- placed it with the plain one that Rain-in-the-Face wore. He exchanged pipes also, giving him his highly orna- mented one that he afterwards presented to the General. These pipes are valuable, as the material of which the bowls are made has to be brought from Kansas. Then, finding that there was a prospect of Rain-in-the-Face having his trial in Washington, he took off the medal that had 242 A BEAU SABREUk. been given to his father by a former President, whose like- ness was in the medalHon, and placed it over the neck ot his brother, that it might be a silent argument in his favor when he confronted the *' Great Father." After his two. friends had left him, Rain-in-the-Face occu- pied part of the guard-house with a citizen, who had been caught stealing grain from the store-house. For several months they had been chained together, and used to walk in front of the little prison for exercise and air. The guard-house was a poorly-built, insecure wooden building. After a time the sentinels became less vigilant, and the citizen, with help from his friends outside, who were work- ing the same way, cut a hole in the wall at night and es- caped. He broke the chain attaching him to the Indian, who was left free to follow. We found afterwards that Rain-in-the-Face did not dare to return to the reservation, but made his way .to the hostile camp. In the Spring of 1874 he sent word from there by an Agency Indian that he had joined Sitting Bull, and was awaiting his revenge for his imprisonment. In June, 1876, the Seventh Cavalry, unaware of the fact that eleven thousand Indians were encamped on and in the vicinity of the Little Big Horn, attacked a village, were overpowered with numbers, and Colonel Tom fell beside his dearly loved brother. Rain-in-the-Face, who was in the fight, sought out our brave brother and wreaked his savage vengeance on the dead body of one against whom he had so long treasured up an injury. The vengeance of that in- carnate fiend was concentrated on the man who had ef- fected his capture. It was found on the battlefield that A MORTAL ENEMY. 243 he had cut out the brave heart of that gallant, loyal and lovable man, our brother Tom ! So perished a gallant, noble, tender-hearted soldier, — a devoted son, a faithful, affectionate brother, a loyal friend. I cannot end this account of our chivalrous brother with- out the brief testimony my husband gave of his apprecia- tion of Tom. Just before the last and fatal campaign, a woman friend of ours in the East, said, "Well, General, what of Tom ? " *' If you want to know what I think of him, all I can say is, Tom ought to be the General and I the Captain^ 244 RED CLOUD. RED CLOUD'S ''BAPTISM OF FIRE." WHEN the Emperor of the French, at the opening of the war, in 1870, which cost him an empire, dic- tated a dramatic despatch containing the words quoted at the head of this chapter the cold world laughed in its sleeve. When the Indian chieftain, " Red Cloud," at the head of thousands of brave warriors, flung himself upon a handful of white men — outnumbered a hundred to one — and finally withdrew, baffled, awe-struck, and bleeding, before the deadly volleys from the newly-invented breech-loader, he might, truthfully, have said to his people, " We have had our baptism of fire ! " This affair took place in the Summer of 1867, near Fort Phil. Kearney, D. T. It was a modern tournament between 245 246 ^^-^ CLOUD'S " BAPTISM OF FlREr the representatives of civilization and barbarism — science and superstition. The leaders were admirable types of their respective races. Red Cloud was a Sioux of moderate rank but immod- erate ambition. When the Government of the United States sought to obtain the consent of the Sioux to run a road through their country to Montana, Red Cloud refused to sign the treaty, and placing himself at the head of a large force of Sioux and Cheyennes, prepared to resist what they deerned invasion. Burning with a desire for distinc- tion and accessions to his band, he laid in wait near the fort already mentioned. His opportunity came ; one day, when a little party of regular infantry — fifty-one men and two officers — marched out from the shelter of Fort Phil. Kearney into the country to protect a '' wood party," which, under the eye of a contractor, was cutting fuel for the use of the garrison. The commander of the detachment was Brevet Major James Powell, Captain 27th Infantry, an officer of more than twenty years' experience, in all grades, from private to captain. He was still suffering from the effects of wounds received in Georgia during the war, where he had won two brevets '* for gallant and meritorious services." Powell found that the contractor had two encampments of wood-choppers ; one of these was in the centre of a small plain, fairly adapted to purposes of defence and for grazing the animals; the other, a mile distant, on the other side of Little Piney Creek, near the foot of the mountains. Part of the soldiers were detailed to protect the working parties COLONEL JAMES POWELL. 247 and to escort the wood trains on their trips to and from the fort. Major Powell wisely determined to make the position on the plain as strong for defence as possible. A number of wagons, sometimes called " Prairie Schoon- ers," with high bodies or " beds," liad been sent out to haul the wood. For this purpose the running gear alone was used. The beds became of unexpected importance. They were laid on the ground, end to end, forming a wooden fort, oval in shape — thus : r;c At the point on each side of this little plan there was one of the wagons on wheels, which contained supplies for the use of the troops — such as blankets, ammunition and tents. There were fourteen empty wagon-beds, and in the wooden sides of each, holes were bored about eighteen inches from the bottom, large enough to admit the barrel of a rifle. Between the wagons the spaces were filled with any loose material likely to stop a bullet, such as sacks of forage, ox-bows, chains and short logs. THE ATTACK. Major Powell, having made his preparations for defence, calmly awaited the attack. 16 BVT. I.IEUT.-COLONEL JAMES POWELL, CAPTAIN U. S. AKMV. 248 RED-CLOUD'S " BAPTISM OF FIRE:' ''About nine o'clock in tlie morning of August 2, 1867, two hundred Indians attacked the herders in charge of the herd, driv^ing them off ; at the same time, five hundred attacked the train at the foot of the mountain, driving off the men belonging there and burning the wagons."* This double attack had the effect to deprive the com- manding officer of nearly one-half of his detachment ; these men, cut off from the *' corral " of wagon-beds already described, made the best of their way back to the fort, losing several of their number, killed and wounded. At the "corral" Major Powell completed his prepara- tions for a desperate stand. On that very ground, but a few months before, three officers and seventy-six veteran enlisted men had been killed in an hour by the same tribe of Indians which now, to the number of three thousand braves, hemmed in this little band of twenty-six soldiers and four civilians. So confident of success were the In- dians that they had brought many of their squaws with them to assist in torturing the victims, and to carry off the plunder. The soldiers were told off to the wagons, which were in most cases covered with blankets, under which the men laid flat. At the " wagon-on-wheels " on one side. Major Powell made his headquarters, rifle in hand, while Lieutenant Jenncss occupied the other. Major Powell's parting injunction to his men, before the fight opened, was, " Go in there and fight for your lives." And well did his men execute the order. By this time the surrounding hills were covered with * Major Powell's Official Report. AN UNSUCCESSFUL CHARGE. 249 gayly painted savages, who awaited with impatience the moment when the white soldiers should be overwhelmed. It was not unlike one of the great Roman spectacles of the time of Nero, when bands of Christians were given over to wild beasts in full view of the people. As the first act of the bloody drama, eight hundred savage horsemen charged down upon the silent little spot on the plain, as if to ride over their prey and crush them to death under the hoofs of their ponies. On they clash, with the speed and the force of a whirlwind. As they come within a hundred yards of the corral a sheet of flame darts out from the wagon sides, followed by a roar, which is kept up without cessation for several minutes. Like dry leaves before a gust of wind the Indians are swept aside to the right and left. The front of the legion has gone down in its place — melted as snow under the midday sun ; those in rear are rallied again and again, under new leaders, with fresh horsemen, but although some get within ten feet of the corral they fall dead as if by lightning stroke."''' None can live in the furnace blast which shrivels up group after group of the desperate assailants. Red Cloud, who saw this failure from a commanding crest, wondered, and secretly chafed at the discomfiture of some of his most dashing lieutenants. But the success of his whole campaign depended upon crushing this puny force — and that speedily. He deter- mined to pour his entire band, on foot, down upon the corral. ♦ Major Powell says one ball often penetrated two Indians, 250 RED-CLOUD'S ''BAPTISM OF FIRE^ Lieutenant Jenness, leaving his wagon for a moment, to perform some duty or other, exposed himself to the enemy's fire and was instantly killed. The firing had been so rapid that the barrels of the rifles became very hot, and it was difficult to handle them. The poor shots among the soldiers were set to work loading spare guns, and keep- ing the marksmen supplied. T© make his second attack overwhelming, Red Cloud had circled the corral with masses of Indians, preceded by a swarm of sharpshooters, creeping forward, dodging be- hind every stump or boulder, and hiding in the hollows, firing upon the little garrison constantly. The grand charge which followed is well described by Colonel Dodge, U. S. A., who afterwards had a talk with one of Red Cloud's sub- chiefs, who was wounded in the fight. *' But now from the hills swarms a semicircle of warriors, at least two thousand strong, under the leadership of the gallant young nephew of Red Cloud, anxious to signal- ize his valor, and to win the right to succeed his uncle as sub-chief. When within about five hundred yards, the order to charge was given, and the whole line dashed on to the corral, to be, when they had almost touched it, hurled back in confusion and dismay. Again and again did the gallant band rally and charge, only to be again broken, dis- comfited and driven back; and it was only after 'three continuous hours ' of almost superhuman effort against this unseen, intangible foe, that the line became utterly demor- alized, and fled in consternation to the hills. " When the defeated horde had reached the safety of the hills, they were ordered not to fight any more, but to COUNTING THE SLAIN. 2U recover the bodies of the killed and wounded. A cloud of skirmishers were sent out to cover this operation, with orders to keep up a continuous fire. All the killed and wounded nearest the hills were soon taken to the rear and cared for, but to recover those nearer to the corral was ex- ceedingly difficult and dangerous. Taking one end of a long rope, formed by tying together many lariats, a warrior ran out into the open as far as he dared, then throwing himself on the ground and covering himself with a shield of thick buffalo hide, he crawled to the nearest dead or wounded man and fastened the rope around his ankles. The men in the woods at the other end of the rope then pulled on it, and dragged the man or body to a safe place. The rescuing warrior then crawled backward, protected by his shield." TREMENDOUS SLAUGHTER. One of the citizens who fought with Powell was a griz- zled old trapper, who had spent his life on the frontier, and been in Indian fights without number. Some months after the battle, the department commander met and questioned him. " How many Indians were in the attack? " asked the Gen- eral. " Wall, Gin'r'l, I can't say for sartin, but I think thur wus nigh onto three thousand of 'em." ** How many were killed and wounded?" '* Wall, Gin'r'l, I can't say for sartin, but I think thur wur nigh onto two thousand ov 'em hit." *' How many did you kill ? " 252 RED-CLOUD'S ''BAPTISM OF FIREi '' Wall, Gin'r'l, I can't say, but gi'me a dead rest, I kin hit a dollar at fifty yards every time, and I fired with a dead rest at more'n fifty of thenn varmints inside of fifty yards." ''For Heaven's sake! how many times did you fire?" exclaimed the astonished General. " Wall, Gin'r'l, I can't say, but I kept eight guns pretty well het up for mor'n three hours." ^' Colonel Powell f writes (Sept. 20, 1886): " In one of the charges on foot, the Indians came so close that the men, not being able to load their pieces fast enough, tJirciv the augers (used to bore the loopholes) at the savages, who in turn threw them at the soldiers. The tops of the wagon- beds were riddled, and after the fight presented a very rag- ged appearance, where the enemy's bullets had struck — for- tunately, in most cases, above the heads of my men. '' I claim the credit of shooting Red Cloud's nephew dur- ing the fight, which was over before the troops came from the Fort to relieve us. V/e were very glad to see them, however, as we were nearly exhausted, having been fighting continuously from seven o'clock in the morning until three in the afternoon." The wounded Sioux chief, in the fall of the same year, told Colonel Dodge, U. S. A., that the number of Indians in the fight was over three thousand, and that a prominent " medicine man " of the Sioux told him that the total loss in killed and wounded, of Indians, was eleven Jiunelred and thirty-seven ; which would be at the rate of one white man to two hundred and sixty-eight Indians ! X * " Our Wild Indians," by Col. R. I. Dodge. Hartford : A. D. Worthington & Co. 1882. t Major Powell was breveted Lieut. -Colonel U. S. A. for this fight.— [Editor.] I The troops lost one officer, and two privates killed, and two private soldiers wounded, THE MEDICINE FIGHT. •53 The Indians on the. Plains, to this day, speak of this con- flict as something mysterious and awful, and although they have since learned to use breech-loading arms as skilfully as white men, yet the Sioux and Cheyennes always speak of the fight as the Medicine Fight, where the '* Bad God" fought against them. A FRIEND INDEED. ^54 CAPTAIN CHARLES KING, UNITED STATES ARMY. TRAILING THE APACHES. I. "A FRIEND INDEED." SCARCELY any savages have more thoroughly resisted every effort to civiHze them than the Apaches. These Indians accept, rather sullenly, the beef and bread which Uncle Sam periodically issues to them ; but when the first green blade shows itself above the ground, the Apache paints his face, leaves his tall hat and " store clothes " with his dusky housekeeper, mounts one of his numerous ponies and sal- lies forth. He carries the latest thing in breech-loaders, the newest patent in cartridge belts, filled with bright copper cartridges, and a pass from the agent certifying that " the bearer, Victorio, is a good Indian." He proceeds leisurely through the country, with a few boon companions, killing, burning, and laying waste. They are pursued, but so famil 255 256 TRAILING THE APACHMS. iar are they with the mountains that it is a long chase and a stern chase, indeed, before the last marauder is caught ; and many a gallant soldier loses his life in the vain effort to perform with one horse what the Indian does not at- tempt without three of the toughest beasts known, or if necessary does easily on foot. The latest instance of this kind is the chase of old Geronimo's band in Arizona by that gallant and lamented officer. Captain Crawford, of the Army. By the fall of 1874, the Apache War in Arizona had dwindled to small proportions. For nearly three years General Crook had kept the entire Fifth Cavalry in scattered detachments, scouting through the mountains and tracking the renegades to their lairs. Fghting had been incessant, the regiment had lost many a valuable officer and man, but not a single fight, and when the summer of '74 was ushered in, nearly all the once savage and hostile Apaches were hud- dled together ; some on a reservation far up in the Verde Valley, while others were similarly guarded at San Carlos, two hundred miles by the mountain trails to the south-east. The little garrison of Camp Verde consisted of two troops of the Fifth Cavalry, '* A " and " K," and two companies of the Eighth Infantry, all under command of a veteran sol- dier, Brevet Colonel J. W. Mason, Fifth Cavalry. Some of the cavalry were still out on the inevitable scout in the mountains, to the south-east, but all seemed peaceful around the post. Lieutenant King, of the Fifth Cavalry, was at work mak- ing a survey of the military reservation, and was riding along with his little party of rod-and-chain men one Octo- ber afternoon, when they were startled by the appear. THE ALARM. 2^; ance of some herders coming toward them at full gallop from the foot-hills. They brought the news that instead of being all driven off to the south-east or into the Agency, as was supposed, there was now a band of Apaches raiding through the valley, far above them, and upon the very bor- ders of the reservation. Taking two of the herdsmen with him, Lieutenant King rode back to the post, where Colonel Mason was speedily informed of the news. The first thing necessary was to communicate with the commanding officer at the Apache reservation, whose station was twenty miles up the valley, and the Colonel directed Mr. King to take a fresh horse, gallop to the Agency, confer with this officer, who was also acting as Indian Agent, and get twenty Apache scouts to accompany the troops, which the Colonel purposed sending out that very night. Long before sun- set, therefore, the Lieutenant was reining in his panting horse before the shelter of the spreading canvas under which his regimental comrade. Lieutenant Schuyler, was 258 Tk AILING THE APACHES. busily at work writing down the statements of some of his own '' reservation poHce," who had come in to report that they, too, had found the trail of the raiding band, who had driven off some fifty head of cattle through the Red Rock country to the north-east. Though some years his junior, Lieutenant Schuyler had seen much more service against the Apaches than his friend and ''statesman," King (they were both New Yorkers), for the latter had been on other duty until the preceding winter, and Schuyler had been selected to command this big reservation because of his long experience among, and intimate knowledge of, the Apaches. Both of them had been in the field commanding scouting parties all that Spring, however, and had been usually successful in find- ing the Indians for whom they were in chase. They were warm personal friends and generous rivals. Here was another opportunity for sharp, soldierly work, a chase, a battle, the recapture of the stolen cattle and the thrashing of the Indian marauders. General Crook was quick to appreciate and reward zeal and dash in his young officers, and both King and Schuyler had already been named by him to the President for " brevets " for gallant conduct in these conflicts in the Arizona mountains. Neither of them would stand in the other's way, yet each was eager for the command of the force to be sent, as orders were given in those days "to pursue and punish " the Indians in the case. The moment Schuyler caught sight of King, he knew that the story of the raid had already reached Camp Verde, and that it was to be King's " benefit," not his. All the same, he gave his comrade every assistance, pointing out to PkEPARlJVG TO MOVE. 259 him that so far from being a day old, as the herders had re- ported, it must have been three days since the stock was run off, and the Apaches were by this time well up tow- ards Snow Lake on the ''divide" of the Mogollon. King asked for some of the scouts he had had with him in May and June, but, as bad luck would have it, they were all out with other commands, down toward the Tonto Basin to the south-east. Schuyler had nothing to give him but some Apache-Yumas, whom King had never seen, and even they were out somewhere on the reservation, and would have to be hunted up. At sunset, therefore, King re- mounted, and with a parting shake of the hand and "■ Good luck to you. Old Man," from his brother lieutenant, hurried back to Verde, pondering over in his mind all that Schuyler had told him about the probable course taken by the In- dians, and the best way to nab them. PREPARING FOR THE SCOUT. Reaching Verde he found that orders were already issued by Colonel Mason. Lieutenants King and Eaton, Fifth Cavalry, with twenty men of troops " K " and *' A," and a like number of Indian scouts were directed to push out at dawn, go north-eastward, find the trail, ** pursue and punish the Indians." King had a few moments' chat with his colonel over what Schuyler had told him, and then went off to see the veteran packer, Harry Hawes, who was to go with the mule train. It was estimated they might be gone ten or twelve days, and already the men were drawing from the commissary store-house their supplies of bacon, flour, coffee, sugar and " hard-tack," while from the ordnance of< 26o TRAILING THE APACHES. fice were lifted out two solid, heavy little boxes, painted a dark olive green and labelled, '' looo Rounds — Springfield Carbine Ball Cartridge — Calibre 45." There was no telling how much of that sort of thing they would need in addition to the supply each officer and man carried on his person in the handy ''.thimble belt." Lieutenant Eaton was quarter- master of the post at the time, and ordinarily would not be detailed for such duty as scouting, but here was a chance of finding the Indians close at hand, and having the fight over and done with in less than a week, so he wanted to go, and received the Colonel's permission. Busily at work among the soldiers was an Irish sergeant, between whom and the cavalry officers, and even men, there was a deep respect and esteem. He bore the name of Bernard Taylor, was called "Barney" by the troopers when off duty, but respectfully addressed as *' Sergea>nt " at all other times. Both King and Eaton knew him well. He had been in many a scout and skirmish with the regiment, and was hailed as a daring, resolute, intelligent man, and a non-commissioned officer of high merit. He had not waited for Lieutenant King's return from his forty-mile ride, but had everything in readiness to report to him on his arrival. The horses had been carefully inspected, and both they and the mules were re-shod where the shoes were worn to any extent. This is an imperative precaution over the Arizona mountain trails — there is no rougher country in the world. By ten P.M. everything was ready but the scouts. They had not appeared, and as the lieutenant knew he would have no great difficulty in overtaking the Indians during the week, burdened as they were by slow-moving cattle and Sl/SPlCIOUS ALLIES. 26 1 compelled to follow the beaten trails, he was well content with the Colonel's orders to let the men have a few hours' sleep before starting. It was his purpose to push up Beaver Creek in the dark, and scale the mountains from its head-waters, hiding in the canons by day and continuing on the chase at night, so that his coming would be unperceived even by the wariest of Apache eyes. Late at night the Apache-Yumas came riding down from the reservation, and reported to Lieutenant King at his quarters. He and Eaton looked them over by lantern light and shook their heads. '' No good," said Eaton. There were fifteen of them, under the leadership of a couple of petty chiefs. An interpreter came who said that Lieutenant Schuyler wanted the horses returned at once. They had only been lent to hurry them down. No mountain Apaches ever did their scouting ex- cept on foot, and the first thing these fellows did was to de- mand that the horses be kept for their benefit. Being re- fused, they began to grumble and then to demand supper, and w^ere finally marched off to the command in a sullen mood. "■ I'll bet a hat," said Sergeant Taylor, as he watched them talking in low tones among themselves, '' those beg- gars know just who the renegades are and don't want to go and help find them." At the first gray of dawn the little command was ready to start. FRONTIER UNIFORM. Let us inspect these frontier soldiers. We look in vain, with our civilized eyes, tor the ** pomp and circumstance" 262 TRAILING THE APACHES, which one associates with a "regular" in the East — at Washington or New York. Where are the plumes and pipe-clay? where the dazzling brasses and the faultless cut of the company tailor? A search in the men's lockers would doubtless reveal them, snugly packed away for the next garrison duty. But here another garb, a combination of experience and the old-clothes' bag, is the correct thing. We may perhaps except the detachment commander. His clothes are not shabby ; and he can't help being neat, even when on a "scout." From the top of his low-crowned, feather-weight, drab, felt hat to the dark-blue flannel shirt, fastened at the neck with a knotted silk handkerchief, and the small soft gauntlet which he twirls restlessly in one hand, the artist as well as the campaigner stands out ; he of all the party wears closely-fitting cavalry breeches, boots, spurs, and a cartridge-belt well filled ; an " officer's rifle " completes a picturesque and useful outfit. Standing by his horse, a little apart from the men, is an admirable specimen of the Irish-American soldier. Of medium stature, very powerfully built, with a frank, bronzed face, bright blue eyes and close-cut auburn hair and mus- tache (marked in the descriptive list as "sandy "), Sergeant Bernard Taylor of the Fifth Horse would at a glance be picked out as one of the best men in the party. His cos- tume, although hardly as natty as that of his superior, is not less adapted to the nature of the service. A gray felt sombrero, with upturned brim, is clapped well down on his head, with a gentle inclination over the right eyebrow ; a faded lead-colored flannel shirt, open at the neck, gives a glimpse of a red undershirt ; a plains-man's home-made SERGEANT TAYLOR'S OUTFIT. 263 cartridge-belt, bristling with metallic ammunition, encircles his waist, with a revolver on one side, balanced on the other by a keen-bladed hunting-knife ; buckskin breeches, and well-greased cowhide boots, with huge rowelled Mexi- can spurs, make up the Sergeant's equipment. The short- limbed, compactly-built, California horse, standing quietly at his elbow, looks fit for any emergency, and has more than once shown a clean pair of heels to the enemy, when discre- tion on his rider's part has been the better part of valor; the McClellan saddle, stripped of every ounce of unneces- sary leather, and planted well forward on the neatly folded blanket, the snug sack of barley, like a small section of stove-pipe resting behind the cantle of the saddle, the extra girth, — all these are signs that mean business. The rest are more or less similarly accoutred. Hardly a forage cap, not a sabre, nor a letter or number to tell to what particular regiment of Uncle Sam's retainers these bandit-like horsemen belong. Fording the Verde, they pushed rapidly up the valley of Beaver Creek, and at night were dragging their horses after them in a tough foot-climb up the jagged steeps of the Mogollon. Long before midnight the Indians, who ought to have served as guides, had dropped hopelessly behind. "Tired out," they said, and yet, wdien they want to, any one of them can out-last the stoutest mountaineer on a tramp. King, Eaton and Sergeant Taylor led the way up the heights or down through the dark ravines, guided only by the stars, and when dawn of the second day arrived they halted, tired and foot-sore, far up in the range, and, they believed, undetected. 264 TRAILING THE APACHES. One thing had occurred to confirm the suspicions of Sergeant Taylor. Climbing up out of a deep gorge they came, just before daybreak, to a point from which they could see the range, far away northward, and there, stand-, ing boldly out among the eastern cliffs of the reservation, casting its glare mile:5 to the eastward, but hidden from the west, was a huge signal fire, a warning to the enemy that the soldiers were coming. King sent back to the rear for his scouts and silently pointed to the distant blaze as they were finally huddled before him. One and all they denied all knowledge of it, but declared they could not keep up — '' Soldiers go too fast." Warned that the first one caught at anything that might betray the presence of the com- mand would be summarily shot, they were herded down to the next ravine, where the day was spent in resting in con- cealment. The next night the command marched rapidly through a wild and beautiful table-land, far up in the mountains, among pine, juniper and scrub oak. Here nothing could keep the Indians along with the column. Two of them swore they were sick, and both the officers felt certain that they knew the troops were rapidly nearing the position of the " hostiles," and dared not be with them. One of them was so cold and abject an object that the Lieutenant or- dered him to mount a spare mule. He did so, fell asleep, rolled off and nearly cracked his skull. Eaton picked him up, unconscious, and plastered the crack as well as he could by starlight, and then, leaving the Indian in charge of two of his demoralized comrades, the little column pushed ahead. When they reached the banks of Snow Lake, far A HOT TRAIL, 26^ up on the plateau, only nine of the scouts were left. Two had deserted and gone no one knew w^hither. The actions of the entire gang were so unlike those of all the other scouts with whom the two officers had dealt in the past that they became" thoroughly distrustful of them. They kept protesting to Lieutenant King that no Apaches could be in the vicinity, but their very volubility convinced him they were lying, and excited his wrath. It had grown sharply cold so far up among the mountains, that the water froze in the canteens at night, and the Indians complained bitterly of the hardships. But on the dawn of October 31, King and Sergeant Taylor, scouting out in front, came upon recent Apache signs in the sand of a little gully ; more than that, they were soon on the track of the captured cattle. That very evening, down in a broad depression, they came in sight of the chase, and, leaving their skulking allies to look out for themselves, the little troop rode headlong down the slopes, and while some "rounded up" the frightened cattle, King, Eaton and most of the men rushed on in pursuit of the Apaches, who had scattered into the hills. Darkness put an end to that, however, and they had to wait until the scouts came up. Leaving a guard with the cattle. King and his men again set forth about nine P.M., and found themselves, about one in the morning, in the defile known as Sunset Pass, where they bivouacked for the night. Their orders were to " pursue and punish." They had pursued, but up to this moment had inflicted no punishment. Both officers were confident that they would find the Apaches lurking in the mountains north or south of the Pass, and were de- 266 TRAILING THE APACHES. termined to have it out with them ; but the scouts pro- tested that as soon as it was dark the Tontos must have doubled on their track and gone back towards Snow Lake. At dawn, King ordered them out to search the neighbor- hood for signs. They were in a rocky ravine, through which there trickled a tiny stream that formed little pools here and there, from which they watered their horses. South rose a rugged mountain, covered with tangled shrub- bery and bould-Tsrs. Northward lay another, and between them curled and twisted the old trail leading to the Sunset Crossing of the Colorado Chiquito, twenty miles away. The Indians sullenly obeyed, but huddled nervelessly to- gether, making only faint pretence of search, and inces- santly protesting, " No Tonto here." '* THICK AS LEAVES." Suddenly there came a shout from down the ravine. Some of the men, in hunting about, had come finally on a pool with sandy shores, and there, thick as leaves, were the fresh prints of Tonto moccasons. The scouts were fairly driven to the spot by the ofificers, and con- fronted with the evidences of their worthlessness. Then came the hurried consultations. It was evjdent that after filling their water-vessels the Tontos had taken to the mountains, south of the Pass, and King determined to fol- low at once. Eaton, with the main body, was ordered to remain a short distance in rear, while the commander, with Sergeant Taylor, should force the scouts ahead and find the trail up the rocky slopes. White men could not do it unaided, and there were a dozen ways in which the Indians ''HEAP TON TO SIGNr 26/ might have gone. Damning them for their cowardice and treachery, King warned the scouts that they might expect a shot from either himself or Taylor if they lied again, or- dered them out in dispersed line across the slope, and tlien, pointing upward, gave the word *' Ugashe " (go ahead), and he and Taylor followed at their heels. The ardent officer soon found himself and the Sergeant far in advance of the more slowly moving detachment. In a few minutes both stood upon a great flat rock, jutting out from the precipice, and covered with huge boulders, relics of some early upheaval ; above them, the great cliff reared its forbidding front, black and seamed with the storms of ages ; below, the mountain side fell away in mingled forest and ravine and rushing torrent. Looking around for some outlet to the spot, for he was convinced the hostiles were lurking near, the Lieutenant sent the Sergeant in one direction, while he cautiously glided into the underbrush in an attempt to flank the position. A moment later something whizzed by his head and buried itself deep in a tree. He had found the hornet's nest ! In another moment he felt a sharp burning sensation as an- other dart, better aimed, cut through the muscles at the outer corner of his left eye and flew down toward the cow- ardly scouts, who, at the sound of the first arrow, had taken to their heels. A hornet's nest. To jump behind a convenient rock was but the work of a moment for the bleedin-g but not fatally injured officer. With carbine at " ready," he eagerly watched for the game, 268 TRAILING THE APACHES. He had not long to wait. Another arrow sped by his head from the left, and like lightning his rifle was at his shoulder; a sharp report followed, and one of two dark forms crouch- ing in his front dropped out of sight. Ere he could reload, a volley came from the same direction, his carbine dropped from his hand, and his right arm, pierced by a bullet, hung nerveless by his side, while down the wounded limb the warm life-blood poured. In such situations men must think quickly. He must run for it. Could he hold out until he reached his men, whom he knew were even then springing forward to his relief? All this passed through the gallant fellow's mind in a second. In another he was springing down the side of the hill with the yelling red devils after him, but moving more slowly, as they did not expect any friends in that direction. The breathless and fast weakening soldier hardly needs the obstruction of a tough, clinging vine to send him headlong eight or ten feet down, where, bruised and nearly senseless, he lies. But one thought is uppermost. They shall not take him alive without another shot. He fumbles for his revolver and — vvhat is that ? Upon his ear comes a familiar sound. It is tlie Sergeant calling his name. " Lieutenant ! Lie II tenant ! ivJiere are ye ? " " Here ! Sergeant," faintly replies the wounded man. The Sergeant took in the situation at a glance. In a mo- ment he had picked up his officer (who held on with one arm round the soldier's neck) and was getting over the ground in true mountaineer fashion. When King fell, the Apaches for a few moments lost his SA VING HIS OFFICER 'S LIFE. 269 trail, but now they came tearing after the fugitives. Every few yards Sergeant Taylor would stop and send a reminder from his carbine that his arms w^ere all right, and twice a Tonto measured his length on the rocks. But the gallant Irishman was getting winded, and King, fearing that both would lose their lives, urged, implored, ORDERED his com- panion to leave him and save himself. But the Sergeant w^as not that sort of man ! To leave any white human being — much less the officer whom he loved and respected — to the mercy of those howling fiends was not to be thought of for an instant. He knew w^hat that meant, — death by torture, with which the cruelties of the Spanish Ii\quisition pale by contrast. .The shots now came more frequently, they came closer, and arrows mingled with the leaden shower. At last, just as Sergeant Taylor's strength has nearly given out with the weight and the pace, sounds of crashing bushes and excited voices are heard, and — " Here come the boys, sir ! " is the welcome shout which rings in the Lieutenant's ear as he loses consciousness. In a quarter of an hour the affair is over. Several of the Apaches have gone to the happy hunting-grounds of their people, and the command is resting in a picturesque nook. Lieutenant King's wound is not beyond the rough surgery of old campaigners, of whom there are not a few in the command. Fortunately, the ball had avoided the arteries and the bones. Cold-water applications, careful bandaging, some strong coffee, and as soft a bed of blankets as could be made, went far towards bracing the disabled cavalryman [or the ride back to his post. And although suffering :;o TRAILING THE APACHES, much, the first thing he did upon his arrival was to dictate an official report, in which Sergeant Taylor's conduct came in for conspicuous mention and recommendation to the military authorities. None realized better than the Lieu- tenant that, but for Taylor's pluck and perseverance, to some other pen would have fallen this professional duty. It was for this act of daring and devotion that Sergeant Bernard Taylor was named for and awarded the Medal of Honor, and in the skirmish up the height Corporal Bryan Smith and Private Frank Biffar were named for conspicuous conduct. Taylor was a typical Irishman, brave, intelligent, full ot high spirit and pride in his regiment. He was a fine ri»der, a quick shot, a gallant and enthusias- tic trooper, a\.d never more thoroughly in his element than in the rough mountain scouting, in which the Fifth spent so many stirring years. Poor fellow ! he lived only a few DECORATED AND DESERVJuVa. 271 brief months, and died at Verde, just before the regiment started on its homeward march. SERGEANT JOHN NIHILL, FIFTH U. S. ARTILLERY. II. THREE TO ONE. Frequently the force sent after the hostile Indians is small, but that it gains in quality what it lacks in quantity appears from the story of Private JOHN NiHiLL, ''F," 5th U. S. Cavalry, a soldier who won a Medal of Honor for his good conduct in the Wl'ietstone Mountains, Arizona, July 13, 1872, and upon other occasions. He has since become a sergeant in Battery '* B," 5th U. 272 S£:/^g£:ajV7' Avn/ll 's ad fenture. 273 S. Artillery, and at the Editor's request gives the follow- ing: account of one of his adventures i"^" " During the Summer of 1872, the troop to which I then belonged (' F,' Fifth Cavalry) was stationed at Camp Crittenden, A. T,, which at that time was the most ex- treme Southern post in Arizona. The post was situated at the base of the Santa Rita Mountains, which at that time was a favorite resort of the Chiricahua Apaches, in their raids through Southern Arizona. " In the Summer of 1872, the Apaches committed more depredations in the vicinity of Camp Crittenden than in any other part of the territory, and we were poorly pre- pared to return the compliment, having only the one troop at the post, three-fourths of whom were sick with chills and fever, and unable to perform any duties, so that a sufficient force could not be sent out against them, to punish them in their favorite haunts. Still, Lieutenant Hall, the post com- mander, did all that possibly could be done, under the cir- cumstances, to afford protection to the settlers in the vi- cinity of the post. '* Indian alarms were daily occurrences, so that it was noth- ing new, when, on the morning of July 13, 1872, a Mexican ranchman, who lived about two miles from the post, came in at daylight and reported that during the night a party * Meda!,s won hv Serceaxt John Nihill, " B," 5th U. S. Artillery. {See Portrait.) The medals on the rifjht and left, respectively, of the Medal of Honor are {i) the De- partment of the East, " Skirmisher Medal," and (2) Division of the Atlantic, " First Silver Medal," won at Creedmoor, Sept., 1885. The medal under the first named is (3) the " liattery Medal," to be won three years in succession before becoming the property of the winner ; won successively 1884, 1885 and 1886 by the wearer. The medals under the Medal of Honor are (4) a " Marksman's Pin " and (5) a " Sharpshooter's Cross." The one on the left of the cross is (6) the Division of the Missouri " Silver Medal," won at Fort Leavenworth, Sept. 27, 1882. (For Nihill's Certificate of Merit, see p. 266.) VA TRAILING THE APACItES. of Indians who had a lot of stolen cattle in tlieir posses- sion had passed by his ranch at a quick gait. Immediate])- a detail of eight men, including the First Sergeant, under command of Lieutenant Hall, started in pursuit. " The trail was found within 6oo yards of the post, and as it had been raining the day before, the ground was soft, so that there was little difficulty in following it while in the open country. " The trail headed towards the Whetstone Mountains, which were distant about fifteen miles, south-east from the post. '' We travelled as rapidly as the nature of the ground would permit, hoping to overhaul them before they reached the mountains. " Several times the trail was lost, owing to it leading over rough, rocky ground, but as the majority of us had more or less experience in trailing, we would soon recover it again. *' When we reached the mountains our progress was nec- essarily slow, as the Indians had in several instances split up, so as to throw us off the trail, but they invariably came together again at some given point. " Late in the afternoon we passed some cattle that the In- dians abandoned in a deep ravine, as they were thoroughly exhausted and unable to travel any farther. This ©aused us to make as much haste as possible, as we knew they would strike into some of the deep canons in the moun- tains, where it would be almost impossible to follow them. '\ About two miles from where we passed the cattle, the trail led into a deep canon, where we had the greatest dif- MOUNTAIN FIGHTING. 275 ficulty in following it, ^nd then could only do so by dis- mounting and leading our horses. '' We had advanced in this manner about one mile into the canon, when we were suddenly attacked by about forty Indians, who were concealed behind rocks on one side of the cailon, and about 800 feet above us. The side of the ravine where the Indians had taken up their position was almost vertical, so that it was almost impossible to get a shot at them. '' At the time the Indians made the attack I was following the trail of some who had gone up the opposite side of the caiion. I was about 75 or 100 yards to the right of and in advance of the rest of the party. I took up a position be- hind a small tree, which had a fork about five feet from the ground ; in this fork I rested my carbine to steady it. I watched for every opportunity to fire at an Indian, but they were so well concealed behind rocks that it was almost impossible to catch more than a fleeting glance of them, as they ran from one position to another. " During this time, some of Lieutenant Hall's party were wounded, as also some of his horses, and to make matters worse, the Indians commenced to roll rocks down from the top of the cliffs ; these came down with such force and noise that the horses became almost unmanageable. " It was then that Lieutenant Hall made up his mind to retreat, and gave the men orders to do so, the First Sergeant and himself taking the post of danger, in rear, and giv- ing the wounded men the chance to get out first. " When the order was given to retreat I was watching a chance to get a shot at an Indian who was dodging behind 276 TRAILING THE APACHES. the rocks on the opposite side of the canon. I did not no- tice that I was being left behind until my party had got a considerable distance ahead of me. " However, I started to catch up to them. I was dis- mounted, with the bridle-rein over my arm, and my car- bine in readiness for whatever might turn up. After I had gone about 300 yards I was fired at by an Indian, but the gun (a muzzle-loader) missed fire, and before he could make a second attempt I fired and dropped him. " In the mean time, three others rushed down the side of the cailon, with the intention of cutting me ofT from the remainder of my party. One of these stopped long enough to shoot at me, but missed, and I returned his fire, and was fortunate enough to bring him down also. The other two concealed themselves behind rocks, directly in front of me. 1 turned my horse loose, and drove him ahead to try and draw the fire of th"e Indians. I moved about 30 or 40 yards to the right of my horse, making as little noise as possible ; when my horse got within about 30 yards of them, they came crawling around the rocks to the side where they were exposed to me, and just as soon as they discovered me I fired, killing one ; the other jumped into a ravine and I saw him no more. 1 kept on and rejoined my party, who were waiting at the mouth of the canon. " We marched that night to old Camp Wallen, an aban- doned post on the south side of the Whetstone Mountains, on a tributary of the San Pedro River. We made the wounded as comfortable as the circumstances would permit, and next day marclied back to Camp Crittenden. " A few days afterwards we went back with all the me"" THREE TO ONE. 277 that could be spared from the post, but did not find any Indians. " In the latter trip, Lieutenant Stewart went along. About one month afterwards he was killed in Davidson's Cafion, with Corporal Black, while going in with the mail to Tucson, and in a short time afterwards Sergeant Stewart, ---«*' <>«^«i ::- Corporal Nation, and Privates Carr and Walsh, were killed about two miles from the post, in the Sonoita Valley. "The Indians got to be so bad that when we went to ' stables,' morning and evening, we took our arms along and kept them in the stalls while grooming. ''The post was abandoned in January, 1873, and all the property removed to New Camp Grant, where we took post." Corporal Nihill's account is corroborated by the following extract from the official report of Lieutenant W. P. Hall, Fifth Cavalry : 2/8 TRAILING THE APACHES. " Oil the 13th of July, 1872, I was in command of a party of eight men of Troop ' F,' Fifth Cavalry, and fol- lowing a fresh Indian trail, which led into a deep canon in the Whetstone Mountains, Arizona Territory. My party was attacked by about forty Indians, who were con- cealed behind rocks. Private Nihill was a flanker to my party and about 200 yards on my right ; four Indians en- deavored to cut him off from the rest of the party, who were unable to go to his assistance ; his horse was badly wounded ; he, however, made his way through them, kill- ing three Indians. He brought out his horse, and acted throughout in a gallant and praiseworthy manner." III. THE APACHE CAMPAIGN OF 1885. The following is the statement of Private SYLVESTER Grover, Troop '' C," 4th Cavalry, who received a Certifi- cate of Merit for the affair which is, as nearly as possible, related in his own words : — ** In October, 1885, I was stationed at Lang's Ranch, N. M., directly on the line of the Pan Handle of New Mexico and the Mexican State of Chihuahua. On the 9th of that month I was ordered, with Private Hickman, Troop 'F,* 4th Cavalry, to carry despatches which had arrived from Captain Crawford, in Mexico, to General Crook, at Fort Bowie, A. T. "■ We left about 11 o'clock A.M. and put up for the night at a ranch about forty miles from our starting-point. " Next morning, before daybreak, we started off, and trav- elled at good speed towards Cow Boy Pass. The country through which we passed is perfectly level, except piles of rKI VATE GROl 'ER 'S '' CL OSE CALLr 2 70 rocks called Mai Pais, with which the plain is covered and through which the road winds. None of these piles are more than the height of a man and horse, and we had a good view of the country around us and had no idea that any hostile Indians were in the vicinity, as the last we heard of them located them below the National Boundary. " About 9 o'clock, A.M., while passing near one of these rock piles, we were suddenly fired upon by about fourteen Indians, who. upon delivering the fire, suddenly rose up around us. " Hickman fell at once from his horse, dead, as I found out afterwards. My horse dashed' away with me and got about five hundred yards when he fell dead. I dragged myself from the saddle, got the despatches out of the saddle-bags, and with my carbine crawled to a pile of rocks about twenty yards off. ** I could see part of the Indians chasing Hickman's horse, and the rest followed me up on foot. " I opened fire on them at once, and held them at bay. They did not know that I was wounded, and to that fact I undoubtedly owe my life. "After the Indians caught Hickman's horse they all made a break at me. I fired as fast as my wounds would let me, and at last had the satisfaction of seeing them leave toward the mountains, which gave me a chance to look at my wounds. I found that I was shot through the fleshy part of the thigh, below the hip, and through the left wrist and hand. '' For over two hours and a half I was lying under a burning sun, without water, and I felt that my last mo< ?3 ' 28o TR A J LING THE APACHES, ments were coming, when I saw a wagon approaching. With it were seven citizens, some of whom were discharged Government scouts and packers. '' I called out as well as I could, and managed to make them hear me at last. They stopped, brought me water, washed my wounds, and made me as comfortable as possi- ble, and brought me to the Post Hospital, at Fort Bowie. " Hickman was shot in seven places. The Indians did not mutilate his body, only took off his belts. *' My horse was shot four times, one shot passing through his body. '' I have since recovered entirely from my wounds, and, through the recommendation of my captain, have been awarded a ' Certificate of Merit ' by the President of the United States." This is a short, concise statement of the affair, which was really very desperate. The man is very quiet and modest, and not inclined to talk much about it, and does not think that there was very much in it. The affidavits which accompanied the recommendation give more of the latter part, after the citizens came up. Grover is about twenty-seven years old and has been a soldier about seven years. — [EDITOR.] 1381 SERGEANT JOHN HARRINGTON, THIRD U. S. CAVALRY. A SPARTAN BAND.* THE year 1874 was an eventful one in the history of the border. The Cheyennes, resident in the Indian Territory, the most warHke and powerful of the south- western Indians, had for a long time been restive, and as sooH as the grass had sufficiently matured to subsist their ponies, many of the younger warriors of the tribe, thirsting for blood and glory, formed themselves into bands and set forth upon predatory incursions into Southern Kansas and Colorado. ^ With their faces painted, dressed in barbaric costumes, and mounted on fleet ponies, these parties penetrated Kansas to the northern part of the Arkansas River, poured into * This chapter has been contributed by Captain J. S. Payne, U. S. A. (late 5th U. S. Cavalry), who participated \n \\]^ Indian campaign of 1874, and is familiar with the; episodes described. a8a IN THE INDIAN TERRITORY. 283 south-eastern Colorado, and swarming about the defiles of the Rocky Mountains, Hghted their camp-fires almost at the entrance to the famous Raton Pass. They killed cattle, stole horses and mules, burned ranches, and when they returned to their villages, there to narrate their exploits to the squaws and old men, more than one brave carried at his girdle the reeking scalp of a hated " pale face." Of course this whetted the savage appetite, and the warlike feeling soon manifesting itself amongst the neighboring tribes, the Kiowas, Comanches and Arapahoes, a general Indian war resulted. In August, a large force of cavalry and infantry, under the command of General Nelson A. Miles, then colonel of the 5th Infantry, w^as assembled at Camp Supply, Indian Territory, which point it left the 19th of that month ; its object being the pursuit, capture, or defeat of the large Indian force that, as had been ascertained by scouts, was at that time located some- w^here near the Antelope Hills, on the banks of the Cana- dian River. The Summer of 1874 was intensely warm, and no rain had fallen throughout that region since early Spring, so that the streams, even the large ones that traversed the Indian Territory and the " Pan Handle " of Texas, were dry, or nearly so. The troops and animals, in consequence, suffered greatly from thirst, but the column was pushed steadily on, until, after many a weary march through chok- ing alkali dust and beneath the fierce, pitiless rays of a southern midsummer sun, a broad Indian trail was struck on the Sweetwater and relentlessly follow^ed. Our march on the 29th of August was long and toilsome, but w^hen 284 ^ ^^^ ^^ ^-^ ^^' B^ ^'^' evening came we saw the promise of success before us. Wc had crossed the wide flat plateau south of Ash Creek, and had reached its southern border, where it broke off into ravines, deep valleys and precipitous knolls, covered with rich verdure. Just as the long column was about to descend into the valley below, and as our eyes were resting with c keen sense of pleasure upon this picturesque, involuted landscape, brightened and beautified by the last rays of the rapidly sinking sun, great clouds of dust arose before us, and we knew that at last our game was within reach. We camped in the valley that night, and early next morning, near Red River, defeated them with loss in war- riors and camp equipage, and pursued them to the far famed Llano Estacado, or Staked Plain of Texas. We had been marching in light order, and now awaited the arrival of our supply train. Having remained in camp until the 7th of September, and without news from our train, it be- came evident that the savages had cut our line of communi- cation, and consequently the command was forced to retrace its steps. The loth found us in camp on McClellan Creek, and here an event occurred so well indicating the boldness and skill of an Indian warrior, that I must ask leave to place it on record in this place. The troops were en- camped among several knolls that overlooked the valley of the creek I have named. The tired horses were out graz- ing on the rich bunch-grass growing on the hill-sides, and a,^ the command was dependent upon game for subsistence several large parties were out hunting buffalo, which w^ere numerous in that country at the time. PETIT JOHN SCALPED. A BOLD EXPLOIT. About one o'clock in the afternoon, whilst a number of officers were seated upon the top of a knoll, some one had called attention to two soldiers who were just leaving camp, mounted, en route up the valley, and the remark had just been made that it was dangerous for so small a party to leave the command, when a body of mounted men sud- denly appeared upon a high hill, further up the stream. They disappeared almost instantly, and whilst we were discussing the question whether they were Indians or a hunting party of soldiers, our attention was again attracted to the two soldiers before mentioned, who had now pro- ceeded to a point some five hundred yards from camp. The point of a bluff ran quite close to the creek at the spot the two soldiers then were, the valley narrowing to a hundred yards or less. Just as the leading man was about to turn the spur of the bluff, an Indian, mounted on a gray pony, was seen by us — though unseen by the soldier — com- ing at full speed around the point. He was followed at short distances by several others. There was no time to give warning. In a moment the leading warrior was around the bluff, and raising his rifle he fired upon the ad- vancing trooper, breaking the latter's right arm. The brave's lance was instantly in rest, and rushing upon his helpless foe, he ran him through, hurled him from his horse, and, dismounting, tore away the bleeding scalp of his victim, and flaunting it in our very faces, mounted and was gone. The other soldier had only his revolver, which he emptied with the effect to keep the other savages at bay. Pursuit was 286 A SPA R TA N BA ND. made, of course, but so weary were our animals it was un- availing, and poor Petit John was unavenged. From the camp on McClellan Creek, General Miles found it necessary to send despatches to Camp Supply, and for this important mission a select party of six men was detailed. It comprised the following soldiers of the 6th Cavalry : Sergeant Z. T. WOODALL, Privates JOHN Harrington, Peter Roth, and George W. Smith, of troops '' I," "H," "A," and " M,-" respectively, and Citizen Scouts WIL- LIAM Dixon and Amos Chapman. The enlisted men wore the summer scouting uniform, light blue trowsers re-enforced with white canvas, dark blue flannel shirt, soft black felt hat, and top boots. Their blouses and overcoats were rolled on their saddles, and they carried neither shelter tents nor blankets. Dixon and Chapman were dressed in buckskin trowsers, ornamented with fringe, dark flannel shirts with sailor collars, and each wore moccasons and broad-brimmed white-felt hats. Every man carried rifle, revolver and two hundred rounds of ammunition ; a hunting- knife stuck in each man's belt. The duty demanded cool- ness and courage, and braver men were never selected for desperate service. The country was infested by savages. They were to be looked for at every stream ; every clump of trees might be an ambuscade ; in every ravine danger and sudden death might lurk. But these brave fellows, fully realizing their peril, received their final orders, mounted their good horses and cheerily set forth, followed by the best of wishes, and at the same time the feelings of deepest apprehension, entertained by their comrades and officers, SIX GALLANT CAVALIERS. 287 The red September sun was still shining across the gentle undulations of the prairie as the party left camp, but it soon sank in gorgeous splendor behind the purple hills, and the somxbre shades of night fell softly upon the vast plain. Deep down in the darkening shadows of the great cotton- wood trees that fringed McClellan Creek rode our brave adventurers ; not foolhardy, reckless men, but each confident of himself and of his companions, and resolutely prepared to encounter every danger. After several hours' march the party camped for the night, and at early dawn were again in the saddle. Between the rising and the setting sun of the nth they travelled nearly fifty miles, and when over- taken by darkness sought a secluded spot for the night. And now, before daylight of the 12th, our troopers are again on their way, riding swiftly across the great plain. The morning star has sunk to the very verge of the hori- zon and shines there like a ball of silver ; the stars over- head are beginning " to pale their ineffectual fires " before the rising sun, whose advent is heralded in the east, first by a faint, uncertain glow, followed by rosy gleams of brightness. Then the clouds take to themselves the gor- geous tints of the morning, increasing in beauty until a flood of primrose radiance pours upon the scene, and then, sending forth in advance long shafts of light, the Day-god leaps above the horizon, and soars aloft in luminous splen- dor. The dew-drops glisten like diamonds ; all is quiet, serene and beautiful in that great solitude. Not much is said by the members of the party as they speed along, for at such times men arc not much given to speech. Nothing is heard save the steady tramp, tramp of the horses' feet, 288 A SPARTAN BAND. pressing the dewy sward, the occasional rattle of carbine against stirrup or saddle, or the sweet note of lark or thrush. '' FRIENDS OR FOES?" On, on they ride, now descending into an arroya, where all surrounding objects are hidden from view, now ascend- ing an acclivity, now crossing a divide, and again straight as the crow flies, traversing a dead flat. Every eye is on the lookout, every ear alert, yet no sound has disturbed them, no suspicious object has been seen. But they are riding into the toils, and one of them is going to his death. The dew on grass and flower was dry, and the sun was float- ing two hours above the sea of grass, when, as the party ascended a slight eminence. Chapman, whose eye was like an Indian's, said, '' Boys, we are in luck ; there is the advance guard of the wagon train," and he pointed to the north- east, where there was soon disclosed, to the full view of the whole party, a number of horsemen. They were riding in a body, and it was this circumstance that induced the belief that they were soldiers. But the meeting so soon to take place was not destined to be of the friendly and agreeable kind anticipated. The practised eyes of Chapman and Dixon, ever on the alert, soon saw, from certain movements amongst the advancing party, that they were Indians, and as Indians, at that time and place, meant deadly enemies, everything was got ready for the approaching combat. A brief halt was made, arms and ammunition carefully examined, and saddle girths looked to. The advance guard of the Indians, for such READY FOR THE FRAV 289 turned out to be the party first discovered, was now fol- lowed by a much more numerous body, which deployed to the rii^ht and left of the trail. They were now within half a mile, and as they rode forward in the sunlight it was easy to distinguish their brightly colored blankets and their war-bonnets, whose long trailing plumes of eagles' feathers floated softly on the breeze. Indeed, they pre- sented at this moment a striking and beautiful barbaric picture that our soldier friends, however, had neither the time nor inclination to admire. The point where the In- dians were encountered was midway between Gageby Creek and the Washita River, Texas. The country in the vicinity was high, undulating prairie, presenting, however, few spots suitable for defence. Hills and valleys followed 'each other in succession, and here and there was an arroya or ravine, affording some slight cover. Timber there was none, and whatever position the little band of white men might take would be open to assault, front, flank, and rear, as well as exposed to fire from ever)- direction at long range, l^ut they were ready for the fray, and right nobly on this September day did they maintain the high reputation of their race for heroic courage and patient fortitude in the face of what seemed to them inevitable death. Capture meant torture, and of course there was no word or thought of surrender. Escape was impossible, so with brave hearts these gallant men went to the encounter. And now that the moment of conflict has come I will let one of the par- ticipants in this memorable border fight (Private Harring- ton) tell the stor)^ in his own way. He says: " Between us and the Indians was a good-sized 290 A SPARTAN BAND. ravine, to which we advanced and rode into, they being still on the opposite side. We had scarcely time to dis- mount and leave the horses in charge of Smith, before they were on us from all sides ; we sought what shelter we could on the sides of the ravine, and while we were doing so, Smith was shot through the arm, compeljed to abandon the horses, and" join us. About twenty-five Indians then charged down the ravine and stampeded our horses, taking all but one. Concluding that things were getting too warm for us and that we would have to find some better position, we formed a skirmish line and fell back, the one horse left by the Indians following us. An Indian at- tempted to capture him, when Sergeant Woodall turned and fired, and the Indian fell. '' We again retreated in skirmish line, receiving their fire ' from all directions. Whenever we attempted to secure a knoll or other vantage ground, the Indians would be ahead of us in such numbers as to make us change our direction. None of us even expected to get out of the fray alive, with such fearful odds against us, but all determined to die hard and make the best fight possible. We continued our skir- mishing, and whenever a shelter was secured, took what little r^st we could until driven out by renewed attacks. ''At every halt, the Indians, dismounted, would surround us, closing in from all sides. The ' medicine man,' deco- rated with buffalo horns and an immense head-dress of eagle feathers reaching to his horse's tail, looking like the Devil himself, tried to force them to charge over us ; each time as they circled in to within about twenty-five yards, we would jump up, yell, and run toward those in our rear. WITCHING HORSEMANSHIP. 2gi The Indians could not fire for fear of hitting their own party, but would open out and allow us to pass through their line, firing at us as we went through. " It seems almost impossible that we should have received their fire, as long as we did, without serious injury ; but it could not go on so forever. We kept up these tactics until about four o'clock in the afternoon. The ' medicine man,' now the only mounted one of their party, kept riding around us all the time, getting bolder and firing his pistol when he came in range. Chapman, the scout, said ' not to mind him, for he couldn't hit anything,' but at last he came within about twenty yards, when Scout Dixon fired at him, after which we saw no more of the bold 'medicine man.' " By this time we were about fagged out, and our ammu- nition, of which we had two hundred rounds per man in the morning, nearly exhausted. Determining to make one last stand, we broke for a small knoll on the top of which was a buffalo wallow. While attempting to gain this position, Smith was again shot and fell, mortally wounded. Woodall was shot in the groin, and I in the hip. All gained the knoll but Smith." WITCHING HORSEMANSHIP. Sergeant Woodall writes (from his station, Fort Cum- mings, N. M., August i, 1886) of the clever tactics of the Indians, as follows : *' At this stage we were eye-witnesses to some of the most magnificent feats of horsemanship that could not be equalled by any like number of men in the worM, — rising readily from the stirrups while the horses were in rapid motion, and standing erect on the backs of their 2Q2 A SPARTAN BAND. animals while they delivered their fire, and then iastantly dropping, as if shot, into the stirrups, swinging themselves rapidly under their horses' bellies, in which position they could easily aim and fire. These tactics were continued by them for some time. There was one spot on the prairie where the grass stood over five feet high. Toward this place the Indians would ride as fast as their ponies could go, and I noticed every time any of the men fired at an Indian near this place the latter would drop as if hit, while their ponies would continue on until finally caught by^ome of the squaws. Fully twenty of them dropped in this man- ner, leading us to believe that they were all hit. Nothing more was seen of them for about an hour, during which our attention was engaged in an opposite direction by another party of Indians, who repeatedly charged us, eventually forc- ing us from our position. In moving to higher ground we approached the bunch of tall grass, before referred to, near which we had seen so many Indians drop. We got within fifty yards when a line of Indians suddenly sprang up, pre- senting as good a skirmish line as any body of soldiers could form, and poured a murderous fire on the party, kill- ing Smith and severely wounding Amos Chapman, Har- rington and myself." chapman's heroism. Once within the slight protection of the buffalo wallow a moment's respite came. It was now known that Woodall, Harrington, and Roth had been wounded, and Smith, who had fallen outside, was thought to be dead. In a little while, however, he was seen to move, and these brave m?n CHAPMAN TO THE RESCUE, 293 at once thought of his peril. How was it to be done? The Indians were about them on all sides. To leave him where he was, was certain death; to attempt his rescue seemed almost as certain destruction to him who should attempt the gallant feat. The heroic Chapman volunteered for the attempt, and I will let him tell the story of his noble act in his own quaint and graphic way. Turning to his comrades the brave scout said : " Now, boys, keep those infernal red-skins off of me, and I will run down and pick up Smith, and bring him back before they can get at me." Laying down his rifle, he sprang out of the bufTalo wallow, ran with all speed to Smith, seized and attempted to shoulder him. " Did any of you ever try to shoulder a wounded man?" asked Chapman, when telling the story. " Smith was not a large man, one hundred and sixty or seventy pounds, but I declare to you that he seemed to weigh a ton. Finally I laid down and got his chest across my back, and his arms around my neck, and then got *up with him. It was as much as I could do to stagger under him^ for he couldn't help himself a bit. By the time T had got twenty or thirty yards, about fifteen Indians came for me at full speed of their ponies. They all knew me, and yelled, ' Amos ! Amos ! We have got you now ! ' I pulled my pistol, but I couldn't hold Smith on my back with one hand, so I let him drop The boys in the buffalo wallow opened on the Indians just at the right time, and I opened on them with my pistol. There was a tumbling of ponies, and a scattering of Indians, and in a minute they were gone. I got Smith up again and made the best possi^ 294 A SPARTAN BAND. ble time, but before I could reach the wallow another gang came for me. I had only one or two shots in my pistol, so I didn't stop to fight, but ran for it. When I was in about twenty yards of the wallow, a little old scoundrel that I had fed fifty times, rode almost on to me and fired- I fell, with Smith on top of me, but as I didn't feel pain, I thought I had stepped into a hole. The Indians couldn't stay around there a minute ; the boys kept it red- hot ; so I jumped up, picked up Smith, and got safe into the wallow. 'Amos,' said Dixon, 'you are badly hurt.' 'No, I am not,' said I. 'Why, look at your leg;' and sure enough, the leg was shot off just above the ankle joint, and I had been walking on the bone, dragging the foot be- hind me, and in the excitement I never knew it, nor have I ever had any pain in my leg to this day." IN DESPERATE STRAITS. Fierce indeed had been the conflict, and desperate seemed the situation of the beleaguered party. Every species of Indian strategy had been used to subdue their spirit and accomplish their overthrow, but undaunted by the dangers surrounding them, the brave fellows proceeded to do what was best, under the circumstances, and make the most of the one chance for life now left them ; i. c, hold their posi- tion until Miles, marching back along the trail, should bring deliverance. With their knives and hands they dug deeper their little fort, some working whilst the others, keeping vig- ilant watch, fired at such Indians as came within easy range. The savages, Kiowas and Comanches, the finest and bold- est horsemen in the world, again resorted to their favorite '' FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH.''' 295 tactics. Mounted on their fleet ponies, they would circle around the rifle-pit, coming nearer and nearer with each cir- cuit, and firing as they rode. But still undaunted, the white men held the red devils at bay. Smith, " faithful unto death," cheered his comrades by his heroic conduct; for whilst his life-blood was slowly ebbing away, he told them to place him — he could not move — upon the top of the rifle- pit, thus offering to make his suffering body a shield for the living, after his hands could no longer aid in the defence. But happily, succor was nearer at hand than dreamed of by the besieged. About four o'clock in the afternoon J:he Indians were seen to draw off, and shortly afterwards rapid firing was heard in the distance, and the savages were seen no more. A body of troops had been seen, and the Indians, after engaging them until nightfall, left the vicinity. Dark- ness fell upon a sad scene that night. Smith was dying. Chapman's leg was broken. Every man in the rifle-pit had been hit, and Dixon, alone, was not disabled. They were without food, and but for the blessed rain that came during the night they would have suffered dreadfully for water; of this they had only what fell in little puddles in the pit, and even that which quenched the dying thirst of Smith was red with his own and his comrades' blood. Could they hold out until Miles would come, brincrinor food and succor? What they felt and what they suffered in the silent watches of that long, cold, rainy night, none save themselves can ever know. The morning broke, dark, wet, comfortless. Smith had died before dawn. Would the Indians return, or would they be left unmolested until the weary hours that 19 296 A SPARTAN BAND. must elapse before Miles could be expected, had dragged themselves away? Soon after daylight a consultation as to what was best to be done was held, and after considering all the surrounding circumstances, it was thought best that Dixon, the only able-bodied man left, should go back on the tJ^ail, meet General Miles, which it was hoped he would do within thirty-six hours, and apprise that of^cer of the con- dition of affairs. In the mean time the ammunition was divided between Dixon and those remaining; Dixon taking with him on his dangerous journey on foot just four cart- ridges. With what was left the besieged must defend themselves as best they could. Dixon left the rifle-pit in a drizzling rain, and had pro- ceeded less than a mile when he saw approaching him a body of mounted men. Unable to determine whether they were friends or foes, he secreted himself in some high grass and awaited their coming. The newcomers proved to be Major Price's command, a battalion of the 8th Cav- alry, with w4iom the Indians had been engaged the evening before, and Dixon at once made known the state of affairs at the rifle-pit to the commanding oi^cer. As they pro- ceeded to the buffalo wallow, Dixon walking by Major Price's side, that officer directed his orderly trumpeter to ride ahead and find the rifle-pit. Upon this trumpeter's saddle was rolled a red blanket, and as he came in full view of the party in the wallow he was taken for an Indian. Sergeant Woodall deliberately took aim at this man and fired, the ball happily missing the soldier, but killing the horse. GENERAL MILES' TRIBUTE, 2Q7 THE RESCUE. So you see there was fight left in the brave fellows still! The long fight was over and the rescue was made. Food was given the almost famished men, and a detachment was sent off to inform General Miles of the condition of things. General Miles was found on the Sweetwater, and that night Chaffee, of the 6th Cavalry, with his troop, pro- ceeded to the buffalo wallow. Poor Smith was buried, and the wounded, mounted on horses, were taken to the supply train, which, as had been ascertained, was camped >n the Washita. Those were stirring times that followed, ior the great Indian war, begun under warm summer skies, was terminated only the next Spring. Many gallant deeds were done, but as the men would gather round the camp-fire the long and cold winter nights, they heard no nobler story than that of the dead Smith and the survivors of the fight on the Washita. That celebrated Indian fighter, General Miles, U. S. Army, made a special report of this affair to the War Department, from which we make the following extract. Upon his recommendation the Medal of Honor was awarded to each survivor. '* I deem it but a duty to brave men and faithful sol- diers, to bring to the notice of the highest military authority an instance of indomitable courage, skill, and true heroism on the part of a detachment from this com- mand, with the request that the actors be rewarded, and their faithfulness and bravery recognized by pensions, .98 A SPARTAN B A. VD. medals of honor, or in such way as may be deemed most fitting. . . . '' Although enclosed on all sides, and by overwhelming numbers, one of them succeeded, while they were under a severe fire at short range, and while the others with their rifles were keeping the Indians at bay, in digging with his knife and hands a slight cover. After this had been secured, they placed themselves within it ; the wounded walking with brave and painful efTorts, and Private Smith, though he had received a mortal wound, sitting upright within the trench, to conceal the crippled condition of their party from the Indians. " From early morning till dark, outnumbered, twenty-five to one, under an almost constant fire, and at such short range that they sometimes used their pistols, retaining the last charge to prevent capture and torture, this little party of five defended their lives and the person of their dying comrade ; without food, and their only drink the rain-water that collected in a pool mingled with their own blood. There is no doubt but that they killed more than double their number, besides those that were wounded. The ex- posure and distance from the command, which were nec- essarily incidents of their duty, were such that for thirty- six hours from the first attack their condition could not be known. . . . " The simple recital of their deeds and the mention of the odds against which they fought ; how^ the wounded de- fended the dying, and the dying aided the wounded by exposure to fresh wounds after the power of action was gone, these alone present a scene of cool courage, heroism, SERGEANT KITCHEN 'S AD VENTURE. 299 and self-sacrifice, which duty as well as inclination prompt us to recognize, but which we cannot fitly honor." II. AN AFFAIR WITH THE COMAXCHES. Another episode of General Miles' campaign in Texas, in 1874, is described by a wearer of the Medal of Honor — First Sergeant GEORCiE K. Kitchen,* Troop " I," 5th U. S. Cavalry : "On the morning of the 9th September, 1874, Captain Wyllis Lyman, 5th Infantry, with ' I ' Co. of that regi- ment, and a detail of twenty cavalrymen, including myself, of Troops 'A,' 'H,' 'I,' and ' M,' 6th U S. Cavalry, left Commission Creek, Ind. Ter., to escort a wagon train of supplies destined for the command of General Miles, on the headwaters of the Red River, Texas. The General was at that time engaged in suppressing a rising of the Cheyennes and Arapahoes. *' We pulled out from Commission Creek at 7 o'clock A.M., and crossed the Canadian River at 8.30 A.M. When about two miles from tlie river, and about 9 o'clock, we were sud- denly attacked by a large band of hostiles. '' The train, consisting of 24 six-mule teams, was formed in two columns. The infantry formed line on each side of the * Georgk K. Kitchen enlisted at Harrisburg, July 21, 1870; assigned to Co. " H," 6th U. S. Cavalry; Corporal, April 2, 1872; Sergeant, May 2, 1872; Medal of Honor for action lasting Sept. 9th to Sept. 14th, 1874. Participated in an engagement with Indians under Lieut. Henely, 6th Cavalry, on Sappe Creek, Kansas, April, 1875. Re-enlisted July 21, 1875, Troop " F," 5th Cavalry; Corporal same date; Sergeant, May 7, 1877. Re-enlisted Troop " I," 5th Cavalry, July 21, 1880. Sergeant to date from May 7, 1877; ist Sergeant July 22, 1880. Discharged as ist Sergeant July 20, 1885. Character, " A most excellent non-commissioned officer, and thoroughly trustworthy and reliable man." Re-enlisted Troop " I," 5th Cavalry, July 21 1885. Re-appointed ist Sergeant same date, with continuous rank. 300 A SPARTAN BAND. train, and the Cavalry detail, by repeated charges, strove to keep the Indians at a distance. "' In this fashion the command travelled on, fighting as we went, until we arrived at the sand hills, about one mile from the Washita River, Texas. At this point, after a short lull in the running fight, the Indians concentrated their entire force, and made a vigorous and united charge on the train. We afterwards learned their strength to be between seven and eight hundred warriors. This charge was repulsed after a hard fight, the Indians coming to within 50 yards of the train, and repeatedly attempting, after being beaten off, to overwhelm the troops by dint of superior numbers. " The wagons were then, as it was impossible to advance, put 'into park' as rapidly as possible, forming in an ^g^ shape. The infantry were thrown out on a skirmish line round the hastily formed corral, some 25 yards from the wagons. When this movement was completed, the little band of cavalry found themselves, at the end of some hard fighting, about 500 yards away from the skirmish line, and surrounded by the enemy. To regain their comrades of the 5th Infantry they had to charge through a mass of Indians, who concentrated themselves between them and the wagons. This was successfully done.* "On reaching the 'park' we secured our horses inside the enclosure, and were then ordered out on the skirmish line. * About this time a trooper's horse was killed under him. Sergeant Kitchen halted and picked up the dismounted man behind him, and managed, under a heavy fire, to carry him off unhurt to the shelter of the corral.— [Editor.] INDIAN TACTICS. 3OI *'The hostiles now divided, and about four hundred of them at this time made two unsuccessful charges on the rii^lit rear of the corral, defended by about one-half of the command. These charges were made in column of pla- toons, and the alignment was as precise and well main- tained as regular troops could do it. Each time they came up to within 40 yards of the line in admirable order, and only the perfect steadiness and continuous, well-direct- ed, firing of our troops prevented this well conceived and daringly executed movement from being successful. '* Our heavy firing, however, at last succeeded in repelling them in confusion from the very muzzles of our guns. '' The enemy then, unsuccessful in storming us, took up position on the numerous sand hills around, some as far away as four hundred yards, others at about only two hun- dred yards, surrounding us by a complete circle. As we lay beneath them we were exposed to a severe and vexatious fire from all points, and our return fire was comparatively harmless. When darkness arrived, we were divided up into squads, and orders were given to dig rifle-pits, from twenty to thirty yards distant, around the corral. The en- emy followed our example and were occupied in intrench- ing themselves on the sand hills they held during the day. Their object now appeared to be to starve us out, as they knew we had no means of quenching our thirst. The Washita was one mile away, and the one water-hole near us had been inaccessible during the day, and our repeated attempts to get at it, at night, proved futile. Several details tried to reach the water, but the Indians placed a strong guard around it, and their fire was too well-directed to allow of 5q2 a spartan band our men getting near. They would permit us to get within fifty yards of the hole, in fancied security, before opening on us, and then poured in their fire in a way which balked every effort of ours to reach the desired spot. In the mean time, a desultory fire was kept up by them from all sides of us. ** Next day this fire became regular and continuous, and was returned by us from the rifle-pits. The Indians per- formed sorne prodigies of horsemanship in full sight of us and in the most daring way, right before our fire, offering themselves in the most reckless way as targets for our fire. When we learned afterwards that Comanches were amongst our foes, we understood the cause of these freaks ; these Indians being generally reckoned amongst the finest horse- men in the world, as they are perhaps the most showy, reckless and daring. One at least of every three of these foolhardy * braves ' was picked off by the marksmen of our little command, but this did not in the least prevent one of his comrades from at once taking his place, after the dead body of the first had been carried off. This was done always by two Indians, riding at full gallop, one on each side of the dead man, who was picked up by them without their making the slightest halt, and dragged into shelter. '' When we first went into corral there was but a very little water amongst the command, and this was saved for the use of the wounded. From the 9th to the morning of the 14th of September, no one, except our wounded, had one drop of water. On the third day, when driven almost to despair by the torments of thirst, some men opened a barrel of vinegar, and undertook to drink it when sweetened PERIL AND PRlVATroN. 303 somewhat by sugar. It was with difficulty that they were prevented from swallowing too much of the mixture. One of the ten men whom I had in my rifle-pit drank, in spite of my efforts to prevent any excess, so much of this drink that he became delirious and very violent. We had to tie him hand and foot to keep him inside the pit ; he frothed at the mouth, bit and fought, and exhibited every token of insanity. It was two days before he re- covered from the effects. "The fighting, until the night of the 13th of September, was continued in the sam^e way, we staying in our rifle-pits, exhausted by heat and thirst, and returning as best we could the fire of the Indians, who remained in possession of their sand hills. " On the morning of the 14th we saw^ with relief, the whole band of Indians pull out and move South. If we had had water we could have lasted a long time. Without it we could not have stood the siege for many more days. '* All our wounded got their hurts on the first day, except one trooper, who received a severe scalp wound on the last day. Lieutenant Lewis, 5th Infantry, was wounded in the knee, and afterwards, I heard, he had his leg amputated. We buried one sergeant, of ' I ' Co., inside the corral. The assistant wagon-master was wounded, and died two da}'s afterwards. Him, too, we laid beside the soldier in the corral, with brief but impressive ceremony. " One-third of the horses were killed, and about one-half of the mules. When we started again on our march, on the morning of the 15th, having remained one day to 'straighten up,' a few of the wagons had four mules to 304 A SPARTAN BAND. draw them, out of their original six ; the rest had only two '' Captain Lyman, about a week after the action, went over the ground, and in one ravine counted forty fresh mounds, graves of the Indians slain, but their loss in fatally wounded and disabled must have been much more. " The weather was throughout very hot, and the nights pitch dark. " We were met on the Washita River by General Miles and his command, and went into camp for a few days to 'recuperate.' The rumor of this command's arrival near the scene of action had alarmed our opponents and been the cause of their sudden flight. We now learned that they were composed of Comanches and Kiowas united, who had left their reservation, on the war-path. After the fight with us they moved back, disheartened, we supposed, at their severe loss and failure to gain any plunder. At any rate, they kept within their bounds the rest of that year. *• During the fight, the stench from the dead animals, our own and the Indian ponies, was very horrible, and added much to the discomfort of the men, and the danger of sick- ness. " On the third night we were corralled, the First Sergeant of the infantry company came to me and asked how long we could stand this. I thought then perhaps the best plan would be to fight our way through to the river, but this would entail the loss of the wagon-train. The First Sergeant (Mitchell, now ordnance sergeant at Fort Assina- boine) suggested we should fire the train to keep the Indians from getting it, and fight our way off by it§ FOR GALLANT CONDUCT: 305 f light. These suggestions, made at the time, show that> at one time, we felt little "hope of the Indians raising the siege, or of our being relieved in reasonable time."^ * For conspicuous good conduct in the above affair, General Miles recommended the following enlisted men of the 5th Infantry for Medals of Honor, viz. ■ First Sergeant MrrcHELL, Sergeant William DeArmonu, Sergeant F. H. Hay ; Corporals T. H. Kell;, loHN T. W. Knox, and T. Tames ; privates Thomas Kelly and William Koelpin (now Battery F, 5th Artillery). On May 18, 1875, the medals were awarded by the Honorable Secretary of War, and for* warded to headquarters 5th Infantry, where they were distributed on July 28, 1875. PRIVATE WILLIAM EVANS, SEVENTH U. S. INFANTKV A SOLDIER-SCOUT'S STORY. HAVE you ever thought what a sensation it would make if a detachment of United States Infantry and Cav- alry, made up of men suddenly taken from the duty of the moment, were to appear on that busy thoroughfare, Broad- way, to illustrate in panoramic fashion the Army as it is on the frontier? To nine-tenths of the people the nature of our military service on the far-away prairies, or at the foot of the rugged '* Rockies," could in no other way be so dis- tinctly set forth. We will take our places on the steps of the Fifth Avenue Hotel and note the features of the procession. A post commander at the head of the column : fortu- nately for him, he has been making his daily informal in- spection of the post and vicinity and is mounted ; he is nearing the retiring age, but is well preserved, rotund and 307 3oS A SOLDIER-SCOUT'S STORY, bald, with stiff Rebellion Burnside to crown his florid face. His uniform is a simple blouse, fastened by one button, soldier's blue trousers, and gaiters ; as a conservative field- of^cer of infantry, he substitutes a light switch for spurs, to the evident satisfaction of his well-fed cob, which ambles quietly along. The commanding officer's orderly closely follows. A cavalry soldier this, in natty clothing and spotless side- arms ; the horse, groomed like a looking-glass, suffers him- self to be curbed behind his more staid brother of "the foot," but evidently longs for a gallop. With a free stride, but " route-step," a body of bronzed, athletic men approaches : the fact that they are soldiers cannot be concealed by a grotesque and unfamiliar dress; there are trousers of blue, tattered and torn, bound below the knee with strips of bagging, or turned up at the bot- toms, or pushed into the tops of cowhide boots ; there are shirts of all colors, open at the neck some of them, or with sleeves rolled to the elbow ; hats and ' caps of varied ages and patterns. Each man carries a spade or an axe or an adze or a sledge-hammer or a saw ; this is not a gang of laborers, nor is it a working party of military prisoners, but simply Company " L," of the — th Infantry, returning from its daily task of building quarters at the new post of Fort Barker. All drills have been suspended, and the necessary guard duty and roll-calls and Sunday-morning inspections are the only military duties performed by these soldiers for the last three months. Although " Uncle Sam is rich enough to buy us all a farm," he has frequent fits of falae economy of this kind. OUR ARMY ON THE FRONTIER. 309 And now there comes to our ears the sharp flint-and- steel ** click " of horses' shoes on the stony street. Four- score cavaliers in plainsmen's garb of buckskin, mingled with a dash of cavalry light-blue and yellow, with soft felt sombreros and boots to the knee, pass in review before the wondering tax-payer. The spare, soldierly man at the head of the column carries upon his body the scars of conflict on the Chicahominy; the solid little captain near the rear of the column has a name borne by three generations of American soldiers ; there are other distinguished officers, so disguised by this bandit-like but most comfortable field- dress, that none but their men or intimate friends can rec- ognize them. These troops are a part of the — th U. S Cavalry, just starting on a campaign against the Sioux . when they come marching home again, their ranks will be somewhat thinner, their horses jaded and weary, but their task will have been done and well done. In rear of the cavalry come the *' packs," patient little long-eared creatures, trained to carry burdens larger in bulk than themselves, and to follow with sure-footed sagacity the leader, whose tinkling bell is their guide. ** Who are these in bright array?" Sixty mounted men in helmets with waving yellow plumes, buttoned, booted and spurred, with bright sabres, bronzed carbines, sitting like centaurs the snorting, curvetting chargers that spurn the roadway with an impatience due to idleness and oats. It is Troop '' K," of the same regiment of cavalry whose curious outfit we have just noted. This troop has been left behind in garrison, and has been taking part in a pa- rade of ceremony. 310 ^ SOLDIER-SCO UT 'S S TOR V. Three ambulances succeed the horsemen. Each is drawn by four nimble mules. The curtains are rolled up, and we can note the faces of the passengers. They are clad in furs, although it is not cold. They represent the survivors of three Arctic expeditions, and almost without exception they are from the cavalry and infantry — officers and men ; a mere handful of brave spirits, nerved and trained for world-wide exploration by their army service on the Plains. If the reader can imagine this Broadway spectacle, per- haps he may follow us to the great North-west, where, amid storm and wind and deep snow, a little party of cavalry is returning from a scout."^* The thermometer registers 42° below ; the driving sleet, and the breath from mouth and nostrils, freezing upon mustache and beard and eyes, forms a solid mask of ice upon the faces of the blinded, perishing men ; far back, like a broad red ribbon, stretches the bloody trail, where the horses' feet have broken through the sharp crust of the snow-drift, and the exhausted animals suffer themselves to be urged into a barely perceptible motion by their half- conscious and dismounted riders ; some of whom would fain yield to a deadly languor, from which they can only be roused by flat of sabre well laid on. The column is steered by a compass in the hands of the leading man. Left to themselves, these soldiers would never reach an earthly destination, but with a resolute, experienced com- mander, and a habit of discipline and obedience to orders, the detachment will, ere many hours, reach the shelter of a * See engraving facing chapter. SKIRMISHERS OF CI I ^ILIZA TION. 3 1 1 cattle ranch, where they may be sure of a warm and friendly welcome. But there are other uses for the Army than to hunt the warlike Sioux or the treacherous Apache. Our friend the reader may see, as with the e}e of a bird, the little encamp- ments of a few tents each, scattered all over the public domain west of the Missouri and south of the British pos- sessions in North America. These are the bivouacs of military geographers, geologists, meteorologists, telegraph linesmen, and others ; they are the skirmishers of civilization, the outposts of settlement, the harbingers of Peace, and yet they are fitted out from the Department of War. But this is a long digression from the title of this chapter, which has to do with a phase of army life not yet touched upon. It is the narrative of a soldier — Private WiLLIAM Evans,* 7th U. S. Infantry — who won the Medal of Honor in gallant and important, if bloodless, service : twice taking '^ his life in his hand " as a bearer of despatches. The nat- ure of this service is set forth in the following document : ** Headquarters Department of Dakota. *'/;/ the Field Camp at month of Big Horn River ^ July 26, 1876. " General Field-Orders, -.Vo.s- " The Department Commander has recently had urgent occasion to communi- cate from this camp with Brigadier-General Crook, commanding a force en- camped on the headwaters of Powder River. The duty of carrying despatches between those points, through a country occupied by a large force of hostile Sioux, was of the most arduous and perilous nature. A scout, inspired by the * Enlisted at St. Louis, April 26, 1875 ; assigned to " E," 7th U. S. Inf. ; enlisted Camp Baker, M. T. (Co. D). Nov. 2, 1878 ; re-enlisted Nov. 2, 1883. Corporal Nov. 30, 1880. Hon- orably mentioned in Regimental, Department and General Field Orders for gallant service. Medal of Honor, August, 1876. ?9 A SOLDIER-SCOUT'S SrORY. promise of a large reward, made the attempt but soon abandoned it as hopeless As a last resort, a call was made upon the troops of this command for volun- teers, in response to which not less than twelve enlisted men promptly offered their services. From among these the following named soldiers were selected: privates William Evans, Benjamin F. Stewart, and James Bell of Co. ' E,' 7th Infantry. " On the 9th day of July they set out for General Crook's camp, which they reached on the twelfth, delivered the despatches, and returned, arriving in camp on the 25th. " In making this public acknowledgment of the important service voluntarily rendered by these soldiers at the imminent risk of their lives, the Department Commander desires to express his deep regret that at present it is not in his power to bestow the substantial reward which has been so well earned ; but he is confident that an achievement undertaken in so soldier-like a spirit, and car- ried so gallantly to a successful issue, will not be permitted to pass unrewarded. The exploit is one calculated to establish in the public mind a higher and more just estimate of the character of the United States Soldier. " The Department Commander, on his own behalf and on behalf of the officers of this command, desires thus publicly to thank privates William Evans, Ben- jamin F. Stewart and James Bell, Co. ' E,' 7th Infantry, for a deed which reflects so much credit on the Service. " By command of Brigadier-General Terry, "Ed. W. Smith, Capt. i8th Infantry, " Actins^ Assistant Aiijnta7tt-GeneraV Following is an extract from Evans' modest statement : '' Being requested to furnish a sketch of my services in the army, and any remarkable incidents that I have taken part in, I will give all the facts in my possession. AN ARMY RECRUIT. " I enlisted in the army on the lOth day of April, 1875, i" St. Louis ; was sent from there to Newport, Kentucky, and assigned to the Seventh Regiment of Infantry. Arriving RECRUITS AiVD HOSTILE INDIANS. 313 at Carroll, on Missouri River, in July, started on our march to Camp Baker, Montana — distance, 165 miles. " There were 225 recruits, among whom four rifles were distributed for defensive purposes. The country was full of hostile red-skins. A number of friendly Crow Indians rode with the column part of the way, and it almost made our hair turn gray to look at them. We recruits didn't know the difference between Crow and Sioux, our information being limited to the wooden Indian of the tobacconist; and the old soldiers seemed to delight in our ignorance. On the fourth day we reached Camp Browning, where two com- panies of the regiment were stationed. After dinner the men not on duty were permitted to enjoy themselves after their own fashion ; some went hunting, some to fish, and a number, myself included, to wash our clothes in the creek near by. " About two o'clock the camp was attacked by Indians. All the hunters were killed, one of the fishermen was wounded, and some who had gone into the woods for fuel had nothing to defend themselves with but axes. Those of us who were washing clothes escaped with our lives. " We were entirely naked (as we had been swimming), and although some of the hostiles came near us they did not molest us ; probably taking us for squaws or lunatics. The Indians left, taking with them some of our cattle and horses. Lieu- tenant Woodruff pursued, and captured sixteen head of stock. We found the hunting party dead and scalped on the skirmish line, except one, and he had reached the foot- hills, getting behind a rock, where he had fired thirty-eight 214 A SOLDIER-SCOUT\S STORY. cartridges (as we found the empty shells) before he was killed. " This was not a cheerful first experience for us, especially as we expected to march 200 miles further without any weapons. But we were not annoyed again, thanks to our friends, the Crows, who attacked the Sioux the next day and whipped them. WINTER ON THE PLAINS. " I soon had a taste of winter campaigning ; not winter according to the almanac, but as it is to be found on the Plains. Our company, ' E,' Captain Clifford, was ordered on the Yellowstone Expedition, March 17, 1876. Left Camp Baker, thermometer 30° below zero, with snow three feet deep. First day out all our wagons rolled down White's Gulch Divide. Spent all day getting them right side up. With two of the company badly frozen, travelled three days through snow three feet deep. Arrived at Fort Ellis ; was left behind to drive for Fort Shaw command, my company going ahead as escort to wagons. One of our men de- serted on road but was captured in Bozeman, and I was ordered to hitch up team and take the deserter 'and catch up with my company. Left the fort at three o'clock in afternoon ; got into a snow-storm on Bridger Pass Divide. This divide is a part of the Rocky Mountains, and over- looks Fort Ellis and the beautiful Gallatin Valley ; it is thickly covered with pine timber, and wears a virgin crown of snow the year around. It is at this place that the Northern Pacific Railroad tunnelled through the moun- tain, from the Valley of the Yellowstone to that of the WIiXTER ON THE PLAINS. 3 1 5 Gallatin. We had not been out long when it commenced to snow, one of those blizzards for which that country is noted. Soon lost all trace of the road and started over a road of our own ; this was not a success, as before we reached the summit the wagon stuck fast in the timber, and we could not get it out without axes, which we did not have. It was the coldest night I ever saw. Left wagon next morning ; had to give deserter two mules and took two myself. Caught up with company at Quinn's Ranch, thermometer 42 below. On our arrival I did not know for some minutes whether I was alive or not. As Quinn sold what they term whiskey in this country, my company commander, Captain Clifford, ordered me, I think, about a quart, and it was all that saved my life. A party of men were sent back for the wagon ; they had a hard time finding it, and a harder time to get it out of the drift. Ever since, they have called it ' Evans' Snow Trail over the Moon.' CARRYING DESPATCHES. " On our arrival at old Fort Pease on the Yellowstone, the regimental commander. General Gibbon, desired to send despatches to General Terry, who was crossing overland from Fort Lincoln. It was necessary to travel by water, and, being a pretty fair boatman, the choice fell upon me. At that time I was a very young soldier and not much in- spired with the military spirit that afterwards was instilled into me by my company commander, the late Capt. Walter Clifford. If ever there was a man to train a soldier for the field, it was that man. Coming to me, he said ; ' Evans, 3 1 6 A SOLDIER-SCO UT'S STOR Y. you are a good boatman and, so far as I know, you are no coward. I want you to take this trip. I do not want one of my men to go where I would not go myself, but the General will not let me go.' ' All right, Captain, tell the General I will go.' I and a scout (Williamson) and a com- rade (Stewart) started that night by moonlight. Our orders were to travel the stream only at night, but in this instance positive orders had to be disobeyed or we should have per- ished with hunger. Starting from the mouth of the Big Horn River in skiff, we proceeded down the Yellowstone very slowly, as we dare not use oars ; there were Indians on both sides of the river and we had almost to hold our breaths. The western bank of the river in many places is like beautiful enclosed parks, with elk, deer, buffalo, antelope, and other kinds of game down to the squirrel ; while in this part of the Yellowstone there is the finest mountain trout. The east bank is more mountainous, occasionally broken by heavily timbered bottoms. Farther down, between Powder River and Glendive, the scenery was really grand, as though we were sailing through a city in ruins, with the beautiful rounded peaks running up to the clouds like church spires. The ground was covered with pet- rified wood, shells and fish. I was almost afraid to stop there for fear of being turned to stone. The same night we ran past an Indian camp and were nearly given away by their dogs, who howled and barked while we pulled like good fellows until morning, when, finding we were not pur- sued we laid to under some willows and took a nap. The second night out, after running into various sloughs and carrying our boat over sand-bars, we arrived at what is novy CA KK VIA 'G BE SPA TChES. 3 I 7 known as Buffalo Rapids. In running the rapids in the dark we ran against the rocks and smashed our boat. '* We, however, succeeded in landing with our rifles and one can of peaches ; all the rest' being lost, and not knowing how far we had to go, we sat down, rested and ate the can of peaches. We arrived at Glendive Creek about three o'clock P.M., and there met Colonel Moore with four com- panies. Sixth Infantry. One incident of our trip that made us ' feel strange around where we lived,' was the sight of three black-tail deer standing directly in line with each other, and we three hungry men stood looking at them without daring to fire a shot. '' Colonel Moore kindly sent his own scouts on with the despatches, returning two days afterward with the answer. We volunteered to return with answer, but Colonel Moore sent his own scouts, as he did not seem to put much confi- dence in soldiers carrying despatches. Those same scouts talked so much about Indians, and what they should do in case of an attack, that they scared each other almost to death before leaving. As Captain Pow^ell and the sergeant- major were present, I offered to bet $10 they would be back before morning, which bet the sergeant-major accepted, and lost. The first thing we saw at reveille were the scouts returning without either ammunition or rations ; they said they had run into Indians and had thrown everything away. I went up to Colonel Moore and told him if he would trans- fer the vouchers to me I would carry back the answer. The steamer ' Far W^est ' coming up the river, we all got on board and went up as far as Powder River, Colonel Moore giving me his own horse. I was just in the saddle when I 3 1 8 A SOLDIER-SCO UT'S S TOR Y. espied the first boat coming down, which was the advance of my own command ; thereby losing my $250, which was on the vouchers. AN ARMY COURIER. " After both commands joined, nothing occurred worth relating, until after the Custer battle, which happened on June 26. After our return from that fated field to the mouth of Big Horn, General Terry, desiring to communicate with General Crook, rewards of $1200 were offered. As usual, citizens got the first show, and, as usual, failed, when General Terry called on the command for volunteers. Twelve men out of the command answered the call. Our ^ opinions were asked in regard to routes on map, and I was chosen ; I suppose because I made a success of the last trip, or probably because I chose the most direct route on the map. I had my choice either to go alone, or to take two men with me. My company commander decided for me that I should take two men with me, and also that they should be of my own company ; those that he knew he could trust. We were furnished by Captain Clifford with all we had in line of equipments, field glasses, compass, maps, and, above all, his own experiences in cases of emer- gency, which were very useful. Crossing the river at dark on steam-boat, with one company of cavalry as escort to come with us 12 miles, as the Indians were pretty thick around the bank of the river, we proceeded up Tullick's Forks until about 9 o'clock, when Lieutenant Roe, Second Cavalry, returned. My orders on leaving the camp were that, whichever way any two of the party wanted to go ''KEEP cool:' 319 in case of dispute, that the third should be compelled to comply; also to travel as little as possible in daytime ; but •on all trips of that kind you have got to use your own judgment to a certain extent. " We travelled all night. Our horses becoming tired, we dismounted behind the largest hill we could find, so we could look the country over at daylight and also rest the horses for whatever the day might bring forth. '' Not seeing anything stirring, we kept on until- we struck the Rosebud Divide. Going down the mountains into the caiion, we found the very spot where the Indians buried their dead, the first camp they made after they fell back from the Custer battle. The Indians were buried on posts set in the ground with poles on the top ; they were wrapped in white cotton sheeting which had blood-stains on it, prov- in2f that those Indians had been wounded and taken alongf that far, when they died. '* A CLOSE CALL." " We dismounted and had counted about 30 dead Indians, when around the bend of the stream came the head of a herd of ponies, driven by about sixty hostile Indians. *' As fortune would have it, we were at the bottom of a ravine in the caflon, and it was there Captain Clifford's ad- vice came in good — ' Keep cool.' We consulted a moment, and came to the conclusion that it was no good running away, so when the head of the herd came along we very quietly led our horses into the herd and travelled along with them until it became dark, when it did not take us long to get out of that vicinity. This was the closest call we had on 320 ^ SOLDIER-SCO UT'S S TOR Y. the trip, though we were badly scared the same night, or about two o'clock in the morning. It was pitch dark, and raining as it had never rained before ; and as the horses could travel no longer, we dismounted. We took our lar- iats and tied them around us and let the horses feed. We could not have been more than 15 minutes in the place when we were all asleep ; the horses getting scared, tried to run away and pulled us in three different directions. You may guess we were frightened, but did not call out, as we dare not. It took us half an hour to find each other, when we proceeded on our way and found out afterwards that it was Crook's old battle-ground we -had laid down in, and the wolves eating dead mules that frightened the horses. We left the canon at daybreak and branched ofT on Ash Creek, a tributary of Tongue River, where we struck Crook's trail. Following up the trails was where the first dispute arose. About 4 P.M. we saw two different smokes at the foot of Big Horn Mountains. We were about thirty miles away at the time. Taking out the map we found out in which di- rection Goose Creek ran, where we expected to find Crook's camp. Then Stewart and I decided to take the left-hand smoke, as it was the most direct to Goose Creek ; Bell deciding to go the other way. So we failed to obey orders in so far as we let him go. He started and went about a mile and came galloping back with the very natural question, * But I have no despatches ; what will I do if it happens to be the camp ? ' ' Well, if you insist on going, tell the Gen- eral that we expected to find him on Goose Creek, and that if he is not there, that he will find us in Fetterman ; that our hard tack has given out, and that this command is on half GENERAL CR00k"S CAMP. 3:21 rations long enough.' ' WV^II,' he sa}'s, 'you can give that message to the General )'ourself; I guess I will go aJong with the crowd ; ' and as it happened, he was wise, as he \\'ouId have walked right into the Indian camp. We trav- elled all night, and about nine o'clock saw the glad sight ot canvas spread, but were not close enough to tell whether Indian tepees or soldiers' tents. Keeping right on we were rewarded with finding tents, and w^ere very lucky that we were not one hour earlier or we would never have reached it alive, as the Indians had attacked the camp that morning, burning the prairie and driving the encampment across Goose Creek, leaving some of the Third Cavalry mess-kits behind. When w^e arrived and saw it we did not know what to do, as we could not see the camp for smoke, but concluded to go ahead, — generally the best thing to do in Indian warfare. *' It was a great surprise to the officers and men when they saw us arrive, as they did not think it possible for any white men to be in that vicinity, and still a greater surprise when they heard that General Custer was killed, with all his men. We being tired and wanting rest. General Crook attached us to H Co., 9th Infantry, and ordered me to report to him next morning. But there w^as little rest for the weary in that camp, as there were present five or six reporters of prominent papers. Between them and the officers and sol- diers, we got no sleep until near midnight. The camp w^as attacked about eleven at night, we sleeping in the First Ser- geant's tent. When he left the tent to form company, he asked us if we would go along. I turned over and said, ' What do you say, boys, will we <^o, or take our chances 322 ^ SOLDIER-SCOUT'S STORV. sleeping ? ' Stewart said, ' Let us go to the next world asleep, if we have to go,' and we were asleep in a second and did not hear any more of the fight, which lasted over one hour, as we were told next morning. " When we left General Terry's command there were three Crow Indians sent out in a different direction, in case we should not be able to get through. They arrived in General Crook's camp three days after us. After asking in regard to trails crossed and Indians seen en route, the General asked me if we would volunteer to return with an answer, giving us our choice ; telling me both commands were going to join, and saying if we did not like to return, he would send the Indians. Bell's horse dying the day we arrived in camp, he could not come, so Stewart and I volunteered to return. He entrusted his despatches to me, sending the three Crow scouts with us. We left the command at dark and had proceeded but a little way when the Indians called a halt, and commenced eating their five days' rations, which did not take them long. Not being satisfied, one of them, * Buffalo Calf ' by name, came over to where our haver- sacks were laying on the ground, and picked them up and walked off ; they ate the contents of them, as well as their own, not paying any attention to our remonstrances. We then made up our minds that when we arrived in a country where we dare fire a shot, that there would be three more * good Indians ' ; but a lucky accident happened which saved them and also satisfied us. We travelled two nights and one day. At about noon on the second day we arrived at Custer's battlefield and there saw a calf, the only game we saw in the country on the trip. The Indians were laugh- HUNTING A DINNER. 323 ing at us. Our eyes were sticking out of our heads with hunger. When I saw that calf I dismounted, and would have shot if the world was coming to an end ; but the In- dians commenced gesticulating for me to stop and they would get the calf, which they did, by running it down. Well, you ought to have seen us watching that calf, with our guns in our hands. We were bound to temper their appetites on this occasion. Whether they took the hint or not, they acted like gentlemen, cooking the best parts of it first for us and then filling our haversacks to make up for our rations, and having lots of fun at our pitiable condition and looks. There was nothing more happened, on our trip back, of any moment. *' When we arrived at Yellowstone our camp had moved down river, which was a disappointment to us, made up, however, when we arrived there, by the welcome we received from both officers and men. There being no steam-boat up at the time, we could not get our horses across the river just then. The steamer * Far West ' came up that night. It was commanded by Captain Grant Marsh, the brave man who ran his boat up the river for Custer's wounded soldiers, making the remark that he would go there if he had to take her overland ; which he did the bigger part of the way. *' Not liking to leave the horse that had carried me so far, across the river to be eaten up by buffalo gnats, I went to General Gibbon and requested him to get the steam-boat to go for him ; the General told me to go to Captain Marsh myself, that he would go for me if I asked him. Captain Marsh was at the head of the table at a dinner given to some of the officers and tourists that were aboard his boat 124- A SOLDIER-SCOUT'S STORY. when I made the request. Pulling me into his cabin he made the remark to his guests that there was no service, either he or his boat could perform, that I was not wel- come to ; drinking my health, and at the same time order- ing steam up. General Gibbon made me a present of the horse for my devotion to him. " Headquarters 7TH Infantry, "Camp Mouth of Rosebud, M. T., ''General Orders, Augiist 5, 1876. " N^o. 14. " In communicating to the regiment General Orders No. 5, Department of Da- kota, the regimental commander desires to express his obligation to privates Evans, Stewart and Bell for the gallant and important set vices rendered. In doing so, he recalls the fact with pride that this is the second time during the operations of this summer that privates Evans and Stewart have volunteered to carry important despatches at the imminent risk of their lives, and he con- gratulates them that they were as successful in the second effort as in the first Such conduct cannot fail to reflect great credit on these soldiers and the organ- ization to which they belong. " By order of Colonel John Gibbon. Levi F. Burnett, " \st Lieut, and Adjt. yfh Iti/antry.''^ I.riTLE WOLF AND HIS CAl'TOR. llHli LATE CAPTAIN CLARK, 2D V. S. CAVALKV.) 335 LITTLE AVOLF AND WHITE HAT. Lieut. William P. Clark, the officer selected by the De- partment Commander to capture the remnant of the desper- ate band whose fate has already been described, was a sub- altern of the Second Cavalry, and had for a number of years made the study of Indian character and customs a specialty, and was greatly respected by both savage and civilized men. He was young, handsome, brave, and straightforward, and the sequel proved the wisdom of his selection. In com- mand of a squadron of his regiment and some trusted In- dian scouts, the hostiles were soon overhauled. Lieutenant Clark says in his report : '' The next morning I struck an old camp of the hostiles, two days old, after I had marched some three miles ; and about two miles further, two of my Cheyenne scouts met me, bringing three of the hostiles with them ; said they went into camp during the night, and had delivered my terms, which the hostiles said they would accept. The three Cheyennes, brought to me, corroborated this state- ment, but desired me to go into camp where I was, and their village would move oyer and join me ; that if I 326 " WHITE HA T 'S " D/PL OMA CY. 327 marched up to their camp, the women and children might be frightened and there might be some trouble. I decHned, of course, to do anything of this sort, but selected the two head-men, Brave Wolf and Two Moon, of my Cheyenne scouts, to ride on ahead and renew, briefly, kindly and firmly, my terms, and bring Little Wolf out to me as I ap- proached the village with my command. '' This the scouts did, and Brave Wolf added to the mes- sage in delivering it, ' I love the soldiers at Keogh ; I go with them to fight all their enemies, and if you will not listen, you will force me to fight my own people, for you are my kinsfolk.' '' Little Wolf met me about half a mile from his camp, and said he would accept the terms offered by my scouts, and that he was glad to meet me again. I marched my command to within one hundred yards of the village, which was in a natural fortress, — and they had strengthened it by breast- works of stone and dirt,-— and put my forces in the next best and strongest position about there, both for their protec- tion and to attack, in case there should be any necessity for such a measure. After about an hour, to allow the excite- ment to wear away and to give nay Che}^enne scouts time to talk the matter over with them, I went over to the camp, taking off my arms to show them that I had confidence in them, and briefly told them in council what they must do, as far as I was concerned ; that I had told my scouts to give them no lies and I hoped they had done as I had told them ; that the guns and ponies must be given up. This was the price of Peace, and they must pay it. I wanted the guns then, and would take the ponies when we reached Keogh; 328 LITTLE WOLF AND WHITE HAT, that I was truly and heartily glad we had arranged this matter without loss of life on either side ; they had ears and sense ; they must listen and use their reason ; there were many troops and Indian scouts in the country, and I thought they were wise to surrender. ''Little Wolf said, in reply, 'Since I left you at Red Cloud we have been South,, and have suffered a great deal down there. Many have died of diseases which we have no names for. Our hearts looked and longed for this country where we were born. There are only a few of us left, and we only wanted a little ground where we could live. We left our lodges standing, and ran away in the night. The troops followed us. I rode out and told the troops we did not want to fight ; we only wanted to go North, and if they would let us alone we would kill no one. The only reply we got was a volley. After that we had to fight our way, but we killed none who did not fire at us first. My brother. Dull Knife, took one-half of the band and surrendered, near Camp Robinson. He thought you were still there and would look out for him. They gave up their guns, and then the whites killed them all. I am out in the prairie, and need my guns here. When I get to Keogh I will give you the guns and ponies, but I cannot give up the guns now. You are the only one who has offered to talk before fighting, and it looks as though the wind, which has made our hearts flutter for so long, would now go down. I am very glad we did not fight, and that none of my people or yours are killed. My young men are brave, and would be glad to go with you to fight the Sioux.' Indian sign lang ua ge. 329 " One or two others followed with similar remarks. They were suspicious, and the idea of giving up guns, at once, startled them, and in the fear of this, to them, immediate danger, forgot the future, and failed to ask me any ques- tions about staying in the northern country. I therefore held them to the terms as long as I deemed judicious, and compromised on my wagons as the place of giving up guns, to which they agreed. I felt that from this time out they would camp where I told them, and I could reverse our present position ; and though I had no fear whatever of any trouble, I deemed it best to secure this advantage at once. I therefore told them to pack up and we would move out a short distance that afternoon. We moved about six miles and camped. I issued them some rations, and Dr. Sabin kindly looked after their sick and cared for their wounded ; and by the time we reached our wagons a great deal of confidence had been restored and good feel- ing really established. " While the command was out the thermometer indicated 33° below zero. It has snowed and rained, and the ice has gone out of the streams, leaving them sw^ollen, difficult and dangerous to ford." "WHITE HAT" AND THE SIGN LANGUAGE. " In September, 1884, a party of army officers, cut off for a week from mail and telegraph communication, whilst pass- ing through the wilderness betw^een Forts McKinney and Washakie, was approaching the latter post, when, late one night, a courier arriv^ed, bringing despatches and mail. In 330 TJTTLE WOLF AND WHITE HA T. one of the letters the death of Capt. W. P. Clark, 2d Cav- alry, was mentioned. A day or two afterward the courier, who was the Post guide and interpreter at Washakie, told us something which excited great curiosity and surprise. A few days before leaving, he was riding some miles from the Post when he met an Indian, who, without uttering a word, and by means of the sign language alone, told him that Cap- tain Clark was dead ! The Indian had heard the news at the Agency, and imparted it to a man of whose language he could not speak a word. Now that Indians, like deaf-mutes, could communicate by 'signs' we all know, but here was an tmexpected QYtni, occurring thousands of iniles 2iW3.Y, and yet this Indian, without using his tongue at all, was en- abled to communicate it to another. The assertion was at first startling. Captain Clark, although known in person to many of the Plains Indians, could be known by his name to the very few capable of speaking English, but those who did know him must have some way of designating him, and here was the key to the whole mystery. Indians designate each other by some attribute of the person, or by some in- cident in the life of the person referred to. Captain Clark, while serving with Indian scouts, wore a white felt hat, and hence was known as ' the Chief with the White Hat.' His proficiency in the sign language was such as to make him a marked man among them, and hence it was easy for an Indian to designate him as ' the Chief of the White Hat, who talked so well with his hands.' Of course, if the man spoken to had not known of Captain Clark he could not have guessed who was alluded to, nor indeed could you or I know who was alluded to when Washington's name was GENERAL GIBBON'S TESTIMONY. 11^ mentioned, if we had never before heard of him. All can understand how the person "once being designated, it was an easy matter for the Indian to state by signs that he had gone to sleep, died or ' gone under.' '* The distinguished officer, whose death was in this way spread amongst the people who held him in high regard, left behind him a lasting monument of his skill, industry and untiring energy. His book on the ' sign language ' ex- hibits not only these quaHties, but deep and careful re- search," * * General John Gibbon, U. S. h..^'\n Journal Military Service Itt*titu*ion U. S. COLONEL BENJAMIN LLOYD BEALL, SECOND U, S. DRAGOONS. Z2>^ REGULARS OF THE OLD SCHOOL. I. THE SECOND DRAGOONS* Pressing here my mossy pillow. Forms that moulder 'neath the willow, Forms that sleep beneath the billow, Flit and frolic round me now ; Banishing all thought of mourning, All my dreams with joy adorning, May they tarry till the morning Ere they breathe their " Hough ! " t " Hough ! " boys, " Hough ! "— " Hough ! " boys, " Hough ! " Let the soldiers' toast be ever " Hough .' " LET disinterested outsiders attest the excellence of a famous body of horsemen, where the modesty of an officer :j: trained in its school (who contributes the following reminiscences) may fail to do justice. The tone of the regiment, doubtless, had its source in its original personnel, created for service in the Far West, and the term of enlistment being but for three years, many young native Americans joined its standard for the sake of the adventurous career thus offered, and the hope of better- ing their fortunes in that terra ineognita. Thus a brother- hood was formed, and an esprit de corps established, which endured for many years, and which, it is to be hoped, still continues. * Now the 2d U. S. Cavalry. + Pronounced '■''Hot % The late Gen. H. H. Sibley, formerly Ca43tain 2d Dragoons. 333 334 JDAVID E. TWIGGS. THE FIRST COLONEL. The first Colonel, Twiggs, when appointed in 1836, was in the full vigor of manhood. Original, practical and of quick perception, he inspired the Regiment with an endur- ing faith and self-reliance. Severe in his discipline, he was, nevertheless, possessed of that bonJwiniuie which won the hearts of soldiers and ofificers. Of commanding presence, and of that military dignity so essential in a commander, his slightest wish was law, and a rebuke from him never failed of its object. The men of the Regiment feared, re- spected and loved him. A thorough tactician himself, he did not hesitate to place himself in the ranks of the ofificers for instruction in the sabre and lance exercises, and in the true method of intoning the: voice in giving commands, under the newly arrived officers, Captain L. J. Beall and Lieut. W. J. Hardee,"^ from the Cavalry School at Saumur, France. Educated in the school of martinets which per- vaded the Army at the period of his first appointment, his passions were unrestrained, and were often manifested in the most violent paroxysms of temper, resulting in inhuman punishments. This, however, was of but short duration after his appointment to the Second Dragoons. Perceiving the error of his ways, he adopted instead a fatherly care, and his punishments were more practical, simple, original and telling. * Afterwards Lieutenant-General C. S. A. REGULARS OF THE OLD SCHOOL. 335 REGIMENTAL CUSTOMS. The regiment was constantly on the watch for some odd character. Thus it was with our quondam friend, Mr. F , who not only afforded us amusement, but feathered his nest as well ; and thus, too, Bill Williams, the most famous fiddler in the upper country. Hearing such marvel- lous accounts of him it was decided in conclave to send an ambulance and fetch him down, the officers agreeing to pay him five dollars a day and his expenses. He entertained us for a fortnight with the genuine " Arkansas Traveller," tell- ing the story as he played, " Harper's Fork o' Roaring River," and innumerable '' Scotch strathspeys." He played for us at the balls we'd give, notwithstanding that we had a band led by Seiior Chioffi, the most famous trombone player in the world, but who was not slow in acknowledging Bill's wonderful expertness with his fiddle. A " hunt " was organized, and men and officers were sent to scour the country as far as Alexandria to procure hounds of the best breed ; and you may rest assured. Madam, or Sir, that the welkin would ring with a vengeance when the twenty hounds, with their whippers and the hunters, would meet in the midst of the parade for a fox hunt. Horns blowing, hounds yelping, and men screaming at the top of their voices, would make a scene of excitement that would rival the most noted English hunting scenes. Such, and of such, was the daily life at Fort Jesup, be- sides, of course, the strictly routine duties of mounted and dismounted drills ; recitations in tactics, and in the resrula- tions ; and exercises with the sabre and lance ; the latter ^^6 SECOND DRAGOON POINTS. made in the regiment. Saturday was the day for exercise in these arms : mornings for sabre, afternoons for the lance. The entire command would be assembled in columns of companies at open order, occupying the whole parade, and under the direction of the Adjutant, would be exercised for an hour by the non-commissioned officers alternately in the points, cuts and moulinets. The method of command taught by Beall and Hardee would be strictly enforced. Thus, commands of caution would be drawled loudly, whilst commands of execution would follow with a sharp, ener- getic voice. By this custom the men would be exercised, and the non-commissioned officers attain confidence and uniformity. The drills were practical rather than ornamental. In very hot weather the officers and men would be permitted to throw off their shell jackets or coats, and at a '' rest " the men were permitted and encouraged to sky-lark — so that the drills would be pleasant episodes, rather than toil. Leap- ing a pile of pine logs, by the whole command, would termi- nate each mounted drill ; and it was a rare sight to witness the grace with which it was done by some of the men, lance in rest. Awkward fellows, who pretended that their horses would not take the leap, were given stick horses, and made to scramble over it. The alacrity of the Second Dragoons was always remark- able. We were camped, I remember, near the town of Lecompton, Kansas, during the border troubles. The horses were picketed to grass on the prairie, about a quar- ter of a mile from camp. '' To Horse ! " was sounded, and ;t appeared to me, in less than five minutes I was at a REGULARS OF THE OLD SCHOOL. 337 round trot and gallop with my squadron, passing in review the laggards who had not yet formed, and inter- posed between the two belligerent lines of Free Soilers and Border Ruffians. Each man knew his place and his num- ber in the platoon, company, and squadron, so that there was no occasion to count off. Promptness in action was always a distinguishing characteristic of the regiment.* A MODEL SERGEANT-MAJOR. Our Sergeant-Major, Tree (of the period between '42 and '45), was one of the handsomest soldiers I ever saw ; and quite as perfect in his duties. His uniform was within a shade of the shell jacket worn by the officers. Indeed, all the first-sergeants were thus clad. It was with no little pride that the Sergeant-Major was observed crossing the parade. At the time I speak of, the 3d Infantry, Colonel Hitchcock, — the crack regiment of infantry, by the way, — formed a part of the garrison, though quartered in sheds and shanties on the outside. One day Colonel Hitchcock, together with other officers of the regiment, was seated on the broad piazza of the Adjutant's Office, his orderly, a spruce sergeant, lounging below, when Tree came out of the office ; gracefully saluting the group of officers, he descended the steps to the ground, when the orderly sprang to " at- tention," and saluted Tree as he passed ! '' I am not a bit * There is jjood reason to think that the successors of the Second Dragoons are not " sh)w " when a move is ordered. On one occasion, during the War in 1863, the regiment was ordered to break camp suddenly, and pursue Mosby, the celebrated Confederate parti- san, who had attacked uhe rear of General Meade's trains at Brandy Station. When " To Horse ! " sounded the men were lounging, the horses standing at the picket line, and no one thought of a march. In eight minutes the Second had saddled up, mounted, /4nd was trotting down the road with three days' rations in the haversacks.— [Editor. 1 338 SERGEANT-MAJOR TREE. surprised," remarked the Colonel. '' The soldierly bearing, and neatness of dress of tJiat Sergeant-Major, would elicit a salute from any man in my regiment." This was said with a half suppressed tone of bitterness and envy. Phil. Barbour, his adjutant, had, doubtless, the same feeling. In fact, it seemed to be the study of the regiment to differ, and to distinguish itself from others. Accessories to the uniform clothing furnished by the Government, such as yellow worsted bands around the cap for ordinary non-com- missioned officers and privates, and gold lace for the non- commissioned staff and first-sergeants, were allowed and encouraged, to distinguish the regiment from the First Dragoons. A FAMOUS CAVALRYMAN. The Lieutenant-Colonel, Harney, like the Colonel, had been educated in his youthful military career in the severe, rugged school of 182 1. A man of stalwart frame, six feet four inches in height, straight as an Indian, and without an ounce of surplus flesh, his rugged face, sandy hair, and light blue eyes, elicited admiration and confidence. Thrown with roughs and Indians in his early service on the frontier, he emulated the most daring of them in their sports. In racing, leapfng, and other manly sports, he excelled all competitors. Simple as a child in his manners and deportment, he was yet a lion when aroused or enraged. When he was stationed at old Fort Shelby, near Nackitosh, in '22, I think, and when his face was scarce fledged, he attended a fishing party in which my entire family partici- pated. In the course of the day, when the young men REGULARS OF THE OLD SCHOOL. 339 were disposed to sky-lark, the Sheriff of the parish, a Mr. Johnson, a robust, powerful man, pretended that he was about to give my grandfather a ducking in the lake. Harney, being near my mother at the moment, she ap- pealed to him to sav^e her father from the impending catas- trophe. Approaching the parties and remonstrating with Johnson, the latter, releasing my grandfather, turned upon Harney, as a foe more worthy of his steel ; but he had GENERAL WILLIAM S. HARNEY, UNITED STATES ARMY. very nearly paid for his temerity with his life. He seized Harney round the waist with a herculean grip, and al- though begged and implored not to commit such a folly, conveyed him waist deep into the lake, and, uniformed as he was, plunged him under the water. Harney aroused himself in the intense vigor of his manhood and strength, shook himself free from Johnson's bear-like clutches and 340 A MI LI TAR Y A'J'HL E ft, seizing him, in turn, would have drowned liim, in his wrath, but for the timely interference of the spectators. Drenched to the skin, his uniform ruined, he made his apologies to the ladies, and retired from the party. On the Upper Missouri he delighted in excelling the Osage Indians, the bravest and most athletic of the tribes, in foot-races, and hi the pursuit of the Elk afoot. On the occasion of Harney's hanging the Seminole chief, Chikikie, and a lot of his followers in the Everglades (the same chief who had surprised and massacred a detachment of the Second Dragoons, who were building a trading-post for the special benefit of his tribe, under the direction of Harney, who escaped by the skin of his teeth), the com- mander of the department neither approved nor condemned the act, until he was instructed from Washington to the latter course. But we of the Second Dragoons, six com- panies of which were stationed at Fort Butler with the headquarters, fired a salute of twenty-one guns, the mo- ment we heard of it, in Harney's honor This was but a single instance of esprit dc corps, and regimental pride. Expert in every department of his profession, of untir- ing industry and energy, he was at home in any situation. He was as skilful in a small boat as the most rugged sai- lor. Fretful and impatient under command, he ever sought detached and hazardous service. He commanded the detachment of the Second Dragoons in General Scott's remarkable campaign, in Florida. Three columns were started from the northern part of the Peninsula to march south, communicating with each other by signals : big guns and rockets. Harney was attached to the centre column. REGULARS OF THE OLD SCHOOL, 341 At night, when rockets were sent up, he leaped from his bed^ ran out of his tent, calHng out in his stentorian voice, *' What fool is firing those rockets ? Captain Fulton ! Captain Fulton, ain't your horses scared ? Well, it's strange they are not frightened to death ! I never heard of such tomfoolery in my life ! " Not a man in camp but heard his voice. " It's General Scott's orders, Colonel," some one called out. " Blank General Scott and the whole fraternity of Wash- ington generals. Does he expect to find any Indians if he makes such a racket?" There were plenty of gossips to repeat to General Scott the language Colonel Harney used ; and hence a bitter feeling was engendered, which lasted for years, culminating in the attempt to overslaugh him, in the organization of the expedition to Vera Cruz, and which happily terminated with Harney's capture of the heights of Cerro Gordo, the key to the Mexican posi- tion. On this occasion General Scott tendered his hand, his congratulations, and his thanks. An enduring friendship was established thereafter. In 1839 Harney was stationed at Key Biscayne. He had with him as A. A. A. G. Lieutenant Saunders of the Second. The light-house had been burned and the keeper's family massacred by the Indians the year before. Harney bethought him, one day, that the light-house ought to be rebuilt. " Mr. Saunders," said he, "that light-house ought to be rebuilt. Whose duty is it, amongst those fellows in Washington?" ''The Secretary of the Treasury has charge of all the light-houses, I believe," replied Saunders* * Well, write a letter to the Secretary and tell him, blank him, that the light-house ought to be rebuilt. Tell him 342 ''PEGGING'' TURTLE. that it ought to have been rebuilt long ago. Tell the blank idiot that if he will give me the authority 1 will re- build it myself." " But there is no stone here," suggested Saunders. " Tell the fool to send to Boston for the stone. Have you finished ? Read it ' " Saunders read precisely as he had dictated, not omitting a single syllable of his angry epithets. '' Mr. Saunders," quoth the Colonel, with sup- pressed anger, and half inclined to laugh, too, at the ab- surdity of the whole proceeding, "a steam-boat will leave to-morrow morning for San Augustine ; get ready to go in her, and join your company." His chief amusement was to stand in the bow of a boat, with harpoon or grains, and strike the monster fish which abound in the waters of the eastern coast of Florida or to " peg " the enormous green turtle, as they slept on the surface of the water. The "peg" is an instrument of steel, about two inches long, one end shaped like a pyra- mid, with a shoulder about an inch from the point, the residue being a socket, into which a long, slender handle fits loosely. To this little instrument a long line is at- tached, which is held in the hand. The shaft is constantly held poised. Cautiously approaching a sleeping turtle, the shaft is thrown so as to strike him on the back ; the " peg " enters the shell merely, up to the shoulder, which closing over it, the shaft becomes detached, and he is secured to the line, by means of which he is towed ashore without injury. It was on such an excursion that he captured a sea-calf, that rara avis of the ocean. The skeleton was sent to Washington, and it is doubtless on exhibition at thi/ day at the Smithsonian REGULARS OF THE OLD SCHOOL. 343 CHARLIE MAY. Perhaps one of the most picturesque of the proverbially gallant sabreurs of the '' Old Second " was Colonel Charles A. May. He was one of the heroes of our war with Mexico, where, at the head of his squadron, and in company with Captain (now General) Pike Graham, Lieutenants Sackett,* Pleasanton,! Inge and Winship at the battle of Resaca de la Palma, he made a brilliant charge upon the enemy's artillery, capturing a battery and a general ofificer, La Vega, with a loss of one officer (Inge) and sixteen men and twenty-eight horses, killed or wounded. Like the * Late Inspector-General of the Army. t Afterward Major-General commandin.^ Cavalry Corps, A. P, 344 CHARLIE MAY. '' Charge of the Six Hundred" at Balaclava, it became fa- mous ; unlike that charge, it was not a blunder. The equally gallant deeds of May's comrades were overshadowed by the personal characteristics of their leader. The Press teemed with wonderful tales of his prowess and horseman- ship, like these : " This gallant officer has immortalized him- self. A friend who has watched his equestrian movements at the camp describes him as a most singular being ; with a beard extending to his breast and long, flowing hair, which, as he cuts through the wind on his charger, streams out in all directions. He is one of the finest horsemen in the army. Nothing is too difficult for him to attempt." In Baltimore, one day, in 1845, ^^^ ^^'^^ fined for a breach of a city ordinance, in leaping his horse over a cord of wood in front of the City Hall. This horse was not less cele- brated than his master. He was a large coal-black gelding, and at the time of the Mexican War was about ten years old ; was sired in " Old Kcntuck'' by the celebrated *' WhipT May's eagle eye selected him from the mass — '' ignobile vulgusy Trained and tutored in the menage, Toms noble qualities spoke a blood and spirit far excelling his col- leagues. The delight which the ambitious animal displayed in every feat of daring or activity, seemed only to equal his astonishing powers. " OLD TOM'S " EXPLOITS. In Florida, in 1837, Old Toms amazing leaps and un- flinching spirit became notorious. One of his many achievements — the capture of " KiNG PHILIP " — particii- larly deserves historical notice. 25 REGULARS OF THE OLD SCHOOL. 345 The action of I^unhiwton was still nigitif^, and Old Tom s ardor for the fight had carried the gallant May ahead of his troop into the midst of the Seminoles, when their daring leader, " King Philip," sprung forth, with upraised rifle, to oppose horse and rider. May's sabre quickly swept the air, but the agile Indian avoided the blow as the fiery charger passed on. Instantly, however, did ** Old Tom " turn on his haunches (as his master has said, with all the spirit and purpose of his rider), and rearing high, plunged both his front hoofs into the breast of the Indian warrior, knock- ing him full ten feet (as is well avouched), senseless and thenceforth a captive. Coa-co-chec, ox Wild-Cat, then became the '' head dcviV of the real Seminoles, and swore vengeance on his father's captor. One of his attempts was as follows : May, in the habit of riding alone from his near post to St. Augustine, was returning over the sandy road, unsuspicious of danger, one very dark night, when he and Old Tom found them- selves suddenly am.ong a drove of horses. May's pistol was instantly cocked, for he knew that " Indians were about ; " and he determined to go ahead and get his men out of the fort. Old Tom made his way through, but the Indians did not fire, for fear of alarming the post. About half a mile from where they passed through the herd was a wooden bridge which Old Tom always jumped ; this, as usual, he did, when a minute after a horse's hoof was heard, in the black darkness of the night, to touch the boards. May then knew he was followed, and instantly reined up. The treacherous horseman came on to meet the discharge of the pistol. The Indian appeared to fall from his horse 34^ " OLD TOM'' THE WAR HORSE. and escape as May rode into his post with the horse following. In the morning, the captured animal was found to have on him the trappings known to be Wild-Cat's, with a ball through his neck, and the worst kind of a kick from Old Tom's heels. The theatre of Old Tom's renown was next shifted to Mexico, where he quickly won the admiration of the rough and ready riders of our army, and the profound respect of the enemy. At first, the Texans were inclined to brag a little of their horses. On one such occasion, May, knowing there was nothing " Old Tom " would not try, shouted to a mounted party, '' Now, follow me," pointing at the same time to a ravine which no horse could possibly clear. Old Tom dashed on, but at the brink each Texan halted. His leap was unhesitatingly made, and all thought, for the moment, that horse and rider had been dashed to atoms ; Old Tom, however, had fallen unhurt in the soft earth of the chasm. At Resaca de la Palma, in the charge which took General La Vega, Tom's courage shone gloriously. The Mexican guns were not only advantageously posted, but had a breastwork thrown up, with a ditch in front of it ; in fact, an actual battery. So soon as General Taylor perceived it, he rode up to May and told him he must take it at any cost ; and off dashed the dragoons, going forward lilce a tornado. '' Old Tom " went steady at the enemy, all the time making tremendous leaps, as he bounded over ditch, breastwork, and everything else that came in his way. In this charge, an escopette ball, or grape-shot, struck him in the neck ; yet so steadily and unswervingly did he ''go the pace " that REGULARS OF THE OLD SCHOOL. 347 it was not known until after the battle that he was wounded. The gallant Inge's fate has been much attrib- uted to the want of that steadiness and vigor in his charger which distinguished " Old Toiny At Monterey, a spent grape-shot keeled Old Tom over. May thought him dead, spoke to him in sorrow, but the old fellow in a few moments sprung up, shook himself heartily, and began to return his master's caresses as if " nothing to speak about " had occurred. All the damage was a large welt on his flank, perhaps the first time Old Tom had been oiit-flankcd. This one of the heroes of all Taylor's battles in Mexico fought his last fight at Buena Vista. He had been under the saddle for four days and nights, when on that bioody field this '' creature of heroic blood " began to show a fail- ing of strength, wliich his devoted master and friend would not o'ertask. May had Old Tom withdrawn, much against that hero's free consent ; and thereafter the old horse, by the interest and affection of his master, passed down the vale of hfe through paths of peace and plenty. '' OLD BEN BEALL." Bvt. Major Ben. Beall, notwithstanding his humor and love of fun, was a good soldier, and an excellent disciplina- rian. When in command, he was dignified and reserved ; off duty, he was the prince of good fellows. He could tell more unique and original stories, sing better songs, and stand up to his '*' toddy " more honestly than any man in the regiment. No one could tell his stories with the same grace, or humorous workings of the countenance, or 348 COLONEL BEN. BE ALL. sing his songs with the same expression, and intonations of voice. The posts where he was stationed were kept alive by his vagaries. When we were in depot at Governor's Island in '39, for the purpose of discharging and re-enlist- ing the three-years men, Ben. Beall was in his glory. An English frigate came into the port, and, of course, civil- ities were exchanged. The British officers entertained some of us at the old Globe Hotel, away down Broadway. " Old-Strike-a-Light," as we delighted to call Beall, was there, of course. He amazed John Bull, with his versa- tile, never-ending humor. Amongst others he told the story, as given by a Frenchman, of the capture of the " Guerriere ' by the " Constitution." '' You see, I vas come from Marseilles with sheep load wine and cognac ; I vas go to ze Levant trade. By'm-by Capitaine Dacre he com vith zat ' Guerriere,' and he tak my sheep ; and he tak all my vine, an my cognac in he's sheep ; me and my crew he tak prisonares an he burn my sheep. Pretty soon he say: ' Ah, Capitaine Dufosse, I go look now fo zat Yankee frigate, ze '' Constitution." ' Pretty soon he see zat sheep. * Ah, Capitaine Dufosse,' he say, * I'm goin tak zat sheep in twenty minutes.' Ven he come up vith her, he give von broadside br-r-r-r-r-re ! Zat Yankee, he no say nossing ; — br-r-r-r-r-re, ze other broadside. Ze Yankee, he no say nossing ! ' Tonnere ! ' I say, * what is zat?' Br-r-r-r-r-re! br-r-r-r-r-re I from ze 'Guerriere.' Zat sacre Yankee, he no say nossing ! Pretty soon, when he come close — br-r-r-r-re ! br-r-r-r-re ! br-r-r-r-r-re — by gar, I go beelow. After avile I com on ze deck. Capitaine Da- cre vas giv his sword to Capitaine Hull ! I say, 'Ah, ha ! REGULARS OF THE OLD SCHOOL. 349 Capitaine Dacre ! You say you goin tak zat Yankee frigate in tzvcnty minutes ! By gar, he tak you in TAN ! ' " Given with the French style and manner and peculiar lin- guistical accent, in which he was inimitable, the story was received in great good humor, and rounds of applause. One of his legion of friends wrote an obituary notice,* of which the following was a part : " But Colonel Beall was not distinguished for his social qualities alone ; he was a soldier in every sense of the word. With a noble countenance and a commanding and well-knit frame, he looked every inch the warrior. Once in the saddle, his powers of endurance were wonderful. In mid- winter, when the valleys at the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains were filled with snow, when even the nomadic savage had to seek some sheltered nook to pitch his lodge in, it was then that the Colonel used to start on those ex- peditions against hostile Indians which rendered him so famous. Day after day, night after night, as long as a horse could hold him up, he would travel. During his term of service in New Mexico, he underwent hardship that broke down even the stoutest of his troops ; but cold never pinched him, heat never relaxed him, and hunger never weakened him. Incapable of fatigue, quick in de- cision, brave in action, he was perhaps the best specimen of a partisan officer our Service has ever produced. '' A character like that of Colonel Beall was apt to be r.iisunderstood by those who did not know him well ; but underneath his apparent occasional levity of manner there beat a warm and noble heart, and a conscience free from * Colonel Benjamin Lloyd Beall died at Baltinjore, Aug. lo, 186^, 350 ♦' THE NOBLEST ROMAN: guile. A strong undercurrent of religious feeling tinged his whole life, and many a time, even in the field, after an evening spent over the camp-fire, ' in riot most uncouth,' has the writer of this seen the old Colonel, before he retired to his bivouac on the ground, take out his prayer-book and snatch a few precious moments from his restless and busy life for a communion with the things of another world. '* He is now gone, and in after-times, when the oft-told joke goes round and some old, familiar story that he once told calls out the merry laugh, a tear will mingle with our cups as we think of that true and honest gentleman, that noble soldier, that prince of boon companions — Colonel Ben. Beall." Who, when shattered and broken from scoutings and toils, In the Florida war, Could smile at grim Death as he felt his cold toils, In the Florida war ? Who, but valiant old Ben ? — bean ideal of men — Who wore gay soldier's tog in the days that we ken, In the Florida war. — God rest his old head where his blanket is spread, Far from toil and cold lead And the Florida war ! II. '' THE NOBLEST ROMAN OF THEM ALL."* The sun, which shines alike upon the just and the unjust, was reflected from the burnished brasses of the garrison of Fort Shaw, Montana, one bright day in the latter part of June, 1886. The troops were paraded to do honor to the memory of a distinguished non-commissioned officer, ♦This account is prepared from data furnished by Lieut. Philip Reade, Third U. S. Infantry. REGULARS OF THE OLD SCHOOL, 351 who for thirty-five years had helped to defend the Flag of his Country with all the power of his strong right arm and with all the force of his brave, honest and intelligent exam- ple. According to Army Regulations, the funeral escort or '* firing party " for a sergeant Consists of sixteen privates commanded by a sergeant, and it is further provided that the funeral shall be attended by the non-commissioned officers of the company or regiment, with side-arms only. But the Colonel of the Third Infantry, responding to the esprit de corps which has ever been a marked feature of that SERGEANT JAMES FEGAN, THIRD U. S. INFANTRY. regiment, ordered out the entire garrison in full dress to follow the remains of one who represented a type of the American Army, now, alas ! seldom to be met with. The band, playing a dirge, preceded the cortege; then came the firing party, selected with care from the oldest and best privates, with reversed arms, commanded by a sergeant of twenty years' service ; then the body on an ar- tillery carriage covered with the Stars and Stripes, and 35^ SERGEANT FEGAlV. guarded by six stalwart non-commissioned officers as pall- bearers ; the chaplain and the surgeon ; the family — the gray-haired widow supported by an only son, successor to his father's post of First Sergeant ; the post and regimen- tal commander as chief mourner for the regiment ; the other commissioned officers in the order of rank ; four companies of infantry, with the colors draped in mourn- ing ; last of all, a number of civilians living in the vicinity. Soon are heard the three sharp volleys of musketry which terminate the old soldier's last parade, and with a heart- felt '' peace to his ashes," the martial procession returns with quickened pace and livelier music to the duty of the hour. Let us glance at the military record of the enlisted man who was deemed worthy of these extraordinary honors. SERGEANT FEGAN, THIRD INFANTRY. James Fegan was born in Athlone, Ireland, in 1827, and acquired military habits in the constabulary there. Coming to this country in early life, he enlisted as a private in Company *' I," Second United States Infantry, October 29, 185 1. From that time to 1886 he had been almost continuously in the service of the United States as a sol- dier, and his record reads more like that of a warrior of the early centuries, when war was man's chief pastime, than that of a dweller in the New World who was born in the present century. Fegan soon proved himself faithful, and was promoted to be corporal and then sergeant, and in due time, his term of enlistment having expired, he re-enlisted. Again and again was he discharged and as often re-enlisted| ! kEGULAkS OF THE OLD SCHOOL. 353 until 1861, when he entered upon active service in the Army of the Potomac for three years. HIS ACTIVE SERVICE. He served with his company at the Siege of Yorktown, Gaines' Mills, Malvern Hill, Hanover Court House, Fair Oaks, Harrison's Landing, Bull Run, Centreville, South Mountain and Antietam. At Antietam he was wounded by a rifle bullet in the right leg, but was re-enlisted March 31, 1864, in Company '' C," Third Infantry, and when again discharged, his papers showed he had participated in the following engagements : Petersburg, Reams Station, James Station, Birney Station, Stonemans Creek, first and second Deep Bottom, South Side Railroad, Danville Railroad, Boyd- ton Plank Road, Appomattox Station, Farmsville City, New House, Savage Station, Reno Station, Manchester, Richmond^ Dunwiddie, C. H., Burksville Junction, Appomattox Court House, Surrender of Lee's Arjny. Sergeant Fegan had re- ceived several wounds, and one would naturally suppose he had had enough of a soldier's career to satisfy him for the remainder of his life. Such, however, was not the case. Twice he re-enlisted after this, but after the second enlist- ment he was prevailed upon to seek admission to the Sol- diers* Home at Washington, whither he went in 1870. Ex- istence at the quiet retreat was too tame a thing for him, and he succeeded in obtaining a discharge and at once re- joined the Army. And there he remained to the day of his death, participating in all the duties, dangers and vi- cissitudes of the Service, honored by his associates and trusted by his superior officers. 354 ^^ OLD SOLDIER'S EXPLOITS. A DISTINGUISHED RECORD. His record bears many endorsements of his bravery and efficiency by commanding officers, and he has participated in numerous thrilling experiences, besides pitched battles, during the war and with the Indians. He stood guard, sin- gle-handed and alone, over a deserter he had captured and a mule train freighted with gun-powder, at Plum Creek, Kansas, when a cowardly assault was made upon him by another soldier and a crowd of citizens, and he took both deserter and powder to camp. For this. Sergeant Fegan received the Medal of Honor, and was mentioned in Orders, as follows : " Headquarters Fort Dodge, Kansas. ''March 13, 1868. " Special Orders y " No. 39. " It becomes the pleasant duty of the commanding officer to notice in terms of approbation, the conduct of Sergeant James Fegan of Company ' H,' 3d U. S. Infantry, while in charge of a supply train en route from P'ort Harker to Fort Dodge, Kansas. " During the journey, while encamped at Plum Creek, Sergeant John W. Blake, Troop ' B,' 7th U. S. Cavalry, aided by some citizens, made a violent and cowardly assault upon Sergeant Fegan, while the latter was guarding a deserter, whom he had recently apprehended. He was threatened with death if he did not allow the prisoner to escape ; but true to his trust and to his good record as a soldier, he yielded nothing but what was wrested from him by force. And at the same time defended himself with great courage and ability. He defended, single-handed, the train freighted with gunpowder, when threat- ened, and brought it safely to this Post. "The courage and firmness with which Sergeant Fegan performed this dif- ficult duty is worthy of all praise, and is in keeping with his excellent record REGULARS OF THE OLD SCHOOL. 355 as a soldier through many years of service. His conduct is wort"hy the em- ulation of all the soldiers of this Command who deem their profession honor- able, and who desire to fulfil the requirements of it with honor and credit to themselves. '' By order of Major H. DOUGLAS. " Thomas S. Wallace, *' 2d Lieut. 3^ U. S. Infantry, '' Post Adjutant:' In a recent letter from Sergeant Fegan's company com- mander, he says : ' A commander's tribute. "■ He was exemplary in his habits, honest, truthful, slow to anger, conscientious, respectful and soldierly in his demeanor to officers, a tower of strength among the men. In personal appearance, he resembled General Har- ney as the latter looked thirty years ago. Many humorous stories are told of Fegan. He was a character whose life and habits furnished many salients whereon to hang anec- dotes. His own son, James Fegan, Jr., enlisted in H Com- pany, 3d Infantry, eleven years ago, and was last year pro- moted to be First Sergeant of the Company. '^ The singular spectacle of father and son both serving as sergeants in the same organization thus presents itself. We were proud of old Fegan, who, from his earnings, gave his son what he lacked himself ; to wit, a good education. As long ago as 1867 the old soldier brought me $2800 to keep for him. This was in an adobe hut on the banks of the muddy Arkansas, at Fort Dodge. Calling his wife to him, he bade her ' dhrop a curtsey to the Liftinint ! * This she did. The old warrior was over six feet. Standing 356 A VERypRESW RECRUIT. erect, his long arms were just able to rest on the curly head of a miniature reproduction of himself as he sonorously said : ' Liftinint ! The proudest fither in his father's cap it will be whin he sees this lad idducated like an officer and a gintleman. An' we've got the monney to do it, too, — haven't we, ould woman ? Dhrop a curtsey, woman ! Right-hand salute, Jhames, to the Liftinint ! ' '' At another time, — hour, midnight ; place, the guard- house, — he being the Sergeant of the Guard, was, addressed by a rather fresh recruit as 'Jim.' Whack I and the neo- phyte was sprawling, while seventy-five inches of irate, Hibernian, soldierly humanity roared out: ^ Jim, is it? Whin I'm on dhuty it's "Sergeant Faygan" ye'U call me. Whin I'm off dhuty, thin, an' not till \.\)\n,Yvcv Jim ! D'ye mind it! D'ye MIND it ! ' And he again flourished a fist as big as a Missouri ham in the face of the terrified recruit. '* If you have received any impression from this screed that Fegan was a coarse, or brutal, or over-exacting man, you are in error. He appreciated himself at his exact value ; no more, no less. Officers were, to him, of the '■ quality,'— clay different from his. He was a devout Roman Catholic. LOYALTY AND FIDELITY. " In 1868, a Deputy U. S. Marshal came to Fort Dodge one evening to arrest me. The suit was at the instance of some citizens who had been broken up by me in the busi- ness of trading whiskey to Arrapahoe and Cheyenne Indi- ans. Having had warning of the advent of the hapless dep- uty U. S, M., I casually — very casually, you will understand. REGULARS OF THE OLD SCHOOL. 357 — mentioned the fact to Sergeant Fegan. He carelessly asked where would the U. S. M. sleep. Similarly, without assignable reason, he inquired would I be at the Post Trad- er's until, mayhap, midnight, that night ? I incidentally gave him information and details. Of course there was an entire absence of purpose in three or four circumstances that followed ; to wit (i), I domiciled and fed and drank the D. U. S. M. in my own quarters, suggesting that he defer until the next day any business he might have with me. (2) By a singular coincidence, the night that I spent at bill- iards at the sutler's store, old Fegan and a few steady men of my company had passes, with permission to be absent from the Reservation. (3) When I returned to my quarters, I tip-toed to the room where I had left my Deputy U. S. M. asleep, but was astounded to find the bed empty, his bag- gage gone, the man nowhere to be found. *' Long afterward the Deputy told me — he was a pretty clever fellow, Charley W by name — that late that night he was gently but resolutely awakened from his stupor — slumbers, I mean — by a giant, who had a whisper like the North wind and the sinews of a Goliath, who enjoined him to get up, dress, pack his things and silently follow him to a wagon. By the way the Hercules spoke, the Deputy U. S. M. thought he meant it, and he meekly com- plied. Without injury of any kind, the civil functionary was taken to a point on Pawnee Creek, and there advised to take the stage away from Fort Dodge. He did so. Old Fegan always looked preternaturally sober whenever I tried to talk about it. Do you blame me for feeling that in his death I lost a friend ? " 358 ^^^ AMERICAN PRIVA TE SOLDIER. THE " MEN BEHIND THE MUSKETS." " The Annals of War abound with names of titled military men, generals, colonels, and those of lesser rank but equal bravery, to whom their country and the world have justly awarded the deathless meed that heroism everywhere and always deserves. No one questions the right of these valiant warriors to wear their laurels and to enjoy their well-earned renown. Physical bravery and soldierly leader ship will be admired and extolled by humanity for ages to come, and it is right that they should be. The people that has no appreciation of dauntless manhood and the prowess of military chieftainship is likely to be one of poor spirit, incapable of the noblest and best inspirations. But some- times, to a close observer, it would seem that the incense cloud which popular feeling continually keeps ascending before the shrine of the greater heroes, obscures and belittles the deeds of the humbler ones. The general, the colonel and their subordinates plan the battles, marshal the armies and keep the serried ranks in order, inspiring those under their command by counsel and examples, but it is the men behind the muskets who do the fighting and win the victo- ries. Never was this exemplified in a more striking way than during our own great struggle of twenty years ago. The American Private Soldier gained the admiration and applause of the world by his sublime heroism ; animated by a grand purpose and thinking while he fought of all that de- pended upon his exertions, he was doubly a hero — a hero physically and morally — and he won battles and achieved triumphs, often under the most adverse circumstances, and REGULARS OF THE OLD SCHOOL. 359 despite bad generalship, for it must not be forgotten that we had bad as well as good leaders. So when we crown the titled soldier with laurels and wave incense before his face, we must not fail to remember that behind and around him cluster the memories of thousands of private soldiers whose thinking and fighting were factors that largely helped to give him his fame." FIRST SERGEANT JAMES FEGAN, Company H, 30 U. S. Infantry ; Died at Fort Shmv, Montana^ Jtme 25, 1886, aged 59. Service. Enlisted in Co. I, 2d Infantry, Oct. 29, 1851 ; re-enlisted Aug. 29, 1856 ; re- enlisted July I, 1861. Re-enlisted in Co. C, 3d Infantry, March 31, 1864; re-enlisted March 31, 1867; re-enlisted (Co. H) March 31, 1870; re-enlisted Aug. 13, 1873; re- enlisted Aug. 13, 1878; re-enlisted Aug. 13, 1883. Retired frovi Active Service as Sergeant at Fort Missoula, M. T., May 8, 1885. Participated in 30 battles., War of the Rebellion, and numerous Indian affairs. ;/V««rt'ev/at " Antietam," 1862. Mentioned in Orders and awarded the U. S. I\Iedal of Honor and a Certificate 0/ Merit for con- spicuous gallantry at Plum Creek, Kansas, March, 1868. Sergeant Fegan was made {Dec. 6, xZ'i'z) the subject of a Special Message to Congress from the President of the United States. A MERITORIOUS CAMP FOLLOWER. Born at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., August 6, 1876. Died at Fort Brady, Michigati, March 5, 1886. u/^~^HUM" accompanied the 23d U.S. Infantry all V^^ through the Cheyenne expedition of '78. He marched with the regiment from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Supply, Indian Territory, in '79; thence he marched with Co. *' A," to the Cantonment on the Uncompahgre River, Colorado, thence to Fort Union, New Mexico. He also accompanied the troops from Fort Union to Richmond Post-Office, Arizona, in an expedition against the Apaches, known as the Gila Expedition of '82. During the expedi- tion the troops suffered severely from want of water. A detachment of Co. ''A" was sent to scout through the country to find pure water, but after travelling all day and all night without finding even any signs of it, they went into camp, and such was their suffering that they resolved to kill poor '^ Chum " for his blood. One of the detachment now (1886) stationed at Fort Brady, Mich., begged for " Chum's " life, and it was spared, providing water would be found within the next hour; and luckily enough it was the dog who led them to it. '' Chum " returned with the com- 360 A MERITORIOUS CAMP FOLLOWER. 36: mand to Fort Union, and went with it to Fort Brady, in June, 1884. The command felt grieved over '' Chum's ' death, and tried to show their love for him by burying him with appropriate military honors, and erecting a neat headboard over his grave, near the Post Cemetery, " CHUM." 708 70 5 ' " ', % - >v^'' '..^'' v./ * % '^.. .-^^ -y^^ •^<-=.- >u ^A~' ^ <=>^ >-;■■■ >> s '' o :^'^. 4. \ ' "^^ v*^' .0 - a 0' "%.. -^^ .^^^' -.- V*' %"- .(">■ ;^ ■> ■^^ •^'^' .^^ i "oo^ ^'^^ ^ ^ ^' <^.. V- V -.. .,v^- ^'' ".p. ■3 " . -^ V^ I LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 013 763 334 6