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THE LIFE

OF

George Dashiell Bayard,

LATE CAPTAIN, U. S. A.,
AND
BRIGADIER-GENERAL OF VOLUNTEERS,
KILLED IN THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG, DEC. 1862.

BY
SAMUEL J. BAYARD.

NEW YORK:
G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS,
FOURTH AVENUE AND TWENTY-THIRD STREET.
I874

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by
SAMUEL J. BAYARD,
in the Office of the Librarian of CongreBS at Washington.

u ¦'¦

^4.^50

Langs, Little & Co.,

The Newbwrgli Stereotype Co printers,
108 to 114 Woostkr Street, N. Y.

INTRODUCTION.

| 7 OR a number of years I have been frequently solic-
-*- ited by my family, and by many friends of my son,
the late General Bayard, to prepare and publish a Memoir
of his brief career. Though such a tribute was due to
his memory, nevertheless the effort to render it, was felt
by me to be so painful, that I have too long shrunk from
making it.
But my advancing years admonish me, not to post
pone any longer the execution of what I consider a
sacred duty.
The ample correspondence of General Bayard has
enabled me to give a correct narrative of his life, in a
great measure written by himself.
From his letters the reader will obtain a better
knowledge of his character, principles, and motives of
action, than any more elaborate biography could fur
nish. The record of his life needs neither apology nor
defence. He was as faultless as a son, a brother, and
a gentleman, as the most fastidious and exacting could

vi Introduction.

wish. The motto of the great Captain, who made illus
trious his name, was ever the inspiration of his life —
" Sans peur et sans reproche."
To my grandchildren, the nephews and nieces of
General Bayard, and to the young military aspirant, I
commend the study of his history. Let them emulate
his noble character and his ardent patriotism, his gen
erosity, his affection for his family, his dauntless cour
age, and his exemplary performance of every duty
devolved upon him.
Samuel J. Bayard.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.
PAGB
Nativity — At School in St. Louis, Mo. — Boyhood on the
Prairie  II

CHAPTER II.
Removes to Trenton, New Jersey — At School in New York —
In Morristown, New Jersey — Appointed a Cadet by Mr.
Fillmore — Preparation for Examination — Admission . 16
CHAPTER III.
Cadet Life at West Point — From June Examination 1852 to
January, 1853 — Letters  28
CHAPTER IV.
Life at West Point, 1853 — January Examination — Standing —
June Examination and Standing — His Class depleted —
Fifteen found deficient— Encampment . . . .41

CHAPTER V.
Life at West Point in 1854 — Oration before Dialectic Society
— Goes on Furlough — Verses by Mrs. General M. G. Scott 56

viii Contents.

CHAPTER VI. PAGB
Life at West Point, 1855 — Delegate Convention of Cadets —
Proposes to" go to Nicaragua — Goes to Hospital with
Sprained Ankle — His preference for a Cavalry Regiment 67
CHAPTER VII.
Life at West Point — Last Years of Cadet Life — January Ex
amination — Preparation foi June Examination — Standing
when Graduated ..... . . 84
CHAPTER VIII.
Appointed Second Lieutenant in First Cavalry — Fort Leaven
worth — Difficulties in Kansas — Service on the Plains . 93
CHAPTER IX.
Life at Fort Leavenworth, 1857 — Expedition to the Arkansas ¦
— Fight with Cheyennes — Winter Quarters at Fort Riley in
CHAPTER X.
Life on the Plains in 1858 — Preparation for Expedition to
Utah — March to Fort Laramie and Return — Leave of
Absence and Visit to New Jersey  131 .
CHAPTER XI.
Life on the Tlains in 1859— Buffalo Hunting— The Frog-man
—His Oration 4th of July— Conference with Chiefs of
Kiowas and Camanches — Encounter with a Buffalo — Kills
Pawnee — Captain Walker's Official Report — Hunt with
Grantley Berkely — Mr. Berkeley's Letters . . .138
CHAPTER XII.
Life on the Plains, i860 — Trip to Arkansas — Returns to his
Command — Expedition against the Kiowas — Encounter
with an Indian — Wounded — Goes to St. Louis — Arrow
head extracted from Cheek — Hemorrhage from Wound 
Dr. Pope ties his Carotid Artery — Return Home . . 167

Contents. ix

CHAPTER XIII. page
Lieut. Bayard appointed Instructor in Cavalry Tactics at West
Point — West Point in 1861 — Leave of Absence — Hemor
rhage and Confinement in Philadelphia — Return to West
Point — Lieut. Lomax's Letter— Applies for Leave to Join
Volunteer Regiment — Colonel of First Pennsylvania Cav
alry — Governor Curtin's Letter — Drainsville — Official
Report  ,. . .181
CHAPTER XIV.
Camp Pierpont — First Pennsylvania Cavalry — In the Field — ¦
Moves South — Affair at Falmouth — Colonel Bayard ap
pointed a Brigadier-general — Stationed below Fredericks
burg — Goes to Shenandoah Valley — Fremont — Jackson —
Shields  200
CHAPTER XV.
Campaign of General Pope in Virginia — Bayard's Cavalry in
advance on Rapidan — Battle of Cedar Mountain — Retreat
of Generals Banks and Pope — Severe service of Cavalry 225
CHAPTER XVI.
General Bayard charged with the Defence of Washington, on
the Virginia side — In Command of all the Cavalry south of
the City — Proposes a Cavalry Raid towards Richmond —
Advance on Fredericksburg — Battle of Fredericksburg —
Death of General Bayard— Funeral Obsequies . . 252
Appendix  279

LIFE OF
George Dashiell Bayard.

CHAPTER I.
Nativity — At school in St. Louis Mo.,— Boyhood on the Prairie.
GREAT Revolutions 3re distinguished by the ap
pearance of new men emerging from obscurity.
Opportunity invites the development of talents, and the
field of strife and danger is soon crowded with aspir
ants to fortune and fame, who were before unknown.
The English Revolution in the seventeenth century,
and the French Revolution in the succeeding century,
each furnished a brilliant array of statesmen and sol
diers, who then first became historical — arbiters of peace
and war, and architects of empire.
The American Revolution, by which the independ
ence of the United States was established, was no less
fertile in the production of distinguished characters. A
host of statesmen and soldiers whose names were pre
viously known only in limited circles, then soon became
illustrious throughout the civilized world.
Our recent civil war, and the social and constitutional
changes which it produced, may well be said to consti
tute a second American Revolution. In its progress,

12 Life of Gen. Bayard.
as in other Revolutions, there suddenly sprang from
comparative obscurity, many, both in civil and in military
life, whose names will be remembered in history.
Lieutenants, Captains, and Colonels in the regular
army, and not a few politicians in civil life, became on
one side and the other Brigadier, Major and Lieuten-
ant-Generals. Some of these sudden elevations only de
veloped incapacity, while others revealed abilities of the
highest order. Thanks to the admirable training of
West Point, there were few conspicuous failures among
the new-made generals, of those who were graduates of
the U. S. Military Academy.
We propose in the following pages giving a sketch of
the brief career of one of the soldiers of the Union Army,
who though "unknown previously, out of military circles,
rose rapidly to distinction, and in fifteen months gained
a reputation familiar to the whole country.
George Dashiell Bayard was born at Seneca Falls,
Seneca County, New York, December 18th, 1835. His
father having relinquished the profession of law, had in
1833, purchased some real estate at Seneca Falls, Seneca
County, New York, and taken up his residence there.
In the appendix will be found some account of the
ancestry of Bayard — interesting to his relatives and fam
ily friends . though it may be thought of little value by
the general reader.*
No intelligent estimate can be formed of the future
man, from the first eight or ten years of boyhood. Pre
cocity is a promise seldom verified by manhood.
Young Bayard was a docile, affectionate and intelli
gent child. He was healthy, but not robust, — generous
*See Appendix A and D.

At School in St. Louis, Mo. 13
in disposition, and easily controlled by an appeal to his
good sense or his affections.
After learning at home to read, he commenced when
five or six years of age, going to school, where he soon
made good progress in the first elements of knowledge.
In 1843, his father removed with his family to Iowa,
then recently organized as a territory.
On the way to Iowa, while at St. Louis, his father
formed the acquaintance of Major A. J. Dorn, who had
established a school for boys, which was to a limited
extent military in discipline and organization. The
pupils were dressed in uniform, taught the manual ex
ercise and drilled regularly. Bayard was placed in
charge of Major Dorn, and continued at his school for
two years. At the St. Louis school the subject of
this narrative formed, probably, his predilection for the
career of a soldier. His teacher became much attached
to him, and gave the most favorable report of his deport
ment and progress. He seemed to have the faculty
of inspiring with affection all who became intimate
v/ith him.
His fencing master was the celebrated Col. Korponay,
the Hungarian exile. Korponay, pleased with the intelli
gence and manly bearing of his pupil, became very fond
of him, and always saluted him with the title of the Little
General.- About six years afterwards, it appeared from the
papers that a revolution had commenced in Hungary in
resistance to Austrian tyranny ; and it was announced
that Korponay was about to return to his country to help
achieve her liberty. Bayard, without consulting his pa
rents, immediately addressed a letter to Korponay asking

14 Life of Gen. Bayard.
permission to go with him as his aide The letter prob
ably never reached the gallant patriot, as he had already
sailed, and no response to it was ever received.
The school of Major Dorn was given up by him,
about a couple of years after Bayard was placed there,
and he returned to his parents at Fairfield, Iowa, where
he attended the village school. About this time a
Camanche pony was presented to him by a relative.
Though probably thirty years old, he still had the spirit
and vigor of a colt — and was capable of great endurance.
No fence was an impediment to him, and when out of
his stable he went where he pleased. He was so docile
that he would come whenever called by his young master,
and would eat anything from his hand. As soon as the
prairie chickens were grown, Bayard and his pony roved
the prairie in pursuit of them, and always came home
loaded with game.
But hunting and chasing the prairie wolves at other
seasons was the favorite sport of Bayard.
Some of his friends among the young men of the
neighborhood would accompany him with their hounds ;
and often from sunrise to sundown, over the large prairies
in the vicinity, pursued their game.
His parents preferred that he should thus spend his
holidays and leisure time, rather than with other boys
lounge around the village and fields. The exercise
tended to develop his strength, while in his rough ex
perience there was enough of risk and danger to excite
his courage and influence his character.
Though his health was uniformly good, he was by no
means athletic, but rather delicate in appearance, owing
to his rapid growth. His habits and prairie life at this

Boyhood on the Prairie. 15
time probably exerted a happy effect on his constitution,
and were doubtless the cause of his ultimate physical
strength and capacity for endurance.
On one occasion when in his tenth year, with the per
mission of his parents, he started off alone on his pony,
to pay a visit to his cousins who had recently settled
sixty miles off, on the Des Moines river. After he had
overstaid the time prescribed for his absence, his father
began to be anxious respecting his safety. But as he was
about setting out to go for him, the young gentleman
rode up enveloped in the plumage of turkeys, wild geese,
prairie grouse and other game with which his pony was
covered. He had no intimates among boys of his own age, and
seemed to prefer the companionship of his father to other
associates. He was fond of reading and never required
urging in the prosecution of his studies.
At his earnest solicitation — though not by two years
of the proper age for admission to West Point as a cadet,
his father made application for him, for the vacancy
which would occur in 185 1, for the first Congressional
District of Iowa. Both the Senators from that State and
the Member of Congress for the district, supported the
application, and filed in the engineers' department re
commendations in his favor, and had he remained in that
State, he would probably have received his cadet ap
pointment for that district.

CHAPTER II.
Removes to Trenton, New Jersc) — At School in New York — In
Morristown, New Jersey — Ajfointed a Cadet by Mr. Fillmore —
Preparation for Examination — Admission.
IN the spring of 1849, his father having returned to
New Jersey, Bayard was sent to school at the Acad
emy in Trenton. After a year's residence there his pa
rents removed to New York city, and their son was
placed at one of the excellent free schools there.
Again his family changed their residence, and Morris-
town became his home in 185 1. Notwithstanding these
changes, Bayard's studies were prosecuted with diligence
and improvement. He had made good progress with
his Latin, and was pretty well grounded in the common
branches of an English education. He wrote with
facility, and occasionally would write for the newspapers
articles of considerable merit. But being intent on
going to West Point, his studies were pursued with
reference to his admission to the Military Academy.
Under a very competent instructor, Mr. Crane, of
Morristown, he devoted considerable time to mathematics,
and under Mr. Luna, a Spanish teacher, commenced the
study of Spanish.
At the commencement of the session of Congress of
1851-52, the father of Bayard applied to Mr. Brown, the
Member of Congress for the district to which Morristown

Appointed a Cadet by Mr. Fillmore. 17
belonged, for the cadetship in his gift, there being a
vacancy for that district.
Mr. Brown and Bayard's father had been friends
from boyhood, as were their fathers before them, and Mr.
Brown it was thought would not refuse to appoint him.
But he deemed it his duty to be governed in his selection
by political considerations, and expressed his sincere
regret that he could not with proper regard to his political
friends appoint young Bayard.
He appointed in succession two young gentlemen,
sons of his political friends, neither of whom remained
at West Point more than a few months.
Commodore Stockton, then a Senator from New Jersey,
in the winter of 1852, asked from Mr. Fillmore, then Presi
dent, the appointment of Bayard as cadet at large.
It so happened that Mr. Fillmore had then sixteen
cadets to be appointed at large. For these appointments
there were several hundred applicants. Mr. Miller, the
colleague in the Senate of Commodore Stockton, was an
applicant in behalf of his son. The President however
complied with the recommendation of Senator Stockton,
and appointed Bayard a cadet at large.
In August 1856, the father of Bayard having sent to
Mr. Fillmore a copy of his Life of Commodore Stockton,
received from him a reply, from which we give the fol
lowing extract :
" I am gratified to hear that your son has graduated
with so much distinction at West Point. I hope and
trust that this is but the bud of promise, wliich will soon
unfold its full blown honors to himself and country. I
congratulate you upon being the father of such a son.
" Truly yours, Millard Fillmore."

1 8 Life of Gen. Bayard.
Mr. Fillmore was censured acrimoniously by the
Whig papers in New Jersey for his preference of Com.
Stockton's nominee, while his action was highly com
mended by the political friends of the Commodore. The
son, whose appointment as a cadet Senator Miller desired,
was a young gentleman of merit ; he offered his services
to the government early in the war, and was disting
uished for gallantry and good conduct, rising rapidly
in the service, but when a Lieutenant Colonel was
prematurely cut off by disease, and died universally
lamented. Stimulated by the notoriety which the papers had
given to his appointment, and determined to vindicate the
preference of Senator Stockton and Mr Fillmore, Bay
ard applied himself vigorously, under his friend and
teacher Mr. Crane, in preparation for his examination at
West Point in June. He was pretty well grounded in
the rudiments of a common school education and felt
little apprehension as to his ability to stand a satisfactory
examination — but this confidence did not induce him to
relax his industry, and he continued his preparatory
studies to the last. His chief solicitude was, respecting
his being able to satisfy the surgeon's inspection as to
his physique. Every candidate for admission to the Military
Academy, besides the examination to which he is sub
jected as to his proficiency in the common branches of
reading, writing and arithmetic, must submit to an exam
ination by the resident surgeon of the Academy, of his
freedom from disease, and any defect of limb, lungs, or
constitution. Bayard, now sixteen years of age, having
grown very rapidly in the previous two or three years —

Preparation for Examination. 19
was tall and slender ; and though strong and vigorous,
had the appearance of a youth of rather delicate organi
zation. Dr. Cuyler, the surgeon at West Point, informed
some of the friends of Bayard, that owing to these appear
ances, he felt great solicitude respecting his capacity to
endure the rigorous discipline of the Academy — but
that his great regard for his family — with many of whom
he was intimate — induced him to overlook the indica
tions of want of strength which his examination revealed,
and trust to that development of youthful health which
West Point life so often realized, in justification of his
favorable report. He manifested the soundness of his
judgment and his sagacity by this conclusion.
Thanks to the previous active life of Bayard, exercise
in the open air only served to develop his strength
and improve his health. He gained in flesh and
weight from the time of his admission to the Acad
emy, and graduated a strong though not robust man,
with a sound constitution, capable of enduring all the
hardships of the camp and the severe cavalry duty
on the Western Plains.
The West Point life of Cadet Bayard will be better
told in his own language than by the narrative of an
other. His letters give in detail, a pretty accurate
account of the training, discipline and management of
the Military Academy. They are likewise interesting,
as indicative of his habits, tastes, and character. They
will show, that while zealous to perform his duty, he
was inspired with generous aims and a lofty ambition.
His correspondence therefore will be given in full,
omitting only those portions of *it which relate to his
family.

20 Life of Gen. Bayard.
To his Mother.
" West Point, fune 3d, 1852.
" I suppose you will expect a letter from me, to learn
how I like this place. Know then, that a harder, or more
severe workhouse is not to be found anywhere : I hate it.
We are treated by the cadets of the other classes with
such indignity that I feel like shooting every villain of
them : If I could leave with honor I would do so at once.
" I am threatened with a return of my old complaint,
the quinsy, and I fear may have to take a turn in the
hospital. I have not the heart to write further, for I feel
decidedly bad." To the same.
" West Point, June 4th.
" I feel better to-day and am in better spirits. As I
learn the rules better, I get along pleasantly.
" 1 fear I have been reported three times, in which case
I will have the exquisite pleasure of walking sentry this
evening. But all arises from ignorance of the rules, as
they are neither written nor printed. An officer came
up last night and told us different regulations and duties,
but as there were so many of them, we could not recol
lect the half of them. But experience will soon give me
command of them, so that by the time of the examin
ation I will perhaps be pretty well versed in them.
" We are drilled morning and night, about an hour and
a half, on the stretch, besides several other times during
the day." To his Sister.
" West Point, June §th, 1852.
" Upon going to parade ground for drill, I received the
intelligence, welcome or unwelcome, that I was upon the

Preparation for Examination. • 2 1
sick list, and must go to my quarters. I have therefore
a good hour and a half to indite some more of my experi
ence of cadet life.
" There is one thing pretty certain about it, and that
is, that it is not the exceedingly moral, the extraordinarily
polite, or the surpassingly superior thing it is thought to
be, by aspiring young men, seeking fame at the cannon's
mouth. " Mother is entirely mistaken if she supposes that I
do not make allowance for the peculiar character of the
school or its objects, or that I did not expect to experi
ence rigor and severity of discipline. I did expect all
this ; I did anticipate weary work and hardship ; but never
anything like the dog's life and slaving toil to which we
are subjected. Had I foreseen anything of the kind Mas
ter Miller might have had his appointment and welcome.
" But as mother and father wish me to succeed in pass
ing through here with honor, I shall not flinch, but use
my best endeavor to gratify them. I will not relinquish
my efforts while my health permits.
" Last Saturday I was promoted at drill above six or
eight of the " chaps " into the third squad, and would
undoubtedly have been promoted at the next drill, if I
had not been ordered to the hospital.
" We are marched by our officers to and from meals,
which, for one thing, are better than I expected. Upon
entering the mess-room we take our places and remain
standing until the officer cries in a loud sonorous voice,
' Take seats ' when we all sit down. The ' plebs ' have
separate tables from the cadets at one end of the room,
and the cadets are marched to the mess-room and take
their seats before we enter.

22 Life of Gen. Bayard.
" When done, they (the cadets) rise at the word " cadets
rise" and are marched to their quarters. When we are
done, we rise at the cry " candidates rise," and then we
are marched to our quarters. You must know that we
are not recognized as cadets, by the other cadet classes,
and are always addressed and spoken of by them, as
plebs. As we pass along they hoot and shout contemptu
ously Plebs ! Plebs ! / They play a good many tricks on
those who they think will stand it, but are rather shy of
those who they think would resent their insults."

To his sister.
" West Point, June \Ath.
" I received your letter the same day I returned from
the Hospital, and you may be sure it was opened with
the greatest pleasure. I am daily improving in strength.
I hope soon to enjoy even better health than I did pre
vious to leaving home.
" The drill is quite easy now, and I like it : in fact,
had rather drill than not. At first it was harder, as I
had to learn the rudiments before I could march : but
now that I know them and keep moving, it has become
quite easy. Oh ! it was very hard at first, and I fainted
once in the ranks.
" The parade, (as it is called) continues in all its
severity. In consequence of my illness, I have had leave
of absence until to-day. I must now return to it after
this, and if I do have to fall out, I hope there will be
nothing worse. If that parade was to last after examin
ation, I would hardly be able to stay : but I am thankful
it ceases as soon as we are admitted."

Preparation for Examination. 23

To his sister.
"West Point, June 16th, 1852.
" I had intended to answer your letter which I received
yesterday evening, but deferred doing so, to go and see
the fireworks on the plains which the graduates displayed
in celebration of the last night of their stay in these
classic walks. Most of them leave to-day ; and j'udging
by my own feelings, they must do so without the least
emotion of regret.
" The examination will take place some time during
this week : but what particular days, it is impossible to
say. The mental examination will probably be on Sat
urday, the day we go into camp. The medical examin
ation however, will, it is believed, take place a day or two
before, perhaps to-morrow. I do not feel much anxiety
on the subject as I expect to pass, and it does not trouble
me much, therefore, what day we get examined. As soon
as it is over I will drop you a line and let you know the
result. " There is one boy here, a nephew of Mr.Venable, of
the House of Representatives, (who was at Princeton
College with father), under five feet in height, and also
under sixteen years of age, who it is said has an order
from the Secretary of War * that he shall be admitted. I
do not think this fair ; if they do it for one, they ought to
do it for others. The reason assigned for this departure
from rule is, that young Venable is believed to be a great
mathematical prodigy and genius.
" There will be, I think, between six and ten of the
candidates for admission rejected. There will be about
twenty or thirty more rejected at or before the January
* George W. Crawford.

24 Life of Gen. Bayard.
examination, and about fifteen afterwards, making about
fifty discharged in all. In the present graduating class,
there were only forty-four who went " clear through," out
of near ninety with which it commenced. I doubt if
more will get through in my class, four years hence.
" I have seen Loder and Nevius, of New Jersey.
Nevius is a clever fellow. To Loder I have taken quite
a fancy. Nevius was, you know, appointed by Congress
man Brown, in preference to me. I hope he will be
able to stay here. I like Loder very much, for he seems
to have the instinct of a gentleman. The two young
plebs who are to occupy the same tent with me in camp
are Loder and Taylor, son of the late Lieutenant Col
onel Taylor of the army.
" For the last two days the heat has been intense, and
in the afternoon during drill almost enough to kill a dog.
In the evening yesterday one of the plebs fainted during
parade and was carried off the ground. Almost every
afternoon one or more of them become so sick as to
compel them to fall out of the ranks. I have fallen out
of the ranks three times altogether.
" The change in the classes, by the absence of two of
them, one on furlough, and the other graduating, has com
pletely changed our officers. The absence of some I
deplore ; but for that of others I rejoice. All along, the
head officer on parade (who stood by, but seldom said
anything) was Rose, and the next, who, in fact, gave all
the commands, was Hood of Kentucky. Then come
Messrs. Villipigue of South Carolina, and Turnbull of
Maryland. " As Rose never gave any commands, but merely re
ceived the reports of Mr. Hood, I don't miss him much :

Preparation for Examination. 25

but Hood * (of late 2d, from 1st class), who takes his
place, I do miss, as he was a fine gentlemanly and oblig
ing commander. In his place we have a new man whose
name I have not yet learned. Both Villipigue and
Turnbull go upon furlough to-day. Villipigue is one of
the most clever persons I have met here, and I regret
his absence exceedingly. He is a gentleman in every
sense of the word, an order of beings very scarce here.
" But Turnbull's absence delights all theplebs, who had
from him the most rigorous treatment, though no doubt
intended for their benefit. He was the crossest and
sharpest of all others to whose commands we were sub
jected. His absence is some compensation for the loss
of Villipigue." To his Father. " June 23d, 1852.
" I think I may now consider myself a Cadet, without
much danger of being deceived.
" Those boys (eight in number) who were from various
causes unable to pass, were called up to-day and were
informed of that fact ; but they have the privilege of
coming on and trying again in September, which a
number of them will probably do.
" The proof of my passing which I take for granted,
is, my not being called before the Superintendent to be
informed of the contrary.
" There is no doubt about it, and you must therefore
not fail to come up on Friday and stay till Monday, if
no longer. " I am sorry to say that Nevius was among the distin
guished eight, who could not pass. But he says he will
•¦ General Hood, of the Confederate army.
2

26 Life of Gen. Bayard.
come on and try again on the ist of next September.
Unless he exerts himself very industriously he will fail
again. I regret his failure, as I know you and his father
have been friends all your lives. Mr. Brown, too, will
regret the failure of his appointee.*
" I am also sorry to say that Dickinson, of Iowa, is
also rejected. I felt an interest in him because he was
from the Congressional District from which, if we had
remained in Iowa, I expected to come as a cadet.
"One named C, of Michigan ; another B., from Connec
ticut ; J., from Alabama ; T, from Ohio ; G., from Penn
sylvania ; H., from Virginia ; complete the unfortunate
eight. G. was appointed at large. Parents or guardians,
before they send their boys here, ought to be assured
that they are capable. All that is required is, what
every boy of ten years of age can acquire at any common
school — provided they have any capacity for learning.
If they have it not, it is cruel to subject them to the
mortification of rejection, which if they have any sensi
bility, must cloud all their future lives.
" As to Campbell, of Texas, of whom you spoke in one
of your letters, he assumes so many nativities that,
though he has been here a week, to-day is the first day
that I was aware of it. Instead of being from Texas, he
was never there, though his father lives in that State.
" When I asked him where he was from, he replied
* Mr. Nevius, though he returned to West Point, did not con
tinue there. He subsequently became a Civil Engineer, and in that
capacity was in the service of the Camden and Amboy R. R. Com
pany for many years, and highly esteemed. He died while in the
employ of that Company. He was a son of Judge Nevius, one of
the Judges of the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Admission. 27

from South Carolina. I made no further inquiry, and
did not see him again until this morning. I find that he
has generally lived in South Carolina, though he resided
three years in Cuba. He is appointed from Alabama,
and his father now lives in Texas. In consequence of
all this, it was entirely owing to accident that I found
him out — which I was d-esirous of doing, as his father
is a friend of Uncle Dashiell.
" Campbell belongs to Company D., while I belong to
Company A., so that our rooming together is out of the
question. Gaston is a fine-looking fellow, but has
engaged his room-mates.
" To-morrow, I will receive my musket, and after that
will have to learn the musket drill. I expect I will
receive an order in a few days to obtain my uniform.
The whole of Company D. received orders for their
uniforms to-day."

CHAPTER III.
Cadet Life at West Point. — From June Examination 1852 to Janu
ary, 1853. — Letters.
IT will be seen from his letters that Cadet Bayard, after
his admission, complained no more of the hardships
of West Point, but satisfied with his situation adapted
himself to his duties and was animated with an ardent
desire to excel, and graduate with credit.
His transgressions of the rules of the Academy were
never of a flagrant character, and seemed to be the result
merely, of the audacity of youth, which delights in en
countering risks, rather than a reckless insensibility to
the dictates of duty. He complained and indeed
resented the treatment to which as one of the plebs he
was subjected, but no longer considered that so intol
erable as to make him willing to leave the Academy.
To his Father.
"West Point, July 23d, 1852.
" I read your letter a few days ago, and will now
answer it if I can find time.
" As I said before, I will write as often as I can, but
as we cannot call a minute our own, it will be impossible
to write as often as I desire. Walking guard is a great
absorption of time as well as a decided bore and nui
sance. It sometimes nearly wears me out, but generally I

Cadet Life at West Point. 29
stand it pretty well — better than the average cadet.
The drills have again been changed, very materially.
Instead of drilling an hour in the morning, we drill but
forty minutes. The artillery drill continues the same as
before, but the evening drill has also been changed in its
length. Instead of an hour as before, we are now out
an hour and a half. Instead of little squad drills as before,
the whole battalion is drilled, and I think the old cadets
do much worse than the new ones. There are three or
four sent either to their own tents or to the guard tent
every day for inattention or not going through the manual
fast enough, or something of the kind. My turn
has not come yet, though it undoubtedly will come. I
was, however, sent to the guard tent the other day for
being late: but upon explaining the circumstances to
Alden the next day I was immediately released. This
was my first sojourn there, and I hope will long be the
last ; although the guard tent is quite as agreeable as the
camp. " In camp, it is almost impossible to study, for we are
constantly interrupted ; and after coming in from one
of those long drills, I feel very little like study.
" I correspond with Mr. Luna * in Spanish — and he
sends my letters back corrected. By thus corresponding
I will not forget what Spanish I have learned. We
have now little more than a month of encampment re
maining — and then to the barracks and our books. I
start in the first section, as they are arranged alphabet
ically ; and to stay in that section requires earnestness
and indefatigable industry and exertion. I shall stay
there as long as possible, though I rather think I will
* His Spanish teacher at Morristown.

30 Life of Gen. Bayard.
soon fall to the second or third, either of which are
good sections. There are seven sections, so that even
the third or fourth will carry a cadet through with honor,
and without the least chance of failing at the final exam
ination, though he should not answer half the questions
asked him. If I stand anywhere above thirty, I will be
doing well, for that would be above the middle of the
class. I am well at present, though even old cadets have
often to fall out at the long drill in the evening."
To his Sister.
"West Point, July 2$th, 1852.
" Perhaps you think from my long delay in writing, and
particularly in answering your letter, that I am forgetful
of my duty. But if you do, you are entirely mistaken,
for had I the time I should certainly write much more
frequently, but as leisure hours are a gratification not
among the delights of West Point, I am obliged to suit
myself and my inclinations to the necessity of the case,
and write when I can, and not when I would. When
cousin E.'s letter arrived, I was upon guard, and had not
been arrested or put in the guard tent. But the day
after I had the exquisite pleasure of being sent there for
being late at dinner roll-call. But on being taken
before Captain Alden the next morning and explaining
the matter, I was released. Were it not for the name
of the thing, I had as lief be in the guard tent as in
camp. There were three other new cadets, and four old
ones in confinement at the same time that I was. You
must not confound confinement in the guard tent with
arrest, for there is a wide difference. We are sent to the
guard tent to await a hearing before sentence by Cap-

Letters. 3 1
tain Alden. If we give a sufficient and satisfactory
excuse, we are released, if not, we are placed under arrest
or otherwise punished according to the nature of the
offence. " Early next month a report of my conduct for this
month, will be sent to father- — and as soon as he
receives it I wish he would send it to me.
'; We have pretty tough work and they seem to be grow
ing more strict and rigorous every day, much to the trib
ulation of our class. But I shall do my best to stand it.
We are worked severely : our class is said to be more
intractable and to get more reports than any other class
oi plebs for several years. Dickinson of Iowa received
his reappointment some time ago and has been going to
school at Cold Spring. I hope he will pass as well as
the others that come back.
" Schofield* has been dismissed for allowing the
cadets to fool with and play tricks upon the new cadets
in the section room. Some new cadets, when asked
about what took place in the room, told the truth, and he
was consequently dismissed for breach of trust. Alden
however could not get the cadets of any other section to
"peach," so that Schofield alone is punished when others
were as guilty as he, and many more so. Schofield's
cadets were principally young and " green," which ac
counts for their telling. I believe he expects to get
reappointed, and indeed I think he ought to be. He was
a first class man and stood No. 6 in his class last June
and was much liked by both new and old cadets.
" One of my tent-mates, by the name of Van Alstyne
from this State, has resigned at the request of his father.
* Since Major-General Schofield.

32 Life of Gen. Bayard.
I am very sorry for it, as he is a very gentlemanly young
man." To his Father. " August ist, 1852.
"You misunderstood what I said about my standing
next year in my class. I merely wished to put you on
your guard against expecting too much of me. There are
not a few in the class who have been over, and know
thoroughly the course of the first two years, besides being
known as possessing a genius for mathematics. I will of
course study hard, and do my best in every respect, but
hope you will consider all things, and not be disappointed
if I should be thrown lower than you expect. Regard for
you, my dear father, would of itself lead me to do as well
as I can, and to be studious. Demerit marks for other
causes than deficiency in a cadet's studies, impair his
standing. So I again hope you will not count too con
fidently on the highest standing: satisfy yourself with my
good standing, not below the middle, and I hope you will
not be disappointed. If I stand higher, so much the better.
" I have made a small bet that General Pierce will be
elected President by a two-thirds majority. If Commodore
Stockton had not thrown away his chances, I might now
have bet on him." To his Father.
"West Point, August 14th, 1852.
" I hear that it is proposed in Congress to pass an act,
adding another year to the academic course in this
Institution. If this is the case, cannot the Commodore
contrive to have Latin and Spanish introduced among
the studies ? Unless both these languages are introduced,
I would not, if I had a seat in Congress, vote for the Bill.

Letters. 33
Latin should be taught as the foundation of all the lan
guages of the civilized world. I think an institution
renowned as this, should send forth its graduates pre
pared to make themselves conspicuous among the gradu
ates of other literary seminaries. Spanish especially,
should be taught here on account of our close relations
with many nations using that tongue. I think if these
considerations were submitted to Congress by one so able
as the Commodore, there would be no difficulty in the
matter. " Unless studies as important as these are added, I
think the bill would be unjust and uncalled for. Were
they added, I would have it include this year's class.
Four years is plenty long enough to stay here, unless we
get a good equivalent for the additional year.
" If convenient, come up here before the 28th, as after
that I would be unable to see you but a short time in
the day. We have battalion drill every afternoon with
music, and now is the time to come up. After the first,
when we shall be in barracks, it would interrupt my
studies — so I hope you will come up and stay a few days,
and see the battalion march out of camp. Cautioning
me against eating too freely, fruit, corn and melons, was
quite superfluous, as these are luxuries of which I have
not had even a glimpse since I have been here.
" I have but two demerit marks as yet. These I could
get off if I wished it ; but I prefer they should remain,
as a person with no demerit is a very unpopular being
here." To his Mother.
"West Point, August 31st, 1852.
' Now that I am once more in barracks, I hasten to

34 Life of Gen. Bayard.
write to you, although it be only to tell you that my
health continues excellent, and how much I was disap
pointed that you were not here yesterday to see the
battalion march out of camp.
" The furlough class returned upon the 28th and their
addition makes the battalion much larger, and appear
much better than when you were here.
" Our lessons will probably be given out some time
to-day and I will then have to commence a series of hard
study such as I never had before. I will do as well as
I can, and I hope that is all that will be expected of me.
" I have room No. 15, which is up in the 4th story and
it is very tiresome, sometimes, to get up. Our room is
what they call a tower room, and I am told that it is a
very good one. My room-mates are Gentry and Taylor,
and as none of us use tobacco, I think we will manage
to get along pretty well.
" You will be glad to learn that among the "Septs" (as
they are called) who were examined day before yesterday,
Willetts, Nevius and Dickinson, and in fact all but one
or two rejected in June, passed very readily."
To his Sister.
" West Point, Sept. 24th, 1852.
" I employ my first spare moments since we have
returned to barracks to answer your letters, which I have
too long neglected.
" I am getting along pretty well in section room with
my studies, though there is no telling where we stand for
some time yet.
" The sections are arranged in alphabetical order, which
of course places me in the First section. I have there-

Letters. 35
fore to endeavor to remain where I am, and will be well
satisfied if I can do so. Alexander's name coming first
on the list, he is squad-marcher of our section. The per
son whose name comes next, after our section is taken
out — is squad-marcher of the second section — and so on
through the class. After the first two weeks the trans
fers are made and we are then arranged according to
merit. The duty of the squad-marcher, is to form the
section, call the roll, and march it to and from recitation,
etc. The man who stands first (after transfer made) in
the section is always squad-marcher.
" At present we study algebra and grammar, but
before long we will commence rhetoric and geography.
The geography consists principally, I believe, in drawing
maps, and I am sorry I did not pay more attention to it
when I had an opportunity.
"I have a copy of the cadet camp Polka, which I
will send to you girls as soon as mother comes up. But
you shall not have it until some of you do come up.
" General Scott is now here and it is said that he will
soon review the cadets. I believe he was to have reviewed
us last Friday, but he was prevented by trie rain — not
much to our disappointment.
"Captain Brewerton was relieved from the command
of this post upon the first of September, by Lieutenant
Colonel Robert E. Lee. I do not know, how the change
will affect us — whether it will better our condition or not
Colonel Lee is of a good Virginia family, and is doubt
less a gentlginan."

36 Life of Gen. Bayard.
To his Mother.
"West Point, 16th Sept., 1851.
" Major Garnett* will relieve Captain Alden as com
mandant of cadets on the 1st of November. Who he
is I do not know. He is said to be a severe disciplinar
ian. So much the better.
" As to the things I want you to bring when you come
up, I will mention them all to you. Cadets are pro
verbially the greatest beggars imaginable. Shut out
as they are from the surrounding world, they naturally
turn to their friends for needful supplies — often thought
lessly and without being aware of the unreasonable fre
quency of their demands. Excuse me then, dear mother,
if I am or have been extravagant in my requests. I
know you would give me anything in your power that
was proper ; but I would a hundred times prefer to do
without all, than to put you to the slightest care or vexa
tion. All that I care for now, is a gold pen and a
supply of good letter paper, as they charge most extrav
agantly for everything of the sort at the Commissary-
Department. " I am waiting for the transfers with some impatience,
as I want to know where I stand. When they are made,
there will be a vast deal of .travelling done by some
fourth-class men. It will however depend considerably
upon the recitations this week, and those who do well
will go up, and those who do not succeed so well will
go down. I missed one day last week while ' in the
hospital ; but luckily I did not lose anything. I think
I will be in the first section at any rate ; as my health
improves, I shall study harder."
* The Confederate General,

Letters. 37
To his Father.
"West Point, Oct. gth, 1852.
" Now that Saturday once more gives me an afternoon
to myself, I can write home more leisurely than I could
any other day. The fact is, on recitation days our time
is so broken up into parts and parcels, that before I have
fairly commenced a letter some duty compels me to lay
aside my writing materials abruptly.
" You tell me to give you the West Point news. Here
we are never disturbed with news ; but enjoy a uniform
routine of duty and everything else, from going down to
our meals and recitations, is nothing but recurring drills
—marching — parade, etc., etc.
"A member of our class leaves on Monday ; G — 1, the
nephew of the illustrious candidate for the Presidency.
Not finding West Point suited to his taste, he has
resigned, and I think it about the best thing he could
have done, for this place is exceedingly conservative and
abolitionists are not favored. But politics here, are
eschewed, and the politician is in no esteem.
" When you were here I spoke of going home on
Christmas, if I could get leave. But on consideration I
have concluded not to apply for leave, as I doubt whether
Garnett, who takes command of the battalion on the 1st
of November, would grant it, and I should dislike to be
refused. Garnett has the reputation of being the
strictest man that has ever been here. When he was
here as Instructor of Infantry tactics he was, I am told,
court-martialled for some act of exceeding and undue
severity. There is little doubt but that he will put
through the battalion a regular course of arrests and
punishments for trifles hitherto treated as venial. We

38 Life of Gen. Bayard.

are now studying Blair's Rhetoric and I intend to do
better in it hereafter than I have done hitherto. I am
still in the first section and I think it will not be a very
difficult thing for me to stay there, in Mathematics. But
I am not so sure as to Ethics, for I confess, though I can
recite and speak tolerably well, I do not know much
about English Grammar — and do not find it an easy
matter to discuss ethical questions.
" There are in the class quite a number oT very smart
and talented men who have been over and in fact, know
the course so well, that they do not have to study to
understand it but merely to learn the lesson for recitation.
In this, many of them have a great advantage over others
and I may say over me. But although there are many
possessed of fine talents and perseverance, yet the half of
the class is composed of about the hardest set you can
possibly imagine.
" About twenty-five or thirty of them will I fear have
the pleasure of visiting home in January. It is said that
this is the most reckless and jolly class that has been
here for a long time, and I think, taking it all in all, the
assertion is not very wide of the mark. There are in
deed some noble fellows among them, and I regret to
say that many fine-hearted, generous companions will
leave us in January — not at all for want of capacity, but
merely because they will not take the trouble to study."
To his Father.
" West Point, Dec. \2th, 1852.
"Our January examination isi rapidly approaching; it
is now but a few weeks of the eventful time. I shall be

Letters. 39
glad when it is over, principally because we will then be
done with Algebra, which I like less than any other
branch of Mathematics. After January examination, we
finish our present ethical studies and begin French, and
study plain and descriptive Geometry, which before June
are also completed. After we pass the January examina
tion we receive our cadet commissions, when we are at
last full members of the Military Academy. But we
shall still be snubbed by the other classes as "plebs"
and as such, will continue until the next class comes, in
June, 1853.
" The eighteenth of December, my birthday, is now
near — when I shall enter my eighteenth year. If I live
to graduate I will be in my twenty-first year, and free
from this prison once more and forever.
" Judge Nevius was here the other day to see his son,
and I saw him and found him very pleasant. He has
no idea that his son will be unable to pass the examina
tion and I pity him more than I do his son, for he appears
a kind-hearted old gentleman and very fond of his son.
'It makes me sad when I think of the many clever fellows
we shall probably lose soon. How much their parents will
be mortified by their reckless disregard of the advantages
of an education here. Their parents know its value, if
they do not.
" I hope our valuable legislators at Washington, amidst
the battle for the spoils and Galphin* speculations, will
for a little while turn their attention to this out of the
way place, and give us a new riding- hall and other things
which we need very much. This Academy has been
most shamefully neglected by Congress, and everything
* A claim paid by Government, and said to be fraudulent.

40

Life of Gen. Bayard.

it ever did for it was only after it had been begged humbly
and repeatedly for years.
" I sincerely hope Congress will have magnanimity
enough to give General Scott his Lieut.-Generalship,
which most certainly he richly deserves.

CHAPTER IV.
Life at West Point, 1853. — January Examination. — Standing.
June Examination, and Standing. — His class depleted. — Fifteen
found deficient. — Encampment. To his Mother.
"West Point, Jan. gth, 1853.
T WAS examined in Mathematics last Monday, and
J. in Ethics yesterday. The Board finishes the exam
ination of our class to-morrow, and in a day or two our
standing will be read out. I had intended to delay writ
ing until I knew exactly how I stand ; but as you
appear so anxious, I feel it a duty to let you know the
result. " I did very well in Mathematics, and will, I think,
come out eighth or ninth in the class. In Ethics, how
ever, I did badly, which will throw me a few files, and I
will not stand in that branch as well as I expected.
Nevertheless, I think I shall stand above twentieth in the
class. This will probably appear bad work to you, but
I hope you will remember that there are' ninety in the
class. It is my own fault that I don't stand above twelve
instead of twenty, for if I had studied as I should have
done, T would have stood higher. But hereafter, I intend
to study Ethics more severely, and I hope you will hear a
better tale in June. My general standing in each branch
of my studies will be about fourteen this January, and if I

42 Life of Gen. Bayard.
neither fall nor rise before next June, it will be about
eleven or twelve, since Mathematics then counts more
than Ethics, which it now does not. But this is mere con
jecture. I may come out in June worse, or I may come out
better than I expect. I merely write now to relieve your
anxiety. In a day or two all will be certainty and I
shall let you know at once. General Campbell, (Consul
at Havana formerly) was up here a few days since and
young Campbell brought him up to see me. He said he
was well acquainted with Major Dashiell."
To his Mother.
"West Point, Jan. 10th, 1853.
" The standing of the fourth class in Mathematics and
English studies was read before the battalion this even
ing. I came out ninth in mathematics as I expected — but
better than I dared to hope in Ethics — that is thirteenth.
Below is the list of the first section in mathematics : 1st
Houston, 2d McAllister, 3d Bailey, 4th Riggs, 5th Web
ster, 6th Lee, 7th Taylor, 8th Hascall, 9th Bayard, 10th
Lomax, nth Snyder, 12th Gaston."
To his Father.
"West Point, Jan. 22^, 1853.
" I am sorry to inform you that I have received a
considerable number of demerits this month, although
I have taken much care to avoid them. I shall be care
ful hereafter.
" I believe I did not tell you my general standing— that
is my standing, taking everything into consideration.
This is the standing with respect to which our names
are arranged in the catalogue. I stand eighth, which

January Examination. 43
you will perceive is better than I stand in any single
branch of our studies.
"Willetts — Nevius — and a majority of those found
deficient leave to-morrow. I should like to know who
will be appointed in place of Willetts and Nevius.
Your friend Mr. Vail will probably appoint some Morris-
•town friend — but not Miller, I think. It is rather sin
gular that both my competitors have been found defi
cient— Nevius whom your friend Brown preferred to me
for the District, and Willetts* my competitor for the
appointment at large. Those who sympathized with
Senator Miller's disappointment would no doubt have
been delighted, if I had been compelled to leave West
Point for deficiency. I don't think they will have that
gratification." To his Mother.
"West Point, Jan. 28th, 1853.
"I am much obliged to you for the skates you pro
pose sending. I borrowed a pair the other day and
was on the river during the afternoon. You need not
hesitate to send them, for there will be no more danger
on them, than if I go on the ice without them or on
borrowed ones.
" The weather lately has been very cold, and to go
down to reveille before day, is not the pleasantest duty
in the world, although I suppose it is exceedingly
healthful — for I never before enjoyed such good health
as I do now.
"I am at present studying French. This, my dear
mother, is going to spoil my general standing, I fear,
* Colonel Willetts, of the Twelfth Regiment of Volunteers of
New Jersey, distinguished for gallantry in the late civil war.

44 Life of Gen. Bayard.
next June. There are many in the class who already
know French well, and of course excel the beginners —
and will do so, no matter how hard we study ; I there
fore forewarn you that French in June will affect inju
riously my general standing; but I will study it hard
and do my best." To his Sister.
"West Point, March 6th, 1853.
" I have not done my duty of late, as a home corre
spondent. But I have had a fit of hard study, and I pre
sume that will be an acceptable excuse.
" There was considerable excitement throughout the
corps this morning ; and for a Sunday morning the inci
dent which produced it was not very appropriate.
" Just as the battalion was entering the mess hall this
morning a cadet named Grattan, the first sergeant of his
company (from Illinois, and first class man) behaved in
an insulting manner to Steuart of Virginia, a second class
man. Steuart — who is called Beauty Steuart, from his
ugliness — told him to move off as he did not wish to have
a fuss with a dog like him ; and thereupon Grattan very
gracefully kicked him, whereupon they both went to
work to try their pugilistic abilities. They were sepa
rated by those who were near them ; but it did not end
here. No sooner had the battalion broken ranks, than
Steuart pitched into Grattan, who however was prepared
for him, and knocked him down. Steuart jumped up and
tried it again ; but just at this moment, the officer of the
day came up and ordered them to their quarters under
arrest. And so the matter rests at present, but it will
not end here. There is no telling what will be done
with them, as fighting with one another is a flagrant

Standing. 45

offence. But one thing is certain that this and the Gay
affair have produced a deep bitterness between the two
classes. " On the twenty-second of February our class took
the oath of allegiance to the United States, and we re
ceived our warrants. As I stood eighth in general
standing, I received the eighth warrant. But the bugle
sounds .for church, and I must away."
To his Mother.
"West Point, March 24th, 1853.
" If I neglect every one else, I will not neglect to
write to you.
"For the last few weeks, our lessons have been such
as to render necessary the devotion of hours generally .
given to relaxation. Drills have commenced again and
I have had, and have long extra tours of guard duty
to walk. I have been on post so much for the last week
that I am completely worn out.
" Major Garnett is going to have the battalion one of
the best drilled corps in the United States. If you
come up next summer, you will discover an astounding
difference in its discipline.
" I have got some sixteen more demerit marks this
month. I will explain some other time. I got them all
in one day. I am straining every nerve to get as few as
possible between this and June.
" We now have drills and dress parades daily. We
will commence descriptive geometry in about a week, as
by that time we will have finished reviewing trigonom
etry. Thus in nine months do we complete a course in
mathematics, which away from here, occupies generally
about two years.

46 Life of Gen. Bayard.
" I am tired of hard study and shall be glad when camp
comes again. The third class encampment is infinitely
easier than theplebs' encampment
. " I believe the list of new plebs has not yet been pub
lished, and I suppose therefore, you do not know who are
appointed. From New Jersey, they are Canfield (in place
of Nevius) Thurston, (at large), Wildrich and Harris.
Mr. Quattlebum of South Carolina, one of the new plebs,
will curse his stars for having such a name. As will Mr.
Dresback of Ohio, who will be ordered by the corporals
to dress-back oftener than will be agreeable. Among
those from Missouri, is Manning M. Kimmel, whom I
knew in St. Louis. Poor devils, these plebs ! ! They
little know what a /fe7upon earth they will have to endure
for the first few months of probation here."
To his Father.
"West Point, May 31st, 1853.
" I have not indulged much of late in letter-writing, as
I have been in studious preparation for examination, and
I have felt some resentment on account of the falling off
on the part of my correspondents, who are becoming
very remiss.
" To-morrow will be the first of June. On that day
last year, I bid you all good-bye, and took my departure
from the " heights of Morristown" to enter upon my
" Plebeship"— of the horrors of which I had no adequate
conception. Well ! many changes have taken place since
then, in everything and every body, some for the better
and some for worse. I am a little wiser for my experi
ence. When I look back upon the year which ends to
day it appears literally to have fled away. It seems but

June Examination and Standing. 47
a few weeks, since I bid farewell to " home sweet home."
I was buoyant with hope, and proud that my boyhood's
dream of a soldier's life was to be realized. I confess
that the starch of my spirit was somewhat limbered by
my experience as apleb. But we are no longer plebs after
the June examination.
" To-morrow we are reviewed before the Board of
Visitors, which then begins its work of inspection and
examination. Garnett has the corps under better disci
pline than it ever was before, and it will doubtless show
itself to advantage. At Review we wear our white pants
for the first time this year, and I fear we shall have rather
a cool time of it. For the first time the corps will fire
before the Board. This firing is the most disagree
able part of the drill, as it dirties our guns so that it-re
quires about an hour's work before we get them clean
again. " Visitors are beginning to show themselves here
already, and this morning there was quite a troop of
ladies at guard-mounting, and among them some bright
ones, exhilarating to behold."
"P. S. June 2d. — I have been so occupied for the
last two "days, that I was unable to fill this sheet until
the present moment
Yesterday we passed in review before the Board, and
the battalion covered itself with honor. Never was the
cadence of the step better preserved, or the Manual better
performed. We had a fine day for it, and the white
trousers were not so cold as I anticipated.
" About twenty "plebs " have arrived, and it is enough
to make one burst with laughter to see them marching
to meals. Such stumbling, treading of heels, etc., etc.,

48 Life of Gen. Bayard.

accidents incident to flank movements among recruits,
I never before saw equalled. Alas ! for the miserables,
I pity them. But it is the traditional prerogative of the
other classes to treat the plebs with contempt. It would
be more honorable and magnanimous to welcome them
with kindness and brotherly affection.
" The examination of the first class began to-day.
We are examined in Mathematics, before we are examined
in anything else. But that will not take place before to -
morrow week at least. I must begin to study very hard.
I am in hopes of doing well, but there is no telling, as a
person cannot form any idea what he is going to get : so
that he has to know the whole course if he would be safe.
I flatter myself that I know the course pretty well.
" Mr. Canfield has not yet arrived, nor any of the
other Jerseymen. For the honor of the State I hope
they will be able to stay here."
To his Mother.
" Camp Jefferson Davis, )
West Point, June 25^/2, 1853. )
" I received your kind letter some time since, but
owing to the hurry and bustle always attending the
Examination, I have been prevented answering it before.
If, my dear mother, you only knew how busy we have
been kept since the first of this month, I am sure you
would not reproach me with neglect. Since we have
been in camp I have walked post nearly every other
day, while before we left the barracks all things were in
such confusion and in such an unsettled condition that no
one could compose himself to write without constant
interruption. Such, dearest mother, have been some of

His Class Depleted. 49
the causes why your letters have not been answered.
Pray, mother, excuse, but I will do better hereafter.
" I did very well throughout my whole examination.
" Our standing was read out a day or two ago. I am
well enough satisfied, although I should have preferred
coming out better in French. I hope that my standing,
dear mother, will not disappoint you. I came out eleventh
in Mathematics, which you will perceive is two files lower
than my standing in it in January. In Ethics my stand
ing is ninth, which is a rise of four files, as I came out in
those studies thirteenth, in January. My general standing
for the year is ninth, a fall of one file. Had it not been
for my demerit, I should have come out seventh, which
would have been a rise of one file since January. They
brought me out twenty-second in French ; somewhat low
— leaving more room for improvement next year. I wish
the new "plebs " were in the battalion. I cannot stand
this way very long of going on guard every other day.
" I just marched off this morning and am almost as
tired as I can well be, and my feet are blistered from
walking, and. yet I am detailed for guard to-morrow.
" They played the mischief with the corps generally,
this year at the examination. They found eight men
deficient in the second class, four men in the third class,
and fifteen in ours." To his Father.
" Camp Jefferson Davis, >
West Point, July 18th, 1853. )
" For the last week or two I have been quite favored
with the visits of friends, acquaintances and kin. T — of
Newark, introduced me to his mother and sister, and
3

50 Life of Gen. Bayard.
he being a "pleb," I offered to escort them in exploring
the surroundings here. As they were from Jersey, and
therefore my constituents, I paid them all proper at
tention. " The other night while, about nine o'clock, I was
walking post, the corporal came to me to relieve me for
a few minutes as he said a gentleman wished to see me.
It was Major David Hunter (a cousin of yours) and he
told me to come up the next day, as he had a flock of
cousins of mine with him, who all wanted to see me.
Accordingly I got leave the next day in the afternoon
and went to the hotel. I was introduced by the Major
to the Misses, and found them very agreeable, and
enjoyed myself very much in their society for the two or
three days they were here. Miss D. was from Missis
sippi and the Misses K — s from Michigan, sisters of
Mrs. Hunter.
" Mr. and Mrs. Dalrymple, of Morristown, were also
here. I am expecting Aunt Mary and my four Ken
tucky cousins daily, as you say they will soon leave
Camden. " You cannot imagine to what a state Garnett has
brought us. Never was there such an encampment here
before, and I sincerely trust there never will be such
another. I believe that if there were any good reason
to justify it, there would be a mutiny. He has taken
our liberty from us by such imperceptible degrees, that
before we were quite aware of it, we awoke and found
ourselves prisoners.
" We may hereafter when in active service possibly
realize the benefit of all this tyrannical rigor.
" Saturday morning, one of the officers found a cadet

Encampment. 5 1

drunk out of camp before reveille. Garnett after break
fast ordered the Instructors of Infantry Tactics to inspect
the tents for liquor. Lts. Nelson and Cogswell each
inspected the tents in their companies, by taking each
piece of clothing separately out of the lockers, tearing
all the bedding apart and shaking it, and also shaking
everything out of the clothes-bags. Clitz and Wilcox
merely came to the tents and asked the cadets if they
had any liquor in their tents. Nelson found a box of
cigars, and ordered the owner to turn them in to the
Quartermaster; but before he had left the tent five
minutes, some cadet (the owner fortunately not knowing
who) went in. the tent and ran off with them, and that
was the last Nelson heard of them.
" Clitz was very indignant at being required to perform
such a duty. He said to us — " You will excuse me, gen
tlemen—this is unpleasant work. Do not be afraid of
your tobacco. I am inspecting for nothing but liquor,
and prefer your word to any search." Wilcox said
about the same thing.
': After Cogswell had ransacked all the tents in his
company without finding anything, somebody took a
whiskey bottle and set it up before his tent In a few
minutes he came along to go into his tent and at once all
the cadets set up a loud laugh. All this you will say no
doubt was very foolish. But these little incidents and
pranks help break the monotony of cadet life. The
cadet found drunk had just returned to the academy hav
ing been suspended last spring for using threatening lan
guage to a cadet. He will now certainly be dismissed.
" We received the new catalogues last Saturday. One
will be sent you at Camden from the War Department.

52 Life of Gen. Bayard.
" You speak in your last letter about the cadets peti
tioning the President to allow the corps to visit the Crys
tal Palace. I suppose you are not aware that any cadet
guilty of such an awfully heinous offence, such as that,
would be immediately dismissed. Major Garnett has, I
understand, permission to take the corps to the city if he
wishes to do so. But he says the plebs are too gross and
unmilitary — which by-the-by, I am sorry to say is the
truth — and without them (one class being absent on fur
lough) we scarcely have a corporal's guard — much less a
battalion." To his Father.
" Camp Jefferson Davis, )
West Point, Aug. 21st, 1853. )
" I hope to see you here on Thursday afternoon, and
if so, I shall expect you to stay at least until Saturday
afternoon. If, however, the girls do not wish to attend
the party on Friday (which being the last of the season,
will be kept up till twelve o'clock) then you had better
come up Saturday and stay till Monday, as I do not think
tents will be struck until Monday, which they would like
to see. " The regulation concerning this matter is generally to
strike tents on the 28th. The furlough class does not
get back until the 28th, and hitherto they have always
got back whilst the corps was in camp. I think it cer
tain therefore, we will not go to the barracks until Mon
day. I hope however, the girls will be up in time for the
j>arty." To his Mother.
" West Point, Sept. 25th, 1853.
'* Having some spare time this evening, I shall devote

Correspondence. 5 3

it to answering your letter which I received a few days
since. Although you were unable to come up with
father this month, I hope you will come some time du
ring the fall. Only think ! it is nine months since I have
seen you or any of the girls, and if you don't come
during the fall, I shall not see you probably before I go
home on furlough.
"I am getting along in my studies about as usual.
French is as dull and as great a bore as ever. In Mathe
matics and Analytical Geometry, they are so easy that it
is almost impossible to study them. Drawing I do not
know whether to like or dislike, though at present I in
cline to the former.
"Those cadets who were "hived" (as they say here
when an offender is caught) in that grog-shop were not
even put in arrest. Their punishment is to walk four
Saturdays from two to four P. M., equipped as sentinels,
in front of the barracks. The reason of this light
punishment is, I believe, that the officers find that they
had no right to send the officer of the day off limits to
" hive" them, and therefore fear to stand a court-martial.
Tattoo beats — farewell." To his Mother.
" West Point, Nov. 2d, 1853.
" You have all, I suppose, been at a loss to account for
my long silence upon any other grounds than those of
laziness and indifference.
" Neither of these unworthy causes however, have kept
me silent. The truth is that one day last month I was
disappointed in getting a letter from any of you, when I
felt confident of receiving one, and' in the bitterness of

54 Life of Gen. Bayard.
my grief, 1 made a vow that I would not write to any of
you that month. This vow, although I often regretted
having made, I religiously kept. October has now gone.
November with its bleak winds and frosts, is about to
introduce us to another winter, and with these changes
come also the expiration of my vow.
" Everything always continues the same here, so that
if I were not to write to you till next June, I should have
no more to tell you than I have at present. We all
" fess," * drink and smoke, get reported, and when we can,
' Toast the lovely flower that blooms
At Benny Havens, oh !'
as often as usual. All of which is sometimes enlivened
by a private fight, which comes off by appointment.
And this sums up the whole programme of performances
here from one month to another.
" Don Seiior Jose Yres Perea, of New Mexico, having
received over his hundred demerits, resigned the other
day to prevent being dismissed next January.
" I am much obliged to father for the Ledger, which I
now receive daily. The only objection to it is its lack
of interest, only about a column of news in it of readable
matter, and that I generally read the day before in the
Times and Herald.
" Day after to-morrow we finish reviewing Analytical
Geometry and will then study the remainder of Descrip
tive, which we did not learn last year.
" You must bear in mind, that my standing in drawing
* That is confess, they don't know a lesson, and accept the de
merit mark as the penalty.

Correspondence. 55
before January, is merely my standing in my section, and
not in the class. The reason of this is, that they do not
transfer any until then, and that some of the best draw
ers in the class, stand low in studies and are therefore in
the second section. In January the transfers will be
made and there will not be more than half a dozen above
me. Besides, our present drawing consists of mere
Topography and we do not commence pencilling until
after January." To his Father.
" West Point, Nov. 13th, 1853.
" I received your letter a few days since and thank
you for the information it contains, and also for the good
advice. " As to dritiking, when I spoke as I did in that letter
to mother, I had no reference to myself, but merely to
some of my friends.
" What you say about French being easy, is very true,
and that is one objection I have to it. I always need
something difficult to arouse me to exertion. We have
been through " Warped Surfaces " once and we finish the
Review day after to-morrow, and the next day take
up " Shades and Shadows and Perspective."
" I am studying hard so as by January examination
to make up for the time lost while in the hospital.
" I much fear that I will not do as well in January as
in last June. But I hope to recover lost ground — by
next June."

CHAPTER V.
Life at West Point in 1854 — Oration before Dialectic Society — Goes
on Furlough — Verses by Mrs. General M. G. Scott.
VERY few letters of Cadet Bayard for 1854 appear
to have been preserved. What have been found
are given in this chapter. None contain any reference
to the January examination of 1854. His standing was
not materially changed, although he lost much time while
confined in the hospital. To his Father.
"West Point, Feb. 12th, 1854.
" I have been requested to declaim at a public exhi
bition of the Dialectic Society ( of cadets ) next week.
The audience will consist of the two hundred cadets, with
the gentlemen and ladies on the Point. I have not yet
chosen my subject. It will tax me considerably to com
pose and memorize my oration and do my duty as a
student. "We have just commenced a new branch of Mathe
matics, so entirely different from any I have heretofore
studied that it will require the utmost assiduity to do
well. But I like to encounter difficulty, as it concen
trates my mental activity and stimulates me to extraor
dinary exertion."

Oration before Dialectic Society. 57
To his Father.
" West Point, Feb. 26th, 1854.
" I should have written before this had I not been so
engaged that it was not possible to do so.
" The exhibition came off well, there being a large
attendance. I succeeded, according to all accounts,
very well, and it is said, particularly in my delivery. A
lady said she thought the views expressed were very
" sound ! " I was surprised to feel myself so much at
ease. But as soon as I got through my first sentence
and looked the audience squarely in the face, all my
terror and trepidation vanished. I will give you the
speech when you come up. And if I ever leave the
army, and become a great lawyer, it may be amusing to
see my first effort as an orator. But I had rather fight
than talk*
" There are but two more days before the winter months
will have passed away, but I fear Winter himself will not
be so complacent as to leave so soon and with so little
to remember him by. Furlough appears a great deal
nearer now that I can say nothing but spring intervenes.
I must be careful that I do not get in any scrape which
would cut me off from my furlough.
" A member of my class, Ferguson, of South Carolina,
who was lately tried for absence after " taps," and who
escaped so easily with a few extra tours of guard duty,
has got himself in another difficulty, from which I fear
he will not get off with such comparative impunity. He
attempted to give a second-class man a caning, for some
provocation or other, and was, I am told, doing it in fine
* He did not send the oration, as it is not found among any of
his papers. 3*

58 Life of Gen. Bayard.
style, when unfortunately for him an officer came up and
sent both him and a friend who was with him, to their
quarters in arrest. I am afraid it will go veiy hard with
him. " The list of plebs for this year will soon be out, and
we are all looking for it impatiently. When we see that,
we shall begin to feel as if we were second-class men. Is
it not likewise almost time for the appearance of the
names of members of the Board of Visitors ? I hope for,
and do not much doubt of your appointment.
" Major Garnett is still absent on leave. It is rumored
that he does not intend to return ; but this news is
too good, I fear, to be true. Garnett is a good officer —
but unnecessarily severe ; he means well, no doubt,
but is too much of a martinet.
" It is now in the small hours of the morning. Being
restless and unable to sleep, I left my iron bed and have
pleasantly passed an hour or two in devotion to my cor
respondents. As I have now nearly exhausted my paper
as well as my stock of West Point gossip, I shall once
more invoke the drowsy god — and I trust with success."
To his Mother.
"West Point, March 14th, 1854.
" I have just returned from riding, and having an hour
to myself I shall employ it the best way I possibly can-
in writing to you.
" We rode out of the Riding hall this afternoon for the
first time this spring. We went past Cozzens' Hotel, and
being a beautiful evening we had a very pleasant ride.
We have had charming weather this whole month, — all
the snow has disappeared and with it all the ice, which

Correspondence. 59

has so long locked up and spanned our noble river. The
robins have reappeared, and the buds begin to swell.
As I am writing both door and window are open. We
have dress parades every evening and guard mounting
on the plain every morning. I wish when father comes
up in June to attend the Board, some of the girls would
come up with him. When they were here last, it rained,
so that there were only undress parades. I hope this
will not shock you as much as it did Mrs. Partington.
This good old dame, upon hearing that in rainy weather
the cadets had undress parades, dropped her spectacles
in holy horror at such barefaced barbarism. She thought
that if they must parade naked it would be best to do so
in fine weather ; but she hinted that she did not believe
it. She thought the cadets too modest to do such a thing,
and she finally wound up by declaring that the next stormy
weather she would come up and see for herself whether
it was so. Her remarkable, interesting and highly
instructive adventures while here would, if published,
make a volume quite as unique as that left us of the
founders of New Amsterdam by Knickerbocker.
" The names of the members of the Board of Visitors
are now published. I am glad that father is one of them.
Does he know any of the others ? I hope you will come
up with father in June. Three months yet! — I shall then
finish Mathematics proper, the study of my remaining
years being chiefly the application of the principles which
we have deduced and learned the first two .years. Day
after to-morrow we will commence Integral Calculus — I
trust it is as easy and pretty as differential.
" On guard this evening ! What tiresome work this

60 Life of Gen. Bayard.
walking post is? Walk, walk, walk, up and down and
down and up. ' With my musket on my shoulder and
My bayonet at my side,
But alas ! hard fate prevents,
Taking some fair lady and
Making her my bride.'
"When I am on post I always, (or to make it general
as Professor Church would say) a cadet always does an
immense amount of thinking. Some may doubt this, —
thinking that a cadet does not always have the material
to think with. But having had considerable experience
on the subject, and having experienced it in all its lights
and bearings, I have come to the conclusion that it may
be truthfully, without one jot of abatement, said that a
cadet always does an immense deal of thinking while
serving his country as sentry. In those hours I lay out
innumerable plans of spending furlough, each one as I
proceed growing more and more visionary, and therefore
more charming. Having spent and enjoyed my fur
lough in divers different ways, I skip over two years,
(being very short, I may do so without affecting the
result, see diff. calculus^) graduate, — enter the army in
a cavalry regiment, distinguish myself highly, etc., etc.,
etc., ad infinitum. These are the day-dreams which
console us for all present sufferings."
To his Sister.
"West Point, May ist, 1854.
" In one month from to day, father will be here with
the Board of Visitors, in performance' of what he will find to
be a tiresome duty. In twenty days after, I will be proba-

Correspondence. 61

bly home ; and then with what pleasure will the few fleet
ing weeks of furlough pass away. As for my not anticipat
ing pleasure with you all in your quiet country home, the
idea is perfectly absurd ! How could you have thought of
such a thing ? E. says I am changed. I do not deny it.
I am changed greatly in some respects, but in fond remem
brance and love for the dear ones at home, I am the
same as ever, with the exception that my affection for
you all has increased tenfold with absence. And good
reasons there are for that unchanged and increased love.
" Two years in the world (for West Point is a little
world in miniature,) is enough to satisfy any one of the
hollowness of all professions of friendship, and -the utter
heartlessness of all, men or women. No matter how
warm may have been their protestations of regard, no
matter how intimate your acquaintance, there are none
but would desert you in trouble, and find something to
please them in your misfortune. You disappear and you
are forgotten by all but the dear tenants of " sweet, sweet
home." Never until I left it, did I appreciate how
matchless is the love lavished on one by the inmates of
home. There alone one is certain that the smiling face
does not belong to the insidious and crafty foe."
Tb his Father.
"West Point, May 24th, 1854.
"I received your letter last week, and should have
answered it sooner, but my time is so occupied in pre
paring for examination that you must excuse me.
" I cannot tell the best day for the girls to come up
until I know how long they propose staying. You had
better come up the last day of this month, if not before.

62 Life of Gen. Bayard.
There is always some intrigue going on in the Board of
Visitors, as to who shall be President of it, and who
shall deliver the address to the cadets.
" Lewis Coryell, of N. J., your friend, has been here,
and I got well acquainted with him. He is a great
politician, a great Calhoun man and a great friend
of Com. Stockton. He says you will certainly be chosen
to address the cadets.
" Garnett drills us now every evening, in order to
bring back the corps to the state of discipline it was in
before winter set in, so that we may display to advan
tage in presence of the Board of Visitors. It is very
strange that the list of plebs does not come out. It has
always hitherto been published long before this. Two
or three of the poor devils have been here already.
West Point doubtless appears to them now a charming
place, all very fair and beautiful, and the prospect of
becoming cadets very alluring now. But before another
month has elapsed they will experience very different
feelings ; then there will be cursing and gnashing of teeth,
and they will say with Van Buren, " Our sufferings is
intolerable." " You will be up, I conclude, on Wednesday week, at
furthest, but as we will probably have to hand in our ap
plications for leaves (for furlough) this week, I wish you
would sign the enclosed and forward it immediately, or I
may not get it in time, and consequently be reported for
not handing it in on the proper day."
After the June examination the class of cadet Bayard
was entitled to a furlough of sixty days. He main
tained his previous standing, but as his father was pres

Goes on Furlough. 63
ent at his examination and as he returned home on the
1 st of July, no letters were received from him in relation
to it. His furlough was spent chiefly at home, varied by
visits to his relatives in Princeton, New Brunswick, Brook
lyn, and elsewhere. He left his home, (then in Morris
town) in June, 1852, a stripling, tall, slender and at that
period of life when the constitution assumes its peculiar
character, of sound health, or predisposition to delicacy
or disease. But the hardy exercise and regular habits
of West Point developed the natural vigor of his frame,
and in July, 1854, he had every appearance of becoming
a strong, active and athletic man.
The members of the furlough class had agreed to
rendezvous at New York On their way back to West
Point, and return together to the Academy. The fol
lowing letter, after Bayard's return, will indicate the
reluctance with which he relinquished the pleasures of
his furlough: To his Mother.
" West Point, Aug. 30th, 1854.
" Here I am, landed once more for two years, and a
terrible landing it is too. I am just recovering from the
worst fit of the blues I ever before experienced. As I
have but little to do this morning, I shall let you know
that I am about as well as could be expected under the
very trying circumstances.
"We came up here from New York in the cars, and
arrived a little after two p. m. At four o'clock we re
ported our return to the commandant, and at five we
were formed for the purpose of sizing the battalion. As

64 Life of Gen. Bayard..
fortune would have it, I got in company A, so I am no
longer able to room with Bennett. My new room-mate
is named Lomax.* He is a first rate fellow, and I am
therefore resigned to circumstances.
"Sept. 1st. — I was interrupted the other day before I
had finished this letter. We are now at our studies, and
having something to do. My mind is diverted, and I
feel a great deal better. One cannot appreciate home
until he is away from it. I suppose I shall not leave
this place for two years, which is a pretty long time to
look ahead to. But I thank my stars that when that
time comes, there will be no return to this place such as
I have just experienced. But I shall soon find out that
every place and condition of life has something with
which to find fault and create disgust.
"I send you some verses by Mrs. Gen. Scott, written
to welcome the return of the furlough class of 1850."
''THE RETURN OF THE FURLOUGH CLASS OF 1850.
" By Mrs. General Scott.
" There's a stir in Camp Gaines — all observers may see
'Tis a moment of interest — a moment of glee ;
Each Cadet has turned out — every tent is unmanned,
Cadets pace to and fro — or in gay groups they stand ;
Some object their welcome — they seem to await
While all eyes are turned towards the ' South Gate.'
' The forbidden ' South Gate,' where Cadets are denied
Their exits and entrances — where on one side,
In frowning black characters, always are seen
The words ' Shut the Gate,' (but none saying come in).
On the other in ghastly white letters appear,
The four horrid syllables, ' No smoking here.'
* General Lomax, of Confederate Army.

Verses by Mrs. Gen. Scott. 65
Oh ! answer ye classes, what may ye await ?
What pleasure approaches you thro' the ' South Gate ? '
' The Furloughs are coming — and now must be near,
There is dust — there's shouting — ' The Furloughs are here ! '
They are here — how they cheer ! as their brothers they hail ;
At the sight what delight and affection prevail.
Now rush they — now blush with arms intertwined
To be pressed to each heart- — that's so brave, true, and kind.
Oh ! well might ye, fellows ! with rapture await
Their coming to-day and gaze towards the ' South Gate.1
' Ye privileged men ! (alas ! furlough's no more),
Whom that portal admits which opes not for the corps,
And who deem this the happiest day of your lives ;
Alexander, bright Bonaparte, musical Ives,
Rose, Casey, Smith, Sheridan, Morgan, Van Voast,
Each new second class man, all hail ! to your post !
May your duties be followed with ardor as great
As you felt when so wildly you passed the forbidden ' South Gate.'
' We welcome you back to the camp and the plain
Where your favorite Clitz will soon drill you again ;
Oh ! blest among students, ye now may renounce
All fears of being worsted by much ' cherry bounce,'
Late hours, cigars, or unwholesome rich food,
While your minds with fresh love shall be daily imbued ;
May you be happy at each turn of fate,
As when your blithe Furlough Class passed the ' South Gate.'

" The girls will have got home, and will give you all
the West Point news. We are now at Philosophy and
Chemistry, and I assure you we have our hands full.
This is by far the hardest course of the four. I am on
guard to-night, and while walking my post, I shall do
¦nothing but think of the ' loved ones at home,' and my

66 Life of Gen. Bayard.
late furlough which I passed so deliciously with you all.
While on post, is the only time we have for reflection,
and I suppose it is well for us that it is so, for otherwise
we should be too sad and downcast to bear with this
place."

CHAPTER VI.
Life at West Point, 1855. — Delegate Convention of Cadets — Proposes
to go to Nicaragua — Goes to Hospital with Sprained Ankle —
His preference for a Cavalry Regiment.
To his Sister.
" West Point, Jan. 14th, 1855.
" f~\N Saturday (yesterday), we were examined in
V_>/ chemistry, and our examination is therefore over ;
I mean for our class. I am happy to say that I did very
well in chemistry, which is much more than I can say
with regard to philosophy. I did not like to tell you all
how I had done in ' Phil.' before I knew my standing,
as I was afraid mother would feel uneasy, notwithstand
ing all I have said on this point. I will now tell you the
facts of the case. Lieutenant Reynolds called me up at
the examination and gave me a mean contemptible little
demonstration, which I never dreamed would have been
given out. I was completely taken by surprise. I wrote
my name on the middle of the board and turned round,
and said I could not do it, in other words I 'fessed cola.
with a clean board] as the saying is here under such cir
cumstances. I had the sixth mark in the section for the
whole time from September to January, and if I had done
as well as I expected, should have come out fifth. As it is
I have come out ninth, so you see they only threw me three
on my files on my 'fess ' in Phil. Our standing having

68 Life of Gen. Bayard.
not yet been read out, I do not know exactly what it will
be, but I have no fear that it will be materially worse.
Only one of our class will probably be found deficient
at this examination.
"I was not aware until a short time ago that Mr.
Stratton had appointed any one in place of Harris from
his congressional district. It seems that he has appointed
a young gentleman named Harker, * who came on in
September, and I think he will stay."
To his Sister.
" West Point, March igth, 1855.
"We had a drill to-day for the first time this spring,
and a great drill it was, the mud being ankle deep.
" They are rapidly clearing the ground for the new
Riding hall, (which Mr. Benton could not defeat), and
will probably finish it next year, so that we will ride in it
before we graduate.
" There were twelve cadets put in arrest Saturday even
ing for going to Cold Spring ; first and third-class men.
" I did remember your birthday, and I wished very
much to write to you on that day, but could not get time.
But I will say now, what I then intended to say. I hope
you and your sisters will all pay more attention to your
writing. A lady should write a good hand if she possess
es no other accomplishment. It is for your sex an ndis-
pensable accomplishment, and being entirely within your
power, should by all means be attained. Unless you
make it a practice always to write with care, while you
are forming your handwriting, it will always remain im-
* General Harker, killed in the battle of Kenesaw, Ga. A noble
and gallant officer. He was a native of Gloucester county, New Jersey

In Hospital. 69

perfect. A lady is supposed to have more time to devote
to her letters, and besides writing a good hand, she should
be able to write a good letter.
" A lady's letters are considered indicative of her
mind and character, more so even than a gentleman's ;
for the reason that they generally are more sentimental,
and express emotions and feelings with more intensity.
To write a good letter requires care, attention, and
practice. Practice makes perfect, but it must be the
practice which improves, not that which degenerates.
Please do not think hard of what I have said. It has
been said not in a petty spirit of fault-finding, but from
my anxiety for your improvement." To his Sister.
" West Point, April 12ZV&, 1855.
"I can write you but a few lines, as I positively have
nothing of interest to say, cooped up as I am still in this
hospital. When I shall get out is impossible to say, as
you know these attacks of quinsy are sometimes tedious.
I think I shall be released from confinement in a few
days. I am glad that father did not come up, for I want
to be well when any of you visit me. Doctor Barnes is
attending surgeon, Doctor Cuyler having been ordered
to Fort Leavenworth. In my next I hope to be able to
announce my departure hence, for the sumptuous hash
and molasses of mess hall.
" Did you see among the names of the -members of
the Board of Visitors, that of our old friend Charles Negus,
Esq., of Iowa Territory. He is to be here. I shall be very
glad to see him, as I remember him as a kind neighbor
and worthy citizen. I am reading Thiers' History of the

70 Life of Gen. Bayard.
French Revolution. He is not equal to Alison as an
historian. And has not as just an appreciation of the
bad features in the character of Napoleon. He is not
as philosophical as Alison, though I suppose his work
suffers in translation." To his Mother.
"West Point, April 20th, 1855.
" I have been so incessantly occupied lately that I have
been unable to write letters.
" It is now less than a year and two months to the
day destined to celebrate my adieu ! to West Point and
cadet life. When examination commences I shall have
no time to think about time, and it will consequently
gallop away unheeded.
" We have finished the review of permanent works, and
to-morrow begin to review Civil Engineering. We are
through with artillery, and the next recitation in it will be
at examination. In ethics we are done, with moral science,
and are reviewing law. So you see we are gradually
drawing our studies to a close : and after three years
almost continuous work, ' it is a consummation devoutly
to be wished for.'
" I hope father has not failed to attend to the appoint
ment of Mr. Kirkpatrick as visitor, as I would like to see
our New Brunswick cousins here.
" Mr. Vail I see has not appointed McKensie, but some
one named Kirkpatrick, * from Sussex county. Is he a
relative of the New Brunswick K. 's ?
* Kilpatrick was the cadet referred to, since General Kilpatrick.
The newspapers had it Kirkpatrick.

Proposes to go to Nicaragua. 71
" Several of our class talk of going to Nicaragua. If
I do not get in a mounted corps, what think you of my
getting leave of absence for a year or so, and going with
them ? Walker is in want of scientific soldiers for organ
izing his artillery and ordnance. Of course he would
give me at least a captain's commission. One or two
campaigns there would be more pleasant than Indian
fighting in New Mexico. I should gain distinction and
experience; which might serve- me in case the United
States goes to war — as in the ordinary course of events
she may." To his Sister.
"West Point, May id, 1855.
" You must not expect as many letters from me as
usual. June and examination are now near. June is
the most eventful month of the year at West Point. All
look forward to it with impatience. Third-class men can
talk or think of nothing else but furlough ; first-class men
of graduating ; second-class men rejoice that they are
about to reach the top round of the ladder here, while the
fourth class exult in the prospect of ceasing to be plebs,
and discuss the merits of the new plebs, as they occa
sionally put in their appearance. None look back on the
past ; they are all too busy peering ahead. Nothing bright
or pleasant can be discovered in the past or present.
Imagination is employed in decking with gay colors and
fascination -the future, beauties and joys it may never
possess." To his Mother.
" West Point, May nth, 1855.
" I regret that father could not come up last week : and
now I do not want him to come until my confinement is

72 Life of Gen. Bayard.
over. The punishment is for visiting after taps. Carroll
bought half a dozen shad and we cooked them after taps
in Van Horn's room. We were all busy feasting, when
Wilcox with his dark lantern appeared to disturb our fes
tivity. It was a ludicrous sight, and we all could not help
laughing, Wilcox himself indulging in a grimace howl !
You gentlemen (he said), appear to have a fine time of it.
Spite of the interruption, I never saw provisions disappear
so rapidly. Some tried at first to hide behind the book
case and under the bed. Van Horn and all were reported.
Van Horn was reported for seven different offences :
First, light in room after taps, second, trying to hide light
with bedquilt at window, third, provisions in quarters,
fourth, cooking in quarters, fifth, allowing noise in quar
ters after taps, sixth, not putting out light when directed,
seventh, out of bed after taps. Those reports of Van
Horn will give him near forty demerits and he will be
lucky if he is not cut off of furlough.
"What I said about going to Nicaragua was rather
an experiment, to ascertain what you would say on the
subject. I have no great opinion of those South Ameri
can States. Their people are a miserable mixed race.
And I think we inherit from our English ancestors an
antipathy to the Spaniards. They have degenerated
from the days of Gonsalvo de Cordova, whose fame and
valor rivals the Chevalier Bayard's. I think Mr. Walker
has no business in Nicaragua.
"A report has just reached us that Crampton * has
been dismissed. Such shouting and hurrahing greeted the
news, you would have thought, had you heard it, that we
were to take the field to-morrow. It has produced the
* British Minister.

Correspondence. 73
greatest excitement throughout the barracks. Visions
of Brevets for gallant and meritorious conduct dance
through the brains of many a first-class man. The only
drawback which the war would compel some of us to
submit to, would be the loss of the furlough and a few
weeks of happiness at home, which all so ardently long
for. But the demands of duty cannot be disregarded.
An English war for Americans is esteemed preferable to
a war with any other country. England's hate for us is
heartily reciprocated. Nothing but dollars and cents
keep us at peace so long. As it was with Carthage and
Rome, one or the other some of these days, will have to
succumb ; and of course it will be Great Britain."
To his Mother.
"West Point, May 16th, 1855.
" As I have but a short lesson in chemistry and phi
losophy for to-morrow, I will devote my spare time this
evening in writing to you, and paying my debts to other
correspondents. " I was very sorry to hear of the accident which fright
ened you all. If I was only home, I could soon take the
devil out of the ponies. Jeannie made a narrow escape,
which she would not have done with less presence of
mind. Those Canadian ponies are often very vicious.
'' I shall be unable to attend the marriage of cousin
Ess. The marriage of a cousin is not an affair which
entitles a cadet to leave of absence. A sister's marriage
only enables him to enjoy that privilege. If they were
to give every one leave to attend a cousirts marriage, there
would be no end to it. Cousins are generally more
numerous than sisters, mine immeasurably so.
4

74 Life of Gen. Bayard.
" Infantry drills commenced on the fifteenth inst, and
they will continue the remainder of this month, and on the
first we will give our distinguished friend Negus a review.
I regret that truth compels me to say that I fear it will be
but an indifferent one. Billy Walker is a good hearted,
easy old fellow, but not a man to have here. He cannot
put a battalion through like Bob Garnett. He has got a
crotchet in his head at present, however, and is occupying
himself with putting men in arrest for wearing un-uniform
gloves." To his Sister.
" West Point, May 21st, 1855.
"Yours has been received. Mr. Negus has not yet
arrived. I am glad he paid you a visit at Woodbury.
He will arrive probably this evening. I have been so busy
lately, that I have been unable to write to any of you.
You must all excuse and have patience with me till after
examination. " The weather is pleasant, but slightly cool, rather too
much so indeed for white pants, which we will probably
don to-morrow.
" The plebs are beginning to straggle along, three or
four having been here for several days."
To his Mother.
"West Point, June $th, 1855.
" I was examined in philosophy this morning and did
very well.
" Yesterday we rode out with the first class at squadron
drill. The day before that we had battalion drill, and
to-day a skirmish drill.

Correspondence. 75
" Mr. Negus handed me the box and bundle, for which
I am thankful.
" I am going to work, and studying my chemistry
faithfully as I did my philosophy, and by so doing shall
be prepared in that diffuse and extended study. If I do
as well in that as I did in ' phil,\my general standing will
be much better than I feared it would be.
" The Furloughs leave within ten days or thereabouts.
I wish that I could go with them, always provided that I
did not have to go over second class course again.
Soon I shall now be to all intents and purposes a first
class man, God willing. When I thought of such an
event three years ago, it seemed an age before it would
happen, and was considered rather a probability than
anything else. But now it is here at last, and we find
that there was more pleasure in the anticipation than
there is in the possession.
" We will probably go into camp next week."
To his Father.
"West Point, June 16th, 1855.
" Our friend Negus still moves about here as majes
tically as he did on the prairie. I have frequent talks
with him, and he seems much pleased with all he sees
here. "There is no one going to address the Dialectic
Society this year. The committee appointed to attend
to the matter put it off until it was too late. I was
elected president of the society last month for the ensuing
year. I shall need a copy of Jefferson's Manual, in order
to perfect myself in parliamentary rules.
" Our camp will probably be called Camp Lee, in

76 . Life of Gen. Bayard.
compliment to the Colonel. A first class encampment
ranks next to a.plebe encampment in the duties to be per
formed. Besides camp duties, we have to recite in both
artillery and infantry tactics." To his Sister.
" Camp Calhoun, West Piont, )
June igth, 1855. j
" Here we are at last in our last encampment. The
tents were pitched this morning between eight and ten,
a.m., and at twelve, m., the battalion marched into camp.
You will perceive by the date of my letter, that Colonel
Lee was not complimented as rumor said he was to be.
" Camp is but a poor place for letter-writing, not that
time is wanted, but the accommodations for it are not
convenient. " I now begin to realize the fact that this is my last
year of cadet life, that I am a first-class man, and if I
look forward with dread to studying infantry and artillery
tactics during the cruel heat of July and August, I bear
in mind that it will soon be over. So far our encamp
ment has been quite easy, as drills for the first class do
not commence until after the first of July.
" I am now living in my old company B, though I
expect to go back to company A, when we return to
barracks. I am tenting with McAllister.
" The third of July would be a good day for you to
come up. On the morning of the fourth, there will be a
salute, the battalion will be formed under arms and
marched to the chapel, where Bailey will deliver the
oration, and if he does himself justice, it will be a good
one. At night, the first hop of the season will take place,

A First Class Man. J J
and like the last one on the twenty-eighth of August, will
extend until twelve o'clock. The next day the drills
commence." To his Mother.
" Camp Calhoun, West Point, >
July ist, 1855. )
" This day we become first-class men, dejure as well
as defacto, and it is pleasant as we look back over the
trials and vexations of our past course at the Academy, to
remember that at this time next year we will be enjoying
the delights of home, God willing. Camp life, far more
than that of the barracks, induces thoughts of our past
lives, and conjures up visions of the future.
" The order of the procession on the fourth, will be,
first, band, second, orator of the day Bailey, third, chap
lain and reader of Declaration of Independence on his
right, and the president of the society, (your humble
servant), fourth, the escort under arms, fifth, the rest of
the corps without arms, sixth the Academic Board and
staff, seventh, citizens who may desire to join the pro
cession and enjoy the benefit of the dust raised by the
others. "All those men who were suspended last spring on
account of demerit, have returned. Vinton and Reno
again swell the ranks of our class to fifty ; forty less
than when we commenced in 1852. I painted four pieces
last year, and shall obtain possession of them and give
them to you when you come up. Their artistic merit, I
must confess, has not been discovered, but still I know
you will value them as much as if they displayed the finish
of a more masterly and elegant brush."

78 Life of Gen. Bayard.
To his Sister.
" Camp Calhoun,West Point, \
July 24th, 1855. )
" In my last I gave you an account of the drowning
of Cadet Wonderly, whose parents live in Philadelphia.
His body was found, and buried this afternoon with
military honors. I was lieutenant of the escort, because
I was lieutenant in his company ; and although I felt
very unwell, T did not like to decline, since it would then
fall to some one else, and it was not a pleasant duty.
"General Totten is here, and is testing the strength
of different materials for fortifications.
"The plebe squad drills were discontinued to-day,
and to-morrow company drills commence. We will
finish working in the laboratory to-morrow, and will then
begin Practical Engineering.
" Cogswell, Clitz, and all the old officers will have to
leave the coming fall, and then I think I shall be in
Wilcox's company.
"P. S. August 4th, 1855.— I have not been able to
finish the above letter, and owe you all apologies for not
writing oftener ; so I will heap them altogether, and say
to one and all that I have positively had no time for let
ter-writing. We have to go to drill (infantry) in the
morning before breakfast. Then immediately after
breakfast comes morning parade and guard-mounting.
Half an hour after that, artillery drill, which lasts an hour
and twenty minutes ; after this is over we have to go to
practical engineering out by the cemetery, where we
remain two hours, and get back just in time for dinner.
After dinner we have to study our artillery tactics, which
we recite in, and get back half an hour before evening

Confi)icd in Camp. 79

drill, which last takes us until within half an hour of
parade. By which you will perceive that by the time
evening comes I must be pretty well exhausted, and in
no condition or mood for any epistolary work.
" Last week, when I was on guard, the officer of the
day was reported for allowing citizens at the reception
tent after taps, and I for permitting members of the
guard to visit them, for which each of us are confined in
camp for a week."

To his Mother.

" Camp Calhoun, West Point, )

August i$th, 1855.
" I have so little time now, that I cannot answer half
the letters I receive.
" This encampment, I am most happy to say, is now
approaching its close. Our time is much more occupied
than when we are in barracks. We have to pursue our
studies, thus having the duties of barracks with none of
the conveniences. But though this work is hard and
constant, yet it is lightened by the joyous reflection that
ten months more will close forever our tedious cadet
life — a time, the pleasure of which is about half, I expect,
in anticipation. "'Man never is, but always to be
blest' " I am now enjoying my liberty after the recent con
finement. I went to the hop last night ; the evening was
quite cool, and we had a pleasant time. I hope to see
you here the last of this month. This is my last encamp
ment, and you must not fail to come."

80 Life of Gen. Bayard.
To his Mother.
" West Point, Sept. $th, 1855.
" I write to you again from my old residence, the
hospital. Monday I was trying to mount my horse for
some time, but he being rather wild, would not let me
even put my foot in the stirrup ; at last I made a spring,
got my foot in the stirrup, and endeavored to throw my
self into the saddle. But in this I failed ; the horse
started off at a run, and down I came, but could not
extricate my foot from the stirrup until it was badly
sprained. It is very painful, but the consequence I most
regret is that it will throw me behind in my studies.
The doctor says I will not be able to ride again for a
month. Yesterday I worked my way up to fiarracks,
but it was so painful that I shall not try it again until
my foot is better." To his Father.
" West Point, Sept. 17th, 1855.
" My foot was getting better until day before yester
day, when I hurt it accidentally. I have been now nearly
two weeks in this infernal hospital, and I am getting
terribly tired of it. I am gradually falling behindhand
in my studies, especially logic. I attended engineer
ing for several days, but found that I was hurting my
ankle by moving about so much and I stopped it. I
have not recited in either mineralogy or logic, but have
kept up with the section in the former. I intend next
week to attend all. Hard study will soon bring me up.
" When we graduate there will be a terrible rush for
the mounted regiments. Indeed many will have their
friends at work before, to secure appointments in the dra
goons or cavalry. You must do what you can for me at

Public Meeting of Cadets.

Washington. With the aid of Thomson and the Iowa
senators, and others you can induce to back me, I ought
not to fail. If I do not get in a mounted regiment, I will
leave the army when the four years have expired ; and in
the meantime study law. I am not so sure but I have
mistaken my profession. The law is the great avenue to
fame, fortune, and power in this countr)', unless war
should intervene. In that case I should prefer the army."
To his Sister.
" West Point, Nov. 27th, 1855.
"You surely cannot complain this time of my tardi
ness in replying to your letter, for I received it this
morning. " Saturday we expect to ride in the new hall.
" It is now just a month to Christmas. I foster the
hope of being able to meet some of you in Brooklyn, but
it is not probable.
" We still have dress parades on the brain, although
it has become pretty cool and winter-like.
" We have had some quite exciting times here lately,
in consequence of a censure of the corps by General
Totten, in Orders, with regard to the testimony of cadets
on courts-martial, and what he terms our ' Code of
Morals.' He substantially charges us i7idiscriminately
with want of regard for truth, and ungentlemanly con
duct. "Last Saturday night, after the corps had assembled
in the Dialectic HalL (I have stated in a previous letter
that we were to have a public meeting) and while await
ing the arrival of officers and ladies, I proposed that we
should resolve ourselves into a meeting, to protest

82 Life of Gen. Bayard.
against the groundless and false charges of Gen. T.;
which rested on the testimony of men, who, when in the
corps last year, were notorious as possessing no character,
and unworthy of belief.
" This being done, I offered a resolution to the effect,
that the several classes of the corps should hold meet
ings immediately after dinner the next day, and appoint
five delegates, each to meet in convention, and agree
upon some form of protest.
" This, after a little discussion was unanimously
adopted. The five elected by our class were Gaston,
Snyder, McAlister, Poe, and Bayard.
" The delegates assembled to-night in Gaston's room
and proceeded to business. We hope to be able to do
everything in a becoming and lawful manner. But if
the Superintendent refuses to forward the protest, it will
be sent to the War Department. The committee men
will run no extra danger as we propose having it signed
by every man in the corps. By this means they will be
able to pitch on no one as ringleader."
To his Sister.
"West Point, Dec. 17th, 1855.
" Preparation for examination next month now makes
engrossing demands on my time. I have no fear of the
result, as I have got into pretty good habits of applica
tion. As it is now little more than six months when
our final examination takes place, I am anxious so to
stand that I shall not disappoint you all then.
" To-morrow will be my twentieth birthday, and this
will make the fifth one spent away from home. I won
der if I shall ever pass another with you at home ? That

Correspondence. 83

is a question it is difficult to answer. Next year, I shall,
at that time, (if in the country as I expect) be in all
probability in the far west, in winter quarters, at some
interior fort, with faint hopes of ever enjoying the pleas
ures of home, for years to come.
" I will not waste my life in the inglorious pursuit of
Indian thieves and robbers on the plains. In four years
after I graduate, if I don't resign and take to the law, I
will offer my sword to the Sultan or the Pasha of Egypt.
The east of Europe and the west of Asia are the true
theatres of military glory.
" I don't think I will be able to get leave to visit
home, or even Brooklyn, on Christmas. Instead of
which, I shall be hammering away at Engineering, the
Britannia Tubular Bridge, and determining the breaking
weight of timber of multifarious sizes and kinds."

CHAPTER VII.
Life at West Point. — Last Year of Cadet Life. — January Examina-
Hon^  Preparation for June Examination. — Standing when
Graduated. To his Sister.
"West Point, Jan. 13th, 1856.
4 i A GREEABLY to my promise I write, though this
IX. is the first opportunity I have had for some time.
You must be well aware that my time is wholly occupied
preparing for examination in my different studies as they
successively come on the stage. Thursday I was up in
engineering, and did not do as well as I expected, com
ing out lower (twenty) than I ever came out in any study
yet, at any previous examination. But I still remain in
second section, and I will certainly rise in it between now
and June, so that my general standingwill be as good as it
was last year. If I can do this, I will certainly be able
to get in a mounted corps, which is now the extent of my
ambitious aspirations.
" In five months more I shall be at ' home, sweet
home ;' and what pleasant times I anticipate ! But alas !
I shall soon have to leave it for some distant post, unless
by good luck that post should be Carlisle ; although, if
it was not for the pleasure of being near you all, I should
prefer immediate employment against the Indians. But
before I leave you we will have some jolly times. We
will have some pleasant rides among the pine glades of

Last Year of Cadet Life. 85
Gloucester and the sands of West Jersey. I will assist
you in breaking Starlight and his mate* of some of their
naughty tricks. If I am stationed at Carlisle I shall fur
nish myself with a first-rate horse. What color shall he
be?" To his Sister.
"West Point, Feb. 27th, 1856.
" We are getting a class-ring made. What kind of
stone would you advise me to have put in it ? Don't you
think sardonyx looks best ? The chasing adopted I
think very handsome. The device will be a gun firing
from an embrasure at a vessel ; a chain shot has just
been fired from the gun. The motto is ' separated yet
united.' The chain shot which was formerly used in
sea-coast defences, consisted of two shot corresponding
to the calibre of the piece, united by a chain. This is
conceived to be symbolical of our class, the individuals
of which, like the two shot, will be separated ; yet
whether mountains or oceans divide us, we will always
be enchained by the remembrance of the many happy days
of fellowship we have enjoyed here together. Tell me
what you think of it.
"Less than four months to graduation! What a
pleasant sentence to write. But as the time grows
shorter my joy becomes less ecstatic, and I look at
things more coolly. When I remember how many re
sponsibilities and troubles I will then encounter, I
almost doubt whether our present comparatively easy
life, to the routine of which we have adapted ourselves,
be not more agreeable." * Tonies.

Life of Gen. Bayard.

To his Sister. "March 2d, 1856.
"A cadet is to be pardoned, I think, for any failure in
the character of a correspondent, as he always writes
under great disadvantage.
" To rake out anything from our daily routine of duty
must require a very commendable spirit of perseverance
and an enormous amount of ingenuity. Now as I pos
sess neither of these qualities in a remarkable degree, I
hold myself excusable for all my derelictions in this line.
Just consider a day's duty, for instance.
"First comes reveille — as unwelcome as the blasts of
winter — arousing us from dreams of home and happiness
and ushering in the toils of the day. Jumping up half
asleep one mechanically slips into some clothes and slip
shod hastens down shivering to infernal roll call. The
next half hour should be spent in fixing up your room :
but a first class man generally puts that off until the half
hour release from quarters between return from break
fast and eight o'clock. Half an hour after reveille the
inspection drum beats, at which I have to inspect the
rooms in my subdivision, comprising the two upper floors
in the 2d division of barracks estimating from the east.
Of course I do not have to inspect my own room, so Lo
max lies in the quiet enjoyment of his morning nap
while I go round freezing and inspecting. I see that the
floors are swept clean, the beds made up, the wash basins
inverted on stand, and lamps in their proper places on
mantel, and am now, after some months' experience, fully
qualified for instruction in all matters pertaining to such
housekeeping details. From this time to breakfast,
there is an hour spent either in sleep or study. From

Correspondence. 87
eight o'clock until eleven we are drawing at our problems.
We recite now in cavalry tactics which we recite from
twelve to one, p. m., Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
At two in the afternoon artillery and moral science require
our presence. These studies alternate weekly — recitation
three times in one week and twice in the other one week,
vice versa the next. These of .course have to be studied the
remaining study hours between three and four o'clock
p. m., and the evening of the preceding day and in the
hours between eleven and one p. m. on those days that we
do not recite in cavalry tactics. After four o'clock comes
parade and supper, and half an hour after the latter comes
evening call to quarters, and the studies for the succeed
ing day are commenced. At ten p. m., when taps beat,
I have to inspect my subdivision for all present and report
at the guard room to the officer in charge ; and this
closes the day's work. Now although I cannot complain
that we have not plenty of time to learn everything and
besides have spare time, yet one is so tired and exhausted
when that spare time comes that letter-writing or indeed
almost anything else besides sleep is entirely out of the
question. I read, to be sure, but it does not amount to
any thing, for with my continual study, my mind becomes
so tired and harassed that it is only the lighter kind of
reading I can attempt.
" The first migratory birds which the arrival of spring
(spring indeed ! with snow piled up all around us) has
brought, is announced in the arrival at the hotel of Mrs.
— and Miss — . They were both here last summer for
some time. The former has a relative in the corps, and
"is quite pretty and agreeable. The latter was here last
summer with a younger sister.

88 Life of Gen. Bayard.
" Some of the class to graduate in June, talk of hav
ing a ball at Cozzens' the night we are relieved. I my
self am opposed to it ; and shall try and prevent it.
Should they have one, will you girls come up to it ?
Mrs. G — will give us one in the city ; there is no doubt
of it. I did not intend to go to it, but now that she is
determined to give it, after her son has been unable to
remain here, that is kindness which I think we all should
appreciates I shall therefore attend."
To his Mother.
" West Point, April 21st, 1856.
" Spring has at last come, and we are once more on
the plain at duty. Drills, dress parades guard mounting
etc. This delightful recreation invigorates and raises
the spirits of every one. A bright shining spring morn
ing is the most lovely of the year. Such days remind me
of my last spring in Morristown. I know not whether
the pleasure of receiving my long hoped for cadet
appointment made me look joyously on everything, or
whether my faculty of discrimination then first began to
be developed ; but I certainly never passed a spring
which I look back upon with so much pleasure. I shall
always remember it as one of the most delightful periods
of my life. We had such magnificent grounds around our
house ; then there were the neighboring orchards, in
which we used to shoot robins — Carlo, my pretty setter
who used to go walking with us every day ; Speedwell
pond, on which George and I rowed so often. Then, too
I used to walk with father every evening in the valley
beneath Mount Washington, where the General marched
his few troops round and round, deceiving the British

Preparation for June Examination. 89
as to the force he had. Ah ! those were precious days,
never to return again, and I come down to thoughts of
my present situation.
"The advent of spring makes graduation appear very
close at hand. Soon June and the renewed splendors
of summer will come.
' Hurrah for the merry bright month of June,
Which opens a life so new,
When we doff the cadet and don the brevet
And change the grey for the blue,1
as an old cadet song runs. You recollect the Siege
Battery up near the hotel. Our class were there at drill
two days engaged in mounting the guns and howitzers
belonging to it, which we dismounted last summer.
This finished the drills for our class proper.
Four first class men are now detailed each day
to superintend the fifth class, making cartridges in
the laboratory. Three of us to superintend a portion of
the second class at the siege battery, and five are placed
over the rest of that class at the Mortar Battery near
the flagstaff. Then there are three chiefs of section,
one chief of line of caissons, and six chiefs of pieces for
Mounted Battery, at which Captain Clark is now exer
cising the soldiers as drivers ; and finally there are six
detailed to superintend the third and fourth classes at the
Battery of field howitzers now on the plain near the
encampment ground. This last, however, is merely
temporary, for as soon as the drivers are efficiently
drilled at the mounted battery, these two classes will be
attached to it as cannoniers. Thus a total of twenty-
eight first-class men are on duty^ every evening."

90 Life of Gen. Bayard.
To his Father.
"West Point, June ^d, 1856.
" The 1st of June so long vvished-for has come and
passed, and graduation is now not far off.
I have been hard at work with my engineering ; we
will be examined in a day or two on that subject. How
I shall do on it is uncertain. On other subjects T ex
pect to dp well. Several members of the Board of
Visitors have arrived, and among them Mr. Kirkpatrick.*
He sent for me, and I obtained a permit to go to the
hotel. I spent a pleasant evening with him and his
family, and with his sister, Mrs. How, had much conver
sation about our family and all its branches. I hope
to be home by the twentieth." To his Father.
"West Point, June 8th, 1856.
" I was up in Ethics day before yesterday and did
very well. The Engineering standing has been read out
and lam nineteen in it, one file higher than in January. I
think my general standing — that which finally appears on
the catalogue — will be ten, eleven, or twelve ; certainly
not lower : and I shall then have a right to expect a
mounted regiment.
" I shall go to Washington immediately after grad
uating and urge my claims to a lieutenant's brevet either
in the Dragoons or Cavalry.
" I wish, father, in the meantime, you would ask your
friends in Congress — the senators with whom you are on
the proper terms, and the members of Congress from
New Jeisey, to back my application.
* Hon. Littleton Kirkpatrick, a cousin of cadet Bayard's father

Standing when Graduated. 91

" Four years ago the goal beyond which my ambition
did not venture to stretch, was to graduate with credit to
myself and with such a standing as would be gratifying
to my family. In a few days more that ultima thule of
my hopes four years ago will be attained ; and now
burying the past, and looking forward to the future, the
horizon, though dark and doubtful, is vastly enlarged. I
have not submitted to the drudgery, anxiety, and priva
tions of the last four years, merely for the privilege of
chasing Indian thieves, or rotting in some remote and
isolated post of the interior. I am a soldier. Alex
ander, Caesar and Bonaparte were only soldiers, so far
as it respected their ascent to fame and power.
" If there should be no war in which the United States
should be involved, I shall seek some other field after a
few years — time must determine where that field will be.
It may be Asia or Africa ; or if nothing else offers, there
is the law. That profession is allied by nature to the
military profession. It is perpetual war on rascality.
The bar and the bench are always engaged in that sort
of war." According to the Regulations of the Military Acad
emy, each cadet of the first class, who, at the annual
examination in June, is found qualified for a commission,
receives a diploma signed by the Superintendent and
members of the Academic Board, and his name is pre
sented to the Secretary of War with a recommendation
for a commission.
The final standing of Bayard in his class was eleven.
A standing quite equal to his expectations. But consid
ering how much ill health he had while at West Point,
his social disposition, and indifference to receiving

Life of Gen. Bayard.

demerit marks, to a moderate extent, his standing was
satisfactory to himself and his friends, and such as justi
fied his being assigned to one of the mounted regiments.

CHAPTER VIII.

Appointed Second Lieutenant in First Cavalry — Fort Leavenworth —
Difficulties in Kansas — Service on the Plains.
TO be appointed a cavalry officer, was one of the
most cherished hopes of Bayard, even in boyhood.
His preference for that branch of the service is frequently
explained in his correspondence. During the few years
he spent on the prairies of Iowa, he was much in the
saddle, and became an expert and bold rider ; and
fond of horses, which no doubt had its influence in pro
ducing his preference for the cavalry.
He was familiar with the family tradition, that the
Bayards in America were descended from a branch of
the family of the Chevalier Bayard.* He was aware that
the title of Chevalier was given him from his great skill
as a horseman, and his exploits as a cavalry leader.
All the historical memoirs of the Chevalier which
young Bayard could obtain, he perused with avidity.
There can be no doubt that the heroic character of the
Chevalier, his generosity, magnanimity, affection for his
friends, and his dauntless bravery, had a great influence
in moulding the character, and inspiring the ambition of
the subject of these pages.
He was also familiar with the history of his great-
* Appendix B.

94 Life of Gen. Bayard.

grandfather, Colonel John Bayard, who in the war of the
Revolution, commanded the first troop of Philadelphia
cavalry. *
In the course of his instruction at West Point, he
came to know the duties of a cavalry officer, and that
they were more severe and fatiguing than those of officers
of ,the infantry. But his experience there, seemed to
increase his preference for the cavalry service. In con
versation, he often adverted to the fact, (as justifying
his preference for the cavalry), that all the great battles,
ancient as well as modern, were won by cavalry charges.
Soon after graduating he went to Washington, where
he met his friends and classmates, Fitzhugh Lee, and
Lomax, who " likewise preferred the cavalry. Together
they made personal application to the Secretary of War,
to be assigned to mounted corps, and with the aid of
their friends, they all succeeded in obtaining the wished-
for assignments.Bayard was appointed second lieutenant in the First
Cavalry, his commission bearing date August ist, 1856.
This regiment was commanded by Col. E. V. Sumner,
whose headquarters were at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
Territory. Including cavalry and infantry, there were
several thousand troops in Kansas at this time. The
duties of this cavalry force were particularly onerous.
They were charged with the defence of a vast extent of
territory, from Indian tribes — who, unless checked by the
military, were disposed to rob and murder the settlers.
They were subject also to the requisition of the Governor
of Kansas, then the seat of incipient war between the
Free-State, and the Pro-slavery parties.
* See Appendix C.

Fort Leavenworth. 95
The Territory had been recently organized, and the
population was scant and scattered. Settlers were in
truding on lands to which the Indian title had not been
extinguished, and squatting on public lands not yet sur
veyed. The defeat of the Missouri Restriction — the
" Compact of Peace" of 1820, opened at once the fertile
and inviting lands of Kansas to those desirous of ex
tending the area of slavery. Mr. Douglas, aspiring to
please both north and south, expected to propitiate the
south by this repeal ; while he doubtless foresaw that
the Kansas Nebraska Bill insured success to the popu
lous north — the strongest in numbers, wealth, and enter
prise. Practically, it was an invitation to civil war, and
the border elements of discord rushed impetuously to
the conflict.
Southern and northern colonists in organized com
panies, came armed and equipped to assert, by force,
their right to introduce or exclude slavery. The people
of the State of Missouri, anxious that their neighbors
should adopt institutions similar to their own, and stimu
lated by local and other demagogues, entered Kansas in
troops, armed and accompanied' with artillery, deter
mined to vote down the resident population — a majority
of which was opposed to the introduction of slavery.
Of course collisions soon took place, and the pres
ence of a part of the regular army, to act as a posse com-
itatus in aid of the civil authorities, became necessary
for the preservation of the peace.
On the cavalry the most active and important duties
were, devolved, and they were alternately ordered by the
War Department to chastise Indian marauders, and by
the Governor of Kansas to preserve the peace and de-

96 Life of Gen. Bayard.
fend the lives of the inhabitants of the Territory. The
letters of Lieutenant Bayard, during his four years serv
ice on the Plains and in Kansas, will enable the reader
to trace his career during that time, and will show some
thing of the various and arduous duties, of the frontier
service of the -cavalry officer. They will likewise give
some graphic sketches of encounters with the Indians,
whose hostile disposition nothing but the fear of chas
tisement restrains.
West Point officers previous to the war, were very reti
cent on the subject of politics, and habitually declined to
converse on it. When at home in his furlough year —
and after graduating, Lieutenant Bayard would leave the
room whenever political discussions commenced. It was
doubtless this aversion to talk on political subjects, which
will account for his saying so little in his letters from
Kansas, about the border war then waged with ferocity
on that battle-field — the prologue of the rebellion of 1861.
Having been ordered to report at Fort Leavenworth on
the expiration of his furlough, October ist, Lieutenant
Bayard arrived there within the time appointed, as ap
pears from the following letter.
To his Father.
" Fort Leavenworth, K. T., Sept. 24th, 1856.
" At last I am here after a tedious journey — the par
ticulars of which I gave you in a letter from St. Louis,
and one from Jefferson City.
" I shall have to furnish myself with a horse, saddle
and some other accoutrements. A good horse cannot be
got here for less than one hundred- and forty dollars. I
must have a good one. How long I remain here depends

Difficulties in Kansas. 97
on my health, which just now is not such as will warrant
joining my company when they return to Lecompton.
" Leavenworth is beautifully situated on a high bluff,
and is now a busy place, and crowded with troops. I
called on General Smith this morning. He is quite an
old man, judging from his appearance, and his health is
not good. He appears much broken, but is still a fine-
looking man.
"A train leaves here on Friday, October second, for
Lecompton, and I will go up with it if well enough. My
company is now on an expedition north, towards Ne
braska, and it may be some weeks before its return to
Lecompton. " Lieutenant Steuart* with his company, had a very
pretty fight with the Cheyenne Indians the other day, and
the talk is now, of a Cheyenne expedition.
" Things are in a very unsettled state politically, in
this Territory. I can as yet say nothing from my own
knowledge, and can only repeat what I hear from others.
" The troops have now in custody about a hundred and
twenty prisoners, most of them Free-State men. Just
about half the fights you read of in the papers as having
occurred here, have no foundation in fact. They tell me
Captain Walker, captain of my company, is a fine fellow,
and will be most glad to see me, as he has no lieutenant
with him at present.
" Major Porter was kind enough to invite me to stay
with him while I remain at the fort. If I had staid with
the lieutenants at their quarters, I should not have liked
it so well, as their room is drenched with whiskey from
morning till night. The temptation to a young officer to
* J. E. B. Steuart, the Confederate General.
5

98 Life of Gen. Bayard.
drink is hard to resist. But I am determined that I will
not contract the habit.
" Oct. 1st, 1856. — I was interrupted last night and
could not finish this letter. News has just come that
Lane has entered the Territory with some four hundred
armed men, in violation of the Governor's proclamation,
and that all the troops have left Lecompton to go in pur
suit of him.
" There is a very pleasant society here, composed in
part of many ladies whom I knew at West Point, officers'
wives, etc.
"About Kansas matters, 1 am still at a loss for reliable
information. The Territory is invaded by large bodies of
Missourians, the largest portion of whom do not design
becoming residents, they come avowedly to make Kansas
a Slave-State. On the other hand, northern emigrants
are pouring in, the most of whom come as permanent
residents and settlers, though their leaders propose to
stay no longer than is required to defeat the pro-slavery
men. My opinion is, that it is impossible to make Kansas
a Slave-State. The administration, backed by the army,
are not strong enough for that. Of course no officer
expresses any opinion in favor of one side or the other.
What is most wanting here, is a Governor of commanding
talents and weight of character. Governor Geary is a
good man and desires to do right ; but he is not a great
man. The people generally have no confidence in the
fairness and justice of the administration. They believe
that for party purposes, the Democrats want to bring in
Kansas as a Slave-State. If this be so, it is the worst
move the Democracy ever made, and will in the end
break the party into fragments."

Difficulties in Kansas. 99
To his Sister.
" Fort Leavenworth, Dec. jlh, 1856.
" I was much gratified to receive your letter last even
ing. It is a great treat to receive a letter from home
when one is so far away as I am now. You will, I trust,
all of you write frequently without reference to my an
swers. I will write when I can, but when in the field, it
will be impossible for me to write often. We shall have
neither tables nor chairs in our tents, and but very imper
fect means of carrying along with us any supply of writing
materials. I therefore fear that when in the field, weeks
may elapse without my being able to get off a letter.
" Bennett, with his light artillery, who came up on a boat,
left yesterday with a train, to join Colonel Cooke's com
mand on the Nebraska line. I had hoped to go with him
but could not. I am afraid I will be detained here
several weeks. Sawtelle, Plummer, Thompson, Bell and
Crittenden, are all fine fellows, and I pass my time very
pleasantly. My duties are not arduous, I attend roll call
and am officer of the day in my turn. The news last
night was, that Vinton had resigned ; if true, it promotes
Lomax into my regiment.
" They say here that our regiment is now pretty well
weeded out, so that promotion in it will be slow. Ben
nett is I think about the luckiest man in the class.
There are four or five " lieuts." who have this summer been
put in the 4th Artillery — some of whom, if not all, will
resign before long. Besides that, the regiment has been
ordered to Florida, and that will cause resignations, if
not deaths. Bennett, however, being on duty with the
light battery, will not have to go to Florida.
" In my letter to mother from St. Louis I endeavored

ioo Life of Gen. Bayard.
to give you a tolerable idea of my performances there.
The society there is delightful. I certainly did pass my
time very agreeably.
" The election on Monday passed off very quietly. It
was entirely a one-sided affair. The Free-State men
took no part in it. The Missourians all along the bor
der crossed over, took the necessary oaths and voted.
They were passing through here, backward and forward,
all day long on the day of election, and there were more
votes polled in Leavenworth city, as well as at other
places, than there were residents.
" Col. Cooke was sent north to the Nebraska line to stop
any armed bodies of men invading the Territory from that
direction. But no impediment was offered to the inva
ders from Missouri. Col. Cooke captured two hundred
and twenty-five men, in whose wagons he found boxes of
muskets, pistols, sabres, etc., while they brought no agri
cultural implements, nor did the Missourians have any of
the latter. The prisoners were sent to Lecompton, where
they were released by the Governor — which he would not
have done probably had the election not been over.
"The army has been made the scapegoat throughout
this whole imbroglio. The pro-slavery men denounce it,
because it don't do all they require of it ; and the
Free-State men complain that it is merely here to help
Kansas to become a Slave-State. I think neither party
has any cause of complaint against the army. The offi
cers obey orders, and keep the people from murdering
and violence — and in my opinion act with great prudence
and discretion. If it were not for the interposition of the
army here, there would be a civil war which would soon
spread and involve the North and South in deadly con
flict

Difficulties in Kansas. 101
" Captain Walker, of Free-State notoriety, was here a
day or two ago, and from him I learned a good many
things respecting the contest now going on in this Terri
tory. He appears to be a plain, unpretending, and well-
intentioned man, and quite different from the renowned
Col. Titus, who, from the best accounts I can obtain, is
a braggart and a coward. Walker admits candidly that
many outrages have been committed by Free-State men
since the sacking and burning of Lawrence, but he says
their provocation was great, and that their lawless acts
have always been condemned by the most reputable and
influential men. He gives a terrible account of the
outrages committed by Missourians, which, if true, they
are worse than savage barbarians.
" I should have joined my company before this, but the
doctor would not consent to it. I am now however, better,
and hope to leave this soon."
To his Father.
" Camp near Lecompton, Nov. gfh, 1856.
" As this will probably be the last opportunity I
shall have of writing to you for some time, I embrace it
to give you some account of my movements.
" We left the fort on Tuesday the fourth, in the midst
of a severe storm of wind and rain and passed through
Leavenworth city, where we picked up Clark, the Indian
agent. Crittenden and I proceeded twelve miles from the
fort, and camped on the banks of a small creek known
as the Little Stranger. Halted and pitched our tents
and picketed our horses before dark, shortly after which,
Sturgis, who had remained at the fort awhil e, rode into
camp. I brought out with me my servant, a negro boy,

102 Life of Gen. Bayard.
who does our cooking for us. It appeared a good deal
like old times in Iowa when we were out turkey-hunting.
" We were late getting off next day, but Sturgis sent
a detachment ahead to halt Clark, who had gone on
further, and as we were responsible for the safety of the
public money he had with him, Sturgis determined he
should not go off alone so far. Six miles from the little
Stranger we crossed Big Stranger, and four miles beyond
that we found Clark. Leaving Crittenden and myself
with about a dozen men to accompany the wagons,
Sturgis and the remainder of the company pushed on with
Clark, who having an ambulance and a good team of
horses was able to get along at a more rapid rate than our
mule teams. We reached Lawrence where we crossed
the Kansas or Kaw river about three in the afternoon,
and rode over to Major Wood's camp, until the wagons
which we left about a mile behind came up. Finding
that it was getting late, I rode down to the river to see
about them, and found that one of them had stuck just
as it was getting off the boat. This mishap detained us
till sundown, and Sturgis had given us orders to join him
at Lecompton or he would have no forage for his horses.
We accordingly had to push on twelve miles to Lecomp
ton, where we arrived after a cold ride about half-past
nine o'clock. The next day being stormy, Sturgis did
not move, but left the next morning in a worse storm of
sleet, rain and snow. Having taken a bad cold and being
threatened with an attack of my old complaint quinsy, I
remained with Captain De Saussure, who is camped here
with his company. He leaves to-morrow morning for
Paoli, thirty miles from Westport, and thence he goes to
old Fort Scott for the purpose of capturing a gang of

Difficttlties in Kansas. 103
horse thieves and marauders that infest that part of the
Territory. Colonel Cooke has for the present attached me
to his company. At Paoli I will see assembled the Peoria,
Piankeshaw, Shawnee and Kaskaskia Indians, and at
Fort Scott the Osages. They say it is a fine country. We
take rations for twenty-one days, but we may have to be
there longer, and may possibly have to winter there. I
like De Saussure very much, and I shall be the only lieu
tenant with him." To his Mother.
" Fort Leavenworth, K. T, Nov. 17th, 1856.
" You will be surprised by the date of my letter.
When I wrote to father from Lecompton, I did not expect
to get back here so soon.
"We left Lecompton the next morning as we had pur
posed, favored with excellent weather. Left Lawrence
with its famous fortifications on our left, and crossed the
Waukansas at Blonton's Bridge, and some seven miles
further struck the Santa Fe road, where we encamped for
the night. Next day, after marching some twenty miles,
camped near the house of Black-wolf, the Shawnee chief.
We arrived at Paoli about noon the next day, passing
through the Shawnee reservation and into the country
of the Mecos, Peoria, Piankeshaw, and Kaskaskia Indians.
They are all pretty well civilized, owning large farms,
and having considerable improvements. The gieater
portion of them are about half white. Friday, Captain
Walker, of my company, arrived with the company, having
gone as escort to the agent of the tribes above men
tioned. " De Saussure presented Walker Col. Cooke's or
der to join De Saussure. We had learned by this time

104 Life of Gen. Bayard.
that the band of freebooters we proposed arresting, ranged
over a wide tract of country, from the Pottawattamie Creek
to the Neosho, and had even crossed the Missouri border,
and drove off all the cattle and horses of a farmer, and
plundered his house.
" Neither the Commissioner nor the marshal had ar
rived, and nothing could be done until they came. Every
thing conspired to make us believe that we would be de
tained in that region so late that we would be compelled
to winter at Fort Scott.
" Under these circumstances De Saussure determined
to send me in to the Fort to secure supplies and clothing.
I left Saturday morning, and, leaving my wagon with a
corporal and guard to come on at leisure, I pushed on
thirty-eight miles, and stopped about three o'clock at
the house of a half breed Shawnee, Blue Jacket. I had a
cold ride, but got in by three o'clock P. m., a distance
of twenty-six miles.
" Here I find all the cavalry and infantry except two
companies of the first and one of the latter. The selec
tion of the two cavalry companies is left to Major Sedg
wick, and his detail is not yet known.
" Bennett, with his company, has been ordered to Old
Point Comfort, and he will be in here in a few days. He's
a lucky fellow ! " To his Mother.
" Fort Leavenworth, K. T., December ist, 1856.
" My last letter was written under the impression that
I would pass the winter at old Fort Scott, situated in
the southeastern part of the Territory — a post far more
agreeable than this, in climate, comfort, and everything.
The orders given us by Col. Cooke were issued with

Difficitlties in Kansas. 105
such an arrangement in view, and De Saussure, Walker
and I, were in high glee at the prospect of having a carte
blanche to make ourselves comfortable there for the win
ter. Having made up our minds to this, I came in here
to obtain the necessary supplies, rations and clothing.
" On my arrival the Adjutant-general, Major Deas, in
formed me that he was convinced we would be ordered
in here. " The Governor of Kansas, who, by the way, has a
great idea of adding to his importance by keeping troops
dangling at his heels, it appears, has asked for two com
panies of cavalry and one of infantry to remain at
Lecompton, and he would then dispense with the remain
der and allow them to return to Fort Leavenworth.
" At this time Major Sedgwick is in camp near the
Nebraska line with four companies of cavalry, and the
light artillery, while Colonel Cooke was at Lecompton
with a squadron of dragoons, and a portion of the sixth
infantry under Colonel Andrews. An order was accord
ingly issued from headquarters instructing Major Sedg
wick to detail the two companies of cavalry to go to Le
compton, and ordering all other companies in to this post.
It was after the issue of this order, and before Major
Sedgwick's detail was known, that I arrived. Nothing
could therefore be done until that was known, and from
Sunday until Thursday, I had to wait, although De Saus
sure expected me back that day.
" On Tuesday Bennett arrived with his company en
route for Old Point Comfort, and I was thus enabled to
spend several days with him. A friend and classmate is
only properly appreciated when among comparative
strangers.

106 Life of Gen. Bayard.
" On Thursday I received orders to take De Saussure
rations for ten days, and the order for his and Walker's
return. I started my wagon under charge of a corporal
early Friday morning, with orders to proceed to Paoli,
where I would overtake him. I left the fort Saturday
afternoon about three o'clock, and stopped a little after
dark at the house of Johnny-cake a Delaware, seventeen
miles from Leavenworth. The next day I rode into Paoli, a
distance of forty-four miles, by sundown, some three hours
after my wagon had arrived. Paoli last summer was
crowded with families driven from their farms on the Potta
wattamie creek, and the country in the neighborhood of
Ossawattamie, by the freebooting bands (real or pre
tended,) of Free-State men. Ossawattamie is situated at
the confluence of the Marais de Cygnes and Pottawat
tamie creek, beyond which the stream is called the
Osage river. Here that prince of cut-throats and ma
rauders (Brown) made his headquarters last summer, and
carried on the war against Missourians and pro-slavery
settlers. Captain De Saussure was stationed near the
town all last summer, but his orders were positive, not to
interfere unless the civil authority deemed it necessary.
The consequence was, that as all the civil officers had
fled before his arrival, Brown ruled and ravaged the
country adjacent with impunity. The Missourians finally
mustered in force, marched on the town and burned it.
It was a portion of Brown's party that we were ordered
to arrest. " Baptiste Peoria, chief of the Wacos and Peorias, and
who has the Indian title to the land on which Paoli is
situated, gave me a letter from De Saussure, directing
me to join him on Sugar creek. On my way there I

His Twenty-First Birthday. 107
passed through Ossawattamie, and saw the remains left by
the pro-slavery party. I reached camp on Sugar creek
after a march of twenty-five miles. I was heartily welcom
ed by De Saussure and Walker, who had almost given me
up, and considerably surprised them by the order for their
return to Leavenworth. In my absence they had captured
seven men, Bill Partridge, Townsley,,the four Kilbourn
boys, and one Vaughan. One of the Kilbourns escaped,
Vaughan was discharged for lack of evidence against
him ; the others were sent to Lecompton. They are a
notorious gang of desperadoes, accomplices of Brown.
"The morning after my arrival, De Saussure, in
obedience to the order I delivered, broke up camp and
started for the fort, where we arrived on the twenty-eighth
of November. " December 6th. — I could not finish my letter begun
on the first, and have had no time since for letter-writing.
I am on guard to-morrow and also on a court-martial to try
some of the prisoners, of which there are now more than
fifty — some charged with desertion, one for murder, but
the greater number for drunkenness.
" I have again met here Colonel Titus, on his way to
Nicaragua with a hundred men. Walker has promised
him a Brigadier Generalship. He will take with him
some of the disturbing elements of Kansas.
" I received a letter from Fitzhugh Lee, dated Car
lisle, Pa., Nov. 20th. He said he was going on a visit to
Philadelphia, and would try and revisit Woodbury."
To his Sister.
"Fort Leavenworth, Dec. 18th, 1856.
"This day I complete my twenty-first year. It is

108 Life of Gen. Bayard.

about six o'clock in the morning, and I can make no
more auspicious beginning of my new year than by writ
ing to you, dear sister.
" Between courts-martial, boards of survey, guard,
drill, and attendance at regular roll-calls, my time is so
occupied that it leaves little of my working hours that I
can call my own. On courts-martial and boards of sur
vey, the junior officer is always recorder, and is compelled
to write out the proceedings.
" What I said about B — does not, I hope, induce you
to believe that I am at all dissatisfied with my regiment.
So far from that, I am so well pleased, that if I had the
choice of all regiments of the line, I would select this.
There are a very agreeable set of fellows composing it,
and nearly all are married or engaged to be married :
which renders it much more sober and quiet than it other
wise would be. The hardest cases in the regiment are
now away.
" The resignation of Captain McClelland, of this regi
ment, promotes Taylor, I think, to a second lieutenant,
leaving Fitz. Lee the last of the cavalry brevets. I enter
tain strong hopes that he will yet be promoted into my
regiment, in which case there will be four of our class in
the same regiment. My promotion so far has been quite
rapid, having risen two files in three months by the resig
nation of Vinton and McClelland.
'' I consider our regiment one of the best officered
regiments in the service. And should a war occur in
which it could be tested, I think it would indicate fully
the opinion I have expressed. The army within this
generation will be called upon to perform great deeds,
and in the shadowy mists of the future, (you know by

Looking Ahead. 109

birth I am a Seer), * I see the military, the chief of all
the professions. I may not live to see il, but I see it
now with my mind's eye.
" Whenever you repine at my being in a mounted
corps, and therefore destined for frontier service, call to
mind, that while others are loitering away their time in
forts and garrisons, /am in the field, learning the prac
tical parts of my profession, of which as yet, they can
know little or nothing. As for the exposure and hard
ship incident to the service, they agree with me much
better than a more quiet and lazy life. You know I
never enjoyed at home, after we left the west, as good
health as I did at West Point ; and since my service in
the field, my health is far better than it was for months
previously. Some four or five years hence, when I obtain
leave to go home, I will have become such a complete
border ruffian, that I fear you will hardly recognize me.
I shall then, I hope, have gained a reputation which will
do no discredit to my name. My captain expects to get
leave for four months shortly, which will give me com
mand of the company. He is to be married to a daugh
ter of General Hernandez, of Cuba.
" I don't know that it would not be a good thing
for me to get married. I should then not be subjected to
temptations and convivial company.
"There are some charming half breed ladies, who re
sort here from the interior. What do you girls say about
it ? The great Wyandot Beauty is now here, Miss D,
The Misses E.'s, from St. Joseph, and other feminine
celebrities also. I am puzzled and dazzled in the glare
* He was born with a caul, and the Irish nurse who snatched it
from his head, predicted that he would be a "¦ big man."

no Life of Gen. Bayard.
of their charms to know at whose shrine I should
bow. " Things are all quiet in the Territory now. Our ex
pedition appears to have struck those maurauding parties
at the south with wholesome terror, and Governor Geary
says that he apprehends no further disturbances at pres
ent. The land sales have been going on for some time
past. The lands sell enormously high. After entry at
the land office, the claims to the land entered sell for
three or four times the government price. The land is
good, but no better than hundreds of thousands of acres
of Iowa lands, which are in market at one dollar and
twenty-five cents per acre.

<*^£^1|1$J^^

CHAPTER IX.

Life at Fort Leavenworth, 1857. — Expedition to the Arkansas.-
Fight with Cheyennes. — Winter Quarters at Fort Riley.

a

To his Father.
" Fort Leavenworth, Jan. 2d, 1857.
YOUR letter came to hand some days ago, in the
midst of Christmas festivities. I thank you for
your good advice, and hope to profit by it. I agree with
you as to the political views you present. The sectional
strife, growing in fierceness, must in a few years lead to
civil war. Then the military will be called on to per
form an important part in the conflict the politicians
will bring about. God only knows what the result will
be. But while for my country I shall deplore such a
horrid fate, I shall endeavor to carve out for myself
a name honorable to my family. I am just in the proper
position for doing so, come what may. The cavalry arm
is the best of all in which to become thoroughly
acquainted with the practical details of campaigning
and a soldier's duties generally. In four years I shall
be completely conversant with that branch of my pro
fession. I should then like to study the theory and
science of war more fully, and should then like to spend
a few years at West Point as Instructor. Dragoons, on
account of their horses, have so many more duties to
attend to than officers of other corps, that they have

112 Life of Gen. Bayard.
much less time to themselves. While on duty, in camp
or the field, all reading or study must be extremely
desultory. " The army will have to be increased in a few years.
As the settlers and emigrants penetrate the country, col
lisions with Indian tribes will increase. When that
takes place, I shall make a bold push for promotion into
one of the new regiments. In the mean time oppor
tunity will occur for distinguishing myself, and I don't
think that a captaincy in four or five years is too much
to expect. " I have enjoyed myself during the holidays very
well. There have been balls and parties without num
ber, and many pretty ladies from Weston, St. Joseph's,
and other places. In short, life in Kansas is not so
barbarous, after all. There were two balls in Leaven
worth city on New Year's eve. One at the Planters'
House, and one at McCracken's Hotel ; the former Pro-
Slavery, and the latter Free-State. Most of the officers
went to both, but as all my lady acquaintances were at
the Planters' House I remained there. We left at five
o'clock in the morning in order to go to reveille. I am
told that even at the Planters' House there were more
Free-State ladies than there were Pro-Slavery ladies.
All agree that the girls from Lawrence fully maintained
their reputation for beauty. The fact is, the Free-State
settlers outnumber all others about five to one, and
there is about as little chance of this being a Slave
State as there is of my flying in the air.
" As to Kansas politics, you can get fuller and more
authentic intelligence from the New York Herald and
Times than we have here. It is to the New York papers

Life at Fort Leavenworth. 113

that we are indebted for Kansas news. To be sure,
much of it is spurious, but that serves the purpose of
the politicians as well as if it were true. The Lecomp
ton Constitution is doomed. The people will never
submit to it here. As submitted to the people, it is a
nefarious swindle." To his Father.
" Fort Leavenworth, Feb. 14th, 1857.
" Our recruits will be up as soon as navigation opens,
and we shall then have to go to work and drill them.
Nor will we have much time for it, as it is proposed that
the expedition to the Plains shall start the ist of May.
I, however, doubt whether we will get off before the
middle of the month. We cannot start before the grass
on the prairies affords food for our beasts.
" Lomax and McClernand, of my class, have arrived
here. Captain Walker has been refused leave to go and
commit matrimony.
" There is quite a fair prospect of more trouble in
this Territory next summer and fall. The Missourians
say they will have the State if they have to bring into
it five thousand men. The Free-State men, confident
in their numbers, which are constantly augmented by
swarms of adventurers animated with fanatic zeal, have
no fear of the ultimate result. The Missourians and
Pro-slavery party are prompted by political motives
principally, which are not of sufficient force to combat
the moral and political impulses which stimulate the
Anti-slavery men. Walker will be as powerless as
Geary ' to ride the whirlwind and direct the storm."

114 Life of Gen. Bayard.
To his Mother.
"Fort Leavenworth, March 3d, 1857.
" I have now nearly recovered, having had a tedious
confinement. Some fears are entertained here that the
proposed Cheyenne expedition will be given up. But
there is no telling what the magnates at Washington
may do from one day to another. They are often dis
posed to listen to illegitimate sources for information.
In my opinion the Cheyennes require looking after.
" Captain Walker has at last got a two months' leave
to go and get married. His intended is a lady of St.
Augustine, Florida, not Cuba, as I think I said in one
of my letters- home. This will give me command of my
company — pretty good for the first year of a second
lieutenant. But it devolves on me at present a vast
amount of duty ; and therefore my correspondence will
have to be curtailed.
" I am kept on the go, from morning until night.
Started up at reveille, immediately afterwards comes stable
call, when we have to go down to the stables and.
superintend the cleaning, watering, etc., of the horses.
After returning to quarters, dressing, and breakfast-call
sounds, and immediately after that comes dress parade,
then guard-mounting, then drill in quick succession. At
twelve m., the quarters and messes of the companies are
to be inspected. From that time to drill at four p. m.,
ostensibly we have nothing to do, but half the time is
occupied by some company duty, or in my case, bakehouse
affairs. Drill at four p. m. an hour and a half, and then sta
ble call again, and then retreat. So much for the way my
time is spent, and when night comes, I am pretty well

Life at Fort Leavenworth. 115
worn out. I have not yet entirely recovered my strength,
and feel the fatigue- more than I should otherwise.
"The Hon. R. J. Walker, I see, is now appointed Gov
ernor, as for some time past, it has been known here he
would be. He is an able man, I have no doubt : — but
he has no conception of the task he has undertaken to
perform. No Governor, not even the archangel Michael,
could give satisfaction to all parties here."
To his Father.
" Fort Leavenworth, April i$th, 1857.
" You will, no doubt before you receive this, have seen
in the papers the orders we have just received from head
quarters. It has stirred us up here, and all rejoice in the
prospect of an active campaign on the Plains for the
ensuing summer. I will state the substance of the orders
lest you may not have noticed them particularly.
" 1st. The 10th Infantry are to leave Minnesota and
come here ; also six companies of dragoons now at Fort
Riley. " 2d. Colonel Johnson, with two companies of infan
try and two squadrons of cavalry, is to proceed South and
run the southern boundary of this Territory.
" id. Two squadrons of ist cavalry are to proceed up
the Arkansas river.
" 4th. One squadron of cavalry, one of dragoons, and
three companies of infantry, are to go up the Platte
river. " General Harney is to leave Florida and take com
mand at Fort Leavenworth.
" The two columns on the Arkansas and Platte are to
be subject to the direction of Colonel Sumner. Major

116 Life of Gen. Bayard.
Sedgwick, by command of Colonel Sumner, will lead the
two squadrons on the Arkansas. They will comprise
Steuart's, Beall's, Walker's, and Mcintosh's companies.
If Walker does not return before we leave, I shall com
mand the company.
" If we don't meet any Indians, we shall have at least
some good buffalo hunting.
" Forage for ten days is to be sent forward from the
fort on the routes, to supply us till the grass grows suffi
ciently. One or two howitzers will be taken with the
Platte and Arkansas columns. Pack-mules not to exceed
five hundred, are to be procured for che Quartermaster's
Department, and we are to go "fully equipped and pre
pared for distant service." That sounds very much like
Utah. " This is far better than staying in the Territory all
summer, subject to the orders of Governor Walker. I
presume we will not return here before late in the fall,
if then. " Should we go to Utah, we will not return for a year
or more. There is but one consolation we should have
in going to Utah ; it would cause some resignations in our
regiment and make promotion more rapid.
" As for our getting a fight out of the Cheyennes
the coming summer, it is doubtful. For while the War
Department is sending out a hostile expedition against
them, the Indian Department have invested thousands of
dollars in presents, including, no doubt, rifles and ammu
nition. So much for official unity and consistency dis
played by the mighty men of Washington. If they would
turn over the whole management of Indian affairs to the
army, millions would be saved, while the Indians would

Preparing for the Plains. 117
be kept in quiet subjection. The Indian Agents, and the
Traders and Co. create all our Indian wars.
"Talking about going to Utah, Col. Sumner and
most of the officers here think that we will go ; but I will
not believe it until I see the order for the march.
" That troops will be sent there with the new Gov
ernor I have no doubt, but I think they will send infant
ry and not cavalry. If we were to go there, it would kill
all our horses, and we would have to foot it until we got
back to a civilized region.
" The troops which do go there will have to stay
there for two or more years."
To his Sister.
"Fort Leavenworth, May 12th, 1857.
"I have been in camp since the ist of May, and
during most of the time we have had pleasant weather.
Just now, however, it is raw, wet, and disagreeable. It
is a very backward season, and on that account there is
no grass as yet on the Plains, and Col. Sumner finds it
impossible to start by the 16th as he expected.
" I have been busy preparing myself, as well as my
company, for the Plains. I now have plenty of good
coarse clothing, the only kind suitable for such work as
ours • stout hickory shirts and soldiers' clothes are in
dispensable. A pillow and four or five blankets, buf
falo robes, and an India-rubber cloth, to spread on the
ground, constitute our bedding arrangements. You may
imagine me starting for the Plains dressed out in gor
geous array, with a black felt hat with broad brim, coarse
jacket and trowsers, hickory shirt and high-top boots, and
you will have a pretty correct idea of a ' Border Ruffian,'

118 Life of Gen. Bayard.
alias, campaigner. I have a very good servant — he is an
excellent cook, which is the great desideratum in an offi
cer's servant. We anticipate a pleasant trip. How often
shall I think of you all in your quiet home at Woodbury,
while I am marching over the prairie so far away. Oh;
when shall I see home and its dear inmates again ?
Major Deas, of the Adjutant-general's Department, and
Lieut. Carr, of my regiment, have been appointed aides-de
camp to the Governor, together with "Lieut. Walker (his
nephew) of the sixth cavalry.
"May 16th. — I could not finish the above the day I
commenced it. We now expect to be off the day after to
morrow. Major Sedgwick's column, to which I belong,
has been in camp a short distance from garrison, but
sufficiently near to perform all duty in garrison — which
is disagreeable. But my grievances of this sort will end
with our departure. We now expect to get back by the
first of November.
" I was relieved on the thirtieth of last month of the
duty of Post treasurer, which was very harassing, onerous
and responsible ; all my time being required to attend to
my company's duties and prepare it for the Plains. I
have effected a radical change for the better in my com
pany. " To use the words of Col. Sumner at inspection a few
days ago, " from being one of the worst, it is fast getting
to be one of the best in the regiment." He has repeat
edly complimented me in the highest terms for the neat
ness and good condition of my company. Little good it
will do me, though, if Walker returns soon, and relieves
me of the command. If I could only keep command of
my company during the campaign, it would be a mar-

On the March. 119
vellous piece of good fortune — a second lieutenant of
less than a year's standing favored with a command, which
few attain permanently in ten years ! and that in an ex
pedition in the course of which fighting is expected. If
we do have a fight, and I am in command, I will make
" G" company win laurels. It will be very hard if
Walker joins me before the campaign is over ; for I have
had the whole trouble of fitting out the company, have
worked like a galley-slave for weeks, have been account
able for an immense amount of property, it being neces
sary to draw for the company, supplies of all kinds, ord
nance, clothing, camp and garrison equipage and quarter
master's stores. Nor can I turn them over to Walker
until we get back. Walker is a nice gentleman and very
clever but is inefficient, and lacks force.
" When we get off, we shall proceed by easy marches
fifteen or twenty miles a day. Whlie out, we shall prob
ably get a mail about once a month if we are not very
unlucky, and you must therefore write, some of you, every
week. I will write whenever an opportunity occurs for
sending a letter." To his Mother.
"Camp near Indianola, K. T, )
May 20th, 1857. f
" I cannot allow an opportunity for writing to you with
out improving it. At last we are off, bound we know
not where precisely, nor how far we shall go, nor when
we shall return.
" The first night we camped twelve miles from the
Fort, on -Stranger creek. Yesterday we marched
twenty-three miles and camped on the Grasshopper.
To-day we made seventeen miles, and we are now

120 Life of Gen. Bayard.
camped three and a half miles from the historic town of
Topeka — chronicled for fame as the place where the
Free-State constitution was formed. To-morrow we
cross the Kansas river, which will take all day proba
bly. We have had delightful weather, and if the grass
was only a little better for our horses, we should have
nothing to complain of.
"Major Sedgwick says my company is the best in
the regiment. We have a very pleasant set of officers.
Sedgwick is a first-rate old fellow, and an universal
favorite. He does all in his power to make everything
on the march as agreeable as possible. Sturgis is over
flowing with fun and good spirits. Mcintosh, Stanley,
Lomax, Doctor Corey, Long, Mclntyre and Wheaton,
are all pleasant gentlemen, and enliven the camp with
social intercourse. Our men are all in fine spirits, and
anticipate a fight with the Indians. Doctor Corey, who
messes with me, and is a very agreeable gentleman, goes
down with his ambulance to Topeka to-morrow to get
some things, and we all avail ourselves of the chance to
write. " We have passed through some of the most beauti
ful prairies I ever saw. The country is quite thickly
settled — a large portion of the lands being taken up and
occupied." 2b his Sister.
" Camp near Council Grove, K. T., >
May 24th, 1857. j
" After a tramp of six days, we arrived this afternoon
at Council Grove, a small town consisting of a few
traders' houses, around which were lounging many dirty
Indians. We will be here all to-morrow, loading our

Encamped. 121

train with grain for our horses and mules. And it is a
fortunate delay, for our horses need rest. Twenty miles
a day, for a horse loaded clown with the heavy equip
ments of a dragoon soldier, is pretty hard travelling,
although in case of necessity they are sometimes made
to go thirty, and even forty. This, however, is but
seldom. The column never moves out of a walk ; and
we generally dismount and walk a mile or two during
the day to relieve our horses. The longest march we
have yet made was twenty-three miles. We generally
get into camp, /. e., select the ground and picket our
horses, an hour before the wagons arrive.
" Each company, with its officers, has two wagons to
carry their mess-kit, tents, etc., etc. Then there are
three or four ammunition wagons, and near fifty pro
vision and forage wagons — of course, all six-mule teams.
" Having command of my company, my time is pretty
much occupied and I often envy the Doctor his leisure
and ease. He and I generally kill on our march dur
ing the day, sufficient game, — plover, curlew and clucks to
supply our table, and we live like fighting cocks. Our
route at present is through a beautiful country of undu
lating prairies and fertile valleys. In a few days we shall
reach the range of the buffalo.
" We had a severe thunder-storm to-day just after pick
eting our horses, and one of them was struck and killed
by lightning. Do you know what is meant by picketing
the horses ? Each man has a picket-rope and pin for his
horse. The pin is of iron and about fifteen inches long,
which is driven in the ground. Through the top of it,
there is a ring to which the rope eleven yards long, is
fastened, the other end being tied to the headstall of
6

122 Life of Gen. Bayard.
the horse. This allows each horse a circle of twenty-two
yards in diameter, within which to crop the grass.
" Our camp was fairly overrun to-night with Indians
of the Kaw tribe — a miserable worthless set of beggars,
vagabonds and thieves. The little papooses were run
ning round and rolling in the dirt in all directions, with
nothing on them but strips of ragged blankets.
" There is little prospect of Walker's being able to
join us this summer, which leaves me in command of the
company, a piece of good fortune quite remarkable.
" I am in excellent health. Camp life always agrees
with me." To his Father.
" Camp on Arkansas River, )
June 2d, 1857. j*
" As we approached this river, the soil rapidly dete
riorated. The country is sandy. For the last few days
we have passed numerous towns of prairie dogs, who,
squatted in front of their domicils, keep up a ferocious
barking, but as we come nearer, dart into their holes
quick as a flash.
" Buffalo hunting is the only diversion we have to re
lieve the monotony of our march. I shot one to-day
after running him about four miles. My horse was pretty
well exhausted by the time my sport was ended. I could
have shot him at any moment during the whole chase,
but wanted to crowd him over near the road. The buf
falo are in great numbers near our camp. They move in
herds of thousands, and we dash among them and single
out a fat fellow, and when we get him where we want
him, shoot him. It is exciting sport, and I enjoyed it
very much.

Visited by the Arrapahoes. 123
" To-morrow we will probably reach the neighborhood
of the Camanches, Kiowas, and Arrapahoes, who are in
camp near Pawnee Fork, and will then have to keep a
sharp lookout for our horses at night.
" Four miles from here we passed, on Walnut creek,
an Indian trading station, where we were told that the
Cheyennes had taken their families up into the moun
tains, and with the assistance of some young Sioux war
riors were preparing for war. But I have little faith in
the reports of these Indian traders.''
To his Mother.
" Camp on the Arkansas, )
June 22d, 1857. j
" We are now between ninety and one hundred miles
of Bent's Fort, which we left five days ago, and in a day
or two we will leave the river and strike across the coun
try to the south fork of the Platte, where we are to meet
Col. Sumner. At Bent's Fort we found in camp some five
or six hundred Arrapahoes. No sooner did they hear of
our arrival, than they all mounted their ponies and came
down to our camp, with their chief at their head, for the
purpose of having a talk. The chief with eight or ten war
riors, went up to the Major's tent, and smoked the pipe
of peace, etc. They were nearly starved. Having been
told by the lying traders that we would pitch into them
as well as the Cheyennes, they were afraid to go into the
buffalo country, and there being no game about Bent's
Fort, they had been living on roots for some time. They
begged hard for provisions, and the Major gave them a
beef or two. After dark I rode through their camp with
Lomax and the Doctor.

124 Life of Gen. Bayard.
" Since leaving the fort we have traversed a country,
almost barren, and with difficulty found grass for our
horses. " For the last three days we have been in sight of the
Rocky Mountains, Greenhorn, Ratan Mountains, and
Pike's Peak. The river, which below Bent's Fort is wide
and shallow, has now become deep and narrow, the
water clear and cool, and the banks precipitous. Al
though it is very hot on the march, in the afternoon we
have a fine breeze on getting into camp.
" We have been living on venison chiefly, of late. The
Doctor and I bought a cow from an emigrant train, so
that we have plenty of milk, and altogether live like
fighting cocks.
" The Cheyennes are up in the mountains placing their
women and children in safety before offering fight. They
are seventy-five miles from Bent's Fort."

-}

To his Father.
" Camp on Head Waters of Walnut Creek,
K. T, August ^d, 1857.
"We came up with the Cheyennes on the twenty-
ninth of July. There were between three and four hun
dred -of them drawn up in line waiting for us, and confi
dent of victory. Col. Sumner charged with the cavalry,
(the infantry were three miles behind,) and broke them
instantly. There were eight Indians killed, one taken
prisoner, and there is no telling how many were wounded.
We lost two men killed and five men wounded. When
within a mile of the Indians, Col. Sumner ordered me to
halt the artillery, of which he gave me command, and
wait for the infantry; so that I was not in the fight at all.

Fight with- Cheyennes. 125
Lieutenant Steuart, commanding my company, was
severely wounded. Had Sumner let me bring up my
battery and commence the action, I could have raked
them with canister, and he would have counted the killed
by tens instead of units. I only took command of the
artillery on the express condition that I was not to be
kept behind if there was a fight.
" We lay over the next day to take care of the wound
ed. Captain Foote was then ordered to throw up a
breast-work and remain with the wounded, and the rest
of the command pushed on after the Indians. Foote has
a hundred men. Steuart being wounded and left with
Foote, I resumed command of my company. On the
thirty-first of July, we commenced pursuit of the Indians,
and in the afternoon came up to their deserted camp,
consisting of about three hundred lodges, which we burnt,
and everything else belonging to them. We crossed the
Smoky Hill yesterday, and after a march of twenty miles
camped here.
" We shall continue to follow their trail, even if they
cross the Arkansas and go down into the Camanche
country. Now that I am in command of my company again,
I hope not to be cheated if we have a fight, by being kept
out of it." To his Father.
" Fort Kearney, Sept. 10th, 1857.
" Long before this reaches you, you will see from the
papers, that we are not to go to Utah, but will return to
Leavenworth. Though I should be very glad to go to Salt
Lake in the spring, I rejoice that we do not have to go
this fall, as we should certainly lose three-fourths of
our horses were we to go this season.

126 Life of Gen. Bayard.
" We had a pleasant march across the country, from
the Arkansas river. We left there on the sixth, camped
on the Smoky Hill river on the eighth, crossed the Grand
Sabine on the tenth, Solomon's Fork on the twelfth, on
the fourteenth the Little Blue, and struck the Kearney
and Leavenworth road. The next day we met Sacket
returning to Leavenworth from Kearney, who told us that
there were orders at Fort Kearney for us to proceed to
Leavenworth. Major Sedgwick halted thirty-two miles
from here, and sent quartermaster Wheaton to bring
down the train. As I felt some desire to see this fort, I
accompanied him.
" It was exactly a year since I left Philadelphia when
I arrived here. As a.mail leaves to-morrow, I write this
to send. I have not received a letter from home since
the sixteenth of May.
" I enjoyed my visit to Kearney very much, and had a
fine wolf hunt while there." To his Father.
" Camp near Richmond on the Nemeha, )
Oct. 3d, 1857. J
" The election comes off to-morrow for the Territorial
Legislature. I believe I am stationed here to see fair
play. But there was no necessity for that, as the Free-
State men won't vote. This place consists of three grog
shops and a blacksmith's shop, and you may therefore
infer that the inhabitants in the vicinity are a peculiarly
enlightened and intelligent set. Horse-stealing is one
of their manly pastimes, and making soldiers drunk the
prime article of their religious faith. There will not be
more than forty or fifty votes polled here.

Promptitude of Bayard. 127
" You ask me to give you my opinion of Colonel
Sumner, and Major Sedgwick. I like them both, but
of course am on more intimate terms with Sedgwick.
" Sumner is a good soldier, and shines as post com
mander as well as in the field. He is a brave man and
generally esteemed in military circles as a gallant gen
tleman. "Sedgwick or " old Sedge" as he is called, is an
universal favorite. He is an old bachelor of forty-five
or thereabouts, a gentleman in every respect, generous,
social, and excellent company. He is rather too easy in
command, and somewhat fidgety, but he knows his duty
and performs it well, and is a noble and gallant officer.
" Major Sedgwick left here on the thirtieth ult, with
the other three companies of his command. Beall with-
his company goes to Claytonville, in Brown county,
Stockton to Palermo, in Donaphan county, and Sturgis to
Atchison, the several companies to be under orders of
the U. S. Marshal or sheriffs or such other miserable
scamps as may be honored with a U. S. civil commission.
Acting posse comitatus for sheriffs, etc., is not at all rel
ished, though I suppose our services are necessary."
The following extract from a letter from Kansas which
appeared in one of the St. Louis papers, refers to an inci
dent not mentioned by Lieut. Bayard in any of his letters,
probably because he deemed it of no importance. But it
certainly shows with what energy and promptitude he per
formed his duty as an officer.
" The election went off quietly — there was no disturb
ance at any of the polls ; but on the night of that day
several soldiers belonging to Lieut. Bayard's company,
who were encamped near Richmond, the county seat of

128 Life of Gen. Bayard.
Nemeha county, were induced by some drunken abolition
ists to make an attack upon the residence of Mr. Cy.
Dolman, the Democratic Representative of that county,
and member of the Constitutional Convention. Some
nine of them broke in the doors and windows of Mr.
Dolman's house, and treated him and his clerk, Mr. Jo
seph A. Brown, of South Carolina, rather roughly, and it
is impossible to tell how far the outrage would have ex
tended, had not several Free-State men, who were per
sonal friends of Mr. Dolman, interposed. Mr. Dolman
sent a messenger to Lieut. Bayard, who had retired for
the night, but that young officer leaped from his bed and
ran all the way to Mr. Dolman's house and reached there
just as the now drunken soldiers were about to make an
other attack. He ordered them to desist, and upon their
failing to do so promptly, he struck two of them to the
earth with his sabre, when the balance at once submitted
and were marched to quarters. Lieut. Bayard deserves
great credit for his decisive action. Mr. Dolman and his
friends had armed themselves with revolvers, pitchforks
and axes, and had not Lieut. Bayard arrived and checked
his men just as he did, there would have been much blood
shed." To his Mother.
" Camp near Lecompton, )
Oct. 21st, 1857. J
" I arrived at Fort Leavenworth with my company on
the ninth, and on the twenty-first received orders to
march promptly to this delectable place. Governor Walk
er has been alarmed by some hostile demonstrations of
the contending parties, and wants the cavalry. My cap-

At Fort Riley. 129
tain, his nephew, has been acting as the Governor's aide,
with which I am well content.
" Fort Leavenworth, when I arrived there, I found
very much changed in appearance. I found troops
encamped all around it, and everywhere. I passed
officers I had never seen before ; orderlies were riding
about constantly in every direction, going and returning
from the different camps. In fact the fort now has all
the appearance of being the headquarters of a large
army." To his Sister.
"Fort Leavenworth, Nov. nth, 1857.
" Fort Riley is to be my post during winter, which
will be more pleasant than Leavenworth, which is much
crowded. Riley is built of stone, and has large and
commodious quarters. The detail has been modified by
substituting Mcintosh's company in place of Sturgis'.
This sends Lomax to Riley."
To his Father.
"Fort Riley, Dec. 1st, 1857.
" Lieutenant Long arrived from Leavenworth this
evening, bringing us quite a batch of news. He says the
information from Washington is that six new regiments
will be authorized by Congress, at the ensuing session.
" Of course, you will do all you can to secure my
appointment as captain in one of the new regiments. I
am known at the War Department, as a good officer.
Colonel Sumner and Major Emory will back the appli
cation for me — so will Major Sedgwick. With senator
Thomson's aid, and that of the N. J. members, there
can be no difficulty. But remember amounted regiment
6*

130 Life of Gen. Bayard.
is my preference, though I should not refuse to go into
the infantry as a captain, as I could subsequently, by
exchange, get transferred to the cavalry or dragoons.
" There is an order here from " headquarters of troops
serving in Kansas," for a detachment consisting of one
commissioned officer, one sergeant, and two corporals,
and twenty privates, to be furnished from the mounted
troops, as an escort for the mail for New Mexico. The
escort is to meet the mail at the Little Arkansas, and es
cort it to the crossing of the main Arkansas. It is then
to await the arrival of the mail from New Mexico, and
escort that as far as the Little Arkansas. These escorts
are furnished on the requisition of the mail contractor.
The mail goes twice a month, and as there are but seven
or eight officers here detailable we shall be kept pretty
busy. There will be three officers on the road going and
returning at one time, and we shall hardly get back before
we shall have to get ready for another trip. Long brought
the requisition, but also an order for the meeting of a
general court-martial on which I am detailed. I am
sorry for this, as my turn will now come the first week in
January in the depth of winter.
" Both my horses were used up in our expedition
last summer, and I have had to purchase another. I gave
one hundred and seventy-five dollars for him. He is a
first-rate animal and stood the Plains last summer admir
ably. He is well gaited and very fleet, and is the best
horse in the regiment."

CHAPTER X.
Life on the Plains in 1858. — Preparation for Expedition to Utah. —
March to Fort Laramie and Return. — Leave of Absence and
Visit to New Jersey. To his Father.
" Fort Riley, K. T, Feb. 1st, 1858.
T LEAVE for Arkansas with recruits, and will not
J. be back for three months or more.
" General Orders 1, 2, 3, 4 from headquarters of the
army, show considerable activity as to the Mormon war.
I think they indicate an early start, perhaps as early as
the first of April." To his Father.
" Fort Riley, Feb. 21st, 1858.
" I have nearly recovered from the sickness which
has prostrated me so long, and prevented my going to
Arkansas. " Col. Johnson is to be breveted Brigadier-general.
" The report is now, we are not to start before the
twentieth of May. I don't care much about going if we
start so late, as all *the fighting will be over, (if there is
any,) before we could possibly arrive. I am afraid the
government is disposed to back down. The grass will
be more forward this than last year."

132 Life of Gen. Bayard.
To his Father. -
" Fort Riley, May 23d, 1858.
" The latest intelligence from Utah is that which
announces the flight of Brigham Young, and the advance
of Col. Johnson. The death of Gen. Smith, will probably
cause some changes in our movements. I do not expect
to get off from here before the tenth of June. I am to
go with Major Sedgwick's column. Sedgwick, Walker,
Steuart and myself mess together. Major S. thinks we
will go to Utah. I do not think so."
To his Father.
" Camp thirty-five miles
from Fort Kearney,
June 6th, 1858.
" As I shall probably meet the mail to-morrow, I will
write to let you know that we are getting along on our
march pretty well, now that we have struck the Kearney
and Leavenworth road. We will reach Fort Kearney
day after to-morrow, and I will write from there.
"P. S. Fort Kearney, June 8th. — We made a
march of thirty-five miles yesterday, and came into this
fort to-day. We lay over to rest our horses and com
plete the assignment of our trains. One of the trains
has gone on, and one has not come up. But the Major
will proceed, as no escort is needed here.
" General Johnston's command commenced eating
their mules on the 20th of May. The troops at Lara
mie have also been out of their meat ration. You can
form no idea of the utter confusion on this road. Trains
are a month behind their time, and by strange and gross
mismanagement provisions, which are by far the most

Fort Laramie. 133

required, have been sent last, instead of going in the
foremost trains. The prospects of General Johnston
are at present rather gloomy. The Governor and Mar
shal of Utah were sent back to Camp Scott, rather Fort
Bridger, where Johnston now is. We expect to take
fifteen or sixteen days to Laramie, and then we will
have to await, I presume, the arrival of the trains for
Utah. The first one arrived here this morning, and will
not, I fear, reach Laramie for a month or six weeks.
" The Cheyennes are perfectly quiet this year, and
will give no trouble.
" Colonel Hoffman has been delayed on his way
above Laramie by rains and high streams. We hope he
has reached General Johnston before this. We take
twenty days' rations from this place."

rTE, \
MIE, >
3. )

To his Father.
" Camp on the North Platte,
two miles beyond Laramie,
June 28th, 1858.
"We reached Laramie on the twenty-fifth, having
marched thirty miles that day; there being no grass below
the fort. We passed three or four trading-posts during
the day, one of which is at Gratiot Point, six miles below
the fort, the scene of the Gratton massacre.
" The country about here is as bleak and desolate as
you can imagine, and it is only in the valleys and on the
borders of the streams that anything will grow, except
the sage plant, which for the most part covers the sand
hills. The houses at Fort Laramie are built, some of
adobe, and others of frame, without any particular order
of arrangement. It used to be a trading-post belonging

134 Life of Gen. Bayard.
to a Frenchman of that name, but was made a military
post in 1849, I believe. The latitude of the Fort is
42 " 10'. Gill, of the 4th Artillery, arrived here yesterday
from Bridger. He went out as quartermaster and com
missary. General Johnston was at Bear river getting
along very well ; everything was peaceable, with no pros
pect of a fight. We expect to reach Fort Bridger by the
first of August and by the 10th will probably be in Salt
Lake city. Most of the Mormons, it is said, have gene
south into some of the numerous valleys among the
mountains, but Gill says some of them have already be
gun to come back. There were seventy or eighty se
ceding Mormons here when we arrived ; they were on
their way to the States, and a more miserable set of
wretches I never beheld. Major Graham reports the
train we are to escort as two days behind. We shall not
start before the second of July."
To his Sister.
" Camp on La Presle Creek, seventy- )
five miles beyond Laramie, V
July 8th, 1858. )
" Here in this beautiful valley of the Black Hills, I
will while away the evening by renewing converse with
the loved ones far away in their quiet home, until twelve
o'clock, when I must visit my guard, and then to the
realms of Queen Mab when in dreams I will revisit it.
" We left our camp near Laramie on the fifth and
camped that night again on the Platte. Our road during
the day passed through a rough and hilly country. We
have been going over the Black-hill spur of the Rocky
Mountains. We will probably be three days more in

Correspondence. 135

reaching the Platte bridge, being detained by these ox-
teams, which get along slowly, making scarcely fifteen
miles a day. It is an absurdity, making cavalry escort
ox-teams. However, it is -only on a par with the man
agement of the whole expedition.
"I am afraid that these, trains will detain us so long
upon the road that we shall hardly get into Salt Lake
city as early as I expected."
" Camp at Willow Springs, thirty-
three miles above Platte bridge,
July 14th, 1858.
" Owing to the mail taking the hill road between
La Presle and Box-elder while we took the lower one,
I failed to get my letters in it ; so that several weeks
will elapse before you receive this.
" We camped that night on the Box-elder, a fine stream
of the same character as La Presle — water clear, cool
and sparkling. We were visited that night with a. tre
mendous hail storm, which came near stampeding our
horses. About thirty broke loose, more would have done
so, but the ground was very hard ; so that the picket pin
could not be drawn out very easily ; we soon caught the
loose horses." To his Mother.
" Camp on North Platte, '
five miles above Ash Hollow,
August 2d, 1858.
" We have got thus far on the back track. I always
had a presentiment that we should never go to Utah.
" We left Fort Laramie on our return, on the thirtieth
ult, and will probably reach Kearney on the fifteenth
of this month, and Riley, (unless stopped by orders) by

136 Life of Gen. Bayard.
the twenty-eighth or twenty-ninth. I hope as you saw
the orders in the papers for our return, that I shall find
plenty of letters awaiting my arrival. I am anxious to
hear from you all, as I have not heard since the nine
teenth of June. We are all glad of the countermarch,
for all accounts we receive describe Utah as the most
miserable place on the face of the earth, and the people
there the most wretched. I received a letter from Dr.
Corey dated " Camp Floyd, Cedar Valley, July twenty-
second." He is very much disgusted.
" The government have made more than a failure.
They have acceded virtually, to every demand made by
the Mormons. The troops are removed far from the
towns, while the civil officers are in fact powerless, Brig
ham remaining as omnipotent as ever.
" The administration has disgraced itself and acted
most culpably. After making immense contracts for all
sorts of supplies, and after a great display and flourish
of trumpets, they have backed down from every position
they assumed. Of what use are our judges there ? The
juries are Mormon and will convict no one without the
permission of Brigham. Our Governor is a mere figure
head, while Brigham's word is respected as gospel. This
is the ridiculous conclusion of the great expedition to
conquer the Mormons !
" By the time we reach Fort Riley, the summer will
be over, and nothing will have been accomplished. We
have had a tedious march to Laramie, and will have
as tedious a march back again, and that is the whole
story. "If our illustrious masters at Washington, knew in
what estimation their wisdom is held in the army, they

Home on Furlough.

137

would, doubtless, feel a little indignant, but not more so
than we are, on account of their blundering."
Lieutenant Bayard returned as he expected to Fort
Riley about the first of September, and soon after ob
tained leave of absence, and returned home. The most
of his time during the fall of 1858, and the two first
months of 1859, was passed at his father's residence near
Woodbury, New Jersey.

CHAPTER XL
Life on the Plains in 1859.— Buffalo Hunting .— The Frog-man —
His Oration i,th July. — Conference with Chiefs of Kiowas
and Camanche.i. — Encounter with a Buffalo.— Kills Pawnee. —
Captain Walker's Official Report. — Hunt with Grantley Berke
ley. — Mr. Berkeley's Letters.
LIEUTENANT BAYARD returned to Fort Riley
early in the spring of 1859, after the expiration of
his leave of absence, and remained there until his com
pany was ordered on an expedition to the Arkansas, to
punish the Kiowas for numerous atrocities.

To his Sister.
" Fort Riley, April ijtk, 1859.
" My translation from the pleasures of home and the
attractions of civilization has been completed ; and again
I experience the rough privations of a western post, and
the wild winds of the prairie : and speaking of the winds
of the prairie, I have never known them excelled in fe
rocity but once, and that was on the occasion when we
ascended the steeple of Trinity. On that day we had a
prairie blow fresh from Riley. I am confident it came
in a direct current from the Smoky Hill above here,
and where I am inclined to believe King Eolus holds
his court and reigns supreme.
" Our band is now in front of our quarters, discoursing

Life on the Plains. 139
sweet strains as I write. This is an addition to the post,
and a most delightful one too ; and quite proud are we
of our new band. They have scarcely been together as
yet more than a couple of months, and are already in
excellent accord. They are most of them fine musicians,
and in time we will have one of the finest bands in service.
" But I began this letter with the view of giving you
a superficial sketch of my travels away from home and its
precious inmates, to the distant and transient abode to
which duty has assigned me.
"I left New York in the eight o'clock train Monday
morning. That Fidus Achates, vulgarly known as Lomax,
came out missing, nor has he thus far deemed it of suffi
cient importance to apologize for keeping me kicking my
heels round, waiting for him to put in an appearance.
" But like the most amiable and forgiving of men, I
stand ready to grant him mercy as soon as he can find
time to ask my pardon. As things stand at present, I
tend strongly towards the skepticism of Mr. Stevens,
(whom I promised I would bring the vagrant to Castle
Point,) as to the actual existence of any such person.
That in some past age, far back among the darkening
shadows of antiquity, there may have existed some such
being endowed with human faculties and mortal attributes,
I will not pretend to gainsay. But this is a myth, or a
mythological fiction ; but that there is any such creature
at the present da}', I am beginning to think, admits of
prodigious doubt.
" Alone, therefore — " rapt in the solitude of my own
originality " — I turned my back to the Babylon of Amer
ica, in which and its vicinity I had, during the winter
just past, enjoyed many agreeable hours and made many

140 Life of Gen. Bayard.
agreeable acquaintances — and I hope kind friends. As
I rolled away from the Lelands' Metropolitan, I cast
one ' long and lingering glance ' upon the Palaces of the
Merchant Princes ; and as we went ' pouring forward
with impetuous speed ' down Broadway — that marble
avenue of fashion, luxury, and wealth, — many a familiar
edifice brought to mind our sojourn at Hoboken, and our
excursions thence to Christy's — Dusseldorf, — Goupil's,
etc., and then the tapering spire of Trinity, all and each
brought back vividly to mind the pleasant hours, and
pleasant friends, with whom we often passed so joyously
the fleeting day. And as I receded from the Island City,
one of the last objects on the Jersey shore upon which my
eyes reposed was Castle Point, with its bold front pro
jecting far out and looking down in proud security on
the dark waters which recoil from its solid base. And
then from its summit, Mr. Stevens' hospitable home, con
fronting majestically, in rural quiet, the clamorous roar
ings of the Commercial Emporium. Before leaving New
York, I bought Bulwer's new novel, ' What will he do
with it ? ' — which I soon finished. I could not have made
a more agreeable selection of a travelling companion.
With that in my hand I could not think myself alone, for
did I not admire and revere the noble character, the splen
did talents, and generous impulses of Guy Darrell? Did
I not love the sweet face of Sophy, and admire and adore
that noble woman, Caroline Monfort, pity and admire
the sweet simplicity, the noble generous devoted love and
manful struggles against adversity, of poor Waife — noble
' gentleman Waife ? ' We reached Albany in time for
dinner at the Delavan, a hotel worthy of the Knicker
bockers. We were waited on by bright rosy-cheeked

Return to Fort Riley. 141

damsels, all dressed in a uniform pattern of striped
dresses. " At three o'clock, I renewed my rushing 'progress west
ward. We crossed the suspension bridge long after dark,
and it was so dark, I could not get a glimpse of the
Falls — -the thunder of which was, however, somewhat
audible. We reached Detroit about three o'clock the
next afternoon, and I gladly greeted the green waters of
the river of the lakes, for I was wearied and tired of the
cramped monotony of the cars, and sighed for a day of
rest. I brought up at the Russell House, where Poe and
other officers stationed in that city, board. I spent that
evening with Mrs. B — and her charming daughters,
whose society so embellished Leavenworth. They were
all delighted to see me, and to talk of old times in
Kansas. They all live with Judge W., Mrs. B.'s father.
I dined with them the next day, drove out' with the girls
in the afternoon, and again passed the evening with
them, beating Miss B. at chess. The following morning
called again and bid them an affectionate adieu.
" While in Detroit, I saw a great deal of Poe, and
introduced him to my friends the B.'s.
" I left that afternoon for St. Louis, where I arrived
about four a. m. on Saturday, and immediately retired,
pretty well inclined for a good sleep. I did not have
long to rest, for Colburn, seeing my name on the hotel
register, roused me up soon after eight o'clock, after
which, you may well imagine, there was no more sleep for
me ; for each had a great many questions to propound to
the other on army matters, and next summer's campaign
on the Plains, etc., etc. And now since you are informed
of my safe arrival in St. Louis, I may bring this long

142 Life of Gen. Bayard.
epistle to a close, and defer the further narrative of my
travels to some future time." " Fort Riley, May 2gth, 1859.
" This day a year ago we left this fort, en route for
Utah, little expecting ever to see it again. But three
months had hardly elapsed before we were back again.
Such is the uncertainty of one's movements while in the
army. This year we are going out, expecting not to
return before October, and we may not do so at all. But
go where we may, we will scarcely find an equal to this
as regards quarters. I think them superior to those at
West Point Riley has no other attractions, and I should
leave it therefore with but little regret.
" Prairie Dog Creek, where my company goes before
proceeding to the Arkansas, is about two hundred and
fifty miles west or northwest from this post. I fear we
will have to wait there a month or six weeks before any
of the companies from Laramie will reach their desti
nation. My duties as quartermaster and commissary will
interfere somewhat with my hunting, but not very materi
ally. " Major Sedgwick about three weeks ago left on a six
months' leave, and I regret that he will not be with us.
Taylor, Willie and I have these big quarters all to our
selves, and are living in a quiet and domestic way.
" I cannot say when we will get off, but certainly not
before the 20th of June.
" We have just heard of Van Dorn's fight in Texas.
Fitz. Lee was wounded ! of course he would be, if being
foremost in the fight were any warrant. Only think, while
the Second Cavalry are having these fights, we literally

Buffalo Hunting. 143
do nothing, unless it is aid and feed the infernal Indians,
whenever they come north of the Arkansas.
" It is easy to say 'patience ! and your time will come
next,' but very disgusting and mortifying, to be in the
situation we now occupy. We have but two chances, one
is, we may be ordered south of the Arkansas, and the
other is, the Cheyennes may molest some of the emigrants,
and we be compelled to chastise them. Should such be
the case, you may be assured we will do it, if there is
virtue in spurs and horseflesh." To his Sister.
" Camp on Arkansas River, >
June 1st, 1859. j
" I wrote from Council Grove when we lay over there.
We reached the river this evening, being our fifteenth
day out from the fort. We are now about two hundred
and fifty miles from the fort, and will in a few days enter
the Cheyenne country, but there is little chance of our
meeting any of that tribe. We will, however, in a day or
two, reach the camp of some three or four hundred
Arrapahoes and Camanches who are friendly, and on a
buffalo hunt, it is said, near Pawnee Fork.
" Of this sport for the last three or four days, we have
had as much as our hearts could desire. The first day
I killed three, yesterday one, and to-day two. You would
hardly believe me were I to tell you what immense herds
of them are almost continually in sight. The hills some
five or ten miles from the road are black with them.
Our Delawares generally ride round them down towards
the road, when we pitch into the herd, single out a young,
fat animal, run it as near the road as possible and shoot

144 Life of Gen. Bayard.
it, take the tongue and a rib or two, and sometimes the
skin. My horse Sam is an excellent horse for chasing
them, and seems to enjoy the sport as well as I do, and
does not take fright however near I push him to the
shaggy beast.
" This sort of hunting is very exciting, especially to
those who have not practiced it. Nor is the pleasure
diminished by the danger there is from the buffalo, when
wounded or closely pressed, turning on the horse, and
rending him in pieces before he can get out of the way.
One turned on me the other day and did not miss my
horse's flank three inches ; nothing but the spring he made
when I touched him with the spur saved him.
"But before we reached the buffalo country, we lived
on antelope for several days. The Delawares killed eight
or ten ; but they are so very wild and fleet that none of
us pretend to hunt them. We saw a great many of them
on the hills at a distance, and they looked very pretty
indeed as they strolled off on getting sight of the column.
"We still travel on the Santa Fe road and will con
tinue to do so for some time. A portion of our train
starts back to the fort to-morrow, by which I send this."

To his Father.
" Camp Van Dorn, July 5th, 1859.
" Here we are more than two hundred miles from
Riley. We shall probably not get off for the Arkansas
before the twentieth of next month. We are in a good
country for game, and shall enjoy ourselves much.
" Walker will send in an expressman for various of
ficial reasons, which I need not detail. He will return

The Old Frog Man. 145

in about two weeks, and bring us our missives of love and
friendship from the States.
" Yesterday the glorious fourth was celebrated in the
most approved style. Scarcely had the " powerful king
of day " peeped over the distant hills, when the stars and
the stripes were gracefully floating over Camp Van Dorn
and its busy garrison. At ten o'clock the oration was
pronounced by the orator of the day, the Hon. Mr. Wes
son, of Ohio, of whom a short account may not be unin
teresting. " A short time previous to our leaving Riley there
made his appearance there a very dilapidated individual
of a very uncertain age, the collapsed state of whose
finances was sufficiently apparent from his seedy appear
ance and the novel occupation to which he devoted him
self for a living. He, like many others of a similar mi
gratory disposition, had started for the new El Dorado,
not so much, as he afterward informed me, for the purpose
of digging in the mines, as to see the country and enjoy
a change of scene. The news, however, which he heard
at Riley of disappointment and starvation in the mines,
completely staggered him, in short (as Micawber would
say) he determined to 'mark time' awhile at Riley. His
sole worldly goods, however, consisted (over and above
the clothes on his back) of a very long, prodigiously an
cient single-barrelled shotgun, which, like its indefatigable
bearer, gave unmistakable signs of having weathered
many a storm. By this gun he set great store, and with
it he supported himself. He one day brought in a fine
mess of frogs, which found such a ready sale that thence
forward he daily made his appearance with a long string
of frogs dangling in his hand.
7

146 Life of Gen. Bayard.
" The old fellow's quite respectable deportment, his
good language, singular occupation, and blithe good
nature, soon made him a general favorite, while the choice,
epicurean delicacies which he vended, caused all the
caterers for messes to watch his diurnal motions with in
tense anxiety. To supply their wants, he used to rise
with the sun, and sometimes devote the whole day. in
pursuit of his amphibious game, often up to his waist in
water for hours. Such was Wesson's life, previous to our
departure from Riley. A few days before we left, he
applied to Captain Walker for employment. He wanted
to be employed as hunter and guide, which modest re
quest the captain declined, Wesson never having been on
the Plains. Finally he begged to be permitted to go
along with the command in any capacity whatever, and
all he would ask was his daily rations. The old fellow
(he was and is to this day known at the fort, and among
the men as the 'Frog man') appealed most earnestly
to Walker, who finally at the instance of Beall and myself
let him go.
" He has proved to us a fruitful source of interest
and amusement, and Beall declares that he would not
be at all surprised if he should turn out some great man
in disguise. " To see the old fellow trudging along the road, with
that long gun of his swung over his shoulder, wearing a
shocking bad hat, and a long pointed beard of tawny
hue, was an amusing sight. You could plainly read that
Dame Fortune had favored him with more kicks than
coppers. Yet, I have never seen him in any but a good
humor, with a cheerful smile and a kindly word for all
who addressed him. Having announced among his other

Wesson's Oration, July 4.I/1. 147
accomplishments that he was a fine cook, a mess of
teamsters secured the aid of his invaluable services.
Thus cooking in camp and hunting along the road, Wes
son arrived at Prairie Dog Creek. And there he divulged
a portion of his antecedent career. We had already
learned from him that he had spent some years of varied
life in California, that his father was a farmer of proper
ty and respectability in Ohio, and his conversation left
no need of his assurance that he had received a liberal
education. It was only after our arrival in this camp,
that while he was in our tent talking with Beall and
myself, he incidentally mentioned his having been at Yale
College. Upon questioning more fully, we ascertained
that he was a graduate of Yale College. He was, he
says, suspended one year, so that it took him five years
to get through ; after which he spent one year at the
Law School there.
" The oration which he delivered was prepared in a
single evening, for it was only on the third that it occurred
to some of us to ask him to deliver it. It is a creditable
effort, appropriate, neat and marked throughout by sound
good sense. There was no attempt by the orator at fine
writing or flourish, and on such a hackneyed subject was
really original, varied with apt allusions, and quite inter
esting. We are going to send it to Riley for publication
in the Junction Sentinel, and I shall direct the editor to
send you a copy." To his Sister.
" Camp Van Dorn, Prairie Dog Creek, )
July 24th, 1859. )
" Wesson the incomparable who rode our late express

148 Life of Gen. Bayard.
to Riley, brought me many remembrances from " sweet
home," and friends elsewhere.
" Walker says he will send in another express in a
few days, so I hasten to cancel some of my epistolary
debts. " Walker is going on leave as soon as we return, and
I shall again be in command of my company. Lieut.
Beall and I get along most harmoniously, and as he is a
good hunter we have had much sport chasing and killing
buffaloes, and now and then an antelope and elk. We
made a short excursion to Solomon's Fork, but did not
have much luck, three buffaloes, two elks, and an ante
lope, being the sum total of game slaughtered. A few
days before Beall, and I went over to Solomon's Fork (on
which trip we were absent four days, and marched a hun
dred miles). Captain Walker and myself were down the
creek some ten miles below camp ; I had been in pursuit
of some antelope among the hills, and had just rejoined
Walker, when we were suddenly surrounded by twenty-
five Indians. It was a complete surprise. I had been
watching for them all day. Though apparently friendly,
Walker and I felt no disposition to trust them ; but de-
riyed all our confidence from the fact of our each being
armed with a couple of revolvers, while I had in addition a
double barrelled gun loaded with wire cartridges of buck
shot. After rather hasty salutations, we informed them
that we could not wait for any prolonged talk, but would
be glad to see them at camp, where we . were compelled
to go without delay. Whereupon we made our retreat
in the most masterly manner, and extricated ourselves
from very disagreeable company considering our relative
numbers. They afterwards came to our camp and proved

The Frog Man. 149

to be a party of Arrapahoes. They were all powerful,
athletic men. They informed us that the Cheyennes to
the number of some hundred are on the Republican near
the mouth of this creek. These Indians are all we have
yet seen. Both of these tribes are somewhere in our
vicinity, and are very suspicious of our intentions, and
therefore steer entirely clear of us.
" Wesson, our expressman and orator, was two days
behind his time on returning and we became quite un
easy about him. On the morning of the third day of his
stay beyond his time I started with twelve men, to go in
search of him, fully prepared to ' wipe ouf any squad of
Indians, in case I should find his " ghastly remains" by
the roadside. Thus breathing war and vengeance, I left
Camp Van Dorn intending to march fifty miles a day un
til I found some trace of our stray genius, which would
have taken us to Riley in four days. I left here on the
morning of the twenty-first, and marched twenty-five miles
by about one o'clock, when I halted at an elm grove and
spring to rest my horses and pass the heat of the day, in
tending to make the other half of my day's march in the
cool of the evening. Saddling up about five o'clock I re
sumed my march, but had scarcely risen the crest of the
hill when I saw a man mounted on a white mule descend
ing the opposite ridge. I bore down on him at an open
gallop, and soon discovered to my delight the never-to-be-
mistaken lineaments of Wesson, the ' frog man.' I im
mediately turned down to the grove and went into camp.
It was therefore at elm grove and stretched beneath its
refreshing shade that I perused the numerous letters from
home and kind friends, brought from Riley.
"You will thus perceive that although we are in a

150 Life of Gen. Bayard.
stationary camp, I still keep moving about the countr}'
quite actively. Nor do we always have to seek excite
ment so far off.
" Every day or two buffaloes come in sight of camp,
when sending for my favorite horse Jerry, I am soon en
joying all the excitement of a buffalo chase. There is
just danger enough in this sport to make it in the high
est degree pleasant. A man belonging to a train that
passed here some time ago <?/z route for Pike's Peak, was
horribly mangled by a buffalo he had wounded. Some
people think fool-hardiness, courage, but do not discover
their mistake until it is too late."
To his Father.
" Camp Sumner, Arkansas River, seven miles
below Old Fort Atkinson,
August 21st, 1859.
" I have at last, with my company, reached the Ar
kansas, and joined the other three companies of my regi
ment. " " On the eighth of August we turned our faces south
ward, bidding good-by to Camp Van Dorn, round which
will cluster many happy reminiscences.
"We had a very pleasant march across the country,
reaching this river on the nineteenth, and camped three
and a half miles below Fort Atkinson. Beall and myself
came to the fort in the afternoon, and Walker and the
command next morning. They were all glad to see us.
I received a number of letters, two from you. As to the
detail for cavalry -instructor, Sedgwick will obtain it for
me if possible. But I think now I had better wait a year
or two before going to West Point. I read the letter of

The Kiowas and Camanches. 151
B., and it is about what might have been expected. The
letters from Senators W., T., D., and J., are all that I
could wish. Sedgwick, under date of August third, writes
that Hardee * will certainly recommend my detail if there
is a vacancy in any of the three instructorships which I
would accept.
" We shall get back to Riley towards the last of Sep
tember. " To his Sister.
" Camp on. Low Creek, one hundred and '
twenty miles from fort rlley,
September 20th, 1859.
" We arrived at Walnut creek on the eighteenth and
there met Satanke, the war chief of the Kiowas, and Buf
falo-Hump, the chief of the band of Camanches with which
Van Dorn has had two fights in Texas. We had a long
talk, in which Satanke promised that his tribe would
preserve peace with all white men, and Buffalo Hump
promised to return to Texas, and make peace. Both
these chiefs are remarkably fine-looking men. Buffalo
Hump has a pleasant face, with a kind and generous ex
pression. Satanke, on the contrary, has a cruel, severe
expression of countenance, though his features are fine.
I should not like to have my life dependent on his mercy.
" We passed to-day through vast herds of buffalo, of
which we killed about thirty. I contented myself with
slaughtering three, though I could have killed a dozen,
but I did not wish to exhaust my horses, as 1 want to use
them to-morrow, when I will write further."
* Commandant at West Point in 1859, afterward Lieut-general
in Confederate service.

152 Life of Gen. Bayard.
"Camp on Walnut Creek, )
Sept. 22d, 1859. j
" How often are we reminded of the uncertainty of
everything in this life, and that to-day we know not what
the morrow will bring forth. The last two days have
been eventful and momentous days for me — one distin
guished by the peril of my own life, and the other, by
my being compelled to take the life of an Indian, in the
performance of military duty.
" Yesterday the 2 ist, several parties were organized
to go after buffaloes. Most of them were very successful,
and more than forty buffaloes were killed during the day.
Among the other parties which went out was my own,
consisting of first sergeant Byrnes, two corporals and one
private, all from my own company. After going about
five miles, sergeant Byrnes and I dashed after some
buffaloes and had quite a spirited chase. I had wounded
mine very badly, and spurred my horse close up
along side, in order to give him the death shot, but he
turned suddenly on my horse before I could fire, and
charged down at us. My horse shied, made a false step
and fell. I was obliged to let him go, or the buffalo
would have killed him. He sprang up quickly and ran
off, leaving me standing face to face, with the buffalo,
within five or six yards of me. I stood pistol in hand,
ready to fire on him should he advance : but I had no
hope of killing him ; and I began to think my last hour
had come. Never did the sky look so blue, or the grass
so green as they did then. Thoughts of home, and an
inglorious fate, rushed through my brain with untold
velocity. I dare not run, for I knew he would then be
upon me instantly. The only safe course, I felt instinct-

Encounter with a Buffalo. 153
ively, was to confront him with a steady gaze. He
glared on me intensely for a few seconds, more or less,
then shook his head and slowly turning, went off at a
sullen walk. Never was a man more relieved than I felt.
It was like returning from death to life. You who have
never seen a wild buffalo in all his terrible and ferocious
aspect cannot fully appreciate the perilous danger of such
an encounter. Had the buffalo charged me, most prob
ably he would have killed me instantly. I think if I
had moved a step he would have charged. I attribute
my escape to my motionless attitude and steady look at
him. As soon as I breathed more freely, I began to
think of my horse which was following off one of the
buffaloes. Sergeant Byrnes' attention I could not attract,
as he was several hundred yards off shooting at his buf
faloes. Fortunately some of my other men saw what had
happened, and galloped up to where I was ; one of them
dismounted and I sprang on his horse.
" By this time, however, my horse was more than a
mile off and out of sight. We searched the country in
every direction for fifteen or sixteen miles, but could find
no trace of him. We rode all through large herds of
buffalo looking for him, but in vain. Finally after trav
elling about twenty-five miles, we returned to camp with
but one hope left, viz., that perhaps he might have
returned there. I need not tell you how rejoiced I was
on getting into camp to learn .that he had found his way
back. In the meantime, however, coming as he did with
the saddle torn and his side bloody from a cut with the
spur when he fell, great fears were entertained for my
safety. Parties of officers and men at once went out in
scout for me. But my men were soon met by them, from
7*

154 Life of Gen. Bayard.
whom they learned that I was safe, and they all got in
again soon after my return.
Sept. 23d. — " I was so tired last night I could not con
clude my letter, and Mclntyre leaves with the mail in a
few minutes, so I can say but a few words now. We left
Cow Creek at one o'clock in the morning the night be
fore last in consequence of intelligence from the ranche
of Rickman and Flournoy, that the Kiowas had committed
some outrage there, and threatened further hostile depre
dations. We arrived at half past six, a. m., and took one
of the offenders prisoner. His name was Pawnee, and
was the brother of Tehorsen, head chief of the Kiowas.
He was placed in my charge, and endeavored to escape.
I pursued him and repeatedly offered him his life if he
would stop, but he would not and I was obliged to kill
him. We went up the creek to-day where the camp of
the Kiowas was, but they had gone. We were much dis
appointed, as we expected a fight. We got back in the
afternoon at four, having marched thirty miles. I will
give you as soon as I reach Riley a further account of
these events.
" P. S. — I have Pawnee's pony. 'Tis a fine beautiful
animal, an iron grey. We have to make very long march
es now to get into Riley, as our rations expire on the
second of October." To his Father.
" Camp on Little Arkansas, |
September 26th, 1859. )
"I wrote hastily the other day and must do so now ;
but as I shall be at Riley in a few days, will defer a more
elaborate detail of recent events.
" My conduct in shooting that prisoner when he at-

Shoots an Indian Prisoner. 155

tempted to escape, has been fully endorsed by both Cap
tain Walker and Captain De Saussure in their official re
ports, besides meeting the unqualified approval of all the
officers who saw the affair and indeed of all belonging to
the command.
" I repeatedly offered him his life, and the first shot I
fired over his head. I then dashed past him and reined
up my horse in front of him, but he dodged to the left
and kept on. I then shot him, as a last resort, the ball
entering his back, passing through the heart and coming
out of the breast, and yet he rode on two hundred yards
.before he fell. I fired another shot at his head but
missed. He was dead within half a minute after he fell.
He was the brother of Tehorsen, the head chief of the
Kiowas. " Otis after this was detailed to escort the Santa Fe
mail as far as Pawnee Fork. Last night an expressman
rode in from him, stating that after the mail left him and
when five miles beyond, it was attacked by a party of fif
teen or sixteen Indians, and two of the party were killed
and the third badly wounded, who escaped by jumping
out behind the wagon and hiding in the long grass,
where they could not find him. A party of Pike's Peakers
coming along the next morning found him and carried
him into Otis's camp. Otis joins us again to-morrow
and Long goes back with forty men on the road for its
protection. " We will undoubtedly have to escort the mail next
winter and most probably will be stationed at Walnut
Creek." The following official report from Captain Walker re
specting the shooting of Pawnee by Lieut. Bayard has

156 Life of Gen. Bayard.
been kindly furnished by Gen. E. D. Townsend, Adju
tant-general of U. S., from his office, for use in this
memoir.
" Camp in Field on Walnut Creek, )
Sept. 2$d, 1859. {
" Capt. W. D. De Saussure Comd 'g fourth and fifth squad
rons First Cavalry.
" Sir : — I have the honor to report that in compliance
with your orders, I started on the march with a squadron
of the First Cavalry (Co's. G and K) on the morning of
the twenty-first inst, to Alison's ranche, the scene of the
difficulty related in Major Donaldson's letter, where. I
arrived at half past six, a. m. My instructions were to
furnish an escort to Major Donaldson to Pawnee Fork,
and take such measures in regard to the outrage as I
might find the result of an investigation required. I
found a letter from Major Donaldson stating that he had
started early in the morning on his way to New Mexico,
and would not require an escort. On inquiry I ascer
tained that two sub-chiefs of the Kiowas, Pawnee, the
reported brother of Tehorsen, head chief of the tribe, and
Satanke, both under the influence of liquor, the latter
slightly, went to the ranche occupied by Messrs. Rick-
man and Flournoy, and demanded a quantity of goods
from them. Upon refusal they became angry, and Sa
tanke went out, filled his mouth with blood and spit in
Rickman's face. He then twice endeavored to stab him
with his knife. Rickman with difficulty and with the
assistance of Flournoy avoided his blows. Rickman
then got a revolver to defend himself, upon which both
the Indians drew their arrows to the head and aimed at
him but were afraid to shoot. Satanke then climbed to

Official Report of the Shooting. 157

the top of the house and commenced tearing off the roof;
they finally went outside and endeavored to shoot into
the house, and after awhile left, threatening to return and
demolish it.
" This occurred about two p. m., on the twenty-first
inst. Upon my arrival I found Pawnee near the house,
and that Capt. Steuart, who with lieutenants Beall and
Otis had arrived in advance of the column, had ordered
him to remain. He had mounted his horse on some pre
tence when I ordered him to dismount and go intp the
store. It was my intention to visit the Kiowa camp to
make a full investigation of the affair, and require such
satisfaction as I thought the circumstances justified. No
violence was offered or intended to Pawnee, who was then
perfectly sober, nor did I put a guard over him till he
ran to a room in the rear of the house where there were
several loaded shot guns. I immediately followed him,
called him back and put a sentinel over him. He after
wards attempted to leap the counter of the store to get
his bow and arrows. I thought it necessary to detain
Pawnee as one of the perpetrators of the outrage, and
also to prevent him from reporting our arrival to the Kio
was, and thus enable them to prepare themselves to re
ceive us, should the fears of their hostile intentions ex
pressed in Major Donaldson's letter be confirmed. I
therefore ordered Lieut. Bayard, acting Adjutant of the
detachment, to take charge of him with a proper guard.
The command had been dismounted about a hundred
yards from the store, and before the sentinel could return
with his horse Pawnee mounted and made his escape,
Lieut. Bayard ordered him to stop, and went in pursuit
calling out Pawnee ! stop ! friend ! friend ! which he under-

158 Life of Gen. Bayard.
stood, as he had been a good deal with the whites as a
spy. After a chase of half a mile he overtook him and ran
in front of him. The Indian doubled upon him and rode
on. Lieut Bayard then fired his pistol over his head.
Having thus exhausted all peaceful means to stop him,
he was obliged to shoot him to prevent his escape. He
died within ten minutes after he was shot The whole tribe
was reported to be assembled within fifteen miles, and a
large band of Camanches were encamped in their neigh
borhood. They were known to be already exasperated at
the refusal of the government to supply them with the
usual presents. I believed that in this juncture the pres
ence of the commanding officer of the expedition who
was fully informed of the instructions of the government,
was advisable either for negotiation or war, in the
entire force at his command. I sent therefore by express
a brief report of the facts to you, and encamped near
the ranche for its defence, awaiting further orders. I
make this detailed statement as necessary to a full
understanding of events that may materially affect our
relations with the Kiowas.
"Very respectfully your obedient servant,
"W. S. Walker,
" Capt. First Cavalry Cojiid^g Squadron."
From Lieutenant Bayard's letter of the 29th of
September, it appears that the Kiowas immediately com
menced hostile operations, attacking the Sante Fe mail-
carriers and killing two of them. In i860, as will be
seen hereafter, they took the war path and in such force,
that an expedition had to be sent against them for the
purpose of giving them an effective chastisement.

Hon. Grant ley F. Berkely. 159

Soon after Lieutenant Bayard's return to Riley with
his company, the Hon. Grantley F. Berkeley, a member
of the British Parliament and a celebrated sportsman,
arrived. His visit to the United States was for the pur
pose of enjoying a buffalo-hunt He brought letters to
officers in command of Leavenworth, and was received
with that hospitality and urbanity for which the American
officer is distinguished. Letters were given him to offi
cers at Riley, and they were ordered to extend every
proper attention to the noble stranger. Accordingly,
after resting and refreshing himself in the ample and
commodious quarters at Riley, two officers, Major Martin
and Lieutenant Bayard, having eight days' leave of
absence and a suitable guard, were detailed to accom
pany Mr. Berkeley on the Plains. Major Martin having
lost an arm in the Mexican war, was not capable of tak
ing much part in the proposed hunt, and it therefore fell
to Lieutenant Bayard to accompany personally the
English sportsman, and give him every opportunity which
could be afforded to enjoy the exciting and often dan
gerous amusement of chasing and shooting buffaloes.
To the monthly English paper devoted to sporting
subjects, " The Field," Mr. Berkeley, while in the United
States, forwarded several letters giving an account of his
delightful pastime with Lieutenant Bayard. But in a
more elaborate work * entitled the " English Sportsman in
* Mr. Berkeley forwarded a copy of his book to General Bayard's
father, and on one of the blank leaves wrote as folldws :
" This book is presented by the author to the father of the late
General Bayard as a mark of the sincere friendship and regard he
felt for his son — as gallant a soldier and as true a gentleman as ever
lived, his loss by the author now so deeply deplored.
Grantley F. Berkeley."

160 Life of Gen. Bayard.
America," he gave in detail a more full account of their
hunting expedition. It is handsomely got up and embel-'
lished with many engravings, several of which display the
personal encounters of the sportsmen with their gigantic
game. Mr. Berkeley seemed much pleased with his escort,
Major Martin and Lieutenant Bayard, and especially
refers to their abstinence from tobacco and whiskey as
very agreeable to him.
In preparing this memoir, Mr. Berkeley was applied
to for copies of letters to him from Lieut. Bayard. The
following was his reply to the application.
" Alderney Manor, Poole, Dorset, |
April 2$th, 1873. j
" Dear Sir : — I do remember sub-Lieutenant Bay
ard. He was at that rank when I met him at Fort Riley,
and I have never ceased to regret his gallant, but unfor
tunate death. In hunting together on the Plains we be
came sincere friends. A better rider, a better shot, or a
more high-minded and graceful soldier and gentleman I
never knew.
" We were to have corresponded, and he promised to
tell me of the war against the Indians ; but, as you know,
he was severely wounded in the cheek by an arrow, which
could not be cured till they got him to St. Louis, and from
the time I left the United States until his gallant death I
never heard from him, * so it is not in my power to com
ply with your request. On my return to England I wrote
* This is evidently a mistake, as Mr. Berkeley in his letter (which
we give) May 9th, 1861, acknowledges the receipt of a letter from
Lieut. Bayard.

Correspondence. 161

and published from letters which had appeared in the
Field, a more elaborate work, called " The English Sports
man in America." It is, I believe, very nearly out of
print ; but if I can get a copy, it would give me great
pleasure to send it to you, if only to prove to you the
high estimation in which I held your son.
" If you will tell me the best way to send the book to
you, and if you would like to have it, I will then pay im
mediate attention to the matter.
" Yours very faithfully,
"Grantley F. Berkeley."
"To Samuel J. Bayard, Esq.''
To his Sister.
" Eort Riley, Oct. 16th, 1859.
" I had a pleasant hunting excursion with Mr Berke
ley, an English gentleman, and Member of Parliament.
He brought letters to the officer in command here, who
detailed Major Martin and me to accompany him with a
guard. We killed sixteen buffaloes, and should have
killed more if we had not had bad luck with my horses,
they having fallen lame. I have not time now to give you
the particulars of the hunt. I killed four alone and
Berkeley two, together we killed six, and the man Mr.
Berkeley brought as guide, killed four. Mr. Berkeley in
tends publishing an account of the hunt. He insists on
my making him a visit to England, to enjoy fox-hunting
there, and I have promised I would go, in a year or two,
if I could get leave. I like him much, for he is certainly
a fine old gentleman of the old school. Think of a gen
tleman about sixty years of age, coming over here, and
chasing buffaloes on our Plains ! Precious few Americans

1 62 Life of Gen. Bayard.
at that age could do it. He says if I will visit him at his
estate in Hampshire, I shall have the best horse in his
stables at my command."
The following letter of Mr. Berkeley to his friend Bay
ard, will be read with interest; thoroughly like John Bull,
but breathing kind and generous thoughts of his Ameri
can friends. "AVinkton House, [near Kingswood] )
Hants, May gth, 1861. )
"My Dear Bayard: — Your letter of the 15th of
April gave me much pleasure, but your 'first letter to
which you allude never reached me, and I wondered
why you had never written, attributing your silence to the
wound from the redskins. You have a hard and a cruel
duty before you, but I am sure you will do your duty
wherever the scene of it may be ; and I wish you individ
ually all success, but there my wishes end, save that I al
ways hope to see your country once more at peace. The
cause of war originated in the North, and the source
whence sprung that war lies in the overwhelming masses
of all grades under the sun, whom the Federal govern
ment thought fit to trust with universal suffrage. An
universal suffrage so lavishly bestowed on rowdies, hav
ing no vested property in the state, of course sends dema
gogues to Congress, and the event of that bad selection is
to keep the army on so weak a footing as to be powerless
in certain exigencies. The privates composing that
army are foreigners, and though splendidly officered, by
American gentlemen, the enlistment for a short period
mars the drill ; while at the same time pay and promo
tion for the gallant gentlemen of the profession are so

Correspondence. 163

low and slow, that really insulted as they are by the as
sumed rank above ¦ them of the generals, colonels and
captains L saw, Heaven save the mark ! I only wonder
at the officers whose acquaintance I made at Fort Riley,
including Col. Sumner, having taken to the profession of
arms. " To all my friends, whose acquaintance I made, give
my sincere and kind remembrance.
" In your letter you have not told me anything about
the way in which you got your wound, or how those ras
cally redskins were cut up, as I have no doubt they were ;
or if the infernal Sitting Bear, Setauke, still keeps that
head-dress we talked about, and of what tribes the enemy
consisted. " I take an immense interest in the first battle, day
after I left you. We none of us can understand how that
first fort came to fall without anybody being killed.
What on earth was Major Anderson about ? To us here
it looked like a grand review or party of pleasure. Peo
ple are at me about it, knowing my high opinion of the
officers of your army, but I can give no explanation.
""My friends in America up to this last week have
been sending me over prairie grouse and quail for natu
ralization for our Society for that purpose here, and 1 am
charmed by being put in mind of the Plains, by having
a male prairie grouse walking about my garden, tamer
than an English pheasant, and coming to my whistle for
food and making the devil's own howls, with the skin
blown out. on either side of his neck, strutting round and
round, and calling for his mate. But I have no mate to
give him. The four prairie grouse that came over are
all males. A friend of mine, Lord Malmsbury, has im-

164 Life of Gen. Bayard.
ported some of your wood grouse, and they are doing
well. " I have sent out to different places a great number
of quails, some from Canada and some from New York.
You will be sorry to hear that week before last your
friend my bloodhound poor old David, died. Chance,
Bar and Brutus are all well. The latter lies by my writ
ing table now.
" About a fortnight ago, while hunting a deer in the
royal forest, I came to grief. I had never seen the horse
before, having been mounted by a friend ; but having
carried me well for an hour and ten minutes, he fell at a
bank, with a double ditch, and while we were on the
ground together he struck me with his forefoot on the
chest, and then getting up without me trod on me twice.
My doctor says the two upper ribs ought to have been
broken, but that their strength just resisted it enough
to save a fracture. I cannot yet quite use my right arm.
The fall put me in mind of yours when Martin gave you
a mount, and we came into that low place with long grass
after the bison.
" The bisons' tails, two of them, hang from my bell
ropes as I write this. We had a deal of fun together —
at least I thought so.
" When you see any of the ladies to whom I had the
pleasure of being introduced at Fort Riley, be sure to
give them my compliments, and ask them not to forget
the hunter from the old world. To Willie Martin sing
of " Hoot-a-wa, Hoot-a-wa, wandering Willie," and tell
him not to forget to grow out of my recollection.
" Hoping some day or other to see you, ever yours
sincerely, " Grantley F. Berkeley."

Correspondence. 165
" P. S. Is West Point near New York ? If so and
you see my English friends Cunard and the Major, whom
I left at the Clarendon Hotel inspecting arms and im
provements, remember me kindly to them."
To his Sister.
" Fort Riley, Oct. 24th, 1859.
" We have a delightful society at. Fort Riley at
present. We are in full enjoyment of a glorious Indian
summer. And, when not on duty, riding, driving and
walking with pretty girls and flirting in the day, parties
and dancing in the evening, serve to make the time
agreeable. " I am waiting for Sedgwick's return impatiently.
There is no one I miss so much when absent as dear " old
Sedge." Living alone in this large house (my quarters)
my only relief, when getting too solitary, is visiting the
ladies. " Steuart's company will return to Riley, and an
infantry company take its place on the Santa Fe road.
Col. Sumner approves of everything that has been done,
and says, " The Lord willing, I will take the field next
spring against the treacherous devils." He says he will
take these four. companies of cavalry and the three com
panies of dragoons, making seven in all, and I hope we
will be able to strike terror into the hearts of all these
savages. We consequently already begin to look forward
to the ensuing campaign and the stirring events it prom
ises. If w'e have good luck and can catch .the Indians, the
colonel, I think, will be in such good humor when he re
turns, that there will be no difficulty whatever about get
ting a leave, if I desire one. Already, however, I have

1 66 Life of Gen. Bayard.
changed my mind, and should there be nothing special to
call me home, I shall wait till next spring a year, and
then getting permission to cross the seas, spend a few
months in Europe. I could pass a week or two, hunting
with Mr. Berkeley, very pleasantly. His acquaintance
would, I doubt not, make my stay in England very agree
able. He is a most genial and companionable gentle
man, with great vitality for a man of his age."
To his Sister.
" Fort Riley, Nov. 20th, 1859.
" Major Sedgwick has not yet arrived, but I expect him
certainly this evening. How glad I shall be to see him !
I am very sorry I cannot stay here at Riley with him
this winter coming. I am ordered to Jefferson barracks
on recruiting service for the regiment. You think I am
delighted, do you ? well you are mistaken ; I do not want
to go at all. I am very thankful to Colonel Sumner, for
I am confident he thought I would be pleased to spend
the winter at St. Louis. Also Major Sedgwick and Col-
burn, and they all imagined that I would be charmed
with the order. Such, however, is not the case. I had
determined to devote myself this winter to reading and
study and economy. This order puts an end to all
such fine resolutions and renders them simply impos
sible. " St. Louis, you know, is one of the gayest cities in
the Union, and army officers there have to visit in a wide
circle. So you may set me down as a permanent attach
ment to hoops and crinoline for this winter, unless I am
relieved, otherwise my next letter will give you some
account of the "beautiful and attractive" in St. Louis."

CHAPTER XII.

Life on the Plains i860. — Trip to Arkansas. — Returns to his Com
mand. — Expedition against the Kiowas. — Encounter -with an
Indian. — Wounded. — Goes to St. Louis. — Arrow-head extracted
from Cheek. — Hemorrhage from Wound. — Dr. Pope ties his ca
rotid Artery. — Return Home.
To his Sister.
" Cherokee Nation, Fort Washita, )
Feb. igth, i860. J
" T ARRIVED here yesterday after a twelve days' march
JL from Fort Smith. Weather delightful. To-morrow
my train and men start early for Fort Arbuckle, which
I hope to reach by the twentythird. I shall not start until
afternoon, in time however to reach camp before dark.
Iverson and I start at daylight in the morning on a fox
hunt. They have a fine pack of hounds here, and I
anticipate a deal of sport. Ingraham is to overtake me
at Arbuckle and go up to Fort Cobb with me. Washita
is a beautiful place, and the best built fort I have yet
seen, with the exception of Riley. But they have such a
splendid climate here ! In February they sit here with
their doors open and without fire, in the middle of the
day. The officers of my regiment here are Carr, Iver
son, Ingraham and Church. I am staying with Iverson,
whose father is Senator Iverson, and was a class-mate of
father's at Princeton. I have received letters from Beall

1 68 Life of Gen. Bayard.
at Arbuckle, and Lomax at Cobb, insisting on my stay
ing with them at their respective posts. I leave on the
twentyfifth for Cobb, which I will reach if not delayed by
high water, on the second of March. There I will stay
probably some days. But I expect to be back in St. Louis
on the second or third of April, and get to Riley towards
the last of that month." To his Mother.
" Planters' House, St. Louis, )
April 28th, i860. I
"I wrote to father this morning that I would leave
here on Tuesday for Fort Riley. But since I wrote an
entire change has taken place in my programme.
" Recruits have to be sent to the posts in the Indian
Territory which I visited last winter, and there is no one
here to take them but Colburn and myself. Colburn has
given me the choice of going there again, or taking his
place here as Adjutant until his return. I told him if
he desired to remain, I would go, but otherwise I was sat
isfied with one trip there. Accordingly I will remain
here for the present. I cannot express how much I am
disappointed by this arrangement ; for I fear that it will
prevent my going out on the Kiowa expedition and keep
me here all summer. I shall still hope that I will get off
by some means or other. I know Major Sedgwick will be
terribly disgusted, if both Taylor and I fail to go out with
him. I cannot conceive of anything more horrible than to
be condemned to stay here all summer. It appears my
luck to miss all fights. Some day it will be quoted
against me by some ' kind 'friend' as ' remarkably peculiar'
that Bayard was not in that fight
" But I shall reconcile myself as well as I can to fate,

Trip to Arkansas. 169
and enjoy the fascinations of St Louis in compensation.
St. Louis is a most pleasant city. Life here for the army
officer is a constant round of festivity in the most charm
ing society of ladies, excelled by those of no other city in
the United States. It is really a pleasure to leave awhile
such a place, to enjoy the flattering cordiality with which
your return is greeted." To his Sister.
" Planters' House, St Louis, )
May 2d, i860. j
" In my last letter home, I expressed the fear that I
would have to remain here all summer. I am now happy
in being able to say that Col. Sumner has promised to re
lieve me from duty here in time to go out with the Santa
Fe mail and overtake my command before it crosses the
Arkansas. My horses and general camp effects will go
out from Riley when the command starts, so that every
thing will be there when I join it. I shall probably
leave here by the twentieth of this month."
To his Father.
" Camp About Pawnee Fork, )
June 1st, i860. )
" I arrived here last night about eleven o'clock, after
a rapid trip from St. Louis, making the whole distance
in six days. The command leaves this morning, in fact,
has already gone, but camp is within twelve miles of this,
and I will overtake it.
"We start on a pack mule scout of thirty days and
have strong hopes of catching the Indians. I have a
mule and one of my horses in fine condition. I write in

170 Life of Gen. Bayard.
great haste ; you may not hear from, me again before I
return from the scout." To his Father.
" Camp six miles below Aubrey Crossing, >
Ark. River, July 6th, i860. )
" Our wagons arrived with our provisions on the
morning of the third, and reported Captain Sturgis with
the six companies of our regiment from Cobb, seventy miles
below here. So Taylor and I went down and spent the
fourth with them, and returned to this camp yesterday.
Pretty good riding, is it not?
" We hear that the Kiowas and Camanches are near
Denver City with Sioux and Cheyennes, in all, some three
or four thousand. We start to-morrow in pursuit and
hope soon to give them a Waterloo defeat.
" When we will get back to Riley I cannot say, but
I presume about the first of November.
" Colonel Hardee wrote Major Sedgwick that he
would apply for me * in the department of cavalry at
West Point, f I wish you to get a friend to go to Floyd
and Buchanan and make them promise that I shall have
the place, if Hardee applies for me. The appointment
will be made about the middle of August."
The object of the expedition in which they were en
gaged, was to chastise a band of Kiowas, who, led by
their chief, Setaukie, had been guilty of many outrages
and murders.
* To be Instructor in Cavalry Tactics.
f Colonel Hardee was commandant at West Point ; and accord
ing to routine, it was his duty when a vacancy occurred among the
Instructors at West Point to designate the officer he desired to be
appointed.

Encounter with an Indian. 171
Pawnee Fork, where Lieutenant Bayard joined the
expedition, is about one hundred and forty miles from
Fort Riley. Starting from thence they scoured the Plains
and country watered by the tributaries of the Arkansas,
as far as Bent's Fort, about three hundred and fifty miles
from Fort Riley. On the eleventh of July, having discov
ered traces of the Indians they were pursuing, Captain
Steuart, to whose command Lieutenant Bayard was tempo
rarily attached, immediately followed with all despatch
their trail. After a pursuit of more than twenty miles, some
Indians were seen at a distance. Lieut. Bayard, being
mounted on a superior horse, whose speed surpassed that
of any in the command, led the way in the chase. He soon
came up with an Indian warrior, and, presenting his re
volver, demanded his surrender. The Indian, as Lieut.
Bayard rode up to him, had dismounted from his pony
for the purpose of dodging the shot from the pistol he
anticipated, or to enable him the better to use his bow
and arrow. At this moment, while in this attitude, Lieut.
Bayard saw some Indians running at a distance, and
turned to see if any of his men were near enough to re
ceive a signal from him that other Indians were in sight,
and as he turned again towards the chief he had brought
to bay, the latter shot him with his arrow. The arrow
was steel-headed, in shape like a spear head, and the
head two and a half inches long. It struck Lieut. Bayard
under the cheek bone, and penetrated the antrim. If the
Indian had not been so near he would have drawn his
bow more taut, and probably killed his enemy. With
arrows of the same sort they kill buffalo, and it is and,
often shoot their arrows entirely through the animal. Of
course the wound disabled Lieut Bayard, and the Indian

172 Life of Gen. Bayard.
instantly renewed his flight. But Sergeant Ocleston, of
his command, fortunately came up in time to pursue the
Indian, and after a severe chase on foot, (both parties
having abandoned their horses), overtook and killed him.
Lieutenant Bayard was wounded on the eleventh of
July, and solicitous that his parents and family should be
relieved of anxiety respecting him, wrote home by the
first mail opportunity as follows :
To his Father.
" Camp on Arkansas, ten miles above )
Bent's Fort, July i$th, i860. )
" I write you a few hasty lines to set your mind at
rest regarding my wound, which, perhaps before you re
ceive this, you may see announced in the papers.
" We killed two Indians and captured above a dozen
women and children, and about forty ponies. The for
mer are the wives and children of Setaukie.
" I was shot with an arrow in the left cheek just be
low the eye. The arrow-head remained in the wound,
when the arrow was pulled out. Dr. Madison is just
about to attempt its extraction, and Lieut. Steuart * will
* This officer kindly forwarded the following extract from his
official report :
" Finding further pursuit fruitless, and that Lieut. Bayard had
received a severe arrow -wound in the face, I rallied the men in
advance and conducted him safely back a distance of six miles to
Capt. Steele's camp, as he belonged to that detachment. Though
not of my command, I deemed it proper to add my testimony to
the gallant bearing and personal daring he displayed."
" Most respectfully your obedient, " J. E. B. Steuart,
" First Li. First Cavalry Comdg Detachment.

Wounded. 173

add a P. S. as to the result, as I will feel rather exhausted
after the operation. Even should he not succeed in ex
tracting it, the doctor says it can remain without any
injury. Give yourself no uneasiness in regard to this,
it will soon be well.
" P. S. July 14th. The doctor was unsuccessful in
his attempt yesterday, and so it must remain. He says
it will soon be well." To his Mother.
" Camp on Arkansas, ten miles '
above Bent's Fort,
July I'jth, i860.
" Knowing that you will feel some solicitude on my
account, I will send you a few words by Mr. Robert Bent,
who starts for the States to-morrow. My wound is heal
ing very well, and the doctor says I am getting along
famously. • Of course I suffer some pain, but I hope it
will diminish soon. I shall probably go into Pawnee
Fork early in August, and should my wound continue to
trouble me, I shall go on to Philadelphia or New York
as quickly as possible, and advise with the best surgeons."
To his Father.
" Camp on Arkansas one hundred and ten )
miles below Bent's Fort, July 2^th, i860. J
" I believe Major Sedgwick goes no further clown the
road but to-morrow strikes north for the Smoky Hill
country in search of the Kiowas and Camanches. I go
on to Pawnee Fork with an escort of ten men under com
mand of Lieutenant Mclntyre. My wound continues to
heal, but as the cheek bone is somewhat shattered, I suf
fer a good deal of pain from neuralgia. I have Dr.

174 Life of Gen. Bayard.
Madison's certificate and recommendation for a leave of
absence for sixty days on that account, and am author
ized by Major Sedgwick to proceed to St. Louis to apply
for such leave.
" I shall go into Pawnee and there wait a few days, to
see what rest will do for me. Should there be a very
marked improvement such as to induce me to believe that
I would soon be enabled to return to duty, I will not take
advantage of this certificate of the doctors. But other
wise I shall go on via. Riley and Leavenworth to St.
Louis. I shall take steamboat to St. Louis from Leav
enworth, as the overland route, by Santa Fe road, would
be too trying." To his Father.
" St. Louis, August gth, i860.
" I arrived here yesterday considerably enfeebled and
suffering much pain. The importance of getting the arrow
head out as quickly as possible, with the fact of my weak
ness and suffering, have caused me to resort to Dr. Pope
of this city, who stands here at the head, of his profession
as a surgeon of celebrity.
" Should the operation prove successful, Colburn will
telegraph you at once. I will then remain here only
long enough to permit me to recover strength sufficient
to travel homeward. I am surrounded by the kindest
and most attentive of friends. I am staying at Colburn's
rooms. Mrs. W. insists on sending me my meals, so
you see I receive all possible attention, and I trust I
will be with you by the twenty-fifth a well man again."
As will be seen from the foregoing letters Dr. Madison,

Arrow-Head Extracted from Cheek. 175
the army surgeon, after a critical examination, thought
it best not to extract the arrow-head at that time, fearful
that excessive hemorrhages might ensue. As a prudent
and skilful surgeon, he wisely preferred that Lieutenant
Bayard should have the benefit of the best surgical ad
vice to be obtained. Lieutenant Bayard and his family
always have believed that Dr. Madison did his full duty
in the case, and exercised the soundest judgment in the
course he pursued.
Immediately after his arrival at St. Louis, Dr. Charles
A. Pope, the celebrated surgeon, and President of the
Missouri Medical College, was called in. He determined,
after due examination of the case, to extract the arrow
head, which he did, to the great relief of Lieutenant
Bayard. His face continued quite swollen, and he still
suffered much pain. At last he experienced a severe
hemorrhage, and lost so much blood as to bring him to
death's door. His father was telegraphed for, and im
mediately came on. He found his son very low, and
feeble in health, and confined to his room in the hospital
of the Sisters of Charity. In a few days, however, he be
gan to recover strength, and improved so rapidly that his
father, after being with him a week, proposed returning to
New Jersey. But the night before the day he intended to
start, about one o'clock, a. m., Lieutenant Bayard suffered
a severe hemorrhage, which again reduced him very low.
He was put under the influence of morphine all the next
day, the doctor remaining with him for the greater part
of the day. Dr. Pope was now fearful that another hem
orrhage would prove fatal. He, accordingly, determined
to tie the carotid artery. This he did on the morning

176 Life of Gen. Bayard.
of the sixteenth of September. The following is Doctor
Pope's statement of the operation performed :
" Case i. The late General Bayard, who was killed at
the battle of Fredericksburg, received an arrow-shot
wound in the left upper jaw, on the eleventh July, i860,
while a .lieutenant in New Mexico, in a skirmish with the
Indians. The iron point, spear-shaped, and two and a
half inches long, with a small neck for the attachment of
the wooden shaft, was driven with force, entering a little
below the middle of the orbit, and with a slight obliquity
backward. The surgeon of the post immediately endeav
ored to extract the foreign body. At first it was hoped
that this might be accomplished by traction upon the
arrow itself, but this was thereby only separated from the
iron point, which remained firmly impacted in the bone.
Different forceps were then resorted to, and after a trial
of two hours the effort was abandoned.
" The absence of suitable instruments, the slight hold
which could be obtained on the offending body, as the
small neck was all that could be seized, and above all
the firm impaction, sufficiently account for the failure of
extraction. Slight hemorrhages from the corresponding
nostril followed within the subsequent four weeks, and
on arriving at St. Joseph, a more serious one occurred.
" The patient reached St. Louis five weeks after the
reception of his wound. There was some tumefaction of
the left side of his face. The wound at the time had
skinned over, so that no foreign substance could be seen,
but on gentle pressure with the finger, a hard point was
perceptible beneath the integument. There was a muco
purulent discharge still issuing from the nostril, -proceed
ing doubtless from the antrum. On incising the imper-

Hemorrhage from Wound. 1 77
feet cicatrix, I felt the projecting neck, and supposing
that the arrow point, after so long a time, might be some
what loosened by the efforts of the organism, I attempted
its extraction with the dressing forceps of the pocket case,
but found them wholly inadequate. I at once supplied
myself with instruments of various kinds, and with a
powerful forceps succeeded in one or two efforts in
extracting the offending body. This was followed by a
troublesome bleeding, both from the nostril and the ex
ternal wound. By rest, opium, cold, plugging and pres
sure, this was duly arrested. Several slighter hemor
rhages subsequently occurred, but they gave rise to no
uneasiness. " The case now progressed favorably, and the patient
was able to get about the streets. He walked to my
office, and complaining of some inability to separate the
jaws, a difficulty, by the way, which had existed all along,
I directed him to use gentle and gradual efforts at open
ing the mouth. In less than an hour his troubles recom
menced. The whole cheek and jaw became hot, swollen,
and painful. Fever, with renewed hemorrhage, set in,
and caused me much anxiety. The same means of arrest
first tried did not avail. Extensive extravasation of
blood took place, and in order to relieve the pain, ten
sion, and possible sloughing, I deemed it proper to make
free counter-openings, both in the mouth and on the
cheek and neck. From these, large grumous clots were
turned out, and through the inner opening the finger's
point could be carried round the almost denuded bone,
and lodged high up in the pterygoid fossa. The hemor-
lhage continuing with various and delusive intermissions,
the case became critical. Finally, for three successive
8*

178 Life of Gen. Bayard.
nights, these came on regularly at midnight, and were
copious and exhaustive. From such repeated losses of
blood the patient had now become reduced to the lowest
degree, when the further issue of a few ounces more
might have turned the scale against him. I then deter
mined to tie the carotid. This was done on the night
of the sixteenth of September, more than two months
after the reception of the wound. Such was the extreme
condition of the patient, that he fainted during the opera
tion, although in a recumbent position.
" The operation was a delicate and difficult one, as
the parts were very much swollen and altered by sanguine
ous extravasation and inflammatory effusion, and the in
cision being correspondingly deep, the effect of artificial
light in such cases, at all times bad, was only the worse, for
while the surface of the wound was well lighted, the sharp
deep shadow rendered its depth almost invisible. The
touch therefore superceded sight There was no more
hemorrhage. Opium and nutritious ingesta were freely
given, and the patient continued to do well.
" From the thoroughly anasmic state and the effect of
interruption of the cerebral circulation, caused by the
ligature, the patient's mind was somewhat impaired, and
I feared some altered nutrition or softening of the brain.
These symptoms, however, gradually yielded and after
several weeks he was again up and about. Being rather
impatient and self-willed, he went out before I deemed it
prudent for him to do so. The ligature was slow in com
ing away, and for some weeks after its fall a small fistu
lous opening remained."
The Lieutenant now left St. Louis for West Point,
to which place he was assigned for duty. When on a

Return Home. 179

visit to his family in New Jersey and travelling by rail.
road at night between New York and Philadelphia, after
much bodily fatigue, a further hemorrhage occurred from
the still unclosed fistula of the cervical wound. By rest
and moderate pressure this was relieved. This bleeding
was the last ; the wound healed and the patient recovered
his usual health. There always remained, however, an
unpleasant fullness of the affected cheek and masseteric
portion of the face.
The following letter was written before the operation
on the carotid artery was performed :

To his Mother.
" St. Louis, August 10th, i860.
" I telegraphed yesterday that the arrow-head was ex
tracted from" the wound. It was a great relief, physic
ally and mentally, and I hope the wound will now soon
heal. It is still very painful.
" I trust I will be able to go out in a week, in which
event I will probably be home by the 29th.
" I have received the utmost kindness and attention
here. The gentlemen have all called repeatedly and of
fered every attention in their power. Mrs. W. sends my
meals and every delicacy which can tempt the appetite.
Other ladies supply me with fruit of all sorts, flowers, etc.
•' If I wish I can be stationed here, but would prefer
going to West Point, could I be ordered there as Instruc
tor in_ Cavalry. If ordered there I would at once com
mence the study of law and at the end of my four years
service, be qualified for practice."

180 Life of Gen. Bayard.
To his Mother.
"St. Louis, August 7,1st, i860.
" Although I scarcely feel able as yet to give you a
daily journal of the convalescence of an invalid, I will
however, during the few minutes I sit up this evening, jot
you down a few lines by way of showing that I am still in
the land of the living and with a very fair prospect of re
maining there for the present
" I think I am getting stronger every day. I never
was so tired of anything in my life as I am of lying in
bed. My face on the left side continues highly inflamed,
and my jaws I cannot use. I have lost the West Point
detail ; Hood, of the Second Cavalry, being ordered to
West Point as cavalry instructor. "

CHAPTER XIII.
Lieut. Bayard Appointed Instructor in Cavahy Tactics at West
Point. — West Point in 1861. — Leave of Absence. — Hemorrhage
and Confinement in Philadelphia. — Return to IVesl Point. — Lieut.
Lomax' Letter. — Applies for Leave to Join Volunteer Regiment.
— Col. 1st Pa. Cavalry. — Gov. Curtiu's Letter. — Drainsville. —
Official Report.
IN the letter of Lieut. Bayard, July 6th, i860, he says
that Major Sedgwick had been informed by Col. Har
dee, Military Commandant at West Point, that he would
apply for him to be appointed Instructor in Cavalry Tac
tics. This we have no doubt he did. It is usual for the
Secretary of War to leave to the professors and officers at
West Point the designation of appointees in their respec;
tive departments to supply vacancies. The Secretary of
War almost invariably acts in accordance with such de
signations. He did not, however, do so on this occasion,
but appointed Lieut Hood.*
Early in i860, at the instance of Lieut. Bayard's fa
ther and other friends, the Hon. Vincent L. Bradford, of
Philadelphia (whose personal relations to President Bu
chanan were those of intimate friendship), asked the
President to appoint Lieut. Bayard Instructor in Cavalry
Tactics at West Point, should there be a vacancy in that
position. This the President promised he would dq,
* General Hood, of Confederate army.

1 82 Life of Gen. Bayard.
and was quite indignant when he found that Governor
Floyd had appointed Lieut. Hood. Subsequent events
made it probable that Lieut. Hood was appointed because
of his known sympathy with the South. He was then in
Texas, and doubtless well posted with respect to the de
signs of the southern leaders, and was better able to co
operate with them in his position in Texas, than he would
have been at West Point ; and he, therefore, promptly
declined the appointment conferred on him. Governor
Floyd now, therefore, in obebience to President Buchan
an's wishes, appointed Lieut Bayard.
On the expiration of his leave of absence, Lieut. Bay
ard reported for duty at West Point. But the condition
of his health was such that it was necessary that he should
abstain from active duty, and a further leave of absence
was obtained.
In returning from West Point home, as he was coming
over in the ferry boat at Camden, he experienced another
hemorrhage from the still open fissure in his neck.
AVrapping his handkerchief tightly around his neck to
check the flow of blood, he reached the La Pierre House
in Philadelphia. There for several weeks, under charge
of Doctors Mitchell, Pancoast, and Brinton, he lay in bed;
until, by their skilful treatment, the external aperture,
where the artery was tied, became closed, and all appre
hensions of future danger from his wound ceased. His
face, however, continued, for a year, more or less swollen,
and through his mouth, for several months, there was a
flow of viscous matter, and sometimes small fragments
of bone. During changes of weather, or after exposure
in the camp or field, the swelling of the face would in
crease, accompanied with much neuralgic pain.

West Point in 1861. 183
In March, 1861, about the middle of the month, he
once more reported for duty at West Point, and was as
signed to duty, as will be seen from the following letter :
To his Father.
"West Point, March 14th, 1861.
" I found every thing here in statu quo. I will be or
dered to duty to-morrow. I thank you for the letter
enclosed which was from Grantley Berkely. He had
heard of my being wounded, and wrote a very kind sym
pathizing letter, and repeated his invitation for me to go
over and make him a visit I see that Sumner is at last
a Brigadier-general. That makes me a first lieutenant.
All such favors thankfully received."
To his Father.
" West Point, March 20th, 1861.
" A piece of bone is coming out in my mouth, and I
went down to New York and let Dr. McDougall have a
pull at it. He said, however, I had better let it come out
a little further. I think I will let Dr. Perin, who will
relieve Dr. Hammond here on the first qf April, pull it
out : and I then hope my face will very soon get entirely
well." To his Father. " April 15th, 1861.
" War has now begun, and I suppose it will very soon
extend over the whole length and breadth of the land.
Where I am to go or stay, and what to do, I have of
course as little idea as yourself. But I think it is my duty
to write to the Adjutant-general and tell him that I hold
myself in readiness for any duty.

184 Life of Gen. Bayard.
" If Mcintosh resigns, my company will be without
an officer, and I think that I ought to be with it. Don't
you think so ? The capital will very soon be the object
of attack and I think it the duty of all good Americans to
march to its defence. My heart is too full to write you
anything about Sumter. The southerners have made a
great mistake in attacking it. All my sympathy with the
south is now gone. It is now war to the knife.
" If New Jersey should be called on for any troops,
I will take a Majorship in a Jersey regiment. Write to
your friend Governor Olden on this subject I will also
write." To his Mother.
"West Point, May 29th, 1861.
" That portion of my regiment which was west of Ar
kansas, I see, will in a day or two be in Leavenworth, so
my regiment is all right. I see Riddick and Ingraham
have resigned. So I am third for promotion to a cap
taincy. " I am pretty well, though my face continues much
swollen and the discharge through the mouth does not
abate. The cold weather no doubt retards my improve
ment." To his Father.
"New York, July 26th, 1861.
" I am now in this city, buying horses which I will
get I think in the next two weeks. I will then be busy
training them, and after that drilling the cadets.
" That Bull Run affair was a disgraceful and cowardly
rout. The volunteers will not stand without experience
and drill. But I suppose the southerners are no better.
But perhaps the lesson will be useful for the North. It

Letter front Lieut. Lomax. 185

will teach us not to despise our enemy. I must go to
this war. I cannot stay here and rust while gallant men
are in the field. This rebellion is a much more serious
thing than many suppose. I pity the southern officers
in our army. They cannot but condemn the madness of
their politicians who have brought on this war, and yet
they feel in honor bound to go with their section."
The animus of the southern officers is well depicted
by the following letter of Lieut. Lomax — (Gen. Lomax,
of Confederate Army,) addressed to his friend Bayard :
"Washington, April 21st, 1861.
" I cannot stand it any longer and feel it my duty
to resign. My State is out of the Union, and when she
calls for my services I must go. I regret it very much,
and feel that it is almost suicidal.
" As long as I could conscientiously believe it a war
on the Union and the Flag, I was willing to do my part.
But it is a war between sections, the north against the
south, and I must go with my relatives and sympathies.
I orily hope all my friends in the army will act conscien
tiously, and I beg of you not to let my action alter" the
relationship between us. Tell Mac * and all my friends
that I love them more than ever. I will hand in my
resignation about the first of May, and I want to hear
from you before then. I feel too badly to give you all
the rumors.
" I believe Baltimore is to be the field of battle. The
authorities say that they will bring troops through Balti
more if it takes all the north to do it. I hope to God
* Macallister, of his class.

186 Life of Gen. Bayard. - »
there are some Conservatives yet left in the North. All
the southern officers are going. God bless you.
" S. L. Lomax."
Almost half the officers of the first cavalry, (Lieut.
Bayard's regiment) resigned in 1861, and entered the
southern army, with few exceptions, if any.
They were Lieut. Col. Hardee, Captains De Saus
sure, William S. Walker, George H. Stewart, James Mc
intosh, W. N. R. Beall. First Lieutenants Alfred Iver
son Jr., Philip Stockton, J. E. B. Steuart. Second Lieu
tenants Richard H. Riddick, Edward Ingraham, S. L.
Lomax, O. H. Fish, Andrew Jackson Jr., J R. B. Burt-
well. July first, Lieutenant Bayard applied for leave to
take the commission of Major in a regiment being raised
at Albany by Col. Frederick Townsend. He was curtly
informed officially by the Adjutant-general of the United
States, that " the Secretary of War had decided that offi
cers of the regular army cannot be spared for service with
volunteer regiments." This dispatch was dated third of
July, 1861. It shows that the government had then no
adequate appreciation of the crisis. The Hon. Simon
Cameron was then Secretary of War.
On the sixteenth of April, 1861, Lieut. Bayard wrote
to Governor Olden* of New Jersey, offering, in case leave
could be obtained at Washington, to take a commission
in one of the New Jersey regiments. It is believed that
Governor Olden could not obtain for him the desired
leave. But as the magnitude of the rebellion became
better known, the administration found out that " officers
* Foster's History of New Jersey troops in the war, p. 28.

Col. First Pennsylvania Cavalry. 187
of the regular army," could " be spared for service with
volunteer regiments."
About the first of September leave of absence was
obtained for Lieutenant Bayard to take the commission of
Major in a regiment being raised by General Van Allen,
of New York. On his arrival in Washington, on the
evening of a clay in the first week in September, he
went in half an hour after his arrival to the headquarters
of General McClellan, to see his friend Colburn, acting
as aide to the commanding General.
As soon as they met, Colburn said that General Mc
Clellan wanted several army officers for colonels of regi
ments, and that he would not permit him to take such a
subaltern position. Colburn insisted that it would be un
just to himself for Lieutenant Bayard to accept a Major's
commission, and have all the labor of putting the regi
ment in condition, while the credit would be given to his
superior officer.
General McClellan knowing well the reputation and
merits of Lieutenant Bayard as an officer, was desirous
of putting him on his staff as aide : — but tendered him
the option, of becoming an aide on the staff of the com
mander-in-chief, or the Colonelcy of a Pennsylvania regi
ment. He preferred the latter, and was accordingly
commissioned as Colonel of the First Pennsylvania Cav
alry. The mutations of time bring about singular coinci
dences. In the Revolutionary war, John Bayard was
Colonel of the first troop of Philadelphia cavalry, and
now nearly a century subsequent his great grandson
George D. Bayard was placed in command of the first
regiment of cavalry of the State of Pennsylvania.

1 88 Life of Gen. Bayard.
Pennsylvania, in the law authorizing the organiza
tion of State regiments of volunteers, provided for the
election of officers by each regiment. The following
official letter informed Colonel Bayard of his election as
Colonel of the First Pennsylvania Cavalry :

" Headquarters
Camp Tennally,

ers Penn. Reserve, )
i, Sept. 14th, i860. }
" Col. George D. Bayard, 1st Penn. Reserve Cavalry :
" Dear Sir, — I have the pleasure to inform you that
at an election held the twelfth instant, you were elected
Colonel of the First Cavalry of the Pennsylvania Reserve.
Should you accept, I would request you to join the regi
ment with as little delay as possible, as the presence of
an officer of experience is much needed.
" I am very respectfully, your obt servt,
" Geo A. McCall,
"Brig- Gen. Comd'g."
A few days after the above election Colonel Bayard
received from the War Department the following letter :
"War Department, Sept. 16th, 1861.
" Sir — you are hereby informed that the President
of the United States has promoted you to the rank of
captain in the fourth regiment of cavalry in the service
of the United States, to take effect from the twentieth of
August, 1861, vice Beall, resigned, should the senate at
their next session advise and consent thereto. You will
be commissioned accordingly.
" Simon Cameron,
" Secretary of War.'"

Looking Ahead. 189

He was commissioned the following February. Col.
Bayard was much pleased with the materiel of which his
regiment was composed, with the exception of some of
the officers, whom he found it expedient to supersede
with others. The men were principally gentlemen,
farmers, farmers' sons, mechanics, from the counties
along the Schuylkill, and from the interior, and became
devoted friends of their colonel. In the following letter
to his father he refers to the character of his men and
officers : To his Father.
" Camp Reynolds, near Tennally Town, >
Sept. 25th, 1861. )
" General Reynolds (Col. Reynolds of West Point)
has command of my Brigade. General McCall com
mands the Division, about twelve or thirteen thousand
men. " I have got seven companies of my regiment mounted
here, and shall have ten to-morrow. I am just now having
a pretty rough time with some of my officers, and I intend
to bring four or five of them before a board of officers, as
deficient in military instruction, and incompetent to learn.
The men are first-rate, and do the best they know how,
and as well as could be expected. I think after awhile
I shall have a very good regiment.
" I hope Beauregard will hold on a couple of weeks,
and by that time I shall have my regiment in some kind
of order and drill. I belong to McCall's division, and
will advance with it. I expect McCall and Smith will
command the advance guard of the advancing army. So
I will have an early chance of winning laurels. I am

190 Life of Gen. Bayard.
coming out of this war with a yellow sash on, if I don't
get higher."
The following letter from Governor Curtin shows that
the officers who were relieved from duty in the regiment
had preferred complaints to the Governor, and how
well Col. Bayard was supported by the patriotic gov
ernor of Pennsylvania :
" Harrisburgh, 272$ October, 1861.
" Col. G. D. Bayard, Commanding First Reg't Penn
Cavalry :
"Dear Sir: — lam much gratified with the report
Colonel Ball brings me of the condition of the First
Pennsylvania Cavalry, under your command.
" You must not imagine that the complaints of the
incompetent or the rejected, had any effect on my mind,
but inasmuch as the friends of these men were uneasy, I
wished to be informed, so as to assure inquirers truly.
" I feel much pride in your command, and satisfaction
with your performance of all your duties, and rest as
sured that you can command me for anything, that will
make the men comfortable and efficient, and the regiment
the pride of the State. I am with sentiments of the. high
est respect, your obedient servant,
" A. G. Curtin.
To his Father.
"Camp Peirpont, October 23d, 1861.
"We move to-morrow with four days' rations and
forty rounds of ammunition ; where I do not know, but
presume somewhere towards Leesburgh.
" Was not that Ball's Bluff affair awful ? Almost every
colonel killed or taken prisoner. Raw troops will not

Expedition to Drainsville. 191
stand fire unless intrenched. I hope my fate will permit
me to see a little more of this war. I send a list of
my few creditors. If I live I shall pay them all be
fore six months. If I fall, you must not permit my mem
ory to be tainted by unpaid debts."
The few months previous to November, 1861, were
distinguished by many disasters to the Union troops.
Big Bethel, Bull Run, Vienna and Ball's Bluff, were affairs
discreditable and depressing in their influence. The
rebels were elated with their uniform success, and the
popular feeling in the loyal States was indignant with, and
impatient of, that series of defeats which the Union forces
had experienced.
The first gleam of victory which shone through the
darkness of those sad days, was that afforded by Col.
Bayard's affair at Drainsville, Va., on the twenty-seventh
.of November. It was comparatively a small affair;
¦ but it had a most inspiriting influence on the public mind
throughout all the northern States. It proved that our
men would fight gallantly when properly led, and showed
that we had officers who knew how to lead and how to
fight. To his Mother.
" Camp Pierpont, Va., Nov. 29th, 1861.
" I suppose you have read in the papers the result of
my expedition into Secessia, and the narrow escape I had.
Poor Alexander died this morning, and one man died
night before last. So that my loss is one officer and one
man, and then I have one man wounded. I killed four
and captured three of the party which fired on me. I
was hit myself twice, and my horse was killed. Surgeon
Stanton had three balls through his clothes. I have a

192 Life of Gen. Bayard.
slight touch of the quinsy this morning, but the doctor
is here, and I hope to avert the attack."
The following are the official reports of General
McCall and Colonel Bayard of the Drainsville action :
" Headquarters McCall's Division; )
Nov. 2>jth, 1861. j
" General S. Williams, A. A. G.
" General, — I have the honor to transmit herewith
the report of Colonel G. D. Bayard, First Regt. Cavalry
Penn. Reserve, of a very successful expedition made
during the last twenty-four hours, in the direction of
Drainsville, where I had ascertained that a picket force
of the enemy was stationed. The men who were sent
by the colonel for ambulances, reported to me a strong
force opposed to the colonel, whereupon, I put the
first brigade of my division under arms, and with Kinney
battery was marching to his support, when we met the
colonel's command returning. The troops all evinced
praiseworthy alacrity on the occasion.
I am very respectfully your obedient servant,
" George A. McCall,
" B. G. ComcTgDiv."
" Camp Pierpont, Va., Nov. 2>jth, 1861.
" Sir. — In obedience to orders, I started from this
camp yesterday with my regiment at nine o'clock in the
evening, for the purpose of marching on Drainsville. We
reached positions above and behind Drainsville shortly
after five in the morning, after a very tedious and toil
some march.

Official Report. 193
" Major Barrows advanced on the town by the north
ern pike which leads to it, with two companies of the
regiment, while I with the other eight gained the rear of
the town, and advanced by the Leesburgh pike. There
were but two picket-men in the town ; these were cavalry
men belonging to Col. J. E. B. Steuart's regiment of Vir
ginia Horse, and were captured with their horses and
arms by Capt. Stadelman's company B. I arrested six
of the citizens of Drainsville who are known to be
Secessionists of the bitterest stamp.
"The names of the citizens taken are as follows :
1. John T. Day, M. D., Drainsville.
2. R. H. Gannel, Great Falls, Va.
3. John T. D. Bell.
4. C. W. Coleman, Drainsville.
5. W. B. Day, M. D.
6. J. B. Farr.
" Upon my return, some miles from Drainsville, a fire
was opened upon the head of the column from a thick
pine wood. Ass't Surgeon Alexander was seriously
wounded, and private Joel Houghtaling, Co. — was badly
wounded, and I had my horse killed. Surgeon Stanton
received a ball in his overcoat, and his horse shot twice.
The woods were instantly surrounded and the carbineers
dismounted and sent into the woods. We killed two, and
captured four, one of whom is shot twice, and is not ex
pected to live. Private Houghtaling, Co. — is, I fear,
mortally wounded. I captured two good horses, five shot
guns, one Hall's rifle, and two pistols. The names of
the prisoners are as follows :
1. W. D. Farley, ist Lieut S. C. Vol. Capt. on Gen.
Bonham's staff,

194 Life of Gen. Bayard.

2. F. De Caradene, Lt Seventh S. C. Vol.,
3. P. W. Carper, Seventh S. C. V,
4. Thos. Coleman, citizen of Drainsville and dan
gerously wounded,
5. F. Hildebrand, private Thirtieth Virginia Cavalry,
6. A. M. Whiten, private Thirtieth Virginia Cavalry,
taken at Drainsville on picket
" We killed and captured aH we saw. I cannot close
this report without speaking of the splendid manner in
which both men and officers behaved, the fine manner
in which Major Jones, Byrnes, (Second Lieut. Fifth Cav.)
and Barrows acted, cannot be too highly commended or
appreciated. All acted well and I cannot but thus publicly
express my admiration for their truly admirable behavior.
" I am, sir, very respectfully your obt servt,
" Geo. D. Bayard,
" Col. First Penn. R. Cavalry."
To Col. H. J. Biddle, Ass't Adft- Gen., McCall' s Div.
The camp of the First Pennsylvania Cavalry was
stationed about twenty-two miles north of Washington,
a few miles from the chain bridge, on the Virginia side
of the Potomac. There Col. Bayard remained the greater
part of the winter, of 186 1-2. He was occasionally com
pelled to go to the hospital in Washington on account of
the condition of his old wound in his cheek. That at times
was quite painful, and his face became much swollen,
doubtless owing to his exposure in all kinds of weather.
But the ardor of his military spirit was such and
his desire to discipline his regiment and make it com
petent to perform the severe duty which he foresaw that
coming events would exact from it, was so great that he

Newspaper Extract. 195
was in the field much of the time that prudence dictated
his remaining in the hospital. To his Father.
"Camp Pierpont, Dec. 15th, 1861.
" I send you an extract from some country paper in
relation to Drainsville, from which you can gather all I
could tell you. I cannot come home at Christmas, how
ever I should delight to do. We are liable to be at any
moment ordered to advance. I have been in bed for a
few days past, but am about well again.
" I thank mother for what she says about my not ex
posing myself. That is precisely what it is the duty of
the soldier to do."
The extract from the country paper, to which he refers,
is as follows. On the margin of the paper slip he sent
appears the following line in his hand-writing. " I send
you this as I have been too lazy to write anything about
this affair." "Camp Pierpont, Nov. 28th, 1861.
" Dear Register .: As it is your request to hear from
all parts of the country, I will drop you a few lines from
this neck of timber. I do not pretend to be a letter-
writer, but still I may be "able to give some news or
information that will be interesting to some of your
many readers. I am a member of the First Penn.
Reserve Cavalry, company G, and we are encamped in
Fairfax County, Virginia, about eleven miles from Wash
ington city. We have been in this vicinity near three
months.. The sacred soil in this county is very rough
and broken, but the farms have the appearance of being
well taken care of, and have fine buildings on them ;

196 Life of Gen. Bayard.
but the most of them have been vacated, the occupants
have gone to places of safety, some north and others
south. This regiment is under the special orders of
Gen. McCall, but is not attached to any Brigade. It is
commanded by Col. George D. Bayard, of the regular
army, and he has the name of being one of the most
resolute and best cavalry officers in the service. He
keeps a very strict discipline in the regiment, and the
officers and men under him have all got to come to
time, or they are attended to. I have no doubt but
that the boys will all give a good account of themselves
under him.
"Jacob Higgins is Lieut. Colonel, and he is a man
well worthy of the position he holds ; he is always ready
and willing to assist or accommodate any of his men.
Our company is commanded by Capt. David Gardner,
of Plane No. Ten, Blair Co.; Hampton Thomas, of Ches
ter county, is our first lieutenant ; H. C. Wier, of New
York, second lieutenant. They are a whole-souled set
of fellows, and are liked and respected by all their men.
We are styled the Black Horse Company, our horses
being all jet blacks, and the company is composed of
men from twenty-four different counties of the old Key
stone State.
" We are armed with revolvers, sabres and Sharpe's
improved carbines, but we have had but one opportunity
of using them as yet. On the twenty-sixth of November,
we received orders to be ready to march by eight o'clock
that evening, with one day's rations, and we started at
half-past eight, with six hundred men, headed by Cols.
Bayard and Higgins and a guide. We rode all night at a
break-neck gait, crossed the Leesburgh pike on a by-

Newspaper Extract. 197
road, and followed it until near daylight, when we struck
the pike again within four miles of Leesburgh, and
between the Rebel camp and their outside pickets,
which were posted at Drainsville. We made a charge
on and surrounded the place in double-quick time, and
succeeded in capturing two mounted sentinels, and
arrested five notorious characters who were guilty of
deeds almost too horrible to relate, such as cutting
the heads off of wounded Union soldiers that fell in the
battle of Ball's Bluff, putting them on poles and placing
them before their houses, throwing their bodies to the
hogs, etc. Our men were all eager to tear them to
pieces, and would have done so, if the colonel had not
interfered. He said they should be treated as prisoners
of war. Of all the crying and screaming that ever was
heard came from the women and children, who were
running around in their night clothes, pleading for us to
spare their fathers, brothers, sons, husbands etc. It
was, indeed, a deplorable sight. It was now daylight,
and we started for home by the pike, riding carelessly in
the walk. After we had proceeded* about three miles
from Drainsville, the head of the column was fired upon
by a party of rebels concealed in ambush, shooting
Colonel Bayard's horse from under him. We were
ordered to surround the thicket, which was done as
quick as possible, as there was a high fence that had to
be thrown down before we could get the horses across.
There was a sharp fire kept up for some time between
both parties, the cedars being so thick that we could not
* I sent a company ahead to scour the road, but the captain
did not do his duty, and turned off on a by-road not fifty yards short
of where those men were hid. — (Note on margin.)

198 Life of Gen. Bayard.
ride through them. Our company dismounted and
patrolled the woods with carbines, killing three, and
wounding and taking six prisoners, among them being a
captain and lieutenant. Col. Bayard was slightly
wounded in the shoulder and thigh with buckshot ; As
sistant Surgeon Alexander was shot in the abdomen and
died 'the next day ; a private of company D. was
wounded, and has since died, and one man of bur com
pany was wounded in the thigh, but is recovering. The
wounded secessionists are dead. Everything was done
in order, and the men did not get excited. The regi
ment received great praise from Colonel Bayard for
their coolness. He said that he had a set of men that
he could rely upon hereafter. We left the dead ones
lay, as we had not time to bury them, for we could hear
the long roll beat and the bugle sound in different direc
tions from the enemy's camps. So we had to get on
double-quick, for fear our retreat would be cut off. We
met Gen. McCall coming with two batteries of artillery
and six regiments of infantry. The firing had alarmed
the pickets, and the old General thought we had got in
a tight place, and he would come and help us out.
Bully for him ! We arrived in camp pretty well worn
out, both horse and man, having been in our saddles
sixteen hours, and travelled forty miles without taking
time to water our horses."
The following is from the New York Evening Post,
of Dec. seventh, 18 5 1 :
"They tell a good story of Bayard, in connection
with his wounds, which were by no means trifling. On
the morning after the skirmish General McClellan sent

Newspaper Extract.

199

a messenger to ask how he was. His reply was that he
was hit oh the shoulder, had a bullet in his thigh, had
had his horse shot under him, and had been somewhat
stunned by the fall ; but he was 'quite well, I thank you,
and able to attend to his duties, and should report in
person at headquarters very shortly.' -He has the true
gallantry and endurance of his namesake, Bayard of
old."

CHAPTER XIV.
Camp Pierpont. — First Pa. Cavalry. — In the Field. — Moves South. —
Affair at Falmouth. — Col. Bayard appointed a Brigadier -gene
ral. — Stationed below Fredericksburg. — Goes to Shenandoah Val
ley. — Fremont. — Jackson. — Shields.
To his Father.
"Camp Pierpont, January ^d, 1862.
«TT 7"E will move, I hope, next week. I have been
V V so often fooled with such a hope, that I say noth
ing more about it. But all the generals think and ex
pect to do so. Buell, I hope, will thrash them in Ken
tucky, Burnside will take the Potomac batteries, or at
least attempt it. And then we will move, to victory I
trust." To his Father.
" Camp Pierpont, Va, Jan. gth, 1862.
" I have no news of any importance to communicate.
We are waiting on McClellan. It is a work of immense
labor to put an army of raw inexperienced men in condi
tion to fight successfully ; none but military men can un
derstand the difficulty of performing properly such a la
bor. We ought to have a certainty of victory before
we move. Another such a victory for the rebels, as
that of Bull Run, would prolong the war indefinitely.
" Burnside will strike in a day or two, and then comes
our time, Buell I hope will make a good move in

Camp Pierpont. 201
Kentucky and do something to encourage our men; but
like all new troops they are too much affected by the cur
rent rumors of the day, and allow them to affect their spir
its and conduct. They all have the utmost eonfidence in
McClellan, however, and believe he will lead to victory.
Halleck, I hope, will not take much longer to prepare for
his move down the Mississippi. A few great victories to
be achieved soon, would crush out the rebellion. I feel
more confidence in the success of Buell and Halleck,
than in our own. All the best Confederate generals and
troops are in our front. And Jefferson Davis knows
that victory for him in Virginia is more important than
anywhere else. God grant that the Union army may
win ; for we are fighting in a holy cause ! We are fight
ing for the existence of free government. The people
are all rebels in this part of Virginia. The sword's fierce
blows alone will conquer them. When the clash of arms
does come, it will be a terrible conflict, and many a fine
fellow will grace a ' sacred grave.' "
To his Mother.
" Camp Pierpont, March 1st, 1862.
" The movement of the Grand Army has begun.
When you hear from me again I shall be on the road to
Richmond. God grant that we may go through with
honor. I have caught cold in my face and it is very pain
ful, but it will not detain me."

"I

" Examining Rooms, Washington,
March $d, 1862.
" I am here on an examining board to test the com
petency of subaltern officers. Banks and Sedgwick are
9*

202 Life of Gen. Bayard.
across the river, and in a very few days you will hear of
something important. After that we will not much longer
remain here, in inglorious inactivity. Of course we are
gnawing with impatience the bonds of discipline which
hold us here. But the hour of our release is soon to
come." To his Father.
" Washington, April 8th, 1862.
" The order for my embarkation with McClellan has
been countermanded. I am to be assigned to General
McDowell's command. I suppose I shall have two regi
ments at least, and perform a Brigadier's duty. We will
remain till after the fall of Yorktown. I am much dis
gusted. But it is the part of a good soldier to obey
orders and hope for the best."
To his Father.
"Manassas, April 10th; 1862.
"I have just camped about three miles from this
place, and will march beyond to Bristow to-morrow. I
camped at Fairfax last night ; had a fire ; much trouble
in putting it out ; I thought at first my men did it, but I
know now the contrary. I will not permit my men to
burn and ravage ; it demoralizes them."
To his Mother.
" Hunter's Mills, April 11th, 1862.
" We got here last night at eight, p. m. The rebels
have buooed a bridge in front, which stops our progress a
little. But we shall go ahead to-morrow. The weather
is splendid, and challenges us to brilliant deeds. I am
very well, never better in my life."

Affair at Falmouth. 203
To his Father (written with pencil).
" Camp at Fredericksburg, )
April 18th, 1862. |
" Last night I left camp with eleven companies of
cavalry at two, a. m., to go by a secret route to Falmouth,
and occupy the bridge and hold it. I was ambuscaded.
I had five men killed and something under twenty
wounded. My pretty black mare, my pet, was shot two
or three times, and, I fear, is ruined for some time to
come. Thanks to Almighty God ! I am safe and un
harmed, though I heard the balls whistle close to my
head. They say I committed but one fault ; I charged
once too often. We have driven our enemy across the
river, and they have burned the bridge."

The following is the report of the Falmouth affair
made to Governor Curtin by Colonel Bayard.
" Camp at Falmouth, Va. )
April 20th, 1862. )
" Sir, — I have the honor to report, that on the morning
of the 18th, I was ordered with one battalion of the First
Pennsylvania Cavalry, and seven companies of the Har
ris light cavalry, to take possession of the bridge lead
ing from this place across the Rappahannock, and hold
it till Gen. Augur, comma'nding,came up.
" I started at two A. M., and about four in the morning
I reached the vicinity of the enemy. They were posted
on a high hill, with a brush on either side of the road,
and had erected heavy barricades of rails across the road.
Ignorant of these obstructions, as soon as their pickets
were driven in, I ordered Colonel Owen Jones, command-

204 Life of Gen. Bayard.
ing the battalion of the First Pennsylvania Cavalry to
move forward and to seize the bridge at all hazard. He
moved forward at a rapid gait, and as soon as he reached
the vicinity of the barricades, a very heavy infantry fire
was opened upon him.
" Capt. Richards' company M, and Capt. Davidson's
company F, acted with the utmost gallantry. Capt. L.
M. French, of company E, and Sergeant Jesse Fry, of
same company, with Lieut. William Bayard, adjutant
of the second battalion, all acted with courage. Capt.
Davidson was taken prisoner, but finally captured the man
who had charge of him, and brought him and his horse
into camp. Lieut. Sample, of Capt. Richards' company,
had his horse killed. Lieut. Leaf, of same company,
acted through the affair with bravery, while the good
conduct of Capt. Richards is spoken of in the highest
terms by Col. Jones. Of Col. Jones it is sufficient to say
that he rallied his men with the same coolness with which
he led the advance under the withering fire opened upon
him. A second charge of the Harris light cavalry, led by
myself, first made me aware of the obstructions in the road.
I have since learned that behind the barricades were posted
four hundred infantry, and in their rear, on their flanks,
were three or four companies of cavalry. Immediately
after the affair, the enemy deserted the barricades, and I
advanced with Gen. Augur's command in pursuit.
" That I lost so few men, I attribute to the darkness
of the night, which caused them to shoot too high. I had
three men killed, nine wounded, and eleven horses killed
and five badly shot.
" It was quite a brisk -little affair, and but added to
the confidence I have in the bravery of the men, and the

Appointed a Brigadier-general. 205

good conduct of the officers of my regiment. I think,
sir, you can trust this regiment.
" I am, sir, very respectfully,
" Your obedient servant,
" Geo. D. Bayard.
" Colonel Pennsylvania Cavalry."
To his Excellency, Gov. A. G. Cut tin, Harrisburg, Pa.
To his Father.
" Willard's Hotel, Washington, >
April 20th, 1862. )
" I left camp at four o'clock this morning, went to
Acquia Creek and came up in a revenue cutter. Gen.
Mc-Dowell took me to the President, Secretary of War and
Treasury and demanded that I should be made a Briga
dier-general. " The Secretary of War says my nomination shall go
in in a couple of days. I presume it will go through
without difficulty. If I find there is any need of it, I
will see Senators Harris, Thomson and Ten Eycke.
" McDowell will give me a brigade of three or four
regiments of cavalry and a battery. He expects much
of me, daring deeds and gallant conduct, and I must not
disappoint him. I drove up to-day with the President
and Mr. Chase ; carriage broke down ; horses attempted
to run, excitement. No one hurt.
" William Bayard * did well in the fight. Weir was not
in it. I think I will make Weir Asst. Adjutant-general,
and William Bayard an aide, as soon as I receive my
commission as brigadier.
"Give my love to all dear ones at home, and say
* See Appendix F.

206 Life of Gen. Bayard.
although I shall have to lead the way in every fight, I yet
trust a merciful Providence will protect my life, and keep
me for some greater service in defence of the Union.
" I am the youngest brigadier in the army, hurrah !
My eyes are fixed on the future, and new lustre for my
name will be achieved, if I survive."
To his Sister.
" Camp near Fredericksburg, )
May 3d, 1862. )
"I am in the saddle so much that I have little time
to write. I had intended telling you of my excursion
down to King George Court-house, but defer doing so
to another time.
" I have been confirmed as brigadier, as you have
seen in the papers, and I have received my commission.
" I think we will be across the river next week, and
advance. Tell father I sent, (I believe) to McClellan,
his plan of advance by way of Urbana. I regret that
he does not approve McClellan's movement entirely.
I think it all right. The sequel will show. I am sorry I
have not been able to come home while your St. Louis
friends are at Woodbury. I shall always be grateful to
them for their kindness while I was sick at St. Louis."
To his Mother.
" Camp below Fredericksburg, )
May 11th, 1862. \
' " I fear I shall not be able to see you this summer.
I do long to see you once more, dearest mother. To you
and father I owe all my success in life. I have always
looked for smiles of approval from you ; I have longed

Stationed below Fredericksburg. 207
to hear of your approbation of my appointment as general,
and have thus far been disappointed.
" You must write to me, mother ; I do not wish to be
spoiled ; but I am in a fair way for it. My will is law
over eighteen hundred men, and almost every one ap
proaches me with flattery on their lips. They call me
the 'bravest of the brave,' etc., etc."
To his Father.
" Camp McDowell, May 14th, 1862.
" I am here resting on my arms, and weary of resting.
My quarters are a fine, large brick house, deserted by its
owners. I enjoy my position with all the nonchalance of
a soldier of fortune. Flowers of all kinds are blooming
around us, and in the evening the whippoorwills serenade
us with their melancholy notes, as we sit on the porch.
But I am tired of this easy life, and am anxious to get
under way once more.
" My regiment is to present me with a fine horse and
equipments. I am to be in the advance when we do take
that step, and will, therefore, have further opportunity
for distinguishing myself. McDowell has promised me
that. If he will give me three regiments of cavalry and
one battery, I think I may be able to do something.
This is a hard country for cavalry, being so heavily tim
bered. But I shall do the best I can."
The following in relation to the organization of the
First Penn. Cavalry, after the appointment of General
Bayard as brigadier, and his formal leave-taking of the
regiment as colonel, appeared, we believe, in the Phila
delphia Inquirer:

208 Life of Gen. Bayard.
"The brigade to be commanded by Gen. George D.
Bayard is being rapidly organized. Under such a gal
lant and able officer as Gen. Bayard, this brigade will
bring renown upon itself and glory to the Union. Col.
Owen Jones, late lieutenant-colonel of the First Penn
sylvania Cavalry, having been elected to the colonelcy
of the regiment, has assumed the command. Major S.
D. Barrows, late major, has been promoted to the lieu
tenant-colonelcy. The following is a list of promotions
in the same regiment : —
" R. S. Falls, Major of first battalion,
" J. H. Rae, Major of second battalion,
"T S. Richards, Major of third battalion,
" H. S. Thomas, formerly adjutant, captain of com
pany M.,
" Lieutenant George D. Leaf, company M, to be regi
mental adjutant.
" Captain R. R. Corson, formerly quartermaster of the
regiment, has received the appointment of Assistant-Ad-
jutant-general on the staff of General Bayard,
" Lieutenant H. C. Weir has also been appointed as
aid-de-camp to General Bayard.
" General Bayard took leave of the First Penn. Cav
alry, as its colonel, a day or two since. Every member
of the regiment, while gratified at the appointment,
deeply regrets the loss of General Bayard ' as their
colonel. While on dress-parade, the General took
leave of his men in the following address, at the conclu
sion of which he was enthusiastically cheered : —
" ' Soldiers : — I have been summoned to a larger and
more extended field of duty, and to-day we meet for
the last time as colonel and men commanded. Last

Address to First Penn. Cavalry. 209

September, when this regiment was offered to me, it was
with many doubts, and against the advice of many of
my military friends, that I assumed the command.
Need I recall to you your disorganized state then, or
picture to you the contrast now. If at any time I have
been too strict, or turned a deaf ear to justice, I beg of
you to remember that man is not always infallible, and,
as a military man, I may have expected too much of you.
From being but a disorganized mass, you are now a
regiment, the pride of the State — a source of satisfaction
to your friends, and a pleasure to yourselves. Officers
and men, I thank you from my heart for the obedience
I have uniformly had from you ; and my associations
and friendships here formed shall always be remembered
with the warmest feelings, and to the last day of my
life. It is a source of satisfaction to me to leave you in
such good and brave hands. Colonel Jones I have
confidence in, and, also, in all of you. I feel proud to
have you in my brigade ; I feel a confidence in your
courage, and I know that whenever I call upon you
every man will strive to do honor to the noble old Key
stone State. Good-bye.' "
Pyne, in his History of First N. J. Cavalry, pages 38,
39, says : " After a delay incomprehensible to the army
then, and uncomprehended still by the majority, at last on
Sunday, twenty-fifth of May, Bayard's Brigade moved
across the river and passing through Fredericksburg, ad
vanced on the plank road as far as Salem church. On
the afternoon of Monday, it went to the front of the army;
and on Tuesday, penetrating through a barren country,
and fording with difficulty streams whose bridges were

210 Life of Gen. Bayard.
still smoking, it pressed forward meeting with no enemy,
and hoping soon to unite with the army of the Potomac.
Halting upon a rising ground, we heard, far in our front,
a dull, thunderous sound, notifying us that a mighty con
flict was going on between two distant armies. In a
far off quarter of Virginia, after a series of events, we
learned that we in the advance of McDowell's corps, had
listened to the cannonade of Porter at Hanover Court
house." They were in fact, but fifteen miles from Hanover,
and in another day would have united with McClellan's
army. That junction, if it had taken place, would have
changed the current of events, and probably precipita
ted the collapse of the Rebellion by two years.
But a panic had struck with terror the Washington
Government. Jackson had forced Banks to retreat, and
thundering after his flying troops the rebel general was
approaching the Potomac at Harper's Ferry. It was
feared that the daring chief would march on the capital.
Under the influence of this alarm, McDowell's advance
on Richmond was arrested, and Shields' corps of twenty
thousand men ordered to the Shenandoah Valley with
the design of cutting off Jackson's retreat.
General Bayard was now attached to Shields' com
mand and ordered to the Shenandoah Valley. Fre
mont with fifteen thousand men who was north of the
Valley, a day or two's march, was also ordered to
march on Strasburg to cooperate with Shields. The
President ordered him to take a route, by which, if he had
obeyed the order, Jackson would have been intercepted.
This he failed to do, and by this error suffered Jack
son to escape.

Goes to the Shenandoah Valley. 211
The best account of the advance of Bayard's brigade to
the Shenandoah Valley will be found in Pyne's History
of the First New Jersey Cavalry. It is accurate in de
tail, eloquent, and interesting. No narrative of mili
tary events during the war, which we have seen, is more
worthy of perusal. Inspired by McDowell with the ne
cessity of a rapid movement, General Bayard pushed for
ward with all the speed which horse-flesh was capable of
attaining. Pyne, page 43, says : " Passing the house of Turnet
Ashby, in a beautiful valley among the mountains, we
came upon a road swarming with moving infantry and
artillery, until there was no room left for further travel
upon it. With no pause, however, to attend to their dil
atory motions, Bayard forced forward his brigade. Down
went walls and fences on the hill-side, and along decliv
ities, which scarcely afforded foothold for the horses,
where they slipped and staggered ; over ditches, which
they leaped, scrambled through,, or fell, the dashing
leaders, Wyndam and Bayard, side by side, led the way.
Through the fragrant clover, and the waving sea of thick-
growing grain, the troops swept along like a gallant fleet,
while the hills grew steeper, narrowing the gorge, until
we wheeled around an intervening bluff, and saw before
us the glittering ranks of Ricketts' infantry passing into
Front Royal."
Late in the afternoon of the fourth clay after their
movement commenced, Bayard's brigade approached
Strasburg. The First Pennsylvania regiment was sent
to reconnoitre in advance ; and its colonel reported that
the enemy were in force there, and strongly intrenched.
Other portions of the brigade not having come up, an

212 Life of Gen. Bayard.
attack on the enemy was deferred till morning. Nothing
was heard of Fremont. But General Bayard determined
not to wait for him, and ordered a movement forward as
early as possible.
The following evening and night was very dark, and
a heavy fall of rain made the bivouac of the brigade
cruelly cheerless.
Pyne says, page 46 : " Munching in the dark such
fragments of wet crackers as remained in their haver
sacks, the men, wet, cold and miserable, lay down in the
continuous rain to sleep upon the soaking grass, and in
deep discomfort waited for the dawn."
At sunrise the brigade pressed forward, fording
the swelling Shenandoah, which the flood was feeding
to turbulence, and rode into Strasburg to find it de
serted by Jackson, and filled with his sick and wounded.
Without a pause, the brigade hurried on, making
prisoners at every step. There were no signs of
Fremont's army when the brigade entered Strasburg,
Though having more than twice the distance to move
that Fremont had, after the orders for the advance on
Strasburg had been issued, Bayard was there before
him.* Pyne says, page 47 : " Just as the rear departed
from the town," (Strasburg,) " the sound of cavalry in
motion was heard upon the northern road ; the head of a
long column appeared and an officer rode up, wearing on
his shoulders .the stars of a major-general. He (Fre
mont), could not realize the truth that the town had been
* A dispatch in the Tribune of June nth, 1862, asserts that
Fremont was there first. My authority is Pyne, and Col. Karge
and Col. Gumming, both present.

Pyne's Account. 213
taken before him, and that McDowell's troopers were
leading the ' path-finder ' in the chase of the enemy ;
and he seemed scarcely pleased to find it so. When
Capt. Gray, the provost-marshal, told him that we had
come from Fredericksburg, his astonishment was by no
means lessened."
The brigade in advance of all, continued the pur
suit with unabated vigor. Karge and Wyndam overtook
the retreating Ashby, and had some desperate encounters
with him. Some of Fremont's men came up near night
after the fighting was over.
Pyne, page 50, says : " With trumpets sounding and
waving banners, Bayard's brigade marched the next
morning through the town of Woodstock, pressing upon
the rear of Jackson."
Still ahead of all others, the brigade reached that
branch of the Shenandoah river on which Mount Jack
son is situated. The river was too swollen to be forded,
and the rebels had fired the long bridge over it, and so
commanded it with their artillery, that nothing could be
done to save it, Fremont's guns and infantry being
in the rear. Two days afterwards, the bridge being re
built, a crossing was effected and the pursuit renewed.
At Cross Keys a battle ensued, in which Fremont
was worsted. General Bayard had been ordered to the
rear, and was not engaged in this affair, as will be seen
by one of his letters. The escape of Jackson was en
tirely owing to the inefficiency of Generals Fremont and
Shields.* " The following telegram was sent by General Bayard.
* See McDowell's testimony, report on conduct of the war.
Vol. first. Pages from 260 to 269.

214 Life of Gen. Bayard.
To his Father.
" Telegraph office, Cattlet's Station, )
May 2<)th, 1862. )
" I arrived here from Fredericksburg this morning —
am going to move up towards Front Royal to-morrow
morning. We hope to meet the enemy soon. I have two
regiments of cavalry, four howitzers and four compa
nies of bucktails." To his Father.
" Camp at Mount Jackson, )
June 4th, 1862. )
" We have been in rapid pursuit of Jackson for two
days, and have only been stopped by the flood, which
has swollen all the streams so that pontoons will not
stand. I captured two hundred prisoners and got back
thirty of Banks' men. I joined Fremont three days
ago at Strasburg, with two regiments of cavalry, two
batteries and two hundred infantry (sharpshooters.)
I have had the advance ever since. Yesterday I com
manded about five thousand cavalry ; shells burst thick
and fast around us for two days ; but I have only had
one man killed by them. I am in good health, although
I have not had on dry clothes for three days, and we
were two days with nothing to eat but what we picked up
on the road. I have not heard from you or any one at
home for three weeks, so long and so fast have I travel
led ; no mails can reach us. We have not seen our
wagons, even, for a week. I am now in the Dutch army.
Fremont has about fifteen thousand men ; but he ex
pects Banks to join him with ten thousand, and a little
below here Shields with ten thousand men. • If he knew

Halt at Mount Jackson. 215
how to handle them he ought to be able to threaten
Richmond in a few days. To his Father.
" Camp near Harrisonburg, Va., [
June ith, 1862. j
" Col. Wyndam was ambuscaded yesterday, and
taken prisoner. Lieut. Col. Kane, of the bucktails, was
also surprised, and lost about thirty men, and was
wounded and taken prisoner. Captains Sherman and
Haines are also prisoners ; all good officers ; among my
best. Shells and shot flew around me in all directions ;
but I am still unhurt. We lie over to rest to-day, and
will go forward to-morrow." To his Mother.
" Camp at Mount Jackson, \
June 13th, 1862. )
" I received yours of the twenty-fifth ult, the first I
have received for a month. I have halted here to recruit
my exhausted horses and men. Day after to-morrow I
will march from here to join Shields. Whether I shall go
by Front Royal, or by the New Market pass, I do not know
yet. Shields' force is very much demoralized. We have
had none but citizen-generals in command in this valley.
Hence results are inconclusive and nugatory.
" Carroll's brigade was badly cut to pieces the other
day. He is with Shields.
" My command, owing to the men being without ra
tions, and the horses without shoes, was about broken
down, 'and I halted here to let them shoe their horses, and
let the men recuperate. My wagons just came up to-day,

216 Life of Gen. Bayard.
not having seen them since the day before I was at Front
Royal. " We are now expecting to go to Richmond by way
of Fredericksburg. There's where we should have gone
long ago, instead of doing nothing effectual here under
Fremont. He has been very kind to me, and I esteem
him as a gentleman. But he is utterly deficient in all
military ability, and all his officers know it. Jackson has
completely outgeneralled him, and I am glad to get away
from here before he is defeated.
"P. S. I am ordered to go by Strasburg, and will
start on the fifteenth."
The testimony of Gen. McDowell, as given by the
Committee on the Conduct of the War, vol. i., pages 260
to 269, fully sustains Gen. Bayard's opinions as to the
mismanagement in the Valley of Shenandoah. There
were at the same time there three generals, each with ten
thousand or more troops (Fremont had more) ; yet
Jackson, with a force not quite equal to that which
either two of the Union generals had, after chasing
Banks to Harper's Ferry, and worsting both Shields and
Fremont, escaped, and was soon fighting McClellan's
army. The inefficiency of Fremont and Banks was about
equalled by that of Gen. Shields. Gen. McDowell says,
Conduct of the War, vol. i., p. 285 : "After some time
in getting Ord's or rather Ricketts' division together, I
started out to the front. I met one of Gen. Shield's
aide's-de-camp coming in from Front Royal, and asked
him how far out he had met Gen. Shields. He said he
had not met him at all. I told him he had started to

Inefficiency of Shields. 217
go out ; and he said he must have lost his way. With
out stopping to see what had become of him, I took
Bayard's cavalry brigade — the only one ready to move —
and sent it forward by the direct road to Strasburg. I
then went to see "where Gen. Shields was, and found
him over on the road towards Winchester" — he was
ordered to Strasburg. " He had sent his troops on
that road instead of the one I had ordered him to send
them on. He said that he had received information
from his aide-de-camp that Jackson had fallen back.
When I got up there, they were coming in. Well, it was
too late to get ahead of Jackson then."
The following is an extract from the Orders, June
eighth, 1862, of the War Department, Adjutant-general's
Office, addressed to Gen. McDowell :
" Instructions have been sent to Major-general Fre
mont to order the cavalry force known as Bayard's cav
alry brigade, with the artillery and battalion of Buck-
tails, to join your command at Fredericksburg.
" S. Thomas,
" Adjutant- General."
To his Father.
" Camp ten miles from Strasburg, \
June i$th, 1862. )
" I started from Mt. Jackson this morning: I shall
make short marches, so as to get the remainder of my
horses shod, and get them along in as good order as
possible. " We are now bound for Richmond, and I hope we
may reach there before long.
10

218 Life of Gen. Bayard.
" I am thoroughly disgusted with this department.
Fremont's army is a rabble. He is a perfect gentle
man but not adequate to such a command. He has
been outgeneralled by Jackson who made a splendid
retreat. Ashby was killed in the fight with my bucktails,
and it is shameful that newspaper correspondents should
attempt to rob them of the credit of that. We did all
the hard work, but the fighting at Cross Keys on Sunday.
That day I was rear guard, and the bucktails alone of
my command, got in the fight. I stopped the men with
drawing from the field, about five hundred declaring
themselves all very sick. It was a drawn battle. The
next morning we advanced and the enemy had gone, car
rying off many of our wounded. The papers may say
what they please, but God preserve me from all such
victories ! While I am very grateful to General Fre
mont for his kindness, I shall to-morrow shake from
my boots the dust of his department, and thank God that
my service here is over. I regret much the loss of Cap
tain Haines, son of Governor Haines. He was a gallant
and most worthy soldier. Carroll's brigade was badly
cut up. We lost five hundred or six hundred men. The
next day we pushed on to Port Republic. Jackson got
off and we returned. To his Mother.
" Camp near Manassas, )
June 22d, 1862. j
" My brigade has been so completely broken down
by my long and rapid journey to, and with. the "Path
finder," that I need two weeks' rest at least for my horses.
I have sent to Washington for six hundred horses to

Correspondence. 2 1 9
replace those lost and broken down. We are going to
Richmond this time, unless they become stampeded at
Washington again.* I have not heard from home since
the twenty-fifth of May. My letters may be at Fredericks
burg. "You will see in the Inquirer of the eighteenth, a de
scription of the sword to be presented, me by the First
Pennsylvania Cavalry. The following is the account of
the presentation given by the Inquirer."
From the Philadelphia Inquirer, July the 12th, 1862.
" Warrenton Junction, July ath, 1862.
" General Bayard's brigade has changed its recent
position from Manassas to this place. After the late trip
down the Valley of Virginia, the men and horses were
so completely broken down, that it was imperatively
* The panic produced at Washington by the defeat of Banks,
and the advance of Jackson to the Potomac, is here very gently
referred to by General Bayard. Tenney in his " Military and
Naval History of the Rebellion]' (the best History yet written of
that event) pages 235, 236, says : " The effect of this causeless panic
on the part of the authorities at Washington was extremely disas
trous to the Federal cause." Mr. Stanton telegraphed to the Gover
nor of Massachusetts, May the twenty-fifth, that " the enemy in great
force were marching on Washington." The President took pos
session of all the railroads in the United States. The Governors of
Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Massachusetts and other states, or
dered an immediate movement of all available forces. Almost half a
million of men offered themselves in twenty-four hours for the defence
of Washington. And this, while Jackson was in a dilemma, from
which he escaped with great difficulty, and only because the supe
rior force by which he might have been intercepted was not
properly handled.

220 Life of Gen. Bayard.
necessary that they should have a good resting-spell.
There was scarcely a horse in the brigade with a full set
of shoes left upon his feet ; some of them, as well as the
men, had gone two and three days at a time without a
mouthful of subsistence, and the brigade was reduced to
a truly woful condition. But matters have now changed.
Both men and horses have regained their strength and
former excellent condition, and we are ready again for
service. As a consequence, we are now removed to the
outposts. Our camps are situated in a beautiful and
healthy locality, and every one is as comfortable as this
intensely hot weather will allow.
" We are now beginning to have summer in earnest,
and the heat, at times, is almost unbearable. Those of
our friends in the north who are enjoying all the comforts
of home, have but very faint ideas of the privations and
sufferings of the gallant fellows here, who are battling
amid the tempests, the blistering heat, the floods of fire
and blood, for the dear "Old Union." But all these will
be of small account, if our divided land can be restored
to its once prosperous and happy unity.
"The glorious Fourth was enthusiastically celebrated
by the men in camp. General Bayard's brigade made
especial use of the day. They not only made it an
occasion to give vent to their patriotism, but also to give
tangible evidence of their love for, and confidence in,
their commander, General George D. Bayard. Some
time since, the officers of the First Pennsylvania Cavalry
raised a large amount of money for the purpose of pur
chasing a magnificent sword to be presented to the gen
eral. The enlisted men, musicians etc., of the same
regiment, also subscribed a large amount to be expended

Presented with a Sabre. 221
in the purchase of a handsome horse, saddle and accou
trements, to be also presented to General Bayard. On
the fourth, the First Pennsylvania Cavalry determined
to present the gifts. The First New Jersey Cavalry and
the Bucktail Rifles were invited to be present. The
occasion was a spirited and magnificent affair.
" The regiments were drawn up in close column of bat
talions, forming three sides of a hollow square. A com
mittee, consisting of Major R. J. Falls, Adjutant Buffing-
ton, Quartermaster Baker and Chaplain Beale waited
upon General Bayard, inviting his presence in the field.
Amid vociferous cheering the general made his appear
ance, when, after formal introductions to Colonel Owen
Jones and other officers, the party dismounted, and the
ceremony of presentation was commenced. Colonel
Jones, on the part of the officers of the First Pennsylvania
Cavalry, then presented the magnificent sabre (made by
Bailey & Co., Philadelphia), in an eloquent and able
speech, to which the general replied as follows : —
" ' Officers of the First Pennsylvania Cavalry : — If good
words could properly express or indicate my thanks to
you for this truly handsome gift, be assured they should
not be wanting, but would come freely and be thankfully
spoken to you all. I am no orator, as Brutus was, or
my honorable friend Col. Jones is ; and therefore speak
to you but the homely words of thanks. To you, officers
of the First Pennsylvania Cavalry, let me say that this
sabre, saddle and bridle shall always bring back to my
heart those happy days of yore, when I rode the chief of
the First Pennsylvania Horse, and when you and I alike
pictured to ourselves gallant deeds bravely undertaken

222 Life of Gen. Bayard.
and fearlessly performed. The dream of my youth has
been to command a regiment of cavalry, where officers
and men alike ask not where they go, or what they do,
but bravely follow where'er my hand should point the
way. I consider it a proud honor to command a Penn
sylvania regiment During our Revolutionary struggle
my great-grandsire led, on other fields, a regiment of
the Pennsylvania line, and it is now a happy duty for
me to emulate his deeds. Gentlemen, let me again
thank you for your handsome gift.'"
" At the conclusion of the general's speech, it was
received with immense cheering, and every demonstra
tion of enthusiasm.
" After order had been restored, the magnificent horse
' Falmouth,' caparisoned with the gorgeous saddle,
bridle and accoutrements, was led forward towards the
position occupied by the general and staff, when ' Pri
vate Higginbottom, company F, First Pennsylvania,
came from the ranks, and dismounting, made the presen
tation speech to General Bayard, on behalf of his com
rades, the privates, musicians, etc. The effort of Mr.
Higginbottom was an able one. He repeated for his
comrades their undying confidence in, and love for, their
commander. At the termination of his remarks, amidst
vociferous applause, Gen. Bayard, deeply affected, again
responded as follows :
" ' Pennsylvanians ! I thank you for the feelings which
dictated this gift, but I feel my utter incapacity to prop
erly reply to the remarks of Private Higginbottom. You
all know how my affections and pride were wrapped up

Gen. Bayard 's Response. 223
in this regiment, and in your performances, believe me,
I felt the deepest interest j but nobly did you sustain
and* vindicate that trust in our late arduous march
through the Valley of Virginia. Moving from a point
ten miles south of Fredericksburg, we rapidly passed the
Bull Run Mountains, and appeared in the Valley of the
Shenandoah. So fast did we travel through the stony
mountain roads, that wagon-trains and supplies were
left behind. Yet, still onward we pressed towards
Strasburg. Just at dusk, there we see the heavily-
massed columns of infantry, the artillery and the cavalry
of Jackson's rear-guard. With that in our front we are
obliged to pause ; yet forward we go in the morning, and
Strasburg is ours !
" ' We turn it over to General Fremont, and forward
we go in pursuit of the retreating enemy, leading Gen
eral Fremont's advance. How nobly you struggled to
keep that advance, in the absence of rations, and with
foot-sore horses, here let me say to all Pennsylvanians.
A soldier's life is often hard, and full of privations ; but
the trials and privations of the past are often our dear
est remembrances. To them we can look back, and
recall, that there we did our duty to ourselves, our coun
try, and our God ! Again, Pennsylvanians, let me thank
you all for your generosity, and, I trust, your approba
tion ; and when the time comes to lead you forward to
an attack where the balls fall thick and fast, I only trust
this horse may bear me where undying glory shall for
ever hover around our heads.' "
" At the conclusion of his speech, the general mounted
his beautiful steed and passed along the whole line.

224 Life of Gen. Bayard.
The scene was one of intense interest ; the general
never exhibited his splendid horsemanship to greater
advantage than on this occasion. As he charged before
the Pennsylvanians, Jerseymen and the gallant ' Buck-
tails,' he was greeted with cheers, from the men who
idolized their young and gallant chieftain, that might have
been heard for miles. The enthusiastic shouts were
repeated innumerable times. The scene was worthy of
an artist's skill, and will never be forgotten by those who
participated in the joyous festivities of the occasion.
May the brigade, and 'Falmouth' and his fearless
rider, live many days to win new laurels to add to those
unfading chaplets which they have already won ! "
The following excerpt is from the Philadelphia
Inqitirer — about the last of April :
"We cannot fail to call to the minds of Pennsyl
vanians that they have the best equipped, best drilled,
and best officered regiment of cavalry in the service.
" At some future time, when we have more leisure,
we shall endeavor to say more of this truly splendid regi
ment. Suffice it to say, it has performed more active
service than any other cavalry regiment in the employ
of Uncle Sam. Col. G. D. Bayard is a regular graduate
of West Point, and has been connected with the regular
army for several years. Although youthful, he bears his
honors and position with an amount of grace that we
have considered a scarce commodity in several of our
hot-cake brigadier-generals. He is universally beloved
by his command."

CHAPTER XV.
Campaign of General Pope z';z Virginia. — Bayard's Cavalry in ad
vance on Rapidan. — Battle of Cedar Mountain. — Retreat of
Generals Banks and Pope. — Severe service of Cavalry.
ON the twenty-sixth of June 1862, General Pope was
placed in command of all the Union forces in Vir
ginia. They comprised about fifty thousand troops scat
tered from Winchester to Fredericksburg. It was ori
ginally expected that McClellan, instead of his movement
to Harrison's landing, would have come north, so that
Pope could have united with them. McDowell's advance
(General Bayard's Briagde), when Shields' division was
taken from him, was within fifteen miles of Hanover then,
held by a corps, of McClellan's army. As soon how
ever as it was known where General McClellan had gone,
it was apprehended that Lee would make a demonstration
on Washington, and crush General Pope's army before
it could be reinforced by McClellan's troops. General
Pope immediately disposed the different corps of his
command, so as to confront the enemy, whenever he
advanced. The cavalry were ordered to the front and
picketed the line from the Blue Ridge to the Rapidan.
August sixth, General Bayard wrote from camp, ten
miles below Culpepper, giving only his position. Gen
eral Pope in his Report says, that on the seventh of

226 Life of Gen. Bayard.
August, "General Bayard with four regiments of cavalry
was posted near Rapidan station, the point where the
Orange and Alexandria railroad crosses Rapidan river,
with his pickets extended as far east as Racoon Ford,
and connecting with General Buford on his right at Bur
nett's Ford."
Pyne says (Hist. page. 71) : " On the night of Thurs
day, seventh August, the portion of the Pennsylvania cav
alry then picketing at Barnett's Ford was driven back by
the rebels, who threw a force across the river. Bayard
after consultation with Karge, directed him to take a por
tion of the regiment, and sweep round the enemy's flank and
fall upon their rear ; while the general led the remainder,
under Major Beaumont to join the Pennsylvanians, pre
pared, if circumstances favored them, to make an attack
in front. " Before dawn therefore the bugles blew to arms. As
the detachment filed off upon its appointed route, Bay
ard rode up and anxiously whispered to Karge. ' No
matter,' responded the latter, half aloud ; 'I will go on.
It may do good.'
" Not till hours had elapsed were we made aware
that in that short colloquy Bayard had imparted the in
telligence, that there xvere fifteen thousand men in that
position, where we had calculated to encounter less than
as many hundred ; and that our resolute commander had
engaged to lead his hundred and fifty troopers around
the rear of this formidable body, while Bayard as stoutly
engaged to face their front with about one-twentieth
their number.
" Karge, with consummate skill and daring, performed
the duty assigned him. He soon found himself almost

Pyue's Account. 227
enveloped by different bodies of the advancing foe. But
with prudence he checked and alarmed the enemy with
out loss to himself. One of his companies, under Captain
Janeway, surprised a party, and captured twenty-two
prisoners, one lieutenant, and a colonel of militia. His
skirmishers constantly threatened the line of the enemy,
forcing him to keep within support of his reserves: So
the day was consumed, the enemy retarded, so as to be
able to advance only five miles, and time given to Pope
and Banks to concentrate their commands."
Pyne, page 70, says : " To Karge's manoeuvre was
no doubt due much of that over-caution on the part of
Jackson, which enabled Bayard to check the rebel ad
vance so far from Culpepper." Pyne says further, on
the same page : " To Bayard's brigade, and to General
Crawford, belong the credit of having saved the army of
Virginia, and of having enabled General Banks and Gen
eral Pope to close the door, which would otherwise have
been opened into Washington."
Sigel, with his troops (formerly Fremont's command),
was posted at Sperryville. General Pope says : " During
the whole morning of the eighth, I continued to receive
reports from General Bayard, who was slowly falling back
in the direction of Culpepper Court-house, from the
advance of the enemy, and from General Buford, who also
reported the enemy advancing in heavy force upon Mad
ison Court-house."
He then ordered General Sigel to march to Culpepper
Court-house, which he failed to do by the time ap
pointed.* General Banks, with a force of eight thou
sand, which General Pope supposed from the return- made
* Pope's Report, page 8.

228 Life of Gen. Bayard.
by General Banks was fourteen thousand strong, was
ordered to move towards Cedar Mountain. , General
Pope directed General Banks, " if the enemy advanced to
attack him, he should push his skirmishers well to the
front, and notify him." Instead of obeying his orders,
General Banks left the strong position he was directed
to take, and advanced a mile to assault the enemy, not
knowing his strength, but considering it not very formi
dable. The consequence was he was severely handled,
late in the afternoon of the ninth. General Pope having
brought up Rickett's division, and Sigel at last having
come up, the enemy were finally, after a renewed attack
on the morning of the tenth, compelled to retreat.
In the battle of Cedar Mountain, Bayard's brigade
was posted in advance, arid long held the enemy in
check. Pyne page 85 says, " The rebels unable to com
prehend why cavalry held the front of our line of battle,
and apprehensive that we might design a desperate
charge right through their centre, did not venture to
make their grand assault while we maintained our ground.
Little did they think that we held them so long with the
mere shadow of a line — and that cavalry had been hold
ing a place which we had no infantry to fill.
But now as the balls continued to hail around us, a
grave calm voice in our rear was heard to say, "It has
been bravely done, they stand like veterans " — and there
was the iron face of General Banks, his proud eye soften
ing with a smile of approbation. But our position was
fast becoming untenable. A fresh battery of the enemy
had been so placed as to command the whole field in
which we stood and its missiles threatened us all with an
nihilation. Bayard spoke for a moment to the command-

Battle of Cedar Mountain. 229
ing general. " You retire the Pennsylvania," was the
answer — " I myself will show these where to go."
The obstinancy of the cavalry and Crawford's small
brigade of infantry — kept back the enemy so long — that
night was approaching wheu he made his last desperate
but fruitless assault. The New Jersey cavalry were
placed in a position upon the left flank, to charge if
necessary, but had no further call upon them. The
Pennsylvania cavalry, as preparing to withdraw, were
suddenly attacked by two brigades of the enemy, who
were upon them before their guns could be limbered up.
The ground was such that the whole regiment could not
make an effective charge. But just at the critical mo
ment Bayard saw that his guns would be lost unless a
decisive movement was made.* He then ordered Ma
jor Falls to charge with his battalion, and rescue the
guns. With loud hurrahs the Pennsylvanians dashed
upon the enemy. One company of the squadron was
almost annihilated. But the battery, was saved, and the
gallant Falls returned unhurt.
During the night of the eleventh, Jackson retreated
across the Rapidan in the direction of Gordonville. The
cavalry force under Bayard and Buford pursued the
enemy to the Rapidan capturing many stragglers. The
whole cavalry force then resumed their original positions,
and again occupied the Rapidan from Raccoon Ford to
the Blue Ridge, t On the eleventh, -there was a truce to
enable both the combatants to bury their dead and
remove their wounded. The following incident as stated
in a Washington paper, then took place.
" General Bayard went forward under a flag of truce,
* Pyne's History, page 89. \ Pope's Report.

230 Life of Gen. Bayard.
to meet and confer with his old comrade in arms, the now
famous J. E. B. Steuart, of the rebel cavalry. Less than
two years ago Jeb. was first lieutenant in the same com
pany ; but Jeb. is now a Major general and Bayard a
brigadier. During the interview, a wounded union sol
dier lying near was groaning, and asked for water.
' Here, Jeb.' said Bayard — old time recollections mak
ing him familiar, as he tosses his bridle to the rebel offi
cer — ' hold my horse a minute, will you, till I fetch that
poor fellow some water.' Jeb. held the bridle. Bayard
went to a stream and brought the wounded man some
water. As Bayard mounted his horse, Jeb. remarked,
that it was the first time he had ' played Orderly to a
Union general.' The business upon which they met
was soon arranged, and the old friends parted — a fight,
which had ceased while they were engaged in talking,
recommenced with great fury on both sides the moment
each got back to his own ranks."
General McDowell in his report to General Pope,*
says : " The First Pennsylvania Cavalry under Colonel
Owen Jones, the First New Jersey Cavalry under Colonel
Karge, (Colonel Wyndam being a prisoner of war under
parole), the First Maine under Colonel Allen, the First
Rhode Island under Colonel Duffie, all under General
Bayard, had been engaged (the evening of the ninth
July) in the battle before we came up, and I am assured
by your chief of cavalry, Brigadier-general Roberts who
was present, they performed good service, not only before
but during the action. General Bayard who had himself
rendered most valuable service, speaks warmly of a
charge made about five o'clock p. m. by that gallant old
* Pope's report, page 33.

Position of Troops. 231
soldier, Major Falls, First Pennsylvania Cavalry, who led
his battalion against the enemy's lines and charged com
pletely through them. All the regiments above named,
especially the Pennsylvania and New Jersey, had severe
duty to perform in holding the enemy in check."
On the morning of the eighteenth, intelligence was
brought to General Pope by one of his spies, that the ene
my, massing his forces, was about crossing the Rapidan at
Racoon Ford, with the design of interposing between Gen
eral Pope and the troops of McClellan arriving at Ac-
quia Creek. General Pope immediately ordered his
whole army to retire beyond the Rappahannock. The
several corps of McDowell, Sigel, Banks and Reno, were
directed to cross at different fords of the Rappahannock.
Bayard's cavalry was charged with covering the rear of
the retiring army. He accordingly fell back no further
than Culpepper Court-house on the evening of the nine
teenth. The next morning he took position at Brandy
station, half way between Culpepper Court-house and the
Rappahannock, and sent out strong detachments on all
the roads by which the enemy could approach. The caval
ry sent out on the Racoon Ford road soon came upon the
advancing column of the' enemy, who followed them up
to the Brandy station and thence to the Rappahannock,
while the army was pressing rapidly across the Rappa
hannock. General Bayard so disposed his brigade as to
check any interruption of the retreat. As was expected,
the enemy would not suffer the escape of his foe unmo
lested. As the last of Pope's trains were rolling over the
bridge, a formidable cavalry force was seen approaching
Bayard's position. The First New Jersey Regiment
was placed on the right, the Tenth New York on the

232 Life of Gen. Bayard.
left, the Second New York in the centre and held to
gether to charge the advancing enemy. The First Penn
sylvania, was to act as the Reserve. As the two oppos
ing forces, came in sight of each other, and as Kilpatrick
was riding to the front, to order a charge, the lieutenant
at the head of his line, proved to be a coward and
backed his horse through the ranks behind him. The
leading column become panic-stricken and halted in con
fusion. At this moment the rebels charged, scattering
and riding down the New Yorkers. They were met gal
lantly however by Karge and Sawyer and severely han
dled and the First Pennsylvania finished the day's work,
repulsing and dispersing the rebel troopers and effectual
ly securing the safe retreat of the whole army without
the loss of a gun or a wagon.*
The next day after crossing the river, Bayard's brigade
was hurried to Thoroughfare Gap, where without guns or
infantry, he was sent to check Lee from supporting Jack
son, until our army and its trains could be prepared to
meet them. Towards evening, Ricketts with two brigades
of infantry came up, and the rebels were compelled to
seek another route by which to continue their advance.
Pyne says, page 104, arid Foster page 432 : " That Bay
ard and Ricketts had to decide absolutely for themselves,
and without orders from the Commander-in-Chief, on
their own independent movements, with Jackson con
fronting them, and Lee thundering on their rear. No in
telligence reached them to direct their movements in
combination with other corps. Accordingly, after effect
ually arresting the progress of Lee, they retired from the
* Pyne, page. 97.

Gen. Bayard's Report. 233
Gap, and fell back on their only way of retreat to
Manassas." Gen. Bayard's Report to Gen. McDowell.
" Headquarters Cavalry Brigade,
Third Army Corps,
Camp near Culpepper, Va.;
August 14th, 1862.
" Major S. F. Bar stow. A. A. G., Gen. McDowell's corps.
" Sir. — I have the honor to make the following re
port of the operation of the Cavalry Brigade under my
command on the eighth and ninth of August, just past.
"On the seventh/ my line of pickets extended from a
point three miles east of the railroad, to beyond Barnett's
Ford, some three or four miles ; and on that day I rode
along the entire length of that picket line, examining the
headquarters of the pickets, and seeing that the videttes
in front were properly executing their duty : about twelve
o'clock that night, Captain David Gardiner, First Penn
sylvania Cavalry, in charge of the line of pickets west of
Robertson's river, reported that his videttes and pickets
had all been driven in, that the enemy had crossed the
Rapidan in force, and that he (Capt. Gardiner) was fall
ing back towards Robertson's river : I immediately dis
patched Colonel Owen Jones with the remainder of his
regiment to reinforce the pickets, and he shortly reported
that he had advanced again to within a couple of miles
of the river. Before the break of day, Lieut. Col. Karge,
with one hundred and sixty of the men of his Jersey regi
ment, started in order to turn the enemy's left by the
Madison road, leading into Barnett's Ford road, while I,
with the remainder of the regiment under Major Beau-

234 Life of Gen. Bayard.
mont, advanced to reinforce Colonel Jones and attack
the enemy in front.
" I advanced all the way to the Rapidan, and Major
Beaumont's videttes here came in sight of a large train of
the enemy, and their camps, with a heavy force of cavalry
in front : just at this moment a contraband came in and
reported that the whole of Ewell's division had crossed
the Rapidan and were advancing. I ordered Major
Beaumont to fall back slowly when pressed by the enemy,
and sent word to Col. Karge to return at once, as the
enemy were in too great force to be attacked by our light
force. The Jersey batallion fell back slowly and in good
order, and about three miles from the ford. I relieved
it by bringing up the Pennsylvania regiment into action.
I fell back to the road (on which Col. Karge was obliged to
return), halting my command and held that position until
Colonel Karge returned with his force and twenty rebel
prisoners, captured by Captain Janeway, Co. L. New Jer
sey Cavalry. During that time we had to stand a heavy
fire from the enemy's cavalry, in which we lost two corpo
rals of the Pennsylvania regiment severely wounded. As
soon as Colonel Karge came in, I continued my retreat.
" The enemy now opened upon us with their artillery,
and we crossed Robertson's river, under heavy fire of both
artillery and musketry. Col. Owen Jones, First Penn
sylvania Cavalry, here by my order, destroyed the bridge
which for a long time prevented the crossing of the river
by the enemy's artillery. As soon as I had discovered
the enemy's force, I had sent to camp, and had every
thing started for Culpepper. Owing to the neglect of
duty of Quartermaster Hazen, the New Jersey teams left
their portable forge and a great deal of baggage. I con-

Gen. Bayard's Report. 235
tinued the retreat to Cedar Run, where I posted the Penn
sylvania Cavalry on picket, and fell back a mile further
with the Jersey regiment. I had sent word to the pickets,
on the east side of Robertson's river, to fall back, but, the
order reaching them so late, it was impossible to do so.
They remained in the woods till next day, when they suc
ceeded in getting back to Culpepper, Captain Boyd, the
commanding officer of that picket, rejoining my command,
after a hard race, by abandoning his horse. The picket
lost two videttes, who were captured, which was the only
loss sustained by my command during the retreat.
" That same evening, the First Maine Cavalry, Col.
Allen, and the First Rhode Island Cavalry, Col. Duffie,
reported to me, and I relieved the Pennsylvania regiment
by the latter. General Crawford also arrived during the
evening with his brigade, the next day I advanced with
the three regiments of cavalry, to Col. Duffie's support.
I drew up the cavalry to the right and left of the road,
taking down the fences, so that they would have an unim
peded field of action. By direction of General Roberts,
chief of cavalry, I detached the Maine regiment to the
rear and left, in order to watch and patrol all roads to
our left. Two battalions of the Pennsylvania regiment
performed the same duty on the right. About half past
one o'clock the enemy opened on us from three batteries,
to which our batteries replied. General Banks soon ar
rived, and shortly after the infantry fight begun. When
our infantry fell back, the enemy advanced, endangering
Best's battery, and General Banks ordered me to order a
charge of cavalry on the enemy's advancing lines to try
and check the pursuit I ordered Major R. J. Falls,

236 Life of Gen. Bayard.
commanding First Battalion, First Pennsylvania Cavalry,
to lead up his battalion, and charge.
" He led the charge bravely, and executed it well.
The enemy, though advancing in force, were astonished,
and could not think that so small a body of men would
execute such a charge, unless supported by large bodies
of troops behind them. And accordingly they halted,
and soon fell back. Second Lieut. Butcher was killed,
and Captain McDonald was severely wounded, with four
balls in him. Major Falls, in advance of his men, ran
through the neck, with his sabre, a rebel soldier. Offi
cers and men behaved admirably, and I cannot speak too
highly of the good conduct of all the brigade.
" The cavalry was held in the edge of the timber, and
covered the retreat of the artillery and ambulances. Of
my staff, I cannot but speak of the uniform gallantry and
bravery of Captain H. C. Weir, my assistant adjutant-
general, and First Lieut. W. C. Patterson has my thanks
for the manner, in which he promptly transmitted my
orders. I have the honor to be sir,
" Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
" George D. Bayard,
" Brigadier-general commanding cavalry."
General Pope in his Dispatch, August twenty-fifth, to
General McDowell expressed the opinion that the enemy
had marched off by way of Fort Royal to the Shenan
doah Valley. But he was soon apprised of his error.
The enemy had advanced to crush him, and to that end
all their efforts were directed. They went round him
and attacked on the twenty-seventh. On the twenty-
eighth they were reported to be near Centreville and on

Concentration at Centreville. 237
the other side of Bull Run. During the twenty-sixth,
seventh and eighth, the cavalry were constantly employed,
in the advance, making reconnoissances and guarding the
outposts of different corps. On the twenty-seventh, Gene
ral Pope ordered the several corps to concentrate at
Manassas junction. But at four p. m. of that day, learn
ing that the enemy had gone as far as Centreville and
Bull Run, he ordered a concentration at Centreville.
On the twenty-ninth there was severe fighting. " Bay
ard's cavalry attacking, to the left of General Hatch, on
the south of the road on which Seymour's squadron suf
fered severely. These were the finishing strokes of the
day, which we could now claim as ours." * On the
thirtieth, the fighting continued, General Bayard, by
order of General Pope, was temporarily attached to Gen
eral Porter's division, who was ordered to pursue the ene
my which he did vigorously.
The battle of the thirtieth and thirty-first, resulted
unfavorably, the enemy inflicting on us serious injury.
There was continuous fighting on the twenty-seventh,
twenty-eighth, twenty-ninth and thirtieth
On the evening of the twenty-ninth, and early on the
morning of the thirtieth, General Pope was under the
delusion that the enemy were retreating, (see Report
pages 24, 25) but by twelve o'clock found out that he
was confronted by the whole army of Lee, reinforced
by fresh arrivals every hour. (Page 47 of Pope's Report.)
There is an order from headquarters, dated August thir
tieth, to General Porter concluding thus : " Organize a
strong advance, to precede your command and push on
rapidly until you come in contact with him. Report
* McDowell's Report to Pope. Pope's Report page. 46.

238 Life of Gen. Bayard.
frequently, Bayard's Brigade will be ordered to report
to you : push it well to the left as .you advance.
" Ed. Schriver.
" Colonel and chief of staff."
Major general Porter commanding etc,
•' In all these actions the cavalry participated as far
as they were able. But incessant service for a month
had much reduced their strength. General Pope says
(Report, page 26) : " Generals Buford and Bayard, com
manding the whole of the cavalry force of the army,
reported to me that there were not five horses to the
company that could be forced into a trot. Our cavalry
at Centreville was completely broken down, no horses
whatever having reached us to remount''
A severe action took place on the first of September,
in the afternoon, near Chantilly, in which Generals Kear
ney and Stevens were killed. On the second of Septem
ber, General Pope was ordered by General Halleck from
Washington, to retreat, which he did.
In his" General Order of Sept. second, prescribing the
order of retreat, General Pope says : " The cavalry, under
General Buford, will follow, and cover the march of the
three corps of Porter, Sumner, Sigel and Bayard the
troops marching on the road south of it."
In his final report, Jan. twenty-seventh, 1&63, of his
whole conduct in this campaign, General Pope pays a de
served tribute to the services of the cavalry generals in
these words (see Report, page 29) : " Generals Bayard
and Buford commanded the cavalry belonging to the Army
of Virginia. Their duties were peculiarly arduous and
hazardous, and it is not too much to say that through-

Pope Resigns his Command. 239
out the operations, from the first to the last day of the
campaign, scarcely a day passed that these officers did not
render service which entitles them to the gratitude of the Gov
ernment'' On the second of September General Pope resigned
his command of the army of Virginia.
General Bayard, during the campaign, wrote very few
letters home, and those chiefly to inform his family of
his position and his health. Indeed his correspondence
during the fifteen months of his service in the war is in
striking contrast to that of previous years. When at
West Point, and on the Plains, his letters were replete
with interesting details. But, during the war, his duties
were so severe, and his mind so engrossed upon the
proper performance of them, that his letters were ex
tremely laconic, and comparatively few in number.

To his Mother.
" Camp on Rapidan, August j,d, 1862.
" 1 am guarding a long line on the Rapidan, pickets
extending fourteen miles. Be assured I shall take good
care of myself* I had a great deal rather live than die.
You need not think that I am such a desperate fellow.
I hope to live to enjoy the laurels I shall win in this war.
I have three cavalry regiments with me now. I have
been in the saddle for two days continually till late at
night. My health is excellent."
* In reference to a letter from his mother, urging him not to
expose himself unnecessarily.

240 Life of Gen. Bayard.
To his Father.
" Camp ten miles below Culpepper, )
August 6th, 1862. j
" We are here in the advance, and our army is ad
vancing, with I think inadequate forces.
" McClellan applied to the War Department for me
to command a brigade of Pennsylvanians in his army.
They cannot spare me from here. The government
has never properly appreciated the value of cavalry for
such a country as this. We ought to have a cavalry
force ten times greater than it is at present"
To his Mother.
" Five miles from Culpepper, )
August nth, 1862. )
" We had a fight. I was in the front, and on the
flanks protecting the right and left wings. Shells and
bullets showered around me, a merciful Providence pro
tected me. Had a parley under flag of truce with J. E.
B. Steuart ; our greeting was cordial ; nothing said except
about old times on the plains. lam well, but almost.
worn out" To his Father.
" Centreville, )
August 31st, 1862. )
" Pope was beaten yesterday. He is not a match
for Lee. There must be a change of commander on our
side, or the rebels will be in Washington soon. Oh, if
I only had a sufficient cavalry force, things would not
have gone thus ! As it is, our meagre cavalry regiments
are about used up. They have been overtasked. I
thank my God I am conscious of having done my duty.

Correspondence. 241
I had some very narrow escapes. But though weary,
worn and, sad, my health is good."
To his Mother.
" Headquarters Bayard's Cavalry ~\
near Long Bridge, >
Sept 7,d, 1862. )
" Here we have been driven at last. I think Pope
will resign. I trust Wyndam and love Karge, no one
can hurt them in my estimation."*
To his mother.
"Washington, Sept nth, 1862.
" I have gone into Hospital, but hope to be out in a
few days. I shall get leave in December to go home
and get married, if possible. It will take some time to
reorganize the army for a movement ' On to Richmond,'
where we ought to have been long before this."
The following is the report of General Bayard of his
movements during the Campaign of General Pope in Vir
ginia. "Headquarters Cavalry Brigade, 1
Third Army Corps, Army of Virginia, V
Camp at Upton's Hill, Va., Oct 13th 1862. )
" Col. Edmund Schriver,. Chief of Staff.
" Sir. — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
of your communication, announcing your desire to have a
* Considerable efforts had been made by certain parties, prin
cipally from New Jersey to prejudice General Bayard against Lieut.
Col. Karge and Col. Windam. But knowing them to be good of
ficers, he gave no ear to their disparagement. It is to these, efforts
that General B. refers in this letter.
II

242 Life of Gen. Bayard.
report of the operations of my brigade during the advance
towards Gordonsville, and on the subsequent retreat.
"At this late day I must depend much upon my
memory, as many of my papers have been misplaced,
and it is impossible at present to find them.
" The last ten days in July were occupied in scouts
towards Madison Court-house and the Rapidan river.
"Madison we occupied, and our parties also went to
the Rapidan, which was uniformly reported to be strongly
picketed upon the opposite bank by the cavalry of the
enemy. On the first of August, I was ordered by Gen.
Crawford, commanding the U. S. forces about Culpepper
Court-house, to proceed to Barnett's Ford and make a
demonstration there, so as to attract the attention of the
enemy. " At the ford there is a mill which was occupied by
the enemy as the headquarters of their advance picket,
and from which they were driven by a battalion of the
First New Jersey Cavalry under Major Beaumont.
"The skirmish was quite brisk, and I had two men
wounded, but owing to the enemy keeping at long car
bine range, I lost no more, although for some hours
there was a constant cracking of carbines.
" The enemy suddenly disappearing, the cause was
shortly explained by an express from Gen. Crawford,
stating that he had taken Orange Court-house.
" The next five days were occupied in establishing
my line of pickets along the Rapidan from a point five
miles below the railroad, up as far as Cave's Ford,
while my headquarters were moved from Elm Farm, be
tween the Robertson and Crooked rivers to a point two
miles beyond Cedar Mountain.

Gen. Bayard' 's Movements. 243
" This made a line of at least fourteen miles in length
to be picketed by two regiments of cavalry, much reduced
by long and hard marching.
" I marched into Madison Court-house one day and
returned the same evening with First Pennsylvania Cav
alry. Along the entire line skirmishing was continually
going on, and the men were obliged to exert themselves
continually to maintain this line of pickets so far in
advance, and supported only by the weak and worn out
reserve that I could give them.
" On the night of the sixth, the enemy captured two
men, and the horses and arms of six men at one of my
advanced posts. For this negligence, I at once re
duced to the ranks the commanding non-commissioned
officer. " My headquarters were now moved to a point two
miles south of Cedar Mountain. On the night of the
seventh, the enemy crossed the river at a private ford,
Walker's, and also at Cave's Ford, from which I had been
compelled to withdraw all my forces, and not at Barnett's
Ford, as General Pope states in his report.
"At daylight on the eighth, doubtful of the report that
the enemy had crossed in force as reported, I advanced
to reestablish my pickets.
" Lieut. Col. Karge with one battalion of his regiment,
(the New Jersey), took a road to the right with orders to
get around the enemy and cut off his retreat to the river,
while I with another battalion of the regiment moved
to reinforce Col. Owen Jones of the First Pennsylvania
Cavalry, and with our combined forces drive the enemy
back upon Colonel Karge.
" I advanced beyond Slaughter's house, when my

244 Life of Gen. Bayard.
advanced guard reported large infantry forces and long
lines of wagons in plain view.
"I at once sent word to Col. Karge to withdraw his
force, and fell slowly back myself to the road by which
he would have to return.
" The enemy advancing in force, I nevertheless suc
ceeded in checking his advance with Major R. J. Fall's
battalion of the First Pennsylvania Cavalry, who de
ployed his men as skirmishers and held the position for
half an hour under a heavy fire. He had two men
wounded. " Colonel Karge now returned, having captured one
captain, one lieutenant and twenty-four men of the infan
try force of the enemy. I now sent word to the pickets
along the river, below where we were to return to camp,
and all reached camp the next day by a roundabout
road, except Captain Boyd, First New Jersey Cavalry,
the commanding officer, who was compelled to take to
the woods, and finally reached us just before the fight at
Cedar Mountain, losing horse and equipments.
" We now fell slowly back, and just as my rear guard
reached Robertson's river the enemy opened, with their
artillery. " Over that stream I destroyed the bridge, which
detained them for some time, and enabled me to break
up my camps leisurely.
" All was conducted in the best order and manner by
all the men and officers, except Quartermaster Hazen,
First New Jersey Cavalry, who deserted his camp, leaving
a portable forge and the regimental books to fall into the
hands of the enemy, and one more exception I have
again to make. All the men who were left in camp

Gen. Bayard^s Movements. 245
became panic-stricken and went rushing into Culpepper
in a disgraceful manner.
" Those in the field did admirably. I fell back be
yond Cedar Run and reported the facts occurring in my
front to you. General Crawford arrived the next day
and assumed command.
" On that day was fought the hard fight at Cedar
Mountain. Colonel's Allen and Duffie reported to me
according to order. I enclose a list of my losses. I must
again speak of the admirable behavior of my men, and
of the gallant charge led by Major R. J. Falls, First
Pennsylvania Cavalry, and herewith enclose his reports.
" The next two days was employed scouting in the
direction of the enemy's flanks, and then we had a few
days for a rest.
" On the eighteenth, I received orders to cover the
retreat from Cedar Mountain with five regiments of cav
alry, viz., First Pennsylvania, First New Jersey, First
Rhode Island, First Maine, and Second New York Cav
alry. " We waited all that night and the next day for Gen
eral Sigel's train to pass, reaching Culpepper just at
dark on the nineteenth. I received orders to halt at
Brandy station that night. In the morning, according to
order, I sent out reconnoitering parties on all the roads.
A squadron of the Maine Cavalry which I sent out on
the Raccoon Ford road, first came up with the enemy
and finding them advancing in force, they fell slowly
back. " The Harris Light (Second New York Cavalry), Col.
Kilpatrick kept them at bay until all the reconnoitering
parties returned. He- lost several men badly wounded.

246 Life of Gen. Bayard.
" As soon as the reconnoitering parties returned, I slow
ly fell back toward the river, following the Maine and
Rhode Island regiments which I had already sent on.
" Just before reaching the ford of the Rappahannock
the country is open, and for two or three miles offers for
cavalry an open and uninterrupted field for their opera
tions. "I crossed this and drew up the Harris cavalry beyond
the strip of timber which separates this plain from the
river. The Jersey cavalry I placed to the right of the
Harris cavalry and some six hundred yards in the
rear. " Lieut. Col. Karge 1 instructed to support Col. Kilpat
rick if he needed it.
" I sent an order to Col. Toms to form his regiment just
beyond the timber, so that he could charge the enemy
should they get through the timber.
" From the hill on which was drawn up the Harris
light cavalry the long columns of the enemy's cavalry
could be marked by the clouds of dust arising and the
quick sharp report of the carbines proved that our skir
mishers were already engaged.
" Our skirmishers drove back those of the enemy but
this was but a temporary success.
" I had the general's orders not to bring on a general
engagement or I should have brought into action the
whole of my force.
"As soon as the leading regiment of the enemy came
up, they formed and quickly charged with loud shouts and
wild yelling. They caught Col. Kilpatrick executing a
manoeuvre and his men at the time had their backs to
the enemy. The sudden charge and the yells of the

Gen. Bayard's Movements. 247
enemy seemed to strike panic in the men so that they
soon began running.
"They were rallied by Col. Kilpatrick and Capt. H. C.
Weir, my Assistant-Acljutant-general both of whom dis
played their usual bravery and coolness.
" Col. Karge from his flank position had a fine oppor
tunity to cut the enemy to pieces and gave the order to
charge, but he was followed only by his Adjutant, Lieut.
Penn Gaskell and Lieut. Wm. Bayard my aide-de-camp.
" They rode into the scattered enemy, and here Col.
Karge was shot through the leg, making a painful and
serious wound.
" The enemy now charged the Jersey cavalry, and, I
regret to say, contrary to their previous history, they too
began running. I, as soon as I saw this, ordered Capt.
Broderick, commanding the rear battalion of the Jersey
cavalry, to place his men in the timber just in his rear,
and let the men use their carbines, from which position
he repulsed the enemy.
" Seeing the enemy going round the limber, I quickly
rode through it, and hastened the formation of the Penn
sylvania cavalry.
" As soon as the enemy appeared, I ordered Major
R. J. Falls to charge them with his battalion, and he
quickly cleared the enemy from sight. The enemy now
withdrew, and the fight closed.
• " I enclose a list of killed, wounded and missing.
" The Maine cavalry recrossed the river, and were
formed just in rear of the Pennsylvania regiment.
" As soon as I gathered together all the men to be
found, I crossed the river.
" The next few days following, all my cavalry force

248 Life of Gen. Bayard.
was employed reconnoitering and picketing along the
Rappahannock river. Two days afterwards, I was or
dered to proceed to Lawson's ford, and hold it, if possible.
"I placed the main body of my force at the forks of
the road, where the Freeman's ford and the Fox mills'
roads join the one to Lawson's ford.
" At Lawson's ford there was some skirmishing, but
nothing that amounted to anything.
" The next morning I was relieved by General Sigel's
forces, and was ordered to move to the right to feel the
enemy in that direction.
" I pushed my skirmishers to the small stream to the
east of Warrenton springs, but I there found the enemy
in force. " As I had orders not to engage the enemy, I halted
and planted my battery on commanding ground.
" It rained very hard this night and in the midst of it,
General Buford arrived with his brigade and declared his
intention of going through to the springs. The next
morning however I found him in my front having been un
able to force his way through. The next night I staid in
Foxville and the following day, joined General Sigel in his
advance on Warrenton Springs. The next day, the
twenty-sixth, I was ordered around to the right and I
went as far as Waterloo Bridge where I found General
Buford. "I then received orders to proceed to Warrenton
when I was ordered once more to accompany General
Sigel in his march on Gainsville, which we reached but a
short time before dark.
" I threw out my pickets and we established ourselves
for the night.

Gen. Bayard's Movements. 249
" The next morning I was ordered forward to hold
Thoroughfare Gap until General Ricketts came up.
Colonel Wyndam had been already sent forward by
General McDowell and had occupied what he took to
be the gap. General Ricketts came up, but finding he
could not hold the position, he fell back to Gainsville,
while my brigade with General Buford's continued to hold
Haymarket till daylight the next morning,
"Lieut. Col. Kilpatrick, you will percieve, lost several
men at the Gap.
" Colonel Wyndam had detached Lieut. Yorke and
six men on a scout to the right of the road; finding
himself cut off from our troops, he struck out boldly
through the country, and after considerable suffering he
led his party up by Leesburg, crossed the river and came
down through Washington. I followed General Ricketts'
column until we had nearly reached Bristow, when I
pushed on to the front and reported to General McDowell.
By him the Brigade was taken on the Sadly Ford road,
and ordered to take a position to the left of the line
formed by our own forces.
" Later in the day, Captain Leske came with an order
for me to move forward on the Gainsville road and
charge the enemy, but when I reached the point the
enemy had retired.
" After dark I moved forward a portion of my com
mand under- Lieut. Col. Kilpatrick, to the support of
King's Division at that time engaged with the enemy.
" Capt. Seymour's squadron was drawn into an am
buscade and cut to pieces.
" The next day I was ordered to report to Gen.
Porter and he ordered me to fall to the rear. Shortly

250 Life of Gen. Bayard.
after our left was turned and all my cavalry was deployed
to stop the infantry from running away.
" I reported to Gen. Pope and carried one or two
orders for him.
" When he left the field, I reported to Gen. Reynolds
and having sent my aids to order the cavalry to fall back
on Centreville, I left the field when Gen. Reynolds left,
leaving nothing behind except the noble regulars.
" At Centreville I collected the cavalry and was or
dered out towards the Little River turnpike, but soon
met the enemy, with whom, for the remainder of the day
we kept up a desultory firing.
" That night I was awake all night, and just before
daylight the last of my cavalry left the town, the whole
army having fallen back to Fairfax Court-house during
the night.
We lay near the town during the day and just before
sundown we evacuated the place, following Gen. Hooker
on the Alexandria pike, where we arrived safely the next
morning. " It is natural in closing a report of this character,
covering the length of time that this does and including
the number of actions and skirmishes it does, that I
should have many men to point out as distinguished for
their gallantry and good behavior.
" Lieut. Col. Karge I would particularly name, as al
ways ready and valiant and I would particularly ask that
the general would notice him.
"Lieut. Col. Kilpatrick was always active and brave.
Lieut. Col. Barrows by his personal daring was enabled
to give me important information when near Barnett's
Ford.

The Report Mutilated. 251
" Capt. Boyd, first New Jersey* * * *
The foregoing report appears as furnished by the
Adjutant-general's office. The note appended to it, A.
G . O., it will be observed says the "balance of the re
port is missing, has never been received in the A. G.
O." But in the letter of General Bayard to his father,
dated October 18th, 1862., he says expressly, "Have sent
in my report of operations under Pope." He was uni
formly precise and accurate in his statements, and had
he sent in an incomplete report he would have said so.
There is reason to believe that the report was muti
lated surreptiously.
* The balance of this report is missing, has never been received
in the A. G. O.

CHAPTER XVI.
General Bayard charged with tlie Defence of Washington, on the Vir
ginia Side. — In Command of all the Cavalry south of the City.
— Proposes a Cavalry Raid towards Richmond. — Advance on
Fredericksburg. — Battle of Fredericksburg. — Death of General
Bayard. — Funeral Obsequies.
General Bayard, on the eleventh of September, re
ceived the following orders from General McClellan,
through General Buford :
" Headquarters, Army of Potomac, 7
Rockville, Sept. ioth, 1862. )
" General George D. Bayard,
" Sir : — The major-general commanding directs that
you consult, in person, with Major-general F. J. Porter,
as to the strength of the cavalry force necessary for pick
et duty in front of Washington. If you require more
than your own brigade, name the regiments you wish,
taking those now on your side of the Potomac.
" You will take the sole charge of the outpost duty in
front of the city of Washington. Reporting everything
concerning the movements of the enemy to these head
quarters, and to Major-general Porter, if immediate ac
tion is necessary. Your force must be strong enough to
resist the cavalry force the enemy may bring against you.

Charged with Defence of Washington. 253
Herewith you will find a circular, which requires imme
diate attention.
" I am very respectfully,
"Your obedient servant,
" John Buford,
"Brigadier-general, and Chief of Cavalry!"
On the twenty-seventh of September the following
speciaJ. orders were issued .
[special orders, no. 18.]
" Headquarters, Defences of)
Washington, Sept. 21th, 1862. )
" 9. All the cavalry south of the Potomac is placed
under the orders of Brigadier-general George D7 Bayard,
and will at once report accordingly. General Bayard will
organize the cavalry into brigades, and will take imme
diate measures to bring it, as rapidly as possible, in a state
of efficiency. " He will assign to the different corps and indepen
dent commands south of the Potomac, such force for
orderly service as General Heintzleman may deem
necessary. " By command of Major General Banks.
" Richard B. Irwin, Captain, A. D. C.
" Acting Assistant Ajutant General."
Getieral Bayard through General Heintzleman.
These orders will explain why General Bayard's
brigade did not participate in the Maryland campaign,
and the battle of Antietam. The government had be
come thoroughly convinced by sore experience of the

254 Life of Gen. Bayard.
necessity of a large efficient cavalry force. New regi
ments of cavalry were therefore organized, and as they
arrived at Washington, were put under General Bayard
to be disciplined and prepared for service, and assigned
to different commands.
But while engaged in this arduous duty, his brigade was
fiot idle. Pyne says, page 122: " Before the two armies
had met together at South Mountain, the First New Jersey
Cavalry had reconnoitred the whole country about the
battle-field, and while the northern newspapers were
speculating upon the numbers of the hostile force still at
Manassas, that position was in the hands of our regiment.
Many were the stragglers who fell into our hands, and
fearful the number of wounded from whom we took a
parole. " Lieut. Col. Karge, who in response to General Bay
ard's special and urgent request, had returned to duty
before his wound was fairly healed, took command of a
force composed of several regiments, and swept the
country near Leesburg, to the base of the Blue Ridge.
" In the early part of October, Karge received an
order to go to Warrenton. So well was the movement
executed, that our troops were dashing into the town by
three roads, before the rebels had an intimation of our
approach." To his Father.
" Headquarters Cavalry Division, )
Camp at Upton Hill. Oct. 18th, 1862. )
" I am so busy that I cannot write letters. Have
sent in my report of operations under Pope.* I have a
* See last page of chapter xv.

Proposed Raid towards Richmond. 255
force of about eight thousand under me. I shall pro
pose a raid into the enemy's lines, but I fear they have
not the nerve to authorize it. I could perform a most
important service if they would let me."
About the middle of October, General Bayard pro
posed to General Banks a cavalry raid into Virginia.
But with commendable prudence, or lamentable timidity,
Commander-in-Chief Halleck would not authorize it, at
least, not to the extent recommended by General Bayard.
They should have had more confidence in his judgment.
He knew the country thoroughly, into which he desired
to penetrate. He knew better than General Halleck the
forces he would encounter. He had proved himself a
discreet and wary cavalry leader. He had been guilty of
no rash or imprudent movement. He had been uniform
ly successful, wherever he alone was the responsible
leader. He was therefore entitled to the confidence of
the government, and his advice should have been re
spected. Below we give the plan of the raid proposed, and the
reply of General Banks. (Confidential.)
" Head-quarters Defence of)
Washington, Oct. 15th 1862. |
" For General Banks.
" Cavalry expedition projected by Brigadier-general Bayard, com
manding cavalry south of the Potomac.
" The expedition, consisting of about twenty-five
hundred horse, and six pieces three-inch rifled cannon, is
to start from Fairfax Court-house. A special corps of
engineers is organized, provided with necessary tools,

256 Life of Gen. Bayard.
burning and blasting compositions, and other requisite
materials for enabling us to destroy speedily, canals, rail
road-tracks, and structures, and bridges. It is intended
to leave behind the caissons, and to mount the cannon
eers, thus enabling the battery to follow the rapid move
ments of the cavalry force.
" In making the expedition, the co-operation of the
troops stationed near Centreville is so far desired, to draw
the attention of the enemy stationed at Culpepper, and
on the line towards the Rapidan.
" Major-general Sigel is acquainted with the plan
of the expedition, and is willing to co-operate, making
a demonstration towards the Rappahannock railroad
bridge. " The expedition starting at an early hour, is to pro
ceed by the Dumfries road, crossing Occoquan by Hogs-
ford, thence fording Chopowansie, Beaverdam Creek,
Canon and Deep Creek to Morrisville, from Morrisville
to Barnetts ford, Rappahannock, remaining for the night;
the advance occupying Ely's ford on the Rapidan. A
part of the force is to push on the road north of Stevens-
burg, crossing the railroad between Culpepper and the
Rappahannock, destroying the track and telegraph wire,
and then proceeding to Teetham river, destroy the rail
road bridge, after making a demonstration on Culpepper,
is to return back towards Centreville, joining the troops
of General Sigel which were advanced to the Rappa
hannock line. The main force after resting for the
night on the Rappahannock, is to cross by day-break
Ely's Ford, and then passing through Chancellorsville,
proceed on the road to Louisa Court-house.
" After recrossing the river Go Ta, N. E. Creek Doug-

Proposed Raid towards Richmond. 257
las, arriving at North Anna, take the Orange road, then
running southward, cross the South Anna and proceed to
Newark, passing the railroad four miles from Louisa
Court-house. The command, after destroying railroad
communication, would proceed on a forced night-march
to the Charlottesville railroad bridge over Rivanna, where
it is expected they would arrive by daylight ; while a part
of the men are occupied in destroying the bridge and
railroad track, another force will be sent east of Carter's
Mountain to destroy the bridge south of Charlottes
ville. Another detachment would be sent to Columbia
to destroy the canal, which is believed to be one of the
main channels of supplying their army.
" Should there be no indication of a large force near
Gordonsville, it is intended to return by the road west
of South Mountain and then by Cave's Ford, and pass
ing around Culpepper back to the line of the Rappa
hannock. " Should however, a large force of the enemy be
posted near the Rapidan and Charlottesville,-it is intended
to take the road running along the Rivanna on its south
ern shore, thence crossing by the Union Mills, proceed
by Shannon Hill to Potterville, destroying, before reach
ing the latter place, the railroad, track.
" This line of retreat seems to be perfectly safe, as
there are no troops in that region, but after crossing Pot
terville the line of retreat to the Rapidan may be con
tested. It is intended therefore to proceed first to Spott-
sylvania Court-house, and then if forces should be near
the fords, to take the old-mining road to Fredericksburg.
" Should the enemy have succeeded in assembling a
large force in front of Fredericksburg, it is intended to

258 Life of Gen. Bayard.
go south to Guiney station and thence to Port Royal.
Although the last road is very much out of the way, it
presents the advantage of a safe retreat, in case the other
lines are occupied by the enemy. It may be added that
it would be very desirahle to have one or two gun-boats
on the Rappahannock to protect the passage of the river,
should it be found necessary to take the latter road.
This road will only be taken in case of necessity.
" At Charlottesville, I think there are but few troops,
and that I can take the place and destroy the depots of
provisions which may be there.
" A raid on our part is necessary to inspire our troops
and restore confidence through the country in the cavalry
force. " I can move within four days from this line.
" George D. Bayard,
" Brigadier-general Commanding Cavalry."
" Headquarters Defences of Wash- \
ington, Oct. 21st, 1862. j
" General Bayard, Commanding Cavalry :
" General, your plan for a movement of cavalry by a
route suggested in your memorial of the fifteenth instant,
to Charlottesville and Columbia on the James river has
been presented to the Commander-in-Chief of the army,
who directs me to say, that he regards it as too hazardous
at the present time, to undertake the entire route. He
also directs me to say, that the march should be limited
to the Rapidan and Rappahannock rivers. And that the
destruction of the bridges, and communications re
built by the rebels on this route, will be advisable. He
also directs that information be communicated to these

Moves to the Front. 259
headquarters, before the expedition shall leave, of the
time, purpose, and extent of the march. For the reason,
that the exigencies of the public service may call for the
use of the cavalry in other directions. Information re
ceived this morning from a deserter represents that a
strong force is posted at Culpepper.
" I am, General, very respectfully,
" Your obedient servant,
" N. P. Banks.
" Major-general Commanding Defences of Washington."
To his MotJier.
" Headquarters Cavalry Division,
Camp at Upton Hills,
Oct. 26th, I862.
" To-morrow I move to the front, and assume com
mand in front of Sigel. I presume the whole army will
soon follow, and I fear that we shall have active ope
rations the whole winter. This may interfere with my
marriage, which we have intended should take place on
the eighteenth of December, my twenty-seventh birthday.
Unless I could get a leave of absence then for at least a
week, the wedding will possibly have to be postponed
until spring. If there be fighting imminent, Tcannot ask
for leave." The following letter was written by the volunteer aide
of General Bayard, his cousin, William Bayard.
To Mrs. Bayard.
" Camp near Upperville, Va., Nov. 4th, 1862.
" Although the general commenced this letter by
dating it, yet he is so pressed with duties, that he has
commissioned me to write for him. '

260 Life of Gen. Bayard.
"After our movement commenced, our first camp
was three miles the other side of Fairfax Court-house.
From there we marched to Aldie, where we came upon
Steuart's cavalry, under Fitzhugh Lee, with four guns.
Major Falls, with a squadron of First New Jersey Caval
ry, attacked vigorously, and the enemy retired. Then
came on an artillery-fight, in which some six or eight of
our men were wounded, none seriously.
" The general, lieut. colonel and Major Falls went to
the front yesterday. This way we have advanced to
camp two miles from Upperville with only a ridge of
elevated ground between us and the enemy. The general
has only his first brigade here now — expects the second
very soon — while the third is temporarily under Sigel.
So he commands a division and ought to be made major-
general and will be we think in a few days."

To his Mother.
Camp at Rappahannock Station,
November loth, 1862.

\

"I am well and we are here, but I am sad that
McClellan is removed. I hope no misfortune will re
sult. I had a little shelling last evening. I saved the
bridge here and hold it now."
To his Father.
Camp near Hartwood Church,
eight miles from Fredericksburg,
Nove7nber 20th, 1862.
" We are here. It is raining tremendously. I am
in Franklin's grand division — all well."

Senior-General of Cavalry. 261
To his Father.
" Headquarters Brooke's Station,
November, 2 2d, 1862.
" I am now in Franklin's army and command all his
calvary. I am pleased with this, as Franklin, and Rey
nolds are the ablest men in this army. I think our
country will be sick of the bargain before they get
through with it. We are here trying to get something to
eat. It is pretty hard work though. I don't believe the
army will move for ten days yet or perhaps two weeks.
When we do move we will very soon have a battle. I
have been troubled a good deal of late with rheumatism
owing to having been thoroughly drenched with the rain.
I ought to be in the hospital. But I must go with this
army through. I am Senior-general of cavalry. Honor
and glory are before me — shame lurks in the rear. It
looks as if I should not be able to leave at the time ap
pointed for my marriage, but will have to postpone it
till this campaign is over." To his Father.
" Camp at Brooke's Station, )
November 29th, 1862. j
" We are still lying here and the Lord only knows how
much longer we shall be here. My horses have been
taken sick. I shall have to send them home to you.
My horse Falmouth (the one presented), I shall lose.
Rush's lancers are ordered to join me and I will then have
about three thousand effective troops.''
The following spirited account of them ovement of
Gen. Bayard after he left Upton Hills is from the pen
of the army-correspondent of the New York Times.

262 Life of Gen. Bayard.
' The Occupation of Rappahannock Station by
General Bayard — An Artillery Skirmish —
The Bridge and Railroad in Good Order.-
" Rappahannock Station, )
Saturday, Nov. 8th, 1862. j
" The return of one to a place from which he had
been, but a short time before, forced to leave inconti
nently, and with a sharp shower of grape and canister in
his rear to expedite his movements, as may well be sup
posed, is fraught with no little degree of interest. It was
with a remembrance of such an occasion, that I ap
proached Rappahannock station last evening, in the
wake of Bayard's cavalry. But a little more than two
months ago, with the whole army commanded by Major-
general Pope at my heels, I was compelled to leave the
very spot from which I now write under a force of cir
cumstances which all are bound to recognize. The ske
daddle of the Union army from the line of the Rappa
hannock must be fresh in the minds of every newspaper-
reader, and need not be particularly detailed at this time.
It was a disgraceful, because unnecessary retreat. We
again approach the scene of our former disgrace under
more encouraging circumstances. The Union army,
beaten at Cedar Mountain, was then retreating before an
exultant and overbearing foe ; on the contrary, it is now
advancing upon or to circumvent that same foe, and with
an encouraging prospect of success. Then the army
was, to a certain extent, demoralized, as all retreating
armies, must, to a greater or less extent, necessarily be;
but now the scene is reversed, and the enemy, though
doing it sulkily, is fleeing before it
" Gen. Bayard, with cavalry and artillery, approached

An Artillery Skirmish. 263
the scene of their former triumph, last evening after
nightfall. A small picket, stationed on the Rappahan
nock bridge, received the first intimation of the approach
of a Union force, by a shell passing over their heads,
and landing in the enemy's camp beyond, to which the
picket-guard speedily retreated in the utmost conster
nation ; the camp, consisting of about one regiment of
infantry, and a small force of cavalry, and four guns,
was at once in a terrible commotion ; the camp-fires
were extinguished, and the force fell back to the main
camp, after responding to the abrupt salutation they had
received from a six-pounder. The lights having been
extinguished, left no mark for the artillerists, and conse
quently but few shots were fired. This morning the
enemy, having received reinforcements, took a favorable
position for artillery practice, and commenced returning
in kind the compliments extended to them last evening.
Our six-pounders were put to the work in hand with
spirit, and the gunners on the opposite side of the river
were forced to retire beyond the reach of powder and
ball. The enemy's fire was very much at random, and
no one was seriously injured in the Union force. Gen.
Bayard, acting under orders, declined to avail himself of
a tempting opportunity afforded him to cross the river,
and whip the whole camp, and the enemy having retired,
we rested in position. Thus matters stand to-night.
" Lieutenant-colonel Blount, Acting Assistant-Adju-
tant-general to General Longstreet, together with two ser
geants and ten men of the rebel army, were captured on
Friday, near the Rappahannock river by General Bayard.
It seems, from the rebel colonel's own account, that the
pickets of his army were enjoying the effects of a little

264 Life of Gen. Bayard.
whisky, and, to test their vigilance, Colonel Blount ap
proached the picket line incog., accepted the invitation
to " smile " with the pickets, and passed uninterrupted
outside their lines. Before he was enabled to retrace his
steps, and before he was aware of the reality the matter
was assuming, he found himself the unwilling guest of
the ever-vigilant Bayard.
" The bridge at this point is in good condition, and
we shall not be surprised to see the steam-horse, with the
Union flag set, crossing the Rappahannock again, within
a few days, headed for Culpepper. The stream at this
point is low, and can be forded at many points other
than the regular fords. Gen. Pleasanton, on the extreme
right of the army, has crossed the river on a reconnois-
sance, and no one need feel surprised to hear that Gen.
Bayard has gone off on a similar project for the left flank,
at an early day. The owners of property in this vicinity
have not manifested any great degree of enterprise in the
way of improvements, since my last visit to the place. A
few shanties, with here and there, a house in the distance,
is all that there is to be seen to relieve the barren waste
— made so by the exigencies of the war.
"Gen. Bayard's command, for the last ten days, has
been constantly on the move. Starting from Chantilly
in the early part of last week, it was engaged with
Steuart's force at Aldie — an account of which I furnished
at the time. Rebel soldiers captured recently say that
in the fight at Aldie, their loss was much more heavy
than we had any knowledge of; they estimate the rebel
loss to have averaged two men in every company engaged.
Almost daily from that time to the present, Gen. Bayard
has been skirmishing with the enemy, everywhere

Removal of Gen. McClellan. 265
defeating him, and taking many prisoners. This force
has rendered heretofore distinguished service, particularly
when covering the rear of Gen. Pope's army last August,
on its retreat from the fatal field of Slaughter Mountain,
until that army was in front of Washington. It is now in
better condition than ever before, notwithstanding the ar
duous service it has recently rendered, and to-day equals
almost any cavalry force, in efficiency, in the world."
The following letter, was the last except one (exclu
sively on family subjects), and the despatch after he was
wounded, which was written home by General Bayard.
To his Father.
" Headquarters Cavalry Brigade, )
" Camp Brooke Station, Dec. 2d, 1862. j
" My ' Falmouth' horse died the day after I wrote.
you last.
" If we are here a week from this time I shall hand
in my application for leave. I shall apply for twenty
days' leave. Franklin has to sign it, and approve or
disapprove, and then it has to go to the Secretary of
War. If they contemplate an early movement it will not
be granted, nor will I apply for it if there is any certainty
of an immediate inarch onward."
Gen. McClellan was relieved from the command of
the Army of the Potomac, by the President, November
fifth, 1862, and General Ambrose E. Burnside, appointed
Commander-in-Chief in his place.
According to the report of Gen. Burnside, November
thirteenth, 1862, the position occupied by the different
corps Army of the Potomac was as follows :

266 Life of Gen. Bayard.
' First, Second and Fifth Corps, near Warrenton.
' Sixth Corps, at New Baltimore.
'Ninth Corps, with Stoneman's and Whipple's Divis
ions, on both sides of the river, in the neighborhood of
Waterloo. ' Eleventh Corps, at Gainsville, New Baltimore and
the Gap.
' Pleasanton at Jefferson and Amissville, with ad
vance-on Hazel River.
' Bayard at Rappahannock Station and neighborhood.
' Slocum was still at Harper's Ferry and Fayette-
ville. ' There were no pontoons with the moving army at
this time, and our supplies had run very low.'
The larger part of the army it appears was pretty
well concentrated at, and not far from Warrenton. The
President and General Halleck preferred that the ad
vance on Richmond should be from Warrenton to
Gordonville or in that direction.
Many reasons favored that route. The streams to
be crossed were fewer in number, and generally fordable,
the distance not materially different from the route
adopted as railroad, for much of the way could be made
available for transportation of supplies, the country was
well known beyond, and the army was already concen
trated there to a considerable extent. Gen. Burnside
however, preferred the Fredericksburg route, and pre
vailed on the President and Gen. Halleck to concur
with him in such preference.
But a fatality seemed from the first, -to doom the
route by Fredericksburg to misfortune.
November fourteenth, Gen. Burnside received the fol
lowing dispatch:

Gen. Burnside s Report. 267
"Washington, Nov. 14th, 1862.
" To Maj.-Gen. A. E. Burnside, Commanding Army of
the Potomac :
"The President has just assented to your plan. He
thinks it will succeed if you move rapidly, otherwise not."
" H. W. Halleck, General-in-Chief."
In his report General Burnside says :
" This dispatch was received at my headquarters
Warrenton, at eleven o'clock on the morning of the four
teenth inst, and I at once issued orders for the different
commands to move in accordance with the above men
tioned plan.
"The remark in this dispatch, indicating the great
necessity for the speedy movement of the troops was
entirely in accordance with my own views, as the season
was so far advanced that I looked for but little time in
which to move the army effectively.
"The distance from Warrenton to Fredericksburg
does not exceed sixty miles, and from Waterloo, Gains
ville, New Baltimore and other points where army corps
were camped, not exceeding one hundred miles."
The " speedy movement " which General Burnside
approved, as executed by him, was dilatory in a lament
able degree.
In his report, he complains that the pontoons which
were promised him by General Halleck should be
" promptly forwarded," were not forwarded with the des
patch expected.
Undoubtedly there was sad blundering in relation to
these pontoons, the blame for which must be shared by
Generals Halleck and Woodbury and General Burnside,

268 Life of Gen. Bayard.
himself. Nevertheless the pontoons arrived on the twen
ty-fifth of November, two weeks before Gen. Burnside was
prepared to use them. For his report says, after speaking
of the movements of the troops: " These 'arrangements
were made with a view to throwing the bridges on the
eleventh of December."
General Burnside says in his report :
"It was my intention, and I so informed General
Halleck, to cross some of the cavalry, and, possibly, a
small force of light infantry and artillery over the fords
of the Rappahannock and Rapidan, with a view to mov
ing rapidly upon Fredericksburg and holding the south
bank of the river while bridges were being laid."
And why should not the whole army have been
crossed at these fords ? If the enemy could have dictated
to General Burnside, where he should have crossed the
Rappahannock, without doubt they would have designated
the very point which he selected.
General Burnside says : " Before issuing final orders,
I concluded that the enemy would be more surprised by
a crossing at or near Fredericksburg, where we were
making no preparations, than by a crossing at ' Snicker's
Neck,' and I determined to make the attempt at the
former place.
We should think he did surprise them, crossing the
river at the very point where they were best prepared to
meet him. But we do not propose to make any plenary
criticism on the movements which resulted in the battle
of Fredericksburgh. Yet those who have studied that
disastrous event cannot when speaking of it, fail to re
mark some of the mistakes by which it was signalized.
The- whole army on the evening of the twelfth of De-

Order to Gen. Franklin. 269

cember was in the position designated for attack. But
when the attack was made, it was not simultaneous. Gen.
Meade's division, part of Gen. Franklin's corps, did not
advance until nine o'clock. This was the first advance
of any part of the army. But Gen. Sumner with his corps
was not ordered to attack until after eleven o'clock, and
Gen. Hooker's support, was not ordered to his aid until
half past one o'clock.
From General Franklin's report it will be seen*
that the pontoons, by which his wing of the army crossed,
were finished, one at nine A. M., and another at eleven
A. M., on the eleventh of December. Franklin's whole
force was across the river by one o'clock P. M., on the
twelfth. ' At daylight on that morning of the twelfth,
Smith's corps began to cross. It was followed by
Bayard's brigade, which went immediately to the front to
make a recognizance.
The following order was issued to General Franklin :
" Headquarters Army of the Potomac. \
Dec. 13/tf— 5 :55 a. m. )
" Major-general Franklin, Commanding Left Gra7id
Division, Army of the Potomac :
" General Hardie will carry this dispatch to you, and
remain with you during the day. The General Com
manding directs that you keep your whole command in
position for a rapid movement down the old Richmond
road, and you will send out at once a division, at least,
to pass below Smithfield, to seize, if possible, the heights
near Captain Hamilton's, on this side of the Massaponax,
taking care to keep it well supported and its line of re-
* See Appendix I.

270 Life of Gen. Bayard.
treat open. He has ordered another column, of a divis
ion or more, to be moved from Gen. Sumner's command
up the plank road to its intersection with the telegraph
road, where they will divide, with a view to seizing the
heights on both of those roads. Holding those two
heights with the heights near Captain Hamilton's, will,
he hopes, compel the enemy to evacuate the whole ridge
between these points. I make these moves by columns,
distant from each other, with a view of avoiding the pos
sibility of a collision of our own forces, which might
occur in a general movement during the fog. Two' of
General Hancock's Divisions are in your rear, at the
bridges, and will remain there as supports.
" Copies of instructions given to Generals Sumner
and Hooker, will be forwarded by an orderly to you very
soon. " You will keep your whole command in readiness to
move at once, as soon as the fog lifts.
" The watchword, which, if possible, should be given
to every company, will be ' Scott,' I have the honor to
be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"Jno. G. Parker, Chief of Staff:'
It will be perceived that General Franklin was
ordered to send " at once " only a single division. He
obeyed this part of the order by pushing forward Gen.
Meade at nine A. M. His whole command however, was
ordered not to move until the fog rose.
General Burnside says in his report : '¦ At half past ten
A. M., I sent Captain P. M. Lydig of my staff to Gen.
Franklin, to ascertain the condition of affairs in his
front, as I was anxiously expecting to hear that the hill

Co m incuts on Burnside 's Order. 271
near Hamilton had been carried." Captain Lydig
returne 1 and reported in person to General Burnside at
half past twelve o'clock. But it was not until an hour
afterwards that General Burnside sent to General Frank
lin a peremptory order to attack.
A strict construction of his orders justified General
Franklin in not attacking with his whole force, until the
fog rose. But Gen. Burnside should have been abso
lutely certain of his orders to Gen. Franklin being exe
cuted as he himself understood them. Franklin's force
constituted nearly half of Burnside's whole army ; and
its early, prompt movement, Burnside well knew, was
indispensable to success.
Mr. Greeley, in his history of the " American Con
flict," says of the order of Gen. Burnside above, dated at
5- 55-, a. m :
" It was after seven a. m. of the fatal day, when
Franklin received his orders ; which if they were intended
to direct a determined attack in full force, were certainly
very blindly and vaguely worded ; whereas a military or
der should be as precise and clear as language will allow,
and as positive as the circumstances will warrant."
Time in military movements is an element of success;
— and this, General Burnside does not appear to have
properly appreciated. The movement of his troops on
the thirteenth and previously, as well as that of his
pontoons, were dilatory to a sad degree.
Gen. Franklin in his examination by the Congres
sional committee, March twenty-eighth, 1863,* testifies :
" About five o'clock in the afternoon of the twelfth, Gen.
Burnside came down to look at the condition of things.
* Conduct of War, part I, page 707.

272 Life of Gen. Bayard.
He appeared to be pleased with the appearance of affairs
on the left, and had a long conversation with Gen. Smith
and myself. I urged him to give orders which would
enable me to put my command in such a position, that a
very strong attack could be made there at daybreak the next
morning. He left at six o'clock, without consenting to
make the attack, or without saying that he would not
do it. The last thing I said to him was to give me the
orders, as soon as possible, at any rate, whatever they
were. He said I should have them in the course of two
or three hours. I then said I hope they will be here
before twelve o'clock to-night, at any rate.' "
It seems very probable, from the official reports of
both Generals Burnside and Franklin, that if the entire
army had advanced simultaneously, even when Meade
advanced, the victory might have been ours. If the fog
did not prevent Meade's moving, it need not have de
terred the rest of the army from attacking.
The advance of the right wing of the army met
with no such success, as that of Franklin under General
Meade. Sumner's grand division encountered insuperable
obstacles, and was only a. forlorn hope.
A belt of hills girdles Fredericksburg on the south
and southwest. There the enemy were entrenched, and
unseen by our troops, poured upon them as they ap
proached a deadly stream of fire. Again and again did
our gallant men march upon the positions of their foe,
until their commanders saw that the carnage was fruitless,
and would no longer permit the slaughter to be con
tinued. General Bayard was posted, with the batteries at
tached to his command, on the left of Gen. Franklin's

Gen. Bayard Wounded. 273
force. There he was engaged all the morning of the
thirteenth, more or less, with the enemy's skirmishers
and advance. His last directions, before leaving his
troops to go to the headquarters of Gen. Franklin, were
given to his artillery officer to change the position of
some of his guns. A little before two o'clock he rode
to headquarters, to receive such orders as Gen. Franklin
might deem proper to give. He found the general in a
grove of trees with some of his staff and other general
officers. The enemy were then throwing their shells at
and around this grove. Gen. Bayard, soon after he ar
rived, having dismounted, seated himself at the foot of a
tree ; but with his face towards the quarter from whence
the shells came. He was warned by a brother-officer of
his needless exposure, and invited to change his position.
This he did not do, but remained for some time partici
pating in the conversation of those around. In a little
while, however, he rose from his seat, and hardly stood
erect, when he was struck by a shell just below the hip,
shattering his thigh near the joint. He was immediately
removed to the hospital in the neighborhood.
The surgeon, after examining the wound, inquired
if he desired that amputation should be performed. The
wounded general asked in reply what chances for life
amputation would afford, and when told very few, if any,
he declined the operation, and resigned himself to his fate.
He preserved that calm, cool, intrepid self-possession
by which he was always distinguished, to the last. He
dictated a telegram home, one to his betrothed, and one
to his friend Col. A. V. Colburn,* who was with him at
* A more gallant and noble officer was never in the service of
the people of the United States. See Appendix G.

274 Life of Gen. Bayard.
West Point, and on the Plains ; and to whom he was
much attached. He took an affectionate leave of several
of his army friends, particularly of his aide, Major H. C.
Weir, and Lieut. Colwell. Being placed under the in
fluence of morphine, he did not appear to suffer much
pain, but gradually sank in his last sleep about twenty-
four hours after he was struck down.
The following note was dictated by Gen. Bayard,
about twelve hours after he was wounded, and forwarded
by his aide, H. C. Weir.

" Headquarters two miles below )
"Fredericksburg, Dec. 14th, 1862. 1.45 a. m. \
" Dear Father and Mother,
" I have to dictate to you a few words ere it becomes
too late. My strength is rapidly wasting away. Good
bye, dearest father and mother; give my love to my
sisters. I send you, mother, my watch and my pay due
for November and part of December.
# # # # # *

My black mare and sorrel horse I give to you, father.
There are about sixty dollars in my pocket-book. There
are papers in my trunk to be turned over to the Depart
ment (Quartermaster's), to settle. Once more, good
bye, beloved father, mother, sisters, all.
" Ever yours,
" George D. Bayard."
" My sabre goes to father."

Death of Gen. Bayard. 275

About three o'clock of the thirteenth of December,
his father received the following telegram from General
Bayard. " I have been badly hurt, come on."
His father started that night from Philadelphia at
eleven P. M., and reached Fredericksburg the next
evening. He found that his son had died that day at
two, P. M., and that his remains in charge of his aide,
Major Weir, had gone to Acquia Creek, and would go
up the Potomac by steamboat the next morning. His
father reached Acquia Creek the next morning, in time
for the steamboat, and accompanied the remains to
Washington. They were left there on Monday to be
embalmed. They were forwarded thence to Princeton,
where the funeral took place.
The following letter from the Philadelphia Inquirer,
gives a correct statement of the funeral ceremonies :
" THE FUNERAL OF GENERAL BAYARD."
[Special Correspondence of the Inguireri]
" Princeton, N. J., December igth', 1862.
"The funeral obsequies of the late Brigadier-general
George Dashiell Bayard took place here to-day, being
among the most imposing and solemn that have ever
occured in this ancient borough. The arrangements were
made and orders given by the Adjutant-general of the
state, General Robert F. Stockton, for a military funeral.
The body was received here on Wednesday evening, and
lay in state with a military guard from the Governor's
Guards of this place, who acted as body-guard through
out the ceremonies.
" The Marshal of the day was Major Cummings,

276 Life of Gen. Bayard.
late of the First New Jersey Cavalry. The pall-bearers
were the following Brigadier-generals : —
" General Cornelius Van Vorst, of Jersey City,
" General Joel Parker, of Monmouth (Gov. elect),
" General George M. Robeson, of Camden,
" General Palmer, of the United States Army,
" General N. N. Halstead, of Newark,
"General Theodore Runyon, of Newark.
" General Bayard's Aides were also present.
" The military escort was one regiment of infantry,
Col. Napton, of Trenton ; one company of cavalry, the
Princeton Troop, Captain Hamilton ; with two pieces of -
artillery from the State Arsenal, being manned by Webb's
artillery-cadets of Trenton — the whole escort being under
the command of General Hatfield.
" A large number of distinguished persons were in
the procession, among "whom we recognized Edwin A.
Stevens, Com. Stockton, Major-general Cook, General
Stevens, of Gloucester county, and Judge Carpenter.
" Between thirty and forty of the principal citizens of
Woodbury, neighbors of the father of the deceased, S. J.
Bayard, Esq, were also in the procession.
" The clergymen of Princeton and several of the
professors were, also in the procession.
" The remains were inclosed in a metallic coffin, with
a glass over the face, and were placed in the Canal office
for public view. A large number availed themselves of
this opportunity to look upon the face of one who made
such great promise of usefulness in his profession. The
features were natural and easily recognized by those
even who had looked upon the photograph, where he
appears as a cavalry officer.

Funeral of Gen. Bayard. 277
" The body was borne by United States soldiers,
detailed by Major Jones, and United States officers sta
tioned at Trenton. Many military officers, as well as
distinguished citizens, were present, who followed the
hearse, together with the escort, in the inverse order of
their rank. The arms of the escort were all reversed.
The religious services were held in the First Presbyterian
Church, and were conducted by Rev. Dr. Hodge, as
sisted by Rev. Dr. McDonald and Rev. Dr. Baird, of
Woodbury, N. J.
" The discourse by Dr. Hodge was very impressive,
embracing a brief history of the brilliant career of the
young and daring officer; but as I understand it is to be
published, I will make no further comments. At the
grave — which was prepared in the Princeton Cemetery,
along side of that of his grandfather, Judge Samuel Bay
ard — the burial service of the Episcopal Church was read
by Rev. Mr. Norris, of Woodbury. The order was here
given to the military to 'rest on arms,' and three rounds
of small arms were fired by the escort. Any who are
acquainted with Princeton Cemetery will feel that it is
fitting that the remains of so brave an officer should find
their resting-olace in the midst of so many of the illustri
ous dead ! "

APPENDIX.

"A people," says Macaulay, "which takes no pride in the
noble achievements of remote ancestors, will never achieve
any thing- worthy to be remembered with pride by remote de
scendants." And Edmund Burke remarks, " that those who
do not treasure up the memory of their ancestors, do not de
serve to be remembered by posterity."

CONTENTS OF APPENDIX.

 » 
APPENDIX. PAGE
A. ¦ • .Notice of Rev. George Dashiell  281
B  Notice of Chevalier Bayard  286
Memorandum of Ancestiy of the Bayards, by Hon-
Richard H. Bayard  288
C  Colonel fohn Bayard  291
D • • • ¦ Samuel Bayard  . J. 294
E. . . . The Bayards in America  296
F- . • .New York Bayards  299
G-. . . . Lewis Pinlard  301
H • • • .Captain William Bayard  304
I. . . . General Frankliji's Report  3°7
J  Col. A. V. Colburn  316
K- • • .Letter of Gen. George B. McClellan  320
L- • • .Mortuary Tributes 
Letter of Gen. William B. Franklin  322
Notice from Philadelphia Press  323
Notice from Philadelphia Inquirer  325
Extract from Pyne's History  326
Letter of Chaplain of the Harris Cavalry  327
History of Pennsylvania Reserve Cavaby  327

APPENDIX A.
THE parents of Gen. Bayard were Samuel J. Bayard
and Jane Dashiell. His mother was a daughter of
Rev. George Dashiell, a distinguished clergyman of the
Episcopal Church, who, at the instance of his daughter,
wrote, a few years before his death, in the family bible,
the following recollections of his family history.
" My great-grandfather was a French Huguenot
After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis
XIV, he fled to England to escape the bloody persecution
that was then raging against the Huguenots, to compel
them to submit to the fooleries and idolatries of Popery.
What the family standing was in France, I know not.
There has been a tradition in the family, that they were
connected with the family of Henry IV. But whether
this tradition is founded on fact, or not, is of no conse
quence. The family must have been of high respectabil
ity or he could not have married into the Fairfax family.
" My grandfather emigrated to America, and settled
on the eastern shore of Maryland, on the north side of
Wicomico creek. He purchased all the land from the
mouth to the head of the creek, on which he built a large.
brick house. My grandfather was probably the eldest

282 Appendix A.
son, as he inherited the family plate, marked with the
name of Fairfax, which he brought with him from Eng
land. The plate and the home place, on which stood
the family mansion, he left to my father, who was the
youngest son, and but two years old when my grand
father died. In that family mansion I was born.
" George Dashiell."
He died the fourth of March, 1852, in New York city,
at the house of his son-in-law, William Bayard. The
following is part of his obituary, published in the Chris
tian Observer, Philadelphia, April seventeenth, 1852.
" The Rev. George Dashiell was born in Somerset
county, Maryland, and received a classical education, and
was graduated at Washington College, Chestertown, of
the same state. Soon after he left college, he was con
verted to God, and in his nineteenth year commenced
preaching. At the close of the revolution, the church
was desolate, religion everywhere at a low ebb, ministers
very few, and not evangelical — he saw the ruin, and his
ardor hurried him to the work at once. In his twenty-
first year, he was ordained at Philadelphia by Bishop
White, for whom he ever entertained a profound and just
esteem. On the eastern shore of Maryland, he passed
the earlier years of his ministry — a most active and effec
tive ministry — revivals constantly attending his preach
ing, until the whole peninsula seemed to glow with new
life and power. At the commencement of the present
century, he removed to Baltimore. He had visited that
city upon invitation, and a wealthy merchant was so
charmed with his eloquence and evangelical preaching,

Appendix A. 283

that he determined, if possible, to secure his services.
Accordingly, pretty much at his own expense, he erected
a spacious building, at that time the largest church in
the city ; and Mr. Dashiell, then a young man, in feeble
health, a stranger, was invited by a few gentlemen to be
gin his ministry in Baltimore. Until the completion of
the new building, by the christian courtesy of the German
church, under the care of the venerable and apostolic
Otterbien, Mr. Dashiell preached in their house on the
morning of every Lord's -day to crowds of people. God
was with him. Sinners were converted, saints rejoiced,
and by the time the edifice, prepared for him, was fin
ished, a congregation filled it to overflowing. ' So
mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.' For a
long time he maintained a most prosperous course in the
new church. Years passed — and with every year con
stant accessions of spiritual devoted christians. There
seemed to be a perpetual revival. The prayer-meetings
were always full, generally crowded. He had the hap
piest manner in engaging the co-operation of the church.
The members were all active. They were enlivened by
fervent exercises, and contributed to the growth of the
church. Scarcely a male but led in prayer and gave a
word of exhortation, as occasion offered. Of all the
churches I have known, not one, to my apprehension,
has approximated so near to the primitive model as this.
And although it has long been sundered and scattered,
as were the disciples at Jerusalem, upon the perse
cution, that arose about Stephen, I doubt not that its
name is not only remembered, but its influence still felt.
In the course of his long ministry at that place, hundreds
professed the name of our Lord Jesus.

284 Appendix A.
" Under his auspices, several young men entered the
ministry — among them, Bishop Stone, late diocesan of
Maryland. His house was the house of these young
men, as long as they chose ; and his purse was open as
their wants and necessities required.
" As a pastor, in dilligence, kindness and fidelity he
was scarcely surpassed. None escaped his attention ;
but among the poor and destitute, the sick and the dying
— not only of his own charge, but of the many, who in a
large city may truly say — ' no man careth for my soul,'
his ministrations were constant and untiring.
" As a preacher, he was eminently practical.— T&& was
not given to speculation. He had no taste for theories.
He believed the word with the simplicity and confidence
of a child. His constant theme was ' Jesus Christ and
him crucified.' In the prayer-meeting, and the sick
room, did he set Him forth most fervently and powerfully.
In this lay whatever of strength he had. Though not a
Calvinist in theory — he was, as the late Mr. Duncan of
Baltimore, once said to him, the strongest Calvinistic
preacher he knew.
" He was habitually devotional. He rose early in the
morning, always, when in health, with or before the sun ;
and his morning hymn was as regular and as punctual
as the song of birds. Until breakfast, the time was de
voted to prayer and the reading of the Bible. Though
of fine literajy taste, and fond of the poetry, philosophy,
and eloquence of English literature ; of late years such
works as ' Romaine's Life of Faith,' ' Walk of Faith,' etc.,
were his chief companions, the Bible ever constant and
supreme. His devotional spirit was the secret of his

Appendix A. 285
success. It kept his mind always ready ; and his senti
ments always came fresh, warm and glowing.
" His was a most catholic spirit. He loved all men
that loved Christ. Orthodox in his own creed, he could
easily allow for diversities in things indifferent. Ever
treated by most of the orthodox churches as a brother,
he regarded them with sincere affection as brethren.
He preached for them, when invited, communed with
them, and labored with them, to build them up in their
most holy faith.
"He never ceased to preach. Though for thirty
years he had no stated charge, and was connected with
no particular denomination after his removal to the West,
whither the most of his children had preceded him, he
never withheld his services where they were acceptable ;
and up to the last of his life he spoke with a fervor of
spirit, and strength of diction, a clearness of utterance,
a beauty of elocution, and a grace of manner, that won
admiration from polished auditors, and often reminded
his old friends of the strength and vivacity of his earlier
days."

APPENDIX B.
THE CHEVALIER BAYARD.
THE Memoirs of the Chevalier, written by his secre
tary* three years after his death, opens with the
following account of his birthplace and parentage :
" The county of Dauphiny, which now forms part of
the fair realm of France, abounds with good and gentle
families which have sent forth so many visitors and
noble knights, that their renown is bruited throughout Chris
tendom, and as scarlet surpasses all other dyes, the
Dauphinese are called by all know them (without dis
paragement of other regions), the scarlet of the French
nobility. " One of these families of ancient and noble extrac
tion, is that of Bayard, and well have those who have
sprang from it maintained the honor of their house. For
at the battle of Poictiers "the great-great-grandfather of
Pierre Bayard, the good knight without fear and without
reproach, fell by the side of the French King John. At
the battle of Agincourt, was" slain his great-grandfather ;
* The title of this work is : — " The very joyous pleasant and
refreshing history, of the feats, exploits, triumphs and achievements
of the good knight, without fear and without reproach, the gentle
LORD DE BAYARD."

Appendix B. 287

his grandfather was left on the field of Montlhery with
six mortal wounds not to speak of lesser ones : and at
the battle of Guignegaste, his father wag so severely
wounded, that he was never afterwards able to leave his
house, where he died at the age of eighty."
Pierre du Terrail Seigneur de Bayard was born in
1476, at the Chateau de Bayard, in the valley of Grais-
ivudun, a few leagues from Grenoble, the principal city
of Dauphiny. For more than thirty years he served in
the armies of France. For valor and skill as a leader
he was unsurpassed, in an age when chivalry was still
honored. At that time, none but princes of the blood
or cou'rt-minions and favorites, were permitted to com
mand the armies of France. But Bayard often directed
the movements of her armies, and dictated the order of
battle when others were in command and had the chief
credit of success. He was brave, prudent and sagacious
as a soldier ; a christian of unaffected piety, a courteous
and generous gentleman, whose honor and virtue were
proverbial in a wicked age. No vice, no act of cruelty
or meanness ever sullied his fame. He was honored by
his foes as well as by his friends, and his death equally
lamented by both. He was killed by a gun-shot at the
age of forty-eight. Russel the historian of modern Eu
rope says : " Here (Biagrassa), fell the Chevalier Bay
ard, whose contempt of the arts of courts prevented him
from ever rising to the chief command, but who was al
ways called in times of real danger to the posts of diffi
culty and importance."
The age in which he lived, and all succeeding ages
have with one accord bestowed upon him the appellation
of " The good knight, without fear and without reproach."

288 Appendix B.

There are many points of resemblance between the
Chevalier's career and that of the Bayard who fell at
Fredericksburg. The Chevalier always led the advance
of the French armies ; so did General Bayard lead in the
armies to which he was attached. The Chevalier was
always in the rear protecting the army when retreating ;
so also was General Bayard. Both were dexterous
horsemen. Both were among the bravest of the brave.
Both were remarkable for their courtesy and obedience
to their superiors in command. Both died of gun-shots.
And both in their last moments of life displayed that
cool and calm composure with which the heroic soldier
meets his death.
The papers of the Hon. Richard H. Bayard,* re
lating to the family, history, have, through the kindness
of his son, Richard Bassett Bayard, come into my hands.
Among them, in the handwriting of the former, the fol
lowing memorandum appears. A short time before his
death, he showed the writer an extract from a French
biographical dictionary, printed in the seventeenth cen
tury, which expressly refers to the Bayards of America as
descendants from a branch of the Chevalier Bayard's
family. Notwithstanding the philosophic sentiment of Cicero,
' genus proceras et quoz non fecimus ipse, rex ea nostro
voco,' yet there is a natural desire and curiosity to
know who were our predecessors, and to whom we
owe our existence. Nor do the melancholy lines of
Goldsmith weaken this desire :

* Hon. R. H. Bayard was twice elected to the Senate of U. S.,
and was afterward Minister-Resident at Berlin.

Appendix B. 289

" How loved, how honored one, avails thee not,
To whom related, or by whom begot,
A heap of dust alone remains of thee,
'Tis all thou art, and all the proud shall be."
Where there has been anything in qualities or ac
tions to distinguish individuals, it is natural to desire to
participate in the good-will and respect which they insure,
and if not ours, in the sense in which the Roman orator
uses the possessive pronoun, they are more ours than any
body else's.
" The Bayard family, originally' from France, derived
their name from the chateau in Dauphiny, six leagues
from Grenoble.
" The family name was Du Terrail, and the celebrated
knight of that family, who was called ' Le Chevalier sans
peur et sans reproche? bore the name of Pierre du Ter
rail Seigneur de Bayard. He died on the thirtieth of
April, 1524, at the age of forty-eight years, unmarried,
and without issue. The members of the Terrail family,
his collateral kinsmen, adopted his arms and being
seigneurs de Bayard, bore that surname.
" During the religious troubles which distracted the
kingdom of France in the sixteenth and seventeenth cen
turies, some of the family emigrated to Holland, and one
of them married Anna Stuyvesant, sister of Peter Stuy-
vesant, the last Dutch governor of New York.
"Madame Anna Bayard, her husband being dead,
accompanied her brother, Peter Stuyvesant, to New York,
then called New Amsterdam, with her three sons, Bal
thazar, Peter, and Nicholas, where they landed on the
fourteenth of May, 1647. From these three brothers,
13

290 Appendix B.

are descended all who bear that name in the United
States. The Peter Bayard, above mentioned, is the per
son, who was one of the purchasers of the four necks of
land on Bohemia Manor from Augustus Herman, which
was afterwards called familiarly the Labbadee Fort.
" Bohemia Manor was patented to Augustus Herman
in 1663 by Caecilius, first absolute Lord and Proprietor
of Maryland, and confirmed by -his son, Lord Baltimore,
in 1682. .It consisted of twenty thousand, seven hun
dred and sixty-nine acres, four thousand of which were
in the state of Delaware."

^^f&M^^^°

APPENDIX C.
JOHN BAYARD.
COL. JOHN BAYARD, the great-grandfather of Gen
eral Bayard, was born August eleventh, 1738, at the
family mansion at Bohemia Manor, on a portion of which
his great-grandfather settled in 1698. His father was
James, youngest son of James Bayard and Mary Ashton.
He was educated at Nottingham, Maryland, at an institu
tion of high repute under the care of Rev. Samuel Finley,
afterwards president of Princeton college, N. J. He and
his brother James were twins, and married sisters,Misses
Hodges of Philadelphia. He removed early in life to
that city, and engaged in mercantile business. He be
came in Philadelphia a prominent man, and took an ac
tive part in the opposition to the attempt of Great Britain
to tax and oppress the colonies. He joined the asso
ciation called the Sons of Liberty, and John Adams in
his Diary mentions him as one of a committee of that
association, who, with Drs. Rush and Mifflin, at Frankfort
intercepted the members of Congress of 1775 from the
north, as they came, for the purpose of influencing them
to choose Washington for Commander-in-Chief.
The Pennsylvania legislature in 1775-6 were not in

?92 Appendix C.

favor of independence, but a majority of the people were
resolved upon it. On the twenty-fourth of May 1776, a
great public meeting took place in Independence square,
the object of which was to compel the members of the
legislature to declare in favor of independence, or resign.
They resigned. Bancroft, vol. viii., page 385, says :
" On the twenty-fourth of May, a town-meeting of more
than four thousand men was held in the State-house yard,
to confront the instructions of the assembly against in
dependence, with the vote of the Continental Congress,
against ' oaths of allegiance, and the exercise of any kind
of authority under the Crown.' It was called to order by
John Bayard, chairman of the inspection-committee for
the county of Philadelphia; a patriot of singular purity of
character and disinterestedness, personally brave, pen
sive, earnest and devout."
As soon as military preparation became necessary, a
battalion of cavalry was organized, and John Bayard was
elected and commissioned a colonel to command it. He
remained in command of this troop during the Revolu
tionary war. He was in the battles of Brandywine, Ger-
mantown, and Trenton.
Late in the night preceding the battle of Princeton,
Governor Joseph Reed and Col. Bayard crossed the Del
aware, and arrived at the Coxe mansion (still standing
near the old Trenton bridge). Of course they supposed
a battle at Trenton would take place in the morning, not
aware that Washington had determined to surprise the
British at Princeton in the morning.
Just before day, their servant roused them with the
information that Washington had left for Princeton, and
that the British were crossing the Assanpink. They had

Appendix C. 293

only time to mount their horses, and pursuing the route
taken by Washington, reached Princeton after the battle
had been won.
When the war was over, Col. Bayard continued to take
part in public affairs. He was Speaker of the House of
Assembly of Pennsylvania (the legislature then consist
ing of a single house), in .1784, and a member of the Con
tinental Congress in 1785.
Col. Bayard's first wife was Miss Hodge of Philadel
phia, whose brother Andrew was the father of Dr. Hugh
L. Hodge, of the Medical College of that city, and of
the Rev. Dr. Charles Hodge, professor in the Theological
Seminary at Princeton, N. J. The second wife of Col.
Bayard was Miss Hodgden. He soon lost her, and mar
ried Johanna White, sister of Gen. Anthony White, whose
sister was the wife of Judge William Paterson, of New
Jersey, of the Supreme Court of the United States.
After his third marriage, Col. Bayard removed to
New Brunswick, New Jersey, and continued to reside
there until his death in 1807. He was several years pre
siding judge of the court of common pleas for Somerset
county, New Jersey, and mayor of the city of New Bruns
wick. He was trustee of the college of New Jersey at
Princeton from 1778 to 1807, and for many years a dele
gate to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church.
CHILDREN OF COL. JOHN BAYARD.
Colonel Bayard had no issue by his second or third
wife. His children by the first wife,who attained ma
turity were James, Andrew, John M ., Samuel, Nicholas,
Jane, Margaret and Anna Maria.

APPENDIX D.
SAMUEL BAYARD.
SAMUEL, grandfather of General Bayard, was the
fourth son of John Bayard.
He graduated at Princeton college in 1784, studied
law with William Bradford, afterwards Attorney-general
of the United States, and practiced law in Philadelphia,
for seven years. In 1791, he was appointed clerk of the
Supreme Court of the United States. After the ratifica
tion of the British Treaty, negotiated by Mr. Jay, he was
appointed by General Washington, agent of the govern
ment to prosecute in the British admiralty courts, the
claims of American citizens provided for by the treaty.
He remained in London three or four years. On his
return to the United States, he resided a few years with
his father-in-law, Lewis Pintard, at New Rochelle.
While there, Governor Jay appointed him president
judge of the court of common pleas of Westchester
county. He removed to New York city in 1803-4, ar>d
resumed the practice of law. He published about this
time an edition with notes of Peake's Evidence, and an
Abstract of the Laws of the United States, both works,
useful at that time to the profession.
He was one of the founders of the New York Histori-

Appendix D. 295

cal Society, now of established celebrity. Dr. John
W. Francis in his Discourse on the History of the Society,
delivered in 1858, thus refers to him, page 73 : " The min
utes of our first meeting notice the attendance of Samuel
Bayard. He was connected with the family of our
founder Pintard, and they were most intimate friends.
He was a gentleman of the old school, a scholar, a jurist,
a trustee of Princeton college, a public-spirited man,
and a hearty co-operator in establishing this association."
In 1806 he removed to Princeton, where he resided
until his death in 1840.
He was several years a member of the assembly of
the legislature of New Jersey, representing the county of
Somerset. He was presiding judge for many years of
the court of common pleas for that county. In 1814, he
was nominated and supported for Congress by the feder
alists in his district, though not elected. He was always
a warm and decided federalist. But after the federal
party ceased to exist, he took no more interest in politi
cal affairs.He was trustee of the College of New Jersey, and
treasurer of that institution for many years. He was also
a trustee of the Theological Seminary at Princeton. He
was for many years a delegate to the General Assembly
of the Presbyterian church. He was active in promot
ing the course of religion, and with his relative, Elias
Boudinot was one of the founders of the American Bible
Society. He was a constant contributor to several reli
gious publications.
Samuel Bayard married Martha Pintard, only daugh
ter of Lewis Pintard (see notice of L. P. Appendix G).
His children were, Lewis, Susan, Samuel, William, Julia
and Caroline.

APPENDIX E.
THE BAYARDS IN AMERICA.
BALTHAZAR BAYARD, a Huguenot clergyman
and professor of languages in a Paris institution,
early in the seventeenth century left France to escape
persecution on account of his religion. There is a tradi
tion in the family that he was shipped from Rochelle in
a hogshead. He soon rallied around him a congrega
tion of Huguenot refugees, whose pastor he continued
until his death.
He had three sons and a daughter. The daughter
married Peter Stuyvesant, the last Dutch governor of
New York. The widow of Balthazar accompanied Stuy
vesant, and her sons and daughter to America, and arrived
at New Amsterdam (now New York), May eleventh 1647.
The sons of Balthazar were named Peter, Balthazar
and Nicholas.
Peter purchased lands on the Bohemia Manor, in
1684, a portion of which were in Delaware, and a portion
in Cecil county, Maryland. He conveyed these lands to
parties who reconveyed them to Samuel Bayard, Peter's
son, who removed from New York, and settled there, and
resided thereon until his death in 1789.
Peter married Blandina Conde. She was a lady of
fine talents and great culture. She could write and speak

Appendix E. 297

the Latin, English, French and Low Dutch languages.
She left very voluminous MSS., which were lost during the
revolutionary war. She was distinguished for her piety
as well as learning. She was a lady of spirit and great
influence in her neighborhood, and personally superin
tended and managed her plantation. At eighty years
of age, she mounted her horse with agility, and con
trolled him with the dexterity of a skilful rider.
The issue of Peter and Blandina, were Peter, Samuel
and James.
Peter (the second), married Susannah Richardson,
whose issue was Elizabeth, who married the Rev. Dr.
John Rodgers; Susannah, who married Jonathan Smith,
whose sons were Jonathan Bayard Smith of Philadelphia,
member of the old Congress, and Samuel Harrison Smith.
Samuel, second son of Peter and Blandina, had a son
Stephen who went to Pittsburgh, from whom the Pitts
burgh Bayards came.
James third son of Blandina and Peter, left two sons.
John Bubenheim and James Ashton, so named after his
mother's- famiiy. John Bubenheim dropped his middle
name and always wrote his name John Bayard. In Ap
pendix C, he is fully noticed. His twin brother James
Ashton, was a surgeon in the revolutionary army, and died
of the yellow fever in Charleston, S. C, while attached
to the army in 1781. He left two sons, John Hodge and
James Ashton. He married a Miss Hodge, sister of
Colonel Bayard's wife. John Hodge left one daughter.
James Ashton graduated at Princeton college 1784,
studied law in Philadelphia with James Ingersoll, and
commenced practice in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1787.
He was married to Anne Bassett, daughter of Governor

298 Appendix E.

Bassett, of that state, who was also a senator in Congress,
and judge of the Supreme Court of the United States,
under the act passed at the close of John Adams' presi
dency. James A., his son-in-law, was long distinguished as a
politician and a statesman.
He was elected to the House of Representatives of
Congress in 1796, and continued a member until 1803.
Elected to the Senate of the United States in 1804, and
remained in the Senate until 1813, when he was appointed
commissioner to Ghent, to treat for peace with England.
He was appointed Minister to Russia in 18 15, but de
clined, and returning home, died July thirtieth, 1815.
He took a prominent part in the election of president by
the House of Representatives in 1801, as a leader of the
Federal party, which after thirty-six ballots elected Mr.
Jefferson. Having been appointed by Mr. Adams, Min
ister to France, and confirmed by the Senate on the nine
teenth of Feb., 1801, he promptly declined, and, in a
letter to his cousin, Samuel Bayard, of Princeton, said,
that he could not consent to hold the office at the will of
Mr. Jefferson. He and Gen. Pinckney, of South Caro
lina, and Morris, of New Hampshire, having terminated
the contest by casting blank ballots, he said that he had
ever made the motto of the Chevalier Bayard " without
fear and without reproach," the rule of his conduct. His
great speech, on the repeal of the Act respecting the or
ganization of the Supreme Court, was long considered
one of the ablest ever made in Congress.
He left four sons, and one daughter. The daughter
never married. The sons were Richard H., James A.,
Edward, and Henry.

APPENDIX F.
THE NEW YORK BAYARDS.
BALTHAZAR BAYARD, who came over with Stuy
vesant in 1647, married a Lockermans, and left a
son and three daughters. The eldest daughter married
Augustus Jay, grandfather of John Jay, Chief Justice of
the United States. The second daughter married Samuel
Verplanck. The son, Jacobus, married a Miss De Kay.
His son married Mary Bowdoin, half-sister of Governor
Bowdoin of Massachusetts.
Nicholas was the youngest of the three Bayards, who
arrived in America in 1647. From him and Balthazar
have descended the New York Bayards. He married a
sister of Governor Stuyvesant, we think, before he left
Holland. He was many years a member of the Council
of State for the colonial Dutch government. H e was
eminent for his piety, as well as his political influence.
In the turbulent period in which he lived, his integrity
was esteemed by all parties. In the changes from Dutch
to English, and from English to Dutch, and again to Eng
lish supremacy, he maintained a high position. The
demagogue Lester, during his usurped authority, found in
Bayard a formidable impediment, and caused him to be

300 Appendix F.

indicted for high treason. The judge — Atwood — like
another Jeffries, compelled the jury to find him guilty
and sentenced him to be hung. He appealed to Queen
Anne, and was pardoned (see Howell's State Trials, vol.
xiv.) . Lester was subsequently tried and convicted of
high treason, and hung.*
Nicholas was several times mayor of New York, and
when not mayor was generally an alderman. He died in
1711, leaving a son Samuel. His descendants intermar
ried with the Livingstons and Van Renssaelaers of Al
bany, and many of them, through the course of a hundred
years, were often aldermen and sometimes mayors of
New York city.f Samuel Bayard (a descendant of Nich
olas), who was the owner of the land now covered by the
city of Hoboken, took a military commission from the
British. After the war of the Revolution commenced, his
property was confiscated, and bought by Col. John
Stevens, whose grandchildren (Samuel Bayard, late of
Princeton, being their great-grandfather), will inherit it ;
their father, a son of Col. John Stevens, having married
Martha Dod, grand-daughter of Samuel Bayard.
The greater number of the Bayards of New York were
Whigs, when the war of the Revolution commenced. A
few were Tories, and emigrated to Nova Scotia, where
their descendants are now living.
* See Brodhead's History of New York, vol. 2, and
Smith's do dp do page 233.
* Valentine's History of New York.

APPENDIX G.

LEWIS PINTARD.

LEWIS PINTARD, great-grandfather of General
Bayard, was born in New York, in 1732; his father
a French Huguenot, having emigrated from France some
years previous to the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes.
When he was sixteen years old, his father died, and he
immediately took charge of the business of his father, who
was an importing merchant. Before the troubles which led
to the Revolutionary war, he some years paid more than one
third of the port charges of New York city. He was a
"cousin of Elias Boudinot, and they married the sisters of
Richard Stockton, the signer of the Declaration of Inde
pendence. Captain Pintard, his brother, who, before the
Revolutionary war, was an officer in the British army,
married another sister. Captain Pintard was unwilling
to fight for, or against the king, whose commission he
held. He went, when the war commenced, to the island
of Madeira, accompanied by the only son of his brother
Lewis, Marsden Pintard. When the war was over,
Marsden Pintard was appointed Consul of the United
States for Madeira. He and his father then became the
chief importers of Madeira wine into the United States.
Lewis Pintard, after the war, was among the first who

302 Appendix G.

engaged in trade to the East Indies, then first opened to
Americans. Lewis Pintard's only daughter, Martha,
married Samuel Bayard.
Elias Boudinot was Commissary-general of the Revo
lutionary army, and Lewis Pintard acted for him as his
deputy. Mr Pintard entrusted the bulk of his fortune
to his son (he having retired from business), who was
ruined by the French spoliations of 1797-8, for which his
heirs have a valid claim on the government. His nephew
John Pintard (who, left an orphan when a child, was
brought up by him as an adopted son), was one of the
the most eminent merchants of New York, and a great
benefactor of that city.
Walter Barrett, in his " Old Merchants of New York"
page 217, speaks of "the proud old mercantile race of
Pinlards, that have flourished in this city almost two
hundred years." Of John Pintard he says, " the word il
lustrious applies as well as to any man that ever lived."
The following letter of Gen. Washington to Lieut-
general Howe, British Commander-in-Chief, is to be found
in Sparks' "Writings of Washington," vol. iv. page 287.
" Headquarters Morristown, )
January 20th, 1777. j
" Sir : — I take the liberty to propose the establish
ment of an officer to reside at New York, under parole,
to transmit no intelligence but what belongs to his office;
whose business it shall be to provide necessaries for
such prisoners as fall into your hands. Perhaps the es
tablishment of such an officer with proper credits, may
put a stop to the many complaints which I am daily under
the necessity of hearing, some of them probably without

Appendix G.

303

foundation, and others from the want of many things
which you are not obliged to furnish the prisoners. The
gentleman whom I would beg leave to recommend as a
proper agent is Mr. Lewis Pintard, the bearer, a person
well-known in New York, and of long established repu
tation as a considerable merchant."

APPENDIX H.

CAPTAIN WILLIAM BAYARD.

WILLIAM BAYARD, late Captain United States
Army, a double cousin of General Bayard, (their
fathers being brothers, married sisters, daughters of the
Rev. George Dashiell), was at San Antonio, Texas, when
the war commenced on a visit to his uncle J. Yellot Dashiell,
formerly suvgeon in United States Army, more recent
ly Adjutant-general of Texas during the rebellion. Hav
ing refused to stay in Texas, he was put under moderate
restraint. Soon after, Charles Anderson, (brother of Gen.
Anderson in command of Fort Sumter, and subse
quently Lieutenant-governor of Ohio), was intercepted
on his attempt to leave Texas, and placed with Bayard
under the same restraint. They soon came to a common
understanding to escape to the North. Through the aid
of Union friends in San Antonio, Bayard and Anderson
procured mules and started for the Mexican frontier, and
after many narrow escapes in Mexico (where for safety
they had separated), they arrived in New York in the
winter of 1861. Mr. Anderson reached New York first,
he immediately visited the father of young Bayard and
expressed a high opinion of his gallantry and courage and
his (Mr. A's) great obligation to him for his assistance in

Appendix H. 305

escaping from Texas. He said that as soon as William
arrived, he must come to Washington, and every effort
would be made by Mr. Anderson and his friends to pro
cure him a commission in the army, which he was anxious
to obtain. Without delay after his arrival he proceeded to Wash
ington, and was introduced by Mr. Anderson to the
President and Secretary of War, and his merits properly
represented. He was promised a commission as a sec
ond-lieutenant in the army, and in the meantime joined
his cousin then Colonel of the First Pennsylvania cavalry,
and was made by him battalion-adjutant. He was with
General Bayard in the Falmouth night encounter, April
eighteenth, 1862, and foremost in the fight. He was
with his regiment throughout all the campaign of General
Pope in Virginia. He participated in the battle of
Cedar Mountain, and the second battle of Bull Run, and
was with General Bayard in the valley of the Shenan
doah in pursuit of Jackson. In September, the grade of
battalion-adjutant having been abolished, he become vol
unteer-aide to his cousin. He was on leave of absence
for a few days, when the battle of Fredericksburg took
place. After that event, application was again made in"
his behalf for a commission. It was promised but not
bestowed. But the whole heart of this noble young man
was devoted to his country, and he determined to fight
for her, with or without commission. He therefore, Feb
ruary 1863, enlisted as a private in the Fourth cavalry,
(formerly the First), the regiment to which his cousin had
belonged. He served in the ranks as. a private with that
regiment then in Tennessee, under Rosecrans in the
campaign of Chickamauga. His gallantry and soldierly

306 Appendtx H.
conduct were soon rewarded with promotion, and in
October 1863, he was commissioned second-lieutenant;
December 1864, brevet first-lieutenant for meritorious
services in pursuit of Hood ; in April 1865, for gallantry
in charging with his regiment the earthworks at Selma
Alabama, brevet-captain and brevet-major ; and in July,
1866, was commissioned captain.
During his progress from a private to first-lieutenant,
and brevet-major, he served in all the campaigns from
Chickamauga, in the summer of 1863, to Chattanooga,
Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Nashville, and Selma.
After the war, at his own request, he was transferred
to the Ninth Cavalry, then stationed on the western fron
tier of Texas.
In January 187 1, by virtue of" General Order No. 1,"
Adjutant-general's Office, Washington, January second,
187 1, he was placed on the list of supernumeraries, and
dropped from the rolls : a case of flagrant and wanton
injustice.

APPENDIX I.
REPORT OF MAJOR-GEN. W. B. FRANKLIN.
{Battle of Fredericksburg, Va.)
" Headquarters Left Grand Division, )
jfanuary 2d, 1863. \
" S~* ENERAL : — I have the honor to make the follow-
VJ ing report of the operations of the Left Grand
Division, from the eleventh to the fifteenth ult :
" On the tenth ult, I was directed to march to the
bank of the Rappahannock, at the point determined for
crossing, by means of two pontoon bridges below Fred
ericksburg, at a distance of about one and a quarter
miles. At five o'clock a. m., on the eleventh ult., both
corps started by separate roads, and arrived at the des
ignated point about half-past seven a. m. The state of
things at the bridges at this time was the following: Both
bridges were in course of construction ; the lower about
two-thirds finished, the upper about half finished. At
nine o'clock, the lower bridge was entirely completed, at
eleven o'clock, both were reported as completed, and
passable for troops of all arms. The enemy made but
feeble efforts to prevent the construction of the bridges.

308 Appendix I.

The fact of the completion of the bridges having been re
ported to the Commanding-general, I was directed to keep
my position until further orders, taking care to, prevent
any danger of their destruction by the enemy. At four
p. m., I was instructed to cross my whole command,
which order was shortly afterwards modified, so that my
orders were to cross about a brigade to ensure the safety
of the bridges. Davis' brigade of Newton's division,
Smith's corps, crossed with great enthusiasm, and took
position on the south bank "about dark. Some of the
troops of Brook's division also crossed, but returned in
obedience to the orders as modified. Devins' brigade
drove away the enemy's pickets from the houses near the
crossing, threw out a line of pickets to the left and front,
and held the position during the night.
" At daylight on the morning of the twelfth, Smith's
corps began to cross. It was followed by Bayard's bri
gade of cavalry, which went immediately to the front to
make a reconnoissance. Reynolds' corps followed Bay
ard, and by one o'clock p. m., the whole of the grand
division was on the south bank of the river. The cross
ing was made in excellent order without the slightest
confusion or stoppage. Smith's corps had been pre
viously ordered in compliance with the directions of the
Commanding-general, to form parallel to the old Rich
mond road with two divisions in front and one in reserve.
Reynolds' corps was to form at nearly right angles to
Smith's ; his right resting on Smith's, and his left on the
river. Two divisions were to be in line of battle and one
in reserve. The artillery was to be posted and used ac
cording to the direction of the Corps-commanders, as

Appendix I. 309

the nature of the ground and position of the enemy might
determine. 1
" The dispositions indicated were made in the face of
some slight opposition by the enemy's skirmishers, and
a spiteful though nearly harmless fire from his artillery,
and by four 'o clock the troops were in positions assigned
to them. The ground on which the troops were dis
posed is in general a plain. It is cultivated and much
cut up by hedges and ditches. The old Richmond road
traverses the plain from right to left about one mile from
the river, and nearly parallel to it. This road is bor
dered on both sides by an earthern parapet and ditch, and
is an exceedingly strong feature in the defence of the
ground, had the enemy chosen to hold it. On the right
of my position is a deep run, and on the left about one
mile in front of Reynolds' is Massaponax Creek. Both
streams are tributaries of the Rappahannock. The plain
is bordered by a range of high hills in front, which
stretches from Fredericksburg to the Massaponax,
nearly parallel to the old Richmond road, about five hun
dred or six hundred yards from it ; at the foot of the
range of hills is the railroad. The ravine through which
Deep Creek runs, passes through the hills near the centre
of my front. Two brigades of Brook's division, Smith's
corps, were in front of Deep Creek, forming the extreme
right. The remainder of Smith's troops were in rear and
to the left of Deep Creek, Reynolds' corps being about
one mile from the Massaponax. The enemy had artil
lery on the hills and in the valley of Deep Creek, in the
wood near- Reynolds' right and on the Massaponax, so
that the whole field was surrounded by it, except the
right flank. His infantry appeared in all directions

310 Appendix I.

around the position. In front of Reynolds' right, the
forest extends to the old Richmond road, coming nearer
the river there, than at any other point in the vicinity of
my position. The railroad traverses the forest.
" About a quarter to eight o'clock, on the morning of
the thirteenth, Brigadier-general Hardie arrived from
general headquarters, and informed me verbally of the
designs of the Commanding-general in reference to the
attack ; and that written orders would soon arrive by an
aide-de-camp. These orders arrived soon after eight
o'clock. In the meantime I had informed General Rey
nolds that his corps was to make the attack indicated by
General Hardie ; and he ordered Meade's division to the
point of attack to-be supported by Gibbon's division.
As Smith's corps was in position when the order of attack
was received, and as a change of the line would have
been attended with great risk at that time, and would
have caused much delay, I considered it impracticable to
add his force to that about to make the attack. I thought
also that General Reynolds' force of three divisions would
be sufficient to carry out the spirit of the order : the words
of it being, ' you will send out at once a division at least
 —  taking care to keep it well supported and
its line of retreat open.'
" At half-past eight o'clock, General Meade's division
moved forward about five hundred yards, and turning to
the right pushed towards the wood near the Bowling Green
road. It was met by a severe fire of artillery. The fire
was answered by the artillery of Reynolds' corps, which
in the course of two hours or more silenced the enemy's
batteries. The woods in which the enemy's infantry was
posted, were then shelled for more than half-an-hour, and

Appendix I. 311

Meade's division immediately afterwards moved on to the
attack. " In the meantime the two divisions of General Stone-
man's corps which had been detailed as supports, and
were then at the bridges, I ordered over to the support
of General Reynolds. The advance of General Meade,
was made under a general fire of the enemy's batteries,
which was answered by all of Reynolds' and Smith's
batteries, so that the artillery action became general
along the whole line. Meade passed into the woods,
carried them, crossed the railroad and gained the crest
of the hill, capturing two flags, and about two hundred
prisoners. At the crest of the hill the combat was kept
up for some time. At the same time Gibbon's division
advanced, crossed the railroad, entered the woods, took
some prisoners, driving back the first line of the enemy.
But the woods were so dense that the connection between
Meade and his line could not be kept up.
" In consequence of this fact, Meade's line which was
vigorously attacked by a large column of fresh troops,
could not hold its ground and was repulsed, leaving the
woods at a walk but not in order. Generals Reynolds
and Meade rallied them beyond the Bowling Green
road. Gibbon's division was also repulsed shortly after
wards. Just as Meade was repulsed, two regiments of
Berry's brigade, Birney's division, Stoneman's corps,
which had just arrived, were thrown into the woods on
Gibbon's left. They also were soon driven out.
" While Meade's division was getting rallied, the re
mainder of Birney's division came up and drove the
enemy from the front of the "woods where he had appeared
in strong force. This division with the aid of the artillery

312 Appendix I.

soon drove the enemy back to shelter, and he did not
again appear. It also materially aided in saving Hall's
battery, then seriously threatened. Gibbon's division
then fell back in good order to its position of the morning
and was relieved by General Sickles' division of Stone-
man's corps, which took the position Gibbon had pre
viously held. As the enemy made a serious demonstra
tion on Reynolds' left, as soon as his disposition of
Meade's division was discovered, he ordered General
Doubleday's division to that part of the field. This divis
ion soon drove off the enemy's artillery forcing him to
leave the river bank on this side of the Massaponax.
Our troops advanced on the left and occupied the posi
tion held by the enemy in the morning.
" The operations on the left were materially aided by
Captain De Russey, who brought his batteries opposite
the mouth of Massaponax Creek, and drove the enemy
from several artillery positions. But we were annoyed
continually by firing from the other side of the Massa
ponax from long range guns. Little harm, however, was
done by them. When Birney's and Sickles' divisions
were placed in position, it had become too late to organ
ize another attack before dark, and all of the troops
under my command had either been engaged or were in
line, except Newton's division, Smith's corps, which was
held in reserve for both corps after the whole of Reynolds'
corps had been engaged.
" Burn's division of Wilcox's corps was guarding the
bridges, and on many accounts it would have been im
prudent to have taken it away.
" While the engagement was progressing on the left,
Smith's line of skirmishers was nearly constantly engaged,

Appendix I. 313

and his artillery did good service. An attempt was made
to advance the skirmishers' line in front of Gen. Brook's
division, which at first was unsuccessful as the supports
of the skirmishers were falling back, they were attacked
in heavy force and met with severe loss. The position
of the enemy in this part of the field being exceedingly
strong the attempt to advance here was abandoned. On
Sunday the fourteenth, there was no change in the posi
tions of the troops. A desultory cannonading, and a brisk
skirmish fight along the whole line were carried on during
the clay with, I presume, about equal loss on both sides.
" On Monday the fifteenth, no change took place
until aboUt six 'o clock P. M. I was at that time at gen
eral headquarters, and was directed to recross my com
mand during the night. The orders were at once tele
graphed to General Smith, who was directed to make the
preliminary arrangements, commencing the movement on
the left. Upon my return to my headquarters about seven
p. m., I found that the movement was just commencing.
It was successfully completed during the night, so that at
four a. m., of the sixteenth, all of the troops'and material
were on this side of the river and the men in camp.
"Our losses in killed and wounded on Saturday were
heavy. The numerical list has already been transmitted
to headquarters. The list of names has not yet been'
out, but will soon be finished and transmitted.
" Brigadier-general Bayard, commanding cavalry divis
ion, was killed by a piece of shell while at my head
quarters, where he remained at my request to receive
such orders as might be necessary for the cavalry. The
loss of this gallant young general, is a severe blow to his
arm of the service, and in him the country has lost one of
its most dashing and gallant cavalry officers.

314 Appendix I.

" Brigadier-general Jackson of Meade's division, was
killed while leading his troops into action. He had al
ready shown distinguished gallantry on the day of his
death, and his brigade under his command had defended
the construction of the bridges on the previous day.
Our losses in field officers is heavy, and I respectfully
refer you to the accompanying report for their names.
" Nothing could be finer than the behaviour of the
troops from the eleventh to the fifteenth ult., under fire,
with little exception during the whole time, and exposed
on a plain nearly surrounded with the enemy's artillery,
they were steady and brave, and I never saw less strag-
g'ing. " I desire to express my thanks to Major-generals
Reynolds and Smith, and Brigadier-general Stoneman,
for their valuable assistance they rendered me in man
aging their commands.
" The Quartermaster and Commissary depots were
well regulated by Lieutenant-colonel Tolles and Captain
Sturdevant. The men were rationed as regularly as
though we had been in a permanent camp.
" The ambulance corps was well managed by Captain
J. Howell Robinson.
" The remainder of my staff rendered efficient service,
and I respectfully recommend them to the attention of
the Commanding-general. They are :
" Lieut. -Col. E. R. Piatt, A. J. G.
"Maj. M. T. Mc Mahon, A. D. C.
" Capt. John T Baker,
" " J. C. Jackson,
" Lieut D. Lynn,
" Capt. James Starr and Lieut's. Albert E. Morrow

Appendix I. 315

and E. N. Carpenter of the Lancer regiment, who were
detailed as extra aides-de-camp, rendered very efficient
services. Surgeons Chas. O'Leary and J. T. Heard,
medical directors of the sixth and first Corps, in the ab
sence of a medical director of the left grand division,
were exceedingly efficient and energetic in the perform
ance of their appropriate duties."
(signed) -^ "W. B. Franklin.
" Major-general Commanding left grand division."
To Major-general jfohn G. Parke, Chief of staff.

APPENDIX J.
COLONEL A. V. COLBURN.
THE following letter from St. Louis, giving a rapid
sketch of the military history of Col. Colburn will
gratify those who loved and honored that noble soldier.
No officer in the Union army was more universally loved
and admired. Gentle, kind and affectionate to his friends,
no braver man drew his sword in the late war. But he
was not only among the " bravest of the brave," but he
was a prudent discreet and sagacious officer and worthy
of the post of confidential aide to the Commander-in chief.
He survived his friend Bayard only about six months.
Had he lived to the close of the war he would have risen
to a very high rank. St. Louis, June 18th, I863.
" Lieutenant-colonel Colburn, formerly Assistant-Ad-
jutant-general on General McClellan's staff, who has been
acting in the same capacity in this department for some
time past, died last night after a few days illness.
sketch of lieutenant-colonel colburn.
"Lieutenant-colonel Albert V. Colburn, formerly on
he staff of Major-general McClellan, and recently Assis-

Appendix J. 317

tant-Adjutant-general to Major-general Schofield, com
manding Department of the Missouri, was a native of
Vermont, and entered the Military Academy at West
Point as a cadet in 185 1. He graduated on the thirtieth
of June 1S55, in the same class with General Weitzel,
General Averill, Adjutant-general Ruggles, Colonel
Torbezt and other noted officers of the Union. On the
first of July 1855, he was brevetted second-lieutenant of
the Second cavalry, and on the first of October of the
same year was transferred to the First cavalry, with his
full rank.
" When he entered the First cavalry the regiment was
under charge of Colonel (afterwards Major-general) Sum
ner. He went through the Kansas campaign, and during
the time acted as quartermaster of the regiment, and
acting-captain of Company B, at that time under com
mand of Captain (now General) John Sedgwick. In the
winter of 1856, in the camp at Nebraska line, he had
some hard words with Captain Walker, since an officer
of rank in the rebel army. Captain Walker abused
every free State man, for which sentiment Lieutenant
Colburn chased Captain Walker out of the tent. From
June, 1858, to 186 1, he held the important position of
regimental-adjutant He took part in the Cheyenne ex
pedition, under Colonel Sumner. The whole command
during this expedition lived for twenty days on fresh beef
alone. He was next appointed aide to Colonel Sumner,
who was placed in command of the Department of the
West, with headquarters at St. Louis.
" At the commencement of the rebellion he brought
eleven companies from the Western Department to Fort
Leavenworth. He was brevetted captain, dating from

318 Appendix J.

July 1861, and was ordered to the command of two com
panies, which were sent forward from Washington, and
led the same two companies, A and I, First cavalry —
now known as the Fourth cavalry — during the whole day
of the first battle of Bull Run. They were the last to
leave the field of battle. For this act of gallantry he was,
on the twenty eighth of September 1861, appointed on
the staff of General McClellan, with the rank of lieuten
ant-colonel — his full rank of captain of cavalry having
been given him on August the third — and during every
action he was generally among the most gallant. During
the seven days' struggle he was about the last man to
leave the field, and not then until the train and artillery
had been secured. He was in every battle of the penin
sula and in Maryland, and was' highly respected by both
officers and men. From the time he entered the service
in 1855, he had been constantly on duty, not having once
visited his family during the whole time. When General
McClellan was, in November 1862, relieved by General
Burnside, Colonel Colburn left the field with him as one
of his personal staff; but the War Department disapproved
of his leaving, and ordered his arrest. This summary
action, without apparent cause, created a great deal of
dissatisfaction among his personal friends and fellow
officers. He was, however, shortly after released and
ordered to the field with General Burnside.
"On the twenty-fourth of last May, when Major-gen
eral Schofield assumed command of the Department of
the Missouri, he announced Lieutenant-colonel A. V.
Colburn as his Assistant-Adjutant-general in charge of
the department office. Since that time he has ably ad
ministered the duties of his position until within a few

Appendix J.

319

days, when he was stricken down with a fatal illness.
He died during the night of June seventeenth, much re
gretted."

E

APPENDIX K.
.LETTER FROM GEN. McCLELLAN.
XTRACT of a letter from General George B.
McClellan, December twentieth, 1862 :

" To Samuel J. Bayard, Esq.,
" My Dear Sir :—
" Allow me to offer you my most sincere and earnest
sympathy in the great bereavement you have suffered ; —
a loss shared by the army and the nation ; for in sol
dierly merit, devotion and courage, your son stood among
the foremost and most gifted of our generals.
" It is gratifying in the extreme to me to know that,
even in his last moments, he thought of his former com
mander; and I shall ever remember that last tribute of
his regard as one of the most sad and touching, yet grati
fying incidents of my life."
THE LAST WORDS OF GENERAL BAYARD.
The correspondent of the Cincinnati Commercial, in
describing the death of General Bayard, says :
" During the night he was in perfect possession of his
faculties, and dictated several letters — one to his father,
one to the young lady to whom be was engaged to be

Appendix K. 321

married, and one to Colonel Colburn, of General
McClellan's staff. In the letter to the latter he said:
' Tell McClellan that my last regret, as a military man,
is that I did not die serving under him.' "
14* •

«*z^&WR*f^^

APPENDIX L.
MORTUARY TRIBUTES.
EXTRACT from a letter of Gen. William B. Frank
lin to S. J. Bayard. Dated Hartford, June
thirtieth, 1873 :

" Your son was assigned to my command. The day
before he was killed he made an important reconnois-
sance with a part of his command on our right ; was
severely engaged, and discovered the strength and posi
tion of the enemy, gaining important information, which
he reported to me.
" During the next morning he held his command in
readiness for any orders he might receive; executed sev
eral orders as to cavalry duties, and was himself present
at my headquarters from about noon until the time he
was struck.
" His character as a soldier needs no eulogy.
Among our cavalry generals he was, in my opinion,
easily first ; and, had he lived, his career would have
been as brilliant and successful as that of any general
officer. He would have won one of the prizes of the

Appendix L. 323
" Unaccountable as it may be, there is a certain
glamour about a name among soldiers ; and much was
expected of your son because his name was Bayard. In
my recollection of him there is nothing that affects me
so intimately as this — that among his comrades it was
judged that he had come up to their expectations.
" The day of your son's death was, in many respects,
the saddest day of the war to a true Union soldier. In
efficiency ruled the hour."
GEORGE DASHIELL BAYARD.
(From the Press of Philadelphia.)
" To the Editor of the Press :
" Sir : He is dead ! Was it yesterday we saw him at
the National Capital? lithe and graceful in figure,
with an eye which lent brightness, and never yet knew
shadow till he met Death on the field of battle. Alas !
that laurels so green, worn so early, and won so bravely,
should be wet with the tears of those who knew, and all
who loved George Dashiell Bayard, the youthful soldier,
now lost to his country, from his place among her
noblest, her bravest and her best !
" When we last saw -General Bayard, we were struck
with the entire absence of ostentation in his bearing.
" It was in Washington, where he awaited orders,
and, though rarely appearing in public, it was his custom
to appear without any insignia of his rank.
" He was as modest as he was brave ; yet he was
conscious of his destiny. His face bore the impress of
courage and determination.- It is scarcely three years
since he graduated with distinction at West Point. He

324 Appendix L.

then served for a time upon the Indian frontier, where he
received a serious wound. When this 'rebellion of
wicked weakness against righteous strength' startled the
world, he hastened to stand in the front of battle and on
the side, of his country. Where danger was thickest
General Bayard's sword flashed like the plume of Henry
of Navarre. In the dissensions and jealousies which
weaken the service and embitter the soldier's life, he
took no part ; he knew and felt that for him the hour of
danger was the hour for duty. Like the Chevalier
Bayard of history, he was a knight ' without fear and with
out reproach.'
" In the bold, dashing, rapid raid of cavalry, General
Bayard has been compared to Philip Kearny, 'the one-
armed devil ' of infantry.
" With the same sweeping gallantry, he united, we
are informed, more prudence, or, at least, greater even
ness of temper. Had he lived another year he would
have been major-general of cavalry.
" But he is gone ! The enemy will miss him. But
none will mo-urn for him like the brave men he com
manded, save the stricken hearts, so close to his own, to
whom he leaves a deathless memory.
" As the soldiers of France answered for Latour
D'Auvergne at roll-call, so will our heroic army in Vir
ginia say of Dashiell Bayard, ' He is dead on the field of
honor.' Let the young men who think it not 'graceful
to enter this conflict on the side of a nation straggling
for life bend low before the name of this youthful and
heroic soldier, who has laid his life, dear to us all, upon
the altar of his country.
" Let his sacrifice (alas ! that the rapacity of rebellion

Appendix L. 325

demanded it), teach us to stand steadfastly beside the
simple and glorious principles for which he has offered
up his life !
" George Dashiell Bayard ! with tenderness and rev
erence we leave thee.
" A grateful nation shall build a shrine for her im
mortal dead, and in the Westminster Abbey of America,
we will pause before the names of Baker and Lyon, and
Kearney and Bayard ! Again, farewell !
" ' We give thee to God ; to thy place in thy country's
heart ; with tears, with affection, with gratitude and with
prayer.' " I am sir, with great respect, etc.,
"J.MS."
BAYARD.
(From the Philadelphia Inquirer?)
" This day, it is said, was appointed as the wedding-
day of General Bayard. But the terrible decrees of war
have ordered otherwise. Instead of leading a bride to
the altar, his lifeless body is on its way to the tomb. All
the elements of romance are centered in his brief, brilliant
and tragic career. A soldier by nature, as well as by edu
cation, it was his day-dream while yet a subaltern, to com
mand a regiment of cavalry. But the object of his young
ambition seemed to be far off until the outbreak of the re
bellion, when it suddenly came within his reach. Rapidly
advancing by virtue of ' gallant and meritorious conduct
in the field,' he not only achieved the command of a
regiment of horse, thus realizing the dream of his youth,
but won also the star of a general officer. Throughout

326 Appendix L.

his service he was active, dashing, brilliant, successful ;
so that when he received his death-wound, at twenty-
eight years of age, his fame had spread over the whole
country as a noble gentleman and a chivalrous soldier.
" His death-scene is as worthy of admiration as his
career in life. Calmly asking the surgeon who examined
his ghastly and gaping wound if there was ' any hope,'
and being told there was none, he turned with undis
turbed composure, and without a murmur of pain, to ' set
his house in order ' both for this world and the next.
Everything was attended to with serene self-possession,
and having finished his work, he yielded up his life in
the service of his country. In that fearful conflict at
Fredericksburg, where deadliest the death-bolts showered
c They met no nobler heart than thine,
Young, gallant,' Bayard."
EXTRACT FROM PYNE's HISTORY.
Pyne, in his history of the First New Jersey cavalry,
thus refers to the death of General Bayard, page 135 :
" And then came to us with a shock, the intelligence
of the mortal wound received by our beloved brigade
commander. " Rarely has there been a man who conciliated so per
fectly, affection for the man and respect for the officer.
Every officer and man in the brigade, felt that he had
lost a personal friend, and the mourning of the troops
was sincere and enduring. He met death calmly as he
had met every accident of life, and the day that was to
have united him to the woman of his love, closed upon
him in his coffin."

Appendix L. 327

EXTRACT FROM A LETTER OF THE CHAPLAIN OF THE IRA
Harris cavalry, (Second New York).
"A little after noon, we heard that General Bayard,
our division commander was mortally wounded . At the
hospital we found him. Of all the ghastly wounds I saw
that day, his was the most awful. It needed but a glance
to see, as he calmly-stated to those who visited him, that
'his days on earth were numbered.' If his wound had
been a mere scratch he could not have been more cool,
quiet, and collected. He talked calmly of his death, as
a settled thing and only inquired particularly, how much
time he had left on earth. He was told perhaps forty-
eight hours. He did not live twenty-four. My heart
sank within me as he gave me his hand in farewell, and
I almost murmured, ' Why are the best taken ! ' '
THE FIRST PENNSYLVANIA RESERVE CAVALRY.
Sketch of its history.
[From the Philadelphia Inquirer.]
" The Reserve Corps kept together until the Spring
campaign of 1862 opened, when it was deemed expedi
ent to mass the cavalry. From that time on, the his
tory of the corps and the regiment of cavalry has been
different. The corps fought and won for themselves an
undying reputation, and returned to the state in June.
This -regiment was absent from the array in one of Sheri
dan's raids, when the corps went away, and was left alone
to serve out the extreme limit of its time in the field.
" As a synopsis of its operations individually, I will
commence at its head. The first head of the regiment
was Captain Hastings, of the regular army, who was

328 Appendix L.

made colonel of the regiment, August, 1861, but on ac-.
count of unavoidable circumstances, he was not able to
accept the proffered honor, and for a short time the or
ganization was incomplete. But the material composing
the regiment was such as would honor the state and its
commander. It was not destined to remain long in this
chaotic condition ; ' but as water seeks its own level,' so
did this body of brave men find a commander in the gal
lant and lamented George D. Bayard, August the six
teenth, 1861, who was then made colonel of the First
Pennsylvania Reserve Cavalry.
" The first victorious blood spilt was in participating
with the Reserve Corps at the victory of Drainsville, De
cember twenty-first, 1861. The winter was passed at
Langley, five miles from Chain Bridge, in picketing and
scouting. On one of these scouts the assistant-surgeon,
Samuel L. Alexander, a young man of rare ability and
promising usefulness, was killed by a party of the enemy
in ambush. During the winter two more companies were
added to the. regiment making in all twelve companies, from
as many different counties as there were companies.
" The spring campaign opened, and our young but
experienced colonel was anxious to cross sabres with the
foe. His first opportunity was at Falmouth, April
eighteenth, 1862, where his officers to his satisfaction,
displayed the true metal, and the men the proper courage
to make soldiers. For this and many other brave and
meritorious acts Colonel Bayard was promoted Brigadier-
general. The First Pennsylvania Reserve Cavalry and
the First New Jersey were placed under his command,
thus forming the first brigade of cavalry in the Army of
the Potomac. These two regiments, by the way, have

Appendix L. 329

fought side by side for three years, and been latterly
called the ' twin regiments.'
" With these regiments, Hall's Maine battery and
one battalion of the Bucktails, commanded by Lieut-col.
Kane, constituted Bayard's brigade. He is next heard
from in the Shenandoah Valley, where he led the advance
of General Fremont's army in hot pursuit after Jackson's
retreating forces. The regiment participated in all the
engagements of this campaign, among which those of
Strasburg, Harrisonburg and Cross Keys were most
prominent, commanded by Col. Owen Jones and Lieut. -
col. S. D. Barrows. Another turn of the kaleidoscDpe,
and the regiment again appears before Jackson ; this time
his advancing column on the Rapidan, south of Culpepper,
skirmishing and fighting each day for a week, until it
finally terminated in the pitched battle at Cedar Moun
tain, August ninth, 1862, in which the first battalion
of the regiment made the greatest sabre-charge of the war
thus far, led by Major R. J. Falls. In the wake of this
battle came Pope's famous retreat, in which it was not
Brandy Station, Sulphur Springs and Bull Run alone, but
daily fighting for the cavalry for two weeks, for Gen. Bay
ard covered the retreat.
"When the army again advanced, Bayard's brigade
was in the advance, cleared the road of the enemy and
surprised them at Rappahannock bridge. At the battle
of Fredericksburg, it was the first to cross the river «n
the left wing, arid had the honor of initiating the fight in
which the loved, the lost, the longed-for Bayard, at that
time considered the first cavalry officer in the Army of
the Potomac, fought his last battle. After this battle, of
December twelfth and thirteenth, 1862, the regiment

330 Appendix L.

went into winter-quarters at Belle Plains, (Camp Bay
ard, in honor of the lamented hero), under command
of General Gregg, successor to General Bayard. In the
meantime, Colonels Jones and Barrows resigned, and their
places were filled by Lieut-col. J. P. Taylor and Major
David Gardiner, respectively promoted. The battles of
Brandy Station, June ninth, 1863, followed by Aldie
and Upperville, Gettysburg, Shepherdstown, Muddy Run,
Culpepper, Sulphur Springs, Auburn and Bristow, closing
with New Hope Chapel, November twenty-seventh,
showed them to be commanders worthy of their prede
cessors, and emulated their example in shedding new
laurels upon the regiment in every battle in which they
led it.
" The winter of 1863-4, was spent in camp at Warren
ton, but not a winter of ease. The picketing must needs
be severe, when Moseby was making night hideous, and
the passes of the Blue Ridge were open to the enemy on
our right wing. During the greater part of the time in
the last year Colonel Taylor was commanding the brigade,
and Lieutenant-colonel Gardiner the regiment. The
spring campaign opened about the first of May, the en
tire calvary corps under the command of General Sheri
dan, whose bold and skilful generalship made him a ter
ror to his foes, and won for his command an enviable and
lasting reputation. The First Pennsylvania Reserve
Cavalry, was more particularly under the command of
General Gregg, one of Pennsylvania's noble sons, who
has won for himself undying laurels. During the cam
paign the regiment has added to its roll of honor the bat
tles of Todd's Tavern, Childsburgh, Yellow Tavern,
Richmond Heights, Hawe's Shop, Trevilliari Station,

Appendix L. 331

White House, St. Mary's Church, Gravel Hill, Nos. 1
and 2, and the series of late engagements along the Wel-
don railroad. The regiment now leaves the field after
this three years of hard service spent at the front, with a
reputation second to no cavalry regiment in the service.
Their war path may be traced by the graves of fallen
comrades, and by the blood of hundreds who have fallen
in the shock of battle, but still live to emulate our just
cause by a living patriotism. About two hundred remain
as veterans for three years more, and about four hundred
return to their native state and homes, bearing with
them the marks of their hard service.
" The Field and Staff, at the organization of the regi
ment, was as follows:—
" Colonel George D. Bayard,
" Lieutenant-colonel Jacob Higgins,
" Major Owen Jones,
" Surgeon David Stanton,
"Assistant-surgeon S. L. Alexander,
"Adjutant S. D. Barrows,
" Chaplain J. H. Beale,
" Quartermaster R. R. Corson,
" Present Field and Staff: —
"Colonel J. P. Taylor,
" Lieutenant-colonel David Gardiner,
" Major R. J. Falls.
" Major J. M. Gaston,
"Adjutant W. P. Lloyd,
" Surgeon G. B. Hotchkins,
" Assistant-surgeon L. E. Atkinson,
"Assistant-surgeon R. H. Tuit,
" Chaplain J. H. Beale,

33 2 Appendix L.

" Quartermaster G. H. Baker,
" Color-sergeant H. A. Wood.
" Colonel J. P. Taylor, is the only one of the original
captains now in the regiment, and Chaplain J. H. Beale,
is the only one of the original staff.
" LIST OF OFFICERS KILLED IN FIRST PENNSYLVAVIA
RESERVE CAVALRY.
" Assistant-surgeon S. L. Alexander, Drainsville;
November 27, 1861.
" First-lieut. A. Reed, G, St. Mary's Church, June
24, 1864.
" Second-lieut W. H. Butcher, D, Cedar Mountain,
August 9, 1862.
"Second-lieut. S. W. Greenlee, F, Hawe's Shop,
May 28, 1864.
" Second-lieut. D. H. Wilson, A, Barker's Mill, June
2, 1864. " Second-lieut. D. S. Buxton, L, White House, June
21, 1864.
" Second-lieut. J. S. Wright, M, St. Mary's Church,
June 24, i864.
" Second-lieut G. W. Lyons, I, Carter's Mill, Sep
tember 6, 1863. " LIST OF WOUNDED IN ACTION.
" Colonel George D. Bayard, Drainsville, December
20, 1861.
" Captain J. P. Taylor, C, Cedar Mountain, August
9, 1862. " Lieut-colonel D. Gardiner, St. Mary's Church, June
24, 1864.

Appendiv L. 333

"Major R. J. Falls, Gravel Hill, No. 1, July 28, 1864.
" Major N. I. McEwen, Brandy Station, June 9, 1863.
" Captain T. Streck, H, May 24, 1862.
" Captain H. A. McDonald, D, Cedar Mountain,
August 9, 1862.
" Captain A. Davidson, F, St. Mary's Church, June
24, 1864, died July 31, 1864.
" Captain N. S. Craft, H, Hawe's Shop, May, 28,
1864. " First-lieut S. H. Mucilenathen, C, Shepherdstown,
July 11, 1863.
"First-lieut. J. Kelly, A, Shepherdstown, July 16,
1863. " First-lieut. T. E. Lucas, F, Brandy Station, June 9,
1863. " First-lieut. M Kennedy, K, Hawe's Shop, May 28,
1864. " Second-lieut. S. W. Grenler, F, Brandy Station
June 9, 1863.
"Second-lieut. S. Morgan, K, Rapidan, September
15, 1863.
" Second- lieut D. S. Buxton. L, New Hope Chapel,
November 27, 1863.

" STILL PRISONERS OF WAR IN THE HANDS OF THE
ENEMY:
" Captain William Lands, L ; Captain R. J. McNitt,
C ; First lieutenant J. R. Kelly, C.
" Before leaving the front the regiment was drawn up
in line, and the following order was read : —

334 Appendix L.

" ' Headquarters, First Pennsylvania Reserve Cavalry
near Petersburg, Va., Aug. — , 1864. — General Orders,
No. 18. — Officers and soldiers of the First Pennsylvania
Reserve Cavalry : — You have now experienced three years
' of terrible devastating war. You are familiar with its toils,
its hardships, and its scenes of bloodshed. During this
time there has been no toil that your manly efforts have
not overcome, no hardships that you have not courted for
your country's sake, no field of strife too terrible to pre
vent you flaunting your banner in the face of your trai
torous foes, and in every instance have you borne it off in
triumph. Many have been the fields upon which you
have distinguished yourselves by your personal valor,
from your first victorious blood spilt at Drainsville,
down to those greener in your memory, such as Todd's
Tavern, Childsburgh, Hawe's Shop, Barker's Mill, White
House, St Mary's Church, and last but not least, upon
the bloody summit of Malvern Hill, and along the Wel-
don railroad, are still sounding in your ears, and eternally
engraven in your hearts.
" 'But you have now reached the goal of your worthy
ambition. You have won for yourselves, your regiment,
and your State, an invidious reputation.
"' Officers and soldiers of the First Pennsylvania Re
serve Cavalry, allow me, on this the eve of our separation,
to express to you my heartfelt thanks for your implicit
confidence and ready compliance with every order, your
noble courage and unflinching bravery upon every field
I have had the honor to lead you ; your military career
has been a brave and clear record, in which you have
acquitted yourselves like men.
" ' But the war is not ended. There are more battles

Appendix L. 33c

yet to be fought, and more lives to be offered upon the
altar of liberty. For this end some of you remain ; and
many more of you will soon be back again to battle in
this your just and holy cause. But wherever you may
answer to the bugle call, and upon whatever field you
may strike the black shield of rebeldom, let the memory
of your fallen comrades strengthen your arms and en
courage your hearts, ever mindful that you were once
members of the First Pennsylvania Reserve Cavalry.
" ' May the god of battles and of mercy be your shield
and protection ! By order of
" ' John P. Taylor,
" ' Colonel Commanding regiment.'
"'Lieut. W. P. Lloyd, Adjutant.'

" After the order was read to the regiment, which
had been formed by Lieutenant-colonel Gardiner, Col.
Taylor made the following remarks.
Colonel Taylor's Remarks.
" ' My brave comrades: — We stand to-day upon the
threshold of an event which, when we left our homes
three years ago, the most prophetic heart scarcely dared
anticipate. The scenes then rife in our midst, such as
the inemory of an insulted flag upon Fort Sumter, which
cast a gloom of shame over every true American heart,
and the blood of brothers spilt upon the streets of Balti
more, sprinkled, as it were, over every loyal heart in the
North, the rushing of men to arms, and our souls inspired
by the spirits of our fathers, nerved us to action; and
from homes of comfort, luxury and ease, we rallied in
defence of our country.

336 Appendix L.

" ' Another turn of the kaleidoscope found us mar
shalled beneath the proud ensign of our glorious republic,
no longer separate and distinct in thought and action,
but the firm resolve of the farmer, the willing hand of the
mechanic and laborer, the shrewd energy of the merchant,
the potent influence of the student, all suddenly con
verted into the trained and disciplined soldier, with hearts
that beat as one. What you were then, and what you have
since proven yourselves, you owe to the mighty impulses
.of your first brave and noble commander, Colonel George
D. Bayard; imbued with the influence of his mighty
genius you saw the star of his glory rising and shining
brighter and brighter in the military sphere ; and alas,
too, to set before it had reached its zenith. Following in
his wake, ever ready to stand by you in the hour of danger,
to share with you your toils and hardships, to cheer you
in the hour of conflict, following strictly in the footsteps
of his illustrious predecessor, the champion of your rights
and reputation, came your second colonel, Owen Jones.
" ' Officers and soldiers : — Through your confidence
and esteem, I had the honor to be your next commander,
and as such I deem it a high honor, to-day, to stand
before the shattered remnant of a once large regiment, to
thank you for your esteem and the willingness with which
you have acceded to my every request and complied
with my every command, and for the manner you have
so nobly and faithfully discharged your duties as soldiers.
I believe I am the only officer now left in the regiment
who was present with the Governor and his Staff, and
heard him christen the regiment the First Pennsylvania
Reserve Cavalry Regiment. And it gives me pleasure
to think we can return to our native state those colors,

Appendix L. 337

then intrusted to our care, tattered and torn though they
be, without a tarnish or a stain upon the reputation of the
regiment. " ' Officers and soldiers of the First Pennsylvania Re
serve Cavalry, you are the veterans of more than thirty
engagements; your banner has proudly floated over almost
every field in which this historic Army of the Potomac
has been engaged. The graves of your comrades are
strewn from Gettysburg to the James River. Your war
path may be traced by the the blood of your fallen heroes,
but by the strength of justice and the might of mercy
you have plumed your arms with honor and victory.
"'Enlisted veterans, when you were re-enlisting, my
lips were sealed from encouraging you, because circum
stances, unavoidable, rendered my remaining with you
impossible. Let not our leaving discourage you. Be
faithful, obedient, prompt and cheerful in duty as you
have always been. A hopeful country waits to crown
you. We shall not forget you. We shall continue to
breathe the desired hope and christian prayer, that you
may soon be permitted to return to your homes; that the
red-handed monster war, whose pestiferous breath blasts
with withering death everything lovely on earth may be
banished from our distracted land, and peace, sweet
peace, again returning, shed evermore her heaven-born
blessing on our fair Columbia's soil ! ' "
THE END.

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