-CcV-1 2-50

Wj.

Genl. A. T. A. TORBERT. Gknl. W. W. AVERILL.
Maj.-Genl. P. H. SHERIDAN.
Genl. G. STONEMAN. Genl. A. PLEASANTON.

SABRES AND SPURS:

THE

Jjirjjlt foment RhoJe Inland (^aralry
IN THE CIVIL WAR,
1861—1865.
ITS ORIGIN, MARCHES, SCOUTS, SKIRMISHES, RAIDS, BATTLES,
SUFFERINGS, VICTORIES, AND APPROPRIATE
OFFICIAL PAPERS;

THE ROLL OF HONOR AND ROLL OF THE REGIMENT.

ILLUSTRATED WITH PORTRAITS OF CAVALRY GENERALS AND
A MAP OF TBS REGIMENTS WAR-PATH,

REV. FREDERIC DENISON,
CHAPLAIN.
"THEY ALL HOLD SWORDS, BEING EXPERT IN WAR.'1

PUBLISHED BY
THE FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY VETERAN ASSOCIATION.
1876.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876, by
FREDERIC DENISON,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

Cct>H ^-50

FRE93 OF H. L FREEMAN * CO , « ,
CENTRAL FALLS, k. I. ^ —

Kttjscritod,

WITH AFFECTION AND HONOR,

jro leoparbEo ifetit ^ifacs unto % geiti!; in % %'n^ plates of t\t J ielo,"

SECURING

THE OVERTHROW OF SLAVERY

THE TRIUMPH OF LIBERTY.

What gallant battalions came forth for the right, —
Their carbines and aabres reflecting the light
As flame-lances boreal fiaah on the night ;
'Neath guidons and standards, their courage aglow,
With the swiftness of arrows aa shot from the bow.
The steel of our horsemen sped borne on the foe:
We dashed o'er the field like the sweep of a gale;
We parried their missiles and smote through their mail ¦
Boasted Ashby and Stuart fall back from the shock
As buffeted surges recoil from a rock. F D.

PREFACE.
Duty bids us signalize principles, sacrifices and mar
tyrdoms. Devotion to the liberties of our country ; hon
or to our fallen comrades ; affection for our surviving
fellow soldiers ; and the regard we have for the inquiries
of all who may come after us, have demanded the re
cord of patriot services we here present. The work has
been delayed by reason of the difficulties and delicacy of
the task.
By storms, streams and the shocks of battle, the most of
our regimental papers and records were destroyed. Cer
tain diaries, in the pockets of officers and men, fortunately
survived the floods and the flames. These memoranda,
and official reports made to the Government, supplement
ed by State papers, letters and recollections from the men
of the command, have furnished the substantial and ful
ly reliable data of our account.
Essential aid was found in the Chaplain's journal and
"Notes by the Wayside ;" also in the "Notes by the
Bridle Paths " from the pen of Lieut. J. A. Chedell, Jr.
And special obligations are acknowledged to Capt. Allen

8 PREFACE.
Baker, Jr., for his diary, enlarged by his many memories,
and his extensive correspondence with officers and men ;
all his papers having been copied by him for our use.
His assistance in preparing and publishing the roll of the
regiment has been invaluable.
We gratefully mention the full and racy journal of
Geo. A. Sargent, (Troop L.) the anecdotes and incidents
from which will be highly enjoyed.
Valuable papers and verbal contributions have been
received from Maj. P. M. Farrington, Maj. W. H. Tur
ner, Capt. G. M. Bliss, Capt. E. E. Chase, Nathaniel G-
Stanton, M. D., Welcome A. Johnson, Sergt. Wm. Gar
dner, Sergt. Emmons D. Guild, Edward P. Colwell,
Sergt. Lyman Aylesworth, Sergt. A. C. Sweetingj M.
R. Allen and others.
For the valuable letters of Lieut. J. R. Umfreville we
are indebted to his parents ; as also for facts and papers
to the relatives of Sergt. R. V. Barrows.
Important extracts have been made from a sketch fur
nished to the Adjutant General of New Hampshire by
Brevet Brig. -General J. L. Thompson ; also from papers
supplied by Hon. George T. Sawyer, of Nashua, N. H.,
and from papers by Capt. G. W. Easterbrooks and Corp.
T. H. Sprague.
The Committee of the Veteran Association, — Maj. P.
M. Farrington, Maj. W. H. Turner and Capt. Allen Ba-

PREFACE. 9
ker, Jr. — chosen to assist in the work, have given their
best efforts, and deserve particular thanks.
We have aimed to present, not a general or minute
history of the war, since others have already done this,
but to record the life and doings, the duties and experi
ences of our command — the part we acted in the great
and bloody tragedy. Our purpose is peculiar and spe
cific. We have aimed to furnish a volume of facts and
war scenes, true to ourselves, interesting to all present
readers, and full of useful hints and practical lessons of
instruction to any regiments of horse that may hereafter
be called to the defense of our country. As best suited
to answer all these purposes, we have choseri to employ,
in a kind of general way, the journal style of narrative.
We submit our work to all loyal hearts.
If dear to thy heart be the weal of our land,
Forget not the part of each gallant command
That spniDg from loved homes to the fire of the field,
And won, with their lives, a new sheen for our shield.
F. D.

CONTENTS. CHAPTER I.
ORJGIN OF THE REGIMENT.
April— September, 1861. . . .Pages 25—28.
CHAPTER II.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMAND.
September, 1861— March, 1862. .Pages 29—39.
CHAPTER III.
ON TO WASHINGTON.
March, 1862. . .Pages 40—44.
CHAPTER IV.
RESCUE OF DEAD BODIES.
March, 1862. .Pages 45— 53.

12 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER V.
FORWARD TO THE FRONT.
April, 1862  Pages 54—61.
CHAPTER VI.
SCOUTS AND SKIRMISHES.
April, 1862  Pages 62—71 .
CHAPTER VII.
CAMP STANTON AND THE LONG ROLL.
May, 1862  Pages 72—81.
CHAPTER VIII.
OVER THE MOUNTAINS.
May, 1862  Pages 82—85.
«
CHAPTER IX.
CAPTURE OF FRONT ROYAL.
May— June, 1862  Pages 86-^92.
CHAPTER X.
SERVICES IN THE VALLEY.
June, 1862  pageg 93_98.

CONTENTS. 13
CHAPTER XI.
RECRUITING AT MANASSAS.
June— July, 1862  Pages 99—111.
CHAPTER XII.
ON TO THE RAPIDAN
August, 1862  Pages 112—120.
CHAPTER XIII.
BATTLE OF CEDAR MOUNTAIN.
August, 1862  Pages 121—128.
CHAPTER XIV.
RETREATING AND FIGHTING.
August, 1862  Pages 129—137.
CHAPTER XV.
BATTLE OF GROVETON.
August, 1862  Pages 138—143 .
CHAPTER XVI.
BATTLE OF BULL RUN
August, 1862  Pages 144—147.
2

14 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XVII.
BATTLE OF CHANTILLY.
September, 1862  Pages 148—150.
CHAPTER XVIII.
BIVOUAC AT MINOR'S HILL.
September, 1862  Pages 151—155.
CHAPTER XIX.
RECRUITING AT POOLEVILLE.
September— October, 1862  Pages 156—166.
CHAPTER XX.
OVER THE KETOCTAN.
October— November, 1862  Pages 167—173.
CHAPTER XXI.
ON TO FREDERICKSBURG.
November— December, 1862  Pages 174—183.
CHAPTER XXII.
CAMP NEAR POTOMAC CREEK.
December, 1862— January, 1863  Pases 184—193.

CONTENTS. 15
.CHAPTER XXIII.
CORPORAL BROWN'S CAPTIVITY.
August— September, 1862  Pages 194—196.
CHAPTER XXIV.
OUTPOST SERVICE AND BATTLE.
February— March, 1863  Pages 197—207.
CHAPTER XXV.
BATTLE OF KELLY'S FORD.
March— April, 1863  '. . .Pages 208—217.
CHAPTER XXVI.
SCOUT DUTY AND BATTLE.
April— May, 1863  Pages 218—225.
CHAPTER XXVII.
PICKET SERVICE AND FIGHT.
May— June, 1863  Pages 226—231.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
BATTLE OF MIDDLEBURG.
June, 1863  Pages 232—244.

16 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXIX.
CAPTIVITY OF CAPT. E. E. CHASE.
June, 1863— February, 1865  Pages -245— 251.
CHAPTER XXX. i
CAPTIVITY OF SERGT J. R. UMFREVILLE.
June— July, 1863  Pages 252—258.

CHAPTER XXXI.
PRISON EXPERIENCES OF SERGT. W. GARDNER,
W. A. JOHNSON AND OTHERS.
June— July, 1863  .'  Pages 259—270.

CHAPTER XXXII.
GATHERING AND REFITTING.
June— September, 1863  Pages 271—285.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
BATTLE NEAR RAPIDAN STATION.
September, 1863  Pages 286—290.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
FLANKING SERVICES AND LOSS.
September— October, 1863  Pages 291—294.

CONTENTS. 17
CHAPTER XXXV.
HORRORS OF CONFEDERATE PRISONS.
CAPTIVITY OF SERGT. E. D. GUILD.
October, 1863— February, 1865  Pages 295—304
CHAPTER XXXVI.
FIGHT NEAR AUBURN.
October, 1863  Pages 305—307.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
ADVANCING AGAIN.
October— December, 1863  Pages 308—313.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
BARBARITIES OF ANDERSONVIILE. CAPTIVITY OF
E. F. CALDWELL AND SERGT. A. C. SWEETING.
December, 1863— November, 1864  Pages 314—325.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
HOLDING FAST.
December, 1863  Pages 326—329.
CHAPTER XL.
RE-ENLISTING OF VETERANS.
January— March, 1864  Pages 330—341.
2*

18 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XLI.
RETURNING TO THE FRONT.
April— June, 1864  PaSes 352-358.
CHAPTER XLII.
BATTLE AT WHITE HOUSE LANDING.
June— July, 1864  Pages 359—365.
CHAPTER XLIII.
BATTLE AT DEEP BOTTOM.
July, 1864  Pages 366-368.
CHAPTER XLIV.
BACK TO THE SHENANDOAH.
August, 1864  Pages 369—374.
CHAPTER XLV.
RAID NEAR BERRYVILLE.
August, 1864  Pages 375—377.
CHAPTER XLVI.
BATTLE NEAR-FRONT ROYAL.
August, 1864  Pages 378—379.

CONTENTS. 19
CHAPTER X L V 1 1 .
PEELING THE VALLEY.
August, 1864—  Pages 380—383.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
SKIRMISHING WITH BRECKINRIDGE.
August— September, 1864  Pages 384— 38S.
CHAPTER XLIX.
BATTLE OF OPEQUAN
September, 1864  Pages 389—393.
CHAPTER L.
ON TO STAUNTON.
September, 1864  Pages 394—396.
CHAPTER LI.
CAPTIVITY OF CAPT. G. N. BLISS.
September, 1864— February, 1865  Pages 397—404.
CHAPTER LI I.
DOWN THE VALLEY AGAIN.
September— October, 1864  Pages 405—408.

20 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER LIU.
THE WOODSTOCK RACES.
October, 1864  Pages 409—411.
CHAPTER LIV.
BATTLE OF CEDAR CREEK.
October, 1864  Pages 412—421.
CHAPTER LV.
ADJUSTING OUR FRONT FOR WINTER.
October— December, 1864  Pages 422—430.
CHAPTER LVI.
CAMP NEAR WINCHESTER.
January— February, 1865  Pages 431—435.
CHAPTER- LVII. ¦
SECOND BATTLE OF WAYNESBORO.
March, 1865  Pages 436—440.
CHAPTER LVIII.
SHERIDAN'S RAID.
March, 1865  Pages 441—446.

CONTENTS. 21
CHAPTER LIX.
CAPTIVITY OF R. F. ELDRIDGE.
March— April, 1865  Pages 447—449
CHAPTER LX.
FALL OF RICHMOND.
March— April, 1865  Pages 450—454.
CHAPTER LXI.
SURRENDER OF LEE.
April, 1865  Pages 455—458.
CHAPTER LXII.
RETURN OF THE COMMAND
March— August, 1865  Pages 459—467.
CHAPTER LXIII.
ARMY HYMNS.
Pages 468—474.
CHAPTER LXIV.
OUR FALLEN COMRADES.
ROLL OF HONOR.
Pages 475—477.

22 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER L X V .
ROLL OF THE REGIMENT.'
Pages 478—597.
CHAPTER LXVI.
VETERAN ASSOCIATION.
Pages 598—600.

ENGRAVINGS.
PORTRAITS OF CORPS 'COMMANDERS— Fbontispiece.
PORTRAIT OF GEN. DUFFIE.
MAP OF WAR PATH.

IN ME MORI AM.

CAPT. WILLIAM P. AIN S WORTH. .. .Page 90.
LIEUT. JAMES P. TAYLOR  Page 127.
LIEUT, (acting captain) LORENZO
D. GOVE  Page 169.
LIEUT. HENRY L. NICOLAI  Page 216.
LIEUT. JOSEPH A. CHEDELL  Page 243.
LIEUT. CHARLES ALBERT SAWYER. Page 311.
LIST OF ENCOUNTERS  Pages 465— 467.

Unn m $m

CHAPTER I.
ORIGIN OF THE REGIMENT.
April— September, 1861.
iHOTJGH long cherished in the councils of Slavery,
the rebellion at last broke suddenly and fiercely
upon our nation. The mad throe of revolt shook the
earth beneath us and clouded the heavens above us, like
the shock and darkness of an awful earthquake.
The rebel shot that smote Fort Sumter (April 12, 1861)
was answered by the clarion of liberty on all the hills of
the Free States, summoning the loyal and brave to the
support of the Union. Such a voluntary and instanta
neous uprising of a great people, to jeopard their lives in
defense of law and order, had never been known in the
world's history. President Lincoln's call for seventy-five
thousand men was responded to with a promptness and
alacrity that thrilled the land and astonished the witness
ing nations. It had not been believed that republican
ism was capable of such spirit and voluntary self-defense.
3

26 SABRES AND spurs. [April,
The inflamed insurrectionists threw thenrselves into
their scheme of secession with a marvelous readiness and
resolution. Not the crusaders of old had more confidence
and zeal in their chimerical design. The great question
— Shall Slavery or Freedom command the Republic? —
was thus submitted to the arbitrament of the sword.
In Virginia, and parts of the other seceded States, the
slave masters had been trained to horsemanship, and,
among the young bloods of the aristocracy, there glowed
something of the pride and dash of the old cavaliers.
The Old Dominion, which became the front of the
battle and continued to be the chief theatre of the
struggle, readily sent forth splendid battalions of cavalry.
The Black Horse troops won fame for their spurs in the
first shock of battle at Bull Run, and were soon followed
by the bold commands of Ashby and Stuart. In this
arm of the service, at the opening of the conflict, the
South, both from habit and situation, had an advantage
over the North.
To meet this brilliant and swift arm of the Confeder
ates, Mr. Lincoln summoned to the aid of our infantry
and artillery the guidons and steel of the loyal North.
The call was enthusiastically answered from the pines of
Maine to the prairies of the West. Governor William
Sprague, of Rhode Island, gallantly offered to procure
the first regiment of sabres from New England. He
first proposed to secure, from each of the'six New Eng
land States, one squadron; and so began in Rhode Island.
His design was so ardently seconded by the people that it
was soon found that much more could be done than had
originally been contemplated. Each State was ready and
anxious to do more than the part assigned. Brave old
Massachusetts and hardy young Maine determined to
raise each a regiment; others were eager to furnish each

186 1. J FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 27
a battalion. It was shortly concluded that the command
proposed by Governor Sprague should be made up of two
battalions from Rhode Island and one from New Hamp
shire; and the sabres and spurs were quickly forthcoming.
This was the first full regiment of cavalry ever raised in
New England.
Little Rhody lifted her guidons, and brave spirits ral
lied to her recruiting station in Providence. As her
territory was small, though her heart was not thus cir
cumscribed, many from the borders of Massachusetts
and Connecticut, with a passion for saddles and bridles,.
sought admission to the cavalier command. Meanwhile,
the bugles on the White Mountains, answering to the
bugles on the shores of the Narragansett, called out a
splendid battalion, superbly mounted and thoroughly
furnished, in their rendezvous at Concord. A peculiar
class of men — patriotic spirits of dash, fire, fortitude
and endurance — elected this swift and arduous arm of
the service. And the pride of New England was in
volved in this command, on account of its name and
representative character. It was to make a, new ehapter
in our history. There was a just pride of thought and.
heart attaching to the first regimental guidon ever lifted
in New England, and which was to be aligned with the
guidons of all the Free States, to confront the battalions
of rebellion.
Of the character, education, and social standing of the
members of this command, taken as a whole, it is un
necessary to speak. The history of the regiment shall
be the eulogy of its members. Deeds speak louder than
words; let our sabres be our lips. But it is well known
that in all the arms of the service, during the first part
of the war, not only the field and line," but the ranks of
our army, were filled with enthusiastic volunteers from

28 sabres and spurs. [September,
the best families of the land, and from even the most
independent circles of society. To the high behests of
patriotic duty, not a few millionaires and men from their
elevated professional seats went out from their mansions
to the field with knapsack and blanket. The heart-beat
of the loyal States, at the peril of liberty, was something
too sublime for language to express.
The clouds were thick; the winds were high;
The storm poured darkly through the sky :
But the blood that ran in our sires of old
Was not, in their heirs, corrupt or cold.
And Heaven forbade that fear should abash
The souls of the free with Slavery's lash.
From mart, and shop, and furrowed field,
Was seen the glint of sword and shield;
From hall of wealth and cottage door,
With equal heart, the rich and poor,
Responsive to their country's call,
Their banner waving from the wall,
The righteous strife with zeal embraced,
And martyred fathers' footsteps traced.i
The father girt his armor on ;
The mother blessed her parting son;
The knapsack's corners sisters strove
To fill with tokens of their love.
The aged grandsire spoke his cheers;
The cradle bore its jeweled tears;
The lover paid the final kiss,
And quivering lips replied to bliss.

1861. J FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 29

CHAPTER II.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMAND.
September, 1861— March, 1862.
I HE Government order for the organization of the
regiment was dated September 27, 1861. Bull
Run disaster had thrilled and pained the loyal hearts,
but at the same time had braced the country to meet the
prolonged conflict which was now certain. Though the
three months troops that answered to the President's first
call had returned, other regiments of infantry, and bat
teries of light artillery, had hastened to the field and
were bravely holding the front along the Potomac. Cav
alry battalions were in urgent demand, to aid when the
advance should be made. But it was foreseen that
winter would intervene before the opposing armies would
venture to general action. Beauregard had his head
quarters at Manassas. McClellan was organizing the
Federal volunteers in Washington. Recruiting stations
were open throughout the land. Forces were steadily
and eagerly gathering under the National Capitol.
Our first and third battalions, belonging to Rhode
Island, were enlisted in Providence, chiefly by the zeal
and tact of General John Gould, Colonel George W. Hal-
3*

30 sabres and spurs. [December,
lett, Majors Willard Sayles and William Sanford, Cap
tains Burt, Farrington and Anthony. Others rendered
them effective aid.
The Rhode Island battalions, as enlisted, went into
camp, beginning October 4, 1861, in Cranston, by the
Cranston road, and were under the supervision, at first,
of Colonel George W. Hallett, of the Providence Horse
Guards, and Chief of Cavalry of Rhode Island. In
honor of him the rendezvous was called Camp Hallett.
Some of these camp experiences will not be forgotten.
Thus writes Lieutenant Baker, as a sharer in the scene:
" November 2, 1861. Severe rain storm in the night.
Most of the tents blown down. Men driving pegs and
digging ditches in the dark, and laughing and hallooing
to each other. Some cry, 'Hold on to the tent pole!'
' Look out for your clothes! ' ' Come in out of the rain! '
and very soon are themselves scrambling out from under
their own fallen tent, with grimed night costume no way
suited for dress parade."
During the first week in December, 1861, some of the
troops removed from Camp Hallett to newly erected bar
racks in the riding park near Pawtucket, then named
Camp Arnold, in honor of Lieutenant-Governor* S. G.
Arnold. As the barracks were completed we all moved
up to Camp Arnold:
The second, or New Hampshire battalion, of intelli
gent and brave White Mountain boys, representing all
parts of the Granite State, and all ranks and professions
in life, was wisely enrolled by Major D. B. Nelson, with
proper assistants, and was mustered into service at Con
cord, and quartered in an old wooden building in the
centre of the fair grounds, on the east side of the river.
Though the men had bunks, blankets and straw beds,
the cold December winds, driving through -the rickety.

1861. J FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 31
shelter, keenly reminded them of the homes they had
left. Here horses were provided and assigned to the troops.
They were of the small Morgan and Canadian breed, yet.
not of very light weight. These beasts, found in the
north of New England and parts of Canada, proved tc*
be of superior constitution and metal for cavalry service,.
and many of them, purchased in the autumn of 1861,.
survived all the hardships aud battles of the war.
The fair ground furnished an excellent place for drill
ing both men and horses, a work in which the soldiers:
took a lively interest and manifested a wise zeal. Lieu
tenant Allen Baker, Jr., of Rhode Island, by direction.
of Colonel Hallett, was on special duty at this camp,
assisting in organizing and drilling the battalion. As
this kind of work was entirely new in our country, of
course all officers and men were learners, but all were
eager students. Patriotism mastered all difficulties.
New Hampshire had a just pride in these her worthy-
sons, the flower of her mountains, the first of her mount
ed troops. Their hearts were warm; their hands were
strong; their spurs were bright; their sabres were sharp.
No State might boast superior soldiers. The battalion
came on by rail to Rhode Island, to unite its guidons;
with the standard of the regiment, reaching Pawtucket
January 22, 1862, and was handsomely received and
quartered for the night in public buildings in the town.
January 23, 1862. The Rhode Island troops, B, C, and
D, from Camp Arnold, under Captain R. C. Anthony,.
with the regimental band, paraded in Pawtucket, and,.
with the Slater Drill Corps and Cudworth Zouaves, es
corted the New Hampshire battalion to camp. Thus at
last all the guidons were brought together, and it was a
hearty, enthusiastic meeting.

32 sabres and spurs. [January,
The stylo of the command was First Regiment New
England Cavalry. The date of muster-in was December
14, 1861. The mustering officer was Captain G. M.
Cutts, Jr., of the Regular Army. The following was
the roster: FIELD AND STAFF.
Colonel, Robert B. Lawton.
Major, Willard Sayles.
" William Sanford.
" David B. Nelson.
Adjutant, John Whipple, Jr.
Quartermaster, Charles A. Leonard.
Surgeon, Timothy Newell.
Assistant Surgeon, J. B. Greeley.
Chaplain, Rev. F. Denison.
LINE OFFICERS.
Troop A. — Captain, J. J. Gould; First Lieutenant,
W. H. Turner; Second Lieutenant, James P. Vose.
Troop B. — Captain, E. C. Burt; First Lieutenant,
Allen Baker, Jr. ; Second Lieutenant, R. J. Burgess.
Troop C. — Captain, Lycurgus Sayles; First Lieuten
ant, John Whipple, Jr. ; Second Lieutenant, Charles
H. Thayer.
Troop D. — Captain, R. C. Anthony; First Lieuten
ant, W. C. Capron; Second Lieutenant, C. N. Man
chester. Troop E. — Captain, P. M. Farrington; First Lieu
tenant, Charles S. Treat; Second Lieutenant, L. B.
Pratt. Troop F. — Captain, John Rogers; First Lieutenant,
Richard Waterman; Second Lieutenant, Joshua Vose.
Troop G.— Captain, John B. Wood; First Lieuten-

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 33
ant, George N. Bliss; Second Lieutenant,- Charles A.
Leonard.1 Troop H. — Captain,  ; First Lieutenant, W.
B. B. Greene; Second Lieutenant, Hiram P. Barker.
Troop I. — Captain, S. R. Sweett; First Lieutenant,
L. D. Gove; Second Lieutenant, George H. Thompson.
Troop K. — Captain, J. L. Thompson; First Lieuten
ant, A. Wyman; Second Lieutenant, Frank Allen.
Troop L. — Captain, J. J. Prentice; First Lieuten
ant, A. H. Bisby; Second Lieutenant, W. P. Prentice.
Troop M. — Captain, W. P. Ainsworth; First Lieu
tenant, J. F. Andrews; Second Lieutenant, J. L. Per-
ley, Jr.
Adjutant of second (or New Hampshire) battalion,
George S. Cram.
Quartermaster of second (or New Hampshire) bat
talion, J. F. Andrews.
Chief Trumpeter of Regiment, E. H. Gurney.
The full roll of the command will be given in another
part of our volume.
Each troop numbered eighty enlisted men, which
brought nine hundred and sixty men into the ranks.
These, with the officers, gave the regiment a round
thousand fighting men. For the full command, with
wagon trains, we required fully twelve hundred horses,
but as yet only six troops had been mounted. Drawn in
line, with standard, guidons, band, buglers, and full
ranks, we presented, on parade, a splendid and imposing
martial array.
Besides the chief trumpeter and company buglers, a
band of musicians was enlisted, and maintained at the
expense of the officers. Neither cost nor pains were

34 sabres and spurs. [February,
spared to make the command worthy of the States it
represented. That large expectations attached to the
command was manifest from the visits paid us by State
officers, Government agents, and leading citizens.
Vigorous drill was the order in Camp Arnold. The
camp was regular in form and manner, and the barracks
were well arranged. The manual of arms was varied
and relieved by parades, reviews and marches, to accus
tom the men to the saddle. If occasionally a little local
and State pride, and possibly jealousy, appeared among
officers and men, — which was but natural, — usually all
discreetly subsided into a determination to excel in neat
ness, proficiency, and soldierly bearing.
February 1st. The officers -of the New Hampshire bat
talion gave a handsome reception to the officers of the
Rhode Island battalions, at Dispeau's eating house in
Pawtucket, and on February 12th the Rhode Island
officers fully returned the compliment at the Lindsay
Place, kept by the well known Joe Smith. Music, of
no inferior order, was furnished by the regimental band.
Hospitalities were constant in the quarters of the camp,
and the regiment had truly one heart.
February 21, 1862. Major W. Sayles was commissioned
Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain R. 0. Anthony was
advanced to the rank of Major.
Sabbath worship, conducted by the Chaplain, was
commenced in Camp Hallett, November 10, 1861, and
ever after was regularly maintained: observed, of course,
always in the open air, beneath the Divine arch of blue,
and we trust under the Divine smile. This service
usually consisted of, 1, singing; 2, Scripture reading,
alternately, in verses, by Chaplain and men; 3, prayer;
4, sermon; 5, Doxology, by the command; 6, benediction.
On Thanksgiving Day (November 28, 1861) the squad-

1862. J FIRST RHODE island cavalry. 35
rons, then in Camp Hallett, were invited into Providence
to attend religious services in the Central Baptist Church,
accompanied by the Governor and his staff. The service
was impressive to all. Afterwards the men were supplied
with a bountiful dinner at their camp.
Repeatedly, from Camp Arnold, we were invited, in
squadrons and battalions, to worship in the churches in
Pawtucket and Providence. Sometimes prayer meetings
were held in the barracks.
Our tent and barrack life, extending through the
severities of winter, was actively and profitably passed in
the work of preparation for our solemn mission, then
only dimly comprehended in its tragic nature and dura
tion. The flash of sabres, the manual of the carbine, the
maneuvres of troops and battalions, the daily inspections
and dress parades, with frequent regimental drills, and
little episodes of amusement and recreation, gave to our
life a strange, weird, stern, and yet lively aspect. Into
the warlike work warm hearts, patriotic impulses, and
sacred hopes infused a cheerfulness and vivacity, proving
that the best of men can, under great calls, leave their
homes and gird themselves for battle without sadness.
Indeed, we have always insisted that our nation, during
the rebellion, was veritably inspired of God to meet the
awful conflict cast upon us. Invaluable to us, at this
time, would have been such a volume as this, giving the
structure, duties, drill, and field experiences of a regiment
of horse. But no such volume existed in our country.
George A. Sargent, bugler of Troop L, in his spicy
journal, to which we may often refer, thus pleasantly
describes what he styles his "initiation":
"We were sworn into Uncle Sam's service, holding up
our right hands, while a Regular Army officer read off a
string of articles, we repeating after him, signifying that

36 sabres and spurs. [February,
we should do all in our power to aid the Government,
obey our officers, and be good boys generally. Arriving
in camp, we were required to give our names, ages,
height, weight, color of eyes, hair and complexion, and
occupation. This over, we were furnished with uniforms,
making us feel like cats in a strange garret. However,
we were to be soldiers, and must wear them. For rations
we fell into line, with tin plates, cups and spoons, and
marched up to the cook barrack and received our quota,
a la Oliver Twist."
We may not forget the good oyster supper bestowed
upon us on Christmas in Camp Hallett. This, however,
was but a specimen of the kindnesses shown us by our
fellow citizens. To us, as to the regiments that preceded
and followed us to the field, the citizens of Rhode Island
yied with each other in furnishing all necessary aid.
Men of wealth bestowed upon officers swords, sabres,
pistols, sashes, uniforms, and camp comforts. All classes
united, and especially the women, in contributing blank
ets, mittens, papers, books, and hospital supplies. Three
hundred and sixty copies of " Cromwell's Soldiers' Pocket
Bible " were donated by W. J. King and B. Dyer; five
hundred pocket Bibles, by the Rhode Island Bible Society;
five hundred Army Hymns, by A. D. Nickerson; and,
from friends, eight hundred copies of a small army hymn
book, written by the Chaplain, designed to be pasted
into the Testaments and Bibles of the soldiers. Ladies
in different parts of the State, sewing circles, volunteer
associations, and particularly the Aid Society, of Provi
dence, made generous contributions to our comfort. The
Chaplain's army hymns were supplied for the whole
command, and also for some batteries of artillery. How
truly the Army of Freedom lived in the hearts and
prayers of the people!

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 37
Sargent's journal says: "The officers were pretty
strict about letting the boys out of the inclosure: only
three from a company Avere allowed passes in a day.
This was thought to be slow work. Some secured citi
zens' suits, and would, in these, pass out with the crowd
of visitors. One ingeniously procured a female dress —
frock, shawl, bonnet, and other trimmings — and so
passed the sentry as a woman." The costume, slightly
varied, did service a number of times, as the sentinels
were changed.
" Our men had issued to them stable frocks, which
were white and made like dusters. When these were
new and clean, some of our boys wore them into the town
on a Sabbath as they took a stroll. Challenged to enter
a church, they went in and were seated near the centre of
the house, attracting no little attention. The minister,
reading the Scripture lesson from Rev. iii., came to this
passage: ' He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed
in white raiment.' This woke up minister, people, and
soldiers. When the men rose to face the choir the sen
sation was augmented. They never after wore their
white frock to meeting."
How eagerly we looked for the daily papers, and read
the numerous and flaming telegrams. The war engrossed
all thoughts. Every word from the front was caught as
an omen. Prophets, both hopeful and despondent, were
numerous. The Democratic vaticinations were generally
doleful and disheartening, though some noble Democrats
stood heroically by the Union. The Republicans were
full of hope, courage and cheer. All sorts of reports
reached our camp: that this was to be an artillery war;
no more cavalry was wanted; we were to be turned into
infantry; were to be discharged; would be sent to guard
prisoners; that the war would end in ninety days. But
4

38 sabres and spurs. [March,
New England penetration was not readily deceived. We
knew that much and weighty work lay before us. Slavery
had thrown down the gauntlet in earnest. Freedom had
accepted the issue as a call from God. Liberty was to be
regenerated. Taken from comfortable, and sometimes luxurious,
homes, and crowded into small, thinly covered barracks,
various forms of sickness were experienced by many
officers and men. At one time small-pox occasioned no
little anxiety and inconvenience, but no case proved fatal.
Four deaths occurred in the command in our home
camps: from the Rhode Island battalions, Charles A.
Graves (Troop B), December 26, 1861; Cyrus Smith
(Troop E), January 15, 1862, — both buried with military
honors; — from the New Hampshire battalion, Eli Cor
son, December 30, 1861; James P. Collamy, January 14,
1862. While we were acquiring proficiency in the use of
sabres, carbines and horses, events occurred to animate
the nation and cheer the hosts that were zealously girding
themselves for the great struggle. Port Royal, South
Carolina, yielded to Dupont and Sherman, November 7,
1861; our Third Rhode Island Heavy Artillery was a part
of the victorious force. A Union victory was won at
Dranesville, Virginia, December 20, 1861. At Mill
Springs, Kentucky, General Thomas overcame Critten
den and Zollicoffer, January 19, 1862, and on February
6th, Commodore Foote and General Grant captured Fort
Henry, on the Tennessee; and on tlie same river, Febru
ary 16th, Fort Donelson surrendered with ten thousand
men. February 8th, General Burnside and Commodore
Goldsborough captured Roanoke Island, North Carolina,
with three thousand prisoners. This victory was jubi
lantly celebrated in Rhode Island, and on February 13th

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 39
our regiment, with gleaming standard and guidons, and
glistening sabres, marched into Providence to swell and
share the loyal joy. The victors of Roanoke Island cap
tured Newbern, N. C, March 14th. General Curtis won
his victory at Pea Ridge, Arkansas, March 8th, and Cap
tain Worden, with the Monitor, dealt his blow on the
ram Merrimac, March 9th. Thus opened the guns and
began the movements of the great contending armies for
the year. We were daily expecting that our sabres would
be summoned to the front.

40 SABRES AND SPURS. [March,

CHAPTER III.
ON TO WASHINGTON.
Maboh, 1862.
T last the bugles blew the "assembly call" for
announcing the "order" just received from the
Capital: "Report the command immediately in Wash
ington." What a wave of patriotic excitement rolled
over the barracks. What hurrying to and fro of officers
and men. What a swarming, humming, human hive
was Camp Arnold. Friends poured in with final gifts,
and to utter half-speechless, tearful farewells. Wagons
were speedily packed with arms, baggage, rations and
forage; barracks were quickly emptied; the great regi
mental guidon. was run down and packed, and the troop
guidons were ready to fall into column for our forward
march from the sight of our homes to the smoke of the
field. March 12, 1862. With only two hours' notice, our
troops of the third battalion were off for Providence,
where they took rail, in about thirty cars, to Groton,
Conn., and thence by steamer and rail via New York,
Philadelphia and Baltimore, to Washington. We were
too heavy a command to be transported together. The
first and second battalions left Providence March 14th, in

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 41
three trains of thirty cars each — ninety cars — one detach
ment going via Groton and steamer to New York ; the
remainder, in two detachments, via Hartford and New
Haven, spending the rainy night without sleep on the
rails, reaching New York in the morning.
March 15th. Marching across the city, in the mud and
rain, we joined our other detachment, and filled two
large steamers for Amboy. All was excitement along
our route from our home camp, in cities and towns and
hamlets. Flags, handkerchiefs, adieus and tears were
abundant in Providence as we moved out. The fatigue
of preparation for departure, the solicitude of leaving kin
and friends, the labor of loading and care of guarding
our horses, with loss of sleep, and a thorough drenching
in the rain, made this beginning of our movement to the
front readily remembered. March 15th was passed on
steamers and the rail from Amboy to Camden, as the
heavy storm still continued.
On the morning of March 16th we reached Philadel
phia, and were most kindly furnished with refreshments —
coffee, bread and meat — at the famous Cooper Shop Vol
unteer Refreshment Saloon, a place tenderly and grate
fully remembered by even hundreds of regiments, and
for which Philadelphia deserves lasting praise. Leaving
" the city of brotherly love," in monster trains, we soon
found the road burdened with similar army-laden trains
pressing on to swell the army front. By these we were
delayed at Perryville for some hours, and had a glance at
camps of guarding cavalry, and quantities of war mate
rial and stores waiting for transportation.
Leaving Havre de Grace at six in the evening, we
reached semi-loyal Baltimore at nine, and unloading,
save our horses and baggage, marched through the
glum city in the solemn stillness of night, receiving a
4*

42 sabres and spdrs. [March,
soldiers' lunch at the hands of the Union Relief Associa
tion. Sargent's journal reads : "All along our route through
Jersey and Pennsylvania, women and youth, as well as
men, would flock to the doors, waving for us handker
chiefs and aprons. Men working in the fields would
drop their implements and wave their hats in the air.
As the train was passing Perryville, a patriotic young
lady appeared with an apron of stars and stripes. Said
one of the boys : ' That's the flag we are going to fight
under.' She replied : ' You can't fight under this one.' "
We now began to snuff the tainted air of secession.
As Baltimore was very largely the wholesale and retail
trading town for northern and eastern Virginia, her
merchants and traders, who controlled the, sentiment of
the city, led her into strong sympathy with her slave-
holding and seceding patrons. This was the natural
philosophy of " Touch my purse, touch me ;" the too
common philosophy of mankind. Knowing how Massa
chusetts troops had been treated, we marched through
the city fully armed. All around us reserve and sus
picion were apparent.
Near midnight, thoroughly fatigued, we were packed,
even to field officers, in box cars and on half -covered flats,
where "nature's sweet restorer" might never venture.
With snail pace, and frequent halts, since -the road
groaned with trains, we urged our weary advance, peer
ing out in the darkness upon the line of Federal sentinels
who guarded the track. Our discomforts were not a
little aggravated by sympathy for our horses suffering
from want of forage and water. Our active and efficient
guide, as master of transportation, was Major Samuel P.
Sanford, of Governor Sprague's staff.
March 17th. With the morning, we reached the Na-

1SG2.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 43
tional Capital, without loss of beasts or property, but
seriously numbed by the storms of three days and nights,
and the want of sleep, yet strangely animated by the
martial scenes and sounds that on all sides saluted us.
Washington, with its surrounding districts, was now
little else than one vast war camp, though General Mc-
Clellan, with his army, had just departed for the Penin
sula in his memorable movement towards Richmond.
General Lander had pushed back the Confederates on the
upper Potomac, and General Banks was advancing into
the Shenandoah Valley. Discovering that they were
about to be flanked, the rebels, under General Johnston,
had just evacuated their lines of forts in the vicinity of
Manassas. As the Union army was in motion, troops
were pressing to the front from all the Northern and
Middle States. At this time the Federal armies, _ in all,
must have numbered more than five hundred thousand
men. The Confederates counted about four hundred
thousand in arms. Ours was the difficult and critical
task of advance and attack. Theirs was the easier, safer
labor of defense on their own occupied fields and hills.
We were full of courage. They were full of assurance.
Our regiment was assigned to the cavalry force under
Brigadier-General G. Stoneman, then Chief of Cavalry
in the Army of the Potomac, and entered the recently
vacated barracks of the Sixth Regular Cavalry, about a
mile east of the Capitol and near the Congressional Bury
ing Ground. Here we found one troop of the Sixth,
that remained for a few days in their preparation for
duty. Our rest here was brief ; only long enough to
make up our full^ quota of horses. Renewed drill was at
once commenced. Similar activity was witnessed in the
multitude of camps around us and throughout adjacent
regions. Bugles, drums, fifes, flags, guidons ; reports of

44 sabres and spurs. [March,
arms ; the rush of horsemen ; the wheeling of artillery ;
the maneuvering of squads, squadrons, battalions and
regiments ; the dashing hither and yon of aids, quarter
masters, surgeons and field officers, gave to the District
of Columbia a most lively but serious aspect, in strange
contrast with its proper air of legislation. Grim war
looked in upon us from every side. We keenly realized
that stern and perilous work lay before us. However,
faith in the right, and hope in .a great cause, looked
through the gloom and revealed the heights of victory.
Often cheerfulness and even hilarious mirth entered our
narrow and dark war barracks ; for man was made to
laugh, as well as to mourn. We were constantly anima
ted with the consciousness that our work had to do with
the life of the nation and the destiny of the continent,
and was under the eyes of all nations ; and, what was
more, under the eye of God.
Here in Washington, as in Camp Arnold, Colonel
Lawton magnified, as was necessary, in the eyes of all
the officers the information and authority of the " Army
Regulations." Our Quartermaster will remember, with
his characteristic smile, how his questionings were met
with the grave reply, " Read the Regulations."

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 45.

CHAPTER IV.
RESCUE OF DEAD BODIES.
March, 1862.
|i^UR first entrance upon the soil of Virginia was
two days after our arrival at the Capital, and in
the discharge of a very tender duty. Not regarding
secession soil as sacred, we were unwilling that our mar
tyred dead of the First and Second Infantry Regiments
of Rhode Island, who fell in the battle of Bull Run, July
21, 1861, should remain in the rude graves into which
they were cast by rebel hands. They were lying in
trenches and side graves on the gory field where they
fell, about forty miles west of the Capital. The Con
federate army had just fallen back from Manassas to the
line of the Rappahannock, though their scouts still
infested and threatened the region just abandoned. As
yet the Federal troops had advanced only to Fairfax
Court House.
Governor Sprague, now in Washington, caring for the
Rhode Island soldiers and aiding the Federal Govern
ment, obtained consent of the War Department to select.
a detachment from our command to accomplish the
sacred object of which we speak. We gave him sixty
picked men from Troop D, under Captain Gould. He

46

sabres and spurs. [March,

elected for his staff, on the expedition, Colonel Olney
Arnold and Hon. Tristam Burgess, of Rhode Island,—
then in Washington, — Lieutenant-Colonel W. Sayles,
Major R. C. Anthony, Surgeon J. B. Greeley, and Chap
lain F. Denison. Major Anthony had charge of the
detachment and the accompanying train of wagons. Mr.
J. Richardson, who was in the battle of Bull Run, acted
as our guide. ' Two baggage wagons carried forage, ra
tions, and empty coffins. The Governor had a private
two-horse wagon, with supplies for his staff, under the
management of his private secretary.
March 19th. We left Washington at five o'clock P.
M., while the clouds were making ready copious showers
for us, that we might have a fair experience of Virginia
roads and fields in the months of spring. Crossing Long
Bridge at six o'clock, we pressed on by the principal road
towards Fairfax Court House. As the winter was scarcely
passed, and the rain was now descending, the free soil of
Virginia quite equalled the tenacity and depth of our
"free soil" sentiments. But we had not yet reached the
subsoil. However, our horses were good, and we were
fresh in muscle. The roads were literally horrible, and
delays to our train were inevitable. Pressing forward
till midnight, the Governor and his staff reached Fairfax
Court House, where General L. Blenker's brigade, hold
ing the Federal front, was bivouacked, in . the rain and
without tents. The remainder of our party, wet, weary,
and retarded by the wagons, were obliged to halt and
bivouac in the deep darkness, seven miles back on the road.
The soldiers occupied the grand apartments of nature.
Lieutenant-Colonel Sayles wooed soldierly dreams on an
old unhinged door, wrapped in a dripping blanket. At
General Blenker's headquarters, in a crazy old house,
the Governor and his staff received field hospitalities.

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 47
The General's boots served the Chaplain as a pillow; the
soft floor was his bed. Others found similar ease. The
log fire was a felt blessing to our feet. Our unsheltered
horses shivered in the storm. The tough German soldiers
around us fed liberally their camp fires, and demurely
smoked their pipes of tobacco and philosophy.
March 20th. Through continuing rain, that had al
ready swollen the streams and flooded the roads, we
advanced to Centreville, where, from the stress of storm,
we took shelter in desolate houses and the deserted log
barracks of rebel regiments; for the town had been a
part of the camps of the Confederates during the winter.
Now all was ruin, and only a few of the old inhabitants
lingered around their homes. In front of the place were
six well constructed earth forts, connected by good
trenches and rifle-pits. In some of the embrasures the
rebels had mounted painted logs, like cannon, looking
defiance towards Washington. In one of them was
mounted the smoke stack of an old locomotive. These
Were the Quaker guns that awed McClellan. On riding
into these forts we found but one gun platform marred
by artillery wheels. Beauregard, as his works in and
around Manassas testified, was a splendid engineer; but
neither the Confederacy nor England supplied him with
the guns he expected.
In and around Centreville we found the log barracks
of thirteen secession regiments. They were of round
timber, laid in mud mortar, and roofed with slabs and
puncheons: wooden pins being used for fastenings, even
to the doors and latches. Dead horses lay thickly around
the camps and by the road side; we counted twenty in
one spot. Great must have been the scarcity of forage.
The town was stripped and peeled. The Chaplain paid
fifty cents to a poor man for a dozen ears of shriveled

48 sabres and spurs. [March,
corn for his horse. Fences were gone; buildings were
plundered; fields were scathed, and even the forests were
hewn down. Pen may not depict the desolation wrought
hj the armies that had here encamped. The rebels had
been gone from the place only a week.
We were now beyond the Federal lines, but in the
evening, troops of cavalry came up to hold the place.
The storm compelled us to tarry till the next morning.
The Chaplain entered the desolate Episcopal Church,
preached a short sermon, and offered a prayer; the exer
cises being less ritualistic and pro-slavery than had been
hitherto popular within the walls. In the house of Dr.
Alexander, where we obtained plain refreshments — hoe-
cake and meat, for which we liberally paid— we found, in
a sofa that we tried to use as a bed, a stout sabre and
trappings, ready for a moment's call. The moment had
come. Of course Dr. A. was a Union man, as Union
forces were now in the town. Necessity is often a virtue.
March 21st. Leaving Centreville early, we dashed on,
cutside the Federal lines, through sloughs and gulches,
over disrupted corduroy roads and broken timber bridges,
through, fields and forests, as we could pick a possible
way, to Cub Run, a few miles above Blackburn's Ford,
and found the run overflowing its banks and utterly
impassable. A courier from General Banks was on the
opposite shore, but could not pass. We, deflecting to
the right, passed through ruined forests and evacuated
rebel camps, up the stream till we reached a hopeful
ford where the river was but three hundred feet broad
and ten feet deep in the middle, but running with great
velocity. We had no time for hesitancy; our faces were
for Bull Run battle field. Surgeon Greeley was the first
to swim the swift, cold stream, followed by his orderly,
who took over the end of joined lariat ropes borrowed

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY'. 49
from our saddles, and to the extremity of which was
attached a large picket rope found near by in the debris
of a Georgia regiment. The next swimmer was Hon. T.
Burgess, followed by the detached lead horses from one
of our wagons. These were attached to the further end
of the picket rope, while the hither end was tied to the
neap of the wagon with the wheel horses. Now, with
shout and whip, the spans on both sides of the river were
put to their best metal. Up the bank went the leaders;
into the river plunged the wheel horses and wagon.
That was animated and exciting swimming. The oppo
site bank was reached without loss. Then in dashed the
Governor and staff and troop. Only one man was un
horsed in the torrent, but he and his beast were rescued.
We always regarded this cold Virginia bath as a fair
initiation into field service.
Starting on our way, we think there was some good
riding done to shake off the chills of Cub Run. Reach
ing the Warrenton Turnpike, the Governor, Colonel
Arnold, Mr. Burgess, Surgeon Greeley and the Chaplain
tried the best speed of their animals. Mud and small
stones flew merrily to the rear. Some thought the ration
of whisky, medically administered before swimming the
run, had something to do with this speed. As it was,
one soldier did not rally from the cold shock of the
stream. Reaching the Stone Bridge at Bull Run, we found it
had been blown up by the retreating Confederates.
Turning to the right, up the stream, we advanced, over
fields and through woods, to the ford nearly opposite
Sudley Church, where we crossed, barely wetting our
girths. The raccoons in this region had not all followed
the secession retreaters, for we counted the pelts of seven
drying on the side of a barn.

50 sabres and spurs. [March,
Now beyond the Federal lines, we moved cautiously
and together. Passing Sudley Church, into which some
spurred their horses even to the pulpit, we hurried on
to the centre of Bull Run battle field, and gazed for a
moment with intense curiosity upon the torn acres,
scarred trees, and rude graves. Meanwhile, our guide,
Mr. Richardson, was making ready to open certain graves
near the field, containing some of the bodies we sought,
of which he had knowledge, as he was present after the
battle and knew of the burials. These graves were on
the north of the battle field, in a ravine, and near the
road leading from Sudley Church. Here were buried
Colonel John S. Slocum and Major Sullivan Ballou.
While the work of exhumation was going on, the Gov
ernor and certain of his staff, having visited the cabin of
Mr. Mathew, and also a plantation mansion, learned
from the colored people that some of the dead bodies
had been exhumed and barbarously treated by the Con
federate army.
Hurrying back to the glen, we found the coffin and
body of Colonel Slocum uninjured and easily recognized,
But on opening the grave of Major Ballou we found
neither coffin nor body, and the grave itself bore witness
of disturbance and violence. Following the report and
steps of a negro, down the glen a short distance, among
the large pines and oaks, we were horrified by discovering
ashes, dead coals and brands, and in these the bones of
a human body, save the head. As was proved, a Georgia
regiment, that had suffered in the battle from the fire of
the Rhode Island troops, had exhumed the body of
Major Ballou, supposing it to be that of Colonel Slocum,
beheaded it, denuded it, and burned what remained.
Words may not describe the indignation revealed in the
face of the Governor, and of all who gazed upon that

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 51
rifled grave and those bones protruding from the ashes
and dead coals. Was this the Southern chivalry that we
were to meet with ourselves ?
Sacredly were these bones collected, and also the
clothes, identified as belonging to Major Ballou, that
lay untom by the place of burning. In further proof of
the beheading, the under-clothes were found with the
neck band buttoned-, while the wrists were unbuttoned.
No part of the skull, not even- a tooth, was discernible
after searching the ashes. All the remaining bones of the
body were found and gathered. Placing these in a coffin,
and also the body of Colonel Slocum in a casket, we
returned to the crest of the hill on the margin of the
battle field, and made arrangements to remain till the
following morning, for our work was not yet complete.
We continued our search for the dead, and found the
trenches containing them in a concave portion of the
field, very wet, near the log cabin of Mr. Mathew.
For the night, most of our men found a shelter in a
house near the gory field. Our horses stood out in the
wind and the rain, that had returned. Seventeen of us
accepted the roof and hospitalities of Mr. Mathew.
Eating his hoe-cake and drinking his aromatic rye coffee,
we lay down on his cabin floor, with our soaked feet to
the log fire. The Governor and his staff laughed at their
military plight, till short and strange dreams came over
them. '
In the morning (March 22d) we had calls from Mr.
Newman and Mr. Van Pelt, old farmers, who told dole
ful stories of their experiences and losses. Mr. Mathew's
log cabin had been riddled by the bullets of the battle,
as it stood on the edge of the fiery field. Around it
were Federal and Confederate graves ; of the latter we
counted seventeen on the ground swept by the Rhode

52 sabres and spurs. [March,
Island artillery. Adjacent woods were cut and splin
tered by missiles. There lay the bones of the horse shot
under Governor Sprague, and Surgeon Greeley obtained
the fatal bullet.
We immediately opened the muddy pits containing the
bodies of the brave dead, which were packed, like cord
wood, into the pits, with faces downward — meant as a
mark of indignity — and scarcely covered with earth. On
the top of the dead in the pit we opened, lay an unex-
ploded rebel shell, which the Chaplain secured and sent
to Rhode Island. We laid bare eight bodies, when we
reached that of Captain Levi Tower, readily recognized.
This we at once deposited in a coffin/ The grave of
Lieutenant Prescott could not be identified. Nor could
we distinguish the bodies of our private soldiers.
While opening the graves and pits, rebel scouts and
spies, in the disguise of farmers, appeared in the vicinity.
But we were on our guard. Once our sentinels fired an
alarm, which brought our troop to the crown of the field
ready for a dash. Of course we gathered memorials of
the battle, and relics from rebel camps. In the camp of
a cavalry regiment, near Centreville, we picked up a
brown paper envelope on which was printed the follow
ing effusion :
" On! on! to the rescue ; the vandals are coming ;
Go meet them with bayonet, sabre and spear,
Drive them back to the desolate land they are leaving :
Go! trusting in God, you'll have nothing to fear."
As things looked around us then, and for the next
three years, in Fauquier County, " the desolate land " of
the stanza was where the joke came in.
Our work on the battle field ended, we turned our faces,
about noon, towards Washington. Dashing again across

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 53
the runs, over plains and ruined plantations, we passed
Centreville and reached Fairfax Court House about dark.
We only paused to care for our hungry and lame horses.
With the night, came another heavy rain. By the Alex
andria and Columbia roads we pushed forward, till, after
fourteen hours in the saddle, over full forty miles, wet,
weary and hungry, we entered our camp, east of the
Capitol, at two o'clock Sunday morning, (March 23d)
bringing with us the precious dead. Our exhaustion will
be understood when we state that the Chaplain, wet and
chilled, was taken from his saddle.
On the same day Colonel Lawton, with his staff and a
squadron, escorted the bodies to Camp Brightwood, and
gave them, with fitting ceremony, to the Second Regi
ment Rhode Island Volunteers, from whose ranks they
fell. The regiment received them with touching funeral
honors. The Governor and many friends were present
at the solemnities. Due thanks were rendered to the
Governor and his staff, and to Troop D, for their venture
some but successful mission. The bodies were soon sent
to Rhode Island.
In the expedition we lost but one horse, though sev
eral were injured. The health of our men continued
good.- William Brown (Troop G,) died of congestive
fever, March 26th, and was suitably buried the next day,
at the Soldiers' Home.

54 SABRES and spurs. [April,

CHAPTER V.
FORWARD TO THE FRONT.
April, 1862.
ARCH 30th. We had orders to make ready to
' move to the front, in eastern Virginia, on scout
duty. March 31st. We were notified by the War Depart
ment that the name of our command was changed to
First Regiment Rhode Island Cavalry: a step not relished
by our White Mountain men for obvious reasons, nor
exactly agreeable to any of us; for we gloried in the
breadth and character of our original banner. But
reasons of state overruled our preferences. At the same
time we were assigned to the Fifth Corps d' Armee,
under General Banks, and brigaded under General J. P.
Hatch. Commanded to move with light baggage and
no tents, save little oil-cloth ponchos on our saddles, all
unnecessary property was stored in Washington. Sur
geon Greeley and Chaplain Denison were summoned
before the Joint Committee of the two Houses of Con
gress to testify in regard to the beheading and burning
of the body of Major Ballou.
Of our camp east of the Capitol, Captain Baker thus
speaks: "Company drills were observed twice a day.

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY'. 55
Many will remember the laughable mishaps connected
with the breaking and training of green and vicious
horses by some green and unphilosophical men. A beast,
sharply touched by the spurs, would dash from the ranks,
with his rider holding by both hands to the reins, or
mane, or neck, and clasping more tightly with his limbs,
till his spurs added new jump and speed to his military
departure. The cavalier, soon unhorsed, had a goodi
foot run to secure his fugitive animal. Some stubborn
beasts would stand fast; some kick out, bringing their
heels in close proximity to the head of a rear neighbor^
and some would strike at the foot of the rider. Some of
these drill comedies and tragedies would have answered
for a circus. "
All being ready to move, save Troop G, not fully
mounted, marching orders reached us on the 3d of Aprih
April 4th. Our standard was lifted ; our guidons drawn
in column; our band brought to the head of the com
mand; our farewells to surrounding troops spoken; and
forward we moved to a quick, inspiring air. Our orders
required us to move with all possible celerity to Warren-
ton Junction, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad,
and report to General Abercrombie, then confronting
the Confederates on the banks of the Rappahannock.
Passing the Capitol, and through Pennsylvania avenue,
and over Long Bridge, heartily cheered by citizens and
troops, we formally entered rebellious Virginia. Our
column and train extended a full mile, and with stand
ard, guidons, glittering sabres and carbines, headed by a,
superior brass band with polished instruments, presented
a beautiful and imposing appearance. Such martial
trains necessarily move slowly. At dark we reached
Fairfax Court House, finding the place empty of troops
and nearly so of inhabitants.

56 SABRES AND SPURS. [April,
" " This was the first march of the commarid in the
enemy's country. A new feeling of awe was in the
breasts of all. War was now a reality. ' Danger was
before us. We were to meet the enemy face to face.
Our camp maneuvres were now to be exchanged for the
hostilities of the field. On the first day's march only a
few cavalry men were seen; yet the peril seemed greater
than it did afterwards under the fire of the heaviest
artillery. The hardening of nerves is a gradual process.
After the long and warm march, at evening it began to
rain. Camp fires would not burn well, and hard bread
was the only food we could command without cooking.
We however found, a Yankee in town with a cookie and
beer stand, but what were his supplies among so marfy?"
We quartered in all parts of the place. Some slept in
the Court House; some crept into deserted buildings;
most drew their blankets and ponchos around them and
lay down in the big room frescoed with dark clouds and
sentinel stars.
April 5th. With the early morning, " Boots and Sad
dles " brought ns into column. Still it rained, but we
could not delay, and we were in better spirits on the
march than shivering in a peeled secession town. Pass
ing Centreville, we reached Bull Run, above Blackburn's
Ford. Encountering slews, sloughs, torn roads, broken
bridges, and miry fields, our wagons were frequently
stalled. Fording with difficulty Bull Run, climbing
the slopes, floundering through ravines and over miry
plantations, we reached the melancholy city — or site
rather — of Manassas, for the place now was only a ruin,
almost everything combustible having been burned by
the retiring Confederates. Scarcely the skeleton of a
building remained.
We made our rude bivouac among the ruins, brands

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 5Y
and ashes. As night settled down, Lieutenant Capron
came up, from Alexandria, with forty mule teams loaded
with supplies for the army front. A musical time we
had. At last, lying down with coats and blankets around
us, we looked up to a clear sky and studied astronomy
till gentle Morpheus dimmed our telescopes. The Chap
lain tied his horse to the remains of a huge set of stocks
in what had been a prison yard ; the first view we had
had of such a relic of barbarism. We dreamed to the
music of braying mules, neighing horses, and bugles and
drums of marching and halting troops. i
Surrounding the place were numerous specimens of
Beauregard's skill in earthworks, many of which had
timber and abattis ; some were constructed of bags of
earth. Here, as at Centreville, and near Blackburn's;
Ford, as a precaution against Federal attack, large por
tions of forest had been felled to give range to rebel
cannon (never obtained) and to expose to McClellan's,
scouts the painted logs in the embrasures.
The train of our command consisted of about sixty
wagons of forage, ammunition and rations, and a num
ber of suggestive ambulances. Our needed guide was a.
Mr. Allen, a United States detective, familiar with the
geography of the country. As the. Confederates tore up
the railroad track in their retreat, burning bridges and
road ties, heating and bending the rails, the road had to>
be reconstructed from Bull Run bridge. Engineers and
construction parties had just commenced (heir work.
All moving troops therefore we're dependent upon their
wagon trains.
April 6th. With the day, the bugles roused us from,
the ashes and charred remains of Manassas, to gaze again
on the naked chimney stacks, masses of wheel tires and
iron work that had withstood the Confederate conflagra-

58 SABRES AND spurs. [April,
tion. Singing the stanza of "the desolate land," we
hastened from the scene. Our line of march lay nearly
parallel with the railroad, on its southern side, by
tortuous by-roads, over fields and plantations, through
forests and creeks. As a scout of rebel cavalry, the day
before, attacked a party on this route, killing one and
taking several prisoners, we moved in orderly column,
with carbines in hand. While the face of the country
was beautiful, in the intervales and sluices we had the
disgust of stalled trains. The fording of Broad Run and
Cedar Creek were well-nigh exploits for raw troops ; we
all wore drenched and bedaubed garments.
Everywhere reigned desolation ; fences gone ; fields
peeled ; houses deserted. Halting in a forest, we were
entertained and cheered by the famous ballad composer
and singer,_ who had visited us at home in Camp Arnold,
Mr. E. W. Locke. After his full, sweet voice, echoing
among the oaks, has charmed our ears"and animated our
column, we gladly purchased some of his melodies and
bade him Godspeed in his musical mission in the Federal
armies. On account of detentions, we were at last obliged to
halt and bivouac in a meadow near Weaverville, while a
part of our column was still in the rear assisting and
guarding the stalled teams at Cedar Creek. The cold
night air in our meadow bivouac was illumined, not
warmed, by huge camp fires, fed by fences and logs.
Some of us crept into an old house and held down the
floors ; one troop found a" partial shelter in a half-ruined
Methodist Church, in the margin of the forest ; most,
however, made their beds in the sky-curtained chamber.
It was a misty, chilly, comfortless night. As we were al
ready on a part of the Federal front, precautions against
the bullets and sabres of rebel scouts required many of

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 59
our men on sentinel duty, and gave a fitful character to
the dreams of such as attempted to sleep.
April 7th. In the cloudy, chilly morning we responded
to the bugles and resumed our march, urging our slow,
difficult way through woods and slews, across deep
streams and soft-soiled plantations. About noon we
reached Warrenton Junction and reported to General
Abercrombie, occupying the only house at the junction,
and were ordered to encamp — minus all camp materials —
on a ridge of ungrassed ground, across the creek at the
south of the junction, with broken forests on nearly three
sides of us. Before we could commence our bivouac, it
began to rain, the wind blowing from the north and east
directly from the mountains distinctly in view. Shortly
it commenced to snow. Sad discomforts now surrounded
us, weary, as we were, from four days of hard inarching
and loss of sleep. Marvel not if our thoughts turned
towards our northern homes.
Our rations and forage were exhausted. The supplies
in our train were chiefly for the troops on the front.
Not having tents, we extemporized, as best we could,
shelters of poles and fences covered with brush and our
ponchos. Beneath these we dripped and shivered in our
blankets. Before night the camping ground was a vast
slough. We appropriately named the bivouac Camp
Mud ; it should have been the Slough of Despond.
Prior to our arrival, rebel scouts were near the place,
and there had been a dispute of arms. The First Regi
ment Maine Cavalry came up during the afternoon and
bivouacked in a forest east of us, if possible in a more
sad condition than ourselves. A few camps of infantry
and light artillery were in sight around the junction ;
hence the music of bugles floated among the oaks, in the
dark cold storm, like songs in the night.

<B0 SABRES AND spurs. [April,
We suffered from continuous rain, hail and snow for
three days, having neither sleep nor food, save in the
most meagre and miserable measure. Warmth and
shelter were impossible, though we made the best of
huge camp fires and boughs of trees. Our horses stood
to their knees in mud, sleet and water. We only too
keenly sympathized with our animals. Ice formed in
pools and creeks. The mountains to the north were
capped with snow. A number of our horses died from
hunger and cold. Before the storm broke, most of us
were fit only to be in a hospital. Suitable supplies failed
to reach us on account of the broken railroad. Forever
shall we remember that cold, wet, frozen, shelterless,
comfortless camp. Colonel Lawton, who had seen ser
vice in the Regular Army and endured fatigues in the
Seminole war in Floridian swamps, affirmed that he had
never before experienced such privation and suffering.
An Indiana regiment of infantry near us, with tents and
little stoves, allowed that in the preceding winter they
had known no greater discomforts than during this three
days' storm.
Our circumstances impelled us to resort to foraging ;
an art in which some developed a ready talent, while
others learned with reluctance. For this kind of sup
port, one of the command had a ready formula of phil-
osphy, that " those who get up a party must entertain
the guests." Fortunately for us, the unthrift of the
Virginia planters had left some of the wheat of the pre
ceding year in stack and unthreshed, and the rebel army
•had not devoured it. From miles around us the wheat
and hay — of a miserable quality — were detailed, without
written order, for loyal service. Sometimes the carbines
of our wet, hungry men were over-tempted by secession
pigs and poultry. While our horses were trying to keep

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 61
alive on bundles of wheat, and our sick men were lying
under ponchos on pallets of wet straw, a few feathers
were nervously flying in the air around the camp fires,
and our sick men were first remembered. The low lands
and all margins of creeks and runs were inundated. At
one time the Maine Cavalry had no forage for two days ;
they also, from necessity, made special drafts upon the
country. Nothing was wantonly destroyed.
While enduring these privations and sufferings, our
hearts were greatly cheered by the news of the capture
(April 7th) of Pittsburg Landing, and the surrender
(April 10th) of Island No. 1 0, on the Mississippi. The
swords of our bold Western boys were cutting their way
to the Gulf. Drums, bugles and huzzas poured their
loyal joy around the junction and into the forests, afford
ing a sweet medicine to our spirits and some new strength
to our bodies. New England and the grand West had
but one heart in the mighty conflict.

62 SABRES AND spurs. [April,

CHAPTER VI.
SCOUTS AND SKIRMISHES.
Apbil, 1863.
|RIOR to our arrival at Warrenton Junction, a num
ber of sick officers and men of General Blenker's
command, left in Warrenton, were robbed by rebel cav
alry, the leading band of which, commanded by the son
of the Mayor of Warrenton, was still roving and plun
dering in that region, having their rendezvous beyond
the city, among the foot-hills of the mountains. In
pursuit of this chivalrous band, Colonel Lawton, on the
eleventh of April, left the junction at sunset, with seven
squadrons of cavalry and a regiment of infantry. That
night scout, through muddy forests, broken roads and
strange hills, would fill a chapter, as fully and graphically
told by our commander — war veteran as he is — whose
superior imagination is a happy aid to his retentive mem
ory. The wearied force returned in the morning (April
12th), bringing with them many of the sick and wounded
found in the little rebel city.
On the same day, while a squad of a New York regi
ment, just arrived, went out a short distance after straw,
one of their number was shot by rebel cavalry scouts, and

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY'. 63
his body was carried off. In the evening, Major Sauford
led a squadron of our command in a second night ex
pedition to Warrenton, and rescued the remaining sick
and wounded left by General Blenker. Still the heads
of the mountains were white with snow.
April 12th. Captain Baker thus writes : "Welcome
news was received of the arrival of the Paymaster. To
men who had not been paid in six long months, save the
small sum of twenty dollars advanced by the State before
leaving for the field, and whose families were left with
little or no money, this long-looked-for visit was cheer
ing indeed.
"April 13th. The Paymaster, Major J. B. M. Potter,
notwithstanding it was Sunday, commenced paying off
the regiment to the first of March. He was accompanied
by Paymaster-General J. C. Knight, Lieutenant S. R.
Knight, of the First R. I. D. M., lately a returned pris
oner from Richmond, and Major Munroe, Allotment
Commissioner of Rhode Island, by whom the men sent'
home most of their pay. It was cheering to see familiar
faces from our own loved State. On the fourteenth
some small crumbs of comfort from home, in the form
of letters, reached us for the first time since leaving
Washington." The supply trains could come only to Catlett's Station,
where we marched to be paid. A daring rebel, reaching
the track near Manassas and endeavoring to tear up
again the rails, was shot by one of our pickets ; a rebel
cavalry man at the same time was captured by a Pennsyl
vania troop. Almost every day we had little excitements
of this kind. General Abercrombie called out his brigade
for review and inspection on the plains and rolling lands
south of our position ; five regiments of infantry, two of
cavalry, two light batteries. The affair was quite respect-

64 SABRES AND SPURS. [April,
able, considering the circumstances. Some additional
lustre would have been lent by clean shirts and boots,
had they been obtainable. It was necessary to be in con
stant attitude of war, as often to the south and west of
us broke the thud and boom of artillery.
April 15th. The Maine Cavalry, on a scout near the
Rappahannock, were fired upon by a rebel battery, sup
ported by infantry and cavalry. Indeed, we seldom
lacked for music of genuine service. Escaping slaves
were almost constantly pressing through the lines, dodg-
"ing through dense forests and swimming the swollen
rivers, sometimes barely escaping Confederate bullets.
A moral spectacle it was — a real prophecy, indeed — to see
these poor, destitute, grateful refugees lying at night
around our camp fires ; the first-fruits of a coming har
vest. Strange and thrilling stories they told of the house
of bondage, and of the perilous paths of their exodus.
The first blood drawn from our regiment by the rebels
was on the sixteenth of April. A squad, under Captain
Whipple, went out for forage and a little scout duty.
When about three miles from camp, towards the south
west, near Dr. J. G. Beale's house, a squad of near thirty
rebel infantry, concealed in the mansion, waiting until
our men were within eight rods of them, fired three vol
leys, wounding Quartermaster-Sergeant A. W. Sweet in
the left shoulder, also cutting his stirrup and wound
ing his horse in the left eye. Captain Whipple's horse
received two wounds. On the afternoon of the same
day, while our reconnoitering party, (Troop D) under
Major Anthony, were near the banks of the Rappahan
nock, they were fired upon hy the Confederates from the
south bank, and two shots took effect in Orderly Ser
geant Peterson's horse. The powder and ball dispute
was short but sharp. Major Anthony brought in a pris-

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 65
oner named Robert Willis. A reconnoissance was also
made by Lieutenant-Colonel Sayles to Liberty, about nine
miles from camp, with a full squadron. Captain Far
rington brought in two notable prisoners — Dr. Beale,
whose son was in the Black Horse Cavalry, and a Mr.
Clingen, engaged in rebel secret service. On a foraging
expedition, Captain Farrington learned that the overseer
of the Randolph estate — a plantation of twenty-five hun
dred acres — to check the" fugacity of the ebon-faced
chattels, locked up the slave children every night as
hostages for their parents.
While the above mentioned skirmishing was going on,
we learned that about two hundred armed Confederates
were quite near us. Supposing these might be the van
of a large force, General Abercrombie, on the sixteenth,
ordered his command to be ready for a night attack,. all
sleeping on their arms, every man having twenty rounds
of ball cartridges. On the south of our camp a Penn
sylvania battery took position with guns ready for action.
The "gray backs " kept out of our reach.
April 17th. Elijah B. Bates, (Troop B) a faithful
hospital nurse, who had been sick near a week with camp
disease, and was finally brought down with small-pox,
died in our little hospital by the side of the camp; and,
on the next day, with fitting and impressive funeral ser
vices, was buried on a knoll at the southwest of our
camp. This was the first coffin that we deposited in
that wild, war-scarred region — a solemn act to us.
On the day of this funeral, four of our troops (B, D,
K, L,) who left the day before with three days' rations,
with two light batteries and parts of two regiments of
infantry, on the left bank of the Rappahannock, below
the railroad crossing, had a dispute with about eight
thousand rebels on the right bank. The action lasted
6*

66 SABRES AND spurs. [April,
about forty minutes, when the ' ' gray backs " retired. A
rebel shell took effect in one of our caissons. On the
other hand, we exploded their magazine. We might
have forded the river and brought off the deserted guns,
if we had had sufficient horses. Lieutenant Wyman,
who was in the hottest of the fray behaving with great
coolness, afterwards learned, on visiting the spot, that a
number of Confederates were killed by the exploding
magazine, and that the main body of the enemy fell back
towards Richmond, leaving only scattered forces of horse
to watch the banks of the river.
Warrenton Junction was neither town nor village, but
simply the point of connection of the Warrenton road
with the Orange and Alexandria. The latter from Cedar
Creek to the Rappahannock was in utter ruin ; rails torn
up, heated and bent like ox-bows. The bridges over
creeks and river were in ashes. The Warrenton road,
leading ten miles up to the little rebel city seated on the
first of the Bull Run Mountains, was unharmed, but was
a poor thing at best. Around us the country, like the
most of eastern Virginia, was undulating, rolling fields
and intervales, with large patches of handsome forest.
The branch of Cedar Creek, flowing by with its drab-
colored mineral- tinctured waters, was a tributary to the
Occoquan. Some of the springs about us in the woods
were really poisonous, having a milky hue. No rocks
were visible, only a few straggling, soft, red cobble stones.
Fences were among the had beens. Daily the crash of
falling oaks and hickories mingled with the music of
bugles. April 19th. We read from the Chaplain's "Notes":
Few of the comforts of home appear among the singu
larities and austerities of camp life in the field. Certain
tents (lately drawn) cover the heads of a portion of the

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 6?
officers. Your "own correspondent," in consideration
of his high office as postmaster — a vial of ink and cotton
mail bag, but no stationery or stamps— enjoys the luxury
of an A tent, six by seven feet at the base, in which three
cavaliers — two of them sick — woo martial repose, while
a sorrel pony is picketed in front as a guard for the mud.
Of the soldiers, some sleep in wagons, some under a
barricade of boxes, some under arbors, but the majority
under stick frames covered with ponchos and blankets.
Generally we use the table furniture that was in vogue in
Eden, but we have neither the fruits nor odors of Eden
around us, only the trail and lures of the serpent. Our
viands are crackers, junk and coffee, varied with hoe-
cake and muddy water. If simplicity of living is a
virtue, we are in the line of improvement. Friends at
home, in ceiled mansions with tapestried floors, would be
interested, we ween, to promenade our camp and look
upon shoulder-straps coiled down and snoring in half-
roofed nests of straw and leaves. Variety may be the
spice of life, but this has not been well "prepared for
family use."
Under date of April 22d, the " Notes " read : A
special service of ours is picket duty during the storms.
For this, about twenty men are detailed daily to be ready.
To go out miles from camp, into forests and along the
creeks, in a dark, windy, stormy night, and keep a sharp
lookout for rebel scouts, may well excite remembrances
of home's bright hearth. Yet we suffer no regrets to
unnerve us, or to cloud the visions of the future ; success
and honor await the march and work of righteous war.
Hope lends her lustre to the escutcheon of loyalty.
On the 19th, 20th and 21st of April, we again endured
a cold, easterly storm, but without snow or hail. An
idea of marching along the Rappahannock or Potomac,

Missing Page

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 69
corpse. The Major said he never knew a man take his
death so easily. It was also a lively hour when the mail
arrived. You might hear the anxious questions, ' Got a
letter for me?' 'Anything for me?' ' Am I forgotten ? '
' Guess they didn't get my last.' Some went away sad,
vowing never to write again. All hastened to their rude
quarters to read. Soon the sad ones came back with
written letters, saying, ' Well, we will try them again ;
if we don't get an answer, they can go to blazes.' "
Colonel Lawton, taken ill soon after we reached the
junction, having suffered from a complication of diseases,
finding himself growing weaker, was compelled to leave
us (April 29th) and fall back to Washington for medical
treatment. He was advanced in years, and had seen not
a little hard service in the Regular Army. The com
mand now devolved upon Lieutenant-Colonel Sayles,
who proved himself equal to his difficult position. Dress
parades were resumed, and the regiment was put into goqd
spirits. Regular inspection and muster were observed
April 30th. During the previous day, mounted messen
gers from the direction of Fredericksburg, having rode
one hundred and fifteen miles in about thirty hours,
reached our headquarters bringing intelligence to the
General. One of their horses fell dead in our camp.
The good news related to McClellan's success at York-
town. Fort Pulaski surrendered to Gilmore April llth,
and New Orleans succumbed to Farragut and Butler
April 28th. These victories gave new warmth to our
blood, and lifted our caps into the air.
April 30th. Fifteen "contrabands" came into camp
— some from ten miles beyond Culpepper Court House —
all bringing curious reports of the retreat of the Confed
erates south, and the flying of the inhabitants, taking
with them, as far as possible, their "divine institution."

70 SABRES AND spurs. [April,
The negroes were told that the Yankees were coming to
obtain them for their cold northern homes, where they
would be put to work like horses and mules in mills and
mines. Such ideas, however, did not penetrate the
woolly heads.
Troop G, detained in Washington to complete their
outfit, left the Capital April 29th, and reached us May
2d. Adjutant G. T. Cram, (of th"e New Hampshire bat
talion) on his way from Alexandria, with about fifty new
horses and a squad of only twenty men, experienced at
Centreville a little draft on his courage and skill. Near
midnight the town was alarmed with the cry of fire, and
the report that rebels had plotted the destruction of the
place. The inhabitants flew to the Adjutant for pro
tection. He promptly arranged his charge and provided
for the town. For arresting the criminals and passing
them over to proper military authorities, he received
suitable commendation. Pressing on, he reached us
April 27th, as we were closing our Sabbath worship,
which, as usual, consisted of singing, reading, prayer
and preaching. These services were ordinarily followed
by a dress parade and an inspection of arms and quarters.
April 28th. Hearing that rebel scouts were in War
renton again, Captain L. Sayles (Troop C) dashed up to
the city to give the "gray backs" our compliments.
Our excellent Assistant Surgeon Greeley was temporarily
detached from us and assigned to the Brigade Medical
Department, having charge of hospitals and tents of two
regiments. In the meantime, small-pox appeared among
us, requiring a pest hospital on the margin of the camp.
Even the elements of nature in Virginia seemed oc
casionally infected with a hostile disposition. On the
second of May, succeeding a pleasant morning and a
warm noon, the afternoon hung out, in the west on the

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 71
mountains, its heavy, ominous curtain of clouds. About
four o'clock the heavens were black, and portents of
hoarse thunder began to roll from the distant heights.
Shortly, a wild and furious tempest, leaping from the
mountains, over hills and forests, with rain, hail and bel
lowing thunder, swept directly towards us. The mad
tornado of wind, rain, hail and awful sound, struck our
frail camp and swept all before it, tearing tents, over
turning heavy army wagons, hurling boxes, barrels, camp
furniture, and even cooking utensils, like stubble, along
the face of the knoll and into the bending and breaking
forest. Long will that angry, giant, mountain storm
live in the memories of our hail-smitten, drenched, tent-
less^ bruised men. What neighing, moaning, flounder
ing, and fleeing of panic-stricken, pelted horses. Some
of them fled into forests and were never recovered. In
the succeeding calm, what shaking of clothes, rubbing of
limbs, searching for blankets and ponchos and beasts.
One man had a fractured knee-pan; another a broken
collar-bone; some were injured by the affrighted horses
breaking from the picket ropes. A sutler's wagon lay
bottom up in the creek it was crossing, the high-priced
Yankee notions and goodies rapidly depreciating in value
as they lay on the bottom or made a reconnoissance down
stream. In fact, the drama, announced by majestic
music, opened with all the elements of a tragedy, but
closed with the incidents of a genuine comedy, in which
mud figured for paint, provoking uproarious laughter.
The Blue Ridge Mountains, hitherto regarded as beauti
ful, rather lost credit in our eyes by this passionate per
formance.

72 SABRES AND spurs. [May,

CHAPTER VII.
CAMP STANTON AND THE LONG ROLL.
Mas-, 1862.
AY 1st. We reported to Major-General Mc-
' Dowell, commanding First Corps d' Armee, and
were brigaded under General G. L. Harts uff. The regi
ments of cavalry and infantry, with the batteries, save
the two Indiana infantry regiments that took rail for
Washington, were now under General Hartsuff, and left
the junction with us, May 5th, and pitched new camps
with us, about two miles from the junction and one mile
northwest of Catlctt Station, upon the plantation of
William P. Quisenberry, on high, gently-rolling pasture
lands, skirted by forests and streams, with Cedar Creek
on the south. From this table-land position exceedingly
picturesque views opened on the south and west for
twenty miles, and the Blue Ridge Mountains stood out
in magnificence. The forests had changed from gray to
emerald, and fruit-trees were in full bloom; a charming
cluster of full-blossomed cherry-trees stood within our
camp in front of Lieutenant-Colonel Sayles' headquarters.
The brigade post, in honor of our noble Secretary of
War, was named Camp Stanton. While changing camps

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 73
we had some of the detested mud of the junction washed
off by a warm and copious rain; but, if our coats and
blankets were moist, we had the poetic pleasure of lying-
down on clean earth ornamented with green grass and
violets; and the cheery notes of bugles, the vespers of
the whip-poor-wills, and the matins of bluebirds and
robins were a sweet soldier solace.
May 6th. Seven rebel spies were brought into camp
and assigned to the guard-house. The next day (May
7th), by our headquarters, on a newly erected, lofty flag
staff of hickory, we hung out, for the benefit of Virginia
and our own cheer, the sacred Stars and Stripes. Hav
ing now quite a number of tents, our camp was laid out
in order, and our troops vied with each other in matters
of cleanliness, taste, and beauty. Such a regular cavalry
camp, with parade, company streets, tents, aud horses at
their picket ropes, is a beautiful picture not to be forgot
ten. Hearing of McClellan's victory (May 5th) at Wil
liamsburg, we sent up hearty cheers, and then sang "the
Star Spangled Banner." Surgeon Newell resigned and
left us (May 7th) for Washington, leaving us in the care
of Assistant Surgeon Greeley. Exciting rumors often
reached us of the movements of rebel cavalry in the south
and west portions of Fauquier County.
May 8th. Our New Hampshire battalion, under Major
Nelson, went out on a reconnoissance, exploring the
region lying between Rappahannock Village and Fred
ericksburg, in a route of fifty miles, and were absent two
days. After the manner of all outpost duty, they had
their advance and rear-guards, and flankers, and so
swept a path about a mile in width. Beyond the shriv
eled village of Elk Run they found white and black
women in the fields planting corn; their lords were fight
ing for the bars of slavery. For the night our cavaliers
7

74 SABRES AND spurs. [May,
bivouacked near Morrisville, on the lands of Dr. Cooper,
a bitter secessionist, as was also his wife. From this
place they pressed on to Ellis' Ford; then, deflecting to
the left, reconnoitered to Barnett's Ford, and to Spotted-
ville, near Richardson's Ferry. Their path lay chiefly
between Deep Run and Marsh Run. On one plantation
they struck the trail of Texan Rangers, fast and rough
riders, fighting for the Southern idol. Whenever our
White Mountain boys halted to talk with the people, they
found the hottest secession tongues among the women;
one boasted that she had two sons in the Southern army,
and wished she had more for the sacred cause.
May 9th. Major Anthony led a reconnoitering squad
ron to Warrenton Springs, a famous watering place,
better known as White Sulphur Springs: a somewhat
elegant summer resort, comprising a large hotel, a number
of cottages, suitable baths and out-buildings, all set off
with piazzas, groves and statuary; the whole capable of re
ceiving perhaps six hundred guests: a place where the elite
of Virginia had often discussed the sublime doctrine of
whipping their negroes and the " mud-sills " of the North.
May llth. Our religious services, near the cherry
grove in our camp, under a serene sky, in a balmy west
ern breeze, were truly delightful; the assembly inspiring;
the meeting-house magnificent; the devotions sincere.
The mounted dress parade following, witnessed by the
commands around us, -was pronounced faultless. Im
mediately, General Hartsuff's brigade, excepting our
regiment and one battery, had orders to hasten to the
front near Fredericksburg, and General Duryea (formerly
of the famous Seventh New York Infantry) came up with
his brigade to hold the post, the name of which he shortly
changed to Camp Reliance. The pleasing news reached
us of the capture (May 9th) of Pensacola.

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 75
May 12th-13th. Lieutenant Capron (Troop D), in
command of thirty of our carbines, by order of the Gen
eral, obedient to despatches from Washington, went up
and made an examination of the plantations and build
ings near' Warrenton, for the purpose of learning the
facts and ferreting out the criminals connected with the
lamented murder of Hon. Robert E. Scott, one of the
worthiest citizens and ablest lawyers of Virginia; a man
of wealth, worth and influence, who boldly stood up for the
Union in the State Convention. It was proved that he
and a Mr. Mathews were shot by renegade soldiers. In
the prosecution of his search, the Lieutenant was much
indebted to Rev. Mr. Barton and Mr. Paget, of Warren
ton. Now the only cavalry regiment in our brigade, impor
tant picket and reconnoissance services were daily re
quired of us; but our sabres were ready. Under the
firm but kind order of Lieutenant-Colonel Sayles, we
kept up daily drills and aimed for excellence in our com
plicated and responsible arm of the service. It was
reported that, on account of our bold and successful
dashes along the front from near Fredericksburg to the
foot of the mountains, the rebel cavalry, under the
famous Ashby, stood in awe of no force so much as of
the sabres of our command. Certainly we did what we
could to deserve this reputation.
We add another woxd descriptive of our post, and the
animating military drills that occurred almost daily.
Imagine the beautiful undulating valley on our right, as
we are facing west, three-eighths of a mile in width, run
ning southwest; bordered on the west by splendid forests;
through its centre running a small, clear, hard-banked
stream of sweet water on its way to Cedar Creek. East
of this valley, on the rolling ridge of fields and pastures,

76 SABRES AND spurs. [May,
around a fine plantation residence, are the brigade head
quarters and the camps comprising the post. Along the
valley just named are the brigade movements of drill
and mock battle. The line is formed parallel with the
valley, between the encampments and the stream, and
consists of regiments of infantry in front, battalions of
cavalry in the rear, and sections of artillery at right
angles on the left, to sweep the valley with Parrott guns
and howitzers in front of the line. Line of battle beinsr
formed, the firing, at bugle signals, is conducted by files,
companies and battalions; meanwhile, the cannon hurl
their howling missiles up the valley and into the forests.
The volleys of musketry, the roar of artillery, the flash of
sabres, the whistle of bullets, the explosion of shell, the
upturning of earth and cracking of trees, while smoke
enwreaths columns, standards, guidons and horses, fur
nish a grand and suggestive scene, only equalled by the
awful field of actual battle. The scene is varied by
changing front and position of forces, and order of
action, using only blank cartridges. In one of these
charges, Lieutenant- Colonel Sayles had his hair scorched
by the fire of the attacked, artillery.
The grand rounds of the long line of brigade pickets
often fell to our duty. Repeatedly, as the pickets were
disturbed by rebel scouts, Lieutenant-Colonel Sayles sent
out squadrons to probe the difficulty. On one of these
errands Major Anthony led fifty horsemen and five hun
dred infantry. Here, some of our officers, from sick
ness and other inabilities, were obliged to leave us.
Lieutenant J. L. Perley, Jr., left us while very sick, and
died on the ninth of June following.
We formed the acquaintance of Mr. Catlett and a few
old Virginians, who, of necessity, were Union men. On
one occasion, a Mr. Marstello, whose hospitality some of

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 77
us had shared, visited our camp and was so liberally
treated that his strength was insufficient for his support.
Though a superb horseman, his saddle so betrayed him
that he remained in camp for the night, awaiting the
bracing airs of the morning. It was readily allowed that
he was a very spirited old Virginian.
May 18th. The pioneers and advanced guard of Gen
eral Shields' division, fresh from the field of their late
victories in the Shenandoah Valley, reached our camp.
aud gave peculiar animation to our post. Tho division,
consisting of seventeen regiments of infantry, two of
cavalry, and four companies of artillery, was marching
to join our forces near Fredericksburg. General Shields,
lately recovered sufficiently to be in the saddle, wore his
wounded arm in a sling, — a veteran fighter, — and all his
command had imbibed his spirit. As the long column
was moving through our camping ground, with worn,
stained, victorious colors, one of our men said, "Well,
boys, you have seen some service." Instantly a shrewd,
sunburnt, dusty soldier, with a Yankee twinkle in his
eye, replied, "Yes, we have been to a couple of shooting
matches." A goodly sight it was to look on the immense
column, reaching for miles along the roads and planta
tions — like moving forests of polished steel — followed by
five hundred baggage wagons, caissons and ambulances.
We gazed on the scarred troops and their shot-rent stand
ards with reverence and honor. After their eight days'
continuous march they were happy to bivouac by our
post to win a little rest. General Shields stopped with
General Duryea.
Unfortunately, in this camp, a contagious disease of
the head appeared among our horses, compelling us to
instantly separate them from the picket ropes and des
patch them with bullets. Nor were we without sick men
7*

78 SABRES AND spurs. [May,
in our hospital. On the twenty-second of May, Horatio
Foster and Henry Greene (both of Troop E) died of
typhoid fever. Their funerals occurred on the following
day; suitable escorts, and the band discoursing dirges, fol
lowed their remains to the graves on the north border of
our camping ground. The solemnity of such funerals,
far from our homes, in the camps of war, parting with
brave and loved comrades, whose graves even we must
soon forsake, perhaps never again to be found, left deep,
indelible impressions upon our hearts.
General Shields was anxious to have our regiment ac
company him on his way to Fredericksburg, as a part of
his command. In response to a despatch from General
McDowell, on the twenty-second of May, our second
battalion (N. H.), under Major Nelson, had orders to
march immediately and join General Shields, who had
just left us. After hurried preparation, they left about
sunset. With much regret we bade them good-bye,
praying for their welfare and success, little imagining
the scenes that lay before them and us, and that we
should not meet them again till, we had passed the Blue
Ridge Mountains, to find them in the hour of their sacri
fice and their fame.
The air was now painfully astir with rumors of move
ments of armies from the region of Richmond along the
mountains to the Shenandoah Valley. McClellan, with
his hundred thousand men, was confronting Lee with
his hundred thousand. As a strategic step, Lee had
sent "Stonewall" Jackson, with twenty thousand men,
to re-enter the valley. With wonderful celerity, Jackson
executed the order, and captured Front Royal May
23d. Though the armies of Fremont, Banks, and Mc
Dowell numbered sixty thousand, they were so separated
as to be unable to quickly check Jackson's raid. Banks

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 79
was driven back down the valley. Fremont hurried on
from the west. McDowell hastened as rapidly as possi
ble from the south.
May 24th: Just as we were preparing to fortify our
post, at two o'clock in the morning, a telegram from the
War Department ordered us to hold ourselves ready to
move in a moment. The bugles sounded the " assembly
call" at three o'clock A. M., and it was thought wo
must march by sunrise towards Strasburg, in the valley.
Our spurs and sabres were ready. About ten o'clock A.
M. orders came for our first battalion, under Major
Anthony, to march to Thoroughfare, on the Manassas
Gap Railroad, and report to General Geary. They were
off at once, followed by the First Virginia Cavalry.
The third battalion, with Lieutenant-Colonel Sayles
and staff, remained to assist General Duryea. Some
regiments of infantry from our post took rail at Catlett
Station to go via Manassas Junction to Thoroughfare.
With us were left but two regiments of infantry and a
battery. The sick, save a few too weak to be removed,
were hurried on towards Washington. At five o'clock
in the afternoon all the forces left our post, except a
guard for the sick. We pushed for Bristoe Station,
about nine miles distant, one of our squadrons the ad
vance, and another the rear-guard. Wet with showers,
we reached Bristoe about nine o'clock P. M., and laid
down to dreams in the great room with green carpet and
cloud-curtains. Our rear-guard, detained with the stalled
train in a muddy forest, enjoyed the canopy of trees.
Telegrams were flashing over the wires; camp fires
illumined hills and plains; scouts dashed through the
woods; despatches reported our first battalion at Thor
oughfare waiting orders from General Geary, who had
pushed sixteen miles beyond the gap; our New Hamp-

80 SABRES AND spurs. [May,
shire battalion had reported to General Shields at Fred
ericksburg. The feet of war were now moving lively.
May 25th. In the morning we moved across Broad
Run, near Milford, and thought of encamping, sending
out a troop on scout, and waiting for our stalled train
and rear-guard. Near four o'clock P. M. the A. A. A.
General of the brigade came dashing at full speed through
the troops, ordering all to be instantly ready to repel an
attack. Here for the first time sounded upon our ears
the solemn, significant, thrilling "Long Roll." Full-
voiced drums and bugles prolonged the rallying call.
Leaving everything, save our arms, we answered to
" Boots and Saddles" and stood in line with ready spurs;
we were cool, but prompt for duty. Three scouting par
ties were sent out at once;, messengers reported skirmish
ing near the mountains. Waiting further orders, we
slept on our arms, though the sleeping was scarce.
Our brigade was now attached to General Ord's divis
ion, and troops were being pushed up to our support
from Washington. Our scouts visited our last camp
and cared for the sick left there; but Owen Reynolds
(Troop G) died, and was buried (May 26th) by the side of
Foster and Greene, and this while rebel scouts were in
sight. The remaining sick were brought away.
May 26th. Our third battalion, with headquarters,
fell back to Manassas, and, after a brief halt, were ordered
to Centreville, which place they reached in the evening.
General Geary was pressing on beyond the gap of the
Bull Run Mountains. General Shields was returning
from Fredericksburg, by way of Catlett Station, on a
forced march, to join the forces now combining to pur
sue Jackson. General Banks was reported at Williams-
port, whither Jackson had driven him.
A portion— the majority— of our first battalion, having

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 8B
passed and repassed the gap, losing most of their effects
by the order to burn tents and baggage, after varied
scouting expeditions, crossed the country by Aldie and
rejoined the headquarters at Centreville. Major Anthony
and a part of his command, detained on scout duty,.
reached Manassas May 27th, and Centreville on the 28th.
Meanwhile, cannonading stirred the distant air. All'
the land was alive with the motion of troops. General
McDowell was hurrying on with all his force towards the
mountains. One hundred and twenty-five double teams;
with army supplies from Alexandria passed us on their
way to the front. Arms, ammunition and rations were
also being pushed forward by rail. We were next to dash*
forward. Death is always on the track and in the camps of a?
great army. Edward- C. Flanders (Troop K) died int.
hospital, at Washington, D. C, May 16th.

SABRES AND SPURS. [May,

CHAPTER VIII.
OVER THE MOUNTAINS.
May, 18(j2.
)UR second battalion left Fredericksburg with Gen
eral Shields, acting as his advance guard, and
Major Nelson serving as Chief of Cavalry for the division.
They reached the gap of the Blue Ridge and bivouacked
in it on the night of May 29th. Of their after splendid
movements we will speak when we have traced the other
battalions over the mountains.
May 29th. The first and third battalions, in obedience
to general orders, with the early dawn, took up the line
of hurried march, to aid the forces now pressing over
the Blue Ridge. Our road ran through the famous
battle field of Bull Run, on which we looked with deep
thoughtfulness. Forward we moved through Gaines
ville, and by sunset reached Thoroughfare, in the Bull
Run Mountains, where, to the music of drums and
bugles of troops pressing through or halting, we biv
ouacked, with the earth and leaves for our bed. Around
us lay the ashes of camps and the brands of burnt wagons
and stores. The abrupt and shaggy but beautiful mount -
ains looked calmly down upon the moving and encamp
ing forces. Some of our officers slept on the soft floor of
a Mr. Tyler's house.

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 83
May 30th. At four o'clock A. M. we answered to the
bugles, throwing our spurs into our stirrups, and hurry
ing through the gap. How strangely, even sublimely,
the rich music of our band echoed along the precipices
of the grand mountain gorge, almost tempting us into a
poetic mood. To the host of troops of every arm, by
road and open country urging their onward way, our
Troops B and C were the rear-guard. On account of
short rations, though our Quartermaster did all in the
power of man to do under the circumstances, we were
obliged to forage somewhat upon the country. Hunger,
be it remembered, has a dull ear for civil regulations and
polite usages in a time of war and in an enemy's country.
By nine o'clock we passed through White Plains, of
course greatly admiring the beautiful scenery around us.
Though, on a forced march, the columns of troops being
large, and heavy with supplies, ascending the mountains
by hard roads, our motion was not as swift as some
"might suppose; it would not do to outstrip the trains,
which were miles in length. Showers of rain, wrung
from the clouds by the cool airs of the mountains, effect
ually subdued all dust and cooled riders and horses. At
one o'clock P. M. we were moving through Salem— not
then bearing an aspect of peace.
At night we halted and bivouacked on the notable
estate of Thomas Marshall, grandson of the renowned
Judge Marshall. The great, grand old mansion, elegant
ly furnished with frescoes and paintings, was occupied in
part by our field and staff officers. In the broad, rich,
picturesque grounds encompassing the mansion, our
camp fires were liberally fed with borrowed fences, while
our horses consumed Virginia forage. It seemed stranger
than fiction that such a force from New England, on
such an errand, should occupy this place in this manner.

:S4 SABRES AND SPURS. [May,
-Oh! how would the shade of Marshall have cursed the
¦madness of secession.
May 31st. Girded and spurred at four o'clock A. M.,
we moved off from the historic plantation with buoyant
^guidons and sweet music from our brass band. By the
way, the band, who messed together, needed no hint or
help in the mysteries of foraging. They bought once a
xiight's entertainment, for men and horses, by paying in
counterfeit Confederate bills, and receiving in change
several dollars in gold. Ah! the sinuosities of philoso
phy in war time.
Reaching Piedmont, we halted to graze our horses and
¦take from the depot three days' rations. Passing on
through the spurs and foot-hills of the mountains, the
¦scenery was truly fascinating. Everything in nature was
heautiful and grand, but the times and passing events
were even grander; the sublime in nature was only as a
hackground for the majestic in human affairs. We
crossed Deer River at four o'clock P. M., and passed near*
"the residence of the celebrated Colonel Ashby, of rebel
cavalry fame. At Markham we lent a passing look to the
home of Edward C. Marshall. Here General McDowell
and staff passed us, pressing their way to the front.
While passing, our band discoursed their most patriotic
airs, and we all extended the appropriate military salutes.
Occasionally we heard from a rebel rifle; but only Con
federate scouts were now in the mountains. In the after-
.noon we encountered, in the valleys and gorges, heavy
mists and ominous darkness. After passing Linden the
xoads or trails were horrible — full of streams and stones;
we sometimes rode over brook beds of nothing but stones
and rocks. Shortly after dark there broke upon us from
the mountain tops before us a severe thunder storm, such
as only mountains may boast of. The thunder bellowed,

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 85
tlie winds howled, the lightnings flashed in sublime wrath ,
and the rain fell in wealthy torrents. But onward we
pressed, often feeling our way by the blaze of the celestial
artillery; for we had orders to scale the mountains and
"report in Front Royal as soon as possible." Thus
pelted with the storm, we forced our way to the mount
ain summit, which we reached soon after midnight,
when, from the excessive darkness and our extreme
fatigue, we were obliged to halt and lie down upon the
stone heaps and wet earth to court the sweet spirit of
slumber. Our weary, hungry, drenched horses were tied
to trees and bushes.
A light battery, following us, were obliged to press on,
as they had orders to "report in Front Royal by sun
rise,"' the next morning; yet the shoulders of their horses
were already raw and bleeding. Military orders in the
day of battle know but little of mercy.
In our bivouac there were sublime elements, though it
required some self-command and poetic relish to fully
enjoy them. We had the mountains for a mattress;
thunder-clouds for bedclothes, and thunder-bolts to tuck
them up with. Talk never more to us of shower baths
before retiring, or of sleeping in wet sheets; hydropathy
is nothing. Waking by break of day (June 1st), strange sights
saluted us : wet men, in overcoats and blankets, snoring
in the grass, under bushes and by the sides of rocks;
saddled horses browsing from picket ropes or grazing
among bowlders. Springing into our saddles, forward
moved the martial column. The descent of the mount
ain was easy, and the scenery was enchanting. Soon we
entered the city of Front Royal, where, with joy and
tears, we met our second battalion, whose story, in brief,
we must endeavor to recite.

86 SABRES AND spurs. [May,

CHAPTER IX.
CAPTURE OF FRONT ROYAL.
Mat— Junk, 1862.
<2'!|^'AY 29th. Our second (N. H.) battalion, lead-
i^Jjp*^ ing the advance of General Shields' division,
bivouacked at the head of the column, in the gap of the
Blue Ridge. Duty was pressing, and short were their
dreams. May 30th. With Aurora's first mountain smile, they
pressed on, and reached within about two miles of Front
Royal at ten o'clock A. M. Before them, in the valley,
lay the city, containing about six hundred inhabitants,
and held by the Twelfth Georgia Regiment of Infantry,
one troop of Ashby's cavalry, and a section of artillery,
with a guard for the large Confederate hospitals. It not
being known what forces were in it, our battalion was
ordered to charge upon the city, disperse its guard, and
then prevent the fleeing inhabitants from burning the
heavy Shenandoah bridges.
The four troops, worn and exhausted from more than
a week of forced marches and scout duty, could muster
but one hundred men and horses fit for such dashing
and perilous service. These were instantly formed by

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 87
fours, in command of Captain Ainsworth, with suitable
officers, all under Major Nelson, and commenced their
movement. As yet they were unseen by the city, lying-
northwest of them, and so rapid had been their advance
that their presence had not been suspected. Preparatory
to their charge, some Parrott guns and a howitzer had
been run out in the forest, on a spur of the mountain,
looking down into the valley and commanding a range
of the city, to render at least moral aid, at the right
moment, by music and metal. As our men descended
the mountain on a trot, and were about to open to the
view of the city, the artillery broke silence with shell
that flew screeching out into the valley and over the
town. This but animated our brave men, while it sent
alarm and panic into the unsuspecting city.
Reaching the plain land, our gallant boys spurred their
horses into a swift gallop, yet preserving their order, and
with ready carbines, flashing sabres, and charged pistols,
dashed into the panic-stricken town. The enemy's ar
tillery, and Ashby's seventy cavalry, and the regiment of
Georgia infantry, taken thus by surprise, and fearing
that the mountain was full of forces pouring down on
them, fled at full speed on the Strasburg road, to the
northwest, followed by their trains and many of the
affrighted inhabitants. Though they set fire to the rail
road depot, and to the splendid bridges over the branches
of the Shenandoah, their destructive purpose was thwart
ed by our swift and daring troopers. One of our men
sprung from his saddle, rushed into the burning depot,
mounted the engine that chanced to be fired up, and ran
it out with its train of stores and grain. Right through
the town charged our White Mountain men, sweeping all
before them, demanding at the sabre's point the surren
der of all they met.

88 SABRES AND spurs. [May,
Sometimes squads of full armed rebels, that had not
succeeded in escaping, or remained as guards, though
double the number of our small parties now scouring the
streets, would throw down their guns and submit to our
sabres. In one instance, a lieutenant, a corporal and a
private, of our command, took seven Confederates having
loaded muskets. From secret places balls and buckshot
were uncomfortably abundant. Our men, however, were
above fear in their quick, thorough work; they struck
dismay on every side. Sherman Davis (Troop I), with
drawn sabre, dashed up to a rebel captain and demanded
his surrender and his sword; but, as he was taking the
sword, the captain drew a revolver and fired upon him
three times, the shots tearing his hat and laying bare the
bones of his head; yet he persisted and led the dastard
rebel captive. Thus our fearless cavaliers, with ready
pistols, brandishing sabres, loud yells of victory, and
foaming horses sharing the spirit of their riders, soon
had the city under their command.
Not content with the capture of the city, but anxious
to save the bridges from rebel flames, on pressed our
sabres and spurs after the retreating Confederates, whose
infantry and artillery vainly endeavored to make a stand
till they had crossed the bridges and reached about three
miles from the city; and even here they dared halt only
a short time, as General Shields was pushing his supports
up to our dashing troopers and hurling shot and shell upon
the heels of the demoralized "gray backs." Though the
retreating foe sent back their compliments in the form
of shot and shell, our riders dashed fearlessly on and
came upon their hastily formed line of infantry, beyond
the farthest bridge, on the Winchester road, and here
made one of the most bold, thrilling, magnificent charges
en record. They smote the enemy like a tornado and

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 89
broke their line. Here heroically fell the most of tho
men we this day lost. Here slept in death the bravest of
soldiers by the side of fallen horses and dying enemies.
The memorable spot was in the vicinity of General
Banks' losses just one week before; thus refluent are the
bloody waves of war. .
Never fell truer, braver men. Captain William P.
Ainsworth (Troop M) fell at the head of his command,
pierced with eight balls. With him fell Corporal George
B. Bernard and Benjamin C. Lashure (Troop I), John
C. Babcock, Edward K. Bernard and Cyrus A. Bracket
(Troop K), and Hartley C. Cushman (Troop M.) Even
their horses, after losing their riders, held their line,
finished the charge, and fell in the enemy's ranks, slain
with bayonets and bullets. E. B. Allen (Troop I) was
shot from his saddle, and died just across the second
bridge. The wounded were, of Troop I, Lieutenant
G. H. Thompson, slightly, Harvey Hutchinson, severely,
Alexander P. Cory, severely, John M. Pressey, severely,
Sherman Davis, severely, Oscar F. Merrill, slightly; of
Troop L, Perley F. Hardy, severely. Olney P. Smith
was missing.
Our officers and men who executed this brilliant and
successful charge — one hundred against greatly superior
forces in a defensible position — deserve a lasting record
in the remembrance of their country. Indeed, nothing
in the whole war, as allowed by proper judges, surpassed
this conduct of our men. They took one hundred and
seventeen rebel prisoners, recaptured twenty Federal
prisoners, among whom were Major Collins, of the First
Vermont Cavalry, the Quartermaster and Adjutant of
the First Maryland Infantry, and the Adjutant of the
Third New York Cavalry; also saved bridges and cap
tured cars, engines, arms, ammunition, wagons and
8*

90 SABRES AND spurs. [May,
stores to an immense amount : for the city just now
was Jackson's depot.
So swift was the action of capturing the city that our
men had no support, save the moral aid of artillery, in
their heroic work. While the enemy bore off all their
dead and wounded, save one dead and one wounded
captain, all our dead and wounded were secured and
brought into the city. Of course the rebel hospitals
and sick were iu our hands — not a small charge. Our
wounded were put in comfortable dwellings. Our gal
lant and mourned dead, after the best possible funeral
services and honors, were borne to the margin of the
city, by an oak grove, and tenderly, tearfully laid in
their graves, with their martial cloaks around them, and
over them little head-boards bearing their names. The
body of Captain Ainsworth, however, was forwarded to
his home in New Hampshire.
The conduct of our men ,in this capture of Front
Royal was the theme of eulogy among all the troops in
and around the valley. The highest military officers
warmly applauded the achievement. Ever after, the
name of our regiment was a synonyme of honor.
Would that we had at least brief biographical sketches
of our fallen comrades, and that the design of our vol
ume admitted of their insertion. But if their full lives
are not recorded in this narrative, their names and deeds
are undying in the towns and States to which they be
longed; and evermore, with those of kin and kith, our
hearts, like muffled drums, will beat their funeral march.
Yet we cannot refrain from some mention of the noble
officer who fell at the head of his command in the gal
lant charge upon his country's foes.
Captain William P. Ainsworth. He was the son of
AVilliam Ainsworth, Esq., of New Ipswich, N. H., and

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 91
grandson of the venerable Rev. Laban Ainsworth, of Jaf-
frey. After a thorough academical education, he entered;
on mercantile life with the firm of Parker, Wilder & Co.,
Boston. Subsequently he engaged in civil engineering
with General Stark; afterwards serving the Nashua and
Lowell Railroad, and was finally elected treasurer of this:
and the Wilton Railroad, which responsible position he
relinquished to join the army. At the time of his vol
unteering he held a high position in the Governor's;
Horse Guards.
Known in a wide and refined circle, though he had no*
family 'or immediate dependant, he was a general favor
ite; of the highest moral character, of unspotted integ
rity, of a genial, affectionate nature, and the soul of
honor itself.
In him were remarkably developed the elements of a,
cavalry officer: quick apprehension, firm decision, warm.
enthusiasm, pure patriotism, and the spirit of sacrifice.
With a strong arm, he was a superior swordsman and a
dashing, fearless rider, as illustrated in the last deed of
his life. We can see him still, mounted on his powerful
horse — the gift of his railroad friends — at the head of his-
heroic command, dashing into the thick of the fight,,
an attractive mark for the bullets of his enemies, and
plunging with keen sabre on the ranks of his foes, till
his work was done. Was it not a glorious martyrdom ?¦
Could he speak again to us, would he not say, " It is.
well." A funeral pall rested on Nashua, N. H., when the
news of his death reached the city, and the event was a.
theme in the churches, especially in the one where he
was wont to worship. His remains reached home June
5th, in charge of Sergeant H. C. Foster, and were re
ceived by the Granite State Cadets, and laid in state in

92 SABRES AND spurs. [June,
the City Hall, appropriately draped, where, the next day,
his funeral was observed. Tearfully he was buried with
military and Masonic honors, the Cadets and Governor's
Horse Guards performing escort duty.
Deeply mourned by New Hampshire and our regiment,
his death was a loss to his country, save as the blood of
the slain is an inspiration to the living, and a memorial
forever. His faithful horse, bearing several bullets in his
body, was soon sent home to a friend in Nashua, N. H.
Cherished in thy country's breast,
Rest! heroic brother, rest!
Cherished likewise, by thy side,
They who with thee nobly died.

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 93

CHAPTER X.
SERVICES IN THE'VALLEY.
June, 1862.
Mfy- RONT Royal lies on the east of the Shenandoah
t«s^) River, and out of it leads a broad road across both
branches of the river to Strasburg. The valley is ex
ceedingly rich, and famed for its beauty. The mount
ains and their spurs are a superb sight, when the clouds,
as we often saw them, in the morning, rolled through
the gorges and down the slopes.
June 1st. The city was overflowing with troops, com
ing" in from the gap, going out to the north, hastening
to the west. General Shields was feeling for Jackson,
who was yet down the valley, but trying to elude us and
dodge back up the valley, before we could grip him.
The rapidity of "Stonewall's" motions was to us almost
marvelous; but. he and his command were familiar with
the country, and received all possible hints and aids from
the inhabitants.
When our battalions again united their guidons in the
city,"a skirmish was going on near Strasburg; excitement
ran high; rumors flew thick; miles of troops were in
motion; wagons and artillery trains seemed almost end-

94 sabres and spurs. [June,
less. We were at once assigned to General Shields' divis
ion, and Lieutenant-Colonel Sayles was appointed Chief
of Cavalry. Hearing brisk and protracted cannonading
at the west, our regiment was off early (June 2d) with
Shields' division on the Luray road, to share in the en
gagement. A few days after the capture of the town, a skulking
"gray back" or Southern sympathizer sawed nearly off
the girders of one of the railroad bridges, to entrap our
supply trains, but the vigilance of our guard discovered
the deed and averted disaster. About the same time, a
lingering rebel, from a woody covert in the border of the
town, fired on a Federal captain and shattered his arm.
Almost daily, heavy tempests of wind, thunder and
rain, joined in the military commotion of the valley,
sponging our worn uniforms, and transforming the roads
into quagmires. At one time the Shenandoah rose
twelve feet. Along its high, steep banks, we found in
one place the dark, rich alluvial soil fifteen feet deep — a
magnificent soil for cereals.
The action of the morning (June 2d) proved to be a
dispute between Jackson and the forces of Fremont that
had just reached the valley from the west. "Stone
wall" received the heavier blows, yet he was slipping
south. Utterly exhausted from forced marches and
storms, and leaving many of our horses dead on the road,
the most of our regiment returned from Luray to Front
Royal June 4th. Jackson had passed Luray, and burned
the bridges, before General Shields could, strike him.
He moved like an antelope.
About midway between Front Royal and Luray dwelt
a Mr. Haynes and family, whose opinions were not in
harmony with the rebellion. By Jackson's direction
Mr. Haynes was arrested and imprisoned in Luray.

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 95
When General Shields moved to occupy Luray he prom
ised Mrs. Haynes and her daughter that Mr. Haynes
should be released; but on reaching the place he found
the rebels had killed the prisoner; an account of which
transaction the General penned and forwarded to the
afflicted family by our Quartermaster, C. A. Leonard.
But the crowning barbarity was that the rebels refused
to give up the lifeless body.
Troops E and G, under Captains Farrington and Wood,
and a hundred men under Captain Whipple, remained as
General Shields' advance guard in the pursuit of Jack
son, and pushed on to Columbia Bridge, where they were
fired on by straggling rebels, and promptly returned the
same solid compliments.
June 4th. Twenty men, under Captain Wood, pressed
on to Miller's Bridge, where they found and burned
arms, ammunition and clothing, valued at eight thou
sand dollars. Returning, they were fired on from the
west bank of the river, and Hugh Mullholland had the
-clothes cut from his breast by a bullet. At evening both
troops (E and G) were ordered up to hold the bridge.
Marching all night in a drenching rain, they arrived in
the morning, and charging through the forest found the
bridge in ashes. Here, while Captain Farrington and
Lieutenant Bliss were in consultation about crossing the
river, a Confederate bullet whistled between their heads,
suggesting their situation. The next morning private
Hamilton (Troop E) captured Major Williams, of the
Ninth Louisiana Infantry, and brought him to camp.
The remaining services of these troops on this expedi
tion consisted of picket duty and reconnoissance in the
mountains. A few of our command, as orderlies for
field officers, were in the battle of Port Republic, a hot
action in which Colonel Carroll, of Ohio, proved himself

96

SABRES AND SPfRS. [Jlllie,

a hero. Philip Creed (Troop E) and C. H. Clement
(Troop L), while guarding prisoners from Port Repub
lic to Luray, were captured by a guerilla band.
We here allow an incident, by way of relief. At
Columbia Bridge, a piece of artillery had been put in
position on a hill, near a barn, to command the bridge.
Captain Farrington and an old negro living on the place
were in conversation, with their backs to the cannon.
Suddenly the piece was discharged. The negro, jump
ing high from the ground, exclaimed: "Laud, God
A'mite'y, Massa, I neber hear sich a noise in my life.
Hear dem tings many times Fourth July, but nebber
hear so loud noise as dat."
June 8th. Had an inspection and dress parade at
headquarters. Lieutenant-Colonel Sayles addressed the
regiment upon the scenes through which we had passed,
and paid a just tribute to those who had fallen in battle.
On the same day, at Front Royal, in the hospital, died
private Logee (Troop L), of typhoid fever. He was
buried by the side of bis comrades who fell in the charge
of May 30th, Quartermaster-Sergeant C. C. Burrows
officiating in the absence of the Chaplain.
Troops E and G returned to Luray, and then to Front
Royal, joining the headquarters June llth. Captain
Farrington came into town finely mounted on a bay rebel
¦charger, complete in elegant trappings, suitable for an
F. F. Y. Not a few soldiers bore with them Confeder
ate trophies.
Captain Whipple and his hundred men were unceas
ingly occupied in scouting through the dangerous roads
of the mountains, occasionally meeting with small bands
of rebels and spurring them forward on their retreat up
the valley. About fifteen miles from Luray, when (June
Sth) winding their zigzag way up the mountain, a vol-

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 97
ley was fired on them from a party ambushed on the
overhanging heights, cutting, and lodging a bullet in,
the shoulder of Moses B. Allen (Troop B) and leaving
seven wounds in his horse; killing the horse of his
brother, J. R. Allen, of the same troop; and nearly cut
ting off the thumb of C. W. Bowen (Troop F). As a
sample of the blood of these boys, J. B. Allen, on losing
his horse and seeing his brother wounded, sprang to his
feet in the middle of the road, and, drawing sabre and
pistol, waving them in the face of his foes, dared them,
in phraseology more emphatic than polite, to come down
and meet him in a square combat.
On the fourteenth of June, Captain Whipple and his
men reached Front Royal, the Captain riding a fine iron-
gray, with ornamented saddle and trapjnngs, captured
from a captain of Ashby's cavalry.
From deaths, wounds, sickness, and disabilities, our
regiment had now lost well-nigh one-third of our original
number. Our quota of horses had fared even worse.
For three weeks we had had ho rest, and had passed
plains, mountains, and rivers, and had been in one con
tinuous stretch of anxiety and peril. General McDowell
wisely concluded, in consideration of our arduous, ef
ficient, exhaustive services, that we deserved rest and
reinforcements. As Jackson had escaped towards Rich
mond, though not without losses, we were no longer
needed in the valley.
The secession inhabitants of this region will doubtless
remember the Yankee shrewdness and strategy of some
of our wide-awake boys. While greenbacks were scorned,
Confederate scrip was at par in the path of " Stonewall."
Some loyal genius had finely counterfeited this rebel
paper. Armed with this seductive scrip, our boys gen
erously paid for milk, honey, bread, and whatever lux-

98 sabres and spurs. [June,
uries were obtainable, sometimes receiving greenbacks
and specie in change. Thousands of dollars, first and
last, were thus passed in the interests of war; for it was
argued that paper was as harmless as steel.
Having orders to recross the mountains, we aligned
our guidons, with the exception of Captain Whipple's
command, — needing a day's rest — and formed column of
march. June 14th. Passed the mountain ridge and bivouacked
at Oak Hall.
June 15th. We reached Haymarket, of course eyeing
the beautiful scenery as we passed among the hills.
June 16th. Our headquarters safely and joyfully
reached war-scarred' Manassas.
Captain Whipple and command left Front Royal June
15th, and, encamping on his march at Hopewell and
White Plains, reached Manassas on the 17th. We were
worn, weary, reduced, yet spirited and "hopeful, because
an honored command. George P. Streeter (Troop H)
died June 16th.

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 99

CHAPTER XI.
RECRUITING AT MANASSAS.
JnnE=-JnLT, 1862.
V^jr/.jyT E encamped about three miles north of Manas-
^JAJ^>- sas Junction, on the west side of Bull Run
River, in the vicinity of Blackburn's Ford; at first under
a few tents and leafy bowers, and in old buildings. Some
other forces, for the purpose of refitting, were near us.
All fresh and ready troops were moved on to the southern
front of action. At this time large expectations were
vested in McClellan, and we were cheered by the victories
of Seven Pines and Fair Oaks (May 31st). The capture
of Corinth had occurred May 30th.
Our sick and wounded were forwarded to hospitals
near Washington. Surgeon Greeley was happy in receiv
ing (June 21st) the support of Assistant Surgeon A. A.
Mann. From sickness, death, and resignation, changes
had occurred in line as well as in rank. The detachment
left at Centreville, in May, as a guard for Government
stores, under Captain Swett, now rejoined us. With
canvas and boughs, it being summer, we soon had an
orderly arranged and comfortable camp. Religious ser
vices were held under a giant oak at the right of our
headquarters, or on a grassy slope to the west. Vacant

100 ' SABRES AND SPURS. [June,
offices were in part filled; some new men received; some
fresh horses secured; regimental drills resumed, and
dress parades regularly observed. In one of the general
drills of the forces General McDowell was thrown from
his horse and somewhat injured. A few of our men
received bruises and broken bones from the falling of a
barn floor.
June 18th. Receiving from Major Sherman our pay
up to April, the sutlers' tents and wagons were liberally
patronized; but most of the money was sent home. By
sharp military order and surveillance, whisky labored
under difficulties; yet sometimes a tent would be anima
ted. Sergeants Peterson and Shurtliff left (June 24th)
for Rhode Island on recruiting service.
The armies of Fremont, Banks, and McDowell, num
bering, when we were in the valley, about forty thousand,
were finally consolidated (June 27th), and called the
Army of Virginia, and placed under command of General
Pope, who issued an order full of pluck and promise.
Fremont resigned and was succeeded by Sigel. Mean
while, recruiting was vigorously driven. A thousand
horses passed our camp for a Pennsylvania cavalry regi
ment, at Manassas Junction, that had not been mounted.
In the Twelfth Massachusetts Volunteers, near us, half
of the captains resigned on account of the severities of
their service. Affairs were almost as gloomy in the
Ninth New York Volunteers. All needed rest, recupera
tion, and recruits. General Shields' division moved via
Alexandria and the Potomac to assist McClellan.
June 30th. A new and ample camp was laid out on
the plain, the officers having Sibley and the men A tents;
the horses sheltered by boughs. Again we were mus
tered for pay, and also inspected by one of General
McDowell's aids.

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 101
July 1st. We were pleasantly surprised by a visit from
Governor Sprague and Major F. W. Miner of his staff,
both of whom were received with suitable ceremony, and
entertained as best we could dispense hospitalities in the
field, making special requisitions upon Mr. May, our
regimental sutler. On the following day His Excellency
reviewed us, spoke of our services and sacrifices in appre
ciative terms, promised us recruits, and repeated, what
had been before pledged to us, that all promotions in the
regiment should be from members of the command.
Before leaving us, the next day, he gave to us the follow
ing communication: Executive Department, State op Rhode Island, j
Camp Rhode Island Cavalry, July 2, 1862. )
Lieutenant-Colonel Sayles will communicate to his command
the satisfaction of the Executive of Rhode Island in the oppor
tunity he has had of being with them.
He congratulates officers and men upon their good appearance.
Their duties have been most arduous. The brilliant and success
ful action of the New Hampshire battalion demands the highest
praise. Follow up the example thus inaugurated, and the First
Regiment Rhode Island Cavalry will stand foremost for efficiency
and gallantry of any in the service.
Officers will be made from the most deserving men of the regi
ment. The recommendations of Lieutenant-Colonel Sayles will
be alone recognized.
Captain Lycurgus Sayles is appointed Major of ^he third bat
talion. Captain John L. Thompson is appointed Major of the second
battalion. WILLIAM SPRAGUE.
Francis W. Miner, Acting Assistant Adjutant General.
On the same day three prisoners were brought in by
our scouts; one a member of General Ewell's body-guard;
one a member of the Eighth Virginia Infantry. Spies
9*

102 SABRES AND SPURS. [July,
were all around us, sometimes playing the role of " Union
men" very sharply. War clouds now began to thicken
again. The President had called for three hundred
thousand more soldiers. This, it will be remembered,
followed the seven days' fight before Richmond, ending
(July 1st) in the defeat of the Confederates at Malvern
Hill — a victory, however, with a dark omen in it, as it
looked towards McClellan's failure.
July 4th. The officers, giving five dollars each, made
up a fund, and furnished the men in the ranks with a
grand dinner of lobster and green peas. The day was
celebrated by suspension of routine service, save guard
duty, and the men had a fantastical parade and review
in the afternoon. Lieutenant James P. Taylor delivered
a patriotic oration, and in the evening the men enjoyed
a pyrotechnic display by burning the rebel barracks near
our camp. On the same day, General McDowell started
with Ricketts' division for Catlett Station and Warrenton.
July 6th. Reports reached us that Governor Sprague
had appointed as our Colonel the Major of the Harris
Light Cavalry, of New York, a battalion then serving as
McDowell's body-guard. The name of the appointee
was Alfred N. Duffie (Doof-yea). Never was a camp
thrown into greater commotion and indignation. This
sensation had its spring in our appreciation of Lieuten
ant-Colonel Sayles, aud the Governor's pledges to us.
When the report was substantiated by official documents,
nearly all the officers handed in their resignations, and
well-nigh mutinous purposes broke out in the ranks.
Most of our resignations were refused; those of Lieuten
ant-Colonel Sayles and Major Anthony were finally ac
cepted; a few were conciliated by furloughs. The fol
lowing letter from the Governor to Captain Farrington
may explain his action:

J? ft &

<£/•

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 10S
Willard's, Washington, July 5, 1803:
Captain : — I this morning received your note- and, enclosed of'
the 38th ultimo. Unavoidable circumstances have necessitated
me to appoint Major Duffie Colonel. I trust this action will be
satisfactory to the command.
The Department met my request with the much desired prompt
ness. I am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
WILLIAM SPRAGUE.
This letter, for some reason, was not received unfit
Colonel Duffie had been with us nearly two weeks, an d.
the ill-feeling towards him had given way to admiration.
July 8th. Colonel Duffie assumed command and made
a brief address. On the same day, Lieutenant-Colonel
Sayles left us after addressing the command in tender,.
eloquent and appropriate terms. Days elapsed before
the murmurs of the camp subsided. We may here ap--
propriately insert a brief paper, prepared about this time-
by the Chaplain, and we do this because the Colonel was
a foreigner, and many hereafter may desire some sketch.
of his life.
Alfred Nattie Duffie. He was born of worthy-
parentage, in the city of Paris, May 1, 1835. From his
fifth to his tenth year he was a pupil in the school of St.
Barbe, from which he passed to the preparatory Military-
Academy at Versailles, where he devoted seven years
to the languages, belles-lettres, and the sciences. In the
autumn of 1851, he was a successful candidate for ad
mission to the famous Military College of St. Cyr, at
Versailles, and began the curriculum in 1852. His
scholarship may be inferred from the fact that of eleven.
thousand candidates examined, only two. hundred and
twenty were approved.

104 SABRES AND SPURS. [July,
Two years were passed at St. Cyr in studies and drill,
pertaining to cavalry, infantry and staff service. Com
pleting the appointed course and examinations, he was
promptly commissioned a Lieutenant in the French
army, and went immediately into active service, first
in Algiers, and afterwards in Senegal, in Africa, from
whence he brought off a wound for his valor.
On the opening of the Russian war he accompanied
his regiment to the Crimea, where he gallantly performed
his duty in the battles of Alma, Inkerman, Balaclava,
Chernaia, Gangel, and Sebastopol, receiving scars on the
different fields, and winning promotion as First Lieuten
ant in the Fifth Huzzar Regiment. Returning from the
Crimea in 1856, after the close of that memorable con
test, he served at home till the breaking out of the Aus
trian struggle, when he marched against the new enemy,
and behaved bravely till a severe wound compelled him
to leave the field for the hospital.
For his accomplishments and heroism he received four
distinguished decorations from as many imperial powers;
the Cross of the Legion of Honor from his own country;
the Sardinian Cross from the Emperor of Sardinia, who
decorated him with his own hand as he lay wounded;
the Turkish Cross from the Sultan; and the English
Cross from Victoria. Twice as numerous as his decora
tions are his wounds received in battle — the enduring
insignia of a tried soldier.
He came to the United States in the autumn of 1860,
primarily to visit Saratoga for medical relief. On the
outbreaking of the rebellion, by solicitation, he accepted
a captaincy in the First New Jersey Cavalry, and shortly
after (July, 1861,) was appointed Major of the Harris
Light Cavalry, where he won reputation in drill and
action. His promotion in this country was due to his

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 105
superior knowledge and skill, and to our lack of thorough
cavalry men to meet the needs of our armies.
He is of medium stature, erect form, light frame, ner
vous temperament, dark complexion, full hazel eyes,
black hair; athletic in action, humorous in manner,
exact in routine, firm in discipline, and thoroughly ac
complished in his profession.
July 10th. The Colonel issued the following order:
Headquarters First Rhode Island Cavalry, )
Manassas, July 10, 1863. )
Officers and Soldiers of the ffirst Rhode Island Cavalry :
In taking command of this regiment as your Colonel, I was.
pained and grieved to see a disinclination on your part to receive
a stranger, manifested in such a manner as to leave no doubts as.
to your sentiments. If it has pleased your much beloved Gov
ernor and the War Department at Washington to make, a change
in the construction of your executive department, as good soldiers,
patriots, and defenders of the one great and holy cause now ani
mating all true American hearts, it is your bounden duty to God
and man, to the cause of human liberty throughout the entire
world, to every manly impulse, to every hope of peace and hap
piness for yourselves and your posterity, that you sink all personal
considerations in one great holocaust, whose flames shall illumine
a world, and whose end shall be Union.
As for myself , I like you. You have all the material for suc
cess. I say it not in the poor spirit of mere compliment, nor with
the slightest disrespect for your former commander, as circum
stances beyond his control may have prevented him from giving
to you the benefit of his undoubted military knowledge; but I
like you, and here say to you, in my place, that if you will give
to me your undivided time and labor for the space of a few weeks,
I will add to them my own best endeavors to make you at once
the pride and glory of your own gallant States and of the nation.
Soldiers! Do you hear me? Soldiers! Do you answer me?
Say, Yes ! and fear not the result.
A. N. DUFFIE, Colonel. Commanding.

106 SABRES AND SPURS. [July,
Our commander labored under but one serious disad
vantage — his difficulty in the idioms of our language;
this, however, he gradually overcame.
July llth. We received orders to be ready to move at
one hour's notice, with ten days' rations; but as our outfit
was incomplete, final marching orders were delayed.
July 16th. Governor Sprague again visited us, and
with General McDowell reviewed the command at the
General's headquarters. On his return to our camp, he
made the necessary promotions to fill existing vacancies
in the field and line.
July 17th. The officers were assigned their several
commands, and vigorous preparations were resumed to
be- ready for the front. The following was the roster of
the regiment at this time :
FIELD AND STAFF.
Colonel, Alfred N. Duffie.
Lieutenant-Colonel, John L. Thompson.
Major, Preston M. Farrington.
" Edmund C. Burt.
" John Whipple, Jr.
Adjutant, Charles S. Treat.
Quartermaster, Charles A. Leonard.
Commissary, Leonard B. Pratt.
Surgeon, J. B. Greeley.
Assistant Surgeon, Augustine A. Mann.
Chaplain, Rev. F. Denison.
line officers.
Troop A.— Captain, Joshua Vose; First Lieutenant,
James P. Vose; Second Lieutenant, R. J. Burgess.
Troop B.— Captain, A. H. Bixby; First Lieutenant,
H. P. Barker; Second. Lieutenant, C. C. Leonard.

1862.] FIRST RHODE island cavalry. 107
Troop C. — Captain, George N. Bliss; First Lieuten
ant, Charles H. Thayer; Second Lieutenant, James
P. Taylor.
Troop D. — Captain, Charles N. Manchester; First
Lieutenant, Frank Allen; Second Lieutenant, Charles
A. Sawyer.
Troop E. — Captain, Allen Baker, Jr.; First Lieuten
ant, Edward E. Chase; Second Lieutenant, L. B.
Shurtliff. Troop F. — Captain, John Rogers; First Lieutenant,
Richard Waterman; Second Lieutenant, James M.
Fales. Troop G. — Captain, Joseph J. Gould; First Lieuten
ant, C. G. A. Peterson; Second Lieutenant, Otis C.
Wyatt. Troop H. — Captain, W. H. Turner, Jr.; First Lieu
tenant, Rufus Higgins; Second Lieutenant, J. B. Cook.
Troop I.— Captain, S. R. Swett; First Lieutenant,
L. D. Gove; Second Lieutenant, G. H. Thompson.
Troop K. — Captain, Arnold Wyman; First Lieuten
ant,  ; Second Lieutenant, Barnard Ellis.
Troop L. — Captain, W. C. Capron; First Lieutenant,
George H. Rhodes; Second Lieutenant,  ¦ — -.
Troop M. — Captain, J. J. Prentice; First Lieuten
ant, J. F. Andrews; Second Lieutenant, W. P. Pren
tice.
July 18th. Major Burt, United States Paymaster, to
our great cheer, paid us to July 1st.
July 19th. Mr. Allen Baker, of Providence, R, I.,
arrived in camp to visit his son and bring us welcome
news from our .friends at home. Some will remember
his pleasant face and kind words, and the visit made

108 SABRES AND SPURS. [July,
with him (July 21st) to Bull Run battle field, and also
the visit to McDowell's headquarters, when moved to
Warrenton. July 20th. Allen R. Paine (Troop D) died of fever,
in the General Hospital at Alexandria.
July 22d. John Winsor (Troop A) died of injuries
received by falling from his horse, and was buried with
honors by the regiment, on the right of our camp.
In our funerals, and in all our religious services, the
<Jolonel, though a Catholic, attended, and required the
attendance of .all not on duty. One might have supposed
him to be a genuine Protestant, so liberal was his spirit;
and he regarded religious worship as of great importance
to his men. On the first Sabbath after taking command,
orders were issued for the regiment to attend worship, as
a body, and an understanding was had with the officers
that all persons applying to be excused should be referred
to the Colonel. Before long a case occurred, and the fol
lowing dialogue ensued:
Soldier. " Colonel, I wish to be excused from service."
Colonel. "Why excused? The Chaplain a good man;
he preach nothing bad; he do good."
Soldier. "But, Colonel, I am a Catholic."
Colonel. "Ah! you a Catholic? Very well; I am
glad. I am a Catholic, and I attend service. You will
attend service. Be ready.."
As others besides ourselves may be interested in the
mention of our daily regimental exercise and school of
arms, we copy the order:
A. M. Reveille, 5 o'clock; breakfast, §\; regimental
drill, 6; recall, 8; sick call, 8; water call and grain feed
ing, 8; guard mounting, 9; instruction of bugles, 9-11;
stable call and hay feeding, 10-10-£; officers' call, 10£;
dinner, 12. P. M. Fatigue call, 1; water call, Z\;

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY". 109
stable call and grain feeding, 4-4-J; dress parade and
regimental drill, 5; recall, 7; supper, 7; hay feeding, 7;
tattoo, 84; taps, 9.
July 27th. "Assembly call " brought us into a hol
low square on the parade at nine aud a half o'clock A.
M. , to listen to Mr. Lincoln's order relative to the death
of Martin Van Buren, after which followed our order of
worship: hyfhn No. 11 of our manual, reading fifth
Psalm, prayer, short sermon from John xii., 27, doxol-
ogy, and benediction. By request the Chaplain then
read the following paper:
Headquarters First Rhode Island Cavalry, )
Manassas, July 37, 1863. \
[Special Order No. 18.]
Officers and men of the First Rhode Island Regiment of Cavalry:
The proudest satisfaction a commander can feel is mine — that of
seeing the proficiency of his command in discipline, in drill, and in
soldierly exercises; that of feeling that he has the respect, the
esteem, the confidence and affection of his soldier comrades; and,
above all, the sure knowledge that he can take into the field a regi
ment of men who, with able hands and willing hearts, in the thick
est of the fray, will let their blows fall fastest when the battle
rages hottest; confiding in their honor of right, in their might, and
their education — in the great momentum of intelligence, as op
posed to mere brute force; men who, in the name of God and our
native land, will strike to the earth those enemies of human
liberty and human rights, who have applied the agrarian torch to
the grandest fabric in human hands — our American Union.
By order: A. N. DUFFIE, Colonel Commanding.
Hearty cheers followed the reading of this order. The
Colonel was delighted with our regiment on account of
the character and intelligence in it: so different from
what he had seen in European armies.
In our refit the entire command was supplied with
10

110 SABRES AND SPURS. [July,
pistols, while many of the old carbines were retained.
All our sabres and spurs were in order. The officers
assumed close-fitting short jackets of navy blue, with
gold lace trimmings, giving us a light and spirited look.
Everything was planned with a view to swift and effect
ive action. When Lieutenant Bixby (Troop L) was pro
moted to the captaincy of Troop B, his old command
made him a present (July 30th) of a fifty dollar sabre
and belt. The presentation speech and the Captain's
reply were of a high and inspiriting order. Our line and
ranks could boast of eloquence.
Of course we had hours of mirth and merriment. But
the Colonel put his foot upon whisky and gambling.
Yet these would slyly creep around the margin of the
camp. One day the Colonel, taking a stroll into the
forest, discovered a squad of men, in a leafy bower, ab
sorbed with their cards. Silently approaching them, he
found they had made up "a pot," and were calling to
one another, in the parlance of the game, to "chip in."
Springing into the circle, he cried, "You chip in; I take
the pot," and, grasping the money, turned back to camp.
Coming upon the parade, he met the Chaplain — treas
urer of the regimental fund — and said, "Ah! Chaplain,
I'm the lucky boy. I have the money. I find money
for our band. Now we have more instruments and
music. My boys chip in; I take the pot."
Old rye was obtainable by the men only on the ground
of sickness, and then only by an order from the Colonel.
One of a dry squad volunteered to play the sick, and
appeared at headquarters, with canteen in hand, where
occurred the following interview:
Soldier. "Colonel, I wish an order for whisky."
Colonel. "You sick? What the matter? Whisky
make you sick." Pointing to the canteen/ he added,

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. Ill
"That much make you walk bad; make your eye look
red. You sick? I give you something to make you
well." Giving him a small glass, he added, " You feel
better bye and bye. I give no order. When you sick
and want whisky, come to me; I see if you are -sick. If
you not sick, I give you h — 1."
General Pope was vigorously organizing the Army of
Virginia to make a demonstration against Richmond by
the way of Culpepper and Orange Court House, and as
yet the whole rebel army was with Lee. So, except light
picket duty and occasional excursions in search of guer
rillas, our time and attention were devoted to the duties
and exercises of our camp, which was a military school,
often remarkably interesting and exciting. The drill of
squads, with sabres, with carbines, with pistols; the drill
of troops and battalions; the variety of movements, by
walk, by trot, by gallop; the advance, the retreat, the
charge, the recall, the rally, — all were absorbing to us
and to all spectators. There sprung up a splendid esprit
de corps, and we were justly proud of our order and
attainments. And we were often selected to drill in
public and at general reviews. This was due both to the
skill of Colonel Duffie and the intelligence and noble
manhood in the command.
Our camp was a school, indeed; a preparation for
march and battle; for dashing over plains, threading
mountain passes, fording creeks and rivers; now tracking
and now avoiding the foe; videtting forests; charging
the enemy's lines; forming battle front; plunging at last
beneath the awful war clouds, to leave in gory shrouds
some of our loved and heroic brothers.

112 SABRES ASD SPURS. [August,

CHAPTER XII.
ON TO THE RAPIDAN.
August, 1862.
^J(RHE war storm thickened around Richmond. Gen-
(f^j eral Pope, to relieve the pressure on McClellan's
army, — now smitten and driven back — proposed to draw
off some of Lee's forces, by making a feint, or actual
attack, on his rear, by advancing upon Gordonsville.
Our regiment was to act in his van. His entire army —
Army of Virginia— numbered about thirty-eight thous
and men, of which about five thousand were cavalry.
His front, before moving, extended from Fredericksburg
to the gaps of tlie Blue Ridge. We were in Ricketts'
division, of McDowell's corps, but reported directly to
McDowell. August 1st. At ten o'clock A. M. we received orders
to march immediately to the ford of the Rappahannock,
near the burned bridge of the Orange and Alexandria
Railroad. Up went our cheers, and down went our
tents. Blankets and coats were rolled; cantles and pom-
els were freighted; company and regimental wagons were
loaded; haversacks were crowded with rations; our camp
furniture and every pet thing was cast aside. Resident

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 113
and " contraband " negroes stood ready to pick the camp
carcass. By four o'clock P. M. we were in regimental
column, with our train attached. Sheds, arbors, and
whatever might give aid or comfort to tlie enemy, were
devoted to flames. With an impressive ceremony, pecu
liar to our regiment, our standard was received to our
centre by salutes and music, and the bugles sounded the
'•' forward." How imposing the sight of the long, bright
line, headed by the advance guard; followed by the cheery
band, playing national airs; then the gay- field officers;
then each glittering troop with its waving guidon, the
men formed by twos; then the full wagon train; lastly
the rear-guard; the whole column reaching more than a
mile. Strange emotions came over us as we looked back upon
the burning camp, full of so many memories, and then
turned our faces towards the field of action that in vision
lay before us, for we knew that we were marching to
battle. Again we passed through the ruins of Manassas.
The young moon gave us a little light for a few hours,
when we had the fortune to lose our way in the dense oak
forests, compelling a few extra miles of march. Reach
ing Bristoe as the moon bade us good-night over the
mountains, in the groves and on the hill-side we lighted
our camp fires, heated our coffee, ate our bread, and
wrapped ourselves in our blankets for the sweet oblivion
of sleep.
Human nature is many sided; the tragic and comic
elements in us lie side by side, as the muscles for weep
ing and laughing do in the face. Does this explain why
there is but a step between the sublime and the ridicu
lous? Into our bivouac was brought a spy — a Mr. Ran
dolph, just from Richmond. In consideration of his
age, the officers, occupying an old, deserted mansion,
10*

114 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,
assigned to Mr. Randolph a crazy sofa to help his dreams,
while we made proof of the floor. After reporting, with
some pride, that he had a son, whom he called Bob, com
missioned in the rebel army, he stretched himself upon
the rickety sofa, and very sanctimoniously repeated at
length his evening prayers, not forgetting to pray for the
Confederacy and its armies. On closing, Lieutenant
Barker inquired further about his son, and added that
we might yet meet him and show him how to "bob."
At this, the old secession saint sprung from his sofa to
the floor, and favored us with the hottest volley of oaths
and anathemas we ever heard. When he slacked his fire,
Lieutenant Barker coolly remarked, "Well, my friend,
wouldn't it be best no'w to lie down again, and repeat
those prayers?"
August 2d. Greeted by our bugles and the morning
light, we accepted soldiers' fare, sprung to our saddles,
handsomely received our standard to the centre, and
advanced. Through forest,, field and intervale, across
streams, creeks and runs, we wound our way along the
line of the railroad, passing Catlett, Warrenton Junction,
Bealton, and Rappahannock Village, and halted at three
o'clock P. M. just below the burned bridge, on the
margin of the river, having marched, in twenty-four
hours, thirty miles, which is a full day's march for cav
alry. It was August, remember. Was it warm on that
march? Ask the troopers: sudor fluit mndique rivis.
•Our halts were few and brief. Then what became of the
large, luscious bush blackberries? They seceded. Some
times our wagons stuck in the lowlands, for the fiery
glances of a summer sun were insufficient to compel old
Virginia to dry up. We passed the construction corps
engaged in rebuilding the railroad, about six miles back
from the Rappahannock, with some small bridges yet

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 115.
unfinished in their rear. Thus again we were beyond
the reach of supply trains, and the sacred soil had to
furnish us what we did not bring in our wagons. Of
course we did all things modestly, quietly and lawfully,
under General Pope's severe orders to receipt for what
we must take, and to punish plundering. We remem
ber the Colonel's charge to the regiment, given with a
twinkle of the eye, " Don't you let me see you when you
take anything."
But few inhabitants were found in the regions we
passed; all the able-bodied had joined themselves to the
Southern side. What blacks had not been pressed south,
or escaped towards Washington, stood in their hut doors,
or by the wayside, enamored with our loyal music and
rejoicing in our advance, for they regarded the war as
the long prayed for day of their deliverance.
On the outpost, confronting Culpepper, surrounded by
secessionists, and watched by spies calling themselves
" Union men," our bivouac was in perfect military order,
every man in his place and on the alert. High and
proudly the Stars and Stripes were lifted in front of our
headquarters. We were on the plantation of Mr. Bowen,
a chief land-holder of this region, now in years, whose
hospitality some of the officers shared at his mansion,
but whose Union sentiments were like Joseph's coat. A
smart mulatto boy, who joined us at Bealton, belonged
to this lord of the soil, as no one would doubt who saw
the two faces. Slavery was a patriarchal institution*
with a prodigious tail to it.
Major Swett, who had lately succeeded' Major Burt,
with his huge Spanish spurs that meant business, from
a reconnoissance towards Kelly's Ford, brought into>
camp two wealthy south-sided citizens, G. G. Kelly and
Mr. Clifton, who were required to take the oath of al-

116 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,
legianee to our Government or become prisoners, but
who stuck at the demand. Mr. Clifton, after stoutly
swearing against the United States, concluded to wilt,
at least verbally, in the direction of loyalty. Cases of
this kind were too numerous. It ought to be stated,
however, that the majority of the Southern people were
strangely and strongly conscientious in their secession
scheme, and hence they fought bravely and persistently
till the star of their hope went down.
Finding some corn and wheat in this vicinity, our boys
took possession of the grist-mill near the railroad cross
ing, and run it in the interest of the Quartermaster's de
partment. In like manner the mill at Kelly's Ford was
conscripted to transform rebel grain into loyal meal. At
this latter ford, we found the well known John P. Kelly,
then eighty-one years of age, and an invalid, 'formerly a
very wealthy gentleman, now in a pitiable condition: his
eighty negroes had escaped; his cattle and produce had
been swept off by the war waves; his cloth mills had been
robbed of their machinery by the Richmond authorities;
and he, with a broken limb, was sick and near his grave,
while "John Brown's soul was marching on."
August 4th. The construction corps, with previously
prepared timbers, reached the river, and in two days the
engineers sprung a new tressel bridge, in thirty-six bents,
four hundred feet from bank to bank. On the Culpep
per bank the rebels had constructed a strong stockade
fort, and, on the bluffs, on both banks, had erected
earthworks of considerable pretensions; but these were
not their "last ditch."
August 6th. Obedient to orders, early in the morn
ing, we forded the Rappahannock, just below the bridge,
organized our column, lifted our guidons, received our
standard to the centre, sent our band to the rear with

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 11T
our train, threw out our skirmishers and advance guard,
under Lieutenant Wyatt, detailed our rear-guard, under
Lieutenant Thayer, and commenced our march for Cul
pepper Court House. All our precautions were necessary,'
as we were on the left front of the army, and during the
preceding night a guerrilla party had approached the
bridge, alarming the engineers and calling from us a
guard. There were no Federal pickets on our front or
left. Some of McDowell's forces were at the same time ad
vancing far off on our right. Something of a warlike
sight it was to look upon our skirmishers, with upraised,
ready pistols, advancing on our right and left, while the
bannered, steel-armed column wound its great length
over plains and through forests — -the beautiful but almost
utterly abandoned plantations. A remnant of the old
slave population remained to gaze with wonder and joy
upon the banner of the free. It had been said by a
wealthy citizen of Culpepper that not one white man in
all that country would ever take the oath of allegiance to>
the United States. On account of the extreme heat, we
occasionally halted for water and rest. Over the hot,
deserted, silent lands, large, lazy turkey-buzzards were
leisurely sailing, as if scenting the prey they were soon to
find on the ensanguined field. Heavy grass remained
uncut and perishing, and a portion of the wheat crop.
was standing in shock in the fields.
Reaching Culpepper before noon, we found General
McDowell had just arrived and selected his headquarters
in the suburbs with Mr. Wallack, the editor of the Wash
ington Star. A few regiments were in and around the
town. A few Confederate prisoners were there, captured*
some days before by our scouts near Madison Court.
House, among them a major of cavalry named Marshall.

118 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,
A beautiful little aristocratic city was Culpepper, encom
passed by fertile vales and hills, and prior to the rebellion
boasted about twelve hundred inhabitants; half of these,
the rich and political, had passed within the rebel lines.
On the first occupancy of the town by our troops, the
proud and traitorous inhabitants, chagrined and angered
by our advance, sent a deputation of F. F. V's to protest
against the playing of our national airs by our bands.
Chivalry, this! Who got up the party? They forgot to
forbid our breathing! But we afforded them such music
then and afterwards as probably their sensitive ears have
never forgotten.
Halting in the skirts of the town for further orders,
most of us were refreshed with hard bread, water and
green apples; some of the officers having nothing, as the
sutlers were far in the rear. Receiving written orders,
we moved at five o'clock P. M., with a guide, in a south
ern direction, over charming hills, down into the notori
ous Flat Lands, that for many a mile in length and width
skirt the northern bank of the Rapidan, and are covered
with oak forests, relieved by large plantations. Thus
beyond all Federal outposts, ten miles from Culpepper,
and about the same from Rapidan Station, we halted
and bivouacked within five miles of Raccoon Ford — a
river crossing of great importance to forces moving north
or south. From this point on the Flat Lands, in front
of the ford, we were, to hold the country from General
Bayard's line near Rapidan Station on our right, by the
river front as far to the east as possible — quite a responsi
bility under the circumstances.
Weary and hungry from our march of eighteen miles
in the heat, the cribs of corn, stacks of hay, and other
supplies found on the plantations, yielded to our informal
requisitions, and prepared us to sleep on the snn-baked

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 119
earth. Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson, with a squadron
and our guide, explored the country for a circuit of
miles and learned something of the enemy's force on the
southern bank of the river. In due time our wagon
train came up and was parked; all of us on our guard,
with a sharp lookout. Of course our sleep was mixed
with vigilant calculations.
August 7th. We sent out a battalion, under Major
Whipple, on scouting service, who thoroughly studied
Raccoon Ford, leaving a troop to hold it, and visited
Somerville Ford, a few miles farther up the river. We
threw pickets along the river for five or six miles, for
during the previous night large parties of . rebel cavalry
had crossed and borne off a number of negroes. Before
our arrival, the Confederates had robbed the country of
horses, cattle, and the main articles of subsistence.
Alarm and fear ruled all around, us, since it was believed
that a great battle was imminent in that region. In
fact, three corps of the Confederate army were moving
up to the Rapidan, and three corps of the Union army
were moving down upon it.
Mr. Vaugh's plantation afforded hemes, green corn,
'possum, and tobacco. However it might have seemed to
our boys to appropriate the old man's fatted 'possum from
the pen, there was no cash market for his stored tobacco,
so they smoked with quiet consciences. Terrified " con
trabands" were pressing into our lines, bringing im
portant reports. Firing was now heard up the river,
along the line held by General Bayard with his cavalry.
The enemy were shelling him from the right bank, and
pushing their advance across. General Buford, on the
extreme right of our army, was being pushed back.
. General Sigel with his corps was at Sperryville. General
McDowell with most of his corps, and Crawford's brigade

120 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,
¦of Banks' corps, were at Culpepper. General Banks was
at Hazel River, but hurrying forward to the point where
the enemy had commenced the attack. We were on the
extreme left of our army front, without any supports,
till near midnight (August 7th), when the First Maine
Oavalry were ordered down near Raccoon Ford.

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 121

CHAPTER XIII.
-BATTLE OF CEDAR MOUNTAIN.
August, 1862.
i\ UGUST 8th. From a messenger, sent in hot
• haste, we had orders to instantly spur to the relief
and support of General Bayard, in the vicinity of Cedar
Mountain, as the enemy, advancing from Orange Court
House, had crossed the Rapidan and attacked him, and
was pushing him back. Leaving wagons and every un
necessary thing, we regirt our belts, jumped to our sad
dles, and were immediately in column and on our hurried
march over the plantations. By a route of about eight
miles we reached Bayard, holding the enemy at bay on
the north of Cedar Mountain. He had been skirmishing
with the rebel advance guard for nearly twenty-four
hours, and had lost a number of his heroic command.
The advancing Confederate forces comprised three corps,
viz.: Jackson's, Ewell's, and A. P. Hill's, numbering
more than twenty thousand men; and these to be fol
lowed by Longstreet's corps, to be held as reserves.
Instantly we were put upon the front as pickets, vi-
dettes, and skirmishers, along the base of Cedar Mount
ain, and westward from it to a dense forest. Here,
11

122 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,
confronting the enemy's pickets and videttes, we found
he was bringing his forces into position in the forests
along the top of the mountain, and on the ridge of high
lands stretching westward to the woods and the Orange
wagon road. Save a few, who caught "cat naps" on
the grass or in the bushes in the rear of the main line,
we were in our saddles through the night, watching the
movements of the foe. Colonel Duffie and some of his
staff caught a brief nap in a cluster of blackberry bushes;
certainly they had thorns in their pillows. Affairs looked
thorny on all sides. While the enemy's forces were gather
ing and forming in our front, portions of General Banks'
corps were coming up and taking position in the valley
in our rear.
We were now in the Second Army Corps with Bayard,
under Banks. General Buford, up to the right, was fall
ing back from Madison Court House. Sigel was hurry
ing forward from Sperryville to our support. General
Pope had just reached Culpepper, where McDowell had
massed the most of his corps, consisting of eighteen
thousand men. Sigel had eleven thousand men; Banks,
eight thousand, and the cavalry force numbered five
thousand. Unfortunately, the battle was thrown wholly
upon Banks' corps of eight thousand. They had to con
tend with more than twenty thousand of the enemy — a
very weighty consideration.
The Confederates too had the better position: Cedar
Mountain as their right; heavy forests on their left, with
a front of open ground sloping into the valley, through
which ran the forked brook called Cedar Run. Our
forces had their front wholly in the valley, on both sides
of the brook, but also stretched back northeasterly over
the rising ground and into the forests in the direction of
Culpepper.

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 123
The valley consisted of rolling meadows and corn
fields, with a plateau or large flat knoll in the centre, on
the west side of which was the Crittenden mansion.
The rebels faced nearly northeast; we faced nearly south
west. They hoped to draw us on the heights; we chose
to remain in open, plain ground; yet we remained under
the disadvantage of being exposed to their artillery fire
from Cedar Mountain.
August 9th. Crawford's brigade of Banks' corps was
on the field during the night, just in our rear, we hold
ing the extreme front. The lines of battle were being
formed as rapidly as possible, along a front of about a
mile. Musketry fire was heard on our right, in the
woods, among the pickets. The enemy were pushing
forward, and we were holding them in check. General
Banks now came upon the field with the remainder of
his corps. In front of us the rebel cavalry, artillery,
and infantry were openly taking advantageous positions.
General Banks was disposing his force in our rear along
the valley. The body of our regiment occupied the
knoll north and west of the Crittenden house, just in the
rear of our skirmish and picket line, ready to receive or
make a charge, as circumstances might direct, for we
were constantly within reach of the enemy's fire.
About noon, from a battery on Cedar Mountain, the
rebels commenced throwing shell upon our command.
Some shots burst amongst us; some passed over us upon
the main line. . We had, however, but one man un
horsed: The assailing battery was soon silenced by the
splendid firing of our artillery, playing over our heads.
Other rebel batteries were soon run up to the mountain
crest, and the rebel infantry was pushed into the woods
nearer to our front. Under cover of trees and heavy
bushes, the enemy finally slipped a force into the margin

124 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,
of the valley, within rifle shot of our skirmish line, which
was commanded by Major Farrington. This force, near
three o'clock P. M., rose from their concealment ¦ and
opened fire in earnest upon our men. The hot volley
fell upon Major Farrington and his command, who re
ceived the shock with utmost coolness, returning the fire
with precision and effect, till, having spent their ammu
nition,' they obeyed the "recall," and joined the body of
the regiment on the knoll. The firing of the enemy was
so high that we lost but one man on the skirmish line —
John Kiernan (Troop F), his horse falling dead with him.
Now the battle had fairly opened, and we had all the
music we desired, to say nothing of lead and iron that
fell like hail around us. Like meteors the shell howled
and broke in the air above us. As the artillery of both
armies played over us, we were under a magnificent
bridge of fire. Shortly, however, we were ordered inta
a hollow north of the knoll, but still on the extreme
front, to repel or execute a charge, as occasion might
require. The two armies were now pressing together. Jackson
led his corps against our right; Ewell led his command
against our left; both were thrown forward as rapidly as
possible. General Banks held his corps handsomely in
hand and handled it heroically, being himself often
under fire. General Williams commanded our right;
General Augur wielded our left. The day was hot — the
battle hotter.
Repeatedly the rebels attempted infantry charges in
front of us, from the point of the forest, but our artil
lery, playing over our regiment with grape and canister,
cut them down as mowers cut grass. We, however, were
severely scarred by the enemy's new pieces on the mount
ain. Both armies were now in the dread grapple. The

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 125
dense war cloud in the valley eclipsed the summer sun.
Bullets whistled, cannon bellowed, shell screeched, bugles
blew, and carnage reigned. Clouds of dust were raised
by rushing horses and battalions. Still we remained
exactly between the fires, though sheltered not a little
by the hollow we occupied. Our forces nobly met the
shock. General Banks reported that he had but five
thousand in the real action against twenty-five thousand
of the foe.
In this position on the front, we lost J. Mulvey (Troop
D), Frank Travers (Troop E), Henry Woodward (Troop
L), and eleven horses. Major Whipple's horse was
wounded, and Lieutenant Barker's horse was killed
under him. The following men were wounded: R. Dur-
den (Troop F), B. Potter (Troop H), A. A. Hall, L.
Martin, M. L. Parmenter (Troop K), W. H. Caswell
(Troop L). Two men were captured. But for the pro
tection of the knoll we should have been decimated.
Near six o'clock P. M., in the hottest of the action, as
we could aid no further, and had been in our saddles
twenty-four hours on the front, we were ordered to fall
back for rest and refreshment. Coolly we brought our
guidons through the wave of fire, smoke and battle dust,
and passed through the centre of the army line by the
Culpepper road to the Ward plantation and halted, where
•General Pope with McDowell and his.' corps passed us,
hurrying to Banks' support. On leaving the fiery field,
we sent our report to General Banks by Lieutenant J.
P. Taylor, who returned with the General's reply: "The
Rhode Island Regiment behaved well." With sorrow we
record that this was the last service rendered us by this
faithful and brave Lieutenant, and the last we ever saw
of him.
The battle continued with unabating fury till night
11*

126 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,
settled down on the bloody field, and did not cease wholly
till near midnight. Jackson gained a portion of the val
ley after dark, but was finally unable to hold it. It was
counted a drawn battle. Our army lost in killed, wound
ed and captured, about eighteen hundred men. The
enemy lost more; and the next day (August 10th) fell
back to Cedar Mountain, and on the eleventh retreated
across the Rapidan.
For the night of the ninth, we threw our exhausted
bodies on the bare earth and were lulled to sleep by the
roar of artillery and bursts of musket volleys. In a day
of severe battle the human organism is unconsciously run
at a high rate of speed, and hence greatly exhausted and
worn. Relative to our conduct in this action, our Col
onel, no unqualified judge of soldierly behavior, issued
to us the following: Headquarters First Rhode Island Cavalry.
[Special Order No. — .]
Officers and men of the First Rhode Island Cavalry :
You have met the enemy bravely. You had the post of honor
in the advance. You received the first shock of the battle of
Cedar Mountain. Although no opportunity was offered you for
charging upon the enemy's lines, you as calmly and fearlessly
awaited the order to charge amidst that terrible tempest of shot
and shell as though upon an evening parade, until six o'clock,
after having been three hours under fire, you were ordered from
the field to other duty. For this I thank you. Your country
thanks you in the name of God and liberty.
Three of your comrades fell gloriously upon the field, while
three others will carry through life the honorable marks of wounds
received that day.
It is here my sad duty to -say that Lieutenant J. P. Taylor
(Troop C), after having faithfully performed his duty at my side
during the day, overcome by the excessive heat, fell a martyr to
his zeal. He died the mOrning after the battle, from the effect of
a sunstroke the evening before.

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 127'
Soldiers! we have yet other work before us. Be ready! Strike-
hard, and spare not. A. N. DUFFIE.
Our men that fell on the field were carefully and tear
fully laid in the trench graves with the gallant dead of
New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio : as their lives were
one in loyal action, their bodies were one in their rest
As we visited the field after the battle, and moved among;
the burying parties, what a sight! A space one mile
in length, and nearly the same in width, torn, trodden,
cannon plowed, bloody; fences and corn fields obliterated ^
trees splintered and even cut off by shot; dead men, dead?
horses, fragments of bodies, broken wagons, remnants of
arms and equipage. The smell of the field was well-nigh
insupportable. By the retreating rebels some of their-
dead were left unburied, though a flag of truce was;
granted for their removal. The Crittenden house was
riddled by metal and stained by the blood of the wounded^
We may not close this chapter of our experience
without adding the following tribute from the pen of
Nathaniel G. Stanton, M. D., then our excellent Hospital
Steward: Lieutenant James P. Taylor. He was the son of
Anthony V. and Martha C. Taylor, and was born in
Newport, R. I., January 3, 1822. Soon after he reached
the age of manhood his parents removed to the city of
Providence, where he learned the art of wood-engraving,
which was his occupation at the time of his enlistment.
He was commissioned as Second Lieutenant with us
December 24, 1861. His frank, genial manner, his in
tegrity and high-toned character, won him warm friends:
and secured for him the esteem of all who knew him.
In the terrible scenes of the battle of Cedar Mountain, in
which he served as an aid to our commander, he earned!

128 sabres and spurs. [August,
a noble record for unwavering courage at the post of duty
and danger.
As the battle took place on a day of extreme heat,
many were disabled from this cause, and Lieutenant
Taylor was among the number. The exhausting labors
incident to the gallant part which he took throughout
the action proved too much for his endurance, and at
the end of the battle he left the field with us, but greatly
prostrated. Conscious that he needed different ministrations from
those that could be obtained in a bivouac, he started for
the house of Mr. William Flint, about three miles dis
tant, and arrived there too feeble to utter a word. He
sank rapidly under the effects of the sunstroke, and died
the next morning, Sunday, August 10, 1862.
We add a necessary word. Wrapped in a cloth, kindly
furnished from the house of Mr. Flint, then being used
as a sort of hospital, our comrade was buried in a single
grave, near the left front corner of the house. This
mansion is about two and a half miles from Culpepper,
on the north side of the road. The Chaplain visited the
spot shortly after the burial and learned the particulars
here stated. Greatly loved and lamented was our good
and brave Lieutenant. His fair record is in our hearts
and in the worthy annals of his native State.
Martyr for Liberty! ever thy name
Brightly shall glow on the roll of our fame.

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 12ft

CHAPTER XIV.
RETREATING AND FIGHTING.
August, 1862.
^VuGUST llth. We were again ordered to the-
^j V vicinity of Raccoon Ford, to prevent the enemy
from crossing. Hastening on, we halted on our former
camp ground on the Flat Lands, and sent out two bat
talions on scout and picket duty, and confronted the
pickets of Stuart's cavalry, up the river, near the rail
road. We captured Samuel Crossen, of the Twenty-first
Mississippi Regiment, and John Thornton, of Orange-
Court House. Thoroughly wet with a shower, we laid
down for sleep on the soft breast of mother earth. We
seldom felt our relationship more closely. Though our
train finally came up, it remained packed and parked,
ready for an emergency. As for days we had done, we
subsisted on bread and water; and the summer heat was
extreme. During the night a squad of twelve mounted
rebels attacked Captain Wyman and his pickets, but
were repulsed with better lead than they sent. Our
reports were sent to headquarters through the signal
station on Poney Mountain, about three miles north of
our bivouac; but the next day a signal officer took his
station with us on the Flat Lands.

130 sabres and spurs. [August,
August 14th. The enemy were reported in' force on
Clark's Mountain. From Mr. Wheaton's plantation we
politely detailed a negro, Alexander, a gooti blacksmith,
without his master's consent, to assist us in re-shoeing
some of our horses.
August 15th. A brigade of General Burnside's corps
reached us and took position on our right, we remaining
on the extreme left and front; and General Reno's divis
ion passed up to the right of us on the following day.
These were reinforcements that had been hurried on from
Alexandria. After our religious services (August 17th)
we had orders to advance to the right, and immediately
moved up to Mitchell's Station, near Cedar Mountain.
Here we found General Carroll with a bullet in his
shoulder just received from a rebel sharp-shooter on the
picket line.
August 18th. Here on the front we were reviewed by
General Roberts in the presence of Generals Pope and
McDowell, and pronounced the finest appearing and best
cavalry regiment in the Army of Virginia. Of course
we rubbed up our spurs and sabres, and sat very erect
under our guidons, to win such a compliment. That
night we were ordered in force on picket duty near the
Rapidan, on the Orange Turnpike, relieving the Harris
Light Cavalry, who had just lost Captain Walters, shot
by rebel pickets. Of our pillows that night, for such as
presumed to lie down, we shall leave Captain Manchester
to speak privately. The enemy was now again advancing
in force to attack us, and constantly exchanging shots
with our pickets. Shortly after midnight orders came
to fall back to the base of Cedar Mountain; and we could
distinctly hear the sounding of the "long roll" in the
rebel camps on the opposite bank of the river.
August 19th. Near sunrise we found our forces mov-

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 131
ing in retreat. Acting as left skirmishers and flank
guard to the army, we gradually fell back to Culpepper,
where we waited for Sigel's corps to come in from the
right and pass on their way towards the Rappahannock.
Near evening, acting as rear-guard to all — one of the
posts of honor again — we left Culpepper, shielding the
retreat and cleaning the road of abandoned valuables by
fire as we passed. The army trains falling back to Rap
pahannock and Warrenton would have formed a single
line near twenty miles in length. Serious, indeed, were
the scenes around us; our retreating army on one side of
us; the reinforced rebel army pressing closely on the
other side; but little chance for sleep or play was here.
To give our forces time to cross the river, by bridge and
fords, we halted near Brandy Station to hold the enemy
at bay.
Here passed us what a motley crowd of fleeing slaves,
on foot, on horse or mule, in old broken-down vehicles
tied with straps and strings, in all manner of costumes
grave and gay, wardrobes old and new borrowed from
Massa's and Missis' shelves and trunks, and loaded with
needfuls for the time. How anxiously and tearfully they
pressed within our lines. The photographer and comic
artist ought to have been in our bivouac and on the
skirmish line.
We ate what we could pick up by the way. Fortunate
were those who found ears of green corn to toast on the
points of their sabres. One of our band gobbled a hen
and kept her in his note-bag till she laid him an egg;
but her owner's hunger brought her neck to the edge of
the sabre.
August 20th. With dawn we resumed our retreat.
Near us the rebels dashed up and had an unsuccessful
brush with the Harris Light Cavalry. Some were killed,

132 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,
¦some wounded, and some taken prisoners. But our line
"was not broken. Of course the enemy picked up a few
¦exhausted men who straggled. Near noon we reached
the Rappahannock, where the foe came up and fired on
tis. Having crossed,' our forces held the bridge and made
a, stand on the eastern bank. Indeed, for a time, we
held the stockade fort on the opposite bank. We now
-stretched our pickets from Ellis' Ford on our left to Sul
phur Springs on our right; General Reno on our left;
Oeneral Sigel on our right; Generals McDowell and
Banks in our centre. We usually reported to McDowell.
August 21st^22d. During these days, the enemy, hold
ing the right bank of the river from Kelly's Ford to a
point above Sulphur Springs, furnished us a large amount
*of metal swiftly forwarded; but we; made the exchange
:about equal., As McClellan's army had been withdrawn
from Richmond, General Lee brought the main part of
his army to act against General Pope, and Lee himself
was at Culpepper on the twenty-second. Work evidently
"was now before us.
On the twenty-first, Surgeon Greeley, on the front with
a, brigade surgeon, was wounded in his left arm and in
his right thigh, and was taken back towards Washington.
On the same day, Captain Bixby and his squadron, sent
to the assistance of Sigel, returned and reported the cap
ture of Corporal J. S. Brown and Edward Myers (Troop
B), W. J. Glancy and Abraham England (Troop C), and
•John Wilson (Troop G). Men and horses suffered much
from hunger and thirst. Wells were scarce, and the few
¦summer streams were muddy from the tramp and rush
<of troops. Clean water was too valuable to use. in wash
ing our faces; we kept it for the sick and wounded, who
were constantly being borne back from the front on
stretchers and in ambulances.

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY'. 133
Also, on. the twenty-first, one of our battalions, under
Major Swett, was sent to Warrenton Junction on provost
duty; and the wagon trains fell back to Oatlett Station,
where, on the following night, Stuart's cavalry, that had
slipped around our right into our rear, made a raid,
destroying much property and taking a number of pris
oners. With the trains sent back were one hundred
recruits, unarmed and unequipped, who had reached the
front that day. With the wagon train were our wagons,
under Quartermaster Leonard and a number of our men.
Of their experiences let G. A. Sargent speak:
"We arrived at the station about dark, thoroughly wet
by a thunder-storm, and had scarcely bivouacked in the
adjoining forest, about eighty rods from the station,
when we were attacked by a heavy raiding force of
Stuart's cavalry. Volleys and yells rilled the air. We
put out our fires and stood with pistols in hand. Being
surrounded, we kept still. As we were in the forest,
they passed all around us without discovering such as
remained in the appointed bivouac. Two of our men
were saved by climbing a tree as the raiders passed, and
remaining on their roost all night. Some of the team
sters caught a rebel lieutenant in a novel way. They
had stretched a rope from the wheel of one wagon to the
wheel of another. As the lieutenant, at the head of a
squad, came galloping on, his horse tripped and sent him
headlong. A few shots scattered his squad, when our
men seized the lieutenant, tied his legs and arms, and
threw him into a wagon to remain till morning. Our
army train near the station was almost wholly destroyed,
and a number of our men (not following Lieutenant
Leonard's direction) were captured. Thus we lost Cap
tain Capron, wagon-master Tenny, two blacksmiths, and
one cook. A few were killed on both sides. The rebels
12

134 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,
'captured about five hundred mules, and a portion of
Pope's headquarters wagons."
On the twenty-second, Major Whipple and a squadron
were sent down to Kelly's Ford, and Captain Bixby and
a squadron were ordered to Bealton. To our great cheer,
Colonel T. Burgess, as a volunteer aid, came on from
Washington with a large mail and a quantity of tooth
some rations, and heartily joined us. During the whole
day we were in line of battle, eating only what we could
pick up in abandoned camps and bivouacs, and before
night were drenched by a heavy thunder-shower, which
was a great blessing to the wounded, though it did not
extinguish or even abate the fire of the battle. The
enemy were now crossing the river at Sulphur Springs
and flanking us on the right.
August 23d. With the break of day, broke upon us
the fire from numerous well handled pieces near the rail
road bridge. Abandoning the stockade and earthworks,
we devoted the bridge and buildings near it to flames,
and made arrangements to fall back to Warrenton. We
were almost tempted to sympathize with Mr. Bowen, the
rich old planter owning most of the land and buildings
near Rappahannock Station, when he complained that
the soldiers had skinned his lands, even to his garden,
and finally had stolen his brass kettle; but we told him
the times were brassy.
We were early in battle line, and the rebel shells
screamed over us and broke around us. Another copious
shower cooled our feverish flesh. A house in our front,
formerly a parsonage, into which the Chaplain took the
newly arrived mail bags to keep them dry, was struck by
a shell and soon reduced to ashes. By evening, since
the other forces had fallen back, we Were the rear-guard
to move, and slowly, wearily and warily we passed on

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 135
towards Warrenton, stirring up stragglers, and picking
up the wounded and disabled. Colonel Burgess, without
a horse, was assigned to an ambulance, not without some
jokes; but in the darkness, near midnight, the ambulance
made a somersault in a forest slew, and a good laugh re
lieved the solemn tension of our facial muscles.
August 24th. After reaching within six miles of War
renton and halting, we were ordered back to watch the
enemy's movements. Without rest, rations, or forage,
save what we could cull from an army's track — the lean
est kind of a bone to pick — we hastened to find that six
thousand Georgia troops were pushing up the western
bank of the river, who saluted us with their artillery.
Near the burned depot we found burned and charred
corn, alike acceptable to man and beast. Another shower
settled the dust into our coats, though we thought enough
was there before. Changes of clothes had been an utter
impossibility for weeks; sometimes, as on the Flat Lands,
we stripped, and, washing our shirts, waited shirtless for
the clean garment to dry in the sun. All baggage van
ished from our sight, with the trains, at Cedar Mount
ain. It was genuine field life and service that we were
now sharing. To tell the whole truth, we all, officers
and men, had become lousy; and we voted secession a
lousy affair. The vermin infested the body, not the
head; possibly the Yankees were too headstrong for
them. An alarm brought us into line of battle in the
evening; and the music of arms was continually in our
ears from the right near Sulphur Springs, where, on the
twenty-fifth, the splendid hotel was fired by the enemy's
shell. What sleep we had we obtained in our saddles.
August 26th. We early moved up to Sulphur Springs
to support our forces, struggling to retard the crossing
"gray backs." Losing our way, we twice narrowly* es-

136 ca

SABRES AND SPURS. [August,

«,ped capture, coolly receiving the enemy's metallic de
spatches sent with great haste. In the evening we fell
back to Warrenton, for all our forces had now left the
line of the river, and the rebels were turning our right
wing. This day's march would have measured twenty-
six miles.
August 27th. With the morning song of the birds,
we heard the booming of artillery in the direction of
Manassas, and all the forces and trains near Warrenton
began to move with nervous haste. Our communications
by railroad and telegraph with Washington had been cut
off. What next might be was the serious question. Our
generals were anxious and busy. We could see only
hurrying trains, streams of bayonets, batteries of artil
lery, and lines of sabres. Picturesque scenery was around
us, but we were short of time for its study. Clouds of
dust rolled up from all the roads. The cars carried what
they could to Catlett Station; beyond that the track was
in the hands of the rebels, and we knew not but Lee was
whistling the tune of "On to Washington " as a chorus
to McClellan's "On to Richmond."
At Warrenton Major Swett and his battalion rejoined
us. As the city was evacuated, Ave still served as rear
guard, and shortly were ordered to the extreme right, to
New Baltimore, and thence to Georgetown, within three
miles of Thoroughfare Gap, in the Bull Run Mountains.
Halting on Silas Hunter's plantation (kept by Mr. Swarts),
we sent out nearly the whole command on grand picket
duty. - As the rebel army, like a flood, was pouring through
the gap, and we were without support, our position was
sufficiently critical for men and horses that had seen no
rest at all for four days. After trying Mr. Swarts' fruit
and cider some of us slept a few moments on our arms.
Our pickets kept their eyes on the "gray backs „ M •

or

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 137
Farrington, while reconnoitering near the gap, captured
four rebel stragglers, who reported that Jackson was then
near Manassas, with thirty thousand troops, and that
Longstreet with his corps was within two miles of us. A
heavy force of rebel cavalry passed within sight of our
pickets, but we remained undiscovered. Here all will
admit that discretion was the better part of valor. But
we were only biding our time; the Confederates were
destined to hear, in due season, of the "little French
man and his. Yankees." Be it remembered that it is
seldom that a cavalry force can engage in a square fight
with their own or any arm; mounted troops are to aid all
others, and especially to serve as van-guard, rear-guard,
flankers, skirmishers, and scouts, — all posts of honor and
of peril.

12*

138 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,

CHAPTER XV.
BATTLE OF GROVETON.
August, 1868.
J. TJGUST 28th. "We found ourselves alone on a
V sort of war peninsula, almost entirely surrounded
by heavy rebel forces, flushed with successes and high
hopes, all moving under the direct order of General Lee,
though he as yet had not passed through the gap. The
corps of Jackson and Ewell had passed around the right
wing of our army completely in our rear, and were at
Bristoe and Manassas, where they had a fight with Gen
eral Hooker and were checked.
The forces of the Army of Virginia, under Pope, at
this time were as follows: Sigel's corps, -nine thousand;
-Banks' corps, five thousand; McDowell's corps, fifteen
thousand, five hundred; Reno's corps, seven thousand;
the corps of Heintzelman and Fitz-John Porter, eighteen
thousand: in all fifty-four thousand, five hundred.
In the morning we left our position of grand picket
near the gap, by special orders, to join the main body of
the army near Gainesville. Our band played cheerily as
we marched along in sight of the foe, for the Star Span
gled Banner is irrepressible. At Gainesville we found
heavy forces waiting to learn of the whereabouts of the

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 139
wily, swift-footed Jackson, who was reported as having
left Manassas and having visited even Centreville. Af
fairs appeared to be fearfully mixed, and excitement ran
high. For the last ten days, skirmishing had been con
stantly going on along the lines, and was now even in
our rear: some of these strokes amounted to what, in
ordinary circumstances, would have been styled battles.
Pushing beyond Gainesville, on the north side of the
Warrenton Turnpike, we came in sight of Jackson's
front early in the afternoon. Orders came to be ready
for action.
As usual in such cases, we directed our band, our hos
pital force, and the officers' servants with all spare horses,
to enter a little forest on our left and rear and remain
till called for, as we were to engage in a reconnoissance.
Reaching the woody shelter, they immediately, in gen
uine field fashion, secured their horses to tree trunks and
limbs, and, gathering dry sticks, kindled a fire for mak
ing coffee. Around their fire they expectantly stood or
sat in Turkish attitude, speculating on the times or
humorously chatting of their experiences, waiting the
boiling of their cups. Up through the trees rose the
tell-tale column of smoke; seeing which, the "gray
backs " tossed a shell as a feeler, that singularly enough
dropped exactly through the smoky column into the cen
tre of their camp fire, and, exploding, lifted brands, cups,
ashes and earth, a la volcano, high in air, overturning'
men and frightening horses, scattering all far and wide.
Often would the boys recall this episode of service, and
enjoy a hearty laugh; though at the time some of them
received serious injuries.
After a little skirmishing near us, we -suspected that
Jackson had selected a position near the turnpike on the
north side, a few miles, west of the old battle ground of

140 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,
Bull Run. General Hatch, to whom McDowell had
ordered us to report, selected our regiment and a light
battery with which to feel for the foe, and marched at
our head. Lieutenant Waterman commanded the skir
mish line. As we cautiously advanced on a slope of
ground wholly exposed, near Groveton, Jackson's forces,
from their commanding position on the wooded rolling
lands to the north, suddenly opened upon us a cross-fire
from eighteen well handled pieces of artillery. Their
firing was rapid and splendid; we were a fair target and
close at hand. Instantly our skirmishers joined the col
umn, and our artillery sprang into position and' replied.
No imagination was required to understand the poet's
phrase, "bombs bursting in air." We could only stand
and endure the shower. Over and among and through
us, the shell came like a rain of exploding volcanic
stones. Five of our horses were killed in a few minutes.
When Lieutenant Gove's horse was shot under him and
fell, the Lieutenant coolly unbuckled the saddle and took
it upon his shoulder. Captain Manchester received a
wound in the face from the fragment of a shell, and
soberly remarked that he had fears for his mustache (a
juvenile, dew-like adornment he had studiously culti
vated). Several men were struck, but not fatally. We
could do nothing to resist so heavy an attack from well
posted batteries. We had drawn their fire and fully re
vealed the whereabouts of our enemies. General Hatch
at our head allowed that we behaved gallantly. It was
reported and believed that we were cut to pieces, as
seemed inevitable from the storm that broke upon us.
Nothing is more trying to the nerves than to be under
heavy fire without orders or power to act upon the offen
sive or defensive: action is always relief under such cir
cumstances.

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 141
The forces in our rear hastened to our support, and
the battle opened hotly on both sides near sunset. We
by order fell back from the extreme front and took our
place with the main line. The brunt of the battle on
our side was borne by Gibbon's brigade, handsomely
seconded by Doubleday's brigade: both belonging to
King's division of McDowell's corps. Our foe was Jack
son himself, leading his famous " foot cavalry " — men
that marched thirty miles a day. Though the battle
was short, lasting little more than an hour, when dark
ness shut down on the smoky, dusty, gory field, it was
fearfully sharp and destructive. It was a tornado of
artillery and musketry. Jackson was always a swift,
impetuous, persistent fighter. Here he met with equai
courage and energy. Multitudes of brave men, thou
sands we judged, on both sides of the. field, fell dead and
wounded in the hot encounter. When the shock ceased,
after dark, our regiment lay on their arms, holding our
horses by the bridles, by the side of the turnpike, on the
verge of the bloody field. Infantry forces sank down to
rest by our side. In the action we had lost but one man
captured, Corporal T. Leary (Troop E).
During the night the enemy, reinforced by Lee, flanked
us on the west, and we had orders to fall back towards
Manassas Junction. Our regiment was, as usual, desig
nated for rear-guard; hence we were the last to leave
the field. All orders were given in whisper, so critical
was the situation. It was silent, solemn work turning
from that field, soon after midnight. Many of the dead
and dying were left, for orders to move admitted of no
postponement or delay; yet we took as many as possible
with us. How deeply, how unutterably were our hearts
pained to turn away from the wounded and dying crying
for water and relief. The hot, flowing tears on our cheeks

142 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,
were the proof of our sympathy; but military orders must
be obeyed; life is sunk in the waves of war. We relieved
what we could; but in all the canteens of the regiment
probably not a pint of water remained at midnight.
Such are some of the sufferings, the anguish, the hor
rors of war; agonies of body and mind indescribable by
speech. August 29th. Reaching Manassas in the morning, on
account of our exhaustion, we were permitted to rest till
afternoon. The enemy had been driven back from their
raid in this vicinity, and portions of McClellan's army
were coming up to our support; thousands passed us
moving towards the old Bull Run field. The trains of
army supplies that escaped the grasp of the rebels at Cat-
lett and Bristoe Stations passed now on their way to
Centreville. Our regimental wagons, which we had not
seen since we left the Rapidan, passed with the general
trains; hence we obtained no supplies, though all suffer
ing severely from hunger. Our efficient Quartermaster,
Lieutenant Leonard, knew not of our whereabouts, or he
would have relieved us. He brought our train through
the raids at Catlett and Bristoe safely, and lost but one
wagon, and that in crossing a run.
The battle here and there along the front was still
raging, and its heavy roar in our ears prevented us from
securing sleep even for a few moments. Before evening
we had orders from McDowell to report again in front
near the gory field we had left after midnight. Spur
ring back, we found a heated action going on a little west
of the old Bull Run ground, the Confederates being on
the north, and the Federals on the south, of the Warren
ton Turnpike. Shells and bullets tore the air; rushing
troops tore the earth; and every building in the region
was a hospital. We reported in the extreme front on a

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 143
hill or huge knoll top, ready to strike. The sight of the
dead and wounded was appalling to overtaxed nerves.
Not being called into action, we at length were suffered
to fall back a little and lie down in the field in hope of
gaining a little repose. On this day our army lost about
eight thousand in killed and wounded. The enemy lost
full twice that number. Imagine a field with more than
twenty thousand killed and wounded upon it, and you
have the scene amidst which we tried to surrender our
selves to sleep, hungry, thirsty, sore and half bewildered.

144 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,

CHAPTER XVI.
BATTLE OF BULL RUN.
August, 1862.
ITGUST 30th. Of the condition of our army on
' this day, General Pope thus speaks in his report to
the Committee on the Conduct of the War:
"On the morning of the 30th, as maybe supposed,
our troops, who had been so continually marching and
fighting for so many days, were in a state of great ex
haustion. They had had little to eat for two days pre
vious, and artillery and cavalry horses had been in harness
and saddle continuously for ten days, and had had no
forage for two days previous."
The Army of Virginia, with all the reinforcements it
had received from the Army of the Potomac, now num
bered about forty thousand men on the front. The
Confederates outnumbered us, and were hourly receiving
new troops on their right from Thoroughfare Gap.
When we rose from the earth at daylight, having been
without food for two days, -the Chaplain, by request of
the Colonel, whose aid he always was, started for Centre
ville in hope to find our Quartermaster and secure rations.
On the air line he took, with his servant, John Harris,

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY". 145
when he reached Cub Run he unwittingly crossed the
enemy's track and fell in with six armed rebel soldiers
procuring water, whom he managed to disarm by order
ing them to discharge their rifles, and then led them
captive to Centreville, delivering them to the Provost,
Captain W. H. Sterling, of the Seventh Ohio Infantry.
After finding the Quartermaster, a light wagon, filled
with rations, was hurried to the front, reaching the regi
ment in line of battle near the stone house on the field,
just as the heaviest battle wave of the day began to roll
in that vicinity. How thankful were our brave men for
food. They had been in line of battle from early morn
ing, in different positions.
Before the day's work opened, on account of changes
during the night, the Federals held most of the battle
ground of the preceding year, while the Confederates
held the ground to the north and west. Fighting was
going on through the whole day, though it was severest
in the afternoon. Terrible was the battle, defying de
scription. We broke their left; they broke our right.
The war waves swelled, surged, and dashed furiously.
The field was literally strewn with the dead and wounded.
It was hard to say which army manifested the greater
courage. But our men were less in number, and far
more exhausted. Our regiment, while lead and iron
went over and around us, seemed to have a charmed life.
Only two of our men were captured, Corporal George
Curtis and S. Harrington, of Troop A.
After desperate fighting, worthy of all praise, with a
superior and flushed foe, our army fell back behind Cub
Run, leaving only a small force between that and Bull
Run. Again it fell to our lot to 'act as rear-guard. To
keep appearances of a strong force in the eyes of the
enemy, the Colonel brought off our sabred column with
13

146 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,
hattalion evolutions: a maneuvre that elicited great praise.
We remained in line of battle on the front during the
night, between Bull and Cub Runs. Numerous regi
ments brought from the field but a moiety of their num-
her. How inexpressibly hard it was to leave the many
thousands of dead and wounded on the field in the hands
of an exultant enemy. Many of them, however, were
rescued the next day under a flag of truce, — a day for
tunately cloudy and moist, and quiet, being the Sabbath.
One of our sergeants attended the flag of truce. Over
•our misfortunes there was naturally, in our army, much
mortification, heart-sickness, and muttering of dissatis
faction with certain generals. Rumors were hard on
Fitz-John Porter.
August 31st. ' Early in the morning our regiment
reconnoitered between the runs, and, after being sharply
shelled, retired as a rear-guard across Cub Run, and took
position in line of battle about one mile west of Centre
ville, where we remained till near night. Great numbers
¦of ambulances, protected by flag of truce, were passing to
and from the gory field in front of us. In one. line we
counted near fifty double horse ambulan'ces heavily loaded
with the utterly helpless, while on each side of them were
close lines of wounded men who could command their
feet. Every building in all that region was full of the
wounded and exhausted. Surgeons and hospital stores
were in the greatest demand, and amputated limbs might
be counted by the hundreds.
Regiments and batteries, almost numberless seemingly,
lay to the right and left in our rear, with Centreville as
their main point. But the Confederates had slyly slipped
eastward, and were flanking our army on our right.
Before night, therefore, we retired with our forces, and
bivouacked in the woods to the southeast of Centreville.

1862. J FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 147
Rest, even for a few hours, was to us an unspeakable
blessing, and the kindly lap of mother earth was soft to
our weary bones.
Out of due regard to our faithful sergeants and brave
men, we should not forget to mention that constantly
requisitions were made upon our regiment for orderlies,
single men, and squads, to serve the various generals, on
the front, along the lines, along the flanks, and in scouts
feeling for the foe: all extra hazardous service by day
and by night; all particularly responsible, severe, and
exhausting. Always -our men won from the generals
the highest encomiums for intelligence, bravery, and
fidelity. In these exposed services some were captured.
Some too were long detained from us in the discharge-
of such general duties; for good and true men, well
mounted, were in these days greatly needed. A severer
campaign than we were now enduring is hardly found.
in even the hard annals of war.

148 sabres and spurs. [September,

CHAPTER XVII.
BATTLE OF CHANTILLY.
September, 1862.
^EPTEMBER 1st. All the trains of army wagons
were now groaning on their way back towards Alex
andria, and during the night they were attacked by rebel
raiders near Fairfax Court House. In fact, we were
flanked on the east, hard pressed on our front, and
pushed back on our left to Manassas and Fairfax Station.
Retreat was our only resort. Our late reinforcements of
near forty thousand men were somehow insufficient to
effectually check the swollen tide of disaster. A sea of
arms surged all around us.
In saddle at three o'clock A. M., our regiment retired
to Fairfax Court House and reported to General Hooker,
who at once led us out on the Winchester Turnpike,
beyond the ruined spot called Germantown, to feel out
the Confederate front. We soon fell upon the enemy,
who sharply assailed ns with artillery, followed by in
fantry. Here again the metallic shower poured down
furiously upon us. It seems that we were usually the
favorite command for drawing the enemy's fire, and we
always drew it strong. Under this iron shower we had

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 149
two men wounded, Sergeant Charles Briggs (Troop L)
and Isaac Westcott (Troop F), and lost two horses.
When the battle line was formed in our rear, we fell
back, and the full action of Chantilly opened.
The battle, like that of Groveton, was short but sharp.
In the battle line we greeted the Second Rhode Island
Infantry, whom we had not seen since we left them in
Washington, in April. This field will ever be memor
able, as it was wet with the blood of Generals Stevens and
Kearney, men of valor and of fame. The heavy thunder-
shower and tempest in nature, near sunset, was insuf
ficient to quench the flame of battle; thunder and artil
lery, lightning and volleys of rifles, with wind and rain,
swept over hill and valley, field and forest, till deep dark
ness bade the contest cease.
During the night following the battle, Major Swett's
battalion remained on the front near Germantown, along
the line of the battle field, on picket duty, and lost but
one horse. Captain Gove brought in an important pris
oner. Major Whipple's battalion was also out on picket:
Captain Manchester's squadron near Fairfax Station, and
Captain Bixby's squadron on the right of Fairfax Court
House. September 2d. The morning was comparatively quiet.
Our forces were falling back through Fairfax Court
House. The Confederates were now on both our right
and left, pressing us as closely as possible. Our regiment
was put in front of the town to act as a guard till the
trains and troops could be put fairly on the road towards
the Potomac. In the afternoon the rebels threw a few
unavailing shells upon our right. All being ready, we
evacuated the town, and as rear-guard moved along the
Alexandria road, but were shortly deployed as skirmish
ers on the north of the road, in the face of the enemy.
13*

150 sabres and spurs. [September,
After we left the town, the rebels pushed it and advanced
upon our rear, passing forward to us a few unusually
musical shells as their compliments.
The rear of our army column made a brief halt near
Bailey's Cross Roads, during which our sore flesh and
bones caught a few moments of rest in the bushes. Soon
after midnight, however, the bugles hurried us "to sad
dle," as the "gray backs" were hard on our heels. We
were more dead than alive, but unwilling to go to Rich
mond by Lee's orders. It was nearly true of us, what
Generals Buford and Bayard said of all the cavalry in
the Army of Virginia at this time, that "there were not
five horses to the company that could be forced into a
trot " — a sad picture, indeed. Nor were our men in any
condition for a trotting match. Nor was it a pleasant
task for weary, hungry men, and shoeless, jaded, wound
ed, starving horses, to be dodging right and left to urge
along half-alive stragglers, many of them so weak that
they were well-nigh indifferent to their fate.

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 151

CHAPTER XVIII.
BIVOUAC AT MINOR'S HILL.
Septembeh, 1862.
'EPTEMBER 3d. We were now near Alexandria,
and under the reach of the bristling forts that
guarded the Potomac and the Capital. For a few hours
we found rest and food for men and horses, and stretched
ourselves upon the earth, free from fears of an attack —
happy respite. But the hours were short. Cannon were
heard in the distance. We had orders to report at
Bailey's Cross Roads, and springing — rather crawling —
to our worn saddles, were off for duty. Losing our way,
night overtook us, and we bivouacked in a forest.
September 4th. Early in the morning we reached the
Cross Roads and found a large cavalry force. Here our
train came up, furnishing some comforts; but before we
had time to realize them, orders reached us to push for
ward beyond Minor's Hill on picket and reconnoissance,
while our wagons were to retire near Long Bridge. We
reached our destination on the following morning (Sep
tember 5th), having been misguided and bewildered, and
compelled to bivouac in our usual blanketless, supperless
style. Romantic as it may now seem, it was serious at
the time to see officers and men sit around a short-lived

152 sabres and spurs. [September,
camp fire till they nodded and rolled backward or side
ways upon the wet, chilly earth, to slumber and dream of
far off homes, waiting for the bugles to soon call them
"to horse." Our poor horses too demanded something
of our sympathy.
On the previous day the line of our pickets had been
the scene of a smart skirmish, and our men found six
dead soldiers, to whom they gave sepulture. Soon after
stationing our pickets, William F. Peck (Troop F) re
ceived a shot from a rebel picket in his left hand, and
we lost one horse. From that time, the line in the
direction of Fairfax and Leesburg became quiet; but
more or less fighting was going on up the river. The
enemy had an eye on Maryland.
Remaining here in front (west side) of Minor's Hill
for several days in the woods, without tents, canopied
only by the friendly trees and the changing heavens —
often prodigal of showers and high winds — we had some
opportunity to glance back over the strange paths we had
trodden. Even now we can see the Chaplain sitting on
the earth by a cracker box, writing up his "Notes by the
Wayside." For weeks we had not heard from home.
Some idea may be gained of our hardships during the
previous weeks, when we state that at one time our horses
were not unsaddled for one hundred and four hours;
were without food sixty-four hours; without water thirty-
seven hours; and the command was under fire for twenty-
one consecutive days. Many of the men too were with
out money, hence unable to procure food from sutlers or
occasional venders of refreshments. Some officers were
in a like dilemma. Truly these were hard times, and it
is a wonder how we endured them; but hope always keeps
the heart whole, and we were at work for Uncle Sam
and the Union.

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 153
Our experiences, so strange, so tragic, so thrilling,
seemed more like a wild dream than a sober reality.
Since we entered Virginia we had lost in killed, wounded
and captured, about sixty men, and about one hundred
and fifty horses. From the battle of Cedar Mountain to
that of Chantilly, our army, in killed, wounded and cap
tured, had lost about thirty thousand men, and the Con-,
federates had lost about fifteen thousand men. When
duly weighed, these are grave figures. What fatigues,
and privations, and pains of body and mind had we not,
suffered? For more than twenty days we had not started our
coats from our shoulders. It was not our fault that we
all were • grimed with dirt and covered with body lice.
One lieutenant, besides hot water, soap, and towels,
sacrificed two new suits of clothes before obtaining his
freedom from the attacking vermin. We had served in
three different corps, and reported to fifteen different
generals. Ragged, tanned, lean, weather-beaten, war-
scarred, we had learned to sing:
" Man wants but little here below,"
But wants that little strong.
Yet even the little was usually denied us. Thus mused
we under the shadow of Minor's Hill, for several days,
while we tried to wash Virginia dirt from our persons
and clothes, and obtain a supply of food. At last we
heard from home, and received, by express, some boxes
of home comforts, for which tears of gratitude ran down
our cheeks; we could think, if we could not sing, " Sweet,
sweet home."
Of the sick we had sent from the front, we learned
that Charles Kane (Troop L) died August 3d, and was
buried in the National Cemetery, Alexandria.

154 sabres and spurs. [September,
We reported our picket service to General Porter, with
whom Colonel Duffie at one time had a live question of
military propriety. The trees, though large and beauti
ful, were a poor protection against the autumnal rains,
and some of us were quite sick, not excepting our Sur
geon, Dr. Mann.
September llth. Lieutenant Waterman was thrown
from his horse and had his shoulder dislocated. Affairs
were now in a very unpleasant state up the river, as Lee
was pressing his forces towards Maryland, and finally
crossed at Point of Rocks and entered Frederick, hoping
that his dear Maryland would rise up to embrace him.
We were only waiting orders. Having traversed, more
or less, six counties of Virginia, we were soon to try the
eastern banks of the Potomac. Since our organization,
in direct marches and movements, we had borne our
headquarters and standard more than twelve hundred
miles, without reckoning unmeasured distances marked
by our guidons on scout, picket, and incidental service.
One of our wagoners (H. B.), sometimes called "the
baby" on account of his size and weight — which was
among the hundreds — was a born wag, as well as a good
soldier. Coming up on one occasion from the base of
supplies with a load of bread, the quartermaster-sergeants
crowded around him to obtain their quotas for their
troops, each one solicitous to secure the newest boxes
and freshest bread. By the way, these sergeants, wise
in reading the latest and best brands, often joked the
wagoner about bread baked during the war of 1812, and
during the Revolution, and hard-tack that came over
in the Mayflower. Fortunately, the wagoner had some
boxes of a novel brand, bearing among other marks the
capitals B. C. On these boxes the sergeants fixing their
eyes, inquired eagerly after the freshness of their con-

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY'. 155
tents and the meaning of the letters. The wagoner
answered': "Don't you understand that brand? . Can't
you read? You fools, don't you know that B. C. stands
for Before Christ." This ended the question of the age
of hard-tack.
On another occasion, when some of his freight proved
wormy, he explained that he innocently made a mistake
in selecting it, supposing that the extra holes in it were
made by the baker's fork to indicate its superior quality.
And for bringing in a light load, he explained that the
worms threw off a part of his load, and but for their de
tection by him while walking up a hill, he would have
lost his entire load. Thus wit and war often went hand
in hand.
We had now closed the campaign of the Army of Vir
ginia — a memorable chapter in the civil strife. The part
taken in it by our regiment was arduous, responsible, and
honorable. We performed our service to the complete
satisfaction of the generals under whom we acted. At
each of the battles of Cedar Mountain, Groveton, Bull
Run, and Chantilly — the four great battles of General
Pope's campaign — the first shots on the Federal side were
fired by -our command, and upon us the Confederates
opened their first guns. But the cavalry of our army
had as yet attracted but little attention from the country,
or from our leading generals, having been almost ex
clusively used in small detachments for scouting, picket
ing, feeling for the enemy, and van and rear-guard duty,
and never in such bodies as to make its influence felt in
a general engagement. This order was to be changed
before the close of the great struggle.

156 sabres and spurs. [September,

CHAPTER XIX.
RECRUITING AT POOLEVILLE.
September— October, 1862.
SEPTEMBER 12th. Soon after midnight, in obedi
ence to orders, "Boots and Saddles" summoned
us from our wet blankets and leaf beds into line, and
forward we moved towards the Potomac. Halting at
Fort Corcoran to give direction to our wagon train there
parked, we were happily surprised to find above thirty
recruits lately sent to us — good and true men, but with
out horses. Their fair, fresh faces from our homes were
a blessing to us, and we played them Yankee Doodle and
Hail Columbia as a welcome.
Passing through Georgetown and the northern margin
of Washington, we marched to Brookville, Md., in all a
distance of thirty miles, and reported to General Mc-
Clellan. All along our march the people came out to
look upon us and listen to the stirring music of our
splendid band; and most enthusiastically did they cheer
our standard", which was now, from its fiery experiences,
but a handful of glorious shreds streaming from the
staff. And all our guidons had been worn out by the
battle storms, till only the bare staves were left; these,
however, we proudly bore. Looking on the cosy, quiet

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 157
homes that we passed, from which many of the ladies
waved to us Union flags, how our thoughts would fly
away northward to the dear cottages and mansions we
had left on New England hills, and how anxious we
were for the war tempest to pass.
September 13th. The roar of battle from the north
was almost constantly in our ears, and it seemed strange
to us not to be on the front. Moving to Rockville, a
very romantic little place, we bivouacked in a forest.
September 14th. Near noon we reached Pooleville, a
semi-secession village of two hundred and fifty inhabi
tants. Immediately, eleven of our troops were sent out
on picket service along the left bank of the Potomac,
from Seneca Creek on the south to the mouth of the
Monocacy on the north — a line of about twenty miles.
September 15th. Captain Vose (Troop A), while across
the ford on scout duty, seized and sent in two rebel
soldiers. On the same day, one of our detachments,
acting as skirmishers for an advancing infantry force,
meeting the enemy's cavalry, had five men captured —
Corporal Benoni Parkinson, John Hammel, James Grims-
ley, Jr., (Troop F), Sergeant I. Wakefield, Patrick Par
ker, (Troop G).
September 16th. Major Farrington captured the As
sistant Surgeon of the Tenth Alabama Infantry, a soldier
of the Seventh Louisiana Infantry, and a 'cavalry man.
So we were busy along the line, losing and gaining.
Since entering the service our regiment had captured
about one hundred and thirty of the f<je.
Sixteen rebels fell in the suburbs of Pooleville when
the raiders were pushed back on the tenth. Harper's
Ferry, that succumbed to Jackson on the fifteenth, was
soon wrenched from his grasp. The battle of South
Mountain occurred on the fourteenth; and the over-
14

158 sabres and spurs. [September,
whelming defeat of Lee at Antietam occurred on the
seventeenth. The deep thunder of these actions rolled
on our anxious, excited ears. Lee's army of invasion
numbered about sixty thousand, and he had the sym
pathy of nearly all the country through which he passed.
McClellan's force to meet the enemy counted about ninety
thousand. Lee surpassed McClellan in agility and dash,
but the grit and grip of our troops were too much for
him. The Confederate loss,' in killed, wounded and cap
tured, amounted to about, seventeen thousand. The
Federal loss, excluding the Harper's Ferry garrison,
amounted to about fifteen thousand. Sad records these.
Reno fell at South Mountain; Mansfield, Richardson and
Rodman fell at Antietam. The significant success of
Antietam induced President Lincoln to issue (September
22d) his premonitory proclamation of emancipation —
the great strategic measure that put the plow of war deep
into the subsoil of secession.
September 18th. We began to report to General Stone-
man, who, now that the great battle wave had passed,
took steps to have our command refitted with clothes,
arms, and horses. Of our life at this time, we will read
from Sargent's record:
" "We now had good and abundant rations: beef, pork,
potatoes, dried apples, beans, soft bread, coffee, and sugar.
Occasionally we had the favorite Yankee dish — baked
beans, furnished after the following recipe : Dig a hole
in the ground; build a fire in it; accumulate coals; par
boil the beans; take part of the coals from the hole; put
the kettle in the hole; scatter coals around it; cover it
with tin or sheet-iron; fill the hole with sod and soil; let
all remain over night; take out the smoking beans for
breakfast. "We suffered from scarcity of .fuel, there being no

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 159
woods at hand; but there were rail fences, and the way
these disappeared after dark was amazing, especially to
the old gentleman who moused around our sentinel line
in the day-time to solve the mystery. While here, the
postal currency first made its appearance, and soft tricks
were played on the uninitiated darkies and peddlers, who
accepted for corn, labels of pain killer bottles, of matches,
and other, trade-marks. Old postage stamps were as
good as new. The boys obtained goodies, and the vend
ers cut their eye-teeth. Shortly, however, on account
of a wholesome lecture from the Colonel, the game
played out.
"Fruit abounded, especially peaches and apples, the
former at seventy-five cents per bushel. One orchard
owner gave us permission to gather the windfalls; so
daily we filled ourselves and our haversacks, and enjoyed
sauce in camp. One of the citizens made a quantity of
cider, and was wise enough to let the boys have it on
credit, having the impression that we were to be paid off
in a few days; but pay-day was some months distant.
We wonder if the boys ever settled that bill? But the
people were half secesh. Our band kindly serenaded the
Union portion of the population."
September 19th. We removed from the south etlge of
Pooleville to the northeast of the village, on the road to
Conrad's Ferry. Only five troops now remained on
picket duty. Again Colonel Burgess reached us to cheer
us with his presence and liberality, though he was still
suffering from the wound he received in the Army of the
Potomac on the Peninsula.
September 20th. We learned that the following mem
bers of our regiment, captured and carried to Richmond,
had been paroled and were in Camp Parole at Annapolis:
M. A. Tenney, J. S. Brown, E. Myers, J. Williams, A.

160 sabres and spurs. [September,
England, A. T. Hicks, E. L. Briggs, J. Mulvey, H.
Newell, D. R. Durrden, J. Crasson, W. A. Caldwell, 0.
H. Bagley, J. Greene, C. P. Smith. Captain Capron
was still in Richmond.
September 22d. With the band, a sergeant, and six
men, the Chaplain solemnized, in the Methodist Church
in the village, the funeral of Joseph J. Hall, Orderly
Sergeant of the First Maryland Cavalry, who, om the
second instant, at Leesburg, received a ball in his hip, a
thrust in his back, and two sabre cuts on the head, which
induced fever, resulting in his death at Edwards' Ferry
on the twentieth. Only five members of his regiment
were present, two of them his brothers. We all were
his brothers in a sacred cause. How tenderly we laid in
the grave the young martyr — age twenty-five — and over
him fired the funeral volley.
Our camp was laid out in order, and conducted with
military regularity. Seven troops were in camp, and five
on picket. Only seven men were in the regimental hos
pital. Usually our religious services were held in a fine
oak grove; but on the twenty-eighth, agreeably to ar
rangements made by the Chaplain with the Baptist,
Episcopal, and Methodist churches in Pooleville, the
regiment, in three detachments, according to the prefer
ences of officers and men, entered the village churches
and shared and augmented the devotions of the people;
it being the first instance of worship in a church since
we left the good land of New England. Sweet associa
tions and memories thronged upon us under those sacred
roofs. For seven months we had worshipped alone in
the great unpillared temple, where our songs blended
with the chanting winds, and our confessions, thanks
givings, and petitions rose unobstructed to the throne
above.

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 161
Lieutenant R. Burgess and five men captured three
"gray backs" across the Potomac, and Captain Vose
added another.
September 29th. Lieutenant Peterson gladdened us
by his arrival with forty-two recruits, twenty-seven of
them being from New Hampshire. Captain Capron,
having been paroled, was now in Annapolis.
October 1st. Having moved our camp to the south
western border of Pooleville, we had not set it in order
when, on this day, a messenger reached General Stone-
man's headquarters calling for an additional force near
Conrad's Ferry. Colonel Duffie despatched four troops,
under Major Swett, to render the needed assistance.
The next morning (October 2d) all our available force
was called to saddle and hurried to the front under our
scarred standard, with artillery accompanying us. Be-^
fore night an artillery discussion took place near the
m«uth of the Monocacy. Bivouacking, we watched for
the morning, and at eleven A. M. (October 3d), sup
ported by a regiment of infantry, crossed the Potomac,
finding it waist deep, and dashed upon Leesburg. Troop
L was ordered to charge through the city, and on enter
ing found the rebels had evacuated it about an hour
before. Taking a few prisoners, we returned by Con
rad's Ferry, our troops resuming their stations on picket,
save four that returned to Pooleville. Lieutenant Shurt-
liff reached camp in our absence (October 2d) with more
than a hundred recruits. We were also now being re
fitted with clothes and arms.
October 5th. " Boots and Saddles " early brought us
into line to dash across the Potomac to checkmate an
attack of rebel cavalry in the vicinity of Leesburg. But
soon the "recall " suffered us to rest. After our Sabbath
worship we received- from the Government one hundred
14*

162 sabres and spurs. [October,
and seventy-five fresh horses to supply our recruits and
fill the gaps made by rebel shot and shell. Thus we once
more began to look and feel like ourselves.
Colonel Duffie had a very happy way of occasionally
addressing the regiment and encouraging the men, by
brief papers designated Special Orders, two of which we
may here copy:

Headquarters First Rhode Island Cavalry,
Pooleville, Maryland, September 27, 1862.

!

[Special Order No. — .]
Officers and men of the First Rhode Island Cavalry:
Your commander finds unbounded pleasure in congratulating
the regiment upon the high state of order and discipline observable
in every part of the camp.
As the character of a nation always depends upon the individual
virtues of her citizens, and not upon the splendor of her court, or
her wealth, so the efficiency of her army depends entirely upon
the individual virtue of its soldiers, and their constant attention
to the minutiae and drill of daily and hourly life, and not upon
the splendor of its appointments, or its numbers.
The zeal manifested in the performance of your daily duties;
the assiduity with which you have prosecuted your studies; the
efficiency of your drill, especially in the sabre exercise, in which
you have been more particularly engaged during the past few
days; the general cleanliness of the men; their arms, equipments
and tents; the company streets, the horses and their equipments,
all show soldierly pride and a laudable ambition to be worthy of
the great and holy mission to which you are called — that of de
fending your country and the integrity of her constitution in this
hour of her extreme peril. For this I thank you from the bottom
of my heart. Persevere, and continue to be worthy of your
country's gratitude. A. N. DUFFIE, Colonel.
Headquarters First Rhode Island Cavalry, j
Pooleville, Maryland, October 5, 1862. j
[Special Order No. — .]
Calling the attention of the regiment to the late campaign from

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 163
the Potomac to the Rapidan and back, your commander wishes
to assure you of the high encomiums which have been passed by
oflicers high in rank and military attainments, upon the admirable
manner in which you performed your part of that ever memorable
retreat from the Rapidan to the Potomac. The last Federal
soldiers to leave the Rapidan; the last to leave the Rappahan
nock; the last to leave Warrenton and its vicinity; in several of
the severest battles; under fire many times; at all other times on
outpost or other hazardous duty; and in almost every march, the
rear-guard of the Grand Army of Virginia, or to a main column —
you never faltered; you never even hurried, but, steady and in
good order, as upon a parade ground, you retired, when obliged
reluctantly to turn from the superior numbers of the foe.
Upon the 30th of August, at Bull Run, it is especially true that,
when thousands around in direst confusion were escaping as fast
and best as they might, your evolutions were more steadily and
perfectly performed than I have ever seen them at any other time.
That is so true, that you here, by your beautiful appearance, at
tracted the confidence of your brothers without command, and soon
behind your rank were eight hundred seeming to implore your
protection. Generals of divisions have been anxious for our services, and
many applications were made for them. You endured fatigue
and privations without murmuring. You are known and appre
ciated in the proper quarters. Soldiers! your record is a proud
one. See that it be not blotted. A. N. DUFFIE, Colonel.
A pleasant episode occurred in camp at the presenta
tion, to Lieutenant L- D. Gove, one of our truest, worth
iest officers, of a beautiful army sabre and belt — a gift
from his friends in New Hampshire.
Our camp at this time, southwest of the village, on a
flat knoll, with an area of sixteen hundred by eight hun
dred feet, commanded a view of the Sugar Loaf Mount
ain on the northeast, the Ketoctan and Blue Ridge on
the northwest, and the wood-crowned eminences that
looked down on the winding Potomac. Our troops had
position in two lines, with squadron and battalion inter-

164 sabres and spurs. [October,
vals; the picket ropes for horses running parallel with
the shelter tents of the men. On the officers' parade,
from a lofty hickory staff, floated the post guidon. In
front of the headquarters, to the right and left of which
were the officers' tents, the band was often invited to
play, and, occasionally, in the evening, the "contra
bands "were invited to sing and dance a la plantation
style. October 8th. Orders came to be in readiness to march
at a moment's warning. In the afternoon thirty men of
Troop A, under Sergeant Nicoli, accompanied General
Halleck's scout to Leesburg. In the evening forty men
of Troops B and C, under Captain Bixby, as independent
scouts, followed to the same place. Some returned on
the ninth, some on the tenth, when two troops were sent
up to Conrad's Ferry. The rebels were lingering in some
force in the central portions of Loudon County.
Joseph Shard (Troop D) died in hospitalon the ninth,
and was buried in military order on the tenth. The cof
fin was placed in front of the headquarters; the escort at
the head, and the pall-bearers at the foot; the regiment
in line; the band on the right; the Colonel, field and
staff officers near the pall-bearers. The services were —
hymn, Scripture reading, address, prayer. With deep
dirge and solemn step we bore our comrade to the Meth
odist Church yard, and laid him by the side of other
departed soldiers.
October llth. A report reached us that the rebels had
thrown four thousand cavalry across the Potomac, some
above and some below us. We were the only regiment
in the vicinity of Pooleville. We pushed a detachment,
under Lieutenant Higgins, to Seneca Creek, and a squad
ron, under Captain Bixby, above Conrad's Ferry, on
reconnoissance.

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 165
October 12th. At two o'clock A. M. a telegram ordered
us to dash up the river to meet the invaders near the
mouth- of the Monocacy; but the wires being cut, the
despatch did not reach us till nine A. M. It should
have been sent by mounted couriers. Stuart and his
raiders came within three and half miles of Pooleville,
and, had they known our condition, might have smitten
our camp, though not without emptied saddles. We
dashed away at double-quick on the Monocacy road.
Alas! the hour of fortune had passed. Stuart had stolen
some hundreds of horses and turned back for the Poto
mac, and was plunging across at White's Ford. Our
column of sabres, pressing on his heels, reached the
eastern shore as the foe was emerging from the stream
on the . right bank. By way of bravado, Stuart's artil
lery halted and sent a few shell over our column, but
without effect. Leaving Captain Bixby and his sabres
near the Monocacy, we spurred back to camp, chagrined
that the delayed despatch had not given us an opportu
nity to cross sabres with Stuart. On the preceding day,
0. P. Smith (Troop M) died in our hospital — the old
brick school-house in the village.
Forces of various kinds were now pressing up to
Pooleville, and before night the place presented quite
the appearance of a cantonment.
October 13th. Captain Bixby reported several hun
dred of Stuart's command still on the east of the river.
Again our regiment spurred in hot haste to have a stroke
at the raiders, but found them dispersed in the forests
and secret places of the hills. In the evening, Lieuten
ant Peterson reached us with about fifty new men. ' By
him, on his return to Rhode Island, we sent home to
Governor Sprague, for sacred keeping, our dear old
standard — torn and shattered by the battles of the val-

166 sabres and spurs. [October,
ley, of Cedar Mountain, Rappahannock, Groveton, Bull
Run, Chantilly, White's Ford, and numberless skir
mishes. We felt a tender regret at parting with the
sacred symbol of loyalty and liberty, under which we had
so often rallied for our heroic work. We had received it
to our centre of column and to our hearts. We had now
no standard to cheer us, and were about to move again to
fields of action. The Government, however, had sup
plied us with new guidons to fill the places of those worn
out in the hotly contested fields. Occasionally our scout
ing parties picked up a few of the "gray backs." Lieu
tenant Higgins brought in eight — two of them cavalry
men. October 18th-19th. The first frosts of the season.
October 21st. Levi Ordway (Troop L) died in our
regimental hospital.
General McClellan, having refitted his army, Was now
commencing his forward movement up the Shenandoah
and along the eastern slopes of the mountains.

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 167

CHAPTER XX.
OVER THE KETOCTAN.
October— November, 1862.
(CTOBER 25th. After being reviewed by General
Stoneman, we were inspected by a colonel of Gen
eral Burnside's staff, who pronounced us the best drilled
cavalry regiment he had ever seen.
October 26th. After receiving orders to be ready to
march, a tremendous storm of wind and rain smote us,
prostrating our tents and drenching us so thoroughly
that we sighed for " a lodge in some vast wilderness," as
preferable to our naked post on a knoll.
October 27th. The final order came to move.
October 28th. In the cold morning air the bugles
summoned us from moist blankets to wet and frozen
saddles, for the earth was crusted with frost. By day
light the guidons "were in line, the band at the head of
the column; three wagons, with three days' rations, and
one ambulance, as our train; all else left with the Quar
termaster, to be brought forward in a few days. Our
sick were left in good hands in the hospital.
We forded the swollen Potomac, now about four feet
deep, at Conrad's Ferry. Troop H, under Captain
Turner, on detached service with General Robinson, led

168 sabres and spurs. [October,
the advance across White's Ford, and scoured the coun
try around in true cavalier style, making straight the
paths of the infantry. Reaching the suburbs of Lees
burg, we were instantly sent out in detachments on
picket to Waterford on the right and Aldie on the left: —
a line of about twenty miles. The rebels being in force
on our front, our service was again arduous and critical;
but it continued only four days, as the enemy was falling
back and.the Grand Army of the Potomac was advancing.
October 30th. Our supply train, leaving Pooleville,
crossing the river at White's Ford, halted with General
Stoneman for the night, and on the next day with the
General joined the headquarters at Leesburg. On the
morning of the thirtieth, Lieutenant Ellis (Troop K),
with three men of Troop M, captured, about one mile
north of Aldie, in his own house, — former residence of
President Monroe — Major John W. Fairfax, of General
Longstreet's staff, as the Major had ventured home on a
flying visit. By the way, he was a leading man in Lou
don County, and in every way a gentleman.
October 31st. The brigades that had come up ad
vanced through Leesburg, and, in passing, all the bands
poured forth to the disloyal ears of the city the purest of
our national airs. When they played " We are marching
along," all the regiments caught the air, adding the
words, and rolled the music like a wave of loyal fervor
over the city and out on the hills. The buildings bore
the marks of the shell with which the rebels had been
driven from the place. On the evening of this day,
Lieutenant Pratt reached us to act as regimental com
missary, for our able Quartermaster had long needed an as
sistant, on account of the peculiar duties of our command.
But the thirty-first of October was made a mournfully
historic date to our command, though the news of our

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 169
loss did not reach us till the day following. Troops I,
L, and M were on picket along the front, from Aldie
northward, where they were confronted by portions of
Stuart's cavalry. Soon after noon, not aware of the
movements of the foe, they were suddenly attacked by a
heavy force — the most of a regiment — breaking through
the picket line and dashing upon the picket headquarters
at Mountville, about five miles above Aldie on the Snick
er's Gap Turnpike. Against such a heavy, well planned,
sudden stroke our men vainly attempted to form and
make resistance. In the brave effort to make a stand,
our noble and honored Lieutenant L. D. Gove — who,
since July, had been acting Captain — received a mortal
wound in the spine, near the small of the back, which
instantly paralyzed the lower extremities, and from which
he died on the following morning (November 1st) at the
house of James Mount, from whom, we are assured, he
received kind attention, and by whom he was buried in
a suitable coffin, in the family burying-ground. .
Lieutenant (acting Captain) Lorenzo D. Gove. He
was an efficient and brave officer, and his loss was deeply
felt in our command, as well as at his home in Hanover,
New Hampshire. His widow lost a kind and affectionate
husband; his seven children mourned a fond and brave
father; and his fellow townsmen wept a true and valuable
citizen. - He raised himself, by noble efforts, from a hum
ble position in life to places of trust and honor, acting as
Deputy Sheriff and Captain in the State Militia. By all
who had known him his death was received with sorrow
and regret, as though they had suffered personal loss.
Words may not express the feelings of his comrades in
arms. The hills of New Hampshire his requiem sound,
But the blood of our martyrs makes holy our ground.
15

170 sabres and spurs. [November,
In repelling the attack, Lieutenant Andrews and his
men killed one rebel captain and severely wounded a.
number of the rebel soldiers. Of our men the following
were captured: (from Troop I) Corporal J. S. Cilly, Cor
poral J. A. Warren, Corporal S. Davis, G. W. Brown,
W. H. Allard, D. B. Boswell, W. O'Brien, J. B. Carr, A.
L. Cilly, P. Dorman, W. H. Everett, F. P. Elkins, W.
H. Eaton, C. G. Huntoon, J. Hunt, D. E. Rand, D. S.
Mooney, 0. F. Merrell, J. W. Sanders, J. M. Pressey, C.
D. Dimmick; (from Troop L) Sergeant G. W. White,
Corporal E. F. Moore, Corporal C. W. Lovejoy, Cor
poral W. W. Tuttle, T. C. Cressey, A. Gove, T. W. Har
rington, J. V. Herrick, A. P. O'Donnell, E. L. Pardee,
A. Pray, L. Taylor, M. Trodan, W. H. Chase, J. W.
Sheppard; (from Troop M) Lieutenant J. F. Andrews,
Sergeant S. B. Weston, Sergeant N. P. Kidder, J. S.
Boswell, W. J. Bradwick, C. B. Sheldon, H. H. Newton,
B. J. Lawrence, H. Stearnes, E. J. Collins, G. H. Smith,
W. J. Perkins, J. Hobbs, F. Hobbs: in all, fifty-one.
Our captured men, deprived of their horses, stripped
of their overcoats and boots, were hurried on foot within
the enemy's lines. Hearing of the disaster, our regiment
at once dashed out to the front, in hope of returning the
blow and recovering at least the body of our lamented
Lieutenant; but our effort was in vain. In the fray^E.
E. Patrick (Troop L) escaped with his left arm broken.
The rebels also attacked Generals Bayard and Pleasanton.
November 1st. The battle raged sharply all day near
Snicker's Gap, on our right, and the Confederates were
severely handled and pushed back.
November 2d. With General Stoneman's division we
moved on, by the Winchester Turnpike, through the
foot-hills and up the Ketoctan Mountains, reaching the
Mountain House, on Mount Gilead, at eleven o'clock at

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 171
night. On our march the scenery was delightful; the
views broad and grand. Forests, valleys, hills, and
mountains were sublime in their autumnal robes; but
a cold squall, followed by a frosty night, distracted our
attention from the charms of nature; moreover, the
battle was still raging in full view from Mount Gilead —
the flashes of the guns seen in the gap at our right.
By the way, in our march, in Loudon County, a little
west of Ball's Bluff, at the foot of one of the spurs of
the Ketoctan, we passed the Big Spring — a giant of its
kind — issuing from a rocky recess like a small river, in
crystal beauty, purity, and power, alone carrying the
wheels of a large flouring mill. Near by this we passed
a field of three hundred acres of beautiful ungarnered
corn. And here, for variety, we add a word about trees.
In Virginia we counted about twenty species of the genus
oak: more thrifty but less firm than the quercus family
of New England. In the mountains, in one instance,
we found great quantities of black walnuts. The forests
of the Old Dominion would supply the navies of the
world. We frequently met with persimmon trees, but
woe to the mouth that touched the fruit that had not
been kissed by the frost.
November 3d. Our headquarters remaining on Mount
Gilead, our men were on picket and scout. This day the
enemy fell back from Mountville, and we were privileged
to visit the grave of Lieutenant Gove, on which we could
not look with dry eyes.
At our headquarters in the Mountain House, some
officers will recollect how Captain Manchester, after
succeeding, by the point of his sabre, in prying open
a mysterious closet door, lifted his arms and exclaimed,
"et jam satis," as his eyes took in the shelves laden with
jellies and preserves. The stress of his classical utter-

172 sabres and spurs. [November,
ance fell where shortly fell our lips — on the jam. Visit
ing a plantation house near by, formerly the seat of
wealth, we found the inmates, in the evening, using for
lamps saucers of fat in which were lighted bits of rags.
November 4th. Advancing, we bivouacked near Union
Village. Meanwhile, some of the troops were reconnoi
tering to Thoroughfare Gap, Middleburg, and other
localities, feeling for the foe and spurring him on his
retreat. Still more or less cannonading was going on at
our right in the passes of the Blue Ridge.
November 5th. While some of our troops videtted
our front and scouted to the left, we advanced through
Middleburg and White Plains to Salem, our train follow
ing, but reaching only to White Plains, by reason of the
hard mountain roads. In Middleburg we were met by
frowns, scowls, supercilious flings and bitter maledictions
from the proud, secession-hearted inhabitants. A pas
sionate woman cried out, " If you kill our men, then the
women will fight; and we will burn the houses over our
heads before we will again live under your old grid
iron" — alluding to our national flag. This reminds us
of the speech of a rebel mother in Centreville, who said,
" I would kill every one of my children, and then fight
till I- died, before I would consent to have niggers made
equal to white folks." Such speeches revealed the ani
mus of the rebellion. In Middleburg we saw an aged
slave woman, whose ten children had been sold away
south by her master, and who herself had been at last
turned from her master's mansion, to live in the log
cabin of a colored friend.
The night of November 5th at Salem is well remem
bered, not only because we were obliged to lie down on
the cold earth in our wet clothes, — as it had rained — but
this too after we had pulled up and eaten the roots of

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 173
cabbages — the heads having been captured by others —
and been obliged even to sacrifice the doves in their cozy
quarters. At the same time we looked out upon the
mountains, on our right and front, and saw the innumer
able camp fires of the great host gleaming on the cold
night air. The whole host, of which we were the left
wing, numbered more than one hundred and forty-three
thousand. The fires of such an army on the mountains
may not be forgotten.
November 6th. Shortly after midnight, couriers, from
the way of Thoroughfare Gap, passed us on their way to
the headquarters of General McClellan, then at Rector-
town, to notify him that he was to be relieved of his
command and to be succeeded by General Burnside.
Perhaps McClellan had been too cautious and slow in his
movements. The body of Lee's army had slipped up the
Shenandoah Valley, through the gaps of the Blue Ridge,
and was now moving towards Culpepper and the Rapidan :
a slow retreat, marked by constant skirmishes and a num
ber of battles, conducted mainly by artillery. Our army
was now about to turn southward between the Bull Run
and Blue Ridge Mountains.

15*

174 sabres and spurs. [November,

CHAPTER XXI.
ON TO FREDERICKSBURG.
November—December, 1862.
^tpfOVEMBER 6th. We were now on the beautiful
fwj> hills at the head of the romantic valley of the
north fork of the Rappahannock. After our train reached
us from White Plains, we moved out of Salem, by hor
ribly rough roads, and on over hills and through ravines
to a locality known as Clover Hill; and, while the cold
wind pierced us, bivouacked in a little valley, on the
estate of the notorious John A. Washington, the man
who sold the Mount Vernon estate to the ladies, and
with the avails bought and fitted this plantation among
the hills. His residence was splendid throughout, but
was now vacant, as he had fallen in the Confederate ser
vice and his family had departed.
It is thought to be an art to keep a hotel: it is most
certainly a science to successfully put into bivouac a
tentless, weary, chilly, hungry, supperless regiment of
horse among the mountains on a raw, storm-threatening
November night. That science was possessed by Colonel
Duffie; not but what we shivered a little after all. The
manner of our bivouacking is worthy of mention. Col
onel Duffie ordered details of men to secure a large num-

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 175-
ber of short forked stakes, and drive them, some ten feet
apart, in a line across the little valley through which the
cold wind was sweeping. Rails were then ordered to be
laid on the tops of the stakes in the forks, making a
continuous line across the valley. Then the soldiers
were directed to bring great quantities of the corn, stand
ing in shock near by, and place the bundles like a slant
roof on the windward side of the line of rails, thus mak
ing a long, low, but quite close shed, under which our
men, after caring for their horses in the lees of the forest,
and supping on hard-tack and coffee, wrapped themselves
in their blankets and prayed for rest. This was a new
method of extemporizing a camp. The ears on the corn
were a comfort to the horses, and were even relished a little
by the men. Colonel Duffle's tact in field life, providing
for men and beasts, and handling his command, was ad
mirable and inimitable.
November 7th. General Burnside took command of
the Grand Army of the Potomac. The morning revealed
thick ice and an approaching storm, and shortly it began
to snow. Illy were we prepared in clothing for such
piercing weather. By by-ways, vales, forests, and hills,
while wind and snow beat upon us, we pushed towards
Waterloo, six miles west of Warrenton, and near one of
the forks of the Rappahannock. In the afternoon, cold,
wet, hungry and weary, we, with an artillery company
and a body of infantry, halted on a large and not wholly
peeled plantation: but the final peeling soon took place.
In less than thirty minutes after the bugles blew the
" halt " for us and our associate forces, three stacks of
hay disappeared, a flock of sheep disappeared, certain
swine had fought -their last battle, certain fowls met with
foul play, and bee hives were contributing to the tooth-
someness of hard-tack.

176 sabres and spurs. [November,
Captain Baker tells a story of Colonel Duffie: That
once, while giving orders to the officers not to allow the
men to forage on swine, and not to let him hear the
squealing, a loud squeal came from the rear of the Col
onel's tent, occasioned by the Colonel's darkey, Ferris,
who was practicing the foraging art on a fine porker.
The Colonel thrust both hands to his ears and exclaimed,
" I no hear him squeal."
When Lieutenant Pratt at last came up to our halting
ground with his augmented cattle train, he soberly pro
tested that "the rebel cattle straggled like the devil."
Of course they naturally joined his herd for loyal pro
tection. Finally we pushed on near to Waterloo and
bivouacked, with the snow three inches deep, and still
falling. Our only shelter was the forest. The rebels
were in our front on the Rappahannock. Federal forces
were near us on our right, shivering like ourselves, and
making the best possible use of large camp fires, to
induce the visitation of sleep, while for music we had the
boom of cannonading and the crack of rifles in the not
remote distance.
A solemn and awful grandeur belonged to this march
of more than a hundred and forty thousand men, mov
ing with steady, mighty tread along the mountains, in the
stormy days of autumn, pursuing a great and determined
army, and drawing nigh to some fiery, gory field. The
future was hidden; we only knew the thrilling experi
ences of each day as they came. And who but those
who have experienced them can understand the trials,
anxieties, solicitudes, responsibilities, sufferings, sorrows,
and sacrifices belonging to great armies in actual and
fierce war? The throes of a nation of forty million souls
are not small pains.
Our forces were sweeping down the mountain slopes

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 177
into the valley of the Rappahannock. Commands of
every arm of the service were earnestly surging south
ward to overtake the foe. Supplies, hitherto a little
scant, were being hurried forward from Washington.
Our regiment was kept on'scont or picket, on van or
flank service. Mounted troops were in great demand,
and our command was especially prized for speed, tact
and efficiency.
November 9th. We moved about three miles to the
southeast. November 10th. Our supply reached us, having nar
rowly escaped the rebel cavalry in the mountain roads.
We now reported to General Stoneman, and two squad
rons were sent across the Rappahannock, while two
troops were retained for the special service of the Gen
eral. Our train bivouacked near Carter Run meeting
house. Here General Burnside passed us, moving to the
front; right heartily we cheered him. Many of our
forces were now across the river in Culpepper County.
November llth. Near Hazee Run occurred a smart
skirmish — a battle, indeed — in which our squadrons par
ticipated, Colonel Duffie, with carbine in hand, leading
our men, and himself emptying a rebel saddle. We had
two horses wounded, but no men; and we rolled the
enemy back to Culpepper Court House. We ought also
to mention the coolness, bravery, and executive skill often
exhibited by Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson. In fact,
our officers, as a body, had ' not only the confidence of
our command, but the praise of all general officers of the
army. Warrentonj now captured by us for the third time, was
our depot for supplies, and between it and Washington
heavy trains were constantly swiftly fiying. From this
as a base, for the time, immense trains of army wagons,

178 sabres and spurs. [November,
with arms, ammunition, and provisions, were streaming
out over the hills to the army front. Here we found
some of the rebel wounded in the basement of the Epis
copal Church, used as a hospital. The rebel inhabitants
could illy suppress their hatred of the Yankees, and their
contempt for our Government. A young lady (hie!)
passing along the street and seeing a miniature Federal
flag in the head-band of one of the lead horses of an
army wagon, darted like a fury from the sidewalk,
snatched the flag and dashed it to the ground, exclaim
ing, "Don't disgrace the poor brute with such a vile
thing as that."
Horses have ailments as well as men. Ours were at
tacked with the hoof rot, caused by the muddy, miry,
cold earth; often the entire hoof coming off. On the
fifteenth, we exchanged th«se afflicted beasts for fresh
ones, near Warrenton, and were ready on the sixteenth
to advance down the valley. In this vicinity it was some
cheer to us, as at times it had been in our mountain
marches, to meet the Rhode Island batteries and the
Fourth and Seventh Rhode Island Infantry. Our New
Hampshire men were alike happy in meeting regiments
from the Granite State. Ships hail each other at sea —
so soldiers hail each other on the rolling billows of war.
In reference to the action of November llth, near
Hazee Run, the Colonel issued the following:
[Special Order No. — .]
Officers and nun of the First Battalion and Captain Manchester's
Squadron :
Your Colonel has great pride in thanking you for gallant con
duct on the llth instant. Your charge up the hill, in the face of
Jhe enemy outnumbering you many to one, was an act of courage
and heroism seldom seen, and in its results never excelled. With
their ranks completely broken, they were driven more than three

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 179
miles in the utmost confusion; and when, in tlieir insolence, they
afterwards returned, you again attacked and dispersed them, thus
freeing that part of our lines from annoyance.
The cavalry service is, in the main, a thankless one; the duties
hazardous and severe, both for men and horses; and it is only by
a manly, self-sacrificing spirit that we are able to bring about
results, so important in themselves, and which seldom appear on
the surface. Our reward is not in the blazing encomiums of army
correspondents, but in the consciousness of having done our duty;
that our blows have been sharp and decisive; that we have done
our work at the right time and in the right way: in a word, that
we have done the work laid out for us, and done it effectually;
and, depend upon it, that in military circles, whence praise falls
so gratefully upon the ear, we are, and we shall continue to be
appreciated. This regiment is both my joy and my pride. I shall continue
to give to it my constant care; and, sure of your cooperation in all
that shall raise it to the highest standard of excellence and effect
iveness, we may each of us indulge in the fond belief that, in after
years, we shall be proud to say, " I belonged to the First Rhode
Island Cavalry."
I am happy that I can thank Major Farrington, Captain Man
chester, Lieutenants Allen and Chase.
A. N. DUFFIE, Colonel Commanding.
The Colonel was too modest, of course, to allude to the
cool, heroic part acted by himself in the encounter. But
the regiment, after listening to the order, gave him three
cheers that made the oak forests ring again.
We would here record a touching and instructive in
cident, illustrative of the Divine declaration, "If any
man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth
liberally to all men, and upbraideth not." One of our
battalions, under Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson, had
been ordered, on a very dark night, to make a reconnois
sance to the enemy's front, through forests where the
paths to us were unknown; our guide being a negro
named Ike, raised in that region, now one of our servants.

180 sabres and spurs. [November,
Pushing into the forests and deep darkness, and coming
to a fork in the road, Ike was brought into doubt as to
which road was the proper one. Dismounting and feel
ing in vain for decisive marks, he at last fell upon his
knees in the muddy road and offered this child-like
prayer: "0, Lord Jesus, I's lost; I's forgot de right
road. Lord, which is de right way?" Springing to his
feet, he said, "Dis is de right way," and mounting,
guided the column safely. Guess whether all eyes were
dry after that prayer. The opposite path would have
thrown us into the enemy's hands.
November 16th. At an early hour we were selected
to serve as skirmishers and flankers on the extreme right
of the army, now moving down the valley.
November 17th. We bivouacked at night pear Lib
erty. November 18th. We moved to Rappahannock Station,
halting from ten A. M. to two P. M. ; then moved, by
Wheatley Postjoffice, to Pineview Post-office, where, at
ten P. M., the bugles blew "halt" for bivouac.
November 19th. Our march was but a few miles, and
an effort was made, of necessity, as we were beyond
trains, to obtain forage.
November 20th. After further exertion in securing
forage, a short march brought us to Hartwood Church,
where we bivouacked beneath the grateful shelter of a
dense pine forest. Blessed be pines when men have no
tents. This day of November will be distinctly remem
bered on account of the pouring rain of the afternoon
and night. With flimsy shelters, soaked clothes and
blankets, we were in a sad and depressing plight; still all
bore the lot quite cheerfully: some jocosely remarking,
"Rather dusty, this!" "This for the Union!" Our
gay-hearted band, electing their best notes, made the

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY'. 181
forest resound with music — a balm and solace to over
taxed nerves. After serenading the Colonel, the band
received from the regiment the ringing cheers they de
served. We were now within about twelve miles of Fred
ericksburg, and seemingly unnumbered forces were hov
ering down on the left bank of the river, though not as
yet in sight of the stream or city.
November 22d. From our cheerless forest bivouac,
along distressingly muddy roads, we found our way to
within half a mile of Falmouth, where, at sunset, the
bugles spoke the "halt" for the night.
November 23d. Moving four miles down the river,
we encamped in a handsome pine wood by the side of
the Fredericksburg and Acquia Creek Railroad, at a
place known afterwards by the army as " Stoneman's
Switch." Here we remained for several days in compara
tive quiet.
November 27th. Thanksgiving Day — full of mem
ories, but turkeyless to us.
December 1st. Aroused by the call of all calls — "the
general " — and prepared to move, having been assigned to
General Averill's brigade of General Hooker's centre
grand division, we again changed camp to near Potomac
Creek, in the vicinity of Averill's headquarters, and
pitched our little shelter tents and what canvas we could
boast, in a beautiful forest of pine, spruce, and hemlock.
Generously we fed our camp fires, and inhaled sufficient
smoke if we did not realize sufficient heat. Ah! here
again, after a long and painful interval, we were blessed
with letters, papers, and some treasure-laden boxes, by
mail and express from our dear homes. Imagine the
eager eyes, the throbbing hearts, and the grateful utter
ances pervading our camp.
Troops I, K, L, M were detached to act as guards,
16

182 sabres and spurs. [November,
scouts, and orderlies for the various generals of the Third
Corps of the great army. Equipping and refitting as
best we could, we were put to picket duty in rain and
snow and severe cold; compelled to stand on outpost
duty, in our turns, for three successive days at a time —
men and horses suffering what pen may not describe.
Our brigade consisted of the First Massachusetts Cav
alry, Third and Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and our
own regiment. The attack on Fredericksburg was un
fortunately delayed by the non-arrival of the promised
ponton bridges. While the army waited for their coming,
the delay put the advantage of action into Lee's hands.
December 10th. Orders came to be ready to move at
-a moment's notice, with three days' rations in haversacks,
^even in company wagons, and three in brigade trains.
At midnight came orders to be in line .at eight in the
morning. December llth. At five and a half A. M.; as our
reveille sounded, our artillery on the banks of the river
opened on the enemy's lines on the opposite shore, and
afforded protection to our forces in laying the pontons.
The " dogs of war" kept up their hot and awful baying
while our army pushed across the bridges. Two days
passed before all things were ready for the decisive battle.
December 13th. The awful strokes were struck. Des
perate, heroic efforts were made to carry the fortified
heights; but all in vain. Lee, forewarned, had braced
himself immovably.
December 15th. After about fourteen thousand had
fallen on our side, and five thousand on the side of the
enemy, our forces recrossed the river, leaving the rebels
masters of the field : a fearfully sad affair, but not the
fault of General Burnside. Only a part of our regiment
was engaged in the battle: two troops, K and M, as es-

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 183
corts for generals; K with Generals Stoneman and Bir-
ney, M with General Sickles. They were in and over the
whole field, sometimes on the front in the blaze of the
action, yet they had but two horses killed. Captain Man
chester's squadron, Troops A and D, were on duty at an
important and perilous post on the left bank of the river.
On the eleventh, the entire regiment stood ready for
orders, one mile from Falmouth, opposite the city, and
there spent the night. The next day (12th), hearing of
rebel raiders in our rear, most of the command was or
dered to dash on to Dumfries to overhaul the guerrillas.
With utmost speed, over hills, creeks, runs, fields, and
valleys, we spurred till dark, when we halted only for
the moon to lift her lamp, and then, again in saddle,.
dashed on to Stafford Court House; and at ten o'clock
A. M. next day (13th), when within two miles of Dum
fries, learned that the "gray backs" had fled, and at the
same time met a portion of Sigel's command pressing on
to reinforce General Burnside.
With only two hours of rest, we turned our guidons
and spurred back to the Rappahannock, stopping on the
way only to feed our horses from " secesh " haystacks
and to catch a nap in our old bivouac, reporting finally
to our brigade headquarters at the river on the four
teenth, after the disastrous battle in and around the city.
December 16th. Returned to our camp near Potomac
Creek. The battle of Fredericksburg cannot be forgot
ten. The thunder of guns, the roar of mortars, the
screech of shells, the rattle of infantry volleys, the yell
of charges, the whistling of bullets, the rush of troops,
the clouds of smoke, — all these live distinctly, fearfully,
in the memory. Speak not to soldiers of thrilling scenes:
they have been burned into our minds and well-nigh
branded upon our bones.

184 sabres and spurs. [December,

CHAPTER XXII.
CAMP NEAR POTOMAC CREEK.
December, 1868— January, 1863.
JURING the battle of Fredericksburg (December
13th) Samuel Salisbury (Troop A) died of typhoid
fever in the brigade hospital.
On the sixteenth, Dr. W. H. Wilbur and Colonel T.
Burgess reached our camp: the former to fill the place
of Surgeon Greeley; the latter to cheer us with his pres
ence and present to us a new and beautiful standard, the
tasteful and costly gift of the generous and patriotic
ladies of Providence, R. I.
December 19th. The ceremony of receiving the new
standard was as follows: After dress parade, conducted
as usual in the open field on the north of the camp, the
regiment was formed in a hollow square, the centre oc
cupied by the Colonel and his staff. Colonel Burgess
then made his appearance from the forest, bearing the
present, and, advancing within the handsome sabred
square, addressed our commander and our command in
fitting phrase of respect and compliment, and read to us
the accompanying letter:

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 185
Executive Department, Y
Providence, R. I., December 5, 1862. f
Colonel: — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from
you of the old flag of the First Rhode Island Cavalry. You are
the representative of the men alike from New Hampshire and
Rhode Island, who compose your command. Allow me to say to
you and to them, that the memories of your valor and the stories
of your deeds will endure through this and coming generations.
As the recipient of this sacred relic, borne so proudly and heroic
ally through many trials, in camp and upon the field of battle, let
me thank the men of New Hampshire and Rhode Island for the
entire discharge of their duty to their country, to their States,
and to themselves.
The ladies of Providence, emulating the chivalrous spirit and
acts of their sisters of old, give to the victors the crown which
accompanies this, — emblem of your States and nation.
Guard it; honor it as nobly as you have guarded and honored
the torn and tattered relic you have sent me. The ladies, who
present this new flag to you, ask this of you, and they can ask
nothing more. Remember, when you strike, that you strike in
their defense; that it is for wives, for children, for a country, and
the dearest privileges of mankind.
That God may preserve and honor you, and reward you for
every soldierly deed, is the oft-repeated prayer of one who watches
your career with the deepest pride.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WILLIAM SPRAGUB,
Governor State of Rhode Island.
To Colonel A. N. Duffie,
Commanding First Rhode Island Cavalry.
Colonel Burgess then gracefully and tenderly presented
the colors, and Colonel Duffie appropriately responded,
and presented the subjoined paper:
Headquarters First Rhode Island Cavalry, )
Near Falmouth, Va., December 19, 1862. f
To Sis Excellency, Governor Spragne, of Rhode Island :
Sir: — It is with deep emotion, and with sentiments of grateful
16*

186 sabres and spurs. [December,
pride, that I receive from your hands 'this beautiful emblem of
our common country, the United States of America. At the same
time citizens and soldiers, accustomed from childhood to love and
cherish the Stars and Stripes; as soldiers urged by every manly
impulse, by everything We hold near and dear, by our bounden
duty to God and man, — we are here to uphold that flag against
all comers, in whatever form or guise its enemies may appear,
whether by the insidious approach of political strategy or the
open enmity of armed legions.
Rhode Island and New Hampshire, in common sisterhood,
pledge their sons as its guard of honor; and trust me, sir, while
it is in their keeping it shall suffer no wrong; for I have known
them well on many a hotly contested field.
For the kindly sentiments so gracefully conveyed by yourself,
I thank you. I trust that, though unable to express myself as
happily, I still fully appreciate the time and occasion.
For myself and my command, I accept the high trust reposed
in this presentation; and, with life and honor, we promise to be
its faithful, and, we hope, worthy defenders.
I am, sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant, A. N. DUFFIE,
Colonel Commanding First Rhode Island Cavalry.
At the conclusion of the addresses, the brave cavaliers
gave three round and rousing cheers for the new flag,
and as many, with peculiar zest, for the fair donors. The
standard was then given into the hands of Troop I — the
color troop — by whom, preceded by the band playing
their most inspiring national airs, it was borne to the
headquarters of the command.
These colors were of regulation size, dark blue silk,
trimmed with a heavy yellow fringe — cavalry color — and
bore, on one side, the coat of arms of Rhode Island, and
on the other the coat of arms of New Hampshire, both
richly wrought in silk.
We had a custom in our regiment, which, so far as we
know, was never observed in this country till introduced

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 187
into our command. Colonel Duffie brought it from the
European service, particularly from the cavalry arm of
his native country. We refer to the ceremony of receiv
ing our standard to the centre of the column whenever
we came into line for a regular march or into line of
battle. It was after this manner:
The troops were drawn out in line, with the regimental
band at the head, all facing to the left, the officers in
front of their battalions and troops, the staff on the right
of the line, the Colonel in front of all, opposite the color
company, in the centre of the line. All being in readi
ness, the color guard, a portion of the color company, in
the centre of their troop (I, with us), fell back,, and,
passing around by the left to the headquarters, took the
standard and returned near their place in the line; halt
ing a few steps from the line, they dressed carefully, and
then handsomely advanced into line, where, on halting,
the color-sergeant gracefully waved the flag in salutation
to the commander and the field and line officers, while
the whole column presented arms. At the same instant,
the Colonel and all the officers, with raised caps returned
the salutation, and the full band struck and played a
most thrilling salutatory strain.
So beautifully, gracefully, solemnly, grandly was this
always done, that it made every heart throb and every
eye moist, though performed for the hundredth time.
And all who ever witnessed this ceremony of ours were
charmed and thrilled by it. Herein, by the way, was
one of the many secrets of the spirit, unity, zeal, and in
domitable devotion of our command in the trying hours
of battle. Our flag was to us sacred — the emblem of
deepest thoughts and grandest principles, the symbol of
ideas unutterable and inviolate. Around it, beneath it,
for it, we rallied, and stood, and fought with an uncon-

188 sabres and spurs. [December,
querable will. Alluding to the want of this or a simi
lar ceremony in other commands, Colonel Duffie often
said, "You Americans do not know how to use your
nag." Colonel Duffie believed in the power and charm of
symbols. On Christmas Day a lofty flag-staff was raised
in front of the headquarters, and, with due ceremony,
the large camp guidon — the old standard of Camp Ar
nold — red and white, bearing our Christian name — "New
England Cavalry " — the pledge of our hearts, was flung
to the breeze of "Virginia, in the face of our country's
foe. As it was run up and opened to the wind, our full
and spirited band gave it appropriate salute and dis
coursed their best airs. In the evening a select choir of
our cavalier singers gave an excellent concert of both
vocal and instrumental music in front of the head
quarters, complimentary to the commander and his staff.
We only missed the comforts, gifts, and "Merry Christ
mas" salutations of our New England homes.
Our camp was on the eastern slope of a beautiful pine-
clad hill, on the south side of the railroad and Potomac
Creek, about a third of a mile from Potomac Creek
Depot, commanding a charming view of the valley run
ning easterly, and looking out afar upon the waters of
Belle Plain Creek. General Burnside's headquarters
were a little beyond us, in view of the Rappahannock.
We were in Averill's brigade of cavalry, and counted by
him and all the generals as a superior regiment; Colonel
Duffie, for a time, acting as Brigadier-General.
Nor was there a neater or more tasteful camp than
ours: wall tents for most of the officers; for the rank and
file, shelter tents or log huts, protected by boards and
earth; some quarters under-built with logs or excavated
in the hill-sides. Sheds of pine boughs screened our

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 18ft
horses and supplies. Of the particular living of the men
we will let Sargent speak :
" Our huts, 12 by 15, for four men each, were of logs
notched together and filled with mud; roofs of small
poles covered with shelter tents or sods, and steep enough
to turn all rains; fire-place in one end, chimney outside,
of stones topped by a barrel; inside, two bunks for two
men each, poles covered with hay; door made of hard
tack boxes, hinges of old boot legs, latch string out, with
cake of hard-tack for handle. Stock of furniture small
at first; ditto of cooking utensils; increased by Yankee
ingenuity from foraging tact and sutler's booth; fingers
taking precedence of forks. Took turns cooking; had
dishes not found in the cook books: fried pork — boiled
pork — broiled pork (on a stick) — hard-tack — fried whole,
broken up, soaked in water, pounded fine, made into
new forms, shape of doughnuts — -pork and hard-tack a.
lafricasse. Camp being established, rations were better:
soft bread and fresh beef two or three times a week; but.
such beef ! animals had travelled Virginia roads from
the opening of the war and been fatted on hard-tack."
Our" chief bugler, who was also leader of our band,
having left us, his place as band leader was supplied by a
superior bugler, William R. Kay, from Westerly, R. L
December 24th. D. Pettee (Troop D) died in hospital.
December 30th. A portion of the regiment started on
a reconnoissance and proceeded to Hartwood Church,
where they remained for several days awaiting an ex
pected attack on our picket line by Stuart's cavalry.
1863. January 1st. The Grand Army of the Potomac
was settling into winter quarters. Only raids were to be
expected. With very changeable weather, rain and snow
making the roads knee deep-with mud, hence impassable
for troops and wagon trains, unless corduroyed, only

190 'sabres and spurs. [January,
picket and reconnoissance remained for us. The sub
joined figures show the strength of the regiment at the
opening of the new year: Present for duty, 556; extra
or daily duty, 78; sick, 37: total, 671; absent on detached
service and with leave, 62; sick, 113: total, 175; aggre
gate, present and absent, 846.
January 1, 1863, was made historic, to the joy of the
army and all the loyal in the land, by President Lincoln's
Proclamation of Emancipation — the God-chosen war
spear that unjointed the war harness of the Confed
erates. From that day the tide of battle rolled mightily
in favor of the Union forces, though occasional eddies of
disaster occurred in some quarters. The question of
impartial liberty was the determining principle of the
gigantic national struggle.
January 8th. Corporal J. Murphy (Troop E) was
captured on picket. On the same day, Peter Laveren
(Troop D) died of pneumonia. His funeral was on the
tenth, with impressive solemnities, and his remains were
buried under a lofty pine, green as his memory.
Gifts from home, procured by the Chaplain, were
timely and valuable: socks, stockings, knit caps, mittens,
comforters, hymn books, Testaments, and papers. On
account of impaired health from the severities of the
service in Virginia, the Chaplain accepted Governor
Sprague's proposition of a transfer into the Department
of the South, to the Third Rhode Island Heavy Artil
lery, in South Carolina. About the same time, Captain
Manchester accepted a promotion to the rank of Major
in the Second Regiment of Rhode Island Cavalry, com
manded by our able and beloved former Lieutenant-
Colonel Sayles. On the departure of the Chaplain, the
post fund was turned over to Major Farrington, and the
duties of postmaster and general correspondent were

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 191
assigned to J. A. Chedell (afterwards Lieutenant Che-
dell). The presents received by the regiment called'from the
Colonel a characteristic paper that we here reproduce:
Headquarters First Rhode Island Cavalry, )
Near Falmouth, Va., January 10, 1863. j
Editors of tlie Press :
To the ladies of Rhode Island who have so kindly sent the very
best of presents possible to the regiment, which it is at once my
pride and pleasure to command, allow me, sirs, through your col
umns, to say, I thank you. Nothing could have been so full of.
Teal and lasting value as the woolen gloves, contributed on the
moment at the mere suggestion of our most worthy and excellent
Chaplain, Rev. Frederic Denison. Nestling themselves away on
little slips of paper, in the fingers of the gloves, unobtrusive as
woman's love, quiet as her affection, real as her sympathy, we
find these sentiments: " To the future possessor of these gloves,
much love"; Nelly sends, " kindly greetings " ; Jenny says, "be
of good cheer"; Alice " hopes these gloves will keep your fingers
as warm as your heart is in the good cause"; Lucy says, "be
merciful"; Mary says, "be good, and God bless you"; Sally
says, "let these gloves hold the reins of no coward's horse."
Sirs, my men are wild with joy, cheered by the smiles which
give their roseate hue to the more substantial gift. They will do
and dare what men may do or dare; and be assured, sirs, that the
fair daughters of Rhode Island and New Hampshire shall never
have cause to blush for their sons in the field. A. N. DUFFIE.
January 15th. The command was reviewed by Gen
eral Averill, who, at the conclusion, said, " This is the
best regiment in my brigade. "
The proficiency of the command in all duties again
prompted the Colonel to issue a special communication:

Headquarters First Rhode Island Cavalry,
Camp Near Falmouth, Va., January 16, 1863.

(

[Special Orders No. 23.]
Fellow-Soldiers: — Again it is my proud privilege to congratu-

192 SABRES AND SPURS. [January,
late you upon your admirable appearance, drill and discipline, as
a regiment. It has been granted me before, in all truth, to ap
plaud the efforts you have made to become the first among the
cavalry in the service.
General Roberts, Chief of Cavalry on General Pope's staff, on
the 18th of last August, said: " While I have no hesitancy in say
ing yours is the best regiment I have inspected so far, there is still
much to be done." Since that time, unqualified praise from high
military sources has been repeatedly accorded to you ; and now,
to crown the whole, our most distinguished, most esteemed gen
eral, commanding this brigade, after the inspection of the 15th
instant, says, " It is the best regiment in my brigade."
Sharing equally alike the glorious possession of such a prestige,
we must all see to it, with jealous care, that we hold the position
assigned us against all comers.
Let no mark or blot mar the fair page; and I hope soon, across
the river which intercepts us from our foe, you will finish your
brilliant achievements. A. N. DUFFIE,
Colonel Commanding First Rhode Island Cavalry.
The men responded with loud and hearty cheers.
January 15th-23d. We were in readiness to move at
a moment's warning; but, on account of storms and
muddy roads, the general movements of the army were
abandoned. January 20th. Richard E. King (Troop H) died in
hospital in Washington.
January 24th. A. L. Wilson (Troop L), having died
of typhoid fever, was buried with military honors.
January 28th. Major Burt, our Paymaster, paid us
from July 1, 1862, to January 1, 1863, a period of six
months: a happy day for us, for the sutlers, and for our
families in New England.
Several recruits had been received, — procured in some
measure by bounties — and since they had joined us some
of our old soldiers had missed their pistols. Our Colonel
was satisfied that the pistols had been stolen by some of

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 193
the recruits and sold to infantry men near us. Hence,
at dress parade, he thus addressed the regiment: " Some
new recruit go steal from his comrade! He takes one
pistol ! He go sell to one infantry man! Ah! He think
no one see him! Ah! God see him! God give you
hell ! " No more pistols were missed.
While the regiment thus lay in winter quarters, en
gaged only in scout and picket, Colonel Duffie, by invita
tion, made a visit north, especially to Providence, R. I.,
where he was welcomed with great enthusiasm by the
city and by the Legislature of the State, then in session.
His full-length portrait, with uniform and decorations,
soon graced an art gallery on Westminster street. He
left the camp to the care of Lieutenant-Colonel Thomp
son January 30th, but returned February 13th.

17

194 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,

CHAPTER XXIII.
CORPORAL BROWN'S CAPTIVITY.
August— September, 1862.
JUST record of the services of our regiment should
embrace some chapters of the experiences of our
men while prisoners of war. -These narratives, more
over, will give us some desired information relative to the
inner life of the Confederacy and the spirit of the war on
the part of the South.
In the order of our history we stated that on the 20th
of August, 1862, Corporal J. Brown and four others were
detailed as guards to General Sigel's scouts oh the upper
banks of the Rappahannock, and while examining the
fords and scouting along the enemy's lines on the after
noon of August 21st, were surprised, pursued, and cap
tured by a force of rebel cavalry, as their horses had been
under the saddle for two days, with but little to eat, and
were unable to escape the fresh pursuers.
Corporal Brown tells the following story, of the cap
ture, and the experiences of the squad while prisoners:
Edward Myers received a gash over the eye from the
fall of his horse. James Williams' horse gave out from
exhaustion. The Corporal turned in his saddle and tried

1862.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 195
upon his pursuers the virtue of his revolver, and was
finally brought to a halt only because his horse received
a wound in the head. He threw his pistol into a mud-
hole, and surrendered simply his sabre. One of his cap
tors said, "Kill the damned Yank." Brown replied,
"I had rather be shot than go to Richmond and be
starved to death." An officer answered, "The Yank is
good grit; we will let him see Richmond."
They were at once marched across the river, and, with
out being allowed to empty the water out of their boots,.
pushed forward on the dusty road twelve miles to Stevens-
burg. All they received for the night was a little water.
August 22d. They were marched about thirty miles
to the fine of the railroad, and put into an old depot,
where utter exhaustion insured a little feverish sleep.
Says the Corporal, " On our way the guard would go
to the houses on the road and get their haversacks filled
with bread and meat, and then come along showing tlieir
food and asking us if we did not want some. It was
hard to endure this. Some cried, and asked for a mouth
ful. The reply was, 'No; you can live sometime yet
without food. ' "
From Orange Court House they were taken in cars to
Richmond and put into Libby Prison. Of the guard the
Corporal says, "I cannot call them men. They were
dressed in citizens' clothes, and had several kinds of
guns — shot guns, old flint-locks, and such like. Before
going into prison we were searched. They even took
Myers' pocket-knife. That night they gave us a quarter
of a loaf of bread — loaves much smaller than our army
loaves — and a small pjece of meat.
"In a few days we were sent over to Belle Island,
where we met several thousand of our comrades, and
where we were told we had received our death-warrant,

196 sabres and spurs. [February,
for they would starve us to death. Here we had half a
loaf of bread a day, and a small piece of meat twice a
week, and sometimes pea soup — enough to kill one if he
ate much — fresh, and of a strange kind of peas and river
water — water of a yellowish hue. Six or eight died on
the island every day. For more than a week we laid out
on the ground with nothing to cover us but God's starry
blanket. Almost always the guards were laughing at
and taunting us. The vermin were so plenty that the
boys said they had regimental drills. I was fairly sore
all over where they had eaten into me."
These men were paroled on the fourteenth of Septem
ber, and on the following day were marched twelve miles
to Aiken's Landing, where they were received by the
Federal authorities. The Corporal remarks, " Although
we were nearly starved, we marched at almost double-
quick, and, when arriving in sight of the flag of truce, we
all started at utmost speed, and, I will own, acted more
like crazy men than we did like soldiers."

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 197

CHAPTER XXIV.
OUTPOST SERVICE AND BATTLE.
February— March, 1863.
iHOITGH in winter quarters, there was no real rest
for our army. In front of a great, vigilant, reso
lute foe, life was secure only by ceaseless watchfulness
and the repelling of occasional attacks. In the absence
of Colonel Duffie, Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson wisely
administered our affairs and kept his eagle eye always on
the front.
February 4th. We had orders to "be ready, with all
available men, in light marching order, with three days'
cooked rations, to move the next morning."
February 5th. Says Lieutehant Chedell: "Early our
brigade, with its battery of flying artillery, and General
Carr's division of infantry and two batteries of light
artillery, started on an expedition, under General Carr,
to destroy the railroad bridge crossing the Rappahan
nock, at Rappahannock Station, by which the enemy
could hurry over his forces, should he wish at any time
to mass his forces north of the river. The morning was
cold, the snow falling thick and fast, the wind sharp
and cutting; in afternoon, snow changed to sleet; bivou
acking at night, we suffered from ice and rain.
17*

198 sabres and spurs. [February,
February 6th. "Moving on through rain, at Deep
Run we left the infantry, save one brigade as a reserve,
and reached Grove Church, from which point a part of
the cavalry and flying artillery dashed on to do the work
of destroying the bridge, while the reinaining forces
should watch the fords below. Though under a hot fire
from the rebels on the right bank of the river, the bridge
was burned with the loss of only one killed and a num
ber wounded. The rebels lost the most blood. The
bridge in ashes, as also a small one east of it, and the
railroad track torn up for a distance, our force fell back,
and reached the old camps on the evening of the seventh,
weary and worn."
General Hooker succeeded General Burnside in the
command of the Army of the Potomac on the twenty-
. sixth of January, and knew our regiment by experience,
and our men reciprocated the high esteem in which they
were held. Of course our caps went up for "Fighting
Joe," though we regretted the absence of our beloved
Burnside. The cavalry forces were consolidated into a
corps of three divisions, under General Stoneman, by
whom we were well known, having served with him in
the late campaigns. The division commanders were
Pleasauton, Averill, and Gregg. The extreme front of
outpost duty devolved of course upon the cavalry arm.
This duty is thus described by Lieutenant Chedell:
" Our line of pickets extends from Acquia Creek to the
north fork of the Rappahannock — a distance of about
twenty miles. We are supported in the rear, the whole
distance, by infantry. The cavalry pickets are changed
„, every three days, allowing half a day for going out and
the same for returning, making four days out.
"Each brigade is ordered to guard a given section of
the line, to do which, proportional details are made from

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISlAND CAVALRY. 199
the different regiments. The pickets are divided into
small bodies for reliefs and reserves, and have the reserve
headquarters in deep wooded hollows or other concealed
places, where fires are allowed, the men remaining dis
mounted, with the privilege of keeping themselves as
comfortable as possible, but always keeping themselves
girded for an attack. The horses are kept saddled and
bridled, hitched to the nearest trees, that the men may
instantly spring to the defensive should the men on their
posts give an alarm, or be driven in.
"The posts are relieved every two hours. The men
on post always remain in their saddles, their horses' heads
in the direction of the enemy. Their instructions are to
be vigilant, to keep their revolvers or carbines always in
hand, prepared to fire instantly should it be required.
When any one approaches, they command, 'Halt! Who
comes there?' If answered, 'Friends!' the command is
given, ' Advance one! and give the countersign.' Should
more than one attempt to advance, the picket fires, thus
giving the alarm. If it is in the night, and those ap
proaching are mounted, the command is, 'Dismount,
and advance one!' etc., never allowing but one to ap
proach, either by day or by night, unless accompanied
by the corporal of the relief.
" The officers of the pickets visit their line of posts
frequently by day and by night, for the purpose of in
specting and encouraging the pickets, and satisfying
themselves that all is right. A corporal's relief, or
patrol, passes up and down the line every hour. Every
thing is so systematically arranged that, in case of an
attack, we could give the rebels a warm reception, hold
ing any force at bay until we could be reinforced from
the main army. To use the words of General Duryea,
in an address to his brigade, in the summer of 1862 —

200 sabres and spurs. [February,
' Our pickets are the eyes of the army.' If they sleep,
or are negligent of duty, the whole army is in danger.
The neglect of a single duty on picket is liable to the
severest punishment. The officers in command of the
pickets hold most important and responsible positions,
having, as it were, the keys to the gates which separate
the two contending armies."
February 22 d. A foot of snow on the ground, and a
blinding storm through most of the day, yet at noon a
national salute, in -honor of General Washington, was
pronounced by our artillery. Evenings are variously
passed in camp. One of our glee clubs, procuring songs,
became very proficient in cheerful music. Sometimes,
at the close of their performances, the hat was passed to
raise funds for new songs, or, to vary the appeal humor
ously, "to be applied to the support of broken-down
politicians and widows of deceased quartermasters, since
such persons were always honest, and therefore poor."
February 25th. We were startled by the sounding of
" Boots and Saddles," and learned that the pickets had
been driven in and the whole line threatened by Stuart's
cavalry. In line as quickly as possible, the brigade pro
ceeded to Hartwood Church. The circumstances of the
sudden and heavy attack were substantially as follows:
Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson had just assumed com
mand of the picket line. The pickets that had been
relieved had not returned to camp. So Stuart found,
unexpectedly, double the ordinary number of Federal
sabres confronting him; a circumstance that saved us
from a fearful loss, though our loss at last was not light
in prisoners. By our commander's cool and brave con
duct, Stuart was finally foiled and turned back, leaving
some dead for us to bury and some prisoners to care for,
as an offset for our captured men.

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 201
We condense the record of the encounter from the
narratives of Captains E. E. Chase and George N. Bliss,
both prominent actors in the conflict.
Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson, with six hundred men
— two hundred from the Sixteenth Pennsylvania, and
one hundred from each of the following: Third and
Fourth Pennsylvania, Fourth New York and First Rhode
Island — of Averill's cavalry brigade, was near Hartwood
Church relieving Lieutenant-Colonel Jones (of Third
Pennsylvania) and his like body of men on picket. He
reached the grand reserve at eleven o'clock A. M., and
his details were being told off for the several small re
serves, the men remaining mounted, when rapid firing
was heard in the direction of Hartwood Church, about
one mile in front of the reserve. Shortly Lieutenant-
Colonel Jones returned from the front and reported that
his line of videttes had been attacked and driven in, and
that the enemy in large force were coming down towards
us, on both roads leading from Hartwood to Falmouth—
the Ridge and Telegraph roads — on the former of which
Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson was then resting.
Immediately the squadron of the Third Pennsylvania
was ordered forward to the assistance of Lieutenant-Col
onel Jones on the Ridge road, by Lieutenant-Colonel
Thompson, who, with the remaining squadrons, moved
due west, through a by-road, about half a m^le to the
Telegraph road, where he rapidly formed in line, in the
following order: First Rhode Island on the right, Fourth
Pennsylvania, Fourth New York and Sixteenth Penn
sylvania on the left, resting on the Telegraph road, and
awaited the approach of the enemy.
Scarcely had the squadrons been aligned when the reb-
•els were heard charging, with loud yells, down the Ridge
road, going in the direction of Falmouth. Lieutenant-

202 sabres and spurs. [February,
Colonel Jones had been unable to check them, and was
being driven back on the infantry pickets. Lieutenant-
Colonel Thompson, seeing his rear threatened, directed
Captain Chase to move rapidly to the rear, with his own
and the squadron of the Fourth Pennsylvania, to a point
opposite where the fighting was going on between the
rebels and Lieutenant-Colonel Jones, and to attack the
enemy in the flank.
The two squadrons had wheeled by platoons into col
umn, and were advancing at a trot in the direction
ordered, when the enemy came dashing down the Tele
graph road upon the three squadrons left with Lieutenant-
Colonel Thompson. Two of the squadrons had never
before been under fire; the other had been, but had not
been known to stay long under such circumstances; and
the present occasion did not seem to be' one upon which
to vary the rule. Accordingly, with the greatest alacrity,
they broke by individuals to run to the rear. The other
two squadrons, after firing a few shots from their car
bines, instead of obeying Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson's
order to charge, followed the example of the departed
squadron, and, considering the condition of the roads,
made very good time to the rear.
Meantime, the squadrons under Captain Chase were
pushing to their point, when, to their surprise, the clatter
of cavalry feet was heard in their rear, and, to their
great anger and mortification, in an instant almost, they
were inextricably mixed up with the three retreating
squadrons from Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson's line. As
soon as possible, however, a stand was made and the line
•was reformed. Lieutenant-Colonel Jones had succeeded
in stopping the enemy on the Ridge road, and was ready
to move forward in conjunction with Lieutenant-Colonel
Thompson and drive the enemy back.

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 203
Our squadron, under Captain Chase, was placed in
skirmishing order across the Telegraph road, the squad
ron of the Fourth New York, in column of platoons, as
a support, followed, about two hundred yards distant, by,
the balance of the command, headed by the Fourth Penn
sylvania. No trouble was experienced in regaining, in a
very short time, all the ground which had been lost, the
enemy slowly falling back, exchanging bullets with our
skirmishers. The rebels finally made a stand at a cluster of log huts,
about half a mile from Hartwood, and considerable skir
mishing ensued. Coptain Chase's squadron, becoming
tired of merely exchanging shots, gave a cheer for charge,
and away they went for the enemy, and, in less time than
it takes to describe the stroke, had possession of the build
ings. A charge was then made by a squadron of the
enemy, which put to flight the squadron supporting our
skirmishers; our skirmishers, however, giving the rebels
a volley from their carbines as they passed our line.
The rebels soon encountered the squadron of the Fourth
Pennsylvania, and immediately retreated, closely followed
by our carbines.
During the charge Captain Chase's horse fell, and the
rebel squadron charged over him while lying on the
ground. For about three minutes he was a prisoner,
but was released by reason of the persuasive arguments
of a few bullets from his men, who came to the rescue.
Night had now come on, under the cover of which and
from the last charge, the enemy fell back in full retreat
towards Kelly's Ford, leading to their camps.
We now turn to the account, given by Captain Bliss,
of the attack on his section of the picket line, where our
greatest loss occurred. Captain Bliss was in charge of a
line about eight miles in length, and to the left of where

204 sabres and spurs. [February,
the attack was made as described above. About nine
and a half o'clock A. M., four mounted rebels, seen near
one of the picket posts, were fired upon and immediately
retreated. Notice was instantly given to Lieutenant-
Colonel Jones of this appearance of the enemy.
About one o'clock P. M., Captain Bliss heard the
yells of the enemy as they charged, and knew that he was
cut off from the main body. He had orders to fight his
posts, and not abandon them till forced to do so, and,
therefore, against his judgment, held his position. About
half an hour after the enemy's charge, the Captain heard
sounds satisfying him that a column of the enemy was
approaching him from his rear. Quickly he formed all
the men he had at that point — twelve in number — in
single rank across the road on top of a hill facing towards
the rear and the coming foe: a stroke of strategy better
than the Captain himself at first thought.
Scarcely had the Captain taken this position when the
head of the rebel column made its appearance, and at
once halted, whereupon the following parley ensued:
Rebel. "What regiment is that ? "
Captain. "Advance one!"
Rebel. " What regiment is that ? "•
Captain. " What regiment is that ? "
Rebel. " I ask you that question."
Captain. "Advance one ! "
Rebel. "Are you rebels or Union?"
Captain. " Union! " And this last answer was given
with a shout.
At once the rebel column fell back, and three men of
our brigade, just before taken prisoners, managed in the
confusion to escape to Captain Bliss' command, and gave
him full information as to the situation of affairs. The
Captain then felt justified in calling in his pickets so as

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 205
to concentrate his force at a point nearer the Rappahan
nock river, and sent a corporal to call in his pickets on
the right. It was too late, however, to save them all.
While bravely obeying the order to hold their posts to
the last, the following men were captured: Lieutenant
L. B. Shurtliff, Sergeant W. H. Tallman, H. B. Borden,
C. H. Batchelor, N. Egan, J. W. Millington, A. H. Her-
rick, A. Gould, — all of Troop A; Corporal Alvah Eaton,
Corporal A. N. Jacobs, P. Shehan, J. S. Brown, J.
Berar, B. Hawkins, J. S. Webb,— all of Troop C; and
T. Brannon, J. L. Dodge, J. S. Healey, G. Wallen, of
Troop F, and W. F. Dougherty, of Troop G: total, one
officer and nineteen men.
Captain Bliss fell back just in time to escape capture,
and the enemy was twice repulsed by him, and his pick
ets re-established after his change of position. At seven
P. M. an officer from the main reserve notified him that
the enemy had retreated. He then restored his picket
line and held it till relieved at two P. M. February 26th,
a rebel surgeon, left behind to care for the wounded,
informed him that the column halted by him was one
hundred and fifty strong, and that the officer in com
mand reported that it was impossible to advance on that
road, as it was held by a full regiment of Yankee cavalry:
the twelve men having been so formed as to present the
appearance of the head of a regiment to the view of the
Tebel officer. Thus terminated a real battle on the picket
line near Hartwood Church. Stuart was signally foiled.
General Averill, with a large body of cavalry, arrived
on the ground at nine in the evening, and was soon
joined by General Stoneman and General Buford, com
manding the Regular brigade; but they were too late —
the enemy was then safe from pursuit.
February 26th. At daylight the cavalry commenced
18

206 sabres and spurs. [February,
the pursuiCand went as far as Morrisville, and spent the
day reconnoitering between Hartwood Church and Kelly's
Ford, and returned to their camps on the 27th.
This was the last attack made on the pickets during
the time the army remained at Falmouth. Stuart, how
ever, was to have his full pay for this at a later date.
March 1st. General Averill, owing to his skill and
bravery, now widely known in the army, had his cavalry
forces augmented by the addition of three regiments, and
the whole divided into two brigades, together composing
the Second Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Poto
mac. Colonel Duffie, although not the senior Colonel,
was appointed to the command of the first brigade, com
posed .of the First Rhode Island, First Massachusetts,
Fourth New York — formerly Mounted Rifles — and the
Sixth Ohio Cavalry. The second brigade, commanded
by Colonel J. B. Mcintosh, was composed of the Third,
Fourth, and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. The Reg
ulars were a brigade of themselves, called the Cavalry
Reserve Brigade, under command of General Buford.
Of this brigade we shall have occasion hereafter to relate
the actions.
Orders were now issued indicating that the cavalry,
arm would be called upon to perform a different kind of
duty from what had been their wont — to act more in
dependently, and not be attached to the infantry; that
the duties would be of that dashing nature peculiar to
their own arm of the service. In fact, the whole tactics
and maneuvering of cavalry were changed; large regi
mental wagon trains were abolished, and pack mules
were substituted. These mules, by the way, occasioned
no little merriment, as the men, attempting to ride them, .
were thrown and tumbled, or defeated of a ride by stub
bornness, a la circus; yet they found the spurs of our

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 207
boys quite too much for them. But finally this pack
train, from its constitutional stubbornness and the num
ber of men required to fill it, was abolished in May
following. During our encampment at Potomac Creek we were
visited by several gentlemen from Rhode Island. Mr. I.
S. Battey came with extra and excellent provisions for
us, contributed by the people of Rhode Island, by whom
we were never forgotten. Mr. Allen Baker again kindly
visited us, and remained two weeks. And the regiment
was happily honored by the presence of His Excellency,
Governor Berry, of New Hampshire, who was kindly
caring for the troops of the Granite State.
March 13th. At dress parade Lieutenant-Colonel
Thompson presented to the command Rev. Ethan Ray
Clarke, the new Chaplain, who made a brief address.
We had just received orders to be in readiness to march,
at ten minutes' notice, with three days' rations; and on
the fourteenth were inspected by Major Chamberlain,
the Inspector-General of the division.
March 15th. Chaplain Clarke held his first service, at
nine o'clock A. M., in front of Colonel Dnffie's brigade
headquarters. In the afternoon the brigade was reviewed
by General Averill, — a beautiful sight — after which, the
officers of the brigade repaired to the General's head
quarters, where they received instruction to be ready and
start on a raid at eight o'clock the next morning, with
three days' rations and one day's forage. Knowing that
work was before us, our sabres and spurs were in order.

208 sabres and spurs. [March,

CHAPTER XXV.
BATTLE OF KELL/Y'S FORD.
March— April, 1863.
JUR record of this remarkable battle may be given
by the pen of Captain George N. Bliss.
March 16th. The First Cavalry Brigade, commanded
by Colonel Duffie, with the second, commanded by Colonel
Mcintosh, and four hundred of the First with four hun
dred of the Fifth Regulars, and one battery, moved off
in fine style at eight o'clock A. M., with four days'
rations and one day's forage. Arriving at Morrisville,
sixteen miles from camp, about dark, we bivouacked for
the night.
March 17th. At four o'clock A. M., the column, ex
cepting the First Massachusetts, left on picket, moved on
towards Kelly's Ford, and arrived near there about day
light, halting whilst the advanced guard, consisting of
forty men of the Fourth New York and one platoon
of the First Rhode Island, under Major Chamberlain,
of the First Massachusetts (chief of General Averill's
staff), moved directly upon the ford. The ford was
found obstructed on both sides by abattis of trees felled
across the road, and the opposite bank was occupied by
a large number of dismounted rebel cavalry, acting as

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 209
sharp-shooters, strongly protected by rifle-pits, from which
they poured a brisk fire upon our men. The obstructions
were so great that but one horse could leap them at a
time, and that with extreme difficulty. Our carbineers,
therefore, were dismounted and thrown into a mill race,
where they opened a smart fire upon the enemy. But
the foe being too strongly lodged to be pushed out in
this way, a charge was the only alternative.
The advance guard was ordered to this bold work, led
by Major Chamberlain, First Massachusetts, Lieutenant
Brown, of our command, and an officer (name not re
called) of the Fourth Regulars, closely followed by the-
Rhode Island boys. Before reaching the river, Major
Chamberlain received a severe wound in the face and fell,
while the officers and men of the Fourth United States
turned and fled, leaving Lieutenant Brown and the boys
of Troop G alone. The Lieutenant was the first to leap
his horse over the abattis, and gallantly did his command
follow; but such was the severity of the rebel fire that
only three men reached the opposite shore with the Lieu
tenant. Colonel Duffie, seeing the situation, ordered the
First Rhode Island across. The main body, headed by
Major Farrington, promptly moved, the Major, Captain
Thayer, and Lieutenants Fales and Chedell being the
first to reach the opposite bank. Many horses were shot
down in the water, and many a brave rider was wounded.
At once the rebels abandoned their rifle-pits and fled
towards the woods, but our men swiftly charged upon
them, capturing twenty-five men, with their horses and
arms. As the river at the ford was about four feet deep
and the current very swift, and the resistance of the
enemy was very determined, great credit should be
awarded to the officers and men who effected the cross
ing and dislodged the foe. Colonel Duffie's horse was
18*

210 sabres and spurs. [March,
hit by a bullet and threw his rider in the river, consider
ably bruising one of his legs. Lieutenant Rhodes' horse
was shot dead. Lieutenant Brown's horse received two
bullets, and three passed through the Lieutenant's cloth
ing. About two hours were occupied in removing the ob
structions and getting our troops across the river. About
ten o'clock A. M., we took up our line of march towards
Culpepper Court House, fourteen miles distant. A
platoon of the First Rhode Island, under lieutenant
Vaughan, with a squadron of the Sixth Ohio, formed the
advance guard, supported by the First Rhode Island.
Near one and a half miles from the ford the Confederate
cavalry were discovered advancing to the attack. They
came on boldly, yelling like demons, and apparently con
fident of victory. Major Farrington moved quickly to
the front, and was shortly wounded by a pistol shot cut
ting his neck. Captain Gould took command, directed
by Colonel Duffie, and, leading our command, charged
upon the rebels, who turned and fled before our men
were near enough to reach them with their sabres. Hotly
our men pursued the flying foe, taking many prisoners,
among them Major Breckinridge, cousin to the traitor
Vice-President. In the excitement of victory, some of our men failed
to notice another force of rebels charging in a direction
which would cut them off from our troops. In conse
quence of this oversight, about eighteen of our men were
captured, among them Captain Thayer and Lieutenant
Darling. The belief is that Captain Thayer was wound
ed, but not mortally. In this charge Lieutenant Nathan
iel Bowditch, First Massachusetts (Assistant Adjutant-
General on Colonel Duffie's staff), fell mortally wounded,
after having cut down three of his assailants. All honor

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 211
to his memory; a braver soldier never drew sabre. Major
Breckinridge was captured by Lieutenant James M. Fales,
of our regiment.
A few moments later, the First Rhode Island, with a
squadron of the Fifth Regulars, led by Colonel Duffie,
charged upon another regiment of the enemy that was
advancing at a charge. Here was hot Work again, that
pen may not depict. It is a wild and thrilling scene
when two cavalry commands fiercely charge upon each
other. We smote the bold enemy so sharply as to roll
them back, routing them so effectually that they retreated
a mile before their officers could rally them.
A new line of battle was immediately formed by our
forces one mile in advance of our first riosition. Our
battery was brought to the front. Our right was held
by the Third Pennsylvania and Fifth Regulars ; our left.
"by the First Rhode Island and a squadron of the Sixth
Ohio, under Major Farrington. The enemy now re-ap
peared, evidently reinforced, and led by the famous Stuart
himself, and charged in two columns, one on the right,
the other on the left of our battery, apparently with the
intention of capturing our guns. Stuart led his Fourth
Virginia Cavalry — seven hundred strong — against our
left; this brought him face to face with the First Rhode
Island sabres. Yelling and firing their pistols, the rebels
came on, in good order, for square work. The men" of
the First Rhode Island and Sixth Ohio sat quietly in
their saddles, with drawn sabres, till the enemy had ap
proached within a hundred yards, when the swelling
order "Charge!" was given. Now came the work.
Hoc labor! The whirlwinds met. Led by the gallant.
officers — Major Farrington and Captain Rogers — our
boys sprang upon the foe. The two forces came together
at full speed — horse to horse — man to man — sabre to-

212 sabres and spurs. [March,
sabre. What a fight ! The conflict was short, deter
mined, deadly. The enemy— the famed Stuart and his
boasted Virginia Cavalry — was broken, rolled back, ut
terly repulsed, with very severe loss. Suitable exultation
ran through our ranks; and this charge was pronounced
by the general commanding to be one of the most splen
did ever made. Indeed, nothing more thrilling could
be pictured by the imagination.
At the same time the rebels were repulsed on our
right. So the victory was complete. Quickly our lines
were reformed. The enemy took refuge behind their
battery — Stuart's Horse Artillery — which opened upon
us a heavy fire, to which our battery could not respond,
as our ammunition was expended.
In this charge, Sergeant Fitzgerald (Troop G) fell
dead by a shot through the heart. Lieutenant Nicolai
and private J. W. Gardner were killed by solid shot.
Captain Baker and others were wounded by fragments
of shells. But of our particular losses we will speak
presently. Near sunset the enemy retired; the day had
been too much for their chivalry. We, having accom
plished our object of severely punishing the foe, quietly
recrossed the river and returned to Morrisville, where we
spent the night. The field of battle was an open one,
favorable for cavalry maneuvers; and this is believed to
be the first instance in the war when any considerable-
cavalry force met sabre to sabre in an ppen field fight.
To this record by Captain Bliss we add a few words
from Confederate authorities. The sharp-shooters — Sec
ond Virginia Cavalry — at the ford were under Breck
inridge. The first force met after crossing was under
Fitz Lee. The first charge made on us was by the Third
Virginia Cavalry, under Owen; another by the Fifth
Virginia, under Rosser. The Fourth Virginia was led by

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 213
Stuart; the First Virginia was led by Drake. Pelham
and Puller fell. Said the Richmond Whig: "There
were men in our lines who were engaged at Malvern Hill,
at Gaines' Mills, in many of Jackson's battles, and with
one accord they say that they never passed through such
a fearful fire as thinned our ranks in that charge." They
had five regiments engaged in the action, and Stuart's
Horse Artillery, which must have given them a force of
about three thousand effective men. Moreover, they were
acting on the defensive. The opposing forces in num
ber were nearly equal.
Some of the points of this severe and splendid battle
are thus summed up by Lieutenant Chedell: "The First
Rhode Island Regiment brought off the honors- of the
fight — the first real, and perhaps the most brilliant, cav
alry fight of the whole war. It was the first to cross the
river; ¦ the first up the bank; the first in every charge; in
most it was alone; in fact, it was at the head of every
movement, and bore the heat of the battle. The whole
loss of our brigade, I believe, was sixty-five in killed,
wounded, and missing, and forty-two of that number
were from our regiment. The loss of the rebels was
more than four times that number ; they own one hun
dred killed, and must have had nearly as many wounded.
We took nearly one hundred prisoners."
Colonel Duffie' (acting Brigadier) again proved his un
daunted courage and superior skill. It would be useless
to specify each particular case of bravery and merit,
where all officers and men nobly performed their duty,
gaining great credit both for themselves and for their
regiments. We justly feel proud of our triumph. For
our lost comrades we sincerely mourn, and extend our
heartfelt sympathy to their bereaved families and friends.
They fell heroically at the post of duty.

214 sabres and spurs. [March,
Killed. Lieutenant H. S. Nicolai (M), instantly killed
by shell: body not recovered, but buried on the field by
Mr. Brown; Sergeant J. Fitzgerald (G), by carbine shot
while charging; Joseph Gardner (E), instantly, by solid
shot. Wounded. Major P. M. Farrington, pistol shot in
neck; Captain Allen Baker, Jr., (E) two joints of fore
finger; Lieutenant G. H. Thompson (K), slightly; Lieu
tenant G. W. Easterbrook (I), flesh-wound in thigh;
Corporal Joseph W. Vincent (A), mortally, thigh broken
by carbine shot: died six days after; Sergeant J. E.
Bennett (B), slightly in foot; W. W. Hendricks" (B),
flesh-wound in thigh; Bernard Murrin (D), slightly;
George H. Snow (D), slightly; John Swindley (D), slight
ly; Corporal John Kiernan (D), mortally; Henry F.
Addleton (F), slightly; Miron W. Short (G), right arm
broken; Henry P. Jordan (G), flesh-wound in leg; Cor
poral Jesse A. Warren (I), severely in leg; Frank P.
Elkins (I), flesh-wound in leg; Franklin Tilton (I),
slightly in hand; Corporal Hugh .-Mills (K), slightly;
L. F. Porter (K), dangerously: left in a house on the
other side of the river; Corporal George W. Sleeper (L),
severely in arm.
Missing. Captain Charles H. Thayer (B), wounded,
and supposed taken prisoner; Lieutenant George W.
Darling (B), supposed taken prisoner; William H. Cook
(A). Taken Prisoners. Of Troop B, Sergeant S. H. Pick
ering, Corporal E. G. Lawton, William H. Hendrick,
wounded; of Troop 0, Corporal William P. Lovett,
wounded, William H. Barney; of Troop D, Sergeant
Albert L. Phillips, Corporal Algernon Riches, William
H. Bennett, Allen W. Towne; of Troop F, Patrick Cough-
Ian, Allen G. Abbott; of Troop K, Sergeant Calvin Rog-

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY:. 215
ers, Corporal J. C. Gage; of Troop M, Lyman Wilder,
James F. Hobbs.
Total, forty-two.
The regiment reached- its old camp near Falmouth
March 18th. After his custom, Colonel Duffie soon pre
pared the annexed official paper:
Headquarters First Cavalry Brigade, )
March 21, 1863. j
[General Orders No. 8.]
Again we have met the enemy and beaten him at all points.
He was strongly intrenched in rifle-pits at the ford ; the road lead
ing into and. out of the river barricaded with fallen trees. After
an unsuccessful attempt of the Fourth New York Cavalry to cross,
two squadrons of the First Rhode Island Cavalry, with the Sixth
Ohio, forced their way over the obstacles and across the river in
the face of a most murderous fire, surrounding and capturing
every rebel in the trenches. Immediately after, the enemy ap
peared in force; with their boasted Fourth Virginia Cavalry in
advance at a charge, supported in their flank and rear by three
full regiments. Here was an opportunity — so long sought for —
of meeting the rebel cavalry in a fair and square fight in an open
field. The Rhode Island squadron dashed at their column, broke the
head of it in a moment, and sent the whole body back to their
reserves, capturing nearly all the charging regiment with its com
mander. Again the enemy came thundering down, and these
squadrons, nobly supported by the Sixth Ohio, again showed the
chivalrous sons of the "sacred soil" that on an open field they
were no match for the hated Yankees. Although they were five
to our one, a third time the lines were formed, and this time by
their famous Stuart, who had determined, if possible, to retrieve .
his evil fortune. On they came. And then took place that ter
rific hand to hand fight — man to man — horse to horse — sabre to
sabre — which ended in their utter defeat, and our most glorious
victory. The cavalry fight at Kelly's Ford will become famous, not so
much as to the magnitude of its results — though their loss was

216 sabres and spurs. [March,
three times that of ours— but as a demonstration, beyond a doubt,
that in an open fight the rebel cavalry cannot stand Yankee sabres.
The conduct of both officers and men, during the whole day,
was beyond all praise; and had the First Massachusetts Cavalry
been with us, we should have captured' the whole famous regi
ments that were opposed to us.e Let us hope for another meeting
with the rebels, and all together we shall share our success.
While the conduct of all was meritorious, it is difficult to signal
ize any; but to the lamented Bowditch, A. A. A. G. on my staff,
mortally wounded fighting at the front; to Major Farrington,
commanding the First Rhode Island Cavalry, who was shot in the
neck during the first charge, but who remained at his post during
the entire day; to the memory of Lieutenant Nicolai (First Rhode
Island), who fell at the head of his troop; to Lieutenant Brown
(First Rhode Island), who was the first to dash into the river, and
the first to mount the parapet on the other side, whose clothes
were shot through, and whose horse was shot three times; to Cap
tain Barrett, who was in command of the Sixth Ohio Cavalry, —
especial mention is due; while to each and all, my most grateful
thanks are most cheerfully given.
By command: Colonel A. N. DUFFIE,
Commanding Brigade.
A. S. Childs, Lieutenant and A. A. A,. G.
We should add here the appropriate paper prepared for
us by the kindly pen of Nathaniel G. Stanton, M. D. :
Lieutenant Henry L. Nicolai. He was born in
Newport, R. I. , April 29, 1841, aud was naturally inclined
to military affairs, and, at the commencement of the, war,
was a member of the Newport Artillery Company. He
enlisted in the First Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers,
and held the position of fourth corporal at the first battle
of Bull Run. On the return of this three months regi
ment he enlisted in the First Rhode Island Cavalry, as
First Sergeant of Troop A. On the second day of No
vember, 1862, he was promoted to the rank of Second

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 217
Lieutenant. On the 17th of March, 1863, in the severe
¦eavalry fight at Kelly's Ford, he led his men to the
charge three several times, and was killed by a solid shot
just as victory had crowned the arms of the Union. He
was a brave and promising officer, and his loss was keenly
felt by his comrades in arms. These, at the time of his
death, paid a grateful and tender tribute to his memory.
From that paper, signed by Colonel Duffie and the officers
of our command, we make the following extracts:
"The officers of the First Rhode Island Cavalry wish
to pay an appropriate tribute to the memory of a gallant
officer, and to soften the affliction of those who mourn
his loss. A sense of duty to God and his native land
impelled him to take up arms, and his promotions were
won step by step by a constant display of zeal for our
cause and an able and manly discharge of his duties as a
soldier. Three times on the day of his death he had led
his men to victory.
" For a soldier there can be no prouder epitaph than,
'Dead upon the field of honor.' On many a weary
march, in many a scene of danger, we had learned to
admire and respect him. ' We shall meet him often in
memory's halls; his. portrait will hang on memory's walls. '
We shall never find a braver soldier or a truer man."
Who for his country gives his blood
Attests the broadest brotherhood.

19

218 SABRES AND SPURS.

[April,

CHAPTER XXVI.
SCOUT DUTY AND BATTLE.
April— Mat, 1863.
S winter was decamping, the military movements
of the year were begun. The armies were astir;
the great war waves were again rising. Having received
orders to be in readiness for a forward movement, bur
sick_and wounded were sent to a hospital established for.
the division at Acquia Creek. Dismounted men — from
killed horses — and those with unserviceable beasts, to
gether with the band, and like detachments from the
other regiments of the division, were sent to Dumfries.
All this indicated serious work.
April 13th. Now opened the spring campaign. Break
ing winter camp, -joining the cavalry corps, forward we
moved, at night bivouacking at Elkton, and the next
day (14th) moved to Bealton, on the Orange and Alexan
dria Railroad. A cavalry force saddled and packed for
a march is a peculiar sight, especially when starting
out from settled quarters on a campaign, when all
are anxious to take what comforts they can with them.
As it is one of our objects in our record to exhibit the
inner life of a cavalry regiment, we will let Sargent
describe us as we broke camp at this time:

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 219
"Just imagine your house, .your bed, your cooking
utensils, your rations, and the feed for your horse, all
on the horse's back; the things carried, and the manner
of carrying, being much as follows: On each saddle
there are three straps in front and three behind; on
front is strapped the overcoat, two pieces of shelter tent,
and a rubber talma; behind is carried the nose-bag and
saddle-bags, containing curry-comb and brush, extra
ammunition, knife, fork, and spoon; over these hangs
the haversack, containing rations; shirt and stockings
extra are rolled in the shelter tent; the blanket is put
under the saddle on top of the saddle blanket; the car
bine is slung from the left shoulder and hangs on the
right side; the revolver, in a holster attached to the
belt, is on the right hip; the sabre hangs by the left side;
each man has a quart cup for making coffee, and a tin
plate; perhaps each fourth man carries a little fry pan.
"A few days after taking the field, the men begin to
dispose of one and another of these superfluous articles,
till finally they move in what is called light marching
order; and as soon as warm weather sets in, many fling-
away their overcoats, reserving only one shelter tent. In
rear of the column moves tho pack train — and a motley
column it is; horses, packed with officers' baggage, led
by servants, some white, some black : and some officers
are allowed an extra horse. This train we call the cara
van. Behind all is the rear-guard to keep up the column
and prevent capture by guerrillas." -
April 15th.. We reached the north fork of the Rap
pahannock. Here for a week we moved up and down
the river banks as videttes, with our eyes open to all
hostile movements. Only our generals knew where we-
were to serve and what was impending. We feigned a
crossing at different fords, perplexing and bewildering

220 SABRES AND SPURS. [April,
the enemy. Strategy is the acknowledged philosophy
of war.
On taking the front at this time, Colonel Duffie, still
suffering from an injury he had received, was placed in
command of the detachments of the division left in
camp. Captain Baker was left in. charge of the detach
ment of our regiment: he still disabled by his wound
received in the late battle. Colonel H. B. Sargent, First
Massachusetts Cavalry, had command of the brigade, in
the absence of Colonel Duffie. .
The dismounted detachments were formed into a pro
visional division, that, on the fifteenth, in a severe rain
storm, started for Dumfries, to form a remount camp.
The rain was so severe that, in crossing the streams, so
swollen that the ambulances and wagons were detained,
some of the horses were drowned in fording. On the
morning of the seventeenth all had arrived at Dumfries,
a small town on the Quantico Creek, about four miles
from the Potomac, once a flourishing place, but now
about a hundred years behind the times. The detach
ments were stationed in different parts of the town, to be
able to defend the garrison. Here we were happy to meet
the Sixth Maine Battery, our old friends, who did such
splendid service at Cedar Mountain. Of the people here
we bought shad, at twenty-five cents each, and herrings
for a cent apiece; and looked on the ruins of the court
house where Patrick Henry made his celebrated speeches.
Colonel Duffie, receiving fourteen days' leave of ab
sence, was relieved by Colonel J. Irwin Gregg, Sixteenth
Pennsylvania Cavalry. These detachments 'had the
double duty of a remount camp and a guard for our
line of communication, relieving General Geary's brigade
to join the army on the front. Exposed to attacks from
guerrilla bands, the position of the camp was critical.

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 221
The movements briefly mentioned in this chapter will
be understood if it be borne in mind that General Hooker
was about to advance thefront of the Army of the Poto
mac; and, preparatory to this weighty step, sent out his
cavalry forces to feel of the enemy's lines, and to make
feints of attack in different places. General Stoneman
was sent to break the enemy's line and strike in his rear.
General Averill was commanded to keep Stuart busy and
distracted on the line of the Rapidan.
April 22d. Copious rains having swollen the river
(Rappahannock), alike rendering roads and fords im
passable, for a few days we went into partial camp near
Warrenton Junction.
April 28th. At nine o'clock P. M., receiving unex
pected mandates, we sprung to our saddles, and, ad
vancing in the darkness through deep forests, reached
Rappahannock Station at two o'clock at night, there
halting for further orders.
April 29th. Soon after daylight, spurring on to Kelly's
Ford, we found a ponton-bridge thrown across, and two
corps of infantry with artillery already over. As the
pontons were fully monopolized by others, we cavaliers,
as often we had done before, defied the flood and rose to
the opposite bank. Here we separated from the other
forces. The infantry and artillery moved towards Ger-
mania. General Stoneman, with Gregg's division and
the brigade of Regulars, moved onward for Raccoon
Ford. General Averill, with his division and one brigade
from Pleasanton's, pushed up the Culpepper road. Our
regiment was a part of Averill's command.
As we approached the battle field of March 17th, we
again met a force of the enemy. Brisk skirmishing im
mediately ensued. The fight had almost the dignity of
a battle. The guns of our battery handsomely handed
19*

222 SABRES AND spurs. [May,
thp rebels our solid sentiments; they warmly returned
the compliments. We drove them from their covert of
woods. They formed in line of battle on the open field.
We quickly moved up and formed an opposing line.
The dispute was short. They retired to their old po
sition of March 17th, not caring to meet again, as on
that sorely remembered day, the charge and steel of the
Yankees. At dark we bivouacked in the woods, leaving
a strong line of pickets on our front. During the day
we had but one horse wounded, but we lost three men by
capture — B. F. Hiscox, G. D. Potter, and I. Westcott,
of Troop F.
April 30th. The enemy showed no pickets. Finding
the grave of Lieutenant Nicolai near the centre of the
battle field, a stone marked N was placed at the head of
it. Cautiously we moved forward by Brandy Station to
Culpepper Court House. As our skirmishers entered the
town, we saw the rear of the retreating foe dashing over
the hill beyond. Pressing forward, we crossed the gory
battle field of Cedar Mountain, gazed tenderly on the
patriot graves, passed round the mountain, and halted
at night by the Rapidan, over which retreating Stuart
had just passed.
May 1st. With the river between ns, we found the
Confederates ready to give us battle. Cannonading and
carbine discussions commenced early and lasted all the
day. Our battery, under Major Zedball, of the First
United States Artillery, made much sport by firing upon
and balking a locomotive with which the "gray backs"
were trying to get off a train. Captain Chase (Troop H)
started with a force to burn the bridge, but the rebels,
anticipating his errand, were kind enough to burn it for
him. The firing ceased with the day. Lieutenant
Phillips, First Massachusetts, was wounded in the neck.

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 223
Sergeant Earl (Troop F) received a flesh-wound in the
arm. The house of the rebel General A. H. Taliaferro
was struck by a shell.
May 2d. With good roads, but a hot day, we pushed
on through Stephensburg, and by night reached Ellis'
Ford, on the right of General Hooker's line. The next
day, crossing the ford, we passed through the earth
works and bivouacked with the Army of the Potomac,
now up and girded for terrible action.
May 4th. The great battle of Chancellorsville was
raging. The enemy opened fire at an early hour. Gen
eral Reynolds called for a cavalry force to make a recon
noissance, and Major Farrington with one squadron of
our regiment and one of the Sixth Ohio — well known
and fast friends — were ordered for the service. Passing
out of the earthworks on the right, our men moved as
ordered towards Ellis' Ford again, and found the enemy
had crossed since we left the day before. Commencing
by skirmish, we found the foe as infantry or dismounted
cavalry. Having only five carbines, as we used sabres
and pistols, we were not in order for such opponents,
whose shots whistled briskly around our ears. Having
orders to go to the ford if possible, Major Farrington
bravely pushed on with his little command. Two men
of the Sixth Ohio were wounded, and a number of horses
were killed. As we advanced, the enemy on the left
drove in our skirmishers, and, coming up in our rear,
gave us a volley. But we reached the river, three miles
from all support, and, placing pickets at the ford, formed.
in line with drawn sabres, and stood ready for defense.
Thus we were in the lines of the enemy, they being in
our rear, on our left, and in our front. General Robert
son, with two regiments of infantry and two pieces of
artillery, started out to support us, but, when only a mile

224 SABRES AND SPURS. [May,
outside the pickets, was driven back with five wounded.
We held our isolated position for two and a half hours,
the rebel sharp-shooters doing their best to discomfit us.
Finally the enemy opened with artillery, and commenced
to move upon our left. Now our condition was truly
desperate. After consulting the officers, Major Farring
ton resolved to fight his way out rather than to return
home by the way of Richmond. We had two prisoners
with us. Taking one of these, who was familiar with
the country, we informed him that he could have his
choice — accept the contents of a pistol or guide us out of
our dilemma by a forest path on our right of which he
had spoken. He led us, and we escaped the foe, safely
reaching again General Hooker's earthworks. Had the
rebels known the smallness of our force they would have
crushed us. It was reported that we were lost. To the
coolness and bravery of Major Farrington great praise is
due. At night General Reynolds desired us to make another
reconnoissance — evidently counting upon our nerve.
Passing beyond the pickets where we had entered the
line, we scouted through the thick woods to the road on
which we passed out in the morning. Returning to our
army line on the left of where we went out, we came so
unexpectedly upon the line of abattis that General Paul's
brigade, taking us to be foes, gave us a terrible volley
from the earthworks. Happily we were below the crest
of a hill, so that the bullets passed over our heads. Had
not our messenger reported promptly, we should have
next received grape and canister that would have swept
our whole column. Passing within the earthworks, we
thankfully rested for the night. The next day we re
turned to our headquarters in camp, a short distance
from our old winter quarters near Potomac Creek Station.

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 225
It will be noticed that we were acting only as sGonts
and feelers for the Army of the Potomac, on the edge of
the great and sad battle field of Chancellorsville. Hooker
had an army of more than a hundred thousand to act
against Lee, who had perhaps sixty thousand. But Lee
had every advantage of position and lines. He paid no
attention to General Stoneman, who struck him in the
rear, nor to General Sedgwick, who smote him on his
right, till he had dealt a stunning blow upon Hooker's
main column at Chancellorsville; then he attended to
the minor forces. Hooker lost seventeen thousand men.
Lee lost over twelve thousand; among these was the
famous "Stonewall" Jackson. The battle opened May
second and lasted three days. After such a battle, by
necessity both armies desire rest.
May 15th. Making ready, we moved to a delightful
spot, about one mile from Potomac Creek Station, and
half a mile from the creek, in a beautiful oak wood on a
hill overhanging a deep, romantic glen, in which was a
clear, cold fountain called "Isinglass Spring." This we
called " Camp Delightful." But the dark shades of the
battle were still around us; near by were three large
groups of hospital tents filled with our wounded from
the field of Chancellorsville, and for a number of days
long trains of ambulances were engaged bringing over
the river those left in the enemy's hands, but now paroled.
General Averill having been relieved from duty with
the Army of the Potomac, Colonel Duffie was called to
take command of the division. And now the remount
camp was transferred from Dumfries to Potomac Creek,
on the 27th of May, from which point our regiment
received all its supplies.

226 SABRES AND spurs. [May,

CHAPTER XXVII.
PICKET SERVICE AND FIGHT.
May— June, 1863.
AY 19th. The regiment went out for three
days' service on picket near Banks' Ford. On
the twenty-fifth, at an early hour, we left " Camp De
lightful " for service on the front to the northwest, and
moved on towards Bealton Station, bivouacking for the
night at Grove Church, and reached our station the next
day, where we were joined by some of our men from
Dumfries. Our command was now engaged in picket
duty from the north fork of the Rappahannock to Alex
andria. At Bealton we laid out a camp and resumed
some regularity of field life, though the location had the
disadvantage of scarcity of good, clear water.
May 27th. General Gregg's headquarters were beyond
ours at Rappahannock Station. In the evening it was
rumored that the Confederate cavalry were concentrating
in large force in Culpepper and vicinity, with the design
of crossing the river at Sulphur Springs. Horses were
saddled, and men slept on their arms, waiting for the
bugles to bid us on to face the foe. About midnight we
were aroused. The enemy had commenced to cross at

1863.] FIRST RHODE island cavalry. 227
the Springs; indeed, their van had reached Warrenton
and driven in our pickets. Our second and third bat
talions sprung to their saddles and were off to the front
with ready sabres; but, finding the foe indulging only in
a reconnoitering movement and not ready for close work,
sent back to report the situation. Still the enemy lin
gered in some scattered force this side of the river.
May 28th. During the day the enemy fell back to the
south side, and at night our troops, except Captain
Wyman's squadron (K and L), returned to our camp.
Captain Wyman remained near the ford till daylight of
the 29th, then crossed the stream aud reconnoitered, and
finally safely returned to camp. These inconspicuous
services, so constantly required of cavalry, were always
laborious and hazardous. A portion of the rebel cavalry
were still in Fauquier County, harassing our front and
lines of communication.
May 29th. We received intelligence that a train of
fourteen cars, loaded with forage and rations, containing
also a four days' mail, had been attacked and destroyed
the day before by the ubiquitous and wily Mosby and
his guerrillas. Preceded by Gregg's division, that hur
ried to Cedar Run and Catlett Station, we, on the morn
ing of the thirtieth, moved from Bealton to within about
two miles of Warrenton Junction, where in a forest of
oak we encamped, though the spot was illy supplied with
water. Here we were miles outside of the main army,
connected with it only by videttes and patrols, occupy
ing an isolated and exposed position. As we faced north
west, Hooker lay in our rear, the Confederates on our
left and in our front. The special work of our division
was to watch and guard the fords of the Rappahannock.
Besides a picket reserve at the different fords, and a grand
reserve of pickets, one regiment was kept constantly sad-

228 SABRES AND SPURS. [Julie,
died, ready to spring to the relief of any attacked party.
The different regiments of the division served their turn
each of twenty-four hours.
Thus we were prepared at a moment's notice to meet
and repel an assault. Should the foe come in large force
we could hold them at bay till our reserves could be
brought up. Mosby's guerrillas now infested the coun
try from Fairfax on the east to the forks of the Rappa
hannock on the west; but they adroitly managed to keep
well out of the reach of loyal sabres, their policy being
to attack where there was no doubt of success — such as
single horsemen, small scouting parties, and unprotected
wagon trains. Despite their arts, and ambushes and
dashes, our patrols and scouting parties dashed up and
down the country.
The pretenses and strategy of these guerrillas were well
understood. Now they would appear mounted and
armed, ready for fight and plunder; anon, when hard
pushed, they would vanish, and might be found in hum
blest dress, wielding the hoe or other peaceful instru
ments. Now they were car burners and plunderers; now
they were poor oppressed farmers, bewailing their sad
fate, perhaps stoutly averring that they were Union men.
Such was the proud chivalry of Virginia: to-day, swear
ing marauders; to-morrow, whining sufferers. Not that
this was true of all Virginians, but only of too many.
We honored the open, earnest, heroic Jackson, who met
us like a soldier; we could only despise the skulking
Mosby. June 3d. The enemy, under Stuart, succeeded in
driving back our videttes and crossing in considerable
force at Sulphur Springs. They were held in check by
Lieutenant-Colonel Curtis with the main portion of his
gallant First Massachusetts Cavalry, until Colonel Duffie

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 229
at the head of his old brigade (now under Colonel Oes-
nolia) went out to his assistance. Quickly the foe fell
back across the river, and we returned to camp about
midnight. General Stoneman being absent on account of ill health,
General Pleasanton commanded the corps. Colonel
Duffie was at the head of our division. Our brigade
was under Colonel Leighton, but as he was away on
leave of absence, we were commanded by Colonel Ces-
nolia, of the Fourth New York Cavalry.
From the constant wear and tear and strokes of war,
that is, sickness, exhaustion, wounds, deaths, and cap
tures, and the special details made from our ranks for
orderlies and remote service, only about two-thirds of
the regiment were now on the front to answer the bugle
calls for regular action. The wear of a cavalry regiment
is very great, on account of the number, variety and re
sponsibility of its services.
At this point in our record we must regretfully part
with the gifted pen of Lieutenant Chedell, upon which
for many months we havelargely depended. The noble
officer is soon to fall for his country.
June 8th. Broke camp again and marched until mid
night. Rumors reached us that the rebel cavalry were
at Culpepper.
June 9th. At two and a half A. M. resumed our
march and approached the Rappahannock shortly after
daylight, and found our cavalry guarding the fords and
bridges. With the rest of our division, under Colonel
Duffie, we crossed at Kelly's Ford, and skirmished with
the enemy's cavalry across the plains of the old Kelly's
Ford fight as far as Stephensburg, h-olding that town till
three o'clock in the afternoon, when a despatch was re
ceived to join General Pleasanton at Beverly Ford, by
20

230 SABRES AND SPURS. [Julie,
way of Brandy Station. With promptness Colonel Duf
fie obeyed the order and moved to Brandy Station, skir
mishing all the way. Though at arm's length, the blows
were often sharp and telling. 'On reaching General
Pleasanton at Beverly Ford, we found that the rebels
had retired. In the disputes of the day our losses were —
killed, J. Hammell and Patrick Hughes, Troop F; cap
tured, Sergeant William H. Durfee, F. Decker and A.
Chamoise, Troop H.
Commenting on this day's action, the Richmond Ex
aminer said:
"The more the circumstances of the late affair at
Brandy Station are considered, the less pleasant do they
appear. If this was an isolated case it might be excused
under the convenient head of accident or chance; but
this much puffed cavalry of Northern Virginia has been
twice, if not three times, surprised since the battles of
December, and such repeated accidents can be regarded
as nothing but the necessary consequences of negligence
and bad management. If the war was a tournament
invented and supported for the pleasure and profit of a
few vain and weak-headed officers, these disasters might
be dismissed with compassion. But the country pays
dearly for the blunders which encourage the enemy to
overrun and devastate the land with a cavalry which is
daily learning to despise the mounted troops of the Con
federacy. It is high time that this branch of the service
should be reformed."
June 10th. With victorious guidons, we leisurely
marched back to our camp at Warrenton Junction.
June llth. General Stoneman having been placed at
the head of the Cavalry Bureau at Washington, General
Pleasanton was announced as the commander of the
cavalry corps, and he reviewed our regiment.

1863s] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 231
June 12th. We lost three men by capture : R. W. Bixby
and John Murin, of Troop C, and C. B. Hilchey, Troop G.
June 13th. The last of our army left Falmouth, push
ing northerly. The remount detachment of our regi
ment left Potomac Creek at midnight, after setting fire
to all the property that could not be removed, amounting
to nearly half a million of dollars in value. The Poto
mac Creek bridge was mined and blown up. War is not
checked by trifles. Our detachment, marching to Acquia
Creek, took steamer to Alexandria, where they arrived
June 14th, and formed a camp on the point near tho
light-house, to the southeast of the town, and where, in
a few days, the regiment, fearfully scarred in battle,
reported, as we shall state in our next chapter.
Early in this month (June) the Confederates com
menced their second attempt to invade the loyal States.
The war within their own bounds was becoming intoler
able; their hope was in a counter irritation. Lee had
laid his plot coolly and deeply, and with a reinforced and
somewhat flushed army started on that grand movement
which so profoundly excited both the North and the
South, and which culminated in the awfully bloody
battle of Gettysburg. While pushing his main army
down the Shenandoah Valley, capturing Winchester and
Martinsburg, he employed Stuart and his Virginia cav
alry on the east of the Blue Ridge to check as far as
possible the movements of Hooker's army. Instantly
the Army of the Potomac began to push northward to
strike Lee in his rear and cut him off. As always in
battle movements, our cavalry force was employed in the
van and on the exposed flanks of the army. The heavy
skirmishing, often amounting to severe battles, occurred
along the slopes of the Blue Ridge and Bull Run Mount
ains, till Lee had entered Maryland and Pennsylvania.

232 sabres and spurs. [June,

CHAPTER XXVIII.
BATTLE OF MIDDLEBURG.
June, 1863.
LTHEN the Army of the Potomac commenced
^V its northward movement to overtake Lee, our
brigade was ordered towards Bull Run River, near Union
Mills, where General Pleasanton then held his head
quarters. All movements were quick; all pulses beat
high. June 17th. Early the following order was received
from the second brigade, Second Cavalry Division:
Colonel A. N. Duffie, First Rhode Island Cavalry :
You will proceed with your regiment from Manassas Junction,
by way of Thoroughfare Gap, to Middleburg; there you will
camp for the night, and communicate with the headquarters of
the Second Cavalry Brigade. From Middleburg you will proceed
to Union; thence to Snickersville; from Snickersville to Percy-
ville; thence to Wheatland, and, passing through Waterford, to
Nolan's Ferry, where you will join your brigade.
Of our action under this order and the battle that en
sued, we may copy from a paper prepared by Captain
George N. Bliss :
"On the morning of June 17th our regiment left

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 233
Manassas Junction and passed to the left towards Thor
oughfare Gap, while the remainder of our cavalry took
the road to the right leading towards Aldie. At Thor
oughfare Gap we found a force of rebel cavalry, reported
to be a brigade. Major Farrington states that he saw
about five hundred, while more might have been con
cealed in the woods. After a smart skirmish, in which
we had three horses killed and a few wounded, the rebels
fell back. We then took the road to Middleburg, and,
two miles out of the place, again encountered the rebel
cavalry. At once driving them back, we charged upon
the town and took possession of it. But as soon as we
stopped pursuit, the rebels also halted Wd commenced
skirmishing with our pickets.
"Quickly we barricaded the roads leading out of the
town, located our main reserve in a favorable position,
and took a sharp view of the situation. In our rear were
the Bull Run Mountains. Thoroughfare Gap was in
possession of the foe. In the direction of Aldie, from
whence alone we could expect help, was a large force of
the enemy's cavalry. In our front was a heavy cavalry
force, with artillery and infantry. Ours was a desperate
position to hold; but our orders were to hold it. At this
time Captain Allen was sent to communicate with Gen
eral Kilpatrick, and, though halted and hotly fired upon,
succeeded in running the rebel lines and reached Aldie.
After sunset the rebels charged upon the barricade be
yond the town, and were repulsed; but as soon as they
discovered the nature of the obstructions, they deployed
their column and came on with a long line of battle
through the fields. Then of course the pickets fell back
upon our main reserve, our carbineers were dismounted
and posted behind a stone-wall running along one side
of the road, and we waited for the attack. Nor had we
20*

234 SABRES AND SPURS. [Julie,
long to wait. Down the road dashed the rebel column —
men riding four abreast — yelling and firing like demons.
When the road was full in front of our line of carbineers,
the order was given, " Fire ! " and eighty carbines hurled
death into the rebel ranks.
" When we state that this occurred in the darkness of
the night, and that the enemy, ignorant of our position,
were in such order that every carbine discharged was
within six feet of a rebel soldier, you can form some esti
mate of the fatal effect of our fire. Rider and horse
went down in one confused mass ; and those who were
unhurt rushed wildly away from the scene of slaughter.
"Again they charged; again they were repulsed. A
third time they made an effort, but with diminished zeal,
and recoiled from our fire. Then we heard the rebel
officers give the order, ' Cease firing! Dismount! and go
into these. woods.'
" For us to struggle longer against overwhelming num
bers was impossible, and we were commanded to fall
back. The larger part of the regiment retired in good
order, moving to the rear at a walk. But the rebels
were so near us that Captain Chase, with many of his
men, in the darkness, formed into a rebel column, sup
posing them to be a part of our regiment. Major Far
rington, with two of his officers and twenty-three men,
was at this time cut off from the remainder of the com
mand, and was within the rebel lines twenty-four hours,
but succeeded at last in bringing his party safely into
our lines. He and his men were obliged to stand by
their horses' heads to prevent them from whinnowing,
while rebel columns were passing most of the time within
twenty rods of them, they being hid from view by a
small hillock — a very anxious twenty-four hours to them.
Sergeant Palmer also was cut off from the regiment with

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 235
twelve men, and brought them safely through the rebel
lines. The adventures of these two parties were exciting,
but we have not space here to present them.
" These losses left Colonel Duffie less than two hun
dred men. With these he fell back two miles from Mid
dleburg and waited for daylight, anxiously listening for
the roar of Kilpatrick's guns. But the succor we hoped
for came not. And at daybreak (18th) the enemy were
upon us. Our column was quickly placed in the road,
aud we were about to charge upon the rebels in our front
when we discovered a rebel column coming down at a
charge upon our rear. This forced us to leap our horses
over a stone-wall into a wheat field, which necessarily
threw us into confusion. But we quickly rallied, and
while forming the line a rebel officer shouted, ' Give them
a sabre charge!' to which Captain Bliss replied, 'That is
just (vhat we want. ' After quickly forming the line, we
charged and drove every rebel out of the field. The road
was then clear in the direction in which we wished to
move, and we took it in column of fours, in good order,
determined to cut our way through whatever opposed
our passage; but the rebels charged upon our rear before
we had gone two miles.
"This blow upon us occurred in a deeply gullied
mountain road, with stone fences on top of the banks
on each side, so that we could only retreat, and this we
therefore did. The rebels pursued us about six miles,
constantly firing into our rear, and shouting,- ' Halt !
Surrender ! It's no use ! ' But, to the honor of our men
be it told, not a man yielded himself a prisoner volun
tarily; but, turning in their saddles, our soldiers returned
the fire, and some of our pursuers were seen to fall be
neath the deadly aim of our boys. The hard service
our horses had seen told against us, and large numbers

236 sabres and spurs. [June,
were surrounded and taken from this cause. Some,
however, took advantage of the dust that obscured every
thing, and, dashing into the woods, escaped by footing
it through the rebel lines over Bull Run Mountains.
Among this number was your correspondent."
Colonel Duffie finally succeeded in escaping through
Hopewell Gap, with four officers and twenty-seven men,
and when he looked around and saw how few remained,
the tears ran down his cheeks, expressing what words
may not utter. Bruised, exhausted, and grieved, he and
his little band reached Centreville at noon.
The Color-Sergeant, G. A. Robbins (Troop I), finding
that capture was inevitable, stripped the regimental
standard from the staff, broke the staff and threw it
into the forest, and, opening his bosom, wrapped the
colors about his body, and so concealed them. He was
captured, but on his way to Richmond, after a number
of days, escaped and found his way back into our lines.
Finding at length the headquarters of the broken but
brave and honored regiment, he reported for duty, and
then drew from his breast the loved and precious colors —
an act that drew tears of gratitude and admiration from
all beholders, and shouts of applause from his brave
comrades, and won instantly for him a Lieutenant's
commission. Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson and eighteen men cut
their way through, and finally reported to General Pleas
anton, and, taking the men detailed at cavalry corps
headquarters, reported to the Colonel, at Alexandria,
with eighty men. Lieutenant Brown and a squad re
mained in the forest, after vainly attempting to cut a
path out, till noon of the eighteenth, when a Federal
force reached him. One of our captured men states that
the rebels had sixteen stretchers in use upon the field,

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 237
removing their wounded to town. Evidently our car
bines did fearful execution. The rebels admitted a heavy
loss, and spoke of our regiment in high terms of praise,
and were unwilling to believe that our two hundred and
seventy-five men were not a brigade.
While we were thus fighting at Middleburg, the bri
gade to which we belonged was engaged at Aldie, in the
Bull Run Mountains, and the enemy were between them
and us. So we were beyond help from our forces till we
cut our way back to them. All the details of adventure
and conflict in this battle of Middleburg would make a
record too lengthy for our pages. Our casualties were as
follows: Killed. Lieutenant J. A. Chedell (C), Corporal T.
Burton (F), S. Wilcox (D), J. H. Elkins (M), Charles
Fairbanks (M), B. G. Lawrence (M).
Wounded. Captain A. H. Bixby (D), Lieutenant B.
Ellis (L), Lieutenant S. Brown (G), Sergeant G. H.
Steele (K), Corporal G. W. Gorton (D), Corporal G. S.
Bennett (D), Corporal L. Cronan (C), 0. F. Merrill (I),
George C. Eustiss'(M).
Missing. Captain E. E. Chase (H), Adjutant E. B.
Parker, Surgeon A. A. Mann, Lieutenant C. G. A. Peter
son (D), Lieutenant H. P. Barker (B), Lieutenant J. M.
Fales (F); (Troop A) Sergeant J. R. Umfreville, Ser
geant J. F. Scott, Sergeant J. W. Pratt, Sergeant P. AV.
Wilkie, Corporal F. L. Fuller, Corporal T. Linerhan, J.
Adams, C. H. Bachelor, C. E. Gould, A. H. Herrick,
M. Lynch, G. H. Martin, E. F. Oatley, E. B. Pendle
ton, W. F. Peck, J. Rathbone, J. S. Ripley, S. F. Slo
cum, II. West, I. York, H. B. Borden; (Troop B) Cor
poral G. S. Northup, Corporal E. B. Meyers, Corporal
H. Wellman, 0. Brown, B. Church, A. Draper, G. Hawk
ins, W. A. Johnson, J. Leedham, G. W. Meyers, IT. T.

238 SABRES AND SPURS. [June,
Nichols, J. W. Rothwell, W. H. Sutton, W. H. Tourjee;
(Troop C) Sergeant N. Atwood, Sergeant C. Hubart,
Corporal W. H. Latham, A. T. Hicks, E. S. Carter, J.
Dimond, J. Dyer, J. Burke, W. B. Ford, S. R. Greene,
H. E. Kindred, C. H. Shultz, H. Sutherland, J. Cavan-
agh, C. H. Colburn, J. Bevar; (Troop D) Sergeant R.
A. Phillips, Corporal G. T. Reynolds, Corporal H. H.
Pierce, J. A. Joslin, J. Beckton, E. F. Co'] well, S. Can-
tello, A. Durfee, A. A. Greene, P. Hock, W. H. Lawton,
S. Minor, R. McDonald, A. P. Palmer, G. W. Stearns,
W. A. Wellman, G. .Ashworth, J. Barnes, W. Hackley;
(Troop E) Sergeant A. Walker, Sergeant- E. P. Abbott,
Sergeant G. A. Kempton, Sergeant A. Hurdis, Corporal
L. C. Stevens, Corporal J. Murphy, A. Doherty, H.
Mulholland, G. F. Stone, W. H. Remington, M. Farrell,
J. Fletcher; (Troop F) Sergeant W. Gardner, Corporal
M. Crane, Corporal C. W. Bowen, Corporal D. A.
Mathewson, Corporal G. B. Bennett, J. Bennett, J.
Grimley, Jr., J. Knight, R. J. Lillibridge, J. Straight,
J. Tebo; (Troop G) Sergeant E. C. Martin, Corporal C.
R. Cross, Corporal D. S. Cook, Bugler F. Coburn, J. W.
Bidmead, W. Butman, W. Comstock, J. Conlin, J.
Crossen, J. A. Hall, 0. Hall, P. Mullin, P. J. Rounds,
J. Sheridan, W. R. Spink, G. P. Thurber, J. Brown;
(Troop H) Sergeant H. A. Carder, Sergeant C. T. Lee,
Corporal H. Duxbury, Corporal T. Pinkerton, Corporal
F. B. Tefft, Corporal N. Hopkins, Jr., Corporal N. Ser-
vatius, T. B. Gould, W. Carney, P. Harrigan, W. Jenkins,
G. Kettle, L. Mitchell, J. Nichols, J. J. Spencer, J. A.
Caldwell, F. Buckley; (Troop I) Sergeant F. P. Stone,
Sergeant M. B. Davis, Sergeant G. A. Bobbins, Sergeant
J. S. Cilley, Corporal G. A. Webster, Corporal S. W.
Laighton, Corporal S. Davis, Corporal W. H. Everett,
C. D. Dimmick, A. L. Cilley, H. Fortier, J. Hunt, S.

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 239
Lamprey, D. S. Mooney, H. H. Morrison, I. L. Stock-
bridge, W. Woods, H. Taylor, T. H. Shepard, H. Web
ster, W. Jackson; (Troop K) Sergeant C. Rogers, Ser
geant J. D. Gage, Bugler A. P. Tasker, A. Cochran, J.
M. Crystal, E. Davis, D. W. Furbur, C. A. Glidden, A.
A. Hall, W. H. Hart, F. H. Phillips, M. Quimby, N.
Reynolds, S. J. Sawyer, R. C. Smith, H. Wilson; (Troop
L) Sergeant G. W. White, Sergeant L. V. Thorn, Cor
poral B. F. Locke, Corporal W. W. Turtle, Corporal W.
W. Lovejoy, Corporal "C. C. Clark, N. Reynolds, W. H.
Chase, M. V. B. Davis, A. Burbank, C. W. Corey, J. B.
Hill, J. V. Herrick, W. R. Marden, J. Marshall", G. P.
Rowe, J. P. Wheeler, J. M. Southwick; (Troop M) Ser
geant S. B. Weston, Sergeant N. P. Kidder, Sergeant
R B. Shapley, Sergeant H. Leavitt, Corporal J. H.
Shapley, Corporal C. B. Sheldon, Corparal E. Leavitt,
Corporal A. Smith, Corporal B. L. Carr, Bugler W. H.
J. Thompson, J. Avery, C. L. Bowen, G. Y. Terrell, J.
C. Greene, H. P. Hubbard, C. S. Kidder, W. H. Lover-
ing, J. W. Warren, W. S. Bradwick, R. A. Brown,
Chief Bugler J. W. Day, Hospital Steward E. D. White.
Summary: Killed, 6; wounded, 20; missing, 210.
Of the twenty wounded, some were among the cap
tured. It is only marvelous that any of the command
escaped death and capture. We were literally thrown
into the jaws of war. Of the two hundred and ten
missing, only about one hundred and seventy were car
ried to Richmond; the rest adroitly managed to escape
the foe, and finally reached our lines.
From Colonel Duffle's official report of this terrible
action, made at Centreville June 18th, we make appro
priate extracts:
*******I left camp on the morning of the
17th instant, with my regiment, two hundred and eighty strong,

240 SABRES AND SPURS. [Julie,
and proceeded to Thoroughfare Gap. At this place the enemy
was met in force, and being much stronger than my command, I
was obliged, in order t.o pass my regiment on to the Middleburg
road unseen, to make a demonstration on my left flank. This
maneuver was successful, — the enemy retired, and I was enabled
. to gain the Middleburg road. Nevertheless, they followed in my
rear, but at a considerable distance, causing me no uneasiness.
It was then nine and a half o'clock A. M. At eleven o'clock their
skirmishers disappeared, and I proceeded unmolested until four
o'clock P. M., when approaching Middleburg, my skirmishers
again met and engaged the enemy, capturing his first picket in
the road. I ordered Captain Allen, commanding the advanced
squadron, to charge through the town. By this movement the
rear-guard of General Stuart was cut'ofE, and then a brisk cavalry
fight ensued between his rear and my advance guard. This en
gagement lasted half an hour, when the enemy was completely
routed, and forced to retreat in the greatest disorder and con
fusion, scattering in every direction.
Learning that Stuart, with two thousand cavalry and four pieces.
of artillery, had left town but half an hour before my arrival, and
proceeded towards Aldie, I ordered that the different roads lead
ing into the town be barricaded and strongly picketed, and in
structed the officers commanding the outposts to hold the place
at all hazards, hoping that after effecting communication with
the brigade, which I supposed to be at Aldie, I should receive
reinforcements. Captain Allen was selected to carry a despatch
to General Kilpatrick, and directed to avoid as much as possible
all main roads.
The town was held by my command from four and a half to
seven o'clock P. M., during which time the skirmishers had been
constantly engaged. At seven I learned that the enemy was ap
proaching in force from Union, Aldie, and Upperville. Deter
mined to hold the place if possible, I dismounted one-half of the
regiment, placing them behind stone- walls and barricades. The
enemy surrounded the town, and stormed the barricades, but
were gallantly repulsed by my men, with great slaughter.
They did not desist, but, confident of success, again advanced.
to the attack, and made three successive charges. I was com
pelled to retire on the road by which I came, that being the only
one open to retreat, and with all that was left of my command I

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 241
crossed Little River, northeast of Middleburg, and bivouacked
for the night, establishing strong pickets on the river.
At ten P. M. , having heard nothing from the despatch sent to
General Kilpatrick, at Aldie, I sent twenty men, under an officer,
to carry a second despatch. I have since learned that Captain
Allen succeeded in making his way through the enemy's lines to
Aldie; the party bearing the second despatch was probably cap
tured. At three and a half o'clock the next morning, the 18th instant,
I was informed by scouts, whom I had previously sent out, that
the roads in every direction were full of the enemy's cavalry, and
that the road to Aldie was held by a brigade with four pieces of
artillery. Under these circumstances, I abandoned the project of
going to Union, but made up my mind not to surrender in any
event. I directed the head of my column on the road to Aldie,
•when an engagement commenced at once, the enemy opening on
both flanks with heavy volleys, yelling to us to surrender. I at
once directed Captain Bixby, the officer commanding the advance
guard, to charge any force in his front, and follow the Aldie road
to that point where it connects with the road to White Plains.
This order was executed most admirably. Captain- Bixby's horse
was shot and he himself wounded.
We were then in an extremely hazardous position, the enemy
being in front, rear, and on both flanks, and were intermixed with
us for more than an hour, till we reached the road leading to
Hopeville Gap. I must freely praise the gallant conduct of the
brave officers and men who were fighting side by side with\over-
whelming numbers of the enemy, with the most determined valor,
preferring rather to die than to surrender. A. N. DUFFIE,
Colonel Commanding Regiment.

It is proper to add the report from Captain Allen: \

Camp First Rhode Island Cavalry,
Alexandria, Va., June 22, 1863.

Colonel A. N. Duffie :
Sir: — I have the honor to report, that about five o'clock P. M.,
on the evening of the 17th instant, I was sent from Middleburg,
where the regiment was then engaged with the enemy, to carry a
21

242 sabres and spurs. [June,
despatch to General Kilpatrick at Aldie, accompanied by two
men. I first attempted to proceed by the main road, but was
halted and fired upon by a body of the enemy, who said they
were the Fourth Virginia Cavalry. I then returned towards Mid
dleburg, and leaving the road attempted to make my way across
the country. I found the fields and woods in every direction full
of bodies of the enemy; by exercising the greatest care, I suc
ceeded in making my way through them to Little River. Here I
encountered five ef the enemy and forced them to give me passage.
Following the river down, I struck the main road about one mile
from Aldie, and by inquiry learned that our pickets were on that
road. I reached Aldie and delivered my despatch to General Kil
patrick at nine P. M. General Kilpatrick informed me that his
brigade was so worn out that he could not send any reinforce
ments to Middleburg, but that he would report the situation of
our regiment to General Gregg. Returning, he said that General
Gregg had gone to state the facts to General Pleasanton, and
directed me to remain at Aldie until he heard from General
Pleasanton. I remained, but received no further orders.
Respectfully submitted, FRANK ALLEN,
Captain First Rhode Island Cavalry.
In another communication from Colonel Duffie we. find
the following language: "I could certainly have saved
my regiment in the night, but my duty as a soldier and
as Colonel obliged me to be faithful to my orders. Dur
ing those moments of reflection, and knowing that my
regiment was being sacrificed, contemplating all this
through more than five hours, my heart was bleeding
in seeing the lives of those men, whom I had led so many
times, sacrificed through the neglect and utter forgetful
ness of my superior officers; but in the midst of my grief
I found some consolation, beholding the manner in which
the Rhode Island boys fought."
Affection forbids that we should close this tragic and
painful chapter of our history without some special and

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 243
honorable mention of the Christian man and gallant
officer who fell in the sanguinary scene; and the more
do we owe him a record from the fact that he ably repre
sented the regiment by his pen as well as by his sabre.
Lieutenant Joseph A. Chedell. He was a native of
Barrington, R. I., and at the opening of the war was a
student of medicine in the office of Dr. Newell, of Provi
dence, R. I., with whom he enlisted in our regiment,
filling the position of Hospital Steward. He was mus
tered into the service December 14, 1861. Faithful at
his post, and evincing talent and ambition for service in
the line, he received, January 14, 1863, a commission as
Second Lieutenant. Capable and beloved, he was hon
ored by all with whom he associated. Bravely he filled
his position in numerous scouts and skirmishes, and es
pecially in the battles of Kelly's Ford, Chancellorsville,
Brandy Station, and Middleburg, in which last he fell at
the post of duty. He was buried on a farm near the
battle field, but the body was subsequently exhumed by
his comrades, when the fortunes of war brought them
back to the scene of disaster, placed in a coffin and re-
buried with tenderness, and was afterwards taken to
Washington by the Government, and from thence brought
by relatives to Providence, R. I.
Few young men have a purer, brighter record than
Lieutenant Chedell. To live uprightly, to do one's whole
duty, and finally to crown a loving, spotless life with a.
martyr's death, are characteristics which seldom unite in
one so young. In short, he lived and died a patriot, a
soldier, and a Christian.
His body having reached Providence, R. I., on Sun
day, December 9, 1866, funeral honors were observed in
the Bethel Church, led by Rev. John Taylor, who spoke
from the words, "I have fought a good fight; I have

244 SABRES AND SPURS. [June,
finished my course," etc. Major Farrington, Surgeon
Newell, Captains Baker, Bliss and Darling, and many of
the rank and file of our regiment were present, some
acting as pall-bearers — all true mourners. At the con
clusion of the services, the Providence Horse Guards,
acting as escort, saluted the hearse, and, moving at the
head of the procession, passed through Benefit street to
the North Burying Ground. The coffin, decorated with
the American flag, was handled by cavalry men, and
saluted by all in military form and spirit. Over the
grave were fired the three honorary volleys, and the re
mains were left to repose among the ashes of kin and
friends. But the memory of the young hero is with us
and with his country.
Brave brother, our tribute we render to thee;
On the mountains of battle you fell for the free.

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 245

CHAPTER XXIX.
CAPTIVITY OF CAPTAIN EDWARD E. CHASE.
June, 1863— Februabt, 1865.
E give another inside view of the Confederacy,
'following the pen of the brave and beloved
Captain whose name always stood high upon our roll,
and whose bitter experiences among our enemies should
have a place in our patriot history:
" The prisoners captured by the enemy at Middleburg,
Va., on the night of June 17, 1863, and the day follow
ing, were marched, during seven days, by way of Upper-
ville, Winchester (where we tarried under guard two
days), and the Shenandoah Valley, to Staunton — a dis
tance of about one hundred and forty miles, where we
arrived on the evening of June 24th. On the 25th, we
were placed on the cars, and arrived at Libby Prison,
Richmond, in the evening. The reports that had pre
viously reached us of the treatment which we might
expect to receive at the hands of the rebels having charge
of the prison were more than fully justified. When we
were placed in line and underwent the usual examina
tion, watch, money, and other valuables were taken from
us, and any protesting on the part of the unlucky Yan-
21*

246 SABRES AND SPURS. [Jutyj
kees was sure to bring forth remarks from the prison
officials more forcible than elegant. All of us that were
officers were assigned to .quarters on the two upper floors
of the building, when we proceeded to make ourselves as
comfortable as circumstances would admit,
" On the 6th of July, news reached Richmond of the
battle of Gettysburg, and the first reports represented the
result of that conflict as highly favorable to the rebels.
Forty thousand prisoners, among other little matters,
had been captured and were en route to the Confederate
capital. What would they do with them? And how
could they feed so many? were the questions soberly
asked in the morning papers of that day. Now was
surely the proper time for taking the first step towards
raising the black flag and ending the war in a blaze of
glory. "At half past ten in the forenoon, a sleepy looking
individual, known as Sergeant George, of the C. S. A.,
made his appearance in the prison and announced that
all the captains were wanted down stairs. The roll was
called, and the officers designated descended to the lower
middle room of the building, where we were formed in a
hollow square. A number of chaplains held as prisoners
were then brought in, and at once the belief was expressed
that these proceedings were preliminary to an exchange
of prisoners, and immediately the spirits of the party
went up.
" Major Thomas P. Turner, commandant of the prison,
then appeared, and, taking from his pocket an official
document, proceeded to read in substance that Major
Turner would select from the Federal officers, of the
rank of captain, two for execution, in retaliation for a
like number of officers, of the same rank, executed by
order of General Burnside in Kentucky, unjustly charged

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 24?
as having been spies. The change that came over the
spirits of the officers may be imagined. A dead silence
ensued, which was broken, after a few seconds which
seemed like hours, by Major Turner, who informed his
hearers that the two officers required for execution would
be selected by lot. Each captain's name, together with
the regiment to which he belonged, was written upon a
separate piece of paper, which was folded and placed in
a small round box, the officer answering to his name as
it was dropped in. The box, after being covered, was
well shaken.
" It was agreed that one of the Federal chaplains, who
consented, after much arguing, to do so, should draw
from the box two of the folded papers, and that the
names written upon them should be those of the two
victims. The two papers were drawn out amidst a most
awful silence, and laid upon the table, the old chaplain's
face streaming the while with tears. Turner took up the
papers^and read, ' Captain Flynn, Ohio Volunteers; Cap
tain Sawyer, First New Jersey Cavalry.'
" For full two minutes after the result of the drawing
was known we were unable to articulate a word. With
sorrowful hearts we were marched back to our quarters,
leaving behind us the two unfortunate officers condemned
to suffer for some supposed wrong committed by another.
Captains Flynn and Sawyer were confined in the cells
situated in the cellar of the building for some weeks,
when they Were allowed to remain with the other prison
ers. In the meantime the Federal Government had been
notified of the intended execution of these officers through
General B. F. Butler, commanding the department hav
ing charge of the exchange of prisoners of war. Gen
eral Butler's action was quite in keeping with his reputa
tion previously acquired at New Orleans, as a man ready

248 SABRES AND spurs. [May,
at all times to assume responsibility; and there is every
reason to suppose that he would have been as good as his
word in carrying out his avowed intention. General
Butler had in confinement as prisoners of war General
William H. F. Lee, son of General Robert E. Lee, and
Captain Winder, son of General Winder, Provost Mar
shal at Richmond. These two officers he placed under
guard in the casemates of Fortress Monroe, and gave an
order to the commandant of the fortress to hang them
immediately and without further orders upon receiving
official information that Captains Flynn and Sawyer had
been executed. Colonel Ould, Confederate commission
er for thp exchange of prisoners, was duly notified what
would be done should the rebel government commence
retaliation, and the result was that the first lot of prison
ers that went down the James River contained Captains
Flynn and Sawyer; and, for the balance of the time the
war continued, no further attempts were made to hang
prisoners. Other retaliating measures, however, were
carried out, and seemed to fall rather heavily upon the
officers of the First Rhode Island Cavalry.
"I was sent to Salisbury, N. C, together with two
other officers of the same rank, who were drawn by lot,
to be confined at hard labor during the war, in retalia
tion for a like number of officers of the rebel navy, who
were captured on the Chesapeake, engaged in burning
shipping, and sentenced to hard labor at the Alton (Illi
nois) Penitentiary, during the time that the war might
last. " Prison life at Salisbury was a great improvement on
that at Libby; better food was provided, and plenty of
room to sleep in. True, the small-pox prevailed to a
large extent among the inmates of the prison, who con
sisted of about three hundred Union men from Tennes-

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 249
see and Virginia, and some four hundred belonging to
the Confederate army, who were serving out sentences of
court-martial. But the prisoners became used to it, only
a few cases of varioloid taking place among the officers
confined there. As to the hard labor, that was almost a
figure of speech, and would have been wholly so but that
one day Captain Kendall, First Massachusetts Volun
teers, and Captain Litchfield, Fourth Maine Infantry,
and myself were ordered to carry stones with which to
fill up a discovered tunnel dug by the prisoners. The
officers politely refused to do the work, and were allowed
to retire. The officer of the day called upon us and ex
plained that they were merely carrying out old Winder's
orders, and that they reckoned nothing more need be said
about the matter.
"The hostages remained at Salisbury till the middle
of May, 1864, when we were sent, with other prisoners
from Richmond, to Macon, Georgia. The journey to
that point was a trying one; the weather was hot, and
the cars, which were the ordinary freight cars, were
crowded, sixty men, besides the guard, being placed in
each. Some fifteen hundred officers were confined in
the stockade at Macon, where we spent the months of
June and July. From Macon we were transferred to
Charleston, S. C, and nominally placed under the fire
of the Federal guns mounted on Morris Island. During
the time we remained in Charleston only one officer was
wounded by shells, and that one slightly. The yellow
fever breaking out in the city, about October 1st, caused
a removal of the prisoners to Columbia; but not until
some thirty of our number had been stricken down with
the disease, a few only of whom survived.
"The prisoners, with the exception of those who man
aged to escape, remained at Columbia until a general

250 sabres and spurs. [February,
exchange of prisoners took place in March, 1865, many
of us having been confined from eighteen months to two
years. At Columbia the prisoners were placed in an
open field, and were surrounded by a thin line of senti
nels only. To get outside the guard was a simple mat
ter; but the great difficulty was how to get through the
rebel country to the Federal lines. The nearest point at
which United States troops were stationed was Knox-
ville, Tennessee, a distance of over three hundred miles
in a straight line from Columbia.
" Two of us determined to try our luck, however, in
an attempt to reach it. Lieutenant Fales and myself ran
the guard line on the morning of November 4, 1864, and
succeeded in reaching a point two hundred and fifty
miles distant before being recaptured. Our sufferings
during the time we were thus striving to reach home
were something terrible. We were captured at last, in
the Smoky Hill Mountains, dividing North Carolina
from Tennessee, on the 26th of November, after having
been without food for three entire days. After being re
captured we were marched on foot to Morgantown, N.
C, one hundred and fifty miles, where we were placed
on cars and sent to Danville, Va., the nearest Yankee
prison. We remained at Danville until we were ex
changed byK way of Richmond and James River.
"On the 17th of February, 1865, 1 stepped on board the
rebel flag of truce boat Schultze, at Richmond, just one
year and eight months from the day on which I was cap
tured. Our company consisted of seven officers and four
hundred sick and dying enlisted men, many of the latter
destined never to reach the protection of their flag; for
they departed this life before the boat arrived at the point
of exchange,. Cox's Landing, where the released prisoners
were handed over to their friends.

1865.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 251
"A great deal has been written about the treatment of
prisoners of war by the rebel authorities; but it is not
my purpose, as this is not the place, to enter at length
into a discussion of that subject. That better treatment
might have been given to the enlisted men held as pris
oners there is no doubt. The Federal officers, prisoners
of war, were subjected, God knows, to ill treatment
enough; but when their privations are compared with
those of the men who lived, suffered, and died, at Belle
Isle, Andersonville, Florence, Milieu, and Salisbury, they
need hardly be mentioned.
"One fact presented itself conspicuously in prison
life; that was, that when soldiers from the field had
charge of prisoners they were much better treated than
when in charge of men who had never seen a fight or
heard a bullet whiz. To the latter class belonged Thom
as P. Turner, of Libby Prison, and Wirtz, of Ander
sonville; while in the former class may be placed Major
Raymond, of Charleston, and Captain Galloway, of Salis
bury."

252 SABRES AND SPURS. [Julie,

CHAPTER XXX.
CAPTIVITY OF SERGEANT J. R. UMFREVILLE,
June— Jolt, 1863.
OtERGE ANT— afterwards First Lieutenant— John
C^P R. Umfreville, from whose graphic and humorous
papers, written home from the field, we draw the sub
stance of this chapter, met his death in 1868, by an acci
dental shot, in Florida, while in the service of the Gov
ernment. It will be perceived that his pen was as sharp
as his sabre. His genius and education made him a
delightful companion, a strong man, and an honored
patriot. Of his capture in the battle of Middleburg, where he
was one of the pickets, he spicily says:
"I received reliable information of the position and
force of the enemy in the shape of a volley of musket
balls. Caesar! how the balls whizzed. I immediately
gave the enemy a prospective view of my back and the
length of my horse's tail; but I had scarcely turned when
another volley followed, two balls taking effect in my
horse, one above the gambrel, and another in the fetlock
muscle. As he was travelling at a John Gilpin pace,
he fell headlong, and I described a parabolic curve, of

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 253
beautiful proportions, over his head, striking my left
shoulder against a tree and my head on a hard mac
adamized road. Partially stunned and considerably
lamed, I waited the course of events. The gents to
whom I owed my two volleys— some three hundred in
number, of whom thirty were dismounted — made their
appearance, and their commander ordered a charge down
the road; but nary a charge could he get out of them
till our men had time to make their escape.
" I picked myself up, and, seeing a shed near .by, got
into it. Cogitating what my chances of escape were, I
concluded I was done for, as a party of the cusses were
stationed before my domicil. While thus my mind was
engaged, I went to sleep, and did not awake until two
o'clock (18th). I then cautiously crawled out and struck
across lots, and very soon popped in among a picket and
was halted; but, not having time to make a call, I put
about and steered another course, and again found my
self near a post. I got quietly away, and rested a few
moments, and took the chamber from my revolver, de
termined that not one of the rebels should ever have the
pleasure of using that against the Stars and Stripes.
"I now started on another tour of inspection, jumped
over a wall, and, as luck would have it, dropped right
into a picket reserve. I was halted, and, after a short
parley, surrendered myself a prisoner of war to the Fifth
North Carolina Cavalry. I was sent to the headquarters
of General Robinson, commanding the North Carolina
brigade, and here found out what a pretty little cobweb
we had got ourselves into. Passing through the town,
I saw some of the effects of Captain Chase's handiwork:
the ground strewed with dead horses; five dead rebels
lying on a porch, and twenty-five wounded; one Major
McNeil dead.
22

254 SABRES AND spurs. [June,
"The next morning, General Robinson asked me a
number of questions, and I told him everything I knew,
as you will perceive by the tone of his remarks, viz.:
<You are a damned Yankee Know Nothing.' After
telling me that they had caught Milroy and hung him,
and were going to carry the war to New York, I retired
from the pleasant interview with an escort from the camp
••of the Fifth North Carolina Cavalry. Arriving there, I
found Captain Chase and his men, and also how the cob
web above mentioned had been woven. It was thus :
About two hours before we entered Middleburg, two
brigades of Stuart's cavalry had finished going towards
Aldie; and shortly after them the North Carolina brigade
arrived near the place, and during the night W. H: F.
Lee's and Hampton's brigades, with twenty-four pieces
of artillery, arrived. Fitz Lee and Jones ran into a snag
at Aldie in the shape of Kilpatrick, and fell back to Mid
dleburg. So our regiment was in a precarious condition
on the morning of the 18th of June.
" June 18th. About seven o'clock, under charge of
a lieutenant and guard, our party started for Upperville.
Passing Stuart's headquarters, we saw that officer, and
also, shortly after, the great R. E. Lee himself. We ar
rived at our destination about ten o'clock, and were put
in an old church. Shortly after, another squad arrived,
among whom were Lieutenants Peterson and Fales; and
soon another squad, and soon another; and we plainly
saw that the First Rhode Island Cavalry was most cer
tainly a used-up institution. After some preliminaries
of searching and so on were through, the whole party of
about two hundred started for Paris, and, amid & drench
ing rain and hail storm, arrived there. I had a good
dinner at Upperville, and the twelve miles' walk to Paris
gave me a good appetite for supper; but nothing was

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 255
forthcoming. So, crawling under a blanket with Wilkie,
we laid on the wet ground, with a stone-wall for a pillow,
and went to sleep among Pickett's division of the rebel
army. "June 19th. In the morning I awoke quite fresh and
desperately hungry. Procuring a few tack with a cup of
water, I made my breakfast. We soon started for Win
chester, passing through Ashby's Gap and fording the
Shenandoah at Birney's Ford. The day was extremely
hot, and many of the men's feet began to get sore. We
arrived at Winchester about four P. M., very tired and
slightly hungry. We were put in the court-house, and
found a hundred and fifty men of our brigade, taken at
Aldie, which, with the one hundred and ninety of the
First Rhode Island Cavalry, made a very good haul.
Also with us were some one hundred infantry stragglers
picked up by friend Mosby. We purchased food at an
exorbitant price, and turned in, and the next morning
started for Staunton, a distance of ninety-two miles.
We camped at Keenestown, three miles from Winches
ter, and that night, for the first time, received food — a
pound of flour and a fourth of a pound of pork per man.
We made bread — -we did — and after tossing, and tossing,
and toasting, and baking in a plate, it had the appear
ance of cast-iron and the texture of sole-leather; but we
ate it. It had rained hard all day. I will not attempt
a description of the journey.
"With few exceptions, we found the Southern soldiery
the most ignorant set of beings it was ever my luck to
fall in with. Most of them treated us as well as any one
could. But we received many insults from the citizens
as we. passed along the road, more especially from the
ladies, to whom a live Yankee was an object of the
greatest curiosity. The road to Staunton — through the

256 sabres and spurs. [June,
mountains— the paradise of Virginia— is beautiful and
macadamized; it is unequalled by any road I ever saw.
The soldiers we met were eager to buy anything we had,
paying in Confederate scrip. The citizens had a strange
weakness for greenbacks, and sought for them. Their
lingo was more like that of a nigger than of a civilized
white. Such were the chivalrous Southrons who pro
fessed extreme superiority over the Northern vandals.
The North Carolinians more especially use this odd kind
of language; but they are the best hearted soldiers in the
Southern army, and ever willing to share what little they
have with us; nor are they so fiery in their secesh senti
ments. "June 26th. We arrived at Richmond. The late
reverses to the rebels had had a depressing effect upon
the city. The papers were filled with articles denouncing
their generals. General Keyes was advancing upon Rich
mond, and the stores were all closed. Everybody able to
carry a gun was called out, and the people began to move
towards Lynchburg with their goods and families. It
was some days before order was restored in the city.
General Keyes could easily have taken the city; but it is
not a fit place for a hog to live in. A nastier or more
stinking place can not be found in God's universe. A
perfect military despotism of the most grinding character
prevails in the South. Murder and plundering prevail to
a great extent in Richmond and Petersburg; so say their
own papers. Everything has assumed a dilapidated ap
pearance. From the description of Richmond three
years ago, and the appearance of it to-day, one would
think the plague had been at work and very nearly
finished the work of desolation.
" On our arrival in Richmond we were put into Libby
Prison, and went to work amusing ourselves with the

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 257
idea that we were soon to be paroled, and perhaps some
day have a chance to repay the little kindnesses shown
us, with interest. After a dietetic supper, we went to
bed on the floor, but not many slept; a species of insect
or vermin seemed to have a prior right to the building,
and fought desperately for the maintenance of their
claim. On the twenty-seventh we were escorted to Belle
Island, the country-seat of the prisoners of war to the
great and glorious Southern Confederacy.
"I stood prison life very well for a week, when I began
to have the dysentery in a bad form. The doctor wanted
to send me to the hospital. I told him I preferred to die,
if I was going to kick the bucket, on the island, as it was
handier to the burying-ground. If anybody wanted to
help police the camp they got double grub. I did not
work; I did not fancy my boss — a deserter from our army.
"On Monday, July 18th, the commanding officer sent
for me to come to him, and said, if I would, he should
like to have me bring out seven men, good writers, to
make out parole rolls, as they were expecting several
hundred prisoners from the North. I consented, for I
should have better rations and more liberty. We were
engaged on the rolls three days, when we we're taken to
the tobacco warehouse with the rest of our men. The
next morning we took the cars for City Point, arriving at
the point at ten o'clock. Our trip to Annapolis was
pleasant. We had plenty of rations, and were very glad
to bid good-bye to rebeldom. On our arrival at camp we
were furnished with new clothes, and began to look like
civilized beings again.
"I was in the hands of J. D. thirty-five days, and I
fell away from one hundred and seventy-three pounds to
one hundred and thirty-eight pounds: so you see our
commissary department was rather poorly supplied.
23*

258 sabres and spurs. [June,
" While I was writing in the prison, a North Carolina
lieutenant, looking over my shoulder, remarked, 'All you
Yanks all write pretty smart. Did you all ever go to
school ? ' With a sober face, I told him I was for some
years Professor of the Board of Anti-Amalgamationists
and Resinous Futchins. He said I looked young to hold
such a position."

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 259

CHAPTER XXXI.
CAPTIVITY OF SERGEANT W. GARDNER,
W. A. JOHNSON, AND OTHERS.
June— Jult, 1863.
JO brave was the resistance of our men at the battle
of Middleburg, and so large the number that fell
into the hands of the enemy, that, out of a just regard
to them, we are justified in giving some further record
of tlieir experiences in captivity; meanwhile, we shall
the better understand the spirit and strength of the re
bellion by looking within the Confederate lines. Wel
come' A. Johnson, whose paper we shall now present,
may speak alike for himself ' and for his worthy com
rades. Omitting the particular incidents of the battle
and capture, that we may avoid seeming repetitions, we
take up his journal at the point where he falls into the
hands of the foe:
"June 18th. We were taken back to the town. The
road, on both sides, was strewn with men and horses,
dead and dying. On a piazza in the town I saw at least
thirty dead bodies, all of whom I judged to be Confed
erates, as they were partly covered with sheets and deco
rated with flowers. Some two or three miles beyond the

260 sabres and spurs. [June,
town, on the left of the road, was a large body of infant
ry encamped, also artillery in park; none of which I
judged had taken part in the fight. We halted in Paris,
where we were searched and deprived of all valuables,
and marched into a lot formerly used for burying the
dead. Here we remained all the wet and disagreeable
night. "June 19th. Filed, into the road and marched on,
which was hard on empty stomachs; but did not stop for
trifles. Not even the north fork of the Shenandoah
could stop us; through it we waded, the water up to our
waists. Twenty-eight miles brought us to Winchester.
"June 20th. The rebels,' believing in the old adage,
' Misery loves company,' gave us plenty of it; this com
pany proved to be a portion of Milroy's command.
Marched to Keenestown and camped, receiving about
two ounces of salt pork and a pint of raw flour, mingled
with rain, that began to fall and continued most of the
night. "June 21st. Ordered forward. Some of the boys
were barefooted, the majority nearly so. Passed through
Newtown, Middletown, and Strasburg; four miles beyond
the latter camped for the night, tired, sleepy, hungry,
and without shelter, lying on the ground for rest.
"June 22d. Marched through Woodstock and Edin-
burg. In these towns we were allowed to buy bread,
pies, milk, cake, etc. , in payment for which they refused
their own money if we had greenbacks. Pies cost fifty
cents to a dollar; bread, three dollars per loaf; cakes, from
ten to twenty-five cents each; milk, one dollar per can
teen. It is proper to state how we were able to purchase
provisions. Sometime in the latter part of May or first
of June we had been paid, but, being constantly on the
wing, had no chance for sending our money home by the

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 261
State agent, as was our custom. After our capture and
before being searched, we had concealed our money in
different parts of our clothing, ripping a hole in the
waistband of our pants, folding our money and conceal
ing it between the lining and the outside; also by run
ning it around the inside of the sweat leather of our caps.
We arrived at Mount Jackson near dark, a distance of
about twenty-eight miles, and for the first time were
sheltered from the damp night air, being quartered in
hospital buildings, sleeping comparatively well on hard
beds, disturbed only by occasional shots from the guard,
who stated that some of the Yankees were trying to
escape. " June 23d. While we were early in line, preparing to
move on, a horseman rode along quite anxious to obtain
what he called Yankee money, offering four hundred
per cent, in Confederate money. I judge not many of
his bids were taken, as he rode off muttering that we
were a poor, miserable set of Yanks. It was a common
thing for the citizens to call us 'Lincoln's thieves,' and
to taunt us with having tried to get to Richmond for two'
years, adding they had no doubt we would get there now.
Passing through Newmarket we camped near Harrison
burg, where we drew hard bread — a luxury we had not
seen since our capture.
"June 24th. Resumed our march. Some of our
boys had become so weak from the long and fatiguing
march that they were placed in an ambulance or army
wagon which accompanied us from Winchester. This
our last day's march on foot seemed much harder than
all the rest; hence there was some straggling. As I hap
pened to be one of the number thus in the rear, an officer
rode back from the front with the order, ' Close up d — d
quick.' As I said to him we were tired and could not,

262 sabres and spurs. [June,
he drew sabre, uttered an oath, and came nigh riding
over me. Halted within- two miles of Staunton, drew
seven hard-tack each, and camped.
"June 25th. A short march brought us to Staunton.
After some confusion, a train of cars was in readiness to
take us to Richmond. Owing to the bad condition of
the road our progress was slow, affording us a good view
of the surrounding country as we passed along, a view
in part very beautiful.
"June 26th. Arriving in Richmond, after the com
mon salutations of scorn and hisses from the citizens, we
passed on to Libby Prison. Slowly and reluctantly we
entered the horrible den. Here began the dread reality
of prison life. This prison is situated, I judge, in the
northern portion of the city, back of which runs the
James River, and is three stories high, eighty feet deep,
and a hundred and ten feet long, containing some half
dozen or more rooms, and is built of brick. It was minus
all furniture.. Window-frames, without sash or glass,
alone .remained. Here for the night, with only bread
and water, we rested — a night long to be remembered.
"June 27th. Ordered in line, counted, and marched
to Belle Island, This place is situated on James River,
about half a mile west of Richmond, and contains some
forty or fifty acres. The portion occupied by us prison
ers contains only about four or five acres, and lies next
to the city, and is of a sandy nature. It is nearly on a
level with the river, and is encircled by earthworks about
three feet high, outside of which are stationed the guards.
On the south side and near the bank of the river stands
the commissary department, with cook houses attached,
where were cooked our scanty rations.
" Shortly after entering on the island, we found it
necessary to have some one of us take charge of and

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 263
draw rations, which consisted of two meals daily. This
duty finally devolved on Sergeant Gardner (Troop F),
and faithfully did he perform this duty. There were
about five thousand prisoners on the island, a portion of
whom were sheltered from the scorching summer sun
and driving storms by Sibley tents. As these shelters
were quite insufficient to accommodate ali, those who
came last — our party — were without shelter. Not even
a tree was left within the inclosure.
" The day was spent in washing and cleaning ourselves
as best we could. When night came we laid ourselves
down upon the ground, sheltered only by the canopy of
heaven. ' Hail, night! with joy I welcome thee;
Thou com'st when all things else forsake ;
Thou bringest rest, and makest free
Sad, weary hearts that ache.'
"June 28th. A severe rain storm in the morning;
clearing off before noon, the sun came out scorching
hot; we, without shelters, realized the extremes. At ten
o'clock the drums beat 'breakfast call.' The Sergeant,
with four men, procuring from some of the boys a blanket,
which, fortunately, had not been confiscated, proceeded
outside the breastworks to the cook house, where he re
ceived a pot of bean soup and several loaves of bread
with which he returned to us. After the usual style,
each man received half a pint of soup and one-quarter of
a loaf of bread. Of soup, I have seen dish after dish
dealt out to men in which not a single bean was visible,
being nothing but water, and that muddy and filthy.
The bread was quite good, what there was of it. Our
dishes were of various patterns: half a canteen, a bottle
with the top broken off. Some had cups. Others, less

264 SABRES AND SPURS. [June,
fortunate, in their turn would each take the cup used by
the Sergeant to measure the soup, place it to his lips and
swallow the contents, then take the pittance of bread
handed him, and pass on without a murmur. After
breakfast, men gathered in groups around the prison
grounds, discussing the condition of affairs and the in
dications of the future — not very cheering themes. Still,
occasionally, a laugh or a whistled air, or a hummed
lyric might be heard; for hope keeps house even in pris
on. From four to five in the afternoon the rebel drum
would again be heard, summoning the quartermaster to
the cook house with his blanket, into which this time
meat and bread were tumbled together — two ounces of
meat and a quarter of a loaf of bread to each man.
"June 29th. The hot weather tells with terrible
effect upon the boys, who are still without shelter. Add
ed to this is another element of misery, in the shape of
what we termed ' gray backs ' — more properly called lice.
They infested the very ground. While sitting on the
earth hunting them from our clothes, we have seen them
crawling in the sand. Thousands can testify to this hor
rible, loathsome condition of Belle Island. Our rations
are very scant, having had but one meal for the day; and
now that we are warned by a bell in the steeple of some
city church that- the time for retiring has arrived, we lay
our hungry vermin-bitten bodies on the earth in the hope
of sleep.
" June 30th. Waking, we find ourselves drenched with
the rain, and two or three inches of water beneath us.
The storm continued most of the day, making it one
of the most uncomfortable that we experienced on the
island. "July 1st. A day of excitement. Five thousand
prisoners rush towards the centre of the prison grounds

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 265
and into the parade leading from the main entrance,
where an officer, with paper in hand, and a squad of men
are standing. The officer is calling the names of differ
ent regiments, telling the men they must sign the parole
and be sent North. They are then formed in line —
about six hundred in number — and marched off the
island. With feelings that we may not express we
watched them till they were out of sight.
"July 2d. All sorts of rumors are afloat: that the
island is to be cleared immediately; that we are to be
paroled; that we are to be sent to Andersonville, Ga., to
make room here for prisoners now on their way. False
as were these reports, they no doubt proved a blessing to
us, as we had something to talk about and occupy our
minds for the next few days. Inactivity and stagnation
of thought — incident to prison life — are awful and con
suming. As light suppers were fashionable here, we
this day had a treat in the shape of rice soup.
"July 3d. The heat is intense, and great is the suf
fering of the sick who have not been removed from
the prison ground to the hospital — they preferring to
remain in the open air. This suffering is caused some
what by the filthy water we are compelled to drink, —
water taken from holes dug in the filthy ground from
eight to twelve feet deep and five or six feet across the
top, some of which have steps formed from the dirt on
one side leading down; others, dug more like post holes,
are called wells; really but mud-holes. Water is obtain
ed from these by a string tied to a tin cup or bucket.
All the water is muddy. A pint of clear water I never
saw on the island.
"July 4th. The newsboys are crying, 'Another
great battle! Battle at Gettysburg! General Lee holds
his ground ! ' This is repeated by the Richmond En-
23

266 sabres and spurs. [July,
quirer, which some of the boys succeeded in obtaining
at the nominal sum of one dollar. It gave a very brief
account of the battle, of course claiming the victory.
This was the first news we had received from the outer
world since our entrance into prison.
"July 5th. An officer, with a guard, enters and
searches the prisoners and the grounds, taking from
some one of the prisoners a gold pen and pencil, a locket
and chain, claiming that they had been stolen, and that he
would keep them till they were called for by the owner.
" July 6th. One thousand prisoners leave the island
to-day for City Point. And a happy set they were, not
withstanding the rain was falling in torrents. This was
also a fortunate event for us, as we now obtained tents
sheltering us from the storm. The rest of the day we
spent in reading our bibles and prayer-books, this being
about all the reading we had.
"July 7th. Five hundred more prisoners have been
sent on their way rejoicing. After signing the parole,
they were marched over to the city to take cars for City
Point. Twenty-one hundred had been sent away since
July first, to say nothing of those who had been sent to
their long and last resting place. These last averaged
from three to five a day — some from disease, others from
starvation. " July 8th. Quiet on the island; not a sound is heard
save the beating of the rain against our tents, which
continues throughout the day and night.
"July 9th. Were it not for a few loaded muskets in
the hands of a watchful guard we might be tempted to
take a stroll through the streets of Richmond, to enjoy
once more the luxury of pure air. But fate bids other
wise; we are still doomed to remain in a place wholly
unfit for the lowest of humanity.

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 267
"July 10th. We see in the distance Jeff Davis' house,
on the top of which is floating the rebel flag. There is
some excitement without, and there is a guard entering
the prison grounds. A report is in circulation that some
of the prisoners are trying to escape by means of mining.
The guard searches, finds nothing, and retires. For
once at least the rebels were foiled. But there is a
double guard set at night, with orders to ' Shoot any
man seen walking or standing within the camp after
nine o'clock.'
"July llth. The burdens of prison life are begin
ning to weigh heavily upon us. Some are discouraged,
having given up all hopes of ever leaving the island.
Others are still looking and hoping for a better day.
Sickness is daily increasing, and the sick are removed to
the hospital outside. Few of these, if any, ever returned.
I never knew of but one case where medical treatment
was given to a prisoner while he remained within the
stockade. How or why this was I never knew.
"July 12th. Another great victory for the Yankees^
not, however, by the sword, but by greenbacks, which
we give to the rebel commissary, and he in return gives
us some extra loaves of bread. This we claim as a vic
tory, and a grand one too, as it has, no doubt, saved
many lives. The extra bread desired is placed in the
blanket, while the money is paid secretly to the commis
sary while the rations are being drawn. This art was
practised for a long time, but at last became known to
the authorities — not, however, until the commissary had
made his escape with a large sum of money.
"July 13th. Five hundred more prisoners have been
called out, and about midnight one hundred and eighteen
more were sent for; this perhaps to make up a certain
number.

268 SABRES AND SPURS. [Jlty,
" July llth. Of the five thousand prisoners on the
island July first, there now remain only about fifteen
hundred, which is encouraging to those of us who are
still left behind, but anxiously watching and waiting for
our time to come when we can bid adieu to the island of
prisoners, and stand free once more under the flag of our
country — the Stars and Stripes.
" July 15th. The changes have brought together most
of our regiment, who have been scattered through the
camp in nearly every tent on the island, making it
hitherto almost impossible for us to do as we would for
those who are sick.
" July 16th. After going through the morning duties
of hunting the lice from our clothing, washing, and eat
ing, our regiment with some others were ordered into
line and counted by an officer, who entered the prison
grounds with his usual escort, and told us we were to
leave on the morrow — cheering news. A few happy
hours were spent in speculating on the events of the
morrow. "July 17th. Up bright and early, expecting every
moment to receive the order for our deliverance. Nine,
ten o'clock comes — no order received; twelve, one, two,
four, and even six, and still no order. We begin to lose
all hopes; they had been carried to the extreme height.
Darkness now closes around us, and we lay ourselves
down, tired, sleepy, discouraged.
"July 18th. One thousand more have been called out
to sign the parole and bid adieu to Belle Island, perhaps
forever. It would be impossible to describe our feelings
when it was known that we were to be left. Our hearts
sink within us as a report reaches us that no more prison
ers are to be sent away from this island. This was a day
and night of sadness such as we had not before known.

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 269
'•'July 19th. Ten, eleven, twelve, and one o'clock,
and we have nothing to eat. They tell us that tents
have been cut, and that we will get no more rations
until those have been replaced, or the offenders brought
to justice. But the soldierly tie, welded by the heat of
battle, could not be broken. So the information they
desired remained to them a mystery. The day passed,
and our rations came not.
"July 20th. They still continue to punish us, giving
us nothing until about two o'clock, when they send in
bread. During the afternoon seven hundred prisoners
arrived. We learned from them that they were captured,
at Gettysburg on the first, second and third days' fight —
this being the first news of the real result of the battle
we had received.
"July 21st. Seven or eight hundred more prisoners
arrived, having been taken at the same place as those of
-yesterday. They state that our army is victorious, and
the rebels are falling back. The island is beginning to
fill up again, looking more as it did on our arrival.
" July 22d. Another thousand has been added to the
list of prisoners now on the island; and they say there
are still more to come. Twenty-five hundred have ar
rived in three days, making a total now on the island of
about thirty-one hundred. About eight o'clock our
regiment, with some others, was ordered into line,
counted and marched to the city, where we quartered in
an old building on America street, used for the dispersing
of prisoners. Here we remained during the night.
Sleep was out of the question, and the boys now let
themselves loose.
" July 23d. Early this morning we took the cars for
Petersburg; from thence to City Point, arriving about
eleven o'clock. Here, for the first time since June 18th,
23*

270 SABRES AND SPURS. [July,
we beheld the Stars and Stripes floating in the breeze,
seeming to welcome us as we approached. Cheer upon
cheer rent the air as we beheld the boat which was to
convey us northward and to a land of plenty. In due
time we were marched aboard. All things being in
readiness, the good, old boat City of New York steamed
down the James River. Hot coffee, soft bread, and cold
ham were soon prepared in plenty for every man. No
more scanty rations, bean soup, muddy and filthy water
forced upon us. The sick were provided with medical
aid, and kind-hearted women with ready hands nursed
and cared for them. As our boat passed from the har
bor, we turned and cast one farewell glance towards
those our once loved comrades now sleeping in Southern
graves. "July 24th. At ten o'clock A. M., we arrived at
Annapolis, Md. Here we enjoyed a bath, a new uniform
throughout, plenty to eat, and nice quarters in which to
sleep. How overjoyed we were to again set foot on
Northern soil; to see the dear old flag; to hear our loved
national airs played by bands; to be in a land of plenty;
and, above.all, to be free from prison, and among human
beings, to receive kind words and smiles from men and
women on every hand, and feel that we had a Govern
ment worth fighting for."

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 271

CHAPTER XXXII
REFITTING AND ADVANCING.

June— September, 1863.

[ ^. ROM our interior glance at the Confederacy we now
<W} return to the Federal army lines. The severe bat
tle of Middleburg, from which, as from between upper
and nether millstones, our decimated squadrons cut their
way through the enemy's ranks back to the Army of the
Potomac, left our command so divided, reduced and
scarred that we were unable to move on with our brigade
in the van of General Hooker in pursuit of Lee, now
dashing forward to invade Maryland and Pennsylvania.
June 18th. Colonel Duffie, with a handful of our
command, led through Hopewell Gap, reported to Gen
eral Hooker at Centreville. Small squads that had run
the enemy's lines were constantly coming in. Our
headquarters were immediately ordered to Alexandria,
where our saved men reported in a few days.
June 21st. In the afternoon, Colonel Duffie, with
four officers, sixteen mounted and twelve unmounted
men, reached Alexandria, and, with tears in his eyes,
meeting Captain Baker, said: "Here is all I have of my
fine regiment. I obeyed the order. We went. They

272 SABRES AND SPURS. [June,
cut me up. But my men did well; they fought hard.
I saw General Hooker; he sent me here to recruit and
make me a fine regiment once more. "
June 22d. Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson reached the
headquarters with about eighty-seven active men for
duty. Major Farrington, with two officers and twenty-
seven men, reported on the same day. The temporary
camp was a little south of the city, near the river. All
officers and men who had been on detached service in
different parts of the army — save a few too far away to
be reached — were now returned to headquarters to re
store as far as possible the gallant old command; and
soon we had a roll again of about three hundred and
fifty men.
June 23d. In consideration of his superior cavalry
abilities, Colonel Duffie was appointed Brigadier-General
of Volunteers in the cavalry arm, and on June 26th re
ceived a leave of absence and went to New York. His
record of a year with us, for ability, tact, bravery, and
every soldierly quality, had greatly endeared him to us,
and he will ever be held in grateful, honorable remem
brance by us. For our efficiency and good name in the
field we were largely indebted to him. Under its proper
date we shall present the last official paper given to us
from his hand.
Much was now said respecting our going home to re
cruit, and for a while the prospect was favorable. Gen
erals Hooker and Pleasanton gave their consent, provided
we did not muster over three hundred men. The men
on detached service having been called in, and the "bum
mers " — as we called them — who had been hanging up
in hospitals at Washington and Alexandria, hearing the
good news of a homeward look, rejoining us, swelled the
•number on our roll to more than three hundred. So

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 273
our thoughts of seeing home were scattered to the winds.
A word of these "bummers," of which every regiment
in the service had at least a few; for there must be chaff
with the wheat. Of course these shirks were scorned by
the true men who met their work and stood bravely to it
on the front. But, after all, true bravery is partly — in
deed, largely — an inherited quality. Such as have it not
may have correct sentiments, but they are really made
sick in the presence of the flames of battle.
Of the thoughts indulged by some of our good men,
when contrasting our experiences on the front with the
life of soldiers in garrison and the comforts of home, we
will let our excellent bugler, Sargent, speak from his
journal: "While stationed here we often visited Alexandria,
and sometimes, when we returned to camp, would feel
blue, thinking of so many having fine houses and all the
comforts of life, while we were in our small tents — a
frail shelter from Virginia storms — with the ground for
a bed. But it is glorious to have a country worth suffer
ing for. We were often visited by the young secesh and
their girls, who came to hear our Yankee band play in
the quiet summer evenings. We also had occasional
visits from the men doing garrison duty in the forts
around Washington and Alexandria. They came with
blacked boots and paper collars, looking as though they
had just come out of a bandbox. They have good bar
racks, clean clothes, and plenty of rations, and probably
think a soldier's life a gay one."
Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson now came to the full
command of the regiment, and he was equal to his work.
We were confident we had the man and soldier at our
head able to direct and lead us in any emergency.
June 27th. Our band paid General Slough, the Mili-

274 SABRES AND SPURS. [July,
tary Governor of Alexandria, the compliments of a sere
nade. We were steadily recovering from the bruises of
battle. June 29th. We moved to Washington and encamped
at the head of Fourteenth street, where we remained till
July 3d, and where, happily for us, we were visited by
the always welcome Paymaster, who paid us to July 1st.
July 3d. We again moved back to Alexandria, to be
ready at the call of bugles to again try our fortune on
the front and cross once more our sabres with the foe.
July 4th. The celebration of this day was wonder
fully animated and enthusiastic. The Stars and Stripes
exulted in the winds of heaven, and all the guns in all
the forts boomed out our joy and the joy of the nation
for the great victory of Gettysburg.
General Meade, who succeeded General Hooker on the
28th of June, brought the flushed Confederates to action
at Gettysburg on the 1st, 2d and 3d of July — hot and
sanguinary battles — when haughty Lee received his de
served and awful punishment, and was hurled back
towards Richmond covered with wounds. In this mem
orable contest each army counted about one hundred
thousand men. The Federal loss was two thousand,
eight hundred and thirty-four killed, thirteen thousand,
seven hundred and ninety wounded, and six thousand,
six hundred and forty-three missing. The loss of the
Confederates was four thousand, five hundred killed
and buried by the Union soldiers, twenty-six thousand,
five hundred wounded and left in the hands of our
army, and thirteen thousand, six hundred and twenty-
one taken prisoners, with forty-one standards and twenty-
four thousand, nine hundred and seventy-eight stands of
arms. Though our regiment, as such, was precluded from

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 275
sharing in this tremendous conflict, yet we were repre
sented in the hottest of the fire, and some of our heroic
blood was poured out on that historic field. Two of our
men, who had not been returned to our headquarters
after the battle of Middleburg, but remained with the
body of the Army of the Potomac as orderlies at the
headquarters of the Third Corps, were in the battle and
fell July 2d; these were C. H. Clement and E. F. More,
of Troop L.
After Lee received his merited chastisement at Gettys
burg he hastened back with all possible celerity through
the Shenandoah Valley and the gaps of the Blue Ridge
to the banks of the Rapidan. Meade pushed on east of
the mountains in hope of overtaking him and possibly
cutting him off from Richmond.
July 6th. Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson, with Cap
tains Gould and Thayer and ninety-three men, started
to join the army of Meade in pursuit of Lee. Marching
to Tennallytown they bivouacked for the night, and the
next day moved to near Frederick City.
July 8th. Passing through Frederick, and about two
miles beyond, they reported to Colonel Hervey, com
manding a brigade of cavalry. Here they remained two
days, drawing their first rations since leaving Alexandria,
having subsisted upon the country on their way.
July 10th. Passing through Funkstown and Jones'
Cross Roads, where they had a sharp skirmish with the
rebels, they reached Boonesboro.
July 13th. Marching to Falling Waters and finding
that the rebel army had crossed the Potomac at this point,
and so escaped into the valley, they turned back, and on
the 16th reached Bolivar Heights, near Harper's Ferry.
Here they remained a week, making occasional scouts and
exchanging a few compliments with the rebel cavalry.

276 SABRES AND SPURS. [Juty,
July 22d. They left Bolivar Heights and by circuit
ous routes, always required of scouting parties, traversed
Loudon and the upper part of Fauquier County, reaching
Catlett Station on the 28th.
On this march, Frank P. Ray (Troop C) was captured
by Mosby's guerrillas, who, after robbing him of his
clothes, watch, and eighty dollars, paroled him and al
lowed him to find his way back to the Union lines as
best he could. He reached our lines at Centreville.
Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson and our men were now
constantly in motion, scouting through the country,
hardly taking time to eat or sleep, until about the 15th of
August, when they encamped on the road from Warren
ton to Sulphur Springs, where afterwards they were joined
by Major Farrington and his portion of the regiment.
Returning in our record to July 6th, at Alexandria,
we would mention that our band went to Washington
and serenaded General Duffie at the National Hotel.
July 9th. We moved our camp nearer the river for
the advantages pf water for our horses.
July 15th. Had peculiar advantages and disadvan
tages of water. Had one of the severest thunder-showers
and tempests we had ever experienced; the lightning
•struck back of our tents, and the rain fell in torrents.
We will let Sargent speak of his experience:
"George and I sat, each at his end of the tent, hold
ing on to the poles to keep our tenement from capsizing;
but pretty soon a young hurricane came, and down goes
our house in the hardest of the storm. We found our
selves sitting on the ground looking at each other, and
thought the only thing we could do was to grin and bear
it. The storm made us look like drowned rats, besides
soaking our blankets, spoiling our writing materials and
rations. "

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 277
July 16th. Captain Baker, with ninety men, was sent
to keep clear the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, re
porting to General Rufus King at Centreville. On the
20th, he moved to Union Mills to protect the bridge
across Bull Run, near Manassas Junction, which was
now the outpost station of the defenses of Washington.
On the 27th, he and his force were sent to Centreville,
from which point they were engaged in scout duty, keep
ing a sharp lookout for the famous guerrilla band under
Mosby. By the way, most of the scouting was done in
the night.
Captain Vose and his men were again on detached
duty. This almost perpetual separation of our com
mand was consequent upon the nature of our arm of the
service and the pressing demands of the army.
Major Farrington was left in command of the camp —
Camp Wyndham — with about one hundred of our men
and fragments of other regiments, amounting to about
four thousand men, some mounted and some dismount
ed, all recuperating and refitting. Over fifty of our regi
ment had now been transferred to the Invalid Corps — one
of the plain evidences of the severities through which we
had passed. It will readily be understood that, in our
arm of the service, in such a war as we were waging, with
such an enemy on their own grounds, the varied duties,
fatigues, exposures, loss of sleep, lack of food, and con
stant skirmishes, raids and battles, must be very exhaust
ing, and that only the soundest, most robust and cour
ageous men could meet the ordeal successfully. These
severities, impossible to be depicted on paper, were deeply
impressed on our nerves and bones.
The following communication officially signalizes the
recovery of our regimental silk standard, lost, as we sup
posed, when the gallant color-bearer was overpowered
24

278 SABRES AND spurs. [July,
and taken prisoner, but returned in his bosom when he
escaped from the enemy:
Headquarters First Regiment Rhode Island Cavalry, )
Camp Wtndham, Va., July 17, 1863. f
[General Orders No. 30.]
The commanding officer takes this occasion to congratulate the
officers and men of the First Rhode Island Cavalry on the return
of the flag presented to them by the ladies of Providence.
After the brilliant charge in the wheat field near Middleburg,
Va., June 18, 1863, our gallant color-bearer, Sergeant George A.
Robbins, convinced that our position was almost hopeless, sur
rounded as we were by overwhelming numbers of the enemy, re
moved the flag from its staff, was taken prisoner, and effected his
escape, after eight days' captivity.
Let us not forget that for the preservation of this flag, dearer
than life itself to every soldier's heart, we are indebted to the
coolness, presence of mind, and invincible determination of Ser
geant Robbins. May he live long to enjoy the honor he has so
nobly won. By command of JOHN ROGERS,
Captain Commanding Regiment.
George W. Easterbrooks,
Lieutenant and Acting Adjutant.
We here add, with both pride and regret, the last offi
cial paper addressed to us by our former commander,
now promoted to a higher grade and broader field:
Washington, D. O, July 18, 1863.
To tlie officers and men of the First Rhode Island Cavalry:
In bidding farewell to my old regiment, I do so with sentiments
of unfeigned pain and grief at being obliged to sever a connection
which has been at once my pride and honor to have held from its
commencement to this moment, bearing, as it does, no personal
unkindness to forgive, no private grief to be assuaged, on my
part; and may I be allowed the pleasurable hope of the same im
munity from yourselves.

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 279
I leave you, satisfied of your high resolve to be worthy of the
reputation you have earned upon many a hard fought field. But
remember that, in the great school of war, every man is weighed
and tested by the touchstone of daily truth, and is valued at what
he is actually worth. Success reflects not backwards to the indi
vidual, only so far as he has positively contributed to that suc
cess. As the aggregation of goodness in a community uepends
upon the individual virtues of its members, so the effectiveness
of any military organization depends upon the individual per
formance of its duties.
Heroic courage, based upon pure motives, becomes, in devotion
to country, sublime. Let yours not fall short of this high stand
ard. The proud consciousness that he has not only done his
duty, but has done it cheerfully, with willing heart and hand, is
to the soldier a full recompense for all the sacrifices, hardships,
and privations he has borne in the defense of his country's flag,,
her institutions, and her laws; and be assured that the solace of
life shall be in saying, "I, too, was a faithful defender of my
country's integrity during the most infamous rebellion that ever
blotted the fair page of a nation's history."
I bid you an affectionate farewell.
A. N. DUFFIE, Brigadier-General.
Thus officially, but never in heart, we parted from the
gallant son of France, who, like Lafayette in our coun
try's first great struggle, lent us the warmth of his heart,
the fire of his spirit, and the strength of his arm, and
who to-day worthily bears the commission of our Govern
ment as our consul in Cadiz, Spain.
Our able, efficient, and esteemed Quartermaster, Charles
A. Leonard, was now detached from duty with the regi
ment and accompanied General Duffie in his command
in the Department of West Virginia, acting as Quarter
master on the General's staff. In his stead, Lieutenant
Hebron H. Steere was detailed as acting Quartermaster
of the regiment, and successfully filled that position until
the close of the war.
About this time eighteen new recruits were gladly re-

280 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,
ceived, and we were encouraged to think that our ranks
might yet be largely increased by the following official
letter: State of Rhode Island, Executive Department, 1
Providence, July 20, 1863. j
Colonel :
I have authority from the War Department to assign all drafted
men of our State to the Rhode Island regiments in the field, and
the whole number to be drafted — two thousand, eight hundred
and eighty — will allow me to assign to your regiment two hun
dred and thirty-six, or pro rata, if a less number is procured by
the draft; and you will please be prepared to receive them soon,
as I anticipate they will be ready to join you in three weeks.
Very truly, JAMES Y. SMITH,
Governor of Rhode Island.
On the strength of this communication, Captain Bliss
and Lieutenant Darling were sent, August llth, to the
draft rendezvous at New Haven, Conn., but no recruits
were received until the spring of 1865.
August 3d. The headquarters of the regiment, under
Major Farrington, left Alexandria for the front and
joined as soon as possible the detachment under Lieuten
ant-Colonel Thompson, between Warrenton and Sulphur
Springs. The same day, Major W. H. Turner and
Lieutenant Barnard Ellis were detailed for special duty
in the Cavalry Bureau.
August 17th. Captain Baker with his detachment,
from Centreville, joined the regiment near Warrenton.
The parts of the command were now again together,
and we were attached to Colonel Mcintosh's brigade, in
Gregg's division.
Again commenced severe service on the front. The
armies of Lee and Meade were watchfully, anxiously

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 281
confronting each other, with the north Rappahannock,
for a time, as the line of separation. We were kept on
picket duty — always responsible and taxing — and sent on
long scouts, often beyond the Rappahannock into Cul
pepper County, and over the mountains to the right of
our army, not unfrequently exchanging solid sentiments
with the mounted "gray backs." The hard work, by
day and night so unceasing, told strongly on men and
horses; but though the flesh was weak the spirit was
willing. All the feeling and probing of the Confederate
front and the consequent skirmishing fell upon the
mounted forces.
August 28th. Our regiment, with the First Mas
sachusetts and Sixth Ohio, under command of Colonel
H. B. Sargent (First Massachusetts), crossed the Rappa
hannock, and pushing on formed an outpost at Orleans.
Alert for observation, defense, or attack, one-half of the
command was continually in their saddles, and the re
mainder held themselves in readiness for horse at the
sound of the bugles. Rebel detachments and guerrilla
bands were nearly all around us. Lee's main body had
evidently fallen back to the Rapidan. We were sent out
on reconnoissances to the various gaps of the Bull Run
Mountains and among the spurs of the Blue Ridge. The
different regiments thus employed lost about seventy-five
men in killed, wounded, and captured; we fortunately
were exempt from losses of this kind at this time.
September 4th. We were relieved from this outpost
service and allowed a few days of needed rest with the
cavalry corps, now near Warrenton.
John Kenyon (Troop A) while bathing was drowned
near Alexandria August 28th. Francis Buckley (Troop
H) was accidentally shot August 29th, and afterwards
died. John Conlin (Troop G), a paroled prisoner, died
24*

282 sabres and spurs. [September,
at Parole Camp, Annapolis, September 7th. Thus death,
in various ways, was ever busy on our rolls.
Though we purpose adhering to our original design of
giving simply the life and experiences of our command,
instead of any general account of the great struggle in
which we were engaged, yet we are here tempted to be
sufficiently episodical to mention two remarkable and
deeply significant events belonging near this time, — the
Federal Thanksgiving and the Confederate Fast Day —
as they happily indicate the great . current and drift of
affairs in the mighty contest. The fourth of July had
been providentially signalized by the victory at Helena,
the surrender of Vicksburg, and Lee's retreat from Get
tysburg. These facts, taken in connection with other
great Union successes and the rising spirit of the nation,
prompted Mr. Lincoln to appoint the 6th of August as a
day of national thanksgiving and praise. The same
facts, bearing so heavily on the rebellion, together with
the steadily decreasing resources and waning spirit of
the insurgents, induced Jeff Davis to appoint August
21st for the Confederacy as a day of humiliation, fasting,
and prayer. We shall be pardoned, we trust, if, in speak
ing of these contrasted appointments, we, for the sake of
point and color, resort to off-hand measures — a little in
the style of cross sabres.
THE FEDERAL THANKSGIVING.
As Abraham of old, when called
To save his kin and land enthralled,
Successful smote the ruthless foe,
Redeemed his kindred, and anew
To God gave thanks; so Abraham
With us, when roll on roll of drum
Announced repeated victory,
Bade all the land thanksgiving pay.

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 283
Recognition how fit; consecration how just
To the will of Jehovah, our buckler and trust,
Who girds for the battle the loins of the free,
And prospers the right by his holy decree;
Who tempers with courage, but never with hate,
His children to cherish the temple of State.
Hence the sons of the sires who the wilderness trod,
Free planting this land for the service of God,
As the ranks of rebellion discomfited reeled,
And our battle-tried banner advanced on the field,
Their tribute of thankfulness lifted on high
To the Ruler commanding the earth and the sky.
Historic hour! devout uprose
A nation's anthem, with its vows.
The earth its summer incense lent;
The listening skies benignant bent;
From hill, and vale, and humblest dwelling,
Full as the anthem of the sea,
Arose from loyal bosoms swelling,
The glad Te Deum of the free !
HYMN.
Great God, whose throne is law and light,
Whose sceptre is unbounded might,
Whose love reflects all worlds among, —
Thy signal mercies are our song.
The nations rise, the nations fall,
As they regard Thy holy call;
Though treasons lift the bloody sword,
They die when Thou dost speak the word.
Thy goodness crowns our fruitful land;
In Thy great strength our armies stand;
Thy banner floats above the free
Who sacrifice for truth and Thee.
Our praise accept for mercies past;
Thy shield around our country cast;
Ordain this land to be Thy own,
And in our hearts Thy Spirit throne.

284 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,

THE REBEL FAST DAY.
Alas ! too oft in pomp are seen
The synagogues of wicked men.
Beside the Lord of earth and skies ,
A traitor walked in dark disguise.
So, bloody men assume, at times,
The garb of heaven, to hide their crimes.
The traitor Jeff, in doubts deep cast,
Proclaimed through rebeldom a Fast! —
Perhaps we ought to say a farce,
Since sacredness was there so scarce,
For many scoffed, and spurned the day,
Averring that to fast and pray
Was Puritanic heresy
Of Praise-God-Barebones history,
Fond cherished on New England's hills,
That region of debasing ills,
Where culminates all sin and curse
And prospers nothing chivalrous.
Hence hasting through, in briefest sentence
Their formula of mock repentance,
They raised to heaven their selfish pleas, —
Recounting their necessities.
Their first and most intense petition
Pertained to foreign recognition,
As those cry " Help !" whose bark draws near
The brink of dread Niagara;
Then prayed for blankets for their backs
And rations in their haversacks;
For sabres, pistols, powder, guns,
Canteens, shirts, jackets, pantaloons,
Rams, steamers, ships, to form a fleet,
Boots, stockings, shoes, to shield their feet,
Shawls, bonnets, dresses, hose and gloves
For Mrs. Davis and their loves,
Rum, whisky, sherry cobblers, gin,
Tea, coffee, pepper, medicine,
Cars, engines, bridges, railroad tracks,

1863,] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 285
Mules, oxen, horses, beeves, and blacks,
Sheet iron, copper, credit, gold,
New scrip to cover up the old,
Fresh troops infected with the itch
To perish in the final ditch: —
In fact, their lips could not disclose
The half of all their wants and woes;
So, closing up, they cursed the Feds,
But blessed their brother copperheads.

286 sabres and spurs. [September,

CHAPTER XXXIII.
BATTLE NEAR RAPIDAN STATION.
Septembbk, 1863.
iHE great armies in the east and in the west were
constantly surging into lines of battle. General
Meade obtained information that Lee, trusting to the
strength of his defenses on the Rapidan, had sent Long-
street's corps to aid the Confederates in Tennessee. This
determined him to make an advance and feel of Lee's
front. September 12th. The cavalry, as always, was put in
the van of the movement. We advanced about three
days prior to the moving of the main force. Our regi
ment had its usual post of honor. As we passed the
infantry camps we were saluted thus, "Going to pick a
fuss? " " Stir them up! " " There goes the cavalry; now
we shall have to move; now there will be music." We
crossed the Rappahannock, and at night bivouacked near
Jefferson. September 13th. At five o'clock in the morning we
met the enemy's skirmishers near Hazel Run, and were
constantly engaged with them as they sullenly fell back
before us to Culpepper, where we made a short halt.
General Kilpatrick came up and, passing through the

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 287
town, proceeded to the left near Poney Mountain and
Raccoon Ford. We advanced by the road leading towards
Cedar Mountain, and when about four miles from the
town again engaged the enemy, who, after exhibiting
some pugnacity, accepted the better part of valor under
the pressing circumstances, and retired. We followed
them at a lively pace till nightfall, when we were again
visited by a splendid Virginia thunder-storm. Amid
darkness, rain, and wind, came the order to hold up in
our pursuit and lead into a forest, with as little noise as
possible, keeping our spurs and sabres ready for remount
at a moment's signal. Drenched and weary as we were,
we studied anew the variations of the cavalry arm in war.
We were accustomed, however, to this kind of Virginia
hospitality. Exactly where we were, or where was our
game of "gray backs," we did not now know. If " ig
norance is bliss " at any time, it certainly is not in war
time to men on the front.
September 14th. With the dawn, we were belted and
in our saddles again, with our faces towards the Rapidan.
Passing Cedar Mountain, we found abundant evidence
of the hurried retreat of the foe — here lay quantities of
abandoned ammunition, there a caisson, yonder a bag
gage wagon, around the way exhausted horses, — rem
nants of a fleeing, panic-stricken force. Our division
halted at Mitchell's Station, about two miles from Rapi
dan Ford. Immediately our regiment, with the Sixth
Ohio and First Massachusetts, under Colonel Sargent,
were ordered to advance to the ford and ascertain what
force the enemy had in that locality. In reaching the
ford, the last portion of ground to be passed was a sloping
field or plain about half a mile in width. On the other
side of the river was a like slope, only with more angle.
Moving from the road into the plain skirting the Rapi-

288 sabres and spurs. [September,
dan, we had hardly formed a line when we were greeted
with a severe artillery fire, raking our flanks and striking
our front. The missiles came from the whole line of
ridge on the opposite side of the river, and one battery
was posted on this side of the stream, so protected by a
fence as to make it impossible for us to successfully charge
upon it. Moreover, the force supporting it was superior
to our own. This was a griping situation. We were
powerless to achieve anything. Against artillery, so
strongly posted, pistols and sabres were insufficient; we
could only hold our line, as we did, by sitting in our
saddles and stubbornly accepting the galling fire. Could
we have advanced or fired, our attention at least would
have been diverted from our sufferings; for inaction in
battle is always terrible. Our trial of courage and feel
ings at this time can be imagined only by those who have
been similarly situated. Shot and shell were rained upon
and around us. Many were wounded; nearly all had
portions of clothing and equipments cut by the angry
shot and fragments of the screeching shells. The fire
was maintained without abatement from two o'clock in
the afternoon till dark. Certainly troops were never put
in a more trying position.
Thirteen of our command were wounded: Edwin A.
Kelly (A), arm; George Falker (A), foot; Jeremiah
Coughlan (A), shoulder; Sergeant Martin L. Carey (C),
arm; Patrick Macanny (D); Thomas H. Peck (F), hand;
Adjutant G. W. Easterbrooks, severe shell wound in face;
Adelbert Von Gladis (G); Carl Smart (H); George L.
Clarke (H); Charles A. Hockberg (H); Warren W. Love-
joy (L), arm (amputated), and thigh and back; Clarence
B. Sanborn (M), arm (amputated).
Night, benignant night, hovering down and hushing
the wrathful guns, we picketed the field with our men

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 289
dismounted, and advanced our line towards the river.
The rebels advanced their picket line to within a few
yards of ours — quite as neighborly as we cared to have
them. Of necessity, the night was passed without sleep,
save such " cat naps " as fatigue induced to some in their
sitting posture.
September 15th. We were relieved from our position
and rejoined our division at Cedar Mountain. As we
moved back and met the Second Corps, we were greeted
as follows: "You found them; had a right smart time!"
"Did you see many secesh?" "Is there a right smart
heap of them down there? "
September 17th. Under this date, as we afterwards
learned, Samuel W. Leighton (Troop I), a paroled pris
oner, died at Parole Camp, Annapolis, Md.
September 18th. The infantry having come and taken
the front we had left, we were ordered to a valley west of
Culpepper, where, for rest and refreshment, we encamped
in the woods.
September 20th. General Meade's general orders were
read to the command, congratulating the first brigade on
its conduct in the engagements of the past few days, as
one of the honorable chapters of the Army of the Poto
mac and of the war. We had handsomely pushed the
Confederates beyond the Rapidan. In this compliment
we felt especial pride, as we were one of the four regi
ments composing the brigade, and one of three assigned
to the bold and perilous duty that had won the honors.
It may here properly be stated that the First Mas
sachusetts, the Sixth Ohio, and the First Rhode .Island
Cavalry were always fraternal commands and particular
favorites in each other's eyes. They were proud to stand
by each other, and always stood firmly. Their records
are interwoven by golden threads of true deeds and
2o

290 sabres and spurs. [September,
manly affections. When together in any movement,
one might predict a good time, save to the enemy.
Truer men never wore spurs and drew sabres. It was
felt by our military authorities that these three com
mands could always be counted upon when hard and
hazardous work was to be done. Indeed, it is known at
the War Department that these three regiments held
equal rank, and that rank was the highest in the cavalry
arm of the Army of the Potomac.
While resting here in the woods, expecting to be on
duty again in the front, our band was sent to General
Pleasanton's headquarters, near Brandy Station. Six
large covered wagons, filled with negroes of both sexes
and of all ages, passed our camp towards the rear, having
been captured by General Kilpatrick near Madison Court
House, together with the rebel guard that was taking
them south beyond the reach of the Yankees. A hap
pier company one might not see. They were singing,
laughing, and even dancing, knowing that they were
now safe, and saying, "Now I 's free." By the way,
frequent amusements were had by our officers and men
in inducing the glad "contrabands" along the army
lines to come into our camps and dance their plantation
jigs and sing their merry songs. Honest souls, they
were full of thankfulness and hope.
While here in bivouac, Captain Gould, with a hundred
men, was detached from our headquarters and reported
to the Fifth Army Corps at the front, for picketing,
scouting, and serving as couriers to General Warren.
The strength of the two armies, as they now faced
each other on the Rapidan, has been stated, by authority,
as follows: . Meade's army, sixty-eight thousand men;
Lee's army, sixty thousand. But obviously Lee had
superior advantages of position.

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 291

CHAPTER XXXIV.
FLANKING SERVICE AND LOSS.
September— Octobek, 1863.
ENERAL Meade became satisfied of his inability
to dislodge Lee from his intrenched position on
the right of the Rapidan, and for the time resolved to
simply hold his own position. Besides, his army had
been somewhat weakened by detachments sent to quell
riotous demonstrations relative to the draft in the city of
New York, and by sending Hooker's corps to reinforce
the army at Chattanooga. But, while the Army of the
Potomac firmly held its front, to guard our flanks and
keep secure our communications with Washington called
for the constant and vigilant service of the cavalry.
September 24th. We were ordered to fall back to as
sist in protecting from guerrillas and raiders the Orange
and Alexandria Railroad. Passing through Culpepper
and Brandy Station, we crossed the river at Rappahan
nock Station and bivouacked for the night.-
September 25th. By six o'clock we resumed our
march, and, passing Bealton and Warrenton Junction,
reached Catlett Station, relieving the Eleventh Corps, that
had been detached from our army, under Hooker, for
service in the west. Our camp was pitched in the woods.

292 sabres and spurs. [October,
September 28th. Greatly to our satisfaction, we were
visited by the Paymaster, who distributed greenbacks for
two months of service, up to September 1st. This joy
of pay-day always reached at last our loved homes.
October 5th. To keep all our lines secure, we moved
by order near to Falmouth, where we remained, on such
duty as will readily be imagined, five days.
October 10th. At dark we had orders, and hastened
to Kelly's Ford. As usual, night and day were alike to
us for service.
October llth. We forded the river and advanced to
Brandy Station, where we found the whole army in
motion. Lee had conceived the plan of attacking Meade
by striking his right flank, and so drawing him into
action, or of slipping to his rear and cutting him off
from Washington. Some suppose he intended another
invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania. He was vigor
ously moving on our right. By command we fell back,
crossed the river at Rappahannock Station and moved
to Warrenton Springs, where we bivouacked. At ten
o'clock in the chilly night we were alarmed and brought
to horse by firing on the picket line. What a great fire
a little matter kindleth. A soldier mistook a pig for a
rebel — excuse the comparison. The disturber of our
peace received his appropriate blessing. As there were
no sutlers on the flanks of the army and especially on
the picket line, a soldier might be pardoned for cap
turing good meat.
October 12th. Resuming our march, we proceeded to
Waterloo Ford, where we spent the day on picket. Au
tumn in the hills and mountains has its charms, if one
is only free from solicitude to contemplate them. With
drawing at night, we moved to Fayetteville.
On this day, Captain Gould, with his detachment, that

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 293
had been absent on special duty, on his way to rejoin us,
in the darkness of the night, near Warrenton, was at
tacked by the rebels. It was impossible to distinguish
friends from foes, hence wise fighting was out of the
question. Nor had the Captain any idea of the force of
the enemy. The result of the surprise and assault was
that near fifty of his men were taken prisoners. He es
caped with forty, and reported to the regiment on the
13th. The case of some of these captured men was ex
ceedingly trying. They had just been exchanged from
captivity, being of the number taken prisoners at the
battle of Middleburg, whose trials have been recited in a
previous chapter, and were now on their way to rejoin
us. It was hard for them to turn again to such loath
some prison life as awaited them within the unfeeling
rebel south. Our regiment had passed the spot where
they were captured but half an hour before. But affairs
were greatly mixed around us; the Confederates were
pushing us back with painful speed, and flanking us in
the mountains. The following is the list of our cap
tured men:
(Troop A) H. B. Borden, C. E. Gould, A. H. Herrick,
M. C. Lynch, M. Leach, H. West; (Troop B) J. A.
Burke, J. Kittelle, J. W. Rothwell; (Troop C) J. Burke,
J. Cavanaugh, J. Dyer, A. Healey; (Troop D) A. Dnr-
fee, S. Minor; (Troop E) L. C. Stevens, Sergeant R. V.
Barrows, P. Carpenter, J. Kavanaugh; (Troop F) I.
Bowditch, R. Durdeen, T. Henrys, L. D. Leach, G. D.
Potter; (Troop G) C. B. Delanah, J. B. Bidmead, W.
Comstock, Sergeant E. D. Guild, L. Von Heimlich, A.
Von Hock, C. B. Hilchley; (Troop H) L. Von Zengen, J.
H. Austin, G. L. Clarke, W. Carney, H. B. Freelove, J. B.
Foster, A. C. Greene, E. Northup, D. C. Spink; (Troop
I) G. F. Cannon, H. Taylor, I. L. Stockbridge; (Troop
25*

294 sabres and spurs. [October,
K) L. Hill, C. H. Dix; (Troop L) W. W. Durrell, G.
Dearborn. This list counts forty-seven. The full list of those
belonging to the New Hampshire battalion can not be
given, on account of the incomplete information we
have of that battalion. This too will explain any ap
parent conflict between the number here given and any
statements that may have been made by others. We
regret that our records can not be exact in this matter.
Warren Butman (Troop G), captured at this time,
made his escape and remained in the enemy's lines two
weeks, arriving at the headquarters of the regiment while
we were encamped near the place of his capture. He
travelled in the night and kept concealed in the woods
by day, taking, by necessity, a lengthy, roundabout way
to avoid the rebel pickets and scouting parties. Unable
to visit houses from fear of detection or betrayal, all he
found to eat was wild fruit — chiefly persimmons, which
at this time of year were quite abundant. When he
reached our camp he looked more like a skeleton than
like a living person.

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 295

CHAPTER XXXV.
HORRORS OF CONFEDERATE PRISONS.
CAPTIVITY OF SERGEANT EMMONS D. GUILD.
October, 1863— Febeuabt, 1865.

JtOW anxiously our thoughts and hearts followed
^5 ovlT ^ear comrades, whose capture was mentioned
in the preceding chapter, as they passed within the ruth
less rebel lines, jnany of them going to the privations
and horrors of Southern prisons for the second time; all
of them to be sufferers beyond what language can ex
press; and — what in mercy we did not then know — all
save three going to return no more. Of the uncivilized,
barbarous treatment meted to them, we shall in this
chapter let Sergeant Emmons D. Guild speak, in his
plain, unimpassioned but impressive narrative, reserving
for a future chapter a more full interior view of the
abominable Andersonville prison pen. To be true to
ourselves and to our country, we can not omit these brief
records of the sufferings and martyrdoms of our brave,
beloved, tortured, sacrificed comrades. Closely to our
memories and beating hearts do we hold these unvar
nished, thrilling narratives of the prison experiences of
our brothers in arms, who endured more than did we who

296 sabres and spurs. [October,
suffered simply on the front. It yet remains to write a
true, full, faithful chapter of history on Rebel Prisons
during the slave-holders' insurrection. We will no longer
detain our readers from Sergeant Guild's narrative:
" October 12, 1863. I was detailed, with about one
hundred and twenty others, to go on picket on the Rap
pahannock, about six miles above Sulphur Springs. We
arrived there about four o'clock in the afternoon, and
before dark the rebels crossed' at Sulphur Springs and
cut us off from the army. We remained on pickfit until
after dark, when we started for Warrenton, supposing
our forces would be there, taking a cross-road until we
were about half way there, then coming out into the
main road, ahead, as we supposed, of the rebels. In
stead of that, we came upon the road between their
advance guard and their army. They soon came upon
our rear-guard and asked, 'What regiment is that?'
We answered, 'First Rhode Island Cavalry,' and asked
their name. We got a volley for a reply. Not thinking
that the rebels were ahead of us also, we started on a
trot and soon brought up in their advance guard. The
first that I knew that we were among the rebels was the
hearing of the cocking of a pistol. I said, ' Put that up
or you will shoot some one. ' He replied, ' You will be the
man if you do not surrender.' I saw that I was talking
to a Johnnie, and found that the best thing I could do
was to yield. This was about ten o'clock in the evening.
We were dismounted, stripped of our arms, and marched
back to Sulphur Springs, where we stayed for the night.
" October 13th. In the morning I saw that there were
forty-five of our regiment there, and we were started for
Culpepper Court House. On the way we were joined
by about three hundred more prisoners, taken from the
Fourth and Thirteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry and some

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 297
other regiments. Reaching Culpepper in the afternoon,
we were put into an old church and kept that night.
"October 14th. In the morning we were put on a
train of freight cars and started for Richmond, arriving
in the afternoon, when we were marched through the
city to a building called the Laundry Prison (I do not
remember the name of the street).
" October 15th. We drew the first rations given us
by the C. S. A., consisting of a pound loaf of wheat
bread and a pint of boiled rice — a whole day's rations.
There were three floors in the building, and about a
thousand men confined in it. After being here three or
four days, the officers of the prison came in and informed
us that we were to be searched. The men were put on
one side of the room and a guard set across the centre,
when they told us that those who would give up what
money they had need not be searched, and when paroled
the money would be returned to them; but those who did
not give up their money would be searched, and when.
paroled their money and valuables would not be restored.
"I saw one man, from the Fourth Pennsylvania, give
them between four and five hundred dollars, and in less
than three months he starved to death. Many of the
searched saved their money by putting it into their pipes
and covering it with tobacco. I had a watch that I put
on a beam over our heads. I had about twenty dollars
in money sewed into my coat. Fortunately for me, I
was talking with one of the guards, when he said, ' If
you have been searched, get out of the way or you will
be searched again.' I needed no second invitation. We
were fortunate enough to keep our blankets. Three or
four of us would club together and make a mess ; thus
Sergeant C. B. Delanah (G), W. W. Durrel (L), L. Hill
(K), and myself were together. Every morning there

298 sabres and spurs. [March,
was a roll-call, and the rations for the day were given
out — the same as before mentioned.
" Greenbacks were worth four to one of the rebel scrip,
and the guards would buy them. Others would bring
in things to sell, bread and pies, but if the officers found
it out they would take away the purchases and give a ball
and chain for punishment and thirty days' confinement
in Castle Thunder; so we had to be careful not to be
found out. For a loaf of bread we had to pay one dol
lar in Confederate money; pies at the same rate.
" Here we remained about six weeks, when the guard
one morning told us to pack up, but did not inform us
where we were going. Some, supposing we were to be
paroled, did not take their rations — a mistake found out
before they received more. From the Laundry Prison
we were taken to the Pemberton Prison, on the same
street, and nearly opposite the Libby Prison. Here the
rations were about the same as at the Laundry, except
that twice a week we got a small piece of meat.
" On Christmas Eve most of the guard were off on a
grand spree, and some one proposed that we should make
a break and liberate the officers in Libby and the men on
Belle Island and in the other prisons in the city. All
the men in the building were got into line, and remained
ready for one hour or more, when for some reason, never
known, it was given up. I think, if we had tried, we
could easily have carried out the project.
" I received a letter from home on the 18th of Novem
ber, 1863, coming by way of City Point. But letters
were few that ever reached the ones they were sent
to. " In the month of December we got some clothing,
sent to us by the Sanitary Commission. There was not
much of it, but what there was was most thankfully re-

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 299
ceived. One man found a shirt with his sister's name
pinned on it.
" Captain Chase, of our regiment, was in Libby at this
time, and occasionally I saw him at the windows, and
sometimes managed to talk to him, keeping a sharp look
out on the guard. Greenbacks had now increased in
value, being worth twenty times the Confederate money,
but they were pretty scarce. Sergeant Delanah had
charge of the issuing of the rations for the men on our
floor of the prison, and was entitled to an extra ration,
which he would divide with our mess; thus we got along
nicely. But most of the prisoners suffered extremely for
want of enough and proper food, and continual deaths
were occurring from starvation.
" We were kept in the Pemberton Prison until the 21st
of January, 1864, when we were carried to Belle Island.
They took us from buildings where we had been for over
three months without going outside of the doors, and
put us in midwinter on the island, without giving us so
much as a shelter tent or a blanket. A great many of
the men froze to death. One morning I saw eleven that
had frozen during the night. On the island we got our
first ration of corn-bread and bean soup. The soup was
composed of about a table-spoonful of black beans to a
pint of water.
"March 5th. We were taken from Belle Island back
to Richmond, and told that we "were to be paroled. We
were kept there one night and then put on freight cars —
fifty in a car, with doors fastened, and two guards to a
car — and started for Andersonville, Ga. They gave us
one day's rations to start with, and we did not get any
thing more until the second night, when we stopped at
Raleigh, N. C.
"March 8th. In the morning we started again, and

300 SABRES AND SPURS. [May,
the next Stop was at Charlotte, N. C, where we stayed
one night. About four o'clock in the morning, three
meu ran through the guard, who fired at them. This
aroused the whole camp, and the rebels, fearing we would
all escape, ordered us to lie down. One man, somewhat
deaf, did not hear the order, but remained standing,
when the guard shot him through the head. One other
man died that night, and both were buried in one grave.
" Most of the guard here were very anxious to get
greenbacks, giving ten dollars (rebel) for one. One of
our soldiers had a five dollar bill, on which some one had
so nicely drawn a cipher that it looked like a fifty; this
he sold to a rebel for two hundred and fifty dollars in
Confederate money. The joke was not discovered till
we had got on the train. The sold rebel went through
the train to find his Yankee trader, but nobody had
seen him.
"After we left Charlotte, two men jumped from the
train in the night and made their escape; at least we
never heard of their recapture. After that we were
obliged to lie down in the cars at night.
"March 12th. We arrived at Andersonville, Ga.,
having been seven days on the road, with but two stops.
Here we were put into an inclosure containing about
twenty-eight acres, and told to look out for ourselves.
There were about three thousand in the inclosure when
we entered it, but prisoners kept coming every day or
two, until there were about twelve thousand; then they
stopped for several weeks, but soon commenced again,
until, in the month of August, 1864, there were over
thirty thousand there.
"The rations at Andersonville were poorer than we
had been receiving at Richmond. They were one pound
of coarse meal per day, and twice a week a tea-cupful

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 301
of black beans — two bugs to every bean. At first we re
ceived a small piece of meat, but they soon stopped
that. "About the first of April, Captain Wirtz came into
the prison pen and wanted twelve men to go outside to
work, and I was one of the lucky ones detailed to go out
side. A part had to work in the cook house, and the
rest of us had to bury the dead. We were kept under
guard during the day and sent into the stockade at
night, until the first of May, when, on giving our parole
of honor not to run away, the guard was taken off and
I was permitted to remain outside of the stockade; and
if any one did run away he was to be hung if caught.
After this time I had plenty of rations and good quarters.
They continued detailing working parties from the pris
oners until there were over one hundred men outside of
the stockade. We were not allowed to talk to the ne
groes or citizens, under penalty of being sent inside,
though allowed to go one mile in any direction except
towards the stockade. The sufferings of the men con
fined inside cannot be written or told; they were horrible
in the extreme.
" While I was on outside duty at Andersonville I kept an
account of the number of deaths per month, and think
I have got them nearly right; the figures read as follows;
March, 278; April, 544; May, 699; June, 1291; July,
1733 ; August, 2990 ; from September 1st to September
¦6th, 516 ; from September 6th to November 1st, 3619.
Total in eight months, 11,669.
" Of the forty-seven of my own regiment, taken pris
oners with me, only three lived to return to their homes.
"As our prisoners died they had small slips of paper
pinned upon their clothing, giving the number of death,
name, company, and regiment. The following are sam-
26

302 sabres and spurs. [September,
pie copies of the slips which I preserved of men of our
regiment: 1962. 4742. 7032.
S. R, Ide, Robt. Durdeen, A. Hooker,
Priv. Co. H, Priv. Co. F, Priv. Co. G,
1. R. I. Cav. 1. R. I. C. 1. R. I. Cavalry.
" The following is a list of the names of the members
of our regiment who died in Andersonville, with the
dates of their death, so far as could be ascertained,
preserved on my memorandum: George T. Slocum (A);
Caleb W. Hunt (A); H. West (A); Philip B. Smith (A),
July 28, 1864 ; Jeremiah Rathbone (A), July 31, 1864 ;
James Kittelle (B); James Burke (C), August 20, 1864 ;
Sergeant J. R. Peterson (D); M. W. Sweet (D); S. Minor
(D); Alonzo Healey (D); Charles H. Maine (E), August
25, 1864; Patrick Carpenter (E); Thomas Henrys (F);
Isaac Bowditch (F), January 7, 1864 ; Sergeant C. B.
Delanah (G), April 19, 1864 ; John B. Bidmead (G),
June 13, 1864 ; A. Van Hock (G), August 27, 1864 ;
S. R. Ide (H), June 13, 1864; H. B. Freelove (H), May
6, 1864; D. C. Spink (H), May 27, 1864; Edmund
Northup (H), July 11, 1864 ; Sergeant J. A. Austin
(H), July 13, 1864.
"Thus we know that twenty-three of our brave and
true comrades expired in this cruel, loathsome, horrible
pen. Language would fail to describe the sufferings and
anguish here endured. Of the remainder of my cap
tivity I give a brief account.
" September 6th. We were told that we were to be
sent to Savannah to be paroled, and would start the
next day. We were overjoyed to hear such news, but
feared the truth of the report; most of the boys thought
it was so, and left everything that they had. But when

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 303
we got to Savannah we were put into another stockade
and told that we were to stay awhile longer. Here Lieu
tenant Davis had command of the prison, and was liked
much better than Wirtz. We stayed at Savannah about
four weeks, and were then taken to Blackshire, down
near the Florida line, but remained there only a few
days, when we were brought back to Savannah, and
from there taken to Millen. Here again I got a chance
to work in the hospital, and so was able to procure what.
rations I wanted and some for my friends. We stayed
in Millen until the whole camp was removed to prevent
being captured by General Sherman's army; the camp
was moved one day and his army occupied the place the
next day.
" From Millen we were taken to Florence, S. C. , by way
of Savannah and Charleston. We stayed in Charleston
one night, and could hear the shells that came from our
batteries that were bombarding the city. We arrived in
Florence about the first of December, when they com
menced to parole the sick. Then was the only time in
my life when I wanted to be sick; I tried to be, but
could not be sick enough. We remained in Florence
until about the first of February, 1865, when we were sent
to Wilmington, N. C. Here we remained until the rebels
were driven from the place. We were then taken to
Goldsborough, and kept there until we were paroled,
which was on the 26th of February, 1865. After we
were paroled we were put on the cars and taken back to
within ten miles of Wilmington and delivered to a guard
in waiting for us, and I think it was the happiest day of
my life. I was a prisoner sixteen months and four days.
We stayed in Wilmington a few days, when we started
for Annapolis, Md.
' Private Andrew Durfee (D), after passing through all

304 sabres and spurs. [October,
these weary months of captivity — this being his second
captivity — lived to be paroled, and reached Goldsborpugh,
N. C, in February, 1865. On his way home, very sick
and weak, he thought it advisable to go into the hospital
at that place, until able to continue his journey north;
but he was never permitted to see friends or home again.
He died a few days after entering the hospital."
A more complete interior view and account of the bar
barisms of Andersonville are reserved for a subsequent
chapter, in which will be presented the experiences of
another of our comrades.

REBEL ATROCITIES.
Did ever inhumanity
Confront the world and vent its hate
In fiendish, fierce insanity
As mid the ranks Confederate ?
See Richmond's cells, dark, chill, and vile,
Worse than the Inquisition's racks;
See loathsome, shelterless Belle Isle
That no Tartarian feature lacks.
And, worst of all, the horrid pen
That gives its curse to And'sonville —
Darkest disgrace yet known. 'mong men —
That would barbarians' bosoms chill.
These were the prisons of our braves
When captured on the faithful field ;
And here they withered to their graves
Mid foes to all compassion steeled.
In hunger, nakedness, and cold,
Their fading eyes for pity cried ;
In woe and wretchedness untold
They pined away, and anguished died.

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 305

CHAPTER XXXVI.
FIGHT NEAR AUBURN.
October, 1863.
E return to the war front, where our sabres are
in demand and are drawn for their loyal work.
The Confederates, conscious of their waning strength,
and chagrined by their defeats, are becoming desperate.
Exasperated Lee is intent on inflicting some severe blow
upon the Army of the Potomac. He is now pressing
Meade as sharply as possible.
October 13th. In the night we fell back near Warren
ton Junction, throwing out our vigilant pickets. Dur
ing the night both armies lay upon their arms, our rear
guards and the enemy's advance guards so close together
that they bivouacked almost among one another. Stuart
and his cavalry were reported as really within our lines.-
All stood to horse. We hardly knew where we were till
morning, when we found we were at Auburn, and Lee
was pressing our right.
October 14th. The firing of rebel infantry on our
pickets began at dawn, and soon the action became gen
eral. The pressure was heavy and persistent. Line
after line was formed to hold the enemy in check: on
26*

306 sabres and spurs. [October,
our part merely defensive action to hold the foe at bay
till our army could fall back without heavy loss. In this
sharp engagement, bravely conducted on bo'th sides, the
casualties in our regiment were as follows: Sergeant J.
S. Brown (B), killed; Sergeant John Peterson (D), cap
tured; W. W. Sweet (D), captured; Sergeant B. H.
Rogers (F), wounded in shoulder. In December follow
ing, a detachment of our command, with the Chaplain,
went to Auburn, exhumed the body of Sergeant Brown
and forwarded it to Alexandria, from whence afterwards
it was sent to his home in Attleborough, Mass., for final
burial. While the fight at- Bristoe Station was going on at
dusk of the 14th, our regiment held the left flank of our
army. In our immediate front the rebels made only a
faint show of themselves. At our right, the artillery
fighting, plainly seen, was a grand military sight, but
well-nigh deafening to our ears. This was to arrest the
enemy's advance. The whole army was moving back as
rapidly as practicable, to protect Washington at least,
and, if possible, to gain and hold the country north of
Thoroughfare Gap. Wagon trains, ambulances, artil
lery, infantry, and all that pertains to a great armed
host, might be seen pressing the roads, by-ways, and even
fields, in their backward movement — the great refluent
wave of war. Ah ! how this part of Virginia was trod
den and retrodden for four years by powerful and deter
mined armies.
As in all similar circumstances, the sleepless and severe
work of guarding the army flanks and rear fell upon
the mounted troops. Steadily we fought and fell back,
occasionally giving and receiving keen blows, till October
17th, when the army reached Centreville, with the cav
alry force at Wolf^Run Ford. Lee failed in provoking a

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 307
battle on grounds of his own selection, and also failed in
his endeavor to slip in our rear and imperil the Capital.
October 18th. Moving to Fairfax Station, we drew
rations — no small matter to men and horses situated as
we had been. In bivouacking for the night, we held our
sabres awaiting orders; for it was thought that Lee might
dare to make another dash across the upper Potomac,
and we were to be ready to anticipate him and give him
the discussion he invited. Lee, however, was too wise
to ask for a second edition of the battle of Gettysburg.

308 sabres and spurs. [October,

CHAPTER XXXVII.
advancing again.
October— December, 1863.
OCTOBER 19th. We were awakened in our biv
ouac to learn that the rebels were retreating. The
refluent war wave had spent its force. Lee had wisely
discovered that his line of safety lay in retracing his
steps. In the war race now it was his turn to fly and
ours to follow; and Loudon and Fauquier Counties were
to have another tramping and peeling. To the Army of
the Potomac we were designated as rear-guard. After
waiting all day for the army and trains to get on the
roads, at five o'clock P. M. we left Fairfax^ Station and
marched, via Centreville, to Manassas Junction, and
bivouacked in the woods in the rear of our old camp
ground occupied in the summer of 1862. How familiar
and full of memories to us were Manassas Plains and the
gory fields in its vicinity.
October 20th. We moved near Blackburn's Ford,
and, at night, proceeding near the Stone Bridge, reported
to our brigade, and finally bivouacked on the old, doubly
blood-wet Bull Run battle field. Ah ! what crimson scenes
and associations came thronging back upon our minds.

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 309
In the view of all, how strange that some of us did not
become discouraged. But our cause was too true, too
noble, too great, too holy, to admit of faltering in faith
or of faint-heartedness in sacrifices. Our watch-words
were: "Over the Rappahannock!" "On to Rich
mond!" "Down with the rebellion!" "Death to
Slavery!" "Up with the Stars and Stripes!" "Lib
erty and Law ! " Brave hearts our army had to dare
and do unto death.
October 21st. Passing through Gainesville, where
we drew rations and forage, we again bore our guidons
through Thoroughfare Gap and New Baltimore, and
bivouacked near Warrenton, on our old ground on the
Warrenton Turnpike. It seemed as if the hills must
have become familiar with our bugles and standard.
October 22d. Moving on to Waterloo, we posted our
videttes on the north bank of the Rappahannock, while
on the opposite bank were the rebel pickets. The river
at this point is very narrow, and conversation was readily
indulged in by the opposing forces. We found the speci
mens of chivalry confronting us were of the famous
Fourth Virginia Cavalry, with whom previously, on dif
ferent fields, we had crossed sabres and exchanged solid
cavalier compliments, as they had good reason to remem
ber. Now, however, they were very easy, familiar, and
talkative, having much to say about recent movements.
By the way, with many of them, as with all on our side,
personal animosities were not allowed a place in the great
contest, so long as both parties adhered to the rules of
honorable warfare. The war was one of great principles,
by the side of which men were insignificant. The future
weal of a continent hung upon the contest. We could
not stop or stoop to hate individuals, but met them
always as the representatives of great and fateful ideas.

310 sabres and spurs. [November,
October 24th. We were relieved from picket service
for rest, and, with the rest of the brigade, went into our
old bivouac at Waterloo. From this time until Novem
ber 7th we remained in camp, engaged only in picket
duty and on reconnoissances. But General Meade had
now determined to push Lee back from the Rappahan
nock and across the Rapidan. Indeed, as it afterwards
appeared, he contemplated more than that.
November 7th. As the army was again on the for
ward movement, we broke camp at one o'clock in the
afternoon and advanced to Bealton, and carefully posted
our pickets. Meanwhile, severe fighting was going on
at Rappahannock Station and Kelly's Ford, which lasted
till dark. On the 8th, we moved up to Rappahannock
Station, as General Meade's headquarters had been ad
vanced to Brandy Station.
November 12th. Forces were advancing from Liberty
to Warrenton, and we moved on to Fayetteville. While
here we remember to have assembled to witness what
was to us the novel ceremony of branding deserters — cul
prits from the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry. They were
branded with the letter D on the left hip, and had one-
half of the head shaved, and then were drummed out of
camp. Yes, deep be the brand for the desertion of duty,
for the betrayal of our comrades and our country, for the
loss of self-respect and the esteem of mankind.
November 13th. Five of our men, while on picket
near Warrenton, were captured by the enemy. These
were C. W. Hunt, J. H. Collins, G. H. Martin, J. W.
Rawcliffe, J. W. Millington, all of Troop A.
Charles L. Brown (Troop M) died November 22d.
November 23d. We proceeded to Catlett Station to
relieve the First Corps from duty on the Orange and
Alexandria Railroad. General Meade had now resolved

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 311
to cross the Rapidan and give Lee battle on his own
ground. This day (November 23d), we received the
painful intelligence that we had . met with another loss
from death, which we must not neglect to mention.
Lieutenant Charles Albert Sawyer. He was born
in Nashua, N. H., October 19, 1839, and was the younger
of the two sons of Hon. George T. Sawyer, for many
years one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of New
Hampshire. He received his education in the public schools of his
native city, at the private academy of Rev. Mr. Perry, in
Pepperrell, Mass., and subsequently graduated at the
New Hampshire Literary Institution. For a time he
studied lawNunder his father, then on the bench, but be
fore completing his course left for Cincinnati, Ohio,
from which, however, he returned to New England in
1860, and resumed legal studies in Lincoln, Me., where
he was about to enter upon the practice of his profession
at the breaking out of the civil war. Having been re
cently married, this, with other ties, led him to think of
home and peaceful pursuits, and professional success
opening before him. But he yielded to the sterner call
of duty to his country, and enlisted October 28, 1861,
in one of the troops of cavalry then organizing in New
Hampshire, and afterwards a worthy part of our regi
ment. In his enlistment papers he is described as
"twenty-two years of age, a lawyer, blue eyes, brown
hair, light complexion, five feet, ten inches high."
United to a vigorous physical organization, he had a
clear, active intellect, a warm, generous heart, and suffi
cient enthusiasm and force of character to call out all
his abilities. He participated in all the battles and skir
mishes in which the regiment bore so honorable a part;
and whether as private or commissioned officer, whether

312 sabres and spurs. [November,
acting as Captain of his troop or as Adjutant of the
regiment, to which post he was appointed in April, 1863,
he was true, constant, and faithful. In the camp, on the
march, in the field, in every position, in the discharge of
every duty, he was a brave, vigilant soldier, an affection
ate comrade, and a kind commander.
In the terrible hand to hand conflict with the foe at
Middleburg, Va., June, 1863, he received an injury in
the knee, which was afterwards aggravated by his horse
dashing the limb against a tree. A severe attack of
rheumatic inflammation ensued, which drew up the
limb and formed adhesions, to be broken only by the
application of force. In the attempt to endure the
necessary surgical operation, under the influence of
chloroform, he died, at the City Hotel, in Alexandria,
Va., November 15, 1863.
On Sunday, November 29th, funeral services were held
at his father's residence in Nashua, N. H. Company B,
of the Governor's Horse Guards, furnished bearers, and
a detachment from the Granite State Cadets performed
escort duty. Rev. B. F. Parsons conducted the touch-
ingly solemn services. While surviving comrades an
nually plant above his grave the flag he loved and died
to defend, it needs no such effort to keep alive his mem
ory in the hearts of those who knew him as he was.
Honor be with the name of the young martyr, whose life
went out at the age of twenty-four. We, at least, who
stood by his side, can never forget Lieutenant Sawyer.
November 26th. Thanksgiving Day — but not as usual
to us; no quiet home; no richly loaded board; no face of
father and smile of mother; no hand of brother and of
sister; no kiss of wife and children. Yet, may be, our
names are mentioned in those homes, and prayers arise

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 313
to heaven for us. We have a land for which to be
thankful. General Meade crossed the Rapidan and faced the foe
near "Mine Run, but finally deemed it prudent to with
draw. Lee was no unskilled antagonist. Meade was
not without a large measure of caution. So the two
armies soon settled back into their lines of defense — one
on the north, the other on the south 61 the Rapidan.
The season was too far advanced to admit of any further
general movement; so the armies prepared themselves,
as best they could, for winter quarters, each, of course,
keeping a lynx's eye upon the other, and seeking occa
sions to strike small blows. Meade had about sixty
thousand men, and Lee about forty thousand. Of our
loss on December 1st we will speak in the next chapter.

27

314 sabres and spurs. [December,

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
BARBARITIES OF ANDERSONVILLE.
'CAPTIVITIES OF E. F. CALDWELL AND
SERGEANT A. C. SWEETING.
December, 1863— November, 1864.
(ECEMBER 1st. A picket post and reserve of our
men, stationed at Beverly Ford, on the upper Rap
pahannock, were captured under the following circum
stances, as communicated to us by Edward F. Caldwell,
one of the unfortunate number.
About three, o'clock in the afternoon, several men in
rebel uniform were seen moving along the front of the
vidette at the ford, but they made no hostile demon
strations. Very soon, however, the vidette perceived
some horsemen, in United'States uniform, coming from
the direction of the reserve, with two of our regiment
in advance. On approaching, they ordered the vidette
to surrender; whereupon he found that the order came
from a squad of rebels in our uniform. Not answering
their demands immediately, he was fired at, the shot
cutting away a portion of the toe of his boot. Finding
it useless to resist, he, surrendered, when, to his amaze
ment, he learned that the whole reserve had been sur-

¦1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 315
rounded and captured by Mosby's cunning men. The
men composing this outpost were Sergeant A. C. Sweet
ing, G. F. Slocum, J. Rathbone, P. B. Smith, G. W.
West, I. F. York, C. N. Allen, of Troop A, and E. F.
Caldwell and J. C. Beckton, of Troop D.
They were immediately hurried across the river and
carried to Jefferson, where they' were kept that night.
The next day (December 2d) they were compelled to
move on foot to Gordonsville, from which place they
were carried to Richmond and put upon Belle Island.
Here they found some of our men, taken during Meade's
retreat, spoken of in Sergeant Guild's narrative; and
here they experienced the privations and sufferings, pe
culiar to that abominable island, for four long months,
when they were taken to Andersonville, Ga., where they
arrived about the first of April, 1864. Comparatively few
prisoners were then in the place, as that prison pen was
opened only in the latter part of the preceding winter.
In Andersonville they suffered from bad and scanty-
food, from impure water, from sand-flies, fleas, and licej
and were attacked with the scurvy, suffering from that
loathsome disease to such an extent that their limbs be
came sore and stiff and their teeth became loose. In
November, 1864, most of the party had died. But such
as could be moved were then sent to Florence.
On reaching Florence, Caldwell was put in the hos
pital, where he received treatment, and ate raw potatoes,
being obliged to scrape them, as. his mouth and teeth
were so sore that he could not bite the vegetables. By
this treatment he in a measure recovered, and was sent
into the stockade. Soon after entering the stockade, the
prison officers called for volunteers for different duties,
and he volunteered as a cobbler, though he had never
before engaged in that business.

316 sabres and spurs. [December,
Two days after being detailed, he and three others
made, their escape. After travelling, shoeless and with
scarcely any clothing, for several hundred miles, they
reached the Catawba River, Davidson County, N. O,
about the 10th of December, 1864, and went into the
mountains, where they lived with the refugees from
North Carolina and Tennessee, who had left their homes
to avoid being conscripted into the rebel army. Here
they lived as best they could, chiefly by begging, until
after Johnston's surrender, about the first of May, 1865,
when they went to Greenville, Tenn., and reported to
the post commander at that place, a colonel of a German
regiment. Receiving no attention from him in regard
to their situation, they went to Nashville, and then to
Memphis, where they obtained employment to work on
a railroad near Little Rock, Arkansas.
Here they were engaged from June to September,
1865, when, having earned sufficient money to pay their
expenses, they started ior Providence, R. I., where tbey
arrived October 1st, 1865, two months after the muster-
out of the regiment. Completely worn out from the
hardships, sufferings, and privations through which they
had passed in their prison life, they to-day are real in
valids, and can never again be in health and strength.
We subjoin the important narrative of Sergeant A. C.
Sweeting, throwing particular light upon the barbarities
of Andersonville, where so many of our brave comrades
perished as victims of the hate and inhumanity of the
Confederates :
"December 1, 1863. On this day, with other com
rades, I was taken prisoner while on picket at Beverly
Ford, on the Rappahannock, by Mosby's cavalry, and
was started towards Richmond. We were four days on
the way, part of the time on foot, and part on rail. Foot-

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 31*7
sore and hungry, we reached Richmond December 5thr
and were put upon Belle Island, into bell tents; and for
tunate were such of ns as retained blankets or overcoats.
Here our rations consisted of rye and Indian bread and a
very small piece of beef; the bread was good, but the
supply very small indeed. There were between two and
three thousand prisoners on the island; and we suffered
very much from cold. They gave us wood for fires in
the middle of the tents, but we had to husband the sup
ply, as the prisoners were increasing in number. A great
many froze to death. All suffered during the winter
from cold and for want of food. The treatment we re
ceived was very brutal. For some very trifling offense
of language, I have seen prisoners knocked down by the
guard with iron bars and clubs, and have seen Union
men stripped of their clothing and ducked in the freezing
cold water, and their rations cut off for the day.
"February 22d. Two hundred or more of us were
sent to Pemberton Tobacco Factory, in the city of Rich
mond. "March 8th. We were started for Georgia. Our
first night was at Raleigh, N. C, where hard-tack was
given to us. The next rest was at Charleston, S. C,
where we had more hard-tack and a very small ration of
meat. "From Charleston to Andersonville, Ga., we had no
rest, except in changing cars, when we were counted out
and counted in by the changed guards. We reached
Andersonville after dark, and were immediately marched
to the stockade and told to shift for ourselves, after
being informed that we were the twenty-eighth hundred
there. A poor reception we had, in a night as dark as
ink, in a' strange country, turned loose in a swamp hole;
all light of hope was shut out.
27*

318 SABRES AND spurs. [May,
" The Andersonville pen embraced near thirty acres.
The stockade was of pine logs, hewn on two sides, set in
a trench, so close together that it was nigh impossible to
look through. About twenty or twenty-five feet from
the stockade was the dead-line — a railing about four feet
high to keep the prisoners from approaching the stock
ade. On top of the stockade were the boxes in which
stood the guards. Through the camp ran a small, shal
low brook, where the prisoners obtained their water for
drinking, cooking, and washing. An Alabama regiment,
doing guard duty, washed themselves and their stuff in
the water before it reached us; and thankful we were
when a spring, about the size of a barrel, was found,
almost under the dead-line, which for a long time supplied
us with water for cooking. For fifty feet or more from
the brook, on both sides, the ground was very miry, and
even dangerous to walk on, being full of very ugly stumps
and roots, called sweet-gum, which, by the way, when
steeped in water made a drink used for chronic complaints.
"At first there were two hospitals in the camp, and
but little sickness, the mortality averaging six or eight
per day. Our rations were a small pint of corn and oat
meal, and a small slice of beef, all of which could have
been eaten at one meal. Cooking utensils were scarce.
If one had a pail he was rich; if not, why do the best he
could. We made mush one day and johnny-cake the
next, mixing the meal in cold water and baking on a
pine wood slab. Wood was obtained outside by squads
of three or four from each detachment at a time, under
guard. Some brought chips; the more robust brought
limbs. We kept fires burning on account of the chilly,
dewy nights, and for those suffering from chronic com
plaints; the majority not having any blankets or over
coats to protect them.

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 319
"We finally had a new commandant, named Wirtz; a
very brutal and inhuman man he was. He revoked
previous regulations and issued his own. The day after
he took command we were ordered to fall into line to be
renumbered and give each his name, age, height, color
of hair and eyes, rank, company, and regiment, when
and where taken — all put down; no man to leave the
ranks till every man in his detachment had answered the
questions, under penalty of forfeiting the rations of the
detachment for the day. The sun was exceedingly hot,
and the most of the camp that day went hungry. From
that day all sorts of epithets the prisoners could think of
were applied to him. Having occasion to visit one of
the hospitals, a New York man, whose rations had been
cut off, hit him on the back of the head with a club.
Soon after he took charge, the hospitals were removed out
side the stockade, where, fortunately, there was more shade,
as the prison was filling up so that we were cramped for
room — having hardly more than a man required for turn
ing over when lying down.
" Various means were resorted to by the men to effect
their escape; some tunneling under the stockade, that
they might reach Flint River, about four miles away,
and run down in a dug-out to the Gulf of Mexico, or
entice the negroes to shelter them, and so elude the
blood-hounds that every morning made the circuit of
the stockade in search of tracks that they might follow.
Only a few, however, escaped by tunneling. Some would
have the symptoms of small-pox and go to a hospital
about three miles off, and get the negroes to pilot them
away. Some tried by doing work outside, such as dig
ging graves and the like.
" All this time our rations were growing less; the more
the prisoners increased, the less rations we had. I have

320 sabres and spurs. [July,
seen a table-spoonful of uncooked rice given out for a
day's rations. During the month of May they had a
cook house built near the prison. Then they began to
give us stock peas, so called, or colored beans, which
were put into the kettle as they were shoveled from the
threshing floor, with gravel and dirt. This lasted a few
weeks till the Alabama colonel introduced a fanning
machine. A pint cupful of beans was a ration.
" Wirtz conceived the idea of cooking the meal instead
of issuing it raw, and a disgusting mess he made of it.
The mush was bailed from the kettles into boxes, hold
ing say two or three bushels, in the middle of which I
have seen a quantity of meal the size of a half bushel
that had not been touched by the water; and hungry as
we were, it was almost impossible to eat it. No salt had
ever been given to us to season our food with; but, three
or four times, a small quantity of saltpetre-cured meat
was given.
"As the warm weather advanced, the mortality in
creased. More men were required to dig graves and
bury the dead. Scurvy became so prevalent that very
many could not eat from the effects of it. Their gums
and limbs swelled to bursting; their legs contracted,
drawing the feet to the hips: their application to the
surgeons for medicine being in vain, as no medicine was
to be had. I have seen men's legs so swollen that they
were obliged to scarify them to let out the black, dis
eased blood, and so get relief. One of my comrades had
the scurvy so badly that he could shove out his teeth
with his tongue.
"During June and July we commenced digging wells
on the side-hill where I was. We sunk one fifteen feet,
into which we put a rice cask, obtained from the com
missary, and from which we drew with a quart pail tied

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 321
to a strip of blanket. The spring near the dead-line had
failed to supply us. Near the brook we were attacked
by swarms of flies that keenly annoyed us; and if we>
went before sunrise we could not step without crushing
into the ground great white maggots that had bred in
the low marsh. They would crawl up from the brook
in the night and in the morning go back. From this,
one can judge of the purity of the water. The Confed
erates, seeing so many dying of disease, commenced to
straighten and deepen the brook and level off and fill
in the swamp.
" As the weather became hotter, a disease called gan
grene appeared, and attacked the healthy as well as the
sick — if, indeed, there were any now healthy. This mor
tification would generally begin in the mouth. George
West, of my company, had the half of his upper lip and
face all eaten away.
" An order was given that we should be vaccinated by
the rebel doctors. I showed a scar where a dog bit me
ten years before, and was pronounced all right. Those
that were vaccinated suffered untold misery. I saw one
man's arm eaten to the bone.
"In July the stockade was enlarged to about double
its original size, and two or three two-story structures,
open on the sides and ends, but shingled, were put up
for some of the prisoners to lie in; for the rebels saw
that the men were dying so fast that they might have
none to exchange with the United States Government.
The prisoners were dying off so fast, while graves could >
not be dug as fast, that the rebels put up a dead-house
to receive the bodies from the camp and hospitals; and
they were dying very fast in the open camp. This dead-
house, about twenty-five feet square, was made of forked
sticks set in the ground, across which were put poles

322 SABRES AND SPURS. [July,
covered with tops of pine-trees, to keep off the sun, that
in July heated the ground so that one / could not well
walk on it. I have seen the dead lying outside of the
dead-house, covering over a space fifty feet square; and
when they had a hundred or more graves dug, then two
negroes, with a four mule team, and side boards to the
wagon, would come, and, one taking a body by the head,
the other by the feet, would begin to load up, tossing the
bodies into the wagon as men would load logs; and so
carried the dead away to their graves. And the stench
from the dead-house was so great that we eeuld hardly
bear it. If this was not atrocious, barbaric, and in
human, pray tell us what is.
" Before the improvements in the stockade, in June,
the suffering was very great near the 'brook. It rained
more or less every day for twenty-two days — some very
hard thunder-showers, followed by the sun breaking
through the clouds and almost melting the men to death.
Meantime, all were suffering extremely from hunger. I
have seen men vomit up their ration of beans, being so
hungry that they had not stopped to chew them; aud I
have seen men pick up the beans out of the mud and eat
them. Bones when found were broken up and broiled
for the little fat there was in them. Starvation was
preying upon the camp.
"From our regiment there were between sixty and
seventy in Andersonville, and before the first of July
most of them were dead. And I do not know of more
than three — E. D. Guild (G), A. H. Herrick and myself
(A) — that left Andersonville alive. The abominable
character of the prison pen will be apparent from this
fact. "During the month of July arrangements were made
for a grand tunneling of the stockade, and, if successful,

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 323
a release of all the prisoners. The plan was to under
mine the old stockade and prop it up beneath with slabs
till the moment of escape; and the plan being known by
our men on duty outside, the signal agreed upon was the
discharge of a pistol — the men outside to seize the Con
federate arms, and those inside to capture the forts that
had been thrown up by the rebels to guard the camp:
thus securing arms and ammunition, to steer for Sher
man's army. The plan was upset by a man who blowed
on us for a half a plug of tobacco. But he paid dear for
his treachery and chewing. As soon as his name was
found out he was tried by a court-martial of the prison
ers, and sentenced to have one-half of his head shaved
and the letter T '(for traitor) burned on his forehead,
and then marched around the camp so that all could see
him. " The number of prisoners now reached about thirty
thousand; and the mortality wTas about one hundred and
fifty per day. At this rate all would have died in six
months. They "were dying so rapidly that graves could
not be dug fast enough by the men detailed outside for
that purpose, and those who died in the camp were
buried there — this adding to the horrors of the place.
During July a great spoonful or two of molasses was
added to our rations.
"During the last month of my stay I saw whole regi
ments of prisoners from Sherman's army kept in line in
front of-Wirtz's headquarters, in the broiling hot sun,
while they were robbed of everything they possessed, even
to a jackknife, and then were turned into the prison
pen without anything to cook a meal's victuals with.
Even the buttons on their coats and blouses were cut off,
and hats and caps and shirts were taken from them.
Wirtz had a line of posts set across the camp, and, when

334 sabres and spurs. [October,
any large body of new prisoners arrived, an alarm-gun
¦was fired with blank cartridge, to warn us not to gather
in a body inside of the line of posts, for if we so gathered
he would shoot us. I have seen many men shot down in
•cold blood by the sentry while they were reaching under
the dead-line, trying to get a cup' of cold water from the
spring to drink; and the guard who killed a Yankee
near the dead-line was allowed, for his fidelity to orders,
two weeks' leave of absence, and if he killed more than
one he was promoted.
"About the first of August, arrangements were made
for a transfer of some of the prisoners to another prison.
Feeling that I could not be worse off wherever I was
•carried, I stole away with the first detachment, and was
taken to Savannah, Ga., where the rebels had a pen
fouilt, with framed and boarded sides, and sentry-boxes
on the top for guards. There the same old way of
¦escape was adopted and more successfully carried out, as
there were many Union men and women in Savannah
who would shelter all that escaped from the rebel grasp.
The negroes would pilot such as escaped into the low rice
fields, and carry them food by night. I know of some
who tunneled out the first night we were in Savannah,
¦and remained in the city over two months, and came
home on the same -boat with me from Fort Pulaski,
Our rations were somewhat better on our first arrival,
but were afterwards cut down.
^'Lieutenant Davis — nephew of Jeff Davis — was here
<our commandant — a man of pure brutality and cussed-
ness. He tried to beat Wirtz in meanness and barbarity,
:and all his officers and soldiers were afraid of him.
When we were ordered to Millen he counted out the
number and kept us outside the stockade all night, un
sheltered in a heavy -rain storm, and refused us rations.

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 325
"At Millen the grounds were dry and somewhat pro
tected by trees, but it now being October, and the nights
cold, we were obliged to keep fires. Here there were five
or six hundred prisoners, and plans were made for the
winter by starting ovens and issuing baking pans; but
Sherman's march to the sea broke up all this in a meas
ure. The rations were the same as in Andersonville and
Savannah, but sweet potatoes were added — a Godsend,
indeed, as we were suffering from scurvy; we ate them
by scraping them with a knife. The rebel surgeons took
down the names of the sick, but had no medicine for us.
"After we had been in Millen four or five weeks, it was
proposed to release the sick and wounded — a rumor that
we doubted till we saw them- sent away by the hundred.
Finally an order came for all imprisoned over nine
months to fall into line, and that included me. When
we signed the parole, and heard the rebels say, ' Good
bye, Yanks,' and wish us good luck, hope began to fill
our sick bodies. On arriving in Savannah we found
boats with steam up at the Gas Works Wharf. Waiting
nearly an hour, the flag of truce boat arrived, and we
were ordered aboard the boats, and away we went from
rebeldom, as happy a company of men as ever were seen.
Running down the river an hour or so, we came in sight
of the transport fleet, and were transported at beholding
again the Stripes and Stars. Then such a shout went
up from those two boat loads of men as was never before
heard. In three days from Savannah we arrived at
Annapolis, and in due time reached our loved home."

28

326 sabres and spurs. [December,

CHAPTER XXXIX.
HOLDING FAST.
December, 1868.
(TTi-^N the return of the army from Mine Run, the Fifth
a!_U' Corps was designated to guard the Orange and
Alexandria Railroad from the front back to Manassas;
and our regiment, with the Fourth Pennsylvania, were
to furnish the mounted forces for this duty. Lieuten
ant-Colonel Thompson was put in charge of the two cav
alry regiments. In this exposed service of patrol we
spent the remaining days of the year. As we were
obliged to act in detachments, the regiment was now for
a time practically broken up.
Troops A, B, C, and D were placed at Rappahannock
Station and Bealton, under command of Captain Gould.
Troops E, F, G, and H were stationed at Warrenton
Junction, in our old "Camp Mud," now made comfort
able, under command of Captain Rogers. Troops I, K,
L, and M, with the headquarters of the regiment, were
at Catlett Station, under Major Farrington.
Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson, being in command of
all the cavalry, established his headquarters with the bat
talion at Warrenton Junction, it being near the centre

1863.J- FIRST RHODE island cavalry. 327
of the line and easy of access to the city of Warrenton,
where were the headquarters of the cavalry division.
The grand headquarters of the Army of the Potomac
were now at Brandy Station. Thus we made ready for
the storms and snows and war experiences of winter.
In this duty of guarding and holding fast, though it
was winter — and Virginia winters are only three or four
degrees milder than those of New England — we had gen
erally quite an easy time, first, because of the great con
trast between this service and the long and heavy fighting
of the year, and secondly, because two years of service
had so educated us that we knew how to endure hard
ships and make our camps comfortable.
Another visit of the Paymaster, about the middle of
December, was suitably appreciated; and Major Monroe,
our ever welcome friend, brought us kind words from
our homes, and took home funds to our families.
December 19th. Our band returned to us, having
been at General Pleasanton's headquarters for nearly
three months. We were always happy in the animation
which they imparted. Music in a camp and on a march
is a real blessing to a soldier.
During our association with the infantry regiments
stationed near us, many friends were made among offi
cers and men; and now we painfully remember how
many of them afterwards fell in the terrible battles of
the Wilderness.
The troop posted at Bealton Station, being alone, was
greatly exposed to attacks from guerrillas. Once they
were assaulted at midnight, and had two men wounded.
To protect themselves in the future, they made a barri
cade completely around their camp, using poles and tops
of trees, and at night stretched lines of telegraph wire
across the entrance, thus making an extemporized forti-

328 sabres and spurs. [December,
fication, and illustrating the inventive bent of their
Yankee genius.
December 31st. The strength of the regiment was as
follows: 1. Present. Officers, 20; enlisted men, 409: total,
429. 2. Officers absent. On detached seiwice, 10; with
leave, 4; prisoners, 6: total, 20.
3. Enlisted men absent. On detached service, 49;
with leave, 6; sick, 125; in arrest, 1; prisoners of war,
88: total, 272.
4. Present and absent. Officers, 40; enlisted men,
681: aggregate, 721.
We had suffered a loss of one hundred and twenty-five
during the year. Ah! how our hearts went back to
those who had left us.
During the year 1863 the^ Army of the Potomac had
passed through great experiences of labor, suffering, and
loss; but it also won some important victories — memor
ably that of Gettysburg.
Elsewhere, during the year, the Federal forces had
made important advances; and on all sides the Confed
eracy was being fatally bruised and crippled.
Rosecrans had driven Bragg from Murfreesboro, and
finally over the Cumberland Mountains, and at last had
captured Chattanooga, successfully leading fifty-five thou
sand men against seventy thousand, losing sixteen thou
sand, while the enemy lost eighteen thousand.
Burnside had captured Knoxville and Cumberland
Gap, and two thousand men.
Grant had reduced Port Gibson, Grand Gulf, and
Vicksburg— victories that led Port Hudson to surrender
to General Banks.
Gillmore had seized Morris Island, captured Forts

1863.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 329"
Wagner and Gregg, and reduced Fort Sumter to "a
shapeless and harmless mass of ruins."
Of blockade runners we had taken more than three
hundred prizes, about one-third of which were steamers.
Commander Worden had destroyed- the rebel privateer
Nashville, and Captain Rogers (of the Weehawken) had
captured the iron-clad ram Atlanta.
Grierson had made his famous'cavalry raid in Missis
sippi of eight hundred miles, destroying property worth
four millions of dollars, and capturing a thousand rebels.
Morgan's three thousand raiding cavalry and battery
of artillery had been killed, scattered or captured, Mor
gan himself being a prisoner.
Grant, with Thomas, Sherman, and Hooker, had sig
nally vanquished Bragg at Lookout Mountain.
West Virginia had been admitted to the Union as a
new State.
The territory of the rebels had been effectually severed
by the opening of the Mississippi. Their efforts to ex
cite mobs in the loyal States, through their copperheaded
Northern sympathizers, as in the city of_New York, had
signally failed and reacted upon them. The Emancipa
tion Proclamation had deprived them of their last hope
of foreign recognition, and turned the sympathies and
hands of all the African race to the side of the Union.
More than fifty thousand colored troops were already
serving efficiently and bravely with the boys in blue.

28*

330 sabres and spurs. [January,

CHAPTER XL.
RE-ENLISTING OF VETERANS.
January— March, 1864.
ITH the commencement of 1864 began the
' re-enlistment of the old soldiers of the war.
Many had now served more than two years; some two
and a half. The original enlistment was for three years,
unless the jvar should sooner end. It was now foreseen
that the struggle must consume at least another year.
Hence the offer was made to the veteran troops of the
Union of a handsome bounty and a long furlough, if
they would enlist for a new term; and all such were to
be honorably denominated "The Veterans." They were
doubly worthy of a distinguishing name; originally the
best and most patriotic men in the army, they had ac
quired skill with their scars, and were altogether invalu
able men.
Here it may be suitable to remark that our army, as a
whole, was animated by the truest and noblest spirit.
Some may suppose that the spirit of revenge enters into
warfare. It was not so, as a general thing, in our civil
struggle. Though there were very many things to exas
perate, the heart of the army beat only to great princi-

1864.], FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 331
pies. It was our aim to overthrow rebellion, defeat dis
union, and advance human liberty. We looked upon
the armed Confederates as the enemies of our Govern
ment and of the interests of mankind. When they were
captured or surrendered they were treated with the same
kindness that we would show to any strangers. They
were never maltreated, or starved, or robbed, or exposed
in shelterless pens, or poisoned in their food, as were
multitudes of our soldiers in the Southern prisons. . On
our part the war was a sacred cause, and was conducted
with such principles and spirit as we are proud to record.
Early in December, 1863, circulars were sent out giv
ing the general terms of re-enlistment. None could re-
enlist unless they had served two years. At first but
little was said about the matter; but the more it was
considered the more favorable was its reception. Finally
it was thoroughly discussed in the tents. It was amusing
to hear the opinions expressed. Sargent thus describes
the movement and his own experience:
" Sometime in the fall an order was issued from the
War Department allowing all who had served two years
to re-enlist. Stump speakers went round to the different
camps, stirring up with a long pole, in the shape of
speeches, the patriotism of the soldiers,— on the same
principle as they do just before a political election at
home. One evening a cavalry regiment passed by our
camp, talking, laughing, singing, and the like. I thought
they felt unusually happy, so I asked, ' Where you going
boys?' ' Going home; we have re-enlisted.' 'Bully for
you,' said I. It was enough to make a soldier feel happy*.
the idea of seeing home again after an absence of two
years. But the prospect of three years' more service ly
ing behind the furlough was not very encouraging, I
thought, to look ahead to.

332 sabres and spurs. [January,
"About the latter part of December the re-enlisting
officers got round to our camps. We were drawn up in
line to learn the propositions set forth, and listen to
speeches. While they were collecting a sufficient quan
tity of wind, the band played several soul-stirring and
patriotic airs. Then several speakers made short re
marks, telling us what a 'righteous, holy, and noble cause
we were fighting in; how sweet it was to die for one's
country (but I was not particularly fond of sweet things
about that time); how the rebels were getting discour
aged; their food was giving out; they were deserting by
thousands; the backbone of the rebellion was broken
(once more); the war would end in about a year, etc.
Then the band struck up. After giving three cheers,
the men went to their tents. ' Going to re-enlist, Sarg? '
'No; I don't see it. Three years are enough for me.'
"The next day an officer went to each company to
take down the names of those willing to re-enlist. A
great number were in favor of it. The rest were given
several days for thinking the matter over. During that
time many more signed their names, including my bunky.
Then I began to look at it in a sober way, lying awake
nights, thinking of both sides of the question. I had
got one more year to serve anyhow. If the war should
last three years longer, I would stand a chance of being
drafted during the other two years; and if it did not last
but one year, I would lose the furlough and bounty both
by not re-enlisting. The inducements held out were as
follows: From the Government, four hundred dollars;
from the State, three hundred dollars; and thirty days'
furlough. The bait was so good that a great many were
caught. And the desire to see home again after a two
years' absence was so great that I at last yielded, and
signed my name."

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 333
January llth. The following order was received at
the headquarters of the regiment:

War Department, Adjutant-General's Office,
Washington, January 7, 1864.

CE, )

[Special Orders No. 9.]
[Extract.]
5. Companies I, K, L, and M, First Rhode Island Cavalry, are
hereby permanently detached from that regiment, and will be
considered as New Hampshire cavaliy companies, they having
been enrolled and mustered into service in that State.
All further appointments of officers for the said companies will
be made by the Governor of New Hampshire, by whom a proper
numerical designation will be given to the force.
By order of the Secretary of War :
E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
Official:
E. D. Townsend,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
There being comparatively few of the regiment to re
main in the field while the Veterans were on their fur
lough, efforts were made to have the regiment go home
in a body on leave. Application was made to Governor
Smith to use his influence to that end, and the following
reply was received:
State of Rhode Island, Executive Department, )
Providence, January 21, 1864. j
Major P. M. Farrington, First Rhode Island Cavalry:
I am directed by His Excellency, the Governor, to acknowledge
the receipt of your communication of the llth inst. , requesting
that your regiment may be ordered home to recruit. In reply, I
would state that under existing circumstances it is not deemed
practicable to have any of our regiments come home in a body.
Colonel Thompson, of your regiment, has called upon His
Excellency, who explained to him the causes for this decision.

334 sabres and spurs. [January,
The question of officers for your regiment, i. e. , which shall go
with the New Hampshire battalion, and which remain, will be
referred to the War Department. I am, Major,
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
CHARLES E. BAILEY, Colonel, A. A. D. C
The cause for this reply was that the Third Rhode
Island Cavalry was recruiting, and was enlisting men
very slowly, and it was thought if our regiment should
be allowed to come home and recruit, it would hinder
the filling up of the Third. Moreover, it would banish
all ideas of consolidating the two regiments into one,
which was contemplated at this time, — the organization
when completed to be known as the Third Rhode Island
Cavalry, thereby making the First Rhode Island Cavalry
a command of the past. Our regiment, however, had
many friends at home and in official circles, excepting
the Executive of the State, who had given the regiment
no support, but continued to exert all his influence
against its preservation as a separate command. A com
munication was sent to the Adjutant-General, who was
always a firm friend to the regiment, and who replied
thus: State of Rhode Island, &c, Adjutant-General's Office, j
Providence, February 2, 1864. j
Major P. M Farrington, First Rhode Island Cavalry:
Major: — Your communication of January 18th has been duly
received, and the views therein contained I fully appreciate. I
have explained the case to the Governor, and it rests with him to
take such a course as he deems best. My own opinion is that the
First Cavalry has too honorable a reputation to be made secondary
to any other regiment either in or out of the field. Trusting
everything may be done to promote its interests, I remain,
Very respectfully, yours,
E. C. MAURAN, Adjutant-General.

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 335
In this connection we may make grateful record of our
indebtedness to ex-Governors H. B. Anthony and Wil
liam Sprague — at this time in the United States Senate
— who, by their wide influence in Rhode Island and in
both legislative and military circles in Washington, al
ways secured for us the recognition of our many services
and claims, and happily advanced the just interests of
our officers and men. But for their timely and manly
intervention and influential appeals in our behalf, it is
more than probable that the offensive and unjust propo
sition for our consolidation would have been carried into
effect. January 18th. Our re-enlisted men were mustered
out of our original term of service and remustered as
Veterans. The whole number that re-enlisted, first and
last, was two hundred and sixty. Indeed, with but few
exceptions, save our losses, those who had been in ser
vice more than two years engaged anew.
On the night of this day, one of our houses, as we
grandiloquently called them, caught fire and threatened
us with a conflagration; but resolving ourselves into
firemen we subdued the enemy, though we lost the
building. Loss — clothing, rations, tent cloths, etc.; no
insurance. January 25th. The band serenaded General Ayres at
his headquarters at Catlett Station, he being in com
mand of the Regulars at that place.
January 27th. The officers of the first battalion, at
Warrenton Junction, by special request of Colonel Jenk
ins, commanding the infantry brigade at that point,
attended the funeral of Captain Sackett, of the One
Hundred and Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry: our band
discoursing the dirges and marches. How solemn and
impressive a military 'funeral is in the field, and in mid-

336 sabres and spurs. [February,
winter, and on the army front. Our superb band was
everywhere welcomed and handsomely entertained.
February 1st. Charles H. Maine and Leonard W.
Atwood (Troop E) were captured just outside of our
picket lines, near Warrenton Junction.
February 2d. What was quite uncommon for this
season of the year, we were visited by a heavy thunder
storm. February 4th. Stephen R. Ide (Troop H) was cap
tured while going from Warrenton Junction to Catlett
Station. Alas for the fate of most of our captured men;
it was worse than death. This man died in the Ander
sonville pen — that unutterable abomination forever to be
accredited to the Southern Confederacy.
February 5th. Our band, on a cheering tour, sere
naded General Bartlett at Rappahannock Station, and,
tarrying there with our third battalion, received very
urgent solicitations to remain a few days and play at a
ball; but, after playing at the headquarters (Fifth Corps)
of General Sykes, went to Bealton and serenaded Colonel
Schwitzer, commanding the post and our men at that
station. February 9th. Our band furnished music at a brigade
review of the infantry at Warrenton Junction — a Zouave
brigade, in new and gay uniform, making a fine appear
ance; loose breeches, short jackets, some trimmed with
red, some with yellow: all having white turbans with red
centres and yellow tassels.
Near this time some of our boys at Catlett Station
came nigh being entrapped. The young ladies of Weaver
ville (a small village near by) arranged for a dance, and
engaged the services of a fiddler from our regiment,
giving out that it would be a free affair. Some of our
men were anxious to attend and see the fun, but the

1864.] FIRST RHODE island cavalry. 337
officers, hearing of the matter, had a double guard
placed around the camp for the night, frustrating the
arrangement. But one of the boys managed to slip the
guard and reached the house, where he waited for the
rest to put in their appearance. But while waiting he
heard horses' hoofs, and, catching the idea, rushed for
the door and escaped just in time to see fifteen guerrillas
surround the house. The trick was shrewdly planned,
but failed in execution. This was an additional illustra
tion of the Union sentiments of Virginia females. The
next day these polite young ladies were not to be
found. February 14th. A marked day. The New Hampshire
battalion, greatly to our sorrow, in obedience to orders
left us. When raised to a regiment, as they shortly were,
Lieutenant- Colonel Thompson became their Colonel —
and a worthy officer he was in every respect, whose mem
ory will ever fondly live with us all. The old battalion
of White Mountain men — now real veterans — was a
noble one — none nobler — of unalloyed spurs and keenest
sabres, as the scars of the rebels will fully confess. We
were sorry, indeed, beyond what our choking words
could express, to part with such intelligent, kind, brother
ly, faithful, heroic men, with whom we had marched so
many hundred miles, endured so much suffering, and
fought so many severe battles. Yes, forever they are
one with us. But we did not blame New Hampshire for
coveting their name and deeds: they were her children.
The following statistics and remarks are taken from
the reports of the Adjutant-General of New Hampshire:
" Commissioned officers of New England Cavalry (old
designation) accounted for in aggregate: Honorably
discharged, three; killed or died of wounds, two; died
of disease, one; dishonorably discharged, one; promoted
29

338 sabres and spurs. [February,
out of regiment, one; promoted in regiment, eight:
whole number of commissions issued, twenty.
" The four companies of the New Hampshire battalion
of New England Cavalry lost the largest proportion of
officers, reaching one-fourth of the whole number.
"Enlisted men accounted for in aggregate: Killed
or died of wounds, eleven; died of disease, fifteen; mus
tered out at expiration of term, five; honorably dis
charged for disease and other causes, one hundred and
twenty-eight; transferred to First New Hampshire Cav
alry, one hundred and twelve; deserted, twenty-six; de
serted and captured or returned, two; promoted to com
missioned officers or non-commissioned staff, nine; not
officially accounted for, thirteen; absent when battalion
was mustered out and not since accounted for, two; re-
enlisted, ninety-eight: whole number to be accounted
for, four hundred and nineteen.
" From the above record it will be seen that during
the two years of service of the New Hampshire battalion
with the First Rhode Island Cavalry, of four hundred
and nineteen enlisted men, one hundred and fifty-four
were killed, died of wounds, or were honorably dis
charged for disease."
The same day (February 14th) the veterans of the
Rhode Island battalions left for home on tlieir furloughs,
accompanied by Captain John Rogers and Captain Charles
H. Thayer; and were followed a few days after by Cap
tain Allen Baker, Jr., and Assistant Surgeon Albert
Utter. On their way through Washington our band
indulged in music, in reference to which, the next morn
ing (February 16th), the following item appeared in the
Washington Chronicle:
" Serenade. The band of the First Rhode Island Cav
alry took position in front of the National Hotel about

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 339
eleven o'clock yesterday morning and paid a fit tribute
of- respect to Major-Generals Sickles and Kilpatrick,
who, with their respective staffs, are stopping there.
They gave them a delicious serenade, commencing with
' Hail to the Chief,' and followed by a superior execution
of several other soul-stirring airs highly creditable to the
band and pleasing to those who listened."
After the departure of the New Hampshire battalion,
and the veterans had entered upon their furlough, the
remaining portions of the regiment from their different
stations concentrated at Rappahannock Station. Shortly
after, the following order was received with great dis
favor not only at the headquarters of our regiment but
at the different headquarters of the army, for we were
widely known and esteemed:
War Department, Adjutant-General's Office, )
Washington, February 16, 1864. j
[Special Order No. 76.]
[Extract. ]
11. Four companies of New Hampshire cavalry having been
detached from the First Regiment Rhode Island Cavalry, the re
maining portion of that regiment and the companies now recruited
for the Third Rhode Island Cavalry are hereby consolidated, and
the combined force will bear the designation of the First Rhode
Island Volunteer Cavalry.
Regimental and company commanders, in designating the com
panies, will retain the original company letters. When the details
of the consolidation shall have been completed, a complete return
of the First Regiment, embracing all the changes, will be for
warded to the Adjutant-General of the Army.
By order of the Secretary of War:
E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
This order, from the general feeling in the regiment
and among our friends, and from the interposition of

340 sabres and spurs. [March,
strong Rhode Island men previously referred to, was
shortly after its issue wisely annulled. But the regiment
was ordered to Washington, preparatory to transporta
tion to the Department of the Gulf — a step fortunately
never carried out.
The late changes among us had been somewhat trying
to our old and tender attachments. And especially did
we regret to part with Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson.
He had come to us a perfect stranger, and by his gentle
manly conduct and easy yet dignified ways had won the
respect and love of all the officers and men. His cool
ness in the hour of danger was remarkable^ His execu
tive abilities, shown while in command of the regiment,
could not be surpassed. Feeling our own loss, we could
only envy the New Hampshire cavalry in having such a
gentleman, scholar, patriot, and soldier to lead them.
In March, as some others in the field had re-enlisted
and were about to have their furlough, the whole com
mand, in view of merit and heroic services, received
leave of absence to visit their homes — a great joy as well
as a deserved compliment to our war-worn, honor-scarred
boys. Under Major Farrington, we reached Providence,
R. I., March 26th. In behalf of the city and the State,
the Marine Artillery received us as we landed, firing a
gracious salute and acting as our escort. The full cere
monies of reception took place in Howard Hall — the best
in the city — where an ample collation was served under
the accomplished purveyor, L. H. Humphreys. The
warm welcoming address flowed in happy terms from the
lips and heart of Adjutant-General E. C. Mauran, a
greatly esteemed friend of the regiment. Shortly, His
Honor, Lieutenant-Governor Padelford, coming in, was
cheered, and gave us a hearty address, paying the sabred
men a just tribute, and rejoicing with them on their

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 341
home visit. In fitting and feeling phrase Major Far
rington responded for us, and assured the authorities
and people of Rhode Island that, as they had had no oc
casion in the past to blush for the sabres and spurs they
had sent into the fiery field, so they should not be disap
pointed in the future; our deeds were our endorsement.
The joy of officers and men on reaching their homes,
after an absence of more than two years and their unut
terable experiences under the war clouds in Virginia,
was too deep, tender, and sacred for language to describe.
That our men were everywhere honored is telling but a
part of the truth. Our history was with the people; our
scars were our passport.
A few of our rnen, on detached service with the army
on the front, were unable to join us on our home visit.
Of these, three were taken prisoners by the enemy on the
31st of March,— C. E. Gould, M. C. Lynch, and H. West,
all of Troop A.
A. B. Hill (Troop C) died in hospital February 2,
1864.

29*

342 SABRES AND spurs. [April,

CHAPTER XLI.
returning to the front.
April— June, 1864.
I HE memorable campaigns of 1864 were now about
to open. Henceforward the armies of the United
States were to be under the direction of one mind, and
to be moved simultaneously in closing in for the final
grapple with the armies of the Confederacy. General
Grant had been chosen Lieutenant-General of the Union
forces, and came to the head of affairs in Virginia early
in the year. March and April were occupied in reorgan
izing the commands and fitting them for action.
The cavalry corps of the Army of the Potomac was
reconstructed, and many changes were made in its gen
eral officers. Major-General Philip H. Sheridan was
appointed commander of the corps, vice General Alfred
Pleasanton, sent to the Western Department. Brigadier-
General A. T. A. Torbert was assigned to the command of
the first division, having been transferred from the Sixth
Corps. Brigadier-General D. M. McGregg retained com
mand of the second division. Brigadier-General James
Wilson was chosen to the command of the third division.
Brigadier-General Judson Kilpatrick had been assigned

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 343
to duty with General Sherman in the West. Brigadier-
General John Buford had died of typhoid fever in Wash
ington during the winter.
The brigades composing the first division, to which we
were subsequently assigned, were commanded as follows:
First brigade, General G. A. Custer; second brigade,
Colonel T. C. Devin; cavalry reserve, Brigadier-General
Wesley Merritt.
April 8th. We again left Providence, R. I., in two
detachments, for Stonington, where we took the steamer
Commonwealth for New York, arriving in that city at six
o'clock the next morning, and marched to the Park Bar
racks, where we quartered during our stay. Owing to an
informality in the order moving us from Rhode Island,
we remained in New York until April 13th. The men
were given the liberty of the city, save to report at reveille
and retreat roll-calls, as they disliked to be kept in bar
racks under "home guards." And it is only justice to
the men to state that they behaved with complete propri
ety and were everywhere heartily welcomed. One of the
New York papers affirmed that they were the most gentle
manly regiment that had passed through the city. To
Colonel Almy, our worthy State Agent, who was very
attentive to us all, we were indebted for many substan
tial kindnesses.
April 13th. We crossed to Jersey City and took a
special train for Philadelphia, the officers and band oc
cupying the rear car. Every man was with us, except
the few transferred to the hospital. Our band played as
we passed through the towns on our route, and at the
stations we were amused by the usual peddlers, having
hard boiled eggs — three for ten cents — sandwiches, gum
drops, fruit, and candy — Yankee spice. Reaching Phil
adelphia in the evening, we marched to the Cooper Shop

344 SABRES AND spurs. [April,
Refreshment Saloon and received, for the third time, the
hospitality and words of encouragement of the noble
Philadelphians. Leaving the City of Brotherly Love at
ten P. M., travelling all night, we reached Baltimore at
ten A. M. of the 14th, where we took a lunch at the
" Soldiers' Rest," and then hastened to Washington, arriv
ing at four o'clock P. M. Here we went to the Soldiers'
Barracks; but, by permission of Major Farrington, and
in consideration of previous good conduct, the men were
allowed the range of the city, to report at the barracks
at eight o'clock the next morning.
April 15th. Left the barracks at noon for the remount
camp — Camp Stoneman — four miles from Washington,
near Geesboro Point, where we received tents and formed
a regular camp. Quite a change again from our home
scenes, to which was added the outlook upon the field.
A little difficult at first to fall back upon war-rations;
but we could do it; it was for our country. In the eve
ning our band serenaded the commandant of the camp,
Colonel J. B. Mcintosh. Situated on a high piece of
ground near the Potomac, we had a view of Washington,
Alexandria, and the surrounding country, and could see
the steamers oh their war errands running up and down
the river, with troops, cattle, Government stores, and am
munition. Receiving new uniforms, arms, and equip
ments, we commenced regular drills, in prepartion for
taking the front.
April 24th. Saw a wagon train five or six miles in
length crossing Long Bridge on its way to the front.
How we became accustomed to the great and awful
movements of war.
April 25th. General Burnside's Ninth Army Corps
passed over the same route and camped for the night
opposite us, on the other (right) side of the river. Their

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 345
splendid camp fires gave them the appearance of an
illuminated city.
April 28th. Our New Hampshire battalion, now raised
to a regiment, the First New Hampshire Cavalry, again
found us. How hearty the greetings and shaking of
hands. What countless memories arose. In the evening
our band heartily played them the compliment of a sere
nade. On Sabbaths we had regular religious services
conducted by Chaplain Clarke, hymns, reading, sermon,
prayer, tunes by the band, and singing by the choir. All
the air was astir around us by troops in motion and their
trains. The garrisons in the two forts near us employed
Tuesdays and Fridays in target practice, which gave us a
variety of sonorous music.
The strength of our two battalions — eight troops — at
this time was as follows:
1. Officers present, 15; enlisted men present, 292:
total, 307.
2. Absent. Officers on detached service, 6; officers
prisoners of war, 5: total, 11; enlisted men absent, 115,
56 of them prisoners of war.
3. Total commissioned, 26; total enlisted, 407: ag
gregate, 433.
Loss by casualties and detachment of New Hampshire
battalion, since December 31, 1863, 288.
The following was the roster of the regiment:
FIELD AND STAFF.
Major, Preston M. Farrington, commanding.
" William H. Turner, on detached duty.
Adjutant, Ezra B. Parker, prisoner of war.
Quartermaster, Charles A. Leonard, on detached
duty. Commissary, Leonard B. Pratt.

346 sabres and spurs. [May,
Surgeon, William H. Wilbur.
Assistant Surgeon, Augustine A. Mann.
" " Albeut Utter.
Chaplain, Ethan Ray Clarke.
Sergeant-Major, Joseph W. Demey.
Quartermaster-Sergeant, Charles E. Elleson.
Commissary-Sergeant, Samuel C. Willis, Jr.
Hospital Steward, Edwin D. White.
" " Edward C. Capwell.
Chief Trumpeter, William R. Kay.
Veterinary Surgeon, Crawford A. Scranton.
LINE OFFICERS.
Troop A. — Captain, Joshua Vose; First Lieutenant,
L. B. Shurtliff; Second Lieutenant,  .
Troop B. — Captain, Charles H. Thayer; FirstLieu-
tenant, H. P. Barker (prisoner); Second Lieutenant,
G. W. Darling (detached duty).
Tboop C. — Captain, George N. Bliss; First Lieuten
ant, Barnard Ellis; Second Lieutenant, Charles E.
Blanchard (acting Adjutant).
Troop D.. — Captain, Willis C. Capron; First Lieu
tenant, C. G. A. Peterson (prisoner); Second Lieuten
ant,  .
Troop E. — Captain, Allen Baker, Jr.; First Lieu
tenant,  '; Second Lieutenant, H. H. Steeee
(acting Quartermaster).
Troop F. — Captain, John Rogers; First Lieutenant,
Richard J. Burgess; Second Lieutenant, James M.
Fales (prisoner).
Troop G. — Captain, Joseph J. Gould; First Lieu
tenant,  ; Second Lieutenant,  .
Troop H. — Captain, E. E. Chase (prisoner); First
Lieutenant,  ; Second Lieutenant,  .

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. . 347
The demand for horses in the army was now beyond
the supply, as all possible forces were in motion. And
according to an order from the War Department, sailors
in the army had their option at this time of being trans
ferred to the navy. Quite a number of our regiment,
especially from the Newport troop, rather than wait for
horses and again try the perils of forests and mountains,
chose the service of the loyal decks. This we much re
gretted, as they were good men, and as it left our regi
ment quite small.
Albert C. Greene (Troop H), a paroled prisoner, died
in hospital May 4 th.
May 8th. The following order was received:
Headquarters Cavalry Division, 1
Department op Washington, >
Camp Stoneman, D. C. , May 8, 1864. )
Major: — You will have your regiment ready to march to the
Maryland Avenue Depot at 7.30 A. M. to-morrow for railroad
transportation to Fairfax Station. Each man will be provided
with three days' rations and forty rounds of ammunition. One
hundred and sixty rounds of ammunition per man will be carried
in wagons. Leave your Quartermaster behind to turn in your
public property. If you have pistols, carry sixty rounds of
cartridge per man ; eighteen on their persons, and the balance in
wagons. Six wagons will report to you at five o'clock.
By order of Colonel Gamble:
L. L. BARNEY, A. A. A. G.
Upon arrival at Fairfax Station you will report to Brigadier-
General Tyler for orders. By order: L. L. BARNEY, A. A. A. G.
This order looked like business again. At daylight of
May 9th we were astir. Reaching the depot we took
the cars— -foot-cavalry on the cars— a point for humor.
On arriving at Fairfax Station the following order was
received:

348 SABRES AND spurs. [May,
Headquarters Department of Washington, )
Twenty-Second Army Corps, May 9, 1864. )
Brigadier-Ceneral R. C. Tyler, D. C:
General : — The Major-General commanding directs that you send
the battalion of dismounted cavalry, ordered by you this morning,
on to Rappahannock Station in the train in which they are, with
orders to return, bringing with them all trains now at that point.
These trains will all be kept this side of Bull Run Bridge until
further orders. After having performed this duty, the battalion
will be available for any service you may assign it to.
Respectfully, J. H. TAYLOR, A. A. G.
Reaching Bristoe Station we stopped for the night, and
the next day passed on to Rappahannock Station. The
country along the route, trodden so many times by
armies, reminded us of the "desolate land" mentioned
in the rebel ballad found at Centreville. Ah! how
chickens come home to roost. All was lonely around
us, the army having gone on its great war-path, leaving
here only a few troops who were preparing to return to
the defenses of Washington. It was a new thing for us •
to be behind the battle front; but it was only for the
want of horses. We were immediately ordered back to
Fairfax Station, where, on arriving, we received the sub
joined order: Headquarters Tyler's Division, )
Fairfax Court House, Va. , May 10, 1864. j
[Special Order No. 49.]
I. Major P. M. Farrington, First Rhode Island Cavalry, will
proceed with his command to Vienna to-morrow morning and
report for duty to the officer commanding the cavalry brigade at
that post. By command of Brigadier-General Tyler:
W. A. SADLOTH, A. A. G.
May llth. Dismounted cavalry was not our pride.

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 349
It robbed us of our spurs; it seemed like coming down;
it gave too little sweep for our sabres; it did not tally
with our past history. But we marched to Vienna,
where we reported to Colonel C. R. Lowell, Jr., of the
Second Massachusetts Cavalry, commanding the cavalry
brigade stationed there — a place twelve miles from Alex
andria, on the Leesburg Railroad.
General Grant had now commenced his grand and
awful march by the Wilderness for Richmond. Meade's
army cut loose from its base near the Rapidan May 4th.
His first battle opened on the 5th. Burnside, having
crossed the Rappahannock and the Rapidan, — a march
of more than thirty miles — led his Ninth Corps into
action on the morning of the 6th. Butler moved his
army up the James on the 4th, and on the 5th had pos
session of City Point and Bermuda Hundred. On the
morning of the 9th, Sheridan started on his raid against
the rebel lines of communication with Richmond; de
stroyed the depots at Beaver Dam and Ashland Stations,
four trains of cars, large supplies of rations, and many
miles of railroad track; also recaptured about four hun
dred of our men on their way as prisoners to Richmond;
met and defeated the Confederate cavalry at Yellow
Tavern; carried the first line of works around Rich
mond, and finally reported to Butler on the James River.
This splendid stroke of sabres drew off from the front
the whole of the rebel cavalry, and made it quite easy to
guard our trains. Batler's cavalry also, as it moved, did
effective service. Kautz, with his three thousand sabres,
struck the Danville road at Coalfield, Powhatan and
Chola Stations, destroying track, trains, and large quan
tities of commissary and other stores; also struck the
Southside road, demolishing road and depots at Wilson's,
Wellsville, and Blacks-and-Whites Stations.
30

350 SABRES AND spurs. [May,
We longed to be in the fray as aforetime, but were
detained a little. Scarcely had we pitched our tents at
Vienna when Captain Baker and forty men, dismounted,
were ordered out on a three days' scout. 'Then we were
surprised by the following order:
Headquarters Cavalry Brigade, )
Vienna, Va., May 13, 1864. j
[Special Orders No. 44.]
In pursuance of orders from headquarters, Tyler's division,
Major P. M. Farrington is relieved from duty in this brigade,
and will immediately proceed with his command to Alexandria,
Va. ; thence reporting to Major-General Augur, commanding
Department of Washington, for orders.
By order of Colonel C. R. Lowell, Jr. :
E. LANSING, Lieutenant and A. A. A. G.
Here, was a look for us towards the front. Immediate
ly we took rail for Alexandria, and on the way took in
Lieutenant Shurtliff with his twenty men who were
guarding the road. We stopped at the " Soldiers' Rest,"
where, as Sargent expressed it, about midnight we had a
"Government collation," but no blankets, as our bag
gage was left in the cars. The next day, as transporta
tion was delayed, we had another "Government colla
tion," and then marched to the wharf and on board the
boat, where we stowed ourselves away as well as we could
under such pressing circumstances — the boat not being
a transport for men.
Reaching Belle Plain, the base of supplies for the army,
we found vessels and steamers of all shapes and sizes dis
charging troops and Government stores. On landing we
reported to General Abercrombie, our old friend and first
commander in the field, now commanding this post.
Doubtless he remembered "Camp Mud."

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 351
May 16th. Captain Baker and his detachment re
joined us. The next day, to our great satisfaction, Cap
tain Bliss, having been relieved at New Haven, Conn.,
reached us, ready again for the front.
Quartermaster-Sergeant George H. Harris (Troop A)
died May 19th, of typhoid fever, near our old camp in
the vicinity of Geesboro Point.
Our camp at Belle Plain was about a mile from the
landing. While waiting for our baggage we were well
drenched by a thunder-shower. Here we will let Sar
gent speak in his naive style:
"Near our camp, on the way from the landing, were
nine thousand Johnnies who were captured in the Wilder
ness fights. They were in a low piece of ground, with a
heavy guard around, and six brass bull-dogs, loaded with
grape and canister, pointing at them. Thinking they
might want to hear Yankee music, our band played
them 'Yankee Doodle'; but it evidently did not set
well, for they made wry faces. When we got through,
some of them called for ' Dixie ' and ' Bonny Blue Flag,'
but instead, they got ' Johnnie stole a ham ' and 'Aint
you glad to get out of the wilderness? ' — that we thought
appropriate to the occasion.
"One can hardly imagine what a place becomes by
being made the base of supplies for a great army. Every
thing to feed, arm, and equip a vast host requires an
immense amount of stores of every description. It be
comes avast business centre; thousands are unloading
transports and loading wagons for the front. The trains
come from the front loaded with the wounded; such as
are able walk to the boats; others, too severely wounded,
are carried on stretchers: all to be conveyed to Washing
ton. If any one wants proof of the soldiers doing their
duty, let him see these ¦ long lines of wounded men.

352 SABRES AND spurs. [May,
These wounds speak louder than words. You hear no
grumbling or words of discouragement, but all remarks
are pleasant and cheerful.
"About fifty rods from our camp is an old barn con
taining about forty wounded rebels, and such a set
of long-legged, lantern-jawed, knock-kneed, long-haired
specimens of humanity we never saw before,. They came
from the tar and pitch region of North Carolina. But
they seemed to be in good spirits, and said that Lee knew
what he was about, and that he would fight till the last
man fell. When asked what they were fighting for they
replied that they did n't know, but reckoned their lead
ers did. We were required to be under arms every night,
as guerrillas hovered round the post."
May 19th. Chaplain Clarke officiated at the funeral
of a rebel soldier whom our men found in the barn just
mentioned, very sick, and had taken care of him, and
now gave him Christian burial as carefully as if he had
been one of our men. How different this from the treat
ment received by our men while prisoners of war. Re
member the burials at Andersonville.
May 21st, 22d. Good ! Now for our- spurs again !
We received our horses and equipments. As Sargent
expressed it, "No more mud-mashing foot-cavalry no
longer." Our new horses at first tried to have their own
way, but they were obliged to submit to veterans. The
base of supplies for the army was now to be transferred
to Port Royal, on the lower Rappahannock, and lovely
Belle Plain was to resume its old quiet.
May 24th. We were ready for orders, and broke camp
by noon, marching a short distance and encountering
another of the episodes of the field — a severe storm of
wind, rain, and hail, drenching us to our skins; but we
took the matter philosophically, like veteran cavaliers.

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 353
May 25th. Early the bugles gave us "Boots and
Saddles," and about three o'clock P. M. we reached Port
Conway, on the north bank of the Rappahannock. The
"sacred soil" was now literally trembling under the
tread of mighty armies closing in for awful conflicts.
Already the Wilderness had been wet with blood. The
battles, beginning on the 5th, at Mine Run, and contin
uing, with only brief lulls, and sometimes with varying
fortune — but by the steady falling back of the Confed
erates — lasted in all more than forty days. What pen
can ever describe those scenes !
General Grant, in his report, introduces the following
appropriate observations :
" During three long years the armies of the Potomac
and Northern Virginia had been confronting each other.
In that time they had fought more desperate battles than
it probably ever before fell to the lot of two armies to
fight, without materially changing the vantage-ground
of either. The Southern press and people, with more
shrewdness than was displayed in the North, finding
that they had failed to capture Washington and march
on to New York, as they had boasted they would do, as
sumed that they only defended their capital and South
ern territory. Hence Antietam, Gettysburg, and all the
other battles that had been fought were by them set
down as failures on our part and victories for them.
Their army believed this. It produced a morale which
could only be overcome by desperate and hard fighting.
The battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North
Anna, and Coal Harbor, bloody and terrible as they were
on our side, were even more damaging to the enemy."
May 26th. A portion of our regiment, under Captain
Baker, crossed the river on pontons to Port Royal, and
went out on picket beyond the town. Strange scenes —
30*

354 SABRES AND spurs. [May,
tragic and comic — were thick around us. Fleeing " con
trabands" were pouring into our lines — coming singly
and in groups — some on foot, some on horses, some on
trains. Women might be seen toting prodigious bundles
on their heads, knots of little ebonies hanging to their
tattered skirts; all seeming to say, as some expressed it,
"Bres de Lod; now we'se free."
May 28th. The regiment crossed the river to Port
Royal on ferry-boats, and camped on the southerly edge
of the town.
When the forces left Belle Plain, Captain Bliss and his
squadron were sent to Fredericksburg as escort and sup
port for a battery of light artillery; and on the 27th led
the advance guard of a force, commanded by Colonel
Cesnolia, sent out from Fredericksburg to the battle field
of the Wilderness to bring in the remaining of our
wounded. They gleaned forty-eight from the goi'y field,
and, returning, sent them by transports to Washington.
Captain Bliss rejoined us on the 28th.
May 29th. Sergeant Kelley (Troop A), with two men,
was sent to General Grant with despatches, and was or
dered to go on the gallop. The first fifteen miles were
passed without- incident. But while passing through
the main street of Bowling Green, the Sergeant, who
was a little in advance of his men, was ordered to halt by
a man who sprang from a house into the street.^ Halting,
the Sergeant was asked, "Are you Union or Confed
erate ?" "Union," answered the Sergeant. " You are
my prisoner; surrender ! " said the stranger. Immedi
ately the Sergeant drew his carbine from his boot. The
rebel fired his pistol at the Sergeant, but missed him.
The Sergeant fired his carbine, and the rebel dropped.
Not at liberty to tarry, the Sergeant pushed on, think
ing by a quick gallop to pass the enemy and get through

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 355
with his despatches. But half a mile further on he saw
sixteen rebels mounting their horses directly in his path..
They discovered him and started in his pursuit. He was
obliged to retrace his steps, and was pursued to within
four miles of Port Royal.
As soon as the Sergeant reported back, Captain Rogers,
of our regiment, was sent with the same despatches,.
having a squadron of the Eighteenth Ohio Cavalry as
his escort.. These sabres and spurs meant to reach the
mark. The Captain reached General Grant the next
6\a,y. Alas for his horses, exhausted by speed, distance,
and heat.
At Port Royal the Chaplain held services in the Epis
copal Church at six o'clock P. M. General Abercrombie
and staff and quite a number of citizens attended, with
all the regiment save such as were on duty. The regi
mental choir sang, and Captain Rogers presided at the
organ. Well, War and Peace — sabres and songs united :
such is life in this world. It almost seemed like civiliza
tion again to be seated under a roof in acts of devotion.
But the Chaplain was somewhat annoyed by passing
troops, whose band played "The Irish Washerwoman.'*
Douhtless we must always have some thorn in the flesh.
May 30th. We marched from Port Royal, en route-
to White House, on the Pamunkey River.
May 31st. Reached Bowling Green, where we found
Sergeant Kelley's antagonist lying in a house and badly
wounded; the bullet had cut through both his legs near
the body. We learned that he was Captain Woodfalk,
of the rebel army. Pushing on, we halted for the night
at the Mattapony River, near the month of Polecat, a.
tributary of the Mattapony. Here the bridge had been
burned; but we were equal to the emergency, and con
structed (May 1st) a bridge strong enough to support.

356 SABRES AND SPURS. [JllllC,
artillery and wagons. We were accompanied by the
Sixty-Seventh Pennsylvania Infantry and the Third New
York Battery, the whole commanded by Colonel Staun
ton, of the Sixty-Seventh. This night (June 1st) we
bivouacked eight miles nearer Richmond.
June 2d. We marched fifteen miles, and bivouacked
two miles from Hanovertown, on the Pamunkey -River.
June 3d. A ponton train joined us in the morning,
and we threw the bridge across the river at New Castle,
and passing over camped for the night within ten miles
of White House, on the Pamunkey.
June 4th. We reached White House and encamped
near the landing. How movable and uncertain is the
soldier's life. We could sympathize with the Irish sol
dier who was asked, when entering a town with his
regiment, "Where are you from?" and replied, "We
are from ivery place but this, and we will soon be from
this." We found a sort of camp, and entered on picket
duty and scouting. Here all the air was full of the
majestic music of a great war — whistles and bells of hur
rying steamers— the solemn striking of watch-bells on
heavy clad gun-boats — the screeching and rumbling of
locomotives tugging their great army trains — the anima
ted playing of military bands — and through and over all
the distant, heavy booming of cannon in the raging, bat
tles. And not the least impressive of the war scenes
were the long trains of ambulances and the large, crowd
ed hospitals— scenes that vmay never fade from the eyes
that beheld them.-
While stationed near White House Landing, two de
tachments of our command were sent out on scout. The
first, under Captain Baker, accompanied by one of Gen
eral Abercrombie's aids, was sent to West Point to learn
about the break in the telegraphic line to Washington by

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 357
guerrillas. They found the break had been made half
way between White House and West Point. Returning
from West Point, they were able to report to the General
the names of the suspected parties. An order had been
given for systematic foraging, that was remarkably dam
aging to turkeys, chickens, and geese — some being nicely
served up at the General's table, in the house formerly
owned by the wife of General Washington. How time
shifts the scenes in the great drama of history. Captain
Baker and his scout, bringing in these spoils, had some
adventure by storm and darkness in crossing the Pa
munkey, losing a horse through the bridge and recover
ing him from the stream, reaching camp at last by the
lights on the gun-boats and the flashes of lightning that
came down with the rain.
The second scout was to Prince William Court. House,
and the detachment was fired into by guerrillas; one man,
William R. Spink, was shot in the left shoulder and
breast. He was brought back in an old family carriage,
about a century old, we judge. This detailed vehicle
and team furnished amusement for our boys, being driven
around camp for several days with so many passengers
inside and out as to justify the saying, "It is a poor
coach that won't carry nine." This scout not finishing
its work, Captain Bliss, with a detachment, made a
thorough reconnoissance, reporting only a few straggling
guerrillas. June 9 th. We were reviewed and inspected by Colonel
Schriver, of the army headquarters, a fact that looked to
work after our old style. The Colonel had knowledge
of our regiment and the fields on which we had proved
our sabres. Finding us well mounted again and show
ing our old spirit and movements, he paid us a high
compliment.

358 sabres and spurs. [June,
June 19th. By invitation of the Chaplain, in our re
ligious services we had the pleasure of listening to Chap
lain Nash, of the Seventh, and Chaplain Greeley, of the
Sixth Michigan Cavalry. Our band played " Greenville"
to aid in the singing. All joined in the doxology. What
great Christian sentiments and principles underlay and
inspired and guided the great struggle in which we en
gaged. Peter McGrath (Troop E) died, while on sick furlough
from hospital, at his home in Rhode Island.
(Note.) For many particulars in subsequent chapters
we are indebted to the careful and skillful pen of
" Ulysses " (Captain Bliss), who forwarded to the papers
in Providence, R. I., valuable sketches of the daring and
doing of our command.

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 359

CHAPTER XLII.
BATTLE AT WHITE HOUSE LANDING.
June— Jult, 1864.
JUNE 20th. In the morning, while enjoying quiet
near White House, with General Abercrombie's com
mand, our pickets were suddenly attacked and driven in
by the enemy's cavalry. As a dense fog covered the face
of the country, the rebels approached very close to our
line before they were discovered, and, when challenged,
made a desperate dash. But our boys were too quick
for them, though the dispute was a sharp surprise. In
stead of losing any men, we captured one of the enemy,
who gave information that Generals Wade Hampton and
Fitz-Hugh Lee were advancing upon us with a heavy
force. Our strength at the time was about two thousand
men of all arms, supported by two small gun-boats. Our
fortifications were instantly manned, and every proper
measure taken to give a fitting reception to "our mis
guided Southern brethren."
Captain Bliss and Lieutenant Ellis, with a squadron,
were sent on the Bottom Bridge road with orders to
"observe the enemy, ascertain his probable force and in
tentions, and report immediately." When about half a

360 SABRES AND SPURS. [June,
mile from camp, the rebels opened with six pieces of
artillery, two of which specially addressed Captain Bliss'
'command. That was a musical concert to be easily re
membered. Very properly, the Captain reported the
enemy in force and animated with belligerent "inten
tions." When the fog lifted, the "gray backs" were in
full view. Our front proved quite too stubborn for them,
and they were wise enough to reconsider their design of
carrying the post. Our loss during the day was five
wounded, two mortally; one from our regiment, G. H.
Jacques (Troop G), was slightly injured on the picket
line in the morning by a fall from his horse. General
Sheridan's command reached us at night, and the next
morning drove the rebels back across the Chickahominy,
losing about fifty killed and wounded.
During the battle, Captains Rogers and Baker, Lieu
tenants Shurtliff and Burgess, with fifty men, made a
reconnoissance seven miles down the river towards Cum
berland Bluffs. As they were leaving camp, things were
so mixed by the fray that one of our gun-boats threw a
•shell at them by mistake, without, however, inflicting
any damage. Captain Rogers safely reached Cumber
land, but found his return cut off by the enemy, who
•opened on him with artillery, and pursued him for sev
eral miles, driving him down to Cumberland Point. In
this action he lost-one man, George Newell (Troop F),
who was captured on account of the fall of his horse.
At night the Captain sent his brother, Sergeant B. H.
Rogers (F), and G. W. Haywood (E), in a canoe to in
form us of his situation. Paddling their way for seven
miles with their hands, and passing a rebel force encamp
ed on the river bank, they reached us at White House in
safety. The next morning (21st) Sheridan's assault upon
the foe set the Captain and his men free again.

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 361
June 21st. During this day there was more or less
artillery practice, but the enemy made no new attack.
Some excellent gunnery was executed by the spunky gun
boats. And a shot from one of our field-pieces exploded
a rebel caisson full of ammunition. Quite discouraged,
the rebels ceased firing and drew off their battery.
On the same day we had orders to join the cavalry
corps, and were assigned to the first division, commanded
by Brigadier-General Torbert, and to the reserve brigade,
under Brigadier-General Merritt; the brigade consisting
of the First, Second, and Third Regular Cavalry, the
Sixth Pennsylvania, the First New York Dragoons, and
First Rhode Island. By special request of General Mer
ritt we were assigned to his command — a fact conveying
a compliment to us.
June 22d. Leaving White House, we moved to Jones'
Bridge, on the Chickahominy.
June 24th. Crossing the river, we pushed on all day
towards the James, which we reached at Mine Oak Land
ing on the 25th. The scenery on the way was all new to
us and much of it very attractive, as was the historic
James River; but we were now studying social problems.
General Meade's campaign from the Rapidan to the
James, occupying forty-two days, had cost us sixty thou
sand men. But by his terrible battles and sharp flank
movements he drove the rebels nearly to the defenses of
Richmond; and on the 14th of June began to throw the
Army of the Potomac across the James to unite with the
Army of the James, under Butler, in laying siege to
Richmond and Petersburg, and cutting off Lee's com
munications with the South. The dogs of war were now
fastening on, the throat of the Confederacy, never to re
lease their grasp till it died.
June 28th. At nine o'clock A. M. we left our bivouac
31

362 SABRES AND SPURS. [Julie,
in readiness to cross to the south bank of the James,
but, having to wait our turn for transportation, did not
pass over till midnight. Verily, great bodies move slow
ly; and great bodies were now moving. Great events
were being shaped. Our crossing was effected at AVind-
mill Point. In vain we hoped for a little rest, since for
six weeks we had been on picket, vidette, scout, and
skirmish. June 29th. At four o'clock P. M. the bugles blew the
"general," and we were instantly in saddle and off- via
Prince George Court House for Reams' Station, on the
Weldon, Railroad, near which Kautz and Wilson had
been attacked by a superior force of the Confederates.
This expedition of Kautz and Wilson set out on the
22d, struck the Weldon road, destroyed Reams' Station
depot and miles of track, struck the Southside road fif
teen miles from Petersburg, reached near to Nottaway
Station, where they met and defeated the enemy, passed
to Burksville Station on the 23d, and destroyed the Dan
ville road to Roanoke Bridge. On their return (the
2Sth) they met the rebel cavalry again on the Weldon
road, at the crossing of Stony Creek, and had a severe
engagement. Returning, they met the enemy's cavalry,
supported by infanty, at Reams' Station. Our regiment
reached this point on the evening of the 29th.
Here we found old and dear friends in the brave Sixth
Corps, under General Wright, engaged in tearing up the
railroad. We were even more delighted in meeting the
heroic Second Rhode Island Infantry and the valiant
Rhode Island Batteries D and E; their faces were like
sunshine to us.
The method of destroying the road was the old one.
Tearing up the rails, the sleepers were lifted and piled ;
then the rails were thrown on the piles, where the fire

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 363
warped and bent them. Sometimes the soldiers gave
them a twist, and called them Jeff Davis' neck-ties — a
little ironic; yet we think he deserved something of the
kind. The First New Hampshire Cavalry — our old brothers —
were with Wilson on his raid, and lost thirty killed,
wounded, and missing. Among the killed was Lieuten
ant Campbell, and among the wounded was Lieutenant
E. P. Abbott — both formerly officers in our regiment.
July 1st. Remained in bivouac within a few miles of
the Weldon road.
July 2d. Marched near to City Point; encamped four
miles from the point in the woods.
July 3d. Moved near to Jordan Landing and went
into camp. The last four days h'ad been especially severe
upon the men and horses, having been the hottest days
of the season: the thermometer ranging over one hun
dred degrees in the shade, they said, — we had none with
us — the sun pouring down on us and well-nigh blistering
us, and no winds stirring. Nor had it rained, except
small showers, for over a month. Imagine the dust —
fine as flour — four inches deep — trodden and kicked up
by seven or eight thousand horses. Travelling for miles,
you could see but a few rods in advance, and often could
not see the horse ahead of you. And then the sweat in
streams running down your face, and eyes smarting, and
nose and throat full of dust almost to choking; and our
horses suffering like ourselves— many abandoned from
exhaustion and sore backs. Surely we were in a con
dition to rest and recruit.
July 4th. The historic day was patriotically observed
to the best of our abilities — ushered in by the band play
ing national airs. What of bunting we could command
was in the breeze with our gallant standard and guidons.

364 SABRES AND SPURS. [Juty,
In the afternoon, before the assembled regiment, after
appropriate music, Captain Bliss delivered an excellent
and entertaining oration, which was followed by short
speeches from other officers. Surely soldiers engaged as
we .were had a right to be enthusiastic.
We now began to hear again of the invasion of Penn
sylvania by the rebels, and rumors were afloat that we
were to be sent once more into the Shenandoah Valley.
July 7th. The rebels came down on the north bank
of the James and flung a few shells across in the neigh
borhood of our camps, but were driven off by our gun
boats. In the evening our band serenaded Brigadier-
General Merritt, our excellent commander.
About this time, a vessel load of onions having been
sent to the army and distributed, Sargent writes: "I
suppose they have arrived, for we have received three for
our mess, to be divided among sixteen men. There was
about enough for a smell apiece, but even that was good
for sore eyes. It shows their good intentions, and per
haps they will do better by and by — small favors thank
fully received. The cry of the soldiers is, ' Onions and
Union forever!'"
The cannonading heard almost every day and night
was styled by Sargent, " Grant's and Lee's City Point
Express. Though they are not in partnership, they are
carrying on an extensive trade in the express business,
sending packages back and forth by the air line."
Received news of the capture of Corporal E. P. Gard
ner (Troop E), July 5th, in an engagement in the Shen
andoah Valley, where he was serving on detached duty.
July 22d. In anticipation of moving, our brigade
was reviewed by Generals Torbert and Merritt.
Through the kindness of the Christian and Sanitary
Commissions — Heaven bless them! — we received supplies

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 365
not furnished by the War Department — new and fresh
vegetables, and various luxuries and articles of clothing.
We were now equipping and refitting, with our eyes on
the front, where we knew some of our brave men must
fall. Yet we kept up courage and hope, ready for the
bugles to bid us mount and be off for the fight.

31*

366 SABRES AND SPURS. [July,

CHAPTER XLIII.
BATTLE OF DEEP BOTTOM.
July, 1864.
^TJULY 26th. Having rested three weeks, and re-
^jj cruited up to the marching standard, at two o'clock
P. M. we broke camp and, passing City Point, crossed
the Appomattox River about nine o'clock, on pontons,
and moved for Bermuda Hundred. Our route led most
ly through the woods on a narrow road skirted by tall
Southern pines. Says Sargent: "The night was dark
as Egypt. The boys were sleepy. They nod in their
saddles. Our band strikes up 'Lanergan's Ball,' the
audience coming in on the chorus. Fine effect. Grand
encore. ' Lanergan's Ball ' played out. The boys enjoy
another nap. They wake up, and ' wonder if they are
going to run this machine all night.'"
On our route large fires were built to give to the enemy
the impression that a large force was in motion. Com
ing to a halt at two o'clock A. M. (July 27th), we were
ordered not to unsaddle, but to lie down, holding the
reins or tying them to our legs. We were with the Sec
ond Corps — excellent company.
July 27th. At sunrise we crossed the James on pon-

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY'. 367
tons at Deep Bottom, and advanced near to Malvern
Hill, taking some prisoners on our way. Here we came
into position for action, about ten miles from Richmond,
and remained for the night. The first and second divis
ions of cavalry took position on the right of the Second
Corps. The enemy were this day driven from their in
trenched position, with the loss of four pieces of artillery.
July 28th. Our lines were extended from Deep Bot
tom to Newmarket road, but in reaching this position
our front was attacked by the rebels in heavy force, the
assault being made on that part of the line held by our
brigade. The fighting was smart, and continued several
hours; but we finally repulsed the assailants, capturing
two battle flags and about two hundred of the enemy.
The Union loss was one hundred and sixty killed, wound
ed, and missing. The Confederate loss was unknown,
but one hundred and twenty-nine of their dead were-
counted in one field. Our regiment had but one man
injured— John Sheridan (Troop G), who received a mus
ket ball in his thigh, grazing the femur.
The rebel prisoners were astonished and chagrined to.
find that they had been beaten by dismounted cavalry
men— the ground not admitting of our action on horse —
and averred that they chose to fight with infantry like
themselves. Our men were armed with breech-loading
carbines, which gave us a decided advantage in the
action over those who wielded only muzzle-loading pieces..
One of the captured battle flags belonged to the Eight
eenth North Carolina Regiment, and had upon it seven
teen battle inscriptions, commencing with Bull Run.
The other belonged to the Twenty-eighth North Caro
lina, and was decorated with the names of the battles in
which that command had participated.
July 29th. We crossed to the north bank of the

368 SABRES AND SPURS. [July,
James, and remained all day dismounted in line of
battle, but at dark recrossed, and about midnight made
ready for a march. Indescribably busy times were now
upon us; the war grip was tightening.
July 30th. Between four and five o'clock this morn
ing the famous Petersburg mine was exploded, blowing-
up a rebel battery and the most of a regiment, without,
however, accomplishing all that had been hoped in mak
ing a breach in the rebel front.
We crossed the Appomattox and, taking a route in
rear of our army, marched to the extreme left of the
Army of the Potomac, near Reams' Station. The day
was extremely hot and the roads extremely dusty; hence
great was our discomfort and fatigue. The steeples of
Petersburg were plainly in view. The rebel shells from
the defenses of the city were bursting over our lines.
We finally bivouacked about five miles east of Reams'
Station, on the Petersburg and Weldon road.
July 31st. After drawing rations we were ordered
with General Torbert's division to City Point. Says
Sargent: "A dusty set of men we were. Mothers would
not have known tlieir sons. Eyes, ears, and mouth were
full of the sacred soil."

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 36*

CHAPTER XLIV.
BACK TO THE SHENANDOAH.
August, 1864.
.RANT'S co-operating force in the Shenandoah
Valley and West Virginia, commanded at first
by Sigel and afterwards by Hunter, instead of rendering
the efficient service expected was itself finally driven out
of the valley. His way being thus opened again, Lee
resolved to try the experiment of a third invasion of the
loyal States, hoping to compel Grant to raise the siege of
Richmond and hasten "to the defense of Washington.
General Early was therefore despatched with a large
force to march rapidly down the Shenandoah Valley,
cross the Potomac, and threaten Baltimore and the
National Capital. But Grant was able to provide for
Washington without relaxing his iron grasp upon Rich
mond. August 1st. We were among the troops ordered back
to'the Shenandoah to meet the raids of Early. Our
horses were embarked "on a barge and our men on the
steamer Thomas Powell, at City Point. The troops.
sent were the first and third divisions of cavalry.
August 2d. We moved down the James River by
Fortress Monroe, and anchored inside of Point Lookout..

370 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,
August 3d. Steamed up the Potomac on a fine day,
the men enjoying the voyage greatly, looking, telling
stories, smoking, and resting— a brief, bright spot in our
soldier life. Passing Mount Vernon near noon, our
band played the Dead March and national airs, the bell
on the steamer tolled, according to custom, the men
gathered and gazed on the resting place of Washington.
Passing Alexandria, we landed at Geesboro Point at three
o'clock P. M., and camped near our old ground. Let it
not be thought a small task to transport between eight
and ten thousand men and horses — fully equipped cav
alry forces — near three hundred miles in a few days. It
was work.
August 5th. Late in the afternoon we broke camp,
and passed through Washington by gas-light, our band
playing, our standard and guidons waving, and the side
walks crowded with spectators; for there was great ex
citement relative to the rebel raid. Near midnight we
encamped at Tenallytown.
August 6th. Hurrying on, we passed through Rock-
ville and Boxboro, and bivouacked for the night near
Hyattstown. August 7th. Starting with the morning, we passed
Urbana, Jefferson, Buckeyestown, Knoxville, and arrived
at the foot of Maryland Heights a little before dark.
Though moving at this express-train speed, we were
not indifferent to what we saw and heard, which was
much and significant. There existed an impressive con
trast between Virginia and the portions of Maryland
through which we moved. In Virginia the houses were
closed, and the people were glum and sullen; all indi
cated hostility. Here the houses were open; smiling
faces were at doors and windows; fair hands waved flags
and handkerchiefs. All cheered our band, who played

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 371
their choicest music. These people had just had a visit
from the rebel Early, and now bade us Godspeed on our
way to push him back and give him the strokes he
deserved. August Sth. Reaching Harper's Ferry, we thought of
the John Brown raid, looked on the. ruins of the Govern
ment Arsenal, and passed on to Halltown, where we had
the renewed pleasure of meeting the Second Rhode Island
Infantry and the widely famous Rhode Island Batteries,
under Captains Waterman, Rhodes, and Buckley. We
had only too little time to exchange greetings.
To learn the whereabouts of Early's ever changing
front and lines, we were ordered to make a remarkable
march and reconnoissance. The risks of the movement
were many and great; but this sort of service was the
special function of the cavalry arm.
August 9th. Major Farrington led us out to probe
the rebel front. Leaving Halltown at two o'clock P. M.,
we bore our standard through Charlestown — of John
Brown memory — glancing at court-house, jail, and the
spot of Brown's execution, and while realizing that
" John Brown's body lies mouldering in the grave,''
were equally sure that
" John Brown's soul goes marching on."
Speeding across the Shenandoah River, we pressed
over the mountains through Snicker's Gap to Snicker-
ville, where weariness and darkness bade us halt.
August 10th. In our saddles by daylight, we dashed
over mountain spurs and through valleys, in cavalier
style, hunting for the "gray backs." Again we passed
through Middleburg — tragic and • historic place to our
command. Again we pressed over Mount Gilead — the

372 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,
height we passed in 1862 — and made a halt for dinner —
such as it was — eaten with sabre in hand, in the face of
the foe. Here the guerrillas made demonstrations on
'Our videttes, and were seen on all sides, but never reveal
ing themselves in such numbers and positions as to make
it an object to pursue them. We were now far beyond
the Federal lines, and exposed every moment to an at
tack. We passed unhurt to Waterford", where weariness
compelled us to pass the night.
August llth. With spurs and sabres bright and ready
at the first streak of day, we pushed forward through the
beautiful but hostile country. Refording the Shenan
doah, we reached Harper's Ferry to find that the army
had advanced up the valley. We had been out two days,
and had travelled one hundred and twelve miles, chiefly
beyond our lines, without the loss of man or beast. It had
been reported at army headquarters that we were cap
tured. General Torbert regretted that we had been sent,
¦deeming the command too small to ever return without
severe loss, as Mosby had a much larger force along the
track pursued. In fact, the order for this scout was a
•clerical error, it being the General's design that we
should go to Millwood — a few miles from army head
quarters — instead of . Middleburg. Under the circum
stances our scout was deemed remarkable. We captured
a rebel lieutenant of cavalry with his horse and arms.
We also secured several horses from the country.
To better explain our movements about this time, we
may briefly mention the steps of Early in his raid. He
'had dashed down the Shenandoah Valley, crossed the
Potomac, pushed General Wallace at Monocacy, ad
vanced on Washington to Rockville, where he was re
pulsed, and then fell back, but was overtaken by General
Wright (Sixth Corps) at Snicker's Ferry, and was finally

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 373
met and severely handled by General Averill at Win
chester. Soon, however, gathering new strength, he
returned upon Maryland, and even advanced upon Penn
sylvania, where, July -30th, he burned Chambersbnrg,
but immediately retreated towards Cumberland.
On the 7th of August General Sheridan was assigned
to the command of the "Middle Military Division," in
cluding Washington, West Virginia, and Susquehanna.
We were with the divisions of cavalry sent with him from
the Army of the Potomac, under Generals Torbert and
Wilson. And now Sheridan was pressing Early back.
August 12th. Under the morning light we pushed
on to join the army, from which our raid of over a hun
dred miles had partially separated us. On our way we
were highly pleased to fall in with our old commander,
General Duffie, who heartily greeted us in his peculiar,
cavalier and gallant manner, and to whom we gave ring
ing and enthusiastic cheers. Passing through Charles-
town and Berryville, we bivouacked near Winchester.
The march of twenty-five miles prepared us to covet and
enjoy rations and sleep.
The country in which we now were contrasted strong
ly with that around Petersburg; there all was low, level,
and monotonous, and the roads extremely dusty; here
we had hills and mountains, brooks and rivers of cool,
clear water, and often solid roads. Yet day and night
in our saddles, obeying bugle orders, hunting for Mosby's
raiders and Confederate scouts, and guarding the skirts
of a moving army, we could only give bird's-eye glances
at the beauties and grandeurs of the country.
T. A. G. Hall (Troop C) died in hospital, at City
Point,, Va. , August 16th. Corporal G. W. Gorton (Troop
D) was killed July llth, in one of the skirmishes with
Early's forces. P. J. Rounds (Troop G) died in hos-
32

374 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,
pital, at Annapolis, August 5th. John Sheridan (Troop
G), wounded July 28th, died of his wounds in hospital
August 5th.
Under General Sheridan, in the valley, General Tor
bert was chief of cavalry, and General Merritt command
ed the first division, and Colonel Gibbs, of the First New
York Dragoons, commanded our brigade. Captain Rog
ers, of our regiment, was detailed to act as Assistant
Inspector-General, on General Merritt's staff.

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 375

CHAPTER XLV.
RAID NEAR BERRYVILLE.
August, 1864.
UGUST 13th. At a very early hour the army sup*
' ply train began to pass us, en route for Winchester.
Near sunrise a lieutenant of the Quartermaster Depart
ment came galloping into our bivouac with the alarm
that the rear of the supply train had been attacked by
Mosby's guerrillas near Berryville — five miles distant.
Instantly Major Farrington ordered the bugles to sound
"Boots and Saddles," and away we flew at double-quick
even for cavalry.
The train guard consisted of two regiments of " one
hundred days men " from Ohio, who were engaged at
their breakfast when the attack was made. They were
so surprised and excited by the attack of the raiders that
they forgot their loaded guns, and sought safety by flight.
A few veterans amongst them did what they could, and
killed a few of the enemy. Mosby had a mountain how
itzer, whose barking aided in unnerving the raw Ohioans.
On reaching Berryville we found that the guerrillas
had descried our column by the dust we stirred, and had
turned upon their heels. They however seized and run

376 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,
off the teams from about seventy-five wagons, and cap
tured about forty men. Some of the wagons they plun
dered; others they set on fire; twenty-two were entirely
burned. Our men extinguished the flames from eighteen
wagons; fifty were untouched, but we had no mules for
moving them. Our sabres prevented the guerrillas from
finishing their intended work. When we entered the
town some of the infantry men recovered courage and
returned to their posts of duty.
Our brigade train was at the point attacked; hence our
regiment suffered a serious loss of property. Many of
our officers lost all their clothing save what they were
wearing. There perished all our regimental and com
pany books and papers — a sad loss indeed, as our records
Irad been well kept, and were of great value to the com
mand, both in a pecuniary and historical way. More
over, — what we particularly deplored — our fine regiment
al flag, presented to us by the ladies of Providence, being
in the Adjutant's box, waiting for a new staff, perished
in the flames. Yet we preferred its destruction by fire
to its capture by the rebels.
Jesse W. Angell (Troop B), regimental forage master,
who was with the wagon train, fell from his horse and
was so severely injured that he lived but a few minutes.
Esteemed as one of the best men in our regiment, his
death was greatly lamented, and he was very tenderly
buried, in a black walnut coffin, in the grave-yard of the
Episcopal Church at Berryville. William Tourgee was
missing, reported as wounded.
As we could do no more for the train, resuming our
march, we reached Winchester about five o'clock P. M.
The operations in the Shenandoah Valley during Au
gust and the first part of September were both offensive
and defensive on the part of both armies, resulting in

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 377
numerous severe skirmishes, conducted chiefly by the
cavalry, in which generally the Union sabres turned back
the Confederates. The rebels lay on the west bank of
the Opequan Creek, covering Winchester. Our forces
were in front of Berryville. Of course the line varied as
the opposing forces were successful in their blows. We
now held Winchester, and our front was at Strasburg,.
where. the enemy held a strong position.
August 14th. Leaving Winchester in the morning,
we passed up the Staunton pike and joined the army at
Middletown, reporting to our brigade. Our band played
their most animating selections to cheer the weary soldiers
around us. In reference to the late scout and perils
through which we had passed, and when it was reported
that we had been cut off and captured, General Mcintosh
said: "The First Rhode Island Cavalry has as many
lives as a cat. They will be all cut to pieces one day,
and be all right, ready for duty, the next." During our
absence on the scout our brigade had shared in several
skirmishes, and lost four officers and fifty-three men
killed and wounded, principally from the First New
York Dragoons, a veteran and noble command. Others
had suffered sharp blows.
At this time the army under Sheridan numbered, of
all arms, about thirty thousand men. Early's force was
estimated at twenty thousand; but he was on his own
ground — secession soil — and among his friends. How
ever, we steadily pushed him back and advanced the flag
of the Union.

32*

378 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,

CHAPTER XLVI.
BATTLE NEAR FRONT ROYAL.
August, 1864.
"a0W rare a thing was rest for the cavalry arm of
' the service. As van or rear-guard, or in flank, or
scout duty, we were continually moving, so long as our
horses could endure. And no field demanded more vigi
lant and exhaustive cavalry service than the valley of the
Shenandoah and its skirting mountains. There were
weighty reasons why the Confederates were intent on
holding possession of this rich and beautiful region. In
a strategic view, it was the military key to northern Vir
ginia, and the natural protection to Harper's Ferry and
the upper Potomac. Even Washington, Maryland, and
Pennsylvania were insecure while the rebels had the
range of this valley. Besides, it furnished immense
and valuable supplies of wheat, oats, corn, horses, cattle,
and forage. More productive land is scarcely found un
der the -sun. Altogether considered, this long, fertile,
well-watered, delightful region was worth contending
for at great price; and the army operations conducted in
it during the rebellion would furnish material for a large
and exciting volume.

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 379
August 16th. With the morning we were ready for
hew service, and the new duties were not distant. Leav
ing our bivouac we marched to Nineveh, a small village
near seven miles north of Front Royal. About three
o'clock in the afternoon, Kershaw's division of Long-
street's corps and two brigades of Confederate cavalry
crossed the Shenandoah River at Front Royal. This
signified that they intended work. The force comprised
two thousand infantry and Imboden's cavalry, fifteen
hundred strong, in all, three thousand five hundred men.
General Merritt's force — the first and second brigades
of our cavalry division, led respectively by General Custer
and Colonel Devens — numbered in all about three thou
sand effective men. With these General Merritt gave
the enemy battle, and a lively fight it was. We smote
the rebels and hurried them back across the river. Our
loss was forty-seven killed and wounded, but we cap
tured about three hundred of the enemy and two of their
battle flags. In this action the Southern sabres did not,
exhibit their usual edge in meeting our Northern steel,
but quite uncavalierly left the work to be done by the
infantry. At this time Sheridan had in all eighteen thousand
infantry and five thousand cavalry. Early had been re
inforced by two divisions of infantry, with some cavalry
and artillery.

380 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,

CHAPTER XLVI-I.
PEELING THE VALLEY.
August, 1864.
J'~\ UGUST 17th. The following order, long to be
V remembered, was complacently received by the
troops of the Army of the Shenandoah:
Headquarters Middle Military Division, )
Cedar Creek, Virginia, August 16, 1864 f
General: — In compliance with instructions of the Lieutenant-
General commanding, you will make the necessary arrangements
and give the necessary orders for the destruction of the wheat
and hay south of a line from Millwood to Winchester and Petti
coat Gap. You will seize all mules, horses, and cattle that may
be useful to our army. Loyal citizens can bring in their claims
against the Government for this necessary destruction.
No houses will be burned, and officers in charge of this delicate
but necessary duty must inform the people that the object is to
make this valley untenable for the raiding parties of the rebel
army. Very respectfully, P. H. SHERIDAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Brigadier-General A. T. A. Torbert,
Chief of Cavalry, Middle Military Division.
The execution of this order was commenced on the

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 381
day it was received, and followed, as circumstances fa
vored, till the latter part of November. But the 17th of
August will be remembered as sending up to the skies
the first great columns of smoke and flame from doomed
secession barns, stacks, cribs, and mills, and the driving
into loyal lines of flocks and herds. The order was care
fully yet faithfully obeyed. The rebels had pitched and
played the tune that "to the victors belong the spoils,"
and now the matter of spoils had a home application that.
was felt. The time had fully come to peel this land and
put an end to the long strifes for its possession. Sheri
dan was to do for the valley what Grant was doing for
Richmond — clean it out. The flames here shortened the
work of war, and so were a mercy. Loss of property is
nothing as measured with blood. The order led to the
destruction of about two thousand barns, seventy mills,
and other property, valued in all at twenty-five millions.
of dollars.
As the inhabitants of Loudon Valley not only sympa
thized warmly with the rebellion, but largely assisted
guerrilla bands, — indeed many of them being in Mosby's.
command — the flames at last, in November, purified that.
valley also. As our boys expressed it, " we burned out.
the hornets."
August 18th. We reached our old camp at Berryville,
about twenty miles south of Harper's Ferry. Owing to.
the loss of our train, on the 14th, we were obliged to
depend upon the country for the subsistence of men and
horses; hence the new supply train that reached us on
the 19th was particularly welcome. A good macadam
ized pike connected Harper's Ferry with Berryville.
August 19th. A band of Mosby's guerrillas captured
and murdered sixteen men of the Fifth and Sixth Michi
gan Cavalry. They even killed one man who was sta-

382 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,
tioned as a safeguard at a farm-house. Naturally and
justly, these things warmed our blood with indignation.
For honorable enemies we had the respect belonging to
loyal and true men, and for lawful warfare we had
sacred regard; but for cowards, sneaks, and cut- throats,
men who would murder the wounded and defenseless
and slay safeguards, we had no tender sentiments or
gentle philosophy. Scouts were sent out to search for
the dastards, determined to show them no favor. Scouts
and skirmishes furnished us constant occupation. One
of our men, Isaac Westcott (Troop F), was Gaptured on
the 17th.
August 20th. Quite an excitement was stirred in
camp by an inrushing party of foragers, at whose heels
was a band of guerrillas; but the "Johnnies" were good
at running in return.
August 21st. We had, orders to report to General
Torbert, our chief of cavalry, at his headquarters in
Charlestown, to act as his escorts — body-guard — a position
of special honor. Our band became now the musicians
for the corps headquarters — an honorable rank, of which
they were worthy.
We were ordered to escort, from Berryville to Charles-
town, about twenty wagon loads of male citizens of the
valley, between the ages of sixteen and sixty, who had
been ordered by Sheridan to leave our lines. Most of
them were of that chivalrous class of Virginians who by
day appeared as farmers and meek-minded, much-injured
citizens, but by night were belted, booted, and spurred
for guerrilla operations and the plundering and burning
of trains. As a general fact, a white Virginian you
might not trust. The negroes you could trust at all
times. August 22d. Affairs were squally again. The head-

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 383
quarters teams and band were ordered back to Harper's
Ferry. General Torbert, with our regiment, went out on
a reconnoissance. The enemy was again pressing upon
our lines. We found General Duffie's division covering
the retreat, much like movements in drilling at Manas
sas and his ruse on the battle field of the second Bull
Run. It seemed like a drill, not a fight.
Major Farrington was now Provost Marshal of the
corps. Captain Rogers had been chosen aid-de-camp to
General Merritt, and Captain Thayer was Assistant In
spector of the reserve brigade. Captain Bliss commanded
the provost guard, Troops B and C. Major Turner
commanded our regiment.
The relations of our command at this time being
understood, they will explain why, in subsequent actions,
we were only occasionally called to engage as of old in
the desperate fighting, and yet will sufficiently indicate
the fact that both officers and men were constantly in
positions of danger, being called to act as aids and
couriers and bearers of despatches, often filling the most
perilous places in such duties.
In the reconnoissance with General Torbert, after con
siderable skirmishing the cavalry retired to Shepards-
town to guard the fords in that vicinity, and also protect
the right flank of the army.

'384 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,

CHAPTER XLVIII.
SKIRMISH WITH BRECKINRIDGE.
August— Skptembbb, 1864.
IF this ' collision of forces — Torbert vs. Breckin
ridge — 'that occurred between Shepardstown and
Martinsburg, near Halltown, we choose to let our excel
lent and humorous- comrade, G. A. Sargent, speak from
his valuable diary. By the way, he was a valuable
member of our band, and formerly bugler for Troop L;
and our readers will allow that there was music in him.
Hereafter we shall often and largely borrow from his
journal. "August 25 th. The whole corps go out on a recon
noissance in force towards Martinsburg, but before reach
ing there run into the reb pickets, which are driven in.
Shortly we come to the main body. A skirmish line is
thrown out; lines of battle are formed; rail fences are
torn down; batteries are planted; every preparation is
made for a fight. The General advances to the skirmish
line; we follow, expecting to be set to playing.
"The skirmishers of both sides occupy a piece of
'woods, and are popping away lively at each other. We
¦halt in a piece of woods at the edge. Had been there not
more than five minutes when the rebs made a charge, driv
ing back our line on the run. The balls began to hum un-

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 385
comfortably close about our ears. Great yelling by the
rebs, uproar, smoke, dust, and confusion. Have dim
recollections of seeing men and horses fall; officers shout
ing to the men to keep cool and steady. Presently one
of our batteries opens fire from a small hill but a stone's
throw behind us, throwing the shells over our heads, and
while the battery boys are dealing death and destruction
among the rebels we fall back to a position behind the
battery, and strike up the ' Star Spangled Banner. ' Great
noise, excitement, and confusion. The rebs are flanking
us; we have to fall back to a new position; they closely
follow. Our forces keep slowly falling back, fighting
every inch of the way. The headquarters are moved two
miles back.
"We enter a field and hitch our horses to a fence; the
boys proceed to boil themselves a cup of coffee, or roast
a piece of pork on a stick. Had been here about half an
hour when a -body of rebs suddenly made their appear
ance from a corn field, on the opposite side of the road,
and gave us a volley. There was a very rapid movement
towards the horses, leaving coffee and pork behind.
Though the balls whizzed over our heads and struck in
the dirt around us, none of our crowd got hurt. Some
stragglers, however, in a barn-yard were killed.
" Custer's Michigan brigade, that had just passed along
the road towards the front, turned and gave the rebs the
contents of their seven-shooters, but at last got cut off
and had to ford the Potomac into Maryland. The New
Hampshire regiment lost pretty heavily. Our loss was
greater than that of the rebs, they having the advantage,
being on foot, as they were infantry, while we, being on
horse, could not take such good aim. Our regiment had
one man captured— B. F. Hiscox, of Troop F. This
was the first time we ever played on the battle field,
33

386 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,
and don't care about repeating it very often. Although
I liked the excitement, I did n't like the musio of those
lead pills which were flying about so carelessly.
"Bivouacked for the night near Harper's Ferry, in a
field where there was neither rail nor stick. Some of
the boys used tlieir saddles for pillows, and tied the
halters to the saddles. About midnight one of the
horses got scared, and off he went, saddle and all. The
sleeper awakes at the sudden departure of his pillow, and
commences a search for a lost horse, floundering over the
stones and through the wet grass.
"August 26th. Went to Harper's Ferry; crossed the
Potomac on pontons near the old arsenal; travelled up
the canal tow-path; passed through Antietam and Sharps
burg, arriving at Hagerstown in the afternoon. As we
entered the city playing, we were met by a delegation of
ragged urchins, who escorted us through the streets,
giving vent to their enthusiasm by yelling and tossing
their caps in the air. The ladies exhibited their loyalty
by waving the flag and their handkerchiefs, and sweetly
smiling. 'Their bright eyes haunt me still.'
"In the evening we took our stand in front of the
hotel — the General's headquarters — and gave the Hagers-
towners a free concert, to the delight of the younger
portion of humanity, and I guess of the older portion
too, for when we got through, some of the ' angels with
out wings ' presented us with some huge watermelons,
probably thinking we were out of wind and needed some
thing to recruit on. We thanked them in melo?i-choly
style. During the night some of the boys dreamed that
they were coming to a watery grave. If this is a seedy
joke, it must be laid to the melons.
"August 28th. Left Hagerstown at eight o'clock A.
M. ; halted at Sharpsburg about three hours; saw houses

1864.] FIRST RHODE* ISLAND CAVALRY. 387
that had been pierced by balls in the battle of Antietam.
An old lady with a whole soul and Christian sentiments
made me the happy recipient of a home-made pie — proba
bly taking me for a youth of ^ie-ous ideas. Long may
she wave! In the afternoon we forded the Potomac,
passed through Shepardstown, and near midnight reached
Charlestown, camping in the field where John Brown's
body was left dangling in the air."
The army was now again advancing up the valley. On
the 30th' we marched to Berryville, where the headquar
ters of our corps remained nearly three weeks. The
third cavalry division, under Wilson, were off on a scout,
and brought in as trophies a whole South Carolina regi
ment of infantry, including even their colonel and their
colors. Our loss was about six killed and twenty wounded.
August 31st. We very regretfully parted with Cap
tain Joseph J. Gould, who, from impaired health, was
impelled to resign. He was a warm friend, a firm patriot,
and a faithful officer. Being our senior Captain, and of
solid qualities, he was familiarly known as "the General."
September 2d. Returned to Charlestown, but were
instantly ordered back to Berryville.
September 3d. Marched to White Post, halting at
four o'clock; went into bivouac. After our leaving
Berryville the rebels advanced their left and had a.
sharp skirmish with General Sheridan's infantry, there
by cutting us off from the main army. General Sheri
dan sent a despatch, by a scout, to the cavalry, but it
failed to reach us. General Torbert sent Sergeant Lyman
Aylesworth, with two men, to General Sheridan, at Berry
ville. When within a mile of Berryville, the Sergeant
found the rebels in his front, and passing to his right
came round by the left of our army, reporting to Sheri
dan about dark. At ten o'clock P. M. he was sent by

388 sabres and spurs. [September,
Sheridan, on fresh horses, with a despatch to General
Torbert, rolled in tin-foil, to be kept in his mouth and
swallowed in case he was captured. When a short way
out he met Captain Capron and a company, on their way
to General Sheridan. Being ordered to avoid the enemy
if possible, — the chances of capture being against him —
after gaining a cross-roads he was to take to the fields.
In the darkness he was obliged to dismount and feel the
roads with his hands. While searching in this way,
Captain Capron and his command came up with him,
the Captain having been sent to make sure that Torbert
should get the order. Expecting every moment to-be
challenged and fired upon, they at last reached White
Post and delivered the order. Instantly orders were
given to saddle, but to blow no bugles.
The above may illustrate the delicate and dangerous
missions on which- our officers and men were often sent
while acting as the General's body-guard. Upon our
fidelity and courage often the fate of the army, or of
large portions of it, depended. And this was the kind
of duty in which the whole regiment was employed
while at the General's headquarters.
September 4th. At daylight we retraced our steps,
and after some skirmishing with the enemy rejoined the
army, and established our camp midway between Berry
ville and Summit Point, near the headquarters of the
army — the Sixth Corps and the cavalry.
Back of our camp was a stone house, on the front
steps of which the Chaplain held Sunday services, with
the regiment in a half circle around him. On one of
these occasions, says Sargent, "the boys were caring
more for their bodily than their spiritual welfare; for the
old lady's sliced apples, which she had left on the back
window-sill to dry, disappeared before the sermon did."

1864. ] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 389

CHAPTER XLIX.
BATTLE OF OPEQUAN.
September," 1864.
'EPTEMBER 19th. We break camp at two o'clock
A. M., marching shortly in the direction of Win
chester. We meet the enemy posted on the opposite
side of Opequan Creek, and skirmishing commences.
Two pieces of artillery are brought into position and
shell the rebels vigorously for a time, but as they are
protected by breastworks they sustain but little damage.
Presently some of our cavalry cross the stream farther
down, drive the rebel cavalry picketing the bank, get in
the rear of the infantry guarding the ford, and capture
the whole squad with their officers — about sixty in all.
As the rebel cavalry were retreating up the hill, our guns
threw a few shells after them; one cavalry man and his
horse dropped instantly. We cross the creek, the rebel
cavalry slowly falling back, their sharp-shooters firing on
our advance from trees. We continue on, marching by
column in the road, with a strong skirmish line ahead,
until we come to the main body of the enemy, when the
corps was stretched out right and left, and fighting com
menced in earnest.
33*

390 sabres and spurs. [September,
The headquarters were located a short distance in the
rear of the line of battle. Owing to the nature of the
ground — wooded hills — we could not see much that was
going on; but the noise indicated a lively time, while the
infantry, some distance to ottr left, nearer Winchester,
were also having warm work. Frequently small squads
of "Johnnies" would arrive at headquarters, to be taken
care of by our regiment. The fighting continued all day
with little advantage to either side, until towards night,
when, after several charges on our part, the enemy gave
way, and, being closely pressed, broke and began to
retreat in confusion. The cavalry followed them, cap
turing twenty-five hundred prisoners, five pieces of artil
lery, nine battle flags, and all the rebel dead and wound
ed, and sent the foe "whirling" through Winchester.
On our side we lost General Russell, of the Sixth Corps,
deeply lamented by the whole army. At midnight Cap
tain Baker, with an escort, took the body towards Har
per's Ferry to have it embalmed and sent home.
September 21st. Started' at five o'clock A. M., passed
through Winchester, Newtown, Middletown, and halted
near Strasburg. The roads testified that the rebels had
been in a hurry the day before; they were strewn with
muskets, knapsacks, canteens, clothing, and all sorts of
army material. In the middle of the road were broken
down wagons, teamsters having cut the harnesses and
escaped on the horses. We bivouacked on the north
side of the town, close to General Sheridan's headquar
ters, while the rebels occupied a strong position on the
south side of Fisher's Hill. This morning General Sher
idan received a commission from Washington promoting
him to the rank of Brigadier-General in the Regular
Army, as a reward for the victory at Winchester. We
congratulated him on his success with a few appropriate

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 391
remarks through our instruments. Meantime, prepara
tions were made to dislodge the enemy from his position.
The cavalry divisions, under Merritt and Wilson, were
ordered up the Luray Valley to get in the rear of the
rebels. We crossed the Shenandoah, passed through
Front Royal, and bivouacked for the night a few miles
beyond. September 22d. Marched early. In the afternoon
came to a body of the enemy occupying a strong posi
tion at Millford. Fought them all the afternoon with
out dislodging them; so we fell back a few miles and
bivouacked. '
September 23d. Falling back, we passed through
Front Royal and came suddenly upon a party of guer
rillas, who had captured an ambulance on its way back
to the main army with wounded men. They had taken
the horses and guard, and robbed the wounded. Lieu
tenant McMaster, of the Second Regulars, mortally
wounded the day before, was found in the woods,
robbed and stripped, and just alive when we reached
him. One man was found in the church stripped
naked. After a short chase two of the guerrillas were
captured, some were killed, and others made their es
cape. The two captured were given their choice, to
lead a party to Mosby's haunts, or die. They preferred
to-be hung. Preparations were made to hang them.
Major Farrington— Provost Marshal — by order of Gen
eral Torbert, notified the prominent citizens of the town
that if like inhumanities were repeated the town would
be laid in ashes.
Two pieces of rope with nooses were prepared. The
criminals were led to a knoll a short distance away. The
ropes were thrown over limbs of the trees. The con
demned were asked if they were ready. The smaller one

392 sabres and spurs. [September,
asked for a Bible, which being furnished, he read a few
moments and offered a short prayer. The other looked
on with indifference. The nooses were placed around
their necks, and placards were pinned on their bodies,
reading, " Hung in retaliation for the murder of United
States soldiers." Their hands fastened behind them,
the halters finally adjusted, the bodies were pulled up.
On a distant hill was a group of men said to be rebels,
who witnessed through their glasses all these proceedings.
Our halt here did not occupy more than two hours.
We recrossed the Shenandoah by the bridge where our
brave New Hampshire battalion lost so heavily in their
famous action of May 30th, 1862. Bivouacking about
three miles from the river, we waited for wagons and
rations. Having unsaddled, cooked our dinner, and eaten, a
despatch reached us from Sheridan, announcing another
great victory, and ordering us to push on with all speed,
to cross the mountains, and, if possible, head off the
enemy. Though tired and without supplies, we were off
at once, enthusiastically cheering for the victory. The
report was brief. The Nineteenth Corps got in the rear
of the rebels and smote them, while the Sixth Corps at
the same time struck them in front, surprising them
and capturing guns, colors, and men. Pressing through
Front Royal — where the guerrillas were hanging as we
left them — we marched till midnight.
September 24th. After about three hours of sleep we
were off again. Ran into the rebel cavalry in the fore
noon, when a skirmish line was thrown out and troops
placed in position for action. After an hour's skirmish
the rebels fell back, and we entered the town of Luray
about noon. Shortly, popping was heard near at hand,
and the bugles blew "to horse" and "double-quick."

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 393
Our regiment, with General Torbert at their head, dashed
out in the direction of the firing, and after a few shots
put the rebels to flight. And here, at the foot of the
Blue Ridge, we bivouacked for the night. During the
day we had one man captured— W. H. Cooke (Troop A).

394 sabres and spurs. [September,

CHAPTER L.
ON TO STAUNTON.
September, 1864.
^EPTEMBER 25th. Started early to cross the
mountains by the splendid road, wide and smooth,
winding gracefully up the ascent, making it easy travel
ling for the horses'. Reached the summit shortly after
sunrise; the air cool and almost piercing; the view mag
nificent; a sight for an artist; the country below in full
view, stretching away in the distance with towns, vil
lages, rivers, and plantation residences as mere specks.
Altogether it was the most splendid sight we had yet
met. Passing through Newmarket, the signs indicated
that the inhabitants were of the Dutch persuasion. Out
side of the town we found our teams parked, where we
halted and drew rations. Partaking of a good, square
Government meal, after one or two days' fast, we resumed
our march and reached nearly to Harrisonburg.
September 26th. Passed through Harrisonburg play
ing the "Star Spangled Banner," the sick and wounded
"Johnnies," of which the town was full, standing on
the sidewalks looking with all their eyes, while the

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 395
women peered out of half-closed blinds to see the pass
ing Yanks. Our regiment arrived in Staunton about
four in the afternoon, the rebels having just evacuated
in great haste. Staunton, ninety miles from Winchester,
and the terminus of the splendid road running up the
valley, is a large and handsome town, containing many
public buildings, a retreat for insane, one for deaf and
dumb, and a ladies' seminary; now the base of supplies
for the rebel army.
Our boys promptly took possession of a Confederate
Government bakery in full operation, rolling out loaves
for the rebel army. We kept the knights of dough at
their work, though they looked sour and full of wonder,
probably questioning whether to obey Yankee orders.
No doubt they kneaded the bread for their own army,
but we considered it belonging to the trophies of war.
To weary, hungry soldiers, hot biscuit and fresh bread
had an enjoyable relish. We bivouacked in the border
of the town.
September 27th. All the Confederate Government
warehouses were thoroughly cleaned out. The teams
took all that was needed to camp; the remainder was
destroyed. Those who had a large bump of destructive-
ness had the pleasure of gratifying it to the fullest
extent. Millions' worth of property perished — arms,
ammunition, clothing, rations, saddles, horse equipage,
and Government goods of every kind. Railroads were
torn up, sleepers burned, rails twisted, bridges fired,
telegraph wires cut, and poles chopped down. The fire
demon reigned supreme during the rest of the day, and
Staunton had some costly ashes. Late in the day, while
the first division pushed out in one direction, we dashed
off with the third division to Waynesboro, where we
bivouacked.

396 sabres and spurs. [September,
September 28th. Major Farrington, with Capitain
Bliss' squadron, was engaged in tearing down the iron
railroad bridge near Waynesboro. Captain. Baker de
stroyed a tannery. We made it a point to destroy what
ever would strengthen and support the rebel army.

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 397

CHAPTER LI.
CAPTIVITY OF CAPTAIN GEORGE N. BLISS.
Septembeb, 1864— Febbuabt, 1865.
'EPTEMBER 28th. Our regiment was in bivouac
on the outskirts of Waynesboro. About three in
the afternoon, Major Farrington directed Captain Bliss
to enter the town and order the provost guard to pro
hibit the soldiers from entering the houses while passing
or repassing for the purpose of watering their horses.
The Captain delivered his order, and was watching the
party of soldiers pulling down the iron-work of the rail
road bridge crossing the Shenandoah (the wood-work
having been burned), when suddenly the sound of shots
was heard in the distance, and the rebels were seen driv
ing in our pickets. Immediately the Captain ordered
the provost guards to form a line across the main street
of the town and stop all stragglers from the front. The
enemy being in force pushed our men back towards the
river. Captain Bliss, having gathered about thirty men,
thought to encourage our forces and check the enemy
by charging across the river, with loud cheering, to pro
duce the impression that reinforcements were arriving,
and for a few moments the charge checked the advanc
ing foe.
34

398 sabres and spurs. [September,
When near the front, one of Colonel Lowell's aids
directed Captain Bliss to take his command to the ford
of the river and there stop all stragglers. Promptly
obeying the order, the Captain stopped about a hundred
and fifty— men belonging chiefly to the Regulars, who
had become demoralized. With the aid of some of the
Regular officers, these men were formed in line, when a
rebel battery began dropping shells among them, and
away they went again, sweeping with them to the rear
the Captain's small force, and all passed to the other
side of the river.
Getting together again some of the men of our regi
ment, the Captain ordered a barricade constructed across
the main street; but it was soon evident that this could
not be completed in time to be of use, as Colonel Lowell
could not longer hold in check the enemy with the small
force at his command. Leaving, therefore, the barri
cade and passing a short distance to the rear, Captain
Bliss found the Third New Jersey Cavalry (the " butter
flies" — so called from their original uniform) drawn up
in column of squadrons. Meanwhile, Colonel Lowell
was falling back from the fronts — himself the last man to
fall back, the enemy close to him and their carbine bul
lets falling around him. The Captain now riding up to
the Colonel, the following occurred:
Captain. "Colonel Lowell, I had but a few of the
provost guards, and did what I could with them to help
you." Colonel. "Well, Captain, we must check their ad
vance with a sabre charge. Is n't that the best we can
do?" Captain. "I think so, Colonel."
Coming up to the Third New Jersey Cavalry, Colonel
Lowell said to the officer in command, " Major, let your

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 399
first squadron sling their carbines, draw their sabres, and
charge." The squadron was disheartened by having
seen the other troops driven back. Colonel Lowell said,
"Give a cheer, boys, and go at them." At the same
moment he and Captain Bliss, waving tlieir sabres, start
ed for the enemy on a gallop, the squadron responding
with a_ cheer and following. After dashing on a short
distance, Colonel Lowell drew out to one side, to be ready
to move other troops to the support of the charging
squadron, and Captain Bliss was left to lead the charge,
who, on his swift and powerful horse, on reaching the
barricade before mentioned, found himself a long dis
tance in advance of his men, and, reining up, looked
hack and saw the squadron coming on in good order, and,
looking forward, saw the enemy — some fifty yards away
— turning to retreat. The ground descended towards the
rebels, and everything seemed favorable for a successful
charge. The squadron approaching, the Captain said,
"Come oh, boys! they are running," and dashed in
among the rebels, to find himself the only Yankee on
duty at that particular point.
The officer of the New Jersey squadron was afterwards
taken prisoner and placed in the same cell with Captain
Bliss, and explained the retreat of the squadron. He
stated that two regiments of rebels were drawn up so as
to give a flanking fire across the road, and he therefore
shouted to Captain Bliss to come back, and wheeling the
squadron, fell back.
The rebel cavalry among whom the Captain found
himself were in column of fours, riding loosely in full
retreat, and therefore with their backs towards him; they
so riding that there was one file on his right and three
on his left. In the dash of the charge, the Captain got
so far into the ranks of the rebels that he saw that his

400 sabres and spurs. [September,
only chance of escape was in moving with them till he
should come to a cross street, where he might deflect and
return to the Union lines. Some of the rebels behind
him, discovering his character, shouted, " Kill that d— d
Yankee ! " " Kill that son of a b— h ! "
The Captain had used his sabre both to the right and
left, and struck six good blows, four of which took
effect, the last one falling across the head of the color-
bearer who held the Virginian sic semper tyrannis flag.
In two cases the rebels saw the coming sabre, and, instead
of parrying it, escaped by throwing themselves length
wise upon their horses.
Just as he struck the color-bearer the Captain discov
ered a cross street on the left, near the centre of Waynes
boro, and, dashing through the three files of the enemy,
entered the street. Up to that time he had felt that
death was almost certain; now for an instant he thought
life was possible, with his swift horse and no rebels in
his immediate front, although another body of the enemy
was on his left. At last some of the bullets whistling
about him struck his horse, that, falling, threw him from
his saddle, leaving him stretched upon the ground on
his right side.
Before he could rise, two rebel cavalry men galloped up
to him, and one, holding a carbine by the small of the
stock, struck at him with the barrel; the other struck
him with a sabre. The Captain could only parry the
blow of the carbine, and received the rebel sabre cut
upon his forehead, over the right eye. Staggering to
his feet, he said, "For God's sake, do not kill a pris
oner." " Surrender, then," said the Confederate soldier.
" I surrender," answered the Captain. At that instant
he was struck in the back with such force as to thrust
him two steps forward. Turning, he saw that a rebel

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 401
horseman had stabbed him with a sabre, the weight of
rider and horse having given the weight to the blow,
that would have proved fatal but for the ignorance of
the sabre drill manifested by the would-be murderer,
who omitted the turn of the wrist necessary to have
given the sabre smooth entrance between the ribs into
the body.
The Captain also saw another rebel taking aim at him
with a revolver, aiid at once called for protection as a
Freemason, hearing which, a rebel officer of the craft
struck up the soldier's pistol, and directed that the Cap
tain should be spared and taken to the rear and have
his wounds dressed. Before he. was taken back, how
ever, one soldier said, "Give me that watch;" another
said, " Give me your pocket-book;" and another, " Get
out of them boots." The gold watch and money were
parted with, but the boots were saved for the time by the
appearance of the soldier ordered to take him to the rear.
Seated behind the mounted soldier, the blood from his
wound wetting the soldier's jacket, the Captain was
started for the hospital. He was so kindly treated by
this soldier that he gave him his boots in exchange for
his shoes.
After his wounds were dressed at the field hospital,
the Captain was put into an ambulance with a wounded
rebel lieutenant, who informed him that it was his sabre
that inflicted the heavy cut at the base of the brain,
pronounced a severe wound by the surgeon, yet curable.
This lieutenant was also a Mason, and did all in his
power for the Captain's comfort, giving him cider-brandy
to prevent fainting from loss of blood.
A painful ride of three miles in the ambulance brought
the Captain, with the other wounded, to a small house
near the railroad tunnel in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
34*

402 sabres and spurs. [December,
The wound in the body having injured the lungs, he had
great difficulty in breathing, and the surgeon gave him
morphine to induce sleep. As his eyes were closing he
discovered two soldiers busying themselves about his per
son, and who, in spite of his remonstrances, took off his
shoes and pantaloons and carried them away, leaving him
to pass the frosty night with only under-clothing to pro
tect the lower part of Iris body. In the morning the
pantaloons were returned, but not the shoes and eighty-
five cents in silver in the pantaloons pocket. So, on the
second day of life in the Confederate States, the Captain
found himself barefooted and bare-headed, with only
three fractional currency half dollars as a financial basis.
Near night on this day (September 29th) all the
wounded were loaded on cars and taken to Charlottes
ville, where were large permanent hospitals, and where
the Captain received kind treatment from all, and es
pecially from the surgeon in charge, J. S. Davis, Pro
fessor of Anatomy and Materia Medica in the University
of Virginia. He was placed in a room with Captain
Farr, of a New York regiment, who had received a mor
tal wound at Waynesboro, and died a few days after
reaching this hospital.
In five days the wound on the Captain's head healed,
as did also a small cut on his nose, received at the same
time by the same sabre. The wound in his body healed
rapidly, but from careless dressing was re-opened, and
did not finally heal till after several weeks' treatment in
Libby Prison hospital. After remaining.about two weeks
at Charlottesville he was taken to Lynchburg, where he
was kept two days, and received a blanket from one of
the guards who was a Mason, and was then taken to Lib
by Prison, in Richmond.
He was first placed in the hospital, but on the healing

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 403
of his wound was removed, December 8th, to the quar
ters occupied by the Union officers. On the next clay
(December 9th) he was placed in a cell under Libby
Prison, as a hostage for a rebel sentenced to be hung un
der Burnside's famous death-order in East. Tennessee.
There were nine officers thus confined as hostages at that
time. Captain Bliss, Lieutenants Markbreit, Parey, and
Fowle were hostages for privates George P. Sims, W.. L
Burges, John Manes, and Thomas M. Campbell, of the
Confederate States army, held in confinement, under
sentence of death by the United States, at Johnson's
Island, Ohio.
The cell in which he was placed, with four other
officers, was twelve feet long and five feet wide— their
bodies covering about half the floor when they lay down
at night. It contained a slop pail, a water pail, a small
stove, and no chairs; the floor furnished seats. The
wood furnished was green pine, which could be burned
only after being split into splinters by a case-knife and
brick, and being dried by being packed, cob house style,
around the stove. The food supplied was corn-bread,
rice, black beans, and sometimes salt meat or salt fish.
The rice and beans were full of bugs and worms. All
the food was poor in quality and insufficient in quantity,
so that they were always hungry. The cell was dimly
lighted in the day-time. No rays of the sun ever reached
it, and no light was allowed in it at night.
The cell (or pen) was constructed of thin pine boards,
with a floor about eighteen inches above the ground;
and in rainy weather water gathered in a pool under the
cell and remained stagnant to poison the air with its vile
exhalations, which rose through the gaping cracks, of
the roughly built pen. These box cells would not have
held their inmates fifteen minutes but for the presence of

404 sabres and spurs. [September,
a sentinel with loaded musket, who paced up and down
in front" of them, and through a hole in the door of each
could watch the doing's of the prisoners. Sickness was
inevitable in such a place, and the Captain suffered from
aggravated disease of the stomach and bowels. Only a
strong constitution saved him from death.
On the 23d of January, 1865, after the Captain had
been forty-five days in the cell, the hostages were in
formed that arrangements had been made for their ex
change for the rebels for whom they were holden, and
they were released from their pens and returned to the
quarters usually occupied by prisoners. As the Captain
was suffering from sickness, he was placed in the hos
pital, where he remained until February 5th, 1865, on
which day, with nine Union officers and about one thou
sand of the rank and file of the Federal army, he passed
down the James River on the rebel flag of truce boat,
and was once more permitted to see the old flag of his
country — the Stars and Stripes — never before to him so
full of glory and of comfort.
After a sick leave of absence of thirty days, not being
sufficiently recovered for duty in the field, Captain Bliss
was placed on duty as president of a court-martial at
Annapolis, Md., in which position he remained until
mustered out of service, May 15, 1865, the close of the
war having rendered his services no longer necessary as a
soldier.

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 405

CHAPTER LII.
DOWN THE VALLEY AGAIN.
Septembee— Octobeb, 1864.
I HE encounter of Captain Bliss with the rebels,
narrated in the preceding chapter, was the begin
ning of the engagement described in the opening of this
chapter by the pen of Sargent.
"September 28th. In the afternoon, returning to
Waynesboro from the river after watering our horses, we
were met in the town by a party on their way from the
front, having been out scouting in the mountains. Short
ly we hear firing in the direction from which we had just
come. Instantly in our saddles, the General led our
regiment to ascertain the cause of the commotion, and
the fatigue party sent out in the forenoon came rushing
back after their horses. The rebels, having been rein
forced by Kershaw's division, which came through Swift
Run Gap, commenced throwing shells over the town.
Hurrying our guns into position, we return the saluta
tions. They "try to outflank us, and we fall back. It
was now dark and we could see the flash of their guns,
the shells sometimes screaming over our heads. The
enemy being too numerous for our cavalry division (all

406 sabres and spurs. [October,
the force we had here), we commenced to retreat soon
after nine o'clock at night, passing through Staunton,
and marching all night, following and protecting our
wagon trains.
"A weary march it was over the hills. Tired and
sleepy cavaliers we were. We had quite a number of
prisoners with us on foot. One 'of our men, compassion
ating the prisoner he had in charge, and himself desir
ing a change, allowed the prisoner to mount his horse,
whereupon the rebel returned the favor, in the darkness,
by slipping out of tho column and vanishing, leaving our
man minus horse; equipments, rations, forage, and extra
clothing. On being remonstrated with for his conduct
and the loss, he declared he would make the loss good,
which he did in a very short time. During the night
we lost two men by capture — John Ruthford (Troop D),
and Harrison W. Kempton (Troop H).
" September 29th. After halting at sunrise long
enough to make our coffee and cook our pork, we re
sumed our march, passing through Bridgewater, where
our rear-guard had something of a skirmish. Reaching
Harrisonburg we camped, and remained about a week."
This retrograde movement was necessitated by the fact
that Early still held the gaps of the mountains and had
been reinforced. Our cavalry had hoped to reach Lynch
burg. But Sheridan retired to bide his time. Our late
successes, however, had been splendid. From Septem
ber 12th to the 27th, Sheridan had captured near six
thousand sound rebels and several thousand wounded
ones, and twenty-three pieces of artillery. We had
burned and destroyed an untold amount of property.
On our retreat we left all the Confederate property we
could in ashes or in ruins. The last forty miles of our
movement up the valley had been made chiefly with cav-

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 407
airy; hence we were unable to cope with the large force
of the rebels of all arms of the service.
October 2d. A happy event — received from the Pay
master our wages for six months. As for these delays in
our pay, Uncle Sam found it difficult to catch us on the
wing, and did not like to push his money chest on to
skirmish lines and into battles.
This evening we had a fire in town. The bells gave
the alarm. Our boys got out the only machine in town
— a sort of relic — and made it do good service.
October 5th. Lieutenant Meigs, of General Sheridan's
staff, while out surveying, was shot by guerrillas. For
this deed, the General ordered all the houses in the vicin
ity of Bridgewater burned, and General Custer executed
the order in his customary prompt and thorough man
ner, the flames of burningbuildings lighting the country
for miles around.
About this time we commenced to muster out of ser
vice such of our men as had served their three years; that
is, such as had not re-enlisted. Thus, almost daily, our
numbers were being reduced by the honorably discharged
men — men who had bravely, nobly fulfilled their army
vows. Those who have followed us from the autumn of
1861 through our long, circuitous, perilous marches, and
through our scouts, raids, and battles, will not be slow
to award honor and lasting remembrances to the rank
and file of our command. Our benedictions were upon
our men as they left us.
October 6th. "Broke camp at six in the morning
and marched all day, bivouacking at night five miles
south of Newmarket." The cavalry of the army were
stretched across the valley from the Blue Ridge to the
eastern slope of the Alleghanies, guarding the rear of the
army, burning everything in their path that could give

408 sabres and spurs. [October,
aid or comfort to the rebels, and driving with them all
live stock, that the valley might be henceforth a barren
war-path to our pursuers. The most positive orders,
however, were given not to burn dwelling-houses.
October 7th. Were off at daylight. Passed through
Newmarket, halted at Edenburg, and finally passed
through Woodstock, selecting our bivouac just beyond it.
October 8th. Marched all day and reached Strasburg,
the rebel cavalry following closely and almost constantly
skirmishing with us. The time had now come for the
tide to turn. We had drawn the enemy far enough
down the valley, and had learned quite thoroughly the
extent of his strength.
In his report to General Grant, at this time, Sheridan
says: "I have destroyed over two thousand barns filled
with grain and farm implements, seventy mills filled
with flour and wheat, have driven in over four thousand
head of stock, and have issued to the army not less than
three thousand sheep." Such blows upon the waning
resources of the Confederate army were keenly felt.

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY'. 409

CHAPTER LIII.
THE WOODSTOCK RACES.
Octobee, 1864.
jCTOBER 9th. This morning both cavalry divis
ions were ordered back to give the rebel cavalry a
sound thrashing for their late neighborly offices. We
found them near Fisher's Hill, when skirmishing im
mediately commenced. Our headquarters were selected
on a hill where we could overlook a part of the lines of
both forces. After about two hours of sharp fighting,
the rebel lines began to waver and showed signs of ex
haustion and discouragement. Both our divisions were
ordered to charge. That was a dash and stroke of sabres
worth seeing, if one has a martial eye and a loyal heart.
The pen of historian may not depict that exciting, heroic,
thrilling scene. Fisher's Hill may forever retain the
memory of that hour. The rebels were rolled back and
routed. As they retreated on the double-quick, our boys
closely followed them for about twenty-six miles to Mount
Jackson, most of the way on the run; and we captured
eleven pieces of artillery — all the rebel cavalry had, save
one piece — also all their teams and ambulances, and
about seven hundred prisoners.
Guidons streaming, carbines gleaming,
Pistols bristling, bullets whistling,
Charging with their deadly hail,
35 Smote they like a furious gale.

410 sabres and spurs. [October,
The five guns captured by the first division belonged
to a Baltimore battery that had just received them from
Richmond, having lost their others at the Fisher's Hill
fight the month before. The six captured by the third
division were the same that this division lost in the pre
vious summer, when on a raid near Reams' Station, south
of Petersburg. The rebels were pushed up the valley
beyond Woodstock.
As the two armies had passed and repassed this place
of late in such rapid manner, this last affair, so swift in
action, was humorously styled " the Woodstock races."
The rebel running was certainly good. Night shutting
down on us, our cavalry rejoined the army. "We were
well pleased with our day's work, having given the rebel
cavalry the soundest whipping they ever had. We biv
ouacked near Middletown, where we finally stopped over
a month.'' On the 10th of October the army crossed to the north
side of Cedar Creek. About the 16th, the following
despatch from Longstreet to Early was taken off the
rebel signal flag on Threetop Mountain: "Be ready to
move as soon as my forces join you, and we will crush
Sheridan." How he crushed "Little Phil" will appear
in the next chapter.
October 1 8th. Near our camp took place an execution,
according to a court-martial held in our camp in obedi
ence to the following order:
Headquarters Cavalry Corps, Middle Military Division, )
October 13, 1864. j
[Special Orders No. 34.]
[Extract.]
5. A drum-head court-martial is hereby ordered to convene at
the headquarters First Rhode Island Cavalry, on this 13th day of
October, 1864, at 4 o'clock P. M., or as soon thereafter as practi-

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 411
cable, for the trial of John Jatz. Detail for the court, Captain
Allen Baker, Jr., Lieutenant Richard J. Burgess, Lieutenant
Barnard Ellis. The court will sit without regard to hours.
By command of Brevet Major-General TORBERT.
William Russell, Jr. ,
Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.
The person was charged with firing upon our soldiers
and plundering. He admitted that he was a deserter
from a New York regiment, and had shot both Union
and Confederate soldiers and then robbed them. He
was sentenced to be shot. The Chaplain was appointed
to notify him of his sentence and the time of his execu
tion. At the appointed time (October 18th), Major Far
rington, Provost Marshal, brought the prisoner to the
foot of his grave, a few rods from our camp. After a
prayer by the Chaplain, the prisoner said it was all right,
and thanked the Chaplain for his kindness. He was
then shot by a file of soldiers from our regiment.

412 sabres and spurs. [October,

CHAPTER LIV.
BATTLE OF CEDAR CREEK.
Ootobee, 1861.
Ji^CTOBER 18th. "The enemy," says Sheridan
in his report, "had gathered all his strength, and
in the night of the 18th and early on the 19th, moved
silently from Fisher's Hill through Strasburg, pushed a
heavy turning column across the Shenandoah on the
road from Strasburg to Front Royal, and again recrossed
the river at Bowman's Ford, striking General Crook, who
held the left of our line, so unexpectedly and forcibly as
to drive in his outposts, invade his camp, and turn his
position. This was followed by a direct attack upon our
front, and the result was that the whole army was driven
back in confusion to a point about a mile and a half
north of Middletown." But- let our comrade Sargent
speak :
" October 19th. Heard the big guns speak; heard the
cry of 'The rebs are coming.' Instantly the bugles
sounded 'Boots and Saddles.' Tents came down in a
hurry. Everything was packed in shortest order. In
about ten minutes we had everything ready for moving,
but not till the bullets came zip, zip, zip, over our heads
and striking in the dirt around us. The Eighth and

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 413
Nineteenth Corps, surprised, are retreating in confusion,
and the rebels, flushed with their success, are pressing
on. Men and mules are shot while the party are taking
down General Torbert's tents and putting them in the
wagons. The Sixth Corps is now marching up in two
lines of battle, and, meeting the enemy, check their
career for a time.
"Our cavalry are stretched across the country in a
close line, a little to the rear of the army, and ordered
to let no man pass with a musket. The General rides
up and down the lines, trying to rally the infantry, the
shells flying around us uncomfortably close. We 'are
obliged to fall back a little, and hear that we have lost
twenty guns; so affairs begin to look squally. The men
are building breastworks of rails.
"Presently some one cries out, 'Here comes Little
Phil ! ' Sure enough we see him coming on the full gal
lop, with a small escort behind him. He turns into the
field where we are. We drop our rails and give him
three hearty cheers, which he returns by a bow and a
smile. As he passed along, a cheer went up from the
whole line. The shells now began to come so thick and
fast that we had to lie down on our bellies behind our
breastworks, and for about two hours we hugged the
ground pretty closely. We then changed our position
to the other side of the road."
Affairs now began to look a little brighter. Stragglers
and the disheartened took courage when they saw Sheri
dan, and swelled again the ranks of the front. In the
afternoon preparations were made for a grand attack,
the cavalry being sent to the flanks.
Everything being ready, towards night the word is
given, and our whole line advances. Now there is des
perate fighting; the foe is stubborn and strong. Our
35*

414 sabres and spurs. [October,
troops charge and break the rebel front. Our cavalry
dash in and make the rebel retreat a complete rout-
sending the "gray backs" flying in confusion and dis
may. Right on we spur, past the panic-stricken rebel
infantry, and are successful in reaching the creek ahead
of their escaping artillery. In their hurry to reach and
cross the creek (Cedar) the rebels are huddled and blocked
up, and a large number of guns and caissons fall into
our hands. Our men rush across the stream for more
guns, and recapture all we had lost in the morning, with
about forty more, together with hundreds of wagons and
thousands of prisoners; and the pursuit continues* till in
the night, as far as Fisher's Hill.
Blows strong dealing, ranks back reeling,
Treason kneeling, shouts full pealing,
High the loyal standards float;
Triumph swells the bugle note;
Far the ranks of traitors fly;
Freedom's song rings loud and high.
The troops were now ordered back into the camps they
had left in the morning. On our way we were obliged
to keep a sharp lookout to avoid stepping on the dead
bodies. Repitching our tents, we ..prepared our supper,
not having cooked anything since the day before. Within
a stone's throw around our tents lay more than twenty-
five dead bodies, most of them belonging to the Thirtieth
Massachusetts, this being the neighborhood where had
occurred the heaviest fighting.
" In the morning the rebels had it all their own way;
in the afternoon the scales were turned. This makes
the third grand victory for Sheridan here in the valley.
When the Confederates want to whip this army they
will have to get up a little Karly-er in the morning.
After such a thorough cleaning out as they got this time,

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 415
they will not be likely to trouble us any more this win
ter. They probably acted upon the old saying, that
'the Early bird catches the worm'; so he did, and got
his Phil.
" October 20th. Cold, but pleasant. We go to take
a view of the dead by daylight. They lie just as they
fell, in all positions, presenting an impressive spectacle.
Our killed and wounded were robbed. One of our
colonels was stripped of all his clothes save his shirt."
The General and our regiment, with the band, went
out on a reconnoissance about fifteen miles over the
route of the rebels' retreat; and evidently they flew over
the road in their anxiety to escape. Muskets, knap
sacks, haversacks, canteens, clothing of all sorts, and
material of war were found strewn along the path of
retreat. Teams were upset in their eagerness to elude
our sabres. Some drivers had cut their harnesses and
fled on their beasts. At a small stream three medical
wagons were overturned and the medicines were scattered
on the earth. We made a halt between Strasburg and
Woodstock. October 21st. The different generals, by invitation of
Sheridan, inspected the guns and other captured prop
erty parked in front of Sheridan's headquarters, our band
furnishing the music. There were two lines — one of
guns, and one of caissons. Forty of the guns were rebel
pieces; twenty-four were our own, recaptured. In rear
of these lines were hundreds of wagons, containing all
sorts of quartermaster's and commissary's stores. The
greater part of the spoils were captured by General Cus
ter and his third division.
The prisoners were also near the headquarters, and a
motley looking crowd they were, dressed in all sorts of
uniform, — if the word can be here used — no two alike,

416 sabres and spurs. [October,
presenting every shade of gray and butternut imaginable.
After inspection, a part of them were sent off to Wash
ington under guard.
"As soon as the officer in charge gave the order,
' Forward, march,' the band struck up ' Yankee Doodle '
for them to march by. It had been some time since
they kept step to that tune."
Said General Sheridan: " This battle practically end
ed the campaign in the Shenandoah Valley. When it
opened we found our enemy boastful and confident,
unwilling to acknowledge that the soldiers of the Union
were their equals in courage and manliness. When it
closed with Cedar Creek, this impression had been re
moved from his mind, and gave place to good sense and
a strong desire to quit fighting. The very best troops of
the Confederacy had not only been defeated, but had
been routed in successive engagements until their spirit
and esprit were destroyed. In obtaining these results,
however, our loss in officers and men was severe. Prac
tically all territory north of the James River now be
longed to us, and the holding of the lines about Peters
burg and Richmond by the enemy must have been
embarrassing, and invited the question of good military
judgment." Among, the noble dead killed in action on our side
was Colonel Charles R. Lowell, of the Second Massachu
setts Cavalry, commanding the cavalry reserve brigade; a
brave and capable officer, greatly beloved by all the army;
one under whom we at different times had served, being
in his brigade, and to whom we had become strongly
attached. The evening he died he received his commis
sion as Brigadier-General of Cavalry.
The captured property came into our custody, as the
subjoined communications will show:

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 417
Headquarters Third Cavalry Division, 1
October 21, 1864. j
Major Farrington, Provost Marshal, Caralry, Middle Military
Division:
I have, the honor to forward to you by Captain Lee, Provost
Marshal of this division, forty-five (45) pieces of artillery, with a
large number of caissons, and about one hundred wagons, all
captured by this division from the enemy in the engagement of
the 19th inst. I am, Major, very respectfully, etc.,
G. A. CUSTER,
Brigadier-General Commanding Third Division.
Headquarters First Cavalry Division, )
Office of Provost Marshal, October 21, 1864. j
P. M. Farrington, Provost Marshal Headquarters:
Sir: — I have the honor to forward you, under guard, the fol
lowing property captured by the first cavalry division in the
engagement of the 19th inst. at Cedar Creek, Va., to wit: 22
guns or pieces of artillery, 8 caissons, 28 army wagons, 34 ambu
lances, 143 mules, 112 horses, 255 sets of harness incomplete, 349
prisoners of war (privates), 6 prisoners of war (commissioned
oflicers). Two of the above army wagons . were loaded with
small-aims. I have the honor to state that, by direction of the Brigadier-
General commanding the first cavalry division, I destroyed twelve
(12) army wagons and twenty-eight (28) muskets found on the
pike between Strasburg and Woodstock on the 20th inst., and
also two (2) caissons and contents.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
THOMAS W. BEAN,
Captain and Provost Marshal, First Gavalry Division.
Some idea may be formed of the amount and value of
property destroyed in the valley by the subjoined report
of the Provost Marshal of the first cavalry division, made
about two months after the order of destruction was
issued. Two other divisions were engaged in the same

418 sabres and spurs. [October,
duty, and it is fair to presume that this one report is an
average of what each division accomplished: that is, it
gives a third of the whole amount.
Barns, 630, 81,593,000; mills, 47, $314,000; tons of
hay, 3445, $103,607; bushels of wheat, 410,742, $1,025,-
105; saw-mills, 4, 88000; furnaces, 3, $45,000; woolen
mills, 1, 810,000; acres of corn, 515, $18,000; bushels of
oats, 750, 8750; cattle driven off, 1347, $30,380; sheep,
1231, $6340; swine, 725, $8000; barrels of flour, 560,
$6720; tons of straw, 255, $2550; tons of fodder, 272,
82720; tanneries, 2, $4000; wagons loaded with flour, 2,
8500; railroad depots, 2, $3000; locomotives, 1, $10,000;
box cars, 3, $1500: total, $3,193,172.
In round numbers, we may put the amount destroyed
at $10,000,000.
Before leaving our mention of the battle of Cedar
Creek, it may not be inappropriate to quote a few sen
tences from the report of a rebel correspondent in Early's
army to the Richmond Enquirer:
"Little I thought ten days ago, when I was writing
about our cavalry, that one of the greatest, if not the
greatest, stampede of this war — and a stampede of in
fantry too — had yet to take place. A whole day of
glory and a few minutes of shame; a splendid begin
ning, but a monstrous end.
" We surprised the Yankee camps at the break of day
as completely as a camp can be surprised. We swept
pickets, hill-sides, and breastworks, and formed our lines
within the breastworks and camps, with seven pieces of
artillery taken, before they could fire three rounds, and
a running foe before us. All this is very well; but pend
ing this time another work goes on that is far, very far,
from being quite as good. All our men are so confident
that the enemy is whipped that they only want to secure

1864. J FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 419
their share of the booty. But alas! war is a game that
two can play. The Yankees are not quite blind. They
bring up a new line an hour and a quarter before sun
down, and push it to the front, and our left division —
Gordon's — gives way.
"They give; but that is nothing. The best of men
must give way sometimes. But why do n't they rally?
I say why do n't they rally? For this is our trouble and
misfortune on that ill-fated 19th of October. But rally
they won't. They just slip back with their muskets
poised in their hands as if they were deploying back
wards as skirmishers. The Yankees lose no time. Ker
shaw's division now was struck. It gives way too in its
turn, after having tried hard to stand its ground. There
was no rally of a brigade, regiment, or company. Talk
of our cavalry's stampeding! Here is a set-off for them.
This, it is hoped, will close the exhibition, and we will
pass to some new exercise; for this running business is
growing stale; it won't pay; it has not even the merit of
novelty." And here we may appropriately introduce the famous
poem of "Sheridan's Ride," as we were among the act
ors in the scenes so beautifully and touchingly delineated.

SHERIDAN'S RIDE.
BY THOMAS BUCHANAN READ.
Up from the South at break of day,
Bringing to Winchester fresh dismay,
The affrighted air with a shudder bore,
Like a herald in haste, to the chieftain's door,
The terrible grumble, and rumble, and roar,
Telling the battle was on once more,
And Sheridan twenty miles away.

420 sabres and spurs. [October,
And wider still those billows of war
Thundered along the horizon's bar;
And louder yet into Winchester rolled
The roar of that red sea uncontrolled,
Making the blood of the listener cold,
As he thought of the stake in that fiery fray,
And Sheridan twenty miles away.
But there is a road from Winchester town,
A good, broad highway leading down;
And there, through the flush of the morning light,
A steed as black as the steeds of night
Was seen to pass, as with eagle flight;
As if he knew the terrible need,
He stretched away with his utmost speed;
Hills rose and fell ; but his heart was gay,
With Sheridan fifteen miles away.
Still sprung from those swift hoofs, thundering South,
The dust, like smoke from the cannon's mouth,
Or the trail of a comet, sweeping faster and faster,
Foreboding to traitors the doom of disaster.
The heart of the steed and the heart of the master
Were beating like prisoners assaulting their walls,
Impatient to be where the battle field calls;
Every nerve of the charger was strained to full play,
With Sheridan only ten miles away.
Under his spurning feet the road
Like an arrowy Alpine river flowed,
And the landscape sped away behind,
Like an ocean flying before the wind;
And the steed, like a bark fed with furnace ire,
Swept on, with his wild eye full of fire.
But lo! he is nearing his heart's desire;
He is snuffing the smoke of the roaring fray,
With Sheridan only five miles away.
The first that the General saw were the groups
Of stragglers, and then the retreating troops.
What was done? What to do? A glance told him both,
Then striking his spurs, with a terrible oath,

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 421
He dashed down the line, mid a storm of huzzas,
And the wave of retreat checked its course there, because
The sight of the master compelled it to pause.
With foam and with dust the black charger was gray;
By the flash of his eye and the red nostril's play,
He seemed to the whole great army to say,
" I have brought you Sheridan all the way
From Winchester down to save the day."
Hurrah ! hurrah for Sheridan !
Hurrah ! hurrah for horse and man !
And when their statues are placed on high,
Under the dome of the Union sky,
The American soldiers' Temple of Fame,
There, with the glorious General's name,
Be it said in letters both bold and bright,
" Here is the steed that saved the day
By carrying Sheridan into the fight,
From Winchester — twenty miles away! "

36

422 sabres and spurs. [October,

CHAPTER LV.
ADJUSTING OUR FRONT. FOR WINTER.
October— December, 1864. . '
FTER the brilliant action of Cedar Creek, little of
'thrilling interest in the way of fighting occurred
in the valley till February 27, 1865, when Sheridan began
his splendid raid, moving out of Winchester on his war
path to Petersburg. Reconnoissances, skirmishes, the
cleaning up of northern Virginia, the burning out of
guerrillas, and the camp scenes in winter quarters fur
nish our history for the next three months.
October 25th. Had a pleasant visit from our former
commander, now General Duffie, commanding a cavalry
division in West Virginia. On the next day he was
captured by guerrillas, and all sorts of rumors were afloat
in respect to him — that he was shot, and his body muti
lated; that he was hung. The Richmond Sentinel, of
October 29th, had:
"Tlie capture of General Duffie! Has Mosby hung
him? Mosby has captured General Duffie, of the Federal
army. If he has not already hung him, in pursuance of
the system of 'No quarter ' which the enemy has adopted
against him, let him take Duffie and other select prison-

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 423
ers, and drive them at the head of his column whenever
he makes a charge. The Yankees would scarcely be so
base as to fire on their own friends; and thus Mosby
would bo relieved from their murderous purposes against
himself." Another Richmond paper, on the General's arrival at
Libby Prison, said, " General Duffie would be considered
a gentleman in any other than Yankee company. " From
this time till the close of the war the General remained
in Libby Prison.
October 27th. Major Turner and Captain Baker,
with a portion of the regiment, accompanied General
Torbert on a tour of inspection of the cavalry of the
Middle Military Division, visiting Martinsburg, Hagers
town, Williamsport, Shepardstown, and other places,
returning to headquarters November 4th.
November 7th. Witnessed the review of the Nine
teenth Army Corps, under General Emory, by General
Sheridan — a splendid sight.
November 8th. Election day for President. In ac
cordance with orders, election was held in the regiment.
The votes of our command, as duly sent to the Secretary
of State, were as follows: Lincoln and Johnson, seventy;
McClellan and Pendleton, seven: majority for Lincoln,
sixty-three. November 9th. The infantry of our army fall back
nearer to a base of supplies, leaving only the cavalry to
hold the front. There being nothing in front of us but
the picket line, we have to be ready for action at a
moment's warning. We lie on the ground without any
covering, and fail to secure sleep; so we are ,glad to
stand the rest of the night shivering over a fire.
November 10th. At daylight the pickets commenced
popping at each other. Falling back, the enemy fol-

424 sabres and spurs. [November,
lowed us. We enter camp, about three miles from
Winchester. November 13th. As the rebel cavalry made them
selves too neighborly, one division of our cavalry was
sent to drive them off, which they did after some fight
ing, bringing back as trophies two guns and two hun
dred prisoners.
November 18th. Major Turner having been mus
tered out by expiration of term of service, Captain Baker
on the 21st assumed command of the regiment. Orders
were received to be ready to move the next morning with
all available men and horses.
November 22d. The entire corps started off on a
reconnoissance. Rained continually all the afternoon.
Tired and drenched, arrived at Woodstock at night,
having marched over thirty miles. Very cold. Slept in
the court-house, the windows of which had been knocked
out. November 23d. Woke up early. Our clothes and
blankets frozen stiff. Started off at daylight. Weather
very cold. Had to dismount and walk, to keep from
freezing. Passed through Edinburg and Mount Jack
son. Two miles beyond the town we find the rebels
holding an elevation, with six guns in position. Shells
began to fall, and our skirmish line advanced. The
rebels threw forward two heavy lines of infantry. We
plant two rifled cannon on a hill near us, and commence
shelling. Says Sargent: " We strike up the ' Star Spang
led Banner,' the guns playing bass' and coming in on the
explosives. This, with the cracking of carbines and
cheering of men, makes a lively scene.
"The rebel cavalry try to flank us on the right, but
our reserves are sent to check them. While our boys are
falling back they make good use of their seven-shooters.

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 425
On the right the firing is pretty animated, the rebels
trying to cut us off from a bridge. Some of our regi
ment had to fight their way across; others swam the
stream. The losses on either side were not heavy. Hav
ing gained the information we sought, we returned.
This expedition made us think of a hornet's nest on a
large scale: after stirring up the insects wo clear out,
from fear of being stung." Again stopped at Woodstock.
November 24th. Off at daylight. Arrived at camp
in the afternoon; found turkeys sent us by the Philadel-
phians for Thanksgiving. Noble Philadelphians !^not
content with feeding all the troops that passed through
their city, but must send food to us on the front. The
soldiers will ever remember them with gratitude and
honor. November 25th. "Preparations for a Thanksgiving
dinner; potatoes, onions, hard-tack; stick run through a
turkey and placed on two stakes over a fire and roasted;
tin plate, fork, and knife — or jack-knife; seated on large
stones or sticks of wood. The attack is made with great
success. Toasts after dinner — ' Our Chief Magistrate —
the longest Link on our chain of Presidents;' ' Our Coun
try — united in the holy bonds of wedlock, never more to
be divorced;' ' The Boys in Blue — ready to pepper the
rebs, take a fort by a salt, or charge on a sutler, or be
mustered for pay.' ""
November 26th. More turkeys arrive; these cooked
and stuffed, from the citizens of Rhode Island — a happy
reminder that we are not forgotten by the dear ones at
home. Our blessings were on the givers.
So many of our regiment were now away as orderlies
and couriers for generals, and on special service, and so
many had served out their three years and left us, that
our available force now together was' only about a hun-
36*

426 sabres and spurs. [December,
dred — scarcely enough to perform the duties of the head
quarters of our corps.
December 6th. This week the first division of our
cavalry crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains and made a
grand raid through the upper parts of Loudon and
Fauquier Counties — the chief haunts of Mosby and his
rangers. Everything was laid waste in their wide path.
As a result of the raid there were captured 388 horses,
8 mules, 5520 cattle, 5837 sheep, 1141 swine, and prop
erty destroyed to the amount of $2,508,756.
Those who were Union citizens had to suffer with the
rest, for, as one of these said, "If you do not burn my
grain the rebels will take it when they come this way,
and I will help you." At the same time he lit a match
and set fire to the only stack of wheat he had, and had
depended upon to feed his family, consisting of himself,
his wife, and eight small children. Such was the price
paid for loyalty to our Government. It is, however, due
to our Government to state that this man, with many
others who could prove their loyalty, received rations
from the Government, and after the war received pay
for the property destroyed.
December 8th. Major Farrington, having been re
lieved from duty as Provost Marshal, assumed command
of the regiment, which, having been relieved at cavalry
headquarters by the First United States 'Cavalry, returned
to duty with the cavalry reserve brigade.
December 12th. His term of service, most faithfully
performed, having expired, Major Farrington was mus
tered out, greatly to our regret. And here it is but due
to him to say that, had the promises made to him of his
promotion, by the Governor, to the grades above the one
he held, been fulfilled in season so that he could have
been mustered to those grades, a commission as Brig-

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 427
adier-General of Cavalry would have been awarded him
by the War Department. For this statement we have
the authority of General Torbert, who knew and appre
ciated the courage, ability, and experience of the Major.
December 13th. About six inches of snow; weather
very cold. One of our cavalry pickets froze to death.
December 15th. Captain Rogers, having been re
lieved from duty at division headquarters, assumed com
mand of the regiment.
December 16th. Roaring of artillery — a salute in
honor of Sherman's victorious march to the sea. All
loyal hearts respond.
December 17th. Another grand salute, in honor of
Thomas' great victory in Tennessee. Great cheering in
the different camps. The band were ordered out with
their best airs. Music could be heard in all directions.
" The rebel commander had been knocked into a icorsted
Hood." December 19th. The cavalry of the army started on
a raid, and pushed through Chester Gap to strike the
Virginia Central Railroad at Charlottesville or Gordons
ville. An engagement occurred/ in which we captured
two pieces of artillery. Failing to reach Gordonsville or
strike the road, the force returned to Winchester via
Warrenton. In parting with the officers and men whose terms of
enlistment had expired, we who remained were made
sad. It was not easy to grasp their hands and say
" good-by." Our moist eyes betrayed our beating hearts,
and our throats grew thick from emotion. They had
served their country faithfully, and seemed like a part
of our lives. Their scars testified to their valor. Major
Farrington, by his "bravery, coolness, and judgment,
shown in so many battles and hours of danger and suf-

428 sabres and spurs. [December,
fering, had indissolubly wedded himself to our hearts.
In Surgeon W. H. Wilbur and Assistant Surgeon A. A.
Mann we had found kind, able, efficient, patriotic and
noble medical officers, whose attention to their arduous,
delicate, responsible duties had saved many of us when
wounded and sick. Their excellent, honorable record is
better felt by us than portrayed by our pens. In fact,
all our officers and men were endeared to us by a thou
sand ties of soldierly affection and regard that may not
be described, and can never be obliterated.
The regiment being now reduced in number to less
than four full troops, for better organization the follow
ing order was issued consolidating the eight troops into
a battalion of four troops:
Headquarters, Middle Military Division, )
December 21, 1864. )
[Special Orders No. 118.]
[Extract.]
6. The original term of service of the First Rhode Island
Cavalry having expired, and those enlisted thereto having been
mustered out of service, the men whose term has not expired will
be formed into a battalion of four (4) companies, with the follow
ing named officers : Assistant Surgeon Albert Utter, Captain John
Rogers, Captain Allen Baker, Jr. , Captain George N. Bliss, Cap
tain Willis C. Capron, Lieutenant Joseph W. Dewey, Lieutenant
Samuel C. Willis, Jr. , Lieutenant John R. Umfreville, Lieutenant
Andrew G. Lorimer, Lieutenant James M. Fales, Lieutenant
Hebron H. Steere, Lieutenant George W. Darling.
By command of
Major-General SHERIDAN.
C. Kingsbury, Jr.,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
The regiment was therefore consolidated as follows:
Troops F and G formed Troop A; Troops E and H
formed Troop B; Troops B and C formed Troop C;

1864.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND cavalry. 429
Troops A and D formed Troop D. And the battalion
was officered as follows :
Captain John Rogers, commanding.
Lieutenant J. R. Umfreville, Acting Adjutant.
Lieutenant H. H. Steere, Acting Quartermaster.
Albert Utter, Assistant Surgeon.
Troop A. — Captain, John Rogers; First Lieutenant,
Samuel C. Willis, Jr. ; Second Lieutenant, James M.
Fales. Troop B. — Captain, Allen Baker, Jr. ; First Lieu
tenant, J. R. Umfreville; Second Lieutenant, H. H.
Steere. Troop C. — Captain, George N. Bliss; First Lieuten
ant, J. W. Dewey; Second Lieutenant,  .
Troop D. — Captain, Willis C. Capron; First Lieu
tenant, A. G. Lorimer; Second Lieutenant, George
W. Darling.
The vacancy of Second Lieutenant, Troop C, was sub
sequently filled by the promotion of Sergeant William H.
Tallman. The following was the strength of the battalion :
1. Present. Officers, 12; enlisted men, 188: total,
200. 2. Absent. Officers, 7; enlisted men, 105: total, 112.
Aggregate, 312.
This showed a loss since May 1st, by casualties and
discharges, of one hundred and twenty-one.
December 27th. 0. A. Draper (Troop B) was taken
prisoner while on the raid to Gordonsville.
But we must not omit Sargent's notice of Christmas.
"About ten o'clock in the evening we were called to
Sheridan's headquarters to play. Savannah had gone

430 sabres and spurs. [January,
up, and we were to aid in the glorification. The house
used as headquarters was illuminated from cellar to gar
ret with candles. After pumping wind till midnight,
some of the staff officers took our band and started on a
journey around town to wake up the secesh. The first
thing was a solo on the kettle and bass drums, performed
while marching through the principal street, but not so
loiu but what the inhabitants heard it. Festivities were
kept up till morning."
December 29th. Captain Baker received orders to pro
ceed to Rhode Island to make arrangements for recruiting
the command. We were now in comfortable quarters for
the winter, about three miles from Winchester, on the
left of the Staunton pike, having only light duties to
perform. And here we saw the close of 1864.

1865.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 431

CHAPTER LVI.
CAMP NEAR WINCHESTER.
Januabt— February, 1865.
|ANUARY 1st. The winters in Virginia did not
differ appreciably from those near the coast in New
England; they were equally stormy and nearly as cold,
particularly where we were. The blasts of wind and
storms of snow and rain poured freely through the
mountains upon the Shenandoah Valley. Cloth tents
and rude barracks made feeble resistance to the gales
and icy assaults of the irate season. But our spirits
were warmed and comforted by the great progress mani
fest in suppressing the monstrous rebellion. The " chiv
alry" of Slavery was quailing before the marches and
strokes of the "mud-sills" and "greasy mechanics" of
Freedom. Our sabres commanded the Shenandoah.
We can not forbear sketching a camp scene. Lieuten
ant Willis was known to have, as his servant, the most
pious negro in the regiment — John Lockra, who led the
prayer-meetings of the colored fraternity, and who was
considered as very wise in expounding the Scriptures,
and very gifted in the conduct of religious exercises.
One night we heard devotions going on in Lockra's

432 sabres and spurs. [February,
tent, which was often open for such purposes. The
hymn, "I want to go;" etc., was sung, when Lockra
gave them what he called "de send-off" — a short ser
mon. Then followed "de bredren," singing, praying,
or speaking. But, while one "good bruder" was pray
ing, the Chaplain's colored boy — not having the fear of
God before his eyes — came thundering into, the tent,
whistling a medley of "Yankee Doodle" and "Dixie."
The praying brother raised his voice to be heard above
the confusion produced by the Chaplain's negro, who
still poured forth his profane notes.
Lockra now interposed and said, " Stop dat ar prayer;
stop de music, while I tro dat ar scoundrel of a Chap
lain's nigger fru de door;" and suiting the action to
his word, seized -the wicked intruder by the hair, while
others assisted at the extremities, and, administering a
measure of pounding, pitched him unceremoniously head
first from the tent. For a moment, silence reigned
supreme, but Lockra resumed, " Dat ar black thief of a
Chaplain's nigger haint got no more 'ligun nor a hoss;
but I reckon he won't 'sturb dis yer meetin' agin ter-
night. Go on, Bill, wid dat ar prayer. " So the meet
ing proceeded, and no more disturbance was expected.
But the worshipers were doomed to disappointment.
"Dat ar Chaplain's nigger" procured about forty car
tridges, and, stealthily approaching the back of the tent,
threw them down the chimney. The result was, when
the heat of the ashes and coals penetrated the paper —
which was quickly done — an explosion occurred that
filled the tent with smoke, coals, and ashes, which, with
the noise and odor, caused a sudden exodus of "de
bredren" through the door and sides of the tent in
search of better air. In the meantime, " dat ar Chap
lain's nigger" was making swift tracks through the

1865.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 433
woods, not stopping to whistle much. This scene greatly
amused Lieutenant Willis, from whom we have the ac
count of it.
February 1st. General Sheridan reviewed the cavalry
of his army on the plains to the north of Winchester:
a force mustering near twelve thousand strong, under
brevet Major-General Merritt. The men and horses of
the corps were in excellent condition, and made a most
imposing appearance. Our regiment was complimented
by the General, as was also our band.
February 5th. Sheridan's scouts, with detachments
from the cavalry regiments, were sent out to scour the
country for guerrillas, who were harassing our lines.
Having marched one hundred and sixty miles in fifty-
five hours, they brought in as captives the noted guerrilla
chief, Harry Gilmor, and twenty of his associates, with
about a hundred horses.
Notwithstanding orders had been issued by the War
Department that there should be no more recruiting for
cavalry, yet at the special request of General Sheridan —
which was a compliment to us — an order was issued
allowing the First Rhode Island Cavalry to recruit.
According to that order, General Sheridan detailed the
following named recruiting party to proceed to Rhode
Island, and on the 14th of February they left for their
duty: Captain Allen Baker, Jr., First Sergeant E. C.
Martin, Sergeant Adam Hurdis, Corporals G. F. Cum-
mings, John A. Spaulding, Alfred Palmer, and private
Thomas A. Earl.
February 21st. Orders were received to have all our
horses shod and our arms and equipments in perfect
order. Summoned to headquarters, we heard the Ad
jutant read the grand news — " The capture of Charles
ton, S. 0." Says Sargent: "When he got through we
37

434 sAbres and spurs. [February,
gave three rousing cheers with a will, and shortly after
heard the same noise from the other camps — it being an
official order, read to every regiment. Now that the
nest where treason was hatched is captured, it will prove
to be an unfortunate egg for J. Davis & Co. General
Sherman showed Hardee some tactics not laid down in
his book. The prospect of affairs begins to look bright.
The breaking of the rebellion's back, which has been
accomplished so many times on paper, will, by the looks
of things, take place at no distant day. The biggest
part of both armies will be concentrated around Rich
mond and Petersburg, where a grand death struggle will
occur, resulting in the caving in of the so-called South
ern Confederacy, leaving it a thing of the past."
Though in the middle of winter, Sheridan was now
ready to commence his ever memorable raid; and his
first step was to move up the valley, advancing on
Staunton. February 27th. In the morning we marched from
Winchester up the Valley pike; in haversacks, five days'
rations; in wagons, fifteen days' rations of coffee, sugar,
and salt; thirty pounds of forage on each horse; one
wagon for each division headquarters;"eight ambulances
and an ammunition train; a ponton train of eight boats;
no other wagons to accompany the command. This
looked like earnest work. The valley and surrounding
mountains were covered with snow, now dissolving and
rendering the streams nigh impassable; for heavy rains
had fallen. But we crossed Cedar Creek, Tumbling
River, and Tom's Brook, and went into bivouac at Wood
stock, having marched thirty miles.
February 28th. At six in the morning we were in
saddle. Marched through Edinburg; crossed the north
fork of the Shenandoah by ponton; passed through New-

1865.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 435
market, and camped at Lacy's Springs, nine miles north
of Harrisonburg, having marched twenty-nine miles.
March 1st. Early to horse and on our way. Pushed
through Harrisonburg and Mount Crawford, and biv
ouacked at Kline's Mills, on Middle River. On our. way
guerrillas harassed our flanks. At Mount Crawford the
boasting rebel General Rosser attempted to burn the
bridge over the middle fork of the Shenandoah, but
failed. Capehart's regiments swam the river above the
bridge (cool swimming), charged Rosser and routed him
(warm work), driving him swiftly to Kline's Mills, and
then pushed on almost to Staunton, taking thirty pris
oners and twenty ambulances and wagons. Our loss was
but five men wounded.
Colonel Stagg's brigade, of General Devin's division,
destroyed the railroad bridge over Christian Creek, be
tween Staunton and Waynesboro. General Early, who
was at Staunton, learning of our advance and heavy
striking, retired to Waynesboro, leaving word that in the
latter place he should make a stand and give us battle;
so we entered Staunton with but little opposition. The
roads, from the pouring rains of preceding days, were in
a horrible condition. "Horses and men could scarcely
be recognized for the mud which covered them." We
were, however, prepared for the battle of Waynesboro,
of which we shall speak in the next chapter.

436 sabres and spurs. [March,

CHAPTER LVII.
SECOND BATTLE OF WAYNESBORO.
March, 1865.
ARCH 2d. General Custer advanced upon
' Waynesboro and found Early in a wisely chosen
position, with two brigades of infantry shielded by breast
works, and his cavalry under his pet Rosser. Custer —
ever ready and bold — instantly moved to the attack,
sending three regiments round the enemy's flank, and in
person leading the other two brigades — partly mounted
and partly on fool; — smote and triumphantly carried the
rebel front. Early was not early enough for Custer.
The Eighth New York and First Connecticut Cavalry,
in columns of four, charged clean over the rebel breast
works, and then continued the pursuit of the enemy
through the town, sabring the foe as they went. Nor
did they stop till they had crossed the south fork of the
Shenandoah, immediately in Early's rear. Here, form
ing as foragers, with drawn sabres, they held the east
bank of the river. A splendid stroke for these cavaliers.
Who can forget such sabres and spurs! Finding them
selves rolled back and surrounded, the rebels threw down
their arms and surrendered, and even cheered, as brave

1865.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 437
spirits might, for the bold and brilliant stroke by which
they had been captured.
In this engagement on the rebel side were Generals
Early, Long, Wharton, Lilley, and Rosser; but all in
vain were their skill and chivalry. And by what stealth
they escaped capture remains a wonder. Did they prac
tise disguise a la Jeff Davis?
Colonel Capehart's brigade continued in pursuit of
the enemy's train, that now stretched away for miles
over the mountains. The other brigades followed swift
ly in his steps, with orders to bivouac on the east side
of the Blue Ridge; for the battle stroke had opened to
us the passage through Rock Fish Gap and given us all
we had hoped to obtain.
In this quick and dashing battle we captured eleven
pieces of artillery, with horses and caissons; about two
hundred wagons and teams loaded with subsistence,
camp and garrison equipage and officers' baggage; seven
teen battle flags, and sixteen hundred officers and enlist
ed men. Early's army was disabled. Now we could
cross the Blue Ridge by the most favorable road, with
only the snow as an obstacle. Custer's division biv
ouacked at Brookfield, on the east of the mountains.
Devin's division remained for the night at Waynesboro.
Sending out a force to Swoop's Depot, on the Lexington
Railroad, we destroyed a large amount of rebel property.
March 3d. Our prisoners were sent back to Winches
ter under guard of about seven hundred cavalry, com
manded by our former Lieutenant-Colonel, now Colonel J.
L. Thompson, First New Hampshire Cavalry. Our regi
ment was a part of the guard, that was made up of seven
small regiments. Yet quite a number of our men and
our band remained to accompany Sheridan in his on
ward dash. On our return as guard, no forage was
37*

438 sabres and spurs. [March,
provided for the horses, and, except a small quantity of
coffee and sugar, no rations for our men and prisoners.
On reaching Staunton we informed the citizens of the
state of affairs, and required them to provide food for
our prisoners. They affirmed they had none, and were
even themselves suffering from want. Knowing there
were provisions — flour and bacon — in the insane retreat
for its three hundred inmates, we informed the people
that we should draw from these supplies unless they fur
nished us from the stores which we knew they had con
cealed. So flour and bacon were taken from the asylum,
upon which we subsisted our prisoners till we arrived at
Winchester. But of our march.
General Rosser, collecting his scattered command —
many of which had been furloughed for the winter — or
dered a general rendezvous at Mount Jackson, the point
where the Shenandoah crosses the road. With our
prisoners we arrived at this place about noon, March 6th,
and found the fords strongly held by the enemy. There
was also a strong force in our rear, which had been harass
ing us night and day since our departure from Staunton.
The river was not fordable even for horsemen, except at
a single point, which was too strongly held to be forced.
The rebels outnumbered us, and we were encumbered by
fifteen hundred prisoners. Besides, we were hungry,
wet from the rains, and jaded from the three days'
march on bad conditioned roads. The rebels were fresh
from their homes. Our situation was anything but flat
tering. That winter night, weary, Wet, and hungry, we
watched, fearing that the morning would find us prison
ers and our prisoners released.
March 7th. In the morning it was found that the river
had fallen so as to be fordable. The First New Hamp
shire Cavalry were our rear-guard. Colonel Thompson

1865.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 439
called for the First Rhode Island, on whom he knew he
could rely, and ordered us to charge the ford and dis
lodge the enemy in front. The order was promptly
obeyed and handsomely executed. We drove the rebels,
and took a number of them prisoners, opening the pas
sage across the stream. Meantime, the enemy in the rear
made several desperate charges upon our lines, but each
time were repulsed with loss, the First New Hampshire
bearing the brunt of the attacks. Thus the Rhode
Island and New Hampshire boys were again one in heart
and hand, fighting together, as on so many hard-fought
fields before, under Colonel Thompson, equally beloved
by them and us. This new battle was a new bond be
tween us.
Now came the cold bath. The prisoners forded the
river in parties of fifties, each party forming a body in
the shape of a wedge, with the point up the stream;
each man firmly holding his neighbor by the arm. The
stream was breast high and running rapidly; single per
sons would have been swept away. This kind of winter
bathing belonged to war.
The enemy fled. This was the last seen of Rosser and
his cavalry, of which he had boasted so much when he
came into the valley in the preceding autumn,— "the
cavalry to clean Phil Sheridan up." We reached Win
chester without the loss of a single prisoner, but had
added about one hundred to the number,
On this march, from the difficulty of foraging, encum
bered with prisoners and assailed by the enemy, and the
scarcity of provision in the valley from former army
strokes, our men suffered much from hunger. The
prisoners suffered less, as the food taken at Staunton
was expressly for them, and our men also gave them
some of our own when we obtained any — a striking con-

440 sabres and spurs. [March,
trast to the treatment measured to our men when cap
tured by the Confederates.
For his gallant conduct in the action at Mount Jack
son and his other deeds, Colonel Thompson was breveted
Brigadier-General: an honor worthily bestowed, and one
we were glad to see him wear.

1865.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 441

CHAPTER LVIII.
SHERIDAN'S RAID.
March, 1865.
E return to the front. Although the larger
'portion of our regiment, on account of the
victory of Waynesboro, was sent back as a part of the
guard in charge of prisoners, a good number, as orderlies
to generals and for special service, with the band at the
headquarters of the Regular brigade, went forward with
Sheridan on his raid. One of our men, Frank Thurber
(Troop C), was Sheridan's orderly. A portion also of
the First New Hampshire Cavalry — some of the troops
formerly a part of our regiment — accompanied the raid
ing force. We now follow this part of our regiment.
The force with which Sheridan started (February 27th)
from Winchester was about ten thousand, as follows:
First cavalry division, General T. C. Devin, 5047, and
one section of the Fourth United States Artillery, 54;
third cavalry division, General G. A. Custer, 4840, and
one section of United States Artillery, 46. The Chief
of Cavalry was Major-General Wesley Merritt. Each
division consisted of three brigades.
In our notes we shall largely follow Sargent's journal

442 sabres and spurs. [March,
and Sheridan's report. Sargent thus describes the gen
eral order of marching: "Reveille would blow every
morning at four, the head of the column starting about
six. At four in the afternoon the head of the column
would go into camp, the different brigades getting as
near together as possible. Our position in the column
would be different every day — our division in the advance
every other day. Our brigade would be at the head of
the division one day, at the rear the next day, and in the
centre the third day. The regiments would also change
positions in the brigade, moving up one ahead every day.
Take a regiment in the rear of the column: the next day
it would be the next to the rear in the brigade — the
brigade in the centre of the advance division; next day,
the third in the brigade — the brigade in the advance of
the rear division; and so on till finally the regiment
came to the van of the column."
March 3d. The advance division (General Custer's),
now through Rock Fish Gap, at Brookfield, moved on
towards Charlottesville. General Devin, leaving Gibbs'
brigade to destroy the iron bridge over the Shenandoah
and burn and destroy captured wagons aud contents,
pressed through the mountains after the advance divis
ion, which, by Custer's order, on its march, at Green
wood Depot and Ivy Station, destroyed much rebel
subsistence and the railroad and large bridge over Me
chanic's River, and reached Charlottesville at four o'clock
P. M. The city could make no resistance, and its officers
surrendered the keys of the public buildings.
As the roads from Waynesboro to this place, from
incessant rains and thaws, were terribly cut and deep
with mud, we halted here for two days, to rest and allow
General Gibbs to come up with our train. Meanwhile,
parties were sent out towards Gordonsville and Lynch-

1865. J FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 443
burg to break the railroad, preventing troops from being
massed on us. We also demolished lara'e iron bridges
over the north and south forks of the Rivanna River, and
left no railroad tracks or Confederate property in our rear.
Let Sargent speak of the march over the mountains
through Rock Fish Gap: "It was dark as Egypt, and
the rain falling. The road was perfectly awful, full of
large rocks and deep gullies, in some places just wide
enough for a team to pass, while at our side would be a
steep precipice to make one shudder. With the wind
strong and cold, I was wet and chilled through, my
hands so numb that there was no feeling in them. I
never before suffered so much in one night. About
midnight we got to the level conntry, but it rained like
Jehu all night."
At Charlottesville the negroes exclaimed: " Lor' bress
ye! I'se neber so glad in all my life. I knowed ye'd
cum sum time nudder. I'se prayed an' prayed fur yer,
an' now yees got here. Glory ter God ! " One colored
woman produced some biscuits, " which we ate with
some sorghum — going right to the spot."
March 6th. We resumed our march. Negroes ac
companied us, old and young, male and female, trudging
through mud and water, animated with the thought of
freedom. The two divisions took different routes — one
towards Lynchburg, going within sixteen miles of the
city, and burning several bridges; the other marched to
Scottville, with orders to move along the James River
canal and destroy every lock as far as Newmarket.
March 7th. Roads rough and mountainous. Passed
through Lexington Court House.
March 8th. Sent" a brigade to Buffalo Creek to burn
a bridge; reached Newmarket after dark. Rainy after
noon and night. Both divisions again together.

444 sabres and spurs. [March,
The rain and mud still impeded us, and the com
mand — particularly the transportation — was much worn
and fatigued. However, by replacing our worn-out
mules by those captured from Early, we reached Colum
bia on the evening of March 10th. Here we were re
joined by Colonel Fitzhugh's brigade, which had de
stroyed the canal for eight miles east of Goochland — a
heavy blow to Lee's army.
Our train of negroes now numbered thousands, and
was constantly increasing. Moving by the side of the
column, they talked, laughed, and asked questions, often
travelling with us twenty or twenty-five miles a day,
through mud and water, fording streams, and at night
huddling around camp fires.
March llth. Stopped at Columbia all day. .Drew
five days' rations of coffee and sugar, the first Govern
ment food we had drawn since leaving Winchester.
March 12th. Marched early. Struck the Virginia
Central Railroad about noon at Frederickshall Station,
entering the place so suddenly that the postmaster and
telegraph operator fled, leaving their letters, papers, and
despatches — some of them of red-hot language — "no
subjugation," "fight to the last ditch"; others more
calm — "fearing for the cause."
Our troops were kept busy, tearing up rails, twisting
them over burning ties, and demolishing water tanks and
bridges. One division destroyed the track towards Rich
mond as far as Beaver Dam; the other division did the
same from Louisa Court House to Frederickshall.
Learning from scouts that the enemy was massing
forces to cut us off, Sheridan played a ruse by moving
towards Richmond, and compelling the assailants to meet
us at Ashland.
March 13th. Left Frederickshall in the afternoon;

1865.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 445
towards evening had a little skirmish. Reached Beaver
Dam. March 14th. Dashed within seventeen miles of Rich
mond; some of the troops reached within eleven miles,
where they burned a train of wagons.
March 15th. Reveille at one in the morning. Re
ports that ten thousand infantry and Fitz Lee's cavalry
are near and endeavoring to cut us off. In the forenoon
halted near Ashland. Troops drawn in line of battle;
skirmishing commenced, and continued at intervals.
Our ruse being a success, preventing the foe from cut
ting off our line, we withdrew, leaving our skirmishers
engaged for a time. While our feint was going on,
Merritt, with Devin's division, destroyed the North and
South Anna and Little River bridges. "In the attack
upon the South Anna railroad bridge the Fifth United
States Cavalry charged up to the bridge, dismounted,
dashed across it, and drove the rebel artillery defending
it, turning upon them their own guns — four twenty
pounder Parrotts."
March 16th. Reached Mangohick Church.
March 17th. Marched all day; camped at night near-
Prince William Court House; food scarce.
March 18th. Reached Indiantown; nothing to eat
during the day; pounded corn, soaked it, and boiled it
for breakfast.
March 19th. Commenced early to cross the Pamun
key, dismounted, on a long, rickety bridge, two abreast.
Reached White House, and camped half a mile from the
landing. Happy to reach this point, as we were nigh
exhausted. In twenty-one days from Winchester, had
travelled about five hundred miles, for fifteen days liv
ing on the country; three or four hours of sleep a day.
The guard had to wake the orderlies, and the orderlies1
38

446 sabres and spurs. [March,
had to shake and roll their men to wake them. We
always marched by fours, and the length of the column,
with train and wagons, would stretch eight or ten miles.
Lost a large number of horses from sore backs and hoof-
rot. About eight hundred men, losing their horses, had
to play infantry. At White House we found supplies
in abundance, and a brigade of infantry to guard them,
sent by General Grant.
Says Sheridan, " There perhaps never was a march
where nature offered such impediments and shrouded
herself in such gloom. Incessant rain, deep and almost
impassable streams, swamps, and mud, all overcome
with constant cheerfulness on the part of the troops.
Officers and men were buoyed up by the thought that
we had completed our work in the Shenandoah Valley,
and were on our way to help our brothers in arms, in
front of Petersburg, in the final struggle."
The amount of rebel property and the lines of rebel
communication and supplies destroyed were beyond esti
mation. Every bridge on the central railroad between
Richmond and Lynchburg, save one on the Chickahom
iny and one over the James at Lynchburg, were destroy
ed, -with many of the culverts. The James River canal
was disabled beyond immediate repair. The captures
had been as follows: Prisoners of war, 1603; horses and
mules, 2154; battle flags, 16; pieces of artillery, 17; small
arms, 2010. Captured between August 1, 1864, and
March 1, 1865: Prisoners, 13,000; artillery pieces, 101;
artillery recaptured, 24; battle flags, 49. Our losses were :
Killed, 1938; wounded, 11,893; missing, 3121. Our loss
from Winchester to White House " did not exceed one
hundred men, and some of these we left by the wayside,
unable to bear the fatigues of the march." The host of
negroes that came into our lines with us were sent on
steamers to Washington.

1865.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 447

CHAPTER LIX.
CAPTIVITY OF R. F. ELDRIDGE.
March— April, 1865.
.ERMAN P. Thurber and myself, on detached
service at headquarters, cavalry reserve brigade
(Brigadier-General Gibbs commanding), about three in
the afternoon of March 12th, were sent out to forage,
near Frederickshall Station. It was a rule while on our
march for a certain number to leave the line to forage
for a certain number, and when they returned another
squad would go out for the same purpose. We went to
a house near the column, and found dry picking. We
then saw a house on a, hill in sight of the column, and,
having good horses and arms, ventured to it, hitching
our horses, and cautiously entering. Asking a middle-
aged lady, who seemed to be a paralytic, if she had any
flour or meat, she, after certain questions, told us where
we could find some.
"Going up stairs, we found seven unbroken barrels of
flour, and soon filling our bags and taking each a piece
of bacon, came down and were about to mount to our
saddles, when, to our surprise, fourteen horsemen ap
peared and demanded our surrender. A part of them
belonged to the Ninth Virginia Cavalry, and a part were

448 ¦ sabres and spurs. [March,
guerrillas. When asked who they were, one said, ' Get
on to those horses d — d quick, and we will show you
who we are.' We could only obey. To my inquiry
what he was going to do with us, the officer replied,
'We are going to kill you,' but the twinkle of his eye
belied his words. We were asked where Sheridan was
going, but about that time we belonged to the Know
Nothing fraternity.
"They stopped at a house and gave us some refresh
ments. We then went on a few miles and bivouacked
for the night, with a strong guard over us. The next
morning our horses were taken from us, and all the
guard left us, save a Lieutenant and two men. They
were mounted, but we took the foot train. Yet we were
in good hands. The name of the Lieutenant was Willis
Gooch, who said he would take us to a Lieutenant
Vaughan, a paroling officer, four miles further on, to
be paroled. Arriving at Vaughan's, Lieutenant Gooch
said, ' The best I can do for you is to take you to my
house to-night, and then take you to Gordonsville and
send you to Richmond.' Before reaching Gooch's house
he said, 'Don't mind if my father talks harsh.' At the
house the old man made his appearance, swearing, and
asking, ' Why don't you shoot the d — d Yanks, instead
of bringing them here ? ' The Lieutenant said, ' These
are soldiers, and I am one myself, and I know how I
would like to be treated.'
"We were put into a cosy room to wait for supper.
An old gray-headed negro put his head through the
door. Gooch asked him, ' Do you see the Yanks ? '
Old Joe answered, ' Yas, Massa, I see de Yanks, but I
don't see no horns.' We had a good supper, and were
well used by Mrs. Gooch, mother of the Lieutenant,
and had a good bed. Up at six in the morning and had

1865.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 449'
breakfast, and made ready to go to Gordonsville. Mrs.
Gooch did up a bundle of bread and butter and ham,
and said, ' Take that; it will last you all day. I have
three sons in the Confederate army, and if you ever take
them prisoners, use them well for my sake.' We never
forgot her.
"We were taken to Gordonsville and kept five days;;
then taken to Richmond and put into Libby Prison,
where we remained until preparations were made to
evacuate Richmond, when we were taken by steamer to-
Aiken's Landing and put aboard our steamer — the old
Canonicus, of Rhode Island. The rebels were in such a.
hurry that they did not stop to parole us. We were car
ried to College Green Barracks, and from thence to
Parole Camp, Annapolis. After receiving a furlough I
reported to my regiment."

38*

450 sabres and spurs. [March,

CHAPTER LX.
' FALL OF RICHMOND.
March— April, 1865.
ARCH 24th. Advancing; reached the Chicka-
' hominy.
March 25th. Crossed the river on pontons; passed
through Charles City Court House; bivouacked near
Harrison's Landing.
March 26th. Hastened on all day; crossed the James
on pontons at Jones' Landing, and camped near the
river. March 27th. Crossed the Appomattox; entered Grant's
lines. Passing the front, his army, knowing our exploits,
turned out to cheer us. We inquired if they had seen
anything of Early. Caught a peep at Petersburg, and
camped in front of it, near Hancock Station.
March 29th. Grand movement on foot. With the
armies moved out at six in the morning; marched around
the left of Grant's lines; passed Reams' Station; saw
skulls of the dead lying in the road; crossed Hatcher's
Run; camped near Dinwiddie Court House. At Malon's
crossing we constructed a bridge, and there encountered
rebel pickets, capturing a few, and at Dinwiddie pushed

1865.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND cavalry. 451
back the rebel picket line. Were obliged to corduroy
the horrible roads. We were charged with the duty
of aiding in turning the right flank of Lee's army.
April 1st. Cannonading in front; infantry hurried
up; we were off on the double-quick; near the front
found musketry rattling. Our division was sent to the
extreme left, through woods and fields, over fences and
ditches, and formed in brigades in a cleared field at the
edge of woods, slightly protected by an elevation, while
the shells were coming thick and fast, knocking off
limbs and felling small trees. The infantry at our right
were in action. We had orders to charge. Imagine the
work of breasting thousands of blazing muskets. The
men unsling their carbines, and, resting the butts on
their hips, \ charge in solid ranks, spreading out to the
right and left as they advance. A band in our division
strikes up " Yankee Doodle," putting new life into our
men, who go with a shout. The rebels are posted
behind fences and hastily constructed breastworks of
rails. We give them the contents of our seven-shooters
and resume our position. Again we are ordered to
charge, this time with sabres. Meanwhile, part of the
cavalry were sent to the right and rear of the rebels to
cut them off in case we were successful.
When the infantry were ready we charged simulta
neously, having by our previous charge learned the lay
of the land and how to strike. Now work was done.
Talk of lively and exciting scenes — two such forces com
ing together with a welding heat and stunning blows.
The rebel lines begin to waver, and soon the enemy is
in full retreat. The rest of our cavalry follow quickly
with us, capturing guns, colors, and men. It was a
short and sharp engagement, both sides losing heavily.
But ours were the honors of Five Forks. That night

452 SABRES AND SPURS. [April,
we bivouacked in a forest and guarded the prisoners, be
longing mostly to North Carolina regiments.
This action determined the fate of Petersburg and of
Richmond. Lee, instead of breaking the grasp of our
army, as he had hoped, was himself fatally broken.
April 2d. Petersburg evacuated! Lee is endeavoring
to escape with his army. Richmond is abandoned! Jeff
Davis and his junto and the chivalry of the Confederate
capital betake themselves to flight. Times are ripening.
We dash on to cut off Lee. In the afternoon we struck
the Southside Railroad.
April 3d. Federal troops enter Richmond to find it
set on fire by the flying rebels, instead of being their
"last ditch." We come up with the enemy this after
noon, but they keep falling back, continually skirmish
ing till after dark. We halt in an open field, separated
from the enemy by a ribbon of woods, the skirmishers of
both armies being in the edge, popping at each other all
night, with occasional charges to get possession of the
woods. We sleep on our arms.
April 4th. Up early; our brigade has the advance of
the corps. Found the enemy's ground abandoned; they
left about midnight. About two miles on we are fired
upon from a thicket beyond a small stream. Forming
in squadrons, while a small party makes a reconnois
sance, we are saluted with shell. Our artillery coming
up, we skirmish for about an hour, when the rebels
again retreat. We ford the stream and follow them on
the double-quick. It was the rear of Lee's force trying
to detain us to win time for their trains and infantry to
get off. A flank movement on our part put them to
flight. Our brigade followed them, and, striking them
in front and flank, sent them whirling on, leaving their
dead and wounded and many prisoners in our hands.

1865.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 453
They finally left in the road a caisson filled with shell
and set on fire to check our progress. Pieces of shells
flew close to our heads. But we passed the caisson and
pressed on. They made another stand, but soon broke
in confusion, and the greater part of them we captured,
only those having good horses escaping. As we were
now six miles in advance of our army, we halted for a
time, then returned, carrying two hundred rebel cavalry
men prisoners.
After a few hours' rest, finding the direction Lee's
army had taken, we dashed on again. This was the
most exciting race we ever had, chasing the invincible
rebels for about twelve miles, through mud and water,
up hill and down, across meadows and brooks, through
plantations and villages. They could not find the "last
ditch." April 5th. Our brigade was sent off on an expedition
by itself. Halted a little at Amelia Court House.
Learned that Lee, Longstreet, Ewell and others held a
consultation the previous night in a room over the depot.
Part of their army left here this morning. On the road,
in the afternoon, we picked up a number of exhausted
rebels. Striking across the country towards night, we
joined our division, and found that during the day they
had a big fight, capturing thirty-three battle flags, seven
general officers, and thousands of prisoners.
April 6th. Off again in the morning, passing the
long line of prisoners preparing to move to the rear. At
Custer's headquarters floated the captured battle flags.
These were war times, and our patriotic spirits were up.
The prisoners seemed half starved, having had, as they
said, nothing to eat for- two days. As we marched by,
we tossed them hard-tack, for which they pushed and
scrabbled like desperate men. Finding the enemy be-

454 SABRES AND SPURS. [April,
hind breastworks of earth and rails, we had a short fight,
and again routed them. Through this and the follow
ing day there was fighting nearly all the time. The
retreating rebels, when closely pressed, would turn and
give battle, while the rest hurried on to build new breast
works for a new stand; but all their works were succes
sively carried. They retreated so rapidly that they left
their dead and wounded behind. Strange scenes. Dead
men became so common as hardly to attract attention.
They lay scattered singly and in groups behind the piles
of rails used as a protection.

1865.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 455

CHAPTER LXI.
SURRENDER OF LEE.
April, 1865.
PRIL 8th. Leaving the infantry, we struck off on
' another road. About four in the afternoon, pass
ing Prospect Station, we reached Appomattox Depot,
having marched twenty-eight miles. We here found
that Custer had captured four trains of cars loaded with
supplies for Lee's army. Shells flew over our heads.
We crossed the track, ascended the hill, and formed in
an open field, with a small belt of woods separating us
from a rebel battery, that was dealing to us grape and
canister, rattling through the trees like hailstones. We
could see the flash from every gun. Our brigade was
ordered to advance through the wood — a very difficult
task. The men lost their caps, tore their clothes, and
scratched their faces. At the order to charge, the men
dashed off with a shout and uplifted sabres, and soon the
battery was ours — the Washington Artillery, of New
Orleans, said to be the best in the Confederate service.
The other brigades were not idle. Our division, that
afternoon and night, captured between thirty and forty
pieces of artillery, over two hundred wagons, three trains

456 SABRES AND SPURS. [April,
of cars, all loaded, and a great number of prisoners.
Our brigade lost heavily in men and horses. But Lee
and his army of Northern Virginia — the head and spinal
column of the Confederacy — were now almost in our
grasp. . So we forgot our sufferings.
April 9th. In saddles at daylight; waited two hours
for orders. The rebels commenced the attack. Very
early the colored division of the Twenty-Fourth Corps
passed down the road, followed by white troops, having
travelled all night. As they passed we cheered them,
and added, "Give it to them. We've got them in a
tight place. Show them what the colored soldiers can
do. Remember Fort Pillow." They answered with
shouts and waving of caps.
The firing became nearer. A portion of our line fell
back a little. The infantry were hurried ahead on the
double-quick, and were soon engaged. The whole cav
alry corps was sent to the right flank, where we were
kept moving from one position to another all the fore
noon. About noon our division was formed ready to
charge, when, lo! a flag of truce was seen. It came in
among the sabres and spurs, to our gallant General Cus
ter. The firing ceased. War paused. Pregnant mo
ment. General Grant was sent for. Lee came into our
lines. Grant and Lee met at the small house of Mr.
McLean, in the village of Appomattox Court House,
within rifle shot of our division. There Lee surrendered
his sword. How we looked on that scene! How unut
terably we felt. Yes, sabres and spurs sof the First
Rhode Island Cavalry were permitted to aid and exult
in the event. The head of the Confederacy was bowed
in defeat.
About four in the afternoon the news of the surrender
was heralded through the army. Salutes were fired.

1865.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 457
Bands played. Standards waved. Shouts swelled to
the heavens. Such cheering was never before heard on
this continent. The soldiers could not sufficiently utter
their feelings. Their joy was unbounded. The object
for which we had been fighting four years was sub
stantially achieved. The men long continued cheering
and shouting, shouting and cheering.
On Grant's bright sword the law was found;
The knees of Lee salute the ground.
Historic act! historic spot!
Let patriot hearts forget it not:
As humble captives on that field
Full five and twenty thousand kneeled.
City to city the victory tells;
Streaming of banners and ringing of bells;
Booming of cannon and lighting of fires;
Singing of mothers and cheering of sires;
Soldiers in hospitals shout mid their pains;
Suffering prisoners leap in their chains;
Liberty shouts from our Capitol dome,
Answered by anthems from every home.
Says Sheridan: "The first and second cavalry divis
ions, which belonged to the Army of the Shenandoah,
had marched in midwinter over three hundred miles, in
constant rains, over almost impassable roads and swollen
streams, to participate in the campaign, and were re
warded by the honor of having the flag of the Army of
Northern Virginia presented to them on the morning of
the surrender."
We continued with Sheridan, who pushed on after the
remnant of the rebel army under Johnston.
April 10th. Left Appomatox for Petersburg. Camped
at Prospect Station.
April llth. Reached near Burkesville.
39

458 SABRES AND spurs. [April,
April 13th. Reached Nottoway Court House, where
we had orders to prepare to move down to the assistance
of Sherman in North Carolina.
April 24th. Left Petersburg by the Boydton plank
road, via Dinwiddie Court House, Boydton, and Abbe
ville, and reached South Boston on the 28th; our march
ing averaging twenty-five miles a day. Here we learned
that Johnston had surrendered to Sherman. Again the
shouts went up. Turned back.
May 3d. Reached Petersburg and passed through in
platoons, with drawn sabres, "Little Phil" reviewing
us from a balcony as we passed. That was a splendid
sight! Bronzed veterans covered with dust and glory
from great battle fields and great marches, with sabres
still keen, flags flying, and bands playing their exulta
tions. Passing, in due time, through Manchester, and Rich
mond, and Alexandria, we reached Washington, where,
after participating (May 23d and 24th) in the Grand
Review — the grandest ever known in America — we, in
due season, reported to the main portion of our regi
ment on its reaching Maryland, preparatory to our final
discharge and the homeward turning of our faces.

1865.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 459

CHAPTER LXII.
RETJJRN OF THE COMMAND.
April— August, 1865.
E now turn back to our regimental headquar-
' ters in the valley. From recruits received the
battalion was brought up to its minimum strength, and
Captain Rogers, who had received a Major's commission,
was mustered to that rank March 23d. Lieutenant
George W. Darling was commissioned as Captain and
assigned to Troop A, though he remained on duty at
Conscript Camp, New Haven, Conn., until the close of
the war. Lieutenant Fales, on being exchanged as a
prisoner of war, was mustered out of service March 6th.
Sergeant Stephen H. Pickering was commissioned as
Second Lieutenant.
April 15th. Lieutenant-Colonel Farrell, of Mosby's
command, came under a flag of truce to our lines, on
the Kern town road, and arranged with General Hancock
to surrender Mosby's forces on the terms accorded to
General Lee, these forces being recognized as a part of
the Army of Northern Virginia.
April 17th. At noon Mosby surrendered his forces to
General Chapman at Berryville. General Rosser was

460 SABRES AND spurs. [April,
also permitted to have his troops included in the cartel.
The number of men in Mosby's command was about
seven hundred, and during the remainder of our stay in
the valley some of them visited our camp and shared our
hospitalities, recalling the scenes in which we had con
fronted each other, and paying us high compliments for
our soldierly qualities and conduct. Some of these men
were truly F. F. Vs.
April 19th. Ordered up the valley, over roads and
fields, where so many hard battles had been fought; but
now on an entirely different service; we went to parole
rebel soldiers.
April 20th. Arrived at Mount Jackson, where we re
mained two days, and paroled about fifteen hundred
Confederates. But many others had fled to their homes
before the surrender.
Ajsril 22d. Commenced our return march.
April 23d. Encamped south of Winchester, about
two miles on the road to Front Royal. Though anxious
to reach our homes, we could afford to wait a little to
do up some small work, and attend to red tape.
Asa K. Read (Troop D) died in hospital, at Balti
more, Md., April 18th. Corporal E. P. Gardner (Troop
B) died of consumption, in hospital at Camp Parole,
Annapolis, Md., May 16th.
May 19th. Lieutenant Hebron H. Steere was pro
moted to be First Lieutenant.
May 28th. Sergeant Edward C. Martin was promoted
to be Second Lieutenant.
Affairs of the war were now fast winding up. During
the month of May, Taylor in Mississippi and Kirby
Smith in Texas surrendered to General Canby. Jeff
Davis, in his ignoble flight and cowardly plight, had be
come a prisoner.

1865.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY'. 461
When the war closed the Federal army numbered more
than a million of men, and the navy counted more than
fifty thousand; and the expense to the Government was
three and a half millions of dollars per day. Three mil
lions of men, first and last, had been engaged in defend
ing the Union. Not less than three hundred thousand
had been killed in action and died of wounds and dis
eases. June 1st. Moved near Kerntown, on the east of the
pike. June 17th. All the cavalry moved their camps four
miles north of Winchester, in the woods.
General Reno, our brigade commander, informed the
officers of our regiment that, if they chose to remain in
the service and would appear before an examining board,
we should be consolidated with troops from another
State, preserving our battalion organization, and form
one of the Regular regiments of the United States then
contemplated. But while accepting the honor of being
selected to remain in the service and be counted as Regu
lars, the officers unanimously declined serving any longer
than was actually necessary; and as to appearing before
an examining board, they thought that three years and
nine months of war service was a sufficient guarantee for
their ability to serve their country in time of peace. The
requirement of examination would, however, be waived
with the officers, if it would make a difference in their
decision; still they declined the complimentary proposi
tion, preferring to resume their former peaceful occu
pations. June 22d. In obedience to orders to report at Mon
rovia, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, we commenced
our march towards home. With short and slow marches
we could enjoy the beautiful views of the country. Pass-
39*

462 SABRES AND SPURS. [July,
ing through* the several towns, we were welcomed and
hospitably entertained. On reaching Maryland, men,
women, and children came out to greet us. The colored
people were particularly jubilant, as the war had happily
changed their status.
June 24th. Peace reigned. Men were working in
the fields: delightful scenes. On reaching Newmarket,
near Monrovia, we found the people engaged in welcom
ing home their Union volunteers. Our command was
invited to attend the picnic in the grove, and our band
furnished the music suited to the occasion: a pleasant
scene. On arriving at Monrovia we reported by telegraph to
General Wallace at Baltimore. He directed us to report
to General Kenly at, the Relay House. Troop A was
ordered to the Relay House, and the remainder of the
command was directed to remain at Monrovia. A New
York battery was stationed with us. Major Rogers was
placed in command of the post.
July 4th. The patriot day was duly observed in town
by a jubilant parade. The battery with us fired the
proper national salute, and spoke of freedom as never
before heard in Maryland. Fireworks and the flames of
old worn-out war barracks — apt symbols— illumined the
evening. ._,
July 25th. Orders received that the command should
be mustered out of the service, and Captain Baker was
charged with the duty. How welcome! The war-path
ended. As soon as relieved by the Second United States
Cavalry we were to proceed to the Relay House, and
finally report to Major Wharton, U. S. A., the muster
ing officer at Baltimore. Must wait for red tape.
July 28th. Second United States Cavalry arrived,
and we took up our last mounted march, happy, as we

1865.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 463
looked forward to our free Northern homes; but oh! how
filled with saddening, unutterable emotions, as we looked
backward upon the battle fields and prisons where silently
slept our martyred comrades — brothers never to return —
brothers never to be forgotten.
Leaving Monrovia at seven in the morning, at evening
we encamped near the Catholic College, close by Carrol
Manor. Here we were kindly received and entertained
by the Professors, who, as we left them, gave us the
"God bless you."
July 29th. Reached the Relay House at ten, and en
camped. Now came the glad ceremonies of mustering
out. Our horses were sent to Baltimore. By August
2d our muster rolls were completed. All property nbt
retained by the men was transferred to the Government.
Our organic life as a war body terminated. Our pen
feels a thrill as we write this sentence.
When mustered out the strength of the command was:
1. Present. Officers, 11; men, 295.
2. Absent. Officers, 2; men, 70.
Aggregate, 378.
August 2d. The muster out officer was Captain D.
L. Beckwith. Our muster out dated August 3d. At
seven in the evening we took train for Baltimore, where,
after refreshments, at ten at night we hastened on, bid
ding adieu to Maryland — "My Maryland" — and the
mountains and scenes of Virginia, now sinking in the
distance to the outward eye, but never to cease in the
view of memory.
August 3d. Reached Philadelphia at nine in the
morning, where we received a warm and bountiful
breakfast. God bless the patriotic, large-hearted Phil-
adelphians. At eleven A. M. we took cars that landed
us in New York at five in the evening, where we found

464 SABRES AND SPURS. [August,
quarters at the Battery. In the New York papers ap
peared handsome notices of our command, with mention
of the battles on our roll.
August 4th. Shared the kindness and services of
Colonel Almy, our State Agent at New York, a man
ever on the alert to do all in his power for our troops as
they passed through that city. Embarked at five in the
evening on steamer Oceanus, of the Neptune line, and
turned swiftly towards the Plantations of Little Rhody.
August 5th. Every man astir before reaching New
port. To look on Rhody's shores was good for the eyes:
who can tell how good to our hearts? Narragansett Bay
was never so fair to us as on this summer morning: no
war bugles broke on its silence; all was sweet peace.
Reaching Providence at six' in the morning, we were
met by the Providence Horse Guards and escorted to
Washington Hall, where a fine collation was furnished
under the tasteful direction of Colonel Henry Crandall,
Assistant Commissary-General. Our happy band enliv
ened our march and moved the cheers of citizens by the
choicest strains — the music of loyalty — the music of
freedom — the music of victory — the music of home.
After hearty greetings, we were dismissed till orders
should be sent to re-assemble in Providence to be paid off.
August llth. Henly A. Allen (Troop A) died of dis
ease, in Providence.
August 15th. Assembled at barracks in the Cove
Grounds, and were paid off by Major Hapgood,. the
men receiving, in due official form, their honorable dis
charges. And surely the " honorable " had been earned.
The bugles that were first, blown in September, 1861,
calling us to arms in defense of freedom and our price
less, beneficent Government, and had so often rallied us
to great and desperate battles, now sounded the sweet re-

1865.] FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 465
call to peace and home, while our nation had proclaimed
"liberty throughout all the land to all the inhabitants
thereof." With inexpressible joy "and pride we now
turned to hang our sabres and spurs in the halls of our
thrice hallowed homes.
During our term of service, first and last, there had
been connected with the command one thousand, five
hundred and fifty-one men : eleven hundred and twenty-
two with the Rhode Island battalions, four hundred and
twenty-nine with the New Hampshire battalion.
Of the original members of the regiment that left the
State in March, 1862, one hundred and twenty-three re
turned with the command; eighty-three of them had
been prisoners — some of them twice, and thirty-seven of
them had been wounded. With the command returned
only three of the original officers; two of them had been
wounded, the other had been a prisoner. The roll of
our battles, which we subjoin, may also speak for us.
LIST OF ENCOUNTERS WITH THE ENEMY.
1. Near Warrenton Junction, April 16, 1862.

2.

Rappahannock Crossing,

April 18, 1862.

3.

Front Royal,

May 30, 1862.

4.

Columbia Bridge,

June 2, 1862.

5.

Miller's Bridge,

June 4, 1862.

6.

Mountain Road,

June 9, 1862.

7.

Cedar Mountain,

August 9, 1862.

8.

North Rappahannock,

August 21, 1862.

9.

Catlett Station,

August 21, 1862.

10.

Rappahannock Station,

August- 23, 1862.

11.

Sulphur Springs, .

August 26, 1862.

12.

Groveton,

August 28, 1862.

13.

Second Bull Run,

August 30, 1862.

14.

Chantilly,

September 1, 1862,

466

SABRES AND SPURS.

15. White's Ford,
16. Mountville,
17. Hazee Run,
18. Fredericksburg,
19. Hartwood Church,
20. Kelly's Ford,
21. Near Kelly's Ford,
22. Rapidan River,
23. Ellis Ford,
24. Brandy Station,
25. Middleburg,
26. Jones Cross Roads,
27. Hazel Run,
28. Rapidan Station,
29. Near Warrenton,
30. Near Auburn,
31. Bristoe Station,
32. Beverly Ford,
33. Bowling Green,
34. White House Landing,
35. Deep Bottom,
36. Berryville,
37. • Near Front Royal,
38. Halltown,
39. Shepardstown,
40. White Post,
41. Opequan,
42. Luray,
43. Waynesboro,
44. Fishef's Hill,
45. Cedar Creek,
46. Near Winchester,
47. Near Mount Jackson,
48. Second Waynesboro,

October 12, 1862.
October 31, 1862.
November 16, 1862.
December 13, 1862.
February 25, 1863.
March 17, 1863.
April 29, 1863.
May 1, 1863.
May 4, 1863.
June 9, 1863.
June 17, 1863.
July 10, 1863.
September 13, 1863.
September 14, 1863.
October 12, 1863.
October 14, 1863.
October 14, 1863.
December 1, 1863.
May 29, 1864.
June 20, ia64.
July 28, 1864.
August 13, 1864. .
August 16, 1864.
August 22, 1864.
August 25, 1864.
September 4, 1864.
September 19, 1864.
September 24, 1864.
September 28, 1864.
October 9, 1864.
October 19, 1864.
November 10, 1864.
November 23, 1864.
March 2, 1865.

FIRST RHODE ISLAND

CAVALRY.

49.

Mount Jackson,

March 7, 1865.

50.

Ashland,

March 15, 1865

51.

Five Forks,

April 1, 1865.

52.

Deep Creek,

April 3, 1865.

53.

Jettersville,

April 4, 1865.

54.

Sailor's Creek,

April 6, 1865.

55.

Appomattox Depot,

April 8, 1865.

467

56. Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865.

PATRIOT SERVICE.
Henceforth be the flag of our country respected;
The breasts of the free are a shield for the right;
By lords and by monarchs though scorned and neglected,
Yet here has the true been defended by might.
Forever the graves of our martyrs shall witness
That virtue and valor are twin in our land;
The rule of the people has proven its fitness
Not less for self-sacrifice than for command.
To us the Great Ruler of nations has given
A mission of majesty fraught with renown —
To reach the grand goal for which nations have striven —
* Exalting the banner that kings have trod down.
That ensign now floats on our hills in its beauty,
And hailed as a symbol and pledge by the world
That the free and the brave shall be crowned in their duty,
While Slavery's hosts from the earth shall be hurled.
Let far generations declare the devotion
Of all who for Freedom poured forth their life blood;
And, inheriting spirits of kindred emotion,
Lay as freely their gifts on the altar of God.

468 SABRES AND SPURS.

CHAPTER LXIII.
ARMY HYMNS.
T the urgent request of the veterans of the regi
ment we here insert most of the little hymns
written for the command by the Chaplain, and printed
in 32mo form, and pasted into our pocket Bibles and
Testaments. How many sacred, tender Sabbath services
and funeral occasions they will recall. A few of the
minor stanzas are omitted, as are the passages of Scrip
ture at the head of the hymns in the original manual.
ARMY HYMN.
S. M. Tune— St. Thomas.
When fled the pilgrim band
From tyranny and wrong,
They sought, Great God, thy guiding hand,
And raised to Thee their song.
Along this western strand,
Inspired by love to Thee,
With costly sacrifice they planned
A home for Liberty.
To Freedom's sons, O Lord,
The strength and courage give
To wield, in righteousness, the sword,
That Freedom still may live.

FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 469
Helmet and shield be Thou; —
Thine arm our mighty stay, —
Till every hostile force shall bow,
And truth hold peaceful sway.

ARMY HYMN.
L. M. Tune — Old Hundred.
Thee we adore, Eternal King,
Whose word to worlds their order gave;
Thy wisdom, power, and grace we sing,
And trust Thy arm alone to save.
The holy armies of the skies
Delight Thy mandates to fulfill;
So let the hosts of earth arise,
And joyful wait to do Thy will.
Our fathers in the camp and field
Were wont to pray and hymn Thy praise;
Be Thou alike to us a shield, —
O'er us Thy mighty banner raise.
Our sins forgive, our foes' subdue,
Our rulers bless, our country own;
O guide us safe life's warfare through
And prove the mercy of Thy throne.

ARMY HYMN.
C. M. Tune — Coronation.
Thy people in their camps of yore
Declared, Great God, Thy praise;
The cloudy pillar moved before
y Through all their dangerous ways.
Before us in each conflict go —
Thine arm success imparts;
Subdue around us every foe
And change disloyal hearts.
40

470 SABRES AND SPURS.
In days of sacrifice and war
Thy hand led forth our sires;
Once more, O Lord, to bless appear,
' And guard our altar fires.
Far hence remove our nation's guilt;'
Let Treason be o'erthrown;
Our State in Thy great name be built,
And wide Thy grace be known.
AMY HTMN. •
7's. Tune — Pleyel's Hymn.
Father, wondrous in thy ways,
Hear our humble notes of praise;
Thine the power and thine the grace,
Whence the nations draw success.
When thine ancient servants prayed,
All Thy foes were sore dismayed;
Washington in prayer was found;
Thou the patriot struggle crowned.
Guide our armies in the field;
O'er them spread Thy mighty shield;
Bid them battle for the right;
Arm them with victorious might.
Break each false Confederate league;
Breathe success round Freedom's flag;
Law and love on earth enthrone, —
All the praise shall be thine own.
ARMY' HYMN,
H. M. Tune— Leno.r.
Exalted be Thy name,
Eternal God, our King;
Thy mercy be our theme,
While we Thy sceptre sing.
At Thy command let mortals rise,
And lift their anthems to the skies.

FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 471
When Israel was Thy choice
And keeper of Thy law,
Earth heard Thy mighty voice
And nations stood in awe;
A bannered host at Thy behest
Possessed, by arms, the land of rest.
Be Thou our help, O God,
Against each desperate foe;
Destroy oppression's rod
By justice's righteous blow ; .
Redeem our land from every wrong,
And praise shall rise from every tongue.

ARMY HYMN.
6's and 4's. Tune — America.
O, Lord, inspire each heart
To act the loyal part
To man and Thee ;
Thy spirit and Thy word,
More potent than the sword,
Be round us like a guard,
And make us free.
Throughout our land be known
The favor of Thy throne
For liberty. •
Preserve our equal laws;
Maintain our righteous cause ;
Determine Freedom's wars
In victory.
Through all our warrior host,
Be this our only boast, —
"Thy will be done."
And when life's war is o'er,
Receive us evermore
Upon the heavenly shore,
Through Christ Thy Son.

472 SABRES AND SPURS.
ARMY HYMN.
8's, 7's and 4's. Tune — Greenville.
Mighty Ruler, all commanding,
Reigning on thy heavenly throne,
Forth to earth Thy spirit sending,
Winning conquests for Thy Son,
Lead our armies
Till rebellion be cast down.
Let thy angels, by direction,
Round our loyal forces tent,
Granting all divine protection
Till the battle storm be spent;
Lead our armies;
Guide us till our foes relent.
Let Thy gospel, freely sounding
" Peace on earth, good will to men,"
Speedy stay all human wounding;
Claim our country as Thy 'own;
Lead our armies
Till Thy righteous will be done.

ARMY HYMN.
S. M. Tune — No More Sorrow Tliere.
O honored native land,
Home famed afar and blest,
Enshrined before me thou dost stand,
In hallowed memories drest.
Chorus — Fair land the pilgrims trod,
Dear home of noble sires,
Land bought by sacred patriot blood,
And lit by Freedom's fires.
Long live the dear domain,
Where truth strikes free her chords,
And lifts to God the glad refrain,
For all his rich awards.
Fair land, &c.

FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 473
O Sovereign Ruler, own
Our heartfelt, patriot lay;
Our land with constant blessings crown,
And lead us in Thy way.
Fair land, &c.

ARMY HYMN.
8's and 7's. Tune — Wilmot.
In Thy statutes, Saviour, lead us,
Like thine ancient chosen host;
On the march of life succeed us,
That our souls in Thee may boast.
In the Christian's armor dress us;
Bid our sins and foes retire;
In our camps and conflicts bless us, —
Lead us with Thy cloud and fire.
For our glory be our warring —
All our victories crowned with right;
Truth upon our standard bearing,
Give us conquest through Thy might.
Guide o'er hill and plain and river;
Grant us courage to endure;
Safe our souls at last deliver
Victors on the heavenly shore.

ARMY HYMN.
7's and 6's. Tune — Yarmouth.
The Lord lift up our banner
And grant our arms success,
That loud be our hosanna
In honor of his grace ; —
The grace that conquers sinning
And clothes the soul with might,
For duty and for winning
In battling for the right.

40*

474 SABRES AND SPURS.
O chant the heavenly story —
Our hope of liberty;
The cross be all our glory
And pledge of victory; —
The law of God our banner —
The love of Christ our song-
Then shout we our hosanna
And roll the strain along.

DOXOLOGIES.
L. M. Tune — Old Hundred.

Conspire ye powers of heaven and earth
To set Jehovah's glory forth ;
Let every tongue of every host
Bless Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
C. M. Tune — Ortonville.
In Him alone let armies boast,
From whom proceeds all power;
To Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Be praise for evermore.

FOR BURIAL SERVICE.
Tune — Hebron.
Thus dust to dust and earth to earth,
We lay our brother down to rest;
Yet God shall call the body forth
To be with life immortal dressed.
Our Manual of Song, under the text, "The Lord is
our shield," was printed in Providence, by A. Crawford
Greene. The order of services for our worship was
printed on the cover. The date of the manual was,
"Camp Hallett, R. I., November 18, 1861."

FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 475

CHAPTER LXIV.
OUR FALLEN COMRADES.

ROLL OF HONOR.
Captain William P. Ainsworth.
First Lieutenant L. D. Gove.
Second Lieutenant Joseph A. Chedell, Jr.
" " H. L. Nicolai.
" " Charles A. Sawyer.
" " James P. Taylor.
" " George T. Slocum.
" " John L. Perley, Jr.
Quartermaster-Sergeant George W. Harris.
sergeants.
John H. Austin, J. Fitzgerald,
John S. Brown, M. L. Parmerter,
R. V. Barrows, George P. Streeter.
Charles B. Delanah, corporals.
Thomas Burton, Allen R. Payne,
George W. Gorton, J. R. Peterson,
E. P. Gardner, George T. Reynolds.
J. C. Kiernan, Joseph W. Vincent.

476

sabres and spurs.

Allen, Henry A.
Allen, E. B.
Allen, Charles N.
Angell, Jesse W.
Avery, James
Bates, E. B.
Babcock, J. C.
Barnard, George B.
Barnard, E. K.
Bowen, C. L.
Bowditch, Isaac
Bowley, William S.
Blake, James F.
Bidmead, R. J.
Brown, William
Bradwick, William S
Bracket, C. A.
Burke, James
Buckley, Francis
Carpenter, P.
Conlin, John
Collins, James H.
Corson, Eli
Corson, Benjamin S.
Corey, Charles W.
Childs, Jason N.
Collomey, J. P.
Clarke, George L.
Cushman, H. C.
Clermont, C. H.
Durden, Robert
Durfield, Andrew
Dearborn, George

privates. Eustis, George C.
Elkins, John H.
Fairbanks, C.
Foster, Horatio
Foster, Jacob B.
Freelove, H. B.
Flanders, E. C.
Gage, George H.
Gardner, Joseph W.
Godfrey, M. H.
Graves, Charles A.
Greene, Henry
Greene, A. C.
Gould, Charles E.
Hall, T. A. G.
Hammell, John
Healy, Alonzo
Henry, Thomas
Hill, Ambrose B.
Hiscox, Benjamin
Hunt, Caleb W.
Hughes, P.
Hook, A. Van
Ide, S. R.
Kenyon, John
Ken yon, Charles L.
Kempton, H. W.
Kane, Charles
Kiernan, John
King, R. E.
Kettle, James
Laveran, P.
Leach, L. D.

FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY.

477

Leach, M.
Locke, Benjamin T.
Lawson, B. C.
Lougee, L. R.
Leighton, S. W.
Maine, Charles H.
Marden, William R.
Moore, E. F.
Miner, Stephen
MlLLINGTON, J. W.
McGrath, P. 1st,
Mulvey, John
northrup, e.
Ordway, Levi
Peck, J. F.
Pette, David
Potter, George D.
Rathbone, Jeremiah
Rawcliffe, J. W.
Read, Asa K.
Reynolds, Owen
Rounds, P. J.
Ray, Walter
Shapley, John H.

Sheridan, John
Salisbury, S.
Shord, Joseph
Smith, Augustus
Steele, George H.
Smith, 0. P.
Smith, P. B.
Smyth, Cyrus
Sutton, E. B.
Spink, D. C.
Sweet, M. W.
Thompson, L.
Travers, Frank
Westcott, Isaac
West, Hiram
West, George W.
Wilcox, George S.
Wilcox, Samuel,
Winsor, John
Wilson, Alvan
Wheeler, James P.
Whipple, Austin L,
Woodward, W. H.
York, Isaac F.

CHAPTER LXV.
ROLL OF THE REGIMENT

oo

FIELD AND STAFF.

>
tsMCOCww

NAME AND RANK.

Colonels,
Robert B. Lawton,
Alfred N. Duffle,
Lieutenant-Colonels.
Willard Sayles,
John L. Thompson, Majors.
Willard Sayles,
William Sanford,
John L. Thompson,
Robert C. Anthony,
John Whipple, Jr.,
D. B. Nelson,

RESIDENCE.

Newport, R. I.
Staten Island, N.Y.
Providence, R. I.
New Hampshire.
Providence, R. I.
ft <i
New Hampshire.
Providence, R. I.
New York, N. Y.
New Hampshire,

DATE
OF MUSTEK.

Dec. 14, 1861.
July 6, 1862.
Feb. 22, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861,

April 1, 1862.
July 27, 1862.

REMARKS.

Discharged July 1, 1862.
Brig. -General of Volunteers, June 24, 1863.
Resigned July 7, 1862.
Resigned March 24, 1864.
Lieutenant-Colonel, Feb. 21, 1862.
Resigned June 14, 1862.
Lieutenant-Colonel, July 11, 1862,
Resigned July 7, 1862.
Resigned Feb. 17, 1863.
Resigned June, 1862,

Edmund C. Burt,
Preston M. Farrington,
Stephen R.- Swett,
William H. Turner, Jr.
Adjutants.
John Whipple, Jr. ,
Augustus W. Corliss,
Charles S. Treat,
Ezra B. Parker,
Charles E. Blanchard,
Quartermaster.
Charles A. Leonard,
Commissary.
Leonard B. Pratt,
Surgeons.
Timothy Newell,
James B. Greeley,
William H. Wilbnr,
AssistantSinr/eons.
James B. Greeley,
Augustine A. Mann,
Albert Utter, Chaplains.
Frederic Denison,
Ethan R. Clarke,

New Orleans.
Providence, R. I.
New Hampshire.
Warren, R. I.
New York, N. Y.
Walt.ham, Mass.
Providence, R. I.
New Hampshire.
Washington, D. C.
Pawtucket, R. I.
Providence, "
New Hampshire.
Westerly, R. I.
Now Hampshire.
Central Falls, R. I.
Westerly.

March 1, 1863.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Dec. 16, 1861.
Sept. 17, 1864.
Dec.' 14, 1861.
Nov. 4, 1801.

Dec. 3, 186ir
June 12, 1862.
Jan. 20, 1863.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Mustered out Aug. 7, 1862.
Wounded March 17, 1803, at.lmt.tle of Kel
ly's Ford, Va. ; mustered out Dec. 13, 1864.
Resigned April 7, 1863.
Mustered out Nov. 18, 1864.
Captain Troop D, Feb. 21, 1862.
Never mustered.
Resigned Nov. 30, 1802.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; resigned May
31, 1804.
Mustered out Dec. 18, 1864.
Mustered out May 13, 1865.
Mustered out Dec. 14, 1864.
Resigned May 23, 1802.
Wounded Aug. 21, 1862; honorably dis
charged Aug. 31, 1862.
Mustered out Dee. 21, 1864.
Surgeon June 4, 1802.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
mustered out Nov. 24, 1864.
Trans, to new organization Dec. 21, 1864.
Resigned Jan. Ill, 1863.
Mustered out Dec. 21, 1864.

COH2oo
£ f a
><
>t-1

FIELD AND ST AFF— Continued.

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Seri/ea nt- Majors.
Alfred S. Childs,
Joseph W. Dewey,
John R. Umfreville,

New Haven. Conn,
Hanover, N. H.
Warren, R. I.

Dec. 14, 1861.

2d Lieutenant Troop A, Dec. 6, 1862.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; 1st Lieut. Troop
G, Oct. 24, 1864.
1st Lieutenant Troop II, Nov. 29, 1864.

Quartermaster-Sergeant.
Charles E. Ellison,

Roxbury, Mass.

Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1804; transferred to new
organization Dec. 21, 1864.

Cumin issary-Serr/ea n ts.
Eli C. Marsh,
Samuel C. Willis,
Thomas A. Richards,

New Hampshire.
Providence, R. I.

Nov. 11. 1861.

Transferred to V. R. C. Nov. 1, 1863.
1st Lieutenant Troop F, Oct. 24, 1864.
Trans, to new organization Dec. 21, 1864.

Hospital Steward.
Edward C. Capwell,

Aug. 8, 1862!

,c

Saddler Sergeant.
John A. Babcock,

Disch. Oct. 6, 1863, on Surgeon's certificate.
Chief Trumpeters.
Edward H. Gurney,
John W. Day,
William R. Kay,
-
Nov. 1, 1862.
" Feb. 25, 1863,
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; paroled; re-
enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; discharged to re
ceive promotion.
Trans, to new organization Dec. 21, 1864.
©
CO > w
GpoCO
FIRST

BATTALION.

£ Quartermaster.

Leonard B. Pratt,
Providence, R. I.
Appointed Regimental Commissary.
Sergeant-Mnjor.
Edward E. Chase.
Dec. 14, 1861.
2d Lieut., Battalion Adjutant, Feb. 14, 1802;
1st Lieut., Troop E, Aug. 4, 1802.
Quartermaster-Sergeant.
Benjamin Weaver
" "
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Commissary Sergeants.
Samuel P Mason.
Transferred to Troop E.
James P. Taylor.
n t(
2d Lieutenant Troop C, Dec. 24, 1861.
Hospital Steward.
Nathaniel G. Stanton.
Saddler Sergeant.
.,
Mustered out Sept. 12, 1802.
Frederic Ocherhausen.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Veterinary Surgeon.
Crawford A. Scranton.
Sept. 18, 1862.
Transferred to Non-Commissioned Staff,
Veterinary Sergeant.
William Spooner.
Dec. 14, 1861.
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged Aug. 30, 1863.
Sergeaut-Major.
James W. Henrys.
Quarjer muster-Sergeant.
Thomas Manchester.
C'oinru issa i -y-Se i yea nt.
Ira Wakefield. Hospital Steward.
Joseph A. .Chedell.
SECOND BATTALION.
Dec. 14, 1861.
2d Lieutenant Troop L, Dec. 21, 1862; re
signed in accordance with special orders.
Transferred to Troop L.
Transferred to Troop G.
2d Lieutenant Troop C, Jan. 1, 1863.
ww
o a
w
CO fc-l
>
t-1
CO
THIRD BATTALION.

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OP MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Battalion Adjutant.
George T. Cram,

Boston, Mass.

Resigned June 6, 1862.

Sergea n t-Majo rs.
Charles C. Harris.
Eugene M. Bowman.

Not accounted for on rolls.
Transferred to Troop K as Sergeant.
Quartermaster-Sergeants.
Jacob B. Cooke.
Henry E. Newton.
2d Lieutenant Troop H, Aug. 4, 1862; 1st
Lieutenant Troop C, Feb. 13, 1863.
Not accounted for on rolls.
Commissary Sergeant.
Eli C. Marsh.
Regimental Com. -Sergt. ; trans, to V R. C.
Hospital Steward.
Edwin D. White.
Veterinary Sergeant.
Edward Brown.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
mustered out Dec. 29, 1864.
In Troop K.
CO>ftwCO>
c; ¦xCO
TROOP A.
Captains.
Joseph J. Gould,
Middletown, R. I.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Transferred to Troop G.
Joshua Vose,
Westerly,
July 20, 1862.
Mustered out Dec. 6, 1864.
First Lieutenants.
William H. Turner, Jr.,
Warren,
Nov. 18, 1862.
Captain Troop H, Feb. 21, 1862.
James P. Vose,
Newport,
Feb. 22, 1862.
Resigned Dec. 28, 1862.
Lothrop B. Shurtliff,
Andrew G. Lorimer,
Second Lieutenants.
James P. Vose,
Leonard B. Pratt,
Richard J. Burgess,
Alfred S. Childs,

Ambrose W. Sweet,
George H. Harris,

Henry S. Nicolai,
John R. Umfreville,

Charles E. Blanchard,
JohnF. Scott,
Jonathan W. Pratt,
Corporals.
Edward A. Kelley,
Henry B. Hammond,
Daniel W. Joshlyne,
George T. Slocum,

George W. Curtis,

Providence, R. I.

Newport, Newport, Warren,
Newport,Lensington, Me.
Newport, R. I.

Oneida, N. Y.
Middletown, R I.

Peacedale,

Jan. 14, 1863.
Dec. 2, 1864.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Mustered out Dec. 6, 1864.
Transferred to Troop D, new organization,
Dec. 21, 1864.
1st Lieutenant Troop A, Feb. 21, 1862.
Transferred to Troop I.
1st Lieutenant Troop F, Dec. 6, 1862.
Dismissed the service Aug. 24, 1863.
Wounded April 14, 1862; disch. June 13, '62.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; died May 19,'1864,
in hospital.
2d Lieut. Troop M, Nov. 3, 1862; killed
March 17, 1863.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; severely
wounded; exchanged; re-enlisted Jan. 5,
1864; Sergeant-Major.
Q. M, Sergt., 2d Lieut. Troop C, June 24, '63.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
mustered out Oct. 28, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged; 2d
Lieut. Third R. I. Cavalry, Aug. 7, 1863.
Sergeant; wounded Sept. 14, 1863; mustered
out Nov. 12, 1864.
2d Lieutenant July 16, 1863; not mustered.
Discharged Nov. 30, 1862.
2d Lieut. May 14, 1863; not mustered; taken
prisoner Dec. 1, 1863; died at Anderson
ville, Ga.
Prisoner Aug. 27, 1862; deserted July 5, '63.

COH
W aoSi

t-1aa><> ¦
t-1 S

cc

TROOP A— Continued.

CO

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE.
OP MUSTER.

Corporals — Coidin ued.
Charles G. Sweet,
Peter W. Wilkie,

Allen C. Sweeting,
Musicians.
Owen Dooner.
William M. Mowry,
James H. Collins,

William R. Hay.
Furriers.
Chaunccy L. Salsbury,
Martin W. Curley.
William F. Peck,
Saddlers.
Edward F. Brown,
Lewis R. Whiting.

Middletown, R. I.
Newport,

Valley Falls,

E. Greenwich, '
Boston, Mass.

Burrillville, R. I.
Providence, "
Providence, "

Dec. 14,, 1861.

Jan. 16, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Transferred to V. R. C. Nov. 15, 1863.
Sergt.; taken prisoner June 18, 1863; ex
changed; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans
ferred to Navy April 7, 1864.
Taken prisoner Dec. 1, 1863; exchanged;
1 transferred to Troop D, new org., Dec. 21,
1864, as Sergeant.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop D,
new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged at Camp Arnold.
Taken prisoner Nov. 13, 1863; transferred
to Troop D, new organization Dec. 21,
1864.
Trans, from Troop F; Chief Trumpeter, and
trans, to N. C. Staff, Aug. 1, 1864.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Transferred to V. R. C. Sept. 21, 1863.
Transferred from Troop F; transferred to
Troop A, new org., Dec. 21, 1804.
Deserted Feb. 10, 1862.
Re-enlisted March 12, 1864; transferred to
Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.

COwWwCO >¦

ft
CO

Wagoner.
William II. Augell,
-± Privates.
' Adams, John
Atkinson, John
Brown, Samuel
Burdick, Isaac F.
Brown, Jerry II.
Bateman, Charles
Bachelor, Charles H.

Borden, Holden B.

Babcock, J. A.
Bliss, Charles C.
Cooke, William H.

Capwell, Edward C.
Colvin, Stephen G.
Cross, John J.
Caswell, Allen C.

Scituate, R. I.
Ireland,
New Castle, Del.
Newport, R. I.

Newport, R. I.
Northampton,Mass

Tiverton, R. I.

Fall River, Mass.
Dutchess, N. Y.

Hopkinton, R. I.
Scituate, ' '
England,Taunton, Mass.

Dec. 14, 1861.
ii (t
July 26, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 15, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 8, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 8, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Mar. 10, 1862
Dec. 14, 1861.

Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1804 ; trans, to Troop D,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1804.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1803; exchanged;
mustered out Dec. 2, 1 804.
Transferred to Troop D, new organization,
Due. 21, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1804; trans, to Troop D,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1804.
Discharged Sept. 3, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Trans, to Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Mustered out Nov. 23, 1804.
Taken prisoner Feb. 25, 1863; exchanged;
taken prisoner June 18, 1863;' re-enlisted
June 5, 1864; trans, to Troop D, new org.,
Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner Feb. 25, 1863; exchanged;
" " June 18, "
Oct. 12, "
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to 'Troop
D, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Saddler Sergeant, March 10, 1863.
Transferred to Troop C.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; taken prisoner Sept.
24, 1864; exchanged; trans, to Troop D,
new organization. Dec. 21, 1864.
Hospital Steward, April 1, 1803.
Mustered out Nov. 5, 1804.
Not accounted for on the rolls,
Deserted June 18, 1862.

a
c oa)

> a
a>t-1wK

cc

TROOP A— Continued.

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OP MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Privates — Continued.
Caughlan, Jeremiah
Dawley, Whitman
Dunmore, Charles A.
Eldridge, James P. 0.
Eagan, Nicholas
Falker, George
Fuller, Freeman L.
Grennelle, Charles H.
Gould, Charles E.
Gould, Amos
Goddard, Abraham F.
Gougenham, John

Ireland,Jamestown, R. I.
Newport, "
Westerly, ' '
Sutton, Mass.
Jamestown, R. I.
E. Douglas, Mass.
Holden,
Germany,

Feb. 19, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 14, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
1 1 n
i < u
i< - <(

Corporal; wounded Sept. 14, 1863; trans, to
Troop D, new org., Dec 21, 1864.
Discharged May 26, 1862.
Deserted Feb., 1862.
Deserted July 5, 1862 ; returned from deser
tion June 6, 1865; trans to Troop D, new
organization.
Taken prisoner Feb. 25, 1863; exchanged;
trans, to Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, '64.
Transferred to Troop F, Sept. 1, 1863.
Corporal; taken prisoner June 18, 1803; ex
changed; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans.
to Troop D, new org., Oct. 21, 1864.
Discharged Jan. 10, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged; prisoner
Oct. 12, 1863; exchanged; prisoner March
31, 1864; trans, to Troop D, new organ
ization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner Feb. 25, 1863; exchanged;
mustered out Nov. 12, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop D,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop D,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.

00OS

> tcftw
CO >a

CO

Gorton, Charles A.
Godfrey, Othello W.
Harrington, Samuel F.
Hudson, Cyrus M.
Hunt, Caleb W.
Hickie, John, Jr.
Merrick, William A.
Herrick, Amos H.

Irving, Thomas G,
Knowlton, Daniel W.
Kenyon, John
Keating, William
King, Gilbert F.
Kay', William Ii.
Lewis, Courtland
Liuerhan, Thomas
Lyon, William
Leach, M.
Lynch, Michael C.

Pawtucket, R. I.
Seekonk, Mass.
Newport, R. I.
S.Wilbraham,Mass,
Valley Falls, Ii. I.
Boston, Mass.
Voluntown, Conn.
Holland, Mass.

Richmond, Vt.
Ireland,

Suffleld, Conn,
Ireland,
E. Douglas, Mass.
Ireland,

Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 11, 1802.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 8, 1862.
Dee. 14, 1861.

Transferred to Batt. at Camp Arnold.
Mustered out Dec. 4, 1864.
Taken prisoner Aug. 27, 1802; exchanged;
mustered out Nov. 7, 1864.
Deserted April 7, 1864.
Taken prisoner Nov. 13, 1803; died Aug. 1,
1864, in prison at Andersonville, Ga.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop D,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner Feb. 25, 1803; exchanged;
June 18, "
Oct. 12, "
Nov. 27, 1804; mustered out Jan. 15, '65.
Deserted Aug. 1, 1802.
Discharged Feb. 4, 1803, on Surg, cerlif.
Drowned Aug. 28, 1863, at Alexandria, Va.
Mustered out' Oct. 28, 1864.
Discharged April 4, 1863, on Surg, cerlif.
Chief Trumpeter Nov. 1, 1864.
Trans, to Troop D, new org., Dee. 21, 1864.
Corporal; taken prisoner June 18, 1863; ex
changed; mustered out Oct 29, 1864.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Missing in action Oct. 12, 1863, supposed
captured.
Taken pris. June 18, '63; exch. ; taken pris.
Oct. 12, '63; exch.; taken pris. March 31,
'64; trans, to Troop D, new organization,
Dec. 21, 1864.

fctfWoa

cr

4-
CO

TROOP A— Continued.

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OP MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Prieates — Continued.

Munroc, William G.

Portsmouth, R. I.

Dec. 14, 1861.

Discharged April 2, 1864, on Surg, cerlif.

Slyer, William E.

Prussia,

U (I

Mustered out Oct, 28, 1864.

Martin, George H.

Westerly, "

Aug. 13, 1862.

Prisoner Nov. 13, 1803; taken pris. June 18,
1863; exchanged; transferred to Troop D,
new organization, Dec 21, 1864.

Monroe, Thomas C.

Newport, ' '

Dec. 14, 1861.

Not accounted for on the rolls.

Munroe, Samuel P.

N. Kingstown,"

<t it

Wounded Oct. 14, 1803; re-enlisted March
28, 1864; transferred to Troop D, new
organization, Dec. 21, 1804.

Millington, James W.

Rhode Island,

(( <(

Taken prisoner Feb. 25, 1863; exchanged;
" Nov. 13, " transferred
to Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.

Nolan, Bernard

Ireland,

( ( . (

Deserted at Camp Arnold, Dec. 1801.

Oatley, Edward F.

Narragansett, R. I.

( ( I

Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
D, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.

Peck, William

Providence, "

Jan. 16, 1862.

Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
trans, to Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, "'64.

Pierce, Charles E.

Portsmouth, '

Dec. 14, 1861.

Discharged Jan. 26, 1863, on Surg, ccrtif.
Prisoner June 18, '63; exch.; trans, to V. R.

Pendleton, Edward B.

Westerly,

Aug. 15, 1862.

C , March 19, '04; mustered out Aug. 22, '05.
Quinn, William J.
Ireland,
Dec. 14, 1861.
Mustered out Dec. 2, 1804.
Raynor, John G.
Westerly, R. I.
Aug. 0, 1802.
Trans, to Troop D, "new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Rathbone, Albert J.
Southbridge, Mass.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Discharged March 12, 1802.
COCO
toftmCOaCOh3CI
Rawcliffe, Joseph W.
Rathbone, Jeremiah
Ripley, John S.
Smith, Philip B.
Slocum, Stephen F.
Scullon, Edward
Sanders, Charles II.
Salisbury, Chauncuy M.
Salisbury, Samuel
Soule, Edward B.
Sullivan, John
Tucker, William A.
Tallman, William H.
Vincent, Joseph W.
Wright, Samuel G.
Wood, Thomas J.
Wadkins, Albert J.
West, George W.
Wilcox, Nathan S.

Wrcntham, Mass
N. Kingstown, R. I.
Westerly, '
Newport,

Ireland,Stonington, Conn.
Scituate, R. I.
Burrillvillc, li. I.
Stonington, Conn.
Ireland,
Smithtield, R. I.
Tiverton, "

Westerly, "
England,E. Douglas, Mass.
Douglas, "
Warwick, R. I.
Charlestown, Mass.

Mar. 12, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 15, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 15, 1862.
Doc. 14, 1861.
Aug. 15, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861

Aug. 8, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 15, 1862.

Taken prisoner Nov. 13, 1863; died Feb. 23,
1864, at Danville, Va.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
" Dec. 1, " died at An
dersonville, Ga., July 31, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; paroled; not
accounted for on the rolls.
Pris. Dec. 1, 1863; died at Andersonville, Ga.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
mustered out Nov. 20, 1864.
Discharged July, 1862.
Discharged Nov. 30, 1862.
Mustered out Dec. 4, 1864.
Died Dec. 13, 1862, at Falmouth, Va.
Trans, to Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Discharged Feb. 1862.
Corporal; Sergeant; taken prisoner Feb. 25,
1863; exchanged; transferred to Troop F
Sept. 1, 1863. '
Corporal; wounded March 17, 1863: died
March 26, 1863, of wounds
Discharged June 26, 1863, on Surg, cert if.
Discharged Dec, 1861, at Camp Arnold.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop D,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner Dec. 1, 1863; transferred to
Troop D, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
trans, to Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, '64.

s7.
H
©

<

TROOP A— Continued.

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Privates — Continued.
West, Hiram
Winsor, John
York. Isaac F. •

Warwick, R. I.
Smithfield, "
Westerly, "

Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 15, 1862.

Taken prisoner Oct. 12, 1863; prisoner Mar.
31, 1864; transferred to Troop D, new
organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Died July 22, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
" " Dec. 1, " transferred
to Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, 1804.

COo

TROOP B.

Captain*.
E. C Burt,
Augustus H. Bixby,
Charles H. Thayer,
First Lieutenan ts.
Allen Baker, Jr.,
Hiram P. Barker,
Second Lieutenants.
Richard J. Burgess,
Charles C. Leonard,
George W. Darling,
Quartermaster-Sergeant.
Edmund C. Gladding,

Francistown, N. H.
Providence, R. I.

Boston, Mass.
Providence, R. I.
Pawtucket, "
Providence, Pawtucket, "

Dec. 14, 1861.
July 15, 1862.
Feb. 14, 1863.
Oct. 9, 1861.
Aug. 5, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
July 15, 1862.
March 1, 1863.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Major July 11, 1862.
Transferred to Troop D, Jan. 14, 1863.
Wounded and taken prisoner March 17, 1863;
mustered out Dec. 21, 1864.
Captain Troop E, July 15, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; mustered out
Dec, 1864.
Transferred to Troop A.
1st Lieutenant Troop E, March 1, 1803.
Taken prisoner March 17, 1863; transferred
to Troop D, new org., Dec 21, 1864.
Mustered out Oct. 18, 1864,

to

3

aCO

Sergean ts.
James A. Smith,
John R. Arnold.
Thomas A. Harris,
Thomas A. Earlc,
Owen L. Leach,
John E. Bennett,
Corporals.
Stephen Booth,
Richard A. Angcll,
John S. Brown,
Stephen II. Pickering.

Willard II. Bates,
John W. Leekie,
James O. Skinner,
Elisha G. Lawton,
Musicians.
Kinder Fish,
Joseph W. Pulsifcr,
Oliver S. Adams,
Farriers.
Henry Randal),
Leonard F. Wood,

Providence, "
Canada,
Pawtucket, R. I.
Providence, "

Attleboro, Mass.
Providence, R. I.
Warwick, Pawtucket, Providence, "
Cranston,

River Point,
Boston, Mass.
Reading, "
Foster, R. I.

Doc. 14, 1861,
" 15, 1862.
" 14, 1801.

IV,
14,

Not accounted for on rolls.
Discharged Oct. 6, 1862.
(). M. Sergt. Troop 0, new org. , Dec. 21 , '64.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1804; transferred to Troop
C, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Not accounted for on rolls.
Wounded March 17, 1863; mustered out Oct.
9, 1864.
Not accounted for on rolls.
Sergeant ; taken prisoner Aug. 20, 1862;
killed in battle Aug. 14, 1863.
Taken prisoner March 17, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; Sergeant Troop
C, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Sergeant; re-cnlisted Jan. 5, 1864; transferred
to Troop C, new org., Dee. 21, 1864.
Mustered out Oct. 18, 1864.
Transferred to V. R. C, July 1, 1863.
Taken prisoner March 17, 1863; re-cnlisted
Jan. 5, 1864; 2d Lieutenant Troop H, 3d
Rhode Island Cavalry, April 12, 1864.
Discharged June 18, 1862, on Surg, certif.
Dec. 13,
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop C,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged.
Transferred to V. Ii. C. Aug. 1, 1863.

S3m
o aft

aof
ft

TROOP B— Continued.

NAME AND HANK.

Saddler.
Daniel A. Smith,
Waguucr.
Henry A. YVhilakcr,
Privates.
Allen, Moses R.
Allen, James R.
Andrews, Crawford G.
Angell, Jesse W.
Brown, Charles W.
Burke, James A.
Burdick, Isaac F.
Barber, Ezra S.
Babcock, Joseph A.
Bennett, George
Bates, Elijah B.
Crocker, Thomas C.
Cuminings, George F.
Crane, Thomas
Church, Benedict G.

RESIDENCE.

Smithfit'ld, R. I.
Fiskcvillc,
New York, N. Y.

Coventry, R. I.
Smithflcld,
Coventry, ' '
New York, N. Y.

Warwick, R. I.
Foster, "
Worcester, Mass.
Brewster,
Auburn, "
Ireland, ,
Hopkinton, "

DATE
OP MUSTER.

Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 8, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 8, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 7, 1862.

REMARKS.

Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop C,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Mustered out Oct. 9, 1804.
Wounded at Luray, Va. ; disoli. Sept. 23, '62
Corporal ; discharged April 20, 1863, to ac
cept promotion.
Mustered out Dec. 14, 1804.
Killed, thrown from horse, Aug. 13, 1804.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
mustered out Oct. 14, 1864.
Taken prisoner Oct. 12, 1863; exchanged
Dec. 3, 1864.
Transferred to Troop A.
Discharged.
Discharged.
Discharged May 28, 1864, on Surg, cert if.
Died April 17, 1862, at Warrenton Junction.
Discharged May 20, 1862, on Surg, certif.
Corporal; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to
Troop C, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged June 30, 1863.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
trans, to Troop C, new org., Dec 21, '64.

CO>aStM
CO>aCO -d
clStCO

Chase, Amos B.
Carey, Thomas F.
g Carpenter, Oscar N.
Cunningham, Patrick
Dowd, Oliver
Draper Alvin A.

Doyle, James
Eldridge, Ransom F.
Ernest, Henry
Fitzmorris, Charles
Field, Henry
Fairbanks, Manfred
Graves, Charles A.
Gavit, Philetus O.
Gallagher, Michael
Hacket, John
Hawkins, George C.

Hendrick, Whipple W.
Johnson. Welcome A.

Bristol, R. I.
Ireland.Lonsdale, R. I.

Warwick,
Central Falls, "
Olneyville, "

Warwick,Allendale,. Coventry, Providence,

Cranston,Allendale,

Dec. 14, 1861.
" 17, "
Aug. 29, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Oct. 25, 1862.

Nov. 28, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
" 2, 1862.
Nov. 28, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
March 10, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Discharged June 30, 1862.
Not accounted for on rolls.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864;|trans. to Troop C,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Trans, to Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
Dec. 27, 1864; transferred
to Troop C, new org., Dec 21, 1864.
Deserted Dec. 11, 1862.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop C,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Deserted Jan. 1, 1864.
Deserted Dec 11, 1862.
lie-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop C,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged Oct. 7, 1862, on Surg, certif.
Died Dec. 26, 1861, of typhoid fever.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop C,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Deserted March 13, 1862.
Discharged Aug. 31, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
C, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Wounded and taken prisoner March 17, 1863;
mustered out Oct. 14, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
C, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.

ft
<»HSta
o aH

> ao
>>S3H

CO

TROOP B— Continued.

NAME AND RANK.

Privates — Con tinved.
Kenyon, John T.
Kelley, John
Kittelle, James
Kelley, John
Luther, James H.
Lovell, Isaac B.
Lecdham, John

Luther, Samuel O.
Mathewson, Amasa L.
Meyers, George W.
Moon, William
Moshier, Joseph H.
Monegan, James
Medbury, Abram S.

RESIDENCE.

Ilopkinton, R. I.
Warwick,
Providence,
Allendale, Lonsdale,Providence, '
Scituate, Bristol.
Providence, "

Allendale,

date
op MUSTER.

Dec. 14, 1861.
Nov. 28, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

March 3, 1862.
Dec. 14," 1861.

Feb. 24, 1862.
Dec. 1.4, 1861.
Aug. 4, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

REMARKS.

Mustered out Oct. 4, 1864.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Taken prisoner Oct. 12, 1863; died July 6,
at Andersonville, Ga.
Mustered out Dec. 2, 1864.
Mustered out. Oct. 9, 1864.
Re-enlisted March 9, 1864; trans, to Troop
C, new organization, Dec 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; paroled; re-
enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop C,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Re-cnlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop C,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Bugler; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; transferred
to Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1803; paroled; re-
enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop C,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Not. accounted for on tlie rolls.
Re-enlistcd Jan. 5, 1864; transferred to Troop
C, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Transferred to Troop 0, new organization,
Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged March 16, 1864, on Surg, certif.

CO >astwCO >aCO t
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FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 49.]

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TEOOP B— Continued.

NAME AND RANK.

residence.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Priva tes — Continued.
Taylor, Ilirani
Tourjee, William H.
Taylor, Solomon
Ward, Thomas Jr.
Watson, Charles
Wilson, William M.
Wood, Henry A.
Wellspeak, Lewis
Williams, William J.
Williams, James
Wellman, Henry
White, William G.

Olneyville, R. I.
Warwick, "
Providence,
Pawtucket, "
Providence, "
Foster,Montreal, Canada,
Newburyport, Mass.
Cranston, R. I.
Olneyville, R. I.

Dec. 15, 1861.
Dec. 14, 1861.
( f ((
i( i
Nov. 28, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
(( 1(
( ( tc
a a
a u
March 24, 1862.

Not accounted for on the rolls.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; transferred to
Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged Dec. 24, 1861, on Surg, ccrtif.
Re-enlisted March 9, 1864; transferred to
Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Deserted Dec. 11, 1863.
Discharged June 9, 1862, on Surg, certif.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5; 1864; trans, to Troop C,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Deserted.Transferred to Troop G.
Transferred to V. R. C. Sept. 30, 1863.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
mustered out Nov. 28, 1864.
Not accounted for on the rolls.

TEOOP C.

Lycurgus Sayles,
George N. Bliss,

Providence, R. I.
Pawtucket, "

Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 4, 1862.

Resigned 1862.
Woun'd and pris., Sept. 28, '64, Waynesboro,
Va. ; trans, to Troop C, n. org., Dec. 21, '64.

CO

en i>Wxww > aw>-dC Xw

First Lieutenants.
John Whipple, Jr.
^ Charles A. Leonard,
* Charles H. Thayer,
Jacob B. Cook,
George A. Robbins,
Bernard Ellis,
Second Lieutenants.
Charles H. Thayer,
James P. Taylor,
Edwin Vaughan,
Joseph A. Chedell,
Charles E. Blanchard,
Quartermaster Sergeant.
Christopher C Burrows.
Sergeants.
Lothrop B. Shurtliff,
Raphael Dexter,
Thomas C. Clark,
William T. Holmes,
George T. Moore,
Corporals.
Alvah Eaton,
James H. Angell,
Ichabod W. Cook,

New York, N. Y.

Charlestown, Mass.
llillsboro, N. II.
Washington, D. C.

Newport, It. I.
New Hampshire,
Barrington, R. I.

Bustead, N. Y.

Dighton, Mass.
Providence, R. I.
Hudson, N. Y.
Long Island, N. Y.
England, Cranston, R. I.
Providence, R. I.
Mendon, Mass.

Dec. 14, 1861.
Feb. 22, 1862.
July 15, 1862.
Feb. 14, 1863.
Oct. 1, 1863.
March 1, 1864.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 5, 1862.
Jan. 14, 1863.
July 31, 1863.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Atlj't Dec. 23, 1861 ; Captain Feb. 21, 1862.
Quartermaster.Captain Troop B, Feb. 14, 1863.
Resigned Sept. 22, 1863.
Transferred to Troop L.
" G, Aug. 29, 1864.
1st Lieutenant Troop C, July, 1862.
Died Aug. 10, 1862.
1st Lieutenant Troop G, Jan. 1, 1863.
Killed in action June 18, 1863, near Middle
burg, Va.
1st Lieutenant and Adjutant June 1, 1864.
Discharged to accept a commission in the
22d U. S. C. T., April 20, 1864.
2d Lieutenant Troop E, June 12, 1862.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop C,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Transferred to Troop E, July 15, 1862.
Discharged May 22, 1862.
Transferred to Troop F.
Taken prisoner Feb. 25, 1863; mustered out
Oct. 5, 1864.
Deserted Sept, , 1862.
Not accounted for on the rolls.

X
GO H

Oa

t-iO
a>i>b-i

CO

TEOOP C— Continued.

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

Corporals — Continued.
Martin L. Carey,

Christopher H. Shultz,
Simeon A. Brown,
William II. Latham,

William A. Fisk,
Musicians.
Ethan S. Brown,
Allen T. Brown,
Farriers.
Ebenezer L. Briggs,
Asa T. Hicks, Saddler.
Robert A. Hutchinson,
Wagoner.
Halsey Ballou,

Cooper, Me.

Boston, Mass.
Burrillville, R. I.
Smithfield, ' '

E. Greenwich, "
Smithfield,

Dighton, Mass.
Tiverton, It. I.

Scotland,
Cumberland,'R. I.

Dec. 14, 1861.

Sergeant; 2d Lieut. 3d R. I. Cavalry, Aug.
25, 1863; wounded Sept. 14, 1863; dis
charged Dec. 24, 1863, on Surgeon's certif.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; paroled; mus
tered out Oct. 11, 1864.
Sergeant; 2d Lieut. Troop G, Jan. 14, 1863.
Wounded and taken prisoner June 18, 1863;
exchanged; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans.
to Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged May 19, 1862.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop C,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged May 4, 1862.
Mustered out Oct. 5, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
C, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop C,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.

wwMGO GO a

Privates.
Atwood, Nathan
Aylcsworth, Lyman
Brooks, George M.
Bitgood, Stephen
Bixby, Russell W.
Brown, John S.
Burke, James
Bliss, Charles C.
Bevar, Joseph
Barlow, William
Bond, Addison S.
Barney, William H.
Cook, Henry R.

Warwick, It. I.
N. Kingstown, It. I,
Schuylcrville, N. Y.
Topsham, Vt.
Smithfield, R. I.
Fall River, Mass.
Canada,Ireland,
B'rimfield, Mass.
New York, N. Y.
Providence, R. I.

Dec. 14, 1861.

Sept. 22, 1862.
Aug. 15, 1862.

Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 14, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Sergeant; taken prisoner June 18, 1863; ex
changed; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans.
to Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Re-cnlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop C,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Discharged Oct. 10, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 12, 1863; exchanged;
trans, to V. R. C, Sept. 30, 1863; muster
ed out June 26, 1865.
Taken prisoner Feb. 25, 1863; re-enlisted
Jan. 5, 1864; transferred to Troop D, new
organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
Oct. 12, " died July
23, 1864, at Andersonviile, Ga.
Transferred from Troop A;' taken prisoner
"March 17, 1863; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864;
trans, to Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken pris. Feb. 25, 1863; taken pris. June
18, 1863; trans, to V. It. O, Oct. 12, 1863.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop C,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop C,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner March 17, 1863; mustered
out Oct. 17, 1864.
Corporal; Sergeant; discharged April 17,
1863, on Surgeon's certificate.

X
GOH
Waoaw

b-|
>a o
w K

TEOOP C— Continued.

Oioo

NAME AND HANK.

Privates — Continued.
Carter, Edward S.
Cronan, Lawrence

Crossman, Otis H.
Corey, James B.
Capron, Charles C.
Cavanagh, James

Colburn, Charles H.

Carey, Foster H.
Card, John F.
Dimond, James

Dyer, John

RESIDENCE.

England,

Blackstone, Mass.
N. Providence, R. I.
Cumberland, "

Providence,

E. Greenwich, "
Ireland,

S. Providence, R. I.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

Sept. 22, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 7, 1862.

Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 12, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 25, 1862.

Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
trans, to Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, '64.
Corporal; wounded June 18, 1863; re-en
listed Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop C, new
organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Corporal; Sergeant; rc-cnlisted Jan. 5, 1864;
trans, to Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, '64.
Corporal; mustered out Oct. 5, 1864.
Mustered out Oct. 17, 1864.
Wounded and taken prisoner June 18, 1863;
exchanged; " " Oct. 12, "
" transferred to Troop C, new
organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Wounded and taken pris. June 18, 1863; ex
changed; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans.
to Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Trans, to Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Mustered out Dec. 14, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
C, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
" Oct. 12, " transferred
to Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, 1864,

> tcXw
'GO t» a. u UinxGO

Ellis, John A.
England, Abraham
Eddy, Samuel T.
Elton, Henry
Ford, William B.

Fox, Charles E.
Fuller, Manley J.
Fcnncr, Alonzo B.
Fuller, George II.
Field, Charles F.
Field, James L.
Fuller, Joseph
Greene, Samuel R.

Glancey, William J.
Graves, Abraham
Hawkins, Beuoni
Hutchinson, Robert A.
Hunter, John B.
Hall, Theodore A. G.
Hcaly, Alonzo
Hill, Ambrose B.

Boston, Mass.
New York, N. Y.
Cranston, R. I.
N. Bedford, Mass.
Smithiield, R. I.

Exeter, "
Fall River, Mass.
Cumberland, R. I.
Warwick, "
Belleville, N. J.
Cranston, R. I.
Scotland,N. Bedford, Mass.
Providence, R. I.
Paris, N. Y

Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 19, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 14, 1862.

Doc. 18,
Dec. 14,
Sept. 23,
Dec. 14,
Sept. 26,
Dec. 14,

18641861. 1862.
1861. 1862.
1861.

Sept. 22, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 25, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Sept. 30, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Discharged June 5, 1862.
Taken prisoner Aug. 21, 1862; exchanged;,
mustered out Oct. 5, 1864.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Transferred to navy April 24, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
C, new organization, Dec. 21, 1804.
Corporal; Sergeant; trans, to Troop C, new
organization, Dec 21, 1864.
Trans, to Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged Nov. 30, 1862, on Surg, certif.
Trans, to Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Corporal; Sergeant; mustered out Oct. 5, '64.
Trans to Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged Feb. 2, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
C, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner Aug. 20, 1862; discharged
Fob. 26, 1863, on Surgeon's certificate.
Trans, to Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner Feb. 25, 1863; exchanged;
trans, to V. R. C. , Sept. 9, 1863.
Saddler; disci). Jan. 12, '63, on Surg, certif.
Transferred to navy April 29, 1864.
Died at City Point, Aug. 2, 1864.
Trans, from Troop D; taken pris. Oct. 12,
'63 ; died at Andersonville,Ga. , June 29, '04.
Died Feb. 2, 1864, in hospital.

SoGO -J
tcKoow

t-1i> O
a<>x

o

TEOOP C— Continued.

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Privates — Conlin ued.

Hunt, William H.

Scckonk, Mass.

Dec. 14, 1861.

Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1804; trans, to Troop C,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864,

Huliart, Caleb

Temple, Me.

Corporal; taken prisoner June 18, 1863; ex
changed; mustered out. Oct. 5, 1864.
Ide, Daniel W.
Scekonk, Mass.
,(
Corporal; mustered out Oct. 11, 1S64.
Ingralnun, David
N. Providence, R, I.
(< <<
Discharged June 10, 1862.
Ingraham, Cyril
Scituate, It. I.
11 fi-
Mustered out Nov. 24, 1864.
Ingralnun, Asa
Granby, Mass.
lC ((
Discharged June 25, 1862.
Jacob, Albert. N.
Dover, N. H.
Corporal; taken prisoner Feb. 25, 1863; ex
changed; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans.
to Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Kindred, Henry E.
Providence, R. I.
C( <<
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
C, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Loramore, Robert S.
ti it
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop C,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Lee, James
Douglas, Mass.
" "
Discharged Jan. 5, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Lovett, William P.
Boston, Mass.
Corporal; wounded and taken pris. March
17, 1863; exch.; re-enlisted Jan 5, 1864;
trans, to Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, '64.
Molt, James L. >
Coventry, R. I.
(( tt
Discharged June, 1862.
MUler, John
Cumberland, "
Aug. 4, 1862.
Trans, to V. R. C, Feb. 15, 1864; mustered
out June 8, 1865.
7
t>td X> a
?0x
Marsh, William W.

May, John
Morse, Andrew
Mathcwson, Elisha
Murin, John
McIjCCS, John
Mulholland, Christopher
Oliver, James
Parmentcr, Winslow B.
Pierce, Richard E.
Page, Barney
Ray, Samuel
Ray, David S.
Ray, Frank P.
Steere, John
Steere, John II.
Shehan, Patrick
Springer, Benjamin O.
Sutherland, Hugh
Taylor, John W.
Taylor, Samuel
Tailman, Peleg G.

Ellington, Mass. Dec. 14, 1861
Ireland, Wareham, Mass.

Coventry, R. I.

Scotland,Ireland,Cumberland, R. I.
Swanzey, Mass.
Canada, Swanzey, Mass.
Wrcntham,Smithtield, It. I.
VVoonsocket, "
Tiverton,Cumberland, "
New York, N. Y.
England,
Providence, R. I.

Aug. 15, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 15, 1802.
Aug. 8, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Sept. 30, 1862.
Sept. 27, 1864.
Dec. 14, 1861. ,

Sept. 15, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 4, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 2, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Corporal; wounded March 17, 1863; rc-eh-
listed Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop C, new
organization, Dec 21, 1864.
Deserted Dec. 25, 1863.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop C,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged June 30, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 12, 1803; exchanged;
deserted April 7, 1864.
Deserted June 22, 1862.
Discharged May 18, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Trans, to Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Trans, to Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, 1804.
In hospital (Jet, 7, 1862.
Deserted Feb. 4, 1863.
Trans, to Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Corporal; Q. M. Sergeant; mustered out
Oct. 5, 1864.
Trumpeter; mustered out Nov. 6, 1864.
Trans, to Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged June 25, 1862.
Taken prisoner Feb. 25, 1863; exchanged;
deserted April 15, 1863.
Transferred to Troop E.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
trans, to Troop 0, new org., Dec. 21, '64.
Re-enlisted.Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop C,
new organization, Dee. 21, 1864.
Discharged Oct. 9, 1862.
Not accounted for on the rolls.

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TROOP C— Continued.

©4-

NAME AND HANK,

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Privates — Continued.

*

-

Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop C,

Tallnian, Benjamin G.

Providence, R. I.

Dec. 14, 1861.

new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Towel, Timothy
it ¦ ,t
"
Deserted.
Talbot, George A.
u <i
Absent without leave.
Taken prisoner Feb. 25, 1863; exchanged;
trans, to Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, 64.
Webb, John S.
Sept. 1, 1862.
X
Wilcox, Tillinghast P.
'
Dec. 14, 1861.
Discharged July 1, 1863.
w
Ward, Thomas
" >
Oct. 9, 1862.
Discharged
>
Williams, Albert N.
, u
Dec. 14, 1861.
Discharged June 10, 1862.
Trans, to Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
DischargeclF^M86^^^ certif.
'A
Winterbottom, James
Smithficld,
Aug. 4, 1862.
O
Waithey, John
Ireland,
Dec. 14, 1861.
GO
TROOP D.
d X
Captains.
Robert C. Anthony,
Providence, R. I.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Major Feb. 21, 1862.
Major June 27, 1862
Resigned Jan. 19, WM.
Transferred from Troop B; wounded June
18 1863- Transferred to Troop L.
John Whipple, Jr.
New York, N. Y.
Feb. 22, 1862.
Charles N. Manchester,
Augustus II. Bixby,
Pawtucket, R. I.
June 2l, 1862.
Willis C. Capron,
Woonsocket, "
Nov. 16, 1863.
Taken prisoner Aug. 20, 1862; trans, from
Troop L- trans, to Troop D, new organi
zation, Dec. 21, 1864.
First Lieutenants.
Willis C. Capron,
Woonsocket, '
Captain Troop L, Aug. 15, 1863.
Frank Allen,
Charles G. A. Peterson,
> Second Lieutenants.
Charles N. Manchester,
Charles A. Sawyer,
First Sergeant.
Charles G. A. Peterson,
Quartsrmaster-Sergeant.
Hebron H. Steere,

James A. Thornton,
Henry T. Cole,
Frederic Woodward,
George W. Harris,
Corporals.
Albert L. Phillips,
Isaac King,
Cornelius Brassbine,
Edward Conley,
Richard Skinner,
Allen R. Paine,
John R. Peterson,
Edgar B. Wood,
Musicians.
Philo S. White,

New Hampshire,
Providence, R. I.

Providence,
N. Providence,R. I,
Warren,
Providence, ' '
Smithfield,
Burrillville,Sutton, Mass.
E. Cambridge,Mass.
Providence, R. I.
Newport,Providence, "

Glocester,

July 15, 1862.

Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 4, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

u ii

Captain Troop G.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
mustered out Dec. 16, 1864.
Captain Troop D, June 12, 1862.
Died Nov. 15, 1863, at Alexandria, Va.
2d Lieutenant Troop G, June 6, 1862.
2d Lieutenant Troop E, Jan. 14, 1863.
2d Lieutenant 3d R. I. Cavalry, Mar. 19, '64.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop D,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Transferred to V. R. O, March 24, 1864.
Quartermaster-Sergeant; trans, to Troop A,
Aug. 1, 1863.
Sergeant; taken prisoner March 17, 1863;
exchanged; mustered out Oct. 15, 1864.
Sergeant; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to
Troop D, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged June 24, 1862.
Sergeant; trans, to V. R. C, Oct. 23, 1863.
Transferred to V. R. C, Oct. 12, 1863.
Died July 20, 1862, of fever.
Taken prisoner Oct. 16, 1863; died April 18,
1864, at Andersonville, Ga.
Sergeant; deserted Jan. 1, 1863.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop D,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.

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©

TEOOP B— Continued.

Or©C5

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Musicians — Continued.

Bbenezer C. Fifield,

Meredith, N. II. '

Dec. 14, 1861.

Mustered out Dec. 14, 1864.

John Gilman,

Germany,

Deserted Dec. 15, 1861.
George H. Flint,
Reading, Mass.
Transferred to Troop F, Dec. 14, 1861.
Farriers.
Lawrence Gibney,
Ireland,
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop D,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
William Gibson,
Winchester, N. H.
Discharged July 12, 1862, on Surg, certif.
Saddler.
Thomas G. Ney,
Richmond, R. I.
Deserted July 8, 1862.
Wagoner.
Loring P. Wilbur,
Lonsdale,
Discharged July 12, 1862, on Surg, certif.
Privates.
Arnold, George
S. Kingstown, "
Discharged May 22, 1862.
Ashworth, George
England,
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
trans, to Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Allen, Charles N.
Providence, "
Aug. 26, 1862.
Taken prisoner Dec. 1, 1863; exchanged;
trans. to.TroopD, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Aldrich, George
Douglas, Mass.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Discharged July 12, 1862.
Arnold, Daniel L.
Discharged Dec. 2, 1861, on Surg, certif.
Butterworth, Addison
Warren, R. I.
i, tt
Discharged June 6, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Bennett, George L.
E. Greenwich, R. I.
Corporal; severely wounded June 18, 1863;
taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
mustered out Oct. 15, 1864.
XxwGO>aGOso
Brownell, Major W.
Ballou, Elias S.
Bryant, Gardner
Barnes, J.
Bennett, William H.
Bullock, Philip M.
Brown, Oscar
Beckton, James C.

Colwell, Edward F.

Cook, Joseph W.
Cantcllo, Stephen

Collins, Gilbert L.
Capwell, Willard T.
Card, William
Cleveland, Henry A.
Dodge, Edward O.
Dowling, William
Doty, Elton P.

Quidneck, R. I.
Woonsocket, "
Providence, "
Fall River, Mass.
Phenix, R. I.

Bethel, Maine,
Fall River, Mass.

Hebronville,

Wrentham,
Bradford,

Warwick, R. I.
Sterling, Conn.
Plainfield, Conn.
Coventry, R. 1.
Eastport, Conn.
Pascoag, R. I.
Wallingford, Vt.

Aug. 19, 1862. ITrans. to Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Dec. 14, 1861. iDischargcd March 14, 1862, on Surg, certif.
Aug. 13, 1862. .Discharged Sept. 16, 1863.
Aug. 11, 1862. JTaken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
mustered out May 15, 1865.
Dec. 14, 1861. Taken prisoner March 17, 1863; exchanged;
mustered out Oct. 10, 1864.
Discharged Dec. 13, 1861.
June 14, 1862.
Aug. 29, 1862. Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
" Dec. 1, 1863; transferred to
Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Dec. 14, 1861. Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
" Dec. 1, " transferred
to Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Aug. 5, 1862. Trans, to Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Dec. 14, 1861. Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-cnlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
D, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; transferred to navy
April 29, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop D,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Aug. 14, 1862. Trans, to Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Dec. 14, 1861. Mustered out Nov. 6, 1664.
" Oct. 15, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop D,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Corporal; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to
Troop D, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.

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-3

TEOOP D— Continued.

o
co

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Privates — Continued.

Dunn, George E.
Durfee, Andrew

Northbridge, Mass.

Dec. 14, 1861.

Discharged.

Fall River,

ft (t

Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;

" " Oct. 12, " transferred
to Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Fish, Delos
Canterbury, ' '
it <t
Trans, to Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Falligan, Patrick
Anthony,
" 15, "
Deserted.
Gougenhorn, John
Germany,
" 14, "
Transferred to Troop A.
Gibney, Charles P.
Ireland,
w ii
Discharged May 28, 1862.
Green, Albert A.
Douglas, Mass.
¦ t,
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; transferred to
Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Garrett, William J.
Ireland,
.i <
Deserted Sept. 13, 1864.
Gorton, George W.
W. Greenwich, R.I.
ii it
Corporal; wounded Juno 18, 1863; re-en-
listedJan. 5,'64; killed in battle July 11,'64.
Gammons, W. H.
Fairhaven, Mass.
" '
Mustered out Oct. 15, 1864.
Healey, Alonzo
Sept. 30, 1862.
Transferred to Troop C.
Hackley, William
Fall River,
Aug. 11, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
trans, to Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, '64.
Hock, Peter
Oct. 7, 1861.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
deserted April 7, 1864.
Hickie, John Jr.
Boston,
Dec. 14, 1861.
Transferred to Troop A.
Hunt, Caleb W.
Valley Falls, R. I.
it ii
ii ii ii
Johnson, James B.
Warwick, "
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; transferred to Troop
D, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
> X M
GO i> oCO ?dc to
Joslin, James A.
fe Jackson, William
* Johnson, Alfred A.
« Jillson, Welcome R.
Kiernan, John
Luther, Marcus M.
Lawton, William II,
Laveran, Peter
Legg, Charles H.
McDonald, Richard
Murrin, Bernard
Miller, George H.
Mitchell, Thomas
Macanney, Patrick
McDermott, Patrick
Millis, Henry
McCoy, Edward
Mulvy, John
Minor, Stephen
Nichols, Frank

Bellingham, Mass.
Pawtucket, R. I.
Warwick, "
Cumberland, "
Montreal, Canada.
S. Douglas, Mass.
Cranston, R. I.
Masonville, R. I.

Franklin, Mass.
Ireland,

N. Bedford, Mass.
Ireland,
Johnston, R. I.

S. Kingstown, R. I.

Aug. 14, 1862.
Aug. 23, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 14, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 11, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Oct. 9, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Sept. 23, 1862.
Oct. 10, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Feb. — , 1862.
Sept. 26, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 19, 1862.
July 27, 1864.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 29, 1862.

Dec. 14, 1861.

Saddler; prisoner June 18, '63; exchanged.
trans, to Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, '64;
Claimed as deserter by commanding officer
of 1st Massachusetts Cavalry.
Discharged May 6, 1862.
Trans, to Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Corporal; wounded March 17, 1863; died of
wounds March 27, 1863.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Taken' prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
mustered out Oct. 15, 1864.
Died Jan. 9, 1863, at Falmouth, Va.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop D,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
trans, to Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Wounded March 17, 1863; discharged Nov.
6, 1863, on Surgeon's certificate'.
Sergeant; mustered out Oct. 8, 1864.
Transferred to V. R. C, March 24, 1864.
Corporal; wounded Sept. 14, 1863; trans, to
Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged April 8, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Transferred to navy April 25, 1864.
Trans, to Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Killed in battle Aug. 9, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
Oct. 12, 1863; died June,
1864, at Andersonville, Ga.
Discharged May 8, 1862.

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t-l X

©

TEOOP D— Continued.

r— •
©

NAME AND RANK.

Privates — Continued.
Nield, Samuel
Newell, Henry C.
O'Brien, William
Phillips, Reuben A.

Palmer, William H. H.
Parker, Alvin C.
Pette, David
Potter, Harris 0.
Parker, Luther
Pierce, Horace H.

Palmer, Alfred P.

Plympton, Warren H.
Perry, Sylvester
Ropes, William B.
Reynolds, George T.

RESIDENCE.

Crompton, R. I.
Cumberland, "
Milford, Mass.
N. Kingstown, R. I

Hopkinton, '
Foster,Coventry, '
Dover, N. H.
Mendon, Mass.

N. Baltimore, N.Y.

Medfield, Mass.
Michigan,New York, N. Y.
Providence, R. I.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

Sept. 4, 1862.
Feb. 26, 1862.
Aug. 14, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 9, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Oct. 10, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Sept. 6, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

REMARKS.

Discharged Nov. 30, 1862.
1 1
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Corporal; Sergeant; taken prisoner June 18,
1863; exchanged; discharged April 12,
1864, on Surgeon's certificate.
Discharged Oct. 17, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Deserted Jan. 1, 1863.
Died Dec. 24, 1863, in hospital.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop D,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Corporal; taken prisoner June 18, 1863; ex
changed; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans
ferred to Troop D. new organization, Dec.
21, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
D, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Mustered out Dec. 2, 1864.
Discharged Feb. 28, 1862, on Surg, certif.
Trans, to llth N. Y. Battery Jan. 1, 1863.
Corporal; taken prisoner June 18, 1863; died
July 7, 1863, in Libby Prison.

CO '<"03SOW GO >

?0ato

Riches, Algernon S.
Rutherford, John
Ranklin-, John
Sweet, Marcus W.
Smith, Albert A.
Slocum, John F.
Stewart, William
Smith, Edward H.
Shaw, William
Sunderland, William H.
Shurd, Joseph
Snow, George
Swindley, John
Stearns, George W.
Stephens, E. J.
Seymour, Joseph
Steere, James M.

England,Scotland,Smithfield, R. I.
Cumberland, Wickford,
Middletown, Va.
Worcester, Mass.
England, River Point, R. I.
Fall River, Mass.
E. Douglas, "

Woonsocket, R. I.
Burrillville, "

Sept. 30, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 6, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Sept. 25, 1864.
Aug. 7, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 11, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Sept. 30, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Oct. 1, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Feb. 17, 1862.

Taken prisoner March 17, 1863; exchanged;
trans, to V. R. O, Nov. 20, 1863.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; taken pris. Sept.
28, 1864; transferred to Troop D, new
organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop D,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner Oct. 16. 1863; died June 23,
1864, at Andersonville, Ga.
Transferred to V. R. C, March 31, 1864;
mustered out Aug. 5, 1865.
Corporal; discharged Aug. 20, 1863, on Sur
geon's certificate.
Trans, to Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Trans, to Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop D,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop D,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Died Oct. 9, 1862, at Pooleville, Md.
Wounded March 17, 1863; re-enlisted Jan. 5,
1864; transferred to Troop D, new organi
zation, Dec. 21, 1864.
Wounded March 17, 1863; transferred to V,
R. C, Sept. 1, 1863.
Wounded and missing June 18, 1863; mus
tered out Nov. 23, 1864.
Deserted Oct. 19, 1862.
Discharged.Discharged Feb. 15, 1863, on Surg, certif.

soGoHSOWO
ow

[-1>aa>t-1XK.

TEOOP D— Continued.

NAME AND RANK.

Privates — Co n United.
Thornton, Charles D.
Taylor, George
Towne, Allen W.

Tucker, William A.
Wellman, William A.
Wilcox, Lyman Jr.
Whitman, Harley P.
Whitehead, George
Warfield, George B.
Wilcox, Samuel
Wilcox, Henry B.

RESIDENCE.

Warren, R. I.
Union, Conn.

Smithfield, It. I.
Attleboro, Mass.
Cumberland, R. I.
Foster,Fall River, Mass.
Northbridge, "
Bellingham, "
Richmond, R. I.

date
of muster.

Dec. 14, 1861.
Oct. 6, 1862.
Dec. 19, 1861

Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 6, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 11, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 14, 1862.
July, 29, 1862,

TEOOP E.

Captains.
Preston M. Farrington,
Allen Baker, Jr.
First Lieutenants.
Charles S. Treat,
Edward E. Chace,
Charles C. Leonard,

Providence, R. I.

March 3, 1862.
July 15, 1862.
Dec. 16, 1861.
Aug. 4, 1862.
March 1, 1863.

REMARKS.

Discharged May 14, 1862.
Deserted Dec. 23, 1862.
Taken prisoner March 17, 1803; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
D, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Transferred to Troop A.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
mustered out Nov. 5, 1864.
Trans, to Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged Dec. 17, 1861.
Deserted Oct. 10, 1863.
Discharged June 27, 1862.
Killed in battle June 17, 1863.
Trans, to Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, 1364.

Major July 11, 1862.
Wounded March 17, 1863; trans, to Troop
B, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Adjutant Aug. 4, 1862.
Captain Troop H, Feb. 14, 1863.
Dismissed the service Aug. 3, 1863.

F— •

GO i>tdSO
GOi> oGOSOGO

Second Lieutenants.
Leonard B. Pratt,
George H. Rhodes,
Ruf us Higgins,
Lothrop B. Shurtliff,
Hebron II. Steere,
First Sergeant.
Edward P. Abbott,
Quartermaster-Sergeants.
Charles E. Ellison,
Samuel P. Mason,
Sergeants.
Joseph H. Otis,
Edward M. Brown,
Milton Minor,
William L. Smith,
Corporals.
John C. Brown,
Leverett C. Stephens,
Henry F. Steere,
Ansoleum Walker,

Samuel P. Eldridge,
Ray G. Gorton,

Providence, It. I.

Manchester, N. II.
Roxbury, Mass.

Providence, R. 1/
Willimantic, Conn.
New Haven, "
Warwick, R. I.

Providence, R. I.
N. Provrdence,R. I.
Roxbury, Mass.
Providence, It. I.
Warwick,

March 3, 1862.
July 5, 1862.
Jan. 26, 1863.
March 3, 1862.

Quartermaster 1st Batt. ; trans, to Troop A.
1st Lieutenant Troop L, July 19, 1862.
1st Lieutenant Troop H, Aug. 6, 1862.
1st Lieutenant Troop A.
Trans, to Troop B, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1868; exchanged;
2d Lieut. Troop I, July 16, 1863.
Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant.
Discharged. Discharged April, 1862.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop B,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged March 12, 1862.
June 13, "
Discharged Sept. 17, 1862, on Surg, certif.
Taken prisoner Oct. 12, 1863; transferred to
Troop B, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop B,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Sergeant; taken prisoner June 18, 1863; ex
changed; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans.
to Troop B, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Re-enlisted Feb. 27, 1864; trans, to Troop
B, new organization, Dec 21, 1864.
Re-enlisted Feb. 6, 1864; trans, to Troop B,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.

so
GOHSOaoa

aa<>fa*SOk!

TROOP E— Continued.

NAME AND RANK.

Corporals — Continued,.
Thomas J. Tasker,
Frank 11. Sprague,
Musicians.
Edward II. Kimball,
Herman P. Kingman,
/farrier.
John Harrington, Wagoner.
George L. Wilcox,
Privates.
Atwood, Leonard
Barrows, Rolindo V.
Baker, Obid P.
Connuins, James
Crowell, Joseph
Cassada, William

RESIDENCE.

Providence, R. I.
Lynn, Mass.
Pelham, "
Boston, "
Providence, R. I.
Taunton, Muss.
Johnston, It. I.
Ireland,Providence, It. I.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

March 3, 1862.

Oct. 29, 1862.
March 3, 1862
Sept. 29, 1862.
March 3, 1862.

REMARKS

Sergeant; transferred to Troop B, new org.,
Dec. 21, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop B,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop B,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged April 5, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Re-enlistcd Jan. 5, 1804; trans, to Troop B,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Died April 28, 1862.
Taken prisoner Feb. 1, 1864; transferred to
Troop B, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Corporal; Sergeant; taken prisoner Oct. 12,
1803; died Mar. 15, 1864, of typhoid fever.
Discharged Feb. 20, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop B,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop B,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged May 3, 1862.

in >¦toso

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^3CISO
GO

Card, William
Childs, Alfred S.
Cusick, Morris
Clarke, Thomas C.

Carpenter, Patrick
Creed, Philip
Conway, James
Davaul, Albert A.
Donato, Saluator
Dooly, Thomas H.
Doherty, Andrew

Doland, Franklin
Dyer, George P.
Farrell, Martin

Fales, James M.
Fletcher, John

Foster, Horatio
Grayson, Thomas
Grady, Michael

N. Shoreham, R. I
New Haven, Conn
Providence, R. I.
Boston, Mass.

Providence, R. I.
Scituate,Fall River, Mass.
Providence, R. I.

Hope Village, "
Providence, "

Warren,
S. Providence, R. I.

Providence,Fall River, Mass.

March 3, 1862.

Aug. 11, 1862.
March 3, 1862.

Aug. 5, "
March 3, 1862.

Dec. 30, 1862.

Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, tf) Troop B,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Regimental Sergeant-Major.
Discharged Jan. 6, 1862, on Surg, certif.
Transferred from Troop C; re-enlisted Jan.
5, 1864; trans, to Troop B, new organiza
tion, Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner Oct. 12, 1863; transferred to
Troop B, now organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 9, 1862; transferred to
V. R. O, April 19, 1864.
Discharged April 25, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Discharged May 7, 1862.
Deserted Jan. 26, 1863.
Trans, to Troop B, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
B, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Discharged Nov. 13, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop B,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Sergeant; 2d Lieut. Troop F, Aug. 15, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop B,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Died May 23, 1862, at Warrenton Junction.
Discharged June 21, 1862.
Deserted Jan. 21, 1863.

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TEOOP E— Continued.

O!fa-<3>

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Privates — Coutin tied.

Gardner, Joseph W.

Johnston, R. I.

March 3, 1862.

Killed in battle March 17, 1863.

Gorton, Edwin

E. Greenwich, R. I.

n i<

Discharged.

Gardner, E. Pendleton

Johnston, "

March 9, 1862.

Re-enlisted March 14, 1864; Corporal; taken
prisoner July 5, 1864; trans, to Troop B,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.

Greene, Henry

March 3, 1862.
Died May 22, 1862.
Hall, Chandler
Uxbridge, Mass.
" "
Discharged May 22, 1862.
Harvey, Stephen D.
N. Providence,R. I.
it ii
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Hamilton, George
ii I.
Deserted.
Hamilton, Thomas
Coventry, R. I.
it ii
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Hayward, George W.
Halifax, Mass.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop B,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Hope, George H.
Providence, R. I.
Trans, to V. R. C, Nov. 15, 1863; mustered
out Dec. 12, 1865.
Hurdis, Adam
Johnston,
Sergeant; taken prisoner June 18, 1863; ex
changed; re-enlisted March 14, 1864; trans.
to Troop B, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Hunt, Henry
N. Providence, R.I.
n n
Corporal; mustered out Dec. 11, 1864.
Jones, Henry
ii it
Deserted.
Jackson, Thomas
E. Greenwich, "
n n
Transferred to Troop H.
Kenyon, Charles L.
Westerly, "
n n
Died April 21, 1862, at Warrenton Junction.
Kimball, Lewis
Coventry, R. I.
a ii
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop B,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Kenney, Martin
i. n
Deserted.
i>toso GO e GO?0CjSOGO
Kempton, George A.

it.

Kavanaugh, John
Linn, Terrence
Lacoste, Auguste
Looby, Michael
Leary, Timothy
Mulholland, Hugh

Mullen, John
McGrath, Richard 2d,
Mathewson, William A. L,
Maine, Charles H.
Maguire, James
McDermott, John
Marshall, Charles J.
McDonald, John
Mee, Peter
McGrath, Peter 1st,
Murphy, Jeremiah

Uxhridge, Mass.
Northbridge, "
Ireland,New York, N. Y.
Providence, R. I.
Valley Falls, "
Patchogue, N. Y.
N. Providence, R.I.
Pawtucket, S. Providence, R. I.
Providence, "
Dover, Mass.
Providence, R. I.
Pawtucket, "
Providence, "

March 3, 1862.

March 8, 1862.
3, 1862.
Oct. 10, 1862.
Sept. 22, 1862.
March 3, 1862.
March 12, 1862.

March 3, 1862.

u u

Corporal; taken prisoner June 18; 1863; ex
changed; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans.
to Troop B, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner Oct. 12, 1863; transferred to
Troop B, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Deserted July 23, 1863.
Trans, to Troop B, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Corporal; taken prisoner Aug. 28, 1862; ex
changed; deserted Feb. 20, 1863.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted March 14, 1864; transferred to
Troop B, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Deserted Jan. 1, 1862.
Deserted March 12, 1862.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop B,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner Feb. 1, 1864; transferred to
Troop B, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged April 21, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Transferred to V. R. C, Dec. 31, 1863; mus
tered out March 2, 1865.
Discharged.
Deserted. Discharged on Surgeon's certificate.
Died while on sick furlough, Pawtucket, R.I.
Corporal; taken prisoner Jan. 8, 1863; ex
changed; taken prisoner June 18, 1863;
exchanged; transferred to Troop B, new
organization, Dec. 21, 1864.

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-3

TEOOP E— Continued.

Orr- 1

NAME AND RANK.

Privates — Continued.
Page, George H.
Pelle, Geatend
Pitnee, Francois
Pearce, David S.
Pease, Aurelius G.
Rice, Jeremiah
Remington, William H.

Roberts, Ephraim,
Robinson, Oliver
Smith, Cyrus
Shaw, William S.
Stone, George F.

Springer, Benjamin O.
Stebbins, Henry
Stone, Charles E.
Stevens, Leverett C.

RESIDENCE.

New York, N. Y.

Newport, R. I.
Worcester, Mass.
Providence, R. I.
W.Greenwich, R. I.

New York, N. Y.
Johnston, R. I.
Barre, Mass.

Tiverton, R. I.
Bangor, Maine
Barre, Mass.
Providence, R. I.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

March 3, 1862.
Dec. 4, 1862.
March 3, 1862.
Sept. 18, 1862.
March 3, 1862.

July 3,
Mar. 3,

Jan. 13, 1863.
March 3, 1862.
Sept. 18, 1862.

REMARKS.

Deserted April 30, 1862.
Deserted from hospital, Washington, D. C.
Deserted March 28, 1863.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Deserted June 25, 1863.
Discharged June 21, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Feb. 6, 1864; trans, to Troop
B, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Deserted Dec. 4,, 1863.
Deserted Sept. 6, 1863.
Died Jan. .15, 1862, of brain fever.
Discharged June 21, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
B, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged March 27, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Transferred from 2d R. I. Cav., Nov. 13,
1863; deserted April 7, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; Sergeant; trans, to
Troop B, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
taken pris. Oct. 12, 1863; trans, to Troop
B, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.

>w X

i> am"Ja soGO

Scouler, Emmet R.

Blackstonc, Mass.

Mar. 3, 1862.

Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop B,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.

Solatti, Antoine

New York, N. Y.

Sept. 29, 1862.

Deserted June 4, 1863.

Travers, Patrick 2d,

Wrentham, Mass.

Mar: 3, "

Transferred to V. R. C, Jan. 15, 1864.

Tiore, Francis

Dec. 4, "

Not accounted for on the rolls.

Tolman, William F.

Mar. 3, "

Deserted.

Travers, Frank

(( U

Died Aug 9, 1862, from wounds received
in battle.

Willard, Hubbell H.

Worcester, "

Sept. 18, 1862.

Trans, to Troop B, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.

TEOOP P.

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r— '
«5

Captain.
John Rogers,
First Lieutenants.
Richard Waterman,
Richard J. Burgess,
Samuel C. Willis,
Second Lieutenants.
Joshua Vose,
James M. Fales,
First Sergeant.
William Gardiner,
Quartermaster-Sergeant.
Charles C. Leonard,
Sergeants.
John F. May,
George A. Earle,

Newport, R. I.
Providence, R. I.
Oxford, Mass.
Westerly, R. I.
Warren, R. I.
Pawtucket, R. I.

E. Greenwich,
Pawtucket,

Dec. 14, 1861.

Dec. 22, 1862.
Nov. 1, 1864.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 15, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Trans, to Troop A, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Resigned Dec. 5, 1862.
Mustered out Oct. 15, 1864.
Trans, to Troop A, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
1st Lieutenant Troop H, June 12, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; transferred to
Troop A, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop A,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
2d Lieutenant Troop B, July 15, 1862.
Deserted June 20, 1862.
Wounded May 1, 1863; taken prisoner; ex
changed; trans, to V. R. C, Oct. 4, 1863.

TEOOP F— Continued.

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Sergeants — Continued.

F. E. Nicholas,
Pawtucket, R. L
Dec. 14, 1861.
Deserted.
Rufus Higgins,
Warren, "
i( a
2d Lieutenant Troop F, July 15, 1862.
William H. Tallman,
Tiverton, "
a if
Trans, from Troop A; re-enlisted Jan. 5, '64;
Corporals.
trans, to Troop A, new org., Dec. 21, '64.
Nehemiah Steere,
Glocester, ' '
"
Sergeant; trans, to V. R. C, Feb. 15, 1864.
Edwin M. Wilson,
it n
a a
July 31, "
Benjamin F. Straight,
C. H. Jencks,
N. Kingstown,"
Valley Falls, "
1 1 ti
Disch. Sept. 27, 1862, on Surg, certificate.
Q. M. Sergeant; discharged Nov. 19, 1862.
ft a
William Foster,
New Bedford, Mass.
a tt
Disch. July 18, 1862, on Surg, certificate.
Charles W. Bowen,
Providence, R. I.
a it
Trans, to Troop A, new org. /Dec. 21, 1864.
Andrew G. Lorimer,
it t(
i ( le
Sergeant; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; 1st Lieut.
Troop A, Nov. 29, 1864.
Alonzo Smith,
" "
it it
Farrier; disch. Mar. 26, '63, on Surg, certif.
Musicians.
George H. Flint,
Reading, Mass.
it a
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop A,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Daniel F. Hackett,
Boston, Mass.
(1 <<
Saddler; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to
Farriers.
Troop A, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
M. S. Greene,
Westerly, R. I.
te it
Battalion Veterinary Sergeant May 1, 1862.
William F. Peck,
Jan.* 16, 1862.
Wounded Sept. 5. 1862; trans, to Troop A.
Saddler.
George H. Evileith,
Dorchester, Mass.
Dec. 17, 1861.
Discharged Dec. 5, 1862.
SOO
GO a
so GO> a GO dSO
Wagoner.
R. J. Lillibridge,
it> Privates.
* Amnan, William
Adlington, Henry F.
Allen, George W.
Avery, Stephen
Abbott, Allen G.
Avery, Eleazer
Brewer, James
Burton, Thomas
Bowditch, Isaac
Bollman, George
Bennett, George B.

Bennett, James

Bacon, William M.
Brannon, Thomas
Bowen, Charles W.

Baker, William G.

Exeter, It. I.
Pawtucket, It. I,
Providence, "
Middletown, "
Mancbaug, Mass.
Canada, Mancbaug, Mass.
Quidnick, R. I.
Newport, R. I.
Canada, E. Greenwich, It.
England,

Providence, It. I.
Greenwich, '
Providence, "

Dec. 14, 1861.

Dec. 8, 1862.
Jan. 23, 1863.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Dec. 15, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
March 1, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
July 3, 1863.
Jan. 23, 1863.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Sept. 1, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Dec. 27, 1862.

Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
mustered out Oct. 26, 1864.
Disch. July 11, 1862, on Surg, certificate.
Wounded March 17, 1863; discharged June
2, 1863, on Surgeon's certificate.
Taken pris. Feb. 25, 1863; paroled; deserted.
Disch. Sept. 25, 1862, on Surg, certificate.
Taken pris. Mar. 17, 1863; paroled; deserted.
Disch. Feb. 13, 1863, on Surg, certificate.
" June 16, 1862,
Corp. ; killed June 18, 1863, in battle near
Middleburg, Va.
Taken prisoner Oct. 12, 1863; died Jan. 7,
1864, at Andersonville, Ga.
Deserted May 28, 1863.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; Corp.; trans, to
Troop A, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
A, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Taken pris. Feb. 25, 1863; paroled; deserted.
Corp. ; wounded at Luray, Va. ; taken pris
oner June 18, '63; exchanged; re-enlisted
Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop A, new org.,
Dec. 21, 1864.
Transferred to V. R. C, March 31, 1864;
mustered out Aug. 16, 1865.

So i.
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TEOOP F— Continued.

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

Privates — Continued.
Burke, John
Barrus, Albert
Clarke, Henry
Crane, Morris

Coughlan, Patrick
Copeland, Hiram W.
Durdeen, Robert

Dodge, Jasper L.
Edwards, John H.
Farrell, James
Falker, George
Falk, Hugo
Felker, George
Greene, Hiram

Providence, R. I.
Bristol, Oruble, N. Y.
N. Providence, R. I.

E. Greenwich, R. I,
Easton, Mass.
Warwick, R. I.

N. Shoreham, R. I.
W. Greenwich, R.I.
Providence, ' '

Westerly,

Dec. 14, 1861.

Sept. 1, 1862.
Oct. 10, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Oct. 27, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Discharged Nov. 30, 1862.
Disch. Jan. 26, 1863, on Surg, certificate.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop A,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Corporal; taken prisoner June 18, 1863; ex
changed; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans
ferred to Troop A, new organization, Dec.
21, 1864.
Taken prisoner March 17, 1863; transferred
to Troop A, new org'n, Dec. 21, 1864.
Trans, to Troop A, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner Aug. 9, 1862; exchanged;
taken prisoner Oct. 12, 1863; died Aug. 5,
1864, at Andersonville, Ga.
Corporal; taken prisoner Feb. 25, 1863; pa
roled; deserted.
Discharged on Surgeon's certificate.
Disch. Dec. 23, 1862, on Surg, certificate.
Trans, from Troop A Sept. 1, 1863; wounded
Sept. 14, 1863; deserted June 14, 1864.
Deserted Oct. 27, 1862.
Wounded Sept. 14, '63; not accounted for
on rolls.
Not accounted for on the rolls.

03Sd

a

?oa so
CO

Grimley, James Jr.

Hudson, Stephen
Henrys, Thomas
Harris, Thomas A.
Harrington, B. J. Jr.
Hammel, John
Hughes, Patrick
Harrington, Amos
Hughes, Thomas
Harding, Jacob
Healcy, James S.
Haskins, John
Hiscox, Benjamin F.
Ide, George W.
Kay, William R.
Kiernan, John
Knight, Jeremiah
Leach, L. D.

Providence,

Johnston, it 11
Canada, Coventry, R. I.
Providence, R. I.
Pawtucket, R. I.
Warwick, "
Johnston, "
Providence, ' '
Greenwich, "
Providence, "
Warren, Scituate, "
Westerly,Providence, "
Johnston, "
Quidnick,

Dec. 14, 1861.

July 2, 1863.
Dec. 15, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 26, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 15, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
March 4, 1862.

Dec. 14, 1861.

ii d

Taken prisoner Sept. 15, 1862; exchanged;
taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
A, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Mustered out Oct. 26, 1864.
Taken prisoner Oct. 12, 1863; died June
1864, at Andersonville, Ga.
Sergeant; trans, to TroopU, Sept. 1, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop A,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner Sept. 15, 1862; exchanged;
killed in battle June 9, 1863.
Killed in battle June 9, 1863, near Stevens-
burg, Va.
Disch. Dec. 22, 1862, on Surg, certificate.
Trans, to Troop A, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Taken pris. Feb. 25, 1863; paroled; deserted.
Discharged April 21, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Taken prisoner April 29, 1863; exchanged;
taken prisoner Aug. 25, 1864; trans, to
Troop A, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Trans, to Troop A, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Transferred to Troop A; bugler.
Killed Aug. 9, 1862, battle of Cedar Mount
ain, Va.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; mustered out
Oct. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner Oct. 12, 1863; died June '64,
at Andersonville, Ga.

Sos
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oatef

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< >a
so

TEOOP F— Continued.

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Privates — Contiu tied.

Lavin, John
Westerly, R. I.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Discharged Dec. 5, 1862.
Lewis, Francis E.
Valley Falls, R. I.
11 11
Sept. 1, "
Luther, James C.
Johnston, ' '
Wagoner; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to
Troop A, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Lowther, Henry
Warwick, "
Dec. 31, 1861.
Deserted July 20, 1862.
Mullen, John
Pascoug, N. Y.
Dec. 16, 1861
Not accounted for on the rolls.
McMillan, William
Warwick, R. I.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Discharged June 13, 1862, on Surg, certif.
Mathewson, David A.
S. Scituate, R. I.
ii ii
Corporal; taken prisoner June 18, 1863; ex
changed; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to
Troop A, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Madison, Russell
Moosup, Conn,
n u
Discharged for disability.
Deserted.
Mitchell, James A.
N. Shoreham, R. I.
u
Nason, Charles H.
Arctic, "
n
Discharged Jan. 17, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Newell, George F.
Glocester, '
Taken prisoner June 20, 1864; transferred
to Troop A, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
O'Shea, Morris F.
Milford, Mass.
Aug. 11, 1862.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Parkinson, Benoni
Warwick, R. I.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Corporal; taken prisoner Sept. 15, 1862;
transferred tq V. R. C, Oct. 12, 1863.
Potter, George D.
Cranston, R. I.
Taken prisoner April 29, 1863; exchanged;
taken prisoner Oct. 12, 1863; transferred
to Troop A, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Peck, Thomas H.
Providence, R. I.
Corp.; wounded Sept. 14, 1863; discharged
Dec. 30, 1863, on Surgeon's certificate.
Prescott, John H.
Wheelock, Vt.
ii ii
Discharged Feb. 28, 1863, on Surg, certif.
GO i>
>A,aGO>0 cSo
Pearce, George L.
Phillips, Job
Perry, Edwin R.
Pitcher, Joseph W.
Peck, William
Rheind, Gustav
Rogers, Benjamin H.
Riley, Lawrence,
Sherman, Abel G.
Straight, Joseph
Stone, Richard
Smith, Henry
Sutton, Edward B.
Spencer, Jasper
Tebo, John

Taylor, William
Turner, Ezekiel T.
Tillman, Herman
Turner, Patrick
Tarney, Patrick
Wescott, Isaac

Wells, William

E. Attleboro, Mass.
Providence, R. I.
Valley Falls, "
Cranston, "
Providence, "
Middletown, "
E. Greenwich, R. I.
S. Kingstown, "
E. Greenwich, "
Providence, "
Boston, Mass.
Seekonk, Mass.
E. Greenwich, R. I.
Manchaug, Mass.

E. Greenwich, R. I.
Johnston, Prussia,
Johnston, R. I.

New York, N. Y. Jan. 9, 1863.

Dec. 14, 1861.

Jan. 16, 1862.
Oct. 7, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 30, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Sept. 1, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Dec. 24, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 29, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
July 2, 1863.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Discharged April 1, 1862, on Surg, certif.
Mustered out Dec. 2, 1864.
Discharged March 9, 1 862, on Surg, certif.
" 12, "
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Deserted Oct. 27, 1862.
Trans, from Bat. F, 1st R. I. L. A. ; wounded
Oct. 14, 1863; mustered out Oct. 10, 1864.
Deserted from hospital.
Trans, to Troop A, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, §863; exchanged;
trans, to Troop A, new org., Dec. 21, '64.
Discharged March 1, 1864, on Surg, certif.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Discharged June 14, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Corporal; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to
Troop A, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Bugler; taken prisoner June 17, 1863; ex
changed; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to
Troop A, new organization, Dec.,21, 1864.
Trans, to Troop A, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop A,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Deserted April 7, 1864.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Trans, to Troop A, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Pris. April 29, '63; exch.; wounded Sept. 1,
'63; re-enlist. Jan. 5, '64; pris. Aug. 17, '64;
trans, to Troop A, new org. , Dec. 21, 1864.
Deserted July 1, 1863.

fajM
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so

TEOOP G.

iS3

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Captains.
J. B. Wood,
Joseph J. Gould,
Frank Allen,

Newport, R. I.
11 11
New Hampshire,

Dec. 14, 1861.
a ti
Jan. 1, 1863.

Resigned May 22, 1862.
Trans, to Troop A; trans, to Troop I, Jan.
1, 1863; trans, from Troop I; resigned
Aug. 27, 1864.
Transferred to Troop I.

First Lieutenants.

George N. Bliss,
Charles G. A. Peterson,
Frank Allen,
Edwin Vaughan,
Bernard Ellis,
Joseph W. Dewey,

Providence, It.- 1.
11 ii
New Hampshire,
ii in
Hanover, N. H.

July 15, 1862.
Jan. 1, 1863.
March 1, 1864.
Nov. 1, "

Captain Troop C, Aug. 4, 1862.
Transferred to Troop D.
Transferred to Troop D.
Resigned April 8, 1864.
Trans, from Troop C, Aug. 29, 1864; mus
tered out Oct. 15, 1864. ,
Trans, to Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.

Second Lieutenants.

William B. Dennis,
Otis C. Wyatt,
Simeon A. Brown,
First Sergeant.
Joseph A. Rhodes,
Providence, R. I.
New Hampshire,
Massachusetts,
Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 4, 1862.
Jan. 14, 1863.
Resigned May 23, 1862.
1st Lieutenant Troop H, Jan. 1, 1863.
Wounded June 18, 1863; honorably dis
charged Nov. 2, 1863.
Warwick, R. I.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Disch. to accept commission Sept. 1, 1863.
Quartermaster-Sergeant.
Matthew Verne,
Springfield, Mass.
it n
Deserted Jan. 3, 1862.
i>63SOCO >aGOa SO
Edward C. Martin,

Charles B. Delanah,
Morris Jones,
Jeremiah Fitzgerald,
Corporals.
Pliny S. May,
Seth G. Hodges,
Charles R. Cross,

Daniel S. Cook,

Rowland N. Garrett,
George A. Brock,
Edwin B. Franklin,
Thomas C. Doherty,

Sylvester Chace,
Vernon Long, Fa/rriers.
Joseph Peck,
Patrick Collins,

Baden, Germany,

Utica, N. Y.
Berlin, Prussia,
Ireland,

Worcester, Mass.
Boston,Chesterfield, N. H.

Suffolk Co., Mass.
Kent Co., R. I.
Suffolk Co., Mass.
Pawtucket, R. I.
Bangor, Maine,
Douglas, Mass.
Boston, "
Swanzey, "
Ireland,

Dec. 14, 1861.

" 15, "
" 14, "

Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
A, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner Oct. 13; 1863; died April 19,
1864, at Andersonville, Ga.
Deserted. Killed in battle Kelly's Ford, March 17, '63.
Discharged Dec. 19, 1862, on Surg, certif.
Transferred to V. R. C, April 10, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
A, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
A, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged July 31, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Transferred to Troop H, July 1, 1862.
Deserted.Mustered out Dec. 4, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop A,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Mustered out Dec. 15, 1864.

Died at Washington, D. C.
Not accounted for on the rolls.

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TEOOP G— Continued.

NAME AND RANK.

Saddlers.
Daniel Dugan,
John Durgin,

Patrick Sullivan, Privates.
Adams, Henry C.
Avery, James P.
Brown, William
Blake, Edmund R.
Brown, John
Bidmead, John B.

Barbour, William M.
Battey, Edwin H.
Bates, Leander H.
Butman, Warren

RESIDENCE.

Providence, R. I.
Ireland, Milton, Mass.
Woonsocket, R I.
Ireland,Danville, N. H.
Ireland,
Providence, R. I.

New London, Conn.
Scituate, R. I.
Providence, R. I.
Franklin, Mass.

DATE
OF MUSTER.'

Dec. 14, 1861.
(( ti
March 1, 1862.
Aug. 8, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 8, 1862.

REMARKS.

Not accounted for on the rolls.

Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop .A,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Sergeant; transferred to Troop A, new org.,
Dec. 21, 1864.
Dismissed from W. Philadelphia, Hospital,
Aug. 10, '63; trans, to R. I. Jan. 18, 1864.
Died March 26, 1862.
Trans, from Troop M, March 1, 1863 ;i re-en
listed Jan. 5, 1864; transferred to Troop
A, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop A,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
Oct. 12,1863; died June 13,
1864, at Andersonville, Ga.
Discharged July 16, 1862.
Mustered out Dec. 6, 1864.
Discharged March 19, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
trans, to Troop A, new org., Dec. 21, '64.

x sotoGO > a GO?0-aso

Coburn, Frank'
t Case, William
Comstock, Walter
Crossen, James
Curtis, James
Conlin, James
Conlin, John
Coyle, Jerome
Cook, Salma
Doyle, Patrick
Doherty, John
Denvin, Martin
Dalwigh, George B. Von
Doherty, William F.
Dana, William
Emerson, Nathaniel S.
Farnham, John
Farnham, Michael
French, Henry C.

Providence, R. I.
Cranston, "
Woonsocket, ' '
Ireland,Trenton, N. J.
England, Ireland,
Taunton, Mass.
Cumberland, R. I.
Ireland,
Aroostook, Me.
Norfolk, Va.
Prussia,Levant, Me.
Wilbraham, Mass.
Worcester, "
Ireland,
Taunton, Mass.

Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 5, 1862.

Dec. 14, 1861.

Dec. 15, 1861.
March 1, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

June 27, 1863.
Feb. 10, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
A, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan 5, 1864; transferred to navy
April 28, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
" Oct. 12, " transferred
to Troop A, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
mustered out Nov. 28, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jau. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop A,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner Feb. 25, 1863; exchanged;
mustered out Nov. 28, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
died Sept. 7, '63, in hos'l at Annapolis, Md.
Deserted Jan. 15, 1862.
Discharged March 4, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop A,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Transferred to V. R. O, Aug. 15, 1863.
Discharged June 1, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Trans, to Troop A, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Corporal; Sergeant; taken pris. Feb. 25, '63;
trans, to Troop A, new org., Dec. 21, '64.
Deserted Jan. 10, 1862.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Discharged Jan.' 15, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Deserted. Sick in hospital June 30, 1865.

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T E 0 0 P G— Continued.

o

NAME AND RANK.

Privates — Continued.
Feeley, Thomas
Fish, Rufus
Guhl, Carl
Goulding, Edwin
Gladis, Adelbert Von
Guild, Emmons D.
Gardens, Joseph
Grumley, James
Greene, Samuel N.
Hall, David B.
Hall, Calvin
Helmrich, Louis Von
Hoxie, John
Hook, Anson Von
Harrigan, Peter
Hartley, Richard
Hilchley, Charles B.

RESIDENCE.

Ireland,Bristol, R. I.
Boston, Mass.
Providence, R. I.
Prussia,
Wrentham, Mass.
Prussia,Providence, R. I.
Warwick, "
Raynham, M^ss.

Prussia, Greenwich, R. I.
Prussia,Providence, R. I.
Fairfax Co., Conn.
Nova Scotia,

date
of muster.

Dec. 14, 1861.
June 25, 1863.
Dec. 14, 1861.
June 27, 1863.
Dec. 14, 1861.
June 27, 1863.
Aug. 14, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Sept. 18, 1862.
K (C
June 27, 1863.
Dec. 14, 1861.
June 27, 1863.
Feb. 17, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Sept. 24, 1862.

Deserted Jan. 1, 1862.
Discharged Feb. , 1862.
Transferred to Battery C, Rhode Island
Light Artillery, Sept. 3, 1863.
Deserted Jan. 3, 1862.
Wounded Sept. 14, 1863; in hospital April
13, 1864; not accounted for on the rolls.
Sergeant; taken prisoner Oct. 12, '63; trans.
to Troop C, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Deserted July 17, 1863.
Trans, to Troop A, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Trans, to Troop A, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
trans, to Troop A, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner Oct. 12, 1863; transferred to
Troop A, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Taken prisoner Oct. 12, 1863; died Aug. 27,
1864, at Andersonville, Ga.
Transferred to V. R. C.
Deserted Jan. 3, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 12, 1863; exchanged;
taken prisoner Oct. 12, 1863.

GO i>aso wCO i> a

Hall, John A.
Ide, Munroe W.
Jacques, George H.
Jordan, Henry P.
Luther, Samuel 0.
Lange, Louis
Lapham, George B.
Lyon, John
Mullin, Patrick

Mullin, Michael
Medbury, John A.
Murphy, Patrick
McElroy, John
Nevins, John
Peck, Whipple
Perry, Theodore A.
Parker, Patrick
Rogan, Michael
Rounds, Philip J.

Reynolds, Owen
Rice, Caleb

Kent Co., It. I.
Douglas, Mass.
Woonsocket, R. I.
Centreville,Providence,Prussia, %
Woonsocket, R. I.
Ireland, Worcester, Mass.

Seekonk, R. I.
Ireland, Providence, R. I.
Boston, Mass.
Ireland, Swanzey, Mass.

Ireland, Warwick, R. I,

Dec. 14, 1861.
Dec. 31, 1861.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 15, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 8, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 5, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
March 1, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
mustered out Dec. 3, 1804.
Transferred to V. It. C, March 15, 1804.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop A,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1804.
Wounded March 17, 1863; discharged Aug.
28, 1863, on Surgeon's certificate.
Transferred to Troop B.
Deserted Oct. 16, 1803.
Trans, to Troop A, new org., Dec. 21, 1804.
Deserted.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; transferred to
Troop A, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Mustered out Nov. 15, 1864.
" Dec. 14, 1864.
" " 2, 1864.
Deserted.Wagoner; mustered out Nov. 28, 1804.
Transferred to V. R. O, Sept. 1, 1863.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop A,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner Sept. 15, 1862; transferred
to Troop A, new org. , Dec. 21, 1864.
Deserted.Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; died Aug. 12, '64,
in hospital.
Died May 25, 1862.
Disch. Feb. 13, 1863, on Surg, certificate.

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TEOOP G— Continued.

OJ

NAME AND RANK.

Privates — Continued.
Sheridan, John

Sisson, Isaac
Sherman, William C.
Scott, Charles H
Short, Myron
Spink, William It.

Sayles, Smith O.
Shannon, Thomas
Tabour, Otis
Thurber, German P.

Thompson, Leander
Welldon, Albert F.
Wilson, John

RESIDENCE.

Ireland, Woonsocket, R. I.
Providence, "
Woonsocket, "
Seokonk, Mass.
Warwick, R. I.

Franklin, Mass.
Ireland, War. 1, 1862.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 8, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 8, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Providence, R. I.
Central Falls, '

Douglas, Mass.
Providence, R. I.

Dec. 14, 1861.
Dec. 19, 1861.
Dec. 14, 1861.

REMARKS.

Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; died Aug. 5, 1864,
of wounds, in hospital.
Trans, to Troop A, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Corporal; not accounted for on the rolls.
Blacksmith; transferred to Troop A, new
organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Wounded March 17, 1863; transferred to V.
R. C, Feb. 15, 1864.
Corporal; taken prisoner June 18, 1863; re-
enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; wounded June, 1864;
transferred to Troop A, new organization,
Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged June 14, 1862.
Trans, to Troop A, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Discli. Dec. 2, 1862, on Surg, certificate.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; Corporal; trans, to
Troop A, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; died Feb. 29, 1864,
at Douglas, Mass.
Deserted.Taken prisoner Aug. 20, '62; not accounted
for on the rolls

GO>toso aGO> a

asoCO

Walsh, William

'¦ Woods, Franklin L.
Williams, Henry
Williams, Horace E.
Wakefield, Ira
Williams, Augustus E.
Williams, William J.
Weeden, Henry H.
Willis, Samuel C.
Warnache, Charles

Ireland,

Scituate,

Newburyport, Mass.
N. Kingstown, R. I.
Oxford, Mass.
Boston, Mass.

Dec. 14, 1861.

Aug. 7, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Dec. 19, 1861.
June 25, 1863.

Taken prisoner Feb. 25, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 4, 1804; trans, to Troop
A, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Transferred to Troop M.
Q. M. Sergeant Jan. 5, 1862; discharged.
Mustered out Dee. 9, 1864.
Taken pris. Sept., 1862; discharged, 1863.
Disch. Feb. 26, 1863, on Surg, certificate.
Transferred from Troop B; mustered out
Oct. 9, 1864.
Deserted July 21, 1862.
Q. M. Sergt. ; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; Regi
mental Commissary Sergt., March 1, 1864.
Trans, to Bat. C, 1st R. I. L. A., Sept. 3, '63.

TEOPP H.

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OJ

Captains.
William H. Turner, Jr.
Edward E. Chase,
First Lieutenants.
William B. B. Greene,
Joshua Vose,
Rufus Higgins,
Otis C. Wyatt,
John R. Umfreville,
Second Lieutenants.
Hiram P. Barker,

Warren, R. I.
Providence, R. I.
E. Greenwich, "
Westerly, "
Warren, "
New Hampshire,
Warren, R. I.
Chelsea, Mass.

Feb. 22, 1862.
Mar. 1, 1863.
Dec. 14, 1861.
June 12, 1862.

Jan. 1, 1863.
Dec. 6, 1864.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Major, March 1, 1863.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
mustered out March 1, 1865.
Resigned May 23, 1862.
Captain Troop A, July 20, 1862.
Transferred from Troop E, Aug. 6, 1862;
resigned Dec. 10, 1862.
Resigned April 12, 1864.
Trans, to Troop B, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Quartermaster 2d Battalion, Jan. 1, 1862; 1st
Lieutenant Troop B, Aug. 5, 1862,

TEOOP H— Continued.

Ot
OJ If*

NAME AND RANK.

2d. Lieutenants — Continued.
Jacob B. Cooke,
Leonard J. Whiting,
First Sergeant.
George W. Darling,
Quartermaster-Skrgeants.
William S. Stone,
George A. Brock,
Sergeants.
George P. Streeter,
William A. Abbott,
Henry A. Carder,

Thomas A. Richards,
Corporals.
John A. Austin,
Henry Duxbury,
William H. Durfee,

RESIDENCE.

Charlestown, Mass,

Providence, R. I.

E. Greenwich, "

Providence,

E. Greenwich, "

DATE
OF MUSTER.

Dec. 14, 1861.
Dec. 26, 1861.
Dec. 14, 1861.

REMARKS.

1st Lieutenant Troop C, Feb. 14, 1863.
Never served with regiment; on detached
duty as Aid-de-camp on General Palmer's
staff; resigned Dec. 21, 1863.
2d Lieut. Troop B, Feb. 14, 1863; wounded
and missing March 17, 1863.
Discharged Aug. 25, 1862.
Trans, from Troop G; discharged March 17,
1863, on Surgeon's certificate.
Died June 16, 1862.
Deserted March 6, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
D, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Q. M. Sergt. ; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; Com
missary Sergt. Non-Com. Staff, Nov. 1, '64.
Sergt. ; taken prisoner Oct. 12, '63; died July
13, 1864, in prison at Andersonville, Ga.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
mustered out Nov. 10, 1864.
Sergeant; taken prisoner June 9, 1863; ex
changed; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans,
to Troop A, new org,, Dec, 21, 1864,

tda wGO a GO ?¦oa x

Leonard Mitchell,

William A. Chappell,
Franklin B. Tefft,

Charles T. Lee,

Robert Mulligan, Musicians.
John Hickey,
John Day,
William J. Day,
Saddler.
George R. Pierce,
Wagoner.
William P. Rogers,
Privates.
Albro, Samuel W.
Allen, Henry
Adams, William II.
Anthony, Samuel
Armington, Willard
Bailey, James H.
Bruto, John
Borne, George H.

Providence, R. I.

Warwick,Richmond,

E. Greenwich,

New York, N. Y.
Boston, Mass.
Gloucester, Mass.
Great Falls, N. H.
Central Falls, R. I.
Scituate,

Dec. 14, 1801.

W.Greenwich, R.
Pennsylvania,Boston, Mass.
Providence, R. I.
Valley Falls, "
Providence,

u ii

June 23, 1863.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Dec 21, 1861.
Aug. 2, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Nov. 26, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861,

Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
B, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged Slay 19, 1862, on Surg, certif.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlistcd Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
B, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Sergeant; taken prisoner June 18, 1863; ex
changed; re-enlisled Jan. 5, 1864; Com.
Sergt. ; transferred to Troop B, new or
ganization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Deserted April 20, 1862.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop B,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Chief Trumpeter, May 1, 1803.
Discharged April 30, 1862.
' 17, "
Disch. Jan. 3, 1862, on Surg, certificate.
Trans, to Bat. C, 1st It. I. L. A., Sept. 3, '63.
Discharged April 17, 1862, on Surg, certif.
Discharged Jan. 3, 1862.
Trans, to Troop B, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Mustered out Nov. 15, 1864.
Deserted Jan. 27, 1863.
Not accounted for on the rolls.

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OrOJPI

TEOOP II— Continued.

OJOS

NAME AND RANK.

Privates — Continued.
Bauer, George
Baker, Eugene
Buckley, Francis
Bramnin, John
Ballou, Reuben F.
Burt, William
Brailey, Ebenezer H.
Coggeshall, Edwin L.,
Charmoise, Alphonse
Clarke, George L.

Carney, William

Caldwell, James A.

Cuddy, John
Card, Benjamin S.
Carroll, Philip B.

RESIDENCE.

Providence, R. I.

Olneyville, '
Providence, "

Warwick, "

Woonsocket,

Olneyville, ' '

Warwick, "
Nova Scotia,

date
of muster.

Dec. 14, 1861.
Sept. 24, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Dec. 4, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
July 22, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Nov. 26, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug 1, 1862.

Dec. 14, 1861.

Not accounted for on the rolls.
Discharged Nov. 17, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
accidentally shot Aug. 29, 1863.
Deserted Dec. 28, 1861.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Disch. Jan. 3, 1862, on Surg, certificate.
ti 11117 (( ll "
Mustered out Nov. 11, 1864.
Taken pris. June 9, 1863; paroled; deserted.
Wounded Sept. 14, 1863; taken prisoner Oct.
12, 1863; transferred to Troop B, new or
ganization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
taken prisoner Oct. 12, 1863; transferred
to V. R. O, March 16, 1864; mustered out
Aug. 16, 1865.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
B, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Deserted March 8, 1862.
July 18, "
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; Sergeant; trans, to
Troop D, new org., Dec. 21, 1864,

i> teXaGO >Si a GO ?0aa

Donnaly, John
Decker, Thomas
Demau, Joseph
Donahue, Michael
Donally, Patrick It.
Earle, Daniel D.
Everleth, Francis

Earnest, Henry
Emerson, Orin M.
Freelove, Henry B.
Freeman, William W.
Foster, Jacob B.
Givens, Theodore J.
Gross, Carl
Gould/Thomas B.
Greene, Albert C.
Greene, William O.
Handy, William D.
Hemphill, Joseph
Harrigan, Philip

Milford, Mass.
Bristol, It. 1.
Olneyville, R. I.
Providence, "

Olneyville, Providence,

New Hampshire,
Fall River, Mass.
Providence, It. 1.
Germany,Providence, It. I.
Prussia,Strathan, N. I-I.
E. Greenwich, It. I.

I5arneysville, '
New Bedford, Mass.
Providence, R. I.

Dec. 14, 1861.
Jan. 15, 1863.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Dec. 2, 1862.
Sept. 16, 1802.
Dee. 14, 1861.

June 27, 1863.
Dec. 14, 1861.
June 27, 1863.
Oct. 10, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1801.

Oct. 13, 1802
Dec. 14, 1861.

Deserted Jan. 10, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 9, 1803; exchanged;
trans, to Troop B, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged June 20, 1862.
Discharged Dec. 24, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Ite-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop B,
new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Deserted Dec. 29, 1861.
Trans, from Troop M; re-enlisted Jan. 5,
1864; transferred to Troop B, new organ
ization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Transferred from Troop B, April 1, 1863.
Trans, from Troop B, neworg. , Dec. 21, '64.
Taken prisoner Oct. 12, 1863; transferred to
Troop B, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Transferred to V. It. C, Sept. 1, 1863.
Taken prisoner Oct. 12, 1863; transferred
to Troop B, new org'n, Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged March 10, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Deserted Jan. 15, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1803; exchanged;
trans, to Troop B, new org., Dee. 21, '04.
Taken prisoner Oct. 12, 1863; exchanged;
died May 4, 1864, in hospital.
Discharged Nov. 20, 1862, on Surg, certif.
" ' March 8, 1863,
Trans, to Troop B, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-cnlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
B, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864,

aa
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a>ft!a

>X

TEOOP H— Continued.

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Privates — Continued.
Hockberg, Charles A.
Henry, Thomas
Heine, Jacob
Hopkins, Nelson, Jr.
Hackett, Charles
Ingraham, Rufus L.
Ide, Stephen R.
Jenkins, William
Jolly, Edward
Jennings, James A.
Jackson, Thomas A.
Kane, Peter
King, Richard E.
Kettle, George
Kempton, Harrison W.
Leach, Lyman L.

Prussia,Scituate, R. I.
Providence, R. I.
Olneyville, ' '
Warwick, "
Foster, S. Providence, R. I.
N. Providence, R.I.
E. Greenwich, R. I.
Providence, R. I.
Smithfield,W.Greenwich, R. I.
Uxbridge, Mass.
Cranston, R. I.

June 27, 1863.
Dec. 14, 1861.
(t It
a n
a n
1 1 (<
Nov. 26, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
it n
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Wounded Sept. 14, '63; deserted Apr. 7, '64.
Discharged April 17j 1862, on Surg, certif.
Transferred to 1st R. I. Light Artillery.
Corporal; taken prisoner June 18, 1863; ex
changed; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans.
to Troop B, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged from hospital.
Discharged May 2, 1862, on Surg, certif.
Taken prisoner Feb. 11, 1864; transferred to
Troop B, new organization, Dec. 21, '64.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
trans, to Troop B, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Deserted April 21, 1863.
Corporal; mustered out Nov. 12, 1864.
Trans, to Troop E; discharged June 1, 1863.
Deserted June 19, 1862.
Died Jan 20, 1863, in hospital, at Washing
ton, D. C.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop
B, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner Oct. 1, 1864; transferred to
Troop B, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged July 16, 1863, on Surg, certif.

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Latour, Ernest
Luzach, Alexander
Lillibridge, Lewis
Lawton, Benjamin N.
Lillibridge, Willett R.
Miller, Henry
McNillidge, Robert
McNamare, Edward
Newman, James
Northup, Edmund
Nichols, James

Osconom, Emile
Pulsifer, Joseph W.
Perry, Ferdinand
Potter, Benjamin
Pinkerton, Thomas

Potter, Pardon T.
Richards, George H.
Scranton, Crawford A.
Sibley, James
Sheldon, Frank
Spink, Darius C.

Providence, R. I.
Glocester, "
E. Greenwich, '
Br'd'sI.Works"Concord, N. H.
Pawtucket, R. I.
Providence, "
N. Kingstown, R. I.
W. Greenwich,R. I.

Germany,
Boston, Mass.
Valley Falls, R. I.
W. Greenwich, R. I.
Central Falls, R. I.

W.Greenwich, R. I.
Olneyville, R. I.
Providence, R. I.
Reading, Mass.
E. Greenwich, R. I.

Dec. 2, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861
(t (t
Dec. 19, 1861.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Dec. 1, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Oct. 10, 1862.
Aug. 15, 1864.
Mar. 12, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

June 27, 1863.
Dec. 17, 1861.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Sept. 18, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Deserted July 5, 1803.
Discharged May 4, 1862, on Surg, certif.
Not accounted for,on the rolls.
Mustered out Dec. 19, 1864.
Transferred to V. R. C, Aug. 29, 1863.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Transferred to V. R. O. March 24, 1864.
Transferredjto navy, April 29, 1864.
Trans, to Troop B, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Taken prisoner Oct. 12, 1863; transferred to
Troop B, new organization, Dec. 2l, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; transferred to
Troop B, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Deserted Nov., 1863.
Musician; transferred to Troop B.
Discharged May 6, 1862, on Surg, certif.
Taken prisoner' Aug. 9, 1862; transferred to
V. R. O, Dec. 15, 1863.
Corporal; taken prisoner June 18, 1863; ex
changed; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans.
to Troop B, new org., Dec. 21, 1864.
Discharged May 20, 1862, on Surg, certif.
Bugler; trans, to V. R. C, Nov. 7, 1863.
Vet. Surg. Nov. 1, 1863.
Transferred to V. R. O, Aug. 24, ,1863.
Corporal; discharged Dec. 15, 1862, on Sur
geon's certificate.
Taken prisoner Oct. 12, 1863; transferred to
Troop B, new organization, Dec. 21, 1864.

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TEOOP H— Continued.

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NAME AND RANK.

Privates — Continued.
Scgar, David
Smart, Carl
Shaum, Henry
Sargent, George A.

St. George, Jeremiah
Spencer, John J.
Seratius, Napoleon

Sure, Charles
Scott, John
Tarbox, George W.
Vicille, Edward
Wishard, William
Whitford, Elisha
Wilson, Charles
Woods, George H.
Walter, Joseph
Zengen, Leopold Von

RESIDENCE.

Kingston, R. I.
Lancaster, Pa.

Providence, R. I.
W. Greenwich, R.I.

England, W. Greenwich, R. I.
Providence, R. I.
W. Greenwich, R. I.
Olneyville, "
Providence, "

DATE
OF MUSTER.

Dec. 14, 1861.
June 30, 1863.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Nov. 8, 1862.

Nov. 21, 1862.
Jan. 9, 1863.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Sept. 29, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Dec. 26, 1861.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Dec. 11, 1861.
June 30, 1863.

RKMAHKS.

Mustered out. Oct. 24, 1804.
Wounded Sept. 14, 1863; deserted May, 1804.
Deserted Jan. 7, 1802.
Bugler; transferred to Trodp L April 20,
1862; discharged at Concord, N. H., July
15, 1865; S. O. No. 44, C. S. under G. O.
W. D. 94.
Discharged July 14, 1863, on Surg, certif.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; exchanged;
mustered out Dec. 19, 1864.
Corporal; taken prisoner June 18, 1863; ex
changed; transferred to Troop B, new or
ganization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Deserted April 2, 1863.
Deserted June 20, 1862.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864; trans, to Troop B,
pew organization, Dec. 21, 1864.
Mustered out Nov. 16, 1864.
Discharged Jan. 8, 1862.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Deserted Oct., 1863.
Taken prisoner Oct. 12, 1863; deserted.

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FIELD AND STAFF— (NEW HAMPSHIEE. BATTALION.)

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Majors.
David B. Nelson,
John L. Thompson,
Adjutant.
George T. Cram,

Manchester, Plymouth,Manchester,

Dec. 3, 1861.
July 3, 1862.
Dec. 10, 1861.

Resigned June 3, 1862.
Promoted to Lieut. -Col. July, 1862; trans.
to 1st N. H. Cav.; Brevet-Brig. -General.
Pro. Capt. Co. G, IstN. H. Cav., July 15, '64.

TEOOP I— (N. H. BATTALION.)

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David B. Nelson,
John L. Thompson,
First Lieutenants.
John L Thompson,
George T. Cram,
Arnold Wyman,
Second Lieutenants.
George T. Cram,
Frank Allen,
First Sergeant.
Otis C. Wyatt,
Quartermaster-Sergeant.
William H. Moulton,

Manchester, Plymouth,

Manchester, Nashua, Hanover,Andover,

Oct. 9, 1861.
Dec. 3, 1861.

Oct. 9, 1861.
Dec. 3, 1861.
Dec. 10, 1861.

Oct. 9, 1861.
Dec. 3, 1861.

Dec. 17, 1861.

Promoted to Major, Dec. 3, 1861.
" July 3, 1862.
Captain, Dec. 3, 1861.
" Adjutant, Dec. 10, 1861.
" Captain, Aug. 4, 1862.
" 1st Lieutenant, Dec. 3, 1861.
July 15, 1862.
2d " Aug. 4, 1862.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.

TEOOP I— (N. H. B A T T A L 1 0 N)— Continued.

Ox Oi.

NAME AND RANK.

Sergeants.
George W. Esterbrooks,

Frederick P. Stone,
William H. Adams,
William H. Allard,
Corporals.
George W. Morrison, Jr.
Madison B. Davis,
George B. Barnard,
John S. Cilley,

David B. Buswell,
Harvey Gardner,
John G. Warren,
J. W. Sanders, Buglers.
John R. Walker,
Cyrus G. Huntoon,

RESIDENCE.

Concord,
Boscawen, Hanover,Moultonborough, Unknown,Salisbury, Sutton,Andover,Lyme,

Laconia, Wilmot,Salisbury,

Dec. 17, 1861.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Promoted 2d Lieut. Co. K, March 1, 1863;
wounded March 17, 1863; wounded Sept.
14, 1863.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; re-enhsted
Jan. 1, 1864.
Reduced to ranks July 1, 1862; see 1st Reg.
N. H. C.
Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; reduced to
ranks July 1, 1862; re-enlisted Jan. 5, '64.
Promoted Sergt. ; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; re-enlisted
Jan. 5, 1864.
Killed at Front Royal, Va., May 51, 1862.
Promoted to Sergt. ; taken prisoner Oct, 31,
1862; taken prisoner June 18, 1863; re-
enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Reduced to ranks; taken pris. Oct. 31, 1862.
Last reported as wounded in hospital.
Discharged for disability, Aug. 20, 1863.
Reduced to ranks July 1, '62; taken prisoner
Oct. 31, 1862; discharged.Feb. 3, 1863.
Discharged for disability, July 10, 1862.
Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; deserted from
Camp Parole.

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Blacksmith.

Hiram H. Thomas,

Lebanon,

Dec. 17, 1861.

Farrier.

Carroll D. Dimmick,
Lyme,
Saddler.
Elias T. Holt,
West Lebanon,
Wagoner.
Melvin A. Tenney,
Lebanon,
Privates.
Allen, Edwin B.
Lyme,
Breed, Benjamin W.
Franklin;
Ballou, Ethan A.
Claremont,
Bean, Jonathan M.
Alton, '
Chapman, Josiah Jr.
Haverhill,
Campbell, Robert
Sutton,
Cilley, Augustus L.
Andover,
Coffin, William H.
Concord,
Carr, Jerome B.
Haverhill,
Carlisle, David
Hanover,
Caldwell, William H.
Concord,
Carlisle, David H.
Hanover,
Cutting, Simon G.
Haverhill,
Chamberlain, Stephen
Laconia,
Danforth, Horace H.
Concord,
Dole, Jacob B.
New London,
Davis, Enoch P.
Sutton,
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863.
Pro. Sergt ; not officially accounted for.
Discharged by order, Oct. 8, 1863.
Killed at Front Royal, Va., May 30, 1862.
Deserted May 31, 1862.
Discharged for disability, April 19, 1862.
Discharged for disability, Feb. 11, 1863.
Not officially accounted for.
Promoted Corporal; re-enlisted Jan 5, 1864.
Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; taken prisoner
June 18, 1863; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.
Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; re-enlisted
Feb. 1, 1864.
Discharged for disability, April 19, 1862.
Last reported on detached service at Fort
Hamilton, N. Y.
Mustered out Dec. 17, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Deserted at Washington, D.C., Oct. 12, 1863.
Mustered out Dec. 17, 1864.
Discharged for disability, Dec. 10, 1862.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
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TEOOP I— (N. II.

BATTALIO N)— Continued.

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Privates — Continued.

Dewey, Joseph W.

Hanover,

Dec. 17, 1861.

Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; promoted to
Sergt.-Major Jan. 1, 1863; taken prisoner
June, 1863.

Davis, Sherman

Andover,

II II

Wounded May 31, '63; re-enlisted Jan. 5, '64.

Eaton, WilliamJsH.

Concord,

II It

Re-enlisted March 18, 1864.

Elkins, Frank P.

Andover,

II II

Promoted Corporal; taken prisoner Oct. 31,
1862; wounded Mar. 17, 1863; -discharged
Oct. 3, 1863.

Everett, 'William H.

Hanover,

II it

Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; taken prisoner
June 18, 1863; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.

Eastman, Franklin B.

Rumney,

"

Discharged for disability.

Follinsbee, James W.

Grafton,

" "

Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.

Flanders, Josiah H.

Boscawen,

it It

Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.

Gunneson, Joseph";

Lyme,

1 II

See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.

Hutchinson, William A.

Newport,

1 II

Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.

Hunt, Henry F.

Warner,

11 II

Discharged for disability, Nov. 12, 1863.

Hunt, John

"

II II

Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; taken prisoner
June 18, 1863; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864;

Jenness, Stephen B.

Rochester,

11

Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.

Johnson, Walter

Jamestown, N. Y.

II 11

Discharged for disability, April 24, 1863.

Kelley, Sylvester F.

Laconia,

II II

Discharged Aug. 2, 1862.

Lasure, Benjamin C.

Strafford, Vt.

11 II

Killed at Front Royal, Va., May 30, 1863.

Laighton, Samuel W.

Sanbornton,

It II

Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; died at Camp

Parole, Md., Sept. 17, 1863.
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Morrill, George H.
Morrison, Horace H.
* Morrison, Asa
Merrill, Oscar F.
Nelson, Lucas
Pressey, John M.
Pecoy, Alexander
Quimby, Johnson D.
Rand, David E.
Ransdell, George W.
Reynolds, Daniel H.
Robbins, George A.
Seavey, James
Sessions, Miron H.
Swain, John W.
Stockbridge, Ira L.
Sanborn, John G.
Torrence, James W.
Taylor, Herbert
Thompson, John P.
Williamson, Matthew
Webster, Philip B.

Andover,Haverhill,
Franklin, Unknown, Sutton,

Grafton,Sandwich,
Concord, Hanover,
Strafford, Vt.
Hillsborough,Andover,Concord,Sanbornton, Alton,
Sandwich,Strafford, Andover,
South Newbury,
Laconia,

Dec. 17, 1861.

Discharged for disability, April 19, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; re-enlisted
Jan. 5, 1804.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Wounded May 31, 1862; taken prisoner Oct.
31, 1862; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Transferred to V. R. C, Nov. 20, 1863.
Wounded May 31, 1802; discharged for dis
ability, Nov. 11, 1802.
Discharged Sept. 7, 1802.
Promoted Corporal, Dee. 17, '61; discharged
April 19, 1802.
Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; last reported
with U. S. Telegraphic Corps.
Discharged, for disability, March 30, 1803.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; re-enlisted
Jan. 5, 1804.
Pro. Sergeant; taken prisoner June 18, 1863;
promoted 1st Lieutenant, Oct. 1, 1803.
Discharged for disability.
Deserted April 4, f862.
Discharged for disability, Jan. 2, 1803.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1803; re-enlisted
Jan. 5, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan 5, 1864.
Discharged for disability, Dee. 24, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863.
Re enlisted Jan. 5, 1861,
Discharged for disability, July 7. 1802.
Discharged for disabilitjr, Dec. 10, 1862.

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TEOOP I— (N. II. B A T T A L I 0 N)— Continued.

OS

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Privates — Continued.
Webster, George A.
Warren, William
Warren, Jesse A.

Lyme,

Dec. 17, 1861.

Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; re-enlisted
March 23, 1864.
Discharged for disability, July 10, 1862.
Promoted to Corporal; taken prisoner Oct.
31, 1862; wounded March 17, 1863; trans.
to V. R. G, April 28, 1864.

TEOOP K— (N. H. BATTALION.)

Captain.
Stephen R. Swett,

Andover,

Oct. 15, 1861.

Resigned Oct. 14, 1862.

First Lieutenant.
Lorenzo D. Gove,

Hanover,

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Killed Oct. 31, 1862.

Second Lieutenants.
George A. Sawyer,
George H. Thompson,
Farrier.

Concord,

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Nov. 11, 1861.

Resigned Nov. 11, 1861.
Wounded May 31, 1862; pro. to 1st Lieut.,
Aug. 4, 1862; wounded March 17, 1863.

Hazen Duntley, Blacksmith.
Ira Duntley,

Milton,

Oct. 24, J 861.
11 ii

See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.
{ I It it

Saddler.
Joseph A, Austin,

Manchester,

((- ((

Discharged for disability, June 16, 1863.

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John A. Jones,

Allen, Charles E.
Allen, Frank
Atherton, James W.
Ayer, Henry G.
Babcock, John C.
Barnard, Edwin K.
Bongnge, Thomas
Brackett, Moses D.
Brackett, Cyrus A.
Chapman, Jonathan B.
Childs, Jason N.
Chubb, John G.
Clark, George E.
Colby, Matthew N.
Collomy, Daniel
Collomy, James P.
Corson, Benjamin S.
Corson, Eli
Dorr, Charles A.
Dunham, Charles R.
Dunham, Emerson A.
Dix, George H.
Eggleston, Clifton
Flanders, Edward C.
Foote, George E.

Manchester, Dover,
Nashua, Canaan,Manchester, Concord,New Boston,
Manchester, Milton,
Mlddleton,Manchester,

Dover,
New Durham,
Dover,
Milton,Dover,Manchester, it
Mason, Nashua,New Hampton,
Dover,

Oct. 24, 1861.

Discharged for disability, May 26, 1862.
" " June 6,
Promoted to 2d Lieutenant, Dec. 3, 1861.
Discharged for disability, March 4, 1863.
Pro. to Corp. ; see 1st Regt. N. H. Cavalry.
Pro. to Corporal; killed at Front Royal, Va.,
May 30, 1862.
Killed at Front Royal, Va , May 30, 1862.
Discharged for disability, Dec. 27, 1862.
" " " June 14, "
Killed at Front Royal, Va., May 30, 1862.
Ke-enlisted Jan. 2, 1864.
Pro. to Corp. ; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Pro. to Corp. ; disch. for dis'y, Jan. 28, 1863.
Discharged for disability, 'Oct. 7, 1862.
See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.
Pro. to 1st Sergt. ; discharged for disability,
Feb. 13, 1862.
Died at Concord, N. H. , Jan. 15, 1862.
See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavaliy.
Died of disease Dec. 31, 1861.
Discharged for disability, Sept. 23, 1862.
May 6,
Sept. 23, 1862.
Missing Oct. 12, 1863.
Discharged for disability, June 10, 1862.
Died at Washington, D. O, May, 1863.
Pro. to Corp. ; disch. for dis'y, June 11, '62.

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TEOOP K— (N. II. BATTALION)— Continued.

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NAME AND RANK.

Privates — Continued.
Forsaith, Warren
Gage, James D.
Glidden, Charles A.
Glidden, William H.
Goodwin, Samuel H.
Hall, Asa A.
Hanchett, George
Hart, William H.
Hayes, Andrew R.
Heath, George W.
Hill, Lebbeus
Holton, William
Jenness, James W.
Jones, George F.
Jones, Philip
Kidder, Charles S.
Kimball, Edward
Langley, George E.
Lawrence, Richard A.

RESIDENCE.

Deering,
Manchester, Dover,Strafford,Dover,
Canaan,
Manchester,

Milton,Dover, it
Manchester,
New Durham,
Manchester,.

Dover,Durham,
Manchester,

date
of muster.

Oct. 24, 1861.

REMARKS.

Re-enlisted Jan. 2, 1864.
Pro. to Corp. ; taken prisoner March 17, '63;
taken prisoner June 18, 1863.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; re-enlisted
Jan. 5, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan 5, 1864.
See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.
Wounded Aug. 9, 1862; taken prisoner June
18, 1863; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Discharged for disability, Oct. 7, 1862.
Taken Drisoner June 18, 1863; re-enlisted
Jan. 2, 1864.
Discharged for disability, Sept. 29, 1862.
July 16, "
See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavaliy.
Discharged for disability, May 16, 1862.
May 23, "
July 17, "
Pro. to Sergeant; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Taken prisoner Jan. 1, 1863; re-enlisted Jan.
5, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 2, 1864.
Discharged for disability, Oct. 7, 1862.

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Mason, Hosea Q.
Mills, Hugh
Newton, Henry E.
Prescott, Charles L.
Page, John G.
Palmer, Robert M.
Palmer, William H.
Parmentor, Martin L.
Penney, John W.
Philbrick, Ivory E.
Phillips, Francis H.
Philph, Edward D.
Pinkham, Thomas D.
Quimby, Moody
Rodgers, Calvin

Smith, Chester E.
Sanborn,, Arthur L.
Smith, Charles F.
Steele, George H.
Stearns, Hiram
Taplin, Lewis E.
Titus, Jerome B.
Tompkins, Charles R.
Tuttle, John L.

East Sanbornton,
Manchester,

Rochester,Manchester, Antrim,New Durham,
Dover, Manchester,
Hill,
Dover,Manchester,

Alton,

Candia,
New Hampton,
Dover,Rollinsford, Manchester,
Hooksett, Dover,

Oct. 24, 1861.

Pro. to Sergt.; disch. for dis'y April 21, '63.
Pro. to Corp. ; wounded slightly March 17,
1803; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Not officially accounted for.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
See 1st Regiment N. II. Cavaliy.
Re-enlisted Feb. 25, 1864.
Pro. to Sergt.; died at Antrim, Jan 11, '62.
See 1st Regiment N. II. Cavalry.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1803.
Promoted to Q. M. Sergeant; discharged for
disability, Jan. 26, 1863.
Discharged for disability, June 19, 1862.
Taken iirisoner June 18, 1863; re-enlisted
Jan. 5, 1864.
Taken prisoner March 17, 1863; taken pris
oner June 18, 1863; last reported at Camp
Parole, Md.
Discharged for disability, June 30, 1862.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.
Wounded June 18, 1863; re-enlisted March
18, 1864.
Transferred to Invalid Corps, Feb. 15, 1864.
See 1st Regiment New Hampshire Cavalry.
Discharged for disability, May 13, 1862.
Pro. to Sergt., discharged June 11, 1802.
Discharged for disability, Oct. 7, 1862.

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TEOOP K— (N. H. BATTALION)— Continued.

NAM1C AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

REMAKKS.

Privates — Continued.
Wallace, James S.
Wilson, Charles H.
Wyman, Arnold
Wilson, David F.

Salem,Manchester,

Oct. 24, 1861.
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Not officially accounted for.
Discharged for disability, June 24, 1862.
Promoted to First Lieutenant, Dec 3, 1861
Re-enlisted Jan. 2, 1864.

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TEOOP L— (N. H. BATTALION.)

Captain.
John J. Prentiss,
First Lieutenant.
Augustus H. Bixby,
Second Lieutenant.
William P. Prentiss,
First .
Ezra B. Parker, Privates.
Allen, Charles S.
Bixby, Daniel P.
Briggs, WilliamH.
Brown, John H.
Burbank, Alonzo
Caswell, William H.

Claremont,
FrancestowD,Claremont,Unknown,Claremont,Unknown,.Claremont, Unknown,

Dec. 3, 1861.

Dec. 27, 1861.

Jan. Dec.

18, 1862.
27, 1861.

Dismissed Dec. 30, 1863.
Promoted to Captain, July 18, 1862.
Promoted to 1st Lieutenant, Aug. 4, 1862.
Promoted to 2d Lieutenant, Aug. 4, 1862.
Wound. Sept. 1, '62; re-enlisted Jan. 5, '64.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Pro. to Sergt. ; disch. for dis'y, Jan. 16, '62.
See 1st Regiment New Hampshire Cavalry.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; transferred to
1st New Hampshire Cavalry.
Wounded Aug. 9, 1862; last reported in hos
pital at Portsmouth Grove, R. I.

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S ^o s h |2 ^feg fetes aP^Sfe*
o ooo oo ooop ppaa aaaafalfalfalrfaMWM

TEOOP L— (N. H. BATTALION)— Continued^

NAME AND RANK.

Privates— Continued.
Lovejoy, Charles W.
Laducer, Lewis W.
Lougee, Lorenzo R.
Lawton, Henry C.
Lovejoy, Warren W.

Locke, Benjamin T.
Marden, William R.
Morrill, Joseph B.
Morse, Kimball A.
Moore, Edward F.
Miliken, Charles A.
Moody, William H. H.
McKinley, Franklin W.
Marsh, Eli C.
McDuffle, James C.
Marshall, Joseph
Niles, Henry H..

Unknown, Claremont,Unknown,

RESIDENCE.

Lancaster,Claremont, Unknown,Claremont,Unknown,Claremont, Unknown,

Claremont,

date
of mdster.

Dec. 27, 1861.
tt a
Jan. 8, 1862.
it a
n a
Dec. 27, 1861.

Jan. 8, 1862.
Jan. 18, 1862.
Dec. 27, 1861.

REMARKS.

Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; last reported
paroled prisoner.
See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.
Died June 8, 1862.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, '63; wounded Sept.
14, 1863; discharged for disability, Feb.
3, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; Corporal; re-
enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; died at An
napolis, Md., Sept 12, 1863.
See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.
Discharged Sept. 25, 1862.
Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; Corporal;
killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.
Not officially accounted for.
a (i a tt
Discharged for disability, May 10, 1863.
Pro. Com. Sergt. ; trans, to I. O, Mar. 1, '63.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; re-enlisted
Jan. 5, 1864.
Not officially accounted for.

>
¦a x SJto > O CO ¦-d dso

Ordway, Levi
^ Ordway, Benjamin H.
Patrick, Charles E.
Pardee, Ebenezer
Richardson, Hugh
Robinson, Otis G.
Scheever, Frederick
Sleeper, George W.
Still, Benjamin W.
Southwick, James M.
Scales, Walter W.
Sawyer, Charles A.
Tuttle, Woodbridge W.
Tandy, Judson L.
Taylor, Leonard
Thorn, Letaine V.
Troden, Michael
Vaughn, Edwin
White, George W.

Wardwell, Joshua D.

Unknown,

Claremont,Unknown,

Claremont, Unknown,Claremont,

Unknown,

Dec. 27, 1861.
Jan. 8, 1862.
Dec. 27, 1861.
Jan. 18, 1862.
Dec. 27, 1861.

Jan. 8, 1862.
Dec. 27, 1861.
Jan. 8, 1862.

Jan. 18, 1862.
Dec. 27, 1861.

Died at Portsmouth Grove Hospital, R. I.,
Oct. 21, 1862.
Discharged for disability, Sept. 25, 1863.
Pro. to Sergeant; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; re-enlisted
Feb. 1, 1864.
Not officially accounted for.
Pro. to Sergt. ; not officially accounted for.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Pro. Corporal; wounded severely March 17,
1863; see 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.
Discharged June 4, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; Corporal; re-
enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Re-enlisted March 18, 1864.
Pro. to Sergt. ; pro. to 2d Lieut. , Aug. 4, '62.
Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; taken prisoner
June 18, 1863; re-enlisted Feb. 1, 1864.
Not officially accounted for.
Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; re-enlisted
Jan 5, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; Sergeant; re-
enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; deserted at
Camp Parole May, 1863.
Pro. to Sergt. ; pro. to 2d Lieut., Aug. 5, '62.
Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; taken prisoner
June 18, 1863; Sergeant; discharged for
disability, Feb. 3, 1864.
Not officially accounted for.

toM
o u M
r-l
CO tfa>
aot><1t»t-lSO
Hi

co

TEOOP L— (N. H. B A T T A L 1 0 N)— Continued.

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OE MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Privates — Continued.
Williams, Edson
Ward,- Walden S.
Wentworth, Charles A.
Wheeler, James P.
Woodward, William H.
Wood, Sylvester

Unknown,

Dec. 27, 1861.
Jan. 8, 1862.
Jan. 18, 1862.

Not officially accounted for.
(( tt CI 1.
See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Killed in action, Aug. 9, 1862.
Discharged for disability, Dec. 28, 1862.

TEOOP M— (N. H. BATTALION.)

Captain.
William P. Ainsworth,
First Lieutenant.
Joseph F. Andrews,
Second Lieutenant.
John L. Perley, Jr.
Privates.
Bowen, Charles L.
Berrey, George W.
Bowman, Eugene M.
Brigham, Edward H.
Baldwin, George H.
Bagley, Olin H.

Nashua. < <
Laconia,
Holderness,Manchester,Nashua,

Dec. 3, 1861.

Dec. 24, 1861.

Killed at Front Royal, Va., May 30, 1862.
Promoted to Quartermaster Jan. 1, 1862;
taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862.
Died of disease near Catlett Station, Va.,
June 9, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; died of dis
ease, Nov. 27, 1863.
Discharged for disability, Jan. 17, 1863.
See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Pro. Corp. ; deserted f r,om camp, Jan. 21, '63.

Crc

toso

aCOXaso

Brown, Robert A.
Blake, Edmund R.
Blake, James F.
Butler, Robert
Boswell, James S.
Clark, Robert W.
Currier, Edward L.
Claflin, Calvin
Cushman, Hartley C.
Cavin, Thomas
Cames, Edward
Collins, Jones E.
Cochran, Adam
Colby, John Francis
Cilley, Joseph R.
Clifford, John R.
Carr, Byron L.
Diggles, John P.
Dow, Moses
Dearborn, George
Davis, Charles S.
Dixon, Ichabod W.
Eastman, David R.
Emmons, Marcellus C,
Eveleth, Francis
Eaton, Alvin S.

Nashua,
Danville,Hampstead, Hampton Falls,
Unknown,
New Boston,
Derry,
Nashua, Unknown,
Nashua,Dover,Hampstead, Dover,
Manchester, Unknown,
Sanbornton,
Nashua,Pittsfield,Hampton,
Durham, Milton,Nashua,New Hampton,
Providence, R. I
Nashua,

Dec. 24, 1861.
t t
Jan. 8, 1862.
tc a
Jan. 21, 1862.
Dec. 24, 1861.
tC ((
Jan. 8, 1862.
(( it
It ((
it n
Jan. 20, 1862.
Jan. 21, 1862.
t I ( (
Dec. 24, 1861.

Jan. 21, 1862.
Dec. 24, 1861.

Jan. 8, 1862.

Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; re-enlisted
Feb. 1, 1864.
Transferred to Troop G, 1st N. E. Cavalry,
March 3, 1863.
See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.
Discharged for disability, June 30, 1862.
Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; discharged by
order, Feb. 25, 1863.
Pro. to Corp. ; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Trans, to Invalid Corps, Sept. 1, 1863.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Killed at Front Royal, Va , May 30, 1862.
Discharged Nov. 21, 1862.
Re-enlisted March 18, 1864.
Deserted June 7, 1863.
Re-enlisted Jan. 1, 1864.
Re-enlisted Feb. 1, 1864.
See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.
Discharged for disability, May 2, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; re-enlisted
Feb. 1, 1864.

Re-enlisted Jan. 5,
Pro. to Corporal; discharged Jan. 2, 1863.
Missing Oct. 12, 1S63.
Discharged for disability, June 27, 1862.
Discharged for disability, Oct. 7, 1862.
See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.
Discharged for disability, Oct. 7, 1862.
Trans, to Troop H, IstR. I. Cav., Jan. 1, '64.
Promoted Sergt. ; re-enlisted Feb. 1, 1864.

sotd
coM
CO t-l>
a
o><
SO

TEOOP M— (N. H. BATTALION)— Continued.

OS

NAME AND RANK.

Privates — Continued.
Eustis, George C.
Foster, Nathan H.
French, James H.
Greene, James C.
Godfrey, Morris H.
Hawks, Minor
Hubbard, Henry P.
Hoitt, Nathan B.
Hounds, Charles
Kidder, Nathan P.
Knox, Jesse W.
Leavitt, Enoch
Leavitt, Horace
Littlefieid, Cyrus
Lovering, William H.
Lewis, John W.
Moran, David
McMurphy, William A.
O'Brien, Patrick
Powers, William C.

RESIDENCE.

Nashua, 1 1
Canaan,Hampton Falls,
Hampton, Manchester,

Nashua,Bethel, Vt.
Manchester,Milton,Mason, North Hampton,
Manchester, Unknown, Hampton,
Mason,Derry,Mason,
Manchester,

DATE
OP MUSTER.

Jan. 20, 1862.
Dec. 24, 1861.
(( It
Jan. 8, 1862.
It d
Dec 24, 1861.

Jan. 8, 1862.
Jan. 20, 1862.
J'an. 21, 1862.
Dec. 24, 1861.

Jan. 8, 1862.
Jan. 20, 1862.
Dec. 24, 1861.

REMARKS.

Wounded June 18, 1863; taken prisoner Feb.
25, 1863.
Pro. Q. M. Sergt. ; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; re-enlisted
Jan. 1, 1864.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Discharged Dec. 21, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; re-enlisted
Jan. 5, 1864.
Discharged for disability, July 10. 1862.
Transferred to Troop K, Feb. 1, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863.
Discharged for disability, Oct. 7, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; Corporal.
Not officially accounted for.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; re-enlisted
Jan. 5, 1864.
Discharged for disability, June 25, 1862.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Transferred to Invalid Corps, Sept. 1, 1863.
Not officially accounted for.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.

toxCO > a COXdso CO

Perkins, William J.

New Boston,

Jan.

8, 1862.

£5 Prentiss, Charles B.

Concord,

Jan.

21, 1862.

* RadclifEe, Charles B.

Derry,

Dec

24, 1861

Ray, Walter

New Ipswich,

U

"

Runnels, Paul M.

New Durham,

"

'|

Russell, Arthur W.

Manchester,

ii

¦¦

Rich, Charles C.

Keene,

i t

"

Smith, Augustus

New Ipswich,

"

i i

Smith, Gideon H.

'

ii

El

Stevens, Francis E.

Nashua,

"

U

Shapley, John H.

Rye,

•'

"

Shapley, Robert B.

"

<(

"

Sheldon, Charles B.

New Ipswich,

(l

1

Sanborn, James M.

New Hampton,

11

I

Shillaber, Robert E.

Portsmouth,

Jan.

8, 1862.

Smith, Mark

Nashua,

Jan.

20, 1862.

Snell, Royal T.

Unknown,

Jan.

21, 1862.

Smith, Olney P.

"

u

"

Sanborn, Clarence B.

Sanbornton,

1

"

Tasker, Albert P.

Manchester,

Dec

24, 1861.

Thompson, William H. J.

Nashua,

Jan.

20, 1862.

Twombly, Samuel K.

Unknown,

Jan.

21; 1862.

Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; re-enlisted
Jan. 5, 1864.
Re-enlisted Feb. 1, 1864.
Discharged at Washington, D. C.
Re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Discharged for disability, Sept. 5, 1862.
Discharged for disability, June 28, 1862.
Deserted May 21, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; re-enlisted
Jan. 5, 1864.
Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; re-enlisted
Jan. 5, 1864.
Wounded Aug. 9, 1862; discharged for dis
ability, Dec. 8, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; Corporal; re-
enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; Sergeant; 1st
Sergeant; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; taken prisoner
June 18, 1863; re-enlisted Feb. 1, 1864.
Discharged for disability, June 30, 1862.
Promoted Corporal; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Discharged at Washington, D. C. , April, '62.
Discharged Dec. 5, 1862.
Died at Annapolis, Md., Oct. 11, 1862.
Wounded Sept. 14, 1 863.
See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; last reported
in hospital, Jan. 1, 1864.
Discharged Sept. 7, 1862.

XWoo(3rfa X
l-i
Q •
>
>tfaSOK

TEOOP M— (N. H

. BA.TT A LION)— Continued.

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Privates — Continued.
Thompson, Joseph P.
Wilder, Lyman F.
Wilson, Ebenezer
Weston, Samuel B.
Wyman, Warren A.
White, Edwin D.
Wallace, Hiram

Unknown,Nashua,
Manchester,Nashua,
Unknown,

Jan. 20, 1862.
Dec. 24, 1861.
it (i
Jan. 8, 1862.
Jan. 21, 1862.

Discharged Nov. 20, 1863. '
Missing March 17, 1863; gained from miss
ing; re-enlisted Jan. 5, 1864.
Discharged Feb. 2, 1864.
Sergeant; taken prisoner Oct. 31, '62; taken
prisoner June 18, 1863; discharged for dis
ability, Jan. 22, 1864.
Discharged for disability, June 4, 1862.
Pro. Hos. Stew. ; not officially accounted for.
See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.

OO

EECETJITS— (N. H. BATTALION.)

CO i>tosoH

?od so
CO

Thomas Manchester,

Austin, William
Avery, James
Blake, William F.
Brown, James W. W.
Blake, Ferdinand L.
Brown, George W.
Brown, Stephen H., 2d,
Bryant, Francis E.

Providence, R. I.
Canada,
New Hampshire,
Kensington, Concord,
Providence, R. I.

Nov. 20, 1861.
Dec. 15, 1862.
Oct. 30, 1861.
Sept. 9, 1862.

Sept. 13, 1862.
it ti
Dec. 16, 1861.

Discharged by .order, Nov. 21, 1863.
See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863.
Trans, to Invalid Corps, March 15, 1864.
See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.
Trans, to Invalid Corps, April 6, 1864.
Deserted from Camp Parole, Oct. 31, 1862.
Discharged for disability, June 4, 1863.
Appointed Bugler; not offi'ly accounted for.

Brown, Edward
Bartlett, John
Bradwick, William S.
Bowley, William S.
Collins, John E.
Chase, Warren H.
Corey, Charles W.
Corey, Joseph R.
Crystal, John M.
Cannon, George F.
Crambell, Robert W.
Corn, George W.
Clark, Matthew N. S.
Davis, Martin V. B.
Davis, Edson
Donan, Peter
Denei, August
Dunn, James
Eaton, John L
Elkins, John H.
Forten, William J.
Fairbanks, Charles
Ferrell, George T.
Furber, Daniel W.
Frary, Jedediah C. W;
Fales, Alfred
Gove, Andrew
George, Joseph O.

Unknown,

Stratham,
Kensington,

Lempster,Somersworth,Charlestown,
Franklin, Mass.
Lyman,Unknown, Concord,Amherst,Woonsocket, R. I.
Paris, France,
New Ipswich,
Concord,Unknown,Concord,
Nashua, u
Somersworth,
Concord,
New Hampshire,
Kensington,

Unknown.Oct. 7, 1862.
Aug. 29, 1862.
Sept. 22, 1862.
Sept. 9, 1862.

Sept. 13, 1862.
a a
Sept. 15, 1862.
Nov. 9, 1862.
Aug. 8, 1862.
Mar. 21, 1862.
Aug. 30, 1862.
Sept. 15, 1862.
Sept. 22, 1862.
Aug 11, 1862.
Dec. 2, 1862.
Mar. 12, 1862.
Sept. 17, 1862.
Sept. 15, 1862.
Aug. 30, 1862.
Sept. 15, 1862.

Sept. 19, 1862.
Oct. 28, 1862.
Sept. 9, 1862.

Discharged Dec. 31, 1862.
See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.
Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; taken prisoner
June 18, 1863.
See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.
Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; discharged
for disability, Feb. 28, 1863.
Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863.
Discharged for disability, June 9, 1863.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863.
See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.
Trans, to Invalid Corps, Nov. 45, 1863.
See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863.
tt u tin a
Last rep'ted in Milford, Mass., without leave.
Deserted June 1, 1863.
See 1st Regiment New Hampshire Cavalry.
Trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, July 2, 1863.
Killed at Middleburg, Va., June 18, 1863.
See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.
Died of wounds, June 19, 1863.
See 1st Regiment New Hampshire Cavalry.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863.
Not officially accounted for.
See 1st Regiment New Hampshire Cavalry.
Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862.
Discharged for disability, Feb. 19, 1863.

so a
oo
w

t-1
o<>[faso

EBCEUITS— (N. II. BATTALION)— Continued.

NAME AND RANK.

Privates — Continued.
Gove, Lewis E.
Gee, Soloman A.
Gage, George H.
Gage, George B.
Greene, Charles O.
Hull, Charles E.
Herrick, Jackson V.
Hall, Charles L.
Hunter, I. I.
Holmes, William F.
Hill, John B.
Hobbs, Frank D.
Hobbs, James F.
Joslyn, Albert
Jackson, William
• Kelley, Henry
Kenyon, John S.
Keyes, George A.
Lamprey, Samuel
Lamprey, Edward D.

RESIDENCE.

Kensington,Alstead,
Driscott, Mass.
Pelham,Unknown,
Concord,
Lempster,Concord, Unknown, a
Dover,Unknown,

Providence, R. I.
Lexington, Ky.
New York, N. Y.
Franklin, Mass.
Unknown,Kensington,
Hampton,

DATE
OP MUSTER.

Sept. 23, 1862.
Oct. 10, 1862.
Aug. 12, 1862.
Sept. 28, 1862.
Sept. 13, 1862.

Sept. 16, 1862.
Unknown. Unknown.Sept. 24, 1862.
Sept. 15, 1862.

Dec. 16, 1861.
Dec. 24, 1862.
Nov. 3, 1862.
Aug. 9, 1862.
Oct. 10, 1862.
Sept. 23, 1862.
Feb. 17, 1862.

Trans, to Invalid Corps, Sept. 30, 1863.
Discharged for disability, Jan. 22, 1863.
See 1st Regiment New Hampshire Cavalry.
Last reported in hosp. at N. Y., Sept. 18, '63.
See 1st Regiment New Hampshire Cavalry.
K << it ii ii
Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; taken prisoner
June 18, 1863.
Not officially accounted for.
Discharged May 28, 1862.
" 22, "
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; transferred
to V. R. C, Dec. 1, 1863.
Discharged for disability, Nov., 1862.
Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; taken prisoner
March 17, 1863.
Discharged for disability, Dec. 8, 1862.
Taken prisoner June 1, 1863; supposed to
have deserted from Camp Parole.
Deserted Jan. 21, 1863.
Not officially accounted for.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863.
Discharged Nov. 17, 1862.

>tosotoCO> COfajd SO
CO

Lawrence, Benjamin G.
Mooney, Daniel S.
Martin, Newell S.
McClellan, Joseph
Munroe, George
Nash, Otis C.
Newton, Hubbard
O'Brien, James
O'Brien, William
O'Donnell, Andrew P.
Parker, John H.
Phillips, John H.
Pray, Andrew
Persons, John M.
Porter, Francis L.
Place, John W.
Paige, Henry
Rowe, George P.
Reynolds, Newton
Rouche, Daniel
Shephard, Thomas H.
Sessions, Orville H.
Summerville, Thomas
Smith, Chester C.

Unknown,Concord, Providence, R. I.
Unknown,
Walpole,Johnston, R. I.
Woonsocket, R. I.
Unknown,
Concord, Nashua,
Dover,Unknown,Manchester,Dover, Unknown, Concord,
Manchester, Dover,
Unknown,Dummer,Ireland, Auburn,

Sept. 24, 1862.
Sept- 15, 1862.
Sept. 17, 1862.
Dec. 13, 1862.
Sept. 13, 1862.
Oct. 10, 1862.
Sept. 24, 1862.
Aug. 29, 1862.
Aug. 13, 1862.
Sept. 24, 1862.
Aug. 30, 1862.
Sept. 15, 1862.

Oct. 7, 1862.
Aug. 29, 1862.
Sept. 24, 1862.
Oct. 6, 1862.
Sent. 9, 1862.
Aug. 23, 1862.
Nov. 1, 1862.
Sept. 27, 1862.
Nov. 4, 1862.
Unknown.Oct. 24, 1861.

Taken pris. Oct. 31,'62; disch. Sept. 29, 1863.
Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; taken prisoner
June 18, 1863.
Not officially accounted for.
Supposed to have deserted from Parole
Camp, at Annapolis, Md.
Deserted Jan. 21, 1863.
Discharged Nov. 30, 1862.
Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862.
Not officially accounted for.
Discharged for disability, July 2, 1863.
Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; transferred to
V. R. C, Dec. 15, 1863.
Discharged for disability, Jan. 30, 1862.
Transferred to Invalid Corps, Sept., 1863.
Taken prisoner Oct. 31, 1862; last reported
at Parole Camp.
Trans, to Invalid Corps, Sept. 30, 1863.
Wounded dangerously March 17, 1863; last
reported at Parole Camp, Annapolis, Md.
Discharged for disability, April 9, 1863.
Not officially accounted for.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863.
Sergeant; taken prisoner June 18, 1863.
See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.
Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; deserted Feb.
18, 1864.
Deserted Jan. 5, 1863.
Deserted at New York, Feb. 18, 1864.
Discharged June 30, 1862.

soCOfal
SOmo o

tti>
a co%>fa<X
Hi

OS

EBCEUITS— (N. H. B A T T A L 1 0 N)— Continued.

 .  ¦  f —
NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OP MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Privates — Continued.

Smith, R. C.

Unknown,

Oct. 10, 1862.

Taken prisoner June 18, 1863.

Sawyer, Samuel J.

Franklin,

Oct. 4, 1862.

Taken prisoner June 18, 1863.

Smith, Joshua P.

Unknown,

Sept. 15, 1862.

See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.

Treat, Andre J.

Lcmpster,

Sept. 13, 1862.

Deserted Feb. 1, 1863.

Tilton, Franklin

Concord,

Sept. 17, 1862.

Wounded severely Mar. 17, 1863; discharged
Sept, 17, 1863.

Trimble, Robert

Utica, N. Y.

Aug. 8, 1862.

Not officially accounted for.

Torrey, Dana A.

Groveland, Mass.

Sept 22, 1862.

Discharged for disability, Oct. 19, 1863.

Thoom, William H.

Pelham,

Aug. 12, 1862.

Discharged for disability, Jan. 14, 1863.

Wilson, Harry

Rochester,

Sept. 6, 1862

Taken prisoner June 18, 1863.

Woods, Franklin L.

Nashua,

Sept. 11, 1862.

Transferred to V. R. O, Aug. 11, 1863.

Wilson, Alvan S.

Gorham,

" "

Died at Falmouth, Va., Jan. 23, 1863.

Whipple, Austin L.

Concord,

Sept. 13, 1862.

Died at Annapolis, Md., Jan. 22, 1863.

Way, Sydney

Charlestown,

i( it

See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.

Webster, Charles

Dover,

Sept. 15, 1862.

Not officially accounted for.

Webster, Henry

Walpole,

Nov. 7, 1862.

Taken prisoner June 18, 1863.

Woods, William

Unknown,

Sept. 29, 1862.

Taken prisoner June 18, 1863; last reported
at Parole Camp.

White, James

Worcester, Mass.

Oct. 16, 1862.

See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.

Wood, G. H.

Unknown,

Unknown.

See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.

Wooster, Alonzo

*'

Sept. 4, 1862.

Discharged for disability, March 1, 1863.

Webster, Henry M. ^

Walpole,

Nov. 7, 1862.

Not officially accounted for.

Way, Solomon S.

Unknown,

Oct. 11, 1862.

See 1st Regiment N. H. Cavalry.

Warren, John W.

t«

Sept. 15, 1862.

Taken prisoner June 18, 1863.

OS

i>toSOCO >OCO>0 dso

FIELD AND STAFF— (RE-

-ORGANIZED.)

NAME AND RANK.

¦RESIDENCE.

DATE
OP MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Major.

John Rogers,

Newport, R. I.

Mar. 23, 1865.

Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

Assistant. Surgeon.

Albert Utter,
Jan. 20, 1863.
Trans, from Staff old organization, Dec. 21,
Quartermaster-Sergeant.
-
1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Charles E. Ellison,
Roxbury, Mass.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Trans, from Non-Commissioned Staff, old
organization, Dec. 21, 1864; mustered out
Commissary-Sergeant.
Aug. 3, 1865.
Thomas A. Richards,
Providence, R. I.
( ( (t
Trans, from Non-Commissioned Staff, old
organization, Dec. 21, 1864; mustered out
Hospital Steward.
Aug. 3, 1865.
Edward C. Capwcll,
Hopkinton,
Aug. 8, 1862.
Trans, from N. C. Staff, old organization,
Veterinary Surgeon.
Crawford A. Scranton.
Dec. 21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Sept. 18, 1862.
Trans, from N. C. Staff, old organization,
Chief Trumpeter.
William R. Kay,
Dec. 21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Nov. 1, 1862.
Trans, from N. C. Staff, old organization,
Dec. 21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
TROOP A— (EE-OEGANIZED.)
so K
ooto
t-ie
a>>t-
x
Captains.
John Rogers,
George W. Darling,
Newport, R. I.
Dec. 14, 1861.
May 22, 1865.
Trans, from Troop F, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; Major, Nov. 7, 1864.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
TROOP A— (R E-ORGANIZE D)— Continued.

OS

NAME AND RANK.

First Lieutenant.
Samuel C. Willis,.
Second Lieutenants.
James M. Fales,
Stephen H. Pickering,
First Sergeants.
William II. Tallman,
Edward C. Martin,
Quartermaster-Sergeant.
William H. Durfee,
Commissary-Sergeant.
Henry C. Adams,
Sergeants.
Lyman Aylesworth,
William Gardner,
Maurice Crane,

RESIDENCE.

Oxford, Mass.
Warren, R. I.
Providence, R. I.
Tiverton, "
Baden, Germany,
E. Greenwich, R. I.
Milton, Mass.
N. Kingstown, R. I.
Pawtucket, N. Providence,R. I.

Nov. 1, 1864.
March 7, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.

DATE
OE MUSTER.

Mar. 1, 1862.
Jan. 5, 1864.

REMARKS.

Trans, from Troop F, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop F, old organization, Dec,
21, 1864; prisoner of war, Dec. 30, 1864;
exchanged; mustered out March 6, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop F, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; 2d Lieut. Troop C, Jan. 11. 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; 2d Lieut. Troop B, May 19, 1865.
Trans, from Troop H, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; 1st Sergeant, June 6, 1865; mus
tered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organ., Dec. 21,
1864; mustered out Mar. 1, 1865.
Trans, from Corporal Troop C; mustered
out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop F, old organ., Dec. 21,
1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop F, old organ., Dec. 21,
1864; Commissary Sergeant; mustered out
Aug. 3, 1865.

CO i> w
so to
CO >oCO?0 d
so

William F. Doherty,
j£ Charles R. Cross,
Corporals.
Charles W. Bowen,
David A. Mathewson,
Jasper Spencer,
George B. Bennett,
Daniel S. Cooke,
William Walsh,
German P. Thurber,
Farriers.
Joseph L. Straight,
Charles H. Scott,
Saddlers.
Daniel F. Hackett,
Edmund R. Blake,
Musicians.
George H. Flint,

Levant, Maine,
Chesterfield, N. H.
Providence, It. I.
S. Scituate,
E. Greenwich, "
Suffolk Co., Mass.
Ireland,Central Falls, R. I.
E. Greenwich, R. I.
Woonsocket, R. I.
Boston, Mass.
Danville, N. H.
Reading, Mass.

Feb. 10, 1862.
Jan. 5, 1864.

Sept. 1, 1862.
Aug. 8, 1862.
Jan. 5, 1864.

Trans, from Troop G, old organ., DeCT21,
1864; mustered out Feb. 5, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organ., Dec. 21,
1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop F, old organ., Dec. 21,
1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop F, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop F, old org., Dec. 21, 1864;
Sergt, Apr. 1,'65; mustered out Aug. 3, '65.
Trans, from Troop F, old org., Dec. 21, 1864;
Sergeant; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organ., Dec. 21,
1864; Q. M. Sergeant, June 6, 1865; mus
tered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop F, old organization, Dec.
21 , 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Trans, from Troop F, old organ., Dec. 21,
1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop F, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

soCOHsow
o

O>

d
X

T E 0 0 P A— (E E-ORGANIZE D)— Continued.

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OP MUSTER.

Musician.
John Tebo, Wagoner.
James C. Luther,
Privates.
Andrews, George A.
Allan, Henry A.

Manchaug, Mass.
Johnston, R. I.

Jan. 5, 1864.
Mar. 16, 1865.
April 5, "

Angell, John V.
Bearse, Elijah
Boyden, Vernon
Burbank, Samuel H.
Bradford, James H.
Bennett, James

England,

Mar. 14, "
Feb. 4,
April 5, "
Feb. 21, "
April 13, "
Jan. 5, 1864.

Baker, Clovis S.
Brown, John

Ireland,

April 13, 1865
Jan. 5, 1864.

Butman, Warren

Franklin,

Mass.

Aug. 8, 1862.

Curran, John
Cooke, Henry N.
Clark, Henry

Oruble, N

Y.

Feb. 21, 1865.
Feb. 13, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.

Trans, from Troop F, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1805.
Trans, from Troop F, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Absent sick, Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B; mustered out Aug. 3,
1865; died before the regt. was finally paid.
Mustered out Aug., 3, 1865.

" July 8, "
" Aug. 3, "
Trans, from Troop F, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; Corporal, June 6, 1865; mustered
out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
(( tt It c(
Trans, from Troop' F, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

>tosoN

'A aCOXdXCO

Colvin, Lyman
Coughlan, Patrick
Crandall, William 0.
Chace, Sylvester
Cook, Esbon O.
Coburn, Frank
Copeland, Hiram W.
Curtis, James C.
Comstock, Walter

Collins, Alfred
Doyle, Patrick
Dicket, Charles
Dalwigh, George B. Von
Dawley, James V. Jr.
Draper, Theodore W.
Everett, David
Fenner, Alonzo B.
Getty, Harvey
Greene, Charles A.
Grimley, James

E. Greenwich, R. I.
Douglas, Mass.
Providence, R. I.
Easton, Mass.
Trenton, N. J.
Woonsocket, R. I.
Ireland,Prussia,

Providence, R. I.

Feb. 27, 1865.
Sept. 1, 1862.
Mar. 24, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Mar. 14, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Oct. 10, 1862.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Aug. 5, 1862.

Mar. 2, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
April 5, 1865.
June 27, 1863.
Feb. 25, 1865.
April 12, "
Mar. 2,
April 10, "
Feb. 25, "
Feb. 20, "
Aug. 14, 1862.

Mustered out July 8, 1865.
Trans, from Troop F, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21,1864; Bugler; mustered out Aug. 3,'65.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; Bugler; mustered out Aug. 3,'65.
Trans, from Troop F, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out July 26, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; Sergeant, April 1, 1865; mustered
out June 6, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865 .
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
(( If i (I
3', " '
it tt it
Deserted June 9, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.

soCOHsow
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01
-3

TROOP A— (RE-ORGANIZED)— Continued.

OSoo

NAME AND RANK.

Privates — Continued.
Greene, Charles E.
Gray, James
Grimley, James Jr.
Gage, Alexander
Harrington, Bradford J.
Hiscox, Benjamin F.

Hughs, Thomas
Hall, David B
Harris, Aslon
Hall, Calvin
Harrington, Amos
Hilchley, Charles B.
Holliday, George
Helmrich, Louis Von

RESIDENCE.

Providence, R. I.
Coventry, "
Warren, "
Johnston, , '
Raynham, Mass.

Nova Scotia,
Prussia,

DATE
OP MUSTER.

Feb. 27, 1865.
April 11, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
April. 11, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Mar. 4, 1862.

Aug. 26, 1862.
Sept. 18, 1862.
Feb. 27, 1865.
Sept. 18,1862.
Feb. 7, 1865.
Sept. 24, 1862.
April 11, 1865.
June 27, 1863.

REMARKS.

Mustered out May 22, 1865.
Corp. June 6, '65; mustered out Aug. 3, '65.
Trans, from Troop F, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop F, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop F, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; died Oct. 8, 1864, in prison,
Danville, Va.
Trans, from Troop F, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; Corporal, June 6, 1865; mustered
out Aug. 3, 1865.

cr.> toX to
CO >aCOXC XCO

Howland, James H.
Ide, George W.
Its-OO * Jacques, George H.

Joslin, Stephen
Joslin, Lucius B.
Lapham, George B.
Latham, Charles F.
Lewis, Lafayette
Lovely, Charles
Marah, John
Maney, Jeremiah
Mullen, Patrick
Maroney, Edward
McEagan, John
McCann, James
Newell, George F.

Niles, Nathaniel
Nickerson, Charles W.
Nichols, Robert
Potter, George D.
Perry, Theodore A.

Scituate, R. I.
Woonsocket, It. I.

Worcester, Mass.

Glocester,. R. I.

Cranston, R. I.
Boston, Mass.

April 8, 1865.
Oct. 31, 1862
Jan. 5, 1864.

Feb. 7, 1865.
Feb. 10, 1805.
Aug. 8, 1862.
Mar. 16, 1865.
Feb. 23, "
Feb. 28, "
April 13, "
April 10, "
Jan. 5, 1864.
Feb. 23, 1865.
April 11, "
April 10, "
Dec. 14, 1861.

Feb. 4, 1865.
Feb. 7, 1865.
Mar. 16, 1865.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Jan. 5, 1864.

Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop F, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from .Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; Corporal, June 0, 1865; mustered
out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, '64; Farrier; mustered out June 6, '65.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
tt t. a
Deserted June 30, 1865.
Trans, from Troop F, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; prisoner June 6, 1365; mustered
out July 28, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

Trans, from Troop F, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; prisoner of war June 0, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

sosoawrfa
CO
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<>dsofa!

OS

TROOP A— (R E-ORGANIZE D)— Continued.

NAME AND RANK.

Privates — Continued.
Parker, Patrick
Phillips, Ansel P.
Peck, William F.
Phillips, Ferdinand H.
Remington, Byron D.
Remington, William H.
Rogers, David N.
Smith, James
Sullivan, James
Sherman, Abel G.
Scott, Matthew
Sullivan, Patrick
Springsteen, William A.
Spink, William R.
Spencer, Vineum G.
Shannon, Thomas
Sisson, Isaac

RESIDENCE.

Ireland,

Providence, R. I.
S. Kingstown, R. I.
Ireland, Warwick, R. I.
Ireland, Woonsocket, R. I.

DATE
OP MUSTER.

Mar. 1, 1862.
Feb. 8, 1865.
Mar. 10, 1865.
Feb. 13, 1865.
April 12, 1865.
Feb. 6, 1864.
Feb. 14, 1865.
April 13, "
April 12, "
Dec. 14, 1861.
Feb. 21, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Feb. 25, 1865.
Jan 5, 1864.
Feb. 23, 1865.
Mar. 1, 1862.
Aug. 8, 1862.

REMARKS.

Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out March 1, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Absent sick at Portsmouth Grove Hospital,
Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Blacksmith; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Deserted July 10, 1865.
n ii <<
Trans, from Troop F, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out May 19, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out March 1, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865,

CO tt XtoCO aCO>0d soCO

Schancey, Patrick
Turner, Ezekiel T.
Taylor, William
Tarney, Patrick
Thurston, Eben R.
Williams, John
Westcott, Isaac
Wyart, Arthur D.
Williams, James
West, John

Johnston, R. I.
E. Greenwich, R. I.
Johnston, "

Mar. 1, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Aug. 29, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
April 10, 1865.
Mar. 13, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Feb. 23, 1865.
Mar. 22, 1865.
April 10, 1865.

Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans from Troop F, old organization, Dec.
21, 1804; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop F, old organization. Dec.
21, 1864; Corp. ; mustered out June 6, '65.
Trans, from Troop F, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Deserted June 9, 1865.
Trans, from Troop F, old organization, Dec.
21, '64; missing in action since Aug. 17,'64.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Transferred to Troop B.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865. 

So@
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tofanCOds»d

>
dso *

TROOP B— (REORGANIZED.)

Captain.
Allen Baker, Jr.
First Lieutenant.
John R. Umfreville,
Second Lieutenants.
Hebron H. Steere,
Edward C. Martin,
First Sergeant.
Anselm Walker,
Quartermaster-Sergeant.
Emmet R. Scouler,

Providence, R. I.
Warren, "
Baden, Germany,
Roxbury, Mass.
Blackstone, Mass.

July 15, 1862.
Dec. 6, 1864.
Jan. 26, 1863.
June 9, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.

Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
¦ 21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop H, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; 1st Lieut. Troop C, May 19, '65.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; 2d Lieut. Troop D, May 16, '65.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

TEOOP B— (E E-OEGANIZED. )— Continued.

to

NAME AND RANK.

Commissary-Sergeant.
Charles T. Lee,

Charles E. Stone,
Jeremiah Murphy,
George A. Kempton,
Adam Hurdis,
Franklin B. Tefft,
Corporals.
Frank H. Sprague,
Edward M. Brown,
John Kavanaugh,
Leverett C. Stevens,
E. Pendleton Gardiner,

RESIDENCE.

E. Greenwich, R. I.
Barre, Mass.
Providence, R. I.
Uxhridge, Mass.
Johnston, R. I.
Richmond, R. I.
Providence, R. I.
Willimantic, Conn,
Northbridge, Mass.
Providence, R. I.
Johnston, . "

DATE
OP MUSTER.

Jan. 5, 1864.
U ti
I
Feb. 12, 1862.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Mar. 14, 1864.
Jan. 5, 1864.

Mar. 8, 1862.
Sept. 18, 1862.
Mar. "14, 1864.

REMARKS.

Trans, from Troop H, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old org. , Dec. 21 , 1864 ;
discharged May 18, 1865, on Surg, certif.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Feb. 12, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop H, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; prisoner; exchanged; mustered
out March 19, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; pris.; mustered out July 10, '65.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; died May 16, 1865, in hospital at
Annapolis, Md. , of consumption.

>ttso toCO i> % dCO faj dSOCO

Thomas^Pinkerton,Napoleon Seratius,
Farriers.
John Fletcher,
Thomas B. Gould,
John Harrington, Saddler.
Henry F. Steere,
Musicians.
Edwin H. Kimball,
John Hickey,

Louis Kimball, Privates.
Atwood, Leonard W.
Anderson, George
Allan, Henry A.
Armington, Willard
Angell, George J.
Austin, John H.
Briggs, William E.
Bowen, Charles W-

Central Falls, R. I.
S. Providence, R. I.
Strathan, N. II.
Boston, Mass.
N. Providence, R. I.
Lynn, Mass.
Boston, Mass.
Coventry, R. I.
Taunton, Mass.
Providence, R. I.

Jan. 5, 1864
Nov. 8, 1862.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Oct. 10, 1862.
Jan. 5, 1864.

Oct. 29, 1862.
Mar. 3, 1865.
April 5, 1865.
Aug. 2, 1862.
Mar. 29, 1865.
Dec. 14, 1861.
April 10, 1865.
Feb. 9,

Trans, from Troop II, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864;, mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop H, old organization. Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; deserted July 8, 1865.
Trans, from Troop II, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864, mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21,^1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; musterediout Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop H, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; pris. of war since Feb. 12, 1864.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Transferred to Troop A.
Trans, from Troop H, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Mustered out June 9, 1865.
Prisoner of war since Oct. 12, 1863; died
July 15, 1864, at Andersonville, Ga.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

SoCOHsowoadHCOdi>doi>
<!> dSO

TROOP B— (R E-ORGANIZB D)— Continued.

NAME AND RANK.

Privates — Continued.
Bolton, Joseph
Bitgood, Charles H.
Barber, Silas E.
Briden, Samuel
Brown, Samuel G. Jr.
Baker, Charles H.
Card, William

Carpenter, Patrick

-Crossen, Henry
Caldwell, James A.

Caswell, George A.
Clarke, Thomas C.
Conner, George W.
Clarke, George L.

Creed, Philip

RESIDENCE.

N. Shoreham, R. I.
Boston, Mass.
Olneyville, R. I.
Providence, R. I.
Warwick,

date
of muster.

Feb. 17, 1865
April 12,
Feb. 13,
Mar. 24,
April 12,
Feb. 3,
Jan. 5, 1864.

Dec. 14, 1861.

Feb. 15, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.

Feb. 10, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Mar. 30, 1865.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Mar. 6, 1865.

Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

Mustered out June 14, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21,1864; Corporal, May 1, 1865; mustered
out Aug. 3, 1865
Trans, from Troop E, old organ. ; prisoner
of war; died May 24, 1864, at Anderson
ville, Ga.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865
Trans, from Troop H, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; Corporal, June 1, 1865; mus
tered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Corp. June 1, 1865; mustered out Aug. 3, '65.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop H, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; prisoner of war since Oct. 12,
1863.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

> tosowCO > dCOXdso

Crowell, Joseph
Cummins, James
Decker, Thomas
Doherty, Andrew
Dooley, Thomas II.
Donnally, Patrick R.
Eldridge, Samuel P.
Emerson, Orin M.
Elwood, Joseph
Edwards, Edwin A.
Evek'th, Francis
Edwards, Sullivan M.
Farrell, Martin
Fox, David A.
Freelove, Henry B.
Foster, Jaeoli B.
French, Samuel

Providence, It. I.
Ireland, Bristol, R. I.
Providence, R. I
Fall River, Mass.
Providence, R. I.
New Hampshire,
Providence, R. I.
it k
Fall River, Mass.
Germany,

Tan. 5, 1864.
it it
Jan. 15, 1863.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Aug. 11, 1862.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Feb. 27, 1864.
Sept. 16, 1862.
April 10, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Feb. 13, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Mar. 6, 1865.
Dec. 14, 1861.
June 27, 1863.
Mar. 30, 1865.

Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop IT, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out July 8, 1865.
Trans, from Troop II, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop H, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Deserted July 22, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop II, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; absent in arrest Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop H, old organization, Dee.
21, 1864; prisoner of war; died June 6,
1864, at Andersonville, Ga.
Trans, from Troop H, old org. , Dec. 21, 1864;
died March 12, 1864, at Richmond, Va.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

dsoCOHSOK
o dd

d>dn

so

OrOt

TROOP B— (R E-ORGANIZE D)— Continued.

tot

NAME AND RANK.

Privates — Continued.
Gorton, Ray G.
Gallagher, James
Gavitte, Hazard P.
Gardenes, James A. Jr.
Gardner, Henry
Hayward, George W.

Hudson, Thomas
Harrigan, Philip
Hemphill, Joseph
Hopkins, Nelson Jr.
Hammond, Henry L.
Ide, Stephen R.
James, Lewis
Jenkins, William

RESIDENCE.

Warwick, R. I.

Halifax,
Providence, R. I.
New Bedford.Mass.
Providence, R. I.
Foster, S. Providence, R. I.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

Feb. 6, 1864.
Feb. 20, 1865.
Feb. 16, "
April 13, "
April 10, "
Jan. 5, 1864.

April 10, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.

Oct. 13, 1862.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Feb. 7, 1865.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Mar. 14, 1865.
Dec. 14, 1861.

REMARKS.

Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; Sergeant June 1,1865; mustered
out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop H, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; Corporal June 1, 1865; mustered
out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop H, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop H, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop H, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; prisoner of war; died June 14,
1864, at Andersonville, Ga.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop H, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Jan. 21, 1865.

CO > to
so dCO >dCOdd so

Knight, William F.
Kettle, George
Kempton, Harrison W.
Looby, Michael
Louth, John
Larding, Henry
Mathewson, Wm. A. L.
May, Thomas
Mitchell, Leonard
Miller, Charles
Mulholland, Hugh
McCabe, John
Maine, Charles H.

Mott, Charles B.
Mulloney, James
Nichols, James
Newman, James
Northup, Edmund

W.Greenwich, R. I.
Uxhridge, Mass.

N. Providence,R. I.
Providence, R. I.
Valley Falls, "
Pawtucket, "

W. Greenwich, It. I.
Providence, R. I.
N. Kingstown, R. I.

Mar.Jan. Dec.Sept.
Feb.Jan. Mar.
Jan. Feb.
Mar.
Feb.Jan.

8, 1865.
5, 1864.
14, 1861.
22, 1862.
20, 1865.
5, 1864.
2, 1865.
5, 1864.
10, 1865.
14, 1864.
10, 1865.
20, 1862.

Mar. 13, 1865.
Feb. 20, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Aug. 15, 1864.
Mar. 12, 1862.

Mustered out June 15, 1865.
Trans, from Troop H, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop II, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; prisoner of war since Oct. 3, 1864.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 9, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Not accounted for on the rolls.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop H, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; prisoner of war; died June 13,
1864, at Andersonville, Ga.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop H, old org., Dec. 21, 1864;
Corp. May 14, '65; mustered out Aug. 3, '65.
Trans, from Troop H, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop H, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; prisoner of war; died June 12,
1864, at Andersonville, Ga.

sonodto?fa
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dsofaJ

-3

TROOP B— (RE-ORGANIZED)— Continved.

co

NAME AND RANK.

Privates — Continued.
Owen, Frederick A.
Osborne, George
Prew, Charles H.
Potter, Charles H.
Remington, William H.
Robinson, George H.
Ross, James
Rockil, George
Read, Asa K.
Spink, Darius C.

Schofield, Charles W.
Sullivan, John
Stone, George F.

Sawyer, Lorenzo
Shippee, Isaac S.
Tasker, Thomas J.
Tillinghast, George H.

RESIDENCE.

Providence, R. I.

E. Greenwich, R. I.

Barre, Mass.

Providence, R. I.

DATE
OP MUSTER.

Mar. 30, 1865.
Feb. 16, "
Mar. 30, "
April 11, "
Feb. 6, 1864.
Feb. 28, 1865.
Feb. 16, 186.5.
Mar. 30, 1865.
Mar. 2, 1865:
Dec. 14, 1861.

Feb. 27, 1865.
April 10, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.

April 10, 1865.
April 13, 1865.
Mar. 3, 1862.
Feb. 13, 1865.

Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

" July 19, "
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; trans, to Troop A, June 5, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

Died April 18, 1865, in hospital, at Balti
more, Md.
Trans, from Troop H, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; prisoner of war; died June 27,
1864, at Andersonville, Ga.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
(C tt it 11
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; Corporal June 1,1865; mustered
out Aug. 3, 1865.
Deserted June 27, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old organ., Dec. 21,
1864; mustered out Jan. 2, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

> to sodCO>d COX
d So
CO

Verguson, Charles M.
Wishard, William
Willard, Hubbell H.
Wilcox, Barber A.
Wood Emery A.
Williams, James
West, Francis S.

Providence, R. I.
Worcester, Mass.

Feb. 7, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Sept. 18, 1862.
April 11, 1865.
Mar. 15, 1865.
Mar. 22, 1865.
Mar. 6, 1865.

Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop H, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
a n n
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out June 15, 1865.

so
CO
SOW
odd
(faCOd>
dc
>c-iSOfa.

TEOOP C— (EE-OEGANIZED.)

Captain.
George N. Bliss,
First Lieutenants.
Joseph W. Dewey,
Hebron H. Steere,
Second Lieutenant.
William H. Tallman,
First Sergeant.
Charles E. Fox,
Quartermaster-Sergeant.
Thomas A. Harris,
Commissary-Sergeant.
Nathan Atwood, Sergeants.
Otis H. Crossman,

Providence, R. I.
Hanover, N. H.
Tiverton, R. I.
Newport, R. I.
Canada, Warwick, R. I.
Blackstone, Mass.

Nov. 1, 1864.
June 8, 1865.
Jan. 20, 1865.
Aug. 14, 1862.
Dec. 15, 1862.
Jan. 5, 1864.

Trans, from Troop C, old organ., Dec. 21,
1864; mustered out May 20, 1865.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; discharged Feb. 28, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop F, old organ., Dec. 21,
1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old organ., Dec. 21,
1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

TEOOP C— (E E-OEGANIZED. )— Continued.

OOO

NAME AND RANK.

Sergeants — Continued.
Stephen H. Pickering,
Emmons D. Guild,
William P. Lovett,
Corporals.
George F. Cummings,

William W. Marsh,
Albert N. Jacobs,
Edward B. Myers,
John A. Spaulding,
Lyman Aylesworth,
Samuel R. Greene,

RESIDENCE.

Providence, R. I.
Wrentham, Mass.
Boston,Auburn,Ellington, '
Dover, N. H.
Bristol R. I.
Lonsdale, R. I. '
N. Kingstown, R. I.
Warwick, R. I.

Jan. 5, 1864.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Jan 5,1864.

DATE
OP MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; 2d Lieut. Troop A, Jan. 31, '65.
Trans, from Troop G, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out April 1, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; Sergeant May 1, 1865; mustered
out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; Sergeant May 1, 1865; mustered
out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec-
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old org. , Dec. 21, 1864;
Sergt. June 5,'65; mustered out Aug. 3,'65.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; Sergt. Troop A, April I, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; Sergeant, May 1, 1865; mustered
out Aug. 3, 1865.

CO>toso d
CO > d COddSO

Lawrence Cronan,
fe Farrier.
* Asa T. Hicks, Saddler.
Daniel A. Smith,

Ethan S. Brown,
Oliver S. Adams,
Wagoner.
Halsey Ballou, Privates.
Adams, Frederick P.
Arnold, Almond O.
Barber, Stanton L.
Booth, William
Booth, Simpson
Booth, John
Barlow, William
Bates, Willard H.
Bliss, Charles C.
Bond, Addison S.
Brown, John S.

England, Tiverton, It. I.
Smithfield, R. I.
Reading, Mass.
Cumberland, R. I.

Ireland, Warwick, R. I.
Fall River, Mass.
Brimfleld, "
Topsham, Vt.

Jan. 5, 1804.

April 10, 1865.
April 11,
April 12,
April 3,
April 3,
April 3,
Jan. 5, 1864

Trans, from Troop C, old organization,
21, 1864; transferred to Troop D,
1, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization,
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization,
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization,
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization,
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization,
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

Dec.
June Dec.
Dec. Dec.
Dec. Dec.

Trans, from Troop C, old
21, 1864; mustered out

Trans, from
21, 1864.
Trans, from
21, 1864;
Trans, from
, 21, 1864;
Trans, from
21, 1864

Troop B, old
mustered out
Troop C, old
mustered out
Troop C, old
mustered out
Troop C, old
mustered out

organization, Dec.
Aug. 3, 1865.
organization, Dec.
Aug. 3, 1865.
organization, Dec.
Aug. 3, 1865.
organization, Dec.
Aug. 3, 1865.
organization, Dec.
Aug. 3, 1865.

SOModte
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i>
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to
co

TROOP C— (RE-ORGANIZED)— Continued.

torcc OS

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OF MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Privates — Continued.
Bowes, Philip
Burke, James

Boyle, William
Ball, Augustus
Carpenter, Oscar N.

Conway, Patrick
Carter, Edward S.
Carey, Foster H.
Cavanagh, James
Church, Benedict G.
Colburn, Charles H.
Cunningham, Patrick
Colwell, Daniel T.

Smithfleld, R. I.
Lonsdale,Smithfleld,
Providence, ' '
Cumberland, "
Hopkinton, "
Providence, "

April 11, 1865.
Aug. 14, 1862.

Mar. 10, 1865.
April 11, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.

Mar. 21, 1865.
Sept. 22, 1862.
Aug. 12, 1862.
Aug. 7, 1862.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Aug. 29, 1862.
April 10, 1865.

Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864, as prisoner of war; died July 23,
1864, at Andersonville, Ga.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21,1864; Corporal, May 1,1865; mustered
out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; Corporal, June 6, 1865; mustered
out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June '6, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

toSO d
CO > d COX d
soCO

Dexter, Raphael
Donahue, Michael
Diamond, James
Draper, Alvin A.
Dyer, John
Earle, Thomas A.
Eldridge, Ransom F.
Field, Henry
Field, James L.
Ford, William B.
Fuller, George H.
Fuller, Manly J.
Gavitt, Philetus 0.
Graves, George A.
Graves, Abraham

Providence, R. I.
Ireland, S. Providence, R. I.
Pawtucket, R. I.
Central Falls,
Olneyville,Providence, Smithfleld,Providence,Coventry,
Providence,

Jan. 5, 1864.
Mar. 8, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Oct. 25, 1862.
Aug. 25, 1862.
Jan. 5, 1864.

Sept. 26, 1862.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Sept. 23, 1862.
Oct. 19, 1864
Jan. 5, 1864.
Mar. 3, 1865.
Sept. 22, 1862.

Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865,
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; discharged Feb. 18, 1865, on
Surgeon certificate.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Deb.
21, 1864; taken prisoner March, 1865; ex
changed ; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out May 30, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization. Dec.
21, 1864; Corp.; mustered out June 6, '65.

so
CO H
SOwoddl-l
CO d>doi>
dSOHi

O! CO
OS

TEOOP C— (E E-OEGANIZE D)— Continued.

toiOOrfa-

NAME AND RANK.

Privates — Continued. t
Gay, Albert E.
Hopkins, James R.
Hanley, Thomas
Hawkins, George C.
Hunt, William H.
Johnson, Welcome A.
Kindred, Henry E.
Lawson, Lewis
Latham, William H.
Leedham, John
Loramore, Robert S.
Lovell, Isaac B.
Luther, Samuel O.
Leach, Owen L.

RESIDENCE.

Providence, R. I.
Seekonk, Mass.
Allendale, R. I.
Providence, R. I.
Smithfleld,
Lonsdale,Providence,Allendale,Providence,

DATE
OP MUSTER.

April 10, 1865.
Mar. 13, 1865.
April 11, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.

Mar. 30, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.

Mar. 9, 1864.
Jan. 5, 1864.
April 12, 1865.

REMARKS.

Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

Trans, from Troop B, old org., Dec. 21 , '64;
Corp., Anr 1, 1865; mus. out Aug. 3, '65.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; Corporal, June 6, 1865; mus
tered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug.^3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21 , 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

>toso d
CO d COXdso

Mattison, Amasa L.
McCarty, John
Morse, Andrew
Moore, Francis E.
Makee, William H.
Miller, Herbert E.
Monaghan, James
Moshier, Joseph H.
Myers, George W.
Nye, George
Nichols, Harrison G.
Oliver, James
Potter, James B.
Packard, William J.
Parmenter, Winslow B.
Potter, Ashael S.
Pearce, George M.

Putnam, James L.

Scituate, R. I.
Wareham,. Mass.
Warwick, R. I.

Providence, R. I.
Bristol, ' '
W.Greenwich, R. I.
Cumberland, R. I.

Bristol, R. I.

Jan. 5, 1864.
April 11, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
April 10, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
April 14, 1865
Aug. 4, 1862.
Jan. 5, 1864.

Feb. 13, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Aug. 15, 1862.
April 11, 1865.
Mar. 9, 1865.
Aug. 8, 1862.
April 10, 1865.
Dec. 14, 1861.

April 10, 1865.

Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; Bugler; mustered out Aug. 3,'65.
Mustered out Aug. ?, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21,1864; Saddler; mustered out Aug. 3/65.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.

Trans, from Troop B,
21, 1864; mustered
Trans, from Troop B,
21, 1864; mustered
Mustered out Aug. 3,
Trans, from Troop B,
21, 1864; mustered
Trans, from Troop C,
21, 1864; mustered
Mustered out Aug. 3,

old organization, Dec.
out Aug. 3, 1865.
old organization, Dec.
out Aug. 3, 1865.
1865.
, old organization, Dec.
out Aug. 3, 1865.
old organization, Dec.
out June 6, 1865.
1865.

Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; deserted Nov. 28, 1863; returned
Aug. 1, 1864; sentenced by G. C. M., to
make good all time lost by desertion.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

soCOr-3
SOaodHM
COdd
o<d
SO

GO en

TEOOP C— (E E- 0 EG A N I Z E D)— Continued.

toi COOS

NAME AND RANK.

Privates — Continued.
Pierce, Duty J.
Pray, John
Reiily, John O.
ltay, Samuel
Reynolds, Clark
Kotbwell, John W.
Rowe, Joseph
Rourke, John
Riley, John
Shaw, Cornelius O.
Swift, George G.
Sheldon, Albert G.
Steere, Dwight
Spaulding, George H.
Steere, John H.
Sutherland, Hugh

RESIDENCE.

Canada,
Bristol, R. I.
Providence, It. I.
Richmond, "
Lonsdale, "
Cumberland, "

DATE
OP MUSTER.

April 11, 1865.
April 11, "
Mar. 22,
Sept. 27, 1864.
April 12, 1865:
Dec. 14, 1861.
Mar. 20, 1865.
Sept. 20, 1862.
April 6, 1865.
Dec. 3, 1862.
April 10, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
April 5, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Sept. 15, 1862.
Aug. 2, 1862.

Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Sept. 29, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out May 1, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old org., Dec. 21, '64;
Corp., June 1, '65; must'd out Aug. 3, '65.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.

tosow

d

Xd so
CO

Searle, Albert E.
Tallman, Benjamin G.
Taylor, John W.
Thurber, Frank A.
Tourjee, William II.
Talbot, William B.
Wilson, James
Ward, Thomas Jr.
Watson, Elhanan
Webb, John S.
Winterbottom, James
Wood, Henry A.

Captain.
Willis C. Capron,
First Lieutenant.
Andrew G. Lorrimer,
Second Lieutenants.
George W. Darling,

Providence, R. I.
New York, N. Y.
Central Falls, R. I.
Warwick, R. I.
Pawtucket, R. I.
Smithfleld,Foster,

April 13, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.

April 12, 1865.
Mar. 13, 1865.
Mar. 9, 1864.
April 8, 1865.
Sept. 1, 1862.
Aug. 4, 1862.
Jan. 5, 1864.

Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop C, old organization, Dec.
21,|1864; jnustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

Trans, from Troop B,
21, 1864; mustered
Mustered out Aug. 3,
Trans, from Troop C,
21, 1864; mustered
Trans, from Troop C,
21, 1864; mustered
Trans, from Troop B,
21, 1864; mustered

old organization, Dec.
out Aug. 3, 1865.
1865. old organization, Dec.
out June 6, 1865.
old organization, Dec.
out June 6, 1865.
old organization, Dec.
out Aug. 3, 1865.

TEOOP D— (EE-OEGANIZED.)

Woonsocket, R. I.
Providence,

Nov. 16, 1863.
Dec. 2, 1864.
Mar. 1, 1863.

Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop B, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; Captain Troop A, May 15, 1865.

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TEOOP D— (E E-OEGANIZB D)— Continued.

oo

NAME AND RANK.

Second Lieutenants.
Anselm Walker,
First Sergeant.
Henry A. Carder,
Quartermaster-Sergeant.
Elton P. Dotey,

Freeman L. Fuller,
Jeremiah Coughlan,
Allen C. Sweeting,
Isaac King,
Horace H. Pierce,
Philip B. Carroll,
Corporals.
Alfred P. Palmer,
Nicholas Eagah,

RESIDENCE.

Roxbury, Mass.
E. Greenwich, R. I.
Wallingford, Vt.
Sutton, Mass.
Ireland,
Valley Falls, R. I.
Sutton, Mass.
Mendon, "
Nova Scotia,
N. Baltimore, N.Y.
Westerly, R. I.

date
op muster.

May 28, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.

Feb. 19, 1862.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Jan. 5, 1864.

Aug. 14, 1862.

REMARKS.

Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop H, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec
21, 1864; 1st Sergeant, Jan. 1, 1865; mus
tered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec
21, 1864; mustered out Feb. 19, 1865.
Mustered out Jan. 11, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old 'Organization, Dec
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop H, old organization, Dec
21, 1864; deserted July 25, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organ., Dec. 21,
1864; Com. Sergeant, May 1, 1865; mus
tered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.

i>tosodCOdCD XdSoCO

George H. Martin,
g Nathaniel T. Wilcox,
Farriers.
v Lawrence Gibney,
Samuel Brown,

Lewis R. Whiting,
Musicians.
Cwen Dooner,
Philo S. White, Wagoner.
Charles H. Legg,
Privates.
Angell, William H.
Armington, Hervey B.
Atkinson, John
Ashworth, Noah A.
Ashworth, George

Angell, George J.
Allen, Charles N.

Westerly, R. I.
Charlestown, Mass.
Ireland, Newport, It. I.

Glocester, R. I.
Masonville, R. I.
Scituate, R. I.
Newcastle, Del.
England,
Providence, R. I.

Aug. 13, 1862.
Aug. 15, 1862.
Jan. 5, 1864.
If It
Mar. 12, 1864.
Jan. 5, 1864.

April 10, 1865.
July 26, 1862.
Mar. 6, 1865.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Mar. 31, 1865.
Aug. 26, 1862.

Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 16, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
" 21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans; from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; deserted June 5, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; term of service extended 1 year,
6 months, for desertion.
Mustered out May 31, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; prisoner of war; died Aug. 21,
1864, at Andersonville, Ga.

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TEOOP D— (EE-0 EG AN IZED)— Continued.

toio ©

NAME) AND RANK.

Privates — Continued.
Ashley, James
Bennett, William H.
Brownell, Major W.
Beckton, James C. .
Brow<n, Jerry H.
Barnaby, James C.
Bachelor, Charles H.
Baker, Franklin O.
Borden, Holden B.
Baalam, James
Colwell, Edward F.
Cole, Henry T.
Cantello, Stephen
Capwell, Willard T.

RESIDENCE.

Phenix, R. I.
Quidnick,
Fall River, Mass.
Northampton, "
Tiverton, R. I.
Hebronville, Mass?
Providence, R. I.
Bradford, Mass.
Sterling, Conn.

date
of muster.

Nov. 15, 1864.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Aug. 19, 1862.
Aug. 29, 1862.
Aug. 15, 1862.
April 13, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
April 7, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Feb. 27, 1865.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Jan. 5, 1864.

REMARKS.'

Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Prisoner; exchanged; trans, from Troop D,
old org. ; mustered out Oct. 10, 1864.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
' 21, 1864; Corp. ; mustered out June 6, '65.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; Corp. ; mustered out Aug. 3, '65.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from' Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug.- 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Oct. 4, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

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Cooke, Joseph W.
Corcoran, James
Card, William
Cronan, Lawrence

Cooke, William H.
Collins-, James H.

Callahan, Malachi
Dunn, James
Dowling, William
Durfee, Andrew
Daly, James
Eldridge, James P. O.
Fish, Delos
Felch, Edward M.
Greene, Albert A.
Gould, Charles E.

Wrcntham, Mass.
Plainfleld, Conn.
England,Dutchess, N. Y.
Boston, Mass.

Pascoag, R, I.
Fall River, Mass.
Newport, R. I.
Canterbury, Mass.
Douglas, Mass.
E. Douglas, Mass.

Aug. 5, 1862.
April 4, 1865.
Aug. 14, 1862.
Jan. 5, 1864.

Dec. 14, 1861.

April 11, 1865.
April 5, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Dec. 14, 1861.
April 7, 1865.
Dec. 14, 1861.

April 11, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Dec. 14, 1861.

Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1804; mustered out June 0, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1805.
Transferred from Troop C, June 1, 1865;
Sergeant; Q. M. Sergeant; mustered out
Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old org., Dec. 21, '64;
Corp., Apr. 1, 1865; mus. out Aug. 3, '65.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, as
prisoner of war; died at Richmond, Va.,
Feb., 1864.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864, as prisoner of war.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization; de
serted June 25, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 28, 1865.
Mustered out July 22, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864, as prisoner of war; died Feb. 25,
1864, at Belle Island, Va.

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TEOOP D— (E E-OEGANIZE D)— Continued.

O!CO CO

NAME AND HANK.

Privates — Continued.
Goddard, Abraham F.
Gougenhorn, John
Gilmartin, Richard
Hackley, William

Harvey, Andrew
Hunt, Caleb W.

Hudson, Marinus W.
Ilerriek, Amos H.
Hopkins, George L.
Herrick, William A.
¦
Joslin, James A.
Johnson, James B.

RESIDENCE.

Holden, Mass.
Germany,
Fall River, Mass.

Valley Falls, R. I.
Holland, Mass.
Voluntown, Conn.
Bellingham, Mass.
Warwick, R. I.

DATE
OP MUSTER.

Jan. 5, 1864.

Feb. 27, 1865.
Aug. 11, 1862.

April 8, 1865.
Dec. 14, 1861.

April 5, 1865.
Dec. 14, 1861.
April 1, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Aug. 14, 1862.
Jan. 5, 1864.

Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec. \
21,1864; deserted April 18, 1863; returned
Oct. 13, 1864; sentenced to make good all
time lost by desertion.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, as
prisoner of war; died Aug. 1, 1864, at An
dersonville, Ga.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Jan. 15, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; transferred to V. R. C.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

totodCO > dCO ddsoCO

Jillson, Welcome R.
g Knowles, John M.
* Kelley, Edwin A.
Kennedy, William
Kelley, Daniel
Lynch, Michael C.
Linahan, Thomas
Lewis, Courtland
Leonard, James M.
McLear, John
Miner, Stephen

McDonald, Richard
McNanney, Patrick
McCoy, Edward
Monroe, Samuel P.
Miller, Seth B.
Millington, James W.
Moore, Patrick P.

Cumberland, R. I.
Newport, R. I.
Ireland, Johnston, R. I.
Ireland, Providence, R. I.
N. Kingstown, R. I.
Rhode Island,

Aug. 14, 1862.
April 12, 1865.
Nov. 30, 1864.
April 10, 1865.
Mar. 25, 1865.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Mar. 3, 1865.
Aug. 8, 1862.
April 12, 1865.
April 16, 1865.
Aug. 29, 1862.

Sept. 23, 1862.
Sept. 26, 1862.
July 27, 1864.
Mar. 28, 1864.
April 7, 1865.
Dec. 14, 1861.
April 11, 1865,

Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Deserted June 28, 1865.
Sergeant March 1, 1865; mustered out Aug.
3, 1865.
Deserted June 25, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organ., Dec. 21,
1864; mustered out May 18, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Deserted June 28, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; prisoner of war; died June 9,
1864, at Andersonville, Ga.
Trans, from Troop E, old organization, Dec.
> 21, 1864; deserted June 1, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old org., Dec. 21, 1864;
Corporal; mustered out Aug. 3, 1805.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864, as prisoner of war; died July 31,
1864, at Andersonville, Ga.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

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TEOOP D— (EE-0 EG AN IZED)— Continued.

to! CD

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OP MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Privates — Continued.
McGovern, George
Mowry, Stephen G.
O'Brien, James
O'Rourke, James
Oatley, Edward F.
Peck, William
Parker, George W.
Pettis, John H.
Potter, Harris O.
Presbury, James W.
Peck, William F.
Reilley, John B.
Read, Nathan H.
Rutherford, John
Rankin, John
Raynor, John G.

Johnston, R. I.
Narragansett, R. I.
Providence, R. I.
Coventry, "
Providence,
England, Scotland,
Westerly, R. I.

April 12, 1865.
April 11, "
Aug. 29, 1862.
April 10, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Jan. 16, 1862.
April 7, 1865.
April 10, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
April 10, 1865.
Jan. 16, 1862.
Feb. 13, 1865.
April 10, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.

Aug. 6, 1862.

Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Deserted June 25, 1865.
Trans, from Troop I, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865=
Trans, from Troop -A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Dec. 26, 1864.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
tt It !<
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1864.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Dec. 26, 1864.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Corp. June 7, 1865; mustered out Aug. 3, '65.
Trans, from Troop D, old organ., Dec. 21,
1864; Corp. ; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organ., Dec. 21,
1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization) Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.

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Rathbone, Jeremiah
Shaw, William
Sunderland, William A.
Stewart, William
Snow, George
Stanton, Benjamin T.
Smith, Edward H.
Studley, Frederick A.
Soule, Edward B.
Smith, John M.
Snow, Alfred
Salisbury, William B.
Towne, Allen W.
Trainor, James
Vandorne, James W.
Wadkins, Albert J.
Wilcox, Henry B.

N. Kingstown, R. 1.
England, River Point, It I.
Middletown, Va.
E. Douglas, Mass.
Worcester, Mass.
Stonington, Conn.
Union, Conn.
Douglas, Mass.

Hope Village, R. I

Dec. 14, 1861.

Jan. 5, 1864.^
it It
Aug. 15, 1804.
Jan. 5, 1864.
April 11, 1865.
Aug. 7, 1862.
April 10, 1865.
Aug. 15, 1862.
Mar. 31, 1865.
Feb. 24, 1865.
April 4, 1865.
Jan. 5, 1864.
Feb. 27, 1865.
March 13, 1864.
Jan. 5, 1864.
July 29, 1862.

Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864, as prisoner of war; died July 31,
1864, at Andersonville, Ga., of chronic
diarrhoea.
Trans, from Troop I), old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1805.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 8, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3*, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out Aug. 3, 1865,
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Deserted June 28, 1865.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; Corporal, June 1, 1865; mustered
out Aug. 3, 1865.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; mustered out June 6, 1865.

toCOHSOWcdd
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COtoi

TEOOP D— (EE-0 EG AN IZED)— Continued.

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OP MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Privates — Continued.

West, Hiram

Warwick, R. I.

Dec. 14, 1861.

Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864, as prisoner of war; died June 15,
1864, at Andersonville, Ga.

Weir, George

April 12, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
West, George W.
Dec. 14, 1861.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864, as prisoner of war; died Aug. 31,
1864, at Andersonville, Ga.
Westcott, Joseph Jr.
April 10, 1865.
Mustered out July 19, 1865.
Wilcox, Lyman Jr.
Cumberland, R. I.
Aug. 6, 1862.
Trans, from Troop D, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864; "mustered out June 6, 1865.
Wright, Edward F.
April 10, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
Watson, Joseph
" " "
York, Isaac F.
Westerly, R. I.
Aug. 15, 1862.
Trans, from Troop A, old organization, Dec.
21, 1864, as prisoner of war; died Feb. 15,
1864, at Belle Island, Va.
Young, Frank H.
Mar. 25, 1865.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.
toSOd CO> dCo ?0d to
UNASSIGNED RECRUITS.

NAME AND RANK.

RESIDENCE.

DATE
OP MUSTER.

REMARKS.

Privates.

Blair, Joseph

Feb. 13, 1865.
Brabair, Theodore
Mar. 2,
Doxey, John
Mar. 25, "
Heffring, Michael
Feb. 21, "
lnglish, William
Fob. 2, "
Kittredge, Hiram M.
Mar. 21, "
Kneeland, James
Feb. 16, "
Mahan, Michael
-
" "
McGuire, James
" "
McKenna, William
Ireland,
Aug. 8, 1864
Stewart, William
Rhode Island,
Aug. 15, 1864.
Williams, Barney
Feb. 16, 1865.
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598 SABRES AND SPURS.

CHAPTER LXVI.
THE VETERAN ASSOCIATION.
" The links, en wove by stern self-sacrifice,
Brother to brother binding.''
IeCULIAELY tender and enduring is the fellow- x
ship of arms, formed and matured amid perils,
privations, and sufferings, endured for the love of liberty
and the welfare of our country. Herein is a bond of
brotherhood that is sacred and imperishable.
The veterans of the honored First Rhode Island Cav
alry, after many preliminary consultations, formed a
Veteran Association; September 15, 1869, with the fol
lowing officers :
President — Major John Rogers.
First Vice-Presidents — Captain Allen Baker, Jr.
Second Vice-President — Captain George W. Darling.
Treasurer — Lieutenant Hebron H. Steere.
Chaplain — Rev. Ethan R. Clarke.
Historian — Rev. Frederic Denison.
Executive Committee — Edward C. Capwell, Sam
uel R. Greene, George F. Cummings, "Welcome A.
Johnson. The first re-union was held December 14, 1869, the
anniversary of our muster-in to the United States ser
vice. At this meeting, in the Horse Guards Armory, in

FIRST RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY. 599
Providence, Chaplain Denison delivered an historical
address. The second re-union was held July 18, 1873, at Eocky
Point, E. I., in connection with the veterans of other
Rhode Island regiments. Here decisive steps were taken
for securing the history of the old command. All were
enthusiastic for the work. The following officers were
elected :
President — Major William H. Turner.
First Vice-President — Captain George N. Bliss.
Second Vice-Presidents — Sergt. Thomas A. Richards.
Secretary — Lieutenant Andrew G. Lorimer.
Treasurer — Lieutenant Hebron H. Steere.
Chaplain — Eev. Frederic Denison.
Executive Committee — Major P. M. Farrington,
Quartermaster C. A. Leonard, Lieutenant E. C. Mar
tin, Corporal W. A. Johnson.
The third re-union occurred at Eocky Point July 17,
1874. By request of the Historian, who was pushing on
his work, a committee was appointed to assist him, con
sisting of Major P. M. Farrington, Major W. H. Turner,
Captain Allen Baker, Jr. At the same time the Associa
tion adopted a badge, and also raised funds for defraying
the expenses of the Association. The following officers
were chosen :
Presidents — Major P. M. Farrington.
First Vice-President — Lieutenant Edward C. Martin.
Second Vice-Presidents — Sergt. Lyman Aylesworth.
Secretary— Sergeant Thomas A. Eichards.
Treasurer — Captain George N.. Bliss.
Chaplain — Eev. Frederic Denison.
Executive Committee — Major W. H. Turner, Dan
iel S. Cook, Edward B. Myers, David S. Eay.

600 SABRES AND SPURS.
The fourth re-union was held, in connection with the
re-unions of most of the Veteran Associations of Rhode
Island, at Oakland Beach, July 29, 1875. The elected
officers were :
President — Major P. M. Farrington.
First Vice-President — Lieut. Samuel C. Willis, Jr.
Second Vice-Presidents — Sergt. William Gardiner.
Secretary — Sergeant T. A. Richards.
Treasurer — Captain George N. Bliss.
Chaplain — Rev. Frederic Denison.
Executive Committee — Corporal W. A. Johnson, Cap
tain Joshua Vose, Captain G. "W. Darling, First Ser
geant J. E. Bennett, Corporal James R. Allen.
Constitution and by-laws adopted.
Historical Committee reported progress.
Letters read from Generals Torbert and Duffie.
Reviewed, with other associations, by Major-General
A. E. Burnside and Governor Lippitt.

Let your helm adorn your cottage;
Let your belt hang on the wall;
Keep your knapsack as a relic;
Guard your sabre in your hall;
Hold your spurs all marred by battle,
And your bullet-riven blouse,
With the bloody grime upon it,
As the jewels of your house.
Of these we will tell our children,
Proofs of valor and of scars,
And will bid them guard your memory
While they hold the Stripes and Stars.

Fold out