The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1868-03-13
The First Prisoner.

The EirSf PRISONER.
Was there any one that did not know
McCarty, while the Vermont Cavalry
regiment was III camp at Burlington
Ifany such there were, they did not be-
long to the original organization. Me-
Carly was enrolled in Capt. Conger's
Co B, and joined the regiment from St
Adams. He early gained for himself a
peculiar reputation, and his individuals
| ty became distinctly known. As ! re-
member him, he was somewhat adj
vanced in years, perhaps 45; but in this
there was no discredit, nor, perhaps dis
! advantage, when we consider that many
/ older men than himself would be caval-
~ soldiers.
1t was the popular idea OF the times
that the aged could ride on horseback to
meet the enemy, better than to go on
! foot. but obstacles were soon discovered
to be in their way to active service
In proportion to the age Of the trooper,
as general rule, was the size of his
| bundle strapped to the cantel of his
| saddle Their portmanteaus became so
| enlarged, in some instances, with their
economical desires to move bed and
| bedding, that it wa4 impossible for
them to throw foot over the bundle
! without assistance from others. Sull
there was a place found for every one
elsewhere, who could not excel in the
ranks, and frequently, as in the case Of
McCarty, the soldier selected for HIM
self.
Time wore away in camp at Burling-
ton, with roll calls, drills upon foot and
the school Of the trooper mounted
| Whether McCarty ever learned the
precise method of saddling, bridling and
mounting horse, cannot say. Wheth-
| er he became acquainted with the par
ticular manner of holding the reins in
the left hand | do not know, but my
! opinion is he cared for none of these
4 things His forte was rather 10 obtain
egress from camp-to steal his way
passed the guards and sentries who
were stationed around it NTH clubs, 10
| operate outside. Heevidently possessed
| from the start. all of those essential
| qualities which were afterwards found
to characterize first class hummer in
| the army. The buBimers were not with
| out their usefulness, and when the class
was not too large, they Were valuable
| APPENDICES, and the me.ses TO which
/ .b,,r Ill ,..,,,-olI.- I;,.oI nell
The regiment had embarked upon
! the cars at Burlington-had tickled the
people Of New York city in making its
display in passing through Broadway
had galloped from Jersey City to Eliza
bethport, where riders became dis
mounted, and the highway literally
strewn with blankets, bundles, and all
| the livery OF war, reminding one Of
grand retreat but McCarty remained
| steadfast in the saddle. The horses Were
never afterwards ridden faster than a
| walk except on extraordinary occa-
sions. The regiment took the cars
again at Elizabethport, and wendell its
weary way through Harrisburgh 10
Washington, and McCarty was ever
| useful in filling canteens for the boys
at the corner groceries on the road
/ When the regiment reached Washing
ton, il went into Camp Graveyard,
east OF the Capitol, where the mud was
knee deep and the graves wide open
| He did not accept the invitation to
remain there, bat moved forward with
the rest of us to Annapolis. Here the
regiment went into camp of instruction,
and was brigaded with the 9Th New
York Ira Harrisl Cavalry, Gen. Hatch
commanding.
The camp was delightful and the
time passed pleasantly away in the usu-
al routine of roll calls, drills, and dress
parades in the day time, and occa-
sional dances on Co. b street in the even
ing. While some were painting for ac-
tive service and serious combats, Others
were satisfied 81 toilet well enough alone
and be contented where they were
Rumor sometimes told strange stories
which the soldiers eagerly caught up
and greatly exaggerated. IT was said
that there was asecesh recruiting station
and supply depot half days ride away
upon the Chesapeake Bay, that was do
ing service for the army of jeff Davis.
Information reached Gen. Hatch to this
effect, and he determined tosenda COM
pany of cavalry to squelch the concern
and arrest the offenders. Accordingly
Capt. Hammond's Co. H., 5th n. Y. II
think was selected for this purpose, and
moved out OF camp early one morning
in February With high hopes and
great expectations the troopers pressed
forward, ambitious TO secure the first
trophies of the war.
Upon reaching the place, the large
number of rebels, Of which they had
heard so much, were no where to be
found. They could discover but one
person upon whom sufficient suspicion
rested to warrant his arrest, and he was
Maryland Rebel by his own confess
sions. He was Overpowered of course
and secured with but little resistance.
He was marched with his horse, at the
head of the column in the first set of
tours into our brigade camp, and cross
ed the lines near our company quarters
before shutdown.
At this time none OF us had seen a
rebel prisoner, and we had the extreme
Yankee curiosity to crafty in witness
ing the first one. Sullenly with the
stubbornness and reticence OF South
erner, he appeared. Although over
powered he was not cast down. His
mind seemed to be employed in deep
study how he should extricate himself
from his uncomfortable position. The
Ira Harris boys were elated over
their good success in capturing such
man, and gave vent to their feelings in
expressions of gladness. Well they
might rejoice, for they had captured
the first prisoner, man too who was
evidently dangerous character.
But there was another feature to the
affair. The prisoner was recognized,
and accosted with Halo McCarty,
| captured taken prisoner Ell? But the