Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-07-29
NUMBER 20.

ward the James river.
Thus far the record of CONS. ID. and
f. runs separately from the other portions
of the First District of Columbia Cavalry
that were raised in Maine But on the
23d of May the other six companies from
the Pine Tree State joined them, then at
Bermuda Hundreds, and the regiment
was together for the first time. On the
25th of May, a portion of the Cavalry
among which was this regiment was put
into the entrenchments to allow the Eight
ecnth Corps TO proceed 20 White House
to cooperate with the Army of the POto-
the enemys cannon most of the time,
until June 10th, and gallantIy repulsing
severe attack of the enemy on
the 1th. On the 10th this regiment
moved, with the division, to assist in
capturing Petersburg, and charged and
took the enemys works near the Jerusa-
lem Plank Road against three times their
number fighting behind breastworks and
capturing many prisoners. when it was
learned that the infantry had returned to
camp without striking blow, and Gen.
kautz was compelled to retire On the
18th a second demonstration was made
on Petersburg, resulting in forcing the
enemy back 10 his inner line of entrench-
ments, in which engagement this rcgi-
mcnt was highly compllmcnted for It's
gallanty.
On the DIST of June the regiment
started. with the division on what was
known as Wilson's Raid The raiders
cut the Weldon Railroad at Ream's Sta
ton, the South Side Railroad at Ford's
and Blacks and Whites Stations, and
the Richmond & Danyille Railroad at
Keysville and brakes Depot, destroying
public buildings, tearing up the railroads
for miles, and burning locomotives and
trains, storehouses, stations, &c. The
command reached Roanoke Bridge, over
the Staunton river on the 26th, which
bridge this regiment was detailed to burn
The regiment charged gallantly but were
met by heavy fire of artillery and were
compelled to abandon the attempt The
return march was then commenced. On
the morning of the 2Sth the force was
met by Hampton's and Fitz Hugh Lees
cavalry and artillery, at the Iron Bridge,
across Stoney Creek. and a severe en-
gagement took place, in which this regi-
ment lost eighty, killed, wounded and
missing. The result was indecisiye, but
the command was allowed 20 continue its
march. On arriving at Ream's Station,
Gen. Kautz, who led the advance, found
himself confronted by the enemy, both
infantry and artillery. Mahone's whole
division with brigade from another
division, had been sent out to intercept
them. The First District of Columbia
and Eleventh Pennsylvania regiments
charged through the enemy's line, but for
some reason Gen. Wilson instead Of fol-
lowing them, fell back, abandoning these
two regiments to their fate. Alter severe
hardships they got out in safety, reach
ing their old camp at James's Landing
the next day.
Then came season of drill, picket,
&c, until July 9th, when the regiment
with the whole cavalry force then serving
with the army of the Potomac went
across the James river to draw the enemy
from Petersburg. where an assault was
10 be made in connection with the cXplo-
sion of the mine, on which expedition
this regiment had some skirmishing with
the enemy August I'd the regiment was
sent to the left of our lines in front of
Petersburg, in picket, and headquarters
were established at Sycamore Church. On
the 2lst, 22d and 2jth this regiment
took part in the battles which resulted in
the capture of the Weldon Railroad,
driving force of the enemy four miles
on the 22d, driving Hamptons Legion
back in the afternoon of the same day,
and meeting and repulsing the enemy in
three distinct engagements on the 18th.
Then the regiment went back to Syca-
more Church and went on picket covering
line five miles long.
At daybreak September 18th, Hamp-
toms cavalry and three brigadcs of infan-
try made a combined attack upon this
picket line. striking it in front and on
both hanks, getting it in on the right
through another regiment, and going
around TO the extreme left where there
were no pickets. 1t was a feartnl strug-
gle, but numbers and the advantage of
the complete surprise, gave the victory to
the enemy, who departed with more than
half of this regiment as prisoners, and
twenty-three hundred head of cattle-the
object of the attack.
In this engagement Daniel F. Davis,
who in the meantime had been promoted
to corporal, was taken prisoner The
record thus far is the record of his CON-
pany and regiment while he was with
them. Soon after this engagement the
Maine men in the First District of Colum-
bia Cavalry were transferred to the First
Maine Cavalry, and Corporal Davis,
though prisoner, was, as were scores OF
his comrades, transferred with the rest,
and was borne on the first Maine rolls
from that time. He was assigned to Co.
F., and appears in the Adjutant Generals
report for 1864, dated November 30th,
as corporal of Co. F., transferred from
lst D. c. Cavalry, missing in action Sept.
l6." He is borne on the monthly returns
of Co. F. as prisoner of war" from the