The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1886-03-24
PICTURES OF THE WAR.
[By Col. A. Wilson Norris.]

raise force to consist OF twelve regiments
of infantry, one rife, one artillery, and one
cavalry regiment, to be held in reserve by
the State, under control OF the Governor,
from the war. This force afterwards be-
came what is now so well known as the
Reserve Corps, and the distinguished and
gallant service it rendered is a part Of the
record OF nearly every battle in which the
Army of the Potomac participated. The
cavalry regiment was composed almost
exclusively OF countrymen, Gov. Curtin
refusing to accept companies for it from
large towns and cities, in the belief that
adapted to this arm OF the service, be-
cause, as rule, they had some knowledge
of horses, and were more Injured to labor
and fatigue than the men OF the cities. The
recruits of this regiment were, therefore,
mostly farmers who chose to enter this
branch of the service for love OF it-men
who were hor ,emen. accustomed to the
use and care of horses, and who were good,
if not trained riders.
BORN CAvALRYMAN.
The regiment was slngularly fortunate in
securing for it's colonel Lieut.. George D.
Bayard, of the regular army, whose abili-
ties and gallantry were SO marked that
only q few months after he was placed in
charge OF the First Cavalry he was pro.
motel to the command of all the cavalry
south of the Potomac in Virginia. Bayard
was born cavalryman, and had he lived
would have been perhaps the most noted
"master OF horse" in the war.
On the occasion of the presentation t:'
him OF q sword by the First Cavalry, after
he had become general officer. the young
soldier spoke eloquently OF the happy days
when he rode chief of the First PenDsylva-
MIA horse, and said: "The dream OF my
youth has been to command a regiment OF
cavalry, whose officers and men alike ask
not where they 60 or what they do, but
bravely follow where'er my hand should
point the way" and the incident we are
ton of this trustfulness on the part OF the
brave men he addressed.
A few extracts from letters OF this ehiyal.
rous officer will give US a closer insight OF
his character, and the noble aspirations
that moved him, and of the loss the conn-
try ustained in his untimely death. When
made Brigadier-General, in writing
to his father, he said: Mcdowell will give
me q brigade of three or four regiments OF
cavalry, and battery. He expects much
of me, gallant deeds and daring conduct,
and must not disappoint him. Give my
love to the dear ones at home and say that
although am to lead the army in every
fight, yettrnst that merciiul Providence
will protect my life, and keep me for some
greater service in defense of the Union. l
am the youngest Brigadier in the army,
hurrah; my eyes are fixed ON the future and
new lustre for my name will be achieved If
survive" One can almost hear the cavalry
cheer in these stirring words; and yet 1T Is
subdued by what seems prophetic vision
of his approaching death. In another let
AZ hot Sn<ya NRD
when We move, ard ~ill, therefore, have
further opportunity Of distinguishing my.
self. Mcdowell has promised me that
How eloquently all these words bespeak
the true cavalryman, hut how sternly the
soldier OF duty looks through the dying
xOrds OF affection as he writes to his
father and mOthe-, and remembers that he
hes vet some trifiing accouts with the Gov
eminent which remain unsettled.
DYING MANS LETTER.
At the time he wrote his leg had been
shattered by a shell at the ba title OF Fred
ericksburg, and he was told that he could
not survive the wound.
DEAR FATHER AND MoTHER-I have to
dictate to you few words before it be-
comes too late My strength is rapidly
wasting away. Good bye, dearest father
and mother. Give my love to my sisters.
I send you, mother, my watch, and my
nav due for November and part OF Decem.
| ber. NV black mare and sorrel horse
! give to YOU, father. There are papers in
Ioy trunk to be turned over to the Quarter
masters Department to settle. Once more
good bye, beloved father, mother, sisters,
all. My sabre goes to father.
! Ever yours. GEORGE D. BAYARD.
Is there not something exquisitely sad in
I A. = a nd noble anlr1t
| at the age of 26, whose heroism was as
| }oundless as his ambition, and who could
| resien it all, and in the grim presence OF
| death attend to the little details OF love
| and duty. What a legacy to the youth OF
| this country il the lie and dea1h OF such a
| hero. That saa,re, too, was rich bequest
| to the father, for the sire we'll knew that
| his noble son would have never sharpened
| its edge at the expense OF his own or his
! country's honor.
| THE BATTLE OF CEDAR MOUNTAIN.
| The battle OF Cedar Mountain, while not
one of the greatest, was undoubtedly one
| of the most hotly contested and sanguinary
| conflicts of the war. The intrepid stand
made by Crawford's brigade bordered on
the heroic. When after several hours OF
] musketry fighting our forces were COM
pelled to fall back, and two divisions OF the
J enemy's infantry swiftly advanced to follow
up their advantage, it was seen that it was
| impossible to rescue Best's battery from
capture unless these great masses OF IN
faotry were checked, moving as they were
directly for the guns. The one eye OF the
! young Gen. Bayard (the other eve was lost
| glance the whole situation, and riding up
I to Major R. L. Falls, who, with squadron
Of the First Pennsylvania Cavalry were
| inst within woods skirting a
wheatfeld over which the en- my
we're advancing, he calmly pointed to
| the gray masses pouring down the
slope, and commanded him to charge right
through them. Major Falls must have
shuddered and believed his general mad, as
he looked at his little command, composed
of 2l6 men, and cast his eyes upon the
heavy body Of infantry approaching and
thought of the hopelessness and apparent
futiIitv of such charge. But he was too
good a soldier to hesitate, and he had been
trained under the young general who had
taught them that neither officer nor man
should ever question his command.
STRENGTHENING himself in his stirrups ne
moved his squadron out OF the woods INTO
the open field, and when he glanced back
and saw his little band OF brave boys were
sitting like 30 many statues IN their SAD
dies, he thundered the command to charge,
and with a savage yell they were flung right
against the coming lines of infantry. slash
ing and cutting as they went, Falls own
sabre piercing clear through the neck OF the
enemy, so fierce and resistless was their on.
set. Forward, still forward, until they had
plunged through three lines OF the foe, driv'
ing them in dismay and panic in every
direction. And then as suddenly when in
the rear of the whole Confederate army,
they wheeled about and with savage fury
dashed hack through the demoralized and
broken ranks of the enemy and the guns
we're saved. Saved, but only sixty men
came out, and one company was almost
annihilated. The gallant Falls rode through
this tempest OF death aud back again un
hurt, and to-day is living n quiet lie in
this State, few OF our people knowing We
had such a hero in our midst.
GENERAL JOHN p. TAYLOR.
General John P. Taylor, OF Miftiin county
rode as one Of the captains in this charge
Taylor became the Colonel of the First
Cavalry in 1863, and afterward commanded
} the First Brigade OF the Second Cavalry
Division in the Army Of the Potomac with
} great gallantry and distinction. With tn
molestv that belongs to the true sOldie