The National tribune., 1888-03-08
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE: WASHINGTON c. THURSDAY MARCH s. 1883
MONTEREY.
The list Mich. Claims tho Midnight Charge


EDITeR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: A great many
of the LIST Mich. Cav. were considerably sur
prised to see published in THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE an article written by one John Allen
Bigelow, of the 5th Mich Cav, trying to pict-
ure out in glowing colors the scenes of that
midnight cavalry charge which took place at
Monterey on the night of July 4, 1863. In his
picture he didn't do justice to that cavalry
charge but when he claims that the 9Th Mich.
Cav. took the advance, led the charge and capt
ured Ewell's wagon-trains, he is manufacturing
history, and he knew it. And in THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE of Feb. 10 j. l.. Milikan, OF
Washington Courthouse, o., is trying to make
history. Now know how it is with those
fellows, for l have been there myself. On the
morning after the first battle of Bull Run ar
rived in Washington, d. c., about daylight and
on going from the Long Bridge to the National
Hotel l was stopped a great many times to tell
the fate of McDowells army, and give detailed
account of that battle. Well, by the time got
up to the National Hotel / had told my story
so many times over that / actually told the
people there that | was the only man left of
the 10000 men belonging to McDowell's army.
1t is now quarter OF century since the
night of that memorable charge at Monterey,
and our friends of the 9Th Mich. Cav, 1st Ohio
Cav. and 1st Va. Cav. may have come to the
conclusion by telling their story so many
times that they are the only men left
who took part in that memorable charge /
do not wish to rob any regiment of their lau-
rels or claim any honors justly due them, but
would like TO give the honor to the regiment
which made the charge and that regiment was
the 1st Mich. Cav. We moved early on the
morning of the 4th of July to Emmittsburg,
thence to Monterey. Before reaching the lat
ter place the enemy was discovered in force
upon the hills to the right of the road. The
LIST Mich. Cav, being in advance of the column,
was sent up the road leading to the gap, with
orders from Gen. Custer to take the gap. The
enemy having possession of the gap, part of
the regiment was dismounted and deployed as
skirmishers on each side of the road leading up
the mountain-side They were ordered to adj
vance and drive the enemy from the gap.
When the skirmishers had advanced well up
the side of the mountain, driving the enemy
before them, the rest of the regiment was or
dered to charge, mounted, which they did, and
were successful in driving the rebels from the
gap. In this charge we lost heayily-two Off
GERS killed and IL men killed and wounded
This, l think, is positive proof that the Isl
Mich. Cav. had the advance, and charged and
! captured EwelPs wagon train at Monterey on
| the night of July 4, 1863.
| To substantiate the claim of the LIST Mich
Cav, will refer those other fellows to report
made at the time by Col. G. II. Town, COM
manding ist Mich. Cav, covering portion Of
the operations of his regiment around Gettys
| burg, now on file in the Adjutant-G General:
! Office at Lansing Mich.-E. L. NEGUs, Co. E.
| 1st Mich. Cav, Chelsea Mich.