The Portland daily press., 1891-08-21

David McMurtrie Gregg, whom the Repub-
leans OF Pennsylvania have made their can.
didate for Governor. has some strong friends
and admirers In the state of Maine. In the
war he was one Of the most gallant cavalry
officers on the Union side. The First Maine
Cavalry served under him during the most
glorious portion Of its service 1t was a
fayorite regiment with him. and be in turn
was much beloved and admired by the Maine
boys. General Gregg was thorough soldier
educated at West Point and seasoned In the
Indian campaigns of the West. When the
war broke out he took command of the
Eighth Pennsylvania cavalry, serving with
1t at Fair Oaks, the seven days fight and in
other peninsular battles. In December. 1862
he was promoted to the command of the d.
vision of cavalry to which the First Maine
was attached. This was the lime when the
cavalry of the army of the Potomac began
to show its worth. The Joke about no one
having ever seen dead cavaryman was put
at rest forever when Pleasanton at the head
the Union Cavalry sought out Stuart on the
Of plains Of brandy Station and administered
to him defeat almost In the camp of whole
corps OF the Confederate Army. In the SUBJ
sequent movements the cavalry covered il
self glory. Lee was moving to the in.
vasion Of Pennsylvania by the Shenandoah
Valley; but his movement was screened by
the barriers of the Blue Ridge, while Stuart
was placed on the Eastern side of those
mountains to hide the movement still further.
1t was the task of the Union Cavalry to pen
citrate that screen of Confederate cavalry
and discover what Lee was doing beyond.
There was no more thrilling portion of the
war than this, during which the Union
cavalry drove Stuart back by repeated
battles until the heights of the Blue Ridge
were wen, from whose SUBMITS the valley
OF the Shenandoah lay spread out In
all Its beauty, with serpentine line of miles
OF shining bayonets moving northward. II
was Lees army marching into Pennsylvania
The Union cavalrymen cast basty glanca
at the significant panorama, and then re-
treated hastily to bear the news to the COM
mander From that time Lees movements
were no secret. General Gregg was promI-
nent figure In these movements, during which
the First Maine cavalry did some of its
greatest fighting. The battle of Aldie was
one OF the engagements of the movement.
AT Gettysburg Gregg commanded the right
wing OF the Union cavalry, and fought the
cavalry battle of the third day upon the i'm
portance or which the Count of Paris has
laid such stress. 1t was Stuart's intention to
get around into the rear of Meade's Army at
just the time when Pickett was assaulting
In front. The movement had In it possibili-
ties Of Infinite harm. But Gregg met him
and during the terrific roar of guns that ac-
companied the grand charge of infantry one
Oh the greatest and most important cavalry
Datties OF the war was fought. The First
Maine continued to serve under Gregg dur
,ng arant's campaign against Richmond,
lung ~ which he was promoted to command
ne cavalry Of the Army of the Potomac.
aaSo SOusin, >. Irwin Gregg. commanded bri-
sIUu nr.na - y. McM. Gregg's division, and was
O'"'e though less prominent soldier.