The morning call., 1892-07-03
MAJOR R. ]. FALLS.
Death of Veteran of the MeXi.
can and Civil Wars.
Recollections of the Famous Cavalry Charge
at Cedar Mountain, Va, on the.
9th Of August, 1862

eral disability at his home 326S Mission
street. Major Falls was born In Herkimer
County, New York, on the 18th Of August.
1919, being nearly 70 years old at the time of
his death. lie was brought up on farm,
and when the war with Mexico broke out
he enlisted in the cavalry, engaged in sew
eral battles and in every instance distin-
guis he'd himself.
Several years after the war he came to
California and engaged in farming, and
when the war Of the rebellion broke out he
again offered his services TO his country
He joined the Second California Cavalry, was
an officer of the company and was sent East.
He then became connected with the First
Penn sylvania Cavalry, with the rank Of
major.
At the battle,of Cedar Mountain he was
under General u O. ga ID. Bayard, and there,
while in command of a battalion composed
Of troops A, Il, g and ID, led a
cavalry Charge on the Confederate
ranks, which for daring and boldness
of execution had but few equals dur
ing the war. After he was mustered out
he returned TO San Francisco, and on the
9th of March, 1875. was appointed men,
Der of the police force. In short time he
was promoted TO sergeant, and for time
was in charge of the Mission district. After
ward he was transferred to the Southern
district, where he remained until Septem-
Der so, 1888, when lie was retired on half
pay. Major Falls was strict disciplenar-
ian. and expected every man under him TO
discharge his duty as strictly as in the army.
On this account those members Of the police
force who were willing to shrk duty thought
him too severe. However. he made good
officer, had the confidence Of his superiors
and was respected by all. lie was men,
Der OF Lincoln Post No. !, G. A. II. When
the First Pennsylvania Cavalry decided TO
hnlu 4 "A in
October, 1886, Major Falls was invited to be
present Circumstances prevented him
from attending. but he sent letter of le-
grer, and In that letter gave an account OF
The famous charge he led at Cedar Bl0un-
tain. Va, on the of August, 1862. 1t
was read by l.. /. Carpenter chairman Of
tie First Pennsylvania Cayary, at q ban.
quet. given during the reunion, and after
ward published In pamphlet form. From
this letter the following interesting extract
is taken:
THE STORY OF THE CHARGE.
Prominent among those tracks will be found
that never to be forgotten charge at Cedar
Mountain, made on the 9th OF August, 1862, by
Companies a, b. & and ID OF the Firs, Penu-
sylydnia Cavalry, under The Immediate command
OF your humble servant, having received orders
from our general 10 the elect that Major Gen
eral Banks directed General Bayards cayalry 10
make The charge; and as my battalion was tie
only cavalry present, General Bayard directed
me 10 make the charge. Informing Inc at
moving toward Us for the purpose OF tax
Ing hnapps battery Of General Crawfords
division, Informing me also as 10 where would
hDd Tie enemy above referred 10. j at once
formed squadron and II l mistake not Captain
john +. 1ayloPs squadron on this occasion was
Ia the lead. But be that as II may my command.
The strength Of which all told consisted Of 264
men, including my orderly and myself. alter
having made tie charge,On reforming was found
10 number exactly ~ meG, the balance having
either been kliit Il, wounded, taken prisoner or
placed hOIs du combat. However, quite a num-
beT OF the latter escaped 10 the woods In
Tie Gust ana hhen night set In Te1clned Their
respective companies. the gallant John L. Tay
Ior being amoug them. his horse having been
killed just as We emerged from the chaIgt on our
way back over precisely the same ground that
We went 10, aud through The same thIee lines OF
Confederate infantry, which were about 90
yards apart, with. ihins. single rank formation
aud aegregatng about 1000 men. Alter reeeiY-
Ing from General Bayaid orders 10 make
tie cnaIge l moved forward at rapid
gait from behind The point OF woods
where had been previously Stationed up
a rising ground that hli the enemy
from our View, finding myself already under
eohiadlng hre from source could not see, but
probably iIom The two extreme fiauks OF the first
line as they advanced, and Intended for the bat
noon. AS soon l eoi Sight OF the enemy /
gave The command, "ChaIgeI' having squadron
tFc-si.
sABERs AND SPURS.
Having previously cautioned my men TO
deprnd entirely upon their sabers aud spurs,
and 10 keep their horses well in hand, i also
guidon Qhe only colors had 10 Ibe I'M
pOttauee OF that ntile national emblem. lie re-
piled that lie fully recognized its importance and
bis responsibility. i also called tbe atteGtiOn Of
The Ulcers ana non commissioned officers To the
imperative necessity of instant obedience 10 all
orders that might Ind il necessary 10 give. aud
10 have tie same repeated In as LOUD "A tone as
possible. had no -s0ouer given The order 10
charge, Than simultaneously every Que of my men
gave cheer that, combined with Ihe noise of Ibe
borse>' thundeTbolt speed. clashDg of arms
ADDED 10 the eDemy's fire of musketry, coupled
with the screams Of manned and wounoed and
dying. altogether shook The very heavens above US
and The earib beneath thus producing "A scene
such as 30 mortal Iian could paint or language
adequately describe. j am satisfied all that
saved my little band fIOm utter humiliation
f0T lie enemy certainly did not lack IN bravery,
even though they had been taken by surprise
WAS lie tact ihat WAS within about TWO minutes
OF The enenys hISt or front line OF battle before |
gave the command "ChaIge," consequently they
had not lhe slightest Knowledge that there
was any cavalry III The neighboi hood al all.
Besides, Tie battle-ground was IN The main
wheatIeld that had Just teen cut and shocked,
which raised cloud OF dust so dense that IL was
impossible Tor them 10 estimate our numbers or
define our precise object. and having cut through
their nrst line they could not re directly upon US
Without endaneeIlng their own people. In The
meantime my command whlZZed like meteor
shot fIOm The skies through their TWO remaining
lines, alter which gave the command. 'Foufs
right about wheel Z" an order That seemed TO be
antcii aIed or expected. for IL was not only
Instantly obey ed, but executed with degree
OF precision that almost paralyzeu with aston
we'll IL might, fOF the reason that up 10 this time
our Northern cavalry had not. as compared with
the Southern cavalry, been pronounced sue
cess. But from that time 10 the close OF the war
the saddle Sc 10 be on the other horse. Two
things are certain; hrst those three lines of
Confederate Infantry did not advance another
step after receiving that charge that evening;
KNAPP'S BATTERY.
Second they didn't accomplish what they set
ont TO do; that Is, take knapp's battery. Ol ths
contrary, they retraced their steps Iar enough 10
red I'M
that bait ~ and It's disabled horses aud depleted
ammunition chests. WiIh what was left OF the
flower OF our regiment, The first battalion, we
escorted the aforesaid battery 10 a sale distance
In cur rear, where We also went into camp for
the night. Carnage had ceased for The time
being on both sides, aud flag OF truce was de-
termlned upon Tor tie period of As hours, in
which 10 bury lhe dead and for the
sick and wounded OF beth armies. But, oh, beayen
what a sad sad sight presented Itself 10 the
eye OF the beholder Of The battle-ground the
next dayl l accompanied General Bayard and
STAFF over IT, as did also Captain Taylor. IL was
upon that oeca sloa that General BayaId played
tie joke on General Stuart by asking him 10
hold his horse long enough for bin 10 give
rebel soldier "A CTink of wafer from his canteen.
After Bayard had thanked him for his kindness
lie said 10 him. jokingy: Il have had the pleas
ufe Of having confederate general play orderly
for me once"
II was simply appalling TO look at the heaps OF
dead and dying, especially over the laue formed
10y that charge through those three lines of Con-
federate infantry. Men and horses, the blue aud
the gray. were promiscuously mixed and mingled
together, some dead, some dying, fearfully re-
gardless OF The universal brotherhood OF man.
BESIDES, many that were stll living, although
fTightinliy mangled, were begging for water, or
some friend TO put an end TO their suffering ex-
isteuee.
Many horses with broken backs or limbs were
vainiy endeayoring To rise. The galiantLieuIenant
Butcher ana his horse lay dead side by side. He
had been trampled and retrampled on so often
that the clothes were almost torn Il ON his almost
unrecogniZable body.
Will now try TO bring thls to me. heartrendlng
task 10 a eli ose by relating three or four instan-
ces connected wiih This somewhat noted charge.
TO RECEIVE CAVALRY.
Tho fret Of which fs II fell m my parson ol o 70