News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1892-02-11


Maine took the lead Of the division and
when the troops saw that they cried out,
Flight today, boys; the First Names in
the advance"
Gregg dismounted his men and built
rude breastworks, and then the Maine men
opened the fight and ended it, using both
carbines and revolvers.
Though ordered to retire, the men did so
slowly, turning at every ridge and fence
and clump Of trees for one more volley. SO
they held on till a battery came to their
aid, and they helped to defend that when it
ran out of ammunition. OF the 26O men
engaged IL were killed and 20 wounded.
Hampton was held up until the wagon
train was beyond reach. Sheridan left the
Army of the Potomac Aug. |, 1864, but
Gregg's division remained behind mt Peters.
burg, following the fortunes Of Hancock Ia
his expeditions on the Confederate TANKS
The regiment added four battles TO it's list
during August and in September was re
enforced by eight companies of Main,
troops transferred from the First District
of Columbia cavalry. The strength w.
about 500 with this increase. On Oct %,
mt Boydton Road, l6 were killed and 50
wounded in u savage fight with Wade
Hampton's mounted forces.
The First Maine at that time belonged
to brigade commanded by Col G. II.
Smith, it's former leader, who was n cap
tain in the regiment in 1861. Cilley, the first
recruit and the first man wounded, had
gravitated to the top and led the regiment
The highest casualty list of all was at
Dinwiddie Court House, March 81, the pre-
liminary of Five Forks Sheridan's cavalry
was forced to give ground all day and at
length Smiths brigade was called upon to
defend creek crossing against heavy odds
The First Maine dsmounted and advanced
i'm deployed line to meet charging cavalry
They opened fire with Spencer and Henry
rifles, and rs shooters, and the Confeder
ate column trembled, wavered and parted
right and left, soon to melt away in u form
less wreck of dead horses and men. In this
fight the First Names loss was p killed
and G6 wounded.
At Appomattox, Smiths brigade was
placed in the last gap opened to Lee, the
Lynchburg road. The fighting on Sunday,
April 9, that ended in Lees sure nder
began on the front of the First Maine, and
its loss there was killed and 10 wounded.
The total loss Of the regiment killed and
mortally wounded was - officers and 1870
men, the highest suffered by any cavalry
| regiment IN the Union army.
The First Maine was organized and led
throughout by volunteer officers. 1t lost
colonel, major and captains killed in
action. At st. Mary's Church its colonel.
lieutenant colonel and major were
wounded.
And all this noble record was made by
average men. The twin sergeants, whose
pictures from photographs taken during
the war ACCOMPANY this sketch. would not
stand out on an artists canvas so grandly
as do some of the Uhlans and Dragons
that rode at Grovellotte and Sedan, but
they are types of the First Maine troops,
for whom there can be no grander eulogy
than the simple record of their persistent
daring. Another thing, have stated that
the regiment was led by volunteers. Early
i'm it's career a cast iron rule of antiprofan
ity and total abstinence was promulgated
at headquarters. This may not signify
anything, but some ways would have II
that for troopers in the field there was no
redeeming vice left except fighting, hence
the thirty-siX battles on the First Names
flag GEORGE J.. KILMER