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

Making slight detour to the right, the
regiment struck the Confederate horse in
the flank, crushing all his squadrons; then
swept on up the hill into and over the bat
terry, shooting and slashing right and left.
| In the melee the ranks were broken and
the leader waited few minutes to rally
| the survivors, the enemy meantime rush
ing in to close the gap against their return.
| The column reformed and rode straight
for the battery again, then with a sudden
swerve the flank avoided it and galloped
back to the brigade. Only killed,
wounded and IS captured were the cas-
ualtes, but Fitzpatrick told the boys on
the spot that it was ''one of the best charges
ever made" and that it saved the division
from defeat. Fitzpatrick got a star for the
exploit, and thanked the First Maine for
winning it.
Eight days later Fitzpatrick, at the head
of new division, met Stuart in front of
| Aldie Gap, in the Blue Ridge, and was get
| ting the worst of it when Greggs column,
with the First Maine leading, FASTENED to
! his aid. The Confederates had the advan
| tage, with shelter of haystacks, a stone
wall and ditch, and several of Kilpat
| rick's regiments had been broken mp and
| driven back to their cannon. Fitzpatrick
looked to the rear in despair, and his eye
caught sight of the First Maine. Gallop
ing up to it's colonel he shouted, Men Of
Maine, you saved the day at Brandy sta
ton; save it again at Aldiel"
There were two battalions present and
squadrc2s were hastily formed for the
charge. Fitzpatrick rode side by side with
Col. Douty. and giving three r0using cheers
with waving sabres the cavalcade swept
down an incline toward the victorious
enemy The field was cleared ut the first
dash and onward the Maine boys rode in
excited pursuit until they struck dis
mounted line behind stone wall At this
point the Maine ranks suffered severely
for II moment, but the impetus of the charge
Sore them through the Confederate line
which was routed and driven from the field.
Col. Douty fell at the stone wall, pierced
with two bullets This affair cost killed
and u wounded. Two days later, at Mid
dlebqrg, the regiment charged position
screened by woods and stone wall, and
carried it, losing officers and men
killed and % wounded
In the Gettysburg battle the First Maine
missed the heavy fighting of Gregg's divi-
sion, the brigade changing places with Gus
Ter in the great combat of July 3. On the
return march, however, at Shepherdstown
On the Potomac, July ii, it lost 0 killed
and II wounded In an affair with the Con
federate rear guard
The campaign of 1863 In the Army of the
Potomac was one of warfare in the saddle
for the cavalry. The mounted infantry
phase came late in the following year,
but before the romance period faded the
First Maine had one more chance to win
unique distinction for daring work. A detail
of 800 was chosen by Fitzpatrick to ride on
the famous raid to Richmond i'm February,
1854. Later, when Fitzpatrick and the rash
Dahlgrep divided forces five COMPANIES of
the Maine boys headed the little column
of 500 which Dahlgren led with such
fatal results against the works of the Con
federate capital. This ride of unexampled
Wldness and bravery cost the regiment
deaths in battle and 5 wounded, besides IS
deaths in prison and IS lingering captiyes
Then followed the era of swift rides and
sharp fights of Disappointed cavalry.
On the 18th of May, 1864, in Sheridan's
Richmond raid, the First Maine was rear
guard when Stuart was defeated Mt Yellow
Tavern. The Maine boys fought on foot
and on horseback, and broke for the first
time under the pressure of whole brigade.
The loss was killed and IL wounded.