The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-07-23
WITHOUT A FLEMISH.
Sterling Record Of Capt. Harris Biai
Mitchell.

Sterling Record OF Capt. HATTIE bsair
Mitchell.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: / have
known Capt. Harris Blair Mitchell from
his childhood, and of his remarkable fight
ing record since be made it, and seeing an
account in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE of
that celebrated regiment, theI 1st VT Cav,
in which he served, written by one OF his
comrades, | incosed it to him, requesting
las have done before but unsuccessfullyD
brief statement of his army service.
How many privates non-commissioned
officers, Lieutenans, and Captains there
were whose actual service was greater than
that of s,me Major Generals! Bat II un-
noticed according to their real merit IN the
records of their country-like my brave
cousin, of whose gallant career l am so
proud-they can rest easy in the possession
of the greatest possible reward, the con-
seriousness of having done their duty at all
times while in the service. Capt Mltchells
letter follows.-HENRY w. BLAIR.
GAS regards my own part In the war,
have always been quite content with the
consciousness of having done my whole duty
at all times. | have never sought or craved
any notorlety in consequence CT having done
my duty, ut the same time | have no obIec-
ton to having the facts appear on the rec
Ords OF the War Department or elsewhere.
Briefly stated, they were as follows:
IL left the Academy in Newbarg, VT,
where | was endeavoring to prepare myself
for the study of medicine, and enlisted IN
the Vermont cavalry Sept. 10, 1861, IN
regiment where | knew but two men, fell
low students, who went from the same
school.
"When the company was organized l was
made First Duty or Second, Sergeant, OF
Co ID, in which capacity / served for one
year, being one of the four who volunteered
in response to the request of Capt. Preston
10 lead the first charge at Mt. Jackson, IN
the Shenandoah Valley, against Ashby's
Black Horse Cavalry.
ain that charge we routed the enemy,
and saved the bridge, which they had fired.
captured a rebel Lieutenant, aud took him
back 10 Gen. Shields my self 1t was here
that we first heard the music of bullets and
shells.
al served in the capacity of Duty Sergeant
one year, being detailed as Brigade Columns
sary-Sergeant in Gen. Clusters Brigade for
few months then l was made Orderly
Sergeant of my company, then Second Lieu
tenant of Co. |, the FIRST Lieutenant being
detailed as Regimentai Quartermaster, and
the Captain captured in Wilson's RAID on
the D.nv.lle Railroad. In few days after
was mustered in as Lieutenant. During
the last two years | was never off duty one
hour under Caster from the time he was pro-
moied to BrigadieT-Genersl until the close
OF the war.
In Sheridan's campaign in the Valley
against Early | led the charge made at
ID 49,, Al ", Nd - IN
Cav, Oct. 10, 1864, in which we captured
oue General, two CO0uels, $50 prisoners,
large part OF Early's wagon-trains, and about
40 pieces Of artillery. For this act Col. VIM.
Wells promoted me from Second Lieutenant
OF Co. l to Captaincy of Co. A. The charge WAS
witnessed BY him and Gen. Custer and staff.
During the campaign in the Valley, on
Sherdan's famous raid, in which our bril-
gade or division eaptured the remnant of
Early's army at Waynesboro, l commanded
the battalion and led them in charge. /
received complimentary letter, written by
Gen. Custer, while Oh the march. Col Wells
gave NE credit of having the best disciplined
company in the regiment.
AT The final surrender of Lees army at
Appomatt0x Station / commanded the bat
talon Of The LIST VT. that ed the last charge
of the war. The white flag being received
by Gen. Custer, nay Colonel sent word for
me TO halt, cease firing. and throw out pick
cts, Lees army had surrendered.
think, without exception, it was the
happest moment of my life. During the
last 0 days of the war our brigade captured
over 5000 prisoners, az battleiiags, and lots |
of cannon. We marched back to Washing |
ton and took part in the Grand Review.
We were then sent to Vermont, and | went |
with portion of our regiment to ChampIain,
n. Y, to do frontier duty.
While there i was sent to Albany, NY, |
as member of court-martial, where | re-
NAMED for one month trying bounty jump |
trs etc, and was finally ordered to Burlin.- |
tor, VT, and mustered out of the service on |
the 9th day Of August, 1865.
% have hastily skeched some OF the i'm |
portant events of my army life, but, as | |
said on the start, TO me the most important, |
and The one which gives me the greatest
pleasure, is the consciousness of duty vel /
perform I'd HARRIS Il. MITCHELL, Maiden,
Mass.