The Minneapolis journal., 1901-01-12
BACK In WAR TIMES
Geo. A. Bracket Tells Of His Meet
ing With General Bachelor.
JUST BEFORE BALLS BLUFF
"a Noble Specimen of the American
SOldier"-An Incident
of 1861.

/ George A. Bracket, now superintendent
of large mining interests in Alaska, is
spending a few weeks of the winter with
relatives here at his old home. Speak
ing of the recent death of General Bach
elder, late quartermaster general of the
United States army, Mr. Bracket said:
1T was in the early dark days of the
civil war period, just following the disast-
rous defeat of the Union forces at Bull
Run. The old First Minnesota regiment
had been ordered from Washington city
to take position with the corps of observa-
/ tion under command of General Charles P.
Stone, and was camped half way between
Poolsville and Edwards Ferry-probably
two miles from the Potomac river in the
late summer and during the autumn of
1861. 1 had been awarded the contract
for furnishing fresh beef for the command
of General Stone, and this threw me into
more or less intimate relationship with the
generals and their staff officers. General
Stone was in command of the division,
having under him as brigade commanders,
Generals German and Dana of Minnesota,
Colonel Devens Of Massachusetts, and sew
eral others-probably, in all, five or six
thousand men.
II was living very comfortably in a tent
located near the camp of the First Min
nesota, and butchering large numbers of
: cattle which I had bought and collected
n
Poolsville gentleman had kindly loaned
me one of his slaves-Henry, who was a
most excellent cook and house servant.
One day 1 heard some of the officers of
General Stones staff swearing about their
food, and remarked to them that If they
would visit my camp l would be pleased
to entertain them at dinner. This was
the beginning of a lifelong friendship
with General Bachelor. At that time he
was captain, and acting quartermaster
on the staff of General Stone, having for
associates DR.. Crosby, surgeon; Major
George H. Woods, as commissary, and
other young olIcers, whose names have
escaped me.
while enjoying our dinner that day
five or six bright young men, all of whom
have crossed the dark river but myself
Captain Bachelor asked me why We could
not organize a mess? and would / con-
sent to become the caterer therefor. The
proposition proved to be a popular one
and thereafter for several months, we
lived in such free and easy intimacy as is
only known to army people in active SER
ivice.
"Our near neighbors were the First
Minnesota, the Seventh Michigan, the Fif-
lteenth and Nineteenth Massachusetts, and
1.-THE Eighty-second and Thirty fourth New
| York regiments, and it was not unusual
| for the officers of those organizations to
Il uTOp III upon us as guests at meal time.
We were living thus when that mournful
disaster at Balls Bluff occurred. We were
on the Maryland side of the Potomac
Leesburg, Virginia, being across the river
and about three miles above. General
Stone, sometime in October, 1 think, or
dered the First Minnesota the Nineteenth
Massachusetts, and the Thirty-fourth and
Eeighty second New York, under General
German down to the river at Edwards
Ferry, where there were three or four old
scows lying against the bank, and then
ordered the regiment TO cross in these
scows to the Virginia shore for the pur-
pose Of making a reconnoiscance--to feel
the enemy as soldiers phrase it. Three
miles above Colonel Baker was ordered
With his own regiment, the First Cali
fornia-a Pennsylvania regiment composed
Of returned California pioneers. whence
the name, the Fifteenth Massachusetts,
and two other regiments, to cross at the
same time at Balls Bluff. When only
about 1,500 of the 18th Massachusetts and
the First California were over, General
Baker, recklessly-I have always thought
pressed forward toward Leesburg and en-
gagged the enemy They were too strong
fbr him, overwhelmed him with numbers,
drove back his line to Balls Bluff, panic
ensued and the men were driven into the
river and slaughtered like sheep in the
shambles. Many were killed and drowned
in the river. and others were killed or
Wounded and made prisoners on the firing
line. General Baker was himself killed in
making the last stand on the bluff bank