The National tribune., 1905-10-19

War Department TO accept the services
Of cavalry.
The reverse at Bull Run. wherein the
Black Horse Cavalry received praise for
things which must now make its men,
bers blush to think OF. SO simple they
were. doubtless stimulated the Govern
ment to accept the services Of cavalry.
especially as 1t became known that at
that time there were nearly 5000 thor
oughly equipped cavalrymen in the
Confederate service In Virginia; and
the keenest apprehension was felt
at headquarters OF our army. lest
| through our feeble lines and enter the
City of Washington: which. indeed,
they might have done had they known
the real condition Of affairs
The Cavalry Mt Bull Hun.
When our army left Arlington
Heights to enter upon the Bull Run
campaign II had seven companies OF
cavalry. People, years hence, Will
hardly believe this, but nevertheless II
panies of the 1st Regiment four of the
I'd, and one company of, I'd Dragons
all United States troops. Much has
been written OF the achievements Of the
Confederate Black Horse Cavalry al
Bull Run. The facts are briefly told.
Near lne close Oh tndt engagement
Maj. Innis Palmer took command OF
all the cavalry and moved well to the
right. After the battle had ended. and
the infantry were leaving the field,
the cavalry was used to cover the re-
treat. The Black Horse Cavalry
charged through some of the scattering
infantry and came upon Maj. Palmer's
command. He halted, ordered two
pieces of Arnold's battery loaded with
canister; these were discharged at
close range among the Confederate
horsemen, who promptly wheeled and
galloped off. Then Maj. Palmers cav
airy resumed its march, in rear of the
infantry, going into camp at Center
vile, where they unsaddled and went
to sleep.
This affair of the Black Horse Cav
airy frightened the troops through
whom they ran; and as it was the first
cavalry charge that the infantrymen
pardoned for drawing upon a some-
what overheated and vivid imagination
for the statements made by them when
they finally reached Washington. It
may be doubtful whether any one OF
the infantrymen told as good a tale as
did Jack Falstaff; yet, on the whole,
their statements were so distorted that
some Of the troops and many Of the
people believed the Black Horse Cav
airy to be Gorgons, capable of tramp
ling whole battalions of luckless dough-
boys into the earth The quiet, soldierly
action Of Maj. Palmer and his COM
mand. which drove the battalion Of
Black Horse Cavalry from the field has
received scant recognition.
Mcclellan Encourages Cavalry Organ
ixatfon.
When Gen. Mcclellan assumed COM
mand of the Army Of the Potomac,
Aug. 20, 1851, there were less than
1000 cavalrymen in his command. He
had himself SO lately been made to real
ize the necessity for them, that in the
reorganization Of the army he determ-
ined to make provision for this much
needed service. He appointed Brig
Gen. George Stoneman "'Chief of Cav
airy" and thereafter matters moved
more regularly; but II was long time
before the cavalry could be equipped.
Among the first organizations to be ac-
cepted as whole, June 13, 1851, was
the regiment heretofore spoken Of,
which Carl Schurz was authorized to
recruit. Shortly thereafter some COM
panies of what finally proved to be the
1st Pa. Cav. were mustered into the
service, and ordered to Camp Jones,
near Washington. Before this regi-
mental organization was complete, one
company (M) was ordered to scout I'm
the direction Of Pontateague, where
they captured seven pieces of artillery,
days thereafter they took 1900 stand of
small arms, giving a good account of
themselves on every occasion where
they were called upon to act. This reg
iment completed it's organization by the
appointment of Lieut. George ID. Bay
ard, of the 4th u. Cav, as Colonel,
when drill began in earnest. This was
in the month Of September, 1861. In
November five companies of this regi-
ment opened the fight at Darnestown,
and later supported Easton's battery.
The Confederates were defeated at
this place, the cavalry driving them
from the field. This was one of the
first victories Coming, as it did, after
the affairs of Big Bethel, Bull Run and
Balls Bluff, it was encouraging to the
disappointed troops.
Gen. Bayard.
Some circumstances connected with
the career of Lieut.. George ID. Bayard
are worth noting. On the 18th day Of
April, 1861, Lieut.. Bayard wrote to
leave could be obtained for him from
Washington, he would take a commits
sion in New Jersey regiment then re-
cruiting; but the necessary leave could
not be secured. In July, 1861, Lieut..
Rayard applied for leave from the Reg
ular service to enable him TO take a
commission as Major in regiment be-
ing recruited in Albany, n. Y, by
Col. Fred Townsend. He was in
formed. officially, by the Adjutant-Gen-
eral of the Army, under date of July
&, 1861, as follows: "The Secretary OF
War has decided that officers OF the
Regular Army cannot be spared for
service with volunteer regiments"
Nothing daunted however, Lieut..
Bayard again made application in Sep
tember, and obtained leave TO accept
a position as Major in Col. Van Aliens
cavalry regiment, being recruited In
New York. While there he met Gen. Nc
Clellan. who advised him not to accept
the commission as Major, but to take
position on his (McClellan's) staff,
or accept the position of Colonel in q
Pennsylvania cavalry regiment. He
chose the latter, and thus a circum-
stance Of war brought a peculiar coin
cidence: John Bayard was made COM
mander of the Philadelphia City Troop,
mentioned, in the Revolution
ary War; and now his great-grandson
was made commander Of the 1st Regi-
ment of Pennsylvania Cavalry in the
great civil war. His loyal service and
untimely death are well known.
The manner of man he was is shown
in a response he made to a salutation
after the Drainsville affair. On the
morning after the action Cen McClel-