The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1906-02-02
Tribute to a Gallant Soldier.

lelS ehal nc Hau So oilen supported
(Breathed's battery, | wish as a repre-
sentative of that battery and great ad-
mirer of the departed soldier, to place
upon his new-made grave a wreath of
laurels entwined with loving memories
of his many brave and heroic deeds as a
soldier of the Confederacy. l would that
Others more capable than myself had
undertaken this labor of love, but as
they have not done so cannot permit
the earth to be placed on his brilliant
record and his inanimate body without
telling the people of the State he loved so
well how a soldier of the Confederacy
has died in their midst whose modesty
and humility has kept from them the
brilliancy of his record. Lieut. Edward
II. D. Pue died on his farm near Bel Air,
Hartford county, Maryland, Saturday,
December %, 1905, aged 65. He was
the son of the late Michael E. Pue, a
most respected citizen of that county. At
the commencement of the war young Ed
ward Puc, fired with the outrages that
had been perpetrated upon the South,
buckled on his armor and started for
Virginia to join the Confederate States
forces. He crossed the Potomac at Ed
wards Ferry, going to Leesburg, Vir-
ginia, where he joined a company that
was being organized there by George R.
Gather. later a captain. This was on
May IA, 1861. This company was COM
posed of rs young men from Maryland.
1t would be impossible to give in this
sketch history of this very celebrated
command. 1t was known throughout
the entire Army of Northern Virginia as
being one of the most brilliant and dis
tinguished in the calvary arm of the serv-
ice. It's history would fill the pages OF
very large volume. l will say, however,
that this company figured in every gen.
eral engagement in which the Army of
Northern Virginia participated and in
numerous smaller actions. Lieut.. Ed
ward Pue was in them all, always at the
front. This company gained great dis
tinction, commanded by that fearless SOL
der and born leader, Col G. w. Dorsey,
who after August, 1864, was lieutenant
colonel of the First Maryland Cavalry.
After the organization Of this company
by Captain Gather it acted independ-
emily on the Potomac river and the Val
ley of Virginia. When Gen. Joseph E.
Johnston moved from the Valley of Vir-
ginia July 1S, 1861, to reinforce General
Beauregard, who was preparing to fight
the first battle of Manassas, Captain
Gathers company went there, reporting
to Col. J. E. B. Stuart, of the First Viz
ginia Calvary, joining that command at
Piedmont, Virginia, and being then
known as Company NJ.
How Colonel Stuart, with his regi-
ment, behaved at the first battle of Ma
nassas refer the reader to the official
records. During the Peninsular cam
paign Company M became Company X
and retained that letter until the close of
the war. In August, 1864, the company,
with their gallant commander, was
to the First Maryland Cav
airy, Capt. G. w. Dorsey becoming lieu
of the regiment, vice
Lieut.-Col. Ridgely Brown, killed June l,
1864, near the South Anna river
Lieutenant Pue remained with his
until the close of the great war
drama. At the close of the struggle he
was first lieutenant Commanding COM
pany, certainly a great honor. Lieuten-
ant Pue held the right of the line of his
for three years. He was
wounded at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania,
Spottsylvania, Ream Station, and three
times in the Valley of Virginia. Lieuten-
ant Pue was soldier who possessed all
the qualities that go to make man
leader of men, holding their respect and
confidence in the highest degree. He was
endowed with a magnetic personality
that spread its influence around those
who had the privilege of knowing him as
a comrade and leader. He was intense in
his love for the South, believing that the
invasion of the South was born of the
devil, unwarranted, and dissertation of
the hearthstone of the Southern home
steads. He believed it to be his duty to
aid in repelling those invaders, disputing
their advance with all the fire of his ma
ture and vigor of his manhood, to kill
and destroy as many of the enemy as
possible, and when his work was accom-
plished not to shed tears as to the result
Those Of US who knew him so we'll can
give evidence as to how thoroughly he
did his work. He was always in the ad-
vance of his command, meeting the first
shock of the Federal charge. At that
moment he seemed to grow in proper
tons until he assumed the appearance of
a gladiator With sword and pistol he
met the charge, and by his brave bearing
he inspired his men with that feeling to
do or die that always makes heroes. He
was superb horseman-one OF the best
in the troop. When he would raise him.
self in his stirrups and cry Forward!
men," the figure he presented then was
worthy of the canvas of any artist; and
when the sweet dove of peace spread her
wings over the disrupted and devastated
South, Lieutenant Pue returned to his
old home. near Bel Air, broken-hearted.
sorrowful, but not repentant, apologiz-
ing to no one. regretting that the cause
for which he had fought so hard was I'M
successful and that the starry cross that
he had followed was furled forever; but
receiving from his relatives and friends
the glad and happy salutation. "Well
done good and faithful servant"
"Oh, what a legacy he has left to his
widow and children! How proud they
should be of his record as Confederate
soldier! How priceless they should value
that legacy! All the jewels of the
crowned heads of Europe pale into insig-
niicance when weighed in the balance
against his record as a true and loyal