The National tribune., 1910-08-18


guard when late that Fall Capt. ]. Suel
Reed obtained permission from the Gov
ernor of California to raise the Hundred
for active service in the East, to be ap-
piled to the quota of Massachusetts. At
- that time / had been recommended by
Gen. George Wright, commanding the
Department of the Pacific, for a Second
Iieutenancy in the I'd Cal Cav, and
was detailed from headquarters to as
sist in organizing the Hundred. That
company was raised in a few weeks,
and took steamer for New York via
Panama. In the meantime that genial
gentleman and model soldier, Maj. ID.
w. c. Thompson, of San Francisco, had
obtained permission from the Governor
of California to raise the battalion (400
mem for the same purpose.
BY request of Maj. Thompson I was
detailed to assist in organizing the bat
talon. / was appointed by Maj. Thomp-
son, Adjutant, Quartermaster, Commits
sary and General Drill Master Quar-
ters were procured in Platt's Music Hall
and recruiting and drilling commenced
at once.
Cos. A, B and c left San Francisco in
March via Panama, Co. d following on
the next steamer We landed in New
York and proceeded to Readville,
Mass, where we were equipped and
mounted as part of the I'd Mass. Cav,
ana transferred 10 virginia.
The five companies were the only
California troops who saw service in the
East during the civil war. They were
made up of clerks, miners, ranchers
and occasionally an old veteran who
had seen service on the plains fighting
Indians. Nearly all of them were at
home in the saddle, and as nearly every
man in California carried a six-shooter
they were handy with the gun.
Mr. MUnSOn of MoShy'C sava
that they were "notoriously hard fight
ers." He ought to know. for we had
met the Rangers many times before the
fight of Feb. %. 1864. near DranesviIIe
of-which 1 will tell.
Starting After the Enemy.
On the morning of Feb. 20, 1864, a
detachment of the I'd Mass. Cav. and a
small detail from the. 18th n. Y. Cav.
started from camp with a rowing COM
mission after the enemy. Maj. ]. S.
Reed was in command OF the column,
which comprised Co. NJ. commanded by
myself, with Al men; a detail of 81 men
from Co. E, commanded by my brother,
Lieut. W. c. Manning; a detail of II
men from the 10th n. Y. Cav, in COM
mand of Lieut. Cannon, and Co. B, I'd
Mass. Cav, numbering As men, under
Lieut.. Dabney; making a total of 127,
including officers, 81 of whom were
Californians.
On the night of the 21st we went into
camp at farm house about 10 miles
above Dranesville. A detachment Of
the 18th \. y. Cav. camped there with
us, and the next morning the two de-
tachments started for headquarters taxi
ing separate routes. Our column tool,
the Dranesville pike. i noticed that
the rear of the column was struggling
badly. and 1 rode back to the head of
Co. b, urging the officers to keep the
men closed up. / stopped a few min
utes to talk 10 Lieut.. Dabney and light
cigar, and as ] left him / took out my
watch and noticed that it was 1880
o'clock. When ! again reached the
head Of the column Maj. Reed was rid
ing about 40 yards in advance with
Charley Binn, supposed deserter from
Mosby's Rangers, who was acting as
guide. At that place there was a thick
ct of small pines on our right, and on
our left rail fence inclosing an open
field. had hardly time to take in the
situation before 1 heard a single shot
followed almost at once by a volley
coming from the thicket on the right
Just in advance of the place where Mai
Reed was riding. Thinking that the
advance guard had been attacked. l
gave the command: Forward" The
words had scarcely left my lips before
a volley reached us from the thicket,
and my command faced TO the right to
receive an expected charge from the
enemy. With carbine and pistol they
fired an occasional shot. Thinking that
the enemy would charge thru the thick
et L cautioned them to reserve their
fre and be ready to receive them.
When the firing commenced in front
Maj Reed rode back thru the column
to the rear, and that was the last i ever
saw OF him. He was killed. Where
Binn went the Lord only knows. There
was a short lull in the heavy firing, and
rode back to the rear of my company,
and, calling Lieut.. Manning, directed
him to take down the fence and form
his command in the field; that would
hold the enemy in check until he got
ready and fall back on him. As / was
about to turn my horse to ride back TO
the head of the column, felt sharp