The Republican journal., 1913-07-31
The First Maine Cavalry.
First Sergeant Melville B. Cook Writes
Entertainingiy as to it.

Much has been written about the First
Maine Cavalry. Regiment raised in diff
ferent sections of the State and u ustered
into U. S. service at Augusta, Maine in
October, 1861.
1t served in the field nearly four Years.
not having been discharged until late in
August, 1865. The regiment carried ~
on its rolls. including the original mem
bers, the recruits received while az the
front, and men transferred from the
First District Columbia Cavalry. 3226
men.
Alter serving over two years, 259 men
re-enlisted for three wears, additional
service, making term of five years, and,
those men ever after were designated as
Veteran Volunteers.
During its period of enlistment this
regiment lost more men killed in action,
died of wounds receiveds and from dis
ease. than any Cavalry regiment in the
service of the United States army. a
total of 1926 men.
March 7th, 1865, by a General Order
from the War Department, the names of
twenty-nlne battles in which this regi-
ment bore part, were ordered to be in
scrlbed on the colors of the regiment.
Al the close OF the war seven additional
engagements had been participated in,
making thlrty-six to the credit of the
regiment, record not equaled by any
other regiment in any other army of SER
wee IN the whole U. S. army. This does
not include the many raids and skirmishes
IN winch the regiment bore part
The writer, who was a member of
Company b. has been more closely con-
nected with the membership of that
Company, and therefore will omit further
mention of the regiment and make only
statements concerning Company b ser
vice.
When we left Augusta, in March.
1862. We had on our rolls 100 officers and
men. On our arrival at Washington, D.
G.. we We're put into camp east of the
Caplto., where we received saber and re-
volvers, and after few days tarry we
We're sent to guard the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad, with detachment of four
companies. Our place of detail was
Great Caccapon, Va, where we were
under the command of Col. Campbell of
18th Penn. Infantry. A few weeks later
we We're moved to Bath, Va, across a
line of mountains and nearer to the Pike
leading to Winchester, Va. The last of
May, 1861, we We're ordered to Middle
ton, Va, where our first noted engage
ment occurred, and the retreat of Gen.
Banks up the Virginia Valley, gave US
our first real taste of war Serving as
rear guard during the three days retreat,
it vas service that even now is sad to
contemplate, as it was followed by the
loss of our Capt, J. P. Cilley, left
wounded and prisoner, and also seven
ty three enlisted men.
Ipn N,,1l
nntii July 10, when it rejoinei the regi-
ment near Warrenton, Va
In addition to the original 109 men, 80
recruits We're received while in the field,
and 81 men were transferred from tie
FIRST District Columbia Cavalry. To
this number might be added the 80 men,
three additional years, swelling the
ranks to 294 officers and men.
OF the original 100 members only %
are known to be alive. Of this number
II Of the veteran Volunteers" are
living.
Elbridge Burton of Thomaston, the
oldest living member of the company
was probably in more engagements and
skirmlshes than any other man of the
company, the whole number being SO.
He was man always ready to act, faith
full to an uncommon degree and trusted
by officers and his comrades under all
circumstances. At Sailors Creek, Va,
April l, 1865, he received the surrender
of the rebel General Corse, under a pro-
test against surrendering to any but his
equal In rank. The reply he received
was Surrender or die, he surrender
ed.
Appended are the names and residence
of the % original members of the COM
pany now living, also their term of ser.
vice ir months. 1Gen'l. ]. P. Ciliey of
Rockland was our first Captain. He
served in all grades up to his present
rank and was not absent at any time eX-
cept on account Of wounds.
Alonzo Beckwlth, Belfast, Maine, SO
months