Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-07
CAVALRY WORK IN
CIVIL WAR TOLD
the LOYAL. LEGION

Portland. Me, Sept 6.-The regular
Military Order of the Loyal Legion,
took place Wednesday night at River
ton Park casino and Commander
Thomas j. Little presided at the bus
mess session. Rev. George Colby,
rector of St. Stephens Episcopal
church, was admitted To membership
and memorial tributes were paid to
Gen. Seldom Conner by Rev. DR.. Henry
S. Burrage, to Lieutenant Thomas j.
Woodward by Edward A. Butler and
to Lieutenant Col. Ira B. Gardner by
Rev. George r. Palmer, the chap
Ian.
Carleton Maxwell Pike was elected
hereditary companion Of the first
elias A presentation to Comma nder
Little for the commandcry was made
by Col. F.. A. Pope, formerly engineer
in this district and now in charge of
the camp at Aver, Of two handsome
photos Of the monument to be erected
in Havana in memory Of the battle
ship Maine.
Dinner was served at 30 and fol-
lowing it paper was read BY Sidney
ST F. Thaxter.
The paper was an effort to show the
heroic and unselfsh but nevertheless
! important work that the cavalry ir
I the army OF the Potomac was called
on to do. The campaign of Chancel-
louisville and Gettysburg were dis
cussed to show this. and extracts from
letters written from the front. by the
late Major Sidney Warren Thaxter, Of
the First Maine Cavalry. describing
the movements and battles in these
campaigns, We're read.
In the European armies, great care
was bestowed on the cavalry arm te
Keep 1t in proper shape to perform Its
proper functions. In the Army of the
Potomac. very little care was given
70 it. and in addition to its regular
work it was continually called on 70,
extra work in addition to performing
its many varied but proper duties
This was particularly so during the
early part of the Civil war.
Just prior to the battle of Chancel-
louisville, however. the cavalry was
given some rest that was sadly need
eel and whipped into reasonably good
shape. Instead of following Hooker's
main prmv in the advance on Chan
cellorsvihe, the cavalry was detache
and sent on long march to cut Lees
communication. and to cut off his r..
treat. and though it did considera ,le
Damage in Lees rear its use in this
manner had no tangible effect on the
battle. It's place was with the main
army and it could have rendered Nalu-
able service there and doubtless
would have had some effect on the
battle.
The Gettvshurk campaign followed
soon after this In this campaign, the
cavalry was called on and rendered
effective service. Tn the march north
to GETTYSBURG the cavalry continually
guarded the left flank Of the Union
army and was constantly fighting the
Confederates under Stuart pushing
them back through the passes in the
Rlue Ridge mountains. end effectuallv
preventing General Lee from obtain
jng the information AS to the move
merits of his opponents so necessary
for his success. At the same time the
Union cavalry kept Hooker fairly we'll
informed as to Lees operations.
Following this was a description of
the battles at Aide. T-pperville and
Mjddlehurg whe~e stuart was pushed
hack west of Tho Blue Ridge noun
tains. In ell the~a enga Fements the
First Maine cavalry was IN the fore
front. capturing manv prisoners. but
SUFFERING heavy casualties. in the
battle Of Aldie. losing its colonel.
Those present were: Thomas J.
Little George r Palmer. W H. Ev-
ans. Henry s Rurrag &c. Edward A.
Rut'er Horace n. Shaw. G. z. Mar
shall. A. z, Nickerson. J. 7. Iiscomh.
Goors> W. Cooner, J. NJ Thompson. ].
y. Anderson Hebron Movhew. Alfred
L. Turner. Herbert A. Roberts. Fam
ring 7. Burbank Georra r. DeMctt.
George A. Wheeler. Fl. p. Brown. Ed
ward A. Shaw. Harry r Virgin. r. 2.
Mallett. George r West. Willis r.
S+oneham. Ahner n. Shaw. II. r
Monntfort Francis Wisgin. Sidney ST.
F. Thaxter.