Personal Recollections and Civil War Diary, 1864
It has always seemed strange that it wasn't fully understood by all Company Commanders that a signal gun would be fired from Fort Fisher "about 4.45 o'clock a. m." for obvious reasons, and that the Sixth Corps was to turn to its left after entering the enemy's works and sweep them in that direction to Hatcher's Run in front of the other Corps. Of course it and the fact that Grant's headquarters were close to the left of the First Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Corps (See Grant's Memoirs p. 310), shows that he had implicit faith in its ability to break the enemy's line of works and a possible doubt as to whether the other three corps including the Second, all of which were to the left of the Sixth, could do so or not in front of where they respectively laid. It was fortunate, however, that it wasn't fully understood that the Sixth Corps was to turn to its left and sweep the works as in case it had been the men who ran into the woods which was full of them, in rear of their works would have probably retaken some portions of them and caused still larger unnecessary loss of life. Probably it was thought instead, the enemy would move along their works to their right towards Hatcher's Run, no one ever dreaming they would become quite as badly disorganized at once on our entering their works as we necessarily were after passing through the obstructions in front of the same; but being surprised and on suddenly waking up, and finding us right amongst them, stampede followed. Aside from the foregoing defects in not having the plan of attack, etc., fully understood, the preliminaries of the assault were most admirably carried out; but the Creator knew what was best, and His unseen hand predominated. The slight shelling during the night to try and discover if we were preparing to attack proved futile notwithstanding it did kill and wound a few men in our Brigade. No shells reached Company G, prior to its advancing. My Company being on the right of the Brigade, owing to the long interval between it and the next Brigade on its right, there were fewer men of either army where I entered the works than any where else in the neighborhood. Most of the enemy from here ran to the redoubt and fort just to their right before mentioned and into the woods for obvious reasons, so fortunately there was hardly any resistance at this point; still I saw the only two dead Union soldiers in front of the enemy's work and our Brigade right here, except after the fort was taken.
General Grant was more highly pleased with what the Sixth Corps did than any other. He says in effect in his memoirs (ibid. p. 309), among other things, that General Wright with the Sixth Corps "Swung around to his left and moved to Hatcher's Run sweeping everything before him," and after reaching there (ibid. p. 310), Wright "Sent a regiment to destroy the South Side railroad just outside the city." But does he mention any other Corps so pleasingly? Let the misinformed or biased historians, and others of the so-called "best" Corps of the Army of the Potomac, read what Grant says of each in this fight in his Memoirs. He cannot be accused of fulsome praise in regard to any Corps, but he does mention in flattering terms the clean, brilliant work of the old reliable Sixth Corps which twice almost single-handed saved the National Capital during the last ten months of the war. Again here, too, at Petersburg as in the Shenandoah Valley, it was more conspicuous than any other Corps in ringing down the great stage curtain of this memorable siege.
Had a long strong skirmish line with an occasional reserve been deployed at right angles to the enemy's works and swept to Hatcher's Run or further in rear of their works, probably many thousand more prisoners would have been captured than were. As it was, the Sixth Corps took 3,000 prisoners, which Grant, whose headquarters were at Dabney's Saw Mill (ibid. p. 310), says he met going out of their works just as he was going over them to join the victorious Sixth Corps within the enemy's works where I saw him a few minutes later as before related. Grant does not say anything in his Memoirs about any other Corps having captured any prisoners, in case they did. Probably similar conditions existed all along the lines taken in this closing, most unique and interesting battle of this historic siege so far as both sides were concerned as herein described; and this is one reason I have so fully gone into details never before having seen them as fully given by any eye witness and participant. Of course General Grant not being inside the lines he nor probably any other general officer at the moment of their being taken, was not an eye witness to the remarkable, stirring and unusual scenes of the moment and which immediately followed, and could not go fully into such details in their reports.
ADDENDA NO. 4
The following congratulatory address by General Custer to his men at the close of the Civil War is supplied by Hon. A. H. Farnam, President of one of the largest Mill Companies of Aberdeen, Washington, who served with Custer's Cavalry with credit which served with the Sixth Corps at the battle of Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864, and in other battles, is of interest:
Appomattox Court House, Va., April 9th, 1865.Headquarters Third Cavalry Division.Soldiers of the Third Cavalry Division: —With profound gratitude toward the God of battles, by whose blessing our enemies have been humbled and arms rendered triumphant, your Commanding General avails himself of this his first opportunity to express to you his admiration of the heroic manner in which you have passed through the series of battles which to-day resulted in the surrender of the enemy's entire army.
The record established by your indomitable courage is unparalleled in the annals of war. Your prowess has won for you even the respect and admiration of your enemies. During the past six months although in most instances confronted by superior numbers, you have captured from the enemy, in open battle, one hundred and eleven pieces of field artillery, sixty-five battle flags, and upwards of ten thousand prisoners of war including seven general officers. Within the past ten days, and included in the above, you have captured forty-six pieces of field artillery and thirty-seven battle flags, you have never lost a gun, never lost a color, and have never been defeated, and notwithstanding the numerous engagements in which you have borne a prominent part, including those memorable battles of the Shenandoah you have captured every piece of artillery which the enemy has dared to open upon you. The near approach of peace renders it improbable that you will again be called upon to undergo the fatigues of the toilsome march or the exposure of the battle-field, but should the assistance of keen blades wielded by your sturdy arms be required to hasten the coming of that glorious peace for which we have been so long contending, the General commanding is proudly confident that, in the future as in the past, every demand will meet with a hearty and willing response.
Let us hope that our work is done, and that, blessed with the comforts of peace, we may be permitted to enjoy the pleasures of home and friends. For our comrades who have fallen, let us ever cherish a grateful remembrance. To the wounded, and to those who languished in Southern prisons, let our heartfelt sympathy be tendered.
And now, speaking for myself alone, when the war is ended, and the task of the historian begins, when those deeds of daring which have rendered the name and fame of the Third Division imperishable, are inscribed upon the bright pages of our country's history, I only ask that my name be written as that of the Commander of the Third Cavalry Division.
G. A. Custer,Brevet Major General Commanding.Official: —
S. W. Barnhart,
Captain and A. A. A. G.
ERRATA AND CORRIGENDA
Page 42 next to the last line read ford for fort.
Page 76 eighth line read is for are.
LIST OF SOME OF THE LIVING VETERANS OF THE TENTH REGIMENT, VERMONT VOLUNTEER INFANTRY, SEPTEMBER, 1908
Abbott, L. A., Maj. U. S. A., care of Mil. Sec. U. S. A., Washington, D. C.
Aiken, Hiram, Co. A, Cabot, Vt.
Allen, Harvey H., Co. E, Bennington, Vt.
Apple, Conrad, Co. E, Leadville, Colorado.
Atwater, Alonzo, Co. C, Weston, Vt.
Atwood, Corp. J. B., Co. I, Chelsea, Vt.
Ayers, Lieut. J., Co. B, Stowe, Vt.
Bailey, George, Co. A, Goss Hollow, Vt.
Bailey, Jacob, Co. A, West Plymouth, N. H., R. F. D. No. 1, Box 38.
Bailey, Henry J., Co. A, Lyndon, Vt.
Bailey, William H., Co. F, Enosburg Falls, Vt.
Bancroft, Corp. J. W., Co. K, Boise, Idaho.
Banks, A. M., Co. I, Bradford, Vt.
Bartlett, Corp. O. F., Co. G, 465 Chestnut St., Manchester, N. H.
Bentley, Hiland L., Co. E, German, N. Y.
Blodgett, Corp. G. W., Co. K, Montpelier, Vt.
Bowen, S. C, Co. H, Waterbury, Ct., R. F. D. No. 1.
Bracket, William H., Regt. Hospt. Steward, Co. C, Petersburg, Mich.
Brown, Joseph, Co. A, West Barnet, Vt.
Brown, L. J., Co. K, Bradford, Vt.
Brownell, Philander, Co. E, Ely Summit, Wash. Co., N. Y.
Bruce, Sergt. E. J., Co. K, West Charleston, Vt.
Burnell, Judge G. W., Capt. U. S. C. T., Oshkosh, Wis.
Burt, Sergt. A., Co. F, Enosburg Falls, Vt.
Bushnell, Edward, 50 Eliot St., Brattleboro, Vt., N. C. Staff.
Buss, Albee, Co. E, North Adams, Mass.
Burnham, Luther, Co. I, Washington, Vt.
Buxton, Sergt. E. R., Co. C, Royal, Neb.
Cable, Thomas, Co. A, Summerville, Vt.
Calkins, W. H., Co. K, West Charleston, Vt.
Carl, Rollin M., Co. D, Bristol, Vt.
Chatfield, B. G., Co. G, 334 Stevens St., Lowell, Mass.
Cheney, Hon. A. H., 1st Sergt. Co. G, Maj. U. S. C. T., Spencer, Iowa.
Churchill, Corp. C. C, Co. C, Rochester, Vt.
Churchill, O. E., Co. C, Libertyville, Illinois.
Clark, Corp. Joseph H., Co. A, 18 Pike St., Hopkinton, Mass.
Clark, Sergt. U. A., Co. G., Brookfield, Vt.
Clement, Corp. D. E., Co. H, Tully, Mass.
Clifford, Kimball C., Co. K, West Charleston, Vt.
Clogston, Lieut. Andrew J., Co. G, Littleton, N. H.
Coleston, Lieut. C. E., Co. H, South Woodstock, Vt.
Cobb, Corp. William H., Co. D, Middlesex, Vt.
Cobb, W. N., Co. H, 374 Edgwood Ave., New Haven, Conn.
Colby, George, Co. H, South Woodstock, Vt.
Conley, Corp. Charles W., Co. A, Summerville, Vt.
Cone, Patrick, Co. E, Bennington Centre, Vt.
Crane, A. J., Co. D, Bristol, Vt.
Crossett, E. C., Co. B, Waterbury, Vt.
Crown, Hon. A. H., Corp. Co. D, Tonawanda, N. Y.
Cunningham, Thomas, Co. C, Brandon, Vt.
Currie, Sergt. Charles D., Co. E, Georgia, Vt.
Currier, Alburn L., Co. A, Randolph, Vt.
Curtis, H. B., Co. E, Clio, Genessee Co., Mich.
Daley, Corp. John, Co. H, Ludlow, Vt.
Dana, E. H., Co. B, Middlesex, Vt.
Dane, Alden O., Co. K, Bellerica, Mass.
Dart, Alba, Co. H, Bethel, Vt.
Davis, Capt. George Evans, Co. D, 35 Federal St., Beverly, Mass.
Densmore, Corp. Jason, Co. G, Lebanon, N. H.
Dewey, Capt. H. H., Co. A, 294 Washington St., Boston, Mass. (Now in hospital).
Dodge, Albert F., Co. B, Maj. U. S. C. T., Barre, Vt.
Douse, Dr. George M., Co. A, Peacham, Vt.
Drown, C. L., Co. K, Island Pond, Vt.
Edwards, W. R., Co. D, 221 West Miller St., Mason City, Iowa.
Emery, Charles E., Co. G, Washington, Vt.
Evaans, E. P., Co. B. 1419 North 13th St., Philadelphia, Pa.
Evans, Hon. Ira H., Co. B, Capt. U. S. C. T., Austin, Texas.
Farr, Capt. E. P., Co. G, Pierre, So. Dakota.
Felt, D. O., Co. E, Boston, Mass.
Ferris, Henry M., Co. C, Brandon, Vt.
Foss, F. Plummer, Co. G, 20 Middle St., Manchester, N. H.
Foster, Dr. E. J., Co. B, Waterbury Center, Vt.
Foster, Capt. Daniel, Co. B, Bloomington, Ill. (Not sure; no reply to letter).
Freeman, Corp. Julius, Co. G, East Chatham, N. Y.
Fuller, Capt. A. W., St. Albans, Vt.
George, Corp. Christopher, Co. C, Barnard, Vt.
George, C. H., Co. G, River Falls, Wisconsin.
George, J. C., Co. K, West Charleston, Vt.
George, J. Hebert, Co. G, 19 Hamilton St., Norwich, Ct. Band.
Getchell, G. C., Co. G, East St. Johnsbury, Vt.
Goldsmith, James H., Co. H, Weathersfield Center, Vt. Band.
Green, Charles, Co. E, Bennington, Vt.
Griffin, John D., Co. K, West Charleston, Vt.
Griswold, Sergt. W. A., Co. D, 639 Morris St., Washington, D. C.
Guilder, Bishop C., Co. E, Castleton, Vt.
Hadlock, Lieut. C. P., Co. K, North Thetford, Vt.
Hall, E. C., Co. G, Soldier's Home, Hampden, Va.
Hamilton, Nathan, Co. F, Richford, Vt. (Not sure).
Hart, John B., Co. K, West Derby, Vt.
Haynes, Dr. E. M., Chaplain, 38 Grove St., Rutland, Vt.
Heath, John, Co. K, West Charleston, Vt.
Hebard, Milan, Co. G, Randolph, Vt.
Hemenway, Sergt. Oscar, Co. H, New Richmond, Wis.
Henry, Gen. W. W., U. S. Consul, Quebec, Canada.
Hilliard, Sergt. C. L., Co. C, Wallingford, Vt.
Hoadley, Francis H., Co. C, Wallingford, Vt.
Hopkins, Perry, Co. G, Bloomer, Wis., R. F. D. No. 5.
Hosford, J. N., Co. G, Barre, Vt., R. F. D. No. 3.
Howard, Edgar O., Co. H, No. 3 Willow Court, Waterbury, Ct.
Howe, Sergt. J. C., Co. H, Walpole, N. H.
Hoy, James, Co. C, Londonderry, Vt.
Hoyt, Lieut. William R., Co. A, Oklahoma. (Govt. employee; location unknown).
Humphrey, Charles D., Co. H, Hartland, Vt., R. F. D. No. 1.
Hunt, Sergt. Maschil, Co. K, Avon, Mass., Box 92.
Hunt, Corp. Roswell C., Co. D, San Pedro, California.
Ingram, Lieut. Almon, Co. G, 148 Weston Road, Wellesley, Mass.
Johnson, Lieut. E. T., Co. E, Bradford, Pa.
Johnson, Ira J., Co. B, Middlesex, Vt.
Johnson, Nathan M., Coos, N. H.
Jones, William M., Co. H, Pittsford Mills, Vt.
Kelley, Beauman A., Co. A, Burke, Vt.
Kelley, Edward, Sergt. Co. E, Bennington, Vt.
Kelley, Corp. Emery, Co. A, St. Johnsbury Centre, Vt.
Keyes, Corp. Edwin L., Co. E, Readsboro, Vt.
Kidder, L. G., Co. G, Northfield, Vt.
Kincaid, Arthur, Co. A, Sutton, Vt.
Kingsley, Capt. H. W., Rutland, Vt.
Kirk, Corp. Reuben S., Co. H, Keene, N. H.
LaFountain, John, Co. F, Montgomery, Vt.
Lajoie, Stephen, Co. D, Burlington, Vt.
Lagro, Henry, Co. F, Enosburg, Vt.
Law, Corp. Harrison, Co. C, Wallingford, Vt.
Lawrence, Sergt. H. A., Co. A, East Peacham, Vt.
Leanard, Charles, Co. C, Lyme, N. H.
Learned, A. N., Co. I, Chester, Vt.
Leavens, L. C., Co. I, Richford, Vt.
Lincoln, C. M., Co. E, Rupert, Vt.
Madison, M., Co. E, West Chicago, Ill.
Manly, James, Co. D, Milton, Vt.
Mansur, J. W., Co. K, Island Pond, Vt.
Mansur, Hon. Z. M., Corp. Co. K, Newport, Vt.
Mason, George E., Co. G, West Randolph, Vt.
Martin, George W., Co. G, Bradford, Vt.
Martin, J. B., Co. C, Londonderry, Vt.
McClure, C. W., Co. C, Middletown Springs, Vt.
McCoy, J. B., Co. K, Madison, Wisconsin.
McMurphy, A. H., Co. G, Randolph Centre, Vt.
McNally, Corp. John, Co. G, Spruce St., Manchester, N. H.
Miles, George B., Co. G, Waits River, Vt.
Miner, Henry, Co. C, Winooski, Vt.
Miner, James, Co. C, Fair Haven, Vt., Box 204.
Montgomery, Corp. Wm. H., Co. E, Pownal, Vt.
Morrill, Joseph A., Co. A, Passumpsic, Vt., R. F. D. No. 1.
Moulton, W. S., Co. K, East Charleston, Vt.
Montieth, John, Co. F, Montgomery, Vt.
Munsen, W. W., Co. F, Highgate Centre, Vt. Band.
Murray, Robert, Co. A. Kinniars Mills, Quebec, Canada.
Murray, William, Co. A, Kinniars Mills, Quebec, Canada.
Naylor, Michael, Co. C, 165 Granger St., Rutland, Vt.
Nye, Capt. Chester F., Pawnee City, Neb.
O'Brien, Thomas, Co. D, 20 Hayward St., Burlington, Vt.
Oliver, Charles, Co. H, 43 Milk St., Fitchburg, Mass.
Ormsby, Corp. A. S., Co. I, Chester, Vt.
Osborn, Alfred M., Co. D, Williston, Vt.
Paige, Corp. S. A., Co. G, Laport City, Iowa.
Parker, L. B., Co. F., Richford, Vt.
Parkhurst, Jesse, Co. C, Andover, Vt.
Parkhurst, A. S., Co. B, Barre, Vt.
Pattison, E., Co. G, White Bear Lake, Minn.
Paul, William B., Co. H., Waltham, Mass.
Pease, L. H., Co. H, Amherst, N. H.
Perkins, William H., Co. E, East Rupert, Vt.
Pierce, Sergt. H. M., Co. B, 172 Washington Ave., Chelsea, Mass.
Porter, Albert H., Co. G, Thetford Center, Vt.
Porter, Charles E., Co. G, 142 County St., Fall River, Mass.
Powell, Charles A., Co. F., Richford, Vt.
Powell, Hon. E. Henry, Col. U. S. C. T., 166 College St., Burlington, Vt.
Powers, Lieut. Isaac L., Co. H, 91 Indiana Ave., Providence, R. I.
Powers, Orin S., Co. I, Bakersfield, Vt.
Puffer, Col. N. M., Co. E, Bennington, Vt. Band.
Raymore, J. W., Co. G, Randolph, Vt.
Rice, Charles L., Co. G, Rockland, Mass.
Rice, G. E., Co. G, 80 Pleasant St., Malden, Mass.
Rice, Ira A., Co. G, Florence, Wis.
Ring, Corp. Homer W., Co. D, Essex Junction, Vt.
Ross, Sergt. U. T., Co. H, Proctorsville, Vt.
Rogers, Allen, Co. C, Rochester, Vt.
Sabin, W. H. H., Co. – , Rutland, Vt.
Scott, Sergt. Alexander, Co. D, 1201 Kenyon Ave., Washington, D. C.
Sears, Andrews, Co. D, Vergennes, Vt.
Selina, Julius, Co. B, St. Johnsbury, Vt.
Sessions, Corp. H. G., Co. C, Meeteetse, Big Horn Co., Wyoming.
Sheldon, Capt. John A., Co. C, Rutland, Vt.
Sexton, DeWitt B., Co. I, Rutland, Vt. (Not sure of address).
Smally, A. K., Co. G, Waterbury, Vt.
Smith, Frank, Co. I, Chester, Vt.
Smith, Hon. Richard, Co. F, West Enosburg, Vt.
Smith, H. T., Co. G, Malcomb, Iowa.
Smith, J. G., Co. B, 208 Main St., Montpelier, Vt.
Spofford, Judson, Co. K, Boise, Idaho, Box 145.
Stafford, Sergt. Henry, Co. E, Bennington, Vt.
Stafford, Corp. John A., Co. E, 272 Western Ave., Brattleboro, Vt.
Steele, Capt. H. R., Co. K, 32 Liberty St., N. Y. City.
Steward, John R., Co. E, Soldier's Home, Bennington, Vt.
Stoddard, Albert H., Co. K, Burke, Vt.
Swail, W. H., Co. D, 42 Larned St., Detroit, Mich.
Taylor, Smith, Co. G, Chelsea, Vt.
Tice, Sergt. George H., Co. K, Holland, Vt.
Torrence, Ezra M., Co. E, Worthington, Minn.
Torrence, Henry E., Co. E, Worthington, Minn.
Turner, Andrew V., Co. E, Manchester Centre, Vt.
Vedell, Francis, Co. C, 217 Elmwood Ave., Burlington, Vt.
Wait, Corp. Oscar E., Co. I, Springfield, Vt.
Wallace, W. H., Co. A, St. Johnsbury Centre, Vt.
Wallace, C. F., Co. K, Dixville, P. Q., Canada.
Walker, Corp. Joel, Co. E, Bennington, Vt.
Washburn, Milton, Co. D, Middlebury, Vt.
Waters, Corp. J. L., Co. E, Bennington, Vt.
Welch, Adjt. George P., 8806 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio.
Wellman, Adin J., Co. C, Sedgwick, Kansas.
Wetmore, Philander C., Co. C, Robinson, Vt.
Wheeler, Lieut. A. H., Perkinsville, Vt.
Whitcomb, William L., Co. H, Springfield, Vt.
White, Lieut. Thomas H., Co. G, Shingle Springs, California.
Whitney, D., Co. G, Sibley, Iowa.
Wilkey, Lieut. Alexander, Co. G, Maria, P. Q., Canada.
Willey, Frank, Co. A, 323 Lake Ave., Manchester, N. H.
Williams, L. J., Co. C, Mendon, Vt.
Wise, Corp. George W., Co. G, 172 Broadway, Saranac Lake, N. Y.
Woodruff, Gen. Charles, Co. A, care Mil. Sec. U. S. A., Washington, D. C.
Wyatt, A. N., Co. E, 16 Washington St., Brattleboro, Vt.
Young, Henry C., Co. E, Bennington, Vt.
DIEDBlack, J. A., Co. K, d. 715 E. 7th St., Erie, Pa., wid. res. there.
Bond, T. C., Co. H, d. Apr. 19, 1905.
Boutwell, A. C., Co. G, d. Rutland, Vt, wid. res. there.
Chatfield, B. G., Co. G., d. in Lowell, Mass.
Clark, Dr. Almon, d. in Milwaukee, Wis.
Colby, E. C., Co. I, d. in Waterbury, Ct., wid. res. Springfield, Mass.
Eaton, A. F., Co. H, d. in Ludlow, Vt.
Emery, George A., Co. G, d. in Somerville, Mass.
Freeman, Dr. D. B., Co. G, d. in Bethel, Vt., wid. res. there.
Gassett, Oscar, Co. H, d. in Ludlow, Vt., Jan. 11, 1895.
Hadley, Corp. Thomas, Co. H, d. in Claremont, N. H., June 20, 1904, wid. res. 36 Prospect St., Claremont, N. H.
Haskell, Robert, Co. A, d. in East Peacham, Vt.
Kelley, C. A., Co. G, d. in Hawley, Mass.
Laberee, Sergt. George, Co. A, d. at Ascot Corners, P. Q., Canada.
Leach, P. C., Co. I, d. in Bakersfield, Vt., Oct. 2, 1907.
McIntosh, Dr. H. H., Co. G, d. in Randolph, Vt.
McKinstry, A. P., Co. G, wid. res. 419 W. 7th St., Red Wing, Minn.
Pippin, Corp. Timothy, Co. D, d. in Rockford, Ia., Nov. 14, 1907.
Poor, John H., Co. G, d. in Hardwick, Vt.
Riley, Thomas D., Co. F, d. probably in Wis.
Rutherford, Dr. J. C., d. in Newport, Vt.
Sloane, William A., Co. H., d. in Conway, N. H., Jan. 6, 1903, wid. res. there.
Sprague, H. J., Co. G, d. at Bridgewater, Vt.
Stiles, Lieut. H. G., Co. G, d. in Indianapolis, Ind.
Tarble, Sylvester C., Co. H, d. in Brandon, Vt.
Thompson, Charles, Co. G, d. in Manchester, N. H.
Thompson, Capt. J. S., d. at 2802 Everett Ave., Everett, Washington, wid. res. there.
Ware, D. W., Co. H, d. in Springfield, Mass., Apr. 21, 1898.
Whitehill, W. H., Co. A, d. at State Center, Ia., Mar. 3, 1907, wid. res. there.
Woodward, G. H., Co. G, d. at Bridgewater, Vt., wid. res. there.
Wyman, Charles H., Co. H, d. in Fitchburg, Mass., May 28, 1902, of apoplexy, wid. res. 9 Park St.
Zuille, Francis, Co. H, d. in Springfield, Vt., July, 1908.
1
The most interesting part of this diary commences on May 3rd, 1864, when General U. S. Grant's campaign to Petersburg, Va., begins, and later General Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley campaign, etc.
2
Miss P. A. Thomson, a cousin and many years a teacher in Goddard Seminary, Barre, Vt.
3
In a letter to Chaplain E. M. Haynes of my regiment by me which he used in his history of our regiment, I state that Seymour was taken prisoner when the right flank of our army was thrown into confusion late May 6, 1864. From what source I got the information I don't recollect, but supposed it correct. I had not then seen my diary for many years, and had forgotten about the matter. My diary is correct, for I recall having heard of Seymour being taken prisoner that day before the fighting on our right flank later in the day. I wondered when I saw him so far in front of his column why he didn't have a skirmish line in his front. An alert General wouldn't have been captured, I don't think. – L. A. A.
4
An infantryman.
5
The stump of this tree is on exhibition at the War Department in Washington, D. C., or was a few years since – L. A. A.
6
United States Colored Troops.
7
It was here that General Early mentions in his "Personal Memoirs" of this battle, an extract from which will be found further along, that he had to send General Gordon's Division to reinforce McCausland under the superintendence of General Breckenridge, etc. This was what kept us waiting so long after McCausland's repulse, it took so long to get reinforcements across the river. It was the desperate fighting here, too, where there were three or more separate assaults, that years afterwards drew forth an acknowledgment from Gordon that it was one of the hardest fights he had ever been in or to that effect, and that it caused the waters of the Monocacy to run red with the mingled blood of the blue and the gray.
8
As time and history has developed other facts in connection with this battle and this wound, it is fitting that the facts should be introduced here, which will be the case from this time on in the case of battles.
9
Colonel J. W. Keifer of the Second Brigade says in his official report of this battle that the regiments at Monrovia were unnecessarily detained by Colonel J. F. Staunton. – See Haynes' History Tenth Regiment Vermont Infantry.
10
Haynes' History of the Tenth Regiment Vermont Infantry.
11
As General Sheridan was soon sent us, this prediction was as good as proven, but many a poor fellow bit the dust first.