After the lapse of a generation, as
we read the story of the Great Rebellion, it seems almost like fiction,
or the tale of another age. The deeper colors of those dark days
of the nation's peril have faded, and the services of those who saved
the Republic are well-nigh forgotten. Yet each year the broken and
ever-thinning ranks of the veterans, as they gather to grasp once
more the hands of comrades who stood beside them on the field of
battle, recall again to memory the thousands of every age, every
pursuit and rank in life, who gave up their professions and occupations
and severed the tenderest ties, that they might at the call of duty
hasten forth to the untried experiences and stern realities of camp
and field, and, perchance, offer their lives at last a sacrifice
upon the altar of their
country. The records of the struggle are fraught with instances
of personal daring and intrepidity which well entitles the American
volunteer soldier to rank beside the heroes of any nation. While
the larger states contributed heroic sons, whose fame and brilliant
services will ever be held in grateful remembrance, Rhode Island
may feel all a mother's pride that she gave many of the most gallant
spirits whose blood ever stained a battlefield. It is just and fitting
that the record these heroes made by their toils, endurance and achievements,
should be put into permanent form and transmitted to posterity. In
these pages we propose to give a brief sketch of the military career
of one of the bravest and most venturesome officers in the Union
service, Henry Harrison Young, who, though not so widely known to
his countrymen as those in high command, through his heroism and
indefatigable labors, which were continued with unabated zeal until
the rebellion was crushed, won for himself the admiration and confidence
of the brilliant Sheridan, and the hearty applause of the entire
army.
No
attempt will here be made to fully write his life, but simply to
group together some incidents of his military career, gathered from
every available source, and making free use of much that has already
been published. We do not dwell upon his services in the early part
of the war, connected, as they were, with the history of the Second
Rhode
Island regiment, which has been so ably written by its historian,
the Rev. Augustus
Woodbury, who was the brave chaplain of the First Rhode Island Volunteers.
We have
made free use of such portions of his narrative as seemed best for
our purpose. He was
the eldest son of Nelson and Nancy Young.
He was born in Mendon, Massachusetts,
February 9, 1841. A child of slender physique, but handsome, and
high-spirited from his boyhood; he early manifested great interest
in all military mattes, and later expressed a strong desire to be
educated at West Point and enter upon a military career, but did
not succeed in obtaining an appointment. He was very young when his
father died, but his manly care and extreme solicitude for the welfare
of his widowed mother and little sister, in the years that followed,
was but the
germ of that generous, unselfish nature which stamped the man, and
characterized his
whole career.
He was a quick, intelligent youth and stood well in
school; it so happened that most of his classmates were older that
himself, but his close and persistent attention to his studies enabled
him to maintain his equality with the older boys, and to win favorable
comments of his teachers. He left school at an early age to begin
mercantile life, but two years after, at his mother's request, he
entered Schofield's Commercial College and completed a course of
study, preparing himself as an accountant; he graduated with honor,
and soon after received a situation as bookkeeper and cashier with
the well-known firm of Lippit & Martin,
Providence, Rhode Island, where he remained until he entered the
army. This experience was afterwards of value to him in his various
army positions, and his accounts and military papers were often referred
to as models of neatness and accuracy.
Entering the Army
When the war broke out the young hero was among the
first to answer his country's call. Through the influence of friends he had hopes
of a commission, and at Lincoln's call for 75,000 men, he determined
to enter the service. With his sister, a child of ten years,
driving for him, and a book of tactics open on his knee, he went
from house to house, through the villages of Blackstone valley, stopping
in public places and calling a crowd around his carriage, he harangued
them with such patriotic ardor that in one day he enlisted sixty-three
men. His list of recruits was presented to Colonel John S. Slocum,
who was then organizing the Second Rhode Island, but declined for
the reason that many more men had offered to enlist than were needed
to answer that call. He was much disappointed at the result of his
labor in raising recruits, but his persistent zeal and gallant bearing
soon attracted the interest of Colonel Slocum, who soon procured
him a commission as second lieutenant of company B, in the Second
Rhode Island, then under his command.
Some of the men that Young had enlisted
were subsequently placed in different
regiments, many of them finally becoming enrolled in the Second Rhode
Island. He had considerable acquaintance with the history of
warlike achievements, and his fancy was captivated by any daring
exploit. Referring to his efforts to raise a company, he related
an incident of the Revolutionary war, about the famous Daniel Morgan,
who, "immediately
after the Battle of Lexington, in less than a week, enrolled ninety-six
men, the nucleus of his celebrated rifle corps, and marched them
into Boston." How far this example may have influenced his mind,
can only be conjectured.
The company under his command went
into camp on Dexter Training Ground,
Providence, R.I., June 8, 1861, being compelled to occupy a bare,
comfortless old
building, the tents not having been prepared; the men, fresh from
home comforts,
grumbled considerably and were getting disorderly. The officers had
departed for the
better accommodations accorded them in virtue of their superior rank,
when Lieutenant
Young stepped in to see how the men were getting on before joining
his brother officers
for the night; he took in the situation at a glance; this was the
introduction to army
hardships. "Come on, boys," said he, "We'd better
turn in," and rolling himself in his
blanket he lay down on the hard floor. The murmurs were hushed
-- the men, abashed, followed his example, and soon all was quiet.
Throughout his whole army life he never lost sight
of the welfare and comfort of his men and never failed to share their
hardships. The
next day he was officer of the guard, and was ordered to have the flag
halliards rove; no one caring to take the risk, he volunteered to do
it himself, and, climbing to the top of the pole, secured the rope
amid the cheers of the crowd below. There was an immense throng
of visitors, and he was ordered to clear the ground; nothing daunted
at his military skill, he deployed his men at intervals and drove
the crowd successfully outside, much to the amusement of the colonel.
Young apologized for his awkwardness to his commander,
who complimented him very highly, saying, "It was as well as
he could have done it himself, but not just as he would have done
it."
Up to this time he had never shouldered a musket, and
took his first practical lesson in the manual of arms under Sergeant
James H. Warner, of the Providence Light Infantry, better known afterwards
as Captain Warner, of the Providence police. An eye witness says: "I
can remember how small he looked, his sword trailing on the ground,
his slight figure so full of fire and energy." An old
soldier who saw him at Bull Run said he was surprised to see such
a boy in command of a company of big men.
When first introduced to Captain John Wright, of company
B, whose second lieutenant he was, he was a pale, slender youth,
fresh from an office; quite a contrast to the robust physique of
his superior officer. "What does that young man expect to do in the
army?" queried the captain of another officer. "He will be
flat on his back after the first march." It proved quite the contrary. The
captain was stricken down with disease before the battle of Bull
Run, and Lieutenant Young, one of the youngest officers in the service,
led the company heroically through that bloody battle.
Such confident anticipations of victory
had possessed the public mind, that, when the news of the defeat,
and what seemed then like overwhelming disaster, came flashing over
the wires, the whole North was stirred to its inmost depths. Who
can forget the tidings of July 22, 1861, or the sad scenes witnessed
on our streets? Waiting
throngs, with anxious faces, eagerly sought the latest dispatches,
for all had dear ones to hear from; and when among the fallen heroes
came the names of Slocum, Ballou,
Prescott, Tower, Smith, and others well known, intense grief pervaded
the whole
community. It was like "the cry of blood on the field of Lexington
and Concord that
rang through the land," and roused the public heart to still
higher courage and
determination, and with stronger faith in the ultimate future.
During the summer of 1862 a hospital for sick and wounded
soldiers was established at "Portsmouth Grove." Lieutenant Young's
mother, hearing that some of the members of his company were there,
went from Providence with a party of friends, well supplied with dainties
to distribute among the invalids. She sought out the men of company
B, made inquiries as to their health, their treatment and army life,
and finally of their lieutenant, then in the field. "Do you like
him?" asked one of the visitors; the answer came in a flash: "Like
him, ma'am! there was never anybody like him; the men would lay down
their lives for him any day!"
A long period of quiet succeeded the
battle of Bull Run, broken by the Peninsula and Maryland campaigns,
in which Young, with his regiment, experienced some of the
hardest service of the war.
Battle of Fredericksburg
At the battle of Fredericksburg, December
11, 1862, when General Burnside prepared to cross the Rappahannock,
there was some unaccountable delay in sending him the pontoons, which
gave the enemy time to prepare a stout resistance. The riverbank
was
well guarded and the enemy ready to give us a warm reception. The
laying of the bridges
was a perilous task, and the crossing of them after they were laid,
still more so. The
moment had come which would test the nerve and daring of the bravest
men. Who
would have the honor of taking the lead? General Devin's brigade
was selected; the
Second Rhode Island was on the right, the post of honor as well as
danger; three
companies were to advance. Colonel Frank Wheaton selected I, K and
B, the latter
commanded by Captain Young. On they went for the bridge, the whole
division eagerly
watching them; they dashed across at the double-quick with wild cheering,
deployed
instantly on the other side and charged gallantly up the river bank
-- the rest of the
regiment speedily followed. Captain Young, with his company, were
the first to cross the
Rappahannock at any point, and received the heartiest applause.
The battle proved to be a disaster to our side, and during the night
of the 15th, General Burnside silently withdrew his entire army.
Incidents After the Battle
On the 25th of January, 1863, General Burnside was
relieved of the command, and General Joseph Hooker appointed in his
place. The winter and the early spring passed away without any important
movements in Virginia. A number of raids were made by the rebel cavalry.
Says Greely: "Lee
reports that Captain Randolph, of the Black Horse cavalry, by various
raids into Fauquier county, captured over two hundred prisoners and
several hundred stand of arms; and that Lieutenant Mosby, (whose name
now makes its first appearance in a bulletin,) has done much to harass
the enemy; attacking boldly on several occasions and capturing many
prisoners." One or two minor cavalry exploits, recited by Lee,
read too much like romance to be embodied in sober history; yet such
was the depression on our side in Virginia, such the elation and confidence
on the other, such the very great advantage enjoyed by the rebel raiders
in the readiness of the white inhabitants to give them information
and even to scout in quest of it, throughout that dreary winter, that
nothing might be asserted of Rebel audacity or Federal imbecility is
absolutely incredible. In a rebel raid within our lines, General Stoughton,
a young Vermont brigadier, was taken in his bed, near Fairfax Court
house, and, with his guards and five horses, hurried off across the
Rappahannock. Some one spoke of the loss to Mr. Lincoln, next morning. "Yes," said
the President, "that of the horses is bad; but I can make another
general in five minutes."
Captain Young was serving as inspector-general
of the Second brigade. He was
continually chaffing under the dull restraints of ordinary camp life,
studied carefully
every move of the enemy, frequently going long distances outside
our lines. He once
saved one of our supply trains by discovering a movement of rebel
raiders and promptly
sending reinforcements to the guard who would undoubtedly have been
surprised and
routed. Captain Young writes at this period: "It is sad horses
and forage are scarce in the
South, but their cavalry seem to be in pretty good condition, and
are raiding all around us
with considerable success; we need some bold stroke on this side
to enspirit the army."
Captain Young seldom referred to his
own exploits except in a facetious vein, as if to be shot at was
a very amusing experience. In a letter from camp at Warrenton, in
1863, he writes: "I went
out the other day with two of our boys, all mounted on mules, on
a little expedition over the mountains. We advanced some six miles
outside of our picket lines, and found ourselves among the guerrillas;
after we had crossed what is called Carter's Run, we were fired upon,
and had a pretty hard scrabble in getting away; one of our boys lost
his mule and equipments. As soon as the firing commenced, the mule
balked and would not stir a step, and he was so hard pressed he had
to take to the woods afoot, but came in, finally, all right, and
on his way back had the good luck to capture somebody's stray horse.
I shall explore that section again at an early day. A scout's life
is a dangerous one, to a certain extent, but I don't know, after
all, that it is more so than a
great many other positions. It is quite exciting, sometimes, at all
events."
Marye's Hill and Salem Heights
General Hooker, during the ensuing
months, having perfected the discipline and
organization of his army, now felt prepared to strike a decisive
blow. He crossed the
Rappahannock April 30, 1863, with a large force, above Fredericksburg,
and moved
rapidly on Chancellorsville. Sedgwick, with the Sixth corps, also
made a successful
crossing below, and made a vigorous effort to form a junction with
Hooker, but the latter
general had been himself attacked and disastrously repulsed, leaving
Sedgwick in a
perilous position. At daylight, on the 3rd of May, he found himself
in front of the
enemy's works on Mayre's Heights. "The position could not be
turned on either flank,
and a direct assault was imperative. On, steadily up the hill went
our columns, men and
officers falling on all sides, every foot of their progress obstinately
disputed and marked
with blood." At last they reached the works and carried everything
before them. General
Early withdrew his command to a range of hills beyond, called Salem
Heights, and a
bloody battle ensued, in which the Second Rhode Island, under Colonel
Horatio Rogers,
fought with a steadiness and gallantry that proved of signal service.
Captain Young was assistant adjutant-general
for Colonel W.H. Brown, of the
Thirty-sixth New York, who was in command of the brigade, and, fearlessly
exposing
himself, was seriously wounded and borne from the field. In an account
of the battle he
says: "Captain Young followed me into the thickest of the fight,
and was of great service.
When you wished an order carried to any part of the field, he did
not look about for the
safest route, but took the most direct one, no matter how the bullets
whistled; he was
always ready to dash through the hottest place, to cheer on a wavering
regiment or to
rally a disorganized one. While the battle was at its height he discovered
a wounded
soldier of the Second Rhode Island in such a position that he was
exposed to the fire of
both sides; leaping from his horse, amid a shower of bullets, he
was himself wounded in
the arm, but dragged the poor fellow to the shelter of a tree; it
was but the work of a
moment, yet amid the noise and confusion of battle, seemed wonderfully
cool and
deliberate." But all this desperate fighting was fruitless.
Sedgwick, with the Sixth corps, re-crossed the Rappahannock on the
5th, and on the 8th, with the rest of the army, returned to its former
camp.
In June, General Lee effected a crossing
of the Potomac and was advancing into
Pennsylvania. On the 28th, General Hooker was relieved, and General
George B. Meade
appointed to his place. The battle of Gettysburg ensued, in which
the Second was
conspicuous and materially aided in contributing to the success.
Grant in the Field
General Grant assumed command of the
armies of the United States, March 17, 1864, and fixed his own headquarters
with the Army of the Potomac, with which he soon
opened a vigorous campaign, in which the Second Rhode Island participated
in some of
the hardest and most bloody battles of the war, and won encomiums
for its valorous
deeds. Its term of enlistment had now expired. Of the eight hundred
men who had gone
out to war in June, 1861, a little more than one-fourth marched from
the lines at Cold
Harbor on the morning of the 5th of June, 1864, to return home.
Captain Young had followed the fortunes
of his regiment with unflagging devotion; when others availed themselves
of hard-earned furloughs, he remained. "I am going to see this
thing out," he
said, and he did. He was with then at Bull Run, Siege of Yorktown,
Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg, Marye's
Heights, Salem Heights, Gettysburg, Rappahannock Station, Mine Run,
Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and subsequently with Sheridan
in many pitched battles and numerous conflicts with the enemy.
The re-enlisted veterans and new recruits
remained in the field, with a battalion
organization, and were designated as the Second Regiment. Captain
Young was the
senior officer and command would devolve upon him, but he was absent
at the time on
staff duty, which he much preferred. The command accordingly fell
to Captain Elisha H.
Rhodes, in whose hands the old reputation was well-sustained and
fresh laurels gathered
on many a hard fought field.
First Experience at Scouting
At the close of the Shenandoah campaign, Young was serving on the
staff of Colonel Oliver Edwards. He did considerable scouting for that
officer, particularly at night, and hunted Mosby in company with the
famous Captain Blazer, who commanded a company of Union scouts.
Young had devised a very ingenious plan for the capture of Mosby,
and was confident of success; he watched long and patiently for an
opportunity to put his plan in execution, but when the opportune moment
arrived his design was frustrated by some of our cavalry driving Mosby
out of his position. The night, however, was not passed entirely without
success, for Young continued on his scout and captured a noted guerrilla
near Romney, while he was in bed. This man had heretofore escaped capture,
and was reported to carry thirty-six shots about his person.
At one time in a little village near
Winchester, he found a rebel recruiting office in full blast; he
approached with easy confidence, told a plausible story, inveighed
a little
against the Yanks, and finally enlisted, swearing to appear at the
appointed day; the day
came; true to his oath, the captain came also, but with a few picked
men, and captured the
whole concern. An examination of the books and papers revealed the
fact that a small
quantity of arms were temporarily stored in the neighborhood. That
night, with a small
squad of men, he started again, hoping to secure the guns, but found
the alarm had been
given and the enterprise was abandoned.
Scout Duty
He now attracted the attention of General
Sheridan by a daring exploit which transferred him at once to the
active and adventurous service in which he subsequently earned marked
and enviable distinction. Sometime
in the early autumn, while the brigade was at Winchester, the enemy
made a detached movement around the right of our army, threatening
Winchester and Hancock. The object of the expedition was somewhat
obscure, and Sheridan could gain no accurate or satisfactory information
from the scouts he sent out; he applied to Colonel Edwards, instructing
him to use every endeavor to penetrate the design of the movement,
and placing the secret service fund at his disposal. Captain Young
at once volunteered to obtain the required knowledge, and asked only
for a picked detail of three picked men and four rebel uniforms;
putting himself and his little detachment into the gray costume,
and stealing quietly out of the city, he made his way into the enemy's
lines, and by his tact, adroitness, and the skillful management of
his resources, gained full particulars, and in less than twenty-four
hours' time, was back again with his report. The whole matter was
immediately laid before Sheridan, who at once claimed his services. "I
must have that man," said he, "I have been looking for
him for the last two years."
Captain Young was promoted to Major and transferred
to Sheridan's staff, November 14, 1864. Here he became Chief of Scouts. Sheridan
authorized him to select from the army one hundred picked men, of
whom he was to have sole command, going whithersoever he would and
acting entirely to his own discretion. They were a fine body of men
and selected with great care for this peculiar service.
This adventurous, perilous and exciting duty was exactly
suited to a man of his iron nerve and indomitable will. He
was peculiarly endowed by nature for the active and hazardous service
which he subsequently entered upon; with a sanguine temperament which
no reverses could discourage, with wonderful powers of endurance,
a restless activity always on the alert, and a constitution which
loss of food or sleep never seemed to make less vigorous, he would
tire out the more robust and hardy men who worked with him.
His scouting parties were exceedingly
well organized and of the greatest service to Sheridan to the close
of the war. As an officer of Sheridan's staff says: "As a general
rule, scouts are perfectly worthless, being usually plausible fellows
who go out to the
picket-line, lie all night under some tree and come back to headquarters
in the morning
and lie there, giving wonderful reports about the enemy, fearing
no contradiction."They swagger frightfully, where small towns
are occupied and there are any natives to
astonish; then they turn out in full uniform of the enemy -- being
surrounded by friends --
and with two pistols in the belt and one in each boot, these walking
arsenals walk into
everything that does not belong to them and help themselves.
"Young's men were managed differently
and proved of great service, being much more afraid of the general
and the major than they were of the enemy, for the former had a way
of cross-examining fatal to a lie, and as the major was constantly
off in the enemy's
country himself, his men were never certain that he had not followed
them. ~It is no use
trying to stump his eye,' a scout would say.
"These men had been with Young
on several successful expeditions and in some
desperate fights; they had taken Harry Gilmor out of his bed, confiscating
the pistols
under his pillow, without disturbing his command. In the Shenandoah
valley they had
swept through the picket-line of the enemy and cut their way through
the reserves, losing
several killed and wounded in the attempt; they knew the major and
each other and the
major knew them, and they had that mutual confidence which is vital
to a party of this
sort.
"Major Young's men dressed in
the Confederate uniform, habitually mingled with the people, told
them the news and got the news in return from them; cursed the Yankees
and drank stirrup cups of applejack to their discomfiture, warned
the host against their
own coming, then rode away while one of their number slipped quickly
back through
unfrequented paths and communicated the latest from the front to
the general
commanding."
At night, while the troops rested, Young and his men
would be miles away in every direction, and during the following
day would be met at every cross road possessed of the best intelligence
from the right and left. The scouts were well paid for this hazardous work,
and often received a bonus for special acts of daring and good service,
while the major was compensated by his chances of distinction and the
general's good opinion. He grew to be well known in the sections
where the army campaigned, and those who acknowledged a curiosity
to see anything in the shape of a Yankee would ask to have Young
pointed out.
General Edward's Letter
The following letter from General Oliver Edwards may be given at this
point to illustrate by a special instance, already alluded to, not
only the character of Major Young, but also the nature of his hazardous
enterprises. General Edwards writes:
"I was well acquainted with Major
H.H. Young from early 1861 to the end of his life. He served on my
staff from the Wilderness campaign to November, 1864. He possessed
ability for a large command. In battle he was quick as thought to
notice everything of importance, and as a staff officer was invaluable
to his general in battle, in camp or on the march. He was one of
the few men who loved danger and who sought it as a recreation as
well as a duty, and was one of the warmest-hearted men I ever knew.
In the autumn of 1864 a large force of infantry and cavalry from
Early's army moved around
Sheridan's right and demonstrated upon Winchester, VA., which post
I then commanded.
I sent a dispatch to Sheridan to that effect, and received a reply
that he was aware of the
movement but that all has scouts had failed entirely to find the
objective point; the secret
service fund was at my disposal, and he wished me if possible to
find out what the
movement meant. After sending out my professional scouts, with no
avail, I consented,
on his urgent appeal, to allow Major Young to attempt the duty, and
gave him a detail of
two men, clad in Confederate cavalry uniform. Major Young started
immediately and
joined the rebel column under Breckinridge and Lomax, and spent several
hours with
them. He ascertained the movement was a feint on Winchester, with
Hancock, Md., the
objective point. Their aim was to capture the ballot-boxes at that
republican center, and
save the state from Lincoln for McClellan, but found that Sheridan
had so disposed his
command that they would soon be cut off, and the foray was abandoned.
Major Young
rode down three sets of horses, traveled the distance and obtained
the information in less
than twenty-four hours. I reported the result of this daring scout
and masterly
management to General Sheridan. Sheridan said: `I have been looking
for that man for
two years; I want him; will make him major on my personal staff and
chief of scouts; he
may chose one hundred men from my command and arm them as he desires.'
I told him I
had almost rather lose my right arm than to part with Major (then
Captain) Young, but I
would urge him to accept the offer, as he could do far more effective
service with him
than me. I reported the offer to Major Young and he decidedly refused
to leave me, and
not till after the most urgent representations of how much more good
he could do for the
cause he loved so well, did he consent to accept General Sheridan's
offer. His career with
that general was a brilliant one. His bold capture of Harry Gilmor,
his capture of the
rebel General Barringer and his staff behind their own lines in the
Battle of Five forks,
the unequaled ability with which he furnished Sheridan with unerring
information of the
details concerning Lee's army and its intentions in the last campaign,
enabled Sheridan to
successfully cut off Lee's last line of retreat, and is a matter
of history.
"Sheridan, in his official reports,
gives Major Young more credit for his splendid
gallantry and execution that to any other officer mentioned."Major
Young's record during the war, if the details could be gathered,
would be of more interest than any romance of war ever written. I
shall always remember him with
pride and affection."
Attempt to Capture General Early
Another officer who served with Sheridan, says: "After the capture
of Generals Kelly and Crook by the rebels, Young, with a few of his
men, went to Staunton, where General Early, commanding the rebel force
in the valley, had his headquarters, and remained there some days,
carefully studying the chances of capturing Early and bringing him
into our lines. "Young made the acquaintance of some of Early's
headquarters guard, and on two occasions took the place of the sentry
on post at Early's door while the genuine rebel went to see his sweetheart.
"He told me he could have taken
Early prisoner, but the distance from Staunton to our outlying pickets
was so great (fifty-five miles) that in the pursuit which would have
ensued he would probably have been obliged to let him go or shoot
him, and he did not
think it would be `humane warfare' to do the latter, and no use to
make the attempt if he
had to do the former, so, after spending nearly a week in Staunton,
he gave up the idea
and returned to our lines.
"I regret I cannot recall any other of Young's
exploits, they were many; he was a very gallant fellow, and just
suited for `chief of scouts,' and rendered very important service
during the entire war."
Captures and Escapes
In 1864, in the Shenandoah valley,
Christmas morning broke cold and gray, the ground was covered with
snow to a great depth, and the sharp gusts of wind lifted and drifted
the sparkling crystals. All the camps were early astir, and out in
the biting cold the soldiers hurried to and fro, exchanging Christmas
greetings as they went. They seemed inspired with the spirit of childhood,
and met the day with all its zeal and enjoyment.
Notwithstanding the cold and discomforts of camp life, that was a
happy day in the army.
It was spent in as broad a latitude of fun and frolic as army rules,
stretched to the last
degree of elasticity, would permit.
That brave and bronzed little army had not been forgotten
in the North, and thousands of boxes had been forwarded by friends
to give the soldiers a happy reminder of "the day all of the year," and
to cheer him with remembrances from home. Yet with the relaxed discipline,
the vigilant Sheridan did not forget his picket lines, and the indefatigable
Major Young is selected to see that all are on alert. Says a writer:
"Night closed over a merry camp,
and the sound of laugh, song and story went round and round, while
the rude wind blew its gusts of snow against the white tents.
Notwithstanding this hilarity in the camp the pickets were all posted,
and there was no
want of care for the safety of the jolly companions behind the outposts.
"Halt! Who goes there? shouted a trooper of the
Second Massachusetts cavalry, upon a sorrel horse, at the extreme
front of the lines.
"A friend,' came the reply from
a half-frozen cavalryman, struggling through the blast and fitful
gusts of snow that well-nigh numbed him.
"Advance, and give the counter-sign,' replied
the trooper.
"The cavalryman advanced, but, when he was within
speaking distance, the watchful brought his carbine to bear upon
him, and demanded the countersign.
"`I haven't it,' he relpied. `I am Major Young,
General Sheridan's chief of scouts. I have been away from camp for
several days, and therefore haven't the password for to-day.'
"`I'll have to take you prisoner until the relief
comes round,' said the sentinel, and he ordered him to dismount.
"The officer demurred, and called attention to
his half-frozen condition, but the picket was too good a soldier
to take anything for granted, so he kept him off his horse, the most
of the time covered with his carbine, until the relief came round.
He was then escorted to the reserve and the officer in command sent
him under guard to the headquarters of the regiment. The colonel
recognized him as Sheridan's chief of scouts, and there was a hearty
laugh when the officer related his excuse for being out that General
Sheridan had ordered him to visit the picket- lines to see that there
was no want of watchfullness after the Christmas jollification. His
experience with the Massachusetts cavalryman convinced him that there
was no necessity for the inspection."
If the army rested for a brief space
in camp, Major Young was constantly reconnoitering the enemy. Near
Winchester, where he was pretty well known by the confederates, having
made the capture of one or two noted guerrillas in that neighborhood,
he advanced, late one afternoon, many miles beyond our picket-line,
to ascertain the strength of a body of cavalry, he supposed to be
Mosby's men, and was about to return, when the sharp clattering of
hoofs was heard, and, emerging from a turn in the road, almost close
upon him, came rushing down a squad of perhaps a dozen of the rebel
cavalry. The major was a superb horseman, and rode that day on a
little gray horse, a special favorite, on which he placed great reliance,
for by its matchless speed and noble work it had several times extricated
him from positions of extreme peril. It was an exceedingly hot day,
and the little gray had been ridden hard for some hours, but seemed
to take in the situation and started off with wonderful swiftness;
but an occasional bullet, whistling past his ears, convinced the
major that the distance was not widening between him and the pursuers;
some of them, at least, had horses equal to his own; watching his
opportunity, he spurred his horse and leaped a high stone wall which
ran along the road for some distance, and bounded a large enclosure
on three sides, with a clump of woods stretching a long distance
on the other. Two of the pursuers followed, clearing the wall at
a bound; the others, either unable to follow or thinking to head
him off where he would again appear, kept on swiftly and were soon
enveloped in a cloud of dust far beyond. There was not a moment to
lose; he turned and charged fiercely upon the two, who, now
separated from their comrades and startled by such unexpected audacity,
gave one or two
ineffective shots, then turned and soon regained the road. He now
made for the woods, a
few hundred yards away, and concealed himself and horse as well as
he could, not going
far into the woods, wisely concluding that they would not hunt for
him so near the spot
where they had left him. Night was rapidly approaching, and with
it came one of those
sudden tempests which sometimes comes on a bright day. The drenching
rain dampened
the ardor of the search. After waiting some hours, he led his horse
out to the road as
quietly as possible and made a dash for camp, which he reached safely
without hearing
anything more from the enemy.
It was subsequently ascertained from a prisoner brought into camp,
who had been one of the pursuing squad, that they had proceeded to
a point below the woods wgere they supposed he must emerge, keeping
also a sharp lookout upon the roads. The darkness soon became impenetrable,
the rain poured in torrents and the officer in command injured himself
severely by striking his head against a low-hanging branch, and the
pursuit was abandoned, much to the chagrin of the party.
Gives Orders to a Rebel Party
A staff officer, en eyewitness, states
that upon one occasion on the battlefield, a rebel battery had gained
a strong position up a steep, rocky acclivity, being sheltered by
the formation of the ground and some fallen trees, was doing considerable
damage and
threatened to be a serious obstacle to a movement of our troops,
which had just been
ordered. It seemed impossible for the brigade to take up the position
desired without the
sacrifice of many lives, and if gained, looked as though it might
be untenable, after all.
Major Young had brought the order, and his quick eye soon discerned
the difficulties in
the way, and he resolved to make an effort to remove that battery
without loss. Donning
a rebel uniform and taking a circuitous route, he soon reached the
ground, dashed up to
the officer in command with an order purporting to come from the
rebel general, whom
Young knew to be in the field, ordering him to move his battery,
which he accordingly
did. The major said he had no difficulty whatever in reaching the
objective point, but
from a sudden change in position of the enemy, had to remain much
longer within their
lines than was agreeable, under the circumstances.
His Coolness
Major Young was not only a man of unwavering
courage, but was gifted with an
imperturbable coolness, which was a great safeguard in the most critical
situations. His
frank, ingenuous manner and quiet way allayed suspicion and deceived
the enemy when
within their lines, where at one time he spent nearly two weeks,
boarding as a confederate
invalid near Winchester; he made several acquaintances and succeeded
in obtaining the
exact information he sought, which was a valuable aid to his commander.
Says
Woodbury: "In the peculiar service in which he was engaged during
the last year of the
war he had no superior in our northern armies." He had a variety
of disguises and seldom
repeated the same role. On one occasion, when about to start on what
seemed a
particularly perilous undertaking, the idea suggested itself of testing
his disguise within
out own lines before starting. Stealing quietly out of camp, he assumed
the uniform of a
rebel colonel and soon allowed himself to be captured by some men
of his own brigade.
Very much elated, they placed him under strict guard, marched him
into camp and
delivered him up as a great prize.
The prisoner requested an interview
with the commander, and being taken to
headquarters, he most mysteriously disappeared. Some hours after,
Major Young, who
was supposed to be out on a scout, was seen about camp, but the rebel
officer, though
anxiously watched for, was never heard from again. It was a matter
of widespread
speculation for a long time, why there should be such at headquarters
in regard to his
escape.
Capture of Colonel Gilmor
One of Major Young's most brilliant exploits was the capture of Colonel
Harry Gilmor, who was noted for his rebel raids. Gilmor was a brave
fellow, reckless and full of love of hazardous exploits. At that time
he was engaged in the same guerrilla-like warfare that Mosby had pursued,
and was no mean antagonist. He had with him the flower of the
Maryland troops and was undoubtedly very influential with the youth
of his state in
inducing them to enlist.
Sheridan regarded his capture as of great importance, because of its
severing the last link that existed between Maryland and the Confederacy.
In his official report he highly commends Major Young for the capture.
Rhode Island has always been justly proud of the capture, during the
Revolutionary war, of General Richard Prescott, by Colonel William
Barton, and it may be regarded as a glorious coincidence, that, during
the Rebellion, a similar capture should have been made by a Rhode Island
officer. Such acts of personal daring and heroism always excite admiration
even if they do not materially affect important issues.
Barton undertook a perilous enterprise, which, for its successful
execution, required good judgment, nerve and daring, and well did he
accomplish it. If the capture had no immediate effect upon the issue
of the struggle, it served to excite the spirit and morale of our soldiers
throughout the whole army.
Major Young, in the severest winter weather, started
with twenty of his scouts, traveling in close proximity to the enemy;
the night was snowy as well as extremely cold, and the enemy's pickets
must have housed themselves in some comfortable hut in the mountains. All
along the way they encountered stragglers from their lines, making
many prisoners, which they were obliged to take with them. Gilmor,
having from three to four hundred men in his neighborhood, the utmost
secrecy, promptness and courage were necessary to ensure success;
the slightest blunder might prove fatal to the whole enterprise,
as well as to the men themselves.
An officer with Sheridan, writes: "Some few hours
before the capture, a small party of scouts suddenly appeared at
the house of a friend of Gilmor's, representing themselves as Confederate
soldiers from the picket post at Lost River, to warn them that the
enemy was at Wardensville.
"In this way they gained all necessary information.
"That night a squad of cavalry
guarded the river banks where the heroic band crept stealthily to
the house where Gilmor was sleeping; the door was opened swiftly
and
quietly and five men with drawn pistols and in confederate uniform,
passed in. Reaching
his room and softly approaching the bed of the sleeping colonel,
the pistols under his
pillow were at once secured, their owner being then aroused.
"`Are you Colonel Gilmor?' asked Major Young.
"There was no reply. The question being repeated,
backed by a loaded pistol at the silent officer's head, he was disposed
to be a little more communicative.
"`Yes, and who in the devil's name are you?'
"`Major Young, of General Sheridan's staff,' was
the clear response.
"`All right, I suppose you want me to go with
you?'
"`I should be glad to have your company to Winchester,'
was the reply, `as the general wishes to consult you about some important
military matters.'
"The colonel was requested to be lively, and,
seeing the folly of resistance, complied with as good grace as possible.
"He was hurried out, mounted, and with his cousin,
who had been passing the night with him, put under guard and conducted
to where the cavalry were stationed, when the whole column wheeled
and started for Moorefield.
"The captor and captive became quite good friends
during this journey; both Gilmor and Young were brave-spirited and
adventurous, and, in his book published after the war, the former
speaks warmly of his captor's courtesy and kindness.
"The major requested Colonel Whittington, who
was in command of the cavalry, to make Gilmor over to him and let
him push on to Winchester; the colonel refused, and Young left with
his men.
"Gilmor, in his narrative, says: `I felt my hope
return, now that the lynx-eyed major had taken his departure, and
was busily concocting different schemes for his escape, when back
through the snow dashed four of Young's scouts to guard me to Big
Capon, where we camped, and also found the major waiting. We were
quartered in the house of a man named Bean, whose son had served
with me. It was about eleven P.M., when, after a good supper, we
all lay down on the floor around the fire; Major Young, with five
or six men, besides the colonel, surgeon, one lieutenant, my cousin
and myself. One of the scouts, who had deserted my command sometime
before, sat in a chair between my head and the door with a cocked
pistol in his hand; I soon discovered that the whole party was very
sleepy.
"`The scouts had been drinking freely of apple
brandy, and I determined not to sleep a wink, but watch my chance.
"`In less than an hour every man was snoring loudly,
including the sentinel at the back door and the scout who sat at
my head with his pistol in his lap.
"`The host was inside the circle of feet, standing before the
fire, quietly scrutinizing each sleeper. I made a slight motion to
attract his attention that he might see that I was awake. I
made signs to him that I should try to escape, and pointed to the
chamber door in an inquiring manner, to know if I could get out in
that way; he became very pale, knowing what peril he would be in
should he aid in my escape.
"`I was personally a stranger to our hast, but
thought he intended to help me. I thought my chance of escape good
and was anxious to try it, knowing the colonel would march at daylight,
when the door opened and in walked the colonel's orderly, who took
his stand by the fire and did not wink his eye, until at dawn we
were called to breakfast.'
"They reached Winchester at noon, when Gilmor
was separated from the other prisoners and handcuffed.
"There were about twenty-five cavalry ready to
act as escort to Stevenson's Depot, where they were to take the cars
for Harper's Ferry.
"Gilmor says: `Major Young had seven or eight
of his scouts with him, and informed me they would conduct me to
the fort where I was to be confined. I guessed at once that Fort
Warren was to be my prison, and soon after the major conformed my
suspicion.
"`From first to last he was as kind as it was
possible for him to be, but at the same time he watched me like a
hawk, and was always ready to draw his revolver.
"`He told me frankly that he would not trust me
far, for he knew I would take desperate chances of escaping.
"`He did not iron me, as he had been ordered,
neither did he ask for my `parole of honor,' but I did not make a
movement that was not quickly seen."
At Harper's Ferry large crowds had assembled to catch
sight of the rebel prize; it looked a little squally, and some threatened
violence. Major
young, perfectly cool, waved them aside with his revolver at full cock,
whispering to Gilmor: "In case of attack, take one of my pistols
and shoot right and left, they will have to walk over my dead body
before they touch you." One man ventured too far, and was hurled
back with such force by the stalwart young officer, as to convince
the mob that it was out of the question to trifle with one of Major
Young's prisoners.
As they proceeded they were met by
Major Nigel, who came in nine miles from
Baltimore to warn them of the great excitement there. The major informed
Gilmor he
should have arms, adding, laughingly: "I should enjoy a skirmish
amazingly, I think you
and I could whip a small crowd by ourselves."
"They spent the night in Major
Nigel's office; Young provided a good supper, and after a capital
breakfast next day, left for New York, reaching there same evening,
traveled all night and arrived in Boston at seven A.M. on the 10th
of February, 1865. The major accompanied his prisoner to the United
States hotel, where they breakfasted with a large crowd staring at
them, and then escorted him to Fort Warren, in Boston Harbor, not
losing sight of his charge until the gates were securely closed upon
him
Gilmor says: "I had struck my last blow for the South." He
was released July 24th, 1865.
In one part of Gilmor's narrative he speaks of arriving at a certain
point, during the war, and being very much surprised to find quite
a delegation of ladies to meet him. They had heard through one of Young's
scouts that Gilmor was on the way, and, so accurate was the information
given, not only as regarded his movements, but those of the whole army
that he had not the slightest doubt but that the major had been all
through the confederate lines.
Sketch of Gilmor
A private letter from one, formerly
of Sheridan's staff, dated May 5th, 1879, says, in
speaking of Young’s exploit: "Gilmor belongs to one of
the old and prominent Maryland
families. He was well-educated, moved in the best circles of Baltimore,
and for a while
was in the banking house of William Fisher & Sons, as clerk.
He was known as a rather
fast, muscular sort of fellow, a frequenter of engine houses in the
old volunteer fire
department times, and a member of political clubs.
"He was a pronounced rebel, and when he raised
his cavalry company to go South, a great many of the young rebels
joined him, and he continued the most active efforts to bring Maryland
into the Confederacy.
"When General Early crossed the
Potomac, in July, 1864, and invaded Maryland,
threatening Baltimore and Washington, a party of raiders under Gilmor
came within four
miles of Baltimore, burned the house of Governor Bradford, and, passing
north of the
city, cut the Philadelphia and Baltimore railroad, captured two trains
of cars and
Major-General W.B. Franklin, who was a passenger on one of the trains.
During the
confusion of the night the general succeeded in making his escape
near Reisterstown.
"Since the war, Gilmor discipline of the police force, and did
good service during the railroad riots of '77. We append a
letter of recent date written by Colonel Gilmor, referring to his
capture by Major Young.
Letter From Gilmor
"I have a very lively recollection of my short
but eventful acquaintance with Major Young, and, although as a result
thereof, I was obliged to spend over six months in Fort Warren, Boston
harbor, yet it gives me pleasure to testify to the kind treatment
I received at all times while in the custody of Major Young. He was
a bold, fearless cavalry soldier, a man of remarkable talents for
the duty he was selected to perform, possessing the qualities of
quick discernment, good judgment and great self-reliance, rapid execution
of plans made to suit circumstances as they presented themselves.
Those are the essential qualities of a good scout. We never know
when or where to look for him, and yet we know that he or some of
his best men were constantly inside our lines. I have known him to
pass our pickets on an old farm-horse with collar and hames and a
sack of corn, as if on his way to mill, fool our pickets, and go
out again without being suspected.
"After my return from Fort Warren, I married a
lady from Pensacola, Florida, and went to Mississippi to plant cotton,
which I followed for nearly five years; afterwards, returning to
Baltimore, my native place, was soon afterwards elected by the legislature
to be one of the police commissioners. My term of office having expired,
I am living here quietly with my family, wife and four children."
His Last Campaign
After leaving his prisoner safely in Fort Warren, Major
Young immediately rejoined Sheridan in the field and participated
with him in the active campaign that speedily followed. It
will be remembered, that having utterly destroyed Early's command
at Waynesboro, destroyed the James River canal and the Lynchburg
railroad, and done inestimable damage to the rebels in other quarters,
Sheridan came back by way of the White House, on the Pamunkey, crossed
to the south side of the James, formed a junction with the army of
the Potomac, March 27th, and took a prominent part in the decisive
assault upon Lee's army. President Lincoln was visiting the army
at that time, and witnessed the crossing of the James by Sheridan's
splendid cavalry.
Says Woodbury, alluding to the arrival of the cavalry: "What
was of more special interest to the Second Rhode Island, was the
fact that with Sheridan came Major Young, who had won an excellent
reputation, and even renown, throughout the army, as chief of scouts,
and had become so valuable to Sheridan that he could not be spared
from that general's command."
His Last Campaign
General Sheridan saw that the day had come for a final and successful
struggle. On the 29th of March, 1865, at the head of his magnificent
command, animated by the best spirit, and possessing the entire confidence
of every man who followed, he rode out from his camp in pursuit of
the enemy, and by his important and valorous deeds, added fresh laurels
to the fame already won. Young's scouts take the lead, and were riding
rapidly in all directions, fearlessly penetrating into every move of
the enemy and giving Sheridan the most valuable information.
Sheridan's cavalry at this time numbered about 10,000 men, and were
in a high state of discipline. They had been trained to dismount and
fight on foot, and were always ready for any exigency, and so accustomed
to victory that they never faltered when moving on the enemy.
April 2nd, 1865, Richmond and Petersburg were evacuated,
and it was a large army in full retreat along the Appomattox. Wits
were called into play, for pursuit must be speedy, and yet conducted
with caution, lest the broken fortunes of the confederacy be mended
by one false move of ours. The point General Lee would in all
probability try to gain, was Danville, and this must be prevented.
"General Sheridan was master of the situation. `Turn his flank;
head him off; attack him,' said he, `never mind the rear of his column;
never mind the stragglers, but get to the head and front; stand across
his path and cry, "no thoroughfare," and let the enemy
fight for the right of way.'
"Having solved that problem to his satisfaction,
the general proceeded to demonstrate it to the army, to the public,
and to General Lee.
"Flankers and scouting parties of cavalry were
constantly bringing in scores of prisoners from the woods on either
side; prisoners who would throw down their arms at sight of blue
uniforms and respectfully request to be captured; they were lost
from the main body of their army; they were hungry and tired, and
if there was a Confederacy to sustain, they could not find it in
the woods, and gave it up, also, for lost."
The Scouts Are Everywhere
"The line of march was parallel to General Lee's,
along the Appomattox river. His army moving on both flanks from Petersburg
and Richmond, evidently pushing for Amelia Court House, on the Danville
railroad, south of the Appomattox. At night the army camped along
Deep Creek. While the command was asleep, the restless Major Young,
with a few of his scouts, took a ride with the enemy's cavalry, which
was moving off towards Amelia Court House, and kindly assisted General
Barringer, who commanded the rebel brigade, in finding a comfortable
camp-ground.
"Young managed to lead him off a little from his
troops, and then persuaded him, with pistols, to surrender, and brought
him and his staff safely to headquarters.
"At daylight, on April 4th, the command was again
on the road; separating now into three columns, for the covering
of a wider territory -- Merritt and McKenzie striking off to the
right toward the Appomattox , following the enemy, who had retreated
before them the previous night from the ford at Deep Creek; Crook
making for the Danville railroad, at a point between Jetersvile and
Burke's Station, some ten miles south of Amelia Court House, thence
to advance toward Jetersville along the railroad; and the Fifth Corps,
under Griffin, moving out for Jetersville, a station five miles from
Amelia Court House, in the direction of Burkesville Junction.
"The Fifth Corps marched rapidly all day, and
the head of the column reached Jetersville about five P.M., a march
of some sixteen miles; a long and tiresome one, however, when the
condition of the roads was taken into consideration; it adds much
credit to the troops retreating and pursuing, for it is one thing
to march an army over a turnpike and another to drag it through Virginia
mud.
"Before reaching Jetersville, two or three of
the staff with a small mounted escort went off to the left to get
on to the Danville railroad and learn the news, if there was any.
"At Scott's Mill, on West Creek, they were filling
their empty grain-bags, when a scout of Young's, passing that way,
rode up to say that the rebel army was at Amelia Court House and
advancing down the railroad. He was a little premature in his report,
but proved to be correct in regard to Lee's position.
"This information was immediately sent over to
Sheridan, who was moving with the Fifth Corps, and then the party
left the mill and trotted on toward the railroad.
"Squads of soldiers in gray, some with guns and
some without, were wearily straggling on to Danville, and here and
there could be seen a mounted man, armed and equipped, listlessly
joining them from a wood path, slouching in his saddle like a tired
trooper, and apparently with no object in life but to have company
in shirking the calamities hanging over General Lee and those who
remained with him.
"As the staff party neared the railroad these
mounted men became evidently uneasy, and made furtive signs to prevent
its closer approach; but they made no hostile demonstration and seemed
to urge the footmen to move on, as if they were satisfied that the
strangers were friends. Then one or two of the gray riders cautiously
advanced across the fields and a couple of men in blue went out to
meet them.
"When they came within earshot,
the gray dragoons said: `Keep back out of sight; we are Major Young's
men. The major’s down
the road apiece and has a whole corral of
Johnnies.' The blue men laughed, and, riding off into the woods,
soon caught sight of
Major Young in a little thicket by the side of the railroad, his
horses tied to the trees and a
score of his men with cocked carbines imposing silence on a regiment
of prisoners, and
bagging the unsuspecting game which his mounted decoys were leading
in.
"The major seemed very much amused as he told
the news, and expressed an eager desire for two or three hundred
cavalry with which to surprise a lot of rebel horsemen that he knew
of down the road, but lacking these, was entertaining himself as
best he might."
Throughout his career as scout he was always on the alert, always
working, bringing in the most important information, and often at favorable
opportunities, and in a very persuasive manner, would induce men and,
even officers, to transfer themselves from the rebel to the Union lines.
We need not follow the history of this
last campaign in which Sheridan played so
important a part and Major Young had such active participation, but
subjoin Sheridan's
last dispatch, which proved conclusive, as General Lee was compelled
to surrender the
next morning, April 9th, 1865.
Sheridan's Last Dispatch
Cavalry Headquarters, April 8, 1865
9.20 P.M.
Lieutenant -General U.S. Grant
Commanding Armies United States.
General: -- I marched early this morning from Buffalo Creek and Prospect
Station on
Appomattox depot, where my scouts had reported trains of cars with
supplies for Lee's
army. A short time before dusk, General Custer, who had the advance,
made a dash at
the station, capturing four trains of supplies, with locomotives;
one of the trains was
burned, and the others run by him towards Farmville, for security.
Custer then pushed on
towards Appomattox Court House, driving the enemy, who kept up a
steady stream of
artillery, charging them repeatedly, and capturing, as far as reported,
twenty-five pieces
of artillery and a number of prisoners and wagons. The First Cavalry
division supported
him on the right. A reconnaissance sent across the Appomattox reports
the enemy
moving on the Cumberland road to Appomattox Station, where they expect
to get
supplies. Custer is still pushing on. If General Gibbon and the Fifth
Corps can get up
to-night, we will, perhaps, finish the job in the morning. I do not
think Lee means to
surrender until compelled to do so.
(signed) P.H. Sheridan
Major-General
This was the last of Sheridan's dispatches, as Lee was compelled to
surrender the next morning, April 9th, 1865.
Mexican Service
Immediately after Lee's surrender,
Lieutenant -Colonel Young accompanied Sheridan to his command in
the southwest. He was as active and successful as ever, but after
a brief term of service as a volunteer aid with Sheridan, he entered
into the employment of the Mexican Patriot Government, and was engaged
for a time in raising recruits for service against the troops of
Maximillian. * * In one of his expeditions in the
winter of '66-'67, he and his party were attacked while crossing
the Rio Grande; since
then nothing definite has been heard from or of him. The matter was
taken up, and
thorough investigation made, but without any satisfactory result.
A letter from General
Sheridan, stated, that report said, "Colonel Young had been
seen alive and well in
Monterey," but it was never corroborated. Whether he perished
in the fight at the Rio
Grande, or languished within the walls of a Mexican prison, will
ever be shrouded in
mystery.
Conclusion
Many years have passed; yet, in a distant,
quiet town, a devoted and heart-broke mother still watches wearily
for the coming of her son. Each night, as the daily stage rumbles
through the street, this mother scans eagerly with her fast-fading
eyes, the face of each new comer, and the welcome which ever awaits
him in her saddened heart, is again, and yet again unspoken. Well
may we appropriate the language of President Lincoln,
addressed to a mother whose sons fell fighting on the field of battle:
-- "I feel how weak
and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile
you from the
grief of a loss so overwhelming, but I cannot refrain from tendering
to you the
consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they
died to save. I pray that
our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement,
and leave you only
the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride
that must be yours to
have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of Freedom."
________________
Headquarters,
Mid. Mil. Div.,
Nov. 16, 1864.
Special Orders, No. 85
[EXTRACT]
* * * * * * * * *
7. Major H.H. Young, Second Rhode Island Vols., is hereby assigned
to duty as
additional Aide-de-camp on the staff of the Major-General Commanding,
and will be
obeyed and respected accordingly.
By command of Maj. GEN. SHERIDAN
(Signed) C. Kingsbury, Jr.
Asst. Adjt. Gen'l.