The Maine bugle ... campaign; 1-5 Jan. 1894-Oct. 1898 - Maine.gov

BUGLE ECHOES. 383
DEATH IN ANDERSONVILLE PRISON.
F. E. Jewett, of 6700 Glades Ave., St. Louis, Mo., Co. K, First Me. Cav., writes
On page one hundred and forty-six of the April number of the Bugle I notice
among others unaccounted for the name of James P. Newell. I met Newell in Ander-
sonville in' June or July, 1864, and for a short time he and I camped together, he hav-
ing part of a blanket which we used for a shelter, I furnishing the stakes and pole for
the tent (?). He afterwards met a friend who had a tent, and they consolidated,
leaving me out. I saw him several times after that, and some time during the summer
I learned that he had died. 1 don't know the date, but think it was in September.
Since looking over my old diary I think that Newell died in August, 1864, as I have
a memoranda that J. Dyer of Company E, First Maine Cavalry, died August eighteenth,
and B. F. Fogg of same regiment died August twenty-sixth. My recollection is that
Newell died before they did. If you will kindly convey this information to Col. House
of the First Maine Heav^ Artillery, it may be of some interest to him.
UNION ARMY BEATEN AT ALL POINTS.
Silas Leach, Co. D, First Maine Cavalry, of Castine, Me., writes
In June, 1864, about the time we returned from the raid with Sheridan, towards
Trevellian Station, I was calling on the natives, seeking something to devour. Coming
to a large plantation with fine buildings I interviewed an intelligent contraband, a
house servant, who told me that a rebel colonel, a friend of his master, had taken din-
ner and spent most of the day there a short time before. Hearing their conversation
the darkey got the impression that the Union army had been badly beaten at all points
since the campaign opened. Later, finding the colonel alone, he proceeded to question
him as follows : " VVhar you say you find Massa Grant's company in the spring? "
"Up in the Wilderness," was the answer. "An' you beat him thar? " " Yes, we
beat him there." " Whar you find him next? " " At Spottsylvania." " An' you beat
him thar?" "Yes, we beat him there." "An' Cold Harbor, you drove him thar,
too?" "Yes, we drove him there." "Whar is Massa Grant's company now?"
" Over in front of Petersburg." " Then I axed him," continued the old darkey,
"
" whar he was trying to drive Massa Grant's company to !
AN incident.
Albert P. Friend of Co. G. First Maine Cavalry, Brooksville, Me., writes
I will tell a little incident that happened to me and Madison Libby, while doing
picket duty in Virginia. I am not good at remembering places and dates, so I will
pass them by. The post that we were guarding was rather a dangerous one, being a
public road, and we were ordered to keep a sharp lookout. About fifty yards from
our post, the road turned short to the left. In the corner of this road was a small
growth of wood, which cut off the view of the main road. It was about seven o'clock
in the morning, and we were sitting on our horses eating some corn that we had
roasted the night before, enjoying ourselves as best we could, when suddenly we heard
the clatter of horses' feet on the left hand road. We dropped our corn, got our car-
bines ready for use and awaited further developments. We had not long to wait.
They soon showed themselves around the corner of the road, about fifty yards away
four mounted rebels. I instantly shouted " Halt ! " My challenge took them a little