1st Maine Cavalry YOUNG Bugler: "Eyewitness to Gettysburg"

[RJSamp]

"Eyewitness to Gettysburg" 1987 Meridian (Harper & Row, New York), Richard Wheeler. Page 115, first full paragraph:
"...in Hanover...A little boy named Smith, twelve years of age...bugler in the 1st Maine Cavalry, was active in the fight, and had a horse killed under him."

The quote is from E A Paul, a newsman who rode with the flanking troopers. Wheeler does not mention where the quote was published.....and newsmen being newsmen I'm stumped on this one.

Soldiers and Sailors listed a number of Smiths in the 1st Maine Cavalry....an Eleazer H Smith, Musician later Corporal, in Company M seems like a likely candidate. He enlisted on October 31, 1861 and mustered out 11/25/1864. But he was born in October 1833 in Monmouth Maine (son of Cyrus Smith and Sally Allen)......living in St. Albans, Sommerset County, Maine for most of his live.....died 1894.....having married Sarah Strout....(Ancestry.com Ancestral Tree and the Census' of 1860,1870, 1880).

Any ideas on this or just another example of sensationalistic journalism and a modern researcher/writer not checking facts on the story .....

[Andrew German]

Re: 1st Maine Cavalry YOUNG Bugler: "Eyewitness to Gettysburg"

Hello RJ,

Good story, but it is not confirmed in Edward P. Tobie's History of the First Maine Cavalry (1887). There are no buglers named Smith in the roster published there.

However, at Shepherdstown on 16 July, Tobie notes (p.188): "Private Horton Maloon, of Co. G, was mortally wounded, dying in a short time, and his brother, Bugler William Maloon, Jr., remained with him and was taken prisoner." Maloon's bugle, with nicely braided cord, is illustrated in the regimental.

Later that day at Shepherdstown, "Bugler Eben F. Brier, of Co. B, mounted the stone wall and sounded the charge [they were dismounted], when he was shot, receiving a wound [in the head] from which he died in a few days."

One of Company A's buglers, John F. Tolman, was also wounded that day. Company E's buglers were especially at risk: Antoine Schouton captured at Brandy Station; Evander L. French wounded at Aldie; Rufus A. Wilbur died of wounds received at Jetersville, April 6, 1865. Three of the 1st D.C. Cav. buglers who joined the unit were also captured. So it wasn't a unit you'd feel safe bugling in, but the Smith story is not confirmed in the regimental history.

Nevertheless, you'll be happy to know the current 1st Maine has a good bugler.

Regards,
Andrew German

[RJSamp]

Re: 1st Maine Cavalry YOUNG Bugler: "Eyewitness to Gettysburg"

Hello RJ,

Good story, but it is not confirmed in Edward P. Tobie's History of the First Maine Cavalry (1887). There are no buglers named Smith in the roster published there.
Andrew German

So who is Eleazer H Smith, Musician...Company M..later Corporal? Was he a band member? (who were the Company M buglers?).

Sounds like a story on the 'young' Smith, thanks!!

[1st Maine Trooper]

Re: 1st Maine Cavalry YOUNG Bugler: "Eyewitness to Gettysburg"

Eleazer Smith was indeed a bugler in Company M. He was mustered as bugler 10/31/61, promoted to Corporal `63 and mustered out 11/25/64 for the exingencies of the service.
He was not a member of the regimental band and there were no company bands listed. Tobie's regimental lists the member of 2 regimental bands, with the bandsmen dawn from various companies however.

Regimental casualty records, show that the only troopers wounded or killed at Hanover came from Company K and that records do show that 1st Maine was engaged significantly at Hanover at all. To that end, I tend to think that the story was more of an exageration by the reported than fact.

Dave Myrick

[Andrew German]

Re: 1st Maine Cavalry YOUNG Bugler: "Eyewitness to Gettysburg"

Thanks Dave,

I agree. Smith is listed as aged 27 at enlistment, mustered as bugler, and promoted to corporal in 1863. And as you point out, the 1st Maine–indeed, the whole 2nd Cavalry Division–was not at Hanover.

According to George Rummel's Cavalry on the Roads to Gettysburg (2000), bugler casualties at Hanover were: John Doyle, Co. D, 18th PA Cav., wounded; Henry Juhrs, Co. L, 18th PA, shot in leg; Albert F. Hackett, Co. M, 18th PA, missing; Charles Geissler, Co. D, 1st WV Cav., missing; John Newton, Co. B, 6th MI, missing.

Andrew German

[RJSamp]

Re: 1st Maine Cavalry YOUNG Bugler: "Eyewitness to Gettysburg"

Thanks Dave,

I agree. Smith is listed as aged 27 at enlistment, mustered as bugler, and promoted to corporal in 1863. And as you point out, the 1st Maine–indeed, the whole 2nd Cavalry Division–was not at Hanover.

According to George Rummel's Cavalry on the Roads to Gettysburg (2000), bugler casualties at Hanover were: John Doyle, Co. D, 18th PA Cav., wounded; Henry Juhrs, Co. L, 18th PA, shot in leg; Albert F. Hackett, Co. M, 18th PA, missing; Charles Geissler, Co. D, 1st WV Cav., missing; John Newton, Co. B, 6th MI, missing.

Andrew German

One point we're missing on this.....the BUGLER was not wounded, his HORSE was. For all we know the newsman got the unit wrong......but I still find it 'incredible' that a 12 year old bugler was in the cavalry.....at the front lines.... Smith may also be a made up name......

[Hank Trent]

Re: 1st Maine Cavalry YOUNG Bugler: "Eyewitness to Gettysburg"

Another little clue. From The Rebellion Record: A Diary of American Events by Frank Moore, 1864:

A little boy named Smith, twelve years of age, who came out as bugler in the First Maine cavalry, was active in the fight, and had a horse killed under him at Hanover. Since that time he has been adopted as an aid by General Kilpatrick, and is always to be seen near the General, whether in a charge or elsewhere. Since Hanover he has had another horse killed under him, and one wounded.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[1st Maine Trooper]

Re: 1st Maine Cavalry YOUNG Bugler: "Eyewitness to Gettysburg"

Hank,
The wording seems to indicate that Wheeler simply requoted Moore at a later date. It will be interesting to look further into this. Especially as Company K's records indicate they participated in the action there. Stay tuned, more to follow.
Dave Myrick

[Hank Trent]

Re: 1st Maine Cavalry YOUNG Bugler: "Eyewitness to Gettysburg"

This 1913 article in the New York Times is supposed to mention something about the 1st Maine bugler, but it's a pdf file and I can't open it on my computer. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstrac...619C946296D6CF It's probably a rehash of what's in the Frank Moore book, but might be worth a look.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[RJSamp]

Re: 1st Maine Cavalry YOUNG Bugler: "Eyewitness to Gettysburg"

This 1913 article in the New York Times is supposed to mention something about the 1st Maine bugler, but it's a pdf file and I can't open it on my computer. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstrac...619C946296D6CF It's probably a rehash of what's in the Frank Moore book, but might be worth a look.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

It's a rehash of Frank Moore.....