On the night before the fight, orders had been issued against lighting fires or making any noise, due to their close proximity to the ford. So strict was the edict that Capt. Dan Oakey punished Pvt. David Orne for the simple act of snapping a cap on his gun. Oakey later recalled that having to stand at attention for the infraction was "galling in the extreme" for the machinist from Clinton, MA, "as it was the only time he was punished during his term of service."

Oakey had his own chance to be embarrassed himself when he was punished "because Company D was so disorderly." He withstood the humbling experience (along with his compatriot in Company H) while his servant stood "at a respectful distance, holding my sabre." Their sabres were returned before the fight commenced, and in the next night's bivouac "our commander made us a most graceful apology over a tin mug of 'commissary'."

Upon meeting BG John Buford for the first time, Oakey was struck by the cavalry commander's "commanding presence" and "picturesque simplicity of dress." The general "looked as if his division might idolize him, as it was said they did."

Then there was George Armstrong Custer, at this time a member of Pleasanton's staff, with his "fanciful uniform, his long hair, and spirited manner." While the enemy's shells sought out the gathering of blue uniforms on the knoll, it seemed to Oakey as if Custer throughly enjoyed the danger, and "appeared to beam all over, almost dancing with excitement."

After the mortally wounded Sgt. Allen Nutting fell into his arms, Dan Oakey reported him as being "all pluck" to the very end. "Although he could not speak, he showed signs of wishing to bid us good-by, and was evidently gratified at the manner in which we tenderly shook him by the hand."

As Oakey sprang over the fence into the open wheat field, he was suddenly greeted by the sight of Lt. Theodore Parker standing atop the stone wall, pistol in hand, demanding his surrender. "We could not help being amused at Parker's sudden appearance; but he explained that he was afraid that he would be too late, and so 'charged the stone wall in front, and took his chances."

Capt. Francis Crowninshield had a close call when a shell burst directly in front of him while he was in charge of a skirmish line. "One fragment went so near my head that the wind of it nearly knocked my hat off," the twice-wounded combat veteran informed his family.

When the 2nd MA and 3rd WS returned to camp, said Charles Morse, "all the regiment of the corps that were near by turned out to have a look at them and give them hearty greetings, for the two old regiments are now pretty well known in the corps."

Crowninshield called the fight "the only battle I ever enjoyed." And Morse joked that the men of the 2nd seemed to now think "if they had to fight cavalry only till the end of the war, they would have a very jolly time."

TOP OF PAGE
BACK
HOME

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page