DUFFIÉ & THE MONUMENT TO HIS MEMORY
go to page [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] - TRADUCTION FRANCAISE par Jean-Philippe Chereul
In the autumn of 1859 he came to the United States intending
to visit Saratoga for, the benefit, of his health, and on the outbreak of the
Rebellion accepted the tender of a Captain's commission in the First New Jersey
Cavalry, and in July, 1861, was appointed Major of the Harris Light Cavalry,
a New York regiment, in which he was distinguished for efficiency upon the drill
ground and gallantry in action.
On the 5th of July, 1862, he assumed command as Colonel of the First Rhode Island
Cavalry. Chaplain Frederic Denison, to whose labors as historian of the regiment
I am greatly indebted in preparing this paper, thus describes his appearance
at that time:
"He is of medium stature, erect form, light frame, nervous temperament, dark
complexion, full hazel eyes, black hair, athletic in action, humorous in manner,
exact in routine, firm in discipline, and thoroughly accomplished in his profession."
At this time there was great dissatisfaction with the action of Governor Sprague
in thus appointing a foreigner to the command of the regiment, and it re-sulted
in the resignation of their commissions by all but four of the Rhode Island
officers (we had four companies from New Hampshire then), and there was evidence
of hostile feeling in the ranks. Chap-lains are not always discreet in such
times of excitement, and, as a result, before the sun went down on his first
day in camp, Colonel Duffié sent for this of-ficer and said: "Chaplain, I understand
you have been stirring up a spirit of mutiny in my regiment. I put you in arrest
in your tent. I am very sorry to begin with the servant of God, but must begin
somewhere." The arrest was of short duration, and, in a few days, there were
no closer friends than the Colonel and the Chaplain.
A few hours after taking command the Colonel assembled the officers at his tent
and said to them:
"I understand most of you have sent in your resig-nations. I give you four days
to send and get your resignations back; if you do not get them back they will
be accepted. I will stay with you four weeks; if you do not like me then, I
pledge you my word I will resign myself." With two or three exceptions the resignations
were withdrawn. The following order was issued:
HEADQUARTERS FIRST RH0DE ISLAND CAVARY, MANASSAS, July
10, 1862.
Officers and Soldiers of the First Rhode Island Cavalry:
In taking command of this regiment as your Colonel, I was pained and grieved
to see a disinclination on your part to receive a stranger, manifested in such
a manner as to leave no doubt as to your sentiments. If it has pleased your
much beloved Governor and the War Department at Washington to make a change
in the construction of your executive department, as good soldiers, patriots
and defenders of the one great and holy cause now animating all true American
hearts, it is your bounden duty to God and man, to the cause of human liberty
throughout the entire world, to every manly impulse, to every hope of peace
and happiness for yourselves and your posterity, that you sink all personal
considerations in one great holocaust, whose flames shall illumine a world,
and whose end shall be Union.
As for myself, I like you. You have all the material for success. I say it not
in the poor spirit of mere compliment, nor with the slightest disrespect for
your former commander, as circumstances beyond his control may have prevented
him from giving to you the benefit of his undoubted military knowledge; but
I like you, and here say to you, in my place, that if you will give to me your
undivided time and labor for the space of a few weeks, I will add to them my
own best en-deavors to make you at once the pride and glory of your own gallant
State and of the nation.
Soldiers! Do you hear me? Soldiers! Do you answer me? Say, yes! And fear not
the result!
A. N. DUFFIÉ, Colonel Commanding.
The zeal and skill of the new commander was felt at once throughout the regiment,
and in a few days officers and men were convinced that no mistake had been made
in the appointment.