Warren, July 22, '61.
I write out of sheer dulness; a mounted officer without a
horse, a Captain without a Lieutenant or a command, a recruiting officer
without a Sergeant and with but one enlisted man, a human being condemned to a
country tavern and familiar thrice a day with dried apples and “a little piece
of the beef-steak”—have I not an excuse for dulness? I am known here as “the
Agent of that Cavalry Company”— and the Agent's office is the resort of half
the idle clerks and daguerreotype artists in town — but those fellows don't
enlist.1
_______________
1 One soldier, certainly, of those enlisted by
Lowell, on the very day he wrote this letter, proved a credit to his Country's
service in all the grades from lowest to highest. The following letter was
received by me, in answer to one of inquiry, from Lieutenant-General Chaffee,
lately retired: —
Los Angeles, California, August 26, 1906.
Dear
Mr. Emerson, — I have your letter, dated the 17th instant. While I was
not the first, I was one of the first dozen enlisted by General Lowell at
Warren, Ohio, in the summer of 1861; my hand being held up on the 22d of July.
On that day, I was en route from
my home to Columbus, Ohio, to enlist in the 23d Ohio Volunteers. Walking along
Main Street, in Warren, I observed a recruiting poster on the wall of a
building, with a picture of a mounted soldier. I stopped for a moment to take
in the situation and read, “Recruits wanted for the United States Army.”
Standing in a near-by door was a fine looking man in uniform, and he said to
me, “Young man, don't you wish to enlist?” I told him of my intention to join
the 23d Ohio. He at once set forth the advantages of the cavalry service and
the Regular Army in such fascinating terms that within fifteen minutes I
determined to accept his opinion of what was best for me to do.
I enlisted in his troop — K, Sixth
Cavalry—and served as an enlisted man in the troop until May 12, 1863, on which
date I received my commission as second lieutenant in the Sixth Cavalry. I left
the regiment on promotion to major, July, 1888.
At date of my appointment as
lieutenant, Captain Lowell was on detached service or on leave of absence, and
I believe he never thereafter served with the Sixth Cavalry, except as its
brigade commander in the Shenandoah Valley, he being at the time Colonel of the
Second Massachusetts.
I knew General Lowell only as an
enlisted soldier may know his captain in the regular service. He was my
instructor, I his obedient soldier. There were, of course, no discussions of
campaigns or superior officers in my hearing, — so observations of him when
captain of my troop in camp and battle, and occasionally later, when in command
of the Reserve Brigade, is all I know of him of a personal nature. . . . None of them [the technically educated
line-officers of the regiment] in my opinion equalled his activity and great
enthusiasm as an officer of cavalry.
For self-control, personal courage,
daring exposure to wounds or death in battle, I did not see his equal during
the war. For bravery he is yet, after forty years of experience in the Army, my
idol — the brave officer. As he was viewed from the ranks, he
seemed unconscious that he possessed bravery in larger degree than usual with
men. He was not one to do anything for mere show. . . . During the Valley Campaign an officer
suggested more caution, less unnecessary exposure to the fire of the enemy;
whereupon General Lowell remarked that the bullet had not been moulded that
would harm him. In less than a month he was struck twice — both the same
day — the last his fatal hurt. . . .
Captain Lowell was always kind to his
men, duly considerate of all faults and failures on their part; he was,
nevertheless, strict in his discipline.
I regret not being able to assist you
materially in the special direction you mention, —his actions, words, etc.,
that marked his individuality.
I simply recollect that he was always
ready, always enthusiastic in whatever of duty came to his lot, — splendid
officer.
Very
truly,
Adna R. Chaffee
SOURCE: Edward Waldo Emerson, Life and Letters of
Charles Russell Lowell, p. 216, 404-6
