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Kane, Thomas L., Letter to Andrew J. Curtin, USAMHI
Washington Sept.12th, 1862
My Dear Sir:
I went into active service
immediately after seeing you last month. General Halleck forbade the transmission of mail
matter; I am only able to write to you, in honour, now that I am ordered up to Washington
to report for duty to the Commander in Chief.
I pass over events that, I
learn, have transpired since, without reproaches—(I am pleased to offer proof of my
cheerful deference to the State authorities) to remain to you that I find two officers
here in command of regiments, commissioned as such by the Governor of Pennsylvania, who
are said to owe their promotion to the fact of their obtaining leave of absence from the
army to go home on recruiting service instead of remaining with their own regiments to
share the privation and exposure of their comrades in the field.
I do not need to discuss the
merits or demerits of these officers, but it is my duty to state to you in the most formal
and emphatic manner that there are no less than four other officers,--Captains of my
Regiment whose efficiency as commanders, no less than the meritorious services actually
rendered by them, confer on them greatly higher claim to the Executive favor. I will name to you these officers, but I beg
respectfully to ask, if their superior merits are made matter of the slightest question,
that you will inform me at once, that testimony may be formally taken and the truth
established without delay. My word should be
enough; but I challenge contradiction.
A highly meritorious
officer, particularly distinguished at the battle of Cross Keys, Captain L. W. Gifford,
will I fear not be able to return to duty again. I
recommend to the Governor accordingly:
Capt. Charles F. Taylor Co H
(Wayne Rifles) Chester Co.
Capt. Alanson Niles Co E (Tioga Rifles) Tioga Co.
Capt. Edward A. Irvin Co K (The Raftsmen Rangers Clearfield Co. and
Capt. William L. Blanchard Co I McKean Rifles McKean—who will present this letter to
you.
Captain Taylor’s
services in the field are a matter of public notoriety.
As regards his personal gallantry, the history of the war does not furnish a
parallel to his behavior at Harrisonburg. After
leading his company in the fight as he did, and escaping as if by miracle, he had a right
to his life and honor with it. But the battle
over, when the enemy was coming on the field in the first flush and spirit of victory,
Taylor returned to it. He faced the bullets
of four regiments which swept it with a converging fire threatening instant death; he
marched forward with head erect until he met the bayonets at his breast. Taylor did this to find his commander—to
recover his body if he had fallen, or if he lived, to nurse him and share his captivity. The Confederate General Ewell showed his
appreciation of such generous conduct. He
offered Taylor his parole upon the spot. I think the Governor of Pennsylvania ought not to
overlook it.
As an officer, ask any
officer Taylor has served under, if he can find you a better man for a Colonelcy in the
volunteer service. I have not met one I
think his equal.
My testimony to Captain
Niles’ merits is on file with the War Department.
General Ord concurred with me in recommending him to Secretary Cameron for
promotion. He was shot through the body
leading the flankers at Dranesville—recovered, to the surprise of all, took but 6
weeks nursing at home, and has been on duty ever since.
In the retreat from before Richmond he was the senior officer in the Rifle pits
who, when a large part of the Regiment had gone off under Major Stone—refused to
retire until he received orders to do so, and did not leave his position or surrender
until he was hemmed in by entire Brigades. Captain
Niles has two gallant Lieutenants who particularly deserve promotion, Truman and Mack. His
advancement will make room for theirs.
Captain Irvin was
with me at New Creek, where the first blood was shed by 3 years troops from Penna. in the
service. Other actions have brought him much
under my view. He was intrepid to a fault at
Dranesville. I volunteer to state that my
relations with this young officer have been of an unpleasant character, that due weight
may be given to my testimony in his favor. He
has mastered the tactics thoroughly, as a proficient in the school of the battalion,
is energetic, painstaking,
never shirks duty, nor asks to be relieved from it. He
is a model to other officers in the care which he takes of his men in quarters. Irvin has good Lieutenants. His first, Hartshorn wounded in the Peninsula is a
brave man and will make a first rate Captain.
Captain Blanchard I
am personally attached to, and he commands Company I from my own county of McKean. He is
popular, his merits will not be questioned—prompt, truthful, fearless, energetic, and
always reliable, his friends will think him worthy of any command, and he has no enemies.
For the first time, an
objection is urged against him—that he cannot follow the march on foot; the brave
fellow having been shot through both legs at Harrisonburg,--for which reason it is said he
must be mustered out of service. Our military
authorities it seems have no power to promote him to a seat in saddle.
Captain Blanchard’s
Lieutenants—Bell and Fenton Ward are excellent officers deserving of reward.
I ask field officers’
places in new Regiments for but two of these
four officers. Two can be provided for in my
own Regiment, and I have asked my friends who now have a voting majority there to regulate
their course accordingly.
I appeal confidently to
Governor Curtin’s sense of Justice, and generosity in favor of the remaining two.
Very respectfully
Your obedient servant
Thomas L. Kane,
Brig. Gen’l. U.S.V.
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