at work and extirpated many of the hostile Indians--how many, is not
stated in any work of which I have knowledge. Cochise, chief of the
Chiricahua clan of Apaches (and predecessor of Geronimo), finally came
into camp as winter drew nigh, and claimed that he wanted peace and
a resting-place on the reservation. He had already been fighting the
white people for fourteen years, and had tried every trick upon his
enemies save this. Cushing vainly protested against coddling the wily
chief during cold weather, to suffer from his depredations when warmth
should again prevail. Cochise was taken care of all winter; and before
May, 1871, was on the warpath with Cushing close after him. On May 5th
the lieutenant was at the head of a reconnoitering party of twenty-two
men at Bear Springs, in the Whetstone Mountains, about fifty miles
southeasterly from Tucson, and twenty-five southwesterly from the site
of the present town of Benson.
_Death of the Young Cavalryman_
Cushing was riding at the head of the party with three soldiers and a
citizen or two near him, when Sergeant John Mott saw movements of some
Apaches who were trying to get to the rear of the detachment. He sent
word to the lieutenant, inducing him to fall back, although already
engaged with an ambush of Cochise's followers in front. The latter had
succeeded in entirely surrounding the little party, and Cushing, with
four at his side, were all slain before they could get back to the rest
of their party.
Sylvester Maury, a graduate of West Point--pioneer miner, and author of
a classic of modern Arizona, entitled _Arizona and Sonora_--in a letter
to the New York _Herald_ shortly after Cushing's death, boldly charged
the catastrophe to the foolish policy then prevailing, of dealing with
the Indians of the Southwest. Under this policy, the ravages of the
enemy were promoted by feeding them up well during any intervals when
they might feel like taking a rest from assassination and plunder. He
added:
Now we have the result. There is not a hostile tribe in Arizona
or New Mexico, that will not celebrate the killing of Cushing as
a great triumph. He was a beau sabreur, an unrelenting fighter;
and although the Indians have got him at last, he sent before him
a long procession of them to open his path to the undiscovered
country. * * * He has left behind him in Arizona a name that will
not die in this generation.
As a comment on the foregoing, I need only say that in response to
my request, at an Arizona newspaper office a few weeks ago, for some
special information regarding Howard Cushing, I was told that the
writer had "never heard of the party inquired after." _Sic transit
gloria mundi_, making very rapid time in the transit, in many of the
modern instances. Nevertheless, Arizona has taken enough care of
Cochise's name to attach it to one of her large counties.
Howard's death occurred more than three-and-a-half years before that
of William; but I fancy that the acts and sayings of the latter at the
time of his brother's demise were such as to indicate something in
the nature of nervous affection. Mrs. Bouton informs me that it was
difficult to dissuade him from a project that he had in mind, to go
into the frontier service himself and there take vengeance on Howard's
slayers. On first hearing of the fatality he had been unable to refrain
from tears, even after reaching the office of a commercial bank.
Before leaving the place, he wrote the following letter to his brother
Milton:
THE BLACKSTONE NATIONAL BANK, BOSTON,
_May 15th, 1871._
MY ONLY AND VERY DEAR BROTHER: With a heart full of agony I write
to you of our terrible misfortune. Dear, brave "Howie" is no more.
I saw the news in the paper at 8 a. m. in the country this morning,
and hastened in to break it to Mother. _Poor, dear_ little Ma! Her
heart is almost broken. Oh! _dear_ old fellow--we are left alone
now--the last of four; and let us swear to stand by each other
and our noble Mother in all things. Let our old boyhood and vows
come back with full force and meaning, and let us cling together
in truest and most unselfish love and friendship. I long for you,
_dear_ brother--for a clasp of your true, honest hand, and the
comfort of one glance into your eyes. How much it would comfort
Mother to see you before you go! Tomorrow I take her with me into
the Country where we are living. I am in delightful quarters,
and shall take good care of little Ma. God bless her! Kate [the
writer's wife] is like a real daughter to her; and I thank Heaven
that she was not alone in Mary's absence. [Referring to the present
Mrs. Bouton, whose name was Mary Isabel, the "Mary" having since
been dropped by her.]
_Dear_ old fellow--we must be doubly loving and attentive to
little Ma now. Write often to her. One thing is certain of her
Sons; they can not be beaten. You can kill but not conquer them.
A beautiful tribute was paid to Lon by the General of his brigade
at the great Army of the Potomac meeting here. He described his
wonderful, superhuman bravery. How he demanded--white with loss of
blood--to go again to the front. The General said, "You have done
all that mortal can do; attend now to your wounds." Lon answered,
"No, I will fall by my guns." He selected Allie as the only one to
especially eulogize, God bless the brave boys! I can almost see
their meeting--the handclasp of two who gave up life for duty; and
Father, joined by his noble Sons, proudly and tenderly embracing
them.
God bless you, dear brother! Don't lose love for me. We are alone
now. My tears are falling so that I can scarcely see. Good bye.
With all his heart your loving brother
WILL.
The story of these noble sons of Wisconsin might properly be concluded
with the foregoing letter; but for the satisfaction of those who may
wish to have a good idea of the personal appearance of the young
cavalryman, I will add the description given by Captain Bourke:
He was about five feet seven in height, spare, sinewy, active as a
cat; slightly stoop-shouldered, sandy complexioned, keen gray or
bluish gray eyes, which looked you through when he spoke and gave
a slight hint of the determination, coolness and energy which had
made his name famous all over the southwestern border.
[Illustration:
Kate is like a pal daughter to her and I thank Heaven that she was
not alone in Macy's absence. _Dear_ old fellow it must be doubly
boring and attrition to little Ma now. Write often to her--One
thing is certain of her Son--they can not be beaten. You care
kill but not conquer them. A beautiful tribute was paid to Lon by
the General of his brigade at the great Army of Potomac awaiting
here. He described his wonderful, super human bravery. How he
demanded--white with loss of blood--to go again to the front. The
General said 'You have done all that mortal can do--attend now
to your wounds.' Lon answered "No. I will fall by my guns." He
selected Allie as the only one to especially eulogize. God bless
the brave boys! I can almost see their meeting the hand clasp of
two who gave up life for duty, and Father, joined by his noble Sons
proudly and tenderly embracing them.
God bless you--dear brother! Don't lose love for me--We are alone
now--My tears are falling so that I can scarcely see--Good bye.
With all his heart
Your loving Brother
Will.
Facsimile of part of letter from William B. Cushing to his brother
Milton; dated May 15, 1871]
So long as such men can be produced in the republic, there is little
danger of its decline and fall. Without such, or men of stamina
approximating to their standard, our country would be likely to meet
the fate of its predecessors, and become the prey of stronger peoples.
It would therefore be foolish indeed to withhold from our fighting men
the honor and the more substantial rewards which tend to encourage
bravery and, when necessary, the upholding of our national solidarity
by force of arms. To a considerable degree this is accomplished by our
national pension system; but that is faulty, in respect that it makes
no distinction, as to the amount of his quarterly stipend, between a
four-years' fighting soldier and a ninety-days' malingerer in or about
hospitals.
That it was difficult to provide for advancement in the army, in
accordance with desert, is evident from the fact that Howard Cushing
served as a private soldier in the same battery for twenty months. That
was, indeed, keeping talent hidden in a very inconspicuous napkin. It
may be that such bad fortune was unavoidable on the whole, and that
a just grading of pensions would be still more difficult to attain
than logically-just promotions in the army. At all events, it is clear
to me that whatever does tend most effectually to keep alive in our
citizenship such devotion to the country as to make men willing to
strive to the uttermost and to die for its sake, is what ought to be
practised--and where possible, improved.
INDEX
"Adelaide", 60.
"Albemarle", xiv, 67-80.
Albemarle Sound, 68-70.
Ames, Gen. Adelbert, 82.
Apache Indians, 86;
in Arizona, 95-100.
Arlington, Alonzo Cushing at, 35.
Armistead, Gen. Lewis A., 51, 54, 55, 57.
Battles: Antietam, Alonzo Cushing at, 55.
Bailey's Cross Roads, 34, 35.
Blackburn's Ford, 33.
Bull Run, 33, 34.
Chancellorsville, xii, 42, 43, 45.
Fitzhugh's Crossing, 42.
Fredericksburg, 41, 42.
Gettysburg, xii, 42-45, 51, 66.
Hawes's Shop, 89.
Long Bridge, 34.
Marye's Heights, 42.
Meadow Bridge, 89.
Mine Run, 89.
Salem Heights, 42.
Spottsylvania Court House, 42.
Strawberry Hill, 89.
Todd's Tavern, 89.
Wilderness, 42.
Yellow Tavern, 89.
Bear Springs (Ariz.), 98.
Black Hawk, Sauk leader, 9.
Bladensburg (Md.), 90.
Bourke, John G., xi, 94-96, 102.
Bouton, Isabel Cushing, 18, 22, 53, 100, 101.
Brandy Station (Va.), 89.
Brookfield, 13.
Burnside, Gen. Ambrose, 40.
"Cambridge", xiii, 37.
Castleman, Dr. A. L., 18.
Centerville (Va.), 35, 38.
"Charlotte", 82.
Chase, Salmon P., 20.
Chiricahua Indians, 98.
Cochise, Apache chief, 98-100.
"Colorado", 31.
"Commodore Barney", 62.
"Commodore Hull", 72.
Couch, Gen. Darius N., 41.
Cushing, Alonzo H., born, 16;
youth, 16-26;
at West Point, 26, 28, 29, 33;
Washington, 32;
Long Bridge, 35;
Arlington, 35;
with Gen. Sumner, 38, 39;
McClellan, 39, 40;
at Fredericksburg, 41, 42;
on furlough, 41;
at Fitzhugh's Crossing, 42;
Spottsylvania Court House, 42:
Salem and Marye's Heights, 42;
Wilderness, 42;
with Hooker, 43;
Hancock, 44;
at Gettysburg, 45-50, 53-57, 77;
death, 50, 102;
personal appearance, 32, 56, 85;
record, xii;
appreciations, xii, 41, 42, 45, 47, 54-57;
facsimile of letter, 40;
portrait, 56.
Cushing, Howard B., born, 9;
youth, 9-16;
enlisted, 26, 36;
promoted, 88;
with Sheridan in Virginia, 89;
in Washington, 90;
Elmira (N. Y.), 91-93;
Fort Meyer, 93;
joined cavalry, 94;
in Arizona and Texas, 95-98;
expedition against Cochise, 98;
killed, 86, 87, 99;
personal appearance, 102, 103;
record, xi;
appreciation, xi;
facsimile of letter, 88;
portrait, 94.
Cushing, Kate L., 84-87, 101.
Cushing, Mary Barker Smith, 9-19, 21, 22, 27, 28, 52, 62, 101.
Cushing, Mary Isabel, 18.
Cushing, Milton, 9, 10, 24, 27.
Cushing, Milton Buckingham, 5-21.
Cushing, Rachel Buckingham, 4-8, 12, 17;
children of, 17, 18.
Cushing, Walter, 15, 16, 18.
Cushing, William Barker, born, 17;
youth, 17-26;
at naval academy, 28, 29;
on "Minnesota", 30;
"Colorado", 31;
"Cambridge", 37;
"Perry", 58;
"Ellis", 60;
burned "Adelaide", 60;
at Jacksonville, 60, 61;
on "Commodore Barney", 62-66;
"Shoboken", 66, 67;
destroys "Albemarle", 69-81;
promotion, 81;
at Fort Fisher, 81-83;
on "Maumee", 83;
"Wyoming", 83;
death, 84;
personal appearance, 84-87;
letter on Howard's death, 101;
record, xii-xiv; appreciations, xiv, 58, 60, 76, 77, 80, 94, 95,
102, 103;
facsimile of letter, 102; portrait, 86.
Cushing, Zattu, 3-5.
Cushing family, in New England, 3;
in New York, 3-8;
at Milwaukee, 9-13, 16;
removal to Waukesha County, 12-15;
at Chicago, 18-20;
in Ohio, 20;
at Fredonia (N. Y.), 22, 25, 84.
Delafield, ----, town named for, 17, 19.
Delafield, Cushings at, 14-19.
"Delaware Farmer", 31.
Dousman, Mrs. Talbot C., 13.
Early, Gen. Jubal, 90, 91.
East Troy, 30, 62.
Edwards, Francis S., 26.
Edwards, Mary B., 30, 37, 60, 62.
"Ellis", 60.
Elmira (N. Y.), Howard Cushing at, 91-93.
Finance, Continental currency, 2.
Fitchburg (Mass.), Milton B. Cushing at, 27.
Flusser, Com. Charles W., 59, 60, 68.
Forts: Fisher, 81.
Meyer, 93.
Totten, 90.
Franklin, Gen. William B., 40.
Franklin (Va.), 59.
Fredonia (N. Y.), Cushings at, 22, 25, 84.
Frisby, Russell, 15.
Fuger, Sergt. Frederick, 50, 52-55, 57, 89.
Gallipolis (Ohio), Dr. Milton Cushing at, 21.
Gaps: Manassas, xiii, 44.
Thoroughfare, 44.
Geronimo, Apache chief, 98.
Hall, Col. George B., 47.
Hampton Roads, 38, 63.
Hancock, Gen. Winfield S., 44, 53.
"Hartford", xiii.
Hawks, N. P., 16.
Haymarket (Va.), 44.
"Hebe", 67.
Hooker, Gen. Joseph, 40, 43.
Horton, Julia G., 23, 24.
Hosmer, G. S., 15.
Jacksonville (N. C.), 60.
Lakes: Nagawicka, 14, 17.
Nemahbin, 14, 16, 19.
Pewaukee, 12, 14.
"Lancaster", xiii.
Lee, Gen. Robert E., 43, 44, 66.
Lee, Admiral S. P., 60, 69.
Lincoln, Abraham, xiv, xv, 41, 42, 80.
McClellan, Gen. George B., 35, 39, 40.
Madison, 12, 13.
Maryland, campaign in, 39, 40.
Meade, Gen. George G., 56.
"Merrimac", 38, 68.
Milwaukee, Cushings at, 9-13, 16.
"Minnesota", xiii, 30.
"Monitor", 38.
"Monticello", xiii, 73.
Moon, Corporal Thomas, 56, 57.
Mott, Sergt. John, 98.
"Mount Washington", 63.
Nashotah, Theological Seminary, 14.
Naval Academy, William Cushing at, 27, 30.
Nemahbin, Cushings in, 15.
New England, emigration to Wisconsin, 1-4.
New York, Cushings in, 3-8.
Norfolk (Va.), 59, 70.
"Otsego," 72.
Paddock, George, 15.
Paddock family, 13-15.
"Penobscot", xiii.
"Perry", 58.
Pickett, Gen. George E., xii, 48, 54, 56.
Plymouth (N. C.), captured by "Albemarle", xiv, 68, 69, 71, 77, 78.
Porter, Lieut. B. H., 82.
Porter, Adm. David D., 70.
Potawatomi Indians, in Wisconsin, 9.
Potomac, Army of, 35, 38, 40, 43, 89.
Prairieville. See Waukesha.
Preston, S. W., 82.
"Quinnebaug", xiii.
Reynolds, Gen. John F., 44.
Richmond (Va.), 39.
Rivers: Blackwater, 59.
Bark, 14.
Menomonee, 11, 12.
Milwaukee, 11.
Monocacy, 43, 90.
Nansemond, 63.
Potomac, 33, 44, 66.
Rappahannock, 37, 42, 43.
Roanoke, 68, 71.
Shenandoah, 43.
Rorty, James M., 46, 50.
Santiago de Cuba, 83.
"Sassacuse", 68.
Sauk Indians, in Wisconsin, 9.
Schaff, Gen. Morris, xii, 29.
"Shamrock", 71, 73.
"Shockokon", xiii.
Sheridan, Gen. Philip, 89.
Smith, C. W., 37.
Smith, Commodore Joseph, 26.
"Southfield", 68, 71, 73.
"Stag", 83.
Stotesbury, Asst. Engineer William, 73.
Stuart, Gen. J. E. B., 44, 89.
Sumner, Gen. Edwin V., 38-40.
Swan, Paymaster ----, 71, 72.
Swansboro (N. C.), 60.
Taneytown (Md.), 44.
Tucson (Ariz.), Howard Cushing at, 95, 97-99.
"Valley City", 73.
Vicksburg (Miss.), Howard Cushing at, 36.
"Virginius", 83, 84.
Warley, Capt. A. F., 79.
Warren, Cushings in, 15.
Washington (D. C.), Alonzo Cushing at, 32.
Waukesha, 13, 16, 19.
Waukesha County, _History_, 13.
Webb, Gen. Alexander S., 47, 50.
Western Branch (Va.), 63.
West Point, Alonzo Cushing entered, 26; buried at, 53.
Wilkeson, Lieut. Frank, 92.
Woodman, Acting Master's Mate ----, 72, 73.
Woodruff, George A., 46, 50.
"Wyoming", xiv.
Yorktown (Va.), 39.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES
Erratum on page vi has been corrected in the text.
Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical
errors.
Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed.
Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.
End of Project Gutenberg's Three Wisconsin Cushings, by Theron Wilber Haight