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CIVIL WAR
EXPERIENCES

UNDER

BAYARD, GREGG, KILPATRICK, CUSTER
RAULSTON, AND NEWBERRY

1862, 1863, 1864

BY

HENRY C. MEYER

CAPTAIN 24TH NEW YORK CAVALRY
BREVET-MAJOR NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS

PRIVATELY PRINTED

NEW YORK
1911

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The Knickerbocker Press
(G. P. Putnam's Sons)

New York
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INTRODUCTION

During December, 1895, I received a letter from General Walter C.Newberry, of Chicago, who during the Civil War commanded the 24th NewYork Cavalry. In this the General wrote:

"My Dear Major Meyer:

"You will remember how urgent the boys were last summer for ahistory of the Regiment to be prepared. I resolved then to gratifythem and am engaged on it now. I want you to aid me to the extentof giving me a detailed account of yourself—nativity, date ofbirth, former service, engagements that you were in that led up toyour promotion, your service with us, your wounding and incidentsaccompanying it, your period of treatment in the Hospital, yourcivil record since, and be kind enough not to be at all modest insetting it all forth. I shall not use your language, neither shallI give you credit for the biography, and you may drop all modestywith me and give it to me in full. You may have kept something of adiary or there may be some old letters that you have written whichwill give me some record by dates of the Regiment's service. I wantit all."

In 1896 I complied with this request to the extent of giving a brief[Pg iv]account of my service in the Army. Since then, members of my family anda few personal friends have asked me to incorporate in this accountincidents that I recalled, some of which they had heard me relate,asserting that they would be of interest to my grandchildren.

The following story is my attempt to accede to these requests. I amnaturally proud of having had the privilege of serving under theGenerals I have mentioned, and the story recited in the following pagesis in accordance with my recollection of events that occurred overforty-five years ago.

Henry C. Meyer.

New York, May, 1911.

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CONTENTS