Ordnance Sergt. Frederick Thayer was not only a master of his trade, but prompt in every detail of his work. Every weapon was always ready when wanted for guard mount, dress parade or for the march, and not one of Company A was ever sent to quarters because of a rusty or dirty gun.
Corporals Uriel Haskins, Ephraim Haskins, Thomas Gurney, James E. Arnold, Soranus Thompson, David B. Hill, and John G. Gammons, were always ready and faithful in the discharge of every duty assigned to them.
Asa Kilbreth could blow “The Flowers of Michigan” through a fife as no other musician in the regiment, if in the world. His time was so perfect that every one could keep step when marching in review. John G. Bonney was as good with his drum as “Uncle” Kilbreth with his fife, and when these two musicians sounded reveille every man was ready for roll call. The whole company was made up of exceptionally good and true men, “soldiers from the word go.”
Company A could truthfully boast of more musical talent than any other company in the regiment. Singing could always be had for the asking, without money and without price. Stringed instruments were in evidence. A double quartette was always ready and willing to entertain and enliven what otherwise would have been dull hours of camp life. Miller Briggs was a knight of the bow, and he could make the “old campaign fiddle” talk, sing, weep or shout, as occasion required or his fancy dictated. Al. Ashley was always ready to make a speech, play a game of euchre, go on guard or go into a fight. Pearly Haven was born with a thirst that water had no power to quench. Pearly was always weak when near anything strong.
Edward H. Rennis went to “his own place” when he went into the cook-house. His boiled dinners and his baked beans remain as things joyfully to be remembered. Few were the cooks who could deal out better rations than Rennis.
Die Mason, while a good company clerk, would stand before a heated stove and burn the whole front of his uniform, absolutely oblivious of what was going on. In the battle of Goldsboro, he filled his musket with cartridges from breech to muzzle and returned to Newbern with it full. When apprised of the fact, he simply said, “I marched two hundred miles to snap at the rebels.”
Corp. Thomas Gurney was a most painstaking and accurate diarist. Benjamin H. Bearse could roast a fowl or a pig to perfection. John Boyce was so squint-eyed that he could see “the rebels” on either flank and in front of him. Henry Cook, notwithstanding he had lost his voice, would not ask to be discharged, whispering, “If I cannot speak with my voice, I can speak to the rebels with my musket.” John Drayton could provide fun for the whole company. Herculese Dean was the staid gentleman; Timothy French the man of affairs. Bradford G. Hathaway was known as the “big man with curly hair.” Daniel L. Hathaway would not shake hands with a rebel prisoner, who, recognizing him as a fellow workman in the Live Oak Swamps, extended his hand. Dan declared he never would shake hands with a d——d rebel.
Shubael G. Howland will be remembered as the man who carried six rebel muskets seventy miles on his shoulder and sent them home to make sure that the rebels would never get them again.
Aaron D. Hathaway could bring a mule team out of the mud when every one else had given up in despair. He performed this feat by pushing the mules’ heads under the mud and keeping them there until they were glad to jump out to breathe.
Alamanzer Osborne had queer notions about sardines.