BONUS Augustus McGill reminiscence about James Ellis McCloskey:
"Michael and Maria lived for a time after marriage at Cambridge by the Deadwater (now Cambridge Springs). Two children were born there and died. Then came a little boy, and Maria died. The infant was named James Ellis McCloskey and was brought to "Aunt Ibby" and Uncle John, where he was tenderly cared for until he was a slashing, fine boy of ten or twelve years, when his father, having re-married, took him away.
Years passed on and many things were forgotten, but I always cherished a fond recollection of that manly, little cousin.
We had passed through Thoroughfare Gap in a terrific snow storm and beaten by howling, icy winds, went into camp amid the mountain tops near Warrenton, Va. There was frozen ground and snow under my feet in the tent I occupied the only shelter I had on earth, and turn where one would there was nothing but bleak discomfort in sight. I was sick, tired, dissatisfied and morose.
There came the clatter of a saber at the entrance, and as I turned, in no amiable mood, to ascertain the cause of the intrusion, a big, tall trooper pushed his way into the tent and stood erect, smiling. I took a step forward, looked him in the eye, and quick as a flash of light the recognition came. It was our "Jimmie" of the old home, grown to great proportions and clad in the panoply of war. Our delight at meeting was mutual and did me more good than all the remedies in the old Pharmacopoeia could have done.
I had known nothing of his being in the service. He belonged in the 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry. He knew that I was in the 83rd Pennsylvania, and learning of our proximity hunted me up.
I saw him several times during our movement down to Falmouth and while awaiting Burnside's operations.
It was Dec. 13th, 18621 and the battle of Fredericksburg was on. We had crossed the Rappahannock on the pontoons, marched through the city and formed line of battle in the open country beyond, under a scattering, long range fire from Marys Heights. There was a line of battle engaged with the enemy in our front. Humphrey's Division filed in and formed some two hundred yards in our rear. They were a fine looking body of men and just as good as they looked. This attracted the attention of the gunners on the Heights, 278 and they dropped shot and shell in their direction without serious injury. Gen. Humphrey, to show his contempt of this long range bombardment, rode with his staff and escort to the right of his line, and then dashed along the entire front to the left. A company of the 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry were the escort. It was a mighty fine spectacle.
While the escort was passing directly opposite my position, and in full view, the horse of a trooper was knocked over and rolled on the ground. The boy jerked off the saddle and bridle and sprinted down to the left on the heels of the escort. That boy was our Jimmie McCloskey, and I felt sure that I recognized him at the time. But at the instant I saw something that he did not see. That horse was not killed, but only stunned, and in half a minute regained his feet and started full tilt after Jimmie and overtook him at the turning of the left flank, and the whole outfit was returned to duty without serious injury.
Soon afterwards this statement was corroborated at Stoneman's Switch, by the actor himself, and several of his comrades who were present.
The accession of Hooker to the command of the Army of the Potomac was followed by many changes in the disposition of the Cavalry Corps, and I saw Jimmie no more.
He was captured by the enemy, and the line of Michael and Maria became extinct in the prison pen of Andersonville."
