Dover’s Colonel Calvin Douty Civil War hero

by Paul Emerson C alvin Sanger Douty resided in the quiet village of Dover, the shiretown of Piscataquis County. In April of 1861, after the firing on Fort Sumter, President Lincoln made his call for 300,000 men. Calvin S. Douty had passed the fifty-year mark in his life. He was enjoying the modest competency acquired by the honorable toil of his earlier years. He had an excellent reputation among his fellow citizens and had just been elected High Sheriff of his county for the third time. He was just beginning to serve his first year in that term.

Being a patriotic and honest citizen, the sense of duty was calling him to serve his country in its time of peril.

The pleadings of his wife, Emily, and not wishing to leave his children, restrained him for a time. But with the disaster at the 1st Bull Run, which extinguished the thoughts of a speedy resolution to the outbreak, he notified the state authorities of his readiness to resign his office and serve as a soldier in the war of the Union.

On the 24th of October, 1861, he was commissioned Major of the First Regiment Maine Cavalry and devoted himself with his accustomed energy to the cause for which he was well-qualified to command.

In November the regiment went into camp at Augusta, and the Major familiarized himself and his men with the tactics and drill of the Cavalry service. On December 22nd, 1861, his youngest boy, age 15 months, fell a victim to diphtheria, and eight days later his nine-year-old son died of the same disease. Of the six children who had blessed his happy home, all but one had passed away.

On the 20th of March, 1862, Major Douty left Augusta in command of a detachment of 400 men. Their destination was Harpers Ferry, and they were acting as a guard to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. On the 9th of May, he received a commission as Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment. The next day his command was ordered to join General Banks at Strasburg, Virginia.

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About May 20th, word was sent that Stonewall Jackson was making his way to Winchester by the Front Royal Turnpike with a large force. With General Banks only having 5,000 men, an immediate retreat became necessary. Col. Douty was ordered to reconnoiter with his small force towards Winchester. After arriving in Middletown, he detoured on a crossroad leading to the Front Royal Turnpike to seek out the strength and whereabouts of the enemy. After a few miles march, he encountered a woman at a wayside farmhouse. Protesting herself a Unionist, she informed him that Jackson had routed Col. Kenley’s 1st Maryland Cavalry at Front Royal, and was advancing with an immense army, a portion of which had gone forward to Winchester, while the main body was marching down the same road to intercept Banks at Middletown.

Col. Douty’s quick instinct defined the rebel plan. Jackson was known to have 25,000 men. He had dispatched 10,000 men to Winchester, while he himself led the remaining 15,000 toward the Strasburg Turnpike. The situation was critical. If the 10,000 men reached Winchester before Banks, his men and supply trains would likely be captured, especially with Jackson and 15,000 men coming up the rear.

Col. Douty saw at once that the only hope consisted in diverting General Jackson from his purpose. To this he devised a scheme. After listening to the woman’s story with perfect composure, he informed her with an air of assured confidence that General Banks was then advancing on the crossroads with 40,000 men. He told her he was overjoyed at the prospect of meeting the rebel army. The hilly nature of the country aided in his deception, and feigning to be the advance of Bank’s Army, he gave his men orders to form a line of battle.

CHARLES A. HILDEBRANT, P.L.S

BOUNDARY CONSULTANTS DOVER-FOXCROFT, MAINE

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The ruse worked precisely as he anticipated. The woman, whose loyalty was to Virginia and the Confederacy, hastily dispatched messages to the rebel chief to inform him that Banks was closing with 40,000 men. Jackson was puzzled, but it appeared to him that Banks must have been suddenly reinforced by General McDowell. A change of orders was deemed necessary, and General Elwell’s force of 10,000 was ordered back from Winchester.

As soon as Col. Douty became aware that his plan had worked and saw the rebels advancing, he ordered a retreat. By doing this, General Banks made his way to Winchester and safety, but Col. Douty and his men, to ensure the safety of General Banks, held back the rebel advance inch by inch. They held their position against 2,000 infantry and a battery of six guns for four hours with the loss of only 16 wounded.

(cont. on page 36)

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The rebel General Ashby afterward remarked that “Col. Douty’s cavalry was as obstinate as a mule.” It would only move as it was shelled from pointto-point. They had saved Banks’ Army. Col. Douty had been in the saddle 48 hours, and sleepless for 60 hours. In the following days, his opportunities for rest were brief and infrequent for his detachment had to cover the retreat from Winchester to Williamsport. Because of this he became ill and was sick for several weeks with typhoid fever. Upon his recovery, he resumed active service and fought in the several campaigns of Pope, Burnside, and Hooker. From September 1862 he was in actual command of the Regiment, but his promotion to the rank of Col. did not take place until January 5th, 1863.

In March of 1863, a furlough of 15 days was given to him by his commanding general. He made a brief visit (cont. from page 35)

to his home, and on his return, his wife accompanied him to New York City. It was here they parted for the last time. He was in good health, full of hope and courage, proud of his regiment and happy with military life.

Shortly after the return to his post, General Stoneman’s raid upon Richmond was projected. This enterprise was suited for his love for adventure, and he embarked on it with enthusiasm. Unfortunately, General Hooker’s repulse at Chancellorsville rendered the expedition unavailing, but history will accord a merit of praise to those daring soldiers who rode to the very gates of Richmond and stood ready to open them to the advancing Union Army.

The battle of Aldie, in which Col. Douty fell, was fought on the afternoon of June 17 th , 1863. The Regiment had marched for 25 miles that day and arrived as the battle was already in progress. This was to be an important en

gagement, and the object was to find the position of Lee’s Army. General Stuart was in command of the rebel force and had the advantage in numbers and artillery. The Union Army was at a standstill, and the events of the day were turning against them. In this crisis, the commanding General summoned Col. Douty’s Regiment to his aid. Weary as they were because of the long march under burning sun, the veterans rallied at the call of their leader and dashed up the road in the face of terrible fire from carbines, rifles, and cannon, sweeping everything before them. They ended the fight with a decisive victory.

The happiness of triumph which heralded their success was soon hushed by the sorrow of the loss of their Colonel who had fallen dead in the extreme advance. He had shown his country glory and devotion with his life.

Col. Calvin Sanger Douty was sent home to Dover to be buried with a sol

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dier’s honor. In a peaceful graveyard in Dover stands a tasteful marble column of beautiful workmanship where inscribed is a tribute to him.

In memory of Calvin Sanger Douty, Col., First Maine Cavalry, U.S. Volunteers, killed in battle, At the head of his regiment At the victory of Aldie, Virginia, June 17, 1863, In the third year of the war for the Union aged 50 years

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