Isaac O. Best, History of the 121st New York State Infantry

[79] Cleveland's cabinet. They were armed with smooth bore muskets and used three buckshot and a bullet to a charge. This at close range is as effective as any ammunition in the world, and the only wonder to me is that any of us escaped.

Many years after the war I had occasion to go to the room of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives at Washington. With me was a gentleman, who, having been a newspaper man and a soldier also, had come in contact and become acquainted with a great many public men. As we entered the room the single person present, a fine looking portly gentleman, looked up and my friend said “Good morning, General.” He replied, “Good morning, Buell.” “I was just looking over my mail, and I found among it a card from a little boy in Michigan who wants my autograph. Now I always like to please the children, so I am going to write him at once.” Buell said, “That is very kind of you, General. By the way, you know my friend?” The general looked at me intently a short time and said, “Why I don't seem to remember your face.” Buell spoke up and said, “Why, General, do you not remember one Sunday afternoon up on Fredericksburg Heights, near Salem Church, during the war!” The general rose up, and grasping me by the hand, said, “Why, bless my soul, were you one of Upton's men?” I said, “Yes, General!” He said, “Why I didn't know that any of you got away but Upton, and he was as brave a man as I ever saw. Why, he rode through our line and back, and though we emptied a hundred rifles at him he escaped unhurt. We killed his horse and his men. Why we covered the ground with them after we drove you back .” I interrupted him and said, “I beg your pardon, General, but we were ordered back.” “Have it so,” he said, “perhaps that is the ”