Defenders of the Union [pp. 434-462]

DEFENDERS OF THE UNION.
Grand Army of the Republic for many
years, ever ready to put to practical use
the experience he acquired through three
years of service in the war of the Rebellion. He was a member of Company L,
First Ohio Heavy Artillery, which performed the most wearisome and perilous
of duties in the wild-cat regions of East
Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina, hunting down guerillas, guarding
mountain passes, and defending the principal lines of communication, duties that
called forth the highest attributes of the
soldier. Comrade Lauck is now a member of George H. Thomas Post of San Francisco, and is Past Commander of General
McDowell Post of San Rafael. As Captain of the Veteran Guard for a continuous period of three years, he has
done much towards maintaining that
fine organization's high degree of efficiency in drill and soldierly appearance,
which makes it the peer of any similar
command in the Union.
Past Commander Solomon Cahen of
James A. Garfield Post, Number 34, enlisted in Company I, Third California
Volunteer Infantry, September 25, i86i,
and was promoted to be Corporal of Company C, same regiment. Immediately
after organization it went to Fort Bragg,
where it remained until the spring of
1 862, going thence to Fort Ruby, Nevada,
and along the overland route, protecting
it from Indian depredations, and performing the most exacting duties. Its service
was not only hazardous, but the command
was subjected to the severities of cold
winter in the upper mountains and the
extreme heat of summer on the lower
plains. Comrade Cahen was with his
command all the way to Camp Douglas,
Utah, where it arrived in the latter
part of I863, and where it remained
until October, 1864, protecting the Territory from the ultra Mormon element
which was then notoriously hostile to
the Union.
In the winter of 1863 advices were received by the commanding general at
Camp Douglas that two companies of
Nevada cavalry were in great distress
about 225 miles west of Salt Lake City.
Comrade Cahen was detailed in charge
of ten men and four wagons loaded with
subsistence, with orders to hurry to the
relief of the cavalry. After a rapid march,
hardly giving rest to men or animals,
Comrade Cahen reached the unfortunate
party just in time to afford the relief required, for the cavalry, men and horses,
were nearly exhausted for lack of food
and forage. After all had rested and recuperated, Comrade Cahen conducted the
entire party back to Camp Douglas,
where he was commended for the faithful performance of a dangerous duty. His
command afterward went to Fort Connors, Idaho Territory, but returned to
Camp Douglas, where it was mustered
out July 27, I866. Mr. Cahen is not
only respected for loyalty, but as a merchant of many years standing in San Francisco.
The present commander of Garfield
Post is Robert R. Kilgore, who was born
in New Orleans. Surrounded by circumstances that prohibited his enlistment among those first joining the Union
forces, he patiently awaited an opportunity, and after the capture of his native
city enlisted as a seaman in the Navy and
was assigned to the United States Steamer
Mercedita, upon which he served until
his discharge in March, I864, performing
those hazardous duties that befell our
blockading squadrons. His services were
rewarded by an honorable discharge at
the end of the war, and he has since become an earnest advocate and energetic
member of the order, having made himself respected by his comrades, and re
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