Born at Malpas, Cheshire, and was christened at Sandbach on the 26th of July 1829, the son of Thomas Palin and his wife, Mary.
Enlisted at Manchester on the 4th of August 1848.
Age: 17 years 8 months.
Height: 5' 6".
Trade: Veterinary-surgeon.
Tried by a District Court-martial at Norwich on the 28th of June 1852 for "Theft" and sentenced to 168 days' imprisonment.
At Scutari from the 4th of April — 11th of May 1855.
He was servant to Captain Braniff at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, from the 27th of November 1857.
Discharged, "time expired", from Dublin on the 10th of December 1860.
Conduct: "good".
In possession of two Good Conduct badges.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol.
Attended the first Balaclava Banquet in 1875
Member of the Balaclava Commemoration in 1879.
Signed the Loyal Address to the Queen in 1887.
He appears in a group photograph, taken circa March of 1897 (copy in the 11th Hussar file). It is not known where this reunion took place, but from the known abode of others pictured, probably in the Manchester area.
Present at the Jubilee celebrations given by T.H. Roberts in his Fleet Street offices in June of 1897 and signed the testimonial given to Mr. Roberts on that occasion. There is a copy of this in the "Memoirs" file, and also an account of an interview he gave to a newspaper reporter at this time in which he claimed to have also served in the American Civil War (below).
1871 Census
Lodge, Rollesby, Norwich.
John Palin, 42, Coachman and Domestic Servant, born Malpas, Cheshire.
Annie Palin, 39, born Norwich.
1881 Census
29 John Street, Altrincham.
John Palin, 52, Cab Driver, born Malpas.
Annie Palin, 48, born Norwich.
1881 Census
17 John Street, Altrincham.
Sarah I. Hammond [future 2nd wife], widow, 41, dressmaker, born Brighton.
Fred Hewitt, son, 19, newspaper canvasser, born Brighton.
Arthur Hewitt, son, 17, clerk in office, born Brighton.
Willie Hammond, son, 8, scholar, born Altrincham.
[CP: she would be living 6 houses down from John and Annie Palin].
Marriage registeredDeath registered
Annie Palin [1st wife], aged 52, December Quarter 1884, Altrincham.
John Palin [2nd marriage] to Sarah Isabella Hammond [her 3rd marriage], June Quarter 1887, Salford.
Marriage registered
Jonathan William Hammond [step-son] married Sarah Ann Camden, June Quarter 1893, Altrincham.
1891 Census
19 Stamford Road, Altrincham.
John Palin, 63, Groom Cab Driver, born Malpas.
Sarah J Palin, 51, born Brighton.
Jonathon W Hammond, step-son, 18, single, clerk to brass finisher, born Bowdon.
1901 Census
43, Byron [Byrom?] Street, Altrincham.
Jonathan Wm Hammond, 28, Clerk, born Altrincham.
Sarah Ann Hammond, 29, born Sutton Coldfield.
Isabella, 7, Dorothy, 6, Marjorie, 4, George, 3, Gertude, 1...all born in Altrincham.
John Palin, step-father, Army Pensioner, born Malpas.
Sarah Isabella Palin, mother, 61, born Brighton.
Died on September 12th 1901, at Byron Street, Altrincham.
Deaths registered
John Palin, aged 73, September Quarter 1901, Bucklow.
Sarah Isabella Palin [2nd wife], aged 63, June Quarter 1902, Bucklow.
He was buried in Altrincham Cemetery on the 14th of September 1901. His wife and daughter were also later buried in the same grave-space.
Extracts from the, Hall and Bowden Guardian for the 14th of September and the 18th of September 1901:
Death. — Died, September 12th 1901, at Byron Street, Altrincham, John Palin, in his 74th year. Interment will be at Altrincham Cemetery, today (Saturday) September 14th.
Funeral of a Crimean Veteran: Altrincham's Tribute to the late John Palin.
The funeral of the late Mr. John Palin, of No. 43 Byron [Byrom?] Street, Altrincham, one of the veteran soldiers who rode in the historic "Charge of the Light Brigade," took place at Hale Cemetery on Saturday afternoon, the Revd. F. Wainwright, vicar of St. John's, Altrincham and honorary chaplain of the 3rd. V.R.B.C. officiating.
The remains were interred in the presence of a very large crowd — for John Palin, "Balaclava Jack", to give him the full soubriquet by which he was generally known, was exceedingly popular — and as was to be expected, the funeral was accorded semi-military honours.
About 40 of the Volunteers — all members of the A" and "B" Companies and of the Altrincham section of the "K" (Cyclist) Company of the 3rd. V.B.R,C. also attended in church-parade order, and wearing side-arms. They drew up two deep, facing the late residence of the deceased soldier, in the vicinity of which a large concourse had assembled.
The coffin was reverently placed upon a Darly car, wrapped in the folds of a Union Jack, and afterwards all the floral emblems which had been contributed in affectionate remembrance, were placed upon the coffin.
The procession to the Cemetery was headed by the Lynotype Brass Band (under the conductorship of Mr. Sidebottom) with drums draped in crepe, who were also accompanied by two side-drummers of the band of the 3rd. V.B.R.C. Then came the car bearing the remains, attended by four Volunteers who, under the direction of Colour-Sergeant Potts, acted as bearers and were ranged on either side of the car.
Two carriages containing the chief mourners followed them, and afterwards successively, Private Graham of the Lincolnshire Regiment (who wore his South African khaki uniform) buglers of the 3rd. V.B.R.C., members of the A. and B. Companies and the Altrincham Section of the K (Cyclist) Company, commanded by Sergeant M. Souther, of the 3rd. V.B.R.C., Battery Quarter-Master Sergeant W. Hammond (step-son of the deceased) and Gunners W.H. Renshaw and Ernest Renshaw of the 7th L.V.A. Manchester Artillery, with a number of civilian friends, including several members of the Altrincham P.S.A. Society, of which the deceased was a member, bringing up the rear.
The escort marched in half-extended files and the slow and solemn procession — the impression heightened by the mournful music of the Dead March from "Saul", which was splendidly rendered by the band — was a moving spectacle and a fitting tribute to the worth of the departed hero.
It is to be regretted that there was an unseemly rush on the part of the crowd that had gathered at the Cemetery gates.; there was even giggling and irreverent laughter, and afterwards in close proximity to the open grave men were seen smoking. This was ugly and unseemly behaviour, that was much to be regretted.
Inside the Cemetery grounds the escort halted close to the Chapel — into which the chief mourners and others passed to hear the first portion of the funeral service — and formed a lane through which the remains were subsequently borne to the grave. The "Last Post" was sounded by the buglers when the committal portion of the service was over; for a moment all was quiet, and shortly afterwards the strains of ""Let me like a soldier fall," and "We shall meet, but we shall miss him", saluted the ear as the military escort, headed by the band, marched back to Altrincham.
The chief mourners were: Mrs. Palin (widow) Mr. Walter Sharratt (nephew) Quarter-Master Sergeant W. Hammond and Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Camden, Nurse Camden, Mr. Wibberley (a veteran soldier who had served in South and East Africa) Mr. A. Preston, and Mr. Arnold, who was with the British Navy before Sebastopol. The members of the 3rd V.R.B.C. present were under the command of Colour-Sergeant Pearson, and there were also in attendance, Sgts, Wilkinson, Lloyd, Spence, Trelfa and Reed. Bugler Garner, who was wearing the South Africa medal, was also present and several of the Volunteers wore long-service medals.
The remains were enclosed in a coffin of polished oak, which had brass furniture, and bore the inscription: "John Palin. Born 25th January 1828 — Died 12th September 1901." The floral emblems placed on the coffin, in addition to those from the family, were many from friends. Mr. J.J Berry, of Peel Causeway., had charge of the funeral arrangements.
He was buried in Grave No. 264 Section E. of the Hale Road Cemetery at Altrincham, in Cheshire, and the cemetery records show the following:
"John Palin, aged 75 years, interred on the 14th September 1901- Sarah Isabella Palin, aged 63 years, interred on the 16th April 1902 — Sarah Ann Hammond, interred on the 8th October 1936 and the cremated ashes of Jonathan William Hammond, aged 78 years, which were scattered on the grave-space on the 28th March 1951. The addresses from which the bodies were brought is not shown and only Altrincham as the place of death is recorded.
See photograph of his gravestone in the Altrincham Cemetery and the grave in which members of his greater family were also interred, and a close-up of the inscription recording his name on one of the kerbs, in the 4th Hussar file.
Reference at the P.S.A.
At the P.S.A. meeting held in the Literary Institute on Sunday afternoon, Mr. A. Preston, who had presided in the absence of the President, made reference to the loss they had sustained by the death of John Palin, who had been a member of the Society since its formation. Mr. Preston spoke too, of the patient manner in which the deceased had borne his illness. At the conclusion of the address the orchestra performed the Dead March in "Saul", all the members standing, as a mark of their respect."
From an article by T. Colley, "Campaigning in Two Hemispheres. Recollections of a Cheshire Dragoon", which appeared in the "Cheshire Life" magazine [unknown date]:
"In the ancient and rapidly changing town of Altrincham, Cheshire, resides one of the now few remaining Balaclava Heroes, Mr. John Palin, who was formerly in the 4th (Queen's Own) Light Dragoons (now the Hussars) that famous old corps raised originally in 1685 as "Princess Anne of Denmark's Dragoons" and that fought against Dundee, Mar, Soult, Ney and Akbar Khan before, to the later battle honours "Dettigen", "Talavera", "Albulhera", "Salamanca", "Vittoria", "Toulouse", and "The Peninsula", "Afghanistan", "Ghuznee", were added those of the "Alma", "Balaclava", "Inkerman", and "Sebastopol."
Our veteran was born in Malpas, Cheshire, in 1828, and when a youth saw with delight the muster of the now extinct North Salopian Yeomanry Cavalry at Coventry. Coming to Manchester as a young man of 20 [sic] in 1848, Mr. Palin was captivated by the sight of the recruiting sergeants and determined to enlist.
First he fancied the uniform of the Dragoon Guards, but changed his mind, and took the Queen's shilling in the old 4th Light Dragoons. The regiment had returned home in 1842; its original uniform, scarlet, with green facings, now changed to blue, faced with scarlet, the blue overalls were edged with double scarlet stripes; round the waist was a Lancer girdle or "pass" of red and yellow, the khurtka had pointed cuffs, epaulettes, and shoulder scales; the broad-topped shako bore a Maltese cross in front, and was secured by lines of yellow cord, with white ends encircling it twice; then the plume was of white horse-hair; those of the officers made from ostrich feathers, and costing some £20. The undress cap had a mushroom button and a round peak. The shabraques were rounded; the officers having a broad edging of scarlet and gold lace; the front bore V.R and a crown. the hinder part the monogram of "Q.O." encircled by sprays of laurel; the flounces were black and the bridles had crossed face straps and a brass crescent.
The standards were carried as kettle-drum banners, according to light cavalry rule, they were also dark blue, bearing in rich gold embroidery the regimental device, "V.R." below a crown, and the, at that period, eight battle honours. The arms were Mounts sabre, and smooth-bore capped muzzle-loading carbine (borne in a short bucket fixed below the off-side wallet on mounted parades and swivelled to a loop on the pouch-belt for dismounted drill).
Mr. Palin soon mastered the sword and carbine exercises, and passed the riding school. The Fourth was sent to Dublin; there the overall trouser stripes were changed to yellow; much to the delight of the troopers as the muddy streets frequently obliged them to have them renewed, a deduction of 4/- for a new pair of scarlet stripes from their scanty pay hitherto an usual occurrence.
The Queen's Own returned to England and lay at Birmingham during the summer and autumn of 1852. One wet evening in November a mud-splashed orderly rode into the barracks with sabretache on. Our veteran guessed that marching orders had come, and in a short time the regiment was mustered and ordered to prepare for route-marching to London, Trooper Palin being commanded by his Troop Sergeant Major to ride No. 32, a vicious horse. By this time he had become so expert that once being timed by his captain he turned out completely equipped in marching order in 20 minutes. The rain fell in torrents during the march, and at the halting place No. 32 broke loose in the stables and kicked a door to pieces.
During the funeral of the late Commander-in-Chief, the Duke of Wellington, the 4th was on duty in street parties, without plumes, and in review order. Mr. Palin was posted at the junction of a side-street near Constitution Hill for several hours. He had taken the precaution before leaving barracks to slip a packet of sandwiches into his shako and a bottle of ale into a wallet, and when unobserved by his officers he took hasty and surreptitious bites and sips.
In the sad and stately pageant which on that cold 18th of November slowly marched from the Horse Guards to St. Paul's were squadrons from four cavalry corps, two years afterwards to be, like the 4th Light Dragoons, engaged in the bloody combat at Balaclava — 8th Hussars, 13th Light Dragoons, 17th Lancers and the 11th Hussars. Our old neighbour also relates how, as the late Duke's favourite charger (carrying in the stirrups the jackboots reversed) was led close by Apsley House he whinnied piteously.
During the summer of 1853 the Queen's Own was at the Chobham Camp, and from its members being dapper little men and fraternising with the Royal Horse Guards the corps got the nick-name of the "Little Blues. When the Crimean expedition was despatched in 1854 the 4th Light Dragoons embarked on bloc at Devonport on the 18th of July numbering 20th officers, 299 non-commissioned officers and men, in six troops, under Colonel Lord G.A. Paget. as chief and Major Halkett as second-in-command. After an interesting voyage and a delightful sail through the Dardenelles, the 4th landed at Gallipoli, and encamped at Varna. Some non-commissioned officers and men died here of cholera.
The Allied Fleet departed for the Crimea on September the 7th, and on the 19th, the forces were landed on Russian soil near the Bulganak River. The Queen's Own was not engaged in the first skirmish, and left kits, sabretaches and valises on board the transports. Next day it was in reserve with a battalion of the Rifle Brigade during the battle of the Alma.
Mr. Palin, like so many other Crimean veterans — severely blames Field Marshal Lord Raglan for not making a cavalry raid after his victory, into Sebastopol, the ramparts being only three feet high, the guns without carriages, the batteries still wanting embrasures, and the garrison consisting solely of a few sailors armed with boarding-pikes and old flint-lock pistols, dismounted Cossacks, etc. Nothing, he says, could have prevented the Allies from entering.
The 4th Light Dragoons, together with the other regiments of the Heavy — and Light Brigades of General Lord Lucan's Cavalry Division, were employed in conveying the wounded to the shore, reconnoitring, etc., Mr. Palin, with a party, raided a kutor, or farmstead, set in vineyards, seized several arabas, or carts, laden with bags of flour, and brought the farmer, handcuffed, to head-quarters on suspicion of being a spy. The charge being proved, he was shot. The Light Brigade had by now, in the field, discarded stocks and epaulettes, the kits, when landed, were found to have been broken open by the sailors on its transports and many articles stolen.
On that memorable morning, October 25th, the Light Brigade had paraded very early and from a hill-side enviously watched the magnificent stand of the 93rd in their "thin red line," and as Scarlett's Heavy Brigade rolled up and scattered the masses of Russian cavalry. The Colonel of the 4th had suggested dismissing them for breakfast, but when a Russian Battery opened fire. one shot flying high, the order to retire was given when another ball passed in between Lord George Paget and the regiment's medical officer and went clean through the chest of a troop horse in the rear rank. The rider was about to take the saddle off his dead nag, but the Colonel shouted, "Hang that. Look out for yourself, man."
Scarcely had the Brigade taken up a fresh alignment when Captain Nolan, A.D.C. galloped up with General Airey's note which was so fatefully interpreted. The Brigade went into the North valley, 673 strong, the 4th riding in the second line on the right, slightly in the rear of Lord Cardigan's 11th Hussars, being flanked on the right hand by the 8th, (three troops.)
Mr. Palin graphically describes how Captain Nolan piloted the first line down the valley, his scarlet cap and 15th Hussar uniform making him conspicuous, and he was the first to be shot, his faithful Arab charger bearing the erect, rigid corps back to the Allied lines. Cardigan, after charging in amongst the Russian gunners, prominent by his red whiskers, Hussar uniform and his chestnut charger, passed the Fourth on his return to the succour of the Heavy Brigade.
Upon nearing the guns one of the Captains cheered up the Fourth with a "Tally-ho." The hitherto even line now broke into knots of furious horsemen fighting, hand-to-hand, with the Russian artillery men. Our veteran says that the trooper's swords were turned by the thick brown overcoats and flat caps of the enemy, and points were made at hands or face. Here a brace of pistols per cavalryman would have proved invaluable. Some of the officers used theirs with deadly effect, there being no time to unsling carbines.
One young Cornet returned his sword, coolly dismounted, and attempted single-handedly to detach a brass cannon from its limber and harness when the Russian artillery men were trying to drag it away. For this the Colonel both blamed and admired him, Then, after driving in retreat a dense mass of Muscovite horse in the rear of its battery, the Light Brigade, now shattered, but not subdued, made its way back through the same deadly fire, in small groups, in twos or threes or man by man, wounded or unwounded, on horseback or on foot, riderless charger or dismounted trooper, to the crest of the Causeway Heights where the sad muster was called;
All that was left of them,
Left of Six Hundred.
The twenty minute action had dwindled a compact and well-appointed force to a mounted strength of 195. Out of the 12th officers (1 Colonel, 1 Major, 4 Captains, 2 Lieutenants and 4 Cornets) who charged with the 4th, Major Halkett and Lieutenant Sparke were killed, also 32 non-commissioned officers and men; Captains Brown and Hutton were severely wounded (the latter's charger had 12 wounds) and 12 non-commissioned officers and men were wounded.
As Lord George Paget, one of the few un-scathed, rode slowly and sadly back to the point were the scattered corps were reforming, he had feared that the 13th Light Dragoons and the Seventeenth Lancers had been totally destroyed, but was reassured when he saw the fluttering banderoles of the 17th's stacked lances on the hill-crest, where the scarcely answered muster rolls were being called. Then came the final parting of many a trooper from his horse as so many horses were too badly injured and had to be shot by the farriers. Several riderless horses were assembled by the "Feed" call. The unwounded or able officers brought round to the men bottles of wine and boxes of cigars.
It is noteworthy that Mr. Palin was the last mounted man of the Brigade who came back from the "mouth of hell," and as his grey mare slowly struggled up the ridge to join the broken remnants of the Light Brigade regiments he called out to the Sergeant-Major of his regiment, who had folded up and pocketed the roll, "Sergeant Major, there's Brown coming up on foot, and Rogers as well, but his nag has fallen."
Our old neighbour states that his rolled cloak, which was buckled beneath the wallets, was riddled with bullet holes, and three bullets had passed through the flat water calabash slung beneath his right arm. The broken saddles were cut up, and the woodwork burnt. The scattered wreck of the five corps which had comprised the scanty ranks of Lord Cardigan's Brigade were not now more than a single strong regiment, and were formed into a squadron which was nicknamed the "Piebald," from the various colours of its mounts.
At Inkerman it was posted in flank of the 33rd Foot and supporting the French cavalry under General Bosquet. Lord George Paget was in command at first, as Lord Cardigan had over-slept himself on board his luxuriously fitted yacht in the harbour. The squadron had five killed and five wounded in the battle. During the hardships of that rigorous winter of 1854/55, the light cavalry was still kept at the front on escort and patrol duties. Many of the horses died from insufficient food; they even ate each others manes and tails, and their riders were, when supplies came, often fighting each other for a handful of grain, a few green coffee beans or a wisp of hay.
One bitterly bleak morning Mr. Palin and a few of his mates were preparing a pot of Irish stew. A scrap of meat had been purchased for 4/-, four onions for a shilling and some potatoes had been stolen. A savoury meal was eagerly anticipated when the order came for the light cavalry to march to a new position. With muttered curses the famished troopers remounted, our old Cestrian snatching up the camp kettle and placing it in his nose-bag. Riding past one of the officers to rejoin the ranks, the latter remarked, "You have something which smells very good, Pamplin [?], I think I must dine with you today." "Thank you, Sir, but we cannot afford the pleasure of your company, our dinner has already cost us five shillings and we may not yet get to eat it."
Presently the ragged cohort was halted on the edge of a commanding slope and ordered to dismount and stand at ease. One dragoon cut a trench with his sword. This was soon stuffed with compressed hay and roofed with iron bands. A blazing fire was soon kindled and the stew warmed up and despatched. The camp of the 71st and 74th Highland Light Infantry was near to that of the "Piebald Squadron" and the pipers were often roundly cursed by the weary troopers as "ere the morning star" they strutted out and blew the reveille, "Johnny Cope."
One of the Privileges of the Royal Scots Greys was that of selecting mounts from the grey troop horses of any cavalry regiment encamped near them. The 4th, in 1855, had been increased to eight troops of sixty men each, and the chief of the Greys came round the lines of "Paget's Irrregular Horse" to choose nags. When he was passing Trooper Palin, who was currying his hardy mare, the trooper said — "Beg pardon, Sir; but have you such a mount as this in the Greys." "No, thank goodness." "Nor such a man as I." "No, I should be ashamed if we had such scare-crows." To the delight of his own commanding officer, Palin retorted, "Then you must have a pretty rubbishy lot. " The Heavy Dragoon walked away, indignant, but the officer of the 4th returned shortly to his own lines and gave our veteran a crown to drink the health of the "Queen's Own" with.
The Light Brigade was augmented by the 10th Hussars and the 12th Lancers and frequently skirmished with the Cossacks and performed much valuable orderly and picket duty during the assault on Sebastopol, for which the seven regiments were granted the fourth Crimean honour. "Paget's Irregular Horse" during the campaign received as re-inforcements 7th officers, 345 N.C.O.'s and men, thus making a total of 27th officers and 644 N.C.O.'s and men. Of this aggregate, 3rd officers and 127 N.C.O.'s and men had left their bones to moulder in a foreign land, being slain or dying from wounds or disease, and 11th officers and 73 N.C.O.'s and men had to be sent home.
The "Queen's Own" returned to England in 1856, and were reviewed by her Majesty. Many of the bales of warm clothing, etc., which had been sent out to the Crimea by generous and praying hearts at home never reached the camp. A package of black trousers was brought back home and distributed amongst the ragged troops of the 4th., and for this the Quartermaster was reprimanded and his charge cancelled: but he still charged 4d. to every man for foot-straps. The uniform of the Queen's Own was now changed; the tunic with scarlet facings and five rows of yellow braid took the place of the khurka, half-leather overalls had displaced cloth, and a French style of truncated shako, with straight peak and white plume were adopted, secured around the neck. Plain brown bridles were supplied. In 1860 Mr. Palin secured his discharge from the 4th, which in 1861 became the present Hussar regiment.
At this period the American Civil War broke out, and the heaving portents of the times induced our veteran to visit the United States and so in 1862 he crossed the Atlantic employed on a steamer. The Federal Government was now making every effort to crush the Confederates. The vast armies were recruited by enlistment of immigrants and also by conscription. In 1864 the bounty offered at Castle Gardens, New York, was 600 dollars. These recruits were uniformed in Federal blue (the original picturesque variety worn at the outbreak of the war being now almost abandoned) taught to load and fire point-blank, and then sent to the front. The 25th Regiment of New York Cavalry, and soon to be in General Army of Virginia, was being recruited, but did not take part in the battle of Waynesboro'.
In 1864 Mr. Palin again enlisted into a cavalry Corps. This consisted of 12 troops — each with an establishment of 91 of all ranks — one captain, one first lieutenant, one second lieutenant, one orderly sergeant, four sergeants, seven corporals, one bugler, one saddler and 71 privates. The arms were swords, with black belts and knots, and a light breech-loading carbine, (only four pounds in weight) called the "Burnside." The uniform was a dark blue jacket, light blue overalls, with yellow piping and welt, a kepi with black water-proof cover; the N.C.O.'s having chevrons on both arms, the seniors being surmounted by a fesse.
Here Mr. Palin found an old comrade of the 4th L.D. in the ranks [PB: who was this?]. Our veteran's skill, courage and experience and general aptitude soon caused his rapid promotion in Troop "L" to senior sergeant. He took part in several skirmishes about the Chenany River and the Shenandoah Valley, and in an encounter at Madison Court-house he was captured prisoner-of-war by the Confederates and spent two months in Libby Prison. Here his bon-homie and tact gained for him the good will of his custodians, he first volunteering when white-washers on a wall were required, then being granted a pass to visit the neighbouring town. Here he transacted many errands and other transactions for his fellow captives and guards, who allowed him plenty of food, etc., in fact so much so, that on being exchanged his wife and friends were surprised to find him so hearty and in funds, having heard dreadful stories respecting the sad conditions at this and at Andersonville of the Federal prisoners.
When Sergeant Palin rejoined his regiment he learned that on the very day of his being taken prisoner he had been promoted to Sergeant-Major, but the vacancy had been obliged to be filled immediately, so the warrant was given to another. Shortly afterwards the 25th New York Y,.C. was "mustered out of the Federal Service" as the war ended. An illustrated Military Register of the Troop, given to each man on its disbandment, states amongst casualties, etc., that 21st of its 72 privates had deserted.
After some time spent working in the Navy Yard at New York, our hardy campaigner then became a gentleman's coachman, and his many wanderings by land and sea finally brought him to Altrincham about 1893, he faithfully, and with universal respect, followed the occupation of a cab-driver until, meeting with an accident, he was laid up, and relinquished his appointment.
The United States Government had granted him a war pension and the Patriotic Fund, subscribed for some five years before, had also granted him a share.
At church and other gatherings our veteran wears his Crimean War medal with four clasps- "Alma", "Inkerman", "Balaclava" and that for "Sebastopol", suspended by its white and yellow ribbon, together with the Turkish decoration; with its green and crimson ribbon, whilst at parades, route-marching or just the passing through the town of the Yeomanry or Volunteers he is always an interested spectator, his criticisms always being mingled with praise.
Before he lost his teeth he was a favourite reciter at local entertainments of Tennyson's "Charge of the Light Brigade," and similar poems, and twenty years ago, in the fine uniform of the D.L.C.Y.C. upon a platform, he was a thrilling elocutionist.
On Jubilee Day 1897, he was one of the band that saluted the Queen as she passed along Fleet Street. Now, although as might be expected, the slow advance of old age and the many vicissitudes of his hard life are visible in ex-Sergeant Palin's form and features he is most interesting company, and possesses a fund of anecdotes dealing with the historic past."
[PB: Is what follows from EJB's correspondence? Where does the quotation end?
From the National Archives of America in Washington comes the information that John Palin was mustered into the 25th New York Cavalry at Albany, New York, on the 7th of September 1864 for a term of one year. He was described as "Born in England, aged 32 years, occupation, Soldier, height, 5' 9", of a fair complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair." A bounty of 100 dollars was payable in three instalments.
The first muster shows him as being in "L" Company as No. 1297 and promoted from Private to 2nd Sergeant on the 15th of October 1864.
He was taken prisoner (captured by Guerrillas) at Madison Court House, Va., on the 21st [22nd?] of December 1864, brought from Gordonville and confined at Richmond, Va.
On the 15th of February 1865 he was paroled and sent to the 2nd Battalion Paroled Prisoners Camp near Annapolis. (This was an organisation formed from paroled prisoners of war for duty compatible with their parole terms and its members were returned to their original commands from time to time). Here he received the second instalment of his bounty (40 dollars 33 cents) and was sent "on furlo" to New York for 30 days from the 5th of March 1865.
On his return he was appointed Commissary Sergeant (when at Winchester, Virginia).
He was finally "mustered-out" and discharged from the regiment at Hart Island, New York, on the 10th of June 1865, per Gen. Order, No 83, with a final bounty payment of 33 dollars 33 cents and a settled clothing account of 12 dollars 39 cents.
[PB: Information from the website of New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Centre, NYS Division of Military and Naval Affairs, accessed 13.3.2013.
The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912.
25th Cavalry Regiment, Sickles' Cavalry
Left the State in detachments: 1864
Mustered out: June 27,1865
September 4, 1863, Col. Henry F. Liebenau received authority from the Governor of the State to recruit a regiment of cavalry, which, January 15, 1864, received the above numerical designation. It was organized at Saratoga Springs and Hart's island, under Colonel Liebenau, and his successor, Col. Gurden Chapin, for a service of three years; Companies I and M, however, contained a few men enlisted for but one year.
The companies were mustered in the service of the United States at Saratoga, A and B February 20; C and D March 19; E and F April 14 and 23, respectively; at Hart's island, G April 20; H July 29; I September 18; K May 16, and L and M October 15 and 20, 1864, respectively.
The companies were recruited principally; A at Hancock, Saratoga Springs, Fremont and Greene county; B at Hancock, Root, Fremont and Stillwater; C at New York city, Neversink, Goshen, Saratoga, Half moon and Montgomery; D at Saratoga, Montgomery, New York city, Schenectady and Root; E at Saratoga, Goshen, Kingston and New York city; F at Saratoga and New York city; G and K at New York city; H at New York city, Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Goshen and Watertown; I at New York city, Brooklyn, Alberg, Goshen, Jamaica, Poughkeepsie, Tarrytown and Troy; L and M at New York city, Brooklyn, Jamaica, Goshen, Kingston, Plattsburg, Tarrytown, Troy and Schenectady.
The regiment left the State in 1864, by detachments, and served in the defenses of Washington, D. C., 22d Corps, from April, 1864; in the Provost Guard, Army of the Potomac, from June, 1864; at Washington, D. C., 22d Corps, from July 7, 1864; in the 4th Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry, Army of Potomac, from August, 1864; in the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry, from September, 1864; in the Army of the Shenandoah from October, 1864, and in the Cavalry Division, Army of West Virginia, from April, 1865.
Commanded by Lieut.-Col. Aaron Seeley, the regiment was honorably discharged, and mustered out, June 27, 1865, at Hart's island, New York harbor, having, during its service, lost by death, killed in action, 1 officer, 10 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 6 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 49 enlisted men; total, 1 officer, 65 enlisted men; aggregate, 66; of whom 7 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy.
[Source: http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/cavalry/25thCav/25thCavMain.htm .
See also http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/cavalry/25thCav/25thCavTable.htm " target="_blank" (accessed 13.3.2013).]
Additional registrations for births, deaths and marriages, and Census information for 1871-1901, kindly provided by Chris Poole.