USA > Maine > A brief history of Maine > Part 21
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privates. Having been supplied with ammunition, the little squadron, about eleven o'clock, steamed down the harbor. The cutter was soon sighted in the outer harbor. Being a sailing vessel she made little headway in the light breeze, and the rescuing fleet was soon within range of the small cannon carried by each of the hostile parties.
12. The rebels were not found to be in such force as had been expected; and after a short resistance, they set the cutter on fire and took to their boats, attempting to reach the fishing schooner. The fire soon communicated with the magazine, containing about four hundred pounds of powder, which, at
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two o'clock, exploded with a terrific concussion. Thousands of citizens watched the proceedings from elevated points in the city, and witnessed the im- pressive closing of the career of their familiar vessel.
In the meantime, the steamers pressed on and cap- tured the flying boats, with the twenty-three rebels engaged in this bold but ill-judged exploit. 1: appeared that they were an offshoot from the Con- federate man-of-war, Florida, and that their leader held a commission from the Confederate government ; wherefore they could not be hung as pirates. They were placed in confinement at Fort Preble for a while, and some months later were exchanged.
13. By the urgent solicitation of our State author- ities, the general government was this year induced to strengthen the permanent fortifications in the harbor of Portland, at the mouth of the Kennebec river, and at the Narrows of the Penobscot, and to construct earthworks at Rockland, Belfast and East- port. At the latter places two batteries of five guns each were mounted, while single batteries of five guns were placed at Castine and Machiasport. On the part of the State, some additional companies of Home, or Coast, Guards were authorized and placed at such points as appeared to be in danger.
Were the Maine troops massed by themselves in the battles? What occasioned the suspension of enlistments? When did another call for militia occur, and what cause was there for it? What was the quota of our State under this call? Was it raised by draft or by volunteering? When and where was the battle of Antietam fought? What was the result? When and where was the battle of Fredericksburg? What vow did President Lincoln carry into effect on the first of January, 1863? At what date was the Conscription Act passed by Congress? What oc- curred at the battle of Chancellorsville? What surprising event took place in Portland harbor in June? What action was taken, and what was the result?
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CHAPTER XXXVI.
1. Their success at Chancellorsville encouraged the rebels to attempt another invasion of the North. Accordingly, early in June there were concentrated near Culpepper, in Virginia, nearly 100,000 rebels, of whom 15,000 were cavalry. It was nearly the largest and by far the best organized and equipped army which the Confederacy ever placed in the field. The three corps into which it was divided were un- der the command of Generals Longstreet, Ewell and A. P. Hill,-the cavalry being under Stuart. As it moved slowly down the Shenandoah Valley, Hooker broke up his camp opposite Fredericksburg and moved northward on a line parallel with that of Lee. Having routed General Milroy and his ten thousand at Winchester, Lee crossed the Potomae, and pressed on until his advanced corps under Ewell entered Pennsylvania.
2. General Hooker was disposed to fall upon the enemy's communications rather than to attack his army, and asked of General Halleck, commander-in- chief, that the ten thousand men who were holding Harper's Ferry, be added to his own command. When this was refused, he resigned; and General Meade was immediately appointed to his place.
The Union forces were now advanced northward and thrown upon the Confederate rear. Lee at once turned to meet them. Meade perceived that the enemy's divisions were directed southward so as to join at Gettysburg, and hurried his army forward to secure the choice of position. After General Reynold's fierce fight on the first day of the battle (in which he fell), General Howard came up and took a strong position on Cemetery Hill. Here his artil-
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Jery covered a wide range of the field, and great efforts were made to dislodge him, but in vain. On the extreme left, on the second day, General Sickles made his grand fight against Longstreet. It was here that some of our Maine regiments displayed a valor not surpassed by any troops upon the field. and maintained the left, where the rebel attacks fell the fiercest and longest, unbroken to the end of the battle. It was not until the night of the 3d of July. and the third day of fighting, that the enemy retired from the field, and then retreated without delay to his old position on the north of Richmond.
3. The presence of this great army of rebels on their north, had greatly alarmed the Washington authorities, and on June 29th a draft of 100,000 men was ordered by the War Department. For the first time in Maine, there was a slight opposition, which, in the towns of Kingfield, Freeman and Salem, in Franklin county, assumed the form of a forcible resistance.
In the minds of some uninstructed persons there is apt to be a confusion of ideas as to what consti- tutes Liberty and Freedom. These erring citizens forgot that the measure against which they rebelled was the proper act of a government whose members their towns had helped to elect, and who were there- fore their legitimate representatives; who, in framing this law, were doing what, in their superior judgment and more comprehensive view, they believed to be best for their constituents. When the American colonies rebelled against Great Britain, they did so on the ground that they were taxed unjustly by a government in which they were not represented. which was located 3,000 miles away, and did not understand the needs of the colonies, but disregarded their rights, refused their just claims, and imposed unjust and oppressive restrictions upon their com- merce and manufactures.
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4. In 1860, and the earlier months of the follow- ing year, there had been actively disseminated in Maine suggestions that there would be great advan- tages to its citizens in the secession of our State from the United States, and its union with Canada. Added to the influence of these suggestions was the belief on the part of many that the Southern rebels were about to succeed in their purpose,-and the snare of disloyalty was fully set. The malcontents in Maine found their rallying place in Kingfield; where an old piece of cannon, manned by men who had played with it on Independence days, and these sup- ported by a dozen or two unwise persons, armed with old muskets and a few guilty-looking bayonets, constituted the only abettors the Confederates found north of the drunken rioters of New York city.
Against this handful of conceited fellows, marched, in July, Company G, of the 3d division of State Militia (made up mostly of returned veterans), to- gether with a detail of regulars ; the whole under the command of Post-Adjutant Webber, of the staff of the Assistant Provost-Marshal. When this force arrived at the rebellions vicinity, the cannon was not to be found, and the figures which had hovered about it had vanished away, as the unfledged brood of a partridge disappears before a farmer's boy. Thus ended the rebellion in Maine; and the draft was made without further trouble.
5. Following this draft, another call was made by the President on the 17th day of October, for 300,000 Volunteers to serve for three years. In response to this call Governor Coburn issued a stirring procla- mation, of which the following is the leading para- graph : " Of this additional force Maine is expected to furnish her quota, and she will not disappoint that expectation. Now, as heretofore, her patriotic men will respond to the call, and promptly furnish her full share of the force necessary to vindicate the
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integrity of our government, and maintain the su- premacy of the laws of the Union. "
In the autumn, Lee again advanced northward, but fell back when Meade set his forces in motion to meet him, and no general engagement resulted. In October, General Meade also thought that the time had come for another advance upon Richmond; but at Mine Run he found the enemy in his way in full force, and prudently drew back to avoid a battle.
6. West of the Alleghanies during this autumn were fought the battle of Chickamauga, in which General Rosecrans was defeated by the rebel General Bragg, and the battle of Chattanooga, in which Bragg was defeated by General Grant. In the spring of 1864 the expedition up Red River under Generals Banks and Steele proved a disastrous failure ; while in February a strong movement upon Atlanta by General Sherman also failed. The rebels at this period were greatly elated.
On the 12th of March, General Grant was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the armies of the United States, and the grade of Lieutenant-General was con- ferred upon him by Congress. Meade's veteran army of 90,000 men now lay on the northern bank of the Rapidan. On the southern bank of the river, a little to the west, was Lee's disciplined army of 70,000 Confederates, sheltered by the shrubby trees and rough ground of the Wilderness.
7. On the 5th of May, at the command of General Grant, Meade crossed the Rapidan, as the commence- ment of another movement upon Richmond. The right wing of the army moved westward on the south bank of the river upon Lee's left ; but that commander, anticipating such action, massed his forces there and firmly repelled the attack, even gaining some advantage at first. The next day Burnside's division arrived, and an attack was or- dered upon the whole line. This day's line of battle
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extended seven miles. The rough ground and scrubby woods admitted of but slight use of artillery; and regiment faced regiment and blazed away, thin- ning each other's ranks with fearful rapidity. Wave after wave of the Union host moved over the open ground of the forest, rushing upon the sheltered line of the Confederates. Before the repeated volleys of the enemy the first brigades gradually fell unflinch- ingly, and succeeding ones moved over their bodies, delivered their fire, as did their comrades,-then like them fell upon the blood-soaked sod. The loss this day on either side, in killed, wounded and prisoners, could scarcely have been less than 15,000.
8. Unable to gain any advantage because of the sheltered position of the rebels, Grant change:l his plan ; and moving his divisions one after another from the right to the left southward in the rear of his front lines, he sought to flank Lee's right wing, and cut him off from Richmond.
The rebel commander was also moving his force in the same direction, strengthening his right. This movement bore the appearance of a retreat; but Grant found him again at Spottsylvania, and too strong in his intrenchments to be wholly driven from them, though many prisoners were captured in his ad- vanced lines. In the battle of the 9th fell General Sedgwick, one of our ablest division leaders. The 10th and 11th were spent in unavailing assaults upon the rebel lines ; and again Grant attempted to turn Lee's right flank in order to cut him off on the south. Near Po River at daylight on the 12th, was made the famous charge by the Second Corps, in which it took 8,000 prisoners and eighteen guns. In this action several Maine regiments bore an honorable part.
9. The army continued moving by the left flank, while frequently fighting Lee's army on the front. The Second Corps reached Milford on the 21st, and on the 23d moved southward and joined the Fifth
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Corps at the South Anna river. Here was another attack upon the enemy in position ; the army again moving away on the left flank. On the night of the 26th our forces moved rapidly southward, and across the Pamunky river, where they again eu- countered the enemy. On the 2d of June the ad- vance moved by the left flank to Cold Harbor, where another severe contest occurred between di- visions. On the 13th the army crossed the Chicka- hominy, and on the 15th, the James ; marching thence to the vicinity of Petersburg.
Assaults were quickly begun upon the strong forti- fications about the city, and attempts were made to de- stroy the southern communications of Richmond ; but the success in either purpose was only partial. The attempts having failed for the present, Lee de- cided to threaten Washington, thinking this would induce Grant to release his hold upon Petersburg, which still held out against him. Accordingly Ewell was sent on a raid up the Shenandoah Valley ; when, moving with marvelous rapidity, he entered Mary- land, plundered Hagerstown, sacked Frederick, and cut off the communications of Washington with the North, even appearing before the forts of the capital itself.
10. Astonished at the presence of a rebel army about Washington, and ignorant of the conditions in that city, our Governor Cony, on July 13th, issued a pro- clamation declaring the national capital in danger, and calling for volunteers for one hundred days ser- vice for its defense. Throughout the State an earnest response was made to the Governor's call.
Greatly to the relief of the country, the rebel army of invasion proved to be small. Being forced to move rapidly from point to point lest the scattered bodies of Union troops should be concentrated against him, Ewell in a few days retreated into Virginia, with
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much plunder, but without having drawn Grant in the least from his position south of Richmond.
On the 18th of July the President called for 500,000 men to serve one, two and three years; and the preparations under the Governor's call were dropped, and all efforts given to fill the quota, --- for a stronger advance upon the rebels rather than for the defense of the national capital.
All through the autumn and winter following, our forces were gaining one after another the important points on the borders of the Confederacy, though not without several reverses. Sheridan, in whose army were many of our Maine soldiers, swept the valley of the Shenandoah clear of rebel squadrons, rendering Washington nearly as safe as New York.
11. Meanwhile General Sherman had been making his splendid march from Atlanta to the Atlantic, crossing Georgia and the Carolinas, fairly cutting the Confederacy in two in the middle. With him were General Slocum and our own Howard, as his two chiefs of division. With the Union successes there became so much territory to occupy that a great number of troops were required merely as gar- risons. Hoping with larger armies to speedily crush the rebellion and end the destruction of life which had now been going on for three and a half years, President Lincoln had, on December 19th, called for 300,000 more men. Again the loyal people of the North nobly met the demand, and by draft and bounty, during the winter, brought all the armies up to the necessary strength.
12. Oa February 16th, Sherman took Columbia, the capital of South Carolina ; on the 18th, General Gilmore occupied Charleston, where the first overt ast of rebellion was committed. On April 1st and 21, Grant carried the first and second lines of rebel intrenchments at Petersburg ; and, in consequence, the rebel government fled from Richmond, the capital
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of their Confederacy. On the 4th of April, Sheridan cut Lee's line of retreat at the west side of Peters- burg ; and on the 8th, General Weitzel entered Rich- mond.
These successes were immediately fatal to the rebellion. General Lee found it impossible to escape the encompassing armies, and to engage in battles with the forces gathered against him was certain to be the utter destruction of his army. Therefore, on the 9th of April, he met Grant at Appomattox Court House, and surrendered what remained, and with it all hopes of establishing the Confederacy.
13. In the action of the 29th of March, our Gen- eral Chamberlain with his brigade and a battery of artillery, after one of the most sanguinary and de- termined conflicts of the war, put to rout a rebel force much greater than his own. His loss in officers and men was very large, and he was himself twice painfully wounded. General Grant promoted him on the field to the rank of Major-General, and this action was shortly after confirmed by President Lincoln. At the capitulation, General Chamberlain's brigade was designated to receive the surrender of Lee's army. He placed his troops in a straight line, extending the distance of a mile. Not a drum beat nor bugle sounded, neither was a voice heard, as the rebels marched up in parallel line before them, only a few feet away, to lay down their arins. As the ranks of the vanquished army came up, General Chamberlain ordered his men to present arms. This honor in the honr of their humiliation brought fears to many southern eyes. One officer was heard to say, " This is a magnanimity we had not expected."
14. Our troops soon began to return home to their families and friends. Regiment by regiment they appeared in our cities, with countenances sun- browned and storm-beaten, their uniforms stained and worn, but with their banners waving proudly
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over them. Not a flag had been lost by Maine troops during the war, but they had captured many.
During the war the State had furnished to the national armies thirty-one regiments of infantry, three regiments of cavalry, one regiment of heavy artillery, seven companies of sharpshooters, and thirty com- panies of unassigned infantry. Besides these there were seven companies of coast guards and six com- panies for coast fortifications. These make a total of 72,945 ; to which should be added 6,750 men, with whom the State was credited in the navy and marine corps.
The total number who were killed or died of wounds, as shown by the army list, is 2,801 ; of dis- ease, 4,521. To mention the battles in which Maine soldiers were engaged would be to recite almost the entire list of the war. The blood of our boys has mingled with the soil of every State south of the Ohio river, sealing it for the Union forever.
15. The amount of State bounty paid volun- teers up to December 31st, 1865, was 84,584,636. Fifteen regiments of infantry, one regiment of cav- alry, and six batteries of mounted artillery entered service with no State bounty whatever. In addition to the State bounties there were paid by towns, bounties amounting to 89,695,320. The generosity of our people who did not go to the war is one of the pleasantest features of our history. The bet- ter portion of our citizens of both sexes were almost untiring in their contributions of money, labor and needed articles in aid of sick and wounded soldiers. Nearly every household had its martyr ; and their memory will be cherished in the hearts of all who know their noble deeds.
What is said of the rebel army that entered Maryland. at the last of June, 1863 ? What change was made at this time in the command of the army of the Potomac? What Maine commander held a prominent position at the battle of Gettys-
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burg ? What Union General fell in this battle ? How many days did the battle continue ? What opposition was there in Maine to the draft ordered at this time ? When was the next great battle in the East ? Who had then been made commander of the Union armies ? After the battle of the Wilderness, toward what place did Grant's army move ? What startling movement was made by the rebels in July, 1864? What of Sherman's march early in the following year ? What caused the flight of the rebel government from Richmond ? How was the surren- der of Lee's army brought about ? What number of men did Maine send into this war ? How many were lost by battle and by disease ? What amount of money was paid in bounties by this State ?
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CHAPTER XXXVII.
1. It is more than a matter of curiosity to observe what were the effects of the civil war upon the industries of our State. The production and price of cloths, made from the medium and coarser grades of wool, increased immediately ; great quantities being required for soldiers' garments and military blankets. Large quantities of cotton beyond the previous needs were used in the manufacture of canvas for tents. The cotton and woolen mills, therefore, were gener- ally kept busy through the war, and with large profits ; for the prices of cloth continually became higher, because of the limited supply of wool and of the reduction in the supply of cotton from the loss of the southern product. Prices of nearly all kinds of merchandise increased because of the scarcity, and, consequently, the high cost of labor, --- the male laborers being largely in the armies; while paper money, which soon became the chief currency, depreciated more and more, as the ability to redeem it in coin -the only universal currency - became less. The cause of this was that we were sending large amounts of the latter to other countries in payment for purchases, having proportionately less of our own products to sell than formerly.
2. When the Confederate government succeeded in setting armed vessels afloat, our ocean carrying trade became precarious. and, in consequence, greatly diminished. The result was that many of our mer- chant vessels were sold to foreigners, fewer vessels were built, and the carrying trade passed to other nations, principally the English.
With the close of the war there came a change. The supply of wool was greater than ever, and the
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number of factories was no less. Male laborers were more numerous, and the cost of labor decreased; but the profits from the wool manufacture were greatly reduced. The cotton factories did better, for while the supply of raw material became plentiful, there was, as the price decreased, a greater sale of cotton cloth for domestic purposes. The exports of hay and grain were not so large ; but our lumber, granite and ice industries took a fresh start.
3. The increase in farm products has been very large during the last thirty years ; but in the leading articles there have been great fluctuations, owing to unfavorable seasons, pests, or a temporary falling off in the demand. In 1880, the wheat crop was 665,714 bushels, - more than double that of 1850. The oat crop, also, was considerably augmented, being 2,265,- 575 bushels. while Indian corn fell off more than one-third. Pease and beans show an increase of about fifteen per cent, and the potato crop has more than doubled-amounting, in 1880, to 7,999,625 bushels. The production of butter, also, nearly donbled, bringing it up to 14,103,026 pounds, while cheese has fallen off in equal proportion. The hay product was also one of those that almost donbled in quantity,- the figures, in 1880, showing 1,107,778 tons; while the yield of orchards has quadrupled in value, being set down at $1,112,026. The lesser crops show similar variations, but larger quantity and value in the aggregate.
The great enlargement in the wheat and potato crops is owing to the development of Aroostook county, comparatively few of whose farms were cul- tivated prior to 1850. The greater part of the latter crop in that county goes to supply its starch far- tories, which have all sprung up since 1875. There are now thirty-two in the county, with an annual product of 7,400 tons.
4. In close connection with the farms are the starch
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1850-80
factories, just mentioned, the cheese and butter fac- tories, and the canning factories. These are new forms of old manufactures, from their enlargement becoming almost new industries. By adapting the articles to reach a larger market they have greatly increased their production without augmenting the labors of farmers' households.
In the thirty years we have chosen for examina- tion, our live stock has nearly doubled in value, if not in numbers, and our annual wool clip has more than doubled in quantity, -- being, in 1880, 2,776,407 pounds.
While, with the exception of wheat and pota- toes, our crops in recent years have scarcely kept their proportion to our growing population, there are now other products of large value, which forty years ago were not reckoned as articles of profit at all. These are granite, slate and ice. The last may be called a erop, since it is gathered annually, being all the more profitable because its season is that in which farm labor is least in demand. There is scarcely another crop so secure to Maine as this, from the peculiar adaptation of her climate and the purity of her waters. For its market, she is almost equally sure of the patronage of most of the Atlantic cities south of New York, and of those on the Gulf of Mexico. The number of hands employed during the ice-harvest is about 6,500, and the annual storage rarely falls short of 1,000,000 tons.
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