USA > Maine > Franklin County > Industry > A history of the town of Industry, Franklin County, Maine > Part 32
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WILLIAM J. RACKLIFF.
William Jackson Rackliff, son of Benjamin R. and Rachel (Oliver ) Rackliff, was at work at Kendall's Mills, having nearly completed his term of apprenticeship at the carriage-maker's trade, when the war broke out. The vocations of peace, how- ever, became of minor importance as the clouds of an interne- cine war loomed high in the southern horizon, and the matter became the topic of universal discussion. Feeling a deep con- viction that his country needed his services, Mr. Rackliff laid aside the tools of his craft and enlisted in a company then re- cruiting at Kendall's Mills. After drilling about a month the company disbanded, and on the following morning, in company with several of his comrades, he took the cars for Augusta, hoping to get a chance in the 3d Maine Regiment, then recruit- ing at that place and rendezvoused at Camp Hamlin. Fortu- nately the regiment was not quite full, and signing the muster rolls he was assigned to Co. F, Capt. Wm. C. Morgan, and mustered into the service with the regiment, June 4, 1861. On the following day the regiment left Augusta for Washington, D. C. At various places on the way the patriotic citizens came out
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en masse to pay homage to these brave men. At New York some former residents of Maine presented the boys with a beau- tiful banner, which they carried until it was literally torn in pieces by the enemy's bullets. What remains of it can still be seen in the State House at Augusta. Arriving at Washington on the 8th, they marched to Meridian Hill during a heavy shower which completely drenched their clothing, and went into camp. All that night Mr. Rackliff stood on guard, wet to the skin, with- out being relieved. One day while here, he and his comrades drew as rations some beef that was badly hurt. This the boys thought had remained above ground long enough, so they buried it under arms, which brought down the indignation of the colonel. "But," continues Mr. Rackliff, "we saw many days afterward when we would have been glad to have had just such beef."
His regiment crossed the Potomac River on the 6th of July, and participated in the first Bull Run fight on the 21st. Falling back with the Union forces they reached Alexandria on the night of the 22d. During the retreat Mr. Rackliff, as well as his comrades, lost all their extra clothing, and on reaching Alexan- dria, it being a hard rainstorm, they sought shelter in an old warehouse used for storing liquors. Here many of the company spent the night in drinking, but having no desire for the liquor or for the boisterous company of the revelers, Mr. Rackliff went into the loft and there had quite a good night's rest. In August, while encamped near Alexandria, the subject of our sketch was afflicted with the measles ; during this time he says, "I was my own physician, nurse and cook, though my culinary expenses for a time were not large." No beds were furnished the sick at this early date of the war, and he was compelled during his ill- ness to lie on the bare floor of a dwelling-house they had been obliged to use as a hospital. His recovery from the measles was somewhat protracted, and he frequently labored all day when unable to eat a mouthful of dinner. The " bill of fare" at this meal consisted of salt fat pork cut fine and boiled in a large quantity of water; into this when done, hard-tack was crumbled and the mixture was eaten with a spoon.
Through the winter of 1861-2 the regiment remained at
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Camp Howard, on Fowle's estate near Alexandria. During the winter the members of the 3d Maine were obliged to go out some ten or twelve miles to do picket duty. Leaving their win- ter quarters on the 17th of March for Yorktown, they embarked on board transports for Fortress Monroe. During this move- ment the services of every available craft were brought into requisition for the conveyance of the troops. Mr. Rackliff's company was put on board an old canal-boat fitted up to run on the Potomac. On nearing the mouth of the river, as there was a strong wind blowing and the sea running high, the cap- tain of the craft put in at St. Mary's for a harbor. Here they waited for five days, and as the soldiers had taken only three days' rations with them, the inner man began to make demands which nothing short of a good square meal could appease. Spurred on by the pangs of hunger, some of the boys broke into the cook-house and stole a ham. After eating all the meat off the bone, the flag was lowered and the ham-bone hoisted to half-mast, presumably as a signal of their distressed condition. While engaged in the siege of Yorktown, the regiment was under fire more or less every day for a month. On one occa- sion, a shell from one of the enemy's guns buried itself in the ground, near where Mr. Rackliff's company was stationed, and exploded, excavating an enormous hole in the ground and throwing the dirt in every direction, but doing no further dam- age. Food became quite scarce during this siege, from the fact that the roads were almost impassable for the supply teams on account of the mud. In this emergency Mr. Rackliff obtained a quantity of wheat, from an old barn near by, which he boiled and ate.
HIe was in the battle of Williamsburg, May 5th, and Fair Oaks on the 31st. Here his regiment made a successful charge on the enemy's lines, losing nearly one-third of their number present in the engagement. His regiment engaged the enemy, as skirmishers, at Seven Pines, June Ist, after having been ou picket duty for three days and nights, without sleep, and were ordered to fall back after fighting all day. Then followed the seven days' fight,-fighting by day and falling back by night,
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until the morning of July Ist found the 3d Maine massed with McClellan's forces at Malvern Hill. During this engagement they were exposed to a severe fire from the enemy's batteries, and fully sustained their previous reputation for coolness and bravery. After the final repulse of the enemy, footsore and exhausted, they fell back to Harrison's Landing. Mr. Rackliff's regiment embarked for Alexandria, and on their arrival were sent to join General Pope's army, which was manœuvring on . the Rappahannock to keep between General Lee and Wash- ington.
The next engagement in which the 3d Maine took part was the second Bull Run, August 29th, followed by the battle of Chantilly, on the next day. Falling back to Alexandria, the regiment was deemed unfit for duty, being so reduced in num- bers, and consequently did not participate in the Antietam fight. The next battle in which they participated was at Fred- ericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. Soon after this they went into winter quarters and remained inactive until the spring of 1863, when they fought the enemy at the Wilderness and Chan- cellorsville, May 2d and 3d. Their loss in killed, wounded and missing, in these two engagements, was sixty-one officers and men. On the IIth of June they joined in the campaign which resulted in the battle of Gettysburg. Mr. Rackliff's regiment did not arrive on the field until the evening of the Ist of July. An account of their engagement, on the following morning, we extract from a letter of Captain Morgan, to the Skowhegan Clarion, dated July 27, 1863 : "The entire regiment, consisting of 196 rifles and 14 officers, were chosen by General Sickles to open the engagement on the left flank, on the morning of the 2d, and the manner in which the order was obeyed was the theme of universal admiration throughout the entire corps. The regiment held an entire division in check for half an hour, while lines were being formed and positions taken to receive them suitably. General Sickles then said, 'The little 3d Maine has saved the army to-day.'" Captain Morgan also makes special honorable mention of the bravery of Mr. Rackliff, in his letter, during that day. They lost during this engagement in killed,
47
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wounded and prisoners, 66 men and officers. Mr. Rackliff was wounded twice between sunset and dark, after one of the hard- est day's fight known in history. The character of his injuries were gun-shot wound in right thigh and buck-shot wound in the arm. Mr. Rackliff waited five days before it came his turn to have his wounds dressed. By this time the wound had become somewhat sore and inflamed, and although the surgeon used the probe freely, he failed to discover the bullet. From Gettys- burg he was sent to Annapolis, Md., where he remained until just before the expiration of his term of enlistment, when he was granted a furlough and returned home, and was discharged with the regiment at Augusta, Me., June 28, 1864, having served nearly 37 months, and during which time he had partici- pated in sixteen battles and skirmishes. He now resides at Allen's Mills.
REUEL II. ROGERS.
Reuel Howard Rogers, son of Francis S. and Rhoda T. (Rowe) Rogers, was born in Moscow, Me., Aug. 8, 1844. When only a few years of age, his father removed to Industry, where his boyhood and youth were spent. At the age of nineteen years he enlisted as a recruit for Co. L, Ist Regiment, Maine Cavalry, and was mustered into the U. S. service Dec. 26, 1863. He was discharged by order of the War Depart- ment June 21, 1865, and died in Bangor, Me., Sept. 13, 1885.
LYMAN M. SHOREY.
Lyman Munson Shorey, son of Pelatiah and Sarah (Fogg) Shorey, was born in Industry, Oct. 29, 1836. On the breaking out of the war he was at Skowhegan, and in the fall of 1861 enlisted as a member of an independent company then organiz- ing in that town and vicinity. Jan. 23, 1862, the company was mustered into the U. S. service and assigned to the 7th Maine Regiment as Co. F, a vacancy having been created by the con- solidation of that company with others of the regiment. Mr. Shorcy was elected first lieutenant, and two days later received his commission. They joined the regiment while stationed in
LIEUT. LYMAN M. SHOREY.
Engraved by GEO. E. JOHNSON, Boston. From a photograph made in IS62.
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its winter quarters at "Camp Griffin," on the Virginia side of the Potomac. Being unused to such hardships the company suffered severely, and many deaths occurred. The regiment embarked for Fortress Monroe carly the following spring, and joined in the Peninsular campaign. Lieutenant Shorey's first experience was a reconnaissance, which all supposed would occupy but two or three hours, hence the advance was made without blankets or rations. The result was a night of the most intense suffering, and for fifty-seven hours they were under fire, exposed to a drenching rain and had neither sleep nor rations. "We after a very few such experiences," writes Lieutenant Shorey, "always moved with blankets and rations, a rule cardinal with green troops."
The siege of Yorktown followed, where weeks were spent in building corduroy roads, varied by an occasional reconnaissance and exchange of shots with the Confederate sharpshooters. On the evacuation of Yorktown the 7th Maine joined in the pursuit which culminated in the battle of Williamsburg, May 5, 1862. At this battle their brigade was under the command of Gen. Winfield S. Hancock. The 7th was stationed near a piece of woods to keep the enemy from flanking, where they stood firm until an attempt was made to take one of our batteries, when they, with three companies of the New York 33d, aided by the fire of a few skirmishers repelled a charge made by six rebel regi- ments, charged upon them in turn, driving them back a terror- stricken mob,-capturing the colors of one regiment, taking many prisoners and inflicting a heavy loss in killed and wounded. The account of this engagement we will allow Lieutenant Shorey to relate in his own language: "Crossing a swamp by a narrow dike we formed a line in front of a low ridge. Extending be- yond was a long level plain, skirted on the right by a strip of wood. At the end of this plain in front was a large fort of the enemy, and beyond in the woods on the left of the army, the battle raged fierce and hot. We lay quietly till about 5 o'clock P. M. On the left the firing had nearly ceased. Suddenly a line of battle extending nearly across the plain started from the vicinity of the fort and rapidly approached our position. It
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was our first engagement and we were of course excited and getting ready in an instant. Our artillery considerably in ad- vance fired rapidly, but finally had to fall back. The enemy came steadily on; our turn was quick to come. General Han- cock suddenly ordered . about face,'-we were then on the crest, -what were we to do? Fall back with only a narrow dike to cross? We quickly reached the foot, then came the commands in quick succession 'about face,' ' fix bayonets !' llancock rode along the line. I well recollect the look on his face and the bearing of the man; no word was necessary to tell us the gen- eral's blood was up. All now understood that the object of the movement was to cover us from the fire of the advancing line. The enemy was now within short range, almost at the other side of the crest. Drawing his sword, Hancock dashed along the line, shouting 'charge, gentlemen, give them h-1,' with a ring and vigor that was truly electrifying. The boys bounded for the crest of the ridge; it was almost impossible for the officers to keep them in line. Volley after volley was discharged until the order was given to cease firing. When the smoke lifted, all that could be seen was here and there a rebel running zigzag to the cover of the woods, where nearly every one was captured by a force we had previously stationed there. The remainder lay dead and wounded in our front .* Hancock was the hero of the hour and the same evening was complimented by a sere- nade from the members of our regiment."
Passing over the battles of Mechanicsville, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill and South Mountain, in all of which Lieutenant Shorey bore an honorable part, brings the brave 7th to the bloody field of Antietam. "Here," writes the subject of this sketch, " our regiment suffered severely. Incom-
* Their brilliant conduct during this battle was the means of General Mcclellan, that night at dress parade, paying them a visit and making the following speech : " Soldiers! I have come to thank you for your good conduct and gallantry. On that plain you and your comrades saved the army from a disgraceful defeat. You deserve the highest thanks your country can bestow, and your State should justly be proud of you. You would have deserved just as much praise had you been overwhelmed by the masses hurled against you. Bear ever afterward upon your banners the name of Williamsburg, in token of your bravery."
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petency, causing a most censurable blunder, was its origin. Against the remonstrance of Major Hyde, then commanding, the regiment was sent at the double-quick to dislodge a power- ful force of the enemy from a strong position .* As it passed around a crest it received the flank fire of the main rebel line of battle as well as that of the enemy in our front. In a moment, almost, the regiment lost ten or twelve officers and nearly two- thirds of its men." Lieutenant Shorey was severely wounded in the foot during this charge, but managed to get out of range and back to the Federal lines. Finding his wound would incapaci- tate him for active service for a long time, he regretfully resigned his position Dec. 21, 1862.
Hle died in New York City, Dec. 28, 1889.
ANDREW J. SPINNEY.
Andrew Jackson Spinney, son of Rev. John and Patience J. (Oliver) Spinney, was born in Stark, Somerset Co., Me., Jan. 16, 1846. In the autumn of 1863 he enlisted in the 2d Regi- ment of Maine Cavalry, which was then being organized at Augusta, Me. He was mustered into the U. S. service Dec. IL,
* At this battle the 7th was ordered to drive the enemy from a strong position about nine hundred yards in front of the line of battle. Every private in the ranks knew that a brigade of the enemy was massed there with a battery of artillery, and that an awful blunder had been made; but as obedience is the first duty of a soldier they promptly advanced under a shower of bullets, halting twice to return the fire of the enemy. After halting the second time to deliver their fire, the regiment rushed forward with one of its characteristic cheers, driving the enemy before them, who took refuge behind a stone wall and opened a galling fire of musketry. At this point the regiment had arrived within range of one of its own batteries which had been playing upon the enemy, and not aware of the absence of the 7th, continued firing. The rebels opened their battery with grape and canister. The regiment seemed now de- voted to destruction, yet the men delivered their fire with steadiness and terrible effect, as they moved by the left flank to gain the cover of an orchard. Thence through a cornfield by a circuitous route they returned to their old position in the line of battle. Not a man had straggled-all that the bullets had spared were there, but how thinned the ranks! Major Thomas W. Hyde, who had command of the regiment, in his report stated that he " brought out of the battle four officers and sixty-five men out of fifteen officers and one hundred and sixty-six men that went in." For its distinguished conduct the regiment was temporarily made the body guard of Generals Franklin and Smith, the highest honor which could be bestowed upon it.
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1863, and assigned to Co. F, Capt. Gustavus A. Stanley. Mr. Spinney and his comrades were rendezvoused at Camp Coburn till the 23d of March, 1864, when they took the cars for Port- land, Me. Here they embarked on board the ship " Westmore- land," for New Orleans, La., and were twenty-nine days on the way. Mr. Spinney enjoyed the voyage very much, being in good health and spirits during the whole time. His regiment remained near New Orleans until May 26th, when it moved to Thibodeaux, La. Co. F was ordered to Brasher City, and while there Mr. Spinney was detailed as a blacksmith, in which capacity he served for some time. From this place they re- turned to New Orleans, where they embarked for Pensacola, Fla., from which place he wrote under the date of Aug. 15, 1864, saying: "I gave fifty cents for a sheet of paper, stamp and envelope in order to write home." The hardships and sufferings which Mr. Spinney and his comrades were obliged to endure, have hardly a parallel among other regiments from the State. When organized the company numbered 103 men, including commissioned officers, and writing home just five months after leaving Augusta, he says: "Our company can muster but 29 men, and about half of those are on light duty." Soon after this he was relieved from duty and afterward sent to the Post Hospital at Barrancas, Fla., at which place the company was then stationed. He died Nov. 19, 1864, and was buried in grave No. 173, in the National Cemetery at that place. Of him Capt. Gustavus A. Stanley wrote his parents : " He was a good and faithful soldier so long as he had health, and his death is a great loss to us."
JOIIN C. SPINNEY.
John Colby Spinney, son of Rev. John and Patience J. (Oliver) Spinney, was among those who enlisted under the President's call for men to serve nine months. He entered the service from the town of Lexington on the 13th of October, 1862, as a private in Co. A, 28th Maine Regiment, Infantry. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863. He subsequently enlisted from the
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town of Industry as a recruit for the 9th Maine Regiment, Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in Sept. 23, 1864, and assigned to Co. H. He was discharged by order, June 30, 1865, a few months after the close of the war. He resides at Allen's Mills.
BENJAMIN TIBBETTS.
Benjamin Tibbetts, son of Josiah and Joan (Roberts) Tib- betts, was a shoemaker by trade. He came to Industry in 1842 and settled on the Capt. Wm. Roach farm, where he was living when the war broke out. The quota apportioned to the town of Industry, under the call for men to serve nine months, was thirteen. For a time it seemed that the only manner of secur- ing the required number of men was by a draft; but at the September election, Mr. Tibbetts, after making some stirring and patriotic remarks, inscribed his name on the enlistment rolls. This was a signal for a general enlistment, and in the course of a few days the required number of volunteers was obtained. Mr. Tibbetts was mustered into the U. S. service at Augusta, Me., on the 13th day of October, 1862, and assigned to the 24th Maine Regiment as a private in Co. K. In consequence of the exposure incident to camp life he contracted a violent cold and was suffering from an attack of pneumonia when his regiment was ordered south. By the last of December, however, he had recovered his health, and with others started to rejoin his comrades. From Augusta to Hartford, Conn., the journey was performed by rail ; here he embarked on board a steamer for New York, where he arrived after an uneventful voyage. From that place to Bonne Carre on the Mississippi, where his regiment was stationed, his journey by water was slow and irk- some in the extreme.
Joining his regiment, he remained at Bonne Carre until May 21, 1863, when his regiment was ordered to Port Hudson, where they remained during the entire period of its investment. While thus engaged Mr. Tibbetts and his comrades suffered many hardships, and the death-rate of the regiment was enormous. He was frequently detailed to care for the sick and for other
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special duties, being a great favorite with his superior officers. On the 24th day of July the regiment started for Maine, via Cairo, Ill., and arrived at Augusta, August 6th, where they re- mained until the 25th, when they were mustered out of the ser- vice and finally discharged. After the death of his wife, he went to Biddeford to live with his daughter, where he died June 27, 1892, in his 83d year.
BENJAMIN F. TIBBETTS .*
Benjamin Franklin Tibbetts, son of Benjamin and Miriam (Cousens ) Tibbetts, was born in Industry in 1843. He enlisted as a member of Co. F, 2d Regiment, Maine Cavalry, and on being mustered into the service, Dec. 11, 1863, was appointed sergeant. Died at Barrancas, Fla , Aug. 11, 1864.
CLINTON B. WEBSTER.
Clinton B. Webster was the son of Isaac Webster, who lived for many years at Allen's Mills. On the breaking out of the war in 1861, he was in Lewiston, Me. In June following, he joined a company of sappers and miners, then organizing, whose duties were to repair railroads and build fortifications in and about Washington. The War Department notified the company to hold themselves in readiness for duty, and promised them a chance providing there was a camp call. Not receiving a call, the company subsequently disbanded and Mr. Webster re- turned to his home in Industry. At the earnest solicitation of his friend, William A. Brainerd, of Farmington, who afterward be- came second lieutenant and captain of Co. E, he enlisted in the month of October and went to Farmington, where he and others drilled for about three weeks. He was mustered into the U. S. service at Augusta, Me., Dec. 13, 1861, and assigned to Co. K, 13th Maine Regiment, Infantry. Mr. Webster left Augusta for Boston, with his regiment, Feb. 18, 1862. From thence they embarked on board transports for Fortress Monroc,
* Although a resident of Industry at the time of his enlistment, Mr. Tibbetts counted on the Farmington quota.
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Va., from which place they sailed to Ship Island, Miss., where they arrived on the 5th of March. During the forty-four months he was in the service, he participated in all the march- ings and counter-marchings of his company, manfully bearing the privations and hardships incident to army life. Among the battles in which he participated, some ten in number, were : Point Isabella, Texas, Nov. 6, 1863 ; Mustang Island, Nov. 15, 1863; Fort Esperanza, Nov. 29, 1863 ; Pleasant Hill, Louisi- ana, April 8, 1864, and Cane River Crossing, April 23d, beside numerous skirmishes. In 1862 he was transferred to Co. E, and was afterwards promoted to corporal. On the 29th of February, 1864, he re-enlisted for an additional term of years. At the battle of Pleasant Hill Mr. Webster had a narrow escape from instant death. At that time he was on the color- guard, every man of whom, with two exceptions, was shot. During this engagement a ball passed through his blouse in front, inflicting a slight flesh wound. The variation of an inch in the course of this bullet would, it is believed, have proved speedily fatal. Early in the year 1865 he was promoted to carry the colors, and on the 20th day of August he was mus- tered out and discharged from the service. At the present time ( 1892) he resides in Easton, Mass., having moved away from Industry more than twenty years ago.
DAVID C. WHITNEY.
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