USA > Maine > Knox County > Union > A history of the town of Union, in the county of Lincoln, Maine : to the middle of the nineteenth century, with a family register of the settlers before the year 1800, and of their descendants > Part 30
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These events may not have occurred in the order of the narration. But so much dissatisfaction had arisen, that this course of affairs could not be continued. The excitement in Union had been growing till it was very great. There was hardly any one who did not enter into it with some spirit. Persons who were
1 A few years afterward, when the penalty for neglecting to warn a training was a fine, the captain issued his order to some private, who he knew would not warn the men, and who still had no property which could be taken to pay the fine. Irresponsible persons were chosen to do every thing.
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exempted from military duty, officers who had re- signed, and influential citizens not connected with the companies, were willing to aid in evading what they considered imposition and abuse.
CHAPTER XL. MILITARY HISTORY. ( Continued. )
Violent Rain-storm. - The Companies at Waldoborough Meeting- house. - Uncomfortable Feelings. - Burial of the Colonel under Arms. - Uneasiness. - Anecdotes. - Line formed. - Irregular March to the Muster-field. - Rogue's March. - Unsuccessful At- tempt to stop the Music. - Orders misunderstood. - Confusion. - Desertion. - Hurrah.
As the story goes, orders came, either in 1823 or 1824, to muster in battalions. The colonel requested the general to countermand the orders. The general replied that he could not, unless the officers of the regiment were in favor of it. If the colonel found they were, he might write to him to that effect, and he would accommodate them. The colonel, it is said, after a few days wrote to him that they would like the change. The Union officers, when they heard what was going on, went to Waldoborough. According to their ac- count, they could not find an officer, whom the colonel had consulted; nor would the colonel do any thing about making another representation, or having the muster nearer Union.
The companies were ordered to be at Waldoborough at eight o'clock on the morning of Sept. 8, 1824. They arrived at the time appointed. The weather was stormy. The distance from Union Common was about twelve miles. A considerable part of the night had been spent by them on the road. Some persons lived sixteen or eighteen miles distant. They were
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MUSTER AT WALDOBOROUGH.
cold and wet and cross. There seemed to be a deter- mination not to be imposed on any longer. Almost every man-for it was then a universal custom at military trainings and musters -drank a glass of grog to prevent his taking cold, and to enable him the bet- ter to do his duty.
The Union Infantry Company was commanded by Capt. John P. Robbins. They assembled at the hour appointed, near the meeting-house. After a while, the adjutant came to the captain, and said, if it continued " wetting," the men would probably be inspected under cover. The captain remarked that he had as good a shelter as he wanted, in the lee of the meeting-house, and told the adjutant, if he wanted a better, he might provide it. Capt. Robbins then marched his men down to the village, and dismissed them till beat of drum.
The Union Rifle Company, commanded by Capt. Lewis Bachelder, was ordered to assemble at the corner opposite to the colonel's residence. Respect- ing what passed immediately afterward, there is diversity of opinion. One statement is, that the com- pany was before the colonel's door. The rain fell in torrents. The colonel observed to the officers who were in the room with him, "They mean to act the soldier," and sent out and invited the company to come in and take some refreshment. Capt. Bach- elder asked the messenger if the colonel had said any thing about quarters. . The answer was in the negative. They declined going in. A consultation was then held among the officers in Rawson's house ; and a person was sent out to repeat the invitation. But the company still declined. The only reply was, " We are neither sugar nor salt; but, if you have any military duty to do, we are ready to do it." Such is one view of the case.
The other statement is, that no such invitation was extended to the rifle-company. Capt. Bachelder asserts positively that he never received any official notice to go into the house. The colonel sent the
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MILITARY HISTORY.
adjutant to the captain, with a request that he would put his company into quarters. The captain took no notice of it. The adjutant then brought to the cap- tain positive orders to do it forthwith. The captain's reply was, that he had not seen a quarter-master that day, and that he should not provide quarters at his own expense : when suitable quarters were provided, he would occupy them. The adjutant observed that there were barns and sheds. The captain said he should not put his company into a barn or shed in Waldoborough; and, as to hiring quarters, he should not do it. This was the last which the captain heard from the colonel or the adjutant on the subject. He took care, however, to remain on the ground a sufficient time for the quarter-master to appear, or to receive in- formation from the colonel respecting quarters, if any were provided. The company then proceeded to the lee of the meeting-house from which Capt. Robbins had marched.
In the mean time, after having dismissed his com- pany, Capt. Robbins, with the other officers of the infantry, went back to the meeting-house, where the rifle-company was formed. The captain of the rifle- company remarked, that, as they were all from Union, they had better come together, and have something to . drink, - a practice, in those days, indicating cordiality and a reciprocation of friendly feelings. Upon this, Capt. Robbins returned, ordered the beat of the drum, and took up the line of march toward the meeting- house. Before Robbins arrived there, the rifle-company was on the march. Ex-Capt. Rice and Dr. Harding came to the company, and gave Capt. Robbins a hint to stop his music, fall in the rear of the rifle-company, and reverse arms.
The captain and the privates of the rifle-company understood each other. They commenced their march in open columns of platoons. The captain gave no orders. He went forward, and the company followed him. As they wheeled into the street, the music struck up a funeral dirge. It was Pleyel's German
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MILITARY FUNERAL.
Hymn, meant probably, in part, as an intentional dis- respect to the Waldonians, who were chiefly of Ger- man origin. Arms were reversed. The infantry fell in the rear with reversed arms also, and marched to the music of the rifle-company. The colonel, on seeing them from his window, said to his by-standers, " Now, we will let them know that we are neither sugar nor salt: we will give them enough of it." The adjutant was dispatched with orders to the Union companies to form a line in thirty minutes. As there was ample time, they continued their march. There was a marquee, where, in a military point of view, were the colonel's quarters. This, to evade any charge of military disrespect, they carefully avoid- ed. Various reports respecting the purpose of the Union companies were circulated. Some persons said they were going off; others, that they were bury- ing the colonel under arms. Some of the Unionites said that the colonel did not want to come out in the rain, and get his new uniform wet. Others, while standing in the rain at the meeting-house, had said they supposed he must be dead. They had previously heard that he was in ill health; and they persisted in saying, that, if he were alive and well, he would not permit soldiers to stand in the rain, without letting them do their duty. He must be dead.
The houses, stores, streets, and corners of the streets, were occupied by wondering spectators. The com- panies marched to the music of muffled drums and the dirge, with as great solemnity as at a military funeral, up the hill by the colonel's house, in which he then was. They then wheeled, and, striking up quick time, marched the whole length of the village. Some say they even went to the gate at the head of the lane leading to the burying-ground. The adjutant, very soon after giving his first order, probably for the pur- pose of stopping these proceedings, ordered the line to be formed in fifteen, instead of thirty minutes. The order was obeyed. The line was formed near the meeting-house.
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MILITARY HISTORY.
The major soon commanded the regiment to take the position of " open order." This brought the officers about six paces in front. The infantry were impa- tient and uneasy. The major came to the captain, and asked him if he did not mean to obey orders. " Certainly I do," said Capt. Robbins. " Then keep your company in order," was the reply. The cap- tain spoke to his men; but, as soon as his back was turned, they again showed a spirit of restlessness. The major renewed his rebuke. The captain told the ma- jor it was " wrong for an officer to come there with his head under an umbrella, like a partridge with her head under a leaf, and keep the soldiers exposed to the cold storm."
The officers were ordered to form the line about twelve o'clock. They waited some time. The colo- nel did not make his appearance. John Chapman Robbins came forward, and announced to the com- panies that the colonel was dead, and that they had just buried him under arms. There was no colonel. He begged them to be as patient as possible ; for Mr. Penty Walcott had gone with his ox-team to the cedar-swamp, - some twenty miles distant,-to get a colonel, and he would be along with one shortly.
Colonel Rawson appeared as soon as notified that the line was formed, and assumed the command. They began the march in battalions toward the muster- field. The first battalion advanced with regularity. Capt. Robbins's company, being on the right of the second battalion, was, of course, at the head of it as they marched, and was immediately preceded by the major of the battalion, who was a Waldonian. This battalion kept losing ground, and the major was constantly requesting Captain Robbins to order the company to lengthen step. The captain was ready to make excuses. It was "clayey and slippery and uphill," &c. The first battalion was several rods in advance. The major was repeating his orders to lengthen step, and the captain repeating his reasons for not moving faster. At last, the infantry-captain
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MUSIC ON THE FIELD.
said, " You go along, major! We will fetch up, by and by." In this spirit the Unionites went on to the ground.
It may be proper to make a distinction between what passed before the men were formed into regi- mental line, and what transpired afterward. In the former case, they did not consider themselves under the colonel's orders ; in the latter case, they were. The rifle was an independent company. Probably there was not in the State one company superior to it. The men prided themselves on their excellent discipline and military appearance. For the present occasion they had procured the best music which could be obtained. One of the Warren men procured a fife, and took his station outside the muster-field, near the gate. When the colonel was marching through the gate, he played the " Rogue's March." The colonel, after arriving on the field, received the ordinary salute. The musicians of the rifle-company had halted. They, too, immediately struck up the " Rogue's March." Of course, it was played with great spirit and effect. This was done without orders from the captain. The colo- nel immediately sent orders to stop playing that tune. It was stopped, and the officer withdrew. Afterwards the musicians would occasionally play a few notes of it. Orders then came from the colonel for the music of the rifle-company to repair to the right of the regi- ment. Capt. Bachelder said, that his music - consist- ing of bugle, clarionets, C fifes, &c., and differing from that of the regiment - would be of no use there, and endeavored to plead off. Then came positive orders for the musicians. The captain told the officer that he could not be accommodated. He refused to let them go, as his was an independent company, and asserted that the colonel had no authority to detach the music from the company. Various orders were given by the sergeant-major; but the sergeants were very igno- rant : they could not possibly comprehend the orders. Though one of the Union orderly-sergeants had served four months in the war of 1812, they pretended not to
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understand the sergeant-major. They were continually making mistakes. In wheeling, the men would scat- ter. When in line, some would fall in the rear, and others advance. In " ordering arms," some guns would be put on the ground, and others raised. In " carrying arms," they were in all positions, from the erect to the horizontal. When the sergeant-major commanded a captain to keep his men in order, the men would obey the captain; but, in a few minutes, disorder would again reign triumphant. Immediately before inspec- tion, the colonel urged upon the troops the importance of military deportment. He particularly charged them not to look round when the inspectors were in the rear. Accordingly, when the inspectors were passing behind, several of the men clubbed their muskets and faced right about.
Three or four Unionites who were not required to do military duty, among whom were Ex-Capt. Rice and Dr. Harding, came to different places along the rear of the line, and entered into familiar conversation with the members of the Union companies. The time approached for firing. At the order " Make ready," one of these men shouted " Fire." All in his vicinity fired. At the words " Take aim," the word " Fire " was again given in another quarter, and there was another discharge of fire-arms. Before the com- mand " Fire " was officially given, nearly all the mus- kets were discharged. The commanding officer then rode down and administered reproof. The men re- plied that they distinctly heard the word " Fire," and obeyed it; and as he was so far off, on the right, they had probably confounded his order with that of some other officer ; but they certainly heard the word " Fire," and they obeyed the order as they heard it. This manœuvre was repeated. Then followed a loud hur- rah. There could be no longer any military precision. Each man loaded and fired as often as he pleased. There was an incessant, irregular, scattering fire along the line. Shortly the officers ceased to give orders; and, if they had not, the orders would have
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COL. AVERY RAWSON.
been unheeded. The colonel, during the day, did not venture to ride in front of the regiment. The Union troops stole off in the rear, two or three together ; and, before the time for dismission came, every member of the infantry, except the captain and one private, was gone. The regiment at last left in confusion. The soldiers and spectators swung their hats, and sent up loud shouts and hurrahs ; and thus, amid uproar, storm, and drenching rain, ended the day.
CHAPTER XLI.
MILITARY HISTORY. (Continued.)
Col. Avery Rawson : Charges against him stopped. - Charges against Officers in Union. - Trial of Lieut .- Col. John Bachelder. - Trial of Capt. Lewis Bachelder.
AVERY RAWSON was commissioned major, Aug. 13, 1822; and colonel, Feb. 25, 1824. His death, Feb. 22, 1827, it is said, was hastened by his military troubles. He was highly esteemed by his townsmen; and it is not known that the people in Union entertained towards him, personally, any unfriendliness, except what originated in his military relations to them. It is supposed that he was considerably influenced by his predecessors in office. When the storm came, he had to bear not only the consequences of his impru- dence, but also the ill-will which had been increasing against the Waldoborough officers, till the inhabitants of Union were wrought up to such a pitch that they were determined not to serve under one of them.
It is stated by some, that, notwithstanding what passed on the muster-field, Sept. 8, 1824, the colonel was willing to let the whole affair subside. Capt. Bach- elder says, that, after the parade was over, the colonel
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MILITARY HISTORY.
expressed satisfaction with his movements through the day, and invited him to call at his house and take refreshments; but it was declined. The Union officers, however, very soon preferred charges against the colonel for unmilitary conduct, for threats, and for oppression in ordering the Union companies to mus- ter at a remote part of the regiment. These charges were passed up; and it was suspected that they were suppressed by the brigadier-general. Without hearing from them, the Union officers had charges brought in turn against themselves.
The first officer to be noticed is Lieut .- Col. John Bachelder. From the date of the charges against him, it is probable that they were made previous to those by the Union officers against Col. Rawson. Before his election, March 3, 1823, he had repeatedly made application to be discharged from his captaincy, on the ground of ill health. At his election as lieu- tenant-colonel, he pleaded off on the same ground, and said he would not serve if there was any other one to take the commission. As the Union officers were able to secure a field-officer, in consequence of the absence of several of the Waldonians, he was elected ; but it was with the determination, on his part, not to serve on the field under Rawson, nor to be at the expense and trouble of providing himself with dress and equipments. It was probably with a view to put him to the test, that the colonel, about one year after, ordered him to Friendship, when the mud was so deep that the roads were almost impassable, to preside at an election. He had an interview with the colonel, rep- resented the impropriety of sending him to a remote part of the regiment in such travelling, when the Wal- doborough and other officers were nearer, and urged, moreover, the state of his health. The colonel was immovable. The lieutenant-colonel obeyed the orders.
Though one of the specifications against Col. Bachelder had been of long standing, it was not till Sept. 24, 1824, about a fortnight after the muster, that the colonel, Avery Rawson, made complaint of him to
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LIEUT .- COL. BACHELDER.
Albion K. Parris, governor and commander-in-chief, for unmilitary conduct, neglect of duty, and disobedience of orders. The specifications were, that he unnecessa- rily, and without justifiable cause, disobeyed a regi- mental order to attend the parade at Waldoborough, Sept. 10, 1823, and another to attend parade, Sept. 8, 1824; and further that from March 3, 1823, to Sept. 24, 1824, he had neglected to provide himself with the dress, arms, and equipments required by law and the orders of his superior officers. Lieut .- Col. Bach- elder was immediately put under arrest. A court- martial was held at Waldoborough, March 8, 1825. Maj .- Gen. John McDonald was president. The plea of ill health was put in for non-attendance at both the parades, with the additional plea of inclemency of weather for not attending the latter. As Lieut .- Col. Bachelder had never appeared in his capacity as lieutenant-colonel on the field, there was no violation of any order as to dress and equipments. He was acquitted on every charge, and released from arrest by orders from the commander-in-chief, signed by Daniel Cony, adjutant-general, and dated Head Quarters, Port- land, March 26, 1825.
As Col. Bachelder belonged to Union, the proceed- ings did nothing towards allaying the hostile feelings between the two military parties. He had been put under arrest some months before any thing was brought against the other Union officers in relation to the muster; but, before his trial came on, charges were brought against his brother Capt. Lewis Bachelder, and against Capt. John P. Robbins. Thus the excite- ment was continually increasing. All the people in town were becoming united as one man. It seemed as if they were ready to do and dare any thing. What would have been applauded as a proper mili- tary spirit, on going to a field of battle, was beginning to show itself in a manner very far from agreeable to the field-officers.
The time for the trials of Capts. Bachelder and Rob- bins approached. The results, though not foreseen,
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have probably produced a greater effect on the State, in a military point of view, than any thing else which has ever occurred.
TRIAL OF CAPT. BACHELDER.
Officers for the court-martial appeared at the house of Rufus Gillmor, June 21, 1825; but it was deemed advisable for convenience, and on account of the crowd, to adjourn to the Old Meeting-house. There the trial was held. After ineffectual attempts to proceed on the 21st and 22d of June, " there not appearing the number of members required by law, and no super- numerary member being present, the court decided to adjourn " till Aug. 16.
At the adjourned meeting, Aug. 16, the court con- sisted of " the president, Col. Alexander Drummond, jun .; members, Lieut .- Col. George Jewett, Major Al- fred I. S. I. G. Lithgow, Capt. James Ayer, jun., Capt. Rufus Campbell; supernumeraries, Capt. Wil- liam D. Gould, Capt. Hugh Patten ; marshal, Lieut. John G. Brown; judge-advocate, Major Joseph Sew- all."
Hon. John Ruggles, of Thomaston, counsel for the respondent, raised objections " to the sitting of Major Lithgow as a member of the court;" but they were overruled. He also maintained that the present court consisted, in part, of different officers from the one convened June 25; that they were illegally detailed, and that it was not the same court-martial before which he was ordered and ready to be tried; and that he could not be holden to answer to this. This objec- tion was also overruled. The charges were then read.
"To Dwelly Turner, Esq., Major-General of the Fourth Division of the Militia of the State of Maine.
" Avery Rawson, colonel of the third regiment in the second brigade of said division, complains against Capt. Lewis Bachelder of said regiment for disobedience of orders, for unmilitary and unofficer-like conduct in the following particulars, to wit : -
"1. That the said Capt. Lewis Bachelder, having been
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CAPT. LEWIS BACHELDER.
duly ordered by said colonel to parade the company under his command at Waldoborough, on the eighth day of Sep- tember, A.D. 1824, for review and inspection of arms, then and there marched his said company past the quarters of said colonel, with reversed arms, and the music thereof play- ing a funeral dirge, with intent to insult said colonel and other field-officers then present.
"2. That the said Capt. Bachelder, then and there being in regimental line with his said company in obedience to the regimental order for the purpose of review and inspec- tion of arms, refused to send the music belonging to his company to the head of the column, when ordered by the colonel of the regiment so to do.
" 3. That the said Capt. Bachelder, .... being ordered by said colonel, through the adjutant of said regiment, to detach from his said company a rear-guard of one section to cover the rear of said regiment while making in column from the place of formation of the regiment to the place of review and inspection, refused to obey said order, and neglected and refused to detail a guard accordingly.
" 4. That the said Capt. Bachelder .... permitted his mu- sicians to play the Rogue's March while the colonel and other field-officers of said regiment were about entering the field, with intent to insult and abuse said colonel and other field-officers.
" 5. That the said Capt. Bachelder .... permitted his mu- sicians to play the Rogue's March while the Waldoborough Light Infantry Company, commanded by Capt. Ralph Cole, were passing, with intent to insult said company and its officers.
"6. That the said Capt. Bachelder, well knowing the dis- orderly and unmilitary conduct of his musicians belonging to his said company, mentioned in the preceding specifications of charge, did not cause reprimand or impose fines upon them therefor; thereby justifying and encouraging disobe- dience of orders, disorderly behavior, and unmilitary conduct.
" Wherefore your complainant requests, that said Capt. Bachelder may be held to answer to the foregoing charges, and be further dealt with relative to the same, as law, justice, and military usages, may direct.
" AVERY RAWSON, Col. of the 3d Reg.,
" Waldoborough, March 1, 1825."
2d Brig., 4th Div.
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MILITARY HISTORY.
The trial proceeded ; Capt. Bachelder pleaded not guilty ; witnesses were examined. The record of the proceedings of each session of the court was read at the opening of the next adjourned meeting. The defence of the respondent by his counsel was heard, and " the judge-advocate then stated to the court the evidence both for and against the accused. The doors were then closed; and the judge-advocate then put to the members of the court the following question, beginning with the youngest in grade : 'From the evidence that has been adduced both for and against Capt. Lewis Bachelder, and from what has been urged in his defence, are you of opinion that he is guilty or not guilty of the first specification of charge contained in the complaint of Col. Avery Rawson against him as aforesaid ?' Upon which the court decided, that, of said first specification of charge, the said Capt. Lewis Bachelder is guilty. The question being put in the same form as relating to " [each of the other specifi- cations, the court decided him to be guilty also on the second, third, and sixth, but not on the fourth and fifth]. "The court then took into consideration the several offences of which it had adjudged the said Capt. Lewis Bachelder to be guilty, and, after deliberation thereon, sentenced the said Capt. Lewis Bachelder to be removed from office, and did adjudge him to be disqualified for and incapable of holding any military office under the State for the term of three months."
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