USA > Maine > Eastern Maine and the rebellion: being an account of the principal local events in eastern Maine during the war.. > Part 10
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On the 14th of June, the regiment started up the James River, reaching Gen Butler's headquarters on the 17th, and Petersburg on the 20th, where it remained until the 10th of July, when, its term of service expiring on the 15th, they were ordered to Wash- ington, arriving on the 12th. Here they volunteered to remain thirty days in defence of the city, and were marched to Fort Stevens. However, on the 13th they were relieved, and on the 17th left for Portland, where they arrived on the 22d, and were mustered out on the 15th of August. About two hundred and
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CAMP TILDEN, MITCHELL'S STATION, VA.
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thirty eight re-enlisted men and recruits whose term of service had not expired, were temporarily organized into a battalion, after- wards assigned to the First Regiment Maine Veteran Volunteers.
CHAPTER XVI.
The Eighteenth Maine-Organized At Bangor And Ordered To Washington- . Changed To The First Maine Heavy Artillery-Twelve Months Of Idleness- They Join The Army Of The Potomac-The First Fight-The First Great Slaughter -- They Are Mowed Down By Ranks -- Placing The Blame-Death Of Col. Chaplin-His Last Words-His Military Career-Forty Days Under Fire-A Gallant Charge-The Winter Before Petersburg -- At Amelia Springs -They Capture Artillery, Colors And Men-Back To Bangor.
On Tuesday, July 24th, 1862, a company from Lincoln arrived in Bangor, and was escorted through the several streets to quarters at the Arsenal camp grounds, by Ward Six Company, Capt. L. J. Morse. This was the first company of volunteers in camp for the new Eighteenth Regiment that was being formed by Col. Chaplin, and numbered ninety-seven men of the best stamp. They were commanded by Capt. Clark and Lieutenants Nute and Bunker. On August 4th, two large four horse teams arrived, bringing the Houlton Company, under command of Capt. Merriam. Shortly after this the camp of the Eighteenth was moved to the old race- course on Union Street.
During the encampment at the Trotting Park the following "ad." appeared in the local papers:
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OMNIBUS TO THE CAMP.
"I shall run an omnibus to Camp Chaplin, at the Trotting Park, until the troops leave the city. A fine chance is offered to parties wishing to see eamp life, at a very cheap rate."
J. H. ROBINSON.
The regiment quickly filled, and before the middle of August was complete, and companies begging to be allowed to enter.
While in camp the Eighteenth was presented with a beautiful flag, by the ladies of Bangor. The ceremony took place at East Market Square, where the regiment had been escorted by the citizens' military companies. Miss Mary E. Benson was intro- duced by Mayor Stetson, and on behalf of the ladies of Bangor, presented the flag in a very happy speech, to which Lieut. Col. Talbot, on behalf of Col. Chaplin, responded. Col Chaplin, in a few remarks, presented the flag to the regiment, who received it with repeated cheers.
The Eighteenth Regiment was mustered into service of the United States on Thursday, August 21st, '62, by Capt. Bartlett of the Twelfth U. S. Infantry, and on Sunday the 24th they broke camp, at "Camp John Pope," and under escort of the Cavalry Company and the Independent Fusileers, marched to the depot where a train of twenty cars awaited them. This regiment was probably the largest that ever went into the service of the Gov- ernment, and as they marched down the tree-lined streets of Ban- gor, that beautiful Sunday morning, the sight was indeed magnifi- cent, and was well calculated to raise the enthusiasm of the mul- titude come to bid them "God speed." The weather was charm- ing, and nearly 15,000 people, in Sunday attire, were out to see them depart. As the train moved away majestically, cheers, wav- ing of handkerchiefs, mingled with the partings, and not a few sobs from near friends, rendered the occasion one of solemnity.
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Little did the brave men think, that at the end of their term of service, so few would be left to tell of the glorious deeds per- formed by that command. Little did they dream of the awful death many would find in that first great action they would enter.
The following is a list of the Field and Staff officers, and a list of the companies of the Eighteenth Regiment, when mustered into the service :
Colonel, DANIEL CHAPLIN, Bangor.
Lieut. Col., T. H. TALBOT, Portland.
Major, CHARLES HAMLIN, Orland.
Adjutant, RUSSELL B. SHEPHERD, Bangor.
Surgeon, R. E. PAINE, Hampden.
Quartermaster, HORATIO PITCHER, Bangor.
Company A, Capt. Clark, Lincoln.
B, ¥ Daggett, Bangor.
C, Smith, Ellsworth.
D, Crossman, Bangor.
¥ E, Clark, Sangerville.
F, Hinkley, Hampden.
G, Colby, Bucksport.
H, Smith, Columbia.
66 I, Atwell, Orono.
K, Sabine, Eastport.
The non-commissioned staff were : Sergeant Major, J. A. LANCEY, Bangor.
Commissary Sergeant, CHAS. DWINELL, Bangor.
Hospital Steward, B. C. FROST, Bangor.
The Eighteenth Regiment, on its arrival at Washington, crossed the Potomac, and at once occupied a position on the Virginia side. For nearly five months they performed garrison duty, when, by an order of the War Department, they were transferred to
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another branch of the service, and were then known as the First Maine Heavy Artillery. The arms of the regiment were rifles, as at first, together with both light and heavy ordinance, in forts and batteries. Eight companies were stationed at Fort Alexander under the immediate command of Col. Chaplin. Company E was at Batteries Vermont and Mattox, and Company K at Batteries Cameron and Parrott, on elevations not a great distance off.
Here they remained during the entire year of 1863, and in the month of March, the Third Battery was added to the regiment and classed as Company MI. We may be very sure that the brave boys did not enjoy this inaction and many times they begged their commanding officers to petition the War Department to be sent to the front. During the winter of 1863, the regiment was stationed in the defence of Washington, north of the Potomac, with headquarters at Fort Sumner, Md., Col. Daniel Chaplin in command. The organization as a Heavy Artillery Regiment, with the maximum number required, (1,800), was completed in the month of February, 1864. On the fifteenth of May, in accordance with the orders of the Secretary of War, the regiment embarked at Washington on board transports, to join the army of the Po- tomac, debarking at Belle Plain Landing on the same evening. On the 10th sharp musketry being heard in the direction of their right and rear, near Fredricksburg Pike, their principal avenue of supply, the Brigade, consisting of the First Maine Heavy Artil- lery and the Seventh New York Heavy Artillery, was, in conse- quence of experienced troops not being at hand, ordered to the scene of conflict. At this crisis no other course remained. The enemy was upon them, having reached the pike and captured a train of supplies. The Brigade, being placed in line, this regi- ment formed the right. The skirmishers who had been deployed to the right and left, engaged those of the enemy and so quickly
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repulsed them, that they failed either to secure or destory the prize. The advanced line of the enemy, being hurled back and posted on the further side of a ravine and behind a temporary breastwork, the line was again regulated, and the artillery advanced until halted, half way down the declivity.
Here the action commenced in fearful earnest, and without falter- ing, the regiment maintained the position for two hours and a half, until night and despair of success caused the enemy to retire. The entire regiment suffered terribly, while the com- panies of the left wing. receiving the direct fire of the enemy's breastworks, lost more than one half of their number. In this battle the loss of the First Maine was: Commissioned officers killed, six ; same wounded, six ; enlisted men killed, seventy-six ; enlisted men wounded, three hundred and eighty eight; aggre- gate, four hundred and seventy-six-a number which might be greatly increased by adding those who died at Division Hospital.
On the morning of May 20th, the regiment was marched to Milford Station, and on the 23d from there to North Anna. The heavy artillery division being broken up there on the 24th, and distributed to the respective corps, the First Maine was ordered to report to Major Gen. Birney, commanding Third Division, Second Corps. Subsequently, it was assigned to the Second Brigade. On the 27th, the regiment marched towards the Pam- unkey river, being ordered to report to Brig. Gen. Mott, of the Third Brigade ; continuing its march, (forming a part of the force that successfully assaulted the enemy's works across the Ptolopo- tomy on the way), until it arrived at Cold Harbor on the 2d of June. The marches from the North Anna to Cold Harbor were exceedingly severe-rations being short, the weather hot, the movements being constant and rapid, and the regiment exposed to the incessant shelling of the enemy.
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On June 3d, the regiment was held in reserve, and marched to different positions on the line; on the night of the 4th, marched to the left, and on the 5th, took position at Barker's Mills, remaining there until the 12th, when it took up the line of march toward the Chickahominy, and crossing it, arrived at the James River, which it crossed the following day. June 15th, they marched for Petersburg, halting at the Dunn House. On the 16th they rebuilt the works captured by the colored troops of the Eighteenth Corps. On the evening of the same day, the regi- ment, in common with the corps, assaulted the enemy's works, and under heavy fire, drove him back half a mile. On the 18th, they advanced on the enemy's works and carried two lines in the vicinity of the O'Haire House. On the afternoon of the same day, the command was massed with the Brigade, to assault that portion of the enemy's line that had been considered too strong to carry in the morning-the regiment, in three battalions, consti- tuting the three front lines. Works had been constructed, extend- ing from 600 to 700 yards in front of their position, and so ar- ranged as to sweep by direct and enfilade fires, every foot of the intervening plain. Upon the word "Forward," the first lines, composed of the First Maine, moved promptly. The first battal- ion was swept away by the deadly fire of the enemy, before it had advanced one hundred yards,-whole companies reeling before the shock-yet the gallant few pressed forward, as if devoted to death. Unsupported, they rushed forward, a few getting within forty yards of the enemy's breastworks; when, more than two- thirds of the regiment being either killed or wounded, and not the barest possibility of success remaining, the order was given to "Fall Back."
The loss of the regiment, during the operations of the 16th, 17th and 18th of June, (nearly all of which occurred in this
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assault), was as follows: seven commissioned officers killed, and twenty-five wounded ; one hundred and eight enlisted men killed and four hundred and sixty-four wounded.
That the fearful responsibility of this fatal assault, may not be charged to the gallant Col. Chaplin, it should in justice to him be known that he acted only under imperative orders, both as to his making the assault and to the disposition of the battalions of his own regiment in the front. The regiment remained in that vicin- ity until the 21st of June, when the brigade moved about three miles to the left. On the 22d, the brigade contributed a portion of the forces ordered to swing forward and establish a line to ex- tend south of Petersburg, in order to menace the enemy's railroad communication. It was scarcely in position when the enemy made an impetuous attack, and our troops on the left giving way, an order was given to fall back. The regiment's aggregate loss was twenty men, chiefly prisioners.
On the 1st of July, the regiment was ordered to report to the Second Brigade, and being assigned a position in the first line, remained, doing picket duty, until July 11th. On the morning of the 12th, the artillery destroyed the works in their immediate front, and moved to the Jerusalem Plank Road, thence to the rear of the "Deserted House," remaining there until the 23d, when a movement was made to the right. On the 26th, they marched to Deep Bottom and crossed to the north side of the river. On the 28th, the regiment being ordered to report to Brig. Gen. de Tro- biand, commanding the First Brigade, was assigned a position on the right flank. On the 20th, they arrived at the Bryant House, and moved forward to the works, relieving that portion of the line occupied by the Eighteenth Corps, in the vicinity of the ('Haire House, and they here remained until August 12th, when the column, composed of the whole corps, moved in the direction
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of City Point. On the 13th, they embarked on transports, and arrived on the north side of Deep Bottom, on the following day. On the 15th, the Brigade was marched to the front and right, where it deployed in line of battle. On the 16th, they relieved the picket in front and advanced the line, which they continued . to occupy on the 17th and 18th.
On the morning of the latter day, Col. Chaplin, who commanded the line, was mortally wounded by a sharpshooter, and was borne bleeding from the field, cool, collected and heroic to the last. He left as a dying message to his command : "Tell the boys to obey orders, and never flinch."
Daniel Chaplin, of Bangor, was mustered into the service of the United States, May 28th, 1861, as Captain of Company F, Second Regiment Infantry, and on the 13th of September, the same year, was promoted to Major of the same regiment. While filling that position he was further promoted to the Colonelcy of the Eight- eenth Regiment, his rank dating July 11th, 1862, and was in com- mand when that regiment was organized into the First Maine Heavy Artillery.
At the battle of Hanover C. II., Gen. A. P. Martin, late Mayor of Boston, then in command of " Martin's Battery," lost his guns to the enemy. Major Chaplin seeing this started to recapture them, leading in person a portion of the Second in the charge. On the first advance the rebels opened a fierce fire, one ball striking and bending the scabbard hanging at the side of Chaplin, so that he was unable to draw his sword. Gen. Martin seeing this, immedi- ately drew his own and handed it to Chaplin, who charged again, retaking the guns. Gen. Martin afterwards wrote a handsome letter of thanks to Col. Chaplin, refusing to take back his sword. Both the broken and Gen. Martin's blades are in the possession of Col. Chaplin's widow, residing in Bangor. As we have already
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seen, the Eighteenth Regiment was assigned to the defense of Washington. At this time, the strength of the sturdy sons of the Pine Tree State, was greatly needed in the work of fortifying the Capitol, and the men of the regiment were immediately detailed for the work at felling trees, in order to clear the country for the range of the many guns of the forts in that vicinity. By a rough estimate it is supposed that they thus cleared more than 3,500 acres of land.
The task of disciplining the regiment during the time it was thus stationed, devolved on Col. Chaplin, who performed the duty with consummate ability, and soon brought the men to a high degree of discipline. On the field of battle none were braver or more thoughtful of the men, than Col. Chaplin. His men loved him as a man, and honored him as a true and heroic patriot.
The Whig and Courier, under date of August 22d, 1864, says: " On Saturday the family of Col. Chaplin, of the First Maine Heavy Artillery, received the sad intelligence that, during a severe engagement on the James River, he had received a severe wound in the breast, and yesterday a second despatch was received that he died of his wounds. Thus is added another to the already long record of Bangor's brave and heroic dead. Col. Chaplin was one of the first to recruit a company for the gallant Second Maine, in which he was shortly promoted to the rank of Major, and from which he was discharged by promotion to the Colonelcy of the Eigh- teenth Maine, when that regiment was formed, in consequence of the reputation he had then acquired for efficiency and gallantry. His regiment soon learned not only to respect, but to love their commander. It made a record as brilliant and unfortunate withal, as that which has been made by any other regiment in the Union service. Under their gallant commander the First Heavy never faltered, never hesitated, neyer failed to obey orders from superior
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officers, no matter how apparently desperate the undertaking. Col. Chaplin has been in command of the brigade nearly all the time since joining the army of the Potomac, and after passing un- harmed through scores of the fiercest and most sanguinary battles of the war, sleeps at last the final sleep of the brave and chival- rous soldier, perishing at the head of his command. He leaves a large circle of relatives and friends to mourn that so brave and effective a defender of the Union cause, is lost to its ser- vice in this supreme crisis of its fortunes."
The remains arrived on the steamer "Lady Lang," Thursday, Aug. 25th, and, under escort of Company B, State Guards, were conveyed to his family. On Saturday they were taken to the Universalist Church, where services were held, after which they were removed to Glenburn. Several of his old comrades, among them, officers of the Second Maine, acted as pall bearers.
The following letter, dated Aug. 18th, 10 P. M., 1864, written on the battlefield, described the fall of Col. Chaplin: It was written by Capt. F. E. Shaw.
"I have just left Col. Chaplin. He was wounded in the left breast, the bullet passing through the body. He was on the picket line examining the enemy's works with his glass. and was seen probably by the sharp-shooters. Two balls were fired at him. As the first one whizzed by. he said, "Ah, they see me!" *and at that instant he was struck and fell, saying, "They have hit me this time." He was able to converse with me when I reached him, but was faint and bled freely. The wound is well up above the breast, I think, but we cannot now tell of its character. We all feel badly-the whole regiment is attached to him. Said he to me : "I'm sorry to leave the boys, but tell them to do their duty, and never make any feints,"-alluding to a brigade that refused to make a charge the day before, though they went forward as if
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COL. DANIEL CHAPLIN.
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to make it. It was the same. one that refused to support our regiment in the charge on the 18th of June. We think the Colo- nel's wound is too Ligh up to be fatal. He appeared strong for one wounded so severely. Dr. Lincoln has just seen him, says it is a bad wound, though some have recovered from such wounds. Major Shepard is with us.
While on the skirmish line, the regiment lost one man killed, and seven wounded.
On the 18th the regiment was relieved and marched to the vicin- ity of Fort Sedgwick. in front of Petersburg, where it remained until September 30th. . The time the regiment remained here might be called, and aptly too, "forty days under fire." The loss in killed and wounded. however, did not amount to twenty. On the 1st of October, the division took the train to the terminus of the road, at the Yellow House, and on the 2d, massed for a recon- noissance. The First Brigade marched by the flank, on the Squir- rel Level Road, where the skirmish line soon met the enemy, drove him from his works and advanced in the direction of the South Side Railroad. The regiment here remained, unprotected, under the enemy's fire. for several hours, lost seven men, and re- turned to the Preble's House, leaving there for Fort Sedgwick on the 6th. Under the incessant fire of the enemy, it was occupied with picket duty until withdrawn from the lines on the 24th. On the 20th, the division marched to the Gurley House, and on the 27th to the Vaughan Read; the course of march afterwards being changed to the Boydton Pike, on reaching which the regiment con- stituted a portion of the flank line. The Second Division of the corps had charged forward, two pieces of artillery having been placed some distance in advance.
Some troops of the enemy charged upon the artillery, drove back the support, captured the guns, and, from behind the
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brow of the hill, poured a fire into the Union rear line. The First Maine being ordered to charge, the regiment with terrific yells, pushed forward to the pike, and delivered a well directed volley to the scattering foe. The enemy, mistaking the number of our forces, threw down their arms, and about 200 were taken prisoners. Two pieces of artillery were yet 300 yards in advance, and the in- tervening field was swept by musketry from the cover of the woods. They were, however, recaptured by a part of the First, which, therefore. claimed the honor of capturing 200 prisoners, two pieces of artillery, and a stand of colors. During the sharp conflict of the same day, three commissioned officers were wound- ed, and twenty-nine enlisted men killed, wounded and missing.
On the 28th, the brigade marched back to the front of Petersburg, when the regiment was ordered to Cedar Level Station. On the 29th, four companies were ordered back to the lines before Peters- burg, under command of Major Smith, while the other eight com- panies, commanded by Col. R. B. Shepherd, remained on duty un- til November 14th. Three of the latter companies were then order- ed to the front, Col. Shepherd taking charge of that battalion, and Major Smith commanding the detachment at Cedar Level Station. On the 29th of November, the battalion before Petersburg moved out of the works and were joined at the left of the line by the de- tachment from Cedar Level Station. On the 2d of December, the brigade was ordered to Fort Siebert, and on the 7th, was massed outside of the rear line, near the Gurley House, proceeding on the next day to the Nottaway river, over which the whole divis- ion passed on pontoon bridges. The columns marched by Sussex Court House to Jarrett's Station, on the Weldon Railroad, the destruction of which it fully completed. On the 10th, the col- umins began to return to Petersburg, and the next day recrossed the Nottaway and bivouacked on the Jerusalem Plank Road,
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about fifteen miles from Petersburg, arriving within the lines . on the afternoon of the 12th. The expedition was extremely fatiguing, the nights being cold and stormy, preventing sleep. In three days the men marched over ninety miles, on only half rations. On the 13th of December, the regiment moved to a position situated between the Halifax and Vaughan roads, in front of the works.
From January 1st to February 4th, 1865, the regiment was quietly encamped before Petersburg, doing the ordinary picket duty. On the morning of the fifth, the regiment moved, in con- nection with the First Brigade, Third Division, Second Corps, to extend the line on their left, near Hatcher's Run and attempted to turn the enemy's right flank. The Heavy Artillery, having the ad- vance, met the enemy strongly posted on the opposite side of the Run, where, after skirmishing, was formed under cover of a hill, from whence it charged across the Run carrying the enemy's works, and capturing nearly fifty prisoners, without loss to the regiment. During this movement the lines were extended about two miles to the left, but the regiment was not again engaged, although fighting continued at various points until the 7th, when works were thrown up, for the permanent occupancy of the ground that had been acquired.
The regiment occupied a position on this new line, doing the usual picket duty until March 25th, when they made a general move- ment to test the strength of the enemy. After heavy skirmishing, with but little loss, while the First Brigade was forming in a deep ra- vine to charge the enemy's works, our line of battle was attacked and driven back. The First Brigade immediately deployed, the Heavy Artillery holding the extreme left. The deployment was scarcely finished, when the enemy made a vigorous attack on the new line. After fighting for more than an hour, he was repulsed with a loss
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of fifty prisoners, the regiment losing one commisioned officer killed and three enlisted men killed, seventeen wounded and six taken prisoners. The morning of March 29th, was assigned for a general movement, when the regiment with the First Brigade, being placed on the left and in the direction of the South Side Railroad, was engaged in skirmishing and manœvering until April 1st. Mean- while, the enemy had been driven back to his main works along the entire line. The morning of the 2d was assigned for a general assault, and at daylight the regiment formed as a part of the charg- ing column, with the left resting on the Boydton Plank Road. As soon as the outline of the enemy's works were visible the order was given to advance, when it was ascertained that during the . previous night the enemy had abandoned his works and fallen back towards Petersburg. The regiment then moved up the South Side Railroad, to within twelve or fifteen hundred yards of the enemy's new line, where it remained inactive during the day. The rebels having evacuated Richmond and Petersburg during the night, the brigade commenced on the morning of the 3d to- move rapidly along the south bend of the Appomattox river, in order to reach Burksville Junction in advance of them. On the evening of the 5th the regiment struck their advance guard, at Jettersville, where after a slight skirmish, they fell back towards their main body at Amelia Court House. The pursuit was continued on the morning of the 6th, when the enemy was reached and engaged near Amelia Springs, and driven in upon his line of battle. During the 6th the regiment charged and carried the rebel line seven different times, capturing prisoners, etc., on each occasion-in all, two stands of colors, three pieces of artillery, forty-seven wagons and three hun- dred and fifty prisoners, including several commissioned officers. The regiment lost four commissioned officers and twenty-one enlist- ed men wounded, and four enlisted men killed. The pursuit was
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