USA > Maine > Eastern Maine and the rebellion: being an account of the principal local events in eastern Maine during the war.. > Part 16
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"General Berry was one of the grandest men I ever knew. I . was more intimate with him than with any other Maine officer, and came to have a high regard for him as a man and a soldier. He was a true patriot and went into the service for results, and his work proved it. Of all officers I knew in command of regi- ments, I knew no Colonel who remained so continuously and de- votedly as Berry. I don't remember that he ever asked for a
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furlough. One of nature's noblemen was Berry; self-reliant and valiant, nothing could so disturb him as to cause him to swerve from the path of duty. He saved our army at Chancellorsville, and, said Secretary of War Stanton, to me after that fight: 'Mr. Hamlin, we owe our safety to Berry. Disastrous as it was, it would have been infinitely worse but for him. I believe, had he been in command, defeat would have been turned into victory. He is fitted to head our armies, and Mr. Hamlin, I can't tell you how long it will be before we shall see him there.'"
On the 28th of July, Dr. James Rouse and Mr. Cornelius Han- rahan met in the shop of Geo. C. Lovejoy, and in the course of conversation brought up the matter of the "Democratic Club." Both got rather excited in the discussion, and Rouse, on going out, called Hanrahan a "liar" and said something about shooting. Soon after. Hanrahan left the shop, and when in front of Robbin's drug store encountered Rouse, who drew a pistol. They grappled, and during the scuffle the pistol, (then in Rouse's hand) went off, the ball taking effect in Hanrahan's hip. Dr. Rouse was secured, and by the court, bound over in the sum of $3,000. He left town at once and is now supposed to be living in Nevada. Mr. Hanra- han recovered and is now a prominent citizen of Rockland.
On the 19th of August. '63, Company G, Twenty-Eigthth Regi- ment, arrived home, but no public reception was given them. About this time a paper said : "The State Guards fear that they are a little behind the army sharp shooters, and have purchased a target, with which they have considerable sport, but do not dam- age to any great extent."
The last of October, cavalry enlistments go on in Rockland, and for the last call for troops for 1863 the volunteers come in rapidly.
On the 11th of December, the gunboat "Agawam" called in at Rockland for coal, she being in pursuit of the Cheseapeake.
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The year '63 must have been a hard one on newspapers, as the following from the "Gazette" will show :
"Wanted at this office,-Two or three barrels of apples, several pounds of dried apples, three or four bushels of nice, clean wheat, and a few cords of wood. Will some of our country subscribers, who are in arrears, supply us with the above."
In the year '63, there had been fears all along the Maine coast of invasion by the rebels or their friends across the line. In Rock- land the fears were so strong that earthworks were erected guard- ing the harbor. These were finished and a salute fired from them on Jan. 21st, '64. Meanwhile, in the towns about, there was also alarm, as the rebel sympathizers had, in the case of Camden, threatened to burn the whole town. In Rockport the alarm was so great, at one time, that a government schooner was sent for, and was laid off the harbor, with guns trained on the buildings of the "supposed" rebels.
In the spring of '64 a draft was ordered, and after learning the quota for Rockland, the citizens went at work in earnest, and in three weeks raised the desired number, and had a surplus of sixty men to apply to next draft.
On the 11th of May the State Guards were inspected at Phoenix . Hall.
On the 28th of May, 1864, the U. S. gunboat Pontoosuc, arrived in .Rockland harbor. She was on recruiting service and secured several volunteers for the Navy, during her stay of three days. On the 16th of June, Company C, Coast Guards, of East- port, thirty-three men, including lieutenant and non-commissioned officers, arrived and immediately garrisoned the forts of the har- bor.
On the 25th of June, the remnant of the " Old Fourth " arrived in Rockland. Two hundred and seventeen men of the regiment
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had been transferred to the Nineteenth Regiment, and the remain- der, one hundred and thirty-two privates and thirteen officers were ordered home. On the morning of their arrival all was gay, and flags were flying, and bells ringing. As the steamer which brought them slowed up towards the wharf, they were greeted by the booming of cannon, and the cheers of the excited people.
A procession was in waiting to receive them, consisting of the Common Council, State Guards and Fire Companies, headed by the band, and all under command of Gen. Titcomb. As the Fourth formed on the wharf, the band played "Home sweet Home," and " When Johnny comes marching home again." They marched through the main streets of the city, and in their midst were carried the torn and battle-stained flags. At the conclusion of the parade they were marched into Atlantic Hall, where a grand repast had been provided for them, by the ladies of the city. After disposing of the tempting viands, as only hungry soldiers could, they were addressed by Hon. N. A. Farwell, who in a; few words of welcome, complimented both the officers and men on their grand record at the front. At the conclusion of his remarks, an order was read, disbanding the regiment, and ordering all the men to report on the 19th of July, when they would be mustered out of service.
The officers who returned were: Col. Elijah Walker, Adjutant Chas. F. Sawtelle, Surgeons Cobb and Hunkin, Quartermaster Rankin and Captains Libby, of Company A ; Conant of Company C; Carlisle, of Company E, and Abbott, of Company I.
On July 11th, the funeral of Capt. Keene, of the Twentieth Regiment, who was killed at the front, occurred at Thomaston, and was attended by the State Guards from Rockland. On August 6th a grand meeting was held in Rockland, at which
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it was voted to form an association to raise thirty thousand dollars, to fill the city's quota. Each member of the association agreed to pay twenty-five dollars on joining, and to to pay as the first dues, another sum of twenty-five dollars if it was needed.
About this time, it was reported that the rebel cruiser "Talla- hassee," was off the coast, and soon after it was learned that she had destroyed the schooners "Pearl" and "Magnolia," of Friendship. At the time it was said that she lay behind Mon- hegan, waiting to destroy the "Katahdin," but no attack on the steamer was made.
On the 18th of August, a grand Union war meeting was held at Camden, and speeches full of intense loyalty were made by Hon. N. A. Farwell, of Rockland, and T. R. Simonton of Camden. On the 29th of August. the U. S. gunboat "Merrimac," which had been laying in Rockland harbor for several days, steamed outside and captured the steamer "Rouen." The "Rouen " had been a blockade-runner, and was captured and sold, as was cus- tomary, at auction. Her owners, at this time claimed that she was bound for St. John, but as she was not on her course for that port, she was brought to Rockland and examined, after which she was allowed to depart.
In the month of September, Col. Jacob McClure raised a com- pany of sharp-shooters, and they left the State on the 10th of November. Before this there had been enlistments from Rock- land in the Berdan sharp-shooters, who left in September, '61, about ten men going from that town, and through the whole war not one of the men in that command, from Rockland, was killed. During the fall of '64 there was considerable activity in military circles, and finally Company B, of the Coast Guards filled their ranks to the maximum, and began to drill in Beal's Hall. Captain C. H. Conant was elected Captain of Company F,
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and after the arrival of Company E from Augusta, (the company being nearly all Rockland men), was ordered to Belfast, on Jan. 21st, '65.
At the beginning of the draft in Belfast, on March 1st, Rock- land lacked only twenty men of her quota, and these at once vol- unteered.
On the 4th of March, a grand celebration took place. A mon- ster meeting was held in the First Baptist Church, and speeches made by Rev. C. F. Cutler. L. W. Howes. A. Sprague, O. G. Hall and others. During the day, guns were fired, flags set, bells rung, and a general good time enjoyed. Two schooners in the harbor set their flags "union down," at which a volunteer delegation vis- ited them and asked the cause in a rather threatening manner. The now thoroughly frightened skippers replied that it was "only for a joke," but they decided it was not so smart a one when the Collector of the Port visited them and demanded their papers.
When the news of the fall of Charleston reached Rockland it was received with great joy. Many of the far-sighted ones seeing in this "the beginning of the end" of the Southern Confederacy. On that day, Capt. Bunker woke the echoes, by firing a salute of twenty-six guns.
When the news of the fall of Richmond, reached the city, the entire population turned out and began a real, old time, Rockland celebration. No pen can describe the events of that day, no imag- ination can depict the scenes ; sufficient is it to say that such a celebration was never before seen in the city, and probably never will be again. The people were fairly wild with joy, and nothing was too great or seemingly impossible for them to attempt .- Processions were formed, and amid the booming of cannon, the blazing of bonfires and fireworks, the ringing of bells, and the cheers of the people, paraded the streets from long before day- light till the small hours of the next morning.
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The order to stop enlisting came on April 15th.
The news of Lincoln's assassination. threw the people of this section into the profoundest grief, and had the men who had said they wished for such an event, been found, they would have prob- ably ornamented lamp posts at short notice. But these rebels fled the city on hearing the first news, nor did they dare to return until long after. The town was draped in mourning, and flags hung at half-mast everywhere. As in other cities, exercises appro- priate were held, and the people truly felt they had lost a friend and leader, and a noble man.
From this time on the story of Rockland is that of every Nothern city. The troops, or rather what was left of the noble bands of men who had gone away with such a gay appearance, came back, some without arms or legs, and some with health ruined by the climate of the South ; but many never returned. Their bodies are laying on Southern soil, but their memory will ever live in the hearts and minds of the loyal North, for whose sake they fought and died.
Camden, in all, furnished four hundred and fifty-eight men, to the army and navy. In bounties she paid $90,129.51. Seven- teen of her men were killed in battle, and thirteen died of disease. Among her noble soldiers was Geo. S. Cobb, who was a ser- geant in Company I, Nineteenth Regiment. He was killed by the bursting of a shell, on October 17th. '64, while in front of Peters- burg.
In the navy, she had many brave men, and of them perhaps the most noted was Wm. S. Conway. He entered the navy when but seventeen years of age, in 1825. and served under Hull. He was promoted to quartermaster in 1861, and while stationed at Pensicola navy yard at the breaking out of the war, was order- ed by Lieutenant Renshan, who had captured the yard, to haul
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down the American flag. This he refused to do, and being again ordered. broke down and cried like a child, but continued to refuse, even after threats were made. He was presented with a gold medal afterwards, by the Maine citizens of San Francisco, through the hand of Commander Sherbrook. He died November 30, '65, and was buried with naval honors, no less than four commanders following his remains to the grave.
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CHAPTER XXV.
Belfast And Surrounding Towns During The Rebellion -- The Early War Meet- ings-The First Enlistments-Stealing The Flag From The Custom House- Searsport Responds-Militia Attend Church-News From Bull Run-Building The Gunboat-Something From "Old Troy"-The Draft In 1863-Names Of Those Drawing Tickets-The Searsport Unfortunates.
Twenty-six years ago Belfast was a thriving, growing city. Along the shores of the beautiful bay, as well as up the stream and above the ancient toll-bridge, the sounds of the hammer, the ring of the axe and the calking irons were familiar and fre- quent. Gradually each year there rose in her ship yards huge frames, which, later on would be covered in, and rigged out and sent to distant lands, where they became famous as specimens of advanced naval architecture. In those days, too, the country round about came to Belfast for a market. Early in the morning, in the winter and in the summer alike, long lines of country teams came in over " Wilson's Hill," "Johnson's Hill," up the "Northport Road," and from "over the river," filling the streets
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and squares, and finding a ready market for the products of the farm, which they bore. These, later on, found their way down to the various wharves, always then in good repair, where the " coasters " were in waiting to take them away. Peace and prosperity reigned on every hand, the law breakers were few, no frowning policeman, with comical Kaizer helmets, paraded the streets, and such was the general character of the citizens, that they and their home might well have furnished the poet a fit subject for an Acadian song.
To this happy community, there came one April morning, in the year 1861, the echoes of rebel cannon, as they opened fire on Sumpter, and, as might have been expected, the community was thrown into a state of great excitement. One man only fully understood the magnitude of the rebellion thus inaugurated, and that man was the Hon. A. G. Jewett. On the 19th after Presi- dent Lincoln had issued a call for troops, a large and enthusiastic meeting was held in Pierce's Hall, where addresses were made by Hon. A. G. Jewett, Hon. W. G. Crosby, J. G. Dickerson, T. H. Marshall, Hon. N. Abbott, Wm. M. Rust and Wm. H. Weeks. It was resolved that all party differences were to be ignored, and that Republicans, Democrats, Bell and Everett men, one and all, should stand upon the common ground of the Consti- tution, the Union, and the protection of the Government.
As in other towns, the loyal people of Belfast began the practice of displaying the colors of the Union, an example being set them by Collector Dickerson, who raised the Stars and Stripes on the Custom House. Immediately the people gathered and began to cheer it, and, as was customary then, speech-making began early and lasted long.
On April 23d, Capt. H. W. Cunningham opened an office for recruits, and immediately several men signed, while others circula-
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ted a paper which was well received, in which it was agreed that all men who enlisted should be paid twenty dollars per month so long as they were in service. Over in Searsport they did even better. Twenty men enlisted at once, and at a special town meet- ing it was voted to pledge the credit of the town in the sum of ten thousand dollars, for the support of the families of those who- might enlist, and one patriotic farmer. Mr. Larrabee. agreed to de- vote one-half the product of his farm for this purpose. About this time Joseph S. Noyes Esq., of Belfast, placed two hundred dollars in the Bank of Commerce, to aid the families of volunteers, and the City Government took steps to make an appropriation for the same purpose ; also to purchase the additional equipments of a revolver and bowie knife for each volunteer.
The "Progressive Age," of May 2d, said :.
"The "City Greys," Capt. Marshall, have full ranks-sixty-four privates, besides their non-commissioned officers, and their com- mander has notified the Governor that he is ready to march at any moment. This company has heretofore numbered about forty-five men with about forty uniforms. Some ten are noty absent. Of the remaining thirty-six about twenty-five have enlisted. We have not heard of so large a proportion, according to the number of old members, enlisting in any of the volunteer companies in the State. This company is made up wholly from this city, and is composed of our best young men. Many leave at a great sacrifice of pecun- iary interests, but they let nothing stand in the way of their country's call at this hour. There is no fear but they will do honor to themselves and their city."
"Capt. H. W. Cunningham, has closed his quarters, having enlisted nearly ninety men. The company was fully organized on Saturday, by the choice of Geo. Gunn, Esq, of Searsmont, as First Lieutenant, and Richard S. Ayer, of Montville, Second Lieutenant,
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both excelent men, and will make excellent officers. The company paraded for the first time in Custom House Square, on Saturday, and were addressed by several of our citizens. It is a tip-top com- pany. There is scarcely one among them we judge that does not weigh over one hundred and fifty pounds, and they are all tough, hardy men, who will not turn their backs upon Jeff Davis's South- ern powder and Southern steel. They are now drilling and will probably leave the last of this week."
"Who comes next with enlisting orders? A full company can be enlisted here every ten days."
Searsport had one company organized at this time, with F. S. Nickerson Captain, John B. Wiswell, First Lieutenant, and E. E. Bergen, Second Lieutenant.
The " copperhead " element, present at Belfast as elsewhere, came to the front early, as will be seen by the following notice issu- ed May 9th.
VILLAINY.
"The dastardly puppy who stole the Flag, which was sus- pended from the Court House, on Saturday evening, April 27th, had better return the same forthwith. His character is well known in this community. The citizens have taken the matter in hand, and the body of the THIEF may dangle in the place of the flag."
On Thursday evening, May 2d, Capt. Cunningham's company assembled in Pierce's Hall, which was filled to overflowing, on the occasion of a presentation of a set of revolvers to each of the officers. Miss Caro Williamson presented a set to Capt. Cunning- ham, in behalf of the Belfast ladies ; Miss May E. Moore those to Lieutenant Gunn, in behalf of the ladies of Searsmont; and Miss Arbella Johnson, the set to Lieutenant Ayer, in behalf of the ladies of Liberty and Montville.
On the 8th Capt. Marshall was elected Major of the Fourth
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Regiment, and then followed an election of officers for the " City Greys." which resulted as follows : Silas M. Fuller, Captain ; Alden D. Chase, First Lieutenant ; Horatio H. Carter, Second Lieutenant.
On Sunday the 12th, the companies in the city attended, in a body, the services at Rev. Dr. Palfry's church, the services throughout being solemn and impressive. The text was from Ephesians, VI-13-" Take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
During the delivery of the sermon the attention of the large congregation was intensely fixed upon the speaker, and "The Age " said that at the close, " the heavy measured tread of the soldiers as they passed through the aisles, forcibly reminded us that the days of our revolutionary fathers, who worshipped God on the Sabbath, in the church, with their arms beside them, were indeed again upon us. The occasion will be long remem- bered by our citizens."
The little village of Unity raised a company about this time, and the town quartered them at "Chandler's Hotel," where the time was spent in drilling. For Captain they had C. H. Robinson, with A. S. Moore, and Hall C. Myrick, as Lieutenants. Mon- day night. July 22d, was a sleepless one to many in this communi- ty. The day had been one of gloom, for at that time had come the vague news of the battle of Bull Run, and reports that Maine regiments had been cut to pieces. Another dispatch stated twenty-seven were missing from the City Greys, but gave no names. Gradually, however, the news assumed a more favora- ble appearance, and the intense excitement gradually subsided.
In the fall of 1861, Messrs. C. P. Carter & Co .. constructed a six hundred ton gun boat for the Government, which was named
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the " Penobscot." She was a fine craft and reflected great credit on her builders. This vessel was pierced for twelve guns, and also carried two pivot guns on deck. She was towed into the bay Jan- uary 13th, 1862, as the harbor had began to freeze over.
All the towns round about were patriotic, and the action of Troy, July 22d, '62, was referred to by a correspondent as follows :
" Raised fifteen hundred dollars to encourage enlistments. Sure- ly old Troy will not be found skulking from her duty while our beloved country is in danger."
- In 1863, in common with other portions of the State, Belfast stood a Draft, Capt. A. D. Bean being Provost Marshal. The scenes and incidents conected with this, were identical with those of Bangor, which are described in her military matters, save that scenes of bloodshed were enacted consequent upon the proceedings at Belfast. These took place in Washington and Waldo counties, and will be found in another portion of this book. The following men drew tickets.
J. Welman, Geo. A. Russ, Jos. E. Stevens, H. M. McDonald, Wm. M. Wooster, W. H. Scobles, Geo. W. Burgess, C. M. Haven- er, Wm. II. Hall. D. P. Gilmore, G. S. Berry, HI. C. Gray, John Kellock, Daniel Pillsbury, M. Robbins, Jas. Furbush, W. C. Huntley, Andrew Stevens, Horace Banks, John Dunnells, Augus- tus Philbrook, Wm. Mathews, Edmund Stevens, Jr., F. J. Dur- ham, Hiram Darby, W. H. H. Sweetser, Benj. K. Shaw, Thos. Clark, James W. Frederick, Chas. A. Bean, A. II. Kennison, John D. Smart, C. W. Sweetser, Peltiah Shaw, Geo. Il. Johnson, Augustus Clark, Isaac Darby, Oscar W. Pitcher, Thos. H. McFar- land, Moses Trussell, John Thomas, Geo. N. White, Wm. H. Simp- son, Hugh J. Anderson, Jr., Noah Bailey, M. Gannan, Albert E. Cunningham, A. V. Sawtell, Robt. F. Russ, Horatio Spicer, Wm. Crosby, Jas. E. Dodge. F. S. Coombs, Q. M. Henderson, S. B. Her-
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rick, 'Alonzo Shute, John A. Wheeler, S. A. Payson, Thomas Owens, Geo. F. Brier, H. L. Killgore, J. A. Keller, C. W. Mears, Wm. Flanders, Andrew Patterson, Geo. P. Ames, J. P. Maddocks, W. C. Emery, Edwin Sides, W. P. Morrill, E. V. Nickerson, Eben P. Blake, Geo. W. Cottrell, C. C. Gregg, Samuel Michaels, Horace Park, James Lewis, F. A. Ellis, T. J. Burgess, H. H. Parker, Geo. B. Furgerson, A. H. Gray, Saml. Dutch, J. Philbrick, Ed- mund Cross, C. R. Piper, George Crosby, J. P. Wight, Moses W. Rich, Chas. Kimball. W. H. Reeves, C. Crammer, C. A. Banks. J. M. Clark, Frances V. Patterson, Geo. T. Quimby, Ambrose Thombs Isaac Sides, Levi Rogers, E. D. Burd, James B. Miller, John B. Mason, T. H. Shaw, C. T. Cottrell, John L. Page, Otis Maddocks, Geo. W. Warren. Andrew Bates, Thomas Crowell, Joseph H. Bean, Edward Smart, Edwin Salmon, O. G. White, T. O. Havener, M. H. Gray, J. C. Howard, Horace Anderson, Geo. H. Brier, Thos. W. Pitcher, Boynton Barton, J. B. Littlefield, A. A. Pitcher, H. H. Haws, Wm. Glover, J. C. Lewis, B. B. Whitaker, C. B. Steph- erson, A. Gammon, A. K. Simpson, Otis Whitmore, D. P. Perkins, E. W. Baker, J. H. Emery, J. E. Trask, C. P. Brown, J. C. Cates, Jr., Moses W. Emerson.
The following Searsport men were drawn :
S. Blake, C. F. Fowler, James Ford, A. B. West, W. H. Blanch- ard, John Dow, D. Y. Mitchell, C. B. Ellis, E. W. Seavey, L. Lam- pher, A. J. Nichols, P. Nichols, Z. Berry, A. S. Carver, A. C. Ken- · ney, J. S. Johnson, F. Shute, H. Whitcomb, F. R. Averill, Geo. E. Merrill, D. Treat. R. T. Waterhouse, L. P. Small, B. C. Smith, E. Mathews, Geo. Mathews, Wm. Ford, A. Fowler, E. N. Bassick, D. Lufkin, D. A. Dow, Geo. W. Bowen, Chas. Field, E. Blanchard, H. B. Hart, C. F. Beckmore, Geo. H. Smith, A. P. Colcord, J. L. Nichols, P. Gilkey, J. B. Nichols; A. Ford, A. Warren, G. C. Small, J. S. Colcord, J. H. Nichols, T. C. Pendleton, B. Carver, 2d,
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W. G. Nichols. A. Closson. J. B. Wiswell, Nichols Parks, A. T. Gilmore, Atwood Gilmore. J. S. Fowler, H. H. Houslon, E. L. . Griffin, A. W. Carter. B. L. Colcord, A. Havener, P. J. Beale, E. W. Mossman, Ferdinand Dodge, Wm. Rice.
CHAPTER XXVI.
Building Belfast Batteries-Excitement In Mercantile Circles-Dixie Prices-A Landlady Buys Largely-An Editor Arrested-The Killing Of a Waldo Sheriff . In Wesley-A "Hard Gang" Resist The Belfast Officers-Deserters Stealing Horses -They Are Pursued-They Shoot Chief Of Police Charles McKenney -- Additional Men Join In The Pursuit-One Of Them Shot Through The Heart -They Are Finally Captured-And Are Beaten To Death-News Of Lee's Sur- render-Belfast Celebrates And Burns A Building-Men Blown From A Cannon's Mouth-The People Nearly Hang An Innocent Man-Copperheads Go Fishing- The Death Of Lincoln-Belfast Of To-Day.
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