USA > Maine > Eastern Maine and the rebellion: being an account of the principal local events in eastern Maine during the war.. > Part 21
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On the 16th of December, they lost five men killed, and six wounded, in a reconnoisance made by the enemy, on the right of the Union lines, in the vicinity of Spring Hill. They remained near . Spring Hill until the 27th of March, 1865, when they proceeded towards Hatcher's Run, where they arrived on the next day, and remained doing picket duty until the 2d of April. On that day they participated in the assault and capture of Forts Bragg and Baldwin, and on the 3d proceeded towards Barkersville, which place they reached on the 5th. On the 6th, they bore an honora- ble part in the engagement at Riee's Station, and on the 9th, in that at Appomattox C. H. After the surrender of Lee, they, with the rest of the troops of the Twenty-Fourth corps, proceeded to Richmond, where they were camped till August. They were then sent to Manchester, and remained there until ordered to Fortress Monroe, in November, at which place they remained until the 18th of January, 1886. On that day they were mustered out of service by Lieutenant Wm. Harper, Asst. Commissary of Musters, and then proceeded to Augusta, Maine, where they were finally paid and discharged.
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The following officers of the regiment were killed in action or died of their wounds, during the war: Henry E. Tozier, Water- ville, Captain ; Charles F. Monroe, Livermore, First Lieutenant ; Albert F. Kyes, Jay, Second Lieutenant ; Lorenzo Warren, Patten, Second Lieutenant ; John Stevens, Morrill, Second Lieutenant ; Charles C. Carr, Belfast, Second Lieutenant ; Warren H. Hill, Ex- eter, Second Lieutenant.
The Regiment bore a most efficient and prominent part in the following engagements : Destruction of Richmond and Petersburg Railroad ; Swift Creek ; Chester Station ; Drury's Bluff ; Port Har- rison ; Chapin's Farm; Laurel Hill ; Cold Harbor ; Rice's Station ; Petersburg ; Forts Gregg and Baldwin, and Appomattox C. H.
CHAPTER XXXII.
The Eleventh Regiment-Its Organization And Officers-To The Front-Siege Of Yorktown -- The Battle Of Seven Pines-In The Rifle Pits-Honorable And Dan- gerous Duty-The Best Axe-Men Of The Army-The Mathews County Invasion Destruction Of The Salt Works-Twenty-One Days Afloat-Presentation To Colonel Plaisted-At Morris Island --- The Florida Trip -- On To Richmond -- Death Of Lieutenant Colonel Spofford-To New York --- Clover Hill-Patrol Duty --- Return Of The Eleventh.
The Eleventh Regiment was the first raised in the State at the direct expense of the general Government.
The organization was as follows :
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JOHN C. CALDWELL, Colonel.
H. M. PLAISTED, Lieutenant Colonel.
WILLIAM H. SHAW, Major.
Company A, Captain PENNELL, of Portland.
Company B, Captain KIMBALL, of Augusta.
Company C, Captain CAMPBELL, of Cherryfield.
Company D, Captain HARVEY. of Weston.
Company E, Captain STRAW, of Bangor.
Company F. Captain DAVIS. of Gardiner.
Company G, Captain SPOFFORD. of Dedham.
Company H, Captain NASH, of Gray.
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Company I. Captain POMEROY, of Bancroft.
Company K, Captain HILL, of Stetson.
The regiment left Augusta, Nov. 13th, 1861, and proceeded to Washington, where it went into camp on Meridian Hill. Here they arrived on the 16th, and on January 1st, they went into win- ter quarters, and there remained inactive till March 28th, 1862, when they with their division (Casey's), moved for the Peninsula via. Alexandria. They encamped at Newport News, till April 6th. On the 17th, they advanced to before Yorktown, and on the 20th, were sharply engaged with the enemy. On May 4th, the enemy gave battle and the Eleventh was the first to plant our flag on the rebel works, after the enemy had vacated. On the following day the battle of Williamsburg took place, and this regiment bore a distinguished part. On the 13th, Colonel Caldwell was made a Brigadier General, for personal valor and soldierly conduct, and Lieutenant Colonel Plaisted was promoted to the command of the Eleventh. On the 23d, the regiment moved to Seven Pines, where they gave battle to the enemy on the 31st. During the advance the Eleventh was detailed to fell trees, build bridges, etc. In the battle of Seven Pines the regiment did honorable and gallant work.
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Colonel Plaisted, with three companies charged the enemy, but was finally driven back. Of the ninty-three men led by Colonel Plaisted, fifty-two were killed or wounded.
After the battle, the Eleventh occupied the rifle pits of the rear defences until June 4th, when they moved to Bottom's Bridge, and afterwards to the high bluff near the railroad. They participated in the battles of Beaver Dam and Gaines' Mill, and at the latter, the Eleventh destroyed the bridge, thereby making safe the Army of the Potomac. It was a hazardous undertaking, and could only have been done by trained axe-men. For the next few days the Eleventh was almost continually in action, and on the 30th, took part in that bloody fight at White Oak Swamp. For five hours they were under the heaviest of the fire. During the retreat that . followed, the Eleventh was the rear guard of the whole column, and so faithfully did their duty that not a man or even a knapsack was missing when they reached the James River. On July 1st, the regiment was in the reserve at the battle of Malvern Hill, and that night were again made rear guard of the retreating column. On the 2d, they arrived at Harrison's Landing, where they remain- ed till August 16th, when they left for Yorktown, at which place they were engaged in the reconstruction of the fortifications until the latter part of November. While here the regiment suffered terribly from the severity of the labor and the general insalubrity of the climate-losing thirty-four men by death, and eighty by dis- charge on account of disability. During the latter part of the month, the regiment made an expedition into Mathews County, for the purpose of destroying salt works, upon which the rebel capitol depended in a great measure for its supply. The expedition was wholly successful and on their return, the commanding General ordered that " Mathews County," be inscribed upon the banners of the regiment. The regiment lost one commissioned officer, and
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one enlisted man, both taken prisoners. On December 11th, the regiment in company with three others, under command of Gen- eral Nagle, penetrated the country to within a few miles of the . Rappahannock, operating as an important diversion in rear of the Rebel army during the battle of Fredericksburg, and clearing five counties of rebels.
On the 26th of December, the regiment, with Nagle's Brigade, embarked for North Carolina, where it arrived, and landed at More- head City, on the 1st of January, 1863, after a stormy passage, and went into camp at Carolina City. On the 20th of January, they again embarked, and arrived at Port Royal, on January 31st, but did not land till February 10th. During the twenty-one day's trip, seven men were lost by ship fever. While at St. Helena, a beautiful flag was presented to Colonel Plaisted, by the officers of the regiment. A few day's before leaving, the regiment received their four month's pay, in all some thirty thousand dollars. After a stay of about seven weeks, the regiment, on the 4th of April, em- barked for Charlest:n, and on the 5th entered North Edisto Inlet. Here the regiment remained five days without landing, and the attack on Charleston having failed, left for Beaufort, S. C., where they arrived on the 11th. The Eleventh remained here until June 4th, when, on the arrival of General Gilmore, detatclients were sent as artillerists to Morris Island, where they served with great credit, during the siege of Forts Wagner and Sumpter. They were afterwards assigned by General Gilmore, to the " Swamp An- gel " battery, and had the honor of firing the first shells into Charles- ton. From here they went to Fernandina, Fla .. where besides do- ing heavy fatigue duty, they built a fortification for the town, re- quiring two thousand five hundred day's labor. The regiment left Florida October 6th, having been ordered to Morris Island, where it arrived on the 7th.
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The regiment remained at Morris Island during the fall and winter of 1863, and did excellent service in the seige of Charles- ton. A large portion of the regiment was detached by General Gilmore, to work the large guns in Forts Gregg, Chatfield, and Wagner. In April, 1804, the Tenth corps was reorganized, and a large portion transported to Gloucester Point, Va., joining Gen- eral Butler's command. The Eleventh was assigned to the Third Brigade, First Division, under command of Colonel Plaisted. On the 4th of May, they left for Weir Bottom, where they arrived on the 6th. On the 7th of May, a battle was fought at Port Walt- hall Junction, in which this brigade had an important part. On the 12th, nearly the entire army moved out and advanced upon Richmond. On the 16th, the enemy under Beauregard drove the Union forces back to the lines at Bermuda Hundred. The loss to the Eleventh, in this action was, twenty-four men killed and wounded. On the 17th, the regiment attacked Beauregard's train, had a fierce fight, and lost twenty-six killed and wounded. On June 2d, the regiment stood the brunt of the battle at Bermuda Hundred, and repulsed the enemy at every attack. The loss to the regiment during the day was forty-one killed and wounded, in- cluding five commissioned officers. Among the number mortally wounded was Lieutenant Colonel Spofford. From this time till August 14th, the regiment remained at or near Bermuda Hundred, and Deep Bottom, with companies H and A, detatched as a garri- son on the bluff, a mile below Deep Bottom. The regiment engaged in numerous skirmishes and repulsed many attacks of the enemy during this time. On August 14th, the regiment entered the Sev- en Day's campaign, taking a conspicuous and honorable part. The amount of work they did may be judged from the loss, which was five commissioned officers, two field officers, three company com- manders and one hundred and forty-four men, only four of whom
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were taken prisoners. On the morning of the 21st, they returned to Deep Bottom. On the 26th, the regiment, with its brigade moved to Petersburg, remaining to take its full share of work in the operations before that city until September 28th. They were in the trenches before the city for thirty days, performing heavy fatigue duty under fire, losing five men killed, besides many wounded. On the 28th, they left Petersburg and returned to Deep Bottom, and on the 29th, assisted in the attack on Spring Hill. The regiment, on the 30th, took up a position to the south of the New Market Road, after having made an advance on the Darbytown road, to within two miles of Richmond. Here they remained till the 7th of October. Several skirmishes took place near here and the Eleventh did their share of the work. On the 7th, 'a battle was fought on the New Market Road, in which the regi- ment took a most important part, and but for their bravery in holding their ground against the Alabama brigade. the result might have been vastly different. As it was the Union forces won, but at considerable loss to themselves. On the 13th, the regiment was under fire for ten hours, and captured the only prisoners of the day.
On the 27th, they again advanced on Richmond, drove the enemy into his main lines, and then retired. On the 20th, the Eleventh, with the brigade advanced on the enemy's lines, and by a daring charge, by this regiment, captured his works, and drove him in disorder. Although the time of many of the men had expired, they gladly volunteered for this fight, and acted with great bravery. On the 2d of November, one hundred of the men, whose time had expired, left for Maine, and the remain- der, numbering in all four hundred and ninety, were left in charge of Lieutenant Maxfield. On the 3d, the regiment left for New York, being one of the number selected to accompany General
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Butler, to assist in keeping the peace of the city, at the Presi- dential election. Only two hundred men could be mustered at this time, the remainder being in the hospital. Major Baldwin joined the regiment while at New York, and assumed command. On the 18th, the regiment returned to the front. On the 12th of November, the regiment lost, by reason of term of enlistment expiring, twelve commissioned officers, and one hundred and thirty men. None of the original members of the regiment were ever court- martialed, or subjected to any degrading punishment, during their term of service, which is truly a record that can be looked back to with pride. Among the officers killed during the year, were Lieutenant Colonel Spofford, Captain Sabine, Captain Lawrence and Lieutenant Brannon.
The original regiment was mustered out of service on Novem- ber 18th, by Captain C. Macmichael, Ninth U. S. Infantry. A large number of re-enlisted men and the recruits, whose term of service had not expired, together with sufficient number of volun- teers, substitutes and drafted men, assigned and forwarded from Camp Berry, Portland, Maine, enabled Colonel Harris M. Plaisted to re-organize the regiment.
During the first three months of 1865, the regiment was station- ed near the New Market Road, about ten miles from Richmond, and formed a part of the Third Brigade, First Division, Twenty- Fourth Corps. On the 27th of March, they with the division, moved across the James and Appomattox rivers, and to the vicini- ty of Hatcher's Run, where on the 31st, they engaged the enemy, and remained exposed to the fire until the 2d of April, losing several men, killed, wounded and taken prisoners. On the 2d, they participated in the assault and capture of Forts Gregg and Baldwin, losing during the day, twenty-five men. killed and wound- ed. On the 9th, they engaged the enemy at Clover Hill, losing
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six men killed, and thirty-one wounded. From the 25th of April, to the 24th of November, they were encamped near Richmond, and on duty in that city the greater part of the time. On the 26th they moved to Fredericksburg, and remained, doing patrol duty, until the middle of January, 1866, when they were ordered to City Point, for the purpose of being mustered out. On the 2d of February, they were mustered out of the U. S. service, by Capt. J. Remmington, Assistant Commissary of Musters, De- apartment of Virginia, and the regiment left for home on the 3d, arriving at Augusta soon after, and were paid, and finally discharged.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Ellsworth And Hancock County -- The First Meeting --- Ringing Resolutions -- Money For Soldiers Aid --- The First Flag Raising --- Jesse Dut'on Opens Recuiting Office --- The Hancock Giants --- Rebels Cut Down The Liberty Pole At Blue Ilili --- The Rifle Company --- The Noble Work Of The Ladies- Ellsworth Men In The Navy -Return Of Wounded Soldiers -- Death Of Lieutenant Rice --- The Ward Com- panies -- The Ellsworth Band --- Recruiting Continues -- The Dirigo Club --- Lee's Surrender -. Close Of The War.
Hancock County was as large in patriotism as any of her sisters, and at once on hearing the awful news from Sumpter, a meeting was called at Ellsworth, an account of which is given elsewhere in this book. Strong resolutions were adopted upholding the Government, and declaring that the " Government should be sus- tained, in this crisis, at any cost." At the close of the meeting
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the band called on Colonel James S. Rice, at his hotel and tender- ed him a serenade.
Steps were at once taken to raise money for the support of soldiers' families, and the large hearted and patriotic citizens re- sponded liberally ; twelve hundred dollars being raised the first day. To Mr. Tucker, then landlord of the Ellsworth House, seems to belong the honor of raising the first flag, as no account of a prior flag-raising can be found ; but his neighbors were not far be- hind him, for in a very few days the sky was alive with bunting.
The first recruiting office was opened by Mr. Jesse Dutton, and the patriots of Ellsworth kept him right busy, as they enlisted with great rapidity ; no less than fourteen names being put on the roll in the first hour. On the 25th of April, the good citizens of Blue- hill had a grand meeting, and on this occasion threw out a large flag. In the first part of this book will be found the list of officers of the first company raised in Ellsworth. The entire company were large men, nearly one half being over six feet tall. At Ells- worth Falls, the two parties put out the flags that were left over from the fall election, on one pole, thus showing to the world that parties were a secondary consideration to them, and that they were as one man, for the good of the country. A strange sight might have been witnessed on a bright May morning that year. It was a two-horse team bearing eight sturdy fellows, while aloft over their heads, flew the "Stars and Stripes." They had driven all the way from Amherst, that they might enlist in their coun- try's cause.
On the 29th of April, the town voted to raise twenty - five hundred dollars, for soldiers' aid.
Recruiting continued all through the month of May, and flag raisings were frequent A strong "secesh " element existed in several of the towns, and culminated in the cutting down of
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the liberty-pole, at North Blue Hill. Among the first prisoners captured by the rebels. was H. M. Blaisdell, of Company H, Second Regiment, who had enlisted at Ellsworth.
The men of Hancock County did not need urging, and were · ever ready to enlist for the cause, but for some reason, that part of the State was not given the chance to show what it could do in that line, so in order that the Governor might see the patriotic feeling thereabouts. a company was raised, and its servi- ces tendered to the Government, without expense to the State. The agents for the purchase of cavalry horses, did not take much stock in that part of the State, seeming, as a paper of the day said, "to think that the State line was on the east bank of the Penobscot," as they bought but three horses at Ellsworth, though nearly two hundred fine animals were presented for sale. During the last part of the summer, a rifle company was recruited, by P. W. Perry, and chose for its officers, W. P. Spofford, Captain, Chas. E. Illsley, First Lieutenant, and John E. Dodge, Second Lieutenant. They filled their ranks to ninety men. and left for the front on October 19th. All this time troops from surround- ing towns had been passing through Ellsworth, and hardly a day passed, that did not sce soldiers parade the hitherto quiet streets of the city. The ladies had not been idle, but under the leadership of Mrs. Seth Tisdale, worked from out the crude cloth, sheets, pillow-cases, shirts, and many a piece of clothing, that was destined to cover the dead and mangled remains, of what was once a brave and noble man. Could the work for the Union, that was done by the loyal, generous-hearted women of our country, be estimated, it would be found to be as much in value. as that done by our army and navy, combined.
Late in the year, Lieutenant O. W. Kent returned from the front, bringing nearly four thousand dollars, of soldier's money
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with him, which had been sent to the loved ones at home, by the brave boys.
Hancock County had representatives in the navy, as well as in the land force, and among them were, Jos. A. Smith, who was a paymaster on the Kearsage; Gilbert M. Small, of Gouldsboro, and Byron Pettingill, and S. D. Joy, of Hancock, who were acting masters; Geo. Grant, of Ellsworth, who was on board the " Cumberland," when she was sunk by the " Merrimac ;" and Captains Alvin and Geo. Lord, who were acting ensigns.
During the spring of '62, things moved along quietly, people having begun to get over the novelty of a Civil War. The only thing of great interest. being the return of the invalid soldiers from. the front. Among these was Mr. Henry B. Denaco, Company G, Eleventh Regiment. We may be sure that these returned veterans did not suffer, and if their heads were not turned, by the attentions lavished upon them, it was because of the strong head, and not from any lack of cause.
In June, recruiting for three months' men was begun, and the company had been nearly filled, when orders were received to stop. About this time, it was reported that the officers of Com- pany B, Sixth Me., were not with the company at Williamsburg. As the company was raised in Ellsworth, this news made a great sensation, which, however, was soon over on the receipt of an indignant denial of the charge, from Captain Frazier.
Lieutenant W. H. H. Rice, of Ellsworth, was wounded at Rich- mond, on the 31st of May, and died at hospital, on June 18th. He was a heroic soldier and a noble young man. On the recep- tion of his body, a public funeral was given at his home in Ells- worth.
A sketch of Lieutenant Rice, will be found in the back part of this book.
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Enlistments continued during the summer, and in the month of July, Ward Companies were formed, as related elsewhere in this volume. Up to the first of August, Ellsworth had sent two hun- dred and seventy men to the front, and must have been intending to send, if necessary, the whole male population, as nearly all the citizens might have been seen, on one day of every week, drill- ing in the streets, armed and equipped, if not "as the law directs," yet with murderous, and wicked sticks, canes, etc.
During the fall of 'C2. there was great fear of a draft. and the loyal citizens, feeling that it would be a dishonor to the city, to be obliged to submit to such a means of raising men, contri- buted liberally to avoid it. Up to this time the Ellsworth Band, had furnished eight of its members to the army. On the 25th, of November, Mr. P. W. Perry, received twelve hundred dollars, be- ing the allotment of Company I, Thirteenth Regiment. There had been some "hitch" in paying the regiment at first, but that had been fixed, and so the money was forwarded. Soon after this, Company C, Twenty-Sixth Regiment, received thejr allotment, amounting to thirteen hundred and ninty-seven dollars.
The spring of '63 found the city crowded, and at that time every store was occupied, and calls for many more. Recruiting still continued, one office being kept open by Captain H. C. Snow, of the Seventh Regiment. About this time, the ministers of the city called a meeting, to devise ways and means for more aid to soldiers, and immediately the Dirigo Club subscribed thirty- two dollars, to be forwarded to the sanitary commission. Tea parties were held by the ladies, all through the spring, and considerable money raised for the same purpose.
Men came in fast during 1863, but fast as they might come, even faster, did that gigantic demon. War, destroy them, and then call for more. On the 20th of November, Mr. P. W. Perry,
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who had done so much in raising the companies, was appoint- ed recruiting officer for the city. Through the fall and winter, the ladies worked on in their glorious mission, and many a weary heart. under Southern skies, was made glad by their handiwork.
The wild charges of the First Heavy, brought sorrow to many a home in Ellsworth and her sister towns, for many of the bravest soldiers in that noble regiment, were from Hancock County. But the people were not frightened by a few of their friends being killed. In one family, of four boys, one was on the "Cumber- land," when she went down; one was killed at the Wilderness; one wounded at Port Hudson, and the last hired and sent a volunteer in his place. The season of 1864, was really the quiet- est of any during the war, in Ellsworth. In the spring of '65, the town began to feel the heavy pull, that the war had made on her finances, and at a town . meeting, it was decided to pay the bounty to volunteers, in town notes, bearing interest. So high was the credit of the town, notwithstanding the lack of ready money, that the notes were easily disposed- off at face value. After this, it was decided to pay four hundred dollars bounty, to all men who would volunteer before the draft was made. As may be supposed, many took advantage of the liberal offer, and enrolled their names. A committee was appointed to recruit, and on that committee were Captain Isaac Frazier, Mr. P. W. Perry and Eugene Hale, (now U. S. Senator).
When the news of the fall of Richmond was received, the towns people evinced great joy; in faot, they were so happy that they could express their joy in no way except by extravagant celebration. Bells were rung, and old men were seen dancing about in front of stores, and in like manner showing how pleased they were with the glorious news.
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