USA > Maine > Eastern Maine and the rebellion: being an account of the principal local events in eastern Maine during the war.. > Part 25
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CAPT. HENRY CROSBY.
At the time of his entering the army, Mr. Crosby was part owner, and superintendent, of a paper mill in Hampden, the place of his birth. From the commencement he took a strong interest in everything pertaining to the war, and his first im- pulse was to enlist among the foremost men who entered the ser- vice But being prevented by private duties, of paramount im- portance, he gave his immediate attention to aid in raising the quotas of his town. When, however, in 1862. the call for troops for nine months, was made, he obtained the necessary recruit- ing papers, and in a few days enlisted the town's quota, of about sixty men, who with others from neighboring towns, were organ- ized into a company, of which he was unanimously elected Cap-
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tain. This company being the first organized, to report at the muster in, of the Twenty-Second Regiment, at Bangor, became Company A. From the time he was mustered in at Bangor, until his death, before Port Hudson, he remained with his company. His brief career in the army, is, therefore, comprised in the history of the Twenty-Second Regiment. Though not favored by the fortunes of the war, with many opportunities for the dis- play of courage and bravery in battle, there were not wanting daily opportunities for the exhibition of virtues more rare. Ac- cepting the command of his company, as a position imposing responsibilities. rather than as conferring privileges, he considered it to be his duty to relieve his men, as far as possible, of the hard- ships and privations, incident to camp life. Capt. Crosby was struck by a musket ball in the side, early in the morning of June 11th, 1863, while leading his company, in a reconnoissance before Port Hudson. He lived until the next morning, and dying, left as a legacy to his mourning comrades, his last words : " It is a glorious cause to die for."
Dr. Lincoln, chaplain of the regiment, in writing of the de- ceased to the Bangor Whig, paid a well merited tribute of respect to his memory, when he said: " In the death of Capt. Crosby, we lost one of our best officers, and one of the noblest of men." He was frank, large hearted, and true, like a father in his company, and universally beloved. He had won the confidence of his superiors, as a military man, and only the day before he was wounded, Gen. Banks had offered him the command of a colored regiment. But he had borne his part, and his work was done. Brave and faithful to the last, he fell at the head of his company, leading forward his men. His remains were entombed in New Orleans, but were finally brought home, and found their final resting place in his native town.
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DR. A. C. HAMLIN,
Of Bangor, commenced his military career by enlisting at his own sole expense, in Company H, Second Regiment Infantry. He entered the service as Assistant Surgeon, in April, 1861, and served with the above named regiment in the first Bull Run cam- paign. In April, 1862, he was appointed Brigade Surgeon, and served with the Army of the Potomac, in the Campaign of the Peninsula. up to the battle of Williamsburg, after the fall of York- town. He was then transferred to Fremont's Army, in North Virginia, and assigned as Chief Surgeon of the advance guard, and served in all the actions of the campaign, which ended with the battle of Cross Keys. Subsequently, he was chief of the fly- ing hospital of the Army of Virginia, serving in all the actions commencing with the battle of Cedar Mountain, and closing with the battle of Bull Run. He was next assigned a Medical Director of the Eleventh Corps, and retained that position until the battle of Fredericksburg, when he was appointed Medical Inspector of the regular army, and assigned, in the spring of 1863, to the charge of the hospital at Washington. In June following, Dr. Hamlin became Inspector of the Army of the South, operating against Charleston, and participated in the assault against Fort Wagner. In November, he was assigned to the Inspection of the Department of Washington, and served in that capacity until No- vember, 1864, when he was appointed Medical Inspector to the army of Major General Thomas, commanding the Military Divis- ion of the Mississippi, in which position he remained until mus- tered out of service, November, 1865. Dr. Hamlin served in the several campaigns of Generals McDowell, MeClellan, Fremont, Siegel, Pope, Burnside, Hooker, in Virginia; Gilmore in the South ; and Thomas in the South-west. His record proves him to have been an active and invaluable officer.
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LIEUT. GEORGE W. GRANT,
Of Ellsworth, was in the navy at the commencement of the war, and was on board of the "Cumberland," when she sank, barely escaping with his life. He was afterwards mustered in- . to the U. S. Service, August 21st, 1862, as Second Lieutenant of Company C, Eighteenth Regiment Infantry, afterwards First Maine Heavy Artillery, in which he was promoted to be First Lieutenant. He fell, mortally wounded, in the engagement which his regiment and others had, with General Ewell's Corps, in Virginia, May 19th, and died May 27th, 1864. Lieut. Grant was a gallant officer, and one of the bravest of men. His re- mains were taken to Ellsworth for interment.
BREV. BRIG. GEN. CHARLES D. GILMORE.
This eminent officer, a resident of Bangor, enlisted in the ranks August 10th, 1861, and was commissioned and mustered Captain of Company C, Seventh Regiment, August 21st, 1861. He served with that regiment in the Army of the Potomac, until the 9th day of August, 1862, when he was promoted to Major of the Twentieth Regiment. He was further promoted to Lieut. Col., May 20th, 1862, and to Colonel of the same regiment, June 18th, 1862. He was, also, breveted Brigadier General, to rank from February 6th, 1865, for long and meritorious service, and for gallant conduct in the battle of Hatcher's Run. While Cap- tain in the Seventh Regiment, he was severely wounded by a shell, at the battle of Lee's Mills, April 16th, 1862.
At the battle of Hatcher's Run. February 6th, 1865. the ad- vanced line was forced back, and Col. Gilmore was captured by the enemy. A new line of battle having been formed, which stopped a further advance of the enemy, the Colonel made his
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escape, by running from the enemy's lines to his own brigade, under a severe fire of the contending armies. On the 7th of December, 1863, Col. Gilmore was detailed by the War De- partment, as a member of a general court martial, convened in Washington, of which Gen. Robert B Mitchell was President. He was retained on this duty until October, 1864. when, being relieved, he joined his command in front of Petersburg. On the 22d of February, 1865, he was ordered by the Secretary of War, to report in person to the Adjutant General, at Washing- ton, when he was detailed, as a member of the military com- mission, of which Col. N. P. Chipman, was Judge Advocate. From his record in the War Department, it appears that Col. Gilmore participated with the Army of the Potomac, in nine- teen battles, and that he served with a high degree of fidelity, and with great credit to himself and State. By his own re- quest, after nearly four years' service, and the war having ter .. minated, he was honorably mustered out of the service, May 29th, 1865.
LIEUT. ISRAEL H. WASHBURN,
Of Orono, was one of the young men of Maine, who, from a con- viction of duty, when enlistments did not keep pace with the requirements of the service, came forward and encouraged patri- otic action, by enlisting in the Sixteenth Regiment. He was appointed Second Lieutenant, and afterward promoted to First Lieutenant. The first battle of his regiment was at Fredericks- burg, in December, 1862. and his gallant behavior on that occasion coming to the notice of Maj Gen. Berry, that lamented officer gave him a position on his staff. Resigning the service in June, 1863. he was subsequently appointed Lieutenant, in the U. S. Marine Corps, and was ordered to report on the U. S. Steamer Rhode Island, the Flag Ship of the West India Squadron.
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COL. GEORGE VARNEY.
This officer was mustered into service at Willett's Point, Long Island. N. Y., as Major of the Second Regiment, Maine Volun- teers, on the 28th of May, 1861, having previously served in the regiment in that capacity. August 29th, 1861, he was pro- moted Lieutenant Colonel. He took part in all the service of that command, until the 27th of June, 1862, when he was un- fortunately taken prisoner, at the battle of Gaines' Mills, very near the close of the fight, and incarcerated in Libby, Prison. until the 14th of August, at which time he was exchanged, and rejoined his regiment at Harrison's Landing. Lieut. Col. Var- ney's health at that time being much impaired, he was given leave of absence for twenty days, during which the regiment fought at the second battle of Bull Run. Rejoining his regiment about a week afterwards, he went through the Antietam campaign.
- Previous to the battle, Colonel Roberts being on leave of ab- sence, the command devolved upon Lieutenant Colonel Varney, and this he retained through the march from Harper's Ferry to Fredericksburg, in the battle at which latter place he was wound- ed. On the resignation of Col. Roberts, Lieut. Col. Varney was promoted to be Colonel, his commission dating February 5th, 1863; and as such was engaged in the battle of Chancellorsville. He was mustered out with his regiment June 9th, 1863, and im- mediately entered active business life, in which calling he is en- gaged to-day.
CAPT. FRANCIS W. SABINE,
Was born in Bangor, August 7th, 1839. He entered Bowdoin College in 1855, and graduated four years afterwards, when he entered upon the study of law, which he was prosecuting when the nation was aroused to arms, in 1861. Imbued with patriot-
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ic feelings, he at once abandoned his studies, and enlisted in the Eleventh Regiment of Volunteers, in which, when organized he was made Second Lieutenant of Company E, and subsequently First Lieutenant. In Mcclellan's Peninsula campaign, at the battle of Fair Oaks, as the commander of a detached picket line, he held position of great hazard, in advance of any other portion of the army. His behavior, on that occasion, won for him honorable distinction for his gallant conduct. During the campaign he was advanced to the grade of Captain, and taken from his company, where there was no vacancy, and commis- sioned in Company G. While his regiment was in the Depart- ment of the South, he held the position of Provost Mashal of Fernandina, and at various times acted as Judge Advocate. During Grant's memorable campaign, from the Rapidan to the James, his regiment formed a part of Butler's army. At the battle in which it was engaged at Deep Bottom, Capt. . Sabine was struck in the forehead, by a minnie ball, from the gun of a rebel sharp-shooter. He fell, with his sword raised, encourag- ing his soldiers to the attack. . His wound was apparently slight, though sufficiently severe, to compel him to leave the field, and for a time occasioned no particular alarm. But in a few days, his symptoms assumed a more alarming type; his friends were sent for, and attended upon him during his few remaining days. He died at Chesapeake Hospital, Fortress Monroe, September 17th, 1864. His remains were brought to Bangor, and buried in the family cemetery at Mount Hope.
The regimental commander, in a tribute to his memory, says : "Through all the active service of the regiment, Capt. Sabine was with it, and one of its most efficient and respected officers, in every capacity in which he served, as Provost Marshal, Judge Advocate of Courts Martial, or Advocate for the accused, before
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the same, and, as commanding officer, he won an enviable reputa- tion in the army, for ability, integrity and gallantry. The ability which he displayed, and the success which attended him, as advocate before the military courts, gave sure promise of high rank and a distinguished career for him. in his chosen pro- fession of the law, had he lived. As a commanding officer, he had no superior of his grade, and few of any grade; his bus- iness capacity, his aptness for command, his high sense of honor, his genial disposition and courteous bearing toward all, secured for him the entire confidence and respect of his superiors, and the love and devotion of his men; a devotion which only the truly gifted can win from brave hearts."
As a man and a Christian, none have stood higher in the regards of the community, among whom he had his home, or wherever, for a time, his lot happened to be cast. A deep vein of religious feeling and liberal Christianity seemed to permeate his whole being, constantly exhibiting itself, as a ruling principal of thought and action. His friends have the proud satisfaction of knowing that the principles of life, which he cultivated at home, he carried with him, and maintained unimpaired in the camp, as in the sanctuary; in the conflict of the field, as in the peaceful avoca- tions of business.
LIEUT. COL. DANIEL F. SARGENT.
The material at hand for a biographical sketch of this brave officer is very scant. He commenced his military experience as Captain of Company G, Second Maine Infantry, in which capacity he proved himself an efficient officer, and was highly esteemed by his command. On the promotion of Major Chaplain, to the com- mand of the Eighteenth Infantry. or First Maine Heavy Artillery,
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Capt. Sargent was commissioned to fill the vacancy. He was engaged with his regiment in the battle of Manassas, (second Bull Run so-called), in which he displayed especial gallantry Col. Roberts, being at that time in command of the brigade, and Lieut. Col. Varney having been taken prisoner, Maj. Sargent led the Second Maine into and out of the battle in splendid style, and although wounded early in the action, refused to forsake his com- mand until the conclusion of the engagement. Upon the resigna- tion of Col. Roberts, Maj. Sargent received the promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, and as such was mustered out with his regi- ment on the expiration of their term of service. He subsequently received a Captain's commission, in the District of Columbia Cav- alry, and was with that regiment in its early scenes of trial, until in one of its most severe engagements, he was fatally wounded. He was, in all respects, an energetic, faithful and efficient officer.
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COL. AUGUSTUS B. FARNHAM,
Was commissioned First Lieutenant, of Company H, Second Maine Regiment, May 13th, 1861; Captain, September 14th, 1861 ; was commissioned Major, Sixteenth Regiment, August 9th, 1862; Lieutenant Colonel, February 5th, 1863; mustered Febru- ary 16th, following; May 8th, 1863, Lieutenant Colonel Farn- ham was appointed by General Robinson, Inspector General and Chief of Staff, Second Division, and subsequently to the same position on Third Division Staff, Fifth Corps, by General Craw- ford, which position he held until wounded at Five Forks, Vir- ginia, April 1st, 1865. He was breveted Colonel for gallant and meritorious services at battles of Gravelly Run and Five Forks, Virginia, April 1st. 1865. Mustered out, June 5th, 1865. Colonel Farnham, while leading the front line of his division in the charge
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of the Fifth Corps. at the battle of Five Forks, received a bullet in the lungs, about one and one-half inches from the heart, and fell from his horse; the latter was shot through the jaw, through both hind legs, and in the rump. The Colonel lay on the field until the next morning, when men carried him to the house of a Mr. Moody, the inmates of which rendered him such assistance and attention as was possible, for nearly a month, when a detach- ment of the Sixteenth, under command of Lieutenant George D. Bisbee of Company C, carried him six miles through the woods to the railroad station, whence he was conveyed by rail to Peters- burg, Virginia, thence to City Point and Washington, and placed in Armory Square Hospital, under charge of Surgeon Bliss. He lay at the point of death for weeks; was finally carried to his home in Bangor, Maine, and months elapsed before he recovered a sufficient degree of health to resume business duties. During all his suffering and severe hemorrhages, which occasionally have occured to the present time, Col. Farnham has shown the same quiet fortitude which won for him the love and esteem of his com- rades in the field.
Col. Farnham has, for many years, acceptably filled the office of Postmaster at Bangor, but with the change of administration, must of course, come a change in the office. He was succeeded by Capt. Fred A. Cummings, of whom a portrait and sketch are given in this book.
BREV. BRIG. GEN. CHARLES HAMLIN.
Before entering the service, this officer was engaged in promot- ing enlistments, in which he was highly successful, when at length, yielding to his patriotic impulses; he enrolled his name as a soldier for the war. On the 21st of August, 1862, he was com-
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BREVET BRIG .- GEN. CHARLES HAMLIN.
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missioned Major of the Eighteenth Regiment of Volunteers, after- wards the First Regiment Heavy Artillery. While engaged in enlisting men for the field, he raised a large part of two companies for that regiment. On the arrival of his regiment at Washington, he had charge of seven companies of the Eighteenth, which were employed in felling trees, near Fort De Russy, and making abatis for the fortifications of the National Capitol. north of the Potomac. While the regiment was stationed at Fort Alexandria, now known as Fort Sumner. he was placed in command of Fort Franklin. Resigning his regimental commission, May 2d, the following year, to accept the commission as Major, and Assistant Adjutant Gen- eral, which had been bestowed upon him, he was assigned to duty on the staff of the lamented Maj. Gen. Hiram G. Berry, com- manding the Second Division, Third A. C., known as " Hooker's Old Division." Serving in this capacity until the Third Corps was broken up, and consolidated with the Second Corps, he was assigned to duty as Assistant Inspector of Artillery, on the staff of Maj. Gen. A. P. Howe, Inspector of Artillery, U. S. A., remaining on duty until leaving the service, save dur- ing the months of July and August, 1864, the time being when Gen. Howe relieved Gen. Sigel. At that time he commanded the military district of Harper's Ferry. He was breveted Lieu- tenant Colonel, June 1Sth. and Colonel and Brigadier General, September 28th. for faithful and meritorious services, to date from March 13th, 1863. In all the engagements in which his gallant division participated, from Chancellorsville to the cam- paign of 1864, he bore an honorable part, devoting himself with characteristic earnestness and fidelity to the work which de- volved upon him.
At the battles of Gettysburg, Wapping Heights, Kelly's Ford, James City, McLean's Ford, Locust Grove, Mine Run, Mor
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ton's Ford, and other places at which his division met the enemy, he never shrank from danger, but met it with a moral courage and coolness,, that gained him the approbation of his superior officers. In the official report of the battle of Gettys- burg, at which his division suffered a loss of over forty per cent., the severest of the war, Maj. Gen. A. A. Humphrey, command- ing the Second Division, Third A. C., thus refers to the subject of this sketch: "It was near dark, and the contest for the day was closed. Its severity may be judged, by the fact, that the killed, wounded and missing of my division, five thousand strong, were two thousand and eighty-eight, (2,0)88) of whom one hun- dred and seventy (170) were officers, and one thousand nine hundred and seventeen, (1,917) enlisted men. The missing num- bered three officers, and two hundred and sixty-three enlisted men, the greater part of whom were wounded, though some were killed. The fortunes of war rarely places troops under more trying circumstances than those in which my division found itself on this day, and it is greatly to their honor, that their soldierly bearing sustained the high reputation they had already won, in the severest battles of the war. The fine quali- ties of many officers were brought out conspicuously. In some instances, their gallant conduct, fell under my own observa- tion. I beg leave to express my sense of the obligations I am under, for valuable services rendered me in the field, by Major Charles Hamlin, Assistant Adjutant General."
In a private letter, dated December 17th, 1863, from the late Brig. Gen. William Blaisdell, commanding First Brigade, Second Division, Third A. C., to Hon. Noah Smith, of Calais, that dis- tinguished officer pays a handsome voluntary tribute, to the gallantry and capabilities of Gen. Hamlin. Other testimonials, of a like character, were given by Generals Humphrey, Brewster,
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Carr and Caldwell, when informed that he would be presented for promotion to the rank of Colonel of a regiment of infan- try, then forming in Maine. In referring to this matter, Gen. Humphrey writes Major Hamlin, "that he would be very glad to see him at the head of a regiment from Maine."
He says : " Having served under my command, as Assistant Adjutant General of the Second Division, Third Corps, I have had the opportunity of learning how zealous, intelligent and effi- cient you were in the arduous duties imposed on you at all times, and especially in the campaign of Gettysburg, the severest I have yet experienced. I shall esteem myself as fortunate, if I can aid you in any way to advancement, since I consider it my duty to assist forward those of my command, who faithfully performed their duty."
Gen. Wm. R. Brewster, commanding Second Division, Third Corps, thus writes to his Excellency, Gov. Cony: " Major Ham- lin has been for some time connected with this division, as its Assistant Adjutant General, and by his uniform good conduct on the field, his close attention to his duties, has won the re- spect of all, and it gives me great pleasure to bear witness of his capacity, and soldierly qualifications, for the position for which he aspires. He is a gentleman of unimpeachable character and agreeable address, and it is the influence and exertion of men like him, that contributes to elevate the tone and standard of the volunteer service " Brig. Gen. Joseph B. Carr, in his let- ter to Gov. Cony, of October 28th, 1863, recommending Major Hamlin, for promotion to Colonel, says: "Major Hamlin was assigned to the old veteran division in May, last. He partici- pated in all its movements up to the present time, and on sev- eral occasions distinguished himself as an excellent administrative officer, combined with cool and undaunted bravery."
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On his retiring from the service, a special order, compliment- ary to Gen. Hamlin, was issued by the General commanding.
BREV. MAJ. GEN. CYRUS HAMLIN,
. Was born in Hampden, Me., April 27th, 1839. His early educa- tion was received in the schools of that town, and at the Hampden Academy He afterwards attended the academies of Hebron, Bethel and Fryeburg, next entering Colby University. Here he remained one year, and then began the study of law. Being ad- mitted to the bar, he practised nearly two years at Kittery, Me., entering the service at the outbreak of the war. He was made an Aid-de-Camp on Gen. Fremont's Staff, and took the field at once in Western Virginia. He was in what was known as the "Moun- tain Department," and served through the campaign of the spring and summer of 1862, participating in the battles at Strasburg, New Market, Cross Keys, etc. In August, he was ordered to Maine on special duty, but rejoined Gen. Fremont in October.
In January, 1863, he was put on duty as mustering and disburs- ing officer, being stationed at New York, leaving this position to take an active part in the raising of colored troops, and was made a Colonel of a regiment in the Corps D'Afrique. At the same time, John F. Appleton was made Colonel of a similar regiment, these two officers being the first from Maine appointed to the command of colored troops. The following March he was placed in command of the Second Brigade, Second Division, Corps D'Afrique, at Port Hudson. December 3d, he was promoted to Brig. Gen. Volunteers.
In February, 1865, after the breaking up the corps of colored troops, Gen. Hamlin was assigned to the command of the district of Port Hudson, and in December following was most deservedly
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BREVET MAJ .- GEN. CYRUS HAMLIN.
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promoted to Brev. Major General of Volunteers, "for distinguished services during the war."
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