USA > Maine > Eastern Maine and the rebellion: being an account of the principal local events in eastern Maine during the war.. > Part 3
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Col. Chas. D. Jameson will forthwith promulgate this order throughout his command, and all detached companies in this Di- vision, all of which, will be held in a constant state of readiness, prepared to carry into effect any subsequent order that may be issued by the Commander-in-chief.
Artillery Companies will hold themselves in readiness to serve as Infantry.
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To this end he will cause to be promptly filled any and all va- cancies of officers that now exist, and such as may happen from time to time within his connnand, without further orders from the Chief of Division.
The Major General, having appointed James Dunning, Esq .. of Bangor, Division Inspector, with the rank of Lieut. Colonel, and Charles E. Dole. Esq., of Brewer, and Jos. L. Smith, Esq .. of Old- town, Aides-de-Camps, with the rank of Major, and each having
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EASTERN MAINE AND THE REBELLION.
been duly commissioned as such, they will be obeyed and respected accordingly.
By Major General JAMES H. BUTLER.
THOS. HERSEY, Division Quartermaster, Acting Orderly Aid.
This corpulent but patriotic document was productive of others, Order No. 2 reading as follows :
STATE OF MAINE.
FIRST DIVISION V. M. M. HEADQUARTERS, BANGOR, April 24th, 1861. Division Order No. 2.
To Charles D. Jameson, commanding First Regiment, First In- fantry.
You will forthwith promulgate throughout your command the foregoing order, and cause it to be carried into effect immediately, and with the utmost energy. By order of the Major General. CHARLES E. DOLE, Aide-de-Camp.
HEADQUARTERS FIRST REG., FIRST DIV., V. M. M., BANGOR, April 24th, 1861.
Pursuant to the foregoing Division Order, No 2, commanders of companies attached to this Regiment, tendering their services to. the Commander-in-chief, will forthwith recruit their companies to the requisite number, and report the same to me, when they will be immediately ordered into camp of instruction.
C. D. JAMESON, Col. 1st Regiment V. M. M.
During this time the other cities and towns in Eastern Maine were equally busy; Calais voted to raise 85,000 in addition to $2,000 already given, and Messrs. Pike, Chase, Peabody, Whitney and Robbins were made a committee. Atkinson raised a flag pole, ninety-two feet in height, and on that occasion had music from the Charleston Band. Speeches were made by J HI. Rams-
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dell, C. Brown and F. M. Marden. Brewer gave the same day 83.000.
Oldtown voted 85,000, while Brewer also in one day sub- scribed $1,200 for a relief fund. Hampden had some grand rallies. On one occasion at Nealey's Corner, where a liberty pole was raised, the drummer-so the paper stated-" was a young lady who handled the sticks with science and enthusiasm." In another part of the town, Hon. Hannibal Hamlin addressed a meeting, saying: "While I deplore the sad condition of my country, yet I say there should be no temporizing, no going back in this contest between Law and Order, and Anarchy and Treason. I am willing to lay down my life should the sacrifice be necessary." 1 At Exeter on a similar occasion, speeches were made by A. C. Smith, B. H. Mace and Thomas Garnsey, of Bangor, Lewis Bar- ker of Stetson and others, and it was then Resolved-"That flinging our National banner to the breeze, we pledge ourselves to maintain its honor unsullied and to pray, pay or fight for the Union."
Resolved-"That he who is not for us is against us." Corinth was wide awake, and in one day 54 men enlisted there. John Morrison subscribed 81,000 for families of volunteers, and tendered the country the use of a six horse team. Ellsworth turned out one thousand strong April 20th, and listened to speeches by Arno Wiswell, J. S. Rice, Charles Hamlin, T. C. Woodman and N. K. Sawyer.
Resolved-"That we hold to-day the same contempt and scorn for Tories and Traitors of the North. as did our fathers those of 1776." There was a big Union meeting in Foxcraft, on the 27th, presided over by Hon. A. M. Robinson, with Joseph Chase, Hon. Thomas Pullen, Hon. Orias Blanchard, Plynn Clark, Timothy Hasseltine, Jas. M. Weymouth, Maj. C. H. B. Woodbury, Charles E. Kimball, Steadman Kendall, P. H. Rice, Hon. Nimrod Hinds
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and Stephen Drake as vice-presidents. Many speeches were made and strong resolutions adopted. While there, the Corinth Band voted to furnish music for tlag raisings free at "any place this side of New Orleans. Houlton, Frankfort, Winterport, and in fact about all the towns held meetings with which nearly all the people were in full accord.
CHAPTER IV.
States Rights Men, Timid Men and Copperheads-The Stars And Stripes Every- where-Forming of The First Regiment-Captain Chaplin's Company Organize -- Arrival of The Castine Company-A Grand Military Display-Forming of The Second Regiment. Complete List of Officers-A Sketch of Each Company.
There was in this section, as well as in other parts of the North, a class of men known as "States Rights Men," who held to the idea that the South should be allowed to withdraw from the Union if they chose. Some of them no doubt were honest in their belief ; others joined them thinking it better that a separa- tion take place and thus avoid civil war, while still others, filled with a bitter hatred of Lincoln and his party, gave their sympathy and, during the long war which followed, 'substantial aid to the enemy. Many of the States Rights men and the timid ones afterwards marched to the " step of the Union," but the remainder, known as "Copperheads," continued to give their support all through the dark days to those seeking to overthrow the republic. These men and their families became marked people, were ostra- cized and ignored by the loyal sons and daughters of Eastern
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Maine, and were made to feel, in various ways, that they were held in great contempt by the masses. In these times of peace it is hardly possible to realize to what a state of excitement our business men, as well as the mothers, wives and daughters of the city, were wrought. There was a maina for displaying the stars and stripes, and the absence of the red, white and blue, in or about a dwelling or store, made the place conspicuous, and at once stamped those controlling it as disloyal. The fever was caught by the children of our schools, and many of the little ones went daily to their studies, wearing, in some shape, the colors of the Union. April 25th, the young ladies connected with the High School, raised a flag in Abbott Square, and the attendance at the time seems to show the enthusiasm of the people. The Bangor Band was there and played national tunes, and between these J. J. Wingate's Flying Artillery fired salutes. The roar of cannon in those days seems to have been like the tunes of the band, sweet music to the ear.
The affair in Abbott Square took place at noon. At one o'clock the spectators, band and Artillery, marched down to the Penobscot Exchange, where Mr. Abram Woodward dis- played the national flag, and speeches were made by Geo. W. Ladd and others. At two o'clock the same day, Mr. Chaplin's new company turned out, sixty-four strong, and marched to the head of Court street, where another flag was given to the April breeze, and speeches were made by A. W. Paine, Esq., J. W. Perkins and others. That day W. A. Blake, A. M. Roberts and Major Hayford raised flags, as did many others.
The State officials were very busy. It had been decided that the first regiment from Maine should be taken from Portland and the second from Bangor. Accordingly five Portland, two Lewis- ton companies, and one each from the towns of Auburn, Norway
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and Kittery were formed into what was known as the First Regiment, and orders were sent from Washington to hold them- selves in readiness to march to Boston on Monday, the 29th. This was a disappointment to the Bangor men, who were fill- ed with the commendable desire to be the first in the field, but although they were disappointed in this, it will be seen they were ahead of the First at the finish.
On the 25th of April, Chaplin's Company of volunteers was organized with full ranks. They chose the following officers : Captain, Daniel Chaplin: 1st Lieut., A. P. Wilson ; 2d Lieut., Warren H. Boynton. They then sent the roll to the Governor and anxiously awaited United States orders. At this time they were in camp at the State Arsenal on Essex street, and with them were Capt. Emerson's company, the "Bangor Light Infantry," and Ex-Tiger and Amory Associates."
These formed the skeleton of what was afterwards the famous Second Maine. On Saturday, April 27th, the "Castine Light In- fantry, 70 men, marched to Bucksport, where they were taken on board the steamer " M. Sanford" and brought to Bangor. They were under the command of Capt. S. K. Devreaux, and fourth Lieutenant, J. B. Wilson, the other positions not being filled. The Sanford was handsomely decorated with national flags, and, on her arrival was grected with cheers from the immense crowd on the wharf. The "Bangor Light Infantry," "Grattan Guards," with the "Ex-Tiger and Amory Associates," all under the command of Major C. W. Roberts, and headed by the Bangor Band, the whole forming a solid body of near- ly 400 men, did escort duty, and amid the booming of cannon, the cheering by the excited throng which followed, and the waving of banners, marched to the Arsenal. Up to this time the "Queen City" had never witnessed so warlike a display.
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It stirred the already heated blood of many a youngster, and large additions were made that day on the rolls in the various re- cruiting offices. The company from Castine was joined the next day by twenty additional members, and was the largest on the field
Other companies were added until there were sufficient to form what was to be known as the Second Maine, and the following is the return of original Field and Staff officers, as well as commis- sioned and non-commissioned officers of each company:
CHARLES D. JAMESON, Colonel.
CHARLES W. ROBERTS, Lieut. Colonel.
GEORGE VARNEY, Major.
JOHN E. REYNOLDS, Adjutant.
CHARLES V LORD, Quartermaster.
W. H. ALLEN, Surgeon.
AUGUSTUS C. HAMLIN, Asst. Surgeon.
JOHN F. MINES, Chaplain.
LUTHER A. PIERCE, Quarter Master's Sergeant.
EDWARD L. APPLETON, Sergeant Major.
ALDEN L. PALMER, Hospital Steward.
COMPANY A., SECOND MAINE.
Commissioned Officers .- Hermon Bartlett, Rinaldo B. Wiggin, James Deaneo.
Sergeants .- John Q. A. Lancey, Charles J. Hall, Charles W. B. Miller, William J. Deaneo.
Corporals .- Hartsorn P. Crowell, John C. Harmon, Samuel B. Hinckley, Warren H. Orcott.
COMPANY B.
Commissioned Officers .- Seth K. Deveraux, Charles W. Tilden, David D. Wardwell.
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BRIG .- GEN. CHAS. D. JAMESON.
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Sergeants .- James C. Collins, Elisha S. Perkins, Geo. I. Brown, Joseph H. Sylvester.
Corporals .- Geo. E. Noyes, Richard Tibbetts, Simeon C. Murch, Charles Bridges.
COMPANY C.
. Commissioned Officers .- Elisha N. Jones, John K. Skinner, Eli- phalet S. Morrill.
Sergeants .- William R. Currier, Francis P. Hall, James Nichol- son, Lincoln Graves.
Corporals-James M. Simpson, Cyrus Swett, Edwin Currier, Charles W. Merrill.
COMPANY D.
Commissioned Officers .- John S. Sampson, Walter W. Sturte- vant, Sumner R. Kittredge.
Sergeants .- Samuel V. Millett, Stephen D. Millett, James P. Kittredge, John H. Kittredge.
Corporals .- Richard A. Monroe, Lewis R. Haskell, John R. Stanchfield, Charles S. Leonard.
COMPANY E.
Commissioned Officers .- Levi Emerson, James W. Adams, Ly- man E. Richardson.
Sergeants .- Thomas Foster, James L. Rowe, Colin L. Downes, John J. Randall.
Corporals .- Henry M. Cushman, Edwin L. Sterling, Ruel S. Clark, Hiram B. French.
COMPANY F.
Commissioned Officers .- Daniel Chaplin, Albion P. Wilson Warren H. Boynton.
Sergeants .- George W. Brown, Benjamin D. Whitney, Arthur C. Whitcomb, Charles Able.
Corporals .- George F. Whitney, Thomas H. Wooster, John S. Small, Jeremiah B. Atkins.
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COMPANY G.
Commissioned Officers .- Frederick Meinicke, Augustus Farn- ham, Frank A. Garnsey.
Sergeants .- George E. Holt, Albert M. Jackson, Horatio Sta- ples, Joseph B. Forbes.
Corporals .- Stover B. Gross, Seth B. Ramsdell, John B. York, David Reevil.
COMPANY H.
Commissioned . Oficers .- Daniel F. Sargent, Edward L. Getchell, Ralph W. Morse.
Sergeants .- William H. S. Lawrence, Daniel Quimby, Jr., William P. Holden, Christopher S. Gorham.
Corporals .- Charles Smith, Elbridge F. Haskell, Henry Schmell, Wm. H. Johnson.
COMPANY I.
Commissioned Officers .- John Carroll, Henry Casey, Miles J. Sweeney. .
Sergeants .- Richard Kelleher, Patrick J. Farrell, Michael Crow- ley, Henry Granville.
Corporals .- Peter Mogan, William Twomey, William H. Boyce, Dennis Mahoney.
COMPANY K.
Commissioned Officers .- Fernando C. Foss, Albert G. Fellows, Albert L. Cowan.
Sergeants .- John C. Quimby, William H. Hanson, George A. McLellan, Daniel Staples.
Corporals .- Charles J. Ellis, Americus W. Moore, Joseph A. Burlingham, Morison J. Folsom.
Company "A" contained eighty-one privates, thirty-seven of them being natives of Bangor, the balance coming from sur- rounding towns.
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Company "B" was the Castine company, and contained six- ty-five privates, four being from Bangor, while nearly all the rest came from Castine and towns along the coast.
Company "C" had sixty-one privates and two musicians, eleven being from Bangor. This company represented through its privates no less than twenty-four towns in the State. The first death that occurred in the regiment was that of Lorenzo Benner, a member of this company, a native of Palermo, this State, who died June 3d. Company " D" was the Milo company. All the officers and the single musician were from that town, as were also thirty-five of the eighty-four privates, the balance coming from adjoining places. They were large and finely formed men, inured to toil, and therefore well fitted for the hardships of the campaign upon which they were about to enter. Company "E," the first to enlist in Bangor, had ninety-one privates, new men having been taken in after the original company had been accepted. Company "F" had eighty-three privates, but only thirteen were Bangorians. . This was the company raised by Capt. Chaplain in forty-eight hours, and in it were represented : Aurora, Hampden, Hermon, Carmel, Exeter, Veazie, Eddington, Bradford, Kenduskeag, Etna, Pittsfield, Glenburn, Leavant, Dixmont, Brewer, Winterport, Stetson, Bradley, Oldtown, New- port and Freedom, showing that the country lads were coming in from all directions at the time the company was formed. Com- pany "G" had eighty-seven privates, forty being from Bangor as were also all of its officers. Company "H" had eighty-six privates, forty-six being from Bangor and twenty-three from Old- town. Save Capt. Sargent all the officers were from Bangor. Company " I" was a Bangor company in every sense of the word. All officers were from that city, while of the eighty five stalwarts who marched away, forty eight elaimed the Queen City as their ,
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home. Of the remainder, Bradley, Veazie, New York, Lincoln, Carmel and Etna furnished one each; Milford two; Portland eleven; Houlton eight, while the remainder are not credited to any town.
Company "K" was a miscellaneous collection of seventy-eight privates, about forty-three cities and towns being represented, while its officers were from Bangor, Oldtown and Stillwater. . The whole force of the Second Maine when they marched away, was:
Field and Staff Officers, -
11
Commissioned Officers,
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30
Sergeants,
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- 40
Corporals,
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40
Musicians,
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11
Privates,
840
Total,
972
CHAPTER V.
The Second Maine In Camp-How The Men Lived-Preparations For A South- ern "Tour"-Wheelwright & Clark Contract To Furnish Uniforms-The Women Give Substantial Aid-Extracts From The Daily Press-What Each Soldier Had-The Camp On Essex Street -- Military Ardor In Business Circles -Red, White And Blue Letter Paper-Odd Advertisements-Linen Ilandker- chiefs And Bandages-The Regiment Ordered To The Front.
. Near the Arsenal on Essex street, barracks were erected for a portion of the troops, while others slept in the building which was lined along its sides with rude bunks. Each company had a com- pany cook, and was supplied with provisions by the State. The
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officers had as caterer, an old and well known citizen of Bangor, named Murray. who owned for many years a famous restaurant. The men were kept well in hand, and, under the instructions of capable drill masters, made rapid progress. Adjutant John Rey- nolds was a proficient military man in those days, and he took charge of nine companies, while Lient. Palmer drilled Capt. Emer- son's company. Few of the men had any idea of what was in store for them, yet they were anxious to learn, having a desire to make a good showing in the large cities which they expected to visit during their three months' "tour."
While. they were thus engaged in perfecting themselves, Gov. Washburn and other State officials were very busy in providing clothing and arms. The firm of Wheelwright & Clark took a contract for uniforms, which were made of stout cadet grey, simi- lar in color to that worn by the Confederates. As it afterwards proved, this similarity of appearance caused many awkward mis- takes on the field of battle, as enemies often mingled together, or were near each other, each supposing themselves to be in the pres- ence of their comrades. Messrs. Wheelwright & Clark sub-let contracts to all the tailors in the city, hired all available help, and then gave the balance to the lady volunteers sewing at City Hall. Ilere many of the leading women of Bangor gathered day after day. The hall was divided into sections, each being placed in charge of some competent person, and, by a tacit understanding, the money paid them was used to provide articles deemed necess- ary for the soldiers, but not furnished by the State.
A local in the Whig & Courier said : "There are thirty-two hundred garments, besides beds, &c., to be made for our soldiers. At the present rate of progress, more than a fortnight must elapse before the work is finished, and yet there are a large number of ladies at work, and some of those who began early are nearly sick
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with the labor and care which they have assumed. We are pur- suaded that this fact needs only to be known, to inspire hundreds of hearts in this city, and the neighboring towns, to offer their ready and willing help in the crisis."
" We presume it is understood that very good pay is offered by the Government for the making of flannel shirts, and, although this work is largely given out to the poor, yet more remain to be done than can be hired."
"Many more volunteers will be welcome to work at the City Hall, to work on cotton flannel shirts and drawers, the pants first designed to be made there having been withdrawn-and probably other halls in the city could easily be obtained for the purpose, if the City Hall should be full."
The State provided for each private, 1 cap and pompon, 1 eagle and ring, 1 pair trousers, 1 coat, 2 pairs grey flannel drawers and shirts, 1 pair shoes, 1 overcoat, 1 blanket, 1 knapsack with straps, 1 canteen with straps and 1 haversack ; and one sash was allowed to the orderly of each company. No provision was made for uni- forms for commissioned officers ; they were allowed to draw from the Quartermaster's department, having the same charged to them.
Of course the camp of the regiment was an attractive spot, not only for the relatives and friends of the volunteers, but for the citizens in general and the small boy in particular. Each pleasant day large crowds gathered, and with much interest watched the movements of the men, witnessed the drill, and many an admiring glance was given the stalwart youths as they saunter- ed to and fro before their barracks, clad in their smart uni- forms. When an oficer, dressed in his new suit came down town, he at once became the centre of an admiring throng, and many of the stay-at-homes envied him. Alas! Many of them were
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never seen again, for before that summer had ended their bodies lay in unknown graves, or wasted away in rebel prisons.
Not only was the display warlike out on Essex street, but a military ardor prevaded the business and even the domestic circles. Men talked war, clamored for haste on the part of the Govern- ment, and even in the advertisements in the daily press the war was made a prominent feature. Here are some samples of ad- vertising:
" The steamer M. Sanford will transport troops and munitions of war, and any authorized agents on business connected there- with, between Bangor and Boston, and all intermediate landings, free of charge." LOOMIS TAYLOR, Agt. * * *
"Red, White and Blue note paper for sale by,
E. F. DUREN." *
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"Envelopes with the United States Flag printed upon them for sale by, E. F. DUREN.
F. Meinecke headed an advertisment, "Victory or Death," and announced that he should dispose of his stock of embroidery cheap as he was "Going To War!"
Messrs. Stickney and Roberts declare the "Spirit of '76 still lives;" Thomas A. White had bales of "Mixed Twilled Flannel " for the army; Stone & Tenney say they are "Reinforced and Provisioned;" S. C. Hatch asks all to "Stand By The Flag;" while many other merchants employed cuts to attract attention and establish their loyalty. The following special notice will show . that the boys of the Second Maine were given the best of everything.
"Ladies who are disposed to donate handkerchiefs, (all linen) and towels, for the use of the volunteers, are requested to leave
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them with the ladies of the Sewing Circle, over the store of Charles Hale, 24 Main street, at any time during the week."
There was also donated to the regiment, one to each man, offi- cer and private alike, a little package not pleasant to contemplate, being suggestive of the grim side of war. These were known as "Pledgets" and "Bandages." The former was a piece of old linen or soft cotton, twelve or fifteen inches square, while the bandages consisted of a package of linen of the following shapes :
4 bandages 1 inch wide and 1 yard long,
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66 - 5
66
4 7 66 . Many days did not pass before these came to be of use, for ere three months had rolled away, the men were hurled into a mighty battle-a battle of raw recruits, it is true -- yet one in which human blood flowed freely, some of it blood that carried with it the life spark, and which could not have been checked by all these neat packages of bandages, even had the fair ones who made them in the far off Northern home, been there to have applied them.
On Saturday, May 11th, orders were received for the Second Regiment to leave by rail on Tuesday, May 14th, for New York, and it was understood that it would at once proceed to Washing- ton. Gen. Hersey was commissioned as Paymaster, and on Mon- day paid the bounty money to the men. On the receipt of the order, the nature of which was quickly known throughout the city, the troops began preparations to leave. On Sunday, large numbers of our citizens gathered about Camp Washburn, while from the surrounding towns, relatives of the soldiers, as well as the curious, came in crowds. The city was full of strangers, and, as no one dreamed at that time of a long and bloody war. all were in a happy mood, save here and there some timid wife or loving
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mother, who, with sober face, talked of what "might happen." Many were the earnest prayers sent up to Him who held the des- tiny of the nation in His hand, by these loving ones, that all might return safe again, but, alas for them! All were not an- swered.
CHAPTER VI.
Off For The War-Presentation Of The Flag-Vice-President Hamlin's Address -Scenes At The Station-Reception At Augusta-The Trip To New York- A Grand Reception There-On Board The Transport-Measles Break Out- In Camp At Willett's Point-Trouble Regarding Enlistment Papers-On :To Washington.
The morning of May 14 was a cloudy one, and the heavy leaden banks along the horizon suggested rain. At 8 o'clock the Second Maine Regiment, which then as now, held a warm place in the heart of every Bangorian, took up its line of march from Camp Washburn. Headed by the Bangor Cornet Band they, with steady step and proud bearing, marched down Essex and into Broadway as far as the First Parish Church. From the starting point to the church they marched along a lane of sad but exciting humanity. Although our city was soon to see other exciting and sad days-days when staid old men rushed through the streets half mad and crying aloud for vengeance-she had never before in her history been so wrought up as on that May 14th. The time hal come. The war, heretofore, had been a thing of news, brought from a distance by the electric current and the mail. But
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