USA > Maine > Eastern Maine and the rebellion: being an account of the principal local events in eastern Maine during the war.. > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27
Such conduct, on the part of under officers and privates, could only have been inspired by the most gallant conduct of their
80
EASTERN MAINE AND THE REBELLION.
superior officers. At one time, when the regiment was forced to retire after a charge, Col. Jameson said to his men: "Who will go with me to the rescue of the wounded?" Six brave fellows followed him, into the very jaws of death. Little can you imagine how our hearts swell towards our brave boys, for their heroic conduct in this great fight. Our State has not been disgraced, whatever may have been the conduct of the officers of some other States. All honor to the Second Maine and its brave officers. The State owes them a debt of gratitude she can never repay. HAL.
The Times had a correspondent, "Faust," who wrote his paper as follows :
"All accounts agree that our Maine Regiments behaved well. This was especially the case with the Second Maine. Col. Jame- son led his regiment into action in gallant style, waving his sword over his head and rallying and encouraging his men in the bravest manner. So with Lieut. Col. Roberts. He showed the best kind of pluck, and maintained his self possession throughout." I hear most excellent reports of Adjutant John Reynolds, who, when the regiment got somewhat broken and confused in its desperate charge upon a battery, and mixed up with other disordered regi- ments, was heard above the din and noise shouting, "Second Regi- ment form in line!" "Second Regiment form in line!" and in this way succeeded in reforming a large number of his men.
A Washington correspondent of the Boston Journal thus speaks of the Second Maine : " This regiment was for a long time exposed to a hot fire. They were in Col. Keyes' brigade, and were in the column which pushed. its way across Bull's Run and drove the enemy back to Manassas. When the cavalry charges were made, when all was confusion, Col. Jameson rallied his men, or what was left of them, and they were the last to leave the field.
e
81
EASTERN MAINE AND THE REBELLION.
There were five of his soldiers wounded lying close up to the enemy's batteries He sent back twenty-five men to bring them off, and all these were taken prisoners. Before his retreat six of his men were lying on the field where they made a charge. Grape and canister from the enemy's batteries were sweeping across the place. Col Jameson called for volunteers to go with him and bring them off; six men stepped forward. They went up upon the run and came to two rebels, when Col. Jameson covered them with his revolvers, took them prisoners and brought them in with the six wounded men.
THE FLAGS OF THE SECOND.
The regiment had three flags, one presented at Bangor, one at New York, and one that was given by ladies in California. There. was considerable discussion about the latter It appears that when it was sent from the Pacific. it was addressed to the " First Me. Regiment." The Second was first in the field, and the question arose as to whether it was intended for Regiment No 1. or the first regiment entering the service, and, to settle the matter the donors were asked to decide. There answer was: "Give it to the first regiment entering the service." Twenty-four hours before the battle it was given to the Second, and was carried in the Bull Run fight by Private Deane.
The Bangor Democrat had a word or two to say regarding the battle. The younger portion of our people can hardly realize that there was printed in our midst a paper whose whole sympa- thy was with the rebels, and which with no uncertain sound de- nounced the Northern patriots in their efforts to subdue the South. For a long time this sheet was allowed to have its say, although time and again men gathered together with the avowed intention of destroying it, but were pursuaded by the cooler heads to "wait." In the issue of July 30th, the Democrat printed
6
82
EASTERN MAINE AND THE REBELLION.
an account of the Bull Run fight, using the following headlines :
"Total defeat and route of the Federal Army."
"President Davis's account of the great battle."
"Confederate loss 1,200."
"Federal loss 10,000."
In the article are these words :
"But alas! What was their errand ? Could the God of our Fathers smile on their mission of subjugation and death ?"
In speaking of future movements of the Federal army, Editor Emery said :
"Onward the shouting myriads will pour, until again met by the unequalled and invincible genius of Davis, Beauregard, Johnston and Lee, and the iron nerves of these noble men, who are defending their firesides and their homes, from the ruth- less assaults of fanaticism and fury. Victory may again perch upon their banners for a short time, but long ere they will have reached Richmond, disaster will again have overtaken them, and, defeated and routed they will once more fly back to the Potomac in wild confusion, leaving the battle field, and the wayside stained with the blood of thousands."
In another article was the following allusion to the loyal soldiers :
"On their own soil, and in defense of their own firesides and homes, they would be invincible; but in a civil war, so Unjust and Cruel as this, they can but meet with Defeat and Death."
------
:
83
EASTERN MAINE AND THE REBELLION.
CHAPTER X.
.
Destruction Of The Bangor Democrat-Infuriated Citizens, Maddened By Its Bitter Attacks Upon The Government-Throw Type, Cases And Press Into The Street And Burn Them-Editor Emery Hlas A Narrow Escape-What The Press Said-Interviews With Bangor Men Who Took Part In The Raid- The Trial At Belfast-Issue Of The Democrat Extra-Editor Emery Addresses The People.
Tuesday Ang. 13th, there appeared in the columns of the "Ban- ยท gor Jeffersonian," the following:
"We stopped the forms of this paper from the press at one o'clock Monday, to announce, which we do with regret, that three or four men had entered the office of the 'Bangor Democrat' in the upper story of Wheelwright & Clark's block, while the most of the hands were at dinner, and in a few minutes threw the type, presses and fixtures out of the window into the square. An im- mense crowd of citizens soon gathered, but not until the work of destruction was nearly accomplished. Some boys soon piled the combustible portion of the fixtures in a heap and fired them. This week's edition of the paper had been partly worked off. In a few minutes the crowd suddenly moved towards the barber shop of Joseph Jones, in Taylor's new block, and the furniture of the shop was soon thrown into the street.
By this time Mayor Stetson had reached the spot and com- manded the crowd to disperse, which they did immediately with deafening cheers. The provocation for the last act was, as we learn, Jones went into the street and asked John Wyman, Esq., to go into his shop-he wanted to see him. Mr. Wyman did not know who Jones was till he was told. Jones then grossly
1
84
EASTERN MAINE AND THE REBELLION.
assaulted Wyman, striking him in his face several times, inflict- ing severe wounds. Mr. Wyman dealt back several blows, and left the barber sprawling on the floor. As soon as this assault became known, the crowd proceeded as above and cleared the shop. These things done, the streets were in a few minutes cleared and all was quiet."
The Whig and Courier of the same date says : " At a quarter before one, yesterday, an alarm of fire was given, and the engines passed up State street. No fire was found, but on the return of the people, a crowd was found gathered in West Market Square, and a large number of people in the office of the " Bangor Demo- crat," throwing the materials out of the windows. The office was completely gutted, and the stands, cases and newspapers after- wards burned in the square. The crowd subsequently cleared out the barber's shop of J. Jones, on Kenduskeag Bridge-the cause, we understand, was a personal attack made by Jones upon Mr. John Wyman, for remarks he had made in relation to the secession editors of the "Democrat." Jones met. Wyman in the street, and invited him into his shop. Mr. Wyman complied, and after reaching the barber shop, Jones asked what he meant by the remarks he had made. Mr. Wyman responded to the effect that he was not responsible to him, (Jones), for what he said. After some further remarks, Jones made an attack upon Wyman, striking him in the face, which was returned by Mr. Wyman. The excited crowd hearing of the collision, went into the shop, and threw the furniture into the street."
FROM " THE DAILY EVENING TIMES."
At a quarter to one o'clock this noon, while the employes of "The Democrat" office, situated in the fourth story of the Wheel- wright and Clark block, were at dinner, and a very few persons in the neighborhood of the office, a number of persons entered the
.
1
85
EASTERN MAINE AND THE REBELLION.
office and commenced the work of destruction by throwing the type, fixtures, presses, etc., out of the windows. The attack took every one by surprise, but in the course of a few minutes a large crowd collected, which was increased by an alarm of fire which had been given, probably in connection with the work of the mob. The office was completely emptied in the course of half an hour, the heavy cylinder press being thrown out upon the pavement along with the rest, while bonfires were kindled in West Market Square, and the inflammable materials committed to the flames. The large sign was also wrenched off from the building, leaving the upper portion with the head of Washington intact. While the work progressed the large American flag in the attic of the build- ing was thrown out. Among the property destroyed was a large portion of to-morrow's edition of the "Democrat."
Mr. Emery, editor of "The. Democrat," returning from dinner to the office, attracted the attention of a crowd who pressed upon him, probably from motives of curiosity rather than from any design to injure him, and he found refuge in J. S. Ingraham's apothecary shop. The shop of MI. Jones, the barber, on Kendus- keng bridge, was also cleaned out. We understand that he called a citizen into his office, and commenced an altercation with him, which resulted in the destruction of his effects.
We do not learn that there was any exhibition of violence, be- yond that above described, and at 2 o'clock everything was quiet. The work of illegal violence was witnessed by citizens with vary- ing emotions. Many were rejoiced, a few indignant, but we be- lieve the sentiment of the cooler and wiser, while holding in abhorrence the course of the Democrat, was one of regret.
The above are the newspaper reports of the day, and are in- tended, evidently, to make as light of the matter as possible, but
. ..
86
EASTERN MAINE AND THE REBELLION.
the facts of the case, as nearly as can be discoved from interviews with prominent citizens, who participated in the "event," are :
The editors of The Democrat had, from time to time, published editorials severely criticising the Government and its attitude in the war, and holding to the theory of "State Rights." Numerous leaders had appeared, denouncing the "Unholy War."
To give a slight idea of the character of the articles, we print an extract from its issue on the day of suppression :
"The loudest advocates of the existing deplorable war, in which the country has been involved, by the Abolition Republican party, are the political demagogues, the partisan priests, and the infamous speculators, who are coining fortunes out of the calamities of their country. The first want offices; the priests are for setting the niggers free ; and the speculators are for the accumulating of pelf. The poor unfortunate people-the farmers, mechanics and workingmen-are to be first taxed to death, and then enslaved, as a consequence of all this infamous business."
This paper, from the first, with every means in its power, sought to cripple the Government and to alienate the people from it, by misrepresenting its objeets, and the community. While the brave soldiers had gone out to peril their lives for their country, it de- clared the cause in which they were engaged an "Unholy War."
Small wonder then that the loyal citizens of Eastern Maine, holding that it was an evil that could not be reached by law, and that it was due to our brave soldiers in the field, that they be not subjected to a "fire in the rear," decided that "the Democrat" should not be tolerated at home.
With these their grounds for action, those engaged in the sup- pression, went at their work openly and at high noon, and showed themselves willingly responsible to the law for any damage they might commit.
--
. ....
-
1
S7
EASTERN MAINE AND THE REBELLION.
" The Times " (dem.) of the next day, August 13th, says in an editorial on the matter :
"Of the treasonable and mischievous character of the ob- noxious paper, there is no dissenting voice, except among the faction for which it spoke."
The cause now accounted for, I shall try to briefly place the effect before you. On the 12th day of August, 1861, at a quarter of one o'clock, and according to a pre-arranged plan, the bell of . the First Parish church, on Broadway, began to ring a fire alarm, which was quickly taken up by the other bells in the city. Soon the engines, accompanied by a great crowd, might have been seen going over State street hill, in the supposed direction of the fire. In the meantime a small crowd collected in front of "The Demo- crat" office, and proceeded to enter it. The most of the crew of the paper were at dinner, as was the editor. The crowd immedi- ately began to break up stands, cases and presses, and to throw them into the street. With the assistance of a brawny black- smith and his sledge, the large cylinder press was broken into bits, and soon joined the rest of the outfit below. On the street was a large crowd now collected, (as it had been discovered that the fire alarm was a hoax, and the engines had returned by this time), who gathered together the inflammable materials, and soon had a roaring bonfire. The large sign was torn from the build- ing, leaving the head of Washington, that surmounted it, and was also consigned to the flames. Large quantities of the next day's edition of the paper were found, and these joined the sign in keeping alive the Union bonfire.
Mr. Emery, the editor of the paper, soon returned from dinner, and on his arrival at the scene was immediately surrounded by a wild, and jostling crowd. Cries of "Lynch him!" " Hang him !" "Give him some tar and feathers," were heard, and but for the
-
1
88
EASTERN MAINE AND THE REBELLION.
prompt aid of some of his friends he undoubtedly would have come to harm at the hands of the crowd.
He was hurried away from the infuriated multitude and into the drug store on the corner of Hammond and Central streets, then occupied by J. S. Ingraham, and from there he was taken out by a back door and hastily led to the Franklin House, on Har- low street. Ile was followed by the crowd into the drug store, but his guides by immediately taking him out the back way, baffled the pursuers, who then returned to the square.
The incensed crowd now entered the private office of Mr. Emery on the second floor of the block, and began to ransack his private papers, and prepare to destroy them, but owing to the clear headed arguments of Mr. John Wingate they were induced to cease the destruction of purely personal papers. Mr. Wingate then proceeded to gather up the documents and carried them to a place of safety. These were afterwards returned to Mr. Emery.
Let it not be understood that this gathering of representative citizens was in any sense an ordinary mob; on the contrary they were the better class of men who, in carrying on this destruction, did what they thought to be their duty to their country and to the good name of their fair city.
In an interview with Mr. B-, now a Main street merchant, he said :
"It was arranged that the signal to begin the work of 'dumping out' 'The Democrat,' was to be rung on the First Parish bell by Mr. D -. W -- , (now dead), and I was to follow on the bell of the Episcopal Church. After ringing for three minutes we were to come down town, and we intended to have the job done before the engines returned. Our head rusher was a heavy built blacksmith named Tabor, and he was the man who broke up the big press. I am not one who believes in mob law or in violence,
89
EASTERN MAINE AND THE REBELLION.
but in that case it was clearly necessary." "Why," he concluded, "Deacon - even carried cases and trash to build that fire with, and he would not assist in anything that was not for the good of the city."
One of the most prominent men in the city at that time, signed a paper a few days before the act of destruction, agreeing to indemnify any man for loss of time or money, in consequence of his "throwing The Democrat" out of doors.
. We can sce from the above that it was not the ill-advised act of a few fanatics, but was accomplished by our best citizens, and considered by them a loyal and law-preserving necessity.
At a grand Union meeting at Norombega Hall on the Saturday before, resolutions were adopted of which the following are a part :
" Resolved,-That the rebel leaders' hope of success is founded mainly, on the aid and assistance which is promised them by the traitors of the North, who sympathize with them, and who are to act their part in the destruction of the Union, by creating a reaction in Northern public sentiment, and this is to be accomplished by wil- ful and artful representations that this is an unholy war." * * *
"Resolved,-That the newspaper called "The Democrat," published in this city, by its unscrupulous advocacy of the legal right, and moral justness of the means, measures and ends of Southern secession, by its wilfully false and mendacious representations of the Rebellion, by its exaltations at all disasters, which happened to the National Union, and to our National Flag, is lending that aid and comfort to the armed enemies of our country, which makes its editors, publishers and proprietors guilty of treason ; and we brand all persons, connected with that pestilent sheet, as un- worthy of public or priv ite respect, or confi lenre."
90
EASTERN MAINE AND THE REBELLION.
The italies are our own, but the sentiment of this convention of the Union men of this county, must certainly show in what re- gard the paper was held at that time. Jones, who is spoken of in the same accounts in the papers of that day, only escaped by jumping from the awning, in front of his shop, to the street, where he was taken in the carriage of Mr. S. Walker and rapidly driven away. So sudden was his flight that he lost his hat, and the last seen of him for some time, was his disappearance, bareheaded, over State street, behind the flying horse. .
THE TRIAL.
In the report of the trial in the Supreme Judicial Court, Waldo County, held at Belfast, October 1866, appears the following:
There was evidence on the part of the plaintiffs tending to show the following facts: That they were owners of a printing estab- lishment, being the chattels named in the writ, with which they executed job work, and printed a newspaper known as " The Dem- ocrat," of which the plaintiff. Emery, was editor; that the plain- tiffs occupied, and carried on their business in the fourth and fifth stories of Wheelwright & Clark's block, so called, in Bangor, they oc- cupying also a counting room in the second story. Wheelwright & Clark occupied the lower story, and the whole of the back of the building as a store, for their merchandise. The entrance to rooms of the plaintiff's was from West Market Square, and there was also an interior communication through the store of said Wheelwright & Clark, and the rooms were separated by a rough board partition and a door which was locked.
On the 12th of August 1861, the hands employed in the print- ing office left for dinner at the usual hour, but Emery was de- tained till about half past twelve, and soon after he left the church bells rang as for an alarm of fire; and about that time, a company of men, numbering from four to twelve entered the store
-
---
91
EASTERN MAINE AND THE REBELLION.
of Wheelwright & Clark, armed with sledge hammers and other implements and were proceeding to go up the stairs in the direc- tion of the plaintiff's room, when the said Clark put his hand upon the banister of the stairs, and forbade them proceeding farther. But they proceeded to the rooms of the plaintiffs, broke up the forms, destroyed their said property and threw it into the street; and immediately upon their reaching said rooms, a crowd began to collect in the streets, numbering from five hundred to two thousand, some of whom collected the materials, as they were thrown from the windows, into piles, and burnt thiem."
" There was evidence also tending to show that the defendants, Morse, Fifield, Arnold, Mann, Tabor, and Howe, were engaged in the work of breaking, destroying and throwing into the street, the property of the plaintiffs; and the defendants Ingalls, Har- low, Boyd and Rowe, were engaged in breaking up the materials ; and defendants Dwinel and Dole, were aiding and assisting in the destruction of the property.
STATE OF MAINE.
Waldo, ss.
[[ .. S.] To the Sheriff's of our respective counties, or either of their Deputies. Greeting :
We command you to attach the goods, or estate of Rufus Dwinel, Oliver H. Ingalls, Llewellyn J. Morse, Noah S. Harlow, Isaac E. Fifield, Archibald L. Boyd, Marshall J. Egery, Orren Oliver, George II. Stiles, Frank M. Rowe, Jesse M. Arnold, James A. Robinson, Samuel S. Mann, all of Bangor, in the county of l'enobscot ; and Amasa Howe of Presque Isle, in the county of . Aroostook, to the value of thirty thousand dollars, etc. etc.
* * *
who with force and arms wilfully . and maliciously destroyed, without consent of the owners the following named goods, of the
----
92
EASTERN MAINE AND THE REBELLION.
value of six thousand two hundred and thirty-four dollars and eighty-two cents."
Here follows a list of everything in the office, in it being mentioned five printing presses, weighing many tons, and valued at twenty-four hundred dollars.
William Thompson was a witness for the plaintiffs, and he testified to the selling of the property to the plaintiffs, and also as to its value.
Gorham L. Boynton was the next witness and testified to the fact that he was known as being a friend of the paper, and testi- fied to its destruction, he being an eye witness. He was followed by Patrick Kelleher, who identified several persons who participa- ted in the destruction and recollected seeing Morse at the window throwing out material. David Boynton saw Tabor at the window cheering. J. G. Clark testified that he tried to prevent the men from going into the office, and also that he had been informed by Dwinel some days previous, of the intended destruction of the office, and had urged Emery to move, and he (Emery) refusing, had given him legal notice to do so. One of the men demanded that a flag should be thrown out, and clerk Robinson being at dinner, I had to do it myself."
Payson C. Webber, Samuel Larrabee, President of the Mercan- tile Bank; Simon F. Walker Geo. W. Ladd, Cyrus E. Gould, Win. McDonald, Elijah W. Hasey, Patrick Landers, Charles Gillispie, Benjamin Swett, Thomas W. Burr, Edward A. Buck and Editor Emery also gave, in detail, an account of the affair, after which witnesses for the defense were called.
James A. Robinson, N. S. Harlow, Isaac E. Fifield, Frank M. Rowe, James Dunning, Henry B. Farnham, George W. Whitney, Timothy T. Cates, Samuel S. Mann, Watson E. Plummer, John Trickey, William HI. Smith, W. H. Harlow, John F. Patten,
- --
...
-------
93
EASTERN MAINE AND THE REBELLION.
George H. Stiles, J. J. Russell, W. H. H. Pitcher, Samuel Jewett and Thomas W. Burr, testified for defendants, after which the Judge charged the Jury.
The following is the verdict :
" The Jury find that Rufus Dwinel, Charles. E. Dole, Oliver H. Ingalls, Llewellyn J. Morse, Noah S. Harlow, Isaac E. Fifield, Marshall J. Egery, Orren Oliver, George H. Styles, Frank M. Rowe, Jesse M. Arnold, James A. Robinson, Amasa Howe, Archibald L. Boyd, are not guilty, in manner and form, as the plaintiffs have declared against them ; and that Samuel S. Mann, John Tabor are guilty, in manner and form, as the plaintiffs have declared against them ; and assess damages for the plaintiffs, against the said Samuel Mann and John Tabor, in the sum of nine hundred and sixteen dollars and sixty-six cents."
" We have taken into account, the question of " The Democrat," of 1861, and find it was a nuisance, and should have been sup- pressed, or, in otherwise, it was, justifiable to destroy it. We find the property destroyed, over and above what was necessary, is $916.66.
HIRAM T. BLACK, Foreman.
A few days after the destruction of the office, Editor Emery prepared, and caused to be printed, " The Democrat-Extra," dated August 20th, 1861. This was a four page paper, about twelve inches long, by nine inches wide, and was printed by Mr. Samuel Smith, who, fearing the anger of the opposition party, had a written agreement with Mr. Emery, that it should be reported that it was printed in Portland. It is an exceedingly interesting number, as it shows, beyond doubt, that the Breekemidge Dem- ocrats did hold a convention on August 15th, and nominated county officers. This convention was first called to order in the office of Gorham L. Boynton, Esq., then, as now, on Central street, but the citizens brought out an engine, laid hose, and were
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.