USA > Maine > Eastern Maine and the rebellion: being an account of the principal local events in eastern Maine during the war.. > Part 7
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preparing to play upon the office, when the inmates adjourned to the Bangor House. Major Marion B. Patten, Samuel MeLellen, Henry P. Haynes. Benj. Swett, T. K. Holt, A. L. Barton, E. E. Brown, E. N. Stockman, M. G. Tuck, M. S. French, Marcellus Emery, Bradbury Robinson, Washington Weatherbee, Abraham Sanborn, D. F. Leavitt, Gilman Barley, Jabez Knowlton, W. M. R. Miller, and Isaac Dunning were among those who participated in the deliberations, or were chosen to office. A severe attack is made upon Adjutant General John L. Hodsdon, the course of " The Democrat" upheld, and then Editor Emery addresses the people as follows, giving his version of the destruction of the his office :
TO THE PEOPLE.
BANGOR, AUGUST 12TH, 1861.
"Ere this will have met your eyes, the telegraph will have an- nounced the total destruction of The Democrat printing establish- ment by a lawless mob this afternoon. I owe it to myself and to you to give a brief statement of this outrage. Qn Wednesday afternoon last I was called on by Mr. Clark, of the firm of Wheel- wright & Clark, who informed me that a mob spirit was again abroad in the city, and that an attack on my office was again con- templated. He said that he had great fears of the destruction of their building, in which my editorial and printing rooms were located, and requested me to remove my property. I told him I would reply to his request the following morning. He then stated that he had notified the Mayor, Isaiah Stetson, of the threats of the mob, and demanded his protection of the premises. During the next forenoon Mr. Clark again called, and was very urgent that I should have my property removed from his building that after- noon. I replied that his notice was very short, and that I must take until afternoon to consider the matter, adding that if he
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would do his duty as a citizen, and one of the proprietors of the building, his property could suffer no harm. When he again called on me in the afternoon, I told him that duty to myself as a citizen, duty to my associates in the ownership of the paper, and duty to the public required of me that I should not yield to the demands and pressure of a lawless mob. Subsequent interviews took place between Messrs. Wheelwright & Clark and myself in regard to the matter, the character of which I refrain from making public at this time.
On Saturday morning a call appeared in the Whig and Courier for a Union meeting in Norombega Hall, to be holden that even- ing. I was not present, but am credibly informed that William II. McCrillis, representative to the Legislature from this city, and Charles S. Crosby, County Attorney, made inflammatory speeches, and said all in their power to excite a mob. And here it should be said to the honor of Henry E. Printiss, Esq., that he attempted to make a speech opposing the efforts then and there being made to create a mob spirit, but his voice was powerless amidst a tem- pest of hisses. The meeting accomplished the object for which it was designed by those who originated it.
On Saturday and Sunday nights it became evident that my prop- erty was to receive no protection from the Mayor. I took such precautions as were necessary for its security. Today I proceeded, as usual on Monday, to print and mail my issue for the week. During the forenoon there were no indications that I saw of mob violence. I left my editorial room about 12.25 to go to my dinner, my boarding place being about half a mile distant. Whilst eating the fire bells were rung. After finishing my meal I set out to return to my office. The first person I met was William H. Mc- Crillis, who was just turning into Broadway from Somerset street. He dropped his head as soon as he saw me, and for the first time
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since our acquaintance passed me without a salutation. Immedi- ately after I met two gentlemen in a buggy, who informed me that my office had just been sacked, and all my property thrown into the street. Proceeding directly forward, on coming out of Central street, I first saw the work of destruction, and there, too, I saw the first mob that had ever met my eyes. West Market Square and surroundings were filled with nearly two thousand people. In the middle of the square was a large fire, on which the multi- tude were engaged in heaping my tables? stands, cases, and other material. The Wheelwright & Clark blocks were surrounded with the wreck of what had, an hour before, constituted one of the largest and finest printing offices in Maine.
I made my way through the crowd to the stairway, which I found filled with the mob. They made no resistance to my, · ascending the long stairway. I found my office-door besieged by a large number of persons, armed with crow-bars, and like imple- ments. As I approached the door they fell back. Whilst feeling for my key, one of their leaders, a man who had been honored with a position on our city police, demanded that I should instant- ly open the door. I then turned round and faced the mob, telling them that that office was rightfully under my control, but that if they saw fit to resort to violence, they could probably over-power me. I was unarmed. Before opening the door, I told them my object was to secure my account books, notes, bills, and private papers, and that I should give them the feeble protection in my power. I then opened the door and set about my business, the mob following me in, and indiscriminately seizing whatever they could lay their hands on, and throwing it out of the window into the street. The work of destruction was soon complete. I then left the office, the mob following me down the stairs. As I reached the sidewalk. there arcse the infuriated cry of the mob, "Hang
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him! Tar and feather him! Kill him!" . It was then I felt, how little there is of the terrors and threats of a mob for him who is conscious of having discharged his duty to the public and himself. The mad crowd were thirsty for the blood of one, who had been long and incessantly toiling to save them from the fetters that are being forged for their free limbs. His works may yet bear fruit.
As I made my way through the dense crowd, friend after friend gathered round me, for my protection. Their words of sympathy sank deep into my soul, whilst the demoniac cries for my blood fell 'unheeded on my ears. But one circumstance disturbed iny equanimity, and that was like the sting of an adder. When I was beyond the danger and among friends, the Mayor, who regardless of his oath of office, would give me no protection for my property, who made no attempt to disperse the mob, who did not even order the reading of the riot act, who did not even lift a finger to pre- serve the peace of the city, although days and hours before warn- ed of the threatened attack-when I was beyond danger, he sud- denly conceived an anxiety for my personal safety, and suggested that I had better hurry away. Oh, the contemptibleness of cowardice ; the baseness of treachery in high official position !
Thus hath the freedom of the Press been stricken down here in Maine, not from any patriotic impulse, but through the wicked instigation of a band of abandoned politicians who would willing- ly subvert all law and all order for the maintenance of a mere party dogma.
Though anarchy seems to be coming down upon our unhappy country like night, yet do I not despair. I still believe that there is yet virtue and intelligence enough in the people to maintain their liberties, and protect the free Press, which is their best guard- ian.
By this act of mob violence my all, the result of years of
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unremitting toil, has been swept away; but I still have health, strength and youth, and a heart also, to struggle on in defence of the people's rights."
MARCELLUS EMERY.
Just how indignant Emery was at the conduct of the gentle- men alluded to in the above, is shown by the fact that he secured one of them to act as his attorney at the time of the trial.
Gentlemen now living who took part in the destruction declare to this day that it was a grand work, and convinced the men in the army that no "rear fire" would be tolerated.
CHAPTER XI.
The Fourth Maine-A Gallant Regiment Hampered By Some Poor Material- One Company Reorganized-Deserters Numerous-Some Brilliant Engagements -The Regiment Nearly Annihilated-General Berry Of Rockland-Col. Mar- shall Of Belfast.
Waldo, Knox, and Lincoln Counties were just as patriotic as those in the northern part of the State, and early in the war began to raise volunteers. It was decided by the authorities to raise the Fourth Regiment from that section, and orders were issued for it to rendevous at Rockland. The band numbered twenty-four mem- bers under the leadership of F. Singhi, of Rockland.
Co. "A" was from Belfast, and previous to the war had been known as the "Belfast Artillery," and was commanded by H. W. Cunningham. The record shows that it contained, when mustered in, June 15th, 1861, nineteen natives of Belfast only, while Bangor
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contributed ten, the balance coming from towns in Waldo County, with a few exceptions. Co. "B" was made up almost wholly of Rockland men, while Co. "C" came from that city and from Thom- aston. Co. "D" also had a large number of residents from the city of lime rock and mud, with a sprinkling of men from the islands in Penobscot Bay. "E" was a miscellaneous collection, while "F" was raised in Waldo County, by Andrew D. Bean, of Brooks. "G" was from Wiscassett, "H" from Rockland, and was commanded under the old organization by G. J. Burns of that city, but, under the new organization, stood, Nov. 9th, 1861, under com- mand of Win. L. Pitcher, Albert L. Spencer and Geo. F. Bourne. "I" was from Searsport, Stockton and Winterport, with a few . representatives of other towns thrown in to fill the ranks. "K" was from Belfast, and was formerly known as the "City Greys." Sixty-five of its members were from Belfast, the total number of privates being eighty-five. The author's first recollection of the war was a conversation held in his father's house regarding this company. One of the officers, at that time, rented a portion of the house, and often conversed with my parents regarding the company's action. There was a desire. on the part of some, to stay at home, yet they did not like to take the responsibility of re- fusing to enlist. Said one of these men to his comrades :
" The officers don't want to go. If we go down to-night and enlist, the officers won't sign, and we can then withdraw and throw the blame where it belongs."
This was done, and much to their surprise the officers signed too. That night the armory in Phoenix Row was broken open and search made for the papers, but Mr. Marshall had taken the precaution to carry them home, and the very few who wanted all the honors, and none of the dangers, were caught in a trap of their own setting. There were some boasters in their ranks.
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One man, in a speech in Pierce's Hall, said he was going down into that Southern country, "and, if my courage be equal to my physi- cal strength, woe-WOE-WOE be unto any rebel that gets into my hands." This man returned before the Bull Run fight, de- claring he lay in his tent one night in Washington, spending the time in drinking ice water, and fanning himself without reducing his temperature, and could not stand the hot weather. However, the company was all right, and participated in the first great battle, where a number of men distinguished themselves. Before the end of the year. the captain had been promoted, the lieuten- ants had resigned, Lieutenant Carter, on account of deafness, caused by the roar of cannon at Bull Run, and the company was commanded by new men, two of whom had gone out as sergeants, while the other, Lieutenant Bisbee, had been taken from the ranks. When the regiment left Rockland it had, officers, music- ians, wagoners, men and band, 1120 men. During the war many recruits were added to fill the places, so far as they could, of those killed, wounded and discharged, but such was the loss that at the end of three years, when the regiment returned, there were but three hundred and fourteen men to muster out. The regiment after leaving Washington on July 16th, marched to Centreville, and at the battle of Bull Run did grand work, being among the last to leave the field. "Ed " Redman, a member of company K, loaded and fired his gun until it became so heated as to blister his hands, and he was taken from the field by force, by his comrades. He was promoted after the battle to the posi- tion of Corporal. In the battle four officers were wounded or tak- en prisoners, seventeen privates killed and forty wounded.
After nine months at or near Washington, the Regiment partic- ipated in the siege of Yorktown, and after its evacuation was sent forward toward Williamsburg. From this place they went towards
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Richmond, going into camp twelve miles from that place. They were from time to time engaged with the enemy, loosing more or less men each time, until their available force was reduced to two hundred and forty men, this being the number participating at Chantilly on the 1st of September. They were at this time on the retreat and later arrived near Washington. On the 15th they again crossed into Maryland and guarded the fords of the Urrer Potomac. On the 12th of October they assisted in the attempt to intercept Stuart's Cavalry at Conrad's Ferry. On Nov. 22d they arrived at Falmouth. and left there on Dec. 13th to participate in the battle of Fredericksburg. They re-crossed the river on the 15th, returning to their old Falmouth camp, where they passed the bal- ance of the winter. On the 26th of April, 1863, they crossed the Rappahannock, taking a prominent part in the battle of Chancel- lorsville. On June 11th they joined in the campaign resulting in the battle of Gettysburg, where on the second day of July, they lost in killed and missing eighty-six men with fifty-three wounded. Several other engagements were participated in, and when the army was re-organized under Grant, they were assigned to the Second Army Corps. On the 4th of May the Rapidan was crossed, and on the next day were heavily engaged at Torbet's Tavern, where they supported a brigade of the Sixth corps. That night they marched back to their division, and at daybreak on the 6th ad- vanced on the enemy's works. They fought two days. This was the battle of the Wilderness, and here they lost officers killed, two; men killed, thirty-two; wounded one hundred and forty-seven, with three missing. From the 8th to the 23d the regiment was engaged in reconnoitering, building fortifications, etc .. and then moved two miles to the front and took position in line of battle. The follow- ing day the regiment was relieved from duty in the army and order- ed to proceed to Rockland, Me., where they arrived on the morning
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of the 25th. The men were furloughed until the 19th of July, on which day two hundred and forty-one officers and enlisted men were mustered out and discharged the U. S. service by Capt. Thomas C. J. Bailey, Seventeenth U. S. Infantry, the re-enlisted men and recruits whose term of service had not expired, having been transferred to the Nineteenth Regt. Me. Vols., before the de- parture of the regiment from the field.
The history of this regiment is not equal to many Maine bodies, for the reason that among the earlier enlistments were some poor material. Co. H. was re-organized and the record shows that a cap- tain was dishonorably discharged, seventy-one men transferred to other companies or regiments, while no less than ten, or one out of every eight, deserted July 25th, 1861. In all there were thirty- eight desertions the first summer. The cause for much of this seeming disloyalty was identical with that which brought trouble to the Second Maine, and is fully described in the history of that organization. Two men, Col. Hiram Berry, of Rockland, and Col. Thomas H. Marshall, of Belfast, both at one time connected with the Fourth, deserve special mention. Col. Marshall died early in the war, while colonel of the Seventh, at Baltimore, the date being Oct. 25th, 1861. He was universally beloved by his comrades, was a gentleman of wealth and culture, and entered the army, not for honor or gain, but from motives which actuated every patrict. Belfast lost in his death. a noble citizen, and all felt that diseases contracted in the malarial low lands of Maryland, were powerful aids in cutting off the gallant men who had gone forth to do battle for the cause of Freedom. Of General Berry, his high standing as a man and his qualities as a soldier, are fully described under his "biographical sketch."
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COL. THOS. H. MARSHALL.
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CHAPTER XII.
"All Quiet On The Potomac"-A Few Battles In The West-Formation Of Other Maine Regiments-A Big War Meeting-A National Fast In September -Sharp Shooters Wanted -- What Was Required Of Them-Chas. Hamlin, Esq., Opens A Recruiting Office -- Penobscot County And Bangor Bear Off State Honors-Gen. Jameson Commands A Brigade-Col. Roberts In Com- mand Of Several Forts-The Banks Suspend Specie Payment-The Close Of The Year-The Soldiers In Winter Quarters-Some Of The Stories They Told.
After the battle of Bull Run the opposing forces busied them- selves in recruiting, repairing damages, and preparing in ofher ways for future operations. August 12th, the Associated Press telegram from the front was headed with what afterwards became a familiar expression : "All Quiet on the Potomac," or as one good old soul used to read it, "All quiet on the Pot-o-mac." There was some fighting in the West and South, but nothing of special inter- est to the people of Eastern Maine took place. Quite a number of officers came home on furloughs, some came home to stay, while many of our citizens made visits to the boys at the front. Thus it was that the soldiers were kept well acquainted with home affairs in which they took a lively interest.
If all was quiet on the Potemac. the same could not be said of the dwellers on the Penobscot. Other regiments were forming. and, in addition to this, men were being enlisted for the navy and for other branches of the service. The spirit of '76 seemed to be everywhere and every now and then a grand rally, or Union war meeting would be held. At midnight. Sept. 20th. the editor of - The Whig " penned the following :
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" We have only time to say now, 12 o'clock, midnight, as the Union meeting is breaking up, that the meeting far outstripped all the glorious Union meetings which have been held in our city, since the war blood was sent coursing through our Northern veins, by the dastardly attack upon our glorious flag at Sumpter."
In September a National Fast Day was appointed by President Lincoln, and was generally observed throughout the North.
In this month, also, a call was made for regiments of Sharp Shooters, and, as was natural, the Government officials looked for material on the outskirts of the country, rather than in the cities and thickly populated districts. An advertisement issued at the time, will serve to show the kind of material needed.
SHARP SHOOTERS !-- NOTICE !
"Those wishing to engage in the company of Sharp Shooters, now being formed in this State, will be examined by J. D. Fessen- den, Esq., of Portland, J. J. Robinson, of Augusta, Jacob Mc- Clure, Rockland, or R. R. Park, of Bangor. The General Order has been so changed as to require but one examination. None but able bodied men need apply, and none who cannot, when shooting at rest at a distance of two hundred yards, put ten con- secutive shots in a target, the average distance not to exceed five inches from the centre of the bull's eye to the centre of the ball, which is very easy to do with such rifles as are furnished for the test."
"Office. at C. V. Ramsdell's, No. 3 Harlow street, Bangor, Maine."
About this time Charles Hamlin, Esq., opened a recruiting office in Orland, and proceeded to recruit a company of cavalry.
A table, issued October 11th, made a showing in favor of Pen- obscot County and the City of Bangor, which was highly gratify- ing to the residents. Up to that time the County had furnished fifteen companies, as follows:
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Second Regiment, 8 companies,
Sixth 66
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Seventh
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Eighth
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Ninth
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Bangor led all cities, having up to that time furnished nine com- panies.
October found Gen. Jameson in command of a brigade of four Pennsylvania regiments under Gen. Heintzelman, and located on the extreme left flank of the Army of the Potomac, and Gen. Roberts in command of Fort Corcoran, having been ordered there as follows:
HEADQUARTERS, PORTER'S DIVISION, FORT CORCORAN.
Special Orders, No. 18. .
For purpose of discipline and regularity, Col. C. W. Roberts, Second Maine Regiment, is assigned to the command of the post of Fort Corcoran." .
"The post will comprise all within the limits of the breastworks of Fort Corcoran, also Forts DeKalb, Woodbury and Cass, re- doubts 1, 2 and 3."
"The garrison of these forts, and forts Bennett, Haggerty and Corcoran, and the Ferry Guards, will look to Col. Roberts for instruction, and be governed by his orders. All requisitions, ex- penditures, etc., will be controlled by the Division and Brigade 'Commanders."
By command of
Brigadier Gen., F. J. PORTER,
JAMES F. MCQUESTION, Lieutenant, A. D. C., COL. C. W. ROBERTS, Commanding Second Maine Regt.
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In December, Monday the 30th, being the date, came the news of the suspension of specie payment, by the National banks of Boston and New York, and immediately on receipt of this, the officials of the Bangor banks adopted the following resolutions:
"Whereas, the condition of the country requires all the aid a patriotic people can render, and,
Whereas, the banks of New York and Boston have suspended specie payment, in order to aid the government and people by re- taining the specie in the country in their time of trial.
Therefore. Resolved: That the banks of this city suspend specie payments, until otherwise ordered.
Resolved : That the banks throughout New England are in a sound condition, and able to redeem all their liabilities, on a specie basis ; that the act and necessity of suspending specie pay- ment, is to aid the Government and people in their efforts to put down a most wicked and unnatural rebellion in our sister South- ern States."
SAMUEL VEAZIE, Chairman.
A. M. ROBERTS. Secretary.
The year 1861 was drawing to a close, and the army of the Po- tomac, like their friends at home, were in winter quarters. All those long winter months the two great armies, which, later on were to engage in some of the greatest battles known in the history of the world, lay opposite each other waiting for the warm months to come, when they should meet again. Little fighting was done, but many men lost their lives, some by disease, some by accident and many by the hand of the sharp shooter. When not engaged in military duty the men passed the time in card playing, reading, writing and at various games and feats of skill and strength, and so whiled away the dreary winter days.
Many are the stories told and many the jokes played among the men during there long season of inactivity.
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A young Irishman, a member of a Bangor company in the Sec- ond regiment, is reported to have got off the following: While in camp in Washington he was giving an account of the fight at Bull Run, and on being asked "how he would like to see Bull Run again ?" replied "Be jazes! that's just the kind of a Bull I don't want to see Run at all, at all." And he echoed the sentiments of the entire North, in these few but pithy words.
While the Tenth Regiment was in Portland, in October, '61, there was great trouble in keeping the men together, as is often the case, for it was but natural that men should look for all the enjoy- ment they could find in times like those, and it was necessary to keep a squad most of the time looking up stragglers. One of these parties came across a countryman, who, thinking to beautify him- self, had put on a part of the uniform of the old First. He was im- mediately seized and dragged off, notwithstanding his protesta- tions that he was not a soldier. He begged to be allowed to sell his load of wood and take care of his cattle, but no, his captors were in- exorable. He must go. An officer took charge of his team, and the poor fellow was marched to camp, where we will hope he succeeded in convincing one officer that he did not "belong to the show."
During Gen. Butler's trip to Augusta, in '61, a large concourse of people collected at the depot, in Hallowell, to greet him as he passed through on the train. A resident by the name of Jefferson Davis was introduced as Mr. Jeff, Davis. Seizing him by the hand with an iron grasp. Gen. Butler said " You are the man I have been after for a long time; now I have got you." The amuse- ment this incident excited at the time was immense.
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