USA > Maine > Knox County > Camden > History of Camden and Rockport, Maine > Part 28
USA > Maine > Knox County > Rockport > History of Camden and Rockport, Maine > Part 28
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Col. Nicholas Berry died this year in March. Col. Berry was born in Liverpool, England in 1807 of a Danish father and English mother. He came to Boston with his father when about eight years of age, and obtained his education in the Boston schools. At the age of 20 he went to New York and engaged in the sail making business until 1841, when he came to Camden, induced to do so by his connection in business with Camden sea captains, and continued to carry on the same business here. He built and occupied the large house on Union street late the
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homestead of Capt. I. W. Sherman. Col. Berry was interested in military affairs and while in New York was Colonel of the 10th New York Regiment. He was also much interested in education- al and temperance work and was prominent as a temperance worker in the days when the cause was unpopular. Col. Berry was twice married. His first wife was Sallie Ann Lundy, by whom he had two children : Agnes (who married Frank Barrett) and George. His second wife was Hope Strong, by whom he had nine children : Mary (who married Joseph Ayer) John C., Sarah C., (who married Fred Pillsbury) Nicholas, Henry, Wilbur F., Clarence, Charles W., and Fannie C.
Capt. William Blake, died June 29, 1862. He was born in Camden in the southern part of the town, in 1794. He married Lucy, daughter of Lewis Ogier and for a time lived in the Frederick Conway house and at Rockport village. He came to Camden village about 1836, and purchased of Chas. R. Porter the residence on Chestnut street, known as the "Blake House " and still owned by his daughter, Mrs. Lucy Hosmer. Capt. Blake was a successful master mariner and commanded many large vessels. His children are Patience (who married first Wm. Hosmer and second Edmund Buxton) and Lucy (who married Jesse H. Hosmer. )
1863. The annual town meeting in 1863 was held on March 16. At this meeting William Carleton was elected Town Clerk ; S. T. Cleveland, Hanson Andrews and Almon Bird, Select- men ; and W. A. L. Rawson, Treasurer.
On July 1, a town meeting assembled to again act on the questions of bounties, etc., at which it was "voted to raise the sum of $300 for each individual citizen who may be drafted into the army of the United States, under the late act of Congress passed March 3, 1863." It was voted that a committee con- sisting of the Selectmen, Town Treasurer, Wm. H. Washburn and Edward Cushing, see to raising the money by loan, for the purpose of paying the aforementioned bounty. It was also voted
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that this committee pay to each drafted man, the aforesaid sum of $300 when mustered in, or to his substitute when mustered in ; and "if such citizen so drafted wishes to be exempted under said law, to pay the aforesaid sum of $300 to exempt him from such service."
On Nov. 19, a meeting was called to consider the same question at which it was voted to pay each man when mustered into the United States service, the sum of three hundred dollars, and a vote was taken to raise by loan the sum of $18,600 for this purpose.
The state election took place Sept. 14, 1863. Gov. Coburn had served during the most trying year of the war, when battles were being lost and many were discouraged and dissatisfied and the "Peace Party " had gained its greatest strength at the north. The Governor, however, was unfaltering in the work of raising troops and forwarding them to the seat of war, and dis- played great ability in sustaining the hands of President Lincoln in carrying on the war. As he was about to retire, it became necessary to select a man who would be his and Gov. Washburn's equal in carrying on the great work, and the choice fell upon Samuel Cony of Augusta who was nominated by the Republicans and elected by a large majority over Bion Bradbury who was again the Democratic candidate, the distinction between "Dem- ocrats " and "War Democrats" having this year entirely dis- appeared, leaving but two candidates in the field. It is only necessary to add that our third "War Governor" fell not be- hind his predecessors in zeal, loyalty and patriotism, and "Every call of the President for troops was promptly answered, officers were selected with the sole view of their fitness to command, while the welfare of the men from Maine at the front was his great care." 1
Mr. Cony proved a popular candidate in Camden and re- ceived 446 votes while 342 were cast for Mr. Bradbury.
1. Representative Men of Maine, page 47, of sketches of early Governors.
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
Elbridge G. Knight of Camden was one of the Democratic candidates for senator at this election, receiving in Camden 353 votes to 441 for his opponent, but was not elected.
George L. Follansbee, Republican, was elected Represen- tative to the Legislature over P. J. Carleton, Democrat, the vote standing 426 for Follansbee and 374 for Carleton.
This year on Feb. 11, another homicide occured in town in the killing of Freeman C. Patterson by William D. Blake. These men had been on unfriendly terms for sometime and on this day Blake shot Patterson in Berry's sail loft, killing him in- stantly. 1
Samuel Chase, died this year on Nov. 1, at the age of 52 years. Mr. Chase was the son of Robert Chase and was born in Camden, Aug. 30, 1811. When a young man he learned the blacksmith's trade of his father, and after he became of age he went to the Provinces where he worked at his trade for about two years. He then returned to his native state and worked at his trade at Rockport and elsewhere for a short time and then formed a partnership with his father and carried on business with him during his lifetime and afterwards carried it on alone. Mr. Chase had a remarkable memory and was a most interesting and companionable man. He was a lifelong Democrat and took much interest in politics, but we are not able to learn that he held many civil offices. He also took a great interest in Masonry, and was the twenty-fourth Master of Amity Lodge serving in that capacity three times in 1854, 1857 and 1858. He was District Deputy Grand Master from 1858 to 1860. Mr. Chase married Elmira Harrington, by whom he had two children, one of whom died young. The surviving child was Mary (who married J. S. Knowlton. )
1. Blake was convicted and sentenced to be hung. This sentence was afterwards commuted to imprisonment for life and in 1877 he was pardoned. Blake who had been a model prisoner, and was a finished workman, was after his pardon, retained by the prison management as an overseer.
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CHAPTER XLIII.
AT THE FRONT.
1863. We will now return to the boys in the field and take a brief glance at the history of the principal Maine regiments in which Camden men were serving during this dark, strenuous and important year of the great rebellion.
During this year the following Camden men enlisted : Wm. A. Miller joined the Maine Heavy Artillery; Geo. L. Ames, Geo. C. Gardiner, Wm. J. Collins and Henry D. Calderwood, the Fourth Regiment of Infantry ; Geo. E. Dunton, the Eighth Regiment ; Warren Blake, the Second Regiment of Cavalry. The following joined the District of Columbia Regiment of Cavalry : Addison D. Barrett, Geo. H. M. Barrett, Benj. O. Barrows, Geo. R. Cameron, Alonzo D. Champney, Erastus R. Dailey, Perrin P. Freeman, Joseph W. Fletcher, Elvirous Gregory, Geo. W. Gregory, Albert W. Hasson, Elbridge S. Hopkins, Augustus H. Knight, John Q. A. Libby, Robert Lockhart, John B. Lash, John Lane, Wayland Marden, DeWitt McAllister, Frederick A. Norwood, Leander H. Paul, Sanford G. Parker, Richard F. Pendleton, Geo. H. Prince, Amos E. Russell, John H. Rollins, Henry B. Richards, Avery Small, Lorenzo A. Soule, Manassah W. Spear, Geo. L. Simons, Geo. W. Sherman, Chas. M. Stockham, Benj. E. Studley, Isaac W. Tilden, Frederick M. Veazie, Ephriam M. Knight. These men were afterwards trans- ferred to and served in the First Regiment of Maine Cavalry.
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We left the old Fourth Regiment receiving the compliments of its General after the battle of Fredericksburg. During the winter the regiment was encamped at Camp Pitcher, near Fal- mouth. On April 28 it broke camp and marched towards Fred- ericksburg and bivouacked three miles below the city. After several days of hard marching it engaged in the battle of Chancel- lorsville, and did good services, when the Union right wing was pierced by "Stonewall" Jackson, to retrieve our position. The regiment shared in the famous night attack made in the dense woods on May 2, losing thirty-two men in killed, wounded and missing.
At the battle of Chancellorsville the gallant Gen. . Hiram G. Berry was killed. On the morning of May 3, while posted to the right of Chancellorsville, Gen. Howard, whose division had been put to flight, rode up and said, "Gen. Berry, I am ruined." " Oh no, General " replied Berry, "I have a division that never was driven an inch ; I will put them immediately into the breach and regain what you have lost." Berry at once placed himself at the head of his brave men and with an irresistible charge, drove back the enemy at the point of the bayonet, and re-took the ground which had been lost. During the temporary hush which followed, Gen. Berry directed one of his staff (Capt. Greenhalgh) to ride to Gen. Hooker's headquarters for orders as to whether or not he should hold his position. Then dismounting with the rest of his staff, he walked a short distance to confer with Gen. Mott, and on his return, when near his staff, he was struck in the arm, close to the shoulder, by a rifle minie-ball which passed downward through his vitals, lodged in his hip, and killed him immediately. Thus perished one of the bravest soldiers and most skillful and promising officers of the war. Had his life been spared, it is believed by many that he would have been raised to the head of the army before the war closed. His body was embalmed and brought home to Rockland. At Washington and at Portland the remains were received with the highest civil, military and masonic
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honors. On the Saturday following his death the body arrived from Portland at Rockland by steamer. Minute guns were fired as the vessel came up the harbor, the bells of the city were tolled, the places of business were closed, buildings were draped in mourning and flags hung at half mast. The remains lay in state at his late residence until the following Thursday when the funeral ceremonies took place. Among the many who were present to do honor to his memory and bear testimony to his distinguished military ability and services, were Vice President Hannibal Hamlin, Gov. Coburn and staff, Ex-Gov. Washburn, U. S. Senator Lot M. Morrill, Hon. S. C. Fessenden, Judge Rice, Maj. Gen. J. H. Butler and staff, Maj. Gen. Wm. H. Tit- comb and aids, and Capt. J. B. Greenhalgh, member of the la- mented General's staff.
The Fourth Regiment was next engaged in an important battle on the famous field of Gettysburg towards which, in a few weeks, so many Maine soldiers were converging.
The Eighth Regiment after wintering at Beaufort, embarked on March 19, to occupy Jacksonville, Fla. It landed under fire of the emeny, who were shelling the city. Col. Rust at once assumed command and ordered two gunboats to open fire in support of his battery and the enemy soon retired. Several attacks were made by the enemy during the following week but they were driven back and preparations were being made for the full occu- pation of eastern Florida, when Gen. Hunter ordered the regi- ment back to Beaufort to assist in the contemplated attack on Charleston. April 3, the regiment embarked for Charleston and lay at Stone River during the bombardment of Fort Sumter by Admiral Dupont's fleet, after which it was ordered back to Beau- fort. On April 16, the regiment was again ordered to the vicinity of Charleston, but unforeseen circumstances prevented its getting farther than Hilton Head where it landed and remained during the summer and fall subject to severe picket, fatigue and garrison duty. On Nov. 14, the regiment returned to Beaufort where it
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remained for the rest of the year.
The old Second Battery also had a share in the battle of Chancellorsville, holding the extreme right of the line of the army, doing good service. A month later found the Battery en- gaged in the Pennsylvanian campaign. It crossed the Potomac on June 23, and was constantly on the advance until, on the morning of July 1, it found itself facing the enemy at Gettys- burg where we will leave it for the present.
The Sixth Battery went into winter quarters at Dumfries, Va., and on May 27, 1863, was ordered to report to the Artillery Reserve at Falmouth where it lay until June 13, when the army took up the line of march towards the Potomac. It arrived at Fairfax Court House on the 15th where it remained until the 24th when it crossed the Potomac and camped in Maryland until the 28th. On that date it took up the line of march toward that mighty rendezvous, Gettysburg, where it arrived on July 1, and took position before the confederate army.
The Ninetenth Regiment was in winter quarters at Falmouth until April 27, when its Division was ordered to co-operate with Gen. Sedgwick in an attack on the heights of Fredericksburg. To the regiment was assigned the duty of guarding the telegraphic communication between the left wing of the army and Gen. Hooker's headquarters, where it remained until May 3. On May 4, it was detached to guard the fort at Falmouth, and on the 5th it removed the pontoon bridge at Fredericksburg under a severe fire of the enemy. Two days later it went into camp where it remained until June 15, when it took up the northward line of march which in due time brought it across the Potomac and to the great objective point of all the regiments in that part of the South, Gettysburg, where it bivouacked on July 1.
The Twentieth Regiment after passing the winter at Fal- mouth, participated in the battle of Chancellorsville to the extent of guarding the telegraph line from right to left, and after the battle returned to its old camping ground where Lieut. Col.
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Chamberlain took command. On May 20, it started on the march and was on the move the most of the time without partici- pating in any engagement until June 21, when it encountered two brigades of the enemy's cavalry with artillery near Middle- borough, where a sharp fight took place, the enemy being driven back and the regiment losing one man killed and one officer and seven men wounded. On June 26, the march was resumed and on July 2, the regiment arrived on the field of Gettysburg.
The new Twenty-sixth Regiment was last seen encamped below New Orleans. On the first day of January, 1863, it was assigned to the 3d Brigade of Grover's Division. The regiment remained at Port Hudson until March 28, when it embarked for Donaldsonville, La., where it remained until April 20 Thence it proceeded by march, rail and steamer, until on April 14, it arrived near Franklin, La., and received its baptism of fire in the battle of Irish Bend. In this battle the regiment behaved with gallantry and met with severe loss. It was complimented on the field by Gen. Grover, for its discipline and bravery. After the battle the regiment remained in that vicinity until ordered back to Port Hudson, where it arrived on May 30, and was engaged in supporting a battery until June 12, when it was engaged in an assault. After the surrender of the place it remained inside on guard duty until July 26, when it embarked for home. The regiment reached Bangor on Aug. 9, and was mustered out of the service on Aug. 17. Of the Camden members of this regi- ment, Lieut. Wm. F. Brown was wounded at Port Hudson, Henry Ewell, Jr., was killed at Irish Bend and Francis French and Wilford B. Glover died in the hospital at New Orleans. Samuel Annis and Geo. E. Thorndike also gave up their lives for their country, dying in the South.
The Thirteenth and Fifteenth Regiments, containing a few Camden men each, were engaged principally near New Orleans during the year but took part in no severe engagements. They both formed part of Gen. Banks' expedition to Texas. On Nov.
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
15, they took part in the expedition to Mustang Island and on the 16th both regiments supported by the 28th Iowa, formed in line of battle to storm the enemy's works, but when they advanced the garrison unconditionally surrendered. Both regiments also joined in the movement upon Corpus Christi.
The First Regiment of Cavalry was not joined by Camden men (except Franklin A. Oxton who was taken prisoner at Fred- ericksburg and afterwards paroled) until 1864, when the Maine men from the first D. C. Cavalry were transferred to it. It was a very active cavalry regiment. It arrived on the Gettysburg field on July 2.
We have thus briefly traced the Camden soldiers at the front through the year, except those who engaged in the battle of Gettysburg whom we left girding their loins for that mighty struggle.
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GETTYSBURG
CHAPTER XLIV.
GETTYSBURG.
1863. The great red tide of the rebellion had now reached its flood. Up it had come from the South a mighty deluge that threatened to override all obstacles and submerge the North itself. Even into the North it came, sweeping towards the cities of Philadelphia and New York. In this dark hour a wall of blue arose upon the Pennsylvania hills, an impregnable wall against which this awful tide dashed and roared only to be hurled back to rise no more but from that day to ebb and ebb and ebb until it disappeared forever at Appomattox. In this wall of blue, a mighty part thereof, stood the Anaks from Maine and among them Camden had its immortal share and acted its immortal part.
The Second Maine Battery was early on the field, and opened the great battle, firing the first gun in this most decisive battle of the great rebellion. 1 It was attached to the artillery brigade of the First Corps, and was the battery selected to accompany the leading division of the Corps upon its march, which arrangement brought it upon the field in the very van of the First Corps. Gen. Reynolds, in person selected the position for the Battery on the right near the Chambersburg Pike, 2 and it at once opened upon the enemy the first cannonade and this action of Gen. Reynolds committed the army definitely to a battle for the
1. " Maine at Gettysburg," Page 15.
2. The State of Maine erected its monument to the Battery on this spot, the same being a granite tablet.
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possession of Gettysburg. The men who brought the six three- inch guns into position were volunteers principally from Knox County. The guns of the Battery did most effective work and it only retired from this position, which was an exceedingly exposed one, when ordered to do so to save it from annihilation. It re- treated under a heavy fire taking its guns, except one unhorsed gun which, however, was later taken off by Capt. Hall with his own men and horses. "The conduct of the Battery during the half hour it had been engaged had been conspicuously gallant. It had maintained itself against the concentrated fire of the Con- federate guns massed against its position, returning their fire with such effect that several of the enemy's pieces were disabled, and had, without the assistance of infantry, repulsed one Confederate charge. Two men had been killed outright and eighteen had been wounded." 1 The Battery then proceeded to Seminary Ridge but was forced to return to the Chambersburg Pike. It then had but three guns left in working order and was ordered to a position upon Cemetery Hill fighting its way inch by inch and arriving there after five hours of hard fighting. On the second day of the battle, July 2, the three effective guns of the Battery were stationed on the extreme left of the artillery line in the Cemetery and here the Battery opened fire in reply to the enemy's guns and continued in action until the Confederates ceased firing for the day. During the two days the Battery fired 635 rounds of ammunition. The Camden men in the Battery were, as a rule, fortunate in escaping casualties. During the first day of the battle Richard N. Thorndike and William Orbeton were wounded.
The Fourth Regiment, which "Maine at Gettysburg" de- scribes as "one of the truest veteran regiments in the Army of the Potomac ", was led to Gettysburg by Col. Elijah Walker, a brave and gallant officer. It arrived on the evening of July 1, and was ordered to establish a picket line to extend along a por- tion of the left front of the Union line. Facing them were the 1. " Maine at Gettysburg," Page 19.
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Confederate pickets in the same wood and in the morning a de- sultory skirmish fire was kept up between the opposing picket lines until about 10 o'clock in the forenoon when the Regiment was relieved from picket duty. The Regiment was attached to Sickles' Corps, and Ward's Brigade, and in the Union line on the second day of the battle this Brigade was on the extreme left of the line which extended from the Devil's Den to the Peach Orchard and the Fourth Regiment was at the left extremity of the Brigade. In the gorge of the Devil's Den the Regiment bravely resisted the enemy and suffered the severest loss. 1 Here it met and repulsed the fierce assaults of the Alabama regiments who, al- though in larger numbers than the Maine regiment, and making their attacks with true southern dash and heroism, were obliged to re- tire and leave their Maine foemen in their old position. Then in turn they got into line and charging with the bayonet drove Benning's men from the battery. When in the evening the Regiment retired with the Brigade to the rear, its command was turned over to Capt. Edwin Libby on account of the severe wound of the Colonel. On July 3, under Capt. Libby the Regi- ment with the Brigade was held in reserve. In the crisis of the assault upon our lines in the afternoon the Regiment was hurriedly moved to the right to the support of the Second Division, Second Corps, but the enemy had been repulsed and the Regiment was not actively engaged. 2 Geo. C. Gardiner of Camden, was killed July 2, and Wm. J. Collins and Henry D. Calderwood were taken prisoners the same day.
The Twentieth Regiment played a most gallant part on July 2, in defending the most important position in the battle of that day, Little Round Top. The regiment was under the command of Col. Joshua L. Chamberlain, one of the bravest and ablest of the officers of our northern armies in the rebellion and who played
In the gorge was placed the Fourth Maine's monument which is a five 1 sided shaft of Maine granite.
2. See " Maine at Gettysburg," Pages 158-198.
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a most heroic part in the battle of July 2. Says "Maine at Gettys- burg" (page 253) : "How our Twentieth Regiment at the head of the brigade went in at first to Sickles, line of battle then under tremendous fire ; how the gallant General Warren, seeing with military eye the importance of the Round Top heights, begged General Sykes to send Vincent's brigade to gain this position in advance of Longstreet's troops, then rushing for the same com- manding heights ; how Hazlett, aided by the infantry, lifted his guns by hand and hand spike up the craggy sides ; how Vincent fought and fell; how the Twentieth at the critical moment, with a bayonet charge, turned the confident Confederate onslaught into rout, on the left of our army ; all this makes one of the most famous passages of the battle of Gettysburg." 1 The defense of Little Round Top was one of the grandest events of the whole war. The gods, fighting in the defense of Olympus, could have performed no more mighty deeds, and when the awful struggle was over and "the Confederates were driven completely and finally from the front of the Twentieth" and Little Round Top was saved, the soldiers of the Twentieth could not rest, much as they needed it, for the order came to Col. Chamberlain "to advance and take possession of Big Round Top." This order was quickly and nobly executed, the enemy were driven over the mountain, the Regiment took up a commanding position on its summit 2 and the enemy gave up further attack upon the Union left. In the forenoon of the 3d the Regiment was in a position to the right of Little Round Top, where it remained during the battle of that day not being called in to assist in repelling Pickett's charge. The following day the Regiment was engaged in burying its many dead. The few Camden men in this regiment escaped.
The Nineteenth Regiment was the remaining Maine infantry regiment participating in the great battle. It was attached to
1. For Twentieth Maine at Gettysburg see " Maine a' Gettysburg." Pages 252-288.
2. Upon Big Round Top is the State's monument to the Twentieth Regi- ment. It is of Hallowell granite.
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Hancock's Second Corps and was the only Maine organization in in that Corps. 1 It was commanded by Col. Francis E. Heath, and this was the first great battle in which it was engaged and right gallantly did it bear itself. The Corps was placed in line of battle early in the morning of July 2, its right resting on Cemetery Hill and its left stretching towards Little Round Top. When the first Confederate charge was made upon the Regiment the soldiers of the South "melted away" before the fierce and enfilading fire of the Nineteenth. Then followed the charge towards the Emmits- burg Road, in which the enemy were dispersed, and "several stands of colors, many prisoners and four Union cannons, abandoned in the retreat, were the trophies of this daring and gallant charge." The Regiment remained near the Emmitsburg Road until recalled about dark. Says "Maine at Gettysburg:" "As the men and officers marched back to the line on that evening they might justly have felt that whatever glories there are in war had been won by them. * Their loss in killed and wounded had been remarkable even in that remarkable battle. Many years later, when the records of the Union armies should be studied, it was written in history that at Gettysburg, Harrow's Brigade of Hancock's Corps, suffered heavier losses than any other brigade of any Federal army in any battle of the Civil War. And of the devoted regiments of that brigade the Nine- teenth Maine was to stand second in the extent of its losses. In this day's fighting 130 men and officers of the Regiment had been killed or wounded. The field over which they marched was strewn with ghastly evidence of battle." The forenoon of July 3d passed without incident to the Union left but the great, final event of the three days battle was in preparation, an event that Gen. Lee hoped would divide the Union army, and open the road to the great North and demand the recognition of the Confederate States of America as one of the great family of the earth's nations. The last mighty wave of the high tide of the rebellion was about
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