History of Cumberland Co., Maine, Part 37

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 780

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A battalion of artillery belonged to this division, with Jeremiah Butler, of Portland, Major; George M. Chase, Portland, Adjutant ; Edward P. Jack, Portland, Quarter- master. The A Cavalry was commanded by Capt. Horace (. Harris, of Portland, who continued in command till 1859. The report of 1859 shows that the division officers remained unchanged up to December Ist of that year.

On the 1st of December, 1860, there were three divisions of militia in the State, officered as follows :

1st Dicision .- John L. Hodsdon, Major-General, Ban- gor ; John A. Veazie, Aide-de-Camp, Bangor; James II. Butler, Division Inspector, Bangor ; Thomas Hersey, Di- vision Quartermaster, Bangor.

2d Division .- William H. Titeomb, Major - General, Rockland ; Samuel Il. Allen, Aide-de-Camp, Thomaston ; George W. Kimball, JJr., Aide-de-Camp, Rockland; John S. Case. Division Inspector, Rockland; Everett W. Stetson, Division Quartermaster, Damariscotta ; Charles A. Miller, Division Advocate, Rockland.

3d Division .- William Wirt Virgin, Major - General, Norway ; t'harles E. Shaw, Aide-de-Camp, Portland; Wil-

liam P. Frye, Division Quartermaster, Lewiston ; William W. Bolster, Division Advocate, Dixfield.

But little change was made in these general officers up to the spring of 1861. Maj .- Gen. Ilodsdon, of the 1st Division, had become adjutant-general of the State, on the staff of IIon. Israel Washburn, Jr., Governor. The organ- ized militia companies of the State at this period were as follows :

FIRST DIVISION.

A .... Cavalry

Bangor Charles A. Green.

A .... Artillery ...

Brewer Elisha N. JJones.

B ... Artillery ..

Eastport 0. 8. Livermore.

C .... Artillery

Milo W. Il. Stinchfield.

D .... Artillery. East Machias ..... George W. Sravy.

A .... Light Infantry .... Eastport. N. F. Swett. Ist Lieut.

B ... Light Infantry. Bangor. Ileman Bartlett.

C .... Light Infantry Bangor William Conner, Ist Lieut.

D ... Light Infantry Benjamin G. Bryn.

Lagrange. .

E ... Light Infantry .... Castine . .S. K. Devereux.

A ... Riflemen

Veazie. R. R. Park.

.. Riflemen

Orland. James C. Saunders.

(' ... Riflemen. l'atten ... .James B. Ilill.

E ... Riflemen

Brownville .. M. W. Brown.

. Riflemen Lowell. . Not fully organized.

SECOND DIVISION.

A ... Artillery .. Belfast A. W. Cunningham.

A ... Light Infantry .... Belfast Thomas II. Marshall.

( .... Light Infantry .... Brooks .. James R. Iluxford.

D ... Light Infantry .... Fearsport Ebon. Whitcomb.

E ... Light Infantry .... Unity. .J. F. Parkhurst, Ist Lieut.

Second Regiment.

A ... Light Infantry .... Bath. William Rogers.

B. Riflemen Canaau Alonzo Richardson.

THIRD DIVISION.

A ... Cavalry. Acton. Cyrus Grant.

A ... Artillery Auburn ..... .James &. Nash.

A ... Light Infantry .... Portland Albion Witham.

B ... Light Infantry .... Portland .. Thomas A. Roberts.

C .... Light Infantry .... Portland .. Charles 11. Green.

G ... Light Infantry .... Lewiston .. N. J. Jackson.

Il ... Light Infantry ..... Norway. . George L. Beal.

A ... Riflemen. Portland Frederie Forsyth.

B ... Riflemen Portland.

William M. Shaw.

Second Regiment.

A ... Artillery. Kittery M. F. Wentworth.

A ... Light Infantry ..... Kittery William 1. Toby, Ist Lieut.

B ... Light Infantry ..... Brownfield ..... S. B. Bean.

C .... Light Infantry ..... Porter. ... .. James French, Jr.

Of the Ist Regiment, 3d Division, the officers were : Lieutenant-Colonel, L. De M. Swett, Portland ; Adjutant, William A. Winship, Portland ; Surgeon, Samuel HI. Tewksbury, Portland ; Assistant Surgeon, Geo. W. Chad- wick, Portland.

ISRAEL WASHBURN, JR., LL. D.,*

born in Livermore, Androscoggin (then Oxford) Co., Me., June 6, 1813, is a descendant in the seventh generation from John Washburn, who came from Evesham, Worces- tershire, Eng., in 1631 (supposed to have been secretary of the first Council of Plymouth in England ), and who settled in Duxbury as early as 1632, and in 1634 purchased a place, still known, and near the old Standish house, called " The Eagle's Nest," whence he removed to Bridgewater about 1665.

His father, Israel, was born in Raynham, Mass., Nov. 18, 1784, and settled in Livermore in 1809, where he resided until his death, Sept. 1, 1876. He was a farmer, and was also engaged in trade for many years. He took an active

$ Israel,6 Israel,5 Israel,4 Israel,3 Samuel,? John.1

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Grad Washburn h.

Photo, by Lamson, Portland.

141

CUMBERLAND IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.

and influential part in the affairs of the town, of which he was often an officer, and which, before the separation in 1820, he represented for four years in the General Court. Ilis father, a soldier of the Revolution, and his grandfather (who had removed to Raynham, Mass. ) were prominent men in that part of the commonwealth, both having been on many occasions members of the Legislature or " General Court," as it was called, and the latter having been a men- ber of the convention which adopted the first constitution of the commonwealth.

Mr. Washburn's mother was a daughter of Samuel Ben- jamin, a native of Watertown, Mass., and a lieutenant in the Revolution, who served from the battle of Lexington to the surrender of Cornwallis, and was in both engagements. Iler mother was Tabitha Livermore, of Waltham, Mass., an aunt of the late Ilon. Isaac Livermore, of Cambridge. Their children are: Israel, the subject of this notice ; Algernon S., a merchant and banker, who recently died at Hallowell, Me. ; Elihu B., a representative in Congress for sixteen years from Illinois, secretary of state, and minister plenipoten- tiary to France; Cadwallader C., LL.D., a representative in Congress from Wisconsin for ten years, major-general of volunteers in the civil war, and Governor of the State of Wisconsin ; Charles A., an editor in San Francisco, minister resident at Paraguay, and author of a voluminous history of that country ; Samuel B., a captain in the volunteer navy of the United States in the civil war, and now residing at the family homestead of the Norlands in Livermore; Wm. D., of Minneapolis, president of the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad, and representative in Congress from Minne- sota ; and three daughters and a son, who died in infancy.

Israel Washburn, Jr., received a classical education, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in October, 1834. He commenced the practice of law, at Orono, in the county of Penobscot, in December of that year, and was a member of the State Legislature in 1842. Ile was a representa- tive in Congress from the Penobscot district for the Thirty- second, Thirty-third, Thirty-fourth, Thirty-fifth, and Thirty- sixth Congresses, serving, while in that body, as chairman of the Committee on Elections, as member of the Commit- tees of Ways and Means, of the Pacific Railroad, and of less important committees. He was Governor of the State of Maine in 1861 and 1862, and declined a re-election.

It was during his first year's service that the war of the Rebellion was begun ; there was no military organization, or at most a merely nominal one in the State at the time, and it was necessary to create one. For more than a year nearly the entire work of raising, uniforming, equipping, and arming troops, and transporting them as far as New York City, and defraying the cost thereof fell upon the State government. These duties involved immense labor, and much which in other States, having an active military organization, was not required.

After his retirement from the office of Governor, Mr. Washburn, in November, 1863, was appointed by President Lincoln collector of customs for the port of Portland, and soon afterwards removed to that city, where he has since resided. He held this office by successive appoint- ments until the 1st of May, 1877. On the 4th of July, 1865, after the close of the civil war, upon invitation of

the municipal authorities of Portland, he delivered an oration in that city, in which he discussed at length the questions : From what, through what. and to what, the country had been brought by the civil war.

lle is an active member of the Maine Historical Society, and has contributed to its publications a memoir of the late Chief Justice Ether Shepley, and an elaborate monograph upon the once exciting question of the Northeastern Boundary of the State, and he has been a not infrequent contributor to the periodical literature of the times. Hle wrote the " Notes of Livermore," published in 1871, and in the same year he delivered the historical address at the centennial of the town of Orono, which was also published. He is also a member and vice-president of the New Eng- land Historical and Genealogieal Society.

Mr. Washburn married in October, 1841, Mary Maud, youngest daughter of Col. Ebenezer Webster, of Orono, by whom he had four children, Israel Henry, a lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, Charles Fox, a resident of Minnesota, Ada, and Maud. Mrs. Washburn died in June, 1873.

In January, 1876, he married Miss Robina Napier, chest daughter of Benjamin Brown, Esq., now a resident of Aroostook Co., Me.

CHAPTER XXVI.

CUMBERLAND IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.

Extra Session of the Legislature-Raising the First Regiments-Gen- eral Order of the Governor-Credit due the Militia Officers-First Regiment-First Battery.

WITHIN a few days after the first rebel guns at Charles- ton had aroused the nation to the fact of an impending civil war, the extent and magnitude of which no one could then foresce, the Legislature of Maine convened in extra session, and on the 25th of April, 1861, passed an act providing for the raising of ten regiments for the service of the United States. These regiments were to be raised as far as practi- cable out of the already existing militia, aud by the aid of the officers of the several divisions, who were instructed by a general order of the Governor to proceed at onee to the discharge of the duties assigned them. The major-generals of the several divisions, with their respective staffs, were constantly engaged in the service of the State from the 22d of April to the 28th of May, 1861, raising, organizing, and preparing for organization the several regiments within their limits. Their services were promptly and suitably recognized by the commander-in-chief in the following general order :

" HEADQUARTERS, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Acesta, Muy 28. 1861.

" General Order No. 30.

" The general orders for carrying into effect the act of 25th of April, 1861, to authorize the raising of ten regiments, etc., having been executed by the respective major-generals, so far as they were charged therewith, and no further duties remaining to be performed by them at present, under said orders, the commander-in-chief directs that they and their respective staffs be discharged from further service, under the orders aforesaid, at their several headquarters ou Wednes- day, the 29th day of May, instant, nt four o'clock in the afternoon, at which time and place they will be paid by the paymasters within the limits of their respective divisions.

112

HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.

" The commander-in-chief avails himself of this opportunity to ex- press his satisfaction at the prompt and able manner in which the new and arduous duties devolving upon them in this emergency have been performed.

" Notwithstanding the neglected and disorganized condition of the militia of this State, incident to a protracted period of uninterrupted peace, companies, battalions, and regiments have been raised, organ- ized, uniforme 1, armed, equippe ), and made ready for the service of the general government, with a promptness and expedition which reflect great credit upon the major-generals and others charged with the execution of the orders in this behalf.

" ISRAEL WASHBURN, JR., " Governor and Commander-in-Chief. "Jons L. Hanspov, " Adjutant-General."

The first six regiments sent forward for the service of the government were raised and organized within divisional limits, among which they were equally apportioned. The remaining four regiments, authorized by the act of April 25th, were raised irrespective of military divisions. The act provided for the raising of these regiments " for two years, unless sooner discharged." The first and second regiments were thus enlisted ; the former was mustered into the United States service for three months, under the call of the President for seventy-five thousand men to serve for that length of time ; the latter was mustered in for three years. Six of the ten regiments were enlisted under the " two years" plan of the State, which had been adopted previous to the order of the War Department requiring the regiments to be mnstered into the United States service for a period of three years. To effect conformity with the United States plan of enlistments, General Order No. 29 was issued, under authority of the Governor and Coancil, providing that all enlisted men, except those of the 1st and 2d Regiments, who declined to enter into a contract to serve for an additional year, should be discharged and paid. Several hundred efficient men were thus for a time lost to the service. But notwithstanding this tempo- rary embarrassment, incident to the uncertainty which pre- vailed at the beginning of the war, troops were enlisted more rapidly than they could be received by the United States government, and within three weeks after the ad- jourmment of the extra session of the Legislature a general order had to be issued, putting a restriction upon the ardor for enlistments.

This work was carried on mainly by officers of the vol- unteer militia, who brought to their new duties a large amount of experience, acquired in that department. Among these were Col. Nathaniel J. Jackson, who had acquired a well-earned reputation as a disciplinarian ; Lieut .- Col. Wit- ham, formerly captain of the Portland Light Infantry; Capt. George L. Beal, afterwards colonel of the 10th Regi- ment, who was one of the most active and efficient of those who, at the call of the President, at once united with their commands in making up the Ist Regiment, sent to the front immediately upon the breaking out of the war. Col. Jameson, Lieut .- Col. Roberts, Col. Berry, and the lamented Marshall are names familiar in the old volunteer militia. Col. ,lameson, afterwards general in the United States ser- vice, began his military career more than ten years before the beginning of the late war as division inspector upon the staff of Maj .- Gen. Cushman, of the then 3d Division

of militia, and was colonel of the only regiment of infantry in the Ist Division at the breaking out of the Rebellion. Ile had but a short time previously tendered his resignation, but immediately withdrew it upon the first intimation of his being required for active service. Col. Roberts, the lien- tenant-colonel of the same militia regiment, also served with honor upon Gen. Cushman's staff, as aide-de-camp. Col. Varney, who was chosen major of the 2d Regiment upon its organization, was one of the most accomplished soldiers and disciplinarians in Company A, formerly the Bangor Light Artillery, which was organized in 1853. Capt. Charles S. Emerson served in the Aroostook war, and before entering the United States service, for the suppression of the Rebellion, was captain of Company II, in the Auburn Light Artillery. Many others who were trained in the volunteer militia are equally worthy of mention did space permit. The company officers of Gen. Virgin's division, in general, were foremost among those to whom the State and nation are deeply indebted for a zeal and promptness in organizing the first regiments sent to the war.

THE FIRST REGIMENT OF MAINE INFANTRY

had eight companies, made up in whole or in part from the 3d Division of Volunteer Militia, Maj .- Gen. Virgin, and two new companies formed to make up the quota of the regiment. The organization was as follows :

Company A, Portland Light Infantry, Capt. Albion Witham.

Company B, Machias Bines, Capt. George G. Bailey.

Company C, Portland Light Guard, Capt. M. R. Fes- senden.

Company D, Portland Rifle Corps,* Capt. Charles II. Meserve.

Company E, Portland Rifle Guard, Capt. William MI. Shaw.

Company F, Lewiston Light Infantry, Capt. Nathaniel J. Jackson.

Company G, Norway Light Infantry, Capt. George L. Beal.

Company H, Auburn Artillery, Capt. Charles S. Emer- son.

Company I, Portland Light Guard (2d), Capt. William M. Quimby.

Company K, Lewiston Zouaves, Capt. S. B. Osgood.

The regiment was organized on the 28th of April, 1861, and mustered into the United States service at Portland, May 3d, to serve three months. Being a three months' regiment and not engaged in any battles, its history at the front is brief; the mere outlines are as follows : June Ist it left for Washington, where it encamped on Meridian Ilill, and there remained, doing necessary guard duty at exposed points, until August Ist, when it left for Portland, where

In placing the Portland Rifle Corps, Company D. Ist Maine In- fantry, among the old companies we have followed the adjutant-gen- eral's report. We are informel by Capt. Frederic Forsyth, who was captain of the old company, that this is a mistake ; that Company D) of the 1st Maine Regiment, called Portland Riffo Corps, was a new or- ganization enlisted by himself for the Ist Maine Regiment, as I'nited States recruiting officer, in the spring of 1861, the old company, of which he was the last captain, having been disbanded late in 1560.

143

FIFTHI REGIMENT.

it was mustered out of the United States service August 5th, by Capt. Thomas Hite, 2d United States Dragoons.

The regiment, at its muster-out, was put upon leave of absence, without pay or rations, until further orders from the commander-in-chief. The respective companies were ordered into eamp at Portland by Special Order No. 67, and the regimental organization ceased to exist by General Order No. 50, Sept. 18, 1861.

THE FIRST BATTERY,

belonging to the 1st Regiment of Mounted Artillery, Ed- ward W. Thompson, Brunswick, captain, was organized at Portland, Dee. 18, 1861, and on the following day went to Camp Chase, Lowell, Mass., where it remained till Feb. 6, 1862, and left Boston on the Sth for Ship Island, Miss., landing there March 10th. On the 15th of May it arrived in New Orleans, and immediately entered upon patrol and garrison duty, which it performed until October Ist, when it was assigned to Brig .- Gen. Weitzel's reserve brigade, at Carrolton. On the 24th of the same month the battery embarked on transports for Donaldsonville, and on the 27th participated in the engagement of Labadieville, after which it went into camp at Thibodeaux, where it remained until Jan. 11, 1863, and on that day proceeded towards Patterson- ville, on the Teche, where, on the 11th, it was throughout the whole day constantly engaged with the enemy. The battery afterwards returned to Thibodeaux, and thence to Brashear City. On the 12th and 13th of April the bat- tery was engaged with the enemy at Bisland, and on the 27th at Port Hudson, where it was under fire more or less every day. The battery embarked for Donaldsonville, where it took a prominent part in the engagement of July, losing one man killed and fifteen wounded, also sixteen horses killed. On the 3d of August the battery arrived at Baton Rouge, and on the 18th of' September it was assigned to Gen. Franklin's army corps, and encamped near New Iberia. On the 29th of December, every man present for duty with the battery re-enlisted l'or three years, under War Depart- ment order authorizing such re-enlistment of men who had served two years, the muster-in taking place Jan. 1, 1864.

The battery arrived at New Orleans on the 20th of Jan- uary, and on the 10th of February the re-enlisted men came North on a furlough of thirty days, arriving at Angusta, Me., on the 22d, where they rendezvoused on the 22d of March, remaining until April 4th, when the battery moved to Port- land, leaving there on the 15th for Annapolis, Md., having been assigned to Gen. Burnside's corps. On its arrival at An- napolis, on the 19th, the battery was ordered to Washington, D. C., where, on the 12th of July, it assisted in repelling the rebel forces under Gen. Early at Fort Stevens, and on the 30th was assigned to the 19th Army Corps. On the 19th of September it took a prominent part in the action at Winchester, Va., and at Strasburg, on the 22d, and on the 25th bivouacked at Harrisonburg, remaining till Oe- tober 5th.

The casualties in the battery in the several engagements, from the 19th to the 26th of September, were two killed and seven wounded. On the 5th of October the battery proceeded on the return march to Cedar Creek, Va, where it arrived on the 10th, and on the 19th participated in the severe eu-

gagement at that place, resulting in the complete rout of the enemy. The battery lost in that engagement two enlisted men killed, one officer and sixteen enlisted men wounded, and eight men taken prisoners, also forty-nine horses killed. Ou the 9th of November the battery moved from Cedar Creek to Winchester, where it remained till Jan. 14. 1865, when it proceeded to Manchester, Va., and on the 14th of April returned to Winchester, and there remained in camp until July 9th, when it embarked for Portland. arriving on the 13th, where, on the 15th of July, it was mustered out of the United States service by Capt. C. Holmes, United States Army, in accordance with orders from the War Department.

CHAPTER XXVIL.

FIFTH REGIMENT.

Fifth Regiment-Record of Officers of the Regiment from Cumber- land County.

THE 5th Regiment of Maine Infantry was composed of the following companies :

A .- Gorham Company, Capt. Josiah Heald. .

B .- Biddeford Company, Capt. Samuel C. Hamilton.

C .- Saco Company, Capt. Isaac B. Noyes.

. D .- Brunswick Company, Capt. Edward W. Thompson. E .- Lewiston Company, Capt. Edwin Ilsley. F .- Portland Company, Capt. George P. Sherwood.

G .- Portland Company, Capt. Henry G. Thomas.

II .- Portland Company, Capt. Mark II. Dunnell. I .- Bethel Company, Capt. Clark S. Edwards. K .- Minot Company, Capt. William .1. Tobie.

The regiment was organized at Portland, June 24, 1861, and was mustered into the United States service for three years. On the 26th of June they left for Washington, where they arrived on the 25th. They moved into Vir- ginia on the 11th of July, and were assigned to ten. Howard's brigade. At the battle of Bull Run, on the 21st, they bore an active and gallant part, losing about seventy in killed, wounded, and missing. On the 16th of October the regiment was assigned to Gen. Slocum's brigade, and encamped near the seminary, just below Alexandria. Dur- ing the remainder of the fall and winter large detachments of the regiment were engaged in skirmishes with the enemy while on picket duty near Mount Vernon. In April, 1862, they moved to the Peninsula, and at the siege of Yorktown were held in supporting distance, but not engaged. . At the battle of West Point, May 7th, they took a prominent part, losing two killed and five wounded. At Mechanicsville, in the latter part of May, they were engaged with the enemy in three skirmishes, and also participated in the battle of Gaines' Mill, June 27th ; their loss in the latter engage- ment was ten killed, sixty-nine wounded, and sixteen missing.

The following day the regiment had a severe, though short, engagement at Golding Farm. On JJune 30th they agaiu encountered the enemy at Charles City Cross-Roads, and at Malvern IFill they were held within supporting dis-

144

HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.

tance of the Union army, but were not called into the fight. September Ist, they arrived at Bull Run to the support of Gen. Pope's forces, but, as the retreat had already commenced, they were not engaged during that day. On the 14th of September they participated in an engagement at Cramp- ton's Pass in the South Mountain Range. Their loss in killed and wounded was thirty-five, missing ten. On the 17th they bore a prominent part in the battle of Antietam, being under fire eighteen hours. They crossed the Rappa- hannock River on the 11th of December, and occupied an important position in the battle of Fredericksburg, after which they returned to their old eamp near White Oak Church, where they remained till the 28th of April, 1863, when they joined in the movement across the Rappahan- nock, and participated in the battle of Chancellorsville, May 2d and 3d. Their casualties in killed, wounded, and miss- ing were ninety-seven officers and men. On the 6th of June the regiment joined in the campaign resulting in the battle of Gettysburg, and participated in the engagements of July 2d and 3d at that place. From this time until the 19th the regiment was constantly on the move, taking part in several skirmishes. On the 19th they crossed the Potomac, and marched towards Warrenton, where they arrived on the 20th of October, and remained till the 7th of Novem- ber, when they marched towards the Rappahannock River, and participated in the brilliant charge and capture of the enemy's works and forces at the crossing of that river. In that engagement thetr loss was seven killed and twenty- eight wounded. On the 8th they joined in the pursuit of the enemy's retreating column, and, after a tedious march, crossed the Rapidan ou the 27th, when the regiment, with its brigade, supported the 3d Corps at the battle of Orange Grove. The following day they occupied a position near Mine Run, which they left on the 3d of December, and returned to their old camp near Willsford's Ford, remain- ing there till May 3, 1864. On that day they moved across the Hazel River, and marched until the 5th, when they participated in the battle of the Wilderness, and on the 8th in that of Spottsylvania. On the 10th the regi- ment formed a part of the forces selected to make the charge on the enemy's works, and which resulted in their capture. Their loss in that engagement was more than one- hall' their number present.

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History of Cumberland Co., Maine, Part 37

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 780

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 780