USA > Maine > History of the Fifth regiment Maine volunteers, comprising brief descriptions of its marches, engagements, and general services from the date of its muster in, June 24, 1861, to the time of its muster out, July 27, 1864 > Part 11
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Thus ended the hostilities of the day, and we pre- pared for rest. Every man slept with his musket in hand; every officer with his sword and pistol on, ready for action at a moment's warning. Laying down in our positions, some enjoying the luxury of a bed made out of fence rails, we rolled our blankets around us, and slept that sweet sleep, which tired nature of right demands. The next morning before daylight we were aroused, and hastily despatching our hard bread and raw salt-pork (a nice fighting ration). we were ready for the events of the day, and what a sad day it proved for hundreds and thousands in our land. A thick heavy fog hung over the valley, con- pletely obseuring our position, as well as that of the enemy's. The first hours of the morning were im- proved in sending another brigade a little further for- ward to the front to relieve us in a measure, inasmuch as we were upon the advance the day previous, but we still retainel oar former position. Abont ten o'clock
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the vail rises, and we momentarily expectel orders to assault the enemy's position. But such orders did not rome. It was wise, though we could not understand it then. I truly believe that had we, in the center, urvle any perceptible demonstration of an advance, that we should have been totally annihilated. As it has since been shown, a mouse could not have lived where we were, had the enemy opened their whole line upon us. But of this hereafter.
Ilark! what is that? The fight has commenced on our right, and now upon the left. Franklin is pushing forward his left, and Sumner engages the right. All is in full view, and we can see a part of the terri- ble work in progress. For four hours we listen to the rattle of musketry and the deafening roar of artillery. About two o'clock in the afternoon, the enemy throw a lot of shell at us, giving us a second edition of yes- terday. Probably many have seen much more graphie accounts of that day's work than I can possibly give from the standpoint of my observation. I can merely say, that it was terrible. We could not move from our position, lest we bring destruction upon ourselves, and it was all-important that we should present a force in the center, to prevent any attempt which the enemy might be disposed to make to break our lines. But the 150, after shelling us to their hearts' content, find they have business in other directions, and hence concluded to let us alone for the present. I need not say that we appreciated their kindness very much. Encouraging arcounts of the success of our troops in driving the
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enemy some distance, were constantly reaching us, imparting a goodl feeling among the boys, notwith- standing the experience of the last few days. But night again settled down and all was quiet.
But Sumner, who had been on the right all day, and only about three-quarters of a mile distant, had not fin- ished his work. He was determined to carry the hills upon the right if possible ; and silently he prepared for the work. The camp-fires of the enemy were burning brightly. It was dark, and possibly they little sus- peeted an attack. Some of us were standing upon a slight eminence in front of our regiment, thinking of our chances of success, when a sudden yell arose, and in a moment or two after an officer riding by told us that Sumner was making a charge. At this instant the rebel cannon opened with terrible roar. In a moment, almost, the musketry commenced. You could just perceive the troops by the camp-fires. On go our brave boys. The muskets flash like lightning. Shot and shell fly fast and thick. You can see the
forked fires of the death-dealing missiles as they whirl through the air. The first line of forts are reached. Nerved to the utmost we gazed at that spec- tacle, so grand, so magnificent, yet so awful, so terri- ble. Like fiends the enemy worked their guns. Will : Sumner accomplish it ? Alas! the task was too severe. Death came too fast. Our boys had done all they could, they had gone as far as possible, they were compelled to fall back. Oh! the feelings which crowd upon a soldier, when he has ventured all to gain a desired end,
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and is thus defeated. Sadly they retraced their steps, the enemy mowing down their ranks like grass. It w.is too true, we were virtually defeated. We sought our resting-place. The future looked dark. If success was impossible, could the army escape ? was a ques- tion which weighed heavily upon us. Every effort, every attempt now seemed frustrated. We looked forward to the morrow with dread. It would be Sun- dy, and many were the silent prayers offered up, that that day might be one of rest. But there was the apprehension which is so dampening to a soldier's spirits, that possibly the fight would recommence, and with no prospeet of victory; and when one has that feeling, he cannot rest. Yet we endeavored to court sleep upon our beds of rails.
Sunday morning dawned, a clear and beautiful day. At an early hour the skirmishing of the piekets in our front commenced; but there were no appearances of a general engagement. About nine o'clock, our regi- ment was ordered to proceed to the front to support our pickets in case of an attack. Scarcely had we reached the lines, when an officer rode down from the enemy's lines and ordered the pickets of the confer- crates to cease firing, and cried out to our piekets that "General Jackson desires picket-firing to cease imme- diately upon both sides, for this day." Not a gun was tired afterwards. Picket-firing does not amount to anything, and is nothing more than cold slaughter. It is an abominable practice, and it was certainly gratify- ing to us to hear the command, and also such a wish expressed from the opposite party.
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We advanced some three hundred yards in column, being closed by divisions in solid mass, and laid flat on our faces behind a straw-pile, so as to present as little front and force as possible. The object of lying down was to lessen the liability of shot or shell striking us in case that the enemy opened upon us. The day passed quietly, however, and at last darkness came on; and, shaded by the sombre mantle of night, we could stretch our limbs a little, for we sadly needed exercise after the cramped position of the day. As soon as it became fairly dark, we received orders to throw up a small earth-work about four feet high and an hundred yards long, in our front. It was to be built in the same form as the straw-pile; so that the enemy might not mistrust when it came morning, that we had taken any precautions against bullets. From seven o'clock in the evening until half past two the next morning, we were busily engaged in the labor, having one com- pany at work at a time, while the others rested. No man was allowed to speak above a whisper; nor was a light or the slightest noise permitted. As soon as the earth was thrown up, it was at once covered with straw, and no one could have toll the next morning, standing three yards off, but that it was the original straw-pile. It was a pretty hard night's work, but we felt repaid for all our labors, because of the apparent satisfaction it gave to our commanding officers.
Monday morning dawned, and we were ordered back to our position in the road. The enemy shelled us a little during the day, but without inflicting any loss
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upon us. The fighting on the right and left was very feeble. Why does not the battle recommence ? was a frequent inquiry. Ah! we have it. The rebel general Lee has sent in a note to Burnside giving him twenty- four hours to remove the wounded from Frederics- burg, the city being in exact range of the enemy's artillery. This accounts for the quiet of Monday; for us, a most fortunate quiet. All day long ambulances were engaged in conveying the wounded to the rear, and when night settled down upon us, we all felt that the next day would witness the most desperate strug- gle known in the annals of civilized warfare. Orders were given to every man to keep his equipments on, and his gun by his side. All horses were saddled and bridled. Everything was in readiness for action at a moment's notice, and we laid down to sleep. But who could determine the future? About twelve o'clock, we were aroused from our slumbers by the colonel, who hastily informed us that we were to move immediately. Special instructions were given that no noise should be made. In three minutes the regiment was in line. Not the slightest suspicion of a back- ward movement crossed the mind of any save one or two, the most of the officers and men supposing we were to make an immediate attack upon the enemy. In a moment we were on the move. We had not, however, proceeded far, when we perceived that we Were to recross the river. Silently we retraced our steps over that plain, with what feelings I cannot de- seribe. There was no halt. Everything moved in per-
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feet order. The bridge was reached. We were now over. Before daylight the whole army was over, the bridges were up, all of which was accomplished with- out the enemy's knowledge, and we were all quietly sleeping in the neighboring woods; though the mo- notony of the thing was a little disturbed by a shower lasting three or four hours, giving us a tolerable soak- ing. When the sun arose in the morning, the enemy hastened over their works upon their supposed prey, but behold the bird had flown, "the Yankees were not where they were." Incensed, probably, they send a few shells through the woods to annoy us if possible, and remind ns of their presence; bat before noon the last cannon was fired, the smoke had all disappeared, the battle of Frederiesbarg had closed, not a single success achieved, and about seventeen thousand men its victims. Thus ended oar labors in one of the most desperate battles of the war; not desperate as far as our regiment was concerned, perhaps, but yet one in which it bore an important and responsible part.
Un:loubte lly the enemy intended to have opened upon us that morning; and every one admitted that about total annihilation would have been the result. General Burnside saw this, and silently he withdrew the troops, and it was accomplished in a most masterly manner. The evident plan of the confederates for action was a splendid one. Acting in a great measure upon the defensive, and hushan ling all offensive move- ments, presenting as small a force as possible, and even when attacked, employing only so much artillery as
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was necessary, designing, probably, to get our entire any over the river; and trusting that we should become flushed by our success, in driving a part of their force, that we would move over our baggage and supply-trains; and when we were in just the position they desired, open upon us with their whole power, and thus rout, annihilate, or possibly capture the entire force. And it has been demonstrated, that such was their intention from the fact, that battery after battery opened on Tuesday morning in localities where they were least supposed to be. Possibly some might sneer at this; many, perhaps, ignore the possibility of our army being taken under any circumstances. But I always noticed that rebel powder burned as quickly as ours; and that rebel shot, bullets, and shell were apt to hurt one when they streck, just as much as shot from our guns did the rebels.
For our own part, we considered the escape of our army from the clutches of rebellom as almost miracu- lous; and certain were we then, that nothing could have been accomplished in a more masterly manner, or placed Burnside in greater favor with military men.
Early in the day of December nineteenth, we moved back from the river some four miles, and went into esunp near White Oak Church. Everything indicated winter-quarters, and we prepared accordingly. It was well that we did; for some months elapsed before we again broke camp, save once, to which allusion will shortly be made. The time was principally occupied
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in the usual routine of camp and picket duties, both the "Yanks" and the " Rebs" maintaining a respectful silence.
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CHAPTER XIX.
Formation of houses for winter. Work of the chaplain. Revi- val in camp. Colonel Seamman resigns. His farewell ad- dress. Lieutenant-colonel Edwards assumes command. Pre- paratory movements for an advance. On the move. Storm. Mnd march. Stuck in the mud. Fall back. Once more back to White Oak Church.
Ix camp. It was, indeed, quite a job to clear away the timber and the scrubbed undergrowth which had stood so long upon the site selected for our temporary home near White Oak Church, Virginia. The ground presented anything but an attractive appearance when, in the midst of rocks and bushes, we received orders to halt on our march at this point, and pitch our tents. But the perseverance of the Maine boys was always manifest upon every difficult occasion; and soon a camp, presenting a very respectable appearance, was fashioned, having, perhaps, a greater regard for ease than for any particular beauty. We had not, at that time, become proficient in the art of camp-mak- ing, save as very short occasions required; and hence dil not understand all of the necessary details which are so essential to health and true comfort. Furnished in the main with shelter-tents, the men made exenva- tions in the earth of some three or four feet in depth,
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and five or six feet square, erecting over them their shelter-tents, making the interior of their house six or seven feet in height. Many built hot fires in the exeavations for a day or two, thus hardening the sides and the bottom of the ground, and which protected them, in a degree, from the cold and dampness of the ground. In one side of the square they formed a fire- place which was their means of warmth and comfort, and extended the flue upward for the escape of the smoke, by forming a chimney of small sticks which was plastered with mnd both inside and out. The interior of each house was arranged according to the famney of each occupant. The officers' quarters were not much improvement upon those of the men. In fine, the location of the camp was such, that it gave no encouragement to any one to make any attempts to beautify or adorn their grounds.
Thus, underground in a measure, the men passed the winter of 1862-3.
Of course there was much sickness, more, however. in other regiments in our vicinity than in our own. Cleanliness, as well as it could be observed, was a mat- ter of pride with our men; and to this fact may be attributed much of the good health of the regiment.
During the first few weeks of our encampment the weather was delightful. It seemed very much like our lovely New England Indian summer. But little dis- satisfaction was expressed because we did not move, for the recollections of the fearful disaster of Frederics- burg, were too vividly impressed upon our minds to
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aImit of any superfluous eagerness to again encounter the toe.
During those days our beloved and faithful chaplain was not idle. Officers might sit in their quarters, totally indifferent to the advancement of the material canse in which we were engaged-the suppression of the rebellion ; but our religions leader was not indiffer- ent to the spiritual interests and welfare of those under his charge. Almost every sabbath, when it was possi- ble, our chaplain had held regimental religious services. In this duty he was always earnest, prompt, happy. But in this camp he was to behold some of the fruits of his work. Almost involuntarily, so to speak, a strong revival sprang up, among the men first, and which afterwards extended itself in a degree among the officers. Meetings near head-quarters were held every evening for some considerable time, and the earnest praying and singing, accompanied by heartfelt and soul-inspiring exhortation, revealed the deep hold which an awakening of religion had upon the hearts of those noble men. Its influence upon the regiment was marked. Profanity was much less frequently heard. Many of the vices of the camp lost their hold, in a measure, upon the men and officers. At tattoo, the voice of prayer and supplication could be heard ascend- ing from many a tent, where once revelry or indiffer- ence reigned. In this noble and Christian work the chaplain received great aid and cheer, especially from the brave Captains Deering and Clark ; and prominent among the non-commissioned officers was Sergeant-
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major Chandler, whose conversion had great weight upon the minds of many. Nor was this religious awakening of a mere temporary character. In very many cases it proved to be lasting; and to my certain knowledge, some of the now prominent members of the Young Men's Christian Association, in various loca- tions, can date their first interest in religious matters to the happy hour which brought them to a sense of their wants and needs in the camp at White Oak Church. Captain E. W. Robinson of Anson informs the writer, that the last words of the noble Captain Clark were, when his young life was ebbing from ter- rible wounds received in battle, "how sweet is the name of Jesus." His life, a bright jewel in the coronet of character, went out in a perfect blaze of Christian glory. The work of our chaplain was great, and its results grand.
The many rumors which were circulated in camp that we were soon to have a change in our regimental commanders, proved true, when, on the eighth of Jan- uary, the resignation of Colonel Seamman was ac- cepted; and upon the morning of the ninth, he bade us farewell, and started upon his homeward journey. The announcement of his resignation filled many hearts with sorrow. All had the greatest confidence in his solliery qualities; and I believe that I express the sentiment of every Fifth Maine sollier when I say, that he had the love of all. His business relations at home were of such a nature that duty seemed to call him from the service. And so the soldier, brave and
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true ; the man, kind and genial, left us. At the next dress-parade the following address, prepared by the colonel, was read to the regiment. A few copies were afterward printed and distributed among the men. His words were timely, and, I trust, not without their influence.
HEAD QUARTERS 5th MAINE REGIMENT, } Friday evening, 11 o'clock, January Sth, 1863. 5
OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE FIFTH MAINE:
I announced to you, on parade last evening, that I was meeting you for the last time as your commander. My words were brief, for my heart was full. But I would tender you one more parting word.
Assisting in the organization of this regiment .- leaving the Pine Tree State at the same time with you. almost daily associated with you for over eighteen months in the camp, or on the march, or on the battle-field, the cords which bind me to you cannot be severed without pain. If my parting words were brief, it was from no want of interest in you that I did not say more. I felt what language could not utter. And now that my official relation to you has ceased, I cannot leave eamp without assuring you once more. that the welfare, honor, and prosperity of the MAINE FIFTH REG- MMENT lie near my heart.
I wish to thank you. one and all. for the kindness and courtesy I have uniformly received from you. and for your faithful cooperation in the necessary discipline of the camp. I shall ever rejoice to hear of your good health, your moral welfare, and military success. If summoned to gory battle- fields, I shall always expect to hear a good report from you, both officers and men. Soldiers, like you, who have not yet blanched amid the smoke of war, can be relied upon as val- iant and true in all time to come.
My new duties in civil life will not weaken. I assure you,
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my confidence in your cause, or the necessity of defending the constitution of our country, or vindicating the honor of our national flag. If our cause is a just one,-of which none of you, I believe, entertain a doubt, -there should be unity of feeling with the civilian and the soldier. The same spirit should animate both, whether on the exchange or in the camp, free from local or political strifes and animosities. It shall be my duty, when I return to my Eastern home. to express my deep interest in the army of the Potomac, and to impress upon all the variety and severity of your labors, together with the fortitude and courage with which you have met the trials of the campaign, and periled life and limb amid the missiles of war. I invoke the blessings of Heaven upon you, and pray, that, in coming seenes, you may be efficient in every service whereby there may be success to our arms, and prosperity to our nation.
Situated as you are, you will often hear, through the press and otherwise, many criticisms upon the mode of conduct- ing the war, and strictures upon men and measures. In a free country, honest differences may exist. but nothing can vitiate that which is right, and no influences or cireum- stances should estrange the American soldier from his love to his country, or make him forget the sanctity of the oath which he has taken to vindicate her honor and her laws.
Do not forget that something more is needed than perfec- tion in the mannal or drill. Remember that you are MEN. nursed in the free schools of New England, nurtured by the side of Christian altars, and taught to respect the " Order- book of high heaven." Remember that there are many ob- ligations and responsibilities resting upon you, which time and distance can never displace. Remember your birth- right, and bring your whole moral natures into a healthy discipline to divine rules. Be sober and temperate. be lov- ers of truth and manly integrity, and be not ashamed to vin- dicate the right, though opposed by contempt and abuse. Be bold and fearless in resisting pernicious influences which
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may be thrown across your path, and cherish such associa- tions, that, when you return to your homes, it shall be with self-respect, and the honest convictions that the discipline of the camp has made yon wiser and better men. You will return with thinned ranks, for many of your comrades have found their graves far from their early homes. You may also bear upon your persons the scars of many battles, but the memories of the dead shall not die, nor your valorous deeds be forgotten by those who prize your valor and honor your patriotism.
As I leave camp at an early hour in the morning, I cannot say more now.
Officers and men! Once more I Did you farewell. May the God of battles bless and preserve you.
EDWARD A. SCAMMAN, Colonel.
The command of the regiment now devolved upon Lientenant-colonel Clark S. Edwards, who had already proved himself a soldier and a fighting man of un- usnal bravery and courage, and which, indeed, was maintained during the entire period of service. In March he was commissioned as colonel of the regi- ment, and led it in all of its subsequent campaigns. Major Henry R. Millett, who had won a bright posi- tion in the esteem of the command, and who was a fine tactician and fighting man, was promoted to be lieutenant-colonel, while the promotion of Captain A. S. Daggett to the rank of major, proved the " right man in the right place." Major Daggett, who for bravery won the several brevets of lieutenant colonel. colonel, and brigadier general, is now a captain in the regular army. With this departure from the rules
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which govern us in the compilation of this work, but which merit demands, let us return to our narrative.
Everything remained quiet both in camp and on the line, until about the middle of January, when indications began to manifest themselves that a for- ward movement might be possible. The weather was superb, the roads good, and evidently our com- manding general was desirous of improving the op- portunity to retrieve his lost fortunes, and change defeat into victory. So we quietly awaited the order which should place as upon the move once more.
Tuesday morning, the twentieth of January, opened dark and cloudy, all appearances foreshadowing a storm. The various busy movements in our vicinity indicated that something a little unusual was in prog- ress; and hence there were the usual conjectures, whether the army would move or not. Privates walked respectfully up to captain's quarters, and giv- ing the salute, inquired,
"Going to move, captain ?"
" Don't know," was the response.
Away walked the captain to regimental head-quar- ters, who in turn inquires,
"Going to move, Colonel? "
" Don't know, no orders yet," was still the answer.
- Everybody supposed that somebody else knew, when, in fact, nobody knew positively anything. But if anybody thought a certain thing, it flew as a cor- tainty from one to another. While enjoying (?) the uncertainties which attend possibilities, many an anx-
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