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 15
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All night long the command, which consisted of our entire corps, moved on, making as quick time as it was possible. Brief, and only brief halts were made for rest and to take a bite of hard-tack, but no camping. And here let me note, that during the entire march, which extended from nine o'clock of the evening of July first until four o'clock the following afternoon, nineteen hours, no halt was made long enough to make a drop of coffee, nor did they have any till late in the afternoon. Coffee was a great sup- port on the march, but it was not their fortune to have it upon this occasion.
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The day following the night found the boys still tramping. The distant roar of the cannon told them that the conflict, which was supposed to be in the vicinity of Gettysburg, had begun. Now a thrill of interest sweeps through their frames. One, two, three o'clock in the afternoon, and 'still the corps was moving on toward Gettysburg. The conflict seemed nearer. New strength seemed imparted to the men. Four o'clock, and the Sixth Corps led by the Fifth Maine Regiment, arrived at Gettysburg, having made a continuons march of nearly forty miles in nineteen hours, and all this after the forced marches of nearly a week. During that severe march, I am reliably informed, that in our own regiment, there were only four stragglers. This was very re- markable, when we consider the physical condition of the men. Yet weary as they were, there was not a single murmur or word of complaint.
Upon the arrival of the corps at Gettysburg, a short halt for rest was made, and then they were at once pressed forward into position. The Fifth Maine was still in the advance. As our lines came up, the news spread like wildfire throughout the army, and cheer after cheer ran along the lines. The men seemed wild with excitement. Drums beat, colors were fly- · ing,-it was a season of rejoicing. The long weary iniles were all forgotter. On to the contest was the thought and spirit which now inspired the men. Danger was not for a moment considered. The John- nies were met, they were out of their usual entrench-
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ments, and now an opportunity was presented for a fair test of strength and ability. Proudly one might look upon our troops, for they seemed permeated with a power which no rebel hordes could overthrow.
Rigorously our regiment leaped forward to the word of command, and at once took up the position indicated to them, forming themselves into line of battle, the left of the regiment resting upon the side of Little Round Top, a point which was so prominent on this battle-field. As our corps came up, the enemy fell back; and hence a position was gained with but little comparative difficulty. The work was principally to hold it. Our boys felt proud that, at that almost turning point in the fortunes of the day, the arrival of the Sixth Corps, they should lead that noble body of solliery into action, and thus become the first regiment under fire. Who could blame them for a little enthusiastic feeling over the matter?
That night the entire force lay upon their arms ready for action at a single moment's notice,
In the evening about ten o'clock, a detachment of three companies of the regiment, by permission of General Sedgwick, made a reconnoisance in front of our line, the object being to recover if possible, a por- tion of the Ninth Massachusetts battery which had been captured by the enemy during the previous afternoon, but which had not been conveyed away. It was a most brave and gallant undertaking, and resulted in bringing in one brass piece, two caissons, and one limber. The horses attached had all been
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killed. Not afraid of using a little physical strength, the men drew the pieces in by hand, and they were proud, as well indeed they might be, of their trophies sceured at such great hazard and danger. Some few prisoners were also secured in this brilliant dash, reflecting considerable credit upon all concerned. I have been unable to learn definitely who commanded this detachment; but the fact that it was a Fifth Maine officer, supported by Fifth Maine men, is enough to establish the affirmation that it was a brave exploit, and courageously executed.
The next morning, July third, dawned bright and beautiful. The position of the regiment was not materially changed. Heavy and severe skirmishing was in constant progress in front ; and our boys were admonishel to protect themselves as well as they might, from bullets and other missiles which might be unceremoniously flying about. Taking advantage of the many rocks which lay in their vicinity, they soon erected some admirable breastworks of the rocks and stones, and which proved to be of great benefit at a later periodl in the day ..
Of course it is not intended to give any description of the battle of Gettysburg in this volume. That would be impossible, unless I was to quote from other writers; and as I find no data speaking specially of regiments, I must pass it over save in general terms. This battle has been the theme of so many writings, and has been so frequently described by lecturers, that probably its details are familiar to almost every
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one. In the memory of its participants, it will ever be fresh. I confine myself wholly in this and the sul - sequent action of the regiment for a very few weeks, to its general experiences.
During the forenoon of the day to which we have alluded, the conflict was comparatively light; and it seemed to be a question whether the regiment would after all be under any considerable fire. Yet it was only the lull before the storm, for about one o'clock in the afternoon, opened the terrible artillery duel which has been pronounced the severest cannonading ever known upon the American continent. Shells burst in and around the ranks of the regiment, solid shot plonghed the ground both in front and the rear, the air seemed filled with the missiles of death, and yet during the entire two hours' bombardment, the regi- menit lost only three wounded. The stone breast- works saved our men wonderfully. The position of the regiment was one of great importance, and during the entire fire of shot and shell, not a man flinched ; but showel his determination to faithfully exeente the work which he had traveled so far to do.
Night finally closed around, and with it came the belief that our forces were victorious. It had been a terrible fight ; but if crowned with victory, we might be compensated in a degree for the danger and expos- ure to which we had been subjected, and for the labors which we had underzone.
The night following was one extremely disagreealle to all. The rain fell in torrents. Not even a shelter
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tent to protect from the water. The position of the regiment was such that the men had to lie on the large flat rocks which they held, and which certainly did not afford a very easy couch for weary limbs. Sol- diers had become accustomed to pretty hard beds; but the resting places near Little Round Top were a little too hard.
On the morning of the fourth, the division, of which the Fifth was a part, was ordered forward to feel of the rebs' position. The verdict of yesterday had ad- monished the foe to make backward tracks; and dur- ing the night, they had seen fit to heed the admoni- tion. The command found them in force a few miles distant, and after a short engagement, returned to the old position, the ends of the reconnoisance having been achieved. The rain still continued to fall in torrents ; and even in victory, outside surroundings were disa- greeable enough.
On the Fifth of July about noon, commenced the following up of the enemy. A march of some six miles was made, when the rear guard of the enemy was overtaken, where a slight skirmish was indulged in, a few shell, probably as a parting token, seattering their complimentary fragments round about; but yet neither party specially desirous of giving or bringing on a battle.
July sixth proved to be a very foggy and stormy day, while the roads were heavy, rendering marching very slow and tedions. But yet the afternoon of the day was devoted to that work, though permitted to go into camp at night.
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July seventh. To-day the regiment made a march of twenty-four miles. At its close the men were very tired, and rest was truly sweet.
A portion of the night of July eighth was spent upon the march. It rained very hard, and the night was very dark. In the progress of the march, it be- came necessary to climb over a mountain. The road, it was so ealled, was but a foot-path, only about wide enough for a single file. The regular road being needed for pushing forward the artillery, this rough foot-path was all there was left for the infantry. Up- up-up-the path seemed to have no end. The mud rendered it very slippery, and the extra efforts re- quired, made it more arduous for the men. Owing also to the narrowness of the way, and to a division which was in advance, the progress was very slow. It was so dark, that one could form no idea of the height of the mountain they were to go over; and tired-wet- hungry-the boys kept hoping against hope that they were nearly to the summit. To say that there was no growling, and various expressions indicating anger and irritability upon the part of most everybody, would be to state an absolute untruth, and to record an absolute impossibility. They were inseparable with hard work, and were deemed by many as essential to keep up the men's spirits. Along the side of the narrow path could be seen increasing numbers of " played out " solliers, who hel lin down exhausted; and as the ascent grew stepper, ludicrous mishaps were . experi- enced upon every hand. One mounted officer's cook,
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with a lot of live hens attached to his saddle, in at- tempting to keep his seat, pulled his horse from the perpendicular to the horizontal position, and cook, horse, and hens rolled down an embankment together. The difficulty experienced of climbing over fallen trees, rocks, etc., in pitch darkness, suggested the idea in one Yankee's head, of lighting his bit of candle. Ilis example was soon followed by one after another, until a continuous line of twinkling lights could be seen up the steep sides of the mountain. Their insignificant glimmer afforded a little cheer to the men.
It was nearly midnight before our own boys began to fall out through sheer exhaustion; and by one o'clock, the time that the regiment halted upon the summit of the mountain, there remained about twenty or twenty-five men with the colors, who at once dropped upon the ground, and were soon asleep, not- withstanding the falling rain.
In the morning a "village" (?) was found on the summit which was called Hamburg, but the boys soon changed the name to what they considered as more appropriate, " Humbug," as there were only one or two houses, and a population not exceeding tive.
The regiment remained at this point until about nine o'clock, when the most of the absentees having come up, they were again on the move. The view from the mountain in a perfectly clear day must have been beautiful. This day it was somewhat obscured, but yet it was very fine. Antietam, Frederic City, and other points of interest lay opened out before the
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delighted eye. Vast fields of grain waved in the val- leys below, while the groves and the small streams, and the snow-white cottages formed a lovely land- seape, almost repaying one for the considerable trouble to which he had been to catch a glimpse of one of Nature's best paintings, though I do not suppose that objeet was at all considered when the troops were ordered over the mountain, but presume it was in- tended to take the shortest way to find the running rebels. A march of eight miles was made, and again the regiment was in camp, and this time short of rations, so much so that at night many sought their sleep with almost empty stomachs. A furions storm raged for a little while-in the minds of the troops, finding occasional demonstrations through their lips, about general commissaries. But that did not mate- rially help the case. The next morning brought a generous supply of rations, however, which caused a great rejoicing ; and strict attention to the business of devouring them, was given by all.
At five o'clock, July tenth, the command was on the march, advancing up to Antietam Creek, until they found the enemy in force, and then the regiment was sent out on pieket. Considerable firing was indulged in between the two lines. The Ninety-sixth Pennsyl- vania which was on picket below the bridge, had some killed and quite a number wounded during the night.
The next morning, the Fifth was relieved by the Ninety-fitth Pennsylvania. Sharp skirmishing was in- dulged in all day between the two lines, though no general engagement followed.
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Five o'clock on the morning of July twelth, found the troops again in motion, the advance being made toward Hagerstown. A detail of skirmishers was sent out from the various regiments of the division, to open the way for the general advance. Some sharp mus- ketry was interchanged; but the enemy seemed to fall back before the advance, and soon the town was once more in Union possession. Secession did not have much sympathy in Hagerstown. The people seemed rejoiced to see the stars and the stripes again ; while their actions indicated that their hearts were with the Union soldier. In the afternoon, another advance was made, the Sixth Corps leading, moving on to a place called Funkstown. At this place the enemy were found in considerable force, and a battalion consisting of three companies from each regiment in the brigade, was sent ont to engage them. The fight was sharp, but of not long duration, resulting in the repulse of the enemy, and inscribing another victory upon our ban- ners. In this fight, Lieutenant John A. A. Packard was severely wounded, and several men whose names I cannot now obtain, were also wounded while gal- lantly performing their duty. The position thus gained was held for two days.
Though the next day proved to be stormy and dis- agreeable, yet the time was diligently occupied in throwing up breastworks and digging ritle-pits, and listening to the picket-firing, which at times was sharp and brisk, and then succeeded by comparative silence.
On the fourteenth, another advance was made to
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Williamsport. At this place the enemy were again encountered, and a sharp fight occurred between the Sixth Corps, in which the Fifth Maine was somewhat engaged with the enemy, and which resulted in the rout of the foe, and the capture of about fifteen hun- dred prisoners by our troops.
For a few days, I present a brief diary of movements, and which generally, were without much interest, though they indicate hard labor upon the part of the men.
July 15th. The command moved away from the river toward Boonsboro, at which point they bivouac for the night.
July 16th. To-day the regiment marched to Berlin, thence to South Mountain, over which they passed, and thence to Petersville, where they go into temporary camp.
On the 17th, the rain poured in torrents, though portions of the army were in motion. From what data I have at my command, I judge the Fifth was not again upon the march until the twenty-third, when they were aroused at three o'clock in the morning, and marched for White Plain, which place they did not reach until about noon. Gladly they improved the opportunity to rest, after such a hard, tedious more- ment.
On the twenty-fourth the onward march was again resmined, moving on toward New Baltimore; but the day's work did not end until eleven o'clock in the evening. The weather was hot and very sultry.
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Reveille sounds early on the morning of the twenty- fifth, and soon the command was on its way toward Warrenton, which place was reached about the middle of the forenoon.
Moving on the twenty-sixth about one mile out of the village, the brigade went into camp in a beautiful location, and which place they were destined to occupy for some considerable time.
An inspection was held upon the next day, and most certainly the regiment and brigade looked re- markably well, considering the severe marches to which they had been subjected, and the arduous na- ture of the campaign.
Breathing away the time with nothing special to do save the light routine of camp duty, the regiment and brigade remained in this vicinity until the sixteenth of September, a perio.l of over seven weeks, with ouly one or two incidents, of any special note, to break up the monotony. One of those was the execution of one of the members of Company D., who, upon the four- teenth of August was shot to death by sentence of general coart-martial, for the crime of aggravated desertion. To all external appearances, at least, he met his death calmly. The entire division was drawn up to witness the tragic scene. Forming three sides of a square, with open ranks sufficiently wide for a team to pass between, the men facing inward, the excention party appear at one opening. and proceed to march between the ranks, until all the troops are passed. The order of the procession was, usually, first
12
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a guard, followed by the shooting detail, then the cal- prit in an open baggage-cart, seated upon his coffin. and usually attended by his religious adviser, while these were followed by another guard, and all under the charge of the officer of the day or the provost marshal.
As soon as the procession began to move, the band or drum-corps stationed at the right of each regiment commenced playing the death march, the most melan- choly and soul-depressing piece of music ever written upon five bars. The whole arrangement was calcu- lated to awe the victim. Generally, it had the desired effect. Some men had to be supported during the entire movement of the procession. Not so in this case. The culprit seemed to have estimated the necessary amount of nerve which was requisite to carry him through, and prided himself upon being able to ex- hibit it. As he passed our regiment he waved his hand, saying, " good-by, boys." Reaching the outer side of the square, the profession halted, the culprit alighted, and, after being blindfoldled, knelt upon his eoffin, and at a given signal the shooting party, which consisted of six men, discharged their pieces at the heart of the de- serter. He fell without a groan. One of the guns was without a ball, and as the guns were handed to the men loaded, yet with the knowledge that among them was one which had no ball. each hoped that it was his, and thus escape the consciousness of having been one to shoot down a fellow being.
Immediately following the discharge of the mis-
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ketry, the command closed ranks, broke into columnn, and marched past the body of the culprit who lay just as he fell, that all might read the lesson of the results which follow treachery and desertion. It was a most awful sight.
Anticipating, perhaps, that our officers were enjoy- ing their peace too much, some of the Johnnies con- ceived the idea that it would be an excellent plan to give our general a little shaking up. and to throw our camp into confusion. So on the fifth of September, about nine o'clock in the evening, a body of some of the enemy's cavalry, commanded by the noted Dick Lewis, attempted to carry their idea and design into execution. Our brigade was detached from the rest of the army, laying about five miles distant, and occu- pying the position of a corps of observation. A picket- line, about one mile in diameter, was thrown out around the brigade. The head-quarters of the gen- eril were near the picket-line on a hill a little south of the village of New Baltimore; and though extra vigilance was not deemed as absolutely necessary, as no heavy force could reach the brigade without warn- ing being given it in season to rejoin the main army, yet a sharp lookout was kept for the little bands which hovered around the lines, and who might put the troops to some considerable trouble.
Well, upon the evening mentioned, when all was silent, suddenly a band of horsemen approached the lines. At once the sentinels fired their alarm. To this the horsemen responded with the sharp crack of their
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pistols, and with loud yells, pressed down toward the general's head-quarters. The long roll at once beat, the men were almost instantly in line. Down dashed the horsemen. They neared the tent. Catch the general asleep? Not much. Seizing his pistol, he dashed outside, and opened a sharp fire upon the intruders. Shot after shot was fired into his tent, striking in and about his bed; but their intended vie- tim was not there. In the mean time the guards were elosing around, and apprehensive of their own safety, the rebs, without stopping to do any more damage, wheeled their horses and dashed out of camp, and escaped under the cover of the darkness. It was a bold raid, although many considered it as poorly excented.
Apprehensive lest there might be other bands lurk- ing in the vicinity, a scouting expedition was planned; and, on the morning of September 7th, at about two o'clock, our regiment, with small detachments from one or two other regiments, was sent out, and spent nearly the entire day in exploring the vicinity. Noth- ing of special interest was seen or occurred; and at night the troops returned to camp, satisfied of safety for the present at least. The raid, however, afforded a theme for conversation for some considerable time.
On the fifteenth of September, orders came for the brigade to be ready to move, and at five. A. M. on the sixteenth, they were again on the march, advancing as far as Warrenton where they camped for the night. The next day they proceeded as far as Culpepper,
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where they again encamped; and as no one seemed to be in any haste about ernshing out the rebellion, it was thought that the command might as well remain at that place as anywhere for a few days; and so another delay was made, and another quiet season indulged in.
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CHAPTER XXIII.
On picket at Rapidan. More movements backward and for- ward. Advance toward Rappahannock Station. Enemy found. Position at the station. Advance of Fifth Maine and One Hundred and Twenty-first New York. Glorious charge upou the enemy's works. Gallant action along the enemy's pits. Grand victory. A few stirring results of the victory. Order from regimental head-quarters regarding the battle. Rebel flags captured. Advance movement. Rest at Hazel river.
OUR camp-life, which had extended over a space of two or three weeks, again ended on the morning of October fifth, when orders from head-quarters directed us to strike our tents, and to enter upon a tour of picket duty near the Ripidan. Our corps was di- rected to relieve the Second Corps, which had been upon duty at that place for about four weeks. Changes were sometimes pleasant, and this proved to be a pleasant one to us. The duty was light, though at no time without its responsibilities and pos- sible dangers. Quiet reigned throughout the lines, whether to our real satisfaction or not, I cannot well determine. The beautiful weather added to our com- fort; and so long as our commanders did not see fit to place upon us the severe burdens of campaigning. we could see no harm in enjoying the few pleasures which even a soldier's life afforded.
.
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Our picket-tour, however, did not continue so long as was at first anticipated ; for, at the expiration of six days, we again packed up our effects, and commenced a rear movement, marching, upon the tenth of Oeto- ber, back to Culpepper. What few inhabitants there were left in such places as Culpepper, Warrenton, ete., manifested the most insolent disposition toward us, as we passed through their "sacred" streets. Those who were once styled as ladies, hesitated not to heap the most opprobrious epithets upon the sol- diery, frequently using language which would put almost a Five Point rough to shame. No notice was taken of them, while their rage and indignation was allowed to boil on.
Reaching Culpepper we made coffee, and, partaking of a hasty meal, proceeded down the railroad, march- ing as far as Rappahannock Station upon the north- ern side ot the Rappahannock river. Weary and tired, the men slept sweetly and soundly that night. The following afternoon, learning that the enemy were fol- lowing us up too closely, and would not hesitate to interfere with our business provided opportunity of- fered, we thought it best to acquaint them with the fact that we were posted in their movements; and hence we recrossed the river, and engaged the rebels' advance guard, driving them back, and earnestly ad- monishing them, with a brisk and well-directed fire, to be careful how they ventured too nen our troops. They speedily sought refuge back in the town of Cul- pepper, while we. to perform our part in the great
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