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 19
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"Active skirmishing commenced along different portions of the line early in the morning, and contin- ned to grow more and more general until the rattle of the skirmishers' rifles grew into the reverberating roll of battle. From one end of the long line to the other, the tide of battle surged, the musketry continually increasing in volume, until it seemed one continuous peal of thunder. During all of the battles in the Wilderness, artillery had been useless, except where here and there a section could be brought in to com- mand the coolway; but now all of the artillery on both sides was brought into the work. It was the
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terrible cannonading of Malvern Hill, with the fierce Insketry of Gaines' Hill combined, that seemed fairly to shake the earth and skies. Never, during the war, had the two armies made such gigantic struggles for the destruction of each other.
" At first, the heavy assaults were made against the right, Hancock's and Warren's corps sustaining the principal shocks. Massing their forces against partic- lar points of the line held by these two corps, the rebel generals would hurl their gray legions like an avalanche against our breast-works, hoping by the very momentum of the charge to break through our lines; but a most withering storm of leaden and iron hail would set the mass wavering, and, finally, send it back to the cover of the woods and breast-works in confusion, leaving the ground covered each time with an additional layer of their dead. In turn, the men of the Fifth and Second Corps would charge upon their adversaries, and, in turn, they, too, would be forced to take shelter behind their breast-works. Thus the tide of battle, along the right of the line, rolled to and fro, while the horrid din of musketry and artillery rose and swelled as the storm grew fiercer.
" Meanwhile the Sixth and Ninth Corps were quiet- ly awaiting events, and it was not till six o'clock in the afternoon that the Sixth Corps was called into ac- tion. Then it was to make one of the most notable charges on record.
" At five o'clock the men of the corps were ordered to unsling knapsacks, and to divest themselves of
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Grand Charge May 100 1864 near Spolsylvania Court House.
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every incumbranee, preparatory to a charge. Colonel Upton, commanding the Second Brigade of the First Division, was directed to take twelve picked regiments from the corps and lead them in a charge against the right center of the rebel line. The regiments which shared the dearly purchased honor of this magnificent charge were, in the first line, the Fifth Maine, the One Hundred and Twenty-first New York, the Nine- ty-sixth and the One Hundred and Nineteenth Pennsylvania; in the second line, the Seventy-sev- enth and Forty-third New York, the Fifth Wisconsin, the Sixth Maine, and Forty-ninth Pennsylvania; iu the third line, the Second, Fifth, and Sixth Vermont. It was indeed an honor to be selected for this duty; but it was an honor to be paid for at the cost of fearful peril.
" The twelve regiments assembled on the open space in front of our works, then silently entered the strip of woods which was between our lines and the rebels. Passing through to the further edge of the woods, the twelve regiments were formed in columns of three lines, each line consisting of four regiments.
" As the regiments took their places, they threw themselves upon the ground, and all orders were given in suppressed tones, for the rebels were but a hundred yards distant in the open field, and the min- ies of their skirmishers were whistling among the trees and the brushwood.
" The other corps of the army were prepared in case this charging party succeeded in breaking the enemy's
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lines, to rush in and turn the success into a rout of the rebel.
"At six o'clock all things were ready, and the artil- lery, from an eminence in the rear, opened a terrific fire, sending the shells howling and shricking over the heads of the charging column, and plunging into the works of the enemy. This was the signal for attack, and Colonel Upton's clear voice rang out, . Attention, battalions! Forward, double-quick! CHARGE!' and in an instant every man was on his feet, and, with tre- mendous cheers, which were answered by the wild yells of the rebels, the column rushed from under the cover of the woods. Quick as lightning, a sheet of flame burst from the rebel line, and the leaden hal swept the ground over which the column was advane- ing,-while the canister of the artillery come crashing through our ranks at every step, and scores and lun- dreils of our brave fellows fell, literally covering the ground. (The engraving accompanying gives a view of the position as the charge was made, the Fifth be- ing on the left of the line.) Bat, nothing daunted, the brave fellows rushed upon the defenses, leaping over the ditch in front, and mounted the breast-works. The rebels made a determine I resistance, and a batel to hand fight ensued, until, with their bayonets. our men had filled the ride-pits with bleeding rebel -. AAbout two thous in l of the survivors of the struggle surren lerel, and were imme liat ly muchel to the rear under guard.
" Without halting for breath, the impetu as wohnen-
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rushed toward the second line of works, which was equally as strong as the first. The resistance here was less stubborn than at the first line, yet the gray occupants of the rifle pits refused to fly until forced back by the point of the bayouet.
"Our ranks were now fearfully thinned, yet the brave fellows passed on to the third line of defenses which was also captured.
" It was but a shattered remmant of that noble col- uma which rushedl from the woods against the hostile works that reached this advanced point ; and finding that reinforcements were reaching the enemy, while our columns were every moment melting away, a re- treat was ordered.
"There was not even time to bring away the six pieces of artillery which had been captured; they were filled with sods and abandoned."
I am informed by officers in our own regiment, de !! one reason of the fearful mortality in the regiment, and which ocenpied a position upon the left of the first line, was from the fact that the division which was to support, or protect their lett, did not go for- warl; hence, when the advance was made and the charge partially perfecte 1. the enemy wheeled round a part of his force, andI poured in a terrible endilading fire. With a fire in front, such a one as that was, and also one on the flank, it was surprising that a single. man escaped. General Edwards, then colonel com- man ling the Fifth, informs me that in that fight the Fifth lost over one hundred out of his small battalion of about two hundred: and also that eleven officers
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were eitherkilled or wounded out of a complement of seventeen.
Every man who was reported " missing" in the Fifth in this action, proved afterwards to have been either killed or rounded.
Lieutenant O. B. Stevens, of Westbrook, and Cap- tain Daniel C. Clark, of Portland, were among the noble dead. Captain Edward M. Robinson, of Anson, who had been previously twice wounded, was wound- ed terribly in booth knees, as was also Captain A. P. Harris, of Portland. Captain John D. Ladd, of Saco, received a severe wound, and Lieutenant Sidney Hutchins lost a leg. I regret that I have no data to give a full list.
A brave little squad of the Fifth Maine and of the One Hundred and Twenty-first New York, having heard no orders to retreat, stuck to their position amid a terrible and increasing fire of bullets. Hemmed in on three sides, the devoted band hurled defiance into the teeth of the enemy. Perceiving the situation, Lieutenant Andrew S. Lyon volunteered the perilous task of going back to Colonel Upton for reinforcements. The gallant Lyon started on his dangerous mission, but was never seen afterward. The supposition is, that he was mortally wounded, dying in some fiell hospital of the enemy, and hastily buried. Our boys soon tell back from their position. The enemy taking up a new position during the night, the field was left to our men, who visited the scene of action, but could not find any of our dead or wounded.
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CHAPTER XXVII.
. Continued movements. Position near the ".angle." A decep- tion-a charge-its terrible consequences. Trees cut off by bullets. Mortars brought to bear on the rebel position. Amus- ing incident of musical bravery. Cross river Ny. Retreat.
THE following day, May eleventh, the position which had been occupied before the charge was resumed. It had been deemed impracticable to longer endeavor to force the enemy back ; and hence the desired result was to be attained through flank movements. There was considerable skirmishing along the lines, although the Fifth was not actively engaged. Says Stevens :
. During the night, the Second Corps, General Han- cock, silently withdrew from the position which it had occupied on the right of the line, and, marching along the rear of the army, occupied a position between the Sixth and the Ninth Corps which was not before oe- cupied. With great cantion and silence, preparations were made for a desperate attack upon that part of the enemy's lines fronting this position. This line here made a sharp angle, and by seizing this angle, it was hopeI to turn the right flank of Lec'sarmy. Between the position of the Second Corps and the rebel works, the ground was covered with pines and underbrush ;
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and, as it neared the defenses, ascended abruptly to a consideraddle height.
" As soon as the gray light of the morn began to stream through the mists, all was in readiness for ile charge, and, with the strietest orders of silence, the corps in mass advanced rapidly across the field. the thick fog concealing the movement. As the column neared the riffe-pits, a shower of bullets met it ; but charging impetuously up the hill and over the works, the rebels, surprised and overpowered. gave way: those who could escaping to the second line in the rear, though thousands were obliged to surrender upon the spot, so complete had been the surprise. The vic- torious column now pushed on toward the second line of works; bat here, the enemy, fully prepared for the attack, the resistance became more stubborn. The battle now raged with the greatest thay. The Sixth Corps was withdrawn from its position, leaving a strong picket-line to guard its front, and, marching along the rear of its works, joined in the attack with the Secon 1 Corps."
The brigade, of which the Fifth Maine formed a part, went into action on the " double quick," under a galling and severe fire, and took up a position to the right of a point known as the "angle," which was in- feel the key to the whole position of the enemy. This "angle," so called, was strengthened by a lage breast-work of logs and earth, and was heldby a fare. of Mississippi and South Carolina troops. The main was pouring in torrents, yet the men readily ebeve !
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the order to lie down in the mud, and commence firing.
Soon a white fing was seen waving from the rebel works, and other evidences of a desire to surrender were exhibited in the front of the lines occupied by the division, which filled the boys with new inspira- tion ; and, anxious to gain all the progress possible, a boily of our troops, in which the Fifth figured conspic- uondy, moved forward at a rigid rate to avail them- selves of the advantage of the demonstration. They had advanced only a short distance, when a terrible and murderous fire was opened upon them from the works, and directed with such fatal effect, that the truth flashed immediately upon the minds of all that they had been deceived. It was a terrible moment. No other alternative presented itself but retreat; but long before they could reach any point of shelter, scores of brave men lay stretched in death upon the ground. It was in this advance that Captain Lemont, of Company E., fell. riddled with bullet. Six balls piereel his feet, and fifteen wounds were upon his body, bearing terrible evidence of the severity of that fire. Other officers an I men tell here, whose names I have not been able to obtain, while fighting bravely, and against all hope.
It afterwards proved to be through the drunkenness of a general officer that this needless sacrifice of life was made; for the position was not tenable, and no attempt was made by our troops to reveenps it during the day.
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It was during this terrible ordeal that the genial and gentlemanly Captain Fish, acting assistant adjutant- general on Upton's staff, was shot through the head. Only a very few moments before his death he had in- dited an affectionate epistle to his wife, in which be wrote :
" We are in the midst of terrible fighting, night and day; but, thank God, I am all right so far."
In less than a quarter of an hour he was dead. Such were the uncertainties of life in war.
The twelfth of Miy will ever be remembered by every man engaged in that terrible conflict. From day-light until three o'clock the next morning, at which time the enemy fell back, it was a continuous crack of musketry. During that whole period, the no- ble soldiers of the Fifth worked like heroes. I am told that our men fired, during that time, between three hundred and fifty and four hundred rounds to each man. Multiply this by fifty thousand men, and it conveys a little idea of the accompanying buzz of bullets. Horses and mnles, everything which was within range and unprotected, were almost literally cut in pieces.
Some idea of the terrible nature of the musketry of that day may be gleaned from the fact, that a large - oak tree, which stood between the lines, was actually ent off with nothing but bullets. The stump of that tree is now in the patent office in Washington. Many other trees, though of smaller dimensions, were also cut down by minies,
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As long as the enemy held the "angle," previously referred to, they had the advantage of position; and as both musketry and artillery failed to silence their strong-hold, it was determined to try a mortar battery, which came into position about three o'clock in the afternoon, under the command of a plucky, but rather green Dutch officer. Although considered at a safe distance from the front, yet two or three stray bullets which went singing through the air, appeared to him a narrow escape from instant death, for he jumped up in the air, and, clapping his hands to his ears, ex- claimed, "Oh my-my-that just skipped mine car."
As a consequence merry peals of laughter saluted the earnest remark.
Having obtained perfect range, the mortar shells were dropped into that angle with fearful effect. com- pletely silencing, at that point, the heretofore trouble- some customers. This was a result devoutly to be desired. At day-light, the enemy having retired, our men advanced to the position held by the enemy. The sight was perfectly awful. The foe lay actually piled up in every conceivable manner. The shells of the mortar had been terribly fatal. It was a sight from which the hardest heart recoiled.
The manner of death of one poor rebel sollier was specially noticed. A limb of a tree, which had been cut off by bullets, tell, passing through the soldier's head, as he lay upon the ground, pinning him to t !... varth.
When the brilliant result of the charges of the Sec-
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ond Corps on the morning of the twelfth was known officially, General Upton sent orders to the regiment: 1 commanders to impart the glorious news to the boys. who were then on the march to aid in establishing : new line. The intelligence was received with rousing cheers. Meanwhile, General Upton had sent an aid to order up the brigade band. who were about one mile in the rear. They were found and brought up at the double quick. On approaching the front. the dodging of rebel shells which were coming quite lively, brought forth some langhable remarks from the band, such as " we did at enlist to play in a fight," "don't see what the general wants to get us up here to get killedl fr." By skillful manwavering, the aid succeeded in getting them up within sight of the brigade, who were then hotly engaged. Ordering his band to shelter them- selves in a certain position, and romain there until bis return, he reported to the general, who countermandel his orders for music, and gave permission for the band to retire to a less dangerous position. The ail ro- turned to the point where he had left His musicians. when lo! not a " horn" was to be seen. On looking across the bare fielIs abont a mile to the rear, the cost- tails of some two or three (the others were probably in advance of them) were seen flapping in the breeze. as they disappeared below the horizon. " Well." said one of our boys on hearing of the incident, " no wor- der, thems Pennsylvania."
The connuan I remained in that position during the day and night of the thirteenth ; but upon the morn-
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ing of the frasteenth, the pickets were quietly with- drawn, the troops marching to a place called the " An- derson House." They were not to rest here long, for picket duty was to be their work for a short time at least. Orders were received for the brigade to move, and at once they crossed the river Ny in search of the enemy. The river at this point was quite deep, with almost impassable banks, except at the fonds. Moving up the slope of the opposite bank, a few rebel videttes were discovered, and immediately a line of skirmishers was deployed, the center of the line resting near a frame-house somewhat in advance, and the right and loft resting on the river, thus forming a semicirele, the Fifth Maine occupying a position upon the extreme left.
By the time the line was formed, there was only one vidette of the enemy to be seen : and the brigade com- mander, desirons of ascertaining whether there was any considerable force of the enemy in that vicinity. directed the colonel of the Ninety-sixth Pomsylvania to send a man forward an I reconnoiter, and gain the in- formation desired. A bright little fellow. some thir- toon years of age, a stray waif in the army, who bad been a sort of a waiter around head quarters, begge. for the privilege of going, saying he " wasnt afraid, they couldn't hit him." Permission was granted, and away the little follow gillopel within shooting di- twee of the enemy, where he halte l. an ! coolly sur- voyed the situation, mail several shots admonishet him of his dangerous position. Waving his little cap
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at them, he turned his horse, and reported that he saw "lots of them in the woods." The future history of that brave little fellow would be interesting, if it should continue as well as it commenced.
Nothing serious was apprehended, and General Meade and staff were at the extreme front, endeavor- ing to examine the position with their glasses, when suddenly a yell, and three lines of battle of the enemy arose from their concealment and pressed down upon our devoted lines, while a battery opened a sharp fire. It was observed that General Meade and staff foand it necessary to hasten their steps somewhat to avoid be- ing captured. Although our line was only a thiu skir- mish line, the brigade hold their ground and poured in a rapid fire, until overwhelming members compelled them to beat a hasty retreat. The Fifth Maine was able, fortunately, to move directly across the river to the left, and not a man was lost, although necessity obliged a wide scattering, inasmuch as there were ho supports. It was really a ludicrous and langhable re- treat. As soon as our troops were safely across the river, our artillery opened a sharp fire, driving the en- emy back to the wools, and from which they were soon glad to escape. The next morning, the regiment aud brigade mude another advance of a short distance, taking up a position in the woods from which the charging column of the rebels Inud come the day pro- vious.
Previous to the charge spalen of above, Colonel El- wards pereceiving, as he thought, an intended demon-
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stration upon the part of the enemy, sent word to brigade head-quarters, which were located near the banks of the river, of his suspicion. No attention was paid to this information, and the occupants of the head-quarters were soon at their case. It was only a short time thereafter that the charge came, and head- quarters just had time to get out of the way, and that was all. They were not usually caught napping; but feeling secure, they came very near it that time.
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CHAPTER XXVIII.
Move to North Anna river. A little incident. Continued move- inents. Heavy fight at Coal Harbor. Severe exposure of a soldier. Incident of a single bullet. More movements. Term of service expires. General Upton's letter. Departure from the front. On the move home. Reception in Portland. Reg- iment offer their services for ninety days to defend the capital. Muster out. The close.
On the twenty-third of May the command moved on to the North Anna river, where they found the Fifth Corps sharply engaged with the enemy. Re- maining in that vicinity until about midnight, they again advancedl as far as the Virginia Central Rail- road, where they bivonacked for the night, or what little there was left of it. In the morning, the bumps of destructiveness of the men were permitted a little exercise in tearing up portions of the road. Soon after. effecting the desired work, orders to march to IIewlett's Station, a distance of thirty miles, were issue 1. During this march many chickens and other edibles were captured, to the great delight of officers and men.
A little incident occurred during one of the halts of the regiment, in which a noble sollier, now dead. acted a prominent part, and which must be related
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here. Lieutenant Paradis, with two men whose names I cannot obtain, went ont about one hundred rods in front of our lines, on foot and unarmed, to a house, probably with the design of obtaining refresh- ments. As they neared the house they discovered two horses and one male hitched to the fence outside ; and they readily conjectured that they belonged to some of the rebel videttes. Having no arms, of course they could make no movement upon the rebels them- selves ; but they at once conceived the idea of capturing the aforesaid property. Approaching the house very cautiously to a point where they could act rapidly, they quickly charged down upon the animals, which they loosed in a twinkling, and were at once upon their backs. Looking into an open window, they saw three rebs, fully armed and equipped, taking a lunch ; but before the rebs could recover from their surprise, our brave men waved them an adien and were off, bringing the property triumphantly into camp. It was a boll and daring feat.
On the thirtieth of May another movement was made toward Hanover Court-house, where the enemy were again encountered, and a brisk skirmish was soon in progress between our division and the enemy. General Rassell, commanding the division, ordered the Jersey brigule to skirmish across the open plain in front, and drive back the enemy's skirmishers, an l who were supported by a body of infantry. It hal every appearance of being an arduoas and dangerous undertaking. The term of the service of the Jerseys
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would expire in two or three days. They had done great service, and their ranks were much decimated. It seemed hard to put men into such a position who had but so short a time to remain in the field, and whose minds were now so fondly regarding home. They protested against the order. The general, appreciating their feelings, withdrew the order, and directed the Fifth Mine to do the work. Immediate- ly they jumped forward with a will, opened a brisk fire, and in a short time exhibited to their fellows what courage and perseverance can do in gaining the mas- tery of the field desired.
On the first day of June, at one o'clock in the afternoon, the regiment left the position recently ocenpied and marched to Coal Harbor, where they became engaged in a sharp fight with the enemy at an early hour in the evening. On the second, the fight was fiereely continued, accompanied by great slaugh- ter. Over five hundred men were killed and wounded in our single brigade. This day the enemy occupied a position in the woods, and a charge was deemed necessary to drive them ont and gain their works. Lines of battle were accordingly formed, and when all things were perfected, the columns moved forward with loud cheers, and on the double-quick. Before the Union bayonets the gray-backs could not stand, an'l, after delivering a terrible fire, they fell back in confusion. This was the second time only in the his- tory of the Fifth Maine, that it acted as a support to infantry, and the first time that the regiment, during
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