USA > Maine > History of the Fourth Maine battery, light artillery, in the civil war, 1861-65; containing a brief account of its services compiled from diaries of its members and other sources. Also personal sketches of many of its members and an account of its reunions from 1882 to 1905 > Part 13
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large tree, and I cut his name and battery in a piece of plank and set it at the head of his grave. One of the men was taken sick and badly broken ont and I reported to the Captain that I thought it was the smallpox. The Captain laughed at me, but when I told him that I should report it to headquarters if he did not attend to it, he called a surgeon, who promptly pro- nounced it a clear case of smallpox and ordered a tent pitched for him on a hill nearby, and a Frenchman who had had the disease sent to take care of him. Two days after the battle of Cedar Mountain these two men came to camp and Captain Robinson asked the Frenchman how they had escaped being captured by the enemy. The Frenchman replied: "Mine Got, we was captured by that ---- Mosby and he march us on wood road about inile by the mountain. Mosby then ask me what was de matter wit' dat man, and I say 'Fle got de smallpox and I got him like de hell too.' Mosby and whole gang then leave us right off (rick."
Not far from Little Washington, Jere Buckley came to me just before sunset, ar ! pointing to a flock of sheep, said: "Ser- geant, please let Twi. hell and I go over there and get one of those sheep." I re: Bed "Yes." and off they went and got the sheep, dressed it or " Brought it down to the road and started to join the Battery. Passing a short turn in the road, they sud- denly met General Banks with his staff. The General asked the boys what they ha! . al Tere replied, "A sheep that we killed up on the hill." T General ordered them to be taken to his headquarters and gas : eder guard, where they had the pleasure of seeing the she staff. In the nr . ! ed and eaten by the General and his the General told the boys that he was much obliged for p and that now they had better report to their Captain. n they returned the Captain, who had been informed of . tter, asked them where they had been during the night. Tare replied, "With General Banks, sir." While in the Show Valley the boys were all out of money One morning the Captain ordered and very short of
me to take a sous. ten on horseback and go out for hay. About two miles camp we found a stack and nearby a tobacco house fille! : bacco. While the men were getting the hay tied in by" carry across their horses' backs, I went for the tobacco house. asu got two bundles of about fifty pounds.
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When we reached camp it did not take long to distribute it among the boys.
At the battle of Cedar Mountain my horse was killed under me by a ten-pound shell. I went to the rear for another horse, and when I returned the enemy were charging up the hill in front of us and the Battery had limbered up and was leaving. I took the saddle from the dead horse and put it on the new one, but did not waste any time in fastening straps and following the Battery to a piece of woods where it had halted. There was a battery on our right which opened fire and did good execution. It was dark at this time and the troops were badly mixed. We soon moved further back and halted for the night. The next day I was asleep under the gun when Lieutenant Coffin awakened me and asked me to go to the battlefield with him. I told him that I had seen all of it that I wanted to, bnc I sad- dled my horse and we went out beyond our picket line, where both sides were working together burying the dead. Near the picket lire a rebel General came toward us, and saluting. asked if we had been on the field long, to which Lieutenant Coffin replied that we had just come. We then rode with him around and across the field to their picket line, when he again saluted and left us. It was a terrible sight to look upon. The Unions and Confe lerates were working together in a most friendly way, digging pits large enough to hold forty or fifty of the dead laid side by side, only spreading their blankets over them and then throwing the earth back until the trench was filled. In a few days we fell back to Rappahannock Station, where the Battery was engaged and shelled the bridge. I was sent by the Captain with the centre section to guard a ford about a mile down the river. From here we moved to White Sulphur Springs, where we relieved a Rhode Island battery that had been badly cut up. Both legs of one of their officers had been cut off above the knees by a piece of railroad iron, about eighteen inches long. which had been fired from the enemy's guns. We soon silenced the enemy's artillery, but their sharpshooters were very annoy- ing. We such got the range of them as they showed themselves on an opposite hill. and a few shots quieted them. During the afternoon Major Kieffer, the chief of artillery, was sitting on his horse in rear of iny gun and called my attention to a brass howitzer of the enemy's that glistened in the sun on a hill to our
IO
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right. He said, "Sergeant, see what you can do with that gun." 1 told Corporal Fox to do his best, and when the gun was sighted 1 directed him to make a little change on account of the wind. The Major was watching through his glass when the gun was fired, and brought his hand down with a slap, saying, "That is the best shot that I ever saw, for it has dismounted their gun." A squad of sharpshooters had taken position in the hotel within the enemy's line and were firing from the windows. I directed Corporal Fox to make a shot at the house. The shot passed through the house lengthwise and the sharpshooters did not wait to get out through the door but jumped from the win- dows and ran. From here we fell back towards Alexandria. At Broad Run, General Banks, finding that the enemy was between us and the main army, burned the trains that we were guarding. Three engines and a large number of cars contain- ing ammunition, clothing and provisions were thus destroyed, and the wagons of our ammunition were blown up.
After we had crossed Bull Run the Captain said that he would take supper in Alexandria that night. Just after dark an orderly came to him with orders to send a gun back two or three miles. My detachment was sent and we were placed in position on a hill covering a bridge, with instructions to fire if we heard any one crossing. About two o'clock we heard troops moving near the bridge, but an officer came and told me that it was part of the rear guard that had lost their way and were just coming in. At daylight we limbered up and joined the Battery near Aqueduct Bridge. where we crossed the river and through Georgetown into Maryland. During this retreat we had been out of rations much of the time and were a hungry lot of men. The day that we crossed into Maryland Corporal Holway cante to me and said, "] wish that I had something to eat. for I am so hungry." We arrived at Frederick soon after the Rebs had been driven out and saw a large number of our men that had been captured and paroled. At South Mountain the Rebel dead lav thick along the road and through the woods. The roads were strewn with oll muskets and pieces of carpet that the Johnnies had used for blankets. During the fall after Antietam the Battery did guard duty at the fords near Sharpsburg. One day I went with the men to the river to water the horses, when a squad of Johnnies came down on the opposite side with a flag
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LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
of truce. The officer in command called out : "Hello there, Yank, We have got sixteen of your men here that we want to get rid of. Cannot you come over with a boat and get them?" I told him that we could find no boat. He soon found one and brought the men over. This officer said to me that he was tired of the war and he knew that we were, and if we would bring some man (I have forgotten the name) that they would bring Jeff Davis and we would hang them and that would end the war.
The Johnnies would often come down to the river and call across asking if we Yanks were not tired of fighting ; that they were tired of it and wanted to go home.
It took us two days to move from here to Maryland Heights, a distance of nine miles. The roads were coated with ice and the horses smooth shod, and in some cases twenty-two horses were not able to draw a gun np the hills. We soon moved across the river to Harper's Ferry and went into winter quar- ters, and I received my discharge the 16th day of March, 1863, by reason of rheumatism and heart disease. Before I left the Battery the Captain promised me that he would promote Cor- poral Holway to be Sergeant in my place.
I attended the reunion held at Bethel, and when I was pointed out to Corporal Hohay, he came and threw his arm around me and wept like a child. He said, "Sergeant. I thought you were dead." A few years ago I received a letter from Ethel IT. Jones which 1 prize very highly. I make the following extract : "Yes, Sergeant, I well remember your many kind words and your genuine soldierly appearance and loyal, upright manner, how well you looked after your men, always mani- festing the forgiving spirit for their many shortcomings. How miich I should enjoy taking you by the hand, and if possible I want you to come to Augusta next June to the reunion, and I will see that you have the attention of at least one of the boys of the old sixth detachment."
After leaving the service I followed the painting business. when able to work, until 1880. I have worked in Maine, New Hampshire. Massachusetts and Rhode Island. I spent two winters in Florida for my health. I am now unable to do any manual labor except a little work in the garden. In 1803 I bought a lot and built a two-story cottage at @ West End Avenue, Middleboro, Mass., where I have since lived. It is a beautiful location and I have a very pleasant home.
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LIEUTENANT MELVILLE C. KIMBALL. BIOGRAPHY AND PERSONAL NOTES.
Received my carly education in the public schools of Bethel, Gould's Academy, Bethel, and Westbrook Seminary of West- brook, Maine, now Deering. Enlisted before I was of age but was mustered in a few days after I became of age. Attending school and assisting my father in his business occupied my time previous to enlistment. Since discharge after recovering my health, have been engaged in mercantile pursuit.
CORPORAL ALONZO PLUMMER.
BIOGRAPHY AND PERSONAL NOTES.
Was born February 18, 1842, at Hartland, Maine. Worked at farming until 1862. Taught school in winters of 1859, 1860 and 1861. Was preparing for college when the war broke out. Enlisted as a private in 4th Maine Battery at Augusta, Maine, March 8th, 1862, and was with the Battery until February 9th, 1864. Was then promoted to Second Lieutenant Company A, 30th Regiment United States Colored Troops, and joined the regiment at Benedict. Md. The regiment was assigned to Ist Brigade, 4th Division, oth Army Corps. Was with the Army of the Potomac through the Wilderness, and at the siege of Petersburg. Va., until November, 1864. Was in the battle of the Crater, where Co. A, 30th Regiment, was nearly blotted out of existence, losing forty-eight men out of sixty-six.
Was Provost Marshal of the brigade during October and November, 1864, and was then promoted to First Lieutenant and rejoined Company A of his regiment. The 4th Division of the oth Army Corps was then transferred to the 18th Corps at Bermuda Hundred, Va.
In December, 1864, and January, 1865, was with the Fort Fisher expeditions and was at the capture of Fort Fisher, N. C., January 15th. 1865, Sugar Loaf Hill. N. C., February 11th, 1865, and Wilmington, N. C., February 22, 1865. Marched north and joined Sherman's army at Bentonville, N. C., the day after the battle of Bentonville. Was with Sherman's army from there to Raleigh, N. C., and on the rebel army surrendering he resigned and left the service June ist. 1865, at Goldsboro, N. C.
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September, 1865, entered the University of Albany, N. Y., and graduated from the law department May 25th, 1866. Went to Minneapolis, Minn., and practiced law until April, 1869, and went to Boston, Mass., and stayed until January, 1870. Came to Benton Harbor, Mich., in January, 1870, where he has been engaged in the law business ever since. Was married in 1867 to Miss Ellen D. Hawkes at Medway. Mass. Has two children, daughter Edith and son Harry. The latter has just graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan at Ant Arbor, Mich.
ABEL DAVIS. BIOGRAPHY AND PERSONAL NOTES.
I returned home to New Portland immediately after my dis- charge and labored on a farm and in the woods until the spring of 1868, when I left the State and went West, arriving at Eau Claire, Wis., in May. I worked in and around the saw mills there, on the boom and in the woods, until on June 17th, 1872, I stuck my pick handspike in a log and started for the Law School. In September following I entered the law department of the Wisconsin University at Madison, Wis., and entered upon the study of law for a profession, where I graduated the 19th day of June, 1873. a full fledged LL. B. I went home to Ean Claire the next day and immediately formed a partnership with one of the established lawyers there by name of Joseph F. Ellis, under the firm name of Ellis and Davis.
On the 4th day of July following my graduation I delivered my first oration in the city of Eau Claire. What a bound, how I did feel. I wore a plug hat and marched to the table to dinner with the dignitaries in the midst of the choir of young ladies. That was my entrance into a professional life.
'That firm of Ellis and Davis continued for about four years, when it was dissolved by mutual consent, and in the summer of 18;7 I came East and spent the summer around my old home.
I got back to Eau Claire, Wis., some time in October, and soon opened another law office alone and hung out my sign. My health, which had shown signs of failing the spring before. now began to give me fair warning that there was a limit to the
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mental strain that I could endure and kept crying out, stop, stop.
In May, 1879, 1 went to Crookston, Minn., and opened a law office and bank. That was a frontier city about seven years old, and I carried everything valuable on my person. My health continued to fail, and the first Tuesday of June when the court opened, having been in town only four or five days, I went into court with the rest and took my place, and on Thursday, in making an argument before the jury in defending a man for stealing, I broke down in the middle of my argument and the case all went from me, it vanished out of my sight. I had reached my limit and had to stop.
I staid at Crookston until about the first of August, when I came back to Eau Claire.
I went into the woods the next winter to see if I could not coax back some health, but did not succeed very well. I was in the city of Eau Claire and had an office, but did not do much until about the first of June. 188r. I resolved to try the East for a visit and medical aid, and I came to Boston (sad mistake) and there on the 18th day of June I fell while crossing the Com- mon, with a stroke of partial paralysis. On striking the ground l partially recovered and proceeded to haul myself together as best I could with my left arm, and when I got far enough to take account of myself I found one half of me gone, my right hali was not in it, but I have recovered from that in a measure.
1 did not go back. West, but staid in Maine, and in June, 1882, went to New Portland and purchased the Charles B. Clark farm, where I next lived for about two years. In the spring of 1884 I had disposed of the farm. I went West and went into the grocery business. I was taken sick the next December and was obliged to give up that. In June, 1885. I came East again. I came to the Grand Army Encampment held that year in l'ort- land, and in December of 1885 came to Pittsfield and stuck my stake, opened a law office where I have been ever since, and it looks as though I might remain here, for Pittsfield is a wealthy and good town and takes care of its poor in good shape. and I have a residence gained.
In honors I have had my share. I presume. If I had deserved more I would most certainly have got them, if I had had the time to attend to them. but they are all vanity and emptiness now. I have been president of a baseball club, yet who knows
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it now except ine. and elected an honorary member of a Ladies' Relief Corps. Now is not that enough, ought it not to satisfy any reasonable being ?
(I was a bachelor until I was most fifty, and did I not have fin.)
I was married August 28th, 1890, to Angie Rogers Morrill of Lewiston, who took as much interest in our reunions as though she had always been a member. I had a very pleasant married life and as for a member of our session and battery association my wife was a very enthusiastic member, but all things must end and on the 2d day of February, 1898, my wife died and I was left alone again. Sad was the day.
Now I know of but one thing more to write about, and that is the time when iny own obituary is to be written, and all I will say about it is I expect to be there and to be the center of attraction and to be the most interested one there, but I do not believe I shall feel like writing an account of it, so I will say, make such comments as you please. So good night, when ! greet you again it will be to say good morning in some bright ail cheery clinic.
But I am still here and hope to greet you all many times. ABEL DAVIS. Pittsfield. September 13, 1905.
ARTHUR T. CHAPIN. BIOGRAPHY AND PERSONAL NOTES.
I am a descendant of Deacon Samuel Chapin, who settled in Springfield, Mass., early in 1600. I was born at Concord, Maine.
After my discharge from the army, I came west to Nebraska. By the way, it might be of interest to you to know that I was in Washington attending the theatre and saw Lincoln assassi- nated by Wilkes Booth. I have been engaged in different ways while here. I served two years as Deputy Sheriff of Washing- ton county, this state, then was elected Sheriff and served two years.
I opened up a large farm of 1700 acres in this county, served as County Commissioner and then was re-elected to another
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term, but had to resign as my business required my attention.
In 1822 I with others organized the Merchants' State Bank, of which I was elected President and still remain in that position.
I am a member of the G. A. R. Post, a member of the Masonic Lodge, and also of the Knights of Pythias and of the Uniform Rank.
Now, comrade, use what you wish of this and throw the rest into the waste basket. You remember, I presume. that when I enlisted, my brother, two years younger than myself, enlisted also, but when our guardian heard of it, he sent to Augusta and took Harry home and wanted ine also to go, but I would not give up until my three years were up.
My brother is living in Chicago, Ill., and is engaged there in the book business. When the history of the Battery is pub- lished, I want several copics.
I have a wife and three children living and they will each want one. I cuclose you my diary of the war. It was written in such a garbled condition that I do not know as it will be of any use to you.
PETER F. HURD.
BIOGRAPHY AND PERSONAL NOTES.
Peter F. Hurd, born in Harmony, Maine, January 7th, 1839, was the son of a farmer. He made farming his occupation until the War of the Rebellion called him to the service of his country. IJe enlisted in the summer of 1862, without bounty, for nine months: but while at Augusta waiting to be mustered into the army, re-enlisted as a volunteer for three years or dur- ing the war, and was enrolled as a private in 4th Maine Bat- tery. September 16th, 1802. Genial, cheerful, faithful and prompt in every duty, he was respected, and ranked high in the favor and good will of his comrades. He survived the dread- ful conflict. without a wound, and was honorably discharged at the end of the war. June 17th, 1865. In a few years he moved from Harmony to Athens, where with the exception of a short time, he has since resided. during which time he had charge of the great Hillside dairy farm in Boylston. Mass.
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LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
SERGEANT CHARLES A. ALLEN. BIOGRAPHY AND PERSONAL NOTES.
Born in Wilton, soon removed to Farmington. At three years of age removed to Augusta, at sixteen years removed to farm in Mt. Vernon, remaining until enlisting. Common school education, went from school soon to the army, after discharge returned to farm and attended during fall and winter of 65 a business college in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Returned to Mainc and in company with Will Jordan went to Eastbrook in a lumber deal. In '68 returned to the farm in Mt. Vernon, remaining till spring of '70, and then removed to Dubuque, Iowa, engaging in the book and stationery business, remaining till April, '86, then sold out and removed to Howard, S. Dak., where I had taken up land. Elected County Auditor on the Republican ticket in 1804. Democrats and Populists fused and snowed us all under, this fall. March, '89, married Miss Maude Davey. Ilave one boy, now five years old. Have been pretty well broken down in health for the past ten years, unfit for manual labor, and have received for past six years a pension of $6.00.
Was appointed Corporal winter of '63-64, and Sergeant fall of 1861 in front of Petersburg.
MARION MILLS. BIOGRAPHY AND PERSONAL NOTES.
Enlisted while attending school, at the age of IS years. I was ordered in camp at Augusta December 17, and mustered in with the 4th Maine Battery at the State House.
The subject of this sketch was present with the Battery every day with the exception of two instances, the first being a few days before the battle of South Mountain, when he was detailed to return to Washington for the purpose of procuring horses which were much needed in the service. Several days were passed at the Capitol. at the end of which time the Quarter- master returned to us and we were informed that no animals could be obtained. The writer, in company with "Fid" Twitchell. started on foot in search of the Battery. Twitchell was taken ill and I went on alone.
About the middle of the afternoon I ran across the 20th
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Maine Infantry, a new regiment just on the field, and spent the night with them, and the next day found the Battery. While in camp at Brandy Station, orders were received that anyone wishing to re-enlist could do so. This was in '64. I was very much opposed to it at first. but having in mind the thirty-five days' furlough. I concluded to re-enlist. The furlough did not appear until the latter part of March, '65. Portland, Me., was reached April 1, 1865. just two years from the day of departure. After passing a few days at home, I was ready to return, and while at home learned that nearly all of my schoolmates were at the front. I left home to return on the first day of May and joined the Battery, which had during my absence been trans- ferred to the 6th Corps, which started next morning for the Wilderness campaign.
I remained with the Battery during the Wilderness cam- paign, and it was while at Cold Harbor, after the heaviest of the fighting, the rebels mounted long range guns and sent three shells into our lines, one of which came over, breaking my horse's leg and hitting me on the arm, but did not disable the for duty, being a spent shot. We soon moved to the front of Petersburg, where I was detailed as the Captain's orderly, and filled the duties of that office until mustered out with the Battery at Augusta, June 17, 1865.
CORPORAI, L. B. JENNINGS. BIOGRAPHY AND PERSONAL NOTES.
Luther B. Jennings was born in Farmington, Me., on the 20th day of November, 1837. Common school education and acad- emy. He made two foreign voyages at sea and in 1861. Novem- ber 20th, enlisted in the 4th Maine Battery ( Light Artillery.) Was discharged on the 6th day of February, 1863. by reason of surgeon's certificate of disability, rendering him unfit for service. The following Jub 15th was drafted and paid $300 commutation, considering the money would do the government more good than a man broken in health in former service, and also being under medical treatment at time of draft for dis- abilities contracted in the service.
Since the war have followed the occupation of a farmer. The
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last thirteen years have been totally unable to perform manual labor. Married. Four children, two sons, two daughters. Residence Windsor, Kennebec county, Maine.
CORPORAL, SILAS R. KIDDER. BIOGRAPHY AND PERSONAL NOTES.
Silas R. Kidder was born in Concord, Maine, Somerset county, and moved with his parents to Vienna, Kennebec county, when eight years of age. He was educated in the com- mon schools and Thomas F. Hovey's High School. He was an excellent scholar and was well qualified for a teacher or any town business, but on account of the infirmities of his father he was obliged to remain on the farm.
Jle remained there until 1862, when he enlisted in the 4th Maine Battery and served until the close of the war in 1865. He became discontented with farming and went to California and engaged in mining. He married a Maine girl and settled there, still continuing in the mining business with fair success until he met with a sad ending of his life in 1871.
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