USA > Maine > History of the Seventh Maine Light Battery, volunteers in the great rebellion also, personal sketches of a large number of members, portraits, illustrations and poems > Part 10
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FRANK S. WADE.
Was born in South Norridgewock, Me., Dec. 21, 1845, from which place he enlisted as a private in the Battery Dec. 12, 1863, having previously served nine months in Co. K., Twenty-first Maine Volunteers. He was in the following engagements : Port Hudson, May 27, 1863, and Port Hudson, June 14, 1863; the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna River, Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, Petersburgh, Burnside's Mine, Pegram Farm and the fall of Petersburgh. Was discharged June 25, 1865. He receives a peusion of $12.00 per month for injury to left hip, resulting in sciatic rheumatism. Among important facts con- nected with his military history, he says : " I can say I was the first man in Fort Mahone who belonged to the artillery branch of the service. I went across about 4 o'clock on the 2d of April, by orders of General Parks, who was wounded about ten minutes after I got back." He has lived at South Norridgewock ever since the war. Was married to Alice M. Day Jan. 1, 1871. Has had five children, viz. : May S., aged 18; Harry S., aged 16; Frank E .. aged 15: Fred E., aged 13; and Flossie, aged 6. In politics he is a Republican, and in his religious belief a Methodist. He is a member of Post 38, G. A. R., Department of Maine.
ALFRED B. WYMAN.
Private Wyman was born in Webster, Me., July 27, 1846, where he has ever since resided. He enlisted Dec. 3, 1863, his occupation being a farmer at the time of his enlistment. He was in every battle in which the Battery was engaged. and was mus- tered out with the Battery at Augusta, June 21, 1865. He married Miss Angelia Hewey, also of Webster, Jan. 18, 1871. They have no children. Comrade Wyman was for a time in the hospital at Bedloe's Island. and at Augusta, Me., in June, 1864, and is now a pensioner by reason of chronic diarrhea and chills and fever, at 86.00 per month. Io politics he is a Republican, and in religion a Universalist. He is a member of Berry Post No. 10. G. A. R., at Lisbon, Me.
HARVEY H. WEBBER.
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HARVEY H. WEBBER.
Was born in Bristol, Me., Nov. 22, 1844, from which place he enlisted as a private in the Battery Dec. 25, 1863, and served until the final master out at Augusta, June 21, 1865, being in every battle in which the Battery was engaged. ITis only hospital service was at the Camp Barry hospital, Washington, D. C. He says that the most important event he remembers was the charge of the third and fourth detachments, made at Petersburgh under Lieut. Staples, on the day the rebels evacuated their position opposite Fort Hell, April 2, 1865, and that he got out alive. He married Miss Sarah F. Denham of New Bedford, Mass., May 25, 1876. Had four children, viz. : James W., born July 4, 1878; Florence May, born Ang. 13, 1880: Julia P., born Aug. 1, 1882 : and George H., born Dec. 24, 1883. His residence since the war has been at Bristol and Boothbay, Me., until 1872, and since, at New Bedford, Mass., where he now resides. being a master of steamers. In politics he is a "straight Republican," and gives this as his religious belief : "To do as I would have others do to me." Hle receives a pension of $8.00 per month, and is a member of the Grand Army.
Speaking of our service in Fort Hell, he says : "I remember things that happened there as though they happened only yesterday. I think I can still hear the cries of a poor fellow who belonged to the Fourth Rhode Island Volunteers, who had both arms and both legs broken by a piece of shell, and who lived only forty-eight hours: and the ludicrous sight of the fellow limping around, assisted by a fellow sollier who had his
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SEVENTH MAINE LIGHT BATTERY.
ear cut off as smooth as if done with a knife; and our last day in the fort (Sunday, April 2), after sleeping alongside of our guns for two or three nights, with our accouterments on, all ready for anything that might come. We had fired until ordered to stop, as our side had gained the Confederates' breastworks, with the rebels on one side and the boys in blue on the other. About 8 or 9 o'clock the Sixty-first Massachusetts came up from City Point to Fort Sedgwick, and formed in line in front and charged across to the Confederate works, losing nearly one- third of their number; and they were followed by a Pennsylvania Regiment of Zouaves, who did not get beyond our picket line, although their Color Sergeant had advanced some hundred feet and planted the glorious Stars and Stripes."
Speaking of his enlistment and how he secured a place in the Battery, he says: "When we came to be mustered in, there were more than were wanted to make up the Battery. We were . all called out; and the number of men wanted were selected by Sergeant Willis. It so happened that he rejected me. I guess he thought I would not make a good soldier: but being deter- mined to go, I then went to Capt. A. B. Twitchell, and told him I had enlisted to go to the war, and that I wanted to go in the Seventh Maine Battery, Volunteers. He asked me some few questions, and then said, . Webber, you shall go with us.' I thanked him kindly, and withdrew. But many times after that, during our service, I had occasion to wish that he had been of the same mind as Sergeant Willis."
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FREELAND YOUNG.
Was born in Paris, Me., Feb. 8, 1844, from which town he enlisted in the Battery as a private, Nov. 12, 1863, having formerly served in Co. F, Twenty-third Maine Regiment, from Sept. 10, 1862, until July 15, 1863. He was with the Battery in all its engagements, until sent to the depot field hospital before Petersburgh, on account of a kick received from a horse, while on guard, for which injury he receives a pension of $10.00 per month: . He was a short time in several hospitals by reason of sickness, viz. : Camp Barry, Washington (in April, 1864), City Point. Va., Brattleboro, Vt., and Coney Hospital at Augusta, Me .. and was finally discharged July 27, 1865. He married Evelyn O. Dudley, of Woodstock, Me., Nov. 17, 1869. HIas one child, Walter P., aged 18 years. He has resided since the war at Paris. Bryant's Pond and Norway, Me., the latter place being his present home. In politics he is a Republican. and in his religious belief a Universalist. He is a member of Harry Rust Post No. 54. G. A. R., at Norway, Me.
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[All Rights Reserved.]
THE UNION SOLDIER'S DEATH.
READ BY CHARLES V. RICHARDS, Private in the Seventh Maine Battery, AT THEIR RE-UNION, Skowhegan, Me., Sept. 15, 1891.
Witness a soldier's death ! A's dies a perfect summer day In evening's breeze and flower-scented breath, A soldier passed away. His battle 's fought -- and ended is the strife ; He yields the sacrifice --- a patriotic life.
He died without a wail ; His noble soul, strengthened by faith and trust In Christ the Saviour, looked beyond the veil (As all true soldiers must), And saw the angel seribe his name enroll In heaven, on God's Grand Army scroll.
Perchance on field of strife And bloody carnage he was smitten low; Unconquered he has freely given his life That all the world may know The Union 's saved. At Liberty's command His blood triumphant cries, " For Freedom, stand ! "
Perchance in hospital, On bed of pain, and far from friends and home. 'Mid groans and tears he listens to the call : " Brave, faithful soldier, come ! " His only aim in life and " mission high," At duty's call in Freedom's cause to die.
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Perchance, alas, his fate To captive die in Southern " prison hell;" Victim of cowardly and murderous hate, Starvation him befel ! Tempted with life, Confederate to turn, His brave, indiguant soul their offers spurn.
May be his privilege Through years of usefulness to stay Till wearied with the burden of old age ; Then filled with gladness lay The armor off': while angel hands reach down And place upon his brow the victor's crown.
To know the victory won, And cheerful pass the sentinel of death, We must have knowledge of our duty done : Comrades, be this our death : 'T will crown our memories with our country's praise, And will resound through all re-union days.
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POEM
WRITTEN BY QUARTERMASTER-SERGEANT A. S. TWITCHELL,
FOR THE
RE-UNION OF 1882,
EUT UNDELIVERED, BY REASON OF THE RE-UNION NOT TAKING PLACE.
I am not a poet, and can hardly see Why this task of a poem should fall on me ; But since such is the order, I must obey - A soldier when ordered has nothing to say In excuse of his duty : he's bound to make The best of his service. I have had to take Bad quinine when all my senses rebelled, Because in the hospital it had been held That quinine was potent for every ill That man was heir to; and so they did fill Our stomachs up full, and the dose they'd double If we made complaints or caused any trouble About taking the stuff. I hope you will be As true soldiers now, and as patient with me As you were with the doctors, and take my rhyme As patiently as then you took their quinine. We had a war once, as you all do well know, And something or other induced you to go ; Some for the great fame that in battle is won, Hoping you might turn out like George Washington ; Some for the greenbacks that our Unele Sam gave, Or the bounties he paid the drafting to save; While some out of pure love of their country went, The saving our nation their earnest intent -
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And of this class there went out in sixty-three The best lot of fellows you ever did see : Some who had been tried, and had never denied, And were ready again, when called, to be tried ; While some were just green,- of which class I was one, -. Who never had fired a very big gun. But all of us meant to do all that we could, And we left our loved homes as soldier boys should, Upheld and strengthened by the prayers and the tears Of our loved ones - onr guidon midst hopes and fears. We were mustered in as the bold Seventh Maine, A hundred and fifty strong boys; and there came Many more like them, anxious to be enrolled Among our number ; and I have been told That greenbacks were really paid freely by some To secure a place near our fife and our drum : For there was not in all the old Pine Tree State A company raised, either early or late, Enlisted from workshop, school, college, or farm, With brighter prospects; and there can be no harm In now boasting of it : for such is our pride. The Seventh Maine Battery was known far and wide For its good and true men, and wherever found They were true to duty. I can look around Me today, and see in your faces the glow Of life that I saw there twenty years ago; For age has not withered, nor has time defaced The manhood that then every countenance graced ; And so long as I live I shall think the same Of my old comrades of the Seventh Maine. I wish that the muses would give me power To weave into rhyme, for a full solid hour, The camping. the marching, the soldier-boy life, We endured together. when treason was rife ; While, loyal, we carried the Stripes'and the Stars, Which were never replaced by the Stars and Bars. You know how we camped on Augusta's fair soil. Were mustered, equipped and got ready for toil ; How we went from that camp and journeyed uutil We came into quarters on Capitol Hill,
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POEM.
In Washington. where for a time we remained, And in the artillery tacties were trained, Drilling, parading and the life in the camp Being daily our portion ; when orders to tramp Found us ready and willing to leave the place, Which before and since has been often disgraced By Congressmen sent out our laws to provide -- Laws needed to maintain our country the pride And boast of our people; but sad was the day They voted each other that unearned back pay. And to my mind and yours how much sadder still That more infamous River and Harbor Bill, Which in spite of Arthur has become a law, Destined its thousands and tens of thousands to draw From the public crib, to give fortunes to few, Which is most all the good it can ever do ; While many poor soldier boys have got the bounce, Because in the treasury there's not an ounce Of appropriation to pay for their toil. All which is because of this great game of Hoyle They play in Congress, and in which, though so hard, The suckers, not soldiers, hold the winning card. And then with what wisdom they guard every bill, That has the word " soldier " or " pension," until The few friends we have are in luck to get through A portion of what is the poor soldiers' due ; And of that they 'Il be robbed if collected through The army of buzzards so well known to you As Washington claim agents; for every mail Brings us something to tell how they never fail To watch every move, and to guard with great care Our bounties and pensions, while nothing they spare To rope in our cases, and also our tin, And finally, moreover, to rope us all in. But what am I doing? I've wandered away From the subject which calls out my muses today. For you, my brave comrades, don't need to be told Of the evils at Washington, so manifold. All of you know,- besides, 'tis better, I think, On warm days like this, not to stir up a stink.
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Well, we went to the front, through the " Wilderness " led, Where the fields and the forests were strewn with the dead ; Where the rebels, contesting each foot of the ground, Made the pathway a bloody one, and all around Were the war's dread alarms; but we journeyed through, Till the spires of Petersburgh came into view. 'Twas a-marching by day and a-camping by night, In the front line of battle, with rebels in sight. "Twas a sleeping on arms, not so pleasant repose As sleeping in arms : every one of you knows How that is yourself ; and you also know well, The music yon heard of the minnie and shell Was not half so sweet as a love song ; but yet, Like the love song, you had to get used to it ; But when weary and worn, 'tis my fond belief The minnie would bring us the quickest relief. I'm wandering again, yet I do not wonder : 'Twas just so in war times; 'tis true, by thunder, That, though a fierce warrior, I never was killed ; And I never killed others, for 'twas so willed, That when I got ready to fire at the foe. 'Twas just my bad luck to be ordered to go To the rear ; and I've not a doubt today, But many a life was saved in that way. My own was, at least, notwithstanding.the fact That the hospital surgeons, taking contract To kill all they could, and thus add to their store : For dead men eat less, and they made so much more By killing than curing, that with will less strong, My soul would long since have been marching along With good old John Brown; but I battled for life, And saved what is left from their scalping knife. But in such condition that I envy much The boy who returned with a sling or a crutch, Whose good fortune it was to be strong and well, Losing only a limb: while no one can tell The life-long suffering of those who were ill But those who thus suffered, and who suffer still. We went into camup near the old Pegram house : And that is the place where I caught my first louse.
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POEM.
Where Peirce, my good tent-mate, so valiantly fought To keep off these wretches, as all of us ought To have done; but they came so hungry and thick, And multiplied faster than we could pick, That oft-times they conquered. How true is the song, "For the battle is not always to the strong ;" And a little louse in the seam of your pants, Has often made many of you swear and dance ; There's but one good thing of a louse I recall - It respected.no one, but went for us all,
'Though Howard and some that were prouder than I Would never admit that a louse e'er came nigh. And so the time passed, with its trials and sport, On duty as ordered, in camp, field and fort :
No more about which I will now stop to tell, Till we entered at last the bowels of "Hell." And there for long months in the heat of the fray, Our guas were kept echoing day after day, And the Lord only knows how many were slain By shots sent from " Hell" by the bold Seveuth Maine. One Sunday, how well I remember that day ! - The last, but not least. in that terrible fray : 'Twas when the Confederacy, breathing its last, In its death throes such fearful destruction cast On all in its reach, that we thought, for a spell, The watchers would die, and the corpse would get well. But soon all was over --- the spirit had fled. And so had the rebels with Lee at their head, And joining the chase were our bold Seventh boys, Till at Farmville they met a new kind of noise : 'Twas the cry of victory. sent echoing back From Appomattox Court House, over the track Of our victorious hosts, which glad refrain On the breeze of heaven. again and again, Was carried Northward, until o'er hill and dale The Angel of Peace spread the beautiful veil Of joy and peace ; and hearts so weary and sad, Waiting and watching for loved ones, were made glad By the glorious news; while all through the ranks, From private to general, arose many thanks
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To Him who had led them through battle and blood, And through-what was deeper-Virginia mud ; Through darkness and gloom, by His great, strong right hand, Into the bright light of an unsevered land. It was over : and turning our cannon around, We soon were re-marching the old battle-ground ; But oh, what a change! there was nothing to fear : No foe to the front, not a foe in the rear ; The minnie ball's music, and cannon's loud roar Broke the dread stillness around us no more. ' But oft in its place, as we marched on, would come The sweet song we so loved, of that "Home, Sweet Home" To which we were hastening, and in which ere long Our loved ones, there waiting us, joined the glad song. Some came not, however, home greetings to share, The loss of whom filled many homes with despair ; They fought and they fell in the thickest of strife, Or in sickness and suffering breathed out their life ; While others came, weary and sick, but to die, Unable diseases and wounds to defy, Who, patiently waiting the turn of the tide, Went over to meet on the opposite side Of the Stygian river their comrades so brave, Who had died on the field their country to save. At Augusta, again the mustering drumn Called us together; but this time we come To be mustered out ; every drum stroke spoke loud. Telling of " Home, Sweet Home" to that home-sick crowd. The nearer we got to the arms of our loves The more we then felt like the sweet turtle doves ; For within the home nests such joy was in store : We came as the birds came, when winter is o'er : I wish I could give you a picture in rhyme Of all my old comrades; but neither your time Or patience would suffer it-nor could I give Much that is personal of those who now live : For drifting apart. in the years that have sped Since we parted, and all those good-byes were said, There's but few of them all, with their Yankee knack Of wandering about, that I could keep on track.
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POEM.
Our Captain was brave : he was ready to go In front of his men in the face of the foe; - While none of our officers, none of our men, Were wanting in courage to stand by him when True courage was needed. I hope that each one, With courage as good, has his life's battle won, And wherever stationed, has toed to the line As manfully since then, as in that war time. And I hope, when the last great battle is fought, Victorious still, that we all may be brought Safely through, tho' with banners tattered and torn, Our old hulks battered and weary and worn, To be mustered out. God permit we may then Go homeward as joyfully even as when We were last mustered out. God's blessing be nigh, And bring us at last to His barracks on high.
GROW
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BRIEF SKETCH
OF THE
SEVENTH MAINE BATTERY ASSOCIATION.
Among the happiest gatherings which have grown out of our civil war, and in fact of all the gatherings of the present day, are the re-unions, which have come to be annual occur- rences, of the different army organizations. And these grow more and more fraternal, as the ranks of the old veterans grow thinner and thinner- as one by one they are being now rapidly mustered out of life's service.
The perils and hardships through which we passed as comrades, and the memories of the camp and field, are links in the chain of friendship, so firmly welded in the fires of battle, that as we now gather around these annual camp-fires and recount the scenes of our army life, the links grow stronger and stronger with each revolving year, bringing us closer together as comrades. And every time the chain is broken, and we lay an old veteran away in the silent camping ground of the dead, we close up the broken ranks with re- newed feelings of fidelity to each other, wondering who next will hear the summons and receive his final discharge.
These gatherings (or re-unions, as we call them) not only serve to keep alive the memories of the past and .. strengthen the ties which bind us together as comrades," but they in- culcate in the heart of every true veteran the full spirit of Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty, which are the great pillars on which rest the hope of our republic.
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SEVENTH MAINE LIGHT BATTERY.
Several attempts were made prior to 1880, by surviving members of the Seventh Maine Battery, to form an organi- zation, and one meeting is said to have been held and officers chosen ; but unfortunately no records have been preserved, and I am unable to obtain any report. In the fall of 1880, 35 members met at the Preble House, in Portland, Me., and organized by the election of a full set of officers. The history of the Battery was discussed, and there was an earnest desire expressed that annual meetings should be held at such places as would best accommodate the members and secure the largest attendance. An effort was made, which was to be continued, to ascertain the whereabouts of all the members whom it should be possible to find. Lieut. Lapham was chosen as orator, and Sergt. Twitchell as poet; but no records are preserved except in memory, so that a full ac- count of all the proceedings cannot be given.
No account of any other meeting is found until 1884, when a call was issued and a circular sent to every known member for a re-union to be held at Bangor, Me., on Thurs- day, Sept. 11, of that year. On that day, it being also during the week of the State Fair, quite a number assembled in Grand Army Hall, which had kindly been placed at our disposal for the meeting. This was the first meeting of which I now find any record. Lieut. Lapham presided and the fol- lowing officers were elected for the ensuing year : -
President
W. B. Lapham.
Vice-President
A. S. Twitchell.
Secretary
Albert Towle.
Treasurer
H. E. Hale.
Executive Committee.
W. O. Carney,
A. C. Gurney,
Daniel Staples, H. E. Hale,
A. B. Merrill.
O. J. Pierce was appointed as committee to draft a design for an Association badge; and A. S. Twitchell, W.
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BRIEF SKETCH OF THE ASSOCIATION.
B. Lapham and A. B. Merrill a committee on the Battery history. At the close of the business meeting, remarks were made by several members, and a poem written expressly for the Association was read by A. S. Twitchell, which poem, at the request of several of the members, is printed herein and made a part of our history.
The next year (1885), during the week of the National Encampment at Portland, Me., a tent was provided for the Battery at Camp U. S. Grant, where the members met and had their headquarters, where the annual meeting was held on the 24th of June and the following officers elected for the ensning year: President, A. S. Twitchell, Gorham. N. II. ; Vice-President, Augustus Bradbury, Fairfield, Me. ; Secretary, Albert Towle, Bangor, Me. ; Treas., O. R. LeGrow, Portland, Me. ; Executive Committee: A. B. Merrill, Bangor: Augustus M. Carter, Bethel; Warren O. Carney, Portland; Augustus Bradbury, Fairfield; James S. Lowell, Boston; L. E. Bundy, Newark, N. JJ.
At this meeting it was claimed that we had present the largest number of members, all Grand Army men, of any or- ganization represented at the Encampment, according to the number of men mustered out at the close of the war, our register showing sixty names, many of whom had never met before since their muster-out at Augusta twenty years before.
The following names were there registered, and they are here given to preserve the record of this most important gathering ever held and to show the interest then taken : -
Lieut. W. B. Lapham Augusta, Me.
Lieut. L. E. Bundy . Newark, N. J.
Lieut. Daniel Staples Dexter, Me.
Q. M. Sergt. A. S. Twitchell Gorbam, N. H.
Sergt. A. M. Carter Bethel, Me.
Sergt. Augustus Bradbury Fairfield, Me.
Sergt. D. B. Bickneli Poland. Me.
Sergt. Howard Gould Portland, Me.
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SEVENTH MAINE LIGHT BATTERY.
Corp. L. F. Jones Andover, Mc.
Corp. Albert Towle
Bangor, Me.
Corp. Jos. T. Merrill
Portland, Me.
W. O. Carney . Portland, Me.
C. V. Richards
Skowhegan, Me.
W. E. Stevens
Lisbon Falls, Me.
E. A. Lothrop
Auburn, Me.
G. F. McDaniel
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