USA > Maine > Maine; a history, Volume II > Part 25
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Eighteenth Maine Infantry .*- See First Maine Heavy Artillery.
Nineteenth Maine Infantry .*-- The historian of the regiment says: "The Ninteenth was exceptionally strong in many respects. From soldiers, sick and wounded, returning from the theater of war, the men who constituted the regiment had the opportunity of learning from the experience of others, that the war was no holiday affair. They knew something of what enlist- ment meant in hardship and suffering. Large bounties appealing to mer- cenary motives had not yet been offered. Men who entered the service at this time were generally prompted by patriotism." The men who composed
"Small, "Sixteenth Maine Regiment," 89-90.
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the regiment came principally from the counties of Somerset, Kennebec, Sagadahoc, Waldo, Knox and Lincoln. The Nineteenth was mustered in August 25, 1862. It was present at Fredericksburg, but suffered no loss of life. In the ensuing winter, however, nearly 100 men died from disease. In the spring, as a reward for good conduct and the excellent condition they were in, twelve regiments out of some 300 were given an extra num- ber of furloughs, and one of those thus honored was the Nineteenth Maine.
At Gettysburg, on the second day, after the retreat of the Third Corps, the regiment made a gallant charge, driving the force in front. The Nine- teenth brought three cannon back in triumph, and it claimed that other cannon which the enemy had abandoned and two flags which had fallen were "gloriously" captured by other regiments while the Nineteenth, not stopping to pick up trophies, was pursuing the enemy. On the third day, when Pickett's men had pierced at one point the Union line, the Nineteenth was one of the regiments hurried to the rescue and helped to capture what was left of the Confederates who had crossed the stone wall.
At the Wilderness the regiment fought with great gallantry and pre- vented the enemy from discovering and taking advantage of the confusion of the Union troops. It lost in this battle 34 killed and mortally wounded, 97 wounded and six missing. The regiment again lost heavily at Spottsyl- vania. It was engaged at the North Anna, but not so severely. At the Jerusalem Plank Road the regiment was attacked in the rear, through no fault of its own, and lost 97 men. "Every one of the six members of the color guard was killed or wounded but the flag never touched the ground." It was engaged in the unfortunate battle of Ream's Station, and changed from one side of the works to the other four times. The regiment fouglit well at the battle of the Boydton Plank Road. It was also engaged at Hatcher's Run, and saved a most important bridge in the final pursuit of Lee. It was mustered out in May, 1865.
Twentieth Maine Infantry .*- The Twentieth Maine was mustered in on August 29, 1862. It was especially fortunate in its commanders. Its first colonel was Adelbert Ames of Rockland, a graduate of West Point in 1861, who had already distinguished himself at Bull Run and elsewhere, and who was destined to win the highest honor at Fort Fisher. He was succeeded by Joshua L. Chamberlain, whose excellent work at Round Top and in Virginia has been described in another chapter. Both these gentlemen became brevet major-generals of volunteers and after the war Governors of States,-General Ames of Mississippi, and General Chamberlain of Maine.3
&Like all the Northern governors of Southern States in reconstruction times, General Ames made serious mistakes which ended in the complete overthrow of his policy, but Garner, the best historian of Mississippi in this period, who was born and bred a Southerner, says of Governor Ames: "His political opponents testify to his personal integrity, courteous demeanor, and his education and refinement. No well- informed Democratic politician ever accused him of peculation or plunder. The unanimous testimony is that his failure was due to the circumstances surrounding his advent into Mississippi." Some account of Governor Chamberlain's administration is given in another chapter.
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HISTORY OF MAINE
The Twentieth Maine was warmly engaged at Fredericksburg, and at Gettysburg rendered most valuable service and suffered heavy loss. Its skirmishers took part in the capture of Rappahannock Station. It greatly distinguished itself at Spottsylvania, the Wilderness, Peebles Farm and Five Forks, and was one of the regiments which received the surrender of Lee's army. In June the regiment was mustered out.
Twenty-first to Twenty-eighth Maine Infantry .- The Twenty-first to Twenty-eighth regiments were enlisted for nine months only. The Twenty- first, Twenty-second, Twenty-fourth, Twenty-sixth and Twenty-eighth served in Louisiana. All were engaged in the whole or part of the siege of Port Hudson. The Twenty-first and Twenty-second suffered severely; the Twenty-eighth escaped more easily, while the Twenty-sixth had but three men killed in the assault. The Twenty-fourth had a few wounded, but none killed. Indeed, this regiment was so fortunate as to have none killed or mortally wounded during its service. The Twenty-second and Twenty - sixth were in the battle of Irish Bend; the Twenty-sixth was much the more severely engaged, and lost over twenty per cent. of its number in killed and wounded. The Twenty-third, Twenty-fifth and Twenty-seventh were never in battle. The Twenty-third contained an unusually large num- ber of men of culture and means. The Twenty-fifth built near Washington for its own use "the most elaborate and permanent camp ever constructed in the department and still stands, a witness of the skill and ingenuity of Maine woodsmen." The Twenty-seventh, whose time had expired while Lee was invading Pennsylvania, and who believed that they should have been discharged earlier, were asked by the President to remain for the defense of Washington until the expected battle had been fought. The request came at a most inopportune time. It was almost July and those who were farmers had arranged and expected to be at home to secure their hay crop. Meantime "they were paying several times the daily wages they received from the government, for labor upon their farms, which they could better have performed themselves," but 315 consented to remain. Early in 1865 they were given medals in commemoration of their staying over time.
Twenty-ninth Maine Infantry .- See First Maine Infantry.
Thirtieth Maine Infantry .- Whitman and True say of the Thirtieth Maine :
"This regiment on its organization had much good soldierly material, and like all of the regiments formed in the latter years of the war, it had also some whom large bounties and misguided zeal of recruiting officers had drawn into the service without proper regard for their fitness. It had also quite a number of old men and discharged soldiers, whose disability was only apparently removed. A large proportion of its men and officers were, however, experienced soldiers."
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The regiment was mustered in on January 1, 1864, and was sent to Louisiana. It assisted in repelling the enemy at Sabine Cross Roads and was hotly engaged at Pleasant Hill. It was being driven and broken, but on receiving reinforcements regained its position and repulsed the enemy. It lost 5 killed, 58 wounded and 29 missing, the last mainly from companies of skirmishers. The regiment took the leading part in driving the enemy from Cane River Crossing. In July the regiment was transferred to the James and a little later to the Shenandoah. Here although it performed more fatiguing duty than the remainder of the army, and was constantly engaged in moving and guarding stores, in marching up and down the valley, and in protecting from guerillas valuable supply trains, it failed to share the glory of General Sheridan's battles and victories." The regiment served in the Valley, in Washington and in Georgia, until August, 1865. when it was returned to Maine and mustered out.
Thirty-first Maine Infantry .*- The Thirty-first did not reach the front until April, 1864, yet in less than a year of service it won a place as one of the "fighting regiments." In less than a month after leaving home the regiment went into action at the Wilderness, and on May 12th was hotly engaged at Spottsylvania, where it lost 11 killed, 94 wounded, and I miss- ing. In the fighting at Bethesda Church, June 3d, it lost 15 killed and 39 wounded, and behaved with such gallantry that General Griffin (the brigade commander ) complimented it in orders. The regiment rendered efficient service in the assault on Petersburg, June 17th, and at the Mine explosion it was among the first to enter the enemy's works. Its losses at the mine were 9 killed, 26 wounded, and 51 captured or missing. In October there were only about 60 men left on duty, then two new companies joined the regiment, and in December it received an accession by the consolidation with it of the Thirty-second Maine; 485 men were thus transferred on the rolls, of whom only 181 were present for duty. In less than one year's time the Thirty-first Maine lost 674 men killed or wounded in action, three-fourths of this loss occurring in May, June and July, 1864. After the war had ended the regiment was stationed at Savannah, Ga., until August 20th, 1865, when it was mustered out.
Thirty-Second Maine Infantry .- The Thirty-Second was the last of the Maine Infantry regiments. It was hurriedly recruited and six com- panies were sent to the field before the other four were raised. The regi- ment could boast of the youngest soldier Maine furnished to the army, Edwin C. Milliken, a boy barely fourteen. The Thirty-Second did its first fighting at Spottsylvania, where it suffered forty casualties. It incurred further loss at the North Anna. It was also engaged at Cold Harbor in the attack on Petersburg in the middle of June. It took part in the dis- aster of the Mine, losing at least 102 men out of 150 engaged. At Pegram Church the regiment lost nearly half of the small number present for duty.
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The Thirty-second had suffered terrible losses by death, captivity and disease, the morning reports of December I showed that some companies did not have a single commissioned officer present for duty, and by order of the War Department the regiment was consolidated with the Thirty-first Maine.
First Company Maine Sharpshooters .- Maine also furnished a com- pany of sharpshooters which did excellent service. The company was mus- tered in on November 2, 1861. "The men were subjected to special tests of marksmanship and were furnished with an outfit of superior clothing and uniforms." Their first captain was James D. Fessenden, a son of William Pitt Fessenden, who later obtained the rank of brevet major-general of vol- unteers. Its first loss was incurred not in battle but in a railroad accident, one man being killed and twenty-two injured, some of them severely, in a collision near White Plains, Virginia. The company became a part of Berdan's Second United States Sharpshooters, and rendered excellent serv- ice throughout the war.
First Maine Cavalry .*- The First Maine Cavalry was raised in the autumn of 1861. The historian of the regiment, Sergeant-Major Tobie. claims that members of the regiment were of the best class that went froin the State. They realized the advantages possessed by the South and that the war would be long and hard, and they enlisted after serious consideration as a matter of duty. Service in the cavalry meant freedom from long marches on foot, and had a glamor of romance, it also gratified the pride. Said the Lewiston Journal: "Men-and sometimes women-like to rule, and if it is only a horse, it yields some satisfaction. The conquerors of the world are always represented on horseback." Skill in horsemanship, however, was not among the reasons which led citizens of Maine to enlist in the cavalry. Mr. Tobie says: "Those first mounted drills, will they ever be forgotten as long as one lives who saw them? Most of the horses had never before been ridden on the back, and most of the men knew as little about it as did the horses."
The regiment was kept at Augusta through the winter, where it suf- fered considerably for lack of blankets and warm clothing. From the common soldier faults of profanity and intemperance, the men appear to have been remarkably free. In March the regiment was transferred to Washington. Its first campaign was in the Shenandoah Valley. Stonewall Jackson was marching against Banks with a superior force, and endeavor- ing to cut him off from Winchester. The First Maine Cavalry, under the skillful leadership of Colonel Douty, did much to hold the Confederates in check and enable Banks to reach Winchester. During the retreat the regi- ment made an injudicious charge and suffered severely in men and horses, though only two men lost their lives. It is claimed that neither Colonel Douty nor his men were responsible for the blunder. By a coincidence
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similar to that in the history of the Second Maine, the first man to be hit (though in this instance not killed) had been the first to enlist, Major Cilley, a son of Jonathan P. Cilley.
The regiment was present at Cedar Mountain, and took an active and exhausting, if not particularly inspiring or glorious part in Pope's retreat. It also took part in Stoneman's raid. In the Gettysburg campaign it greatly distinguished itself by saving the day at Brandy Station, and again at Aldie, its commander, Colonel Douty, being killed in the latter battle On the third day of Gettysburg the regiment assisted in the repulse of Stuart's cavalry, who were attempting to outflank the Army of the Potomac and strike its train and rear at the same time that Pickett made his desperate assault at Cemetery Hill. On July 16 the regiment was engaged in a sharp fight at Sheppardstown, rendering to and receiving from the Sixteenth Pennsylvania valuable assistance which "cemented a lasting friendship between the two regiments." On October 3 the First regiment made a dis- tant and important reconnoissance and obtained valuable information. In March, 1864, 300 of the regiment took part in the unfortunate Kilpatrick- Dahlgren raid on Richmond. A few Maine men were with Dahlgren at the time of his death and were captured by the enemy.
The regiment was engaged in many hard fights during the last year of the war, and in the first of these, that of Ground Squirrel Bridge, it was for the only time in its history completely broken up. On June 24 the First Maine took the principal part in the battle of St. Mary's Church. It was obliged to retreat before superior numbers, losing more in killed and mor - tally wounded than in any battle save one, but the wagon train of the army had been saved and the chief credit belonged to the First Maine. Fox says that it "made a desperate fight against great odds, losing 10 officers and 56 men, killed, wounded and missing-out of 260 who were engaged." Colonel Smith and Major Cilley were both wounded in this battle.
A portion of the regiment took part in Kautz's raid, and the whole in Wilson's. On September 24, eight companies of the First District of Columbia cavalry, which had been raised in Maine, were incorporated with the regiment. On October 27 the regiment did most valuable service at the Boydton Plank road and suffered heavy loss. Its services in the final cam- paign have been mentioned in another chapter. On August 1, 1865, the regiment was mustered out.
Second Maine Cavalry .- The Second Maine Cavalry was raised in the latter part of 1863, and in the spring of 1864 was sent to Louisiana. A portion of the regiment took part in the Red River expedition. In August the Second was transferred to Florida. There it made various daring and successful raids. During the siege of the Mobile forts the regiment did valuable service in protecting the rear of the army. In the movement on Montgomery the Second Maine led the advance and was the first to occupy the city. The regiment was mustered out in December, 1865.
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HISTORY OF MAINE
First Maine Heavy Artillery .*-- The First Maine Heavy Artillery, orig- inally the Eighteenth Maine Infantry, was recruited from Penobscot, Han- cock, Piscataquis and Washington counties. It was mustered in on August 21, 1862, and immediately sent to Washington where it did garrison duty. In the following winter it was changed to a heavy artillery regiment, and orders were issued that it should be increased to the normal size, that is, to 12 companies of 150 men each. The new men came from all parts of the State. In the spring of 1864, by the desire of General Grant, several regi- ments of heavy artillery were sent to him to serve as infantry, and among them was the First Maine. Its defense of the wagon train and its charge at Petersburg have been described on another page. Many prophesied that the regiment would be so shaken by its losses that it would hereafter be use- less for serious fighting. Such is often the case with regiments that have been cut to pieces, especially when nothing has been or could be gained by the sacrifice, but the First Maine was made of sterner stuff and did good service until the close of the war.
Batteries .- Maine furnished seven batteries of field artillery. The first six theoretically formed a regiment, but they never served together. The First Battery was sent to Louisiana. It took part in the siege of Port Hud- son, losing one man killed and twelve wounded. Shortly after the sur- render of the city it was engaged in a battle at Donaldsonville, where it lost one man killed and fourteen wounded, and had one of its guns cap- tured by the enemy. In 1864 the men in active service and some in hospital re-enlisted for three years. In April they were sent to Washington and helped repel Early's raid. The battery was then sent to the Shenandoah Valley, and took an active part in Sheridan's campaign. At Cedar Creek it lost 49 horses killed in harness. In the whole war there were but two Union batteries that could show a greater loss in a single battle. The loss in men was also considerable, amounting to 28 killed, wounded and missing.
The Second Battery served entirely in Virginia, and took an honorable part in many engagements, especially distinguishing itself at Cedar Moun- tain, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg.
The Third Battery soon after its arrival at Washington was turned into pontooniers, it was afterward engaged in erecting a fortification, and was assigned to the First Maine Heavy Artillery. On February 23, 1864, it was reorganized as a light battery. Seventy-two of the original members had re-enlisted. Early in July it was ordered to Petersburg and took part in the siege, but was so fortunate as to have only two men wounded and none killed.
The Fourth Battery rendered valuable service at Cedar Mountain, and participated in the Wilderness and later battles.
The Fifth Battery has a most distinguished record. Fox gives a list of heavy losses by batteries, in single engagements. Eight batteries appear twice in this list, but only one three times,-the Fifth Maine. It lost 28
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men at Chancellorsville and at Cedar Creek respectively, and 23 at Gettys- burg. The battery was also engaged at the second Bull Run, Cedar Creek and Winchester. At Bull Run at the time of the charge by the rebels to turn the left of our army, the battery was thrown across the lines to oppose them. On account of their infantry supports deserting, four of their guns were captured; but they saved their first piece and their line of caissons.
The Sixth Battery fought its first battle at Cedar Mountain and saved Augur's division from capture or destruction. It was engaged at Rappa- hannock Station, Sulphur Springs, Blackburn's Ford and the Second Bull Run. In the last battle it lost two guns.' On the second day at Gettysburg the Sixth gave valuable aid in the repulse of the final attack, and "was highly complimented" by Generals Tyler and Hunt, respectively chiefs of the reserve and army artillery, for its gallantry on this occasion. The bat- tery also assisted in the repulse of Pickett's charge. It was engaged in various battles in the overland and Petersburg campaigns, and rendered specially valuable service at the Wilderness.
During the latter part of 1863 a Seventh Battery was raised and sent to the Army of the Potomac, where it rendered honorable and efficient service.
"One of the guns had been disabled a week before.
Chapter XIX THE RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD I. President Johnson's Administration
ME .- 34
CHAPTER XIX THE RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD-I. PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S ADMINISTRATION
With the collapse of the Confederacy questions of the rehabilitation of the seceded States and of the position of the freedmen became of para- mount importance. In July, Governor Cony wrote an open letter favoring negro suffrage. He is said to have been the first Governor to take this stand. The Union State convention expressed its confidence in President Johnson but declared that if the character of the people of any State was such that it was unsafe for them to have a free republican government, the State should be kept under a provisional government "till its inhabitants shall furnish satisfactory evidence of their loyalty and attachment to free State constitutions and sincere disposition to secure to all loyal men in their State equal political rights." The convention said that in reorganizing a State it was a right and a duty to require the ratification of the constitu- tional amendment abolishing slavery, and the removal of all disabilities on account of color. The convention also called very sternly for the punish- ment of traitors, heartily endorsed the sentiment of President Johnson "that the American people should learn that treason is a crime that must be punished" and declared that "until Jefferson Davis and other rebel chiefs are tried and punished little will be accomplished by trying and punishing men who have been only their instruments." The convention pronounced in favor of a constitutional amendment giving equal suffrage; that is, bar- ring no negroes from voting on account of illiteracy or poverty unless the whites were subject to like disabilities, and equal representation in Con- gress." The latter demand was meant to prevent the South from being allowed increased membership in the National House because of negro inhabitants whom she excluded from the suffrage. The convention renom- inated Governor Cony, substantially without opposition.
The Democratic convention renominated Judge Howard. The Whig said that the members made "a considerable noise in their speeches and resolutions about high taxation, renegade Democrats and our 'tyrannical government.' These appear to be the main planks of their political platform except that they go against the 'nigger' in whatever shape he may appear." A plank which was sure to please the farmers and which might prove very embarrassing to the Republicans, denounced the exemption from taxation of government bonds. The Whig answered :
"Probably a reference to Wirz, the commandant at Andersonville, who was kept a prisoner and a few months later executed for treason and murder.
*Whig, Aug. 11, 12, 1865.
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HISTORY OF MAINE
"One complaint which the leaders seize upon with the avidity of true demagogues, is the non-taxation of government bonds. This, they allege to be unequal in its operation, and with truth. But do they wish the solemn faith of the government to be violated in this matter? A faith pledged at a time when the war was raging with a doubtful aspect and when it was known that such an exemption, if not absolutely necessary to the procure- ment of pecuniary means for the salvation of the country, was at any rate the cheapest way in which the loan could be raised. Would it now be better for the people if these had been forced off at 80 or 90 per cent. instead of producing as they did the entire 100 per cent. minus taxation for three or five years? As to the future, of course no more loans, if any are necessary, will be exempted by Congress, although it is stated that the Supreme Court decided years ago that government loans could not be taxed by the States as otherwise discontented or rebellious States might destroy the whole loan by taxation. The question cannot be made a political issue.""
There appears to have been little interest in the campaign, the total vote falling from 111,986 the year before to 86,073, the Republicans losing 11,180 and the Democrats 14,794. The official figures stood, Cony 54,430, Howard 31,609, scattering 34.
Mr. Johnson's accession to the Presidency had been greeted with joy by the radicals who thought that they could rely upon him for a policy of "thorough," but they soon found themselves woefully deceived. Andrew Johnson was a strong Union man, but he had been a Democrat and he still had a high regard for the rights of the States. His opposition to slavery had been based less on sympathy for the negro than on a realization of its tendency to build up and maintain an aristocracy in the South. The Presi- dent was opinionated and obstinate and when he found his plan of recon- struction opposed by many of the Republicans he clung to it the more firmly. In February, 1866, Congress passed a bill extending the powers of the Freedmen's Bureau, and the President vetoed it. About a week later, on Washington's birthday, he made a speech to a mass meeting which had come to congratulate him. The veto message had been "a dignified paper calculated to win support in the country as well as in Congress."' The speech was conceited and abusive and sadly suggested his address to the Senate on taking the oath as Vice-President. The country was deeply shocked. In March a bill to secure civil rights to the freedmen was passed. Most of the leading Republicans had shown a very conciliatory spirit and Mr. Johnson had given them reason to believe that he would approve the bill, but again he overrode the will of Congress by sending in a veto. The breach was now practically complete. Nearly all the old Republicans turned from the President. In Maine, the Portland Press, the Kennebec Journal and the Bangor IVhig condemned his conduct. The Republican, or as it was officially called the Union State convention, declared "That the Union party of Maine plants itself upon the doctrines of the Declaration of Inde-
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