USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Portland > Reunions of the Nineteenth Maine Regiment Association, at Portland, Bath, Belfast, Augusta and Richmond > Part 7
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USA > Maine > Sagadahoc County > Richmond > Reunions of the Nineteenth Maine Regiment Association, at Portland, Bath, Belfast, Augusta and Richmond > Part 7
USA > Maine > Waldo County > Belfast > Reunions of the Nineteenth Maine Regiment Association, at Portland, Bath, Belfast, Augusta and Richmond > Part 7
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NINETEENTH MAINE REGIMENT ASSOCIATION. 65
In this awful moment, lies the Fate of our Land! . And they Stand !- nobly Stand! Each man at his post, To welcome like soldiers the on-coming host ! Then through the swift columns our guns in their wrath Plowed deep with their canister path after path. While the roar of the musketry loudly did swell. As soldiers. and leaders, and battle-flag's fell! Still onward a column pressed up from the plain, And met at the breastworks the Nineteenth of Maine ! There a halt !- then a tremor! at last a retreat ! And the Gettysburg Victory now was complete !
*
With ranks thinned and weary, we fell in to file Towards cheerless Virginia. back many a mile ; Crossed dark Antietam. and skirmished and found LEE and his army just escaped being drowned ! * Then. down the Potomac, on a skirmishing tramp, -- "Till we stacked arms and rested at Morrisville Camp; Then. a raid here and there. and one of them rau To Robertson's Ford. on the far Rapidan .-- When LEE played a joke. and relished the fun. As we send double-quick away back to Bull Run. Though we punished him for it, and put him to flight. When at Bristow we fronted and gave him a fight.
₭ *
Then forward once more :-- and the rivers we crossed, To raid on Mine Run, in the cold winter frost. Where we fought, and mano uvred. and sleepy and chill Fell in one dark midnight, to carry the hill. There stood long in darkness, impatient to go And rouse at his camp-fire the half-sleeping foe, And when the morn's light on those batteries shone. You labelled your breasts. that your graves might be known.t And MEADE, half-appalled at the outlook so dread. Gave orders to keep us for new fights ahead.
" The Nineteenth boys shared their rations with Lee's hungry rear guard, which was captured at Falling Water before it had time to cross the swollen Potomac and join its column.
¡ When at Mine Run the troops were momentarily expecting the order to advance against the enemy, the probability of any never coming back alive or whole seeand .. stoall that many handed their little sins of money and keepsakes to the chaplain, for friends at home; then tearing bits of paper from their diary-books, they wrote their names and pinned them to their clothing, that they might be recognized when unable to give any sign themselves.
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66
SIXTH REUNION OF THE
We spent the long winter like soldiers onured- To all sorts of hardships that must be endured. At Stevensburg Camp, which we built up of wood, And shingled with canvas, and mortared with mud. There were numberless duties, and one time we strayed Many miles through the mire on the Morton's Ford raid ; We lived many days on that far picket line. Out of doors in the snow, in the rain or in shine; We made wooden roads .- had inspections and show, And small-pox, and measles. and a hanging also ;* We practiced at targets .- and GRANT put us through Down on Culpepper Plain, our first Spring Review; But at length we got ready. as Summer drew near. For the hard, bloody work of that Notable Year.
*
From that Camp on Cole's Hill, with GRANT and with MEADE, And HANCOCK. and GIBBONS. and WEBB,t 'twas agreed We'd take the first road or the most direct way, And march into Richmond some morning in May.# We marched to the Ford, and crossed over, all free, Then on to Todd's Tavern, not hearing from LEE; We almost believed he was cornered at last. And that GRANT's mighty plan was triumphing fast ! $ But. hark : while we rest in that little ficht there. What sounds in the distance come through the still air? Ah! Comrades. a Battle! For LEE is awake, His soldiers are brave. and their cause is at stake ! Then back over the Brock Rond. so narrow and mean. We swiftly and silently marched to the scene,-
* A member of a Massachusetts regiment, who was convicted by a Court Martial of deserting his post and attempting a henions crime in a Virginia dwelling, expiated his offense on the gallows, in the presence of the Second Division. The execution was conducted by Lieut. Richard Crockett of the Nineteenth Maine, at that time the Commander of the Provost Guant. It happened that the culprit was arrested in the Het for which he was condemned, by an officer of the Nineteenth Maine, who was on the picket-line at the time.
t The Lieutenant General, and our Army, Corps, Division and Brigade Commanders, respectively.
1 Some of the officers humorously agreed with one another that they would not cut their beards until Richmond was taken, --- which they supposed would be within two weeks.
§ There was in the army much good-natured incredulity at the stragetic qualities accredited to the great Lieutenant General and daily advertised by the newspaper correspondents who daintily reposed beyond long range at headquarters. If Sherman fought his battles with his brains, and spared the lives of his men, Grant used the muore vulgar weapons of maisy batteries and charging columns. It was assault and bloody repulse a thousand thees repeated with stolid pertinacity, and the loss of 65,504 men, before the skeleton of the Union army built winter quarters at Peters- burg,-and awaited the arrival of new levies of recruits in numbers sufficient for a hew army, and another -- the last-campaign.
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NINETEENTHI MAINE REGIMENT ASSOCIATION. 67
And long in the depths of the Wilderness stood. And fought in the twilight of that gloomy wood.
We left the drawn field. to discover and try The Rebs in the swamps of the Mat, Tay, Po, Ny,* And at Spotsglennis t found them in force, Astride of the highway to Richmond, of course.
Now we marched. or made charges. or fought every day, For week after weck. 'till the boys used to say :
". It was our great General's Stragetical plan. Not to let a Rebel live. Nor any other man?"
We fought at North Anno, and soon at the Creek Called Tolopotomy, with files few and weak; And then at Cold Harbor, where ten thousand men Lay torn on the ground of the fell Battle-Pen: Then. passed the dank Summops, and the James. and still on To charge against Petersburg. jaded and wan : Jerusalem Rood ; bore our own crimson stains, And so at Deep Bottom and Strawberry Plains; We stood by the Mine when it burst, unaware, And tossed the poor rebels like cinders in air ; Then down at Reus Stating we tore up the track. And fought till surrounded and had to fall back, And where I remember a bullet went through This right arm of mine, and I bade you adieu.
And then. Tam told, ere the Campaign was done. Yon fought in the battles close by Hatcher's Run. And Boydton Plank Rood; and then went to dwell In that terrible Fort called Haskell and Hell.
Then came Winter Quarters, so welcome to all. And a rest from the work of that Summer and Fall. *
* This series of erecks, when united some miles south of Spotsylvania, form the Mattapouy river.
t The ferocity of one of the battles of this epoch, is shown by the fact -- which was mentioned by the newspaper correspondents at the time, -- that an oak tree eighteen inches in diameter was cut down by bullets; the Nineteenth Maine's bullets helped do ir.
¿ At this fight, where the Nineteenth lost many meu as prisoners. a German officer. who, in fighting for his adopted Fatherland had bravely stood his ground with his cutand all day, seeing that the rebels were finally Banking us, and that it was either Libby Prisen or retreat, gave to his men the order to " fall back," and then expressed his disgust at the situation with-"Got dam Kristofer Kolumbus-for he discover Humeriky""'
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SIXTH REUNION OF THE
Then. the April Campaign, when High Bridge you held fast. And the long, Cruel War was ended at last.
Good Comrades, forgive me; I never can tell In this Simple Story a tithe that befell The gallant Nineteenth on those memorable days, When your deeds were all valor, and merited praise! : And these paltry lines are unworthy to be Considered a Page of your grand History. You furled those old Colors, so riddled and torn. And back from your triumphs came weary and worn; With your record completed, and minus a stain,
You broke ranks forever. as the Nineteenth of Maine. And kissed your old sweethearts, and put off the Blue, And changed back from Soldiers to Citizens true, --- Each one to his calling, whatever it be,- Mechanic, or Farmer. P. M .. or M. D ..--- Or Tradesman. or Lawyer,* or Preacher, and there Is one of Our Boys in the Governor's Chair!
But many came never, -- We miss them to-night, --- Brave Comrades, who stood in the thick of the fight, Who messed, and who marched. and who slept by our side. And who fell from the ranks in the battle, and died; Or. stretched by disease on the hospital cof. Languished in suffering, until they were not ;f Whom we cherished as Brothers, and still give our tears, As their memory comes to us in these after years.
And when, my Good Comrades, we've all turned to mould- May we Over Yonder, those Others behold .- When the places that know us shall know us no more, May we all answer Present on the Evergreen Shore.
* We've FootER, and SPAULDING, with practices large, Who still keep their hands in at making a charge, And STARBIRD and PARSONS as soldiers, would kill, But they now do it gently with their little pill!
t " The historian will glean into his portfolios the daring deeds, the privations, the selt-sacrifices of our army, and prominent on the thrilling page -- the saddest story of all -- that which pertains to our hospitals, the long weeks of suffering, of anguish, of exile from friends and sympathetic hearts, the lists of the deceased, the forgotten graves. A hundred Antietams could not furnish a sadder tale. The women of the North-God bless them, and He surely will -- have accomplished much to alleviate the sufferings of our sick, yet how inadequate to the task have all their efforts been! A heart not benumbed would shudder at a visit to these galleries of suffering, where the inexorable destrover is constantly wrestling with our country's defenders. 'Tis here we witness the saddest features of the war."-Letter from the Front, 1863.
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NINETEENTH MAINE REGIMENT ASSOCIATION. 69
The exercises were rendered still more entertaining by both vocal and instrumental music, by the Richmond Band of Rich- mond, Hall's Band of Richmond, the Richmond Male Quar- tette Club, and Prof. Tracy of Boston upon the piano, all of whom volunteered their services.
THE BANQUET.
At the close of the exercises at the Town Hall, the members of the Nineteenth Maine, with invited guests of other regi- ments to the number of two hundred, were escorted by the bands to Merrymeeting Hall, where they partook of a banquet provided by the ladies of Richmond. The tables were loaded in endless variety and profusion, and decorated with flowers and bouquets of great beauty.
After dinner, specches of interest, recalling at once both the sad and mirth-provoking memories of the past, were made by Gen. F. E. Heath of Waterville, Lieut. Loring Farr of Augusta, Capt. Silas Adams and Hon. J. L. Browne of Bow- doinbam, of the 19th Maine, and Dr. A. Libby of Richmond, of the Ith Maine, and E. A. Libby of Richmond, a veteran of the 13th and 30th Maine regiments. Both of the halls were placarded with the names of the terrible struggles in which the regiment participated.
And long into the small hours of the night the company kept together. declaring it the most enjoyable reunion that had yet been held .* Finally, with three cheers for the people of Richmond, the comrades separated for another year.
L. CHAMBERLAIN, Secretary.
* The Association passed the following resolution, aud ordered that the same be spread upon their records:
Resfeed. That our kindest thanks are due and sincerely tendered to the citizens of Richmond, for the generous welcome and thoughtful arrangements for the promotion of our pleasure; to the Richmond Band, Hall's Band, the Richmond Male Quartette Club, and Prof. Traey of Boston, for their fine and entertaining music; and to the officers of the Maine Central and Kuox & Lincoln Railroads, for their liberal treat- ment.
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NINETEENTH MAISE VOLUNTEERS.
EXTRACTS FROM ARMY LETTERS.
The Nineteenth Maine at Washington. Page 59.
The Nineteenth left Maine, Wednesday morning, August 27th, and arrived in Wash- ington the Friday evening following, having met with few delays, and no accident. On our arrival orders were received to go into camp on Arlington Heights. After a night's sojourn in the city, we set out for the grounds, rather elated with the idea of getting upon "sacred soil " so soon. But atter marching through the city, over the fanions Long Bridge, and into the "Old Dominion " a little way, a new order came for the regiment to go into garrisons along the river south and east of Washington, in anticipation of a rebel raid up the Potomac and through Maryland. Accordingly, we countermarched-passed through the city a second time, arriving at Fort Baker, three miles from the Capitol, about dusk. Here the regiment bivouacked for the night. In the morning the companies of the regiment were assigned to half as many different forts in the neighborhood. Company E, and Company A, were assigned to Fort Greble, the wuust southern fort in the neighborhood. This fort, like its neighbors, is compara- tively new, constructed of earth thrown up in a very neat and substantial manner, and surrounded by an almost impenetrable abattis. It mounts thirteen 32-pounders (bar- bette) and two heavy siege guns, a number of which point in an insinuating manner towards the semi-rebel eity of Alexandris, just across the river. The fort is situated on an eminence directly opposite and overlooking the city, and is about six miles dis- tant front the city of Washington. It is surrounded by innumerable rifle pits, well calculated to keep the enemy at bay from the fort, even should he ever show himself in this region. There are about a dozen fortifications of this kind extending up the eastern branch of the Potomac, for the distance of ten or twelve miles. The face of the country is very broken, and almost every hill of any considerable size is sur- mounted by one of these forts. They are all well constructed, and the heavy black grasscowling above the parapets present a striking contrast to the peaceful forest- clad hills far away in New England. The trees have been folled for precautionary purposes, within target distances of the forte, and hundreds of cords of timber and wood are lying prostrate, untouched, and wasting away by decay . - Fort Mahan, Bear Washington, D. C., Sept. 15, 1562.
The Vacteenth Maine at Harper's Ferry. Pagr 59.
At an early hour on Tousday morning, September 20th, the regiment evacuated the forts near Washington, (in which for a mouth it had been stationed employed in heavy artillery practice) en route for Frederick, Md., with orders to report to dien. MeClellan, whose headquarters were then in that city. We arrived at the close of the day follow- ing, having accomplished the journey principally by railroad. Here we bivouacked for two days, -- and the evening of October 2d, and in the meantime were assigned to the 20 corps, 24 division of the army, under Gens. Sumner and Howard, (now Gers. Couch and Gorman), whose headquarters are at Bolivar, Va, On the Friday evening following our arrival at Frederick, the regiment took the train for Harper's Ferry, arriving there at midnight .-- rather weary, and exceedingly pleased at another oppor- tunity of sleeping a few hours on the fair bosom of mother earth, with the starry canopy for a envering. Owing to the then recent destruction of the railroad bridge across the Potomac, the regiment alighted from the cars aud crossed on the pontoon bridge, when we found ourselves in the heart of the desolate village of Harper's Ferry, -amid the relies of the veritable old John Brown, and before the walls of his celebrated engine house, where a sentinel, pacing his beat in the dim moonlight, booked very much like the old martyr's ghost "marching on." We picked our way through the narrow street, viewing the ruins of the town which has been the centre of so many tragical associa- tions, as best we would .-- the once stately but now charred and crumbling walls and few remaining windowless and deserted houses, making it a some of rather melancholy picturesqueness, while the storn sides and heavy overhanging bluffs of the adjacent heights, colored the hob with a romantie grandeur similar to that which poetizers art wont to adore uut altom witness. We biyouasked the remainder of the night about a mile distant fronte the village, and at early dawn set out again for our destur- tion. An hour's march brought us to the summit of Bolivar Heights, where we re- munined two days, and then removed to the foot of the Heights, where Col. Miles com- pleted his inglorious Surrender a few weeks since. Here we are "settled down," to rest, patiently waiting for the celebrated "onward movement" to take place.
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EXTRACTS FROM ARMY LETTERS.
About forty men are now on the sick list. Several deaths have occured since leav- ing Maine, two of which were in Company F, viz: privates Loring A. Dunnell of Monmouth, and Charles H. Adams of Litchfield, -two as noble fellows as ever took up arms in their country's defense-universally respected and beloved by their com- rades, and their loss is deeply mourned by the officers and members of their company. Their ages were 23 and Is, respectively. Although far away from homes and kindred, their dying hours unsoothed by the tenderer ministrations of wife and mother, they were well cared for during their brief illness; and far-off friends have the assurance that no attention was spared which could minister to their recovery, or alleviate their sufferings; as well as the consolation that they fell in the great cause of universal freedom and humanity, They have passed to the true soldier's home beyond the veil, but their memory remains, and the gentle flowers will sweetly bloom on their loyal graves forever. Farewell, comrades; may we meet you again in the better land. We have also recently been called to mourn the death of Capt. Coleman, Co. B, of Lincoln- ville,-an excellent offeer-an honor to the regiment,-and who, after a brief illness, has been called by the Great Commander to serve in a higher sphere than any of earth. Our quarters are situated a few rods from the street leading through the once neat and pleasant handlet of Bolivar, and about two miles distant from Harper's Ferry. On the east the huge summits of Maryland Heights loom up against the sky, at the base of which the landscape is dotted with the encampments of several brigades; while on the south of us, a half mile distant, flows the shallow Shanandoah, which joins the Potomac at Harper's Ferry, and walled on its further bank by the stern sides of Loudon Heights, from whose lofty summits savage batteries look duon grimly upon us, as if wishing at one fell swoop to wipe out the recent reverse of our army under Col. Miles, at this place. On our west, a few hundred yards distant, Bolivar Heights tower above us, the summit and sides of which swarm with infantry, artillery, cavalry, baggage trains, and all the appurtenances belonging to a campaign. Many of the veteran regi- ments are encamped hero, and, suffice it to say, that one regiment occupies an infinitely sinall space compared with the whole. It is interesting after nightfall to witness the innumerable camp-fire, glimmering in every direction, and to listen to the jargon of bugles and drums which at stated times call out the army for roll-calls. One who has never witnessed it can only imperfectly comprehend the details of a day's service in a division of our army.
The weather since we have been bere has been beautiful, -- much resembling a New Eagland autumn, although at times rendered a little oppressive by heat. Nights are almost invariably chilly and uncomfortable. Within a few days we have been visited by heavy winds, which make the " sacred soil, " throughout the length and breadth of our turfless encampment, ty with a vengeance far exceeding any December "blow " ever witnessed " down cast." With this very disagreeable exception, we have met with little inconvenience on account of weather. Our regiment is provided with shelter tents, -- or, as the boys expressively term them, "lag isles," -- which, when the mine season fairly sets in. will be likely to text the temper, patriotism, and constitutions of the men. On the whole, as we are getting pretty well acclimated to Virginia out-of- Jour life, to awake from a nap and find one's self thoroughly wet by a rainstorm is a sinal matter.
There ar but few "natives" herenbouts,-having nearly all skedaddled, or beon crow ded wir of their homes by the delage of men passing through this military chat. Il. It is a sad spectacle, painfully suggestive of the desolating nature of war, to witness the shattered and decaying dwellings, prostrate forests, and ruined works of art, visible in the vicinity. Harper's Ferry is almost a bed of ashes, and all that re- main, of its once splendid Armory, are a few crumbling walls, which will soon full co the ground. I have passed twenty-four bones among its rains, -where in future years the traveller and tourist will eagerly resort, and which history will point out as the shoot where many acts in the great tragedy, not yet closed, took place .-- Camp Bolivar, near Harper's Ferry, Va., Oct. 28, 1862.
The Nineteenth Maine at Palsouth and Fredericksburg. Page 61.
The enemy are still in the Sebastopol behind Fredericksburg, and continue to strongly picket their shore of the river. They appear to be fortifying their present shnost im- Treguable position, with considerable industry. Until the recent order from our head- quarters, prohibiting communication between pickets, the rebels would manifest a very treneruizing disposition, and frequently forded the river for the purpose of paying our " Alive a friendly visit. These areintas et the rele! army complain of being much in god of blankets, and evince a strong regard for Federal overcants, frequently open- ing conversation by striving to barter for one. Tobacen, of which they are abundantly supplied, is their standard commodity, and which they gladly exchange for coffee, jack- kalve-, pipes, porte-monnaies, ete. Our soldiers have had instructions to let them have is el tning, under any circumstances.
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NINETEENTH MAINE VOLUNTEERS.
A few weeks since, our regiment was picketing a portion of the Rappahannock, when a detachment of greybacks came down to the shore, and inquired if they might cross. . They were told that if they brought no weapons with them they would not be detained, so over they came, loaded with tobacco. They were of the 10th Alabama Regiment. A lieutenant was with them .. Tobacco is an article continually in demand among sol- diers, and of which at that time our regiment was nearly destitute. It is needless for me to say, that a good supply of the stuff was husbanded by the 10th on that day. All officers, of course, discountenaneed such proceedings, and burned all they could get! If the rebels are not open to the crime of convering comfort to their enemies, I ani no judge. Since the return of the 19th from Fredericksburg, we have occupied our old quarters, and kill time by company and battalion drills. Our camp is two miles above Fredericksburg, and but a short distance from the little village of Falmouth. We are near the river, and within shelling distance of the rebels. Three lines of rebel fortifications can be distinctly seen.
There has been considerable sickness in this regiment since the cold weather set in, and its numbers have decreased sadly. The sick and wounded have been sent to Wash- ington, and other places. Our brigade is composed of the 19th Maino, 34th New York, 15th Massachusetts, 82d New York, and Ist Minnesota Regiments; and is at present ). commanded by Col. Morehead of Pennsylvania. Gen. Howard commands our division. He frequently visits us, and is ever warmly welcomed. That "empty sleeve" speaks volumes.
As to the recent battle of Fredericksburg, I have little to write. We were there, and came back again. The 19th has elicited much praise for its coolness. While the dead were multiplying by scores all around, not a soldier of the 19th was known to flinch, notwithstanding a whole brigade, only a few paces in the rear, broke and ran! Our brigade was the second to cross the river, and remained in front nearly the entire four days, hourly exposed to the murderous sbells of the enemy, as they crashed through the buildings. Probably a more dangerous, important and honorable position we will never again be called upon to occupy for so long a period. The greatest calamity of all to our canse, was the fact that onr army was obliged to retire from the hard-fonght fald. But this need not discourage us. The rebels will not meet ns in open field. They know from very sad experience, that the Yankees can fight as well and die as nobly as the best of chivalry. We will cage them by and by. So let us continue to trust in Providence and Gen. Burnside, Col. Sewall of our regiment is at present absent from his command. Lient. Col. Heath fills his place .- Camp near Falmouth, Va., Jan. 1, 1563.
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