USA > Maine > The history of Maine, from the earliest discovery of the region by the Northmen until the present time; including a narrative of the voyages and explorations of the early adventurers, the manners and customs of the Indian tribes, the hardships of the first settlers, etc > Part 40
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46
1 I write this narrative of Maine in the Rebellion with more solicitude than any other chapter in the book. Material, sufficient to fill the whole of such a volume as this, must be crowded into a few pages. I can give but the briefest abstract of the heroic deeds of the Maine regiments. There were many chivalric exploits which I cannot record. There are many names, worthy of most honorable men- tion, for which I have no space. My object, in these few pages, is but to give a general idea of the wonderful efforts and sacrifices which Maine made to crush the Rebellion. For more minute information upon this interesting theme, the reader must be referred to the excellent history of "Maine in the War," by Messrs. William E. S. Whitman, and Charles H. True.
468
469
THE HISTORY OF MAINE.
their names. A wealthy gentleman of Thomaston, Mr. Henry B. Humphrey, offered to arm and equip a company of artillery at an expense of fifteen thousand dollars.
A long service of peace had rendered military organizations unnecessary. The industrious citizens of Maine had not been called upon to waste their precious days in drilling with the musket, but had consecrated all their energies to the useful labors and arts of life. With peace there was abounding pros- perity. There was an enrolled militia of about sixty thousand men. These were, however, unarmed and unorganized. There were but about twelve hundred men in any condition to respond to a call of military duty.
When the President of the United States issued his first call for seventy-five thousand volunteers, on the 15th of April, 1861, Maine with great promptness sent her First and Second Regi- ments of infantry, so thoroughly armed and equipped as to elicit from Mr. Cameron, Secretary of War, the warmest commenda- tion. Nathaniel J. Jackson was colonel of the First Regiment, and Charles G. Jameson of Bangor of the Second. When these regiments reached New York, on their way to the front, the Rev. Roswell D. Hitchcock, a son of Maine, with his char- acteristic eloquence thus addressed them :-
" Welcome, sons of Maine! welcome, brothers! I am one of you, was baptized at the same altar; am bone of the same bone, flesh of the same flesh. We were all born beneath the same sky. I love the State from the Aroostook to the Atlantic, and I love her granite hills. But, my brethren, our first allegiance should not be to her: we love our whole country.
.
" The American flag waves triumphantly from the Lakes to the Pacific. See to it that it remains there. That flag we follow. It is no ribbon; but that banner God has woven with thirteen stripes and four and thirty stars. It behooves you, as soldiers marching under that flag, to watch and cherish it, and allow no rebellious horde to efface one of its bright orbs, or permit one to be ruthlessly torn from its field."
The Second Regiment left Bangor with a beautiful set of colors, presented by the ladies. They marched through Balti- more with loaded muskets and fixed bayonets. Not a minion of rebellion ventured to open his voice, or peep. At Washing- ton it was presented with a magnificent banner, sent by the
470
THE HISTORY OF MAINE.
Maine ladie sin California, to be given to the first regiment from their native State which should enter the capital for its defence.
It would require a volume to record the achievements of this regiment. In the course of two years, it was in eleven hard- fought battles, besides numerous skirmishes. In all it behaved with gallantry which could not have been surpassed.
The Third Regiment, under Oliver Otis Howard of Leeds, was rendezvoused on the State House grounds at Augusta. It was composed mainly of Kennebec lumbermen, and was exceed- ingly fortunate in having for its colonel a West Point graduate ; who rapidly rose to the rank of major-general, and who, for his signal services, has won a position in the hearts of the American people second perhaps to that of none other. It was with this regiment that the operations of what were called the Stove-Pipe Artillery commenced. The regiment was encamped in Virginia, within sight of the lines of the enemy. Some of the men went into a meeting-house, took a piece of stove-pipe, which they mounted upon wheels, and ran it up to the top of a. hill. They were abundantly repaid in seeing the enemy open upon the harmless gun a furious cannonade. This regiment- performed prodigies of valor, which we have no space here to record. Upon one occasion, when the regiment was reduced to one hundred and ninety-six rifles and fourteen officers, Gen. Sickles said, " The little Third Maine saved the army to-day."
Upon the promotion of Col. Howard to the rank of brigadier -. general, Major Henry G. Staples became colonel. He was suc- ceeded by Adjutant Edwin Burt, in the ever memorable seven- days' battle which attended the movement from the Chicka- hominy to the James. In this change of front, Major F. W. Haskell of Waterville so greatly distinguished himself as to win very high commendation. The vicissitudes of war placed Moses B. Lakeman in command of the regiment. A better colonel the regiment could not have had.
The Fourth Regiment was under the command of Hiram G. Berry of Rockland. His name will ever remain embalmed in the hearts of his fellow-citizens. At Bull Run he displayed such skill and valor as induced Gen. Kearney to write to Gov. Washburn, -
471
THE HISTORY OF MAINE.
" Col. Berry manifested such a genius for war, and such a pertinacity in the fight, as proved him fit for high command." This regiment was in all the important battles of the army of the Potomac, during its term of service. At Williamsburg it was said that the regiment of Col. Berry saved the day ; at Fair Oaks, White Oak Swamp, Gaines' Mills,' Glendale, and Malvern Hill, this regiment rendered magnificent service. At the terrible battle of Chancellorsville, Hiram G. Berry, having attained the rank of major-general of volunteers, laid down his life. The nation mourned his loss.
The Fifth Regiment was commanded by Mark H. Dunnell of Portland. It is painful to be unable to do justice to the achievements of these troops. The Fifth was engaged in eleven pitched battles, and eight skirmishes, ere it entered upon the terrible campaign of the Wilderness, which was an incessant battle. It captured six rebel flags, and more prisoners than it ever had men in its ranks.
The Sixth Regiment, commanded by Abner Knowles of Ban- gor, was composed chiefly of the hardy lumbermen of the Pe- nobscot Valley. Col. Knowles was the right man in the right place. Passing through Philadelphia, the regiment made a halt near some liquor-shops. The colonel requested the proprietors not to sell to the men of his regiment. The rumsellers disre- garded his request. He sent a file of soldiers, shut up the shops, and placed the proprietors under guard. Several of the dignified Quakers of Philadelphia were looking on: they said, " Friend Knowles, thy conduct meets our approval. We will back thee up if necessary."
Col. Knowles was succeeded by Col. Hiram Burnham. This regiment was in ten pitched battles and in very many skirmishes. It lost in battle, and by sickness, the result of military exposure and fatigue, about three hundred men. Col. Burnham, pro- moted to a brigadier-generalship, fell at the head of his brigade, at the battle of Chapin's Bluff. The reader is referred to " Maine in the War" for the minor changes which took place in the command of these regiments. I can only give a brief sketch of the general movements, and must omit all the minor details.
The Seventh Regiment was rendezvoused at Augusta, and
472
THE HISTORY OF MAINE.
entered into active service with Edwin D. Mason as its colonel. At the close of the sanguinary battle which placed Williams- burg and Yorktown in our hands, Gen. McClellan with his staff paid the Seventh Maine a visit, and, with his hat in his hand, addressed to them the following complimentary words : -
" Soldiers of the Seventh Maine, I have come to thank you for your bravery and good conduct in the action of yesterday. On this battle-plain you and your comrades arrested the progress of the advancing enemy, saved the army from a disgraceful defeat, and turned the tide of victory in our favor. You have deserved well of your country and of your State; and in their gratitude they will not forget to bestow upon you the thanks and praise so justly your due. Continue to show the conduct of yesterday, and the triumph of our cause will be speedy and sure. In recognition of your merit, you shall hereafter bear the inscription 'Williamsburg ' on your colors. Soldiers, my words are feeble, but from the bottom of my heart I thank you."
A long series of brilliant achievements followed, which we have not space to record.
The Eighth Regiment was rendezvoused at Augusta. Lee Strickland of Livermore was colonel. The physique of these men was said to be remarkably fine. Mr. Strickland, like many others, had made great sacrifice of prosperous business and a happy home to rescue his country from foulest rebellion. The first signal exploit of this regiment was aiding in capturing the fort at Hilton Head, in South Carolina. This was one of the most brilliant exploits of the war. Ill health compelled Col. Strickland to resign, and he was succeeded by John D. Rust. The least of the sufferings of war are those which are encoun- tered on the field of battle. It was deemed important to plant batteries on two muddy islands in the river, which were twice each day covered by the rising tide.
With great toil and suffering the heroic men of the Eighth engaged in these labors. One cold night in February three men of the Eighth, Samuel Holt, Lindsey O. Goff, and Morris Woodbury, were posted on picket on one of these islands. It would seem that there must have been some great indiscretion in the order. But, in military affairs, commands must be obeyed, discreet or indiscreet. In the chill night the tide slowly
473
THE HISTORY OF MAINE.
rolled to their breasts, and as slowly ebbed away. In the morn- ing they returned to camp utterly exhausted. Holt and Goff both soon died from the effects of the cruel exposure.1 Wood- bury survived, but with a ruined constitution. The regiment suffered severely from toil, and exposure to an unhealthy clime. At one time three hundred men were in hospital.
Until this time, the government had not seen fit to employ colored men as soldiers. So great was the opposition to this measure, that many officers of white regiments refused to hold any intercourse with officers who took command in colored regi- 9
ments. Both the officers and the men of the Eighth Regiment, rising superior to this ridiculous prejudice, warmly advocated the organization of colored troops. Gen. Saxton selected from that regiment nearly half the line officers for the First Regiment of colored soldiers. Grateful to the regiment for its support in the trying hours when most of his brother officers refused even to recognize him in the streets, though he was a regular army officer, a courteous gentleman, and a devout Christian, he selected still a large number from the Eighth
ยท Maine, for the Second Colored Regiment. But the tide had now so turned that more than a thousand officers and men ap- plied for such positions. The career of this regiment was full of remarkable incident and heroic enterprise ; for a more detailed account of which we must refer our readers to the excellent history of " Maine in the War," to which we have before re- ferred. During a period of but six months, this regiment was in thirteen general engagements, besides many skirmishes.
The Ninth Regiment was rendezvoused at Augusta. Rish- worth Rich of Portland was colonel. Their passage in a rickety steamer, and encountering a terrific storm, from Fortress Monroe to Port Royal, was more dreadful, in peril and in suf- fering, than can be described. In this fearful gale, at midnight, the captain of the ship informed Col. Rich that he did not think it possible that the vessel could be kept afloat much longer, and that they all must go to the bottom before morning. Almost miraculously they were saved. The regiment was vigorously
1 Maine in the War. By William E. S. Whitman, and Charles R. True. P. 199.
474
THE HISTORY OF MAINE.
employed in campaigning and successful fighting, until Col. Rich, broken down by toil and exposure, was compelled to re- sign his commission. He was succeeded by Sabine Emory. At Morris Island, the colonel and his regiment acquired much renown, performing feats of valor which none but the bravest men could perform. It is admitted that the capture of the island was greatly owing to the intrepidity and wise tactics of the Maine Ninth. A number of flags were taken. Gen. Q. A. Gilmore sent them to Gov. Abner Coburn, with the following statement : -
" I have the honor to forward the rebel flags captured by the soldiers of the Ninth Regiment of Maine Volunteers. The names of the captors are Moses Goodwin and David C. Hoyt. The former has since died of his wounds. It will be, I am sure, a source of gratification and pride to your- self and the citizens of your State, to receive these trophies of the gallantry of her sons, who are struggling in this distant field for the vindication of our cause."
The Tenth Regiment was organized with George L. Beal of Norway colonel. This regiment was exposed to hard duty, which it cheerfully performed, and to heavy losses, which it endured without a murmur. At times they slept in the cold and sleet and rain of a November night, with no covering but that of the dripping clouds. One of the companies marched fifty-seven miles in twenty-four consecutive hours. The regi- ment performed signal service in the valley of the Shenandoah. At times the men were under the command of Lieut .- Col. James S. Fillebrown, who very ably discharged his weighty responsibilities. Col. Beal won the gratitude of every man in his regiment by his devotion to their comfort, in scenes of hun- ger and cold and fatigue, and when the bullets and shells of the rebels were thinning their ranks. Both Col. Beal and Lieut .- Col. Fillebrown were presented by the men of the regiment with very handsome testimonials of their regard. Their ex- cellent chaplain also, George Knox of Brunswick, received a superb gold watch and chain.
When the regiment was mustered out of service it contained four hundred and fifty men. In the casualties of war, two
475
THE HISTORY OF MAINE.
hundred and fifty-eight had disappeared. The State recognized its services, and regarded its heroism as one of the richest lega- cies of Maine.
The ten regiments to which we have alluded were raised exclusively by the State. The Eleventh was at the expense of the general government. John C. Caldwell of East Machias was colonel. It was a splendid regiment, and received in Washington much commendation for the excellence of its drill. Very speedily it was led into action, and that of the hottest kind. The troops displayed the intrepidity and firmness of veterans. There is scarcely any thing in the history of war more sublime than many of the scenes through which this regi- ment passed. In the terrible series of battles which accom- panied what was called a " Change of Base," the Eleventh was almost incessantly engaged. The Eleventh was a portion of the brigade of Gen. Naglee. In taking leave of this brigade, the general left the following testimony to its heroism : -
" Yours is the honor of having been the first to pass, and the last to leave, the Chickahominy. And, while you led the advance from this memorable place near Richmond, you were the last in the retreating column, when, after seven days' constant fighting, it reached a place of security and rest at Harrison's Landing."
The Twelfth Regiment was raised by the general government, with George F. Shepley as colonel. These men were sent from Boston by water, far away to Ship Island, near the mouth of the Mississippi. Col. Shepley was one of the ablest and most eloquent lawyers in Maine. Upon the capture of New Orleans, the troops ascended the river to that city. Col. Shepley, pro- moted to a brigadier-generalship, was placed in military com- mand. There could not have been a more judicious selection for this important post.
Col. William K. Kimball of Paris, Me., took command of the regiment. Aided by a gunboat, he soon captured two batteries of six thirty-two pounders, with a stand of colors, a large amount of ordnance stores, and eight thousand dollars of Con- federate currency. The War Department highly commended the brilliant achievement, and ordered the captured colors to re-
476
THE HISTORY OF MAINE.
, main with the Twelfth, as a trophy of their victory. After many wild and wondrous expeditions in the extreme South, the regiment returned to the battle-fields of Virginia. There the troops were engaged in an almost incessant conflict ; and nearly every conflict was a victory. The regiment bears a remarkable record for the good conduct of the men. They were ever obe- dient to their officers, eager for action, and displayed an invin- cible courage which won for them high commendation from every general under whom they served. Gen. Shepley remained military commandant at New Orleans until 1862, when he was invested with the arduous and responsible office of military governor of Louisiana. This post he filled to the great satis- faction of the national government until 1864, when he was transferred to fill a similar post in Virginia.1
The Thirteenth Regiment was raised at large, and rendez- voused in Augusta. Neal Dow of Portland was colonel. Upon its organization it was speedily sent to Ship Island. The iron ship " Mississippi," of twelve hundred tons, with its rich freight of the Thirteenth Maine and the Thirty-first Massachu- setts, almost miraculously escaped foundering during a terrific storm at sea. The Thirteenth was stationed for some time in the occupancy of Ship Island. On this glowing expanse of white sand, beneath an almost tropical sun, the regiment, passing in mid-winter from the North, suffered in health very severely. Their drill was excellent. Gen. Weitzel said that he had never seen better soldiers.
They were eventually sent on a campaign into Texas, and again upon an eventful expedition to Red River. In both of these enterprises, their deprivations and sufferings were terrible. It would require a volume to give any thing like an adequate description of these bold adventures. On one of these expedi- tions they performed a march of five hundred and fifty miles, while continually exposed to attack from a watchful foe.
At length these veteran troops were ordered North, to report to Gen. Grant. Martinsburg, the base of supplies for Sheridan's whole army, was intrusted to their care. The regiment, after
1 "Maine in the War," p. 299.
477
THE HISTORY OF MAINE.
performing services of the utmost value for three years, was mustered out of service on the 6th of January, 1865, by Major J. W. T. Gardiner, of the United States Army. Col. Dow was very highly commended for the wisdom and energy with which he conducted this regiment through its arduous career. Promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, he proved himself equal to any responsibilities which might be laid upon him. While sick in Louisiana, he was captured by the rebels. After a long and barbarous imprisonment he was ex- changed.
The Fourteenth Regiment was collected at Augusta. Frank S. Nickerson of Searsport was colonel. The regiment was assigned to the third brigade, under Gen. Shepley, and was sent to Ship Island, and thence to New Orleans. Their first serious battle was at Baton Rouge. These sturdy sons of Maine, who, at the summons of their country, had left the con- genial employments of peaceful homes, behaved like veterans, amidst the carnage and tumult of war. Gen. Weitzel wrote in the highest terms of commendation of the valor of the Maine Fourteenth in encountering " the whole brunt of the attack."
There seems to have been but little rest for this regiment, by day or by night. Marchings and battles were incessant. From May till August they were without tents. However severe the storm or the shower, they had no shelter. Their only camp-equipage was their camp-kettles, which they carried in their hands. It seems strange that men could endure such hardships, and live. There were no troops who served more efficiently in the capture of Port Hudson than the Maine Four- teenth.
The Fifteenth Regiment was raised principally in the remote region of Aroostook County. John McClusky of Houlton was colonel. For nearly four months the regiment was encamped at Carrolton, when Lieut .- Col. Dyer was promoted to the com- mand. But here, amidst the swamps of Mississippi, the regi- ment suffered severely from sickness. In September it was re- moved to Pensacola, where, in the enjoyment of a salubrious clime, the sick rapidly recovered. Col. Dyer was soon placed in command of the post, and Benjamin B. Murray became colonel.
478
THE HISTORY OF MAINE.
Upon leaving Maine the regiment numbered nine hundred and sixty men. In one year, without being in a single battle, it lost, from sickness and the other casualties of a campaign, three hundred and twenty-nine of its number. Though these troops were not engaged in any pitched battles, they passed through a strange series of perilous and romantic adventures, in all which they proved themselves to be good men and true.
In September, 1861, the secretary of war solicited from the governor of Maine a rifle company of sharpshooters. Every man was subject to a rigid examination as to his physical powers of endurance ; and they were required, at the distance of two hundred yards, to put ten consecutive shots within a circle ten inches in diameter.
James D. Fessenden of Portland was captain of this com- pany. The men were equipped in a superior manner. The company was attached to Berdan's Second Regiment of sharp- shooters. It was sent, by the way of Washington, first to Camp William near Alexandria, and thence to Falmouth, Va. Almost immediately the company entered upon a series of skirmishes, with the foe ever retiring before them. None but men of iron nerves could have performed the toilsome marches and the shelterless bivouacs through which they passed. They were often exposed to a terrific fire from the enemy's batteries, but ever stood their ground with the firmness of veterans. At one time this company was pitted against an equal number of rebel sharpshooters. The rebels, having lost thirty of their number, fled, while the Maine riflemen lost but three.
In one engagement this heroic band of men was so utterly exhausted by marching, counter-marching, and fighting, with short rations and but little sleep, that but twelve could enter into battle. In the battle of Antietam they bore an honorable part. For four hours they were under fire, and lost six of their men. At Chancellorsville they were for two days constantly engaged with the sharpshooters of the foe. In the three-days' battle at Gettysburg, they took an active part, losing eleven in wounded and prisoners. And thus these heroic men, through sufferings, toil, and death, counted not their lives dear to them,
479
THE HISTORY OF MAINE.
that they might preserve the flag which treason and rebellion would trample in the dust. Capt. Fessenden rose, by rapid promotion, to the rank of brigadier-general.
The First Maine Regiment of cavalry was raised at large. It consisted of twelve companies. John Goddard of Cape Elizabeth was its colonel. It is said that there was no cavalry regiment in the service superior to this in the character of its men and its horses. Samuel H. Allen took the command as colonel, when the regiment was thoroughly organized. Imme- diately upon their arrival in Washington the various companies were detached for separate service. It is impossible, in the brief space which can be allotted to the subject here, to narrate the wonderful and often awful adventures through which these companies hewed their way. One incident I cannot refrain from recording.
Lieut. Hill, who was acting as quartermaster of the battal- ion, was, with his team, taken captive. Under a rebel guard he was being carried away, seated in a wagon. Carefully searching, he found a loaded revolver. With this he shot his guard, recaptured his own team and some others, and drove back to the Union lines.1
The severity of the service to which the men of this regi- ment were exposed may be inferred from the fact, that, during a period of about six months, seven hundred of their horses were either lost in action or worn out. The record of the gallantry of these men, and of their suffering from cold, hun- ger, fatigue, wounds, and death, is melancholy in the extreme. And, the more we admire their heroism, the more do we deplore the awful war which infamous rebellion forced upon them, drag- ging them from all the joys of their happy homes, to woes which no pen can describe, and which no imagination can con- ceive.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.