USA > Maine > The story of the Maine Fifteenth; being a brief narrative of the more important events in the history of the Fifteenth Maine regiment; together with a complete roster of the regiment , embracing the name of every officer and enlisted man serving > Part 16
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of the coming of reinforcements, very wisely concluded not to venture nearer Washington just then-though, as a matter of fact, he might easily have made the entrance if not so successful an exit.
It was at this very critical juncture that the Nineteenth Corps de- tachment, preceded by a few hours by the Sixth Corps, opportunely reached Washington : for though the reports of Early's guns were no longer heard reverberating through the streets of the city -- in the skirmish of the day before with Angur's hastily collected forces-a renewal of the attack, with increased force, was hourly anticipated. Wright, of the Sixth Corps, was assigned to the command; and the arrival of these two corps of veterans gave gratifying assurance that " the government at Washington still lives." Immediately upon disembarking-from the steamer -- the brigade of the Nineteenth Corps, under the gallant Emory, took up the line of march through Pennsylvania Avenue, in the direction of Tenallytown. As may well be imagined, Washington was feverish with excitement, and in a condition to very fully appreciate the coming of the newly-arrived troops. The " boys in blue " had not then become " treasury wreckers," and the anxious populace were glad to throw open the doors and windows of their residences to extend cordial greetings in lusty cheers, waving handkerchiefs, jubilant shouts, etc. The tall form and anxious face of President Lincoln was discerned at the castern gate fronting the White House, and enthusiastically cheered by the rapidly-marching veterans. The brigade in which was Lieut .- Col. Murray's detachment of the Fif- teenth-Col. Thomas, 8th Vt., commanding-bivouacked for the night uear the Catholic College, and the next morning the regimental detach- ment was detailed in charge of the division and corps property. The other troops were ordered across the Potomac in pursuit of Early. Before the column got well under way on the march, however, Gen. Emory di- rented Lient .- Col. Murray to rejoin the brigade, being apprehensive that a great battle was imminent, in which every soldier would be needed at the front. Just here -- and the fact is not generally known -- the Wash- ington authorities were only prevented by accident from perpetrating a stapid blunder in the displacement of Gen. Emory from the command of the corps. Gen. Q. A. Gilmore had been designated, but, happily,-at least from our stand-point !- sprained his ankle while riding to assume the command, thus leaving the hero of " Pleasant Grove " to lead the corps and share in its renown and really brilliant achievements to the end of the war. Gen. Emory, well-nigh heart-broken at the receipt of the order of displacement, was highly elated upon being restored to the command, and. with his troops. at once commenced making long, tedious marches, first on the Maryland side of the river : fording the Potomac on the afternoon of the lith ; and climbing the steep banks of ". Ball's Bluff." rendered historic
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as the field which, early in the war, was enriched by the life-blood of the lamented Col. and U. S. Senator Baker.
From this point our forces engaged in a " neck-and-neck " race with the rebel raiders, pursuing Early through Leesburg and Snicker's Gap and the Shenandoah River, fording streams, fighting guerillas, climb- ing mountains, marching and countermarching, and enduring fatigues and hardships rarely surpassed in so brief a campaign. The boys marched night and day, over rocky roads, through mountain gorges, fording streams and rivers, with feet wet and sore, until, unable further to endure, many a weary soldier was compelled to fall out by the way, either to be cared for by the ambulance corps or picked up by the guerillas constantly hov- cring about our rear and flanks. The route traversed led through Ten- allytown, Edwards' Ferry, Rockville, Frederick City, Harper's Ferry, etc. A valuable train of wagons was in charge, constantly exposed to capture by prowling rebel troopers, and was an object of deep solicitude on the part of the officers and soldiers especially responsible for their safety. Some very thrilling and adventurous incidents occurred all along the march.
During the campaign, while on the road, Lieut .- Col. Murray was detailed upon the staff of Gen. Dwight, in the first instance, and later upon that of Gen. Emory, commanding the corps detachment, and placed in charge.of the quartermaster's department, division and corps. Major F. M. Drew succeeded to the command of the Fifteenth battalion. *
While fording the Shenandoah, at Snicker's Gap -- the Eighth Corps having crossed and Early being " on the run " up the Valley-the rebel rear-guard suddenly and fiercely turned upon our advance, driving them back across the river under a most galling fire of artillery and mus- ketry, and inflicting a loss in killed, wounded and prisoners, of not less than five hundred. Our forces soon re-crossed the Shenandoah to continue the chase, but were afterwards recalled to Leesburg, upon the supposition that
* -- It was Jaring this march that the Nineteenth Corps train, at that time under the care of an inexperienced officer, had taken the wrong road and become separated from the army, and thus exp isel to dinger of capture or destruction. Lieut. - Col. Murray was sent, with that portion of the Fifteenth then under his command, with orders to take charge of the train and bring it back to the army as soon as possible. The train was long, being the entire Nineteenth Corps wagon-train ; and the route over which it was to travel was both difficult and dangerous. Lieut. - Col. Murray. on reaching the train. directed its course towards the army. Arriving at the Poto nas the river was fordel at Elward's Ferry, the last wagon crossing at midnight. flere information was obtained from friendly negroes that the army was then at Leesburg, where it had haltel for the night. By exercising the utmost energy and vigilance, and con- stantly fighting Mosby's guerillas, who were hovering upon both sides and rear of the long train, causing much annoyance to both men and animals, the party finally reached Leesburg, bringing the train to the army at about daylight in the morning. When the Lieut. - Col., after an absence of two days ant nights, reporte.l his arrival to Gen. Emory, he was informed that four officers, who had been sent out to meet him and advise him by what road to travel and the point at which he might reach the ar ny, hil all been captare L. By rare energy and tilelity the army was thus sparel a serious misfortune and loss. The officers and soldiers of the Fifteenth detach.neat asqaittel themselves most heroically, enduring great hardship and fatigue during the tedious march.
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THE STORY OF THE MAINE FIFTEENTH.
Early was returning to Lee in front of Richmond, and Grant was anxious to use both the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps in the contemplated movement from the south side of the James, at Deep Bottom. But later develop- ments demonstrated that Early was simply " playing possum," and a radi- cal change of programme was ordered. Though not actively engaged, the Fifteenth battalion was in the immediate vicinity of the desperately bloody fight at the crossing of the Shenandoah on the 19th of July, encamping for the night on a beautiful spur of the Blue Ridge overlooking the field of car- nage. With the other troops they re-crossed the Shenandoah, and made their way through Leesburg, via Goose Creek and Long Bridge, to Wash- ington, going into camp, near Chain Bridge, the 23d. On the 26th the battalion again started " on the tramp " for Harper's Ferry, reaching that historic spot-from which the soul of " Old John Brown " set out upon its ceaseless " marching on "-after a hard three day's march, on the 29th. Next day, the race up the Valley is continued ; but, diverted by further intelligence as to Early's movements, the command retraces its steps, by another route, towards Washington, going into camp a few miles beyond Frederick City on the 31st. August 2d the troops again move in the direc- tion of Washington, but are halted at Monocacy Junction, where the three weeks' game of " hide and seek " is terminated by a re-union with that portion of the Nineteenth Corps-including the six companies of the Fif- teenth's right wing, Col. Dyer commanding-which had been so fortunate as to escape the " Snicker's Gap Campaign," by rigidly adhering to sailing orders, and " proceeding " to Fortress Monroe, rather than Washington.
One of the incidents of the three weeks' march up and down the Valley most gratifying to our soldiers, was the opportunity afforded the old Nineteenth Corps to test its powers of endurance on the march with the veterans of the Army of the Potomac. One fearfully hot day the Nine- teenth Corps, which had the lead on the march, changed places with the Sixth Corps. As the Sixth Corps soldiers marched by, their men shouted
On another occasion, after our troops had succeeded in fording the Shenandoah River, which was quite broad at the place of eras ing -- though then only about four feet deep -- Lieut. . Col. Murray rode forward, with Gen. Dwight and staff, in advance of the army, for the pur- pose of noting the movements of the enemy. A force of rebel cavalry, which was partly con- cealed in the woods not far away, was discovered, and Col. Murray was requested by Gen. Dwight to ride around to the left, and Capt. Underhill, of the staff, to ride around to the right. for the purpose of making an estimate, if possible, of the rebel force then imme liately in front. As the two officers were about starting on their tour of observation, Col. Murray's field-glasses were generously loaned to Capt. U., and the "two solitary horsemen " rode away, in opposite directions. They rode so far as to be exposed to the danger of capture, and two small bodies of rebel troopers dashed out of the woods, headel in opposite directions, for the purpose of cutting off retreat and effecting then capture. Underhill, after a short race, was taken prisoner ; bat Murray, more accurately estimating the chances of escape, made a long detour to the left, leading his pursuers farther and farther away from the rebel army, until they abandoned the pursuit, and he returnel nainjure l. Capt. Underhill was taken to Libby Prison, but six months later returned the field-glasses by an officer who had been duly exchanged. And this is how it happened that Col. Marray's glasses were "taken prisoner" and the Colonel himself escapet.
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derisively, .. Good bye, Nineteenth !" " We'll now show you an Army of the Potomoc march !" etc. Both corps marched nearly all night. The heat and fatigue very seriously affected the Sixth Corps boys. There were many stragglers ; a number of cases of sun-stroke; all the ambulances were full; and every variety of vehicle was pressed into the service for carrying their men who had given out on the march. The next day the Nineteenth Corps boys took the lead. Though the weather was very hot for the Vir- ginia climate, the clear air, pure water, and radical change of surrounding's from the Louisiana region, seemed to inspire our men to their best eu- deavors. The march of the day seemed to them like boy's play in contrast with some of their Texas and Louisiana tramps, and before night-fall they in turn pass the Sixth Corps boys on the road, with well-closed ranks, and, taking the lead, good-naturedly return the ". Good bye, boys !" having by their achievements during the day fully established a reputation for first- class marching qualities, which was always respected in subsequent cam- paigning with the veterans of the Army of the Potomac as associates.
The re-uniting of the two wings of the Fifteenth-after over a month's separation-was of course a very gratifying incident, furnishing the boys an excellent opportunity to rehearse their experiences and - swap lies " with their comrades .- a very agreeable recreation during as well as since the war-period !
But by the last of July, Gen. Grant had become convinced that more radical measures were necessary to rid the Valley of the rebel raid- ers, and he determined to cease further trifling and make thorough work of the matter. Early had given great provocation for this conclusion by again moving down the Valley at about this time, sending a party of cavalry raiders on the 30th, which, extorting princely sums as ransom in some towns and burning others, was the cause of great uneasiness in Wash- ington and at the North. Our Gen. Kelley had given the rebels battle at Cumberland and driven the raiding detachment into the mountains of West Virginia, but Early's main force still lingered and seemed to be con- centrating in the region of Winchester. The exigencies of the service seemed more critical in the Shenandoah than on the James. Grant there- fore organized a separate military department for the defense of the Valley, with that intrepid and dashing cavalry officer, Gen. Phil. Sheridan, in com- mand. Withdrawing the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps from the Army of the James and assigning them to the Army of the Shenandoah. he speedily collected a considerable army at Monocacy Junction. In pursuance of this arrangement the Fifteenth's six companies -- in common with other troops of the corps --- left Bermuda Hundreds by steamer July 27 : reached Wash- ington next day ; and. making various marches and countermarches, tray- elling on foot and by rail, finally reached Monocacy. Md. Ang. 1st, where
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1 Segt. Wright, A.
6
Cop. True, B.
M. T. Gilmore, B.
16 J. H. Hayden, B.
2 Sert. Smith,
7 Cop. Merryman, B.
12 Cop. B. H. Pushard, B.
17
W. H. Megguier. B.
3 G. F. Vose.
Cop. Higgins, B.
13 Cop. [. O. Pishard, B.
Sagt, Lancaster,
Q. M. Segt. Lewis.
14 L. H. Bard, B.
Segt. Johnston, C. Segt. Shaw, C.
5 Sagt. shorey ..
W. W. Burrill, B.
15
Robert Breckinridge, B.
19) S. S. Rideout, C.
2. Segt. Sutter, C.
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THE STORY OF THE MAINE FIFTEENTH.
the general corps re-union already mentioned was effected. At about the same time Gen. Sheridan came down and assumed command of the army at whose head he was destined to win imperishable renown in the near future. Gen. Grant also " ran over " from City Point to confer with " Little Phil.," but, examining the new commanders's plans, felt entirely justified in leaving Sheridan in supreme control, with no other orders than the simple yet expressive injunction --- " Go In!" The manner in which Sheridan executed this trust is indelibly recorded upon the historic page as among the most brilliant exploits of the war.
CHAPTER XXVII.
THE FIFTEENTH'S "VETERANS" TAKE IN THE LONG- PROMISED "VETERAN FURLOUGH" IN MAINE.
FROM THE VALLEY OF THE SHENANDOAH TO THE VALLEY OF THE KENNEBEC. - THE NON-RE-ENLISTED MEN TEMPORARILY TRANSFERRED TO THE THIRTIETH MAINE AND FIRST MAINE BATTERY. -- THE RE-ENLISTED MEN TAKE TRAIN AT MONOCACY AUGUST 5TH AND REACH AUGUSTA, ME., AUG. IOTH. - A MONTH AND A HALF OF HOLIDAY RECREATION. - WE RE-ASSEMBLE AT AUGUSTA AND LEAVE FOR THE SEAT OF WAR, SEPT. 27TH. - AT BALTIMORE, THENCE TO MARTINSBURG, VA.
B UT before " taking a hand " with " Little Phil." in the extermin- ation of the rebels from the Valley of the Shenandoah, the boys of the Fifteenth Maine have in view a long-contemplated campaign to the Northward, upon which the soldiers interested had fondly set their hearts, and which, in fact, could not well be longer postponed. When, something like six months before, upon the bleak and desolate sand- hills of far-away Texas coast, the Fifteenth's members so promptly and en- thusiastically responded to " Father Abraham's " urgent call, and re-enlisted for an additional three years -- or, "during the war, if sooner ended "- one of the alluring inducements was the promise that the regiment should receive a thirty days' leave of absence in the dear old State of Maine, at the earliest moment practicable after re-enlistment. With patriotic ardor and commendable patience the re-enlisted men had endured the rigors of the Southern Texas campaign to its completion, followed closely by the ad- verturous and laborious Red River campaign ; and these, supplemented by the brief campaigns sketched in the preceding chapter, had comprised a period of deferred hope which seemed the extreme limit of human eu-
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durance. The military authorities were very ready to concede the justice . of our claim, when presented, and it was 'arranged that the Maine boys should receive their long-delayed Veteran Furlough before the opening of the Valley campaign. An order was therefore issued, early in AAugust, directing the Thirteenth and Fifteenth Maine regiments to proceed at once to Augusta, Maine, as organizations, for this purpose; the non-re-enlisted men being first temporarily transferred to the Thirtieth Maine to serve dur- ing the regiment's absence. Later a number of these were transferred to the First Maine Battery. About one hundred of our men were thus tem- porarily transferred ; a detachment sufficiently formidable to creditably rop- resent the "Old Fifteenth" in any service that might be required and com- prising nearly one-third of our membersbip present for duty. In addition to these. our Lieut. F. O. S. Howe, A. D. C. on the staff of Gen. MeMil- lan, volunteered to remain in the field, and rendered gallant and arduous service throughout the Valley campaigns. A number of commissioned officers of the regiment remained with the detachment of non-re-enlisted men, including Lieutenant. John E. Callaghan, B. F. Brown, and Patrick Neville. Also, of the non-commissioned staff, Q. M. Segt. B. F. True and Com. Segt. Fred. W. Elder.
The re-enlisted men, to the number of about two hundred, and accompanied by nearly all the officers of the regiment, took the train at Monocacy, for Maine, Ang. 5th. Owing to numerous vexations disap- pointments in the matter of railroad transportation, etc., the trip occupied nearly a week We tarried at Philadelphia to take dinner at the famous Union restaurant, which was the crowning glory of the " City of Brotherly Love " during the war-period ; reached New York on the 7th ; Boston the 9th ; and Augusta, Maine, on the evening of the 10th-some two and a half years from the date of our first departure for the seat of war.
At Augusta both regiments went into barracks on the State House Grounds and tarried until arrangements for the individual furloughs could be effected. The Acting Adjutant of the Fifteenth-Lieut. Shorcy-was detained at Augusta in charge of the regimental property and routine busi- ness of the two organizations, during the vacation period ; and. all the ar- rangements being completed, the boys gleefully sallied ont of camp and started for their respective homes, by various means of conveyance, on the 11th.
But that must indeed be an inspired pen which should essay to chronicle the exploits of the Fifteenth boys during that happy month. passed with the dear ones up and down the hills and valleys of our goodly State. To those weary, war-worn veterans, the month's " onting " was in- deed " a feast of fat things." Suffice it to say. every golden moment was utilized in merry-making and the sweet commingling of kindred spirits.
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THE STORY OF THE MAINE FIFTEENTH.
The restraints of military life were gladly laid aside for the time being, in- cluding, in many instances, the "old blue coat ;" and the soldiers very keen- ly enjoyed the privileges and immunities of citizenship-this transition, of itself, being in its way a most agreeable novelty. .
While in Maine a goodly number of the Fifteenth boys seized upon the occasion of this brief respite from military restraints and duties to as- sume the responsible if not irksome relations pertaining to marital life, the festivities of the honeymoon period serving to so happily round out the va- cation season, that an immediate renewal of the duties of the soldier's life, with its inevitable hard-tack and sale-beef diet, seemed so harsh and abrupt as to smack very strongly of an unseemly intermingling of the celestial and the terrestrial. Possibly, with this view, it was not so remarkable that some of the " victims " failed to put in an appearance at the time designatedfor re-assembling, or that the government, proverbially of stony heart, was in this case so benevolently inclined towards the veterans as to be quite willing to grant an extension of the " leave" upon a simple representation of the facts. But even then, we regret to be compelled to add, a number of the re-enlisted men turned up missing, especially from those companies which were recruited along the Canada and New Brunswick border. The list of " dropped by reason of desertion," in 1864-5, in the Appendix, gives all the details necessary as to this very unpleasant reference.
The soldiers of the two regiments, agreeably to orders, re-assembled at Angusta Sept. 26th, and left for the seat of war on the day following. As may well be imagined, there were a number of stragglers belonging to both of the regiments; and these were sent on later. Acting Adjutant Shorey, who had been on duty at the Augusta headquarters during the va- cation-period, and who was now granted his leave of absence, was enabled to relieve some of these comrades from a very unpleasant predicament, a week or two later, by volunteering to take to the front a large squad of sol- diers, who, delayed from one reason and another, had been incarcerated in the Augusta jail. upon the charge of desertion ! In the party were repre- sentatives of nearly all of the Maine regiments then in the field, as well as of other New England regiments. Lieut. Lester Dwinal. of Co. G, was ap- pointed Acting Adjutant upon the return of the regiment to the front.
Without incident worthy of record the Fifteenth reached Baltimore. on its return. Sept. 30th ; taking up the line of march up the Valley Oct. 5th; and encamping at Martinsburg, West Virginia, the same evening. Affairs in the Valley were then in such a chaotie state as to render it quite impracticable to re-unite with the troops of the old brigade, division and corps-a matter of very keen regret-and both of the Maine regiments were assigned to duty at Martinsburg and vicinity, then the base of sup- plies of the Army of the Shenandoah.
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THE STORY OF THE MAINE FIFTEENTH.
CHAPTER XX VIII.
THE FALL AND WINTER OF 1864-5 . WITH THE ARMY OF THE SHENANDOAH.
THE MILITARY SITUATION IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY. - " WINCHESTER, " " FISHER'S HILL," "CEDAR CREEK."-THE FIFTEENTH AT MARTINSBURG LOOKING AFTER MOSBY'S GUERILLAS. -- THE FIFTEENTH ABLY REPRESENTED AT THE FRONT BY ITS DETACHMENT OF NON-RE-ENLISTED MEN SERVING IN FIRST MAINE BATTERY. - A SKETCH OF THE .HEROIC SERVICES OF THESE MEN. - THE FIFTEENTH MOVES TO STEVENSON'S DEPOT, VA., AND GOES INTO WINTER QUARTERS.
T the time of the return of the Fifteenth to the Army of the Shen- andoah, Sheridan's main army, thirty thousand strong, confronted by a rebel force of great strength, was in the vicinity of Winchester, in which region there had been some very severe fighting just prior to our arrival. The army had remained practically inactive during August and the first half of September, at which time Sheridan had commenced maniruvering for position and had planted a strong line along the Opequan Creek, covering the more important thoroughfares leading down the Valley. The third week in September-about a week prior to our return-the des- perately contested battle of the Opequan-" Winchester "-was fought, in which both divisions of the Nineteenth Corps were actively and gallantly engaged. The battle was one of the most terrific of the war, considering the numbers engaged. The brunt of the fight fell upon the old Nineteenth Corps ; and in its annals the names of Emory, Grover, Dwight, McMillan, Birge, ete., ocenpy a conspicuous place. In a total loss of three thousand on the Union side fully two thousand of the killed, wounded and prisoners. were from the Nineteenth Corps. The battle continued through the after- noon, terminating in a glorious bat dearly-purchased victory for our troops. The rebels were pat upon the run, our soldiers pressing closely upon their rear and flanks, following them through Winchester and beyond, and, with cavalry, artillery and infantry, inflicting most severe punishment upon the enemy while he was yet in full retreat. Nearly three thousand of the en- emy's dead and wounded were left upon the field, and in the streets. courts, stores, and private residences of Winchester. while twenty-two hun- dred prisoners, five thousand stand of arms, much artillery and other prop- erty, fell into our hands. Early gathered up his shattered lines at Fisher's Hill, eight miles south of Winchester, for another stand, where, two days later, Sheridan again attacked, inflicting great loss, capturing many pris-
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