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 17
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THE STORY OF THE MAINE FIFTEENTH. 141
oners and guns, and driving the rebels into the mountains. Then, in ac- cordance with Grant's deliberate plan, the work of devastation was inangu- rated, with the view of rendering the Valley uninviting as pasturage for the rebel armies. Over two thousand barns filled with hay and wheat, seventy flour mills well-stocked, four thousand head of cattle, etc., were either cap- tared or destroyed. The entire Upper Valley was laid waste. The record of the month is one of long. weary. fatiguing marches, sharp skirmishes. and desperately contested engagements.
All this while the base of supplies of Sheridan's Army was at Mar- tinsburg, the nearest reliable railroad depot ; and, by reason of its location and facilities for communication with Baltimore and Washington, it became a very important centre, and its avenues of approach a most attractive scene of operations for Mosby's guerillas. Most of the forage for the horses and all the provisions and other supplies for the army, were transported by wagon trains a distance of from twenty to thirty miles, through a guerilla- infested region. The trains were very long-at times comprising over a thousand wagons, occupying a long extent of road, and drawn by stubborn mules in charge of treacherous drivers. They were, as may well be imag- ined, a source of constant anxiety. It was to the escort and protection of these trains, that the Fifteenth was assigned upon its return from Maine, serving in this capacity through the months of October, November and December. The duty was arduous, exciting, and often adventurous, in- volving hard marches in various directions, including frequent trips from Martinsburg to Winchester, and return, with valuable wagon trains, etc., during which contests with Mosby's guerrillas were by no means rare. On the 20th of November the regiment started on an expedition to Cum- berland City, Md., where an attack seemed imminent, but after a fatiguing journey, covering a period of nearly two weeks. it returned to Martins- barg (December 3d) without exciting adventure. Among other responsi- ble duties of this period was the escort and safe delivery, from Martinsburg to Winchester, of a poultry dinner for the Army of the Shenandoah, dona . ted by the State of New York as a Thanksgiving offering for the gallant soldiers of Sheridan's command. There were thirty thousand pounds of poultry on the train ; and to safely navigate this important cargo through the quick-sands of Mosby's favorite stamping-ground, was no more holiday recreation -- especially as the reckless guerrilla chief was reported to have made adroit plans for the capture of a portion of the coveted Thanksgiv- ing train in the vicinity of Banker's Hill. At the front. after the battle of Fisher's Hill, little of moment transpired until the memorable battles of Oct. 15th, now familiar to every schoolboy as the scene of Sheridan's famous ride ---
-- - "to save the day. From Winchester, twenty miles away,"
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and which has been immortalized in song and story, as one of the war's most brilliant exploits. This famous battle --- " Cedar Creek "-was precip- itated in a wonderfully adroit piece of rebel strategy, in which our com- · manders were most completely surprised. Gen. Early, the Confederate commander, had been supposed to be a considerable distance away, with no thought of further aggressive campaigns in the Valley. Sheridan had started on a hurried trip to Washington, leaving Wright, of the Sixth Corps, in command. Very early in the morning, screened by the dark- ness and a heavy fog, the rebels stealthily approached our lines. They avoided the usual thoroughfares, creeping through the woods, around the base of the mountains, etc., and succeeded in reaching our camps practic- ally undiscovered. Their first signal of approach was a most galling mus- ketry fire opened upon our pickets and hastily formed lines, which was quickly followed by an impetuous charge, while many of our men were still rolled in their blankets in their tents. In fifteen minutes from the first aların, Crook's West Virginia troops were overpowered, with a loss of one hundred in killed and seven hundred prisoners. Half a mile further back was the Nineteenth Corps line. Towards this, elated with vic- tory, and without the slightest consideration, the " Johnnies " came with a rush. They swarmed in front, on both flanks, and even in the rear. Gen. Emory hastily dispatched McMillan's brigade to attempt to stem the tide, and in the desperate encounter that ensued one-third of the men of that gallant brigade were swept away, in killed, wounded and prisoners. The Sixth Corps, still half a mile further to the rear, was soon reached, flanked off the turnpike in the twinkling of an eye, and well-nigh surround- ed and cut off from any support. Our army had been overpowered and was in full retreat, leaving behind the camps, equipage, artillery, the dead and wounded, and from ten to twelve hundred of their men as prisoners of war. Happily. by this time, the " Johunies " were a little fatigued, and stopped to plunder the Union camps, giving our retreating forces a little opportunity for leisurely gathering up the fragments and looking over the situation. It was at this juncture of affairs that the gallant Sheridan's arrival was announced, bringing words of cheer and encouragement, and effectually stopping the stampede. The intrepid cavalry leader, idolized by his soldiers, greeted his shattered and demoralized battalions gleefully aud without a word of reproach. He eagerly inquired the details and patiently listened to his officers ; rode along the lines an hour or more endeavoring to allay the excitement ; ordered, "face the other way, boys." followed with the emphatic declaration, " we are going back to our camps," " we'll liek them out of their boots, " ete, ; and, after carefully superintending the formation of a new line, he was ready to assume the offensive at a little past noon. Emory's line was attacked feebly at that hour and the enemy was
-
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handsomely repulsed ; and, at 3 o'clock, a general advance was ordered. The boys went in as if no disaster had occurred ; and, amid the rattle of musketry, the changing of sabres, and the scream of shells, the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps struck out and quickly carried the rebel front line, turn- ing his left flank, and crowding him upon the turnpike for a neck-and- neck race. Then a second charge was made, with cavalry and infantry, before which the rebel line quickly gave way. Our cavalry force judi- ciously followed up the advantage, quickly putting the rebels upon the run, and driving them pell mell through the village of Strasburg and beyond. Before night we had recovered our camps of the morning and our small arms and artillery, an immense number of prisoners, as well as having re- taken most of our soldiers whom the rebels had captured in the morning assault. Early's force became utterly demoralized and crushed. Our loss was about three thousand ; that of the enemy much heavier. This was the final and decisive battle of the Valley campaign; and, Early's army being completely broken up, there was nothing further to fear in that direction. " Little Phil .. " by his timely arrival and gallant conduct at a most critical juncture, had proved more potent and effective in " saving the day " than a twenty thousand reinforcing army could have done.
As has before been intimated, the Fifteenth, though not in either of these engagements as an organization, was ably represented by a con- siderable detachment of our non-re-enlisted men, who had volunteere ! for service in the campaign in the First Maine Battery. All the non-re-enlist- ed men, to the number of one hundred or more, had been assigned to the Thirtieth Maine, as a separate detachment, under the command of Lieut. John E. Callaghan. These served in connection with the Thirtieth at Martinsburg and on the road between Martinsburg and Winchester, for about four months, with the exception of a detachment of thirty-six who were later temporarily attached to the First Maine Battery. Their heroic and arduous services render it proper that a somewhat extended sketch of their movements be given in this volume.
While at Bolivar Heights, soon after the regiment had left for Maine, a rumor spread over the camp to the effect that the Fifteenth de- tachment was to be permanently consolidated with the Thirtieth, an ar- rangement not very keenly relished by the Fifteenth boys. They had become too much attached to the talismanie " 15th" worn upon their caps during nearly three years of arduous and honorable service, to readily con- sent to lose their regimental identy on the eve of muster-out ; and so some of them started out on a prospecting tour, to see if the calamity might not be averted. Strolling over to the camp of the First Maine Battery they learned that this gallant artillery corps -- the pride of Emory's old Division- was about being reduced to a four-gun battery, on account of depleted
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ranks. Upon conference with Capt. A. W. Bradbury an arrangement was soon effected for the transfer of a limited number to the Battery. Thirty- six Fifteenth boys volunteered and two from the Thirteenth ; and a regular detail was soon issued from headquarters. The names of the detachment serving with the Battery, are here appended. *
The transfer was effected at Bolivar Heights, (Aug. 8th) where the detachment remained in camp, with the Battery, till Aug. 28th. It then proceeded to Berryville, from which point it moved, carly on the morning of Sept. 19th, to take part in the memorable battle of that day-the battle of " Winchester "-in which it bore a conspicuous part. As soon as the battle became general, late in the forenoon, the First Maine went into po- sition in a narrow belt of woods, and, with four pieces, opened fire upon the enemy, eight hundred yards away. Soon our infantry line in front gave way and another section was put in, doing most excellent execution. The Battery was here exposed to a heavy fire from sharpshooters, from a rebel battery in front. and from an enfilading battery upon the right, concealed in the woods. The atmosphere was exceedingly " warm." One of the lieutenants of the Battery was seriously wounded, many horses disabled, and there were numerous hair-breadth escapes. Later, when the enemy fled, after a most stubborn resistance, the Battery joined in pursuit, spring- ing "into battery" at every accessible point, and shelling the enemy so long as he was within reach, following the retreating army (on the 20th) through Winchester to Strasburg. On the 221, in the renewed attack upon Early's forces-".Fisher's Hill" -- the Battery was in position and engaged in desul- tory firing during the forenoon, and at noon, in the general advance, vig- orously shelled the enemy's lines for half an hour or more-following him in the retreat until the morning of the 23d-resting at Woodstock, and next day pressing on beyond Newmarket and Harrisonburg. The Battery lost two men in killed and seven in wounded. It also had five horses kill- ed and three disabled. The Battery moved from Harrisonburg Oct. 6th, reaching Cedar Creek on the 10th, and remaining quietly in camp until the famous battle of "Cedar Creek. " Oct. 19. Here the gallant First Maine did heroic service. Capt. Bradbury had been promoted to Major and Colonel of Artillery and made chief of artillery of the Nineteenth
*Privates Thomas Hollins, Win. H. Hay and Robert Sherrard, Co. A ; Private Robert Breckinridge, Co. B .; Corporals Samuel Place an I Solomon C. Boolier; Privates Andrew D. urherty, Enoch D. Wessenger, Luther C. Hall, John Madden, Wm. J. Knight, Wm. C. Conlon, Sylvester Rileout, Lyman Everett, Nathaniel Brown, Alexander McFayden. Co. C; Segt. Win. A. Wel a, Co. D ; Caporal Madry Kearney and Private J. W. Pickles (Johnson ) an I Wm. Enbleton. C. E ; Segts. Lorenzo D. Small and Henry W. Hammond and Pri- vates Michael Quigley, John Coffin, an I John Lubec, Co. F .; Privates, Alonzo J. Eston and Patrick Me Minas. Co. G; Private, Wm. II. Cain, Ansel Harmon, John McPhail, Frank V. Rollins, and John N. White, Co. HI; Private Charles Connors, Co. I; Sert. Frederick S. Burnard an i Private: Timothy C. Libby int Samue! Cochrane, Co. K.
THE STORY OF THE MAINE FIFTEENTH. 145
corps. Capt. Edw. Haley, the commander of the battery, was wounded early in the fight, and the command during the day devolved upon Lieut. John S. Snow. The battery was in position as early as 4 A. M., on the right of the turnpike, and briskly opened fire the moment the enemy ap- peared upon the hill in the rear of the original position of Crook's corps. The rebels at once levelled their batteries upon the First Maine, right and front, completely enfilading its position. Several of the shells from the en- emy's guns burst immediately between the First Maine's pieces, scat- tering consternation and death among its horses and men. It is safe to say that no battery was ever subjected to a more galling, withering, de- structive cannonade. Soon the enemy secured position on its left and rear, on the crest of the hill, and a section of the First Maine was then posted to the left and rear to contest the enemy's advance, firing directly across the pike at a very short range. This section had no infantry support, and when the enemy charged to get possession of the pike, one piece, with the drivers, was captured. The battery stubbornly resisted the rebel advance, falling back so very moderately that several pieces, with their drivers, fell into the hands of the enemy. In the afternoon, when, under the impetus of the coming of "Little Phil." the tide of battle had turned, the battery joined the infantry in its advance movement, closely pursuing the rebels, though not engaged in action, and resting for the night in the camp from which it was driven in the morning. The battery's casualties included one officer and two enlisted men killed, seventeen wounded, and eight men taken prisoners. Forty-nine horses were killed in harness and eleven disabled. Besides these losses, sustained within a period of thirty minute's time, five guns and four cassions were captured. Decidedly hot was that eventful half hour ! In this, and all the engagements, the thirty-six infantry-artil- lorists of the Fifteenth Maine detachment most creditably acquitted them- selves and materially aided in winning additional laurels for the First Maine. Unfortunately, from lack of reliable data, the minute details are not attainable. It is learned. however, that our John Coffin of Co. F was the ouly driver to stand by the fourth piece in the terrible storm of iron hail poured upon the battery at Cedar Creek. Private Robert Breckin- ridge of Co. B. Corporal Malry Kearney of Co. E, and Sylvester Rideout of Co. C, are also reported as winning special distinction. The latter was twice wounded and was at one time within the enemy's lines, but was rc- captured later in the day. Alexander McFayden was seen to fall in the heat of the contest, but pluckily jumped up and went heroically at work again, his face besmeared with blood. Pickles (Johnson) of Co. E came within an ace of losing his precious head, his saddle-horse receiving a bul- let in the neck at a point where. a minute previously, his head had been resting, while affectionately endeavoring to quiet the restiveness of the ex-
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asperated steed, by stroking its mane and lovingly patting its neck. Every one of our boys acquitted themselves like heroes in this trying emergency . and were warmly commended by the officers of the battery.
The battery remained in the vicinity of Cedar Creek until Nov. 19th ; then moved to within a few miles of Winchester. The men of the Fifteenth, with those serving with the Thirtieth Maine, rejoined our regi- ment Dec. SOth, having been detached nearly five months.
Among the officers serving on detached service for a portion of the fall and winter were Lieut. Col. Murray and Lieut. F. O. S. Howe. Lieut. Howe was A. D. C. on the staff of Gen. McMillan, and was in all the bat- tles of the campaign, winning distinction and the highest commendation for gallant and heroic services. Col. Murray was called from his bed at midnight-while the regiment was at Martinsburg -- and, by order of Gen. Seward, assigned to the command of the post of Kearneysville. This was a favorite retreat of Mosby's guerrillas, and they had been perpetrating more or less mischief, including the capture of a U. S. Paymaster's train, upon which was a large supply of greenbacks. The point was midway be- tween Martinsburg and Winchester, on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, then a dividing line between federal and confederate jurisdiction. The troops at the post comprised three regiments of infantry and a detachment of cavalry ; the line occupied covering some nine miles of the railroad. Valuable trains were constantly traversing this line. and ceaseless vigilance, by night and day, was required to keep the road open. The service was active and arduous, and the responsibility so great that the commanding officer was required to be constantly on the alert. Many a spirited con- test occurred, and frequently our men on picket were brought in, some- times at dead of night, frightfully maimed, having received their wounds while standing upon their posts. Confederate raiders and scouting par- ties were constantly hovering about the vicinity, they apparently being fa- miliar with every bridle or foot path traversing the woods. The Colonel slept not upon ". downy beds of case " in those days, or even took the pre- caution to disrobe when committing himself to the care of the Goddess of Sleep for a brief season. Eternal vigilance was the order of the hour. . But our Lieut .- Col. gallantly " held the fort, " remaining in command until the regiment was ordered to Stevenson's Depot.
Soon after the battle of Cedar Creek considerable of our cavalry and a corps or more of infantry, were withdrawn from the Valley and dis- patched to other localities ; and, Jubal Early having received his quietns, an era of peace and indolence was again restored to the Valley of the Shenandoah.
The Fifteenth remained in the vicinity of Martinsburg until the Virginia winter had set in ; and, unlike the atmosphere of the fall and win-
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ter months of the Gulf States, had admonished us to prepare for cold weather. Some huts were constructed at Martinsburg; but carly in January the railroad repairs had been pushed nearer to Winchester, and the bulk of the army was ordered into winter quarters at a point known as Ste- venson's Depot, some four miles north of Winchester. . Sheridan's head- quarters were at the latter place, and a portion of his army located two or three miles beyond, encamped upon either side of the turnpike leading up the Valley. The Fifteenth left Martinsburg for its new location Jan. 5th, 1865. Comfortable and in some instances capacious log huts were provid- ed. with open-fire conveniences, and the soldiers were enabled to pass the succeeding three or four months here very pleasantly. The chief duty was to endeavor to " keep, comfortable " -- to " eat, drink (hot coffee) and be
merry ;" and it is just to say that in this laudable work the Fifteenth boys, rich with the experience of three full years of campaigning " all along shore." from Maine to Texas and back homeward as far as Virginia, were able very creditably to acquit themselves, making fearful inroads upon the Virginia forests in seeking an adequate supply of fuel, and upon the com- missary department for the requisite provender. The camp at Stevenson's was occupied until the opening of the spring, campaign, in April.
CHAPTER XXIX.
THE FIFTEENTH COMPLETES ITS FIRST THREE YEARS' TERM OF ENLISTMENT.
THE MUSTER-OUT OF THE NON- RE-ENLISTED MEN. - THEIR MEMORABLE EXPEDITION TO MAINE AS A DETACHMENT OF EX-SOLDIERS. - A FEW FACTS AND FIGURES RELATIVE TO OUR REGIMENTAL HISTORY. - WE BARELY ESCAPE CONSOLIDATION. --- HOW THE "OLD FIFTEENTH " MANAGED TO " HOLD THE FORT. "-LIEUT. COL. MURRAY'S EFFICIENT RECRUITING SERVICES. --- THE FIRST MAINE BATTALION.
HUILE in winter quarters at Stevenson's Depot (Virginia) the Maine Fifteenth was called upon to part company with a large number of its original members-the men who had failed to re- enlist as " Veteran Volunteers," and, having completed their full three years' term, were to be mustered out of the service, "by reason of expiration of term of service. " The detachment constituted a goodly pro-
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portion of " the cream " of the old organization-dearly beloved old com- rades and mess-mates who had followed the fortunes and vicissitudes of . the " Old Fifteenth " through its entire history, to the date of their muster- out, and whose departure seemed to those who remained very much like the severing of the most sacred of the ties of family or kindred. But their contract with the government had been faithfully and honorably per- formed, in all its requirements. Three long years of varied, arduous, and hazardous service, had been given to the government ; and these veterans of eventful campaigns had richly carned the right to retire to their several homes to enjoy the fruits of these self-sacrificing labors. in the confident expectation of soon witnessing the termination of the war and an ushering in of an cra of peace and of national prosperity in a country for whose preservation and disenthrallment they had risked life, health and limb, for a period covering the best years of their lives.
The number of the " mustered-out by reason of expiration of term, " aggregated about one hundred and twenty-seven ; though as some were absent, as prisoners of war, sick in hospital, on detached service, etc., it is impossible to accurately state the number. The names are given in the Appendix, in the several company subdivisions, under the classification, " Mustered-Out by Reason of Expiration of Term-January, 1865." The date of the muster-out was was Jan. 18th, the discharge taking effect Jan. 25th. The men were really mustered out of the service before leaving Stevenson's, but for some reason not apparent it was found impracticable to pay them off in Virginia, and they were compelled to make a weary pilgrimage to Maine as a detachment, where they were finally paid off and discharged. The special order directing them to proceed to Maine as a detachment assigned Capt. Laurens J. Joyce and First Lieutenant John Mead to the escort of the detachment ; and also directed the turning over of their arms and equipments to the proper officers at Harper's Ferry.
At about the same time-or within a period of two or three months of the departure of the non-re-enlisted men -- a large number of the commissioned officers of the regiment retired for one reason and another : most of them on account of expiration of term of service or commission. Among them were: Major Franklin M. Drew ; Surgeon Jotham Donnell ; Assistant Surgeon Lorenzo Dodge; Capt. William K. Rich. Co. A : Capt. John H. Hasty and Lient. Warren C. Phimmer. Co. C ; Capt. C. S. Ilsley and Lients. John Mead and Chas. F. Jordan. Co. D: Capt. Lanrens J. Joyce and Lieut. Patrick Neville, Co. F; Lient. Benj. F. Brown, Co. G ; Capt. John B. Nickels and Lieut. Thomas II. Wentworth, Co. H ; Capt. Michael Boyce and Lient. W. H. Boyce, Co. I; and Lieut. Geo. W. Capen, Co. HI. Of these Capt. Michael Boyce soon after returned as Captain of C'o. IT. and Lieut. W. H. Boyce was promoted to the Captaincy of Co. 1.
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The journey of the non-re-enlisted men to Maine was a somewhat eventful and adventurous expedition ; which, properly " written up," would form.an interesting chapter of this narrative, especially enjoyable to the participator at least. Unfortunately the minute details are not accessible. It was a veritable " go as-you-please " expedition, and pleasurable ouly so far as relates to its terminus-" the dear old home." The boys had but just thrown off the irksome restraints of military life, with its discomforts and its stern and rigid discipline, and were naturally eager to don the garments as well as the manners and customs of full-fledged citizens, and, after their muster-out, were rather reluctant longer to " train as soldiers," or to submit gracefully to the shabby accommodations provided. Nevertheless, though mustered out at Stevenson's, they were doomed to make the trip to Maine after the manner of "a squad of soldiers," with no rights and privileges which " white men are bound to respect ;" the final payment and settlement with the government being made in Maine rather than in Virginia.
And so, " getting into two straight lines like the reg'lars," the ex- soldiers formed a detachment, bade adieu to the old comrades, and, under the command of Capt. Joyce, ably assisted by Lieut. Mead, they took the train for Harper's Ferry, to surrender the trusty muskets aud accoutrements which had so long been their constant companions. After tedious delay for lack of transportation, and innumerable trials and tribulations, they were packed into dreary box-cars without seats, windows, or any of the accom- modations usually pertaining even to a cattle-train, and, only illuminated with a feebly burning " tallow-dip," the train slowly rolled out of the Valley, northward. it was a motley " procession." Some of the field-officers re- maining in service had seized upon the opportunity afforded by a special train of pull-man cars from the seat of war to Maine, to forward home sarplus baggage, horses, forage, etc., and, in one way and another, a train was made up quite as formidable and picturesque as that usually accompanying the rear-guard of an army emerging from a raid in a section where " milk and honey " are easily attainable. There were bags and boxes and barrels ; crates of live stock, including cackling fowl; and a variety of chattels well- nigh as diversified as those littering the floors and shelves of Dickens' " Old Curiosity Shop." To add to the unpleasant features of the trip, a few members of the party were so unfortunate as to have contracted, during their term of service, a love for the fiery liquid so certain to breed commotion and turbulence among even those otherwise inclined to demean them- selves as gentlemen ; and these, having procured a supply, were at times extremely boisterous and pugnacions. From these and other considerations
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