—
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
3 1833 00822 4146
HISTORY
</-
FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
LIGHT ARTILLERY
IN7 THE
CIVIL WAR, 1861-65
Containing r Brief Account of Its Service? Compiled from Diaries of Its
Members and Other Source.-. Also Personal Sketches of Many
o! Its Members and an Account of Its Reunions
from 1882 to 1905
AUGCJSTA, MAINE Butt li igh & ! n n v, Printe
CAPTAIN CVXKI1 \Y. ROHINSOX, ]R
.
/»
Maine artillery. 4th hattcry, 18G1-18G5.
History of tlio Fourth Maine battery, light artillery, in tlic civil war, 38G1-65; containing a brief account of it- services compiled from diaries of its members and other sources. Also personal sketches of many of its members and an account of iis reunions from 1882 to 1005. Au- gusta, Me., Burleigh & Flynt, printers, 1905.
vi, (7i-183 p. front, (port.) 23icr".
1. U. S.— Hist.— Civil war— Regimental histories— Me. art.— 4th Lattery, I. Title.
Library of Congress
o
7—24009
INTRODUCTION
It is not expected that the contents of this book will be of general interest to the public, but it is intended for, and especially dedicated to, the comrades of the Fourth Maine Battery who are now living, their friends and descendants and those of their deceased comrades.
In its preparation, no attempt at embellishment has been made, and we offer only a plain and authentic story of the every- day life of the soldier of the artillery service in camp and field.
The sources from which this history has been made for the greater part, are diaries which were kept by several of the com- rades, among whom were those of Corporal James M. Allen and Arthur T. Chapin; from these and other reliable sources exact dates and records of events have been obtained and are here given.
The work might have appeared earlier but for the death of Comrade Ethel II. Jones, who was one of the committee appointed by the Fourth Maine Battery Association to prepare these records for publication and whose unfinished work has now been completed by others.
Judson Ames, of Foxcroft, has given liberally of time and effort and his determination Iris at last brought these pages to the comrades who have so long desired to have a suitable record which they might leave to their children and friends.
The Fourth Maine Battery Association was formed at Augusta in 18S2 and Algernon S. Bangs of Augusta was the first President and James A. Jones Secretary.
The latter has served faithfully for many years and to his efforts are largely due the success of man)- annual reunions.
The commissioned officers of the Battery have shown, but little interest in the Association and it has been organized and sustained by a firm brotherhood composed of the rank and file, anil is a.t this time characterized by all the essentials of a true
IV INTRODUCTION.
modern fraternity whose foundations rest upon realities and memories of their patriotism and mutual hardships in earlier days.
To the Fourth Maine Battery .Association and any who may care for a plain picture of soldier life under the Union Flag in those great days, this book is heartily commended.
August, 1905.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
Organization — At Portland — To Washington and Fort Ramsay — Shenandoah Valley — Little Washington — Cedar Mountain
CJ TAPPER II.
Pope's Retreat— Rappahannock Station — Sulphur Springs — 2D Pull Run — Into Maryland — An'j fetam — Marye \nd Heights
CHAPTER III.
Sharpsburg and Antietam Iron Works — Winter at Harper's Ferry and Maryland Heights — Join Army oe Potomac- — With 3D Colls — Warring
I [eights
CHAPTER IV.
near the Rappahannock- — Near Culrerlr — Retreat to Centreville— McLean's Ford — Kelly's Ford — Brandy Station
CHAPTER V.
Mine Run — Winter at Brandy Station — Rl-enlist- ments — Captain Robinson Chief op Artieeery. .
CHAPTER VI.
Transferred to 6th Corps — Wiedern kss — Spottsyl- vania — North Anna — Hanovertown — - Cold Harbor
23
35
49
VI CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VII.
Cold Harbor to Petersburg — Fort McGilvery — Reams Station — To Baltimore and Washing- ton— Peter-burg Mine S3
CHAPTER VIII.
In front lines — Port Haskell — Port Steadman — Winter or 1864-5 — Petersburg evacuated — March to Washington — Return to Augusta — Mustered out 94
CHAPTER IX.
Roster — Promotion? — Died in the service and
wounded — Discharged 1862-3-4 — Died since 1865. 107
CHAPTER X. Biography and personal notes 123
CHAPTER XI.
Reunions 170
CHAPTER I.
Organization — At Portland — To Washington and Fort Ramsay — Shenandoah Valley — Little Washington — Cedar Mountain.
About the last of October, 1861, in response to the call for troops it was decided to raise and organize five Batteries of Lighl Artillery in Maine, and among others who immediately commenced recruiting for this branch of the service, were the Rev. L. M. S. Haynes. the young pastor of the Baptist Church at Augusta, Hamlin F. Eaton of the Eaton School at Kent's Hill, Chas. W. White of Skowhegan, who had recently returned from several years' residence in California, and Mathew B. Coffin of Skowhegan.
At the same time recruiting- was going on in all section.-, of the State for the 1st Maine Cavalry and the 13th, 14th and 15th Regiments of Infantry, all of which were to rendezvous at Augusta. This large number made the filling of the different organizations rather slow and it was not until the 16th day of December that the recruits i^~r the 4th Battery were called into camp. Upon that day Lieutenants Haynes and Eaton with their men reported and were assigned to quarters in the ten's, which had been erected for four of the Batteries just south of the State House. The following day Lieutenants White and Coffin arrived with their contingents and our camp and soldier life which was cl< stined to last for three and a half years commenced. Our Bat- tery (the 4th) was camped next to the road, Capt. Sweet's (the 3d) criming next, and to the left of that Captain Lep- pien's (the 5th) and to the left of that Captain McGilvery's (the 6th). South of the road toward the river were located the 14th and 15th Regiments and 1st Cavalry, and across the river at the Arsenal grounds were located Colon..! Keal bow's 13th Regi- ment and Captain Tillson's 2d Battery.
8 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
In a few days O'Neil W. Robinson, Jr., of Bethel, a young and prominent member of the Oxford County Bar, joined us as our Captain, bringing with him quite a number of Oxford County hoys. Tins idled our ranks so that on the 21st of December we were mustered in at the State House by Captain Rankin as the 4th Maine Battery for the term of service of three years. The work of completing the organization of the Battery was now promptly carried on and the non-commissioned officers appointed and the detachments formed. A detachment which mans each gun consisting of a Sergeant, two Corporals and thirteen men. The extra men of the Battery are divided among the detachments. As organized the Battery was officered as follows ;
Captain, O'Neil W. Robinson, jr. Senior First Lieutenant, L. M. S. Haynes. Junior First Lieutenant, H. F. Eaton. Senior Second Lieutenant, Chas. \V. White. Junior Second Lieutenant, Mathew B. Coffin. First Sergeant. Henry C. Haynes. Quartermaster Sergeant, M. C. Kimball.
First Detachment — Sergeant. O. O. Yittum ; Corporals, Jere Owen, W. H. Brooks.
.Second Detachment— Sergeant, A. S. Bangs; Corporals, Jared Bates, Judson Ames.
Third Detachment — Sergeant, Cyrus M. Williams; Corpo- rals, Geo. Holden, \V. I'. Friend.
Fourth Detachment— Sergeant, Geo. W. Woods; Corporals, Lewis Brown, L. Ik Tennings.
Fifth Detachment — Sergeant, Harry Parkman ; Corporals, Jere Cleveland, Ebenezer Talcott.
Sixth Detachment — Sergeant, Solon Robertson; Corporals, Augustus Fox, Lester Holway.
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-6,5. 9
Buglers, II. M. Wentworth, Harley Hicks. Saddler, Marshman W. Marvil. Artificers, Frank C. Bartlett, Albert V. Thompson. Wagoners, Geo. \Y. McKinney, Chas. Crymble.
At the time we went into camp eacli man was provided with a blanket, a towel and a small bed tick which was filled with straw, and also a tin dipper, plate, knife, fork and spoon. Two or three days after muster a portion of our under clothing was furnished, but it was not until the 9th of January, that we were fully provided with our uniform and began to think that we were real soldiers. Our tents were of the Sibley pattern, being circular and about fifteen feet in diameter, with a small sheet iron stove in the centre, the stove pipe also answering for a tent, pole. A board floor was provided upon which we spread our beds at night. The full complement for a tent being thirteen men. it was rather close quarters and with three feet of snow on the ground and the thermometer at times down to 20 J below we found it necessary to lie close together and unfortunate was the man who came next to the d h r.
Occasionally some belated comrade who had been out on a pass, would return, after all were asleep, and being cold would build a rousing fire in the little stove, giving us a terrible roast- ing; and as the fire quickly went down an hour later, we would awake shivering with the cold. The result was that neany every man had a cold and cough, and it is surprising that more serious sickness did not occur.
Our cook tent, over which Bob Gordon and Kittredge pre- sided, was situated a little in rear of the camp and at the call of the bugle, each man would take his dipper for coffee and his plate and fall in line and wait his turn. During the severe cold and stormy weather, this was no pleasant thing to i\o. A camp guard was placed, with strict orders to allow no one to leave camp in the day without a pass, or at night without a counter- sign.
Two years later such an idea would have been ridiculed., but we then thought it was the genuine thing for a soldier. How- ever, the boys used to get out in the evening pretty regularly and often. Our armament consisted of a (h>?cr\ old sabres that must have been left ewer from the Mexican or Revolutionary War.
JO FOURTH MAINE BATTERY.
During pleasant weather we were expected to drill two or three hours a day; but with the deep snow the only place avail- able was the narrow road which was crowded with teams and traffic, and our drilling was not a great success.
Early in February the infantry regiments and the 2d Battery were sent South and we began to fear very much that the John- nies would all get licked and the war closed without us.
However, all our growling availed nothing and we were des- tined to remain at Augusta until the 14th of March, when we were ordered to Portland and went into barracks that were located west of the city. There we found comfortable quarters and the weather was warm and springlike, and probably we enjoyed ourselves for a short time better than at an}- other por- tion of our service. We were located near the shore where clams were plenty, and all the spare time from drilling and camp duty was spent digging and eating clams. It was wonderful what an amount of clams some of the boys could get away with. One little incident occurred here that caused some amusement. One forenoon Cy Sturdy lost his cap; and after two or three horns' searching and considerable disturbance, the dinner call was sounded and the search postponed. After the coffee had all been served and Bob Gordon emptied the coffee boiler, the cap was discovered among the coffee grounds. However, we had all partaken of the codec and Sturdy was no dude until he could get a new cap. About the first of April the Army of the Potomac under General McClellan was moved from Washing- ton to the Peninsula, and we were ordered to Washing^ a.
On the morning of the first of April the 4th with the 3d and 5th Maine Batteries took train tor Boston and the same evening left Boston by railroad for Xew York, where we arrived on the morning of the 2d and were transferred to a boat for Perth Amboy, where we took the Camden and Ambov Railroad for Philadelphia, arriving there in the evening. We were taken to the Cooper Shop Refreshment Saloon, where an excellent supper was waiting for us and which, we most heartily enjoyed. The Cooper Shop Refreshment Saloon kvas supported by the voluntary contribution of the people of Philadelphia and was open during the four years of the war to any of the soldiers who were passing thn ugh the city, and every Eastern soldier has a kindly feeling for Philadelphia for its generous hospitality and kindle greetings.
LIGHT ARTIU.KRY, 1861-65. II
Leaving Philadelphia late at night, we arrived in Baltimore the next morning, where, without disembarking, we were trans- ferred across the city, the cars being drawn by horses, and in the afternoon we started on the last stage of our journey, arriv- ing in Washington in the evening and camped for the night in the barracks near the station. The next morning we marched to Capitol Hill, situated about a mile east of the Capitol, and our tents and baggage being brought up, we soon had our camp established. At this time Capitol Hill, from the Capitol to the Penitentiary, was only a sandy plain, and at one place not far from our camp were the remains of an old cemetery, and the hogs, which were running wild in the streets, had rooted among the graves and brought to the surface many human skulls which greeted us most unpleasantly.
The only -place in that part of the city possessing any beauty was the old Congressional Cemetery a little southeast of our camp. }Jevc were erected monuments to deceased Congress- men and many other noted men : and the cjuietness and beauty of that place contrasted strongly with the rest of the city and vicinity.
Our stay here was destined to be short and on the 14th of April we took up our march to Fort Ramsey, winch was eight miles from .Alexandria, near Fall's Church.
With well filled knapsacks we started early in the morning and took boat from Washington to Alexandria, and after an hour or two of delay, which was improved by many of the boys in visiting the Marshall House, where Col. Ellsworth was killed, started! on the march toward our destination, although, the day was intensely hot, and the dust such as we had never seen before.
We had been told that the distance was only eight miles, but lie fore we arrived we thought it was nearer eighteen and our knapsaclcs which contained all the articles that new troops usually think they may need, grew wonderfully heavy and it took days for the aches to get out of our shoulders.
The Battery had been furnished with two six-mule teams which conveyed tents and other baggage; and before night we were comfortably located in our new quarters on the north side of the road opposite the fort.
1 he 6th Battery had accompanied us and were stationed at
12 FOURTH MAINE) BATTERY.
Fort Buffalo, about three-fourths of a mile away, and both Bat- teries were under command of Captain Robinson, he being" the senior officer.
In the fort were four 12-pound brass guns and lour 20-pound iron guns. We were supplied with rifles and drilling' as heavy artillery was at once entered upon most vigorously. As we had enlisted for light artillery this was loudly protested against by many of the boys, but we soon found out that growling did no good and we settled down to our two hours a day of drill at the guns in the fort, and two hours as infantry. Regular guard duty was also established in the fort with the most minute instructions as to our duties in case of attack. After being in camp about two weeks, alarming reports came of the enemy being in the vicinity and pickets were stationed each night at a short distance from the forts, and perhaps it was a more severe test to a man's courage at this time to go on picket duty, than it was at a later period to go into a hard battle.
One night we were aroused by quite a brisk tiring in the direc- tion of Fort Buffalo, and quickly turning out with our arms, we fell in line and marched into the fort. Capt. Robinson and a detachment of men. as body guard, proceeded to Port Buffalo to ascertain the cause of the alarm, which he found to be that one of the pickets had become alarmed at some imaginary object and discharged his musket, which had caused, a general alarm. Another version of this was that Captain McGilvery had arranged to have the alarm given in order to see how quickly his battery could be turned out, and later a good deal of explana- tion was required at headquarters in regard to the matter.
While here money became very scarce and in order to obtain tobacco many of the box s spent their spare time gathering old bullets, which could be sold for old lead. Lewis Davis and Chas. Robie finding an old shell- attempted to extract the fuse plug, with the result that the shell exploded, fatally wounding, both of them. Robie was obliged to have his leg amputated and died in an hour after, and Davis died in the hospital a few days later.
While stationed here McClellan was approaching very near Richmond and there was much fear that our services at the front would not be required and that we would be sent homo without seeing anything c^i actual war. 1 Lowever, after about five weeks
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1 86 1 -65. T3
at Fort Ramsey we very gladly received orders to turn in our muskets and return to Washington. Leaving- Fort Ramsey on May 20th, we made our return march via Aqueduct Bridge and Georgetown and again occupied our old campground on Capitol Hill. On the 25th we received our horses and the next day our harnesses and six 3-inch rifle guns of the Rodman pattern.
With green horses, green drivers and a kind of harness that none of us had ever seen before, it took us some time to get the hang of things. One of the sergeants had a great deal of trouble in getting his saddle to tit. until one of the boys showed him that he was putting it on with the front to the rear.
Idie 6th Battery, which had also been mounted, returned to Washington with us, and after a few days which were fully occupied in mounted drill, both of the batteries were ordered to the Shenandoah Valley and June 13 the guns and. horses were loaded on cars at the Baltimore and Ohio Station, and we pro- ceeded to Harper's Ferry via the Relay House. It was a beau- tiful country through which we were passing, the boys were in high spirits at the idea of going to the front and enjoyed the trip immensely. We arrived at Sandy Hook, a mile east of Harper's Ferry, early on the morning of the 14th ami during the forenoon the horses were unloaded and- taken tn Maryland Heights, where we encamped for the night for the first time under the open skv.
About noon on the 15th the drivers with the horses crossed on the ferry to Harper's Ferry, where a halt was made until nearl}- four o'clock, when they started up the valley on the Win- chester pike and passed through Halltown and Charlestown to \\ adesville, where camp was mad;: for the night. The train on which the guns had been left was tb.cn divided, the guns and. men oi the 4th Battery forming our train and the 6th Battery following on anoiher train. Crossing the bridge and starting up the Shenandoah Valley or Winchester Railroad, we found that the track was a 4-inch joist with strap iron nailed on top and that the engine had much difficulty in making any progress. Much of the way the boys would get off and walk, thereby having a chance to pick berries, which were very abundant, and in one instance they helped to push the train up the grade. Arriving al Charleston, the tender got off the track at a switch and caused a delav of two hours to get it on. This gave us an
14 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY.
opportunity to look over the town so noted on account ot tne John Brown trial and many of the boys visited the jail and the gallows, which was still standing in a field near by, upon which John Brown had been hung. Here we first met the genuine Secesh and about the only good looking girls that we saw in Virginia, but they did not smile very sweetly on us, although they seemed much pleased at our difficulty in being derailed. At last wc were again on our way and at 10 o'clock arrived at Wadesville, where we found that our horses which had left Harper's Ferry at the same time as we did, had been in camp about two hours. We thought this pretty slow time on a rail- road, twenty-one mile;, in over six hours. Where we camped was a spring which caused much curiosity on account of its size and the quantity of water that flowed from it. It was nearly twenty feet across and in the centre no bottom could be seen, although the water was perfectly clear, and a stream several inches deep and several feet wide flowed from it.
The next morning we harnessed up and started on our first mounted march. Passing through Winchester, Kearnstown and Middletown, we arrived at Cedar Creek on the 19th and went into camp on the ground where two years later Gen. Early made his fierce attack and surprised Sheridan's arm) at the battle oi Cedar Creek.
While here we improved the time with daily mounted drill and on one occasion with other batteries of the corps had a day of target practice under the supeirvsion of Colonel Dalghreen, w hi 1 ga-\ e us the credit of i laking ike best shi its of any battery in the corps. Colonel Dah hrecn was killed near Richmond, March 2d, 1864, while on the Kil] itri k Dalghreen raid.
We had been attached to Prince's EJrigade of Augur's Divi- sion of Banks' Corps 1 2d I, Army of Virginia, our brigade con- sisting of 3d Maryland. i02d Xew York. 109th Pennsylvania and 1 nth Pennsylvania Regiments. General Pope, who had been very successful in the west, had been called east and given command of the corps of ( Jen. Hanks. Gen. McDowell and. Gen. Fremont which were called the Army of Virginia and had assumed command on the 27th of June with his famous order which was generally interpreted to read "Headquarters in the saddle— X" lines of retreat but those < f the enemy— Spades to the rear," etc.
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. I ~
Here the boys had their first experience in foraging- and it seemed to come much more natural to some than drilling-.
The officers cautioned, warned and threatened us in the matter,^ but at the same time there is not much doubt but the officers" own mess was sometimes supplied with food that was nut furnished through the Commissary Department. The only serious result of any of the foraging was when a few of the boys had captured a pig and gathering just outside of the camp, in the wood,, had a feast of roast pJg> Everything passed off quietly until about 11 o'clock, when all had retired, when we were aroused by Horace Sally, who had been very active at the feast> maki»g night hideous with his groans, and cries that he was -ring to die. However, he lived through the night, but had to he sent to the hospital.
Perhaps one reason for the foraging was the order that our rations would be confined to hard bread, meat, sugar, coffee, salt, vinegar and pepper, not a very luxurious '''menu." On the 4th of July a national salute was fired in the morning, at noon and at night, which was the extent of our celebration.
We remained at Cedar Creek until July 5th, when the army moved to the east of the Blue Ridge, Banks' Corps nassing through Manassas and Chester Gaps. Our battery broke camp late in the afternoon of the 5th and passed through Manassas Cap to Front Royal, from there making daily marches until the nth, when we pass< d the village of Waterloo and crossed Hedg- man River and went into camp near Warrenton. We remained at Warrenton until the 17th, when we returned across Hazel River and after four days' march went into camp at Little Washington on the 20th. We had a night march when leaving Cedar Creek and in the darkness Sergt. Bangs' caisson was overturned down a steep bank and T. Hunton and a drummer boy of the 109th Pennsylvania Regiment who were riding on the caisson were seriously injured. They were taken to a farm house near by and Corporal Ames left to take care of then, J hc old larmer was Secesh all through and did not seem to aw 1':v'',','° his guests. The >rcnm\ morning the Corporal found that the army had nearly passed, and thai the road was to he abandon,!, and not relishing a trip to Richmond quite so soon be obtained permission to place Hunton and the bov in the bag- gage wagon of a train that was returning to Winchester, to
i6
FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
be taken to the hospital there. The old farmer was very anx- ious to know who was to pay for the bed that was sent along with them, but finally compromised by sending a bill for it to Lieutenant 1 laynes.
It is doubtful if Lieutenant Haynes has been that way since to pay the bill. The Corporal then started to join the Battery but talcing the wrong road found himself in the ist, Sigel's Corps. with Which he remained three weeks before he could' find the !'. I ry. During his stay in the ist Corps, he was very hand- somely provided for by Captain Johnson's 12th Ohio Battery. While near VVarrenton, Charles and Asa Coombs and Albert V.
berries, which were very abundant in that section, and forgot to return to camp or rather got on the wrong road and did not discover their mistake until they arrived in Canada. The < unbs boys had been very prominent and we had been led to anticipate great things of them when we should meet the enemy, and ii seemed unkind in them to leave us just at this time. However, they returned to the Battery three years later at Fair- fax Seminary, jusl in time to accompany lis home. It is doubt- ful if they enjoyed themselves very much with, us after their return.
While at Little Washington there was much sickness and a hospital tent was established winch was kept well filled. Among the other occupants of the tent were Sergeant Lewis Brown and Ge< rge Handy, who had typhoid fever, from wheh Sergeant Brown died and was buried with militan honors. He was a favorite among the boys am! much respected by the officers and his loss was deepl) felt. Asa YVitham also died here and with Sergeant Brown was buried un ler a large locust tree in a held near our cam]). His loss was deeply felt. While here Charles Frost was taken sick with the smallpox and to quar- antine him was given two shelter tents, and with Fohn Svlvestei it out in a field about a mile from
to take can o
camp. With to live on, am weather that see him again. for Culpeper .
wa
cienth t<
w:
no medical attendance, onh army rations in an ex-posed shelter tent during the rainy was then prevailing, we never expected to While he was in a critical state the Battery left nd in about a week Frost had recovered sufft- and with Sylvester started to join die Battery.
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1 86 1 -65. 17
While on the way they were captured by the enemy's scouts. who seein§; Frost's feeble condition told him to go on but started with Sylvester through the woods. After going a short distance they asked Sylvester what was the matter with the other fellow and was told, in broken English, "He got small- pox, I give him to every one of you."" They told Sylvester to ' '■ ey did not want him, and rejoining Frost both arrived at the Battery near Culpeper. but Frost was not allowed by Capt. Robinson to come into camp and went to the hospital at Per> \vhere he .only obtained admittance by claiming that Is ' : ■ i himself by falling ov< r a kettle of boiling "coffee which bad caused his face and bands to peel.
Three or f< ur days later when the army started on their hasty retreat, Frost found that be with some others were to be left for the enemy to pick up. and stole bis way bad: to Washington on V of ■ '■ t v car. About the middle of July Gen< h d started Jackson to
Pope crossing the Rapidan. Reaching Gordonsville, Jackson discovered that Pope's forces outnumbered those of his 0wn comman 1 and remai ted inactive until reinforced by A. P. Mill, early in August, when an advance was made to the Rapi- dan and General Banks' advance pickets driven from Bernett's Ford on the 8th. On the morning of the 6th the Battery left at Little Washington, moving with the rest of the division and p^-ed through Sperryville and Woodvillc towards Cul- peper, where we arrived about midnight of the 8th and went into camp about a mile north - I the town. Early the next morn- ing (die 9th) we hitched up and stood in harness until about
0 o'clock, when the b irses wee unharnessed and taken be the drivers ti ■ ; ne distance away to graze. About an hour latci tliey were hastily called in and harnessing up we started
1 wards Cedar Mountain, from which direction artillery firing
; : Passil o thro igh Culpeper we moved at a trot,
m 1 : of the way. for about eight miles and halted in a piece of nearly a mile in the rear of our line, which was then skirmishing with the enemy. The day was intensely la>; and da road crowded with troops of all kinds with their ammunition and baggage wagons hurrying to die front. The dust was so thick :';'; suffocating that a; times it was difficult to get our breath, and we passed many lying by the road completely pros-
lb FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
trated and others suffering from sunstroke. Upon our arrival at the wood-, spoken of above, General Prince, commanding the le to which we were attached, placed Captain Robinson under arrest for some reason, the exact nature of which was never clearly understood bul was generally supposed to be run- ning by other troops and getting out of place in the line.
There was not a very good feeling existing between the General and Captain Robinson, as was shown by a little incident that occurred in the morning. After first harnessing up, the Captain sent a Lieutenant to the General asking; for orders. The General very curth replied, "When I have orders for Cap- tain Robins >n 1 will send them/' This reply did not put the n in the best of humor and perhaps had an effect on him during the remainder of the day.
After about half an 1 air in the woods the Captain was relieved from an est and we. moved out across an open field about half a mil ; n ', v enl in o park behind some hay stacks at the Hudson 1 iu on the north >ide of the Mitchell Station ro A and to the left and reai of our batteries that were then engaged.
I; was while crossing this field that we first heard the music
lis as they came tearing through the air over our head.-.
Being aimed at our batte] on the hill, they passed high
enough over us to be harmles A caused such a feeling
rousnes; ;.: I a; prehension that we did not feel like loiter-
i the way.
* »ne of the shells struck near a group of calves that were feeding in the insed us a shout of laughter to see
them run. At this time it was three o'clock, and after remain- ing at the ha. stacks about fifteen minutes, we were ordered into p' lei A' batt ies already engaged at the
of the Hudson house, the 6ih Maine Battery a little later ; tl i position to the left of the house in line nearly at right angl< - to the one w hid i ■ i ipied.
As we went up the hill into position it was coming pretty hot and we met some very severely wounded men being brought off the field from the batten on < ur right (perhaps Crounse's Bat tery K, ist Xew \'ork,) and! several of their horses had just been struck. As we unlimbered we at once drew the fire of the enemv's guns and had all that we wanted! to attend to. ft was not lone before A- be! Davis of Sergeant Robertson's detachment
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. IQ
was truck in the leg by a piece of shell and carried to the rear, and Charles Sally, who took his place, boon after received a S( vere seal], wound from a piece of shell, but he did not have to be carried off the held, because none of the boys could catch him. When we next heard of him he was in the hospital at Wash- ington, and later was transferred to the Invalid Corps, where he s< rved out his three years" term.
Lieutenant Eaton's section on the left occupied lower ground and was more protected than the rest of the flattery and did not suffer I loss of any men. h was in this .section that Captain Robnson took up his position during the fight. Lieutenant Haynes' section on the right seemed to get the brunt of the fire and alter about fifty rounds from each gun had been fired, a shell struck the wheel of Sergeant Bangs' piece and glancing struck Byron Phillips, tearing away part of his chin and shoulder. He was taken to the rear, where he died about two hours later and was buried in the garden of the Hudson house. A little later Sergeant Owen's piece was struck by a shell and the axle broken, so that it could not lie used again. The splinters slightly wounded several of the gunners and the con- cusson of the shell as it struck and exploded very near Ambose Vittum's head caused a deafness in one ear from which lie has never recovered. Hannibal Powers of this piece was also struck by a ball from a case shot which passed through his boot and lodged in his stocking and pants which he wore inside of his boots. He was about to start to the rear but was advised to take his boot oil' and see how bad the wound was. When the boot was pulled off the bullet rolled out and Powers resumed his duties. Several other men were wounded, among others James Smith, who received a scalp wound but remained at his post. Both of the right pieces were moved to the left of the Battery, about five o'clock, the first piece being unserviceable, and the second piece being short- handed. Lieut. Haynes took hold and helped in working the gun. The enemy's batteries were placed on the face of the mountain in the woods on much higher ground than we occupied, and as they were nearly concealed they had much the advantage of us in position. In the corn held in our front, where Prince's and Geary's Brigades assailed Parly's Brigade vigorously, Early was sorely pressed U'V a time, but receiving as reinforcements
~°. FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
Taliaferro's Brigade and a portion of Thomas' Brigade, the ad- vance of Prince and Geary was checked. The conflict in this corn field was stubborn and sanguinary and the loss very severe. In an ' :"'"!'f to rally his command General Prince was taken pris- oner by a prvate of the 23d Virginia, surrendering his sword, however, to General Taliaferro.
During the height of the engagement Chas. Patterson gave vent to a volley of profanity, but one of the boys who was ordi- narih mildly addicted to the same vice earnestly remonstrated with him not to swear th« re. The battery wagon and forge had been brought up and left at the hay stacks where a portion of the time they were nearly as much exposed as the Battery. The b >\ i ttached to this portion of the Battery did not enjoy this, as they weie supposed to be non-combatants and left at the rear. Some of those whose duties did not call them to the front ren- dered very acceptable service by bringing water to the very thirsty men at the gun.;, and particularly among these was D. O. Dearborn. During the conflict in the cornfield, Trimble's "■■■■ de, by a detour, had gained a position on our left flank and was prepared for a simultaneous attack, with Early in our front. Just at dusk a volley from the corn field, not many yards in front of us, passed just over our heads, when the order was given to limber to the rear. A littl< delay was caused to one of the caissons where a wounded horse was being replaced, and as we left the field the enemy came on a charge out of the corn field just in front of a Patter: in and Chandler, who were a : ting a wounded man oft" the held, had to leave him and narrowly escaped capture. The enemy had broken our left and even-thing was pai f the cl aracter of a rout and every-
one was for himself. The 6th Maine Battery on our left stoutly I the charge made on them by Trimble's Brigade and held their ground until all others had time to get by, when thev withdrew. Their loss was very severe and Captain McGilven and the Battery deserved great praise for their heroic work. Everything now was in the greatest confusion and all made their best time across the field towards the rear. As we crossed the little creek a gun 01' some Battery was hopelessly stuck in the mud and left for the enemy. As we passed through the woods we found thai McDowell's Corps and part .' Sigel's were lying there in line, and as we passed through their line a sense of
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 21
security at once prevailed and the mad rush ceased. \Yc passed a short distance to the rear and. went into park, and, the horses having had neither water nor food since early morning, the drivers were sent to a corn field near by to cut corn for the I »rses. While thus engaged, the enemy, thinking they had routed the whole of Pope's army, made a charge up through the woods and unexpectedly came upon McDowell's line, which poured upon them a murderous volley that completely routed and h m b; ck. The 2d and 5th Maine Batteries received
great credit for the part the} took in this affair. It was rather 1 that of the five Batteries organized and encamped
at Augusta the previous 1 inter, four of them, the 2d. 4th, 5th and 6th, should meet for the first time since leaving home and each of them have their first engagement in the same battle.
The Chief of Artillery in his report to General Banks speaks >ws — "Officers and men stood firm and unflinching to the end. Captains McGilvery, Robinson and Rolmer were con- stantly under fire working their guns with co ilness and discrim- ination. ::: '■■- * Well done 1 can truly say for officers, i and privates of all the batteries."
At the time the eneni) made the charge in the woods one of (>w; Batteries which was occupying a position about half a mile in the rear, by some mistake opened fire, their shell striking- in rear of McDowell's line and in our immediate vicinity. It was instantly taken for granted that the enemy was in our rear and at once the stampede commenced afresh. Not waiting for the .who were after the corn for their horses, others took their place and we started towards the rear. As we went down tl Al a man terribly wounded was waving his hat and shout- i for us to run over him. The road was filled with bag-
gage wagons desperately pushing and struggling to get along and the fields were filled with artillery, ambulances and hun- dreds of straggling infantry, all heading towards Culpeper. General and stall officers were riding at full speed and fran- tically shouting, commanding and entreating that a stop be made, asm' that it was ail a mistake. In a few minutes the firing from the rear had ceased and when it became understood that someone had blundered quiet was at once restored; and tired, hungry, tb.ir.-iv. with feelings of sadness, disappointment and disci m nt, we lav down bv our <nms and horses for a little
2~ FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
needed rest. The loss in killed and wounded in Banks' Corps in the battle was 1,759, or 2-- Pei" cc-nt, which is a remarkably high rate and shows the pluck and high fighting qualities of the troops engaged.
After such brilliant promises from an army commander, to suffer such an ignoble defeat was not what we were expecting, and when it became understood that Ban!:-' Corps of less than 8,000 had been sent, or permitted to go forward, to attack Jack- son with an army of 20.000 and that Sigel's and McDowell's Corps had been lying close at hand without being moved to our assistance until we were being driven from the field, crushed and overpowered., our confidence in "Headquarters in the saddle" Pope entirely disappeared.
ddie next morning (10th) we moved a short distance to the rear to a piece of woods where we were somewhat protected from the intense heat, ai d h< day was spent in replenishing out empty ammunition chests, repairing the damaged guns and cleaning up. Here L. Weston and several others who had been in the hospital rejoined the Battery and they afterwards said that we were the dirtiest, toughest lot of own they ever saw. At the front the day was spent in bringing 1 iff the wounded and burying the dead under flag of truce and some of our officers took advantage of the opportunity to g • 1 die battlefield.
Prom here we moved back to near Culpeper and went into camp about a mile south 0: the town, where we remained until the 19th.
CHAPTER II.
Poi e's retreat— Rappahannock Statiox — Sulphur Strings — 2d Bull Run — Into Maryland — Antietam — -Mary- land Heights.
In the meantime Jackson, nor feeling thai his force was strong enough to push Pope, had fallen hack to the Rapidan to await reinforcements from Lee's army which, was in front of Rich- mond.
On the 13th General Longstreet's Corps accompanied by Gen- eral Lee left Richmond to join Jackson's forces. Arriving at Gordonsville a few miles south of the Rapidan a hah was made and General Lee by his own observations satisfied himself of the very weak position that Pope was occupying and cm the 20th crossed the Rapidan and joining Jackson's forces moved for- ward to attack.
On the morning of the 18th Lieutenant Haynes had taken a detail of men and the wagon- to a field about two miles away to cut and bring in grass for the horses. About noon orders were received to move immediately and Lieutenant Haynes was called in with all possible speed. Upon their arrival the Battery moved hack to the village and stood in harness until the forenoon of the 19th, when we started from Culpeper towards Rappahan- nock Station, the whole army being on the move in the same direction. Arriving at the river after dark we crossed at Bev- erly ford just below the railroad bridge and went into camp for the night. So in fence rails were gathered, fires built and coffee made and our salt pork cooked by holding it on a stick over the fire. Supper being eaten we rolled ourselves in our blankets and were soon asleep.
When we had crossed the river we were notified not to use the water from the river to drink or make coffee with, so while unhitching, some of the boys started out with canteens to obtain
24 FOURTH MAIN]- BATTERY
water. A short distance in the rear, in a swampy piece of
groi " i. a large puddle was found from which the canteens were
rilled and coffee made, which we enjoyed immensely. The next
morning upon going again for water it was found that upon
tl - ; of the puddle from which the water had been
ted, and partially in the water, was lying a dead hog-, about
half decomposed, so it was decided to I k elsewhere for water.
da) our cavalry was driven back and towards night
h line was within sight across the river. Our battery
and f 01 „c. we.. \va; then sent 1 Lck to the woods, in the
rca'-. and the guns placed in batl neai the ford. The next
: !g the enemy appeared in small force on the opposit<
of the river and skirmishing continued on our front during the
2] and 22(1, and coi id ble firing was heard both up and
down the river. I luring this time we remained in position
covering the ford. On the morning of the ?/A a strong force
ed iii our fro t and we had a sh; rp < rig; gement with their
batteries and also helled th : wo ■ '- ;\here their infantry was
; '. One of their batl . . I to get into positi
on the hill near the railroad, btit a few well lin I shots from
y brought one of theii n -; down all in a heap
a I i I them 1 Lurn back, and no further attei pt was made
to o cupy the p >siti m. ( )n or two oi their pieces seemed to
have I riousl; It 'he scrap.
It was while we w -re in this engag that several recruits
i ns, id finding the battery wagon, forge and spare
■ in the woods, they remained with them. The enemy's sh - being a little high j d • . r our heads and striking among the trees, where the) were, made quite a racket and
■ ' a stampede. The boys thought it was rather a warm i pti n. Lieutenant Eaton's darkey, "Sam," white with fear, ca u] to th< fi . and refused a w back, telling the Lieu- tenant, 'd-V God, Massa, 1 get killed back there."
: o'clock we were ordered ; i move up the river sev- eral miles to Sulphur Springs, and after crossing the rail a slid! just missed Captain is 'bin i, ; ;sing between his head and his horse's head. About this time we came to a creek, which W( forded, ; nd found the water so high that it came over the i> »p of the ammunition chests, wetting quite a portion oi i >ur ammunition. The evening before we had drawn three days'
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1 86 1 -65. 25
rations and most of the boys had placed their haversacks on the guns and caissons, and the result was a queer mixture of coffee, sugar, srdt, pepper, soaked hardtack and mud. Our rations for the next three days were principally roasted corn and a little fresh beef without salt. Chapin in his diary at this dare says: "We live mostly on faith now and I pray that we may have success." About two o'clock we made a halt and spread out our ammunition for an hour or two to dry, and we also tried to dry cur hardtack but could not gei the mud out of it. We arrived at Sulphur Springs aboul two o'clock at night and the next day (24th), the enemy appearing on the opposite side of the river, we had a light engagement with one of their batteries towards night. General Lee, finding that Pope was occupying a very strong position on the east bank o\ the Rappahannock extend- ing from Waterloo Bridge south to the Rapidan, held Long- street to oppose Pope al ng the Rappahannock, while Jackson made a flank movement. On the morning of the 25th Jackson moved from Jefferson, oppo ite Sulphur Springs, to the north and crossed the Rappahannock at Hinson's A! ills, about ten miles north of Sulphur Springs, and continuing; in a northerly- direction, that night camped at Salem. On the morning of the 26th Jackson resumed his march but changed his course to an easterly direction, and passing through Thoroughfare Gap, at night was occupying a position from Gainesville to Bristoe Station on the Orange and Alexandria railroad, many miles in rear of Pope's army and between him and Washington, and also a large 1 ortion of McClellan's army which was on the way from the Peninsula t< 1 join 1 'ope.
During the 25th Lank-' Corps, to which we belonged, moved back to near Warrenton. C)n the 26th the corps moved in a southerly direction and at night was at Fayetteville. On the nights of the 24th and 25th we made all-night marches in addi- tion to our dav marches. By this time Pope had discovered Jackson's move and on the morning of the 27th the corps took an easterly direction and at night was well advanced towards Warrenton Junction. Here General Banks received instruc- tions from General Pope to cover the railroad trains at that place, consisting of four engines and 123 cars, until General Porter had passed, and then to rebuild bridges and track- that had been destroved and run the trains back towards Manassas.
26
FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
On the evening of the 2Sth Banks' Co^ps was near Little Run, between Catlett's and Dristoe Stations, with the trains well up to the bridges that had been destroyed near Bristoe.
On the morning of the 29th Longstreet had joined Jackson near Groveton and the battle of the Second Bull Run was fought on that and the succeeding day. Our corps being occupied in covering and bringing back die trains, had no hand in the ter- rible conflict that was raging very near and within our hearing, and which ended in Pope being driven back across the Bull Run on the 30th.
Ab nit six o'clock on the evening of the 30th we had arrived within two or thr< e mile; of Manassas Junction, where we were halted, and after standing a short time were turned quietly around and marched rapidly hack to Bristoe Station, where we camped for the night. We could not understand it at the tirm but later lean eel that Longstreet was between us and the rest of the army, thereby completely cutting us off. The next morning b lighl we were quietly awakened and ordered
to harness and hitch up without making any noise, and by day- light we were ready to start. As it was impossible to get the trains back to Bull Run, Uanks had been instructed to burn them 111 order to prevent their falling into the enemy's hands. As we started south across the railroad the work was being rapidly carried into effect and the Barnes were sb 1 >ting high from the long trains of cars tilled with quartermaster's and commissary stores, while near by a train of ammunition wagons was suffer- ing a like fate and from which loud explosions came rapidly as the lire reached their o m tents. The b >ys who were fortunate enough to be near the burning cars were not prevented from supplying thmselves with needed articles and men were soon seen hastening along loaded down with spoil. Some would have huge bales of stockings, others of blouses, overcoats, boots or shirts, but these were either soon distributed by trading or abandoned. It was a dark, rainy day, and our route was over dirt road- and much of the way through woods. We did not fully understand the situation but knew enough to realize that we were in danger and without complaint kept up our rapid march through the rain and mud. As we made no halts for food or water, we found it difficult when fording streams to force the thirsty horses across without allowing them to stop.
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 2"
and before night some of them fell and were left dving from thirst and exhausti* >n.
About dark we reached the Bull Run stream and folding it were ono ; lore >« connection with our army, which had been massed near Centreville. This night we were placed on picket dut-v coveril "' stream, and the next day (September 1st) again took up our march with the rest of the army towards the defences of Washington.
In the afternoon we passed Centreville and to the left of the road as far as the eye could see the open fields were solidh rilled with moving troops and tr
It was a magnificent sight and very rarely has such a large bodyo ti together. About five' o'clock we crossed
Difficult Creel:, a small stream of a few inches of water, and a ~'; ' • distance beyond halted near some thick woods. About tins time there came up one of those thunder showers which 01;1) Virginia can produce. The rain came down in torrents and tl e thunder and lightning were terrific. About six °'cl ck [t ,::" lerated sonu what and some of the men were sent back with the spare horses to cross the creek for corn, but soon l;11'10 i,;i — • savin; th - h creek was running a flood four feet d' ■ J1151 before .unset, in the midst of the terrific thunder storm, the enemy made an attack on Pope's right at Chantillv, about a mile from where we were, and we could distinctly hear th ■ v< lleys of musketry between the peals of thunder, and' knew they were having it hot and were not sure but wc might be in ; ' 5elves ver>" soon. About dark the fire slackened and it was at this time that General Kearney was killed, about a mile t0 fl r'--1 ' t "S. We were soaked through and. cold and shiv- ering, were about to lJuil ! fires to make our coffee, but orders came to allow no fires 11 •: lights of any kind, as the enemv were very near and it might reveal our position. Keen General Banks allowi I no lights at his headquarters.
The rain continued to come down in torrents the whole night anil we stood in the road anxiously waiting for the morning. Sleep or rest was out ,f the question. ( iccasionally some of the boys, tired and exhausted, would lie down, only to he aroused in a few minutes by some on,-, in the intense darkness, walkinq over them, or by finding themselves in water to the depth oi several inches : but morning came at lasl and with it clear skies.
2S FOURTH MAINS BATTERY
Coffee was made and with salt pork and hardtack we had our bre; kfast, and never was a meal more enjoyed by hungry men.
This day (September 2d) we continued on our march and at midnight went into bivouac near Alexandria (near Fort Worth). About this time Lieutenant L. M. S. Haynes, sick and with health broken down from exposure, left us and returned to his family in Philadelphia, and his health not war- ranting his return to the Battery, he soon after resigned. On the $']> we moved from Fort Worth to near Fort Albany, a dis- tance of about five miles. Since leaving Washington, ten weeks before, we had swung around a circle, taking in Harper's Ferry, Winchester, Culpeper and Cedar Mountain, Rappahannock Si ■• >n, Sulphur Springs, Warrenton, Manassas and Bull Run, haul been in three engagements and in close proximity to sev- eral others, and after marchi g nearly three hundred miles were nov bacl at our starting point. When we started we were anvii.;:.-, to see something of the war, and many of us were now satisfied that we had seen it.
The 4th of September we cros ed the Potomac at Aqueduct Bridge and passing through Georgetown thai night, went into cam]' al Tenallytown and on the 5th marched twelve miles to Rockville. Upon the arrival of the army at the defences of Washington the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Vir- ginia were consolidated and, General McClellan assumed com- mand. General Banks' Corps was nou designated as the 12th Army Corps, with a ■:. i our corps badge. The badge was a pi( :e of cloth cut in the form of a star and was attached to the left side of the cap. For the i>i Divisii n th< color was red, for the 2d 1 >n ision whit* . and the 3d 1 )ivision blue. Each corps had its distincth : I ■ and every soldier was obliged to wear it. Bv this means it could be known at a glance to what corps a soldier belonged. At tins time General Banks, our corps ander, was assigned to duty in command of the defences of Washington, and General Mansfield assigned to the com- mand of the 1 2th Corps.
( ) : the 6th we moved up into hue of battle, the Battery being put in position near Sedgwick's Division of the 2d Corps. We remained at Rockville while the army was being reorganized and put in shape for an advance through Maryland to meet Lee v. h>> had crossed the Potomac at Leesburgh and was then
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 29
in the vicinity of Frederick and along the Monocacy. About h the army was again on the move in the direction of Frederic!:. Our marches each day were short, and as one writer expresses it, '"the army only drifted." The weather was hue and our route being through the beautiful State of Mary- land, we much enjoyed the trip in contrast to our previous from Culpeper to Washingfr n. Our corps arrived at Frederick on the 13th, having averaged on the march only about seven miles a day. The next day (the 14th) we passed through Frederick and at 10 o'clock at night iped near Middleto rn. During die afternoon the sound of the battle which was being foughl at South Mountain was distinctly heard and the bursting shells could be seen.
At 3 o'clock on the morning of the 15th we were again on lh - love. Passing tin 1 gh Middletown, we followed the road up the in iimtain ' ' Turner's Gap, where the battle of
South Mountain had been fought on the day before between the rst and 9th Corps of the Union arm}-, and ]). H. Hill and a part of Longstreet's Corps of the Confederates. As we passed through the gap m: ; of the b ys went up the hill to the right of the - e a portion of the field where the fighting had
been s< < re, and where many of the rebel dead were yet unburied. Passing tin >i h Boon I », west of the mountain. we camped for the night. On the 16th we continued om march, bul the roads were so blocked with moving troops and trains that om progn •■ w; a id it was after dark when
we arrived at the vil E Keedysville and went into camp not
far from General McClellan's headquarters.
G ral H ■■■• ith his 1st Corps had crossed the Antietam Ci k a the bridge and ford near Keedysville late in the after- noon of the [6th, and in attempting to reach a position on the Hagerstown Pike about two miles from the Keedysville Bridge ■ attacked by Hood near th< east woods and a sharp com flict had lasted from about sunset until after dark. Hooker then I ■' position al 1 three-fi irths of a mile from the east wood; in the vicinity of the I m 1 'ike. About mid-
night our corps, the r2th. crossed the bridge to the assistance of Hooker and took position north of the cast woods and at Hooker's li :':. a portion of the batteries being left on the east side of thi creek, the 4th and 6th Maine being among the number.
30 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
Early on the morning of the 17th our Battery was moved to McClellan's headquarters at the Pry House, and after waiting some time we returned through Eveedysville and were placed in g tin stont bridge and on the right of the road, and the 6th Maine Battery in position across the road from us. Soon alter Franklin's Corps crossed the bridge in front of us, and took position to the right and in rear of Sumner's Corps. which had crossed earlier in the morning, near McClellan's headquarters.
In the meantime, about daylight, Jackson, whose command had replaced Hood, opened the engagement from near the east woods, which was promptl; responded to by Hooker, who ordered an advance along his whole line, which resulted in a t( rrible conflict in the com field beyond the east woods. About seven o'clock Mansfield 112th Corps) ap] -oached and with [looker's Corps cl gh the west woods to the Dunker
Church. It was while deploying his troops thai General Mans- field was mortally wounded and General Williams assumed nd of the corps. A little later General Hooker was also I and as succeeded by General M 1 le.
From oui on on the east hank of the Antietam near the
upper or Keedysville bridge, we had a clear and unobstructed view of the battlefield from the east woods on the right to near the sunken road at the left of Dunker Church where French and Richardson of Sumner's 2d Corps did such terrific work. As we repeatedly saw the long lines form and advance for a charge, it was with bated b ... 1 and intensesl feeling that we watched them move forward until a. line of smoke would roll up [1 m i fi a; of them and we could see men fall by the hun- dred, and the thin and broken ranks would fall hack and reform for another attack, or to resist an attack from the enemy. It was grand, it was terrible, audi the memory of such a day can never he effaced from the mind. By two o'clock the heaviest of the fighting on the right was over, hut the artillery continued to he engaged until night. I, ate in the afternoon we could hear tl e heavy fighting of Burnside, on die left, as he was forcing the crossing at the Stone Bridge near Sharpsburg, nearly three miles to the left of where we were stationed. Just across the bridge in front of us and a little to the right, near Hoffman's . were located the field hospitals, which presented a busy
LIGHT ARTJi.Lr.RY, 18OI-65. 31
SCQne- Ambulances, stretcher bearers and the wounded who could walk kept up a constant procession all the dav. Toward mght the sound of conflict gradually died away, and'after coffee had been made and supper eaten we gathered around our fires and m subdued tunes we discussed ;' ^ : of the dav and the
prospects of the morrow. In our from the enemv had been
' back from the east « 1 to the west wood and the
Dunker C hurch. ( >n the left Bun side had forced the crossing
at tlie bridge, and gained a position on the west bank, bul still
h " ' armies lay facing each other with positions not
-rca;:- ' ' from that of the m ,rning. We all looked for
a conlmuance of the conflict and perhaps a more severe one if
sudl :' thmS was : ^ • on the morrow, and fell that instead
■ rob bly be among the active par-
So with fe ; uncertainty and apprehension we
'i;r''-: ' l^d ourselves in our blankets for our night's rest. The
losses for the dav on the Inion side were 210S killed 9549
XV°lu: ' ' ' 753 captured or missing, a total of 12,410, and
the ' rat. I ses were fully as large.
Genera! McClellan in his r thai "about 2700 of the
I and buried noon the battlefield of Antietan :" also that "a porti .11 of their dead had been previ- - buried i>\ the enemy."
iex1 (,':-v Proved to be a da> of inaction, the two armies rcshnS m lhe P ' - which they had occupied al the close of thc baUle" There was a tacit truce , ■ ; and Confed-
erate burying parties passed freel; b tween the lines. To us theda-v ' ' as we watched and waited. Durin°- the
; ' 0 d th Po ,ac with his armband whcn t,ie "^rning of the r9th c 1 it as discovered that the ene" • -• gone. At an early hour our army started on the advance, but it was nearly noon before we crossed the bridge ■way across the battlefield. The road was crowded with the artillery and trains and ■ u, progress was slow, moving some- times only a few yards and then halting for the road to be beared in front of us. As we advanced up the hill in the direc- tion of the Dunker Church and came to the ground where rack- son and Sumner had been heavily engaged' the sight was one tha{ could ncver be forgotten. The enemy's dead at that p i„| lay as they had fallen, and the line oi Jackson's most advanced
32 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
charge was marked by a row of dead the whole length of the field, and so close together that we had to pull some of them out of the way to char a road. Bullets and shell had wounded them in every conceivable form, and death had come to some so suddenly that the hand and cartridge were at the mouth in the move of tearing cartridge. They had been lying in the hot sun for two days and their bodies had swollen to enormous size and were as black as negroes and the stench was sickening. Nearer the east woods many were busy digging trendies and ■ lii^ the deal by rolling them on blankets, to their burial.
ft was near sunset when we reached the Dunker Church. where we waited a half hour. On the east of the road a rebel battery had been in po iti m and upon the ground were the ins of two caissons that had been blown up. and twenty- seven dead artillerym< n and man} horses lying thick together. The church was filled with wounded laid upon the hard seats and apparently having received but little attention. Upon the front scat was a fine looking young rebel soldier wdio was unconscious, a bullet having passed completely through the fore- head, entering just above the temple on one side and coming out the other. Two or three surgeons came along and looked al him, felt h:> pulse, and shaking their heads passed along to attend to others where their service might be of some benefit.
A little beyond the church we came to a wounded rebel who lay in the corner of the fence, g g ai >: u onscious. A
bullet had passed coi pletely through his head near the ear. When we remember dun these are only two instances among hundreds and thai they had been more than two days without any am n lance or care, it shows a little of the horrors of war. It was dark before we were clear of the battlefiel ! and glad we were to get away from the terrible scenes of carnage and. death through which we had been passing all the afternoon.
Late that nighf we went into bivouac not far from Sharps- h, on the Harper's Ferry road. The ncxl day (the 20th) we continued our march and at noon on the 21st arrived at Sand\ id. A. \vl cr< ve remained until the 2yd, when we moved into camp at Maryland Heights on a hcMah.au a mile from the Ferry and near the house of Mr. Smith.
Fee's army was on the Virginia -ale of the river in the Shen- andoah Vallev, and McClellan's waas centered at and around
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 33
Harper's Ferry and Maryland Heights. The army, after its long marches and severe battles of the past six weeks, was in need of rest and supplies of all kinds, and McClellan, proverbi- ally slow, settled down fur a good long," rest until forced by pressure from Washington to make an advance a month later. Our camp was everything that could be desired as to location, b Tound in the edge of a large held and by the side
of a fine grove about half a mile from, the Harper's Ferry road, but perhaps at no other time was there as much homesickness and discontent as during the few weeks we were here. We were occupying shelter tents, each man having a tent which, con- sisted of a piece of cotton cloth about five and a half by six feet. Two of these were buttoi ' etl ei and placed over a ridge pole lesting on forked sticks, which gave just room for two men to crawl under. Both ends of the tents being open, they were not very comf irtable in the cold fall weather that we were having. This being our first year in the field, we lacked the experience in taking care of ourselves and making ourselves comfortable that we had later. Then we were in need of cloth- ing ot ail kinds and die chilly \\ it very uncomfortable in the much worn clothes that had done service all the summer. Addt d to these, and u'orst oi all, was the vermin with which we found ourselves loaded. We hod been marching and camping for three months, with the thousands of troops that composed the army, with very hide chance of a change of underclothing, and these pests had been accumulating and increasing at an 'us rate. At first many were ashamed to own that they were among the victims and tried to quietly free themselves from the nuisance, but it was soon found that the only way was to declare war boldly and fight it out energetically. At first manv tried picking them off, but we soon found that the) aver- aged a daily crop o\ fifty or sixtv without in the least diminish- ing iu number. Then boiling our clothes thoroughly was tried, audi with constant boiling and watchfulness we succeeded in ridding ourselves o'~ them. Then our rations of hardtack and salt me; ; began to get rather mon >t< n >us and we were longing for any change. About the only fruits dun we could obtain were the wild paw paw and wild grapes which grew along the bank of the river. The paw paw somewhat resembles the banana, is about half the size, and h is about as much taste as
34 FOURTH 1IAIXE BATTERY
a rfw P«»I*in, but with ..s, anvthin- that w« o and quantities of then, were eaten v hi , ^v",™ S°°d'
g"pes a sauee was made and , " '"' tI,e wiW
TLes, ;":;:':': '--'-^-Wicac,,
.™j,,rra,^,,ri,,,,V;;. need o, thos' far"';6 •>" uP°" "S
•
CHAJ'i ER HI.
Sharpsburc and Antietam Iron Works — Winter at Har- per's Ferry and Maryland Heights — Join Army o\; Potomac— With 3d corps— Wapping Heights.
The 25th of October, McClellan crossed the Potomac with ill- army, en route for War rent n and the Rappahannock, leaving the I2th Corps to hold the Potomac from Harper's Ferry to Sh ; . ( ; 1 Lh 30th we broke camp and moved
up the river. The center section was placed at Shepherdstown Bridge, the lefl section, under command of Lieutenant White, at Blackford's Ford, and the right section, under command of Lieutenant Eat in, at Antietam Iron Works, near the mouth of Antietam Creek, to covet the fords at these places.
P>) this lime we had ; ived el 'thin- and had somewhat recovered from our spirit of depression and homesickness, and at once went to work to provide ourselves with comfortable quarters. Perhaps our first experiments were not a brilliant success, but they were a vast improvement on our Maryland Heights quarters. Old boards and fence rails, sticks or any- thing ilia' C'>-n<\ be found were utilized, and tents of all styles of architecture were co 1 and we were soon enjoying the
luxury of bunks raised ab >ul a fo< t or eighteen inches from the groun 1 arid with straw to sleep on. At the fron Works where Lieutenant Eaton's section was located were the remains of the building: an I near by was a grist mill. In some of the build- ings the horses were stabled, and with bricks obtained from the buildings, chimneys and; fireplaces were built for some of our quarters. The grist mill also contributed to our comfort in the way of adding corn meal to our rations, the hoys stealing corn from the horses and the accommodating miller grinding it. care that he took ^oo~\ toll. At this time Lieutenant Eaton was quite unwell and the command of the section largely
36 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
devolved on Sergeant Bangs. The Sergeant became aware of the corn stealing and threatened punishment to the offenders, but volunteered to contribute generously towards the purchase of corn. It was not until many years later that the Sergeant learned that he had been the only contributor, that the corn had continued to come from the same source as before, and his con- tribution Ii lcI been divided among the "syndicate." Then occa- sionally a stray pig would come our way which would be added to oui bill of fare. While here, drilling at the gams occupied a portion of each day, but our duties were light and the lime ] .: - d ver) ;■!' asantly and quickly.
On November ;;i: Genei d McClellan was relieved and Burn- side placed in command of the arm)-. Burnside at once moved with the army from Warrcnton towards Fredericksburg, where it arrived on November t/th. While preparations were being made fur the attack on Fredericksburg (the battle occurred on December 13th and. 14th) the 12th Corps, which had been guarding the Potomac from Harper's Ferry to Sharpsburgh, was ordered to move to near Fairfax as support to the rest of the army, and on the afternoon of Decembei 9th we received orders t<> march the next morning.
About an hour before the orders to move came to Lieutenant Eaton, the buys had completed a big old fashioned Xew Eng- iven .'iid were preparing a big layout of baked beans and brown bread. We did not object so much to the moving but knew that we could not get awa\ with all the beans and brown brea ; : bi akfast. However, we got over that by having
a go 1 feed for the othci boys when they came along the next morning.
During the night it rained and sleeted with about two inches of snow, and when we started on the morning of the 10th the roads were in a pretty slippery condition. Our horses had been standing on brick flour- and consequently their shoes were worn smooth and it was with great difficulty that we could gel along. It was often necessary to double up the teams and sometimes there were a:- many as twenty-two horses on a 'j;v.n to get it up a hill, and at times several of the horses in a team would be down at once and the others would be dragging them along. Our progress, of course, was slow. The rest of the troops had passed us and almost hourly an orderly would come back" to
37
■ Lin Robinson with orders to hurry up the Battery. The Captain would tell him he was doing his utmost to get along, and afterwards would tell the boys to be careful of the horses and take it easy. At dark we had arrived within about three miles of .Maryland Heights and drawing out of the road went into camp, having made about eight miles since early in the mornin . Si »n after going into camp an orderly came back to on with orders to report the next morning at I ! r's Ferry with the Battery. This was good news for the Captain and put him in remarkably good humor, and that night we spread our blankets on the snow and slept soundly after our hard day's work.
We resumed our march the next morning and arriving at Harper's Ferry ar n o'clock al night, went into camp at the left of the road, about half way from the river to Bolivar Heights. In a few days our old Sibley tents, with the little stoves, that had be I n ' in \- ' ' igton when we left Cedar Creek in July, were returned to us, and we ware soon very comfortably the winter. As a protection for the horses we buill a stockade from small pine trei s and covered the roof with old b aim-d from bmidi: :;,;<• had been destroyed in the town. This br< kc the force of the wind and as Jim Allen said, '"kept out th ■ o r- 'st of the cold."
In camp near us was a regiment of cavalry and several infan- trv regiments, among them the 6th Maryland, with whom we : i very friendly during the winter, and particularly with
Co. "I." under command of Captain Bradshaw.
A few days after getting into camp we had orders to keep in on picket on Bolivar Heights where the Charlestown road passed through the fortifications. Each detachment took its turn on picket duty, being relieved in the morning after twenty-four hours duty. The second morning it was the turn of Sergeant Bangs' detachment and. he being sick, Corporal Ames was given command of the piece. It was not supposed there was any enemy within miles and the boys were taking ■ very comfortably when, just ar the dinner hour, Llewel- lyn Lincoln, who had been a little way down the hue, came run- ning in, calling excitedly, "The Johnnies are coming, the John- nies are Riming." and pointed to some cavalry coming towards us from tl e left and also about fiftv cavalry at a house which
3§ FOURTH MAINS BATTERY
was about five hundred yards away and at the foot of the hill. While tlit- Corporal was trying to convince him that it was our own cavalry and showing him the cavalry pickets posted on the next: hill, the question was settled by a squad from the house making an attack on Co. "I," 6th Maryland, that was on picket duty jusl outside the gate.
It was the first time they had ever been under fire and they very promptly retreated inside the gate. A shot was immedi- ately sent after the main body near the house, but striking- a little short, ricochetted just over their heads, when they scat- tered and took to tl c fi Id . T 1 or three shots were fired at som< haystacks and woods where they had taken refuge, but without any result further than that we were not again dis- turbed, lit the meantime Captain Rj binsi >n had heard the firing and was most roundly abusing the Corporal for wasting ammu- Six days later, Sergeant Bangs was out with the detachment and Co. 1 was again on picket dun. Everything quietly until about midnight, when we were aroused by a volley and rapid firing in the valley very close on our left. We Iw >' ed oul prett\ lively, expecting business this time, but it was s ion learned tha a regi nent returning from a reconnois- sance bad got into . ' 1 h, by some carelessness, with the regi- n nt 1 m picket to the left of us.
.Alter this second alarm Captain Hradshaw's company and the second detachment were the fastest of friends. With Christmas ti ■ came x^vy welcome and pleasant remembrance from the friends at home, in the shape of boxes filled with eatables and many a little kuicknack as well as articles of clothing which added greatly to our comfort. For a time we lived high and never did anything taste so g< od a the home-made doughnuts and pies.
About the last of December, Lieutenant White was promoted to First Lieutenant, and Quartermastei Sergeant M. C. Kimball received his commission as Second Lieutenant. January 3d, Sergeant Williams was pn-umtcd n> Quartermaster Sergeant, Corporal Fox to Sergeant sixth detachment, Corporal Friend to Sergeant fifth detachment. Corporal Anno to Sergeant third detachment, and quite a number promoted to Corporals, among ; A. C. Bates and James Aden to Corporals of third detachment. Lieutenant Eaton, who had been in ill health for
LlCin ARTILLERY, 1S61-65.
3Q
some time, resigned and on January 17th left us for home. On dle -''" n;- Sergeant Bangs received his discharge on account of ill health. [„ March Lieutenant Coffin also resigned, and Ser- geant Rob< rtson was discharged on account of ill health The 1st of April, First Sergeant i [. C. Haynes received his com- n as Second Lieutenant, and Sergeant Freeman was pro- moted '" First Sergeant and Corporal Powers to Sergeant '1 hese with other changes that had occurred made almost a'com- plete reorganization of the J lattery since leaving Maine. Dur- ing the year there had b . n quite a number of deaths and many (hsch''' d on accoi t of sickness and disability, with others sh'H absent i,! th< 1. , Lai, and only a very few recruits had joined us. This large loss of members and small addition had |efl L1S with rather thin ranks. March 30th, quite a number who had been absent in the hospital returned to the Battery, and with them came several recruits. February 9th, a most wei- come visit was made us by Major Fessenden, the paymaster, whom we had not seen for months, and we received four months' pay, from July 1st to November 1st, still leaving three months 111 arrears- -A few d j • [at ■ v ivere very -dad to have with lls for :: ;,;> Mr- Sturd) from Augusta, woo was on a visit to Cyrus at the Frederick Hospital and who took a run down to see li:" b f>'s- At this time Captain Robinson was in Maine on leave of absence and Lie iani White in command of the Bat- ter-v" ^^ruary 17th, the lett section, under command of Lieu- tenant v offi». »vas on a reconnoissance with a battalion of the 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry. We left camp about nine o'clock in the corning, taking only the guns, with eight horses on a Sun> Cr0 ; 8 !:- • ' ■ liver, we passed to the east side
of th< ' ' '' and took th. road along the mountain
in the direction of Snickersville. None of us knew where we xvere '-'' 'yha1 we were going for, but it was generally sur-
mised that we were after Mosby's gang, who were infesting that section of the country. Just as we were Martin- a heavy snow storm sel in and continued through the day, rendering our march : ' ' ■ •' ' and d recabl ■ Our march was rapid and without halt, except to water our horses, and it was evening when we arrived at a little village in the mountains, without catching sight of the enemy, although doubtless thev had seen us and knee,- all about our trip.
40 FOURTH MAIMC BATTERY
Here we halted for just long enough to feed our horses and make coffee and about eight o'clock started on our return to camp. The snow had eeased falling and the weather had ; cold. Our clothing had become completely soaked that it was difficult for the drivers to mount or dismount without assistance, as many of them did to change with the tired-out cannoneers arid at the same time to warm up by having a little run. We took a shorter route back to camp, where we arrived at f »ur o'clock in the moi
ircd 01 : more than forty miles
in nin h >un v :"' only < hah to iec<\. We continued to
do pickel -buy at Bolivar Heights, and this came to be con- sidered by the bo; in tl ht of a day's outing every
six days, when we would be relieved from the ordinary duties • ; p. On ace-- 1 1 ud, drilling was not
attempted to much extent, and our camp duties consisted in caring for our horses, providii .. id for camp, and guard duty. This came about once in ten days and consisted of a ■ -r the guns, a man being on guard iring the twenty-four hours. On the who! the tunc passed very plea d was winded away in
a variety of ways, among which practical joking took quite prominent part. Le er writing was also carried on to a larger al this time than at any other of our service. About this time ''unknown correspondents" were very popular and some of the boys de> | it in that direction, having several
"unknown correspondents" whose names had been obtained from newspapers or other means. This went all right unless things got mixed or the boys forgot their assumed names. In one casi the result was a wed ling a year later, when Jere Keene went home on his veteran furlough.
During the winter the Army of the P aomac had been on the north bank of the rivei at Fredericksburg, having under Burn- side fought the battle of Fredericksburg on December 13th, and on January 20-21 had gol stuck in tl e mud in the attempt to n ike a second k <:>n bee. _ 25th, ''Fighting
foe Hooker" was appointed to succeed Burnside in command of the army and at once tittered won a thorough reorgan- ization of the tro >ps of all branches. About the first of April prcparati < wen commenced for active operations, a id on the
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 41
nth Stoneman started on his raid around Lee and on the 27th the movement was commenced which resulted in the battle of Cbanc< llorsville on May rst to 4th. The 1st of April there was a general breaking up of camps at Harper's Kerry and we were relieved from picket duty by an Indiana battery. On the 7th we moved to Maryland Heights and occupied the same camp that we had occupied during October after the battle 01 Antie- tam. The weather was warm and pleasant and our camp all that could be desired, but there was rather a feeling of dissatis- f thai we should be located at a point where there seemed
110 pr 1 of active duty, and also a general desire to he with
the Army of the Potomac again and to have our share in the coming campaign. Mounted drill occupied a portion of each day's time and served to break the monotony that was becoming distasteful.
While here the question came up. "Who stole the little barrel?" ( )ne night, ab >ut midnight, some of the boys ma Ie a raid on the sutler of the 6th Xew York Heavy Artillery Regi- ment near us ami got a keg o\ whiskey, and one of the number came ; p for a shovel with which to bury it. Patterson,
being on guard, noticed the action and his suspicion being- aroused, the next morning he kept his eye on the man. Soon after the morning duties were over, the man started off Inwards the bout 1 same time several others started in the
same direction. Following them, Patterson saw them meet and • a hep; and sample its contents. After it had
been \ impled /aiu buried it and returned to camp.
when P terson pr< : ded to take p ession and carried it around tlir >ugh the w oods to the opposite side of camp and hid it again.
in the afternoon another visit was made by the- boys to the little keg. hut it could not be found. Immediate search was instituted for the keg and kept up for days without success. The constant absence of the boys from camp, and their frequent consultations while in camp, was noted by the others, and il soon leaked >n a1 i the object of their search. To ; Id to their discomfort- the cry was constantly resounding through camp. "Who stole the little barrel?" in the meantime- Patter- son ha : bottled the whiskey and brought i- to camp and hid it under the tent floor, of which fact n »t man} who occupied the tent were aware.
A2 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
In the Battery there was no better comrade or soldier than Charley Allen. Always ready and prompt in duty, of a cheer- ful disposition but of rather sedate and sober turn, lie was never known to do a mean act except in one directum. He rode a little gray horse that was perfectly gentle under sad. lie and seemed as steady and sober and innocent as Charley himself, but if any one attempted to ride him bareback there was liable to be trouble. Charley, understanding this, was very good in letting the boys have a ride, and was fond of telling them what a nice horse he had and how kind and gentle. If Charley could only persuade some one to ride, the little horse would attend to the rest of it, and more than one lame back and bruised body was the result.
But we about got even with Charley at last. We used to water our horses in the Potomac River, crossing the B. & O. canal, out of which the water had bee n drawn, on an old flat boat, which lay a: the b ittom of the canal. One morning, on the way to water, Charley with his little gray broke out of the line, pu bed on ahead, and watering Ins horses, started back from the river as the rest of the Battery approached on the other side of the canal. Wishing to get across before the others, he made a dash for the crossing, but through some miscalculation reached the bank a few feet one side of th old boat. The little horse, coming on a gallop, placed his front feet just over the bank and. do >] .ping his head, -stopped to look at the mud, twenty feet away, at the bottom of the canal. Charley kept on and stopped with his head in the black mud and making frantic struggles to reach the ground with his feet. By the time the boys could reach him he had managed to get his feet on the ground and his head out of the mud. and was making desperate efforts to get the mud out of his ears and mouth. Charley never could lend his little gray after that.
Soon after moving to Maryland Heights the Battery was reviewed and inspected by General Barry, Chief of Artillery, and on the 26th of April we were paid for four months up to Match tst.
About the 6th of }m\;:. Lee's arm}- started on their move towards Maryland, and on the loth, General Pleasanton. who
had crossed the Rappahai ;k at ivelley's and Beverly's Fords
with about 3000 infantry and the cavalry corps, met Stuart's
LIGHT AkTIU.f-.RV, 1861-65. 43
cavalry at Brandy Station, where a severe cavalry fight took place, at the close of which Pleasanton fell back across the Rappahannock. Ewell's Corps of Lee's army left Brandy Sta- tion on the same day and moved in the direction of Winchester, which was occupied by General Milroy with about 9000 troops. On the evening of the 13th an attack was made on Milroy 's adv meed post at Berryville, the artillery firing being plainly heard b) us ar Maryland Heights. On the 14th Ewell had moved his corps to Winchester and Martinsburg, and at 6 P. M. was made on Milroy's works, the flashes of the guns being plainly visible and the firing heard from our camp. Tins attack v. a.- ; complex surprise and Milro} decided on an imme- diate retreat, abandoning his artillery and baggage trains. The same night a detachment oi Kelley's forces at Martinsburgh were attacked and driven from their position in confusion and -s of five guns. On the morning of the 13th a p; rt of the 6th Virginia Battery and other troops, badly
Eranized, reached Maryland Heights from Martinsburgh, and in the evening a Lieutenant and five men of Battery D. 1st Yiriginia, arrived in our camp, bringing with them a few of their horses, si me of which were wounded, with which thev had escaped from Winchester. We were under orders to be ready to move at a moment's notice. On the 17th all the troops from Harper's Ferry were moved to Maryland Heights and a line oi works was laid out a short distance from our camp, facing north oi towards what had been 1 ur rear. We were moved to the new line and went into batten and, at once proceeded to throw up earthworks. In th : meantime Ewell's Corp- of Lee's ed into Maryland and was advancing towards Penns; Ivania. and L< , treet an I I Stewart's cavalry
were moving north b\ way of the Shenandoah Valley, Stewart and Kilpatrick having a cavalry fight almost daily. On the 24th and 25th Lougstreet and Hid crossed the Potomac a; Sharps- burg and Williamsport. a few 1 :' - north of Harper's Ferry, and on the 25th and :6th [looker crossed a few miles south of
0 that a; die time we were cu] tig a position between the two hostile armies. On the 27th Hooker occupied South Mountain and Middletown passes, at which date Ewell was at Carlisle, Pa., and on th< .eoh entered York and advanced to within a few miles of Harrisburgh, the capital of Pennsvlvania.
44 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
He met with no opposition except the militia that Governoi Curt;!! had hastily called out, and caused the greatest conster- nation and disorder in those places. The writer, twenty years later, spent several weeks in this vicinity, and some of the old citi: s had hardly got over their fright then. On the 26th a brigade from the defences of Washington joined us, one of the n nts being the 23d Maine, whose time of service expired
on the 28th, at which date they promptly left for home. On the 28th General Hooker was superseded by General Meade, and he with the army pressed on towards Pennsylvania in search of I :'s army. General YV. H. French was appointed to the command of the tro >ps at Harper's Ferry, consisting of 10,000 men, and on the morning of the 30th we left Maryland Heights in the direction of Frederick, stopping over night about two miles from Knoxville. and, arrived at Frederick about four o'clock on the tst of \v,]y. The next day (the 2d) we were in camp at Frederick, and on the 3d moved to Monocacy Junction, about four miles fro n Frederick, where we remained until noon of the 4th. July rst, 2d and 3d, Lee and Meade had been ed in the most bloody and hard fought battle of modern linn 3, which resulted in the defeat of Lee's army and his retreat towards Virginia by way of vYilliamsport. On the .ph. at 1 o'clock, we left the Monocacy and passing through Frederick arrived ai Middletown about dark. At this place the troops were d;\;>Vd and sent forward to take possession of the passes in the mountains between Frederick and the Potomac River. The right section of the Cattery moved with two regiments towards South Mountain Gap, and due left section, under com- mand of Lieutenant Kimball, accompanied the 6th Xew York Heav\ Artillery towards Crampton Cap. About dark there came up one of tl 1 Southern thunder showers and the rain continued for most of the night. With the rain and mud and the intense darkness we had a most uncomfortable and disagree- able night. The left section with the 6th Xew York Regiment marched until about n o'clock, when getting into a hillv, wooded and unknown country, a halt was called and it was decided to wait for daylight. Pickets were placed in advance and our guns placed in battery ai a cross road,-;, and taking p -dor, of die shooks of wheat from a wheat held to make beds to keep us out of the mud. we lav down to rest, aide,- drain-
LIGHT ARTILLERY, lS6l-(>
45
ing the canteen that Patterson had cut from the New York Adjutant's saddle in the darkness while he was receiving- orders from the Colonel. At daylight on the 5th we resumed our march and passing through Burkettsville, moved into Crampton Gap, where we went into position at the forks of the road. We ren ained in this position until the evening- of the 8th, when we were relieved by our old corps (12th) of the Army of the Poto- mac, which had made a march that day of forty-eight miles. While at Crampton Gap our ration.- had given out and we were obl ed to buy food from the citizens, paying for bread from twenty-five to fort}- cents a loaf and other things in proportion. The right and centre sections during this time were at South Mountain pass, where they had thrown up works and were watching and waiting for the enemy and occasionally hearing- tin guns of their artillery as they were being used against Kil- patrick's cavalry. On the morning of the 9th the left section rejoined the rest of the Battery at South Mountain. The troops from Harper's Ferry were now attached to the 3d Corps and General French placed in command of the corps, succeeding General Sickles, who was dangerously wounded at Gettysburgh. The roads were crowded with troops and it was nearly night before we passed through the gap and went into camp at mid- night. The next morning (10th) we harnessed up early but did not start until about 11 o'clock, when we made a slow march on account of the crowded roads. We passed near Boonsboro and at >i.\ o'clock went into earn]) near Keedysville cur the same ground occupied by us at the battle of Antietam. The infantry and a portion of the artillery were in front of us, occup-ying tiro old battlefield. We unharnessed about 10 o'clock, at which time the troops began to move back in the direction of Boonsboro. On the morning of the nth we marched at 6 o'clock with the rest of the artillery brigade, and passing through Boonsboro. went into camp at nine o'clock ai Rockton. Several of the buys visited the 3d and 4th Maine Regiments to see friends and (uvauI that the} were mere fragments of regiments. The 3d num- bered only So men and had been consolidated with the 4th for the time under command of Colonel Lakcman. Alter resting until three o'clock, we resumed our maYch and about midnight halted at the little village of Roxbury. The morning of the 12th we harnessed earlv. We were about five miles from William---
4'J FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
port and the same distance from tlagcrstown. Leo's army was between us and the river, two miles distant, in line of battle, and our troops were fast moving up and taking their positions ir, line about a mile in front of us. We watched their movements with the greatest interest and anxiety. About noon we were ordered into p >sition at the front, and as we moved across the fields on this beautiful Sabbath day, our thoughts turned back I . . I unr homes and the friends there, and we wondered if we should ever see them again and what the day had in store for us. We were looking for, and expecting, hot work, and there was not much of b >ist< i isi or laughter as we took our p i- tii n in line and unlimbered our guns within sight of the enemy. The skirmishers were k ping up a brisk firing, but neither side d willing to make an attack. Slowly the hours wore away, but no general movement v as made, and we anxiously watched the skirmishers firing in our front and waited for the coming night. When darkness came we fed and watered our horses, c ' ' our coffee, and after supper spread our blankets and lay down by our guns for a rest. On the morning of the 13th we were up early, but as the h no movement was
ma le b\ either side, we began to wondei what the meaning of it was. Everything was quiet all aloi g the line, except a little picket firing. We remained in the same position all day and again slept by our earn-. The next morning (iHth) the line of battle moved forward and found the enemy had disappeared . [-1 the river, except one brigade, which was captured. The army, amazed, provoked, enraged and swearing at Leo's arm} being allowed to escape us, started slowly in pursuit.
Tlie Lattery movi 1 ard in the afternoon about two miles
and at night camped al St. James College, winch had been Lee's headquarters on the 13th. Here was seen something of the havoc of war. The splendid buildings and grounds were strewn with costly books, manuscripts, pictures, furniture, etc., which, had been needlessly destroyed. On the 15th we were started about eight o'clock and, marching very fast, crossed the old battlefi< Id of Antietam, and passing the Dunker Church and through Sharpsburgh, camped for the night about three miles south of the town on the Harper's Ferry road. On the corn field between the east and west woods, where the conflict had raged so fiercely the September before, the graves and trenches
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 47
where the dead had been buried showed very distinctly by the rank gr< »wth of the cum.
1 >;i the 16th we moved about eight o'clock and after a short march of about six miles went into camp three miles from Sand) Hook, where we remained until about five o'clock the next day, when v e resumed our march. Rain had been falling
oi ' time for two days and the mud was such as can be found only in Virginia and Maryland. The roads were crowded with troops and our progress was slow. At three o'clock in the :: on ti • w< had not reached Sandy Hook, which was only a distance of three miles. At this time everything came to a
still and the boys lay down in the road and mud and slept
lly until daylight, when \vc again moved forward and
crossed the pontoon into Harper's Ferry, also the suspension
bridge across the Shenandoah I Loudon County, Virginia,
and at about one o'clock went into camp near Hillsboro. On
tlie 19th we marched about six o'clock and soon after noon
went into camp near Snicker's Gap. The 20th we marched
with the advanced guard and left camp about four o'clock in
the m- 'v g, and 1 loving rapidly, passed thn ugh Snickersville
and IV went into it a mile from that place
soon after noon. Mere we received s nne new horses to replace
hat had becora worn out from the last three weeks'
mai hing.
The next day (21st) we remained in camp and spent the day
aning up, and it seems thai s< me of the b >ys did a little 1 1 pork and roasl ;• iose was on the bill of fare "; tin detai hments. ( in the 22d we did not move until . I on, when we took a long, circuitous route and at 11
o'clock at night wenl into camp in Manassas Gap, eight miles from Front 'Royal. Forty men ^i the 14th Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, wh . had been with us for about three weeks, returned to then regiment at this time, leaving us very short-
'. After about three hours' sleep we were called and at four o'clock on the 23d we moved forward about two miles and '■'••a; into position, relieving a battery <>i horse artillerv, and having the 3d and 4th 'Maine for supports. At noon we moved forward a mile and a half to YVappi ig Heights and were placed* in position on the skirmish line, with the enemy's skirmishers a quarter of a mile in front of us. About one o'clock the skirm-
48
FOURTH NMXt BATTEBY
f " l""" s'"V"!v:""-< '! a"d bri* skirmishing kept up a"
"•'/,""-'; ^^th the 3d and 4th Maine, made a charo-e
; ':;" tai; f hi» *<=>■ ,„, „«„,,„„ a„d . £
same [.me we became engaged with one of their batteries and qnnean atillery dud last.ng ^ about ^ -an
Vltl '>«Ie damage to e.ther side. During this engagement we I "a fine and extensive view oVthe skim
, .""'^ ,*;:c,aiVn '■■■■'■ "<><* of sheep appeared in the field
, U;:" '";' f. '"ls" B»« - °« ^nt, and notwithstanding "'- sk,rm,s, finng, lhe temptation „.as s0 strQ -
I out for a sheep and
faSmgt-,teka»-er the side of the hill and ata't mto the enemy's Ime they secured the sheep.
CHAPTER IV.
Near tiii; Rappahannock — Near CuepEpEr — Retreat to Centrevili e— aIcLj \n's Ford—Kelly's Ford — Brandy Statu .
General Lee, finding that Meade's army was in force at this point, turned back and crossed to the east of the mountains fur- ther up at Thornton and Chester Gaps, and arrived at Culpeper on th 24th. On the morning of the 24th a brigade of infantry I irward, accompanied by the Keystone Battery, as far ■ Royal, about four miles, but the enemy had entirely disapp a red and upon theii return, about noon, we all started back down ihc Gap in the direction of Warrenton, our corps (3d) b ing aco . ' \ the 2d, and tin 5th following a day
later. Aboul nine o'cl ck we went into cai ip, aftei a hot and hard day's march. On the 25th we were attached to- a brigade of Prince's Di ; '• i, and harne ed up about 10 o'clock and waited for the army to pass. F01 nil e hours the roads were filled with f ops and trains, and it was not until six o'clock that our brigade fell in behind die last wagon as rear guard. The road.- were terrible and about 10 o'clock we had a heavy shower to soften the mud. [t was after midnight when we went into camp, wet, tired and mad. On th< morning of the 26th we marched at seven o'clock and pa - d through Warrenton about t 1 o'clock, and three miles from the town went into camp, where we had a tew days' rest, and improved the time in cleaning up our guns and harnesses as well as ourselves. While here the "Keystone Battery" of our brigade, with whom we were on very friendly t< mis, left us for home, its term of service having c\],ncd.
On tht morning of August 1st we started on the march again in the direction of Sulphui Springs, but after going three 01 four miles, countermarched and took another re. ad, and about
50 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
sunset went into camp two miles from Bealton. During- the day we had passed over roads and ground that had become familiar to us on our march from Sulphur Spring- a year before. The next morning we moved camp- to the edge of a piece of wo i Is, where we remained several eks with but little to break the monotony of camp life except daily drills and frequent ectious by officers of all .- ts ai ' grades from Gent ral M< . ' uson. While here the
■ r was intensely hot, the thern ometer at times being- over a hundred, and after a n w clays in camp the flies became the I ves. hi eating we had to drive them off the nd then bite quid an thful of the?.
Man\ of the other Maine troops were camped in our vicinity and much visiting was tween tin regiments ;>-r^\ bat-
teries. On tl - Lieut t White went to Maine
on recruiting service and did not rejoin the Battery until the . tig- May at Spottsylvania. On tl date, L. ilunton.
who \ injured i march from Cedar Creek the year
before, rejoined the Battery. The same da) we moved camp ; ' • . L)l but f mnd just as many
flies. At this time we firsl witnessed a military execution, when • rs wen si Lh Corps, not far from our camp.
Largt b unities were then b to recruits and many were
making a r< iness v\ enlisting, and deserting at the first
opportunity, then again enlisting; and in order to break this up ime necessary to enforce the penalty for d< sertion.
The ber, the cava In : I Corps crossed
the Rappahannock, and from the soi cannonading we
knew that the)" were* y. By nighl the enemy
Corps occupied < iulpeper.
On the 15th we broke camp at 4 P. M. and took the old road tow 11 Sulphur Springs and went into camp about dark. The next morning w< veil o'clock and taking the
fields . • ;, crossed the easl ' of the Rappahai
about • k and the main ri ■ ab »ut four o'clock, arriv-
ing within five miles of t midnight. ing ; 1 ;
hard day's march. During the afternoon we had a caisson axle broken, which caused us much annoyance.
; I '• morning < tl :hed at seven o'clock
and after repeatedl) halting and marc! 1 ; w went into camp
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 51
" o'cl k a n ilc north of Culpeper, very near the ground pied more than thirteen months before. We remained here more than three weeks, with frequent rumors of movi 1 fai as to pack up with eight days'
ge o;i our caissons. While here very interesting religious meetings were held each evening in the artillery brigadi camp which were attended regularly by many of the members of the Battery.
On tl : Sepl 1 :r a very fine sabre was presented to
1 in Robi >n by the Battery, Lieutenant II. C. Haynes
the ( tptain respoi
the Batten for its efficiency and good standing
lies to all. About this time Rose-
• ; badly pushed at Chickamauga, and the nth
Corps under Howard r Slocum were sent to his
aiii from the Army oi the Potomac, both corps leaving the
Rappahannock on the 24th of September, under command of
General i:> We had 1 ii . 12th Corps during the
summei ai '. fall and there always existed a feeling of
old < orps.
On the ; of O eral Lee commenced a movement
': I ili Army of the
Poto 1 c, which hail marched all the v fi »m Gettysburg to
give battk to Lee, was 01 I 1 retreat. On the 10th we
hitched up ' about noon move'1 to near General French's
head rs, where wi miess the rest of the day and
all night, hearing during th on some firing in the direc-
idan. On tl morning of the nth everything
was '■:■ full retreat, and at eight o'clock, after being harnessed
up nearh I en y-four hours, we joined the moving columns.
the same route on which we haul advanced a
month before. The artillery and wagons took the roads and
the infanlr marched throu: h th fields on the left, with a line
of skirmi ! rs >wi t. About two miles from Culpeper a
lit tl ': m is n firing to I plao within sight, but nothing serious
1 to interfere with the r; *e b tween the two
armies foi th« Rappahannock, and we crossed it on a pontoon
about five o'clock, and Hazel River soon after dark, when we
w e n t i n 1 .
On the next morning we moved about a mile and with the
52 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
rest of the artillery brigade went into park and stood in harness all day. Sod-wick with the 6th Corps recrossed the river, and rinding Lee crossing- at the fords above, wanted to attack, but was not allowed to do so and was called hack to the east side of the river, and the next morning (the 13th) the foot race was again renewed towards Washington. Our horses had stood in harness all night and about three o'clock- we were ordered to report to General Prince (who had commanded our brigade at Cedar Mountain) at five o'clock and march with the 2d Divi- sion. We marched steadily all day, passing through Warren- ton, and about dark the division halted for an hour ur.ivvo for a short rest and to get supper. The fences on each side of the road were used for fires and the line of fire on each side of the road for miles was a grand sight. Refreshed and rested, we again started on our night march through the drizzling rain. After passing the fires we entered a piece of woods and in the intense darkness, the caisson of the 3d detachment got out of the road and went over a bank, the caisson landing in a small stream bottom side up. the horses on their hacks and the drivers thrown into the bushes. In a little time things were straight- ened out and our march continued until four o'clock, when we went into camp near Greenwich. Sergeant Powers, fearino that the infantry that lay all about us might steal something" very considerately and generously volunteered to sit up and watch the things of hi det; 1 hment, bur when we were called to hitcn up, an hour later, he was ven much chagrined to find that the only thing diat had been stolen was hi. own overcoat that he had placed by his side. Alter an hour's rest we were called, and hitching up, resumed the race for Bull Run. About it'. o'clock we reached Bristoe Station, where we baked an hour and then continued our march, crossing the Rull Run at Black- burn's Ford about four o'clock, and going into position covering the iord- ]!1 the meantime the- ad and 5th Corps had become heavily engaged with the enemy at ttristoe (where we had been at noon), the fight coi tmencing ah. an 3.30 and lasting until dark- The ioss ("i both sides was quite severe. About dark we moved to near Centreville and went into camp for the night. On the morning of the 15th the artillery brigade moved about nine o'clock, Battery K. 4th United States, being in advance and the 4th Maine next in line. Soon after starting we passed the
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 53
5th and 6th Maine Batteries. After a march of five or six miles the brigade was massed behind the hills near Union Mills and soon after a section of Battery K was called for at McLean's Ford, which was held by General Mott's Xew Jersey Brigade. Battery K not being able, with their smoothbore yams, to reach the enemy's battery that was shelling Mott's Brigade, a section oi the 4th Maine with its rifled guns was called for. When the orderly had delivered his message the order was promptly given to Lieutenant Kimball's section: "Drivers and cannoneers mount; trot, march," and starting up the hill, an attempt was made to keep up with the orderly who was guiding them. The route was an old wood road, and with the horses at full gallop and the wheels bouncing- over the knolls, stumps and logs, it was a wild ride. The Sergeant, noticing Cor- poral Bates and Patterson apparently looking for a chance to jump off the limber, shouted to them, "Don't jump," and received a very emphatic reply that the}- had had enough of that kind of a ride. Soon Sergeant Powers was hit by a bullet and fell from his horse, lie managed to roll out of the v ay of the team following, and when asked if he wanted help replied, "No, go on, I can take care of myself.'' After a ride of two miles the section reached General Molt in the road leading to the ford and was ordered into position, the third piece taking position in the road and the fourth piece in the bushes at the right. As the third piece unlimbcred, a shot .struck in the road, about 100 feet in front, and ricochetted just over tin I ; 5' heads. The General, noticing that the gun detachment was short-handed, asked the Sergeant what he was going to do for cannoneers, and was told that the drivers were to be used. At the same time the Sergeant asked for a detail of infantry to hold the horses, which was promptly ordered but did not arrive until the section was leaving. The position was one of the worst that was possible. The section of Battery K had just been driven from it, the enemy had a complete range, and from the start it was hot. The fourth piece in attempting to get into it into difficulty, and so it was the third piece singly against a whole battery. The boys of the third piece were feeding it to the Johnnies for all they were worth, and at the same time the bushes were being cut down by the side of us and the air was filled with "-ravel from the road and bursting
54 fourth maixe; battery
shell. The third piece had fired fifteen shots, in less than half that number of minutes, when a shell passed ab »nt three feet over General Mott's head and he at once called "Get out oi here." This order was promptly obeyed. As the gun was being limbered, a bursting shell cut Joe French's whip in two and also cut the hame strap of his pole horse, allowing the names and neck yoke to fall to the ground. The boys lifted the names so Joe could reach them and hold them up while we got out of there. During the melee the fourth piece got straightened out . to fire two or three shots. The engagement had been for only a very few minutes, but the boys present pronounced it to be the hottest few minutes that they saw during the service an-l never could understand how they escaped without more serious loss. The section fell back a short distance and was again getting into position, when Captain Randolph, the Chief of Artillery, ordered the gun- to be moved to a position about half a mile to the left and where Captain Robinson soon after came up with the rest of the Battery. Here we had a good position and after a brisk fire for about an four and a half the Johnnies quit the dispute. Upon advancing a few days later we [earned that v, c had dismounted two of their guns during the engagement. Here Charles Frost exhibited some very good and successful work in dodging a shell by falling to the ground, tii.' shell just passing over his back, and when lie grit up claimed that he had "escaped a great mercy."
During this engagement the thiol piece fired forty-one rounds in about two and a half hours. YVc remained in position during the night a;- 1 * . rds morning a rain-storm commenced which lasted most of the day and from which we could provide but little shelter.
During the morning of the l6th a little picket firing was heard i in our front, and in the afternoon our cavalry drove the rebel pickets from the woods and across the flats before us.
We remained harnessed up. in position all da}- and the suc- ceeding night, in readiness for action. During the i/th there was some light cavalry skirmishing in our front, but the enemy did not seem to be in much, force and on the morning of the l8th they had entirely disappeared.
During the day the 2d Corps with some cavalry moved for-
UGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. ^5
ward on a reconnoissance, and in the afternoon we could hear them having a light engagement in the direction of Bristoe Stati< m.
On the morning of the r9th we moved at seven o'clock, 1 the stream and passed over the ground occupied by the enemy during the engagement of the 15th, and by way of Man - , tion to near Bristoe, where we went into camp at about four o'clock. Chi the next morning we were again on the move at six o'clock, and passing the station we crossed over here the 2d and 5th Corps had their hard fight on the 1 ph. and where the new-made graves were very numer- ous and the unburied dead horses lay very thick on the held. Passing in a westerly direction, after many and frequent halts. rived near Greenwich about five o'clock and went into near the place where we had haired on the morning of the 14th. ( >n the morning of the 21st we marched at sunrise, and d circuitous route, arrived at Catlett's Station 1 and went into camp. We remained in this locality until the 30th. moving during the time twice, about half a mile each time, and having a cold, wet and disagreeable time and not rem; :- ing long enough in one place to fix up comfortable quarters. The railroad had been completely destroyed wesi from M^anassas Junction by the enemy, and the troops were kept bus) rebuilding and putting il in running shape as a means of I ■ cannon for supplies. On the morning of the 30th we marched at seven o'clock and arrived at Warrenton Junction, a distance of five miles, about noon, and went into camp near the railroad, a large force of iufantn being in line of battle a short distance in front of us. We remained in camp at War- 1 Jun i in until N ve ' :i 7th, having beautiful weather and with n< ti if not< unless it was die arrest of Sergeant
Bates and Corporal i,; the afternoon of the 6th bv the
pi ost guard h>r target shooting with their revolvers. As we moved the next morning, m thing more was heard of it.
On the morning of the seventh the whole army started on the advance. We hitched up at tour o'clock and at eight o'clock fell into our place in line of march. Early in the morn- ing eight 30-pound and six 20 p mnd gams passed us on the wav tn the front, which led us to think that there might he lively work before night. The 5th and 6th Corps under Sedgwick
56 FOURTH MAlXi; BATTERY
moved in the direction of Rappahannock Station, where the enemy had strong works, and the ist and 3d Corps under French moved in the direction of Kelley's Ford, with instruc- tions to drive the enemy .across the river. At two o'clock the 3d Corps had su< ceeel d in their task, capturing 1000 prisoners. ! '• no .; v began to hear firing ahead of us, and about
two o'cl ' ':. when at Mt. Holly church, we came in sight of our battel i'.- tl at w ere engaged.
Leaving onr batten wagon and forge with the spare horses, etc., we moved n near the river and went into position
batteries. Battery ]•*,. ist Rhode Island, being on our right and a little in advance of our position, we could . our guns with any effeel and were obliged to stand for two hours under a ven dis; greeable artillery fire, shells passing through and over us, but fortunately without damage.
1 ' Battery E, ist Rh ' ; ; nd, was quite briskly
engage I lost one man killed and two severely wounded.
Jus; before dark, Russell's Division of the 6th Corps made a m ml charge u] enemy's work's at Rappahannock
Si ab >ut four miles from us, and captured a large numbei
of prisoners, inclin two brie lers. In this charge
the 5th and 'ah Mail a-' ed themselves by their splen-
did and gallant work. At eigh o'cl k we crossed the river on a poni went into pari-; for the night. On the morning
of the Si started between seven and eight o'clock and moved
up the west bank of the river I ' railroad and then to the wesl to Brandy Station, where we halted and went into park, the tst, ; 1 and 6th Corps and our own corps being in the imme- diate vicinity. During the afternoon there were some slight as the ei , \\ . - ' ing pushed back towards Culpeper.
Thcv had evident! ■ ""'■ for remaining through
the winter, and their well laid out camps with log huts all built were very acceptable to Meade's army. On the afternoon of the c)th we were started out hurri th a brigade of infantry
in the r! t P my Mountain, but after going a short dis-
tance the movement, whatever it was, was abandoned and we returi d t camp.
t );i [he 10th ' barn ■ ! up a. eight o'clock, ready to march, and al noon moved across the railroad about a mile and went
LIGHT ARTILLERY, lSOl-65. 5'/
into camp and remained until the next day, when we again moved about a mile to the east and went into camp with the rest of the artillery brigade of the 3d Corps, in a pine grove near the head- quarters of the Provost Marshal (General Patrick) and about ; from General Meade's headquarters. For the next two
weeks there was but little to disturb our camp life, and as the weather was getting cool, all were busy in building quarters and making ourselves comfortable. 'The pine trees were utilized in building log huts b U four feet high, the shelter tents being iiM-d for roofs, and in many of them fireplaces were built with and mud, and the chimney topped out with an old rrel. One of these huts about six feet by ten accommo- dated four men, two bunks being built across the back end, one above the other, leaving a space about six feet square for our sitting] •' room and kitchen. We also had to provide
foi the hoi e: and a stable was built by setting pine logs on end for a stockade and covering the roof with brush. This did not provide much shelter from the rain, but broke off the cold 'winds.
CHAPTER V.
Mine Run — Winter at Brandy Station — Re-enlistments — Capt. Robinson Chief or' Artillery.
We had just got in pretty good shape for the winter's rest
when on the 22(1 we had orders to be ready to march early the
next morning. It proving rainy, the contemplated movement
postponed, and after being harnessed and packed up several
hoi we unharne ed and pitched our tents again.
Next morning, the 24th, the same performance was gone through with. These order: and counter orders and standing around all day in the rain and wind did not contribute very much towards the good nature of tin boys, and if the Generals had been near by the) possibly might have heard some rather u\\>' implimentary rem; i ' s.
On the morning of th : 26th the n ivement across the Rapidan commenced. We harnessed at four o'clock and at daylight moved oul of camp and across the railroad, and with our corps took the road in the direction of Jacob's Ford, where the 3d Corps was to cross the Rapidan. The weather was cold and disagreeable and the road cul , being badly cut up by the
passag of the long trains of wag* n and artillery, so that our progress was slow. This was Thanksgiving day at our homes, and as we ate our Thanksgiving dinner of hardtack and raw pork as we moved along (not stop] ing long enough to build a tire to make coffee and cook our meat) we thought of our friends who were gathered around the Thanksgiving table at home, and I ■ i inch we would enjoy being with them. At dark we reached the Rapidan and found that the crossing for artillery was impossible, and were obliged to go to Germania Ford, \rKw miles below, to cross. The roads were blocked with trains and artillery, and most of the night was spent standing in the road, with frequent short moves. Some of the bovs man-
light ARTir.T.Euv, 1861-65. 59
aged to get short naps, but most of us found it too cold to sleep, and were obliged to keep moving around to keep warm. About seven o'clock on the 27111 we moved slowly forward and at ten o'clock crossed the Rapidan cm the pontoon bridge, and a short distance from the river hailed and groomed and fed our horses and had a chance to make coffee. The 3d Corps (our corps) was on the advance and had been slightly engaged with the enemy all of the way as they were pushing forward towards the 1 irange turnpike. About noon we moved on down the Ger- mania plank road four mile-, and then struck across to the right to the Orange plank road and at three o'clock went into park. In the meantime General French had met the enemy in force at Payne's farm, a short distance ahead of us, and becoming heavily engaged, part of the 6th Corps was hurried forward to his assistance, but the hour had become so late that no further attempt to advance wa^ deemed advisable and we remained in place through the night.
On tlie morning of the 28th French's and Sedgwick's Corps d to the left to connect with Warren's Corps, and an advance was made along the line of the Orange turnpike. About nine o'clock our Battery came to Robertson's tavern and bailed two hours near General Meade's headquarters, and soon after noon advanced to the b-ft through woods and fields. < )ur progress was slow and we did not go into camp until midnight, when we were but a short distance from Mine Run Stream, where the two armies were facing each other on the opp : ■ banks in line of battle. During the day there had been much heavy skirmishing and reconnoissances made in various direc- tions but no general engagement. During the night of the 28th General Warren with his c >rps (5th), one division of the 6th and a portion of the 3d Corps, with 300 cavalry, started on a hank movement to the left, but the movement not proving suc- cessful, late on the 20th the troops were returned to the .Mine Run line. In the afternoon our Battery moved to the line of battle, with McKnight's 12th Xew York Battery on our right and Slcei 1 »th Ma acl ; etts on our left, with the 17th
Maine and 105th Xew York Regiments as supports. The enemv was in plain view about a mile in front of us. busily engaged throwing up earthworks, and we at once proceeded to follow their example. During the day there was some skirm-
Go
FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
ishing, but time was spent mostly in maneuvering- for a posi- tion. During the night of the 29th the 5th and 6th Corns, were massed on the right under General Sedgwiek, with orders for an assault on the morning of the 30th. On that morning every- thing was quiet along the lines until S.30, when the artillery on our right suddenly opened all along the line and at the same moment General French rode by us and ordered us to com- mence firing. Our Battery with the 12th New York and loth Massachusetts immediately commenced a rapid lire upon the euemy's works in front of us. hut we received no reply from Hie enemy. After about half an hour of cannonading, orders were given to erase firing and it afterwards proved that the contem- plated attack had been abandoned. Soon after we had ceased firing, the enemy opened with a battery in our front, and their shells, striking among our guns and passing over our heads., did not make us feel very comfortable.
The most trying experience a soldier can have is to lie quietly under an artillery fire and be obliged to remain inactive, as he watches the shells go ploughing through the earth and through the ranks, and listens to their terrific shriek as they pass just over his head. We gave no response; the enemy ceased firing. and for the remainder of the day we remained quietly in position watching the picket firing in our front, which was kept up through the day. The weather was intensely cold and when it came night preparations were made to make ourselves as com- fortable as possible. Large quantities vi fence rails were brought n ir fires, audi a fter our horses had b m cared for and we had par- taken of our hardtack and coffee, the paulins from the guns were spread close to the fire as :• protection from the frozen ground, and we lay down close together, spoon fashion, cover- ing ourselves with our blanket.-.. One disadvantage in this way of sleeping was that one was obliged to rest on the same side the whole night, not being able to turn over unless the whole row turned at the same time. A detail was made to keep the lire.-, burning, and although our feet were as near the lire as they could be without burning, it was a most uncomfortable night and we did not sleep much on account of the cold. On the picket line a few hundred feet in front of us some of the pickets were found in die morning frozen U_i death.
The movement, considered as a failure, had proved to be a
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1 86 1 -65. 6l
complete success, and oar!}- on the morning of the 1st of Decem- ber the movement of the army back to its old quarters began. About five o'clock we were quietly turned out and with three other batteries of our brigade under command of Captain Rob- inson moved out to the turnpike by moonlight, and with a large portion of the artillery from the other corps joined the reserve artillery and started back towards the Rapidan. The morning was intensely cold ami the roads, which had. been terribly cut up during the past three days by the artillery and hundreds of baggage wagons, had been frozen solid, making the roughest travelu pos ible. We had g(n\^ but a short distance before two of our gun and caisson axles broke, which caused some delay. A drag- pole was improvised to take the gun along, the ammunition from the caisson was buried, and the wheels and body piled on the other caissons. About noon we arrived at the river at Culpeper Mine Ford, five miles below Germania herd, an ! crossing, moved out two miles and went into park. Throughout the day all the roads were crowded with the artil- lery and trains moving to the rear. During the night we were called to hitch up, but did not move out of camp, and in the in »rni ; (De< mber 2d) the infantry began to pass us on the way to Brand} Stati >n. About noon we fell in with the column of march, moving with the 2d and part of the 6th Corps. The artillery had the reads and the infantry marched in several columns through the fields and woods on either side. Owing to the blocked condition of the roa i, our progress was slow, and soon after dark and about four miles from Brandy Station, we turned out ot the road near a small stream and halted for the night without unhai ne ;ing.
( >n the morning of the }/\ we resumed our mare!; at sunrise and about 10 o'clock arrived at our old quarters which we had left a week before. The week of the Aline Run campaign had been one of the most uncomfortable of our army experience, it having been either rainy, muddy or cold all of the time. Although again in our old camp, we were not allowed to rest but during the next two days we harnessed and packed read} to move three -times, and after standing a few hours would receiv< orders to unharness and pitch our tents again. Pos- sibly some one could see the ]'-<:c<\ of this, but we could see no fun in it. We had now been in the service two vears and had
62 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
received but a very few recruits, while our losses from death. : ged for disability, and absent in the hospital had reduced our numbers to 83, or a little more than one-half of our full number. As the drivers and those detailed for special duty, such as teamsters, artificers, buglers, etc., had to be kept in full ; bers, this reduced our cannoneers to two to each gun in addition to the Sergeant and Corporals.
After a lew days we began to feel pretty sure of remaining where ve were for the winter, and went to work in earnest to make ourselves as comfortable as possible by remodeling and improving our log huts and camp, corduroying the stable for the horses and grading up the grounds. At this time orders were issued that we should not use the trees near camp for fire wood, and Captain Robinson would not allow teams to haul any for us unless we would consent to have a Battery cook". The boys objected to having a compan) cook and insisted upon each detachment drawing its rations and cooking as suited them- selves. The result was that ali wood for fires and cooking pur- po :s had to he brought on the back for more than a mile.
About this time we were annoyed very much by finding horse?.
. and sometimes missing, in the morning and their halters
: After the Captain had given out new halters each morn-
foi several day., he sai I that we must keep them good for
he should not give out any mon .
In a few days each detachment had a stock of halters on hand, and by a remarkable coincidence the cavalry regiment in camp some two or three hundred Eeet from us were very bus)- looking for stray horses which they always found without halters. As Christmas approached, boxes ikied with eatables and memen- ; from those at home began to come in very freely, and there were few who were not cheered b) receiving something that had been prepared by loving hands in the old Pine 'tree State. During the last of December twent) of the hoys took advantage of the opportunity that was given those who had been in the service for two years or more to re-enlist for three years. As an inducement there wa offered a government bounty c>f $40.:. which with the State and town bounties that were given made a total bounty of $700 and in some cases S800, and, what had perhaps a greater effect, a furlough of thirty-five days. During Tanuarv others re-enlisted until trie number of re-enlisted men
LIGHT ARTIU.KRY, 1861-65. 63
in 'he Battery numbered forty-five, which was nearly sixty ner en o those entitled to the privilege. As only alM a could be spared iron, the Battery a, one time, it was not „ ~eon the ,WIdc™« campaign in May that the las on « returned trom furlough. During the winter religious meetings were held regularly
and ChlohintT8 ^ "*"*"" °l ']K Chrfstia" C-™-™ , ;'jmi "l ^ments in the artillery brigade camp
r,"f°r th'S PUrp0Se' »d **> -s usually well fifiedand •f l" '"V"!',fr5 WW01 m«ch interest. A school of instruction
- the "on-comm.ssioned officers was also maintained and pre- """ °Ver bV L.eutenan, Haynes, the Sergeants and Corporals 7*'"g on alternate nights. Much interest was taken iXt ?T\ t ,e reSU"S WCre Ver>' be"efidaI » «'e gaim-t"
C *d^ °£ 8— >■ and a clearer understa8nding%r
Batter, movements ami drill. A school of this character two )earsearher would have been of great advantage to us. Dunn.
vv ° ""* I"™" Ke 'hol'Sht *at « had learned all abom 1 'f'a »/>•<!. but ,, was n * until this winter dun we fully "ndehrsto°d all its possibilities. Roads after a day or two of
nearly the whole country was a series of abandoned roads In
°"CnP'aCe "ear,°"r f""P a six-mule team had foundered in the
^"^"^"^^"^^--theearsofthemu^s
,.;";:, ;-'-;— P"*ably the driver got ashore
:,;;;, Yy Dunn^ J"™?** and February the Battery received , ■';■. ,cc™<ts. «h.eh, with those who returned from the
b°e P^U'ed our ranks so that the detachments had a full com- P , ."-annoneers. The mud would not permit of much
IT *L * «"' b"« Reviews and inspections were freque , » frequent we thought. During the winter there was but little to break up the usual routine of camp life
1;ff5't,,i,s;|imo;veha" become pretty well accusto.ncd to soldier llfe. ™d "'e days, aside from our little troubles and trials P**« very pleasantly and the pranks of Patterson and Bartlett k P, y$ "' ■""'"' '"';""'" whilc ^flat's laugh could often
^d -undng through the camp. Perhaps the most exche- Zl^T Wef;VaS °" «he -el" ">at Amasa Weston's tent caught fire and he lay calling for help, but made no effort to eel
64 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
out. A crowd quickly gathered and after some very emphatic language had been used to him he made a break through the burning tent, and escaped with, a badly burned face which sent him to the hospital for a time. John Rider also added his share toward.-, the boys' amusements. Every member of the 4th Bat- tery wiil remember "Change Step" Rider and his sudden changes from piety to profanity.
In December Captain Robinson became Chief of. Artillery of the 3d Corps, succeeding Captain Randolph, which left Lieu- tenant Ki •:ball in command of our Ratter}-. Lieutenant White being in Maine on recruiting service, the only officers we had with us were Lieutenants Kimball and Haynes. In January Captain Robinson was commissioned Major, but for some reason was not mustered in as such. In April he returned to Maine on account of sickness and died at home early in the summer. During the winter there was quite a change in the non-commissioned officers. Among the -promotions were Cor- poral Brooks to be Sergeant, and Jerre Keene, Charlie Allen and ib lb Stevens to Corp >rals, all being promotions that were well :d. [n F bruary G rpi ral Plummer received
a commission as Lieutenant in the ,-.< th Jnited States Colored Regini nt, and : in May Sergeant Powers received a com- mission as Lieutenant in a colored regiment, and they left us with the hearty good wishes of the boys and a f eling of 1 at the '. of ' fricienl and worth;.- comrades. During the sum- mer 01,1863 we had ;. detail of men from the Jtb New York Heavy Artillery and among the number was Henry Fowler, better known am 1 ; tin boys as "' »ld Ivyfe." During his stay of a year and a half with us Fowler was our blacksmith, and a more willin: comrade .never lived, and his well known and inex- haustible good nature was constantly put to the severest tests by the ii im rabli pranl of Frank Bartfett and the other boys. Fowler died ten years after the war in his native town of White Plains, X. Y.. where he was a mosl respected citizen.
On tli : m it ^ of 1 'bi lary 6th, we were awakened at three o'clock by the reveill : b 'in : m 1 . and we immediately struck tents and bitched up, having orders to move at seven o'clock. At nine o'clock the orders were countermanded and we unhitched, with orders to be ready for a move at a moment's notice. Durinrj the dav heavv cannonading" was heard at inter-
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 6s
vals in the direction of the Rapidan, and towards night heavy etry, and we could sec the shells bursting in the air. The next !■ rning we were again turned out at five o'clock, but the ■ ' 'P whicl h d been made in conjunction with Genera] E •' r's forces on the James had accomplished die pur- pose intended, «nd the usual order of camp life was resumed. On February 28 General Kilpatrick accompanied by Colonel Dahlgreen started out on the Kilpatrick-Dahlgreen raid in the direction of Richmond, passing to the right of Lee's army by way of Spottsylvania. As a diversion General Custer with
si t in tin direction of Charlottesville, pa
to the left of Lee's army, the 6th Corps, and Birny's Division
3d Cor] with him to Madison Court House.
The result oi this move was our loss of quite a number who
were taken prisoners, and several were killed, Colonel Dahlgreen
among the number.
CHAPTER VI.
Transferred to 6th corps— Wilderness — Six)Ttsylvania — Nor'j n An \ta— Hanovertown— Cold Harbor.
On the <)'h of March General Grant received his commission as Lieutenant General and was placed in command of all the armies of the United Status. A few days later he established his he; th the Army of the Potomac at Culpeper.
On the 23d of March a reorganization of the Army of the Poto- mac was made, which had been under consideration during the winter, in which the five corps were consolidated into three. The 1st Corps was incorporated with the 5U1 and the y\ Corps was divided, the 1st and 2d Divisions being placed in the 2d Corps and the 3d Division in the 6th Corps. This change brought our Battery into the 6th Cot April 10th, oui
artillen brigade camp was broken up and we moved to the 6th Co 1 ' were attached to the artillery brigade under
command of Colonel Ti mpl in . The artillery brigade of the 6th Corps in theWilderness ca ign a nsisted of the
Fourth Maine, Lieutenant Kimball.
Fir>t Massachusetts, Captain McCartney.
First New York, Captain Cowan.
Third New York, Captain I larn.
C, First Rhode Fsland, Captain Waterman.
E, First Rhode Island, Captain Rhodes.
G, First Rhode bland, Captain Adams.
M, Fifth United States. Captain McKnight.
To which were added. May 17th:
Fifth Maine, Captain Stevens.
First New Jersey, Captain Hexamer.
! 1. First < )hi« . Captain Dorsey.
E, 5th United States, Lieutenant Brinkle.
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CAPTAIN CHARLES W. WHIT
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 6/
Fi m this time active preparations were in progress for the co! ■ £11 which was soon to open. Harnesses and
equi] its were put in first-class condition and old and worn- replaced. Drilling was resumed and inspections and review .>. Frequent. Chi April 18th the 6th Corps was reviewed bv General Grant an ! every one was on the "qui vive" to s< e the General whose fame and successes had towered above all others. We were rather disappointed to see such a quiet, una* nming man and to have the review pass oft with so little f: ' .. The weeding out of everything that would
: le the 1 vcmenl of the army was vigorously pushed.
Baggage was reduced to actual necessities. All sutlers were sent to the rear and the sic!: sent to tin/ hospitals, and we all felt that we were down to business as we had never been before.
As we were still without a full complement 01 men. on April
28th a detail of Fourteen men from the 4th New York Heavy
Artillery wa; made to the Battery, who remained with us for
! we< A..
( in the morning of May 4th we were called at two o'clock
;n-! at 1 mr o'clock fell in place in line, moving mth to the
ti b the 5 me road that we had taken in Novem-
Mine Run trip. We arrived at Germania Ford and
• n at three o'clock and halted for the night.
Then ■ was again south of the Rapidan. Hancock with the
2d ( r] bad crossed at Ely's Ford and was on the left near
CI ■ ■■ villc, and Warren was with the 5th at Wilderness
Ta\ ei the in >.■: sectii »n 1 d the 1 (range tin npike and Germania
pi nl road, with Sedgwick on the right. Our horses stood
hitcl d op, and we rolled ourselves in oui
blank down by the, guns ready for call at any moment.
On tl .ve were called at three 1 'cl ck and at once moved
down the plank road to the left. During the morning General
Grai passed b\ us with a very small escort of less than thirt)
cavalrymen. Moving so quietly and with so little show, few
id have 1 eliev< 1 him to be the commander of the armies of
tl iii tl Suites, except for the three stars on the shoulder
:'• ; of bis well-worn uniform. Arriving near Wilderness
Tavern, we were placed in park near the road, with strict orders
for no •." to leave their gun and in order to water the borses
• to be taken from the team at a time. During the
FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
morning skirmishing had commenced to the west of the road and by twelve o'clock the fight had become heavy and genera i The 6^ i Corps had faced to the right in nnison with „,c res, of ' ■■>■ a™> and was m pos.t.on at the right of the Orantre plank
;;-■;;'-• - ,,m ,, w.™, with Ik 5t„ corps, w& d
L? ':"""•' :ttadred b>- EweU', Corp., The TOlderness has Wen desenbed so many time, that it is not necessary to say
--Jf- *at the word fnlly describes , he conntry, and 1v v one engaged m tint memorable conflict distinctly remember's he level country tlnckly covered with scrnb oak and bushes ^-htch.t was almost impossible for troops to move an where the range oi nston extended only a few vards. In such
! ° ;"-' "J" »-. As the day advanced the musketry increased
^f'1.* a"d ^ four o'clock it was a constant roll from Sedg-
"V? "ght l" Ha»c0<*s ^ft, some four miles away We
ip ,m'n '" TL'Uy foments during the past two years, but
I ,, V f ^ S We had yel heard' The lro»P5 were ";f"b/U,e'htbUS,leS'SOthat»'"°",don.yj„dgePofwha "S tf ,S " •' ",e S0"nd- As the -» «* a»d darkness came ti""TI,eaIy,r » "- -hole length of the line c™!
' ""■•.'• ^'"': :"y<l"i-:i"ff down hue in the evening but with an occasional volley during the night
o^urr^"" fu °/derS a"anack ™ made ^ five o'clock on he mormng ,.| the tab. the whole length of the line. Sed-
"d< '.".' *< "ght and Warren in the centre met with stubborn oppos.fon and, although the fighting was furious and des
^'ekbrr SUC,Ce,ed " rki"g a"'V advM- On the left
' ;:.V "d dro™ ihe enemy for some distance, but a
whic. lL , f reet.ar-VCd0ntheSCenewiththefre* troops
1,1 " 'lV had hTurncd t0™-ard, and after a most fierce and
" , eI,e' Dun"S the "lonung Durnside's Corps had
!r"ed°" theMdfromd- Rappahannock with his 9th Corps °£l8-°°0"1'-'n. and was hurried past the 6th Corps to L assist ""*" ,H»"ck and Warren. We had been awa ene at *reeoclock and stood listening inten.lv and anxiouslv al "the
;,r^e u'-^n-',<t!, «~ -d-riflcoo/o;! :
'•:•>-. -'■ -' nmeo clock there was a little lull until about two oclock, when there was again a furious attack ™ « front, Just to the left of where we lay! " "^ s
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 69
About half past two we were ordered into position and ™™g to a slight elevation near the left of the 6th Corps, went mt° ,P°Sltl0n *** ""limbered, with the guns pointed to the ' "uthwest. tus. About dark Ewell made an attack on ^v,ck s n&ht and drove it back in much confusion. From we were wo could only judge by the heavy firing of the fury oi the attack; and by the hurried movement of the troops ^ournght had met with a repulse. By this time the field « ' re filled with the wounded and the ambulances were kept at work to their greatest capacity.
rkiiess had settled down on the held of awful car- ,lap' lvc a^ai" Iav down by the guns without taking off our - and waited for the morning. On the morning of the 7th there was a little artillery bring along the line, but the heavv ^ttHgof the Wilderness was over and the day was spent ,argd>' in caring f";- Ae thousands of wounded and in makin- - ^r ih, next movement. To add to the horrors °J t,e nation, the woods had caught fire, and mam- of the
dead r?' bU/,ed aS lve" as SOme of those ,ho were desperately
• id lay between the lines.
- ; eight o'clock we were moved to a new position on the h< ": -1' »i»e, facing a piece of woods in the direc- tl0n ° the RaPid: »• having ; ,ort the 7th Maine Re«n-
About tvvo °'cIock General Sedgwick with his staff came ]° whnc™ were and remained with the Batten- some little time" J"liei1 he fo"n« that there were no troops' to the ru-ht :;' "s- h«ord^ed a brigade to be placed on our right, and sent ,o;jtl;New\ork Cavalry to advance to the front and remain £r,vc:,m- Ab°« an hour later we were relieved bv Cap- n* 3d Xew York Battery of brass guns. VYe then ^r and went into park and had an opportunity "' v atei and grain our horses.
, ^"tc(r dar, »e m°^d' out to the plank road, when we
"^ *°»t t«'0 ',onrs for the troops to pass, when we fell in
uth in the direction 01 Spottsvlvania \
'; thl3kind "as something that we had not been accus-
to'»«I to, as we had usually after a battle either mereh held our
r^":" °r m ,ed "' ^direction of Washington and then
"!rd'1™ort'-e months for another movement. Evidently
"— ' Gram did not understand the tactics that had prevailed
jo fourth mains battery
in the East. As we moved out in the direction of Richmond, the cheering among the troops was loud and hearty and the boys were in the best of spirits. Owing" to the crowded " con- dition of the road our progress was slow and unsteady, and not until sunrise had we reached Chancellorsville. Then passing the Chancellor house which had been General Hooker's head- quarters during the battle, we crossed the old battle field, which showed many marks o\ the fierce conflict which had raged there when Stonewall Jackson bad rolled back in confusion the nth Coi , and die 3d Corps had so desperately held its ground and arrested his further progress. We moved on until about ten o'clock, when we halted and wen; into park and bad a chance to make coffee and groom, feed and water our horses., after a march of fourteen hours. This was the 8th day of May; a beautiful Sabbath morning, but nothing in our surroundings indicated a day of rest. It had been a foot race from the Wilderness, and by an unfortunate combination of circum- stances the Johnnies came in just a little ahead, and seized the coveted position; but there was no disposition shown by Grant to take a backward step, and troops were being pushed to the fronl and placed in position; skirmishing was vigorously going on all along th front, and in the afternoon heavy infantry firing on the left and some artillery to the right of us.
About two o'clock we were moved clown the road half a mile, and two hours later returned to our old position. The wounded had been brought along from the Wilderness to be forwarded to Fredericksl urg, and the ambulances not being sufficient to modate the great number, hundreds of baggage wagons were crowded with the unfortunate sufferers.
An army baggage wagon is not a very comfortable thing for a well man to ride in, and as we saw these cumbersome, spring- less wagons joking over the rough roads in the intense beat and stilling dust, filled with a dozen severely wounded, some with the stumps of their amputated limbs .-ticking out of the side or end of the wagons, it caused the stoutest heart to feel sad. Often a halt would be made an 1 the deed from the wagons taken out and left by the road.sid.L-.
On the n.orn.ing of the Qth we were called early and remained in aboul the same location during die day. The 6th Corps occupied the centre of die line with the 5th, die 2d Corps was
IJGITT AkTH.T.KRY, 1861-65. Jl
on the right and the 9th Corps on the left. During' the day there was a constant movement of troops, and quite severe fight- ing at several points, especially on the left, where Burnside with the 9th Corps pushed the enemy back to near Spottsylvania Court House. During the day General Sedgwick, our corps commander, was killed by a sharpshooter, and Ins loss cast a gloom over the whole corps. Few officers had so endeared themselves to theii command as had "Uncle John," as he was familiarly called.
On this day General Sheridan with the cavalry cut loose from the army, and passing by the right of Lee's army, made his cele- brated raid in which he destroyed a large amount of the enemy's supplies, recaptured several hundred prisoners, and fought and defeated the enemy's cavalry under Stuart. In this battle, a few miles from Richmond, the able commander of the Confed- erate cavalry was killed, and the outer fortifications of the rebel capital were entered, causing the greatest consternation and alarm in that city. About this time a new feature was intro- duced in the army of issuing bulletins to each command at fre- quent intervals, giving us news of the movements and successes of both our own and other armies. The beneficial effect of this recognition of the rank and file was very marked, in the spirit oi confidence and enthusiasm that it aroused. During the roth we remained in about the ^ame position. During the afternoon Upton's Brigade of the isl Division of our corps made an assault upon the enemy's line, near the "Bloody Angle," and suffered quite severely in killed and wounded.
Buell of Battery "B," 4th Regulars, in "The Cannoneer," gives the following regarding Upton's charge:
"To the left was a pine grove, more open than any woods we had seen in these parts, and we observed that a heavy line of battle of the 6th Corps infantry was massed in this grove, lying down. There was a hollow in front of us, and in this were two batteries of the 6th Corps — McKnight's ("M," 5th Regulars'), and Kimball's (4th Maine). In front oi these was rising ground, just high enough to shut out the rebel works in our immediate front, but we could plainly see their heavy works on the hill beyond, which was the famous "'Angle.'5 In the course of half an hour these two 6th Corps batteries were thrown for- ward to the top of the rising ground in our front, where thev
FOURTH MAINS BATTERY
unlmbercd and opened furiously. The sou,,,, 0£ the enemy's "-P3 showed that they were close up to his works, and his shot and even bullets which passed over then, reached us » * * -...loetriy ,|le batteries in front of us ceased firing, and then the mfantr>- ,'hat ^ »' "- pine woods to our let, broke cover and >n magmficent style swept past our ilank and out into the open ?7',d; '"-<- "- B«l« "-, thence down upon the Xl "' ;*;■'«■' ™* out of sigb, fron, where we were. The "gh marker passed v, ry dose to us and we saw the colors of the D,h Maine and 121st New York Regiments "
-McCartneys lst Massachusetts. The 4,h was not in action
On the morning of the nth we were turned out as usual at Urn* o clock and remained in readiness ,0 move until about nine 0 clock, when we were ordered to the right a short distance and
vent into pos,t,on, relieving another battery. In the afte
noon as
L ltft scctl°n» under command of Lieutenant Havncs Wa- sent with a brigade of the 2d Corps and a battalion of cavalry I'11 a rcconrioissance extending several miles to the right. A ;;; "V*" dc^hmentS of the enemy's cavalry were met and a ^^^ng was indulged in. but without any very serious , S °" ,eiUler si(lc" We rejoined the Battery, which had
been withdrawn from the line of b
*°r our horses and feasting on hard bread and
attle, about dark, and after coffee,
^ad the paulins of the guns to protect ourselves from the
ram a
•< prepared lor a night's rest.
• • ] ^oelockA. M. on the 12th we were called and
■10ined '" the movement of our corps to the left. I„ the dark. ;«* ^ nuul our progress was slow and we had made perhaps
! , .1U:,e miles when we went i"to park about daylight. At
ctgm o clock we were ordered to the front, and leaving the bat-
C° XVlK"U- 10l-e and spare horses, we moved rapidlv to the
rf°m ^'-^ a Piece of woods and struck our lines where on oi our batteries was hotly engaged
. UV I;1'-''.1" the left- passing 'through the battery, which ^ 'nnS' I01; US t0 PaSS" J"st after leaving the battery one £t°l" ?^nsb«»™e stalled m crossing a small creek and the t-\- VV-'"! ^as compelled to stand for several minutes broad-
UC t0 ■ ;'; : sevcre fire f:'""> the enemy's batteries at short
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. /3
range from the opposite hill. The writer well remembers how uncomfortable it made him feel while standing there as he heard a shell explode a few feet in front of him and the pieces banc; up against a big oak tree, and how quickly he dismounted and got under cover. After crossing- the creek our way was across an open held for a third of a mile, exposed to a most furious artillery fire. If ever good time was made, we made it there, and fortunately only with the loss of two horses wounded. Lieutenant Kimball, who was in command, had a close call, his cap visor being grazed by a piece of shell. A short distance beyond the held, we were placed in position and a Sergeant sent back for spare horses. Upon his return across the field with the horses the enemy evidently took the party to be an officer and his staff and did some very good shooting. "Old Dean," who was of the party, said afterwards that if his horse had not known more than he did he would have been killed. The horse sti pped just in time to escape a shell that exploded just in front of him and a few feet behind the Sergeant.
Early in the morning Hancock had made the famous assault, at the "Bloody Angle,'5 at the lime quite commonly known as '"Hell's half acre." capturing a portion of the enemy's works and the rebel < feneral Johnston with his whole division.
The enemy made the most desperate efforts to recover the lost ground and never were greater deeds of valor shown or more desperate fighting done than on this clay. The roar of musketry and artillery was terrific during the whole day. At one point the opposing forces occupied the opposite sides of die same earthworks and were within a few feci of each other, and when night came the dead were three and four deep. At one point the bullets flew so thick that an oak tree twenty-one inches through was cut oft. and fell in the enemy's lines. The stump was aften ■ ! em off and sent to Washington, where it is preserved as a relic of the war.
The 6th Corps had been pushed forward to Hancock's sup- port and our position was a -hurt distance in rear of the front line, but where we could not be of anv service with our guns. We could only watch and wait, and for us it was a most uncom- fortable day, as we were in a p isition where the shells directed at the front hue were constantly passing just over our heads or dropping in our midst, and in addition the strav bullets were
74 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
zipping ; along too frequently for one to fed at all comfortable.
el back and retormed m the woods to the rear of us and atrai„ ■ ;J;"';C'" W1* MdI-v thinned ™ks. Many of the regimfnl " Um'« the ^mand of a Captain or Lieutenant, and w th a less number of men than would constitute a full company
t «.«rto tune that General Gran, sent the famons dis-
Lmmer " O T '° ^ " ^ °" *" ,ine " !t to"k al! nmmer. On former campa.gns there had been much growi- ng nbou so much marching, but now we found that we were ^nSf*e fighting that we wanted. Moderate firing w
~ dthr°"^then^t'tatat'» o^ck we were alWd "-ess and try to make ourselves comfortable for 2
'-'"' h. had been ra™»g almost constantly for thirty-six
^TST1Thendarkness"mc.itseemedtokvegotanev ^W a„d to have started in earnest. Our clothing and blank- were completely soaked through and .be nun! was not a very ■nvtmg bed. Completely tired and eluded through, we ay <™-n u, he dryest places we could find, hoping to get a little sleep or at least rest. A, midnight we were aroused with order .", :,'" "" """-hately, when we started Inwards the left, and , ™, Ce "" °f iradi"8 ,hro"S'h the mud in the rain
" k""5; ^ made ab°Ut - "*« -d were again a'" eel to unharness and rest until six o'clock, when we again
f'-adviorannn-e. Moderate firing at the front con-
"»«ed during the day. About ,,,.,,„ we moved baek to the ""•" U'° m,lcf- Khm »'e remained until to o'clock, when we
X,t,r ■ W"h ^ C°rpS a"d "'ere °" "" -d near^ all mght, and a, io o clock on the tqth baited an,! went into
Pf °» ''- Fredericksburg and Orange Court House road lowards mght mere was quite heavy fighting in front of us and
d^ScT" T° f'eS t0 the 'eft' ■"* Uvent info Pa* at
rom b X R- P nta"°" °f J0hn AnderSon' half a mile uoin me i\\ River.
™S xvas Jhe first ^ since leaving Brandy Station on the 4tn thai we had a whole i
in camp. For ti
eleven davs
UC had been almos1 constantly on the march, in line of battl< "standing read> to move at a moment's notice, and sleeping as we could gel a chance an hour Qr £wq .u a ^
Our horses had been in harness almost constantly, and from
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
the constant marching night and day over the bad roads with only about half a ration of grain and no hay, manv of them had ^'f1. UUt: During this timc ^'e had not been oui of the sound of firing tor an hour. Owing to the heavy rains the mads had become almost impassable, and from the 14th to the iSth any general movement of the army was suspended, although the troops were constantly changing positions on the line ami we made short moves each day. At this time whiskev ration, were served to ,11 who cared for them. On the 17th/ owing to the broken-down condition of the horses, and there beim- more artllIf>' than was °e«ied, two guns from each battery were sent back to Belle Plains. This left us a four-gun batterv and the men trom the two detachments forming the left section were divided among the other four detachments. The first of a large number of reinforcements began to arrive to make good the loss caused by regiments whose term of service had expired and the great losses in killed and wounded. These new troops were !argel-v heav>' artillery regiments from the defences of Wash- 11 -1";1' whcre thc>" had been doing garrison duty, and as thev marched to the front with full ranks, neat and tidv uniforms and well-filled knapsacks, they had to take a great deal of c 1 «g from the dirty, ragged old soldiers of the Armv of the lotornac who lined up along the sides of the road to'see the new regiments pass. Manv were the inquiries made of them as
10 ™r ™)er collars> having their boots blacked, and in regard to thc"" knapsacks, which did not seem to be verv well received and more than one was ready to drop his knapsack and equi ments and fight it out individually with their tormentors. Later thes, new troops proved themselves to be of as good metal
11 ™y™ the arm-v- A™ng the new arrivals was the 1st ™ Hfa7 Arti,Ierv, and two days after joining the armv the>'.lost ln }ess tha" an hour, in killed and wounded. ^ men it being about a third of their number.
DurinS the '-1:t "f ^' I/th the 6th Corp. with the 2d Corns *ere moved to the right and massed for an attack on the C"em; S ,II,e in rear of the "Bloodv Angle." The Battery marched at eight o'clock and was on the march most of the night. At 4.30 on the morning of the 18th the attack was o-d- lan?-v lcdbv the2d Corps, followed bv the 6th. The enemy's position, however, had bee- strongly strengthened at this point
7" FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
and they had in position, and completely covering the ground,
,' Th °f,ar"Iler-V- '" ^ o! the destructive fire o art er and musketry, desperate efforts were mad, to cam- the «orU, but without success. At noon we started toward the left aga,n, and about four o'clock were back at the place we had ft h ^before. On the toth we moved in the attend w „ a large number of other batteries across the Po River and at evening went into can,, T)hat afternoon we received th firs
"T1 o'hatd ^f "S.Si"Ce ™ kft ^andy Station™ th '■ O er two weeks without heating from home scented a
' e'° us b0-"- On the afternoon of the 19th Ewell's
' ^ ::,'"f ' * StT0"l im-k '"' °" ^ht an,, after a sever stiuggle was driven hack with meat loss
atln"h'."ae„T " -T TPara'ivd-V 'lli(l ;''™>ff «'e lines and a ugh, .another sidlmg movement to the left was commenced
b th ,th ad ad Corps (Warren and Hancock,, the 6th and
I t^PtL( ,'f t„",,d BUrnS:de) bdn* kft^ Spottsvlvania "g, ' •' ragh' ''"' the tro°Ps "ere busily engaged thrown,* ^™;k':; and f»'y men from our Battery tere^etaile to ^ "the ivork. Besides the bringing of logs and building 0f 2 S," " Pr°teC."0"' h0ks *«* **. in which to place the |U";a"<a",m"mtI°" ^ests so as to be under protection Th,
-\.-- lame Regiments. Everything looked like desperate
; u ^ ''.^7" to »* only measures of precaution again a" attack. About seven o'clock Hill's Corps of da- enemv made J; ''TV? '--"---- -, of /..„: ..f I1U r batteries „\™,icl *s4th llame took part, the, 500„ fell back ',n ""-"•"
,- l]"' TfK" aUCr ab°Ut tC" diiy' oi co"sta"' ™in had become ";-dtl-Foads were getting g I i on the night o
I ™£Ur t0r.thC,XorthA"- commenced. We Started a one oclock, moving slowly until eight o'clock on the morning I'^f"™ «J»» ™as made long enough to feed ana
LIGHT ARTILLERY, l86l-6=
77
until 9.30, when we went into camp near Jericho Mills on the North Anna.
On the 24th we were called at four o'clock and stood ready for a move until nearly Jive o'clock in the afternoon, when we crossed to the south side of the river. Warren's 5th Corps had crossed on the 23d and the 6th joined him, and both armies were now south of the river. On the morning of the 25th we were called again at four o'clock, and at eight o'clock moved forward a short distance, crossing the Virginia Central railroad as well a the field where Warren had been engaged with Hill's Corps on tne evening of the 23d, and went into position south of the railroad. The troops were busily engaged in tearing up the tracks, building fires with the ties and after heating the rails, bending and twisting them, so as to make them useless. During the day Captain White, returned to the Battery and assumed command, after an absence of eight months.
During the afternoon the artillery firing on the left of the line was quite heavy but we had no part in it. As soon as dark canu- on, all hands were set at work building breastworks. To provide material a neighboring tobacco house was torn down, and the boys had a good chi rice to stock up with tobacco. After working nearly all night on our breastworks, it was found that they were not as they should be, so they were torn down and rebuilt. This kept us busy until nearly noon and gave us a v^k\ appetite for our dinner of hardtack and salt pork. During the afternoon of the 26th we lav quietly in our works and in proved the time in trying to make up a little lost sleep.
The enemy were in sight but were nol disposed to interfere with us, and we made no attempt to start an argument.
When chirk came, another of those moves by the left flank was commenced audi, with orders for not a man to speak or make am noise, we quietly stole away, and were soon recrossing the North Anna .it Jericho Mills and heading towards Rich- mond. Jn this movement the 6th Corps had the advance. During the afternoon we had had a heavy shower and the roads were a sea of mud. For several miles the mud was nearh knee-dee]), a little thicker than soup, and the horses, weak from their hard service and lack of forage, were constantly stumbling and falling and required the assistance of the men to get them up. A- we were moving along about ten o'clock, Tom
/o FOURTH MAINS BATTERY
Nutting- arid another of the hoys were obsen ed sitting on the fence b} the side of the road, laughing heartily. When asked as to the cause of their merriment, Ten pointed to a place in the road a few feet away and said, ''There is a hole there about four feet deep, and every few minutes some one walks into it and goes all under, and it is great fun to see them crawl out of the mud." Ii seems that Tom narrowly escaped getting into the hole himself.
At one o'clock we made a halt until daylight, but the time was pretty well occupied in caring for our horses and drawing three days' rations, so that we did not get much. rest. At day- light on the 27th we were again on the move and only halted to feed and water the horses, until late in the evening, having been on the march constantly for twenty-four hours. The weather was intensely hot and both men and horses were pretty well played out.
On the morning of the 28th we were ordered out again at six o'clock, and about noon crossed the Pamunky River at Hanovertown and soon after went into line of battle, where we re ted ,' r the night. On the 29th we were called at four o'clock but made no n ove until ; ftern >on, when we started with a por- tion of the corps on a reconnoissance t< vards Hanover Court House, but did not come in contact with the enemy. On the 30th the army moved to the T >y Creek and took up
a position in line of battle with the 6th Corps on the right, near the Virginia Central railroad. During the day there was con- siderable skirmishing along the front and the troops were busily engaged destroying the railroad. Towards evening we with- drew fi ' and moved to the left, ai 1 at eight o'clock went into camp, where we r lained over night and thoroughly enjoyed a whole night's sleep. Since we left B
) tour weeks be here ha I n only three or E >n
night- that we bad not been on the march or engaged building earthworks.
On the 31st Ave had a day of comparative rest a:: i rei in park all day lis cannon; front.
During tin. day Sheridan with the cavalry had pushed out on the left towards Richmond, and. after a hard fight ' ' obtained >sion of Cold Harbor, nine miles from«Ric - . When the 1 ews of this unexpected success was received bv Meade, late
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. /0,
in the . '. .., the 6th Corps was immediately started on a forced march to his assistance. We were called at one o'clock and joined with the corps on an all-night march. We arrived at Cold Harbor about noon on June ist, and halted a mile in the rear of Cold Harbor Tavern. While the infantry were passing by and talcing- up position to relieve the cavalry, which had been stubbornly holding the ground, we improved the chance to water and feed our horses.
' It was nearly four o'clock when we were ordered to the front and. leaving the battery wagon, forge, spare horses, etc., in the rear, the Battery passed rapidl) up the road to Old Cold Harbor Tavern, and turning to the left under a heavy artillery five, went into position about one-fourth of a mile to the left of vhe tavern, on the same ground that had been occupied two years before at the battle of Gaines Mills by Bondurant's Alabama Battery of D. hi. Hill's division. As we moved to the front a p 11 ion of the cavalry which had been relieved by our corps was passing to the rear. As an evidence of the severe conflict that had raged on the ground two years before and of Sheridan's stubborn fight the day b fore, Comrade Chapin has this record in his diary: "The ground around here is covered pretty thick with old rub- bish, sabre sheaths, gun barrel solid hot pieces of saddles, blankets, overcoats, old rig. tcks, and any quantity of dead our p< isition the enenn were at rather short range and were partially co M bush >s, while our position
■ oi the road in an open field. Their fire was not extremeh heavy, but -'hi it was hot enough to make it interesting for us, and we were kept actively engaged until nearly dark. i . irds night the enemy had gained a position and pla ttery cr,-\ our left, which put us under a <
cross lire, and we were obliged to throw back our left pieces and change front so as to meet their fire. Fortunately our onl) loss of men in this engagement was that of Y\ illiam Berrv, who was severely wounded in the hip bv a ball from a case shot. Com- rade Chapin states in his diary that the right piece fired ninety- eight shot and used tw >n I fuse. Doubtless this was a fair average of the other pieces, and shows pretty hot work and at a distance from the enemy's batteries of !e<s than 800 yards. We had in this engagement two recruits who had not been in anv severe engagement before. One eh them was missed aftei
8o FOURTH .MAIXJ; BATTERY
we were in position, anil all inquiries as to his whereabouts were fruitless until dark, when he came to his detachment. His Ser- geant in rather a severe tone asked him where he had been all day, and his reply was: "I'll tell you the truth. Sergeant. I started up with the Battery and was all right until I came to that little drummer boy lying near the tavern, who had been torn to pieces by a shell; and so help me God, I coukl net get a*%y fur- ther, but have been lying in that ditch over there all day. My knees would not hold me up when I tried to walk." Perhaps lie was equally brave but did not have the nerve, of the other recruit spoken of. After being in action some time the gam began to get prettv hot, and the Sergeant said, '''Sullivan, go and get a bucket of water to sponge the gun with." Sullivan started and half an hour later returning, came to the Ser- geant and said: "If you send me for water again you had better send a man with me to bring the bucket back. I was standing in line waiting my turn to get water when a shell came along and took the man's head off that was in front of me, and I was afraid that you would lose your bucket." Neither o\' the poor fellows ever saw home again, both dying in the hospital a few weeks later from fever and diarrhea. When darkness came firing on both sides ci \ d and picks and shovels were called into use to throw up eat thworks ior our protection the next day. This kept us busy most of the night, and it was not until near morning that we were permitted to lie down by our guns for a little rest. In the morning we were up early, and after caring for our horses and having our coffee and hardtack, put a few finishing touches to our earthworks and then quietly waiied for the renewal of the engagement. The day was spent in moving the corps into position for an assault on the enemy's lines, but late in the day the attack was postponed until the morning of die 3d, and at five o'clock we were gratified by the appearance of anothci battery to relieve us, when we quickly limbered up and mowd out in the rear of a pine grove a few hundred feci back of Cold flarbi r Tavern, where we remained until the 12th. At this place we were protected from any firing from directly at the front, but at some distance to the right the enemy had a battery thai constantly annoyed us by a cross tire. On the 3d a shell passed through the Cattery and killed two burses just in rear of us and then struck an ambulance. Jn the afternoon
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 8l
a shci! struck a caisson of a New York battery lying to the right of us, and the caisson exploded, killing two men anf] w0llnci;ng i our others. Two or three days later a shell passed through the Battery, taking off a horse's leg, and then rolled along the ground and against Marion .Mills, who was lying i„ his tent. He did not like his bedfellow and promptly moved. On the night oi the 7th we were shelled pretty both- and all hands turned out to watch and dodge the sheds, which we could see 1?} tiie burning fuse. During the ten days we remained here we were calied at an early hour each morning, so as to be ready !":' r,;' flttack or any movement, and stood constantly harnessed UP- °" ti,e morning of the 3d. at 4.30, the 2d, 6th and 18th Corps (Smith's) marie a most desperate and bloody attack on the enemy's lines, but without success and with a 'very heavy ,oss i" killed and wounded. Smith's [8th Corps from the Army of the James had joined the Army of the Potomac on the rst, and during this assault was on the right of the 6th Corps and the 2d Corps (Hancock's) on the left. During the evening the firing a!! along the lines, both of artillery and musketry, was very heavy, gradually dying out about midnight. Both armies wcrc strongly entrenched and it was not safe at any time for man to show his head above the works. A little event, per- haPs worthy of note, which occurred while lying here, was A. B. Wright's experience with a shell, which fortunately did not eriously. Alden was cooking for his detachment, 5 ■■■ ' •'■ not had an opi ortunity to have any baked beans sillce having Brandy Station, Alden decided to give the boys a l,'eat. Getting his beans ready, he built a good fire, but wood bcin" scarce, thought that he would supplement it by heating old shells to place in the bean hole, ai >und the kettle. Gather mS'up several thai were lying around, he took them to die creek anc] soaked them to wet any powder that might be in them, and iheil Placcd ftem in the fire t 1 heat under the kettle oi beans he was parboiling.
While he was standing by the fire, watching the beans, one ' : "' e shell ' '• ■;. si 1 ding the kettle k; vard md
: i i's eyes and mouth with ashes. Probably a more aston* ished and frightened man never was seen, and it was some time : he c; ' down sufficiently to be able to speak. A piece
of die shell came down in die battery lying across the road from
?-2 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
us, and one of the boys attempted to pick it up, which caused him to use some very strong- language against the Johnnies for tiring hot shot. A few years ago Alden went to Texas to live. and some one was mean enough to write and ask him if he was down dure looking for his bean kettle.
As earl_\- as the 6th of June General Grant had decided to make another of those "left flank" movements to which we were getting so accustomed, and this time to place the army south of the James River. Active preparations were carried forward for the movement and we were considerably mystified at he arrival of a large number of pontoon trains. The army had now been constantly marching and fighting for five weeks, with- out an hour's let-up. and each move had brought us nearer Richmond, the goal to which we had all been looking for three, years.
During the thirty-eight days from May 4th when we crossed the Rapidan, until June 12th when we left Cold Harbor, the Army of the Potomac had lost in killed 7600, in wounded 38,342, and in missing and prisoners 8967, making a total loss of 54,928. Meade's army, with Burnside's Corps, numbered 118,000 when it crossed the Rapidan, to which had been added reinforcements at Spottsylvania, of heavy artillery and other regiments, per- haps 20,000, making a total of 140,000, which shows a loss of considerably more than one-third. The enemy's losses had doubtless been fully as heavy as ours in proportion to then numbers. Notwithstanding the appalling losses, the spirit of the army was never so go< .i. We felt that each move made, som< thing was gained, no backward steps were being taken, and a spirit of confidence prevailed that had not been known before.
CHAPTER VII.
Coed Harbor to Petersburg— Fort McGievery — Ream's Station — To Baltimore and Washington — Petersburg Mine.
Towards night on the 12th the Battery was ordered to the front and placed in position not far from the one occupied by ns on the 1st. Work was at once commenced in building breast- works and kept up until midnight, when we joined our corps in the march to the James, and made no halt except to water and feed the horses until six o'clock in the evening-.
After earing for our horses and getting our supper, it did not require much coaxing to get us to go to sleep. At two o'clock in the m irning (14th) we were again on the move, and soon after starting crossed the Chickahominy on a pontoon at Jones' Bridge, continuing our march through a beautiful coun- try towards the James, and at night arrived near Charles City Court House and went into camp in a clover i}<At]. On the
- ■■ ing of the [5th we moved at two o'clock, but the roads were so crowded with troops that we did not reach the river, a dis- tance ^^ three- miles, until about six o'clock. Here quite a hah v as made, which was improved by many of tin: boys taking a morning bath in the James River. (The improvement was in the boys, not the river.) The James at this point is about half a mile wide, ami pontoon bridges (130 boats) had been placed,. which were guarded by gunboats. Towards noon we crossed and took tin road in the direction of City Point. On the 16th we moved at dark and after a twenty-four hours' march arrive ! in front of Petersburg on the evening of the i/th and went imo position inside of works that had been captured from the eneiro ; nd near the 1 Fai .■ h .use. ( Fort Steadma" was afterwards near •'': place.) The night was spent in throwing up earthworks and on the tSth the Battery was engaged in shelling the enemy's lines and works. A house inside their lines, occupied by sharp-
OJJ . FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
shooters, was set fire and burned, and shells were thrown in the direction of the city. A Petersburg paper stated that the first shell thrown into the city was on this date and at the hour the Battery was engaged, so it is only fair to consider that we were the guilty party.
On the roth the Battery remained in position, but the firing was very light until toward:, evening, when quite a lively brush was engaged in. A letter written at this date by one of the comrades, states that there had not been a day since leaving Brandy Station bin that the battery Juki been harnessed up, and only one night that a full night's rest bad been enjoyed, and during this time we had seldom been out of the sound of firing. In the evening the Battery was withdrawn from the front line and "went into park, but not out of range of the enemy's guns, as we found out the next morning, when for a while we found ourselves under a sharp artillery fire.
.After dark on the 20th the Battery was again placed further to the front and right, where Fort McGilvery (named for Cap- tain McGilvery of the 6th Maine Batten-) was afterwards located.
Again it was to work all night on earthworks. We were now getting quite proficient in this kind of work and by morn- ing had quite respectable works thrown up, which proved to be of the greatest value during the day. The enemy occupied a verj strong and well fortified position and the two lines were very close together. The infantry bad been busy during the night in digging trenches and; throwing the dirt on the side towards the enemy, so they were quite well protected. Business commenced very briskly early in the morning, by our Battery opening on a train of cars on the Richmond and Petersburg railroad, and at times during the day it was pretty hot. The enemy bad dire- batteries bearing om v<, one of them on the right having a cross fire, which made it very uncomfortable. The I irp ': ■ ters of the enemy were strictly attending to busi- ness all day and it was not safe for a man to show his head above the works. In the afternoon a shell from the battery on the right passed between Captain White and Lieutenant Kim- ball, who ware' sitting close together, and passing through a traverse, expl >ded as it struck Corporal J ere Keene and hor- ribly manqling him. He was taken to the rear and died in a
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. S5
, w minutes, his last words being of his wife, whom he had . . ::: .! only a few weeks before while home on a veteran fur- ! li h. Jere was a general favorite in the Battery and his ter- rible death was deeply felt by all the boys. During the day two 1 - were killed and we considered that we were lucky in
escaping without any heavier loss.
After dark we were relieved by a battery of the 9th Corps and i '• started with our corps on a movement to the
left. Aider an all-night march we halted at six o'clock on the morni t the 226 for breakfast, and then resumed our march
a ! were placed in position on the extreme left of the line rds the Weldon railroad. In conjunction with this move to the left, Wilson's cavalry started to the left on the morning of the 2.?d towards the Southside and "Danville railroad-, to d stroy them if possible, and during the day we could hear them heavily engaged. When night came work was commenced building breastworks, and continued until morning, when we were allowed to rest and wait for an expected attack. During the day the enemy had come in in a gap that had been left between the 6th Corp? and die 2d Corps, which was on our right, ; 1 : at four o'clock we limbered up and joined in a movement to the right, where we were joined by part of the 51I1 Corns.
It now becoming" apparent that it would be impossible 10 carry the strong works oi the enemy by assault, the armv settled down to the siege that was to continue for more than nine months before we could obtain possession of Petersburg, whose church .-nires were in sight of us. Work entrenching was actively pushed, Eorts built, earthworks thrown up, covered ways of zig- - .";■ i ..'•- built in which to reach the from lines, and bomb- pn A-. built in the forts and batteries. The main lines were now at some points only a few hundred feet from each other, with entrenched picket lines not many yards apart, and every means was taken as a protection against the constant and often very heavy lire of both artillery and musketry. For a few days we were no\ all >wed comparative rest, but nearly every day made a short move either to the right of left along the line. The weather was intensely hot and we suffered much from the dust, and the poor quality of water was the cause of much sickness.
Wilson's cavalrv, which had started on the 22c!, having accom-
86 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
plished its object began its return, and on the morning of the 29th met a large body of the enemy at Ream's Station, and in the battle that ensued was defeated and die position became precarious. The afternoon of" the 29th, the 6th Corps was sent on a forced march to his assistance. We broke camp at four o'clock and marched rapidly until about midnight, when we halted near Ream's Station on the Weldon railroad.
Wilson had succeeded in falling- back and by taking a cir- cuitous route reached the army a few days later, and on the morning of the 30th the enemy withdrew on the approach of the 6th Corp.-. The day was spent in tearing up and destroying tlie railroad for several miles, thereby seriously interrupting the enemv's means of trans].' .1 tali. >■•.
About live o'clock, just as we received orders to fall in on the return march, it was discovered that Jesse Stetson, who was lying in the shade of one of the guns, was dead from exhaus- tion. The Battery was just starting, but a shallow grave was h; stily dug and our comrade rolled in his blanket, quickh covered, and we left him in less than twenty minutes from the time the breath had left bis body. Such things may seem heartless and cruel, but such is war. In those days there was little time or place for sentiment.
Our return march was without incident and at midnight we were back on our old line in front of Petersburg, our position being on the left of the line, where we lay in park until the 7th. when we moved to the right a short listanc< and went into posi- tion in one of the forts, but later in the day were relieved by the 5ih Maine Battery, Captain Stevens.
About the middle of June General Lee had sent General Early with hi corps to the Shenandoah Valley to strike Hunter's force and, if possible, destroy it, and then to move down the valley, cross the Potomac and threaten Washington. The first pari of the programme had been successfully carried out and Hunter completely routed. Earlv had moved down the valley and on July 5th and 6th crossed into Maryland at Shepherds- ti v. •. and on the 7th wa moving in the direction of Frederick. Rickett's Division of the 6th Corps was hurried forward to :•. the danger that now threatened Washington, and arriving at LlaltiiiT : was pushed forward to assist General Lew Wallace, who was at the Monocacv aboul four miles from Frederick.
88
FOURTH MAINE) BATTERY
at the same time inviting them to come with him and he would give them all they wanted of better tobacco. It is needless to sa\ that his generous invitation was promptly accepted, and some of the boys were not at all bashful in loading- up. About 11 o'clock the rest of the boys and the other horses arrived and we were then moved to the railroad. We loaded our horses and guns on the cars, and at four o'clock started for Washing- ton, where we arrived soon after dark and at once proceeded to Camp Barry on Capitol Hill, where comfortable barracks had been erected near our old camp grounds of two years before.
Our corps had in the meantime followed up Early and was in the vicinity of Harper's Ferry, and on the morning of the 17th il became generally understood that we were to remain in Washington for a while to rest and recruit, after more than two years of constant active service. We at once commenced to clean up and put our quarters in shape. After a hard day's work- in scrubbing up the barracks and getting our bunks ready for use, we were very much surprised, about four o'clock, to receive orders to pack up at once and take transports back to City Point.
It was very generally understood that Captain White had been given his choice of remaining in Washington for a time, or to go back to the front; and after the first disappointment was iver, we were very well satisfied with his decision of return- ing to the army. In fact, we felt rather proud that we had a Captain \\}\<> preferred being at the front. Hastily packing up, we were soon on our way to the wharf, where we were loaded oii transports, the Battery being again divided, guns and can- noneers going on one boat and the horses with the drivers on the old ferry boat "Manhattan," and a littli before midnight we left the wharf on our way down the Potomac. While pass- ing through Washington, Corporal James Allen met an old friend who was in the military telegraph service, and a few days latei an order was received from army headquarters detailii ; Corporal .Mien for telegraph service, where he remained until the close of the war. ( )ur passage was a rough one, and after a trip of thirty-six hours the guns and cannoneers arrived at Citv Point on the 19th. The weather was so rough that the ferry boal ha i to turn back after passing Point Lookout and wait iov < timer weather, ;.v.>\ did not arrive at Fort Monroe until dark on the [Oth.
89
In the meantime those who had arrived at City Point had become anxious as to the safety of the rest of the Battery. Xo information could he obtained in regard to them, but ahout three o'clock on the 20th we were very glad to see the old icvrv boat approaching and the boys received.a very warm welcome. Per- haps there we first realized something of the warm friendships that were growing between us as comrades and which was intensified with the months and wars, After unloading the horses, we moved back about a mile from the river and went i,ir" camp and remained until the 26th. While here Sergeant < Kven was obliged to go to the hospital, where he died a few weeks later. ( )n the 26th we moved to the front of Petersburg and relieved a battery of the 2<\ Corps not far from Fort Steadman.
At this time the firing 0f artillery and musketry was constant, both day ami night, and at times quite heavy. Mortars, from the size of the small cohorn to the large siege, had been placed in the forts and batteries, an.'! during the evenings we often sat up late watching the mortar shells as they rose high in the air 'AV'] : '1 within the lines on either side. Their course
could he traced by the burning fuse, ami at tunes when the firing iyas !>nsl< the air was filled with streaks of light in all direc- tions, r'-'' Wing a gigantic display of fireworks. On our side an immense mortar had been placed 00 a car and often i; would he run up near the hue not far from Fort Steadman. and for an hour or two the sound of the '"'Petersburg Express," as it •'•;;s !;< mod In the b >ys, could he heard for miles :<\^^: the line. throwing its immense projectiles within die enemy's lines. Ordi- nary earthworks were no protection against these mortar shells, as they descended on nearly a perpendicular line, and when they expl .ded the pieces flew in all directions, rendering it "early as unsafe behind earthworks as in an open field. As a protection from these mortar shells, "bomb-proofs" were built in all the forts by first digging a place about eight by fifteen reel larg< :md two feet <\v<:]\ and over this space a house or hut •v;i- huill ' I irge pine logs, wind, were roofed over with heavv timber and covered with about two feet oi earth. In these the men slept, and when mortar firing was going on those not engaged would seek shelter in them, and when a mortar shell wa« seen n hi coming too close, these b unb-proofs were a safe dodging place.
90 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
On the 25th of June a mine had been commenced by Colonel Pleasants, of the 48th Pennsylvania Regiment, opposite Elliott's salient oi the enemy's lines. At this point the lines were only 130 yards apart, and Colonel Pleasants with his regiment started a tunnel just back of our line. Although hampered greatly in the work for want of suitable tools and material, in four weeks the tunnel was completed, and two large galleries excavated under the enemy's fort, ready for the placing of the powder. The length of the main tunnel was 510 feet and of each gallery thirty-eight feet. In these galleries were placed 8000 pounds of powder, connected by fuse with the mouth of the tunnel, and on July 29th everything was in readiness for the explosion, the time for which had been set at four o'clock on the morning of the 30th. As a diversion, Hancock with the 2d Corps and two divisions of cavalry had been sent to the north of the James river to threaten Richmond, and then he was hastily recalled in time to reach his position in rear of the mine. Burnside's 9th Corps was to make the assault, and Ferrero's division of colored troops had been selected to lead and the officers thoroughly posted in the movement. At the last moment a change was made and Ledlie's division was given the advance, to be fol- lowed by Potter's and Wilcox's divisions, with the colored divi- sion as reserve. During the afternoon and evening of the 29th troop., were being moved and placed in position, and by the great activity and movement we all knew that some important event was at hand, audi the rumor was current that a mine was to be expL d< d, but no one could tell the location. On the after- noon of the 29th our Battery changed position and the guns were placed in Fort Morton, nearly opposite the mine, and the horses and caissons with the drivers were left about three- fourths of a mile in rear of the line, it was an anxious night for us all and we feared, or rather dreaded, the desperate con- flict into which we expected the morning would bring us. Troops were moving in large bodies nearly the whole night and it was not until the earl} hours of morning that all were in position. At daylight on the 30th every one wa: awake and anxiously waiting and watching for the expected explosion. Owing to some defect in the fuse, it was not until nearly five o'clock that the explosion took place. One writer says of it: "It was a magnificent spectacle, and as the mass of earth went
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 9 1
up into the air, carrying with it men, guns, carnages and tim- bers, and spread out like an immense cloud as it reached its altitude, so close were the Union lines that the mass appeared as if it would descend immediately upon the troops waiting to make the charge."
Another writer says : ''While waiting quietly and anxiously for the explosion, men had been allowed to lie down in line. 1 was lying on the ground resting' my head on my hand and thinking of the probable result when the denouement came. I shall never forget the terrible and magnificent sight. The earth around us trembled and heaved, so violently thai 1 was lifted to my feel. Then the earth along the enemy's lines opened, and fire and smoke shot upward seventy-five or a hun- dred feet. The air was filled with earth, cannon, cassions, sand bags and living men, and with everything else within the exploded fort. One huge lump of clay as large as a haystack or small cottage was thrown out and left on top of the ground towards our own works."
The destruction of the fort was complete and fulfilled all expectations, making a crater 150 to 200 feet long, 60 feet wide and n . -;\ 30 feet deep. There were about 400 men in the fort, nearly all of whom were killed; a few e. -raped injury, and others were found buried in various wa\ s, some up to their necks, others to their waists, and some with only their feet and legs protruding from the earth.
li the explosion was grand and terrible, that which immedi- ate!} followed was equally so. Instantly no cannon and 50 mortars in the immediate neighborhood opened upon the crater and the adjacent lines, and the sight was grand in the extreme. '1 he air was filled with the exploding shells and the roar was so deafening that volleys of musketry could not be heard. Owing to some confusion it was several minutes before Ledlie's Division, that was to lead the assault, scaled the works and advanced to the crater. As the brigades arrived, they ali halted in the cratei and became inextricably mixed. The division com- 1 id found a sale retreat in the bomb-proof within our lines which, he could not lie induced to leave, and lacking a leader and suitable orders, the confusion increased, although some of the brigade commanders attempted to extricate those in their command and to continue the movement upon the enem\ 's line.-.
<J2 FOURTH MAINI- BATTERY
1,1 the meantirae the enemy had promptly placed batteries and ^P5 1:; Position on each side of the crater and on Cemetery " and °Pei -'! :! heav>- lire on those crowded in the crater M ;-3° tn ! red division was ordered to charge on the line "' the nghi of the crater. The charge was a desperate one. and most gallantly made, and the losses frightful, some of the ff all but two or three of their officers. Under the mtense fire of artillery and musketry it was impossible to advance be\ pd the front lines of the enemy's works
'; s°on b came apparent that the movement, which had had '..' a successtul beginning, had become a most inglorious °» accounl of the lack of soldierly qualities of the offi- "rS\a"d ;': 9-30 General Mead,, issued orders for the troops l; withdraw, rhis seemed certain death, as the enemy com- ]'■';> covered the ground with a terrific fire. Our batteries 1 >e infantry were ordered to open a heavy fire, and under ' many succeeded in reaching our own dees About two , cl ,ck the enemy charged and recaptured theit I ■ • with many prisoners who were in the crater
Dll7nf Ule assauIt the 9tl> Corps lost 473 killed, 1640 V'';.:. [347 taken prisoners. (Total loss at the mine,
: M , '■ '' ' - lmde(] a"" 'die captured.) It was a heavy pena^ forth '"efficiency of two or three general officers Vs ". Batt"; occupied a position nearly opposite the crater all oj ; ' movements came stricth under our observation Our ?"'" part in ^is consisted in being hotly engaged in the artillery bnng, which continued all day, and being under a heavy artil- ,er-v and m«sketry tiir. Our ammunition chests were" nearly fmplied ;i!;!l ;v,;"' n{g*« came had to be replenished. The only : — Sergeant Fox severely wounded in the ^"Werand J. R. Tovdc in the arm. both bv the same bullet o show that even in the heat of the intensest battle the comical .d0CS ,:^: c'scaP' "otice. and thai it is only a step from the sub- hmc t0 the ridiculous I will quote Comrade Chapin who 1 .ln hi dia^ "A sutler ran. when the fort blew up, and
^tallluso -,. The boys took good care of his goods."
rowards night the action quieted down, and by dark there --■ onh fli" "s»al amount of firing along the fine. The :.-i was s'"'!l '" burying the dead and caring for the v^v^Zj lhcre wasbu! little firing, and the boys wearing the bine met
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1S61-65.
93
those of the gray on the picket lines and talked over the battle of the da/ before. After dark the horses were brought up and our guns were taken to the rear where the rest of the Battery were lying.
< )n August 1st we moved camp a short distance near a piece of woods, where we remained until the 21st, having rather a quiet time, just in rear cf the danger line. While here Charles Kimball died and was buried by the Battery. At this time Ser- geant Ames witli the sixth piece was stationed for about ten days i;i the cut where the Norfolk railroad crossed the lines at ' • oi Fort MickJe.
CHAPTER VIII.
In front eines — Fort Haskeee — Fort Steadman — Winter 01 1864-5 — Petersburg evacuated — March to Washing- ton— Return to Augusta— Mustered out.
August 2i st our guns were again placed in the front and from this time until December 18 were constantly in the works at tlie En nt, oc upying at different times Forts Steadman, Has- kell, Mickle and Rice, and all of the batteries from No. 10 to iS. During the last of August and part of .September, while stati ; ed in Fort Mickle, there was by mutual consent very little picket firing in our front. In the morning the pickets would be relieved an 1 each side would stick their bayonets in the ground and the da) be qui h , nt. The picket lines being only a few I Ired feet apart, a good deal of conversation was carried on between the oppi >ii g lines, and daily exchange of newspapers, with a good deal of trading in tobacco, coffee, etc. At one point tliere was a clump of bushes along the creek between the lines, an Men a few from each side would meet here and indulge in ;i game of poker, ihc stakes being coffee and cake on the North- ern sick id tobacco on the Southern side. This friendliness between the pickets continued until m< night the Johnnies made a raid end scooped all of our picket lines for some distance, with which there came quite a change in the order of things. The pickets dug hole? large enough to protect themselves when lying down, and n constant and \ ;■ on is fire was kept up night and day.
About sunset some one w ' ' i I out, "Stop firing, w( want to change pickets." and for an li air all firing on both -ides would cease, during which time each side would relieve their pickets. As it began to grow dark - une one would call out, "Get into your holes. Van!;:-, or r hnnies. we are going to shoot." when even one would hustle to get under cover, and after a few scat-
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 95
tcring shots the fun would commence in earnest and for an hour
or more there would be a heavy fire all along the line, quieting
somewhat about nine o'clock, but steady firing was continued
until the next night when it came time to change pickets again.
Sharpshooters were also stationed at different points, and it was
not safe to show a head above the works at any point. While
al Fort Mickle considerable artillery tiring was indulged in,
everal times, in honor of Union victories of the other
armies, shotted salutes with the guns pointed at the enemy's
lines would be fin ': either at midnight or sunrise. This was
rather a rude way to awaken am one, and sometimes we would
get all through firing before the enemy were fully aroused, and
as we were within calling distance, occasionally there would
ensue considerable badinage and some very uncomplimentary
remarks. While at Fort Mickle, on September 18th, Charles
Crymble was wounded in the leg by a bullet. At this time the
ts with the horses and drivers were some distance to the
rem, hut not out of range of the enemy's guns, and it was a
very common tiring for a shell to roll along through camp or
pass just over our heads, and it did not have a very soothing
efTect upon one, as he by down a; night, to think that a shell
was liable to come along at anv moment and smash him. At
this time the military railroad on the left was being pushed at
the rate of a mile a day and passed just in front of our camp.
A little to the right of us it passed over quite an elevation, and
For a few days the enemy would open heavily on every train
that passed. Probably we enjoyed watching the shelling much
more than the trainmen did. In a few daws the roadbed was
this amusement for us ceased. Some days the
Battery fired from 75 Lo 100 rounds of shell and it was necessary
Lo take ammunition to the front line quite often. This was not
a pleasant or inviting thing to do, as it had to be 0.<>nc in the
evening and al that time the bullets were usuall) thing around
■ relessly. The approach to the front was by covered
ways, or- zigzag roads, mane h\ digging in the ground two or
three feet, and throwing the earth on the >\'\v towards the
my, a turn being made about every 200 wards. These were ven safe except a' the turns, and we used to ,t >c\ge by them pretty lively.
\.- a fair sample 1 >f our days al the front, I quo! . : •
96
fourth maine; battery
:::: . - ^^«s;^:.^,:
'■ •■st,1,Kllay. Had my flagstaff shot most off
dL Whi, ; P Jt "'; ",be "°ted that ChaP;» calls this a quiet fheran f * " "'^ C°rp°ralS Bates a"d Noting go,
''7/°, : rt opposite down so exact ttat tbe «£»/«
'-u" '" v;." oi us «'«* useless. If they attempted to fire a
™1V ""'f'T^-'^^^PPed into the embrasure, whch '• ' ; »«}■ quiet then. No battery in the service had be"Cr °r ™« accurate gunner, than the 4th Maine
' / !' ■'■' -■' 20tb' Firs< Sergeant Freeman received hi-,
~asUeu^,,arf%1,,tW.H.BmJ«
i '! '" "St Sergrant » Pronation that received the
Ha:lT0Val,0f,aI,thebo>s- A little later Lieutenant H. C.
If- T'T" ■' kaVC "*' ab5e,lce '■' ^count of sickness, and
aef^efslf'-diedathishomeinBrooklynNY Novem.
' ,' L'eut«™t K,mba11 went home on furlough and in
£?mber T1'^ l° 'he Batt^' a"d "signed on Recount o
'^''"'.^"^^^^^^^terthreevearsofcon-
, '';" '"J'™' About tWs t»"c Sergeant Fox rettmned to the
E-«*jy Tom the hospita. and rece.ved a commission as Lieu-
, ' '". September 24th the Battery was moved along the line to I"'",™ ,"d for ™e day was at Battery 16, at the left of Fort ?'s™.- J l,c "cxt day 'f was moved again, this time one sec- ™>b«ng: placed in Fort Steadman and the other in Fo.tHas- Next to Fort Sedgwick (better known as Fort Hell) •'.■'- S'^dntan was the hottest place along the lines.'
AV ,.' " "'"' "::"" lil,es uere °"'y '50 vards apart, with the
P'C ,'"'" betwc™ only «ty yards apart. Picket firing and sha*fh°°'V,K Was ke'« "P constantly, and there was much anfl.cry firmg, and the da, usually closed with a little mortar Practice, winch sometimes developed into a regular artillery "» Hie evening of September aStl,. while one of the* "■'■"' v- ' "'■ ss.Ouinlon Cornell was struck by a piece of "shell and lost his leg above the knee. Although we were on the from fine and in constant danger, it got to he rather
'" ':•'"■■;: a,,d 'one ,e. Those at the from except when
occas.onally called into action had nothing to do, and the time
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 97
was spent lying in the bomb-proofs, or watching through the I ep holes at the picket firing, and occasionally borrowing an m's rifle and trying a shot. Xo one was allowed to leave his gun and all had to be ready for instant action. At the rear the drivers had only their horses to take care of. and had, a little more liberty of moving around, but had to be within call at all times.
iber 26th, we received seven days' rations, and in the
ig the caissoi ; and otl ei te; ms were moved back to City
: aving tin guns at die front. On this day a movement
was co . d in force to the left in the direction of the South
■• ;' oad, by the 2d and 5th Corps, and at the same time d nonstration was made on the north side of the James by G n ; d Butler. On the afterno i:1 of the 26th a large number >ps were moved to positions within sight of the enemv, tents were pitched, and at dark they were started on a forced h to th left, leaving a detail of men to keep the camp fires burning. All the available troops were taken for this move- ment, and the forces left in the front lines were not much more than a heavy picket line. This ruse >V<i not succeed in deceiving tiie enemy, and when the 2C1 and Ait Corps arrived at Hatcher's Run, they found their further ad ice blocked by the enemy in iarge force. On the afternoon of the 27th the enemv tried a little bl ft gan in front of where our Battery was in position. A regiment was [ i n th d< 1 ' quick, passing a point in
of us ; ' '' 11 returning by the rear out of sight and
md A a circle. This gave the appearance of a large
force rnassii i assault, and as our lines were verv weal:.
i for a time much uneasiness. The movement to the left (lid no ' succes ? hi >] ; 1 fc r, but still important
.'•d vantage was gained at that point as well as on the north of ,; ; nes. This closed all of the important movements for the season in front of Petersburg, although minor movements ware frequently n de, an ' tin I p so m 1 egan to prepare foi dap- winter quarters and settled down for a winter's siege.
During ( : tober .■. .■ received AA recruits, which gave us a full complement of men, for the first time since leaving Cedar Creek, more than two years before. The two guns which had been turned in during the sumi er, for want of men to handle them, were now returned to us, and it gave us much satisfaction
98 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
to feel that we were once more a fully equipped battery. November 3d quite a number of promotions were made of Cor- porals and Sergeants. November 8th was Presidential election and we had the privilege of voting- in the field. Very little elec- tioneering was dune, every man voting without any influence being brought to bear. One of our Sergeants attempted to do a little work for the McClellan side, and taking Charles Frost asi : . tried to convince him that it was his duly to vote the McClellan ticket. Frost told him that he was not of legal age, but the Sergeant assured him that it would be all right, and he Id see him through if any trouble occurred. Thereupon Frost went to the polls and cast his ballot, and immediately came back to tell all the boys that he had voted a Lincoln ticket, and that the Sergeant had agreed to see him through. The ballot in the Battery stood, Lincoln 59, McClellan 34. During Novem- ber there was considerable drilling for the benefit of the new recruits who had joined us.
November 24th was Thanksgiving day and was observed all through the army, and we thoroughly enjoyed our turkey which was furnished us bv the Christian Commission, and which was supplemented by such caber things as we could provide. As winter came on we found our shelter tents very uncomfortable during the cold nights, and early in December began to build log huts for winter quarters. Logs were drawn for us and bricks for chimneys procured from destroyed buildings, and for a time all hands were fully occupied. December r8th, the last of our quarters was jusl 1 sing fini hed when we received orders to move in the morning to the left and join our old corps (the 6th), which had just hoc;, r] from the valley under Sheridan, and was statii along the line in the vicinity oi the Globe
Tavern. The 19th proved to be a most uncomfortable day on which to leave good quarters and start on a move of several miles. In the morning a cold rain was felling, turning to soft snow towards night. About night we reached our new quar- ters, and most uninviting they proved to be, and it was with considerable grumbling that we ate our supper and la; ' 1 in the ■•^<\ for a night's rest. f >n the next day (the 20th) oui original three years' service had expired, and twenty oi those who }i.i<\ not re- nlisted were n usti reel oui and started for home. We much regretted to part with th< comrades who had been
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 99
with us so long, and particularly with First Sergeant Brooks and Quartermaster Sergeant Williams. Sergeant Ames was now promoted to First Sergeant and Will Jordan to Quarter- master Serg< am, and several other promotions were : ; About this time Sergeant Woods received his commission as, Second Lieutenant and Lieutenant Freeman was promoted to First Lieutenant. Our Battery was now divided. The right section with the caissons and all the horses and drivers were stationed in Battery No. 24, which was headquarters, and under command of Captain White. The left section under Lieutenant
ry : near the Glotx Tavern, a:. centre section under Lieutenant Woods in Batter}- 25. Lieu- tenant Fox at this time was detached with the Quartermaster's Department. Battery 24 was at the extreme right of the 6th Corps, the 9th Corps being at our right and the 31st Maine in camp very near us. At this point the lines were about a mile apart, and owing to tl I irmation of the ground were not in sight of each other. At Battery 26 the lines were only some 500 yards apart, and when we moved in. there were some unburi I of the rebels lying in front of the works. For
the first time since the 4th of May we felt that we were com- paratively sate, and during our stay here, of more than three months, cm only loss was one man. Freeman Foss, who was wounded in the leg by a bi
Work was at once commenced to put our new quarters in Much of 1 . rial was bi m our old quar-
ters and the huts rebuilt, with a small fireplace in each one. : its were of logs bout nd were occupied
by four men. T Is were lev< . stumps dug out,
stockade bi i protect the horses and an attempt made to roof it over. This all took ' md it was a month befi re ve were fulh
The winter w ith little to break the monoton;
of camp life. 1 ut was probal ' fortab and pleas
ant of any winter in tl : service. In g - : drilling
• ' il tli horses ' ■. . 1 1 parti :ulai ly
enefil if the recruits :; ne to us to
All the places of those who were returning home on a e> pir; ' i i ft* rr ■ ' sen i :
On November 28, 1864, ten men were detailed for service with
IOO FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
Battery H, ist Ohio, and remained with that battery until about the 15th of February. Early in March, H. H. Powers, Tamer- line Billings, Edward Friend, Edwin R. Gustin, Robert Gustin, Charles E. Hunt. Edwin R. Kneeland, Levi P. Mason, New- combe E. Small and Dorrington Wyman were detailed for ser- vice with Battery G, 1st Rhode Island, and while with that battery took part in the final assault on Petersburg and in the battle of Sailors' Creek on April 6th and at Appomattox on the 9th and claim that they did more hard marching' between Peters- burg and Appomattox than in any prior campaign while in the service. These men did not arrive home until after the battery was mustered out. They were mustered out June 21st at Augusta.
As usual Frank Bartlett's laugh was often heard through the camp, and we all knew that a go< d story was being told, or a joke being played on some of the boys. When other resources failed, Frank and a few of the boys always had the Captain's darkey, Dick Johnson, to fall back upon with their tricks, which he always took with remarkable good nature. Occasionallv we would be turned out by heavy bring at the right or left of us and have to stand by our guns for a while.
Early on the morning of -March 23d!, we were aroused by "Bo its and saddles" being sounded, and turned out to find a terrific bombardment going on the whole length of the line. About four o'clock the Confederate General Cordon bar! made an assault at J ori Steadman, surprising and capturing the fort and ball k on each si le < f it, and advancing nearly to the rail- to; d at Meade's Station, This instantly aroused the whole line, which opened lire. The 9th Corps very promptly rallied, and .!• soon as reserv < could b brought up, a charge was made which resulted in the recapture of our lines. Nearly 2000 pris- oners were taken, and about 0*00 of the en 'my were dead and ' ' led. When thi had I n accomplished, an assault was ordered to be made by the 6th Corps al the left of the Globe Tavern, which resulted in the capture and holding oi the ene; '- ; : 1 lines. Late in the day the heavy firing died out and things 1 turned their usual course, except that from this time out we were called to turn out each morning at three o'clock
On the 28th Sheridan, who had arrived at Petersburg from the Shenandoah Valley with the cavalry, started on a move to
was ' ed
LIOHT artillery, 1861-65. IOI
^^s^ffi"fm-0-Fi™F0rk',Withaview0ftarai'« " 'V'.' S'cft and -"""'« Possession. of the South Side and
t'':; ;-'7: ! "dthead and 5th Corps moved to the left
"• s»PPOrt h,m, leaving the yth and 6th Corps holding the works
z :::'! ,,: Petirsb"rf °" the 3,?; sherfd» — h«viiv
'" ■■■■".'" "ear Dmwiddie Court House, and Warren
: ; -"■.'»" "hen nigh, came the enemy had rettr
">" of the Fh-e Porta. On the 1st of April War-
' "-Pswas placed under Sheridan's command, and toward,
■"" ^sault was made upon the enemy's works. Sheridan
;: ivorks with the men. In this engagement the
ed, of Pickett's and Bushrod Johnk.nVdhh
S'°"S' lVere over 5000, and Sheridan's total loss about 1000
, n,%Tem>'' who had broke„ and fled in all directions, ,vere pursuedb>;Shendan until darkness closed the grand day's work
' [,°" ST'" °; the "^s "*' Sheridan's success, General Grant
p::;:bdl,lraf;a?d16thc°rp :
"' dayllght on the 2d. Since Sheridan's moven
adC; ' ' - ^«d continuous artillery fire Td
^ the whole length of the line. At daylight the 9,h
™ "' Corps moved t ptly, and succeeded in capturiu- the
""'d see bu, l.« : of the terrific contest that was goiuo- on
J"t ,' Si B'". *ere was a constant
. "' ^""er-v and musketry. As we stood bv our <-uns lis-
<™"f ^ *« battle raging 0„ the right and on the left he
on. the scene of action was most intense.' and
^'^rned 'h^. our boys had captur : , ,, ,,,,,..;
e endo rt ?''"' " '* ^ ' °f Fort Hell, w, felt t La.
, ' "' thc lo"g struggle was at hand. Lai, at nmht v
; ■'..:. ; f "' '"■'■■■'• ■•"■> for a lullaby. On thc 3d we were up
;■'■,;■:; '! fctness' ,hat we were not ^tomed
' ■ y Anxmus inquiries were made as to ho,
.'." , ™e. but without in fonnation until about
^^'ooh, when some of the 31st Maine boys came back from 1^fro"tia"d sported that they had been in the city, which wa evacuai al dun , the night.
Stlo« we had orders to send teams to the abandoned lines and
102 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
bring back some guns, and a little later orders were received to report, with several other batteries of the corps, at the reserve artillery can:]) at City Point. About half of the batteries remained with the corps, which immediately started to join Sheridan in the last and final struggle. It was a happy, though rather a mixed crowd, composed of artillery, bag-gage trains, sutlers'" wagons an 1 prisoners of war, that moved that day with
:es ■ ; •. ircls City Point. Even the prisoners seemed to be glad that they were out of it. Considerable bartering was done with the prisoners, and a hun lred dollars in Confederate money v. is no unusual price for a handful of hard bread. About noon the rumor began to spread that Richmond also had been cap- tured. This was thought to be too much good news for one day and would not be accepted as a fact, until it was confirmed b\ good authority. Arriving at City Point, we went into camp v itl the ither batteries about a mile from the landing, and the time was spent anxiously waiting for news from the front. As nev came frequently of Sheridan's magnificent successes, we all felt that a few days more would see the finish and began to n ake i nr plans for being home very soon. On the oth, about .-even o'clock in the evening, we began to hear loud cheering in the din :tion of the landing. Camp after camp took it up, and it spread rapidly in every direction till it seemed that every man \va making all the noise that he could. We knew it must good news, and extra good news at that, from the hearty and c cheering that was kepi up with increasing
volume. Everyone was on the "qui vive" and some of the boys started off to find out the cans • of so much noise. Soon we s .'. returning, out of breath, and when within shouting dis- tance they called to us, "bee has surrendered." Instantly a shoul went up from every man and our voices were added to the thousands thai were making the evening air ring. Com- " '■ i rasped comrade by the hand and tears of joy stood in many an eye.
So in s 'me one called attention to a quantity of brush in the ,■ \ near at hand, and in a moment every baud was bring- ing brush and huge bonfires were started. Other camps took it up and an} him that would burn was sacrificed, and the w \v >le countn for mi t - around v as soon a blaze ^>i light. The rejoic- ing was too great to abate, and when late at night some tired
LIGHT ARTlIJ.l-.Rv 1861-65. I03
( irade would quietly steal away to his tent for a little rest, he would be unceremoniously pulled out, with the information that 1 0 one would be allowed to sleep that night. It was daylight b< fore any degree of quietness was restored and the boys began to act like sane beings. All our thoughts from this time began to centre upon going home.
On the r4tb, just after midnight, Captain White received an to ^n<\ immediately to brigade headquarters a Sergeant and twelve men mounted and equipped as cavalry. At the same : officers were hurriedly riding from camp to camp carrying the information ci the assassination of President Lincoln, which ncws was to be k'ept from the men. The detail was hurriedly mad- and sent, as ordered, but coming at such a time and under sllcn circumstances it caused much comment and inquiry in the Lattery. The nexl forenoon about the time that' the detail returned, the news of the Presid. nt's death became known, and the joy and hilarity that had been so prevalent for the past few- days became suddenly changed to sadness, and it seemed like a persona] loss to each one.
During the remainder of April we remained quietly in camp ;:' l ' .'■■' Poim waiting to start on our homeward march. On lhe '"orning of May 3d we bo.be camp and started on our last march, and in the afternoon crossed the [antes River at Aiken's Landing and camped for the night near Chapin's farm on an old rebel campground, where the boys picked up many souvenirs. On the 4th we wci e again on the march and at noon in the suburbs of Richmond for dinner, but did not enter the main part of the city. Much interest was manifested in examining the fortifications through which we passed, and the heavy ^U]+ u-ere stil] niollntcd in thcm which werfi much
larger than any we bad seen before. As we stood within the enemy's works we could understand better than ever why it had been impossible to carry them by assault. Through the remainder of the day and the following day our route was through historic -round ana battle fields', and passing through ' ' /er Conrt House, we camped, on the night of the 5th, near the Pamunky River.
On the morning of the 6th we crossed the Pamunky and, con-
. our n irch northward, we arrived on the evening of the
7th at the beautiful village of Bowling Green, where we
104 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
encamped for the night. On the 8th we crossed the Rappa- hannock at Fredericksburg, passing over the battle held where Burnside in December, 1862, had sacrificed thousands in the vain attempt to carry .Mane's Heights, and on the north side of tin river where the Army of the Potomac had camped during the winter of '62-$, and at night we went into camp near Aquia Creek. During the night Richard E. Wyman disappeared from camp and no track 01 trace could be found of him. As we were on our way home, it did not seem possible that he would desert.
On the morning of the 9th we again resumed our march and at night arrived at Fairfax Seminary, which proved to be our last camping ground before leaving fur home. Our march from City Point had taken just a week and had been done leisurely. We had enjoyed beautiful weather and altogether it had been a very pleasant trip.
From our arrival at Fairfax Seminary until our start for home not much occurred of any note.
The batteries of the reserve artillery to which we were attach.:1: did not lake part in the grand review at Washington, on Ma^ 23d ; id 24th. Immediately after the review prepara- ti vere rapidly mad': for the return home of the troops, and
about the 28th the batteries began to turn in their guns and horses.
One evening, three or four days bef m we were to bid good- bye to Virginia, some in the boys started to illuminate by placing candles on the ridge of the tents. The other batteries took it up and were followed by the infantry, and soon the whole countrv as far as could be seen was brilliantly iighted. Nol content with this, improvised fireworks were mad- from the cartridges from the limber chests and for a tune the display was very brilliant. A'ftei an hour's amusement of this sort the boys formed in line and several charges and counter charges wen n ul< .. th the battery next to us. A halt was then called and all the batteries united and fell in line and then marched to the different Captains' quarters, giving each a cheer and calling f . a speech, winch was r< ;poi ' ; to in each case. When we had completedour rounds it was past midnight, and this was our last frolic. June [st our guns were taken to Washington and turned in to the < Irdnauce Department, and the next day our h( irses were turned in.
LIGHT ART r TJ.KRV, ^ 1861-65. 105
On the morning of June 3d we struck tents, early and started for Washington on our way home. It was not until dark that we were aboard the train and ready to start, accompanied by the 6th Maine Battery and a New Hampshire battery, also some infantry regiments. The next morning we arrived at Phila- delphia soon a tier daylight, and marched across the city to the old Cooper Shop Refreshment Saloon, so well known and remembered by all old soldiers who passed through Philadelphia, where we found a most bountiful breakfast prepared for us. Our reception as we passed through the city was most cordial and enthusiastic. Although it was Sunday morning, and very earl)', many of the citizens were out to greet us, many of the building? were decorated, and several arches with appropriate 1 Itoes had been erected to welcome the. returning soldiers and a salute was also fired. After having partaken of our break- fast, we cro I die ferry to Camden and embarked on the Cam- den and Ambo) railroad for Amboy, where we were transferred to a boat for New York, at which place we arrived late in the afternoon and were again transferred to the New London boat. In the evening we passed down the sound ?ml arrived at New London about five o'clock on the morning of the 5th. Here we took the train for Boston. The boys had been rather negligent in regard to ration- and many had nor had anything to cat since leaving Philadelphia twenty-foui hours before, but the good people of New London came handsomely to our relief and for die hour that we were there the ladies were kept busy feeding the hungry boys. After an hour's run the train made a short .-' : al Norwich, where we were as cordially received as at New 1 ,ond< >n, and when we left the inner wants of every one had been satisfied. At Worcester a short stop was made and a cordial greeting given to us. About nine o'clock we arrived at the Beach Street Station in Boston, and disembarking were marched with the 6th Battery to the old Beach Street Barracks. Upon entering we found that a guard from the invalid corps I I been plai cd a: the door to prevent any one leaving, which did not meet the hearty approval of the boys, and many of tli 1 1 hastih umhuig their knapsacks and made a break for the guard, which was hustled out of the way rather lively. Just then Cap- tain White and senile other officers appeared on the scene and with quiet restored the boys soon returned to their quarters.
I06 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
Finding that a pas? from the First Sergeant would let them out, he was kept busy writing passes until his paper gave out, and to avoid further annoyance he quietly sneaked away, but the boys finding an exit through a trap door, the quarters vv< re soon empty. It was well understood that we were to take the night boat for Augusta, and the day was spent looking over Boston and when it came time to start even' man was on hand. About fr ( o'clock we fell in line and accompanied by the 6th Lattery started on our march across the city. As we were marching tin >ugh < ne of the business streets every window and door was filled and i une one from an upper window called out, "Cheers for the boys from die Pine Tree State," and most hearty was the response. As we listened to the generous greet- ing our hearts swelled with emotion and more than one eye was moist. Embarking on the Kennebec boat, the berths were ah given up to the ild i rs, the other passengers doing the best they could for the night, and for one night we felt that we were a little better than common people.
Our first landing was made at Richmond soon after light, and we were looking- for something of a greeting and were con- siderably taken c}^wn to find only one man at the landing. At Gardiner we expected to see some of our friend-, but there were only the ordinary number of about a dozen in sight. Arriving at I Fallowell it was only a little better, and the boys began to feel disappi u ted ai d growled considerably at the cool reception we were receiving in our own state, when we had been so cor- dially received at other place-.
Upon arriving at Augusta we found thai the reception there was enough to make up for what had been lacking at the other pi i -. and very proudly v e foi i :xl in lim and marched to the camp on the grounds in front of the Suite House, where a most substantial and generous repast had been provided for us; and where an hour was happily spent in listening to words of wel- come, J [good advice given to us, by eloquent speakers.
As our muster-out rolls ha 1 to be made out, which would take several days, main- of the boys took advantage of (be time for a short vis-it to friend- at home, and all returning in time, we were mustered out of service on June 17th audi separated. many never to meet again and others onh at our annual reunions which for the past few years have been so happy and pleasant.
CHAPTER IX. Ros'j er — Promotions — Re-f,nusted — Died in the service
AND WOUNDED — Dim SINCE 1865 — DISCHARGED 1862-3-4.
ioS
FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
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n6
FOURTH MA I NIC BATTERY
k i"
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861(15. 117
Promotions, 3862. 2d Lieut. C. YV. White to be 1st Lieut. Private John M. Freeman to be 8i rg't. Corporal Jere Oweu to be Sergeant. Private Gorbani Powers to be Corporal.
Corporal Jere Cleveland to be Sergeant. Private George A. Magoon to he Corp'l. Corp'l Ebenezer C. Talcott to be Serg't. Private William Lane to be Artificer, Corp'l Lewis F. Blown to be Serg't.
Promotions, 1863. Q. M. Sergt. M.C. Kimball to be 2d Lieut. Private Llewellyn Tozier to Corporal. Ord. Sergt. H. C. Haynes to be 2d Lieut. Private James M. Allen to be Corporal. Sergt. John M. Freeman to be Orel. Sergt. Private Jere Buckley to be Corporal. Se-rg. Cyras M. Williams tobeQ. M.Serg. Private Oliver Y. Cutting to be Corporal. Corp. Augustus Fox to be Sergeant, Private Emery J. Packard to be Corp'l.
Corp. Jndson Ames to be Sergeant. Private Alonso Plummer to be Corporal.
Corp. Gorham Power-; to be Sergeant. Private Lyman G. Brown to be Corporal. Corp. Jared Bates to be Sergeant. Private Alfred C. Botes to be Corporal.
Corp. Wilbert P. Friend to be Sergeant.
Promotions, 1804. 1st Lieut. C. W. White to be Captain. Private Charles A. Allen to be. Corporal. 2d Lieut. M. C. Kimball to be 1st Lieut. Private H. 1$. Stevens to be Corporal. 2d Lieut. H. C. Haynes to be 1st Lieut. Private Jere Keen.; to he Corporal. Ord. Serg. John M. Freeman to he 2d Lt. Private Charles B. Patterson to be Corp'l. Sergt. Augustus Fox to be 2d Lieut. Private Silas R. Kidder to be Corporal.
Sergt. William H. Brooksto b< Orel. Serg. Private James A. Jones to be Bugler. Corp'l Lester IIolv ay to be Sergeant. Private Mark [larville to be Artificer. Corp'l Alfred C. Bate 1 to be Sergeant. Priv. Edgar C. Kirkpati'ick to he Art'cer. Private Albion B. Frost to be Corporal.
Promotions, 1865. 2d Lieut. John M. Freeman to be 1st Lt. Private Emulu* F. Wbitten to be Corp'l. Sergt. George W. Wooda to be 2d Lieut. Private Emery L. Hunton to he Corp'l. Sergt. Judson Ames to be Ord. Sergeant Private Maurice '6. Philbriek to bi Co p'l Private W illiani Jordan tob Q M.Serg. Private Alvah Whittier 1" be Corporal. Cos p'l Llewellyn Toziei to be Sergeant. Private Oliver J. Moulton to be Corporal Corp'l Charles A. Allen to be Sergeant. Private Nathan W. Ilazen to he Corporal Private Joseph B. French to be Sergt. Private Uriah Reed to be Corporal. Corp'l Charles I!. Patterson to be Sergt. Private Lucius Lawrence to be Uugli i. Corp'l Albion B. Frost to he Sergeant. Private Silas Perham to be Artificer. Private Lysander H.Parker to be Corp. Private Osgood J. Clearj to be \f'
nS
FOURTH MAINS BATTERY
RKBNLISTBD IN THE PIEI/D.
|
Freeman, Jo1 |
it) M. |
|
Fox, Au rusti |
|
|
Woods, C ' |
•• w. |
|
A Hies, Jit. 1 ■ i |
|
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Jordan, w illiam. |
|
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Owen, Jei . • |
V. |
|
1 ml, Jere. |
|
|
Bates, .1 |
|
|
Powei |
am. |
|
I, Will |
:t P |
|
Allen, Charl |
' |
|
1 i neb, Jo |
: |
|
Pattersoi , i |
- |
|
Allen, ■':■ ne |
■ |
|
Keene, Jerei |
u..: , |
Parker, Lys ind si Whittier, Emulus
Nil!!:,-:, Oiivei V
M ug< ion, ' : joi • llunton, Kna r\ I Barl t, Franklii Lane, William. McKenney, Geor; Orvi e, Charles ) .. tin Prncc !.. B< an, I ;■;■ X7. Brick, G- ■■ II PL ovil Davi
■ : ■ . > , Corneli
■ (St, Charles V,
:o W , Jr.
G irdon, Robert. Ki-u-ins, William L.
ins. Isaac M. Lincoln, Llewellyn. Marvel, Mavhew N. Mills, Marion. Patten, Henry. Perkins, Ansil B. Powers, Hannibal II. Pratt, C-Jeorge 0. i ider, John. Sylv ester, John. \ Ham,, Ambrose. White, Franklin. \ r. jbt, A). leu D.
|
KJXDED AND NIED IN THJv SERVICE. |
|
|
r ' " Name. Date. |
Remarks. |
Capt.O'Xeil W. Robinson, Jr.. July 17, IS
Sergt. T, v [s F. Brown
Si rgt. Jere Owen, Jr
Sergt. Ebenezer C. Talcott
Corp'1 Jere Keene June
Pktvj i .
Bailey, John F
Beal. Andrew P
Crymble.Caldo i : I
Davis, Lewis F M av
At Bethel, Me.
At L.Hi i > '.V:,;'. r, ;toii. A-;:. 11, 1564 In hospital at Alexandria, Va. :;, In;., i;. hospital. Jl, lse'i Killed fn nl ol Pi tersburg.
Doust. Seidell M ....
Eldridse, (ra
Foss, Natlia ii< I A...
; t-o Henrv W
Friars, B irn< y
Godin, Martin
Kimball, I barlr-s W.
Magoon, G< osge H-.
>!■ irri) I, •) . A i gnstus
- Chai les 11 ..
. N. 1.'. ' a...
lln..]. , ! !|;:v! ■' l< .. .
Stetson, Jesse 1 .... St< . ns, J ines '•'. .. Sullivan, -I: ;■ • ■ - .. Thorn pson, '■. sa L>... Titcomb, Ji hn II — Witham, Asa
An-. M •• Ji lie Mar. Dee.
lSi'2 in hospital at Alexandria, Va.
farper1 Fei i-y, Va. bi : \t Cr: ml; Stat ion, Vn. !ft'!-J Mi italic n ounded at Fort Ramsay, Va.,
Mav 1'). i ■ ■ [n 1 I
]-'•: in h ■-
1?'<;*. hi ho*; i'r. de< iok, Mil.
l:i'.4 \t Brand > ^rai ion, Va. i ■ ; Lostoverl >ardoni \ to join Batterv, Kn'.Mi .., Me.
in 1 1 rout of Petersburg. In:! [r, hospital. 1S64 in I* | :. 16 ;■! In hospital.
IsfiJ Killed at Cedar Mountain, Va. p.;: Killed ai Port Ramsay, \ a. i ■ • Re in Stal ion, \ a. lSCi In ho . i- -j in i) •.■,.■■:. ••' :. Uirusta.
h rick, Md.
lsfj-J [n In I I
1' ;;.' Mttli U*a '.; fton, Va.
Wounded in E attic.
Lient. Angus! .-.Pox [July SO, in j Front of Petersburg.
Orderlj 3ei gt. H. C. Hh Ir i-dar Mount iin.
i , I i in Powers Oct. la, LSS3,McLeau's Ford.
Privates.
hi P |June 1. In;: Cold Harbor.
Connell, •
Davis. Abe!
1 ,
Crymbli . Chai
p.r.. .-;•, Hannibal 11.
SalP irl H
, .■..::. .v K
Smith. James C
Vittum, Am ■
. ndi ■•• P
Fort SI ■
. f lar Mo
t of Pel il>«
i rout of Pi tersriuij -■ . C< ilav Mountain. In „ ( ci.i;- Mountain. 1M ! Front of i rsburj \t .: Cedar Moi ni in.
J Ci lai Mou - .■ i i i . i , ilar Mount! in.
■ '^
* I
4. *. \
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. H9
DIED SINCE DISCHARGE FROM THE SERVICE.
Name.
Date.
Place.
Remt
Capt. CI Lieut. \ Lieut, li Lieut. A Lieut. G
les \Y. White.
stusF.
LTD
Woods
Q. M. Sergt. C. M. Williams.. Q. M. Sergt. William Jordan.
Sergt. WilbertP. Friend
.-. 1 •:. Charles A. Allen
.- •!■. '.1 , .; i( ■ - i; i':tti erson..
Sergt. Albion B. Frost
Sergt. J ere Ck^ elai l
Corp'l George Holrten
Corp') James M. Allen
Corp-! Silas li. k"i.l.';s-r
Cu-p'l Maurice S. rvllbriek. Corp'l Emul3 F. Whittier....
Corp'l Alvab Whittier
Corp'l Uriah Reed
Corp'l Emery .T. Packard — Bugler Hebron M. Wentwortl Hurler Harlev K. Hicks.
Artificer M. VV. Marvel
Artificer William Lane
Artificer . I ■■ • I \ 1 iompso: Artificer Charles L. Bi ;elow Artificer Osgood J. Cleary.
Privates. Aelln, Henry.
Akers, John M
Akers, Joseph W
Alexander, \\ illiam F
Austin, Prince I.. Brown, (if-or-e W. K. Brov n, Jonathan K. Bn . ■!, Lem tie! S. Berrv, N illiam P.
Bean, Moses T
Bolduc, Fortuna
Chandler, Abi I, Jr
Clifford, David S
Cony, Henry C
Crowlcv, Conn lius
Crane. George »
Cornell, Qninlon
I has.-, S'enh. n
Coombs, Charles T
Coombs, Ass
(. lark, William
Donlev, Frankli
Dean, Charles
,1 orneli is
Douglass, Georgi i'.. ! orii, U. H. C...
Dolloff, s-.-v. ell.
Davis Lewis
I :..•', Charlc- A
Kliler, Mvah.
i , . r, Wj
! ■■ • I I
F. .1 n ■ :
1 About ; A bout Dec, About About A bout JAbout I About
i- ;
1 S ! I
ls:ti 1S70 1S75
jv ii
1 3S5
1 . 1 1 >:■:■;:< . New York. Brooklyn, N. Y. Porth nd. Mi. Vernon. M t. Vernon.
Howard, S. D. Pittston.
About Jan. V',
\ ugusta. iDutch Flats, Ca
Mt. Vernon. ; ,Cal...
Vienna.
Lewiston.
About About
I I
Lev iston. uMonsou.
. . ; Brunsv, iek.
April,
I . : '!■'■ a:;to:i. Bethel.
Auburn. ! . ekland.
iTemple. Temple.
. . Jan. ■;:>, 1'.'.;
Mt. Vernon. Newcastle, X. H.
11. li
i 0'.,n:. , A'_imi.-1 in
llut< liins, fsanc M... Hatch, Augustus, E , Holbrook, John U .. Ilunton, Si mu Hundj , George W. .
July 12 About
Norfolk, Va. Ml. Vernon.
Guilford. Peak's Islam
- o.UirM.
[Fn.li ins. .Killed in the '•' • Htbj .Murdered in H est,
. Accidently shot.
Killed maki arrest.
lc< id« ntly billi il the West.
: r'a Hoi
FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
DIED SINCE DISCHARGE- Concluded.
Privates— Ooncl Hodgdon, Freeman.
Jones, Ethel H
Jones, Charles L
Jewell, John.
JCin^r, John A
Kitteridge, Char! I Lake, fl Llliain s\ .... Lincoln, Leonard II. Lowell, William II. Lftne-. .lonatliun U ...
McCann, Frank
Morse, William B.... Mace, Elijah.
Merrill, L>a\ id V
Mathews, Cyrus
Nutting, Thomas E.. O'Kiley, John. Perham, Charles rr . Iiamsdcll, A. K. L\ Rider, John. Sawyer, Charles l . .. Southard, Amazii ':...
Smith. James C
Scriggin i, Charles 11
Smith, Osmyn
Sally, Horace B
Tozitr, l-'rr. nklin. Wbittii i, James L... Weston, Lorenzo.... W< Hon, Km; su P ... Wil son, Edw in [!.... Wri; it, ; .... . uC, WriKl t, Jau es M.... Wavi . Li wis
Sept.
1902 Augus 1903
1" U
Bridgt
1S97 Auburn. lv.t2i.Mt. Vernon.
[Mass.
iCambridgepoi L,
IS.sfi St. Albans. 1902 Farinington.
\bout 1S97 Togus.
1SS0
1900 Harpswell.
July
„>:., is.-..- Cm-in^toi
Bethel.
t., 19i 4 Pittsbn
J.y. , Pa.
...Mar. 10, 1S74 Mt. Verno
|A1 out
About
isi,;
Weston, James B. Whiltier, True. Williamson, Anl hony G. Witham, Alvin T. Wright, Georgi W.
Webber, Mai!. C \l .
Winchester. John iSept.
I
1S63
1903 Mt. Vci
1902
>xford. Joritma.
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. Discharged in 1862.
Name and Rank
Dai
121
LIEUTENANT.
L. M.S. Haynes |5eptember 22 Disability.
SERGEANTS.
Orriii O. Vittum Mnr
Harry Farkman June
BCGLEB
Harley F. Hicks.
Aktifice Charles L. Bigelo
Disability.
Disability.
Pkivates.
Aver, Joshua
Brown, Jonathan E...
Disaoility. K Disability. 15 Disability.
, . Xovenibei
..July
Chi pin, H- 11 ry D ! Not mustered.
Clark, Hiram s« May 13| Disability.
Corbett, Harvey S February 22 Disability.
Douglas -, Geoi c B June
Elder, Mvah February ! (J) aimed by 13th Maine.
I ■ I ell, Otis J October o> Disability.
Hunter, Albert | Not mustered.
Ilunton, Samuel May 5 Disability.
Handy, George VV October 30 Disability.
Lincoln, Leonard H December IJDisability.
Locke, Hanson H May 3jDisabilitv.
Mago m, Ephraim !....'
Merrill, David V lOetober •■:. Disability.
Mcrniw, Seth G May 3 Disability.
Ma den. Wallace ' Not mustered.
Howe, John May 5 Disability.
Robinson, Levi July 12 Disability.
Snow, Daniel E Not mustered.
Stevens, Oliver Le Roy — > .Not mustered.
Tozler, Franklin Mav 5 Disability.
Turner, [iarrisou O June Di ilil
Washburn, Benjamin February 22 Disability.
Wesl »n,.Tai les I? May 5 Di ability.
S\ hiltier, True | December 3 Disability.
;'- ' Is, Stephen A \pril 23 Di-a bilit v.
Wills, sy l vester A pril 5 Disa bility.
Wrugg. Kooke I" [December !• i>.-al.'d;;v.
Wright, George W 1 i Disability .
LIEUTENANTS.
Hamlin F. Eaton
Matliew B. Collin
Sergeants.
Solon Robertson
Algernon S. Bangs
COKl >: V'.-.
George Holden
Luther B. Jennings
IM:l -.'ATI s
Brown, George W. t
Bi (- w:i, Lemuel S
D:i\ is, Abel
Fo» :. William !!. I!
Kltt'eredge, Charles R....
I. akin, \hdiew A
Mace, Elijah A '....
Sallv, Charles If
Sallv, Horace is
Discharged in 1863.
1! Disability. 12 Disability.
j March IS DisabiliDy.
January 16 Disability.
Smith, Omiij-ii
Sturdy. Cyrus A
Tv itchell, Austin F
|
March |
13 Disabilitj-. |
|
February |
B Disability. |
|
May |
5 Disability. |
|
January |
20 Disability. |
|
January March |
■:■ Ac. • aint of woun I. ; ii biiitv. |
|
\UfJUst |
HDisabilitv. |
|
May |
22 Disability. |
|
\ugust |
1 rransferred to Invalid Corps |
|
Jul'v |
]! rnmsfei red to Invalid Corp9 |
|
Transferred to Invalid Corps |
|
|
Augnst |
11 Ti m.-f-rred to Invalid Corps |
|
March |
IT Disability. |
|
February |
Disability. |
|
January |
T Disabilitj . |
FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
Discharged in 1864.
Name and Rani-
LlEUl EXANTS.
Melville C. Kimball.. Henry C. Haj nes
Order lt Sergeani William II. Bro ■:.-....
Q. M. Rekgj ant. is M. Williams....
Sergeant.
Alfred C. Male-
Corporal J ere Buckley
Hebron M. Wentworth
Privates.
Allen, Henry
Chandler, Abie!
Don'ly, Franklin
Dean, Charles
Foss, Jobn
Frve, Albion K. i'...
Gates, Flenrv P
Griffin, Charl a H ... Moore, George XV....
Morphy, John
Sawyer, Cli irlea II.. Southard, Amaziah .
Smith, James C
Thompson, Octavus.
n,l enzo
Wright, Elbridgc G .
Sergeant. Gorham Powers....
Privates. Brick, George U ... Donaldson. Thomas
Davis, Lewis
Lowell, Wil 11 Maxw< 11, \\ illiam . Seabot, John
I): eeraber 21 Disability. Sov< mber 30 Disability.
20 3 years term expired
December 20 3 year-; term expired. December 2013 years term es pin d.
December 20i3 years tt
December 2713 years term expired.
December 20:3 years term expire.). December -•> ■■ ye'irs term expired.
|
December |
3 s 1 trs term <■ spired |
|
D ci mlji ■ |
2 - 3 j-ears term expired |
|
December |
2n 3 5 e irs term expired |
|
Dei em • ■ r |
20 ■! years term ex pired |
|
Di cembei |
20 :-; years term expired |
|
December |
20 3 years term 1 x] in ! |
|
: 1 |
20 3 years term expi d |
|
December |
20 3 years term expired |
|
December |
20 3 years term 1 , lired |
|
December |
20 3 vears term 1 a ■■■ ccd |
|
December |
20 3 years tci tn expired |
|
Deci mber |
20 . years 1 rm 1 xpired |
|
December |
20 i years term expired |
|
December |
20 3 5 ears term expired |
April Se'ptei
1-i Promoted Lien?, in U. S. Colore.'. Ke;'t.
'.< I'i.Muot,-,1. r.iev.t. in :vih Keg't U. S. C. T.
IS Transferred to NJavy. ...H laimed bv Battery G, 3 1 U. S
. Ti ■; -?. ■ .. i to Invalid Corps. . .. Transferred to Invalid Corns.
1- 1 ransferred to Navy.
i- Transit ired to Savy.
CHAPTER X. Biography and Personal Notes.
HEBRON M. WENTWORTH.
Obituary and Extracts from Diary. — A Gardiner Ex- Mayor Passes Away. — Hon. Hebron M. Wentworth Dir.s at the National Home, D. V. S., Sunday.
It was not such a great many years ago that among' the most valuable industries of Gardiner was counted the Wentworth Spring audi Axle Works, giving lucrative employment to a large force of men, who commanded large wage's and added greatly to the prosperit) of the city. But large plants and Western com- petition killed the business in this city, and our citizens regret- fully saw it dwindle away and finally abandoned.
The founder of the business here. Mr. Hebron M. Went- worth, who died a1 tl f Togus Heme Sunday, brought the busi- ness from Readheld here, and was a man of sterling integrity and character. He served his country faithfully in the Civil War, a member of the 4th Maine Battery, and was greatly respected in his adopted home. He was elected mayor in 1874, serving two years, having previously been a member of both branches of the city government. After closing out his spring business he commenced the manufacture of bolts in the grist mill building, but was only engaged in that business a sh »rt time. For the past four years he lived with his daughter, Mrs. Myra L. Moody, in Tacoma, Wash., returning to Gardiner last sum- mer, and being in feeble health entered the Home hospital.
His wife, who was Miss Caroline Williams of Readfield, died about four years ago, and he is survived by cue daughter, Mrs. Moody, and son Frank, and a brother, Mr. Charles A. Went-
124 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
worth of this city. The funeral occurred at the Home Wednes- day afternoon, Rev. J. L. Quimby officiating, quite a number out from this city. He was about seventy years old. — From the Gardiner Reporter-Journal.
EXTRACTS FROM DIARY OF JT. M. WENTWORTH,
L 862-1864.
Washin, ' n\ o. 1862.
racks at Portland at 5 A. M. April 1st. and at 6.45 started by train foi ; ton, where we arrived at 3 P. M. and marched directl} across the city to the Fall River depot, and up n »iu arrival at Fall River went aboard the steamer Empire City for Jersey City, where we arrived at 8 o'clock on ': rnin ■ of the 2d. There we had to wait on the wharf
until : 'n. when we took a call; boat to South Amboy, a dis- lano oi thirty miles, and there were put on a train of old cars with board ts, and at 3 o'clock started for Camden, where we arrived al 6 o'clock and crossed on the ferry to Philadelphia. Here they have a large hall fitted up for feeding soldiers in and unci a first-rate supper all ready for us. We had a very I i time until to o'clock, when we st; rted for Baltimore.
! ' t until we reached Havre de Grace, where all trains cross the Susquehanna River on a ferry boat which is large enough to carry an engine and ei diteen 1 »aded cars. We arrived at R lti .. at 7 o'cl :k on th< n orning of the 3d and had break- fast al tin Soldiers' Relief. Al 10 o'clock we started for YVash- ill ■'. \ ; 1 . Lting there, owing to many long" wail for 1 coming from Washington, to pas:- us. We
remained over night at the . - Relief and on the morning
died over to Capitol Hill ami went into camp, and today have just got into our tents.
Fort R wisay, Va., April 26, 1862.
We haw to go through inspection every Sunday morning. Everything has to be packed in the knapsacks and after the Batten is formed in line the knapsacks are unslung and opened for in pection hy the officers. After inspection the Captain order- the Fir ~ S< rgeant to drill the Battery, and that is about all the company drill we get. The 6th Maine Battery is in Fort
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 125
Buffalo, about a mile from us. They fitted up the old Wash- ington church in good shape, put "Maine Volunteers" over the desk, and invited Lieutenant Haynes to preach. Captain Rob- inson forbade any of the 4th Battery boys attending. Under the circumstances Lieutenant Haynes decided not to accept the invitation.
Fort Ramsay, J 'a., May 12, 1862.
In the night I heard several shots fired and the bugle blown at Fort Buffalo. The Corporal of the Guard called the Cap- tain, who ordered the Assembly blown and three detachments sen! into the fort and three for outside guard. It was 10 o'clock when J blew the call and we did not get back to bed again until 2.30.
May 1 ./. 1862.
I went over to Falls Church last night and visited the old church that Washington used to attend. The old pew that he used to occupy is still there. The citizens claim that he was married here, but this does not agree with history.
Washington, May 20. 1862.
We are back on our old camping ground on Capitol Hill. J blew the reveille at 3.30 this morning and we broke camp, made the inarch from Fort Ramsa\ (eighl miles) and gol our tents pitch I at 3 1*. M. We think that we have been sent back here to be mi »unted and equipped.
May 27, 1862.
We were ji ' into lim and the drivers sent after horses
and are now certain that we are to be mounted immediately. There are rumors that we are to stay lure for garrison duty.
I'a shin ' ■•. .'. ra\ ?8, 1862.
Ex-Governor Morrill called to see us today. There has been 11 ceil 'nt for rhe past few days about General Banks being defeated, and Sunday night we expected to be sent to the In nt. I >ther troops were sen? to reinforce him and now things hav< quieted down. The Battery is now all fitted up and having mounted drills. In the Batterv we have six etuis, six caissons,
120 FOURTH MAINE BATTERS
a battery wagon and a forge, two four-horse baggage teams, seventeen saddle horses and ten spare horses.
June, 12, 1S62.
We arc still on Capitol Hill drilling every day. There are five batteries and two regiments of cavalry here, and il is quite lively when we are all out at drill.
Cedar deck-, Va.} June 22, 1862.
We broke camp on Capitol Hill at 6 A. M. oh the 13th and lied to the depot, where it took until 4 P. M. to load the horses and. guns aboard ike cars and get started for Harper's Ferry. We passed the Relay House at dark and arrived at Sand_\- Hook, one mile from the Ferry, at daylight. The bridge had been carried away by a freshet and we had to wait there until Sunday noon. We unloaded the horses and took' them up on tbe heights, where we fixed up brush shelters for our- selves. We lost two horses by their falling over the bluff.
At this place Maryland Heights comes close to the river and the bas 1 a bi en em awa) to give room for the canal, railroad and road to pass. At the side oi the road the heights rise per- 0111 30 to 300 feet, and near the bridge juts out cuer the n>ad so that ;■ h >n s has been built under the bluff. 1 larper's Ferry is nothing Ian a ruin. 1 was in the engine house where John Brown was captured.
V. !■ El I I Ferry for Wadesville at 4 P. M. with fifty
cavalrv for an escort, and remained-at Wadesville two nights, We then hitched to the guns (which had come by train) and moved to ' own, three miles above Winchester. We
I the ban lsomest fiekk of wheat thai 1 ever saw. General Jack- n told the people here thai he was coming this fall to ! rvest it. We remai led . : Oueenstown over night and the next day made the march to VIi< clletown. where we camped for 111 and then came hen-. We are in a pleasant place and have had a good time since we left Washington. We are forty- five miles from Harper's Ferry and two and a half from Stras- bnrg. and are in camp on a high hill with about 400 infantry. Th.- 6th Maine Battery and a Xew York batten- are on 1 thi hills near us, witi; three regiments of infantn between us. The Sli nai ' iah Mountain is about a mile from us. The turnpike
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 127
here crosses Cedar Creek, which runs along- the foot of the hill. General Jackson destroyed the bridge when he was here a few weeks ago and our troops are now repairing' it. We are now in General Sigel's command:
June 21, 1S62.
There are a large number of troops here now. General Fre- mont with the rest of his corps has joined Sigel and has made a stand waiting for Jackson, and if he comes there will be a battle. There are thirty-six pieces of artillery, that I know of, within a mile of us, and 120 pieces in the valley.
To obtain forage for the horses an officer with a detail of men are senl oul to take what they can. find. An infantry officer went to a mill about a mile from camp and asked the miller if he had any flour to sell. The miller told him no. Upon look- ing around thirty barrels were found in an old building with a lot of empty barrels thrown over them. Twenty-five barrels were taken arid five left for the miller. The next day the miller fired at one of our pickets and very soon his mill was burned down.
June 2Q, i '
We had orders this morning to go to Middletown for target practice. There were five batteries at the practice at a distance of three-fourths oi a mile, and our battery made the best shots of any. This is the first time we have fired shotted guns. is a large army here now, consisting of Fremont's, Banks' and Sigel's troops, all under command of General Pope.
Warrcnton, July 16, T862.
We left Cedar Creek July 5, at 4 A. M. for Front Royal, and d over 3 very rough, hilly road for sixteen miles to the turnpike, which we followed to the Rappahannock River, where we arrived after dark ami found the bridge gone. We then went 11;. th • river a mile and found a bridge that had just been built. The bridge \v; s onlv three feet wider than the carriages and it was a skittish thing to cross in the dark, but we ^A over safeh v,\i'\ went into camp on a hill nearbv at 4 A. M., where we lay down and slept for two hours. Thai day (Sunday) we !!■- cl about a mile, where we remained until 5 o'clock Tues-
128 FOURTH MAINE UATTKKY
day morning, when we started with 3.000 infantry and took a through the mountains to a place where it was reported there were 3,000 Rebel troops. The hills and roads were the worst that 1 ever saw and after a march of nineteen miles we came out eight and a half miles from where we started, with men and horses pretty well tired out. The next day we moved to Perryville, ten miles, and the following day harnessed up at daylight and moved a mile, where we stood until 4 P. M., when we again started and marched until 11.30. The next day we moved to this place, where we arris ed at dark.
Little Washington, July 28, 1862.
We have been among the hills and mountains ever since we left Cedar Creek, and it is a splendid country. Today we have had a grand review of 20,000 infantry and eight batteries.
Culpcpcr, August J.;, 1862.
On the cjlh we were camped just above Culpeper. At 11
A. M. we heard the long roll and harnessed up and started for
the front. It was very hot and many of the infantry fell out.
i some that were sunstruck fall like ! >gs. We passed
of woods and went into battery on a hill and
. :nccd firing, ft was but n few minu ■ I b r< there were
th: t e batteries firing at us and the shot and shell came thick and
fast. We wen engaged thre* and a half h nirs and at dark a
rden ' '■ ' fall back through the woods.
rJ here never was a battery thai came nearer being captured than
ours was and get away. One of the enemy's batteries followed
us through the woods and commenci d sh filing us at short range,
: driven berk by two batterii s that were in posi-
ti »n to the righl of us. The enemy's battery left three men and
six horses hided and a disabled caisson. We lost one man killed
and several wounded, seven horses killed and one pun disabled.
Near I art Ellsii'ortl . tii'O miles from Alexandria, Sept. 5, 1S62. We have had a hard time marching and fighting the pa>t three weeks. After Cedar Mountain we moved back to Rappahan- nt into position on the ca ;1 sidi of the river to protect the bridge and ford until our troops were aero Three other batteries were in position near us with infantry
LIGHT ARTILLERY, l86l-6q.
I29
for supports. There was some firing' along- the river, both above and below us, but we (lid not see the enemy until the third day, when their batteries opened on us from the woods west of the river and at the same time about 5.000 infantry came out of the woods. A few shells from our battery and a New York battery very quickly sent them out of sight. Just then we saw a Rebel battery going at full speed to get into position on a small hill. We got the range of the hill and as soon as they began to tmlimber our battery fired. The first shot struck among them and they left as quickly as they came-.
Our next move was to White Sulphur Springs, where we were with the rear guard and spent the day in short duels with the enemy. It was marching ana1 fighting from there to Alex- andria. My memorandum during that time is missing, but it included the battle of Chantilly, where we had a sharp fight and a regular Virginia thunder storm at the same time, and where Generals Kearney and Stevens were killed. "We got thoroughly wet in the shower and had a most uncomfortable night. It also included Second Bull Rum. where we had a hard time. Our corps (General Banks) was left to rebuild the bridge the enemy had burned at Broad Run rmd to bring in the trains. About as so m as the bridge was repaired the enemy came in ahead of us and we were cut off from the rest of the army. The trains were burned and we were obliged to get guides and make a forced march of twenty miles around to get ahead, of them again.
Brownvillc, Md., September 20, 1862.
Since September 2d there h; s been some hard fighting. Last Sundav titer.- was a hard battle at South Mountain, where the enem) was driven back, with great loss on both sides. We are now in the ix reaves. Our horses have given out on account of overwork and short rations, so that on the 17th wc had on one eun onlv two horses where there should have been six.
Harper's Perry. September 21, T862.
We have again moved. After the enemy laid been forced back across Antietam Creek on the morning of the T/th we were stationed to protect a bfi lge an:'! ford across the creek. From our position 1 could see two miles of the line of battle, which included the Dunker Church and the corn field where
130 FOURTB - SAXTERV
General Meagher's brigade three limes on one of the
strongest places the enerm j Afrer the second charge both
sides were reinforced an: \. zhird charge 1 could not see
friend or foe for a few mh ; a ,a account of the smoke and
dust. When it cleared up : . : . ;; . as on the hill and was not
driven back again. The b« . - as equally severe on the right
and left as in die centre \vl ■ • ahi see. The enemy asked and were granted a day to bur; a.dr dead, but instead of doing
that they crossed the Pot Virginia.
We crossed die battled a ' > second da) after the battle and
it was an awful sight. YV<_ \ - whole day in getting across
the field. Our army were I the dead, the weather was
hot and it was awful. Tre; - re dug and two men would take a body, each one by a. ha: -' and drag it to the trench, and
when the trench was filled tl bodies lightly with earth.
Our battery crossed one of tl .. ;hes and I saw the arms and
legs fl) up the same as stid . when you drive over them
and break them. I have read . ps being shot down in piles.
I saw where they were thrc-< deep as they fell, and five deep where they had been moved to 'dear a space for the battery to a oss a road.
Harper's Ferry, October ?,
The army for two weeks ha., been encamped here and along the river for thirteen miles above here. The enemy's army is in the valley on the other sidi of Loudon Heights. President Lincoln has been visiting the ai for two days. The national salute was fired and there i Jul cheering as' he goes through the camps.
Maryland Heights, October i ./, 1862.
1 have been around the mountain to Pleasant Valley for the mail. J got three letters and a bundle of papers. My papers are die only ones that are received in our detachment and they are read until nearly worn out.
Near Sharpsburg, Md., November i, 1862.
Thursday we moved from Maryland Heights to this place, fourteen miles. The arm) is crossing the river, at and below Harper's Ferry, into Virginia, and nearly all the troops have
LIGHT ARTILLERY., 1861-65. 131
pone from around here. Our battery is stationed at the fords along the river. One section is at this place, one section about a mile down the river, and one section at Antietam Iron Works, five miles down the river. Sharpsburg is three miles east of here. I saw good houses with as many as eight holes where cannon shot vent through them at the battle of Antietam. Shepherdstown is just across the river from here and is a very prett) t wn. We can see four large church steeples, which is an uncommon thing for Virginia small towns. The enemy- occupy th ' e and have man) of their sick and wounded there. Their pickets are on one side of the river and ours on the other and often talk to each other. This morning one of their pickets told ours that he would meet him half way and swap his whiskey for a shirt. ] heard a Reb picket ask ours if he had any good tobacco. Our picket replied that he had. The Reb said that he wished he would bring some over to him for his was poor. We have been short of rations since leaving Harper's Ferry, p irk we have received has been poor and the hard bread y. ] have sat down to supper with a cup of coffee and put my h ird bread into it and seen the worms half an inch long out. Usually our rations are good, bul such fare as this, y to buy better, ' ■ one think of home.
Near Sharpsburg, November o. 1862.
We have had thru; inches of snow and it is so cold thai it does • \ rebel Captain died in our hospital, bet
here ai - and his [ him cai ri< d across
the river to She] iei ,vn and buried yesterday. There was quite a gathering at the fun< :i and 1 could see them plainly my glass. Since we went to Harper's Ferry 1 have had much riding to do and see m ich of the country and like it very much.
Harper's Ferry, December 11. 1862.
We rire now encamped a mile from Harper's Ferry, on the ro ' to ttolivar Heights. \Vc had orders to move with our corps towards Fredericksburg, but the roads were so c< with ice and the horses so smooth shod that it took us two days and nn I of the next nigh I to reach here, and th - ■■ nding officer told us that we would have to stay here this winter. The
132 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
first day of the move it snowed, and you can imagine a row of thirty men in one bed on the snow with a good fire of fence rails the whole length of the row. with a guard to keep the fire burning, and you will see the first section of the Battery. The other two sections were a mile behind us. Our tents arc larger and better than they were last winter and there are only eight men in a tent, so that we are quite coin for table.
Harper's Ferry, December 2t>, 1S62.
We are to have a review tomorrow by General Kenly. Quite an addition has b 'en made to the force here lately, and last night an Indiana battery, five companies of heavy artillery and two i < i • 11 ts 1 »1 cavalry came in.
We send one gun out on Bolivar Heights on picket each day, and the) had quite a skirmish one day with about thirty Rebel cavalry who, wearing blue overcoats, came inside our videttes and attacked the picket line. The gun fired four shots at them, when they scattered. We captured one Captain and one man and they got three of our cavalrymen. We have received thirty-six new horses and twelve mules for the baggage wagons and now have quit
' rr's Ferry, January /. <v i . Still here in winter quarters. A box was sent me from home but is lost. J had expected a good dinner from it. We have not been paid for some tim ; nd J have just six cents left.
Hal-fry's Ferry, January 18, i8t -\
Sunday, b no •< ,< ting nly drums, bugles and inspections. ;. tenant Eaton has got his discharge and started for home today.
Maryland Hci, his, April S. 1861.
We are again on Maryland Heights with tents all up, and comf »rtabl) situated within ten rods of where we camped last fall, and have been placed in Mo; rill's brigade with the heavy artillery on the Heights.
Maryland Heights, April .7. 1863.
Have had several raiuv davs since we came on the Heights,
LIGHT ARTIU-ERY, 1861-65. I33
°tfYit2tTherrhaVem°Unteddri,1'which -minds
E ;s,ast)ear. Some of the people in the
. , '" aim-v for not d""g more, but they do not know
stormy weather commenced there Ik,, not been a ,r ,,,,,' ', - -cond week in this month that an army co!nd nw. '
May /;. ..
tV™ ! ,H' '■ !a"darenot having mUch to do.
I Printer while others were resi- de a right to a little rest now ,7s a IZ ^ -Pending the Sabbath 'abou a
a1' • arc mt'"S home, some plaving cards some in
: asleep
: :' ;''"'-' f«' — day n„w and the Battery is in
' mlar camp calls to blow besides the calls at drill, so that I am kept prel
rp, tS6i. ThT ': for the past few days Lee's
■ M,Ir°-v Was su™"'dcd, but most of hi, troon, cut ' ^vs in getting to HarprrFerr
.sbnrg to «*;.';;
- ?«* -■ ' ' e of the infantry and ones
e Monday, and they si„ h, Lhe rcs
.■' '» ™Pt««d. All the supplies and most of tl I;;' , ' —ed from Harper's Ferry to this side ,
.'C . °"r™" -ere on duty with the battery in line of battle ■ flod.y we haye heard cannonading in the direction
Maryhn •' Heights, June ?S '■ >
,,.'; ;; . ■ ■ ^ ™»t a w, armv is ncar !iere
;.; "—-• The 23d Maine Regiment is
n< re and leaves for home.
Frederick, Md., Ji \> 2, T86i.
We left Maryland Heights Tuesday. June 3oth, and arrived
13-1 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
here lasl night. The troops all started with knapsacks packed full. The route for several miles was along the canal. The weather was hot and as we were hurried along the men began to away their thii gs and in a short lime most of them had nothing but their blanks left. T saw hundreds of knapsacks ■ the canal that had I n away by the troops
ahead of us. It has been raining for two weeks and has not yet clea i d
. Va., July /■;. ! We have b lied to the $6 Corps and arc now
encamped at the fool of the Blue Ridge. The battle of Gettys- burg 'nas been fought and the Rebels badly whipped, and they have • into Virginia. We did not get to Gettysburg,
but have bad hard mai : sino leaving Maryland Heights
and there li not 1 n; ' li dry day since we started. From Frederick we u cy Junction, from there to Wil-
liamsport, and from there here. Last Wednesday we passed over the I l1 1 of Antietam. All the signs of battle to
be seei trees. A large part of
bas good crops growing on it. ive forty men del i the 14th Massachusetts Heavy
; . . id the battery i- now well manned.
JVarrei t :. I . ly 2j,
We have 1 having hard 1 - ' ■ for a week and are pretty tired. For three ni; f live we had only two hours' sleep.
Last '• we went up Manassas Cap twelve miles and
drove the Rebels back into tl '' Valley, then Friday,
Saturday ai came here. On the mountain, and much
of the rest of the way the roads were very rough and bad. oi vanti d to buy tea here and found the price
to he $24.00 per pound an \ ■ poo pei pound.
Near White Sul[<hi - Sf>rii In r,nst ■
We left Warrenton yesterday morning and passing through White Sulphur Springs went into camp at White Plains. Today we moved camp two miles to <.:r\ better camp grounds and ... ' ; tb :■ es. It was a hard march yesterday.
During the day we heard firing in the direction of Culpeper.
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 135
nant White has. gone to Maine for recruit?. We need fifty men to make our number what they should be. We left one m; ' • 1 Frederick and yesterday sent four to the hos-
pital at All
Near Cuipeper, Septeinbe\ 2
We are still near Cuipeper and have fixed up as if we are
to stay ' • : . We take more pains to fix up our tents when
lid last year, 1 also get along much easier
on the march. We have benefited : erience. We
have : in C li of Battery
E, 1st Rhodi Island. The enemy have built fortifications and
have si< at Raccoon ford, a few miles from here.
Our rations arc better than the) were a year ago and we
I. I 1 it my dinner and this
•■ II pi of pork and an onion ; boil them,
bi k in some hard bread, a.M a little sugar and pepper and stew
kes a very g ' for a soldier and
the bo} s; ha\ t named the dish ly-be-d
We an al fi from ] airfax Station and in position
rd. On the morning of the nth we had
orders G ner; : War.! near Oil per. and at 8
rted on a fi retreat towards Washi nc] arrived here yesterday 1
ing, when we had a sharp ei • ;> ment w ith the enemy, in which the bai ei I ! 13] round-.. After three hours" engagi the enerm Our loss was Sergcani Powers severely
w« lunded. I a heavy shi ,ver and we
lay down to sleep as wet as water could make us. On this ' ' - ■ lai : . ith th< 3d Corps and the Rebs
from Cuipeper to the R :k. We moved in two
columns; a column of seven batteries in the road and a division th ■ fiel I; 1 'i the left. About 3 o'clock the enenn showed themselves n t more than fifty yards from our battery. The infantry formed into line on the double quick and the Rebs I< fi without firing a gun. A short time after they f tl i and one si fficer was killed
and several wounded. Early on die morning of the 13th we
I36 FOURTH MAIN]? BATTERY
left the Rappahannock and arrived at Greenwich at 3 o'clock
the next morning, where a stop of two hours was made and
i ushed on for Centreville. General Warren with the
ollowing a:-= rear guard and had a sharp fight at
Bristoe Station not more th; 1 two b mrs aftei we had passed.
We arrived a! Manassas Plains at 4 P. M., and crossing Bull
Run, wenl into position to cover the trains while they were
The trains got at dark and we then moved
back to Centreville and the next morning- (15th) to Union Mills.
■'' Wc si tried back from Bull Run Monday morning and, are in ! tave had a ha marc! since a week ago Sunday.
, Novembc . _■ We are now having a restii s> sp ii and living well. General French reviewed the cor] Tu lay. There were eight bat- ic, with the 4th Maine on the right, making a line
; '
• 'on, Xi 1 • 1 i 1 1 1 .- -
\\\ days' ratioi rs 1 1 mov( at daylight
'■ menced to rain and v, e stood in har-
lo :k, and. then unharnessed and pitched our tents.
. Dt 1 ' r ./. iS6 Wc have 1 a hard rk. We kit camp early
riiai icrning and had a hard march over very muddy
pi Ian, where we arrived in the evening all nigl I I moi ning we crossed the river and n - the plai ;. road two miles, and then took
anotl ] to Robertson's tavern and camped for the night
two miles from the front lines. The next da) at noon the Bat- tery moved two miles to the left, going across lots. We 1 ■:« ■■: at this place until the next night (Sunday) and then
moved into line of battle, ft had rained a large part of the I ince we started, but now turned severely cold. This and
cceeding night water froze an inch thick and some of the wounded perished from the cold. The next morning we had a short, sharp fight. There were thirty-four guns in our line
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 137
and they fired about twenty rounds each. During th.» day I vvenl with a staff officer and Captain Robinson about half way to th< enemy's line to look for a place to put the batten- if we should make an advance. We could see their lines and they fired two or three shots at us. Monday night we unharnessed for the first time since we left Brandy Station. Tuesday morn- ing we were called at 5 o'clock with orders to report at once to General Tylei of the reserve artillery. The ground was rough and 1 id, the reserve artillery was rushed right along,
and we had gone but a short distance when one of the gun axles' very soon a caisson axle broke. The ammunition was P les put ui der the gun and caisson to bring back to camp. We crossed tin Rapidan at Elv's ford and went '' '■'. :sday morning we harnessed up-
until the 2d Corps had crossed and , d ior
Three mil. from the station the road was coniPI( ': ' ' ' '•''! by teams stuck in the mud and we had to for the night, and this morning returned to our old camp ' ' ' : - to pitch our tents and make ourselves
0 imfi irtal I .
- ;' ' ■ member
1 have Just returned from a furlough of eighteen days and
' ' just one hoi 1 fore the furlough expired.
Rrown returned with me. Twelve of the boys have
re-enlisted and are going home on a thirty-five days' furloi ;h.
Brandy Sta/i . . February ./. rSi
Sixteen recruits arri\ . ;, „ \ yesterday. This
1 ' lu new men and helps the looks of the* Batterv.
five more to fill the Battery.
Brandy Station, February 27, 1864.
Il is vcr.v Pleasant weather now and the ground is dry and l,ustJ °" !"i' b»t frozen beneath. J have lots of camp calls to blow. The reveille at 6 \. M. ; roll call, 6.15; guard motin : . , 8: fatigue, S.30; water call, 9.30; surgeon's call. 3 P. jtf. ; stable c:!i!- -1 : recall. 4.30: breakfast, dinner and supper calls znc\ retreat at q P. M.
I38 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
Brandy Station, March 23, 1864.
It commenced snowing yesterday and during the day and night six inches fell. This is more than all we have had before this winter.
Brandy St on, April 6, 1864.
[was ordered to blow the Assembly today and after the boys fell hit 1 '.. ne of them presented me with a silver bugle that cost $54.00. It is a nice present and I am much pleased with it.
Brandy St ' . . Ipril T3, ;■"'< /.
A few day; ago we were transferred to the 6th Corps and '. ; our camp to that corps and got our tents up.
. Gener; rick commands the corps. He is a good officer
and well liked bv every o.
; ■■ 7 <}. ?o, 1S64.
The 6tli Corps were out last Monday to be reviewed by Gen- eral Grant. There are ten batteries in the corps and the buglers were all together playing when we passed the General, so I did •'] chance t< 1 see him.
Cold Harbor, I ra., June to, 1864.
We have not done much marching this month. Since we
came here (on the est) the pioneers and infantry have been
busy diggii 1 building 1 rtill ations and now both sides are
There i picket firing all the time and for several
days the shells would often conn ,-er and through the Battery,
but \vc hav< n it been troubled with them for the past three days.
we were harnessed up to go to the front. We heard
bed for the si :'. It struck about ten rods from
were eating their supper and threw the dirt
all over them. It then came directly towards us and struck
between Lieutenant flaynes and myself, who were standing
close ' . and covered us with dirt, and about two.rods
further en wounded two In rses and then struck an ambulance
and stop* ed. There is not much tun in this way of living.
I have seen hut one daily paper since this campaign com- menced, and that was ten days old.
' ca) Pete bu , June 26, ' ' ■ . t )n the evening of the 20th the Battery was sent into a fort
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. I39
011 the Appomattox River within 300 yards of the enemy's Their sharpshooters were so near that the gunners could not raise their heads above the works without the Minie balls singing around their ears as thick as bees. During the day J • was killed, one man wounded and one horse
killed. On account of the sharpshooters the Battery could not be relieved until after dark. On the evening of the 2?^\ the Battery was relieved and marched all night and nearly tine whole of the next da) I i a new position on the extreme left of the line. Here we worked all night building breastworks and were engaged : -' steadily for the two following days, when we were relieved by the 2d Corps and moved back two miles and expected lil le rest. \\\ had just got fixed up a little and to sit down when I heard "Wentworth, blow the bugle." We had to pack and harness up again and move about half a "mile, when we halt< d again. We have been at the front march- ing and fighting day and night since the 10th and the men and used up.
' July 3, h
Our corps was on a raid to Ream's Station on the Weldon railroad and gone two clays and three nights. The corps was not engaged, bul tore up 1 i miles of railroad and destroyed
a bridge and other property. There has been no rain since the 2d of June an I the ground is about like ashes, and when the army is on 1 the air is as full of dust as it ever was of
City P int. h ' ' \
The 6th Cor] I ive all, except four bal . ■ >ne to Mary-
] md I had just got to bed and asleep Friday night (oik) when i- i called to blov the "Boots and Saddles." We hitched up and at to <>'■■ ' i; started for here and after an all-night march arrived al 8 "V1 ■'; in the morning. It is reported that the corps ■ . of batteries and that we are to stay
here. We are living high and get soft bread and all kinds of vegetables.
City Point, July 23, 1864.
Tin Batten has been on a trip to Washington and is now
J i° FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
back again. ( >n the way back from Washington all the horses were put on an old Boston ferry boat which was loaded clear down. When we arrived at Smith's Point, at the mouth of the Poto nac, the hay was too rough to cross and we had to go back twent) five miles and stay over night. Every foot of the floor was covered with men and baggage and I stayed two nights on a bale of hay. The third night it rained and I camped on a narrow scat in the old cabin but did not get much sleep.
Vrout of Petersburg, July jy. 1864.
•ved up from City Point last night and are in park on
! b; of the 20 Corps. There is
a steady picket iking and cannonading going on day and night.
Vront of Petersburg, July 31, 1864.
Night before last six batteries of our corps were sent to the front and placed in some new forts. The ammunition was unloaded and all the drivers and horses sent to the rear with orders to report at headquarters in the morning and await orders.
it w,'1- dark when we went in. but the lines are so near heard us and commenced shelling with »und mortars. We could follow through the air. by the burninj fi I shells which dropped all around us. In the ing tin wh 1] lin ■ 1 p :ncd fire at once and such a cannon- lorn heard. There were about 100 guns near us, besides am amount of musketry, ft lasted three hours and was a continuous roar. Sergeant Fox and one man were both wounded by 1 me musket b;
When the tiring commenced a shell came over and hit a sut- ler's tent near where the drivers were in camp. The sutler d on his horse and left and in less than fifteen minutes everything in the tent was distributed among the crowd.
.War Petersburg, August 5. t8 t.
This is the first day that I have been excused from duty on ■ of sickness. I am all used up with the dysentery.
Petersburg, August 77. 1864. I am now in the hospital and the doctor advises me not to
141
Mow the bugle any more. Two of our men are here, which makes it seem more like home to me.
Ml. Pleasant Hospital, Washington, August 2$, 1864.
I was sent to City Point Sunday and one man in the ambu- lance with me died on the way. I arrived here yesterday, all used up.
August 28.
Tlle doctor sa)'s that I have a stubborn case of chronic diarrhea. It follows me all the time but is not so painful as when I came here.
After a short time in the hospital they offered me a furlough for eiShteen days. 1 went to my tent, thought it over and con- cluded that I could not get home alone, so hod a cry and went to bed. That night my brothei David came and with his help I got home and had to have my furlough extended three times 1 ' vtnt}' da>'S each. I returned to Washington expecting to ; ' ' th Battery, but they would n : lei me, and after a few ! canie h »me and was discharged at Augusta. My health • that 1 did but little for a year and never fully recov- . and sickness contracted while on dutv in the armv.
SERGEANT SOLON ROBERTSON.
;' 'GRAPHY AND PERSONAL NoTKS.
I was born in Bethel, Me., where I resided previous to the war, and was b; occupation a painter. When the rst Maine ■ ' in '-■ ■ ' ed for three month-' service 1 enlisted and
was mustered i 1 at Portland on the yl day of May, 1S61, in Company "G," Captain Beal. The Captain was afterwards Colonel of the roth and 29th Maine Regiments, and promoted to Brigadier General. The regiment left Portland for Wash- it the 1st ^\.\y of June, where it was encamped, performing guard duly at exposed points until August 1st. when it left toy ! '. tl; tid, and T was mustered out with the regiment on August 5th. 1 was in the hospital in Portland from an attack of slow fever, and again in Washington with a severe case of mumps.
14-2 FOURTH MAINS BATTERY
When the 4th Battery was raised I was one of the first to enlist with Captain Robinson, on December gth, 1861, and was mustered in at Augusta on the 21st of the same month. When the organization of the Battery was completed 1 was appointed
if the sixth detachment, and being the only one in the Bath ry that had had any military experience, the work of drill- n fell in a large measure upon me. At first we used infantry drill. One day when at drill near the State House, the Adjutant General came out and presented to me a copy of ''Army Rules and Regulations" and an artillery drill book, which was the first one I had ever seen. After this we used artillery drill.
liest to enlist in the Battery was John O'Riley, who was doubtless insane, lie was the cause of much trouble •mait for the boys. At times he would claim that lie was the original Christ, and to prove it would take off his boots and show the scars on his feet. At times it was ible to do anything with him, and often it was necessary to place handcuffs on him. Once ] took him to the jail for safe keeping, and when being taken to his ceil he threw the keeper and both rolled down two flights of stairs. The keeper was very glad to accept the help I h : b fore offered. O'Riley said thai Serge; Robert >n was the only officer that he would <>ln . and 1 was the only one that could manage him. After one of his disturbances 1 was ordered b) the Captain to put him to sawing wood a id a man with a sabre on guard over him. .-V few r. fter leaving them I heard some one running, and
• 1 out of my tent I saw the guard running around the tent,
holding the sabre in front of himself, and O'Riley chasing him with if ■ saw. I spoke to O'Riley and he said thai if I would take that man away he would saw the wood, and he kept his word. In Washington, after the Battery had been mounted, the Caj in told me one. clay to tell O'Riley to pack his knapsack and come to his tent, and that I was to tell the boys that O'Riley ■ 'Ik- sen: to the river to wash his clothes. That was the last that we saw of « )'Riley.
We left Augusta March, 14 for Portland and were in barracks a1 | [and Park until April 1st. when we started for Washing- ton, and from there 10 Fort Ramsay by way of Alexandria. At Fort Ramsay, while drilling in the fort one day, ] was called
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. I43
to the gate by the sentinel and found two farmers who bad in their wagon Charles Robie and Lewis Davis, frightfully
I -d by an exploding shell from which they had been try- ing to get of! the lead fuse plug- by pounding it with a piece of, iron. J directed them to be taken to the hospital at Falls Church. Robie died that night and was buried in the cemetery near the church with military honors, my detachment acting as firing squad. The Captain telegraphed to Davis' folks and his fa: her and mother came, arriving at the hospital a few
its after he had died. They carried his remains back to his h ime.
Previous to May 26th we had returned to Washington and on that date received our gnus and horses, and two weeks later went by train to Harper's Ferry, where the horses were unloaded and we bivouacked for the night on Maryland Heights. The next morning the guns went forward by train and the drivers with the horses crossed on the pontoon bridge and started up the valley, where we went into camp at Cedar Creel:. Near cam]) there was a herd of army cattle and ] asked the Captain why we could not have some fresh beef, and he said "No/' he did not want us to have the chronic diarrhea. The next day 1 tool- f< m men and went out half a mile, where 1 found a herd of young cattle. We shot and dressed one and brought it into camp. Tlie Captain ordered it to be buried, but I insisted upon having it to eat and after it was cooked the Captain was very I 0 of it for himself. After leaving Cedar Creek
David Merrill was taken sick, and the ambulance being filled with thi officers' baggage, 1 took him to a small cottage near some vill; .;e. and the woman very readily consented to take him in and i re for him until he got better. A few clays later some i ' troops were in the village and were told that a Yankee :cr< ted in this house. They came to make a search for him, but the woman had taken Merrill to the attic and hacl him cr; \vl close under the eaves and then piled boxes and other things over him. In their search they ran their bavonets into thi of rubbish and pricked .Merrill several times, but
he gave no alarm and their search proved fruitless. While encamped at Little Washington one of the men died with the
. ai ker, which ate hol< s through his tongue and lips. Ser- : ; Brown also died at this place; and was buried under a
144
FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
large tree, and I cut his name and battery in a piece of plank and set it at the head of his -rave. One of the men was taken sick and badly broken out and I reported to the Captain that I thought it was the smallpox. The Captain laughed at me, but when I told him that 1 should report it to headquarters if he did not attend to it, he called a surgeon, who promptly pro- nounced it a clear case of smallpox and ordered a tent pitched for him on a hill nearby, and a Frenchman who had had the disease sent to take car, of him. Two days after the battle
of Cedar Mountain these two men came to camp and Captain Rohm asl d the Frenchman how they had escaped beino-
captured by the enemy. The Frenchman' replied : "Mine Go*
we was captured by that - - Mosby and he march us on wood
Lintain. Mosbv then ask me what
' ' man, and I say 'He got de smallpox
and T §'ot him ' ' I 11 too.' Mosby and whole gang then
leave us right oh" . mck."
Not far froni Little Washington, Jere Buckler came to me •''' ' befo1 ~':; - : inting to a flock of sheep, said: "Ser- geant, j 1< ase let Tv | [ g0 over there and get one of " ] ■ ' "Yes," and off they went and got the shecP' dl '" ,: : aighl it down to the road and started to join the Battery. ".\.>«:ug a short turn in the road, they sud- denlv mel G - with his staff. The General asked the bo.vswha1 theyh: ! , I Jere replied, "A sheep that we killed UP on thc hin-" ':' '■ ' ncral ordered them to be taken to his headquai I ler guard, wher< they had the pleasure of Stvi,(:' t]le -'• ■ • keel and eaten bv the General and his staff- [n ,! : ' : '■' General told tiw boys that he was much obliged J - > and that now they had better report t0 tlloir Cal they returned the'Captain. who had ; Fo ,r>ed ' iter, asked them where they had been durinS thc m>ht- : ' •• replied, "With General Banks sir" While in th Sh. Valley the boys were all out of money and very sho One morning the Captain ordered me to lake a s ■-.- -.,.,, ori horseback and go out for hay. Aboul ,v" miles camp we found a stack and nearby a hv" ■ ' bacco. While the men were getting the iKlv tied in b '" - ' "TV across their horses' backs, I went for the lobac' ' '■ - two bundles of about fifty pound..
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 145
When we readied camp if. did not take long to distribute it among the boys.
At the battle of Cedar Mountain my horse was killed under me b) • und shell. I went to the rear for another horse,
and when I returned the enemy were charging up the hill in front of us and the Battery had limbered up and was leaving. I took the saddle from the dead horse and put it on the new ' not waste am time in fastening strap.- and following 1 piece of woods where it had halted. There was a battery on our . . re and did good execution.
Jt was dart at this time and the troops wen ba 1. We
1 further back and hall id for the night. The next day 1 1 nder the gun when Lieutenant Coffin
awakened me and asked me to Id with him.
■ : seen all of it that I wanted to, buc I sad- dle d my horse and we went out beyond our picket line, where ■•' :' "1 >gether burying the dead. Near the 1 ■ * came toward us, and saluting, asked
if we had been on the field . to which Lieutenant Coffin
replied that we had just come. We then rode with him around and across the field to their picl hen he as ain saluted
-. It was a terrible sight to loot upon. The Unions is were working I her in a most friendly way, li enough to hold forty or fifty of the dead laid
•; 1 b y ski their blankets over them and then
thrown • rth back until the trench was filled. In a few
Rappahani Station, wh re the i iattery
was ei 5] lied the bridge. I was sent by the Captain
■• cti< in t 1 guard a : \ :>.'■■■ >u1 :. mil ■ down the river. From here we moved to \\ hitc Sulphur Springs, where vc reli' v< ' :. Rl Island batten- thai had been badly cut up.
1 ' »th li of 01 1 ' •■ ' ' be en eat 1 iff ah \ e the
knees by a piece of railroad iron, about eighteen inches long, which h; ' been bred from the enemy's guns. We soon silenced '<'' 's arti lery, hat their Lcrs were yen- annoy-
ing. W'e • ! got th is they sh >\\ ■ d themselves
on an opposite hill, and a few shots quieted them. During the aftei Maj Kiel the chief of artillery, was sitting on
his horse in rear n: rnv y^un and ended my attention to a brass ' the enemy's thai glistened in the sun on a hill to our 10
I46 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
right. He said, "Sergeant, sec what you can do with that gun." I told Corporal Fox to do his best, and when the gun was sighted 1 directed him to make a little change on account of the wind. The Major was watching through his glass when the gun was fired', and brought his hand down with a slap, saying, "That is the best shot that I ever saw., for it has dismounted their gun." A squad of sharpshooters had taken position in the hotel within the enemy's line and were firing from the windows. 1 directed Corporal Fox to make a shot at the house. The shot passed through the house lengthwise and the sharpshooter did not wait to get out through the door but jumped from the win- dows and ran. From here we fell back towards Alexandria. At Broad Run, General Banks, finding that the enemy was between us and, the main army, burned the trains that we were guarding. Three engines and a large number of cars contain- in-; ammunition, clothing and provisions were thus destroyed, and the wagons of our ammunition were blown up.
Alter we had crossed Bull Run the Captain said that he would take supper in .Alexandria that night. Jest after dark an orderly came to him with or,',, rs to send gun back two or three miles. My detachment was si nl an 1 we were placed in position on a hill covering a bridge, with instructions to hie if we heard any 1 nc en '--sine'. About two o'clock we heard troops moving near the bridge, but an officer came and told me that it was part oi" the rear guard that had lost their way and were just coming in. At daylight we limbered up and joined the Battery neai Aqueduct Bridge, where we crossed the river and through own into Maryland. During this retreat we had been out oi rations much oi the time and were a hungry lot of men. y iha; we crossed into Maryland Corporal Hohvay came and said, "'I wish that J had something to eat. for I am low" We arrived at Frederick soon after the Rebs had I driven out and saw a large number of our men that had
be< n captured and paroled. At South Mountain the Rebel dead lay thick- along the road and through the woods. The roads were strewn with old muskets and pieces of carpet that the Johnnies had used for blankets. During the fall after Antietam the Battery did guard duty at die fords near Sharpsburg. One day 1 went with, die men to (he river to water the horses, when a squad of Johnnies came clown oh the opposite side with a flag
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 1-1/
of truce. The officer in command called out : "Hello there, Yank, We have got sixteen of your men here that we want to get rid of. Cannot you come over with a boat and get them?" I told him that we could find no boat. lie soon found one and brought the men over. This officer said to me that he was tired of the war and he knew that we were, and if we would bring some man (I have forgotten the name) that they would bring Jeff Davis aud we would hang them and that would end the war.
The Johnnies would often come down to the river and call across asking if we Yanks were not tired of fighting; thai they were tire;! of it aud wanted to go home.
I; took us two days to move from here to Maryland Heights, a distance of nine miles. The roads were coated with ice and the horses smooth shod, and in some cases twenty-two horses were not able to draw a gun up the hills. We soon moved the river to Harper's Ferrv and went into winter quar- ters, and"! received my discharge the 16th da\ of March, 1863, by reason of rheumatism and heart disease. Before 1 left the Battery the Captain promised me that he would promote Cor- poral Holway to he Sergeant in my place.
I attended the reunion held at Bethel, and when I was pointed out to Corporal Holway, he came and threw his arm around me aud wept like a child. He said, "'Sergeant, I thought you were dead." A few years ago T received a letter from Ethel ]!. Jones which I prize very highly. 1 make the following extract: "Yes, Sergeant, I well remember your man)' kind words and your genuine soldierly appearance and loyal, upright manner, bow well you looked after your men. always mani- festing the forgiving spirit for their main- shortcomings. How much 1 should enjoy taking you by the hand, and if possible 1 want you to coin.' to Augusta next Tune to the reunion, and 1 will see that you have the attention of at least o\w of the boys of the old sixth detachment."
After leaving the service 1 followed the painting business. when able to work, until 1889. I have worked in Maine, New Hampshire. Massachusetts and Rhode Island. I spent two winters in Florida for my health. 1 am now unable to do any learned labor except a little work in the garden. In 1803 T bought a lot and built a two-story cottage at 9 West End Avenue, Middleboro, Mass., where T have since lived. It is a beautiful location and 1 have a very pleasant home.
1 4& FOURTH MAINS BATTERY
LIEUTENANT MELVILLE C. KIMBALL. Biography and Personal Notes.
Received my early education in the public schools of Bethel, Gould's Academy, Bethel, and Westbrook Seminary of West- brook, Maine, now Deering. Enlisted before I was of age but was mustered in a few days after I became of age. Attending school and assisting my father in his business occupied mv time previous to enlistment. Since discharge after recovering my health, have been engaged in mercantile pursuit.
CORPORAL ALONZO PLUMMER. Biography and Personal Notes.
Was born February 18. 1842, at Hartland, Maine. Worked at fanning until 1S62. Taught school in winters of 1859, i860 and 1861. Was preparing for college when the war broke out. Enlisted as a private in 4th Maine Battery at Augusta, Maine, March 8th. 1862, and was with the Battery until February 9th, : 1 Was then promoted to Second Lieutenant Company A, 30th Regiment United Stab Colored Troops, and joined the regiment at Benedict, Md. The regiment was assigned to 1st I l . 4th Division, 9th Army Corps. Was with the Army
of the Potomac through the Wilderness, and at the siege of Petersburg, Va., until November, 1864. Was in the battle of th< Crater, where Co. A, 30th Regiment, was nearly blotted out of existence, losing forty-eight men out of sixty-six.
Was Provost Marshal of the brigade during October and November. 1864, and was then promoted to First Lieutenant and rcj ; I Company A of his regiment. The 4th Division of the 9th Army Corps was then transferred to the 18th Corps at Bermuda : undre 1, Va.
In December, 1864, and January, 1865, was with the Fort li ;her' expeditions and was at the capture of Fort Fisher, X. C, January 15th, [865, Sugar Loaf Hill, X. C, February nth, 1^5. and Will ington, X. O, February 22, 1865. Marched north and, joine"d Sherman's army at Bentonville, X. C, the day after the battle of Bentonville. Was with Sherman's army from there to Raleigh, X. C, and on the rebel army surrendering he resigned and left the service June 1st. 1865, at Goldsboro, X. C.
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. I49
September, 1865, entered the University of Albany, N. Y.. and graduated from the law department May 25th, 1866. Went to Minneapolis, Minn., and practiced law until April. 1869, and went to Boston. Mass., and stayed until January, 1870. Came to Benton Harbor, Mich., in January, 1870, where he has been engaged in the law business ever since. Was married in 1867 to Miss Ellen D. Hawkes at Medway, Mass. Has two children, daughter Edith and son Harry. The latter has just graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Mich.
ABEL DAMS. BroGi \!']fv and Personal Notes.
J returned home to New Portland immediately after my dis- charge an 1 labored on a farm and in the woods until the spring of 1868, when I ) ft the State and went West, arriving at Eau Claire, Wis., in May. ] worked i 1 and around the saw mills there, 1 n the boom and in the wo ids, until on June 17th,, 1872, I stuck my pick handspike in a log and started for the Law School. In September following I entered the law department of the Wisconsin University at Madison, Wis., and entered up »n the stud) of law for a profession, where 1 graduated the 19th day of June, 1873, a full fledged LL. B. I went home to Eau Claire the next clay and immediately formed a partnership with one of the established lawyers there by name of Joseph K. ] under the firm name of Ellis and Davis.
On the |.th da; of July following my graduation 1 delivered my first oration in the city of Eau Claire. What a bound, how I did feel. 1 wore a pine; hat and marched to the table to dinner with the dignitaries in the midst of the choir of young ladies. That was my entrance into a professional life.
That firm "f Ellis and Davis continued for about four years, when it was dissolved bv mutual consent and in the summer of 187; i ( im< East and spent tin summi r around my "Id home.
1 get had: to Eau Claire, Wis., some time in October, and soon opened another law office alone and hung out my sign. My health, which had shown signs of failing the spring before, now began to give me fair warning that there was a limit t>> the
15° FOURTH MAINS BATTERY
mental strain that I could endure and kept crying out, stop, stop.
In May, 1879, 1 went to Crookston, Minn., and opened a law ofike and hank. Thai was a frontier city about seven years old, and 1 carried everything valuable on my person. My health continued to fail, and the first Tuesday of June when the court opened, having been in town only four or five clays, I went into with die rest and took my place, and on Thursday, in making an argu nent before the jun in defending a man for stealing, I broke down in the middle of my argument and the case all went from me, it vanished out of my sight. I had reached my limit and had to stop.
I staid at Crookston until about the first of August, when I came bark to Eau Claire.
1 went into the woods the next winter to see if I could not coax back some health, but did not succeed very well. J was in the cite of Eau Claire and had an office, hut did not do much until about the firsl of June, 18S1. I resolved to try the East foi ; visit and medical aid, and 1 came to Boston (sad mistake) and there on the 18th day of June I fell while crossing the Com- ke of partial paralysis. On striking the ground 1 partially rec >vered and proceeded to haul myself together as best 1 coul ! with my left arm, and when I got far enough to take account of myself I found one half of me gone, my right half was not in ii. but T have recovered from that in a measure.
1 did u >t go k :k We ;t, but sudd in Maim md in June. 1882, wen I to Xev d and pun based the Charles B. Clark farm.
where I nexl lived for about two years. In the spring of 1S84 J had <,; po ed of tin farm. 1 went West and went into the grocery busin ss. 1 was taken sick the next December and was d to give up that. In June, 1885, 1 came East again. 1 came to the Grand Arm} Encan pment held dan year In Port- land, and in December of 18S5 came to Pittsfield and stuck niv stake, op tied a law office where I have been ever since, and a f might remain here, for Pittsfield is a wealthy and good town and takes cam of its poor in good shape, and I have a residence gained.
In honors 1 have had my share, 1 presume. If 1 had deserved more I would mi -1 certainly have got diem, if \ had had the time to attend to them, but the\ are all vanity and empti ■ now. I have been president of a baseball club, yet who know -
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 186I-65. I5I
it now except me. and elected an honorary member of a Ladies' Relief Corps. Xow is not that enough, ought it not to satisfy any reasonable being:
(I was a bachelor until I was most fifty, and did 1 not have fun.)
1 was married August 28th, 1890, to Angie Rogers Morrill of Lewiston, who took as much interest in our reunions as though she had always been a member. I had a very pleasant married life and as for a member of our session and battery iation my wife was a very enthusiastic member, but all things must end and on the 2d day of February, 1898, my wife died and I was left alone again. Sad was the clay.
Now 1 know of but one thing more to write about, and that is the time when my own obituary is to be written, and all I will say about it is I expect to bo there and to be the center of attra< tion and to be the most interested one there, but 1 do not believe J shall feel like writing an account of it, so I will say, such comments as you please. So good night, when T greet you again it will be to say good morning in some bright and cheery clii
But 1 am till lie: and hope to greet you all many times.
' ABEL DAMS.
i 'ittsfield, September 13, 1905.
ARTHUR T. CHAPIN. Bi ■ raphv and Personal Notes.
i am a descendant of Deacon Samuel Chapin, who settled in Spri field, Mass., early in 1600. I was born at Concord, Maine.
After my discharge from the army. I came west to Nebraska. Bv the way. it mi drt be of interest to you to know that T was in Washington attending the theatre and saw Lincoln assassi- nated by Wilkes Booth. T have been engaged in different ways while here. I served two years as Deputy Sheriff of Washing- ton county, this state, then was elected Sheriff and served two years.
T opened up a large farm of j;v ) acres in this county, serv< ! as County Commissioner and then was re-elected to another
152 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
term, but had to resign as my business required my attention.
In 1S92 J with others organized the Merchants' State Dank, of which I was elected President and still remain in that position.
I am a member of the G. A. R. Post, a member oi the Masonic Lodge, and also of the Knights of Pythias and of the Uniform
Now. c^mraclf, use what you wish of this and throw the rest into the waste basket. You remember, I presume, that when I enlist< .. . I rother, two years younger than myself, enlisted also, but when our guardian heard of it, he sent to Augusta and took Harry home and wanted me also to go, but I would not give up until my three ye; rs were up.
M) broth r i- /vine;- in Chicago, 111., and is engaged there in the book business. When the history of the Battery is pub- lished, 1 want several copies.
J have a wife and three children living and they will each want one. 1 enclose you my diary of the war. It was written in such a garbled condition that J do not know as it will be of any use to you.
PETER F. HURD.
BlOGRAPHY AND PERSONAL NOTES.
Peter F. Ilurd, born in Harmony. Maine, January 7th. 1839, was the son of a farmer. Tie made farming his occupation until the War of the Rebellion called him to the service of his country. He enlisted in the summer of 1862, without bounty, for nine m mths ; hut while at Augusta waiting to be mustered •: e army, re-enlisted as a volunteer iov three years or dur- ing the war. and was enrolled a- a private in 4th. Maine Bat- tery, S 1 ember 16th, 1862. Genial, cheerful, faithful and prompt in every duty, lie was respected, and ranked high in the favor and v;^<^\ will of his comi les. He survived the dread- ful conflict, without a wound, an : v - honorably discharged at
," the war. June 17th. [S65. In a few years he : . from Harmony to Athens, where with the exception of a short time, lie has since resi led, during which time he had charge of the great Hillside dairy farm in Boylston, Mass.
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 153
SERGEANT CHARLES A. ALLEN. Biography and Personal Notes.
Born in Wilton, soon removed to Farmington. At three years of age removed to Augusta, at sixteen years removed to farm in Alt. Vernon, remaining until enlisting. Common school education, went from school soon to the army, after discharge returned to farm and attended during fall and winter of '6^ a business college in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Returned to Maine and in company with Will Jordan went to Eastbrook in a lumber deal. In '68 returned to the farm in Ml. Vernon, remaining till spring of ''70. and then removed to Dubuque, Iowa, engaging in the book and stationery business, remaining till April, 'So, then sold/Out and removed to Howard, S. Laic, where 1 had taken up land. Elected County Auditor on the Republican ticket in 1894. Democrats and Populists j'u>< d and snowed us all under, this fall. March, '89, married Miss Maude Davey. Have one boy, now five years old. Have been pretty well broken down in health for the past ten years, unfit for manual labor, and have received for past six years a pension of $6.00.
Was appointed Corporal winter u\ '63-64, and Sergeant fall of 186 1 in fri ml of Petersburg.
MARION MILLS. :aphy and Personal Notes.
Enlisted while attending school, at the age of iS year-. 1 was ordered in camp at Augusta December 17, and mustered in with the |th Maine Battery at the State House.
The subject of this sketch was present with the Battery every day with the exception of two instances, the firs! being a few davs before the battle of South Mountain, when he was detailed to return to Washington for the purpose of procuring horses which were much needed in the service. Several days were I I at the Capitol, at the end of which time the Quarter-
master returned to us and we were informed that no animals could be obtained. The writer, in company with "Fid" Twitchell. started on foot in search of the Battery. Twitcl was t:: id I went on alone.
Vb »ut the middle of the afternoon 1 ran acres- the
T54 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
Maine Infantry, a new regiment just on the field, and spent the night with them, and the next day found the Battery. While m camp at Brandy Station, orders were received that anyone wishing to re-enlisl could do so. This was in '64. 1 was Very 1 opposed to it at first, hut having in mind the thirty-five days' furlough, I concluded to re-enlist. The furlough did not appear until the latter part 0f March. '65. Portland, Me., was reached April 1. 1865, jusl two years from the day of departure. -After passing a few days at home, I was ready to return, and while at hoine learned that nearly all of my schoolmates we're at the front. J left horn t . rn on the first day of May and joined the Battery, which had during my absence been trans- ferred to the 6th Corps, which started next morning for the Wilderness campaign.
1 remained with the Battery during the Wilderness cam- paign, and ii was while at Cold Harbor, after the heaviest of the fighting, the rebels mounted long range guns and sent three shdIs into our lines, one of which came over, breaking my horse's leg and hitting me on the arm, but did not disable me for dm v. being a spent shot. We soon moved to the front of Petersburg, where J was da ailed as the Captain's orderly, !1' d tl] " 'i::'! ' of - 'at 1 ffi< e until mustered out with the Battery at Augusta, June 17, 1865.
<:<>iU-< iRAL L, P.. JKXXIXGS.
Biography and Personal Xotes. Luther II. Jennings was born in Farmington, Me., ca-\ the 20th da.v ' ovei ber< >-\v- Common scliool education and acad- emy. He made two foreign voyages at sea and in 1861, Xovem- ber audi, enlisted in die 4th Maine Battery (Light Artillery.) Was discharged on the 6th day of February, 1803. by reason °f surgeon's certificate of disability, rendering him unfit for service. The following Juh 15th was drafted and paid $300 COm" "''"'"' • coi ' rii a tli . ;. would do the government
more good than a man broken in health in former service, and also being under medical treatment at time o'i draft for dis- abilities • ' infracted ii! the service.
Since the war have followed the occupation of a farmer. The
LIGHT ARTILLERY, lS6l-6s.
155
last thirteen years have been totally unable to perform manual labor. Married. Four children, two suns, two daughters. Residence Windsor, Kennebec countv, Maine.
COD
CORPORAL, SILAS R. KIDDER. Biography and Personal Notes.
Silas R. Kidder was born in Concord, Maine, Somerset
unity, and moved with his parents to Vienna, Kennebec county, when eight years of age. He was educated in the com- mon schools and Thomas F. Hovey's High School. He was an excellent scholar and was well qualified for a teacher or any town business, but on account of the infirmities of his father he was obliged to remain on the farm.
lie remained there until 1862, when he enlisted in the "4th Maine Batten and served until the close of the war in 1865. lb- became discontented with farming and went to California and engaged in mining. He married a Maine girl and settled there, slid continuing in the mining business with fair success ! ■■' ■ I ■'" nth a sad < ndin. j- oJ his life in iSja.
He and a partner owned a mine a1 Iowa Hill and employed '•'•" watchmen. One morning they found thai gold had been taken from the flume, and suspecting one of the watchmen, they agreed to watch a1 night and find out. During die night Silas A? sh it by one of the watchmen, dying almost instantly.
Infon 'den sent to his mother and sister in Maine, stated ;:< ' i< was supposed that he detected the watchman in the theft and. to save himself, he shot Silas. Public opinion was against the man and he lcfi the place. Silas left a wife in California and a mother and sister at the old home in Vienna, Maine. He died January 16th, 1874.
ARTIFICER MARK HARYIIXE.
BrOGRAPHY AND PERSONAL NOTES. Mark Harville was born in Madison, Maine. October 6th, F844. '< attended the district schools and in a few years moved to Skowhegan, and at the age of seventeen he began
FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
tef "nithing. Ser™S ™ apprenticeship of three years to I P
m mm
V" ,C fatter-v :""! *etcd as artifice,- or blacksmith At h h 1 HelfZ WMaine' So°" aft- he came to SW
«:<J^:z^:~Tllnms' butafterai] ^
ecu
DANIEL O. DEARBORN. Biography axd Persona] Notes The son of Hirant and Hannah E. Dearborn, was born Feb- -" »;' 40,atV1enna,Me. He attended the district and "olofhtsnattve town, and at the age of fourteen began m* business career m a country slur, at Waterville, Me. Prior ^eC0™^ t0 ira« - '373, he owned a store in Readfield, ;'/:;;r '-.--^;'"'i « A«v Sharon, M,. for seven v,a,s. "e.'stl« "West acttve grocer and provision dealer in the citv havmg been ,„ trade here for twenty-three rears. He employ's si> clerks and runs four (,,.,= and A — ' i ■ ,™
11 .and dollars a vear **'"'"' oi »"*
, [" *.' Mr-Dea,;bo™™li^di„.he4thMaineBattervan,
" h,S C0Untr-J f»'*f«lly for three years, not being a'bsen
^7j,'S.C-"tr>-fo'-»f>-'»ring his enlistment. He las on,
"' 0 HI ASi^SSOrS in lS8o nnrl rS™ T7„ . .
1
t
s one SOrf,ln l&89and lS9°- He was a member of the / :" C°"'ral '« *J4. and was appointed by Mavor Hen-
'" '^Assessor for two years, which term he is nol
r, T - u 'S ''' member of thc G' A- R- ■■'"■<■ Grand Army
.i!",': ;:'■■ *«-tts. Ma, ic Fraternity of A. O U W
^™! Falhe"- «« TTO State Club and Glendon blub ' :mbCr 25th- ,SC> he married Ruth J. Whittier (sister of
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 157
Sandy) and daughter of Cyrus S. and Hilda Whittier of Vienna, Me. They have three daughters and reside at No. 19 Summer si reel, Everett, where they will be glad to meet all the com- rades of the old 4th Battery.
OLIVER W. WELCH. Biography and Personal Notes.
Oliver \Y. Welch was born in Canaan, Somerset county, Maine, November 13th, 1842. Educated in common schools. At fourteen years of age he engaged with Major Wyman of Skowhegan, to learn the trade of manufacturing shrivel handles. At the end of two years he hired with Mr. Daniel Marston of Ml. Vernon, Kennebec county, Maine, remaining there until the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion.
After discharge from United Stares service, he again engaged in the shovel handle business with Mr. Ilolman Johnson at Wayne. On December 23d, 1865, was married to Miss Sarah Raymond of Fayette, Maine. Continued with Mr. Johnson twenty years. Eight years of this period conducted evenings and spare time a barber shop. In 1888 engaged with Mr. George W. Russell as foreman of his shovel handle works at Wilton, Franklin county, Maine, to which place the family was moved, that an advanced course in the schools might be taken by the children. At the end vi two years, returned to Wayne to a farm previously purchased, since which time has been engaged in tilling the soil.
SERGEANT LESTER HOLWAY. Biography and Personal Notes, I am living in the town of Fairfield r>n the farm that my grandfather settled on in early days. He and grandmother were the first couple married in the town. My life, with the excej tion of two years in Nebraska and three years in the war, has been spent < m the old hi >m< si ad.
1 enlisted under Mathev B. Coffin and went to Augusta, and was promoted to Corporal in the 6th detachment, in 1863
15° FOURTH MAI NIC BATTERY
was promoted to Sergeant of the 5th and took Will Friend's place, serving with the 5th until discharged, i was not away from the Battery a single day during the three years. I am a member of the G. A. R.. also of the J. O. O. F. and the Grange. Am at the present time serving the fourth year in succession as one of the Selectmen of the town.
My family consists of my wife and one son (living) 10 years old. At the present time he is with me.
ORDERLY SERGEANT JUDSON AMES. Biography and Personal Notes.
Early days spent on a farm and in addition to attending the common school attended a few terms at the Foxcroft Academy. At sixteen came to Angus; a and was employed in the factory of the Augusta Shovel Company until the fall of 1S61, when I enlisted among the first for the 4th Battery. Upon organization of the Battery was appointed Corporal in Sergeant Bangs' detachment, and January 1st, 1863, promoted to Sergeant of the 3d detachment in place of Sergeant Williams, who was pro- moted Quartermaster Sergeant. December 21st, 1864, was promoted First Sergeant, and in March was recommended for commission as Second Lieutenant, but before commission arrived the war closed. During three and a hall years' service was off duty only two days on account of sickness. After close of the war was employed in a paper mill at Lisbon, Me., for about three years, and in 1868 entered the service of the National Tel ww, Company, widi headquarters at Portland, .Me. In January, 1S70, removed to New York City and after a icw mouths in the city entered the employment of the A. & P. Tel. Co.. and until 1S88 was engaged in the construction depart- ment of different telegraph and telephone companies in New York State, living most of die time at Albany, but for short periods was at Buffalo, Poughkeepsie and Kingston. From 1SS8 to toil was with the Bell Telephone Company at Montreal as superintendent of construction in Montreal and vicinity. Now living at Foxcroft.
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 159
GEORGE BLAKE. Biography and Personal Notes. e been engaged in farming a good part oi the time since my discharge from the Battery, though J did a little soldiering after that, serving three years, from April. 1867, to April, 1870, in "K" Company, 31st and 22d United States Infantry, in Dakota, Have also worked at various occupations at different times in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Spent one winter in Florida, one summer in Black Hills, I). T., and the remainder of the time mv address has been Mt. Vernon. Maine.
JOHN FOSS. Biography and Personal Notes. John Foss was born in Skowhcgan, Maine, in July, 1S37. His parents were John and Hannah Grant Foss, honest, indus- trious and worthy people, who. with true patriotism, sent five of their six sons to tight for their country, the sixth being pre- ven ed from goi ig only by the fact that he was a mere boy and could in no wa\ get into the service.
Mr. Foss elite;-, .1 the service at the age of twenty-four years ' ' ■ rved the three years for which he enlisted without a fur- . and was h morably discharged at the expiration of that time.
lie was in ah th< engagements in which the Battery took part during his connection with it, extending from the battle of Ced; r Mountain to the siege of Pet< r burg. lie was one of the I en nui : , :,. 1 the Bath 1 . .
Since the 1 r he has resided on a farm in Harmony, Me., and has the respect and esteem of all who know him. He has been married twice, and has three grown-up children.
JAMES F. CHANEY. Biography and Personal Notes. A descendant of the ninth generation from John Cheney, who settled at Newburyport. Mass.. in 1030, was born at Pishon's Ferrv, Clinton. Mi'., February 22, 1845.
160 fourth maim: battery
lie enlisted in the Battery December, 1861, but owing to circumstances beyond bis control, was a member of it at that time only one day. ]n September, 1862, he enlisted in the 24th Maine Regiment, was a member of it but twelve days when he enlisted for three years, once more into the Battery, and after being mustered into the service and obliged to stay in Camp Distribution at Alexandria for five months, he finally joined the Battery in March, 1S63, then encamped at Harper's Ferry.
this time on until the close of the war he was never ab ent from it, was never sick or wounded while in the service, and served most of the time as driver but part of the tune as cannoneer in the fifth detachment.
In 1867 he entered Colby University and continued his studies there for two years, then entered Bowdoin College and gradu- ated there in the class of '71 with the degree of A. B., and later received thai of A. M.
From 1 87 1 to 1S75 he was engaged in the lumber business at Brunswick, Me., from 'y=, to ';b\ farming in Florida, from '79 to '83 mining and prospecting in Colorado, and since that in the coal business at Brunswick, Me. The first two business ts were failures, the third successful, and the last moder- ately so. Fie has served as Selectman, School Committee, Superintendent of Schools, etc., but has never held other public offi .
His first wife was Lucy A. Small of Bowdoin, who died in her h( has two boys and two girls now living. His present wife is Georgiana Frye. They have a pleasant home on the banks of die Androscoggin, where any old comrade of the Batterv will always find the latch string out and a kindly greeting and hcarh weld m : on the inside.
JOHN' MARLOR. Bn irapiiy and Personal Xotes. I was born in England and came to the United States when a child with my parents, who settled in Ohio, and some years after removed to Massachusetts.
I was visiting with a soldier friend who had just seen service in a Maine regiment and who was staying in Portland, when we
LIGHT ARTILLKRY, 1861-65. l6l
decided to enlist. We got separated in the camp at Portland and I never saw him afterwards. Tie died, as others did before him, in the service of his country.
After leaving camp at Portland we were sent to Galloup's
Island, Boston Harbor, and after remaining there a few days we
ordered on board the steamer Ashland, bound for City
Point, Virginia, and after a rough passage we finally landed
safely.
Aftei resting a few days I with some others was assigned to do duty wiih the 4th Maine Battery, stationed in front of Petersburg.
re proceeding with my story I wish to relate an incident which occurred 1 0 me at City Point, wherein I lost my shirt, arid this is the way I lost it. After landing from the steamer in which we had been packed like so many sardines, 1 thought ] would do a little washing on my own account, as the govern- didn't furnish washerwomen at that time, at least not to tin 1 igh privates. M\ washing was not a large one, only a shirt, the job was done quickly, and as our stay here was limited ] had to have th; t shirt dry some way or other. It was a beau- tiful day. tl 1 ne brightly, it- rays falling on the side of a wooden 1 i ; i for the J< ihnnies, and it • I • ■ mc that that would be an excellent place to dry it. I carried my washing over to the {dace and proceeded to pin it up agah >i A ■ ! u'lding, being v n car* ful to stretch out the so that it might dn al her. I stepped back a few paces to a Imire my work, when, in an instant and in less time than it tak< I I I] it, my shirt, the only spree shirr ] had, was sn through the cracks in the boards inside the pris >n bcJ 1 lid get there to save it, yet I was not ovei eight feet from it. My comrades laugh :d at me and some of them ■ i .-':.:' g min I, w ;: ■ ■ ■ I now if there were any spirits around. J told them there was. but they were inside the prison.
1 was ncv< r able to understand how it wen! through such a n as a crack between two_boards which was not over half an in< h wide.
Our lime expired and we were hurried up to the front, and it was dark when we reached our quarters. We spent the first night in a shanty that had been used as a cork house. After
1 1
1 6
FOURTH MAIN]; BATTKRY
eating our rations, J with a comrade stepped outside to get a view of our surroundings. As I stood looking around me, the scene reminded me of a display of fireworks on the Fourth of July, with the addition of iron and lead being mixed up with it in this display. 1 must confess that it made me think of home and those J left behind. ] called my comrade's attention to the fact that we were going to receive a warm reception from our friends across the line. He replied it looked very much that way, and as he wiped his eye so that he could see clearer, he said, "By gracious, 1 wish J was in my father's barn." "Well," said !, "what good would that do you;" "Well," he replied, 'J should dura soon be in the house with my mother." It was no juke for him, he was in dead earnest, but I have laughed over that eph >de a good many times.
I was assigned to the third section, sixth detachment, in ant Lester Holway, the next day, and became a part of the Battery, ready to do my duty in obeying all orders emanating from my superior officers.
In the course of time f was detailed for guard duty, and here occurred an incident in which the Orderly Sergeant, [udson Ames, became an interested party. I was on the third relief, it v a cold and I didn't have any overcoat. Somehow or other tin government or the contractor didn't make good connections with our Quartermaster Sergeant and I couldn't get one at pres- ent. Anyway, 1 stated to the Orderh Sergeant the predicament I *ras in, and he said that I might take his. 1 accepted his oiler and thanked him. The next day ] returned his coat, and when i . leaving his tent lie said: "Alarlor, ] don't know when the termasier Sergeant will receive those overcoats, but you can keep mine if you will let me draw the one you are entitled to. "'\\ ell," 1 said to myself, "one coat is as good as another.'"' and ] agreed to his proposition. In the course of three or four weeks J saw the Orderh Sergeant walking around with a brand new overcoat on. and. it began to dawn on me then that the i )rderly Sei geant had got the laugh on me, for J really think J' rawn thai coat J had when he first enlisted.
No reflection on Judson, bless his soul, but he showed that he had an eye for business.
Sergeant Holway's term of service expired., he was glad he- was going home, and to tell the truth we were sorrv we could
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 163
not go with him. Tared Bates was our next Sergeant, a good man, none better, but Jared did not know all that was going on in his section, and it wasn't best be should on this occasion, because be might have taken a notion to make it interesting for those concerned. This transaction is where 1 with others got an idea in our heads that the Commissary Sergeant wasn't deal- ing out pork enough to us, and after considering the matter over very carefully, we decide'', that somebody must make a raid on the pork barrel which the Commissar}- Sergeant kept outside of his quarters. The matter was arranged and lots were drawn to see who should perform the service. The lot fell to me, but I always thought it was fixed so that I should get it. on account of rm youth, I being the youngest member in that tent. Well, die time came for the excursion to be made. It was some time after taps had sounded, and darker than Egypt. J stepped outside the tent, with my heart in my mouth, arid started for the barrel. 1 found: it. reached inside of it and took the first piece I came to, about fifteen pounds I should think, concealed it under my overcoat and made my way back to the ten' where I was received with open arms. The pork was divided equally amongst us and for a few weeks we had pork enough, i don't think the Co missary Sergeant ever mis ed it; if be did be kept mum about it. These last two incidents occurred while tie: Battery was in fortification Xo. to. just to the left of Fort Steadman, tin- caisson and horses being in the rear of the »rts. We remained here till after Thanks-
giving, when we were ordered to take our position further down to the lef; in front of the cemetery and Fort Mahone on the rebel side, and while we remained here the Johnnies made it quite intei for us, and we returned the compli nent whenever
tin occasion required. The powers that b didn't think they had placed us just where they wanted to. so we were ordered still final:-.:- to the left, one section taking position in one fort and the other section in anothet Eurther down the line to the left. The Hatter)' was split, one section in charge of the Cap- tain and First Lieutenant, tie- 1 th< r in charge of the newly 1 1 Second Lieutenant., an old veteran, but 1 have forgotten his nam \ It was here we remained in winter quarters, the se< in charg-e of the Second Lieutenant being supported by the nth New Hampshire Volunteers. Winter passed away, April cat le,
[64
FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
and with it orders for an advance all along the line. The skirm- ishers commenced the battle before daylight and before noon the fight was won, the siege of Petersburg was over, and with it went Richm .nd, the curtain fell, and the war was over.
The next orders were to go to City Point, turn the guns over !" llu Proper authorities and report at Washington. It was at City Point that we received the news of Lincoln's death, and alter remaining a few days the march to Washington was com- menced. We crossed the James River, followed the river up to Richmond, passed through the city we had longed to see, and went on our way rejoicing. We next came to Fredericksburg, a place quite /..miliar to some of the older members of the Bat- tery, from having had some experience there during the earlier years of the war. We passed on and finally came to camp with the artillery brigade at the foot of Fairfax Seminar}-, just out- side cf Alexandria. We i in d here till after' the grand review in Washington, when ... we e ordered home to Augusta to be discharged.
We left Washington and proceeded by rail to Baltimore and then to Philadelphia, where we arrived on Sunday morning, about as hungry a lot of boys as could be found.' We were tak< n • barge of b\ those ladies whose purpose it was to see that 11,1 soldier p thr. ugh that rev without being provided with
a :'" ! ; squ; re meal. AW appn dated the kindness shown to us and have no fear or doubt bul what the recording angel c;-ave th;i!' credit for it. After a short rest we pushed on through :' ' J' se; ' into \Tew York, where we marched on to the r b mnd for Stonington, Conn. On our arrival there we boarded the Shore Line train bound for Boston. After our arrive! the line of march was again taken up and we reported ;;! tlle barracks on Beach street, a place we didn't fail in love
with- The ami : ;. - didn't i r ta t< . however, so we
! ' '''■■ and the w <t afternoon we boarded one of
the Kennebec steamers bom:,! for Augusta. A happier lot of hum; n beings couldn't be found than those who marched aboard th ■ I ai tli it afternoon.
Our arrival in Augusta was received with joy. It was a ": ' ovation, the coming home from the fronl of the boys who ' ' ■■' ; • '■ ' tilc real stn ,' r th : ; rnion. After the greet- ing was over, the line of march was again taken up for the last
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 165
time, and vve proceeded to the campground close bv the State House.
After we arrived in camp the roll was called and we were dismissed, to go where we thought best. Some went to their homes, others preferred to stay around the camp and city, till they went out of the service for g id.
The next thing was the making out of the muster rolls and pay rolls. The Orderly Sergeant detailed myself and two others to assist him. The task, as I remember, was a monotonous one, but after a week's time was spent over them, wc furnished them to the satisfaction of the proper authorities.
Just before we were mustered out we were photographed in the rear of the State House. T have one of those pictures in my possession now, and T often look at it as it hangs in a frame on the wall. The faces are familiar, but the names, I am sorry to say, a great many of them have passed from my memory.
The da) we had been looking for so long came, the day we were to sever our connection with the government had arrived, the J /ih day of June, when Paymaster Robie paid us off audi mustered us out of the service. We were discharged and the curtain fell on the final scene of which we were a part, never 1 1 b( gathered together again as a whole.
"\\ ith these incidents and facts which 1 have outlined my con- n :ction with the Battery closes. I hope they will be of some nee io tie: committee who have this matter in charge, at lea I I think one of the committee will be interested, as he played a leading part in the Battery movements and who will recall to memory the incident which he ;\n(\ I played together. I should be gl • ind d to see him. and others, but my physical condition is such that J can't travel anv »-reat distan.ee.
iGG FOURTH MAINS BATTERY
BY COMRADE BLAKE, MT. VERNON, ME.
Dear comrades of the old Fourth Maine, Reim ruber, you enlisted
The great Rebellion to put down, Alone and unassisted.
You went down south and tramped about,
And tried it for a "spell," And though you did not quite succeed,
You heard a "rebel yell."
And then, ah! then, you had a taste
Of stern war's bitter fruits, And thought it might be just as well
To have a few reci nits
But as the week- and months went by,
You called for more and more, And "On to Richmond!" was the cry,
Way down to sixty-four.
Although you had them "on the run."
''. ! d . broi ' ! ng new.
For when you were not chasing them,
Why, they were chasing you!
u . with turn and turn about, Quite busy did they keep you. A new contingenl to th : front, We boys went down to help you.
You all remember well, I know,
How next the fun b V, lien ' Germania Ford v e en
The river Rapidan.
With General Grant to show the way.
The still persistent "Yank" Sought out the rebel front one day,
The next we tried their flank.
But let us (lank them as we would,
By right or left the same. Their gallant leader always stood
Between us and our game.
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 167
And let us slop a moment here,
A tribute just to give. F01 braver men have never died.
And braver do not live,
Than those who fought against uc there.
Outnumbered as they were, Those men who marched and fought on foot,
And those who wore the spur.
But to the story to return:
'i ; rou A all that long campaign, Among the sturdy "hoys in blue,"
Marched on the old Fourth Maine.
Down throng1.-! the bloody Wilderness,
And Spottsylvania passed. Cold Harbor tried them once again,
There, too, they held us fa t.
Yet there, once more, their flank we sought,
And moving past their right, We started <>:i for Petersburg,
And beat them out <*: sight.
There, too. again, by slight delay.
Unlooked for, unforeseen, The "chance of war" has had its sway,
.' ■■ n< it what might have been.
Could those men in advance have known,
How near they wen- to winning, They might have made that one last charge,
And sent the Johnnies spinning.
When tired out, and beaten back. 'mine; light they waited, And then made ready to attack. With courage unabated.
The} found, although the end seemed near,
It was not yet to be. They found awaiting them once more
The valiant hosts of Lee.
iGS
FOURTH MAINS BATTERY
Oh! but we may not tell it all.
Indeed, 'twere vain to try. Enough that men by thousands fall,
And men by thousands die.
Tis part of history to-day,
And those who care to read May find the Southern's valor matched
By still as brave a deed.
And through the long and deadly siege,
With carnage all abounding, All those who cared to listen heard
The Fourth Maine guns still pounding.
And now, dear comrades, as our guns Have long since ceased their clamor,
And as the tired cannoneer Has laid aside the rammer,
We all admit the time is past
For bluster and for boasting. To tell the simple truth at last,
'Twas give and get a roasting.
Lei others boast whate'er they may, When ordered to unlimber,
We tried the 01 d< 1 to ■ \. . And seldom "took to timber."
'Tis true, we never lost :: ; tin,
Nor had a prisoner taken ; For though we never "saved the day,"
We always "saved our bacon."
Again 'tis true, and wc admit.
With reference to the hitter. There were times when we thought it best
To limber up and scatter.
And as from year to year we stand
' • md the baked bean platter. 1 i eai ;i con ;v le ' :. t ic hand,
Then limber up and scatter.
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
May each year closer, closer, bind, And may the tie grow stronger,
Until, the last handshaking done, W e meet on earth no longer,
And out into the great unknown, My comrade, friend, and brother,
Poor human hearts have warmer grown In heating for each other.
An-' too. whatever be beyond
The casket and the pall, The great, warm, loving heart of God
[s be; ting for us all.
169
CHAPTER XI.
Reunions.
From almost the very first of our reunion? the matter of the . of the Battery was talked and a new historian appointed ever)' year, the following comrades having served in that cap; it) J; ne= A. Jones, Ethel H. Jones, H. H. Powers, Henry C. Cony and Abial Chandler — but the time of each of these men was so taken up with other business that they could not give the matter the time it required.
Abial Chandler, having had experience as newspaper cor-
■ . le and compiled more than all of the others had
up to [896, so that what he had done, with the little the others
d, formed a nucleus lor the actual beginning of
the His
1 Ames, who lived in Montreal, Canada, yet
who m nd al -: every reunion of the Battery,
ne of the very first to agitate the publishing of a History
and was on hand each year to jog the memories of the boys in
regard to th n atter. He probably has done more than ah the
others, excepti j perha] ( ' adc Ethel II. Jones, in the way
of corres] collecti 1 es, etc. While each and every
member was willing to help in regard to it. yet it seemed to
many • Imosl too great a job to be carried through, foi
in additi all tli work of collects r> material, compiling the
was the qucsti n oi raising between three and
four hundred dollars to get the book published and bound.
At first tl ions \ to have a lai g :r b <■ <!;, c ml uni
cuts of man) of the comrade . which would be quite expensive.
Things went on year after year and very little was done
I ward the completion of the book, but Comrade Ames kept
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 1/1
dinging away like a telephone girl until he had succeeded in
ringing up the whole Battery and making them aware of the fact thai the History must and should he printed.
At the fourteenth reunion, held at Skowhegan, E. 11. Jones, Judson Aines and Mrs. C. M. Williams were appointed a com- mittee to complete the History. Marion Mills was appointed treasurer of the History fund and up to the year 1900 had col- from the members about seventy-five dollars, with pledges from others, which would increase the fund nearly enough for the printing and binding of the book.
1 will hi ..tract copied from the record of the
• "A considerable portion of the time at the business meeting wa< taken up discussing the means by which funds should be to complete the History of the Battery. Remarks were made by Comrades E. H. Jones, Ames. Sturdy, Bangs and otli :rs; finally th : following was offered in writing by Comrade Bangs and accepted by the association and ordered to be s] m the record:
x> ed, that the committee on the History of the Fourth Maine Battery be and are hereby instructed to continue the ' ne and when completed ascertain the cost,
which shall . rj two dollars per copy. Thereafter that
they procure all sub cription ; pos: ibL , stating in the pro?p< 1 ti what the cost will be, and that when the same lias been finished they proceed to haw a sufficient number of copies published to fill orders for the same, and we, the undersigned, pledge our- selves individual^ and collectively to guarantee the cost to the tt< c.
mei
A. S. Bangs, C. A. Sturdy. YYm. H. Brooks, Jos. B. French, I i Holway, Judson Ames. Ethel H. Tones," A. L. Brown, D. 1 ). Dearborn."
On motion of Comrade Ames. Comrade A. S. Bangs was added to the Committee on History, but Comrade Fangs resigned, as he could not give the matter the attention it
reciinrec
Soon after this Mrs. C. M. Williams died, which was a great rawbaek to the progress of the b : . At our twentieth annual reunion, in [900, Comrade E. H.
172 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
Jones made a long report in regard to the History, stating what had been done and that it was nearly read for the publisher He sai -;^^:^dheen of s,n,a.i,t,nce in pushing the .atte, a,1'! thf M; the death oi Mrs. Williams the committee had suffered an irreparable loss, yet he .ashed it distinctly under- stood that ,i the History was published all honor must he given to Comrade Judson Ames for his indefatigable zeal from start
Undoubtedly had Comrade Jones lived the hook would have 1 .'; Pushed four years ago, but he died in September, icoi T tlK' H,stor>- si[][ ""Wished. By his death almost all of the members of the- association were discouraged about the completion of the hook. Comrade Ames .as 'now the "only member of the committee left, yet he persevered and has carried through the plan of having a History of the Fourth Maine Bat- tery published.
REUNIONS OF THE FOURTH MAINE BATTERY.
Tt Nvould scem but fitting in the history of the Fourth Maine Battery that some mention should be made of the Fourth Maine Batt ^ Association, which was organized in Augusta on June 21, it>82, seventeen years after the close of the war.
For several years prior to that, a, comrades would accidentally meet each other, each would express a wish that there might be a reunion of the old Battery.
In the winter of 1S81-2 it was talked over by the comrades m Augusta until they got so enthusiastic over it that in April Jfb;- a Part-V made «P as follows-A. S. Bangs and wife, Wm' R Br°0ks and vvife> J- M- Allen and wife. Ethel II. and fames A. Jones ana wive,, and Mrs. C. M. Williams, relict of Sergeant Cyrus M. Williams, met at the house of lame. A. Jones and arranged a temporary organization, electing A. S. Bangs presi- dent and James A. Jones secretary, with instructions to ascer- tain the whereabouts of all the members possible and send out notices calling for a reunion of the Fourth Maine Battery at G. A. R. Ea!l. Augusta, vn June 21, 1882.
Mrs. C. M. Williams was of great aid in organizing our first reunion and all subsequent one, until her death which occurred »« |900. (n fact all of the ladies wen of much assistance to us in perfecting die organization, so u was voted at that time
LIGHT ARTU.l.KUY, 1S61-65. ! - -,
that the wives, mothers, sisters and daughters of the comrades should be made members of the association, and from that time they have continued to he a part of it and have looked forward to the annual reunion with as much pleasure as the comrades themselves.
1 herewith copy from the record of our first reunion:
Augusta, Me., June 21, 18S2.
Fourth Maine Battery first reunion.
At eleven 0?clock ^ meeting was called to order by Comrade A. S. Bangs and at once proceeded to business.
On motion ot Comrade Abel Davis, a committee of three was appointed to receive, sort and count votes for the election of officers; the following comrades were appointed: lames M. Alien, Cahin PI. C. Dearborn and H. M. Wentworth, who reported as follows: For presid nt, A. S. Bangs, Augusta; vice pi esident, Abel Davis, New Portland : secretary, James A. [ones, Augusta; treasurer, Wm. H. Brooks, Augusta.
On motion of Comrade George J'-. Crane, a committee of three was appointed on resolutions. 'J lie following comrades >vere ted: George B. Crane, ii. H. Powers, James A. Jones. A committee on business was then appointed, con oi
M. S. Philbrick, O. O. Vittum, Lester liolway. 1 ,n '" ; ' • ' "■ ' «" icle Bn ' . adjourned until two o'cloc! Dinner was served at twelve, the old veterans ho, their former reputation for getting av \ with a large run < i \ ellou -e) ed beans.
The belies who . ccompanied them added much to the o ment of the occasi >n.
At two o'clock the meeting was again called to Spcech.es were made by several of the comrades, con <"< I 1 Led and res A tions were read and a loptcd.
Supper was served at six and in the evening a n s\\i
heid and all appeared to have enjoyed our first reuni »n 1 rem ining ov( r until the next ' ' • 1 on : incident in connection <
of which die writer has thoughl many times and it 1 out of plaee to mention it here. Notices had been given in tl • pap* rs that a reunion of the Fourth Maine liatit r ..
in Augusta on such a d ite, etc. The d reunion a young reporter came to me, saying h< ,
174 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
paper that we were to hold a reunion, and made some inquiries in regard to the Battery, concerning which I gave him all the information 1 could. As he was about to go he turned and said: "About how many special police will the marshal call out for the day?" To say I was astonished but feebly expresses it. ] repeated •'Special police!" and then used the identical words that Vanderbilt used to a reporter later on, viz., "Public be damned," and asked him with considerable spirit what in sheal, or some word to that effect, and I think I added the word '"damnation," did he suppose we wanted of special police. I told him that the very worst element of the Battery lived here, and named over the Augusta boys, saying that even those had managed, to get along thus far without the interference of the pi ilice.
He evident!} supposed that if a body of ex-soldiers came bat they would attempt to run the city, and to protect the live.- and property of our citizens that an extra police force must be called out. He redeemed himself, however, in his rep 'rt in the paper. During the day I had introduced him to tfeb >n X. Wentworth, mayor of the city of Gardiner, Dr. G' ■■ ■ e B. Crane, Abel Davis, Esq., and others, also some of the ladies, not forgetting to impure if lie thought we needed the police force enlarged on our account.
In his nice, long report he spoke of the good behavior and genllemanl; bearing of the comrades and of their fine-lookino- ladies, and hoped it would he his privilege to meet with us again. The list of forty-eight members who were in attendance at the reunion was given to the reporter for publication before the n were recorded in the Battery book, hence they do not
apj :ar here, but as 1 glance over our second reunion I will give the names o\ those who attended that.
I If oui second reunion perhaps 1 can <}<:) no better than to copy the record, but as space is limited I will be able to only gl; ik c aL >ng at the others.
Maraxocook Lakh. August 16, tSZ?,.
Fourth Maine Battery second reunion.
Thirty-eight members of the Batten present, most of them accompanied b} their wives and children.
The meeting was called to order by President Panes, who made a few appropriate remarks of greeting to the comrades.
UGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. iyc
Remarks were also made by Comrades Abel Davis. Owen, Lieu- tenant Coffin and others.
Comrades E. JI. Jones, Abel Davis and Howard Owen were nted as committee to prepare a list of officers for the ensu- ing year. Meeting adjourned for refreshments, to meet again for business at 2 P. M. ^
Afternoon session—First business in order was reports of committees. The chairman of the committee reported as fol- !mvs: President, A. S. Bangs, Augusta; vice presidents, M B P, Abel Davis, New Portland; secretary, James A- J°»es, Angus! ;ti urer, Wm. PI. Brooks, Augusta ; execu- tive committee, Marion Mills, Skowhegan, 11. M. Wentworth GaJ?ner' j- -'L Fr<*manf Bethel, Howard Owen, Augusta. ' The reporl was by vote unanimously accepted. President Bangs made so. ,. feelin- •. narks, thankin- the ~n'rades mosi hear% &>r tlu honor conferred but absolutely ' - toscrv< a third term. The comrades verv reluctantly ; 'ted to the retirement of Comrad, Bangs, and on motion oJ Comrade Owen, Senior Vice President Coffin was elected to :ll! lhe vaca»cy, Comr; de D . ■ was elected as senior vice pres- ;" ' and ;i;:";"' Philbrick as junior vice president Presi- ','-"i Coffincaint fa™ '"d and thanked the comrades for *he trust : : cd m ! ' ':' 'P dth. Fourth Maine Battery Association WOtl,d continnc ;" ,; ■: ' their meetings until their ranks were rcduo ' ;" :1 one-] If of a "baker's dozen "'
\ ' ld ' ' «"ie very pleasing remarks in regard
1 " holdl"2 our reunions in the future bv ourselves instead of P'"S »> ™th the whole State of Maine. He said that mixing m'ove ' d th< Httle band of the old Fourth Maine to such
' V '' : : '"ade the reunion this year a partial failure and !" ivlll3( ^r neighbors ma} be just as good as our own fami- 1 C ' yet vvc likcd onr ™« families the best. All the comrades present concurred with the views of Comrade Owen, and Com- rade Davis <iul that he- thought it much better to be "a kino- toads than to be a toad among kings." T,u nialter of organizing an association of all the Maine batteries was discussed at some length and the secretary msitnictC(1 l" c< I "^ with other associations oi Maine bat- teries in regard to it.
\ oted to hold (he next reunion at Skowhegan. The following is a list of those present: fa
J7^ FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
A. S. Bangs, Augusta, Me.; M. B. Coffin, Maranocook, Me.; VVm. H. Brooks, Augusta, Me.; Ethel H. Jin-?.. Augusta, Me.; James A. Jones, Augusta, Me.; Geo. W. Moore, Auburn. Me.; Henry C. Cony, Auburn, Me.; Jere. Buckley, Lewiston, Me.; Jo eph B. t; ei i in Xo. Fayette, Ale.; John A. King, Fayette, Me.;Amasa i'. Weston, Skowhegan, Me.; Marion Mills. Skow- hegan, Me.; Leonard !I. Lincoln, Athens, Me.; Abel Davis, New Portland, Me. ; D. O. Dearborn, Everett, Mass.; Solon Robertson, Middleboro, Mass.; Frank Gilson, Farmington, N. H. ; John \Y. Amazeen, Farmington, X. H.; Emery L. Hunton, :ld, Me. ; Geo. \Y. McKenney, West Embden, Me.; C. II. C D ;iib .rii, .Me Vernon, Me.; Chas. R. Kittredge, Mt. Vern .•:., Me.; F. C. Foss, Mt. Vernon, Me.; Sewell Dollofr, Mt. Vernon, Me.; E. M. ' -n, Mt. Vernon, Me.; Henry B. Stevens, So!
Norridgewock, Me.; Lester Hohvay, North Fairfield, Me.; Amaziah Southard, Brunswick, Me.; H. II. rowers. Pittsfield, Me.; Chas. Crymble, No. Anson, Me.; Robert Gordon. Read- field, Me.; David Clifford, Readfield, Me. ; John Boss, Harmonv, Me.; Chas. L. Jones, Livermore, Me.; Olive; Dud Welch, Fay- ette, Me.; Mosi i T. Bean, Vienna, Me.; Chas. II. Sally, Atkin- son, Me.; ( <A CI . Dean, J:.:>.<t Madison, Me.: A. B. Frost, Newport. Me.; Chas. Eldridge, S >. Gardiner, A..; P. F. Hurd! Athens, Mc.
Our reunions have been held a, Augusta, Maranocook, Skow- hegan, Auburn, ' ' '. Xo. Anson, Bethel, Peaks Island, Farmington, N'orri Igewock and Waterville. In most of those places we haw mel twice or more. As space is limited I can only gi ing glan c at th ■ most of them. But ali who 1 ■' " 'ill agree with me in saying- that each citv or town ■ A out-do the others in the way of making our meetings a success, and tin-re were no failures in any of them.
Bethel having been the home of Captain Robinson, also the Coi A Frank Bartlett, Abial Chandler, Lieuts. Kim- 1 Fi m and other members of the batter v, we decided
to hold our ninth reunion there and 1 will cop}- from tin. record something of bin meeting there. The ninth reunion of the Fourth Maim: Battery Association was held at G. A. R. Hall, Bethel, juvx- 2 ;, 1891.
A goodly number of the boys accompanied by their ladies e present and tve had one oi the best times we have had since the organization of the association.
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 177
Dinner served at twelve, business meeting at two at which 7",de"t Ames l"ade a few feeling- remarks in regard to the
£ea! mr secretary Henry C. Cony, also Comrades Charles
B. Patterson and J. H. Goodwin who had died since the last meet nig.
The committee appointed to present names for officers for the ensuing year reported, as follows:
President, John M. Freeman ; vice-president. Lester Holway secretary, James A. Jon,.; treasurer, Geo. F. Sturtevant.
All were unanimously elected but President Freeman abso- lute!) refused to serve. Comrade Holway was elected to fill the VaCanc>' ancl he also d^Hned to serve. D. O. Dearborn was then elected president. He was surprised and was on the point of declining when he was again surprised bv the ladies seizing h,ni and no1 °»b Elding him in his seat but by placing their hand, over his mouth rendered speech impossible, therefore he made no objections.
At three P. M. the grave of Capt. Robinson was visited and beautifully decorated by the members of the batterv. In the evening we again assembled at Ideal Hall where an 'interesting program was carried out. Judge Woodbury offered prayer Judge Enoch Foster delivered the address of welcome to which Comrade Bangs responded. Speech, s were made bv Comrades Kimball, Davis, Oil Demi and others.
Company ]. Fifth Uaine Regimenl Co!. Edwards' old com- pany, held a reunion here the same day so all business was virtually suspended and the people tinned their attention to the reunions.
r[ u- boys are d< sei ing of much credit for their gentlemanly conduct while here, everyone conducted himself in such a man- ner as to gain the respeci of ad the citizens. Let us on ail occa- sions strive to fulfil our duty to ourselves, our country and our G.»d so thai when our last battle has been fought our last earthly reunion ended we may join the grand army of peace in the shinin • tents upon the eternal com] . ■ ground above.
At Skowhegan the home of Capt. White. Marion Mills, Harville and other., several of our reunions have been held. All of them will lv remembered with pleasure and for their success much credit is due Comrade Mills and wife who spared them-
i/8
fourth maine; battery
selves no amount of labor to make everybody happy, and to see that none went away disappointed.
^ We all remember with pleasure our reunion at Auburn where Comrade George Moore and wife and Comrade Geo F. Sturte- vant and wife spared no pains to make a success of our meeting.
At Pittsfield Comrade Davis and wife and Comrade H. H. Powers and wife worked with the same zeal with the same results.
At North Anson Comrades Charles Crymble, George McKen- ney, Ambrose Vittum and their wives, Lyman G. Brown, Octave Thompson, and others from adjoining towns should come in for their share in the glory of the successful reunions held in their town.
None of us who attended the meeting at Farmingion will ever forget the royal entertainment given us by Comrades A. J. Gerry and Silas Perham and their wives.
At Waterville we remember with pleasure the kindness of Comrades Chas. 1]. Frost and Andrew A. Lakin and their wives, who received us. At the campfire Comrade Frost declared he had not had so good a time since he had the smallpox down at Little Washington, \V. Ya.
( >ur sixteenth reunion was held at Norridgewock, the former home of Lieut. H. F. Eaton, Henry B. Stevens and perhaps others, whom J do not recall to mind. This was a mosl enjoy- able occasion as Lieut. Eaton m \ ; us, coming from his hom< in Ludden, Xo. Dak. We had a good attendance of the boys and their ladies. Main, of tin: comrades had not met Lieut, i since the close of the war. Landlord Cahill of the new hotel threw open his house for us. The spacious dining-room was handsomely decorated and a fine orchestra furnished music whil one hundred guests, comprised of the battery bovs and their families, members of the Bates Post, and the Relief Corps bat down to well filled tables.
After the business meeting, which followed the dinner, the visitors looked over ihc town then returned to the hotel for supp" '• during kvhicli short speeches ^vere made and cheers long and loud were given for mine host and hostess, Bates Post, 1 lies' Relief Corps, Lieut. Eaton and the citizens of Norri. e- wock in general. The compam was so hilarious that a little
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1 86 1 -65. 1 79
child present asked his mother if old soldiers always made such a noise at the table.
In the evening speeches were made by Lieut. Eaton, Mrs. Sergeant Williams and others, fine music was furnished by a choir and everything passed off to the satisfaction of all present. The following tribute to the wife of Comrade Abel Davis. who had passed away since our last reunion, was offered by Mrs. C. M. Williams: "In behalf of the women of the Fourth Maine Batter) Association I wish to offer a tribute of a few irds to th on ■ ■ n< of our number, who a few months
ago closed her eyes to all earthly scenes, Mrs. Angie Rogers Davis, wife of Comrade Abel Davis. Although her connection with the association was of comparatively recent date, yet she was one of our most enthusiastic members. We recall with pleasure hei bright, cheen greetings, her interest in all that per- tain d to o\\[- gatherings, and her readiness to do all she could to add to the peasure of otn meetings. We feel a sense of I nal loss as the sad thought comes to our hearts, that her presence will no longer cheer our reunions, but we look forward to another reunion in the happier clime where the inhabitants ver say 'I am sick.' W'e tender our sympathy to him : home has been made desolate by her departure.'' A vote of thanks was extended to Mr. anil Miss Cahill, and a long list of resolution was presented which closed up as follows:
Whereas during the year some of our members have been called upon to part with loved ones and we wish to extend our sympathies to them in their affliction, therefore be it
Rcsohrd. That expressions of our deepest and most heartfelt svmpathv be conveyed to our sorrowing comrades. To Com- rade Davis we especially extend our sympathy in his hours of loneliness; to Comrade I >. O. Dearborn and wife we extend deep svmpathy.
HAMLIN F. BATON, JUDSOX AMES, ETHEL l-I. J( >NES. At the annual reunion oi the Fourth Maine Battery Associa- tion held at Xorridgewock June 22, it was resolved, "That greet- ings be sent to the 1st Me. Regiment, now in camp at Chicka- iiMiixi and that we arc glad to know, that among their nuiu-
180 FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
ber arc sons of our comrades, who, more than a generation ago followed the old flag for more than three years from Cedar Mountain to Appomattox. May the same spirit of loyalty, patriotism and faithfulness to duty that animated the father be sir >wn by the sons."
C. A. STURDY.. President. JAMES A. JONES, Secretary. At our eighteenth annual reunion held in Augusta in June, [9 1, tl secrel n rep irted that four deaths had occurred dur- ing the year, viz.: H. M. Wentworth, Amaziah Southard, Lewis Ware and Mrs. C. M. Williams. The following resolutions were passed on the death of the comrades and Mrs. Williams:
Resolved, Thai it is with sadness that we learn of the death of C01 Ware, Southard and Wentworth; that their names
will ever be d r to air memory as true and loyal members of our order and faithful comrades. We also are made sad by the cl th Oj Mrs. Jennie Williams, relict of our late Comrade Cyrus M. Williams. Shi passed away on June 14, 1900. lie it also Resolved, That in the death of Mrs. Williams, we have lost a nd tried friend, an active member of our association, a beloved and useful woman, whose loss the community will n ; thai h will ever hold a place in our im mory as a use-
ful membei of our organization, ever prompt and ready for duty. She 1 ; the eleven who starte I this association and has
given much time and attention to i meetings. Every member of this order will n iss her kindly face and cheering words, and by her exalted views and elevated thoughts her presence was itial ;ary to our happiness. ]n the church she was a
devol< I Ch an, true. to its tenets, and just in the work. As a neighbor site was always obliging and unselfish. [Splitting in hi advanced from a lower to a higher state, from dark- ness to light, from de; th to life, from error to truth, ami "Well and faithful servant," will be said as she enters the haven of rest.
. d, "' h .'. wc tinder to the friends ^i the deceased our and heartfelt sympathy in this their bereavement. That these resolutions be spread upon the records and a copy be sent to the friends of the deceased.
ETHEL 11. [ONES. ) ,
IDA MOORE, \CwmiUccon
A. J. GERRY, J Solutions.
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1S61-65. iSl
At our twentieth reunion held in Skowhegan, the secretary reported seven d uring the year, viz.: Chas. A. Allen,
Ethel H. Jones, Chas. Eldridge, John B. Holbrook, Madison Wright, John A. King and Cornelius Dutton. Resolutions were passed on the death of the above members.
By death only has there anything occurred to mar the pleasure of our meetings. At our various reunions we have had a great many good things for our campfire entertainment in the way of speeches, songs, readings, music, etc., but perhaps none were ever more Phasing than a little poem read at Augusta by Mrs. Ella Jones Benson. The author's name is not given but the poem is entitled,
The Little Brown Button.
How clear to the heart of cacl gi ij headed soldier
Are thougl ts of the days when he still wore the blue, While memory recalls every trial and danger
And Si are brought back to his view.
Though long since discai tii ii arms and equipments,
There's one thing a vete; 11 most surely will note; The first thing he sees nn of a comrade,
Is the lit : itt ii he wears on his coat.
Chorus : The
The sacn tl ' 1 butti »n,
The Grand Ai y butti ■:;. Me wears on his coat.
"; low much di 1 it cost?' said a man to a sol
"That lit! 1 ■• ' ■■ ' • 1 yoi ir on your co; "
"Ten cents in good mom ' red the stranger.
"And four \ of mas fig] tin* to b ot."
' '■' world ca t purchase this emblem, ' I r once won the brave blue;
An it to m kind 1 full mai ks of a hero,
ry was true.
CMC! •■
Th< n let ;. I pr< ud of tl bron :e button,
And weai it with sp Frat. rnal y \ koine < :h , ..}■■. supports it, With love in our 1 for th comrades of old.
! mu<ter: out whole battalions of wearers, '.• ; n will be mi ' ■ ! ; '■ .-
But m llious to c mi : wiii •
The man who'd • ri >ronze button t<
JS- FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
With our twenty-third reunion held in Augusta, Tune 21, 1905, you are a!! so familiar (here is not much need of jogging your memories. The meeting was called to order by President H. H. Powers. A goodly number were present.
Address of welcome by Mayor Hichborn, response bv Abel Davis, Esq.
At the business meeting the association voted for the commit- tee on history to proceed to have the book published and make the best terms they could for the same.
I Ifficers elected for the ensuing year: President, Peter F. Hurd, Athens; vice-president, John Poss, Harmony; secretary, James A. Jones. Augusta; treasurer, Marion Mills, Skowhegan.
Mrs. Ethel H. Jones contributed ten dollars to be added to the history fund.
Remarks were m; le by Comrade A. S. Pangs who is always at hi,, best at reunions, also by Comrade Abel Davis, who is always on hand. Comrade James F. Cheney and others.
The usual resolutions were passed. Voted to meet at Oak- land, 1906. Had there been no reunions there would have been no batten' history published.
May they continue to be held, as Lieut. Coffin remarked, as long as there is half of a "baker's dozen" left, is the prayer of your humble servant
JAMES A. JONES.
PRESIDENTS OF FOURTH MAINE BATTERY ASSOCIATION.
1st, A. S. Bangs, Augusta, Me.
-'.1. M. B. Coffin, Maranocook, Me.
3rd, Wm. H. Brooks, Augusta, Me.
4th. Abel Davis, Pittsfield, Ale.
5th, James A. Jones. Augusta. Me.
6th, D. O. Dearborn, Everett, Mass.
;th, Mario,, Mills, Skowhegan, Ale.
Sih, Judson Ames, Montreal, Canada.
odi. Lester Holway, No. Fairfield, Me.
10th. Jo,. B. Trench. S. Chesterville, Me.
nth. Ethel H. Jones, Augusta, Me.
12th, F. C. Foss, Mt. Vernon, Me.
13th, C. A. Sturdy, Tocms, Me.
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
IS3
14th, Silas Perham,
15th, Abel Davis,
16th, Chas. \V. Frost,
17th, James A. Jones,
iSth, H. II. Powers,
19th, Peter F. Hurd,
Farmington, Me Pittsfield, Me. Waterville, Me.
Augusta, Me. Pittsfield, Me.
Athens, Me.
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