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Seventeenth Maine Regiment
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NKTIONKL. CETUHeTERV JvtONUTVT ENT — GETT VSBU RC
THE BATTLE OF GETTTSBUEG.
BY BREVET BRIGADIER-GENERAL CHARLES HAMLIN,
LATE ASSISTANT ADJUTANT GENERAL, SECOND DITI8I0N THIRD AEMT CORPS, ARHT OF POTOMAC.
A BRIEF sketch of this battle will enable the reader to under- stand the operations of both Union and Confederate troops given in detail, as they appear in the various accounts of the battle, hereafter in this volume. Such a sketch, indeed, is necessary for the general reader who desires a con- nected account, because the main purpose of this volume is to give a particular account of the various regiments and batteries of the State of Maine, rather than a single and connected ^^ew.
An invasion of the North was determined upon by the Con- federate authorities soon after the battle of Chancellorsville in May, 1863. It seems evident now that the causes which led to this invasion were, that the term of many of the Union sol- diers was expiring ; the late defeat at Chancellorsville ; and the hope and expectation to capture Pliiladelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, which might end the war through a recogni- tion of the Confederacy by foreign governments, followed by their intervention.
On the second of June, Lee began his movement north with the withdrawal of his army from Fredericksburg. On the eighth, Eu-eJl and LonyMreet an-ived at Culpeper, to which place Stuart had already advanced his cavalry. General Hooker, on June 5th, ordered a reconnaissance below Freder- icksburg, suspecting some important movement by General Lee. On the eighth, Pleasonton's cavalry and two brigades of infantry were ordered across the Rappahannock. On the morning of the ninth these forces crossed the river and attacked Stuart's cavalry at Brandy Station. Here occurred the first
4 MAINE AT GETTYSBURG.
Gettysburg. He bombarded Carlisle with shell, burned the government barracks, and then moved south, via Mount Holly Gap, and did not arrive on the battletield until the afternoon of July 2d, having been separated seven days from General Lee. The absence of Stuart's cavalry proved to lie disadvan- tageous to General Lee, who did not know until the evening of the twenty-eighth, while at Chambersburg, that Hooker had crossed the Potomac into Maryland. Lee still lielieved that Hooker was in Virginia, held there in check by Stuart.
Lee at once began to concentrate his ai-my, sent EweU orders to retire from Carlisle and to recall his troops near Har- risburg. Bodes' and Earhfs divisions were ordered to join HilVs corps in the vicinity of Gettysburg, while JoJmsoiis divis- ion with the artillery and trains approached the Chambersburg Pike via Shippensl)urg and Fayetteville. IlilVs and Eu-elVs corps, on the thirtieth, advanced towards Gettysburg. Petti- greic's brigade, on the same day, was ordered with several wagons to Gettysburg to secure clothing and shoes.
POSITION OF THE UNION ARMY,
ON THB EVENING OF JUNK 30, 1863, TO THE SOUTH AND BAST, AND DISTANT FROM GETTTSBUEG.
First Corps, Doubleday (Second and Fifth Maine Batteries and Sixteenth Maine Regiment with this Corps), Marsh Creek, 5 1-2 miles south. Second Corps, Hancock (Nineteenth Maine Regiment with this Coi-ps) , Uniontown, 20 miles south. Third Corps, Sickles (Thii-d, Fourth, and Seventeenth Maine Regi- ments with this Corps), Bridgcpoi-t, 12 miles .south. Fifth Corps, Sj'kes (Twentieth Maine Regiment with this Corps), Union Mills, 16 miles southeast. Sixth Corps, Sedgwick (Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Maine Regiments with this Corps) , Manchester, 34 miles southeast. Eleventh Corps, Howard, Emmitsburg, 10 miles south. Twelfth Corps, Slocum (Tenth Maine Battalion at Corps headquarters), Littlestown, 10 miles southeast. Buford's cavalry, two brigades, Gamble's and Devin's, at Gettysburg. Men-itt's (Regular) Brigade, Mechan- icstown, 18 miles south. Gregg's cavalry (First Maine Regiment with Gregg) , Westminster, 34 miles southeast. Kil- patrick's cavalry, Hanover, 14 miles east.
MOVING TOWARDS GETTYSBURG. 5
Dow's Sixth Maine Battery was with the Fourth Brigade of the reserve artillery, at Tanej-town, 12 miles south. Co. D, 2d U. S. Sharpshooters was with the Third Coi-ps.
General Meade's orders for July 1st were, for the First and Eleventh corps to move to Gettysburg, the Third to Emmits- burg, the Second to Taneytown, the Fifth to Hanover, and the Twelfth to Two Taverns ; the Sixth was left at Manchester.
POSITION OF THE CONFEDERATE ARMY,
ON THB EVENING OF JUNE 30, 18G3, NORTH AND WEST, AND DISTANT FROM OETTYSBURQ.
First Corps, Longstreefs, at Chambersburg, 25 miles northwest. Second Corps, EwelVs: divisions, Early's, near Heidlersburg, 12 miles northeast ; Bodes', Heidlersbui-g, 10 miles northeast ; Johnson's, yicimtj of Fayetteville, 21 miles northwest. Third Corps, Hill's: divisions, Andersoii's, Fay- ette\dlle, 18 miles northwest ; Pender's, near Cashtown, 10 miles northwest ; Heth's, at Cashtown, 8 miles northwest ; Pettigrevj's brigade, at Marsh Creek, 3 1-2 miles noi'thwest ; Stuart's cavalrj^ near Dover, 21 miles northeast.
General Lee's orders to Hill and Longstreet, for July 1st, were, for Heth's division with eight batteries to occupy Gettys- burg, Pender's division to move promptly to Heth's support. Longstreet was to follow this movement with JSIcLaws' and Hood's divisions.
Buford's cavalry division, on the left of the Union army, was, approaching Gettysburg June 30th, on the Emmitslnirg Road, and encountered Pettigrew's brigade entering the town from the west. Pettigrew fell back towards Cashtown to a position on Marsh Run, where he notified Heth, to whose division he belonged, that Gettj'sburg was occupied by the Union forces. Buford's cavalry passed through the town of Gettysburg about half-past eleven o'clock in the forenoon. Halting west of Seminary ridge he went into camp, with Gamble's brigade south of the railroad to cover the approaches from Chambersburg and Hagerstown. Devin's brigade went to the north of the railroad, posting his videttes on all the roads north and northwest. Buford sent information to Rey- nolds of the presence of the enemy ; and Reynolds, who was
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instructed to occupy Gettysburg, advanced the First Corps from Enimitsburg to Marsh Creek, about five and one-half miles from Gettysburg. Meade moved his right wing forward to Manchester. On the night of the thirtieth, Buford held a conference with Reynolds at Marsh Creek, and returned, during the night, to his headcjuarters in Gettysburg with one of Rey- nolds' staff, who was to report to his chief early in the morning of the next day.
At this time, Lee appears to have been fearful that his communications might be interrupted, and he was troubled by the naked defenses of Riclmiond. Lee, therefore, determined to draw back and make a diversion east of the South Mountain range to engage Meade's attention. Although Lee's plan of invasion had been thwarted, he determined to defeat Meade's army. On the other hand, INIeade, having selected the general line of Pipe Creek for his defense, had thrown his left wing, preceded by Buford's cavalry, forward to Gettysburg as a mask. Both generals aimed to secure Gettysburg for the reason that it controlled the roads towai'ds the Potomac. Its occupation Ijy the Union army proved to be of great impor- tance when we consider the subsequent events.
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FIRST DAY.
The first day's battle was fought on the west and north of Gettysburg. It began with Buford's cavalry holding back the enemy's infantry beyond and along Willoughby Run until the arrival of the First Corps, followed by the Eleventh Corps. A severe engagement, especially along the front of the First Corps, ensued, in which Reynolds lost his life ; and the Union forces, under Howard, were driven from the field after Eivell came from the noith. Hall's Second Maine Battery opened the infantry fight as soon as it arrived on the ground and was placed in position north of the Chambersburg Pike. The prin- cipal fighting by the Confederates along the fi'ont of the First Corps was by two divisions of HilVs corps, who did not succeed after several attacks until reinforced by JSweU. It was then that the Sixteenth Maine Regiment was ordered to
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instructed to occupy Gettysburg, advanced the First Corps from Emmitsburg to ilarsh Creek, about five and one-half miles from Gettysburg. !Meade moved his right wing forward to Manchester. On the night of the thirtieth, Buford held a conference with Reynolds at Marsh Creek, and returned, during the night, to his headquarters in Gettysburg with one of Rey- nolds' staff, who was to report to his chief early in the morning of the next day.
At this time, Lee appears to have been fearful that his communications might be interrupted, and he was troubled by the naked defenses of Richmond. Lee, therefore, determined to draw back and make a diversion east of the South Mountain range to engage ^leade's attention. Although Lee's plan of invasion had been thwarted, he determined to defeat Meade's army. On the other hand, Meade, having selected the general line of Pipe Creek for his defense, had thi'own his left wing, preceded by Buford's cavalry, forward to Gettysburg as a mask. Both generals aimed to secure Gettysburg for the reason that it controlled the roads towards the Potomac. Its occupation bj- the Union army proved to be of gi'eat impor- tance when we consider the subsequent events.
FIRST DAY.
The first day's battle was fought on the west and north of Gettysburg. It began with Buford's cavalry holding back the enemy's infantiy beyond and along Willoughby Run until the arrival of the Fu'st Corps, followed by the Eleventh Corps. A severe engagement, especially along the front of the First Corps, ensued, in which Reynolds lost his life ; and the Union forces, under Howard, were driven from the field after Eivell came from the north. Hall's Second Maine Battery opened the infantry fight as soon as it an-ived on the ground and was placed in position north of the Chambersburg Pike. The prin- cipal fighting by the Confederates along the front of the First Corps was by two divisions of ^(7?'* corps, who did not succeed after several attacks until reinforced 1)y EiceJJ. It was then that the Sixteenth Maine Regiment was ordered to
FIRST DAY OF BATTLE. 7
take position on the extreme right of the First Corps, at the Mummasburg Road, and to hold the enemy in check so that the remnant of the division might fall back ; and thus, under imperative orders to stay there at all hazards, it was delivered to the enemy by relentless capture.
Stevens' Fifth Maine Battery, which occupied a position near the Lutheran Seminary, was sharply engaged during Hill's final assault, and aided by its rapid and severe fire in checking the enemy. The two corps of the Union army fell back through the town of Gettysburg, with heavy loss, but were not vigorously pursued by the enemy. The check given to the enemy's advance by the hard and desperate fighting of the First Corps led to results worth all the sacrifice ; but to this day full credit has hardly been given to the great services rendered by that corps, familiar as we all are with the feai-ful losses inflicted upon it. The remnants of the two corps fell back upon Cemetery Hill, which lies to the south of the village of Gettysburg, and there awaited the arrival of the remainder of our army.
The chief features of the gi'ound occupied by the Union army during the remainder of the battle, July 2d and 3d, may be descriljed briefly as follows : South of Gettysburg there is a chain of hills and bluffs shaped like a fish-hook. At the east, which we will call the barb of the hook, is Gulp's Hill ; and turning to the west is Cemetery Hill, which we will call the shank, running north and south until it terminates near a slope in a rocky, wooded peak called Round Top, having Little Round Top as a spur. The credit of selecting this position has been e(]ually claimed by both Hancock and Howard. At Hancock's suggestion Meade brought the army forward from Pipe Creek to secure it.
Lee, having arrived at Seminary Ridge with his troops near the close of the first day's battle, made an examination of the field and left Eivell to decide for himself how far he should follow up the attack upon the Union army at the east of the town at the close of the first day's battle. At this time Ewell, observing the strong position occupied by the Union forces upon Gulp's Hill by the arrival of the Twelfth Corps under
8 >IAINE AT GETTYSBURG.
Slocum, decided not to make an attack. Cemetery Hill at the same time was well occupied by infantry and artillery.
On the second day Lee determined to assume the offensive and resolved to give battle, although it seems that when he opened his campaign he had declared that it should be an offensive-defensive one. Probably his success on the first day may have induced the belief that a change from his original plan was well wan'anted. He was also influenced by the belief that the attacking party has the moral advantage, and in the light of his experience at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville he thought he could succeed. Longstreet urged him to move around the Union left, and manceuvi-e Meade out of liis posi- tion by threatening liis communications with AVasliington ; but he declined to accept the advice.
SECOND DAY.
On the morning of the second, Lee's general line was in concave order of battle, fronting the Union army, parallel to Cemetery Hill, and about a mile distant, with his left thrown to the east and through the town to a point opposite Culp's HUl. Longstreet was on his right, occupying Seminary Ridge, and about a mile distant from Cemetery Hill, with Hill in the centi-e and Ev:ell on the left.
The Union position was in the following order, beginning on the right : Slocum on Culp's Hill : Howard on Cemetery Hill ; Newton, who succeeded Doubleday, commanding the Fu'st Corps ; Hancock ; and Sickles ; the latter occupying the low OTOund between Hancock on his right and Little Round Top on his left. The Twelfth Corps had come upon the gi'ound after the fighting of the first day. The Second Corps aiTived on the morning of the second day. Graham's and Ward's brigades of the First Division of the Third Corps came upon the ground about seven o'clock on the night of the fii-st day, followed l\v two brigades of the Second Division late in the night. One brigade from each division, left at Emmits- burg with artillery to guard the mountain pass, came up to Gettysburg in the forenoon of the second. The Fifth and and Sixth corps, by a hard night's march, arrived upon the
SECOND DAY OF BATTLE. V
ground the second day. The morning of the second day was occupied by Meade in strengthening his position and watching for Lee's attack. He believed that iee would attack him on the right of our line, and prepared to move against Lee from that point. He finally decided to remain on the defensive.
Lee having perfected his plans, directed Longstreet, with his two divisions, then upon the field, consisting of more than 15,000 men, to attack a salient thrown out by Sickles from the general line on our left at the Emmitsburg Road. Neither army then occupied Round Top and Longstreet endeavored to capture it by extending his right in that direction. Sickles' thin line, of less than 10,000 men, resisted Longstreet for thi-ee hours along the front of the Third Corps position ; the main fighting of the Fii'st Division being from 4 : 15 to 0 : 30 p. m., and of the Second Division from 6 to 8 p. m. Towards the last of it, on both fronts, other troops came to the assistance of the Third Corps. A portion of the Fifth Corps, thrown into the support of Sickles, after a desperate struggle, secured Round Top ; and though Longstreet forced Sickles back from his salient rein- forced by troops from the Second, Fifth, Sixth, and Twelfth corps, he secured only a small benefit commensurate with his loss after a long and bloody engagement lasting from 4 o'clock p. M. until it was dark and late in the night.
The centre of the Union line was occupied by the Second Corps, under Hancock, who assumed command of the left soon after Sickles was wounded. The Nineteenth Maine Regiment, under Colonel Heath, assisted in repulsing the attack of Hill at the close of the day, and made a charge di'iving the enemy beyond the Emmitsburg Road, recapturing the guns of one of our batteries wliich had been abandoned. The casualties of the regiment in killed and wounded exceed those of any other Maine regiment on this field.
In the Third Corps position between Round Top and the Peach Orchard on the Emmitsburg Road, the Fourth Maine Regiment, Col. Elijah Walker, was in the Devil's Den ; the Seventeenth, Lieut. -Col. Charles B. MeiTiU, was in the Wheat- field ; and the Third Maine, Col. Moses B. Lakeman, was in the angle of the salient at the Peach Orchard.
10 MAINE AT GETTYSBlTtG.
The Fourth Maine, with gi'eat sacrifice, successfully repelled a determined attempt of Law to gain the rear of Birney, and by counter charges was largely instrumental in holding back the overwhelming forces brought against Devil's Den until our lines were established farther ba<3k. The Seventeenth Maine, substantiallv alone, held the Wheatfield against successive onslaughts of thrice its numbers of the veterans of Longstreet until it was relieved by Hancock's ti'oops, after more than two hours of righting, in which it sustained a loss of one-third of its strength in killed and wounded. The Third Maine with two other regiments in the Peach Orchard defeated the fierce attacks of Jiershaw's South Carolinians upon the south front of that position, and held the ground until the enemy gained the rear of the Orchard, nearly surrounding the small remnant of the command.
When Longstreet, late in the day, was forcing the Union troops back upon our main line with the help of HiU, who aided to dislodge the Second Division of the Third Corps from the Emmitsburg Road, the reserve artillery under Major McGilvery assisted in repelling the enemy's final attack. The Sixth Battery, under Lieut. E. B. Dow, took pait in the stand then made and enabled our infantry to re-form.
On the extreme left of the Union line was the Twentieth Maine Regiment, under Col. Joshua L. Chamberlain. His regiment was on the left of the Fifth Coqis troops that took possession of Little Round Top and prevented the enemy, after desperate fighting, from turning our left. After expending all his ammunition. Colonel Chamberlain, by a timely charge, drove his opponents down the west side of the hill and capt- ured many prisoners. After dark the regiment seized and held Big Round Top.
The Seventh Maine Regiment, Lieut.-Col. Selden Connor, took position on high gi'ound east of Rock Creek, the extreme right of the Union infantry line, where it protected our flank, but was not severely engaged after having driven the enemy's skiiTuishers out along its front.
Capt. Jacob McClure, Co. D, 2d U. S. Sharpshooters, was out on the skirmish line in front of the First Di\asion of the
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Ath'ance *— —
THIRD DAY OF BATTLE. 11
Third Corps, between Round Top and the Emmitsburg Road, and was under constant tire from morning until the general advance of Longstreet in the afternoon. When the company fell back, some of the men remained in line of battle and filled vacant places in the thin line of the division. Others came under the command of Colonel Chamberlain on Little Round Top and assisted his company under Captain Morrill, who had command of a skirmish line on the left, where both delivered a flank tire upon the enemy at a critical moment.
On the right of the Union army Eioell gained after dark a foothold on Culp's Hill, where a portion of the Twelfth Corps had vacated its gi-ound when ordered near night to other parts of the Union army.
During the movement against Culp's Hill, Early's division was directed to carrj- Cemetery Hill by a charge, preceded by an artillery fire from Benner's Hill from four Confederate batteries. These batteries, however, were silenced by our bat- teries on Cemetery Hill and Stevens' Fifth Maine Battery in position between Cemetery and Culp's Hill. Then Early's infantry moved out, but were handsomely repulsed, suffering severe loss, especially from the enfilading fire on their left flank by the Fifth Maine Battery.
THIRD DAY.
At the close of the second day, Lee believed that he had effected a lodgment in both flanks of the Union army. Meade called a council of his corps commanders and decided to remain and hold his position, and at daylight attacked Ewell in force and compelled him to give up the ground that he had occupied the night before that had been left vacant by a portion of the Twelfth Corps. Then Lee detemiined to attack the centre of the Union line held by the Second Corps. He accordingly ordered Longstreet, who was opposed to the movement, to make this assault which is generally called "Pickett's Charge." Lee massed nearly one hundred and fifty guns of liis artillery along Seminary Ridge and the Emmitsburg Road and opened fire against the Union line. Barely eighty guns from our side
12 MAINE AT GETTYSBURG.
could be put in position to reply, and a tremendous artillery duel followed that lasted for tvro hours. Then Pickett, Petti- grev, and Trimble, under order of General Longstreet, with a column of about fifteen thousand men, made a charge into the centre of the Union line ; but the charge failed, although some of PicA'etfs men broke thi'ough a portion of Hancock's first line, where they were met, in front and flank, by other forces of the Second Corps, including the Nineteenth Maine Regiment, and some of the First Corps, which rolled them back with gi-eat losses in killed, wounded, and prisoners. This ended the fighting along the infantrj' line of the Union army. The farthest point reached by the Confederates in this charge is marked by the "High- Water Mark" monument.
After the repulse of Pickett Kilpatrick made a charge from the extreme Union left without accomplishing much success. This was succeeded by an infantrj^ reconnaissance composed of portions of the Fifth and Sixth corps — in the latter a part of the Fifth Maine Ecgiment participated — in the direction of the Peach Orchard, which resulted in the retirement of the enemy fi-om nearly the entire front of the left of the Union lines to and beyond the Emmitsburg Road, the capture of a batch of prisoners, and the re-capture of a piece of artUlery from the enemj\ This successful and promising movement, however, was not followed up. There was a sharp and hard cavalry battle between Gregg, in conjunction with Custer, and Stuart, when the latter endeavored with his cavalry to pass around the Union right flank on the third day. Charges and counter charges were made there, and the Confederates, being defeated, withdrew from the field.
Lee spent all of the fourtli day and untU daylight on the fifth preparing for retreat, but in the meantime intrencliing for any attack that might be made. But Meade did not attack ; nor would he adventure anj-thing. He permitted Lee to fall back to the Potomac without following up the advantage that he had gained. Lee crossed the Potomac at Williamsport and was followed some days after by Meade.
Of the forces actually engaged, the Union loss in the battle of Gettysburg was twenty-three thousand out of seventy-eight
MAINE TROOPS ENGAGED. 13
thousand ; the Confederate was twenty-three thousand out of seventy thousand, — al)f>ut one-third of the entire number enjjaffcd.
14 MAIXE AT GETTYSBURG.
MONUMENT
OF
SEVENTEENTH MAINE REGIMENT.
This monument, of Hallovvell granite, stands at the south edge of the Wheat-field, between the Peach Orchard and Devil's Den, by the stone fence, where its colors were July 2, 1863, at the position where the regiment suc- cessfully resisted all assaults of the enemy upon it. Two square bases of single blocks support a four-sided shaft or die, which, inlaid with diamond- shaped blocks of red granite, rises to the capital with a projecting cornice. This forms a platform on which is a sculptured group, chiseled from a block of white granite, representing a section of stone-wall, with wheat, and the statue of a typical soldier of 1863, true in every detail, posed alert, resting upon one knee in the wheat, holding his rifle, at the " ready," across the wall.
Adsieasurements: ist base, 8 feet by 8 feet by 2 feet 3 inches; 2d base, 6 feet by 6 feet by 2 feet 8 inches; shaft, tapering from 4 feet 3 inches to 3 feet 8 inches, each side, by 9 feet; cap, 4 feet 9 inches by 4 feet 9 inches by 2 feet; statue, 4 feet 9 inches by 4 feet 9 inches by 4 feet 6 inches. Total height, 20 feet 5 inches. '
Upon two sides are the following inscriptions: —
130 Killed and Wounded, 350 Engaged. July 2, 1863.
17th Maine
Infantry.
Lt. Col. Chas. B. Merrill,
Commanding.
;)i!D Brigade,
1st Divi.sion,
;)RD Corps.
AVheat-Field,
July 2, 1863:
Pickett's Repulse,
Ji-LY 3, 1863.
I
-See page 15 for legend upon the monument.
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT MONUMENT. 15
LEGEND.
Upon a bronze pane! set into the north side of the second base is this learend: —
The Seventeenth M.m.ne fought here in the
V\'HEATFIELD 2 1-2 HOIKS, AND AT THIS POSITION FROM
4:10 TO 5:45 P. M., Jllv 2, 1863. On July 3, .\t time
OF THE enemy's .•\SS.\11.T. IT REINFORCED THE CENTRE
and supported artii-i.er\'. i.oss, i32. killed or mortally wounded, 3 offickks, 37 me.\. vvounded, 5 officers, 87 men.
This regi.me.vt of noi.unteers from western .Maine was mustered into the United States ser- viCK at Portland, August iS, 1S62, for three years. It took part in the b.\ttles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wapping Heights, .A^UBURN, Kelly's Ford, Locust Groye, .Mine Run, Wilderness, Po River, Spottsylx'a.nia, Fredericks- burg Road, North Anna, Totopoto.my, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Jerusalem Road, Deep Bottom, Peeble's Farm, Fort Hell, Boydton Ro.\d, Siege of Peters- burg, Hatcher's Run, Fall of Petersburg, Detons- \iLLE, S.\iLOR's Creek, F.\r.myille, .A.ppomattox.
Aggregate actual strength i.n service, 91 offi- cers, 1,475 men. Killed and died of wounds, 12 offi- cers, 195 MEN. Died of disease, 4 officers, 128 men. Died i.\ Co.nfederate prisons, 31 .men. Wounded, not mortally, 33 officers, 519 men. Missing in action, fate unknown, 35 men. Total loss, 957. Mustered OUT June 4, 1865.
SEVENTEENTH MALNE REGIMENT,
THIRD BRIGADE. FIRST DIVISION, THIRD ARMY CORPS,
AT THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBPRG.
WE have followed the fortunes of the Third and Fourth ilaine regiments, the one upon the right and the other upon the left of Birney's line. At a point near the centi-e of this line another Maine regiment, the Seventeenth infantry, of de Trolniands l)rigade. defended a no less impor- tant position. Tliis was one of the two lu-igades which Sickles left iieai' Emmitshurg to guard the mountain passes while he pressed on to Gettysburg, eleven miles away, with the rest of the corps, in response to Howard's call for assistance. But before daybreak of July 2d Colonel de Trobriand received orders to come up to Gettysburg. The brigade maiched rapidly, but cautiously, up the Ennnitsburg road, aiTiving near Gettysburg late in the forenoon. The regiment was under command of Lieut. -Colonel Merrill, ably seconded by ilajor West. As it passed northerly along the road bej'ond the Peach Orchard it received a lire from the Confederate sku-mishers, screened by the woods in which they were posted, west of the road. The regiment filed off the road to the east and, passing thi'ough grass fields and across lots, halted near a growth, where the hungry boys made a hasty luncheon of hard tack and coffee.
In the line, which Sickles was forming, de Trobriand first occupied the ridgy, wooded ground between the Peach Orchard a'iid the AVheatfield. The Wheatfield was of triangular shape, about 400 yards each side : the highest portion was bounded by a cross road running along by the Peach Orchard and east- erly across the north slope of Little Round Top. The Wheat- field sloped down southerly from this road, and along its westerly side by a wood, to quite low ground, making a corner near a branch of Plum Run, with a thick alder growth on the
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SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT ENGAGED. 17
west ; the tliird or southerl}^ side was bounded by an open growth of sizable trees, a stone-wall intervening, and this wood separated the Wheatfield from Devil's Den.
The Seventeenth was at first placed south of the Peach Orchai'd, supporting the skirmish line of the 3d Mich. De Trobriand had two regiments at the front, to the left of the latter, — the 5th Mich., whose skirmishers connected to the 3d, near the Rose barn, also the 110th Penn., a small regiment. The largest regiment in the brigade, the 40th N. Y., was in the wood, in reseiwe, behind these.
The ball opened by a shot from a battery at the Peach Orchard, soon taken up by Smith's battery at Devil's Den, the latter drawing fire from the enemy's batteries near the Emmits- burg road farther south. Ward's brigade extended from Devil's Den, through the wood, nearly to the Wheatfield. The advance of the enemy's line of battle was such that Ward received the first contact, on an attempt by the enemy to capture Smith's battery. There was a gap between Ward and de Trobriand at the south corner of the Wheatfield. To occupy this gap the Seventeenth Maine was hastened upon the double-quick by the left, taking up its position at the stone-wall, the right of the regiment extending beyond the wall to the alders. Some time after, the 40th N. Y. was also taken from de Trobriand and sent to Ward's left rear, in the Plum Run valley.
Shortly after 4 p. m. the Seventeenth planted its colors at the stone-wall on the southern edge of the historic Wheat- field (a). There were no immediately connecting troops upon its left or right. The regiment took position just in time to receive the first and furious attack made by the enemy on that part of the line. This was made by Robertson's brigade of Hood's division, and the first struggle of the Seventeenth was with the 3d Ark. regiment. The latter, advancing towards the l)attery, struck the line of the Seventeenth obliquely ; the Seventeenth ovcrlapj)ing its left fiank, threw it into confusion by a spirited enfilading fire. Their line recoiled. After a short delay they made a change of front, and brought in some of the
(a) Tlie authority for tliis account of the Seventeenth's battle is Captain George W. VerriU, a participant in the battle as Second Lieutenant of company C. He is also the author of all that part relating to the battle in the Wheatfield
18
MAINE AT GETTTSBUKG.
1st Texas from their right. Advancing again they made an effort to dislodge the Seventeenth from its position, but without avail. Their lines were again broken, causing a partial with- drawal of their attacking forces here, and likewise at that part of the line whore they had previously pressed hard upon Ward's brigade (b).
DIAGRAM 1. Drawn by G. W. VeniU.
SEVENTEENTH MAINE IN THE WHEATFIELD.
The enemy re-formed his lines and brought in Anderson's Georgia brigade with these scattered portions of Robei'tson's, making another determined assault. As this developed an attack extending from Little Round Top westward, and beyond the right of the Seventeenth, it brought into action the 5th Mich, and 110th Penn. regiments, which were posted on the wooded ground west of the Wheatfield, as well as some regiments of the Fifth corps, posted on the right of these. As the
(b) General Ward said in his official report, '*The valuable services rendered by Col. T. W. Egan, Lieut-Col. Merrill and their noble regiments (40th N. Y. and Seven- teenth Maine), at an opportune moment, cannot be over-estimated. Also see Rebel- lion Records, Vol. 27, part 2, page 408, reports of 3d Ark. and 1st Texas.
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT ENGAGED. 19
right wing of the Seventeenth, prolonging the course of the stone-wall beyond its west end, extended obliquely towards the enemy, in advance of the general position, and was thus in the air, the Georgians outflanked it when they advanced. Perceiving this, the Seventeenth promptly took measures to avert disaster. One-third of the regiment from its right was swung back to a slight rail fence which, starting from the stone- wall at nearly a right angle, formed the boundary of the real wheat field. Thus two fronts were presented by the regiment, forming a salient angle at the stone-wall. The movement was accomplished, although with considerable loss, so quietly that the rest of the regiment, engaged as they were with the enemy, were not aware of it, a steady fire being kept up. The tables were turned. As the veterans of Georgia moved directly for- ward upon the 5th Mich, and 110th Penn., who received them face to face, this new line of the right wing of the Seven- teenth took them in flank. They changed front to match the flank line of the Seventeenth and again advanced, and thus exposed their left to the reliable men of the 5th Mich. Mean- while the enemy, that was not affected bj^ this flanking fire, pressed forward, even up to the stone-wall, and a desperate struggle at close quarters ensued for this coveted position. At the salient angle was company B, with H, K and C at the right ; at the left of B was G the color company, and on its left, along the stone-wall, were D, I, F, A and E. All received a raking fire, particularly G, B and H, but all remained stead- fast, and routed the enemy, some of whom were taken prisoners, their color-bearer, who had advanced nearly to our line, nar- rowly escaping capture. On that portion of the line the enemy had made no impression, and Anderson's l^rigade retired out of range. The fight had continued over an hour ; many had fallen, but success inspired confidence.
To complete his line so as to attack the Peach Orchard in reverse, Longstreet now brought in Kershaw's South Carolina brigade of McLaws' division, which advanced, holding its left upon the Emmitsburg road and pushing forward its right to sain irround to the east, so as to assault the Orchard from the south, as it advanced, and at the same time secure a foothold
20 MAINE AT GETTYSBURG.
at the Wheatfield, thus taking de Trobriand in the right flank and rear. Semmes' brigade, on the right of Kershaw, was ex- pected to assist Kershaw and connect with Anderson's brigade. The troops of Barnes' division of the Fifth corps that had taken an excellent position on the right of de Trobriand, and had assisted in repulsing the last previous assault, were in a situation to receive a part of Kershaw's force in line. Ker- shaw's advance, at about 5 : 30 p. m. could be plainly seen as his regiments gained the Rose building ; as they advanced, Ander- son's brigade also made another attack. The assault was most desperate, with a strength at least double that of ours ; if suc- cessful it would sweep directly across the Wheatfield, converg- ing as it advanced. Again the Seventeenth at the stone-wall held the enemy at bay ; at its angle it repelled the attempts of Anderson after a long and persistent struggle ; but Kershaw forced back the Fifth corps forces at the " loop " and struck the flank of de Trobriand's brigade in the woods. Pushing ahead for a junction with Anderson, a portion of the assailants made for the west corner of the Wheatfield through the thick alder gi-owth, happily there, which both impeded their rush and broke the solidity of their ranks ; they emerged through the alders within fifty paces of the flanking right wing of the Seventeenth, which awaited them at the rail fence. Here were a hundred muskets, in the hands of steady veterans, to receive them : " Aim low, boys ! make every shot tell I " With the most frantic efforts to re-form his lines for a charge, the enemy was unsuccessful ; the men dropped as they emerged from the alders ; in a few minutes they gave it up and retreated out of sight. The Seventeenth breathed easier. But the attack of Kershaw, forcing Barnes away, in turn compelled the 5th Mich, and 110th Penn. to move rearward. Kershaw thus gained lodgment in the woods west of the Wheatfield, considerably in rear of the position of the Seventeenth. Winslow's battery, posted at the noiih side of the field, withdrew from its posi- tion. The Seventeenth was thus left alone, far in advance of its brother regiments and well outflanked upon its right by Kershaw. It was ordei'ed back across the field in line of battle to the cross road before spoken of. Another attack followed before a new general line could be arranged.
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT ENGAGED.
21
The enemy seeins the retrograde movement across the Wheatfield, at once moved up to the abandoned stone-wall and over it, and also to the edge of the woods west of the Wheat- field. General Birney rode up, saw the desperate situation, and also saw the Seventeenth Maine near him, which had just squatted down in the cross road and had sent for ammunition. It had expended already over forty of the sixty rounds with which it was provided (a) . Birney called upon the Seventeenth for a charge. He placed himself at the head of the regiment,
DIAGRAM 2. Drawn by G. W. VeiriU.
SEVENTEENTH MAINE IN THE WHEATFIELD.
and with a cheer and a rush it moved down into the Wheat- field. The enemy disappeared over the stone-wall and into the
(a) Sergeant Pratt of company C (afterwards a captain), and some others, carried 80 rounds into the fig;ht. Captain Pratt has positive knowl- edge that he fired 60 rounds from the stone-wall position, although there were lulls in the battle, a change of position by the company, and a slight wound- ing, to interrupt him in his work. This proves the time that the regiment remained at the wall to have been nearly two hours. The Sergeant did not quit the field until he received his third wound, after the charge under Birney.
22 MAINE AT GETTYSBURG.
woods. Placing the Seventeenth about midway of the "Wheat- field he ordered it to remain there and keep back the enemy, (a)
The Seventeenth took upon itself without flinching this task of a forlorn hope. It was past 6 o'clock. General Sickles had just been wounded. Birney was notified and took command of the corps. Leaving the Seventeenth, he went to another part of the field, but he was not unmindful of the situation he left ; (b) the gallant .5th Mich, was brought up and extended the line of the Seventeenth to the right ; the two small brigades of Barnes, who had retired from the front woods, were now resting in the woods one hundred yards in rear of the Wheat- field, but not engaged (c) ; General Birney had sent to Hancock for Second corps troops. Meanwhile the raking musketry fire of the enemy at short range, both from the stone-wall in front and the wood nearer and to the right, was making sad inroads upon the attenuated ranks of the Seventeenth and its brother regiment, as there was no protection of any sort ; occasionally the enemy would form a line and emerge from the woods as for a charge, ))ut the firmness and confidence displayed by the Seventeenth and the .5th Mich., ready to meet him with the bayonet, apparently disheartened him.
The cartridges were giving out ; every box of a dead or wounded comrade was appropriated to eke out the supply. Twenty minutes, — a half-hour, — passed, and still no signs of help ; the last cartridge was gone and the men were gi-imly told by the commanding oflScer that the Seventeenth would stay there and hold the ground with the bayonet until the last man had fallen ! (d) This small l)and of Third corps men suc- cessfully held the line at this critical time without assistance
(a) Of this Gettysburg charge General Birney said in his official report, concern- ing the Seventeenth : " This regiment behaved most gallantly, and evinced a high state of discipline. Their enthusiasm was cheering, and the assistance rendered by their charge most important."
As accounts of various military writers have iujected several regiments into this charge led by General Birney. it is desired to emphasize the fact, that no other regi- ment took part in it, and no troops were brought up to aid the Seventeenth except as here narrated.— G. w. v.
(b) See de Trobriand's report,— Rebellion Records, serial no. 43, page 520.
(c) See Birney 's report,— Rebellion Records, serial no. 43, page 483; also Sweit- ler's report,— Ibid., page till.
(d) See Lieut.-Col. Merrill's official report,— Rebellion Records, serial no. 43, p. 522.
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT ENGAGED. 23
from other infantry. The batteries in and to the east of the Peach Orchard nobly performed their work and helped to keep Kershaw's men under cover by their rapid and well-aimed fire.
At last, at just about (! : 40 o'clock, deliverance came. Caldwell's division of the Second corps readily assimied the battle on that portion of the line. Cross' brigade went in where Ward's right had rested ; after this, Kelly's brigade advanced, in line of battle, through and beyond the small rem- nant of the Seventeenth Maine and 5th Mich., into the edge of the wood, with a rush ujion Kershaw's troops, with whom the Maine and Michigan veterans had been contending.
The Seventeenth, thus relieved, collected and took along its wounded who were disabled on the field, and then, in good order, finally left the Wheatfield, handing it over, still intact, into the keeping of other Union troops.
[It may not be amiss to state briefly the events of that evening, on this pai't of the field, after the Seventeenth was relieved. Cross' brigade advanced upon the enemy posted behind the west end of the Wheatfield stone-fence, and the wall running westerly from Devil's Den. A hot contest ensued for thirty or forty minutes, the enemy holding his ground, when the regulars of Ayres' division. Fifth corps, came in up to the east side of the Wheatfield and relieved Cross' brigade. Kelly's brigade, with that of Zook upon its right, fought fiercely with Kershaw in the woods where we left Mm, finally driving the latter out. About this time Brooke, with his brigade of Cald- well's division, charged across the Wheatfield, almost unre- sisted by the used-up and disconnected troops of Anderson, Kershaw and Semmes. Bv these three brigades of C'aldwell the line was advanced to the faithest point held by the Third corps and extended farther south. This was about 7 p. M., when, Bai"ksdale having pushed ])ack our regiments and bat- teries just north of the Peach Orchard, Longstrect brought up Wofford's fresh brigade, which advanced thi'ough the Orchard and easterly on the cross road. There was nothing to resist him ; Tilton's brigade of Barnes' division had been resting in Trostle's grove, in an excellent position to defend from Wof- ford, but had retired. Kershaw joined to Wofford, and taking
24 MAFNE AT GETTTSBUHG.
our lines about the "Wheatfield in the right flank and rear, easily whirled out the three brigades of the Second corps, Sweitzers brigade of the Fifth corps which was then in the ^Vheatfield, also the regulars of A^tcs, causing heavA" loss, and advanced the Confederate line to the Plum Run valley, west of Little Round Top. Here it was met by a charge of about three brigades of the Sixth and Fifth corps. These with the timely aid rendered at this point by McGilven.-'s batteries, in driving back Barksdale's troops, not far distant, north of the cross road, turned the tide of battle. This was about 7 : 30 p. M. The Confederates retired to the southerh* and westei'ly sides of the Wheatfield, about where they were when the Sev- enteenth was relieved, nearly an hour before.]
On July 3d, when Longstreet's assault was made upon the centre of Hancock's line, the Seventeenth was brought into the general line to receive it, at a point where Wilcox's column would have struck, had it got so far. but our batteries pounded this column to pieces before it reached our infantry line ; h"ing there, supporting the batteries, the regiment was exposed to a severe artillerA- fire, losing in it two killed and ten wounded, — small loss compared to that of the day before.
A >L\RKER
located upon the ground held by the regiment July 3d, during the charge, stands upon the west side of Hancock Avenue, near the monument of the 9th Mich. batter>' and to its right. This marker, cut from Maine granite, assumes the size and appearance of a small monument. The upper portion of the die shows rather more than the half of a square block, with one of its angles making the apex. Upon the face, matching the angles of the top, a red granite diamond, or lozenge, is inlaid, beneath which is the following inscription:
Position" of the 17th Maixe Ixttt. Jult 3, 1863.
LosLNG Hebe Killed 2, Wocntjed, 10.
This Regt. Fought July 2, ix the Wheatfield,
As SHO^^'x BY MoMUMEXT Theee, Losixg 120.
SEVENTEENTH KEGIMENT PARTICIPANTS. 25
PAETICIPANTS.
FIELD, STAFF AND NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
Lieutenant-Colonel, Charles B. Merrill, Portland, commanding regiment.
Major, George W. West, Somerville, Mass.
Adjutant, First Lieutenant Charles W. Roberts, Portland.
Quartermaster, First Lieutenant Josiah Remick, Portland.
Surgeon, Nahum A. Hersom, Sanford.
Assistant Surgeon, William Wescott, Standish.
Chaplain, Jeremiah Hayden, Raymond.
Sergeant-Major, Henry L. Bartels, Portland, acting 2d Lieut., see company F.
[Acting Sergeant-Major, Frederick W. Bosworth, Portland, Private co. A.]
Quartermaster-Sergeant, John Yeaton, Jr., Portland.
Commissary-Sergeant, John F. Putnam, Lewiston.
Hospital Steward, Nathaniel B. Coleman, Portland.
Company A. Captain, Charles P. Mattocks, Portland. istSergt., act'g 2d Lieut. Grenville F. Sparrow, Portland (com., notmust'd).
SERGEANTS.
AlvinF. Blake,Portland,act'gistSerg. Fayette M. Paine, New Vineyard, Benjamin Doe, So. Berwick, Edward H. Crie, Portland.
CORPORALS.
Jesse A. Stone, Portland, Robert M. Low, Pownal,
Joseph F. Lake, Portland, color-bearer, George T. Jones, Richmond.
PRIVATES.
Andrews, Albert H., Jr., Portland, Armstrong, Jacob L., Portland, Barker, Alonzo J., New Vineyard, Bodkin, Peter P., Portland, Brown, Daniel W., Baldwin, Brown, Jacob C, Portland,
Burns, Michael, Portland, Chick, William H., So. Berwick,
Delihanty, Thomas, Portland, Dresser, Albion K. P., Pownal,
Goodenow, Charles, Gray, Herrick, Ira J., New Vineyard,
Hodsdon, Joseph A., Falmouth, Ingraham, Octavius C, Portland,
James, John W., Portland, Joy, Granville W., So. Berwick,
Marston, Edward H., Falmouth, Marston, Horace G., Falmouth,
Marston, Joseph S., Falmouth, McDonald, Peter, Compton, Can.,
Miller, Alonzo, Portland, Milliken, Charles, Portland,
Pettengill, Albion C, Portland, Pratt, Jeremiah L., New Vineyard,
Pray, Ivory, So. Berwick, Sawyer, Alonzo W., Westbrook,
Sawyer Henry H., New Gloucester, Spaulding, David M., New Vineyard, Skillings, Franklin, Pordand, Totman, John F., Portland,
Tuttle, John F., Freeman, Waterhouse, Robert, Portland,
Wilkinson, Frederick N., So. Berwick.
On Special Duty or Detached Service: 2d Lieut. Edwin B. Hough- ton, Portland, act'g A. D. C. brig, staff, commiss'd ist Lieut., not mustered. Corporal Anson F. Ward, Portland, div. provo. guard. Privates: Frederick W. Bosworth, Portland, act'g Sergt. -Major, see Field and Staff; Robert Ham- ilton, Portland, corps provo. guard; Samuel D. Roberts, Portland, 4th N. Y. batt'y; Henry C. Allen, New Gloucester, corps amm'n train; Edward Fabyan,
26 MAIXK AT GETTYSBURG.
Portland, teamster; Cornelius Boyle, Portland, regt'l pioneer; John B. Miles, New Vineyard, cattle gtiard; Obed W. Paine, New Vineyard, blacksmith; Jonas Reynolds, So. Berwick, cook; Mark H. Sawyer, Portland, and George H. M. Taylor, Portland, div. supply train; James S. Spaulding, Anson, Oliver Waite, Anson, and Oliver Walker, So. Berwick, brig. amb. train. Musicians: Henrj- B. Berry, Portland, and Augustus Vaughn, New \'ineyard, hosp. dept. Wagoner Charles R. Hale, Portland, div. supply train.
CoMP.\NY B. First Lieutenant, Benjamin C. Pennell, Portland, commanding company. Second Lieutenant, William H. Green, Portland.
SERGE.\NTS.
Horace A. Smith, Portland, acting First Sergeant,
Edwin J. Hawkes, Portland, Daniel Gookin, Portland,
Cyrus M. Hall, Portland.
CORPORALS.
David C. Saunders, Sweden, color gd., George W. Jones, Portland, Edward A. Roberts, Portland, Charles H. Merrill, Portland,
George W. H. Roach, Portland, Aaron Hubbard, So. Berwick.
PRIVATES.
Brackett, Byron, Sweden, Carruthers, Charles E., Portland,
Charles, Frank C, Fryeburg, Davis, Samuel C, Portland,
Doughty, John, Jr., Portland, Duran, George E. H., Portland,
Elliot, William S., Portland, Emery, Moses D., Stowe,
Fabyan, Charles H., Portland, Flannagan, James, Portland,
Foster, R. G. W., Albany, Grover, Alpheus, Portland,
Holt, James G., Fryeburg, Lehane, John, Portland,
Libby, Seth B., Portland, McKeen, James, Stowe,
McKenzie, Matthew, Portland, Morton, Sidney G., Fr>'eburg,
Morton, William B., Fryeburg, Norton, George L., Portland,
Noyes, Alvin A., Portland, Quint, Monroe, Stowe,
Smith, Daniel, Jr., Frj-eburg, Walker, Alden B., Fr\-eburg,
Wiley, Gardner B., Stowe, Wiley Joseph, Fryeburg,
Winn, Andrew, Portland.
On Special DtTV or Detached Service: Corporal John Witham, Portland, provo. guard. Privates: Augustus A. Kimball, Portland, 6th R. L batt'y; Edwin G. Thome, Portland, Smith's 4th N. Y. batt'y; Samuel Buxton, Portland, amm'n train; Samuel C. Holden, Fryeburg, surgeon's detail; Orlando Hooper, Portland, George F. Moulton, Portland, and Joseph Wescott, Windham, brig. amb. corps; Edward Kelly, Portland, cook. Musi- cians: James F. Bartlett, Portland, and William H. Colby, Portland, assisting wounded. Wagoner Samuel E. Silsby, Portland, tools wagon.
Company C. First Lieutenant, Edward Moore, Portland, commanding company. Second Lieutenant, George W. Verrill, Norway.
sergeants. First Sergeant, Jordan M. Hall, Casco, Asa L. Downs, Minot, William F. Morrill, Durham, Gustavus C. Pratt, Oxford.
CORPORALS.
Josiah G. M. Spiller, Casco, Cyrus T. Pratt, Poland,
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT PARTICIPANTS.
27
Allen, Joseph A., Raymond, Black, Lawson S., Bethel, Campbell, Alexander, Minot, Dean, Abraham, Jr., Oxford, Durgin, George A., Minot, Graffam, Henry, Casco, Hawley, John, Farmington, Mills, Fessenden M., Norway, Perkins, George F., Minot, in part, Ricker, Wentworth P., Poland, Strout, Charles W., Minot, Welch, Stephen S., Casco,
Jas. F. Strout, Raymond, color guard, James L. Fuller, Minot, George B. Dunn, Poland.
PRIVATES.
Berrj-, James, Naples, Brown, Horace J., Poland, in part, Churchill, Allen M., Poland, Duran, Josiah, Poland, Faunce, William, O.xford, Haskell, Samuel F., Poland, Maybury, Enoch, Naples, Pattee, Andrew J., Poland, Pratt, Addison B., Minot, Strout, Albert, Raymond, Verrill, Richard, Raymond, Witham, Henr>-, Casco. On Special Duty or Detached Service: Privates: Preble Soper, Hebron, in provo. guard; George G. Bridgham, Poland, hostler brig, h'dqrs; Orrin Downs, Oxford, teamster supply train; Chester J. Dunn, New Glouces- ter, assist, to wounded; John B. Evans, Raymond, cook; D. S. N. Thurlow, Raymond, regt'l pioneer. Musician Stephen W. Gammon, Poland, in charge of stretcher bearers. Wagoner James E. Fulton, Raymond, supply train.
Company D. Captain, John C. Perry, Portland. First Lieutenant, Newton Whitten, Portland. Second Lieutenant, Stephen Graffam, Portland.
SERGE.\NTS.
First Sergeant, Franklin I. Whittemore, Portland,
Daniel J. Chandler, Lewiston, Newton W. Parker, Lewiston.
CORPORALS.
Bernard Hogan, Lewiston, color guard, George A. Parker, Lewiston, Melvin Davis, Lewiston, George F. Hanna, Portland.
PRIVATES.
Austin, Joseph, Lewiston, Bickford, Nathaniel G., Lewiston, Cobb, Daniel, Windham, Dwelley, Samuel L., Lewiston, Faunce, Oilman, Lewiston, Gammon, Samuel H., Portland, Groves, Laphorest, Lewiston, Holt, John, Lewiston, Lane, William N., Lewiston, Parker, George I., Lewiston, Rogers, Ezra P., Lewiston, Skillin, Hiram B., Portland, Toole, Thomas, Lewiston,
Baker, Edwin G., Lewiston, Chadderton, Joseph, Lewiston, Currier, George O., Lewiston, Fall, Melvin, Lebanon, Fowler, Levi, Lewiston, Goodwin, Henry G., So. Berwick, Hays, Charles H., Portland, Hulme, James, Lewiston, Mills, Joseph N., Portland, Penley, Henr>' H., Lewiston, Rounds, Isaac, Lewiston, Sweeney, Michael, Lewiston, Winter, Amos G., Lewiston.
On Special Duty or Detached Service: Privates: Charles H. Pink- ham, Lebanon, Livingston's N. Y. battery; Charles W. Peasley, Lewiston, div. provo. guard; William Bodge, Lewiston, orderly div. h'dqrs; Warren S. Butler, Lewiston, regt'l hosp. nurse; Thomas ^L Dennett, Portland,
28 MAINE AT GETTYSBURG.
hostler; Edmund D. Field, Portland, in amb. corps, stretcher bearer; John Hogan, Lewiston, regt'l pioneer, stretcher bearer; Thomas C. Haley, Lew- iston, and John E. Newman, Portland, div. supply train; Elijah P. Harmon, Lewiston, hostler div. h'dqrs; Frank A. McDonald, Lewiston, and Bradford Stevens, Lewiston, div. amb. train; Charles McCarty, Portland, guard at hospital; Isaiah G. Mason, Lewiston, brig, blacksmith. Wagoner Frank C. Houghton, Lewiston.
Company E. Captain, Ellis M. Sawyer, Cape Elizabeth. Second Lieutenant, Frederick A. Sawyer, Portland.
SERGEANTS.
First Sergeant, Herman Q. Mason, Portland.
Charles F. Vanhorn, Portland, Oliver E. Jordan, Cape Elizabeth.
CORPORALS.
George F. Small, Cape Elizabeth, William M. Loring, Yarmouth, Herbert Soule, Yarmouth, Albert O. Baker, Yarmouth, color gd.
PRIVATES.
Adderton, JosiahM., No. Yarmouth, Allen, Albion S.,Freeport,(part July 2). Anthoine, Edwin D., Cape Elizabeth, Baker, Charles W., Yarmouth, Barstow, Jeremiah R., Cumberland, Blackstone, Jordan, Pownal, Blake, Elijah, No. Yarmouth, Brown, John N., Cape Elizabeth,
Bruce, Rufus S., Yarmouth, Colley, Charles L., No. Yarmouth,
Doughty, George W., Cape Elizabeth, Goff, Lucius S., Gray, Hall, James H., Yarmouth, Harmon, Arthur A., Cape Elizabeth,
Hayes, David P., No. Yarmouth, Hayes, Francis E., No. Yarmouth,
Holyoke, Charles G., Yarmouth, Huff, Samuel, Jr., Portland,
Johnson, Albert A., Freeport, Jordan, Simon, Cape Elizabeth,
King, William H., Woolwich, Eng., Lombard, John T., Cape Elizabeth, Loring, Joseph H., Yarmouth, Marston, E, Greeley, Yarmouth,
Milliken, Samuel, Cape Elizabeth, Mitchell, Tristram P., Yarmouth, Pargade, Cheri, No. Yarmouth, Plowman, Oliver, Scarborough,
Rideout, Joseph M., Cumberland, Ross, George E., Gray, Seabury, Ammi D., Yarmouth, Soule, George O. D., Yarmouth,
Sparks, James E., Yarmouth, Thompson, Charles H., Gray,
True, Hollis, Pownal, Whitney, William J., No. Yarmouth.
On Special Duty or Detached Service: Privates; Standish P. Reed, Yarmouth, R. I. battery; Aaron Hodgdon, Pownal, cook; Francis H. Hale, Paris, and Moses McKenny, Cape Elizabeth, div. provo. guard; Will- iam H. Gore, Gray, and Lewis A. Simpson, Gray, amb. corps; David V. Lovell, Pownal, and William F. Roberts, Cape Elizabeth, teamsters. Wag- oner Lewis W. Lombard, Portland, with trains.
Company F. First Lieutenant, Joseph A. Perr>', Portland, commanding. [Act'g Second Lieut., Serg.-Major Henry L. Bartels, cont'd, not mustered.] First Sergeant, Hannibal S. Warren, Norway. Sergeant, Charles P. Jackson, Woodstock.
corporals. Zephaniah E. Sawtelle, Paris, Asa G. Charles, Norway,
George R. Fickett, Portland, William D. Merrill, Norway, color gd.,
Albert C. Gammon, Norway, Austin Hanson, Hiram,
Otis H. Dyer, Paris.
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT PARTICIPANTS.
29
Allen, George H., Shapleigh, Burgess, Joseph P., Brovvnfield, Day, Henry, Jr., Brownfield, Farnham, Luther B., Woodstock, Gannon, William, Greenwood, Kenniston, George G., Brownfield, Libby, Richard L., Windham, Morse, Moses H., Paris, Newcomb, Charles A., Sebago, Parker, Isaac, Hiram, Stone, Henry F., Lebanon, Thome, Edgecomb N., Brownfield, Washburn, Almon T., Paris, Whitman, George W., Woodstock,
PRIVATES.
Ames, Willard O., Greenwood, Curtis, Oliver G., Paris, Estes, Joshua P., Bethel, Farr, Solomon, Greenwood, Holt, Calvin, Norway, Knapp, James H. S., Paris, Morse, Edward F., Norway, Morton, Melville, Westbrook, Newhall, Eugene P., Paris, Pratt, Levi A., Paris, Thome, Barnett, Woodstock, Twitchell, Charles H., Paris, Washburn, Linas G., Paris, July 2, Woodman, John M., Hiram. On Special Duty or Detached Service: Sergeant Frank L. Berry, Paris, amb. corps; Privates: Hosea R. Allen, Hiram, and William Spencer, Baldwin, hospital nurses; William H. Day, Brownfield, in 4th N. Y. battery; Ephraim H. Brown, Norway, corps provo. guard; Lemuel B. Carter, Paris, and William H. Gray, Brownfield, amb. corps; William H. Downs, Paris, teamster supply train; Isaac E. Osgood, Hiram, guard to convalescents; William H. Thorne, Bridgton, amb. train; Cyrus S. Tucker, Norway, brig, saddler; Wentworth H. Shaw, Bridgton, provo. guard; Seth Wadsworth, Hiram, surgeon's detail. Musician John C. McArdle, Paris, assistant for wounded. Wagoner Nathaniel LeBarron, Greenwood, quartermaster's dept.
Company G. Second Lieutenant, Hiram R. Dyar, Farmington, commanding company.
SERGEANTS.
First Sergeant, John N. Morrill, Strong,
Walter F. Noyes, Jay, James Snowman, Weld,
Stephen H. Roberts, Berwick, Lloyd W. Lamos, Berwick.
corporals. Johiel B. Blethen, Madrid, Albert L. Bradbury, Avon,
Jeremy P. Wyman, Strong, Benjamin F. Huff, Buxton, color guard.
privates. Arnold, Edgar W., Farmington, Bean, Nelson O., Industry (July 3d),
Butterfield, Augustus F., Farmington, Colomy, Elbridge, Berwick,
Dunnell, Alvah L., Bu.xton, Frederic, George A., Temple, Ham, Charles H., Berwick, Houston, Elbridge L., Weld, Kannady, George H., Phillips, Kimball, John H., Jay, Manson, John S., Bu.xton, Pinkham, Francis, Berwick, Rollins, Albert G., New Sharon, Stearns, Albert M., Weld, Vaughan, Sylvester, New Vineyard, Wentworth, Henry R., Berwick, Wilder, Silas, Temple.
Eastman, George A., Berwick, Hackett, Sumner S., Strong, Hanscomb, Eben B., Buxton, Hurd, Francis E., Berwick, Kannady, Warren, Avon, Lawrence, James B., Weld, Norton, Oliver D., Industry, Roberts, James A., Berwick, Sawyer, Isaac D., Buxton, Thompson, John, Madrid, Wallingford, George, Berwick, Whitehouse, Charles T., Berwick,
30 MAINE AT GETTTSBUKG.
On Special Duty or Detached Service: Corporal John W. Cope- land, Worcester, Mass., provo. guard. Privates; Francis O. Bean, Industry, teamster div. train; Luther Childs, Salem, R. I. batt'y; George L. Hosmer, Farmington, regt'l detail; Asa Jennings, Farmington, hosp. nurse; Joseph L. McLaughlin, Weld, 4th N. Y. batt'y; John Plaisted, Temple, stretcher bearer; James E. S. Pray, Berwick, field hosp. ass't; Charles M. Rand, Weld, cook; Ebenezer Roberts, Berwick, div. provo. guard; John Vaughan, Ber- wick, hosp. attend't. Wagoner Leonard T. Vosmos, New Sharon, with trains.
Company H. Captain, Almon L. Fogg, Westbrook. Act'g 2d Lieut., istSergt. George A. Whidden, Westbrook; com'd not must'd.
SERGEANTS.
Stephen P. Hart, Westbrook, acting First Sergeant,
William H. Sturgis, Standish, Charles J. Bond, Windham,
James H. Loring, Westbrook, color bearer.
CORPOR.\LS.
Sumner Winslow, Westbrook, James M. Webb, Westbrook,
George Barrows, Harrison, Robert B. Whitcomb, Standish,
Charles R. Meserve, Hallowell.
PRIVATES.
Adams, Frank, Westbrook, Barber, William, Westbrook,
Bond, Benjamin F., Gorham, Brackett, Horace N., Harrison,
Chute, Charles A., Westbrook, Cobb, Solomon, Westbrook,
Cobb, Uriah, Windham, Crosby, Leonard E., Westbrook,
Davis, Albert S., Standish, Davis, John S., Hollis,
Dow, Benjamin A., Standish, Dyer, Roscoe G., Sebago,
Hatch, Royal S., Westbrook, Hicks, Ephraim, Gorham,
Jones, Edward H., Westbrook, Libby, Darius S., Falmouth,
Martin, Ira L., Sebago, Plaisted, Trafton S., Westbrook,
Rand, Royal, Windham, Sanborn, Charles W., Otisfield,
Scribner, Bourdon, Harrison, Small, Oliver F., Limington,
Spurr, Llewellyn, Otisfield, Thomas, Charles W., Westbrook,
Thomas, Manuel, Windham, Winslow, Nathaniel P., Westbrook.
On Special Duty or Detached Service: Corporal Albion P. Stiles, Gorham, corps postmaster. Privates: Andrew Saunders. Sebago, 3d R. I. batt'y (wounded July 2d); John G. Scott, Westbrook, Smith's 4th N. Y. batt'y; Franklin E. Morse, Otisfield, battalion of convalescents; Cyrus Chap- lin, Naples, and Luther E. Hall, Harrison, stretcher bearers; William S. Hanscomb, Windham, div. hosp. nurse; Andrew J. Larrabee, Westbrook, and Mesach P. Larrj', Windham, surgeon's detail; Charles A.Warren, Stan- dish, amb. corps; Leonard Pride, Westbrook, cook; James G. Sturgis, Stan- dish, hosp. ass't; Daniel W. Haskell, Harrison, and Van R. Morton, West- brook, div. provo. guard; Horace B. Cummings, Portland, and Thomas D. Emery, Standish, quarterm'r dept.; Jabez Marriner, Westbrook, commiss'y dept. ; Alonzo Moses, Standish, hostler; Thomas Sands, Standish, brig, h'dqrs; Alphonzo A. Spear, Standish, teamster; Henrjf C. Hatch, Sebago.
Company I. Captain, William Hobson, Saco. First Lieutenant, James O. Thompson, Portland.
SEVENTEENTH REGISIENT PARTICIPANTS.
31
SERGEANTS.
ist Sergeant, Frank C. Adams, Saco, Charles C. Cole, Hiram, Oliver D. Blake, Biddeford, Charles J. Goodwin, Saco.
CORPORALS.
Samuel E. Jenness, Biddeford, Charles H. Parcher, Biddeford,
Aurelius A. Robertson, Bethel, Owen Stacy, Saco,
Frederick A. Mitchell, Saco, color guard.
PRIVATES.
Bradburj', Thomas C, Biddeford,
Brown, James B., Gorham,
Haley, John, Saco,
Hill, Joseph, Saco,
Irish, Melville, Gorham,
Jose, James W., Saco,
Libby, Henry H., Scarborough,
Roberts, John H., Gorham,
Sawyer, Charles F., Baldwin,
Small, Edwin, Limington,
Tasker, George F., Saco,
Wentworth, David A., Brownfield,
Benson, Robert, Saco, Brand, Thomas, Saco, Goodwin, Charles E., Saco, Harmon, Andrew J., Saco, Holmes, Hiram G., Biddeford, Jordan, Charles A., Saco, Kimball, George, Saco, Richardson, George A., Limington, Rounds, Walter, Scarborough, Simpson, John H., Scarborough, Sweetsir, James F., Biddeford, Waterhouse, Winfield S., Scarboro', White, Charles M., Standish.
On Special Duty or Detached Service: Musician William H. Atkin- son, Limington, clerk brig, h'dqrs. Privates: Allen H. Abbott, Saco, brig, h'dqrs; James C. Blaisdell, Lebanon, amb. corps; Thomas Clark, Saco, hostler; Alvin Hodge, Biddeford, 4th N. Y. batt'y; John A. Kilham, Saco, amm'n train guard; Michael McGrath, Biddeford, teamster; William H. H. Pillsbur>', Shapleigh, regt'l surgeon's clerk; Thomas F. Perkins, Biddeford, at corps h'dqrs; Benjamin P. Ross, Biddeford, brig, quartern!' r dept.; Eli- phaz Ripley, Buckfield, blacksmith div. h'dqrs.
COMP.\NY K. Captain, Milton M. Young, Lewiston. First Lieutenant, Putnam S. Boothby, Biddeford. First Sergeant, Isaac O. Parker, Kittery. Sergeant, Harr>' Crosby, Kitter>-.
corporals.
William H. Neal, Kitter>', N. H., Edwin A. Duncan, Kitten,', color guard, George J. Strout, Auburn.
PRIVATES.
Austin, Robert W. , Gardiner, Bunker, Daniel B., Kitterj-, Butland, F. Augustus, Kittery, Cotton, John H., Auburn, Grace, Andrew J., Jr., Kittery, Hatch, Samuel O., Auburn, Keith, Augustus H., Auburn, Lunt, Horace, Kittery-, Phillips, Hiram B., Kitter\-, Wardwell, Cyrus T., Oxford,
Andrew J. Miller, Auburn, Robert H. Mathes, Durham, James A. Bennett, Auburn,
Achom, Casper, Kitterj-, Beals, Charles A., Auburn, Burnham, John C, Kitter>', Churchill, Robert J., Kittery, Goodwin, Valentia H., Kittery, Hall, Silas P., Oxford, Hussey, Daniel H., Kittery, Lord, Oren, Waterford, Lyon, George W., Auburn, Remick. John H., Kitter\', Young, Augustine, Auburn.
32 MAINE AT GETTYSBUBG.
On Special Duty or Detached Service: Privates: John M. Crocker, Auburn, div. prove, guard; George H Holt, Albany, at corps h'dqrs; John Holden, Kitterj-, corps provo. guard; Elisha Hall, Auburn, amm'n train guard; John F. Hewey, Auburn, and Nathan B. Lord, Abbott, teamsters; Addison A. Miller, Auburn, cook. Musician Wesley D. Rowell, Kittery, ass't to wounded.
REVISED REPORT OF CASUALTIES.
field and staff. Adjutant Charles W. Roberts, right leg, amputated.
Company A. Acting First Sergeant Alvin F. Blake, wounded, died Aug. 2. Sergeant Fayette M. Paine, wounded, both legs. Corporal George T. Jones, wounded, leg.
PRIVATES.
Brown, Jacob C, killed. Hodsdon, Joseph A., killed.
Marston, Horace G., wounded, foot. Milliken, Charles, wounded, arm. Skillings, Franklin, wounded, thigh. Spaulding, David M., wounded, leg. Tucker, George W., missing, fell out before battle.
Company B. Second Lieut. William H. Green, July 3, shell concussion; resumed duties.
sergeants. Horace A. Smith, wounded, leg. Cyrus M. Hall, July 3, killed.
Corporal George W. Jones, wounded, leg; died July 23.
privates. Brackett, Byron, wounded, head. Carmthers, Charles E.,w'd; died July 9.
Davis, Samuel C, w'd; died July 4. Duran, George E. H., July 3, w'd. Elliot, William S., wounded, shoulder. Emery, Moses D.,w'd, hip; died July 9. Flannagan, James, wounded. Lehane, John, wounded, leg.
McKeen, James, July 3, w'd, head. McKenzie, Matthew, wounded, arm. Morton, Sidney G., wounded, foot. Norton, George L., July 3, w'dsh'lder. Noyes, Alvin A., wounded, groin. Quint, Monroe, killed July 3. Walker, Alden B., wounded, groin. Wiley, Joseph, wounded, leg.
Company C. Second Lieutenant George W. Verrill, wounded, thigh.
sergeants. William F. Morrill, wounded, leg. Gustavus C. Pratt, three wounds, arm.
corporals. James F. Strout, color guard, w'd, thigh. George B. Dunn, wounded, shoulder.
privates. Black, Lawson S. , wounded. Dean, Abraham, Jr., wounded, thigh.
Faunce, William, wounded, side. Mills, Fessenden M., w'd; died July 3.
Pattee, Andrew J., w'd; died July 9. Pratt, Addison B., wounded, thigh. Strout, Charles W., July 3, w'd, neck. Witham, Henry, killed.
Company D. First Lieutenant Newton Whitten, July 3, wounded, foot. Second Lieutenant Stephen Grafiam, wounded, arm.
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT CASUALTIES. 33
CORPORALS.
Bernard Hogan, color guard, w'd; died July i8. Hanna, George F., vv'd, leg.
PRIVATES.
Bickford, Nathaniel G., wounded, leg. Cobb, Daniel, wounded, head. Dwelly, Samuel L., w'd; died July 8. Fowler, Levi, killed. Hulme, James, wounded, leg. Hays, Charles H., wounded.
Company E. Sergeant Oliver E. Jordan, wounded, leg.
CORPORALS.
George F. Small, wounded, thigh. Albert O. Baker, color guard, w'd, hand.
PRIVATES.
Baker, Charles W., wounded. Brown, John N., July 3, wounded, leg.
Goff, Lucius F., wounded, hand. Harmon, Arthur A., killed.
Hayes, Francis E., wounded, breast. Johnson, Albert A., wounded, arm. Sparks, James E., wounded. Whitney, William J., wounded, side.
Company F. Sergeant Charles P. Jackson, killed; first man hit; reported w'd and missing.
CORPORALS.
Zephaniah E.Sawtelle, wounded, hand. William D. Merrill, color g'd,w'd,hand. Austin Hanson, killed.
PRIVATES.
Ames, Willard O., w'd; died July 24. Day, Henry, Jr., wounded, leg. Day, William H., w'd; died Aug. 31. Farr, Solomon, wounded, head. Holt, Calvin, w'd; died Jan. 6, 1864. Kenniston, George G., w'd, bowels. Libby, Richard L., wounded, arm. Morse, Moses H., wounded, hand. Twitchell, Charles H., w'd, arm and leg. Washburn, Almon T., wounded, side.
Company G. Second Lieutenant Hiram R. Dyar, killed. Sergeant James Snowman, July 3, wounded, hip. Corporal Benjamin F. Huff, color guard, wounded.
PRIV.\TES.
Arnold, Edgar W., wounded, arm. Childs, Luther, det'd R. I. batt'y, w'd. Colomy Elbridge, wounded. Eastman, George A., wounded.
Hackett, Sumner S., wounded, arm. Hanscomb, Eben B., wounded, hand. Houston, Elbridge L., wounded. Hurd, Francis E., killed.
Lawrence, James B., w'd and prisoner. Rollins, Albert G., killed. Sawyer, Isaac D., killed. Thompson, John, wounded.
Company H. Captain Almon L. Fogg, wounded, abdomen; died July 4.
SERGEANTS.
Stephen P. Hart, acting First Sergeant, wounded, leg.
Charles J. Bond, wounded, leg. James H. Loring, color bearer, killed.
CORPORALS.
George Barrows, killed. Robert B. Whitcomb, wounded, leg.
Sumner Winslow, killed.
PRIVATES.
Cobb, Solomon, wounded, arm. Dyer, Roscoe G., killed.
Hicks, Ephraim, killed. Jones, Edward H., wounded, breast.
Martin, Ira L., wounded; died Aug. 9. Rand, Royal, w'd July 2; died July 3. Sanborn, Charles W., wounded, foot. Saunders, Andrew, det'd R. I. batt'y, Spurr, Llewellyn, wounded, leg. wounded.
34 MAINE AT GETTYSBUEG.
Company I. First Sergeant, Franklin C. Adams, wounded, liand.
CORPORALS.
Aurelius A. Robertson, w'd; died July 5. Owen Stacy, wounded.
Frederick A. Mitcliell, on color guard, wounded, leg amputated; died July 10,
PRIVATES.
Brand, Thomas, wounded, leg. Jordan, Charles A., wounded, leg.
Kimball, George, wounded, leg. Small, Edwin, wounded, shoulder.
Wentworth, David A., wounded, leg. White, Charles M., wounded, arm.
Company K. Captain Milton M. Young, wounded July 2; died Aug. 13.
SERGEANTS.
First Sergeant Isaac O. Parker, wounded; died July 7.
F. Augustus Butland, w'd; died Sept. 6. Harry Crosby, wounded, left leg.
CORPORALS.
William H. Neal, killed. James A. Bennett, wounded, hand.
PRIVATES.
Austin, Robert W., wounded. Beals, Charles A., July 3, wounded.
Bunker, Daniel B., killed; Grace, Andrew J., Jr., July 3, w'd, hip.
reported wounded and missing. j^^,,^ sjj^^g p _ mounded, hand.
Hatch, Samuel O., w'd; died July 5. Hussey, Daniel H., wounded, leg. Lord, Oren, wounded, chest.
REGIMENTAL DEDICATION OF MONUMENT,
October 10, 1888.
Brevet Lieut.-Col. Edward Moore, President of the Seven- teenth Maine Regiment Association, called the large assembly to order at the monument in the Wheatfield and introduced Rev. Charles G. Holyoke, late Sergeant-IMajor of the regiment, who offered the following
PRAYER.
Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we have reason to thank thee that thou hast spared our lives until this day. We thank thee that in thy good providence we are permitted to gather here to pay this tribute of respect to the memory of our departed comrades. O God, we thank thee for our land, the land bequeathed to us by our forefathers, the land of liberty and freedom. We thank thee that when war broke forth upon our land, with all its ruin, terror and woe, and there were those who would gladly have torn asunder our country-, that there came forth from their homes and firesides friends and dear ones, those who were loyal and true, to defend our beloved land. And we are here to-day to dedicate this monument to the memory of those who on this sacred spot shed their blood and laid down their lives in defending our flag and nation. We would remember what they endured and suffered
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT MONUMENT DEDICATION. 35
for the cause of freedom. Grant that, as in time to come, to all who shall visit this ground and this region made sacred by the blood of patriots shed, they shall remember at what cost and sacrifice our Union, our Country, was preserved. God bless our land, and may peace evermore prevail throughout all our borders, for thy name's sake. Amen.
ADDRESS BY BREVET LIEUTENANT-COLONEL MOORE.
Comrades : —
A quarter of a century has passed by since you were upon this field, a field which you helped to make historic by your deeds of valor on July 2 and 3, 1863. You visit this field to-day for the purpose of dedicating this beautiful monument, erected by our state to commemorate the gallant deeds of her sons, and to perpetuate the memory of those of the Seventeenth Maine regiment who fell upon this decisive battlefield of the war.
You will pardon me if, on this occasion, I refer briefly to the war record of the regiment, aside from the part it took in the battle of Gettj'sburg. During its term of service the regi- ment took part in twenty-seven battles, besides doing duty in petty engagements and on the picket line during one-fifth of the whole term of enlistment. In the statistical tables by W. F. Fox of losses in battles, we find a list of "300 fightino; reari- ments," comprising those who.se aggregate deaths by battle amounted to 130 or more ; we also find his list of 45 infantry regiments that lo.st over 200, killed or died from wounds in battles ; we also find a list of 22 regiments out of all the regi- ments of the Union armies whose mortality by battle exceeded fifteen per cent of their enrolment. In regard to the last list he says : " The regiments in tliis list can fairly claim the honor of having encountered the hardest fighting in the war. They may not have done the most effective fighting, but they evi- dently stood where the danger was thickest, and were the ones which faced the hottest musketiy. They were all well-known, reliable commands, and served with unblemished records. The maximum of loss is reached in this table." We find the Seven- teenth Maine in all these lists.
Your connection with the battle of Gettysburg dates back to June 11, 1863, when you left "Camp Sickles," Va. After tedious marches, covering over 200 miles, you arrived at the
36 MAINE AT GETTYSBURG.
college near Emmitsburg, the afternoon of July 1st. On the morning of July 2d, at 1 : 30 o'clock, the regiment received orders to assemble for a march. At 4 : 30 a. m. it started for Gettysburg, and at 10 o'clock arrived on the field of battle, having marched thirteen miles in five and a half hours. Lee was just extending his lines to his right, his skirmishers threat- ening the Emmitsburg road. A little after noon the regiment was placed at the left of the Peach Orchard to support the brig- ade sldrmish line, where it remained until the battle began. A few minutes after the first shot was fired, at about 4 o'clock p. M., we entered this Wheatfield with 3.50 rifles, 20 ofiicers and 3 acting as ofiicers, commissioned but not mustered, and became actively engaged with the troops of Hood's division of Longstreet's corps. We moved at double-quick across this Wheatfield under fire, until we gained jiossession of this stone- wall in our front. Our right extended some distance beyond the rivulet, our colors resting on the spot where this monument stands, our left along the wall as far as a large bowlder.
The contest for this wall became very severe along our whole front, the lines of battle being not over one hundred yai'ds apai't, and a number of times during the contest the enemy were upon one side while the Seventeenth was upon the other. AVinslow's batter}', which was located in rear of our left flank, on the ridge up there, did splendid service, and assisted the regiment to drive the enemy back. Shortly after the regiment became engaged, a small command, said to be the rallied portions of two regiments, was brought up in rear of the right flank of the Seventeenth, with the evident intention of placing them in line, connecting on our right ; but while they were yet some seventy-five yards in our rear, the juounted officer leading them fell from his horse, wounded, and these troops disappeared from our sight without delay. Our right flank lieing unprotected, the enemy attempted to gain our rear, but his movements were discovered, and our right wing was refused to nearly a right angle with this wall. Those of the enemy who attempted to gain our rear were exposed to a mur- derous fire from our right wing, and they retired. After every repulse the enemy would re-form, bringing up fresh troops and
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT : MOORE'S ADDRESS. 37
extending his lines for fresh assaults, and so the fight continued along this wall until about (5 o'clock, when we received orders to fall back across this field to the cross road on the ridgre, and replenish our ammunition. Our boys left this position, which they had so long and successfully defended, with reluctance, but the enemy had gained ground on both our right and left, and Winslow's battery had been withdrawn. The enemy fol- lowed up and attempted to gain our flanks. His movements were noticed, just as we reached the road, Ijyour gallant divis- ion commander, Gen. David Bell Birney, who rode up, took the Seventeenth, and led it in a charge. With cheers the regi- ment, in line of battle, came down this Wheattield and forced the enemy back over this wall. Although our ammunition was low, the fighting was continuous and of a most deadly character. The loss in officers and men was very severe in this part of the fight. After a contest prolonged until about dusk, our men being in the open field without shelter, but yielding no ground, the regiment was finally relieved by other troops, and was ordered to withdraw from the Wheatfield.
The colors of the regiment, our two flags, had their stand in two places in this field, as the manoeuvres of the battle car- ried the regiment. First, here at the wall, where this monu- ment stands ; later on, after our upheld standards advanced, at the centre of the reoimental line, in that glorious charge under Birney, they found their stationary place to be nearly in the centre of this field, aliout 100 yards east of the woods which yet bounds it on the west. The colors of the regiment, — the national and the state, — our glory and our pride I em- blems of progress and of achievements ! And the Color-Guard ! let us recall our Color-Guard : National Color-Bearer, Cor- poral Lake of A ; State Color-Bearer, Sergeant Loiing of H ; the others were Corporals Saunders of B, Strout of C, Hogan of D, Baker of E, Merrill of F, Huff of G, Mitchell of I and Duncan of K, — ten in all, counting the bearers. The first to be hit was Strout, almost as soon as we reached this wall, — wounded, and left for dead on the field ; here he lay, part of the time unconscious, as the lines and missiles of warfai'e passed back and forth over Mm ; at length, on Jul}' 4th, to be restored
38 MAltfE AT GETTYSBURG.
to US, not mortally wounded. Then Baker's turn came, and he lost a portion of his hand ; then Mitchell, mortally wounded. And so the guard grew less, the casualties being about equally divided between the two positions. At the second position. Sergeant Loring was instantly killed. The color, crimsoned with the blood of his fallen companion, was seized liy Lake, who for a minute held both standards in his grasp, and then handed Loring's over to Coi-poral Merrill ; the latter was wounded, and he in turn passed the color over to Corporal Duncan, who got it safely into bivouac that night. Corporals Huff and Hogan were wounded, the latter mortally ; only three of the ten were unscathed. Lake and Duncan were promoted to Serjeants on the field. This is what it meant to belong to the Color-Guard at Gettysburg.
On the morning of July 3d the regiment was moved to the right, and asseml)led with the division in reserve. It so remained until noon, when we were startled by two signal guns from the Confederate side, which were the prelude to the most terrific cannonading our army ever experienced. For nearly two hours 1(30 guns sent shot and shell into our ranks, prepar- atory to Longstreet's assault upon the centre of the Union line. During this artillery duel we received orders to move to the right and reinforce the lines of General Doubleday. Proceed- ing at double-quick, we were soon at the front in position to aid in repelling the assault generally known as Pickett's charge. The regiment was formed in line supporting the 9th Mich, bat- tery. Throughout the assault the regiment was exposed to a severe artillery fire, and suffered a loss in ])oth ofiicers and men.
At 9 p. M. you were sent to the front to pertorm jiicket duty, where you remained for the night. On the morning of the 4th the regiment, relieved from picket, was set to work throwing up earthworks. On the morning of July 5th, the Confederate army was on the retreat, and the battle of Gettys- burg was at an end.
The list of casualties in the regiment during the engage- ments of July 2d and 3d numbered 132 killed and wounded. I deem it appropriate to read this roll of honor. [The killed and mortally wounded appear in the whole nominal list of cas- ualties following the list of "participants," on another page.]
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT : VERKILL'S POEM. 39
With justice to tlie memory of those heroes of the Seven- teenth Elaine who here laid down their lives, defending this position as if ittj^i^ified their country ; and speaking for it.s sur- vivors, sixty of whom, participants in this battle, lieing now present and ready to Ijear witness to the truth, I cannot close without stating that no circumstance, condition or act occurred on this "Wheattield July 2, 1863, that would warrant the plac- ing of that monument where it now stands, a few paces to the west of this of the Seventeenth Maine, as marking a place in line of battle ; for upon that very spot the ranks of the Seven- teenth stood July 2d, and fought from the opening of the con- test until nearly G o'clock that afternoon. We protest against the placing of that monument of the 115th Penn. on that spot, or within 200 feet of it. We also protest against the inscrip- tion upon that monument which, without justitication, recites that July 2d "this regiment" [115th Penn.] "engaged the enemy here at 4.30 p. m."
POEM.
THE SEVENTEENTH MAINE IN THE WHEATFIELD. BY CAPTAIN GEORGE W. TERRILL.
The foe! the foe advances! Mark you now his course, Straight for the Union left, where half-formed Hues are seen. He aims to hurl his columns with resistless force Upon and through the Orchard, blushing with its fruit, The Hillock, slumbering in the shadow of its trees. Across the Wheatfield, happy with its ripening grain. Over the crags and pits and sloughs of Devil's Den, Around and up the steeps of Round Top's rugged sides; To smite, to pierce and crush, to tear and sweep away. The slender thread of Blue stretched out to bar his way!
This only done, yea less, for at the Wheatfield's verge The thread its centre finds; — unchecked even here the surge. And on and through will pour the torrent of the foe, To wreck the Union lines, engulf and overthrow.
The foe comes on! and now the Wheatfield bare of troops! Haste, Birney and de Trobriand! fill up the gap — This open gateway — quick! or you will be too late! Even now the skirmish challenge rings through rifle tube, And spatters of the coming storm fall here and there! Nearer the Southron comes, — a mighty wave of Gray! No line of Blue, no Northern breasts his course to stay!
40 MAINE AT GETTTSBURG.
Up now, ye sons of Maine! — in double-quick go in
And fill the gap! — though thin your line, stretch out and fill! —
Ah, none too soon! for even while the bending grain
Still kisses Northern feet that press it as they speed,
The angrj- Southern missiles clip its nodding plumes!
Stand firm, O Pine Tree Sons; — upon you now is laid The safety of the whole! — Guard well the Wheatfield gate, You boys with Diamond Red and " 17 " shining there, Laughing in face of foe! — Can you be brave as gay ? To stand, though comrades none, on right or left, are nigh ? To stand, till succor comes ? If so it chance, to die ?
Breaks now the storm! the iron bolts of war fly free! Mercy affrighted flies to Heaven! — but leaves a wall, — Blest wall of precious stones, with sparkling jets of fire! — Fierce flashes gleam; the leaden hail pours in; Thunder of guns, shrieking of shell, and hissing ball! Death and Destruction rampant in the sulphurous air; The Rebel yell, the Union cheer; and face to face The bayonet! — This is the hour that calls for manhood's best!
And is the Seventeenth Maine still there? — It wavers not;
Its colors still, though rent in shreds, defiant float.
Its veterans firm! the earth beneath them quakes with dread!
Hearts strong, nerves tempered in the flame of battle, theirs;
Their true aim reaps its harvest; death and crippling wounds
They deal to foe. But what they give, they take.
Alas! by ones and tens our noble lads go down.
The weeping grain wraps its soft mantle round the slain,
And tenderly supports the wounded on its breast.
No succor yet! — and thin and thinner are the ranks, And fast the lessening store of cartridge goes — No aid! though eager thousands wait the word to come! — But more the honor due, as aid is less, in strife.
Still there, our boys! Though foiled, recoiling from the shock, The foe, persistent, gathers up his scattered strength. Compact, full four to one, determined now to gain The field still firmly held by sturdy boys from Maine! Still held as if each stalk of grain with life-blood red, Were precious as the living hearts this life-blood shed.
Again the yell! More withering now the battle blast! Lead to the tender flesh, iron to the brittle bone! Foes at the front charge in, and from the left and right Focus their fury here; — rages and roars the fight!
By ones and tens and scores our best and bravest fall. Yet still undaunted there the rest! — Secession's wave Breaks on the Northern rocks! Disaster here is curbed
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT MONUMENT DEDICATION. 41
In mid career! — hurled back the foe! — the Wheatfield saved! — Your duty done, O Seventeenth! here come two lines of Blue To guard and keep the ground, thus long hours held by you, The red-stained Wheatfield at immortal Gettysburg!
Upon the spot where these men fought, to manhood true, Raise high the granite shaft, nor art nor treasure spare. To evidence, in lasting stone, the honor due To them, who battled thus, for love of country there; — And register the debt of gratitude, anew.
ORATION.
BY BREVET BRIGADIER-GENERAL WILLIAM HOBSON.
Comrades and Fellow Citizens :
If a stranger from foreign lands should finish his inspection of our famous battlefields of the late war by a visit to Gettysburg, he might ask why this only of those many fields is covered with monuments of various designs, but all tasteful and elegant, and why this field in special manner is the Mecca of pilgrimage to all lovers of our Constitution and Union. The answer is not far to seek. The battle of Gettysburg enjoys a distinction which cannot be accorded to any other of the great conflicts of which the history of the war is full. It has been well said that it marks the high water of the tide of rebel- lion. The waves of fire which surged around these heights on the first three days of July, 1863, ever after receded until they sank into an eternal calm at Appomatto.x. Again, it was the only battle of magnitude which was fought on distinctively free soil, never again to be vexed by the tread of hostile armies. It was fought, too, at a point not far distant, at that time, from the centre of population of the United States, and at a time not far away from the middle of the four years' conflict. All previous battles led up to Gettysburg; all subsequent battles led away from it.
Still further, the fighting of the battle at this point was not the work of human design. Neither General Meade nor General Lee had the least inten- tion or idea of making this the scene of conflict. As the meeting in the sum- mer sky of two little clouds differently charged with electricity' calls in all the neighboring forces of nature on either side until earth and heaven resound with the roar of nature's artillery, so the accidental meeting on the first day of July, 1S63, of Buford's cavalry with the forces of the enemy naturally and irresistibly drew to the conflict on both sides all the powers of the oppos- ing armies.
As to no General belongs the credit of causing the battle to be fought here, so to no one in particular more than another belongs the credit of con- ducting it to a successful issue. General Reynolds' orders on the first of July were not to bring on a general engagement. He did not know when he moved to Buford's assistance that he was bringing on a general engagement, and, unfortunately for him and his country, he never knew it. Whether, if he had known it, he would have done differently, we never learned from him. This much we do know, that he was not a man to march away from the sound of the enemy's guns, or to remain quiet when his comrades needed his assistance.
42 MAINE AT GETTYSBURG.
To General Howard, when he arrived upon the field, a serious problem was presented, the preservation of the shattered remnants of Reynolds' corps, and the selection of a position where that corps, united with his own, could make a stand against the forces of the rebels already flushed with victory. His keen, practised military- eye rested upon Cemetery Hill, and to him belongs the credit of first placing our forces in position there. The arrival of the Twelfth corps, which was stationed on his right on Gulp's Hill and Rock Greek, the arrival of the Third corps which was put in position on his left, only later to be moved further to the left to let its first position be occu- pied by the Second corps, put our army in array for the movements of the second day.
Of those movements it is liardly necessary to say to any one who is at all conversant with strategy, and has studied the topography of the country, that the action of Major-General Sickles, our gallant and beloved corps com- mander, in advancing a portion of his forces to the Emmitsburg road, and there meeting the first brunt of the rebel attack, was the salvation of our army in that second day's fight. It shattered their lines in the first onset; it retarded their advance, and when they finally swung around and met our obstinate resistance here, in the Wheatfield, and that of the 124th N. Y., the Fourth Maine, the 40th N. Y. and other regiments on our left, by the " Devil's Den " and in the "Valley of Death," time had been gained for the Fifth corps to come up, hold and successfully defend the " Round Tops " and other points on our left. If Sickles had formed his line on the prolonga- tion of the line of the Second corps, in the depression of the land which you see, and had there awaited the rebel attack, with their outnumbering forces they would have gained possession of the " Round Tops," and our left flank would have been irretrievably turned. So, too, is due to the gallant and accomplished General Warren the credit of seeing the strategic importance of the "Round Tops," and of ordering them to be occupied by the Fifth corps, which, after as brave and desperate fighting as was ever seen on any field, completed the repulse of the rebels on our left. On our right, the morning of the 3d, by attacking and driving back Ewell's corps, General Slocum made amends for his still unexplained failure to come to the help of Reynolds and Howard on the afternoon of the ist, while General Hancock's magnificent repulse of Pickett's charge in the afternoon is too well known to need praise or comment here. Each of these general officers, with the pos- sible exception hinted at, did the right thing at the right time. Together, but not simultaneously, they forged a chain of defense in which the breaking of any link would have been disastrous to the Union cause.
As to no general officer belongs the special credit for what was accom- plished here, so no particular corps, division, brigade or regiment can claim precedence of its fellows in contributing to the successful result. There was, probably, no battle in the war where the fighting was more evenly distributed among the troops engaged. With the exception of the Sixth corps, which, through no fault of its own, did not arrive on the field until late in the after- noon of the second day, and was only partially engaged on our left, every corps in all its parts was actively engaged at some period of the battle, as the official reports of losses show. It is worthy of note, too, in the light of the subsequent history of the war, that this battle was fought entirely by
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT : HOBSON'S ORATION. 43
troops who had voluntarily enlisted for the defense of their country. No conscript nor bounty jumper aimed here his unwilling musket at his country's foes. The cohorts of the lame, the halt, the deaf, the blind, and the aged, with their gray hair dyed to the semblance of youth, who, from the follow- ing fall to the close of the war, filled our ambulances and hospitals, and obstructed the prosecution of the war, had not then made their appearance. The rapacious and unscrupulous recruiting officer had not then sent forward his levies from the slums of the cities and the jails of the counties. None of these can claim any share in this glorious victory. It was won by men who had a personal interest in the issue, who knew what that interest was, and were willing to risk their lives for the success of the cause for which they fought. For this reason, and because they recognized the supreme impor- tance of the crisis, I think there was no battle in the war where it was so little necessary for officers to look out for, or watch over, their men. Every man was an officer to himself. So it can be said, in all truth, and must be said that to the humblest rear rank private, who fought here, is due as much honor and reverence for what he did, as even to the commander-in-chief.
In addition to the special characteristics of the battle heretofore men- tioned, it may also be said that, if we consider the extent of territory covered by the conflict, the number of troops engaged, the proportion of losses to the number engaged in the action, the length of time the contest continued, the skill and bravery and even the desperation shown on both sides, and last and greatest of all, the magnitude of the issues involved, it must be reckoned as one of the greatest and most important battles ever fought upon the face of the globe. I said the magnitude of the issues involved. The other ele- ments to be considered can be weighed with almost mathematical accuracy, but no human scales can determine the weight and value of the victory at Gettysburg. Fortunately for us, fortunately for the world, we shall never know what the result would have been if victory had perched on the other banners. We only know that the hands on the dial which mark the progress of civilization would have been turned back for an indefinite period.
The history of that one word, civilization, in its primary and derived meanings, would give a more complete idea of the world's progress than all the histories that have ever been written. In its primary, active sense it denotes simply the making a man a citizen. In its later, derived and passive sense it includes all those advances and improvements in the arts, sciences, literature and morals which entitle a nation to call itself civilized. That word civilized has no synonyms, nor does it need any. You all know what it means.
Now, I undertake to say, that there is a logical and historical connection between the active and the passive sense of this word; that in all ages and in all nations the development and advance of what we call civilization, in its ordinary sense, has been in direct ratio to the exercises of the rights, duties and powers of a citizen on the part of all the inhabitants of the different nations. And as, in a democracy only, does a citizen obtain the full exer- cise of his rights, duties and powers, so only in a democracy can be found the highest development of civilization.
All the forms of government which have ever existed may be brought under one of three classes, a theocracy, an aristocracy, or a democracy. Of
44 MAINE AT GETTYSBURG.
these three forms theocracy is suited to man's lowest, and democracy to his highest, development. The failure of the republics of Greece and Rome was owing to the fact that they did not recognize the vital principles of democracy, the equality of all people before the law'. They undertook to reconcile liberty and slavery under the same form of government, a mis- take which must always prove fatal to a democracy. It was the same mistake which came so near proving fatal to our form of government, and which culminated in the war of the rebellion. The founders of our government saw this danger, and. if they had forecast the future, would undoubtedly have made the abolition of slavery one of the conditions of the formation of the Federal Union. They knew perfectly well, from the logic of ethics and from the lessons of history-, that liberty and slavery could not co-exist for any length of time under the same form of government. But the necessity of superseding the old confederation, which was a mere rope of sand, by a Union which should create a Nation, and the fact that slavery was dying out from natural causes, and at that time bade fair to be eliminated before many years, led to a compromise in the formation of the Constitution which flatly contradicted the first clause of the Declaration of Independence, the foundation principle of the Revolutionarj' struggle, by recognizing the institution of slavery, and throwing certain safeguards around it, without even mentioning the word slave.
It is needless to recount how the hopes and expectations of the founders of the Constitution were disappointed. The history of the country from 1789 to 1861 is familiar to you all. as also that slavery, from being regarded as an institution merely to be tolerated for a limited time, came to claim, and did actually obtain, a dominant influence in national politics, as a matter of right. The history of the compromise in the formation of the Constitution was the same as the history- of all compromises between right and wrong. It merely postponed the evil day. Wrong intrenched itself, and only made it more difficult for right to prevail, when it was finally forced to the conflict, as it always must be.
The inevitable tendency of the existence of slavery, in the midst of insti- tutions otherwise free, had not been unobserved. More than fifty years ago, De Tocqueville, the eminent French statesman, visited this country and spent two years in the careful study of the working of our institutions. He seems to have been the only foreigner who ever thoroughly understood them, and in his famous book, "Democracy in America." published after his return, he pointed out slaven,- as the chief source of our danger, and foretold the troubles to which it would give rise. He could only foretell, however, nor could any one prevent. Moral laws work as certainly and as remorselessly in the domain of politics as do the laws which govern the operations of nature.
"Mute thought has a sonorous echo," says an eminent French writer. He might have added that the reverberations of the echo are proportioned to the moral power of the thought. The thunders of the artillery at Gettys- burg, louder than had ever before been heard on an open field of battle, were the echoes of the preamble to the Declaration of Independence. They pro- claimed that none but free men should live in a free country, and that they all should have equal rights and power under the laws. Only in this way can a free government exist, as the framers and signers of the Declaration
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT : HOBSON'S ORATION. 45
well understood. The war of the rebellion was, then, a contest on the part of the government for self-preservation, a duty as incumbent on a democracy as upon an individual.
The nation had shown its power to resist foreign foes; would it be able to overcome those of its own household? Should the balance between the centripetal and centrifugal forces, under which it had been intended that the members of our political system should move in harmony around a common centre, be disturbed, and these members be allowed to drift off into space at their own will, perhaps hereafter to be constantly coming into collision with one another? These questions were decisively ansv\ered at Gettysburg. The end did not come then, but it was made certain. No rational person doubted the outcome after Gettysburg. The red-handed perjurer and usurper who then sat on the throne of France, waiting and wishing and plotting, but not daring to interpose for the destruction of a government which his own nation had helped to establish, concealed more carefully, if he did not cease, his machinations. The tories of England, the enemies of everybody but them- selves, confined their assistance to the Confederates to such acts as could not be made the pretext for war. Thenceforward to a much greater extent than before, the sympathies and the moral support of the civilized world were on the side of the Union. The battle of Gettj-sburg had shown the possi- bility and the probability, ay, the certaintj', of the fulfillment of Bishop Berke- ley's famous prophecy:
"Westward the course of empire takes its way, The four first acts already past; A fifth shall close the drama with the day. Time's noblest offspring is the last."
The fulfillment of this prophecy will result from the lessons taught by the war, lessons which ought to be self-evident, that a democratic form of gov- ernment can be permanent only when all men living within it have equal rights under the laws, and have sufficient intelligence and moral sense to exercise those rights and discharge the duties arising from them. The gov- ernment being under obligation to prolong its own existence, as the expressed wish of the people, has the right and the power to enforce the performance of these conditions. An education sufficient to enable a man to transact the ordinarj- business of life, which shall include those principles of morals which underlie all religions, should be made compulsor)- upon those who hereafter may aspire to the privilege of suffrage. Intelligence and morality are the foundation of republican institutions. Beyond that every man may safely exercise his own belief, be he heathen or Christian, Hebrew or Mohamme- dan, or, to speak in a paradox, even have no religious belief at all. Recent developments seem to make plain also that it is the duty of the government in the exercise of the insdnct of self-preservation to prevent the immigration of those misguided people who are hostile to all forms of government. Their belief may be due to the unfortunate conditions under which they were born and bred in foreign lands, but it is clearly not the duty of this countrj- to harbor those who confess allegiance to none.
In considering the supreme importance of the victory at Gettysburg, I could not help making these suggestions. They seem naturally to arise from the subject. They might be expanded into volumes, but I can trust the
46 MAINE AT GETTYSBURG.
common sense of this audience to take them and work them out to their proper conclusion.
One more pecuHaritj- of the victor>- at Gettj'sburg, considered as the turning point of the war. Although only twenty-five years have elapsed, yet already, both victors and vanquished unite in expressions of satisfaction at the result. Nowhere else in the past history of the world can this be paral- leled. It was hundreds of years after the conquest of England by William the Conqueror before Anglo Saxon and Norman grew together into a homo- geneous nation, and the Frenchman of to-day has still an antipathy to "per- fidious Albin," because it humbled the eagles of Napoleon at Waterloo. This heretofore has always been the case between conquerors and con- quered. Family quarrels have ever been proverbial for their bitterness, and this was bitter enough while it lasted. The era of fraternal feelings between north and south, which has already arrived, is an auspicious omen for the future.
And here let me say, we could take no credit for what we did on this field if we had not been confronted by men as brave as ourselves. I saw the famous charge of Pickett's division on the third day. A more magnificent sight I never saw than when, after forming, they advanced across the fields towards the Emmitsburg road. I have read the history- of many famous charges, but never of one that marched so far and so steadily into the very jaws of hell. No straggling, no falling out, except by those disabled by our merciless fire, they advanced till further advance was an impossibilitj'. As the Seventeenth Maine lay on picket that night on the ground over which they advanced, and I saw, the next morning, eight or ten files front lying on their faces, side by side, as evenly as if placed by hand, where our canister had swept through them, ending their forward movement and their lives at the same time, I realized more than ever the horrors of war and the bravery of the men we had been fighting.
So, with all honor to the men we fought here, and with no desire for self-laudation, we have come to dedicate this monument, set up in the interest of history to mark the spot where the Seventeenth Maine regiment, the first in the famous " Wheatfield," the "Whirlpool," as it has been aptly called, did its duty to the best of its abilit)-. We should be doing injustice to them and to ourselves did not those monuments do honor also to the brave men who here gave up their lives. The pathetic and eloquent words of our mar- tyred President, chiseled upon the stone in yonder cemetery, immortal as the deeds they commemorate, will never be equalled; but it is a question whether those who die for their country, even as he also died, are not rather to be congratulated. " Duke et decorum est pro pa/iia mori" " It is pleas- ant and honorable to die for one's country," said the Latin poet, 2,000 years ago, and modem sentiment echoes his words:
"Come to the bridal chamber, death! Come to the mother when she feels. For the first time, her first-born's breath; Come when the blessed seals That close the pestilence are broke. And crowded cities wail its stroke; Come in consumption's ghastly form. The earthquake shock, the ocean storm;
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT HISTORICAL SKETCH. 47
Come where the heart beats high and warm,
With banquet song, and dance, and wine;
And thou art terrible — the tear,
The groan, the knell; the pall, the bier,
And all we know, or dream, or fear,
Of agony are thine.
" But to the hero, when his sword Has won the battle for the free, Thy voice sounds like a prophet's word, And in its hollow tones are heard The thanks of millions yet to be."
After the oration was concluded remarks were made by Colonel Bachelder, in which he highl_y complimented the Sev- enteenth regiment.
Brevet Brig. -Gen. George W. West, formerly Major and Colonel of the Seventeenth, also made a few remarks, describing the movements of the regiment in the Wheatfield, and his great gratification that this worthy memorial had been erected to commemorate the services of those who fell here, and likewise of those who survived.
Lieutenant-Colonel ^lerrill, the representative of the Seven- teenth as one of the ^Nlaine Commissioners, sent a letter of regret that illness prevented his attendance.
The monument was then turned over to the Gettysburg Memorial Association by Colonel Moore, to be cared for until such time as the State of Maine should present this and the monuments of the other organizations in a more formal manner.
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
BY CAPTAIN GEORGE AV. VERRILL.
(NECROLOGIST OF SEVENTEETH MAINE REGIMENT ASSOCIATION.)
The Seventeenth Maine Regiment of Volunteers was raised Ijy voluntary enlistments under President Lincoln's call of July 2, 18t)2, for three hundred thousand for three years' service. Those in the most western part of the state naturally gravitated to an appointed rendezvous at Portland, Me. The ranks were full and overflowing within about thirty days after the procla^ mation went forth. The following counties contributed to make up the thousand strong which formed the organization :
48 MAINE AT GETTYSBURG.
Androscoggin, 152; Cumberland, 398 ; Franklin, 84 ; Kenne- bec, 6 ; Knox, 17 ; Oxford, 168 ; Sagadahoc, 2 ; Somerset, 3 ; York, 178 ; Aroostook, Lincoln, Penobscot and Piscataquis, 1 each ; 7 were residents of other states and 3 out of the country. Few had seen service ; some had belonged to military com- panies. All were anxious to learn and the "awkward squad" was apparent about " Camp King," our rendezvous, across Fore River from Portland. Some of the officers had been selected in advance — Thomas A. Roberts, for our Colonel, had been Captain of an independent military company of Portland ; his son, Charles W., a Lieutenant serving in the Tenth Maine, for our Adjutant. We were also fortunate in securing Captain George Warren West from the Tenth Maine, for our jNIajor, a strict disciplinarian and a thorough military man. Charles B. Merrill, a lawyer of Portland, for our Lieutenant-Colonel ; liis patriotic fervor impelled him into the service. As was cus- tomary, the line officers were mostly selected in recognition of recruiting services. By the time the regiment was mustered into the United States service it could perform some simple evolutions ; with its long line formed in dress parade it greatly edified the ladies who graciously attended the function. The muster-in occurred August 18, 18G2. The following was the original organization : —
FIELD, STAFF, AND NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
Colonel, Thomas A. Roberts, Portland. Lieutenant-Colonel, Charles B. Merrill, Portland. Major, George W. West, .Somerville, Mass. Adjutant, First Lieutenant Charles W. Roberts, Portland. Quartermaster, J. T. Waterhouse, Portland. Surgeon, H. L. K. Wiggin, Auburn. Assistant Surgeon, William Wescott, Standish. Chaplain, Harvey Hersey, Calais, Vt. Sergeant-Major, Henry L. Bartels, Portland. Quartermaster-Sergeant, Charles W. Richardson, Portland. Commissary-Sergeant, Josiah Remick, Portland. Hospital Steward, Nathaniel B. Coleman, Portland. Drum-Major, John C. McArdle, Paris.
COMPANY OFFICERS.
Co. A. Captain, William H. Savage, Portland.
First Lieutenant, Charles P. Mattocks, Portland. Second Lieutenant, James M. Brown, Portland.
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT HISTORICAL SKETCH. 49
Co. B. Captain, George W. Martin, Portland.
First Lieutenant, Willard M. Jenkins, Fr>'eburg.
Second Lieutenant, Benjamin C. Pennell, Portland. Co. C. Captain, Augustus Goldermann, Minot.
First Lieutenant, Otlio \V. Burnham, Poland.
Second Lieutenant, Joseph A. Perr\-, Portland. Co. D. Captain, Isaac S. Faunce, Lewiston.
First Lieutenant, Milton M. Young, Lewiston.
Second Lieutenant, John C. Perr>', Portland. Co. E. Captain, Ellis M. Sawyer, Cape Elizabeth.
First Lieutenant, George W. S. Fickett, Cape Elizabeth.
Second Lieutenant, William Roberts, Yarmouth. Co. F. Captain, Albion Hersey, Paris.
First Lieutenant, LJriah \V. Briggs, Norway.
Second Lieutenant, James M. Safford, Portland. Co. G. Captain, Edward L Merrill, Farmington.
First Lieutenant, Benjamin G. Ames, Phillips.
Second Lieutenant, Prescott Newman, Phillips. Co. H. Captain, Almon L. Fogg, Westbrook.
First Lieutenant, Dudley H. Johnson, Presque Isle.
Second Lieutenant, Edward Moore, Portland. Co. I. Captain, William Hobson, Saco.
First Lieutenant, Putnam S. Boothby, Biddeford.
Second Lieutenant, James O. Thompson, Portland. Co. K. Captain, Andrew J. Stinson, Kittery.
First Lieutenant, John P. Swasey, Canton.
Second Lieutenant, Madison K. Mabry, Hiram.
The new regiment made a brave show when on August 21st it broke camp, marched through the streets of Portland lined with enthusiastic people, and started south " for three years or the war." We journeyed to Washington by rail and boat without interruption or accident, except the shock occasioned by finding ourselves packed into box cars at Baltimore instead of ordinary passenger cars as previously. We survived the shock, however, as we did man}' others afterwards, common to a soldiers life. August 23d relieved the Oth K. I. in a line of forts on east branch of the Potomac, running up from the main river. The situation was admirable, — an ideal camping ground. Sickness, however, incident to change of climate, prevailed. We drilled with the heavy ordnance, as well as in infantry tactics. While we were here the battles of Second Bull Run and Antietam both occurred. The boom of cannon and steady roll of small arms in lioth engagements were plainly
50 MAINE AT GETTYSBURG.
heard, although in a direct line they were distant from us thirty-five and fifty miles respectively.
Joining the Army. — October 7th we bade adieu to fort life to join the Army of the Potomac in the field. On the cap- itol steps we rested three hours before crossing Long bridge. Our course was up the Potomac. At Upton's Hill joined Berry's Ijrigade, Birney's (First) division, Third corps. The brigade was then composed of 1st, 37th, 55th N. Y., 2d, 5th Mich, and Seventeenth Maine, regiments. The square, red patch marking Kearny's men was proudly worn by the veterans. Raw troops were not allowed them until proof of worthiness in battle was shown.
October 11th crossed into Maryland over Chain bridge, and arrived two days later near Edward's Ferry, where we remained picketing the river and canal until October 28th. Our regiment had not been supplied with tents or " shelter pieces " until Octo- ber 26th, although the weather all along was cold and rainy. The hardships endured thus far doulitless lessened the effective strength of the regiment l)y more than 100 men, equivalent to a large battle loss, many being permanently used uj). Thus we became soldiers. A remaining badge of our rawness, how- ever, was the knapsack, bloated with relics of a past refinement, weighing from twenty pounds upwards. The knapsack became obsolete in our division in the 1864 campaign.
October 28th forded the Potomac at White's Ford, where the river was waist-deep and al)out one-third mile wide. The army, under McClellan, moved along the foot-hills, keeping pace with Lee, who moved up the Shenandoah valley beyond the Blue Ridge. We marched via Middleburg, White Plains and Salem to Waterloo on the north fork of the Rappahannock, and we remained in this vicinity several days, during which time Burnside succeeded McClellan in command of the army. Here a new plan of operations was made, with Falmouth, on the Rappahannock, as a point for concentration. Accordingly, on November 16th the march began; on the 2 2d we went into camp around Falmouth. The time in camp was fully occupied in drills, inspections and ineffectual attempts to keep comfort- able and in health, during a very cold spell in a bleak situation, until December 11th.
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT HISTORICAL SKETCH. 51
Battle of Fredericksburg. — Early on December 11th the regiment, under Col. Thomas A. Roberts, numbering 628 men and officers, broke camp and marched towards Fredericks- burg, remaining on the north side of the river that night. Next morning we moved down the river to the left of our lines. Crossed the Rappahannock on Saturday, December 13th, at noon, on a pontoon bridge, and marched to our allotted place under shelling from the enemy's guns. Soon the enemy made an advance of infantry to turn Birney's left or seize his batteries posted in our front. To repel this attack General Berry threw out the Seventeenth to the left of the batteries in line of battle, speedily checking the onset with a few rounds. We lay on the field subjected to frequent shelling until our army retired on the night of December 15th. Our loss was three killed and mortally wounded, and seventeen wounded.
Next day returned to our camp, when General Birney declared in orders that the new regiments had shown themselves "fully worthy of the 'Red Patch,' and I, in the name of the division, acknowledge them as members in full standing." General Berry also complimented the Seventeenth in his official report. Nevertheless, there was a feeling of disappointment in the air ; visions of valiant deeds and fierce personal encoun- ters faded unrealized. A soldier appreciates his individualitj^ never so much as in his first battle. The regiment changed camp ground twice during the succeeding inactivity of the army.
January 20, 1863, Burnside's second campaign began. His general order was read to each regiment announcing that we " were about to meet the enemy again." Fortified with this assurance we started out, and at night brought up at Scott's Mill, near the Rappahannock, where we went into bivouac with- out any fires or loud sounds, for it was intended to surprise the enemy, and next morning our brigade was to lead and force the crossing. With this pleasing anticipation, and a drizzlino; rain, and no coffee, we slept the sleep of the just. The rain con- tinued, and it is matter of history that we did not meet the enemy ; but we could read the derisive placard of the Johnnies across the river : " Stuck in the mud."
General Hooker succeeded Burnside January 26th in com-
52 MAINE AT GETTYSBURG.
mand of the army. Improvement in rations and morale followed the change. We lost General Berry by his promotion to Major- General and command of the Second division of our corps.
Before the spring campaign opened many deaths occurred, and many were discharged for "disability," including several officers who resigned. Promotions followed, to fill vacancies, and the Seventeenth was "boiled down," well-seasoned and pro- ficient in drill.
The Cedars and Chancellorsville. — April 28th the Thii-d corps, under General Sickles, moved down the river as a feint : thence on the 30th we marched rapidly up river, in a tortuous course, to United States Ford, arriving after midnight, and crossed the river early on May 1st. The men carried on the person eight days" rations and sixty rounds of annnunition. May 1st the regiment numbered nearly 500, rank and file, under command of Lieut. -Colonel Merrill (Colonel Roberts being absent on sick leave) . The brigade was under Colonel Hay- man, a regular army officer. The day passed in manceuvring, and that night we lay upon the Plank Road, connecting to left of Eleventh corps. May 2d Sickles pushed forward several miles on a reconnaissance in force ; a lively and successful skir- mish with the enemj' ensued until sundown, taking prisoners. At dusk word came of the crushing attack of Jackson upon the Eleventh corps, reporting the latter to be destroyed, and that we were cut off l)y Jackson from the rest of our army. We silently and gloomily retraced our steps to Hazel Grove, an open plateau about a half mile from the Chancellor House. From this plateau our division made a night attack, known as the " midnight charge," upon Jackson's troops lying between us and the Plank road. The operations of Sickles' corps May 2d were known as the battle of The Cedars. Stonewall Jackson was mortally wounded in the evening, and this great loss to the Confederate cause is directly traceable to General Sickles' operations. Sunday, May 3d, about 5 o'clock. General Stuart, who succeeded Jackson, resumed the ))attle, the weight of it falling upon Sickles' corps and a division of the Twelfth, the Eleventh corps infantry having been re-formed near the river. The battle raged furiously and incessantly until about noon. The
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT HISTORICAL SKETCH. 53
Seventeenth, with its Ijrigade, was phiced south of the Chan- cellor House, in an advanced position, lying flat on the ground, supporting a battery, when the onslaught was made. The enemy's artillery played upon and over us from many cannon at Hazel Grove, and our own artillery tii-ed over us in reply. Musketry fu-e from two directions also came into us from beyond our infantry lines. The enemy at one time broke through in front, and came for the battery. Our brigade at once, under the lead of General Birney, made a counter-charge, putting them to rout and taking a batch of prisoners. We then took up a new position, as the battery was withdrawn. The Seventeenth was the last infantry to go from the field south of the Chancellor House. Later in the day it was placed in a line of works at the White House. Except by heavy shelling we were not greatly molested there. At 4 p. ji. our brigade was advanced outside the breast- works, prepared to charge if the enemy broke our skirmish line in the woods ; but the l)attle in that vicinity was over.
]May .5th Colonel Roberts returned. ^lay (ith we recrossed the river, our division being the last withdrawn from the front lines, and thence returned to our camp, as likewise did all others to their own. The loss in the Seventeenth in this battle was : killed and mortally wounded, 1 officer (1st Lieut. Dudley H. Johnson) and 10 enlisted men ; wounded, o officers (Capt. Augustus Goldermann, acting as field officer, Capt. Edward I. Merrill, 1st Lieuts. James M. Brown, Putnam S. Boothby ; 2d Lieut. Thomas W. Lord) and .54 men ; also 41 taken prisoners. Total, 111.
June 11th broke camp and began the march northward which culminated in the battle of Gettvsburu:, our route taking us to Manassas Junction, Centreville and Gum Springs, Va., from thence, on June 25th, to the Potomac, which we crossed at Edwards Ferry, on a pontoon bridge, continuing along the canal towpath to the Monocacy, where we bivouacked for the night. This day's march of thirty miles was the highest record of the regiment. Next day proceeded to Point of Rocks ; thence to Jefferson Village, Middletown, Frederick City, Taneytown, Emmitsbui-g and Gettysburg. The regiment took an active part in the battle of Gettysburg ; engaged in the Wheatfield
54 MAINE AT GETTYSBURG.
July 2d for two hours and a half ; July 3d supported Daniel's 9th Mich, battery, under severe shelling. A narration of this battle is given on another page, with an account of our losses.
In the pursuit of Lee's army after Gettysl:)urg the Third corps started from the field July 7th. The regiment was reduced, through casualties and sickness, to about 150 men. The march was through Emmitsburg, Frederick City, Middle- town and South Mountain Pass, reaching Antietam battlefield on the 10th. The enemy made a stand, covering Williamsport, which nearly paralyzed Meade, and caused a halt. It was a question whether to attack or not. The rank and file were eager to pitch in, but uncertainty or timidity at headquarters lasted several days, during which time Lee decamped across the Poto- mac into the Shenandoah Valley.
Our arm}' crossed the river on the 17th and marched on east side of Blue Ridge, reaching Manassas Gap July 22d.
Wapping Heights. — July 23d we ran into the rear guard of Lee. The Seventeenth was in the second line, supporting the skirmishers. Our only casualty was the mortal wounding of Sergt.-Major Fred "W. Bosworth by a shell.
Resuming the march the army passed through Salem and Warrenton, and on July 31st went into camp at Sulphur Springs, on the north fork of the Rappahannock. The Confederate army encamped beyond Culpeper ; ours around Warrenton. Both settled down to rest and recuperate. To fill our ranks three officers, Capt. Charles P. Mattocks, Lieuts. J. A. Perry and W. H. Green, with a recruiting squad, had been sent to Poit- land for recruits July 24th.
September 15th our army advanced down to Culpeper ; Sep- tember 23d we received 160 recruits from Maine. They proved to be of good material. October 11th General Lee took the bit in his teeth. Very adroitly deceiving INIcade, he got a good start upon the right flank of the latter, and a complicated race began for Centreville or some intermediate point.
Auburn. — In a blind fashion both Union and Confederate columns occasionally attempted to march on the same road at the same time. This occurred on October 13th, when Stuart's cavalry got upon our road at Auburn on Cedar Run. Our
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT HISTORICAL SKETCH. 55
brigade ran into a brigade of this cavalry and a brisk skirmish ensued for a couple of hours, engaging both arms of the service. The enemy was routed, leaving his dead and some prisoners and horses behind. The Seventeenth had one man wounded and three missing. This astounding retrogi-ade movement ended when our troops reached Fairfax Court House on the 15th of October. Lee did not attack our forces, but spent a couple of days destroying the railroad track. On the 19th he disappeared, and Meade moved forward. Our division went into camp near Catlett's. Maj. George W. AVcst, having been commissioned as Colonel, was mustered to that grade October 22d, and assumed command of the regiment, which had now acquired a strength of about 375, rank and file.
Kelly's Ford. — November 7th our army advanced across the Rappahannock, the Seventeenth crossing at Kelly's Ford where, beliind works, some resistance was made and a few hun- dred prisoners secured who appeared glad to be taken in out of the cold. Next day pushed forward in line of battle to Brandy Station, from wliich our southern neighbors tied at our approach. We prepared comfortable quarters and enjoyed them until Meade, doubtless rememljering the ides of October, attempted a countei'-stroke upon Lee's right, beyond the Rapidan.
Locust Grove and Mizra; Run. — We crossed the Rapidan at Jacob's Ford in the evening of November 26th, and stopped for the night about a mile farther on. Next day, November 27tli, the Third division took the lead and struck the enemy. Our (First) division moved forward, formed, and was held in support. Those in front gave way. Advancing in line beyond these men, new to battle, we met the enemy, and a tierce mus- ketry conflict ensued, until every round of our ammunition was expended. Just at this moment a brigade of the Sixth corps (in which was the Sixth Maine regiment) came up, moved bej'ond our right flank, turned that of the enemy, gave him some volleys routing him, and the field was ours. This action occurred at a villa called Locust Grove. This stand-up fight caused us a grievous loss, inflicted unnecessarilj^ through the incompetency or recklessness of some ofiicer, superior to the regimental, who directed the Seventeenth to take the place of
56 MAINE AT GETTYSBUEG.
the regiment it relieved ; thus bringing the line of the regiment nearly perpendicular to, and in front of, that of the enemy, who, at short range, made great havoc with our right compa^ nies, while the left of the regiment was untouched. Our loss was : killed or mortally wounded, eleven, of whom were Capt. Ellis M. Sawyer (acting as Major) and 1st Lieut. James M. Brown; and thirty-nine wounded, of whom was 1st Lieut. F. A. Sawj-er. Our picket, under Lieut. ^Y. H. Green, scooped in about a dozen prisoners the next morning.
On the 28th we moved some miles and came to our o-eneral line, confronting the enemy posted and waiting for us on the heights, in his works, beyond the Mine Run, a stream of some width but generally fordable. Remained here the 29th and 30th ready to assault the works, which were of a most formid- able character, at sound of a signal gun. We formed on both days to make this hopeless sacrifice, momentarily expecting the signal to advance. It did not sound, and the enterprise was abandoned. We marched all night, from dusk to sunrise, and recrossed the river without molestation ; many stragglers doubtless fell into the enemy's hands. We lost one, taken prisoner. Returned to encampment at Brandy Station and went into winter quarters.
A new stand of colors, in silk. National and State, with eagles, presented by the merchants of Portland to the Seven- teenth, was received February 22d. These were safely borne through the campaigns of 1864. March 24th the unwelcome order of consolidation was received. The Third corps was merged into the Second, under command of General Hancock ; the First and Second divisions becoming the Third and Fourth divisions of the Second corps. General Birney retained com- mand of our division. The veterans of the Third corps retained their diamond patches. Brigades were also consoli- dated. Ours, to be commanded by Gen. Alexander Hays, thus became the Second brigade of Third division, Second corps, and was composed of the Fourth and Seventeenth Maine, 3d and 5th Mich., (33d, 57th and 105th Penn., 93d N. Y. and 1st U. S. Sharpshooters.
Lieutenant-General Grant joined the army in Apiil. We
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT HISTORICAL SKETCH. 57
vacated the winter huts on the 26th of that month, encamping in shelter tents in open fields. We lay here until the general movement began on May 3d.
Grant's Campaign. — The Seventeenth Maine began this campaign with 21 officers, 5 acting officers (commissioned but not mustered) and 439 enlisted men in the ranks. The officers were : Colonel, George W. West ; Captains, John C. Perry (act- ing as Field officer), Joseph A. Perry, Benjamin C. Pennell, William H. Green, Isaac S. Faunce, Sumner S. Richards, George W. Verrill ; First Lieutenants, Frederick A. Sawyer, John N. Morrill, James S. Roberts, Grenville F. Sparrow, George A. Whidden, Henry L. Bartels, Wellington Hobbs ; Second Lieutenants, Stephen Graffam, Franklin C. Adams, Gustavus C. Pratt, Robert H. Mathes, William H. Sturgis, Benjamin Doe. Acting officers : Sergeant-Major, Edward H. Crie ; Sei'geants, Charles C. Cole, Jordan M. Hall, Joseph S. Hobbs, and Newton W. Parker. In addition to these the fol- lowing combatant officers of the regiment were on detailed duty in the division : Maj. Charles P. Mattocks, commanding 1st U. S. Sharpshooters ; Capt. Edwin B. Houghton, acting A. I. G. on Fii-st brigade staff; Second Lieut. Walter F. Noyes, commanding brigade pioneers (these went into action) .
Taking up the line of march at midnight. May 3d, we crossed the Rapidan on morning of the 4th at Ely's Ford ; proceeded thence to the battle gi'ound of Chancellorsville, remaining there during the day and night.
Battle of the Wilderness. — May 5, 1864, marched and reached Todd's Tavern about noon. The enemy — Hill's corps — having struck the Sixth corps, marching on the Brock road, we were turned upon that road and marched northward to the point where it crosses the Orange Plank road. The Seven- teenth was on the right of the Second corps. About 4 p. m. we advanced in line of battle, parallel with the Brock road through thick undergrowth, until we felt the enemy. In an unsuccessful effort to find connections upon our I'ight, as ordered, the regiment became separated from the troops on our left, but advanced upon Hill and forced him back at his left flank, after a fierce stand-up fight, lasting until dark, taking about thirty prisoners.
58 MAINE AT GETTYSBUKG.
May 6th, at 5 o'clock a. m., in the same formation, we advanced again, in a general attack in line of battle, capturing a line of breastworks, routing the enemy and driving him before us a mile and a half. The Seventeenth and Fourth Maine, side by side, pushing forward, had become the point of a wedge, well driven through the enemy's lines. Arriving at an opening, crossed by the Plank road, we halted under a sharp infantry fire, and that of a couple of unfriendly field pieces, for our connections to come up. The broken lines of the enemy on our right rear, finding we had outflanked them, retreated in a mob, hundreds of them falling into our hands as prisoners, whom we directed to the rear, as we had directed those taken in the advance. Doubtless all of them were claimed by troops at our rear as their captures. Colonel West, who had already lost his horse, — shot under him, — was severely wounded and helped to the rear. Longstreet, having made dispositions, put in his corps. We successfull}^ resisted liis attack in front, but he forced an opening somewhere on the left and towards our rear, which caused our line to fall back, under orders of Colonel Walker of Fourth Maine, then commanding the brigade. Thus a glorious victory was allowed to slip which we had held firmly in our gi-asp ; a single brigade at the front, with us, could have secured the harvest. At noontime our whole line, thus out- generaled, retired, fighting, in good order to the Brock road, along which breastworks were built. Later in the day we received an assault upon this line by Longstreet's corps, which was repulsed.
May 7th advanced with the division, massed bj^ brigades in columns of regiments, to find the enemy, — and we found him, lively enough with his buck shot and artillery, behind works.
The regiment lost in the thi-ee days 201. Of this number 62 were killed outright or died of their wounds. The loss of officers was : killed, 2d Lieut. Benjamin Doe and acting 2d Lieut. Newton W. Parker ; wounded. Col. George W. West, Capt. Joseph A. Perry, 1st Lieuts. George A. Whidden (re- joined for duty May 16th), Wellington Hobbs (rejoined for duty June 28th), Henry L. Bartels, Frederick A. Sawyer, 2d Lieut. Franklin C. Adams and acting 2d Lieut. Joseph S.
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT HISTORICAL SKETCH. 59
Hobbs (rejoined for duty May 11th). Major Mattocks was captured on the skirmish out-posts, May 5th, at the first col- lision ; had this not occurred the reoiment might have regained this field officer, after the loss of Colonel West. Owing to our lack of ofiicers, Major Moore of the 99th Penn. was tem- porarily assigned to command the Seventeenth, the w6rd coming from General Birney that he had so high a regard for the Sev- enteenth that he gave us the best available field officer in the division. Major Moore gallantly led us until May 16th.
May 8th moved towards Spotsylvania as far as Todd's Tav- ern, where we built works ; not engaged, although under fire. May 9th marched southward towards the Po river. The greater portion of the regiment was sent on picket across the river under Capt. W. H. Green, senior of the regimental detail.
Po River. — May 10th the picket line with some supports advanced as skirmishers and drove the enemy's cavalry a long distance, Ijack upon their infantry supports. A lai"ge force of the latter ra})idly advanced upon our scattered line and upon its flanks, intending to capture the whole. Our detachments and the Fom-th Maine, the whole under command of Col. Elijah Walker of that regiment, were skillfully, although with difli- culty and some loss, withdrawn, rejoining the brigade on north side of the stream. The remainder of the 10th and the 11th was employed in supporting charging columns, batteries and skirmishers. Loss in the two days was one moi'tally wounded, seven wounded (including Capt. S. S. Kichards), and two miss- ing (never heard from and probably killed).
Spotsylvania. — Roused from sleep at 10 o'clock in the evening of May 11th, we silently moved out of our works on the right of the line, and marched away in the darkness and rain. The regiment reached its destination just before daybreak May 12th, and was immediately placed in the column already formed to charge the enemy's works at the " Salient." A short rest while waiting for the heavy fog to clear. About daybreak the charging column, composed of Barlow's (First) division and our own division, moved forward side by side, without noise until the picket line was reached and captured, when some shots were fired. Then with loud chcerins: we rushed forward for the
60 MAINE AT GETTYSBURG.
works, through the obstructions and up over the steep glacis, without a halt. The Seventeenth entered in the tirst line at the very angle of the Salient, on the inner side of which were deep traverses, a long line of hitched-up artiller}', and a mass of Confederates paralyzed with consternation, probably both at our appearance and the previous disappearance of most of their comrades into our protection. Gen. Edward Johnson's division was extinguished ; about 5,000 men of it captured and he liim- self and Ms sul)ordinate, General Steuait, prisoners of war in our hands. General Johnson was taken by Sergeant S. Frank Haskell and Private J. F. Totman of the Seventeenth Maine, and escorted by them to General Hancock. The six battei'ies and horses fell into our hands. Without stopping to re-form we pushed forward for an inner line of works, but were met by a wide-awake enemy defending it, and by the advance of converging formations. We retired, lighting, back to the cap- tured works, and from the outside used them as a breastwork. One of the bloodiest encounters of the war, in a hand-to-hand struggle, ensued across the works, continuing all day and untU nearly midnight, when the determined foe gave it up, leaving eighteen cannon and the whole Salient in our possession.
A pai-t of the Sixth corps at the proper moment came in on our right at the west angle of the Salient, and gallantlj' took and carried on the tierce battle. To these heroic veterans an equal share of glory and credit is due for holding fast the cap- tured position and artillery.
We took into the battle 225 muskets, with 13 officers and 4 acting officers . Our loss : 1 2 men killed or mortally wounded ; 41 wounded, of whom were 1st Lieut. John X. Morrill and 2d Lieut. Stephen Graffam ; 5 taken prisoners ; 1 missing, prob- ably killed ; Captain Houghton, detailed on First brigade staff, also wounded. Sergt. Edward G. Parker, carrying our national color, was killed, and Sergt. Edwin Emery, bearing the state color, was badly disabled by two M'ounds, the Coloi'-guard nearly annihilated. Acting Sergt. -Major G. A. Parker was wounded.
Maine was well represented here : the Third, Seventeenth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh regiments all fought at the Salient. The Sixteenth, Nineteenth, Thirty-first and Thirty-second also co-operated by assaults upon the works near by.
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT HISTORICAL SKETCH. 61
From the 13th to 19th not engaged, except on picket. On the 16th Lieut. -Colonel Merrill returned to duty, taking com- mand. Capt. Edward Moore also returned from a leave of absence.
Fredericksburg Eoad. — On the 19th, at 2 a. m., the divis- ion marched about five miles to the Anderson House, on the Fredericksljurg road. The army supplies came this way. Ewell circled our right to strike tliis road in oui- rear. Near the trains he ran against the First Maine heavy artillery regi- ment, used as infantry, and another of same kind, who fought with steadiness, holding the enemy. Our division went at double-quick to the rescue, supporting the line and advancing the battle. The Seventeenth relieved the First Maine, that had lost heavily, and advanced upon the enemy, who fell liack. Next morning advanced again, and the enemy fled. The regi- ment secured 47 pi-isoners (the division 500), with a loss of only one wounded and one missing.
North Anna. — May 21st, at 1 a. m., with 184 muskets, we took the Guiney Station road, passed thi-ough Bowling Green, crossed the Mattapony, beyond which we bivouacked, — a twenty miles march ; 22d built Itreastworks ; 23d marched at 5 A. M. southward, approaching the North Anna. The enemy held a redoubt near the bridge on the north side, with llankinff lines to the river. Our division charged in line of battle ; our brigade, under Col. B. R. Pierce, advancing, met a fusilade, and was raked by artillery from across the river, but carried every- thing handsomely to the river. Next day intrenched under fire on the south side. Remained here until the 27th. Loss : killed and mortally wounded, four (of whom were 1st Lieut. James S. Roberts and 2d Lieut. Walter F. Noyes), and seventeen wounded.
Totopotomy. — At midnight. May 26th, recrossed river and marched to the Pamunkey, crossing it on the 28th, near Newcastle. Several positions and advances were made in the ensuing four days. On June 1st the enemy's line at the Toto- potomy Creek, which flows into the river, was assailed with suc- cess l)y our division, the First l)rigade leading, supported by ours — our regimental loss being slight. The Seventeenth was
62 MAINE AT GETTYSBUKG.
this day transferred to the First lirigade, commanded by Colonel Egan, and served with it until March 15, 1865. The Third Maine belonged to this brigade. Marched at midnight with- out halting, passing Salem church and around our army towards the left until, at 6 a. m., we halted for breakfast, after wliich, to the left until we joined Barlow's (First) division at the front.
Cold Harbor. — June 3d a general assault was made upon the enemy's strong works, ending in failure and a fearful loss ; we were held as a support to the First division and suffered slightly. Remained in this vicinity until June 12th. On June 4th the re-enlisted men and recruits of the Third Maine were transferred to the Seventeenth. Many names were on the trans- fer rolls, but we received only 129 men carrying muskets ; these were sterling men, many of them being non-commissioned officers, for whom we found places.
The vigor of our men, which had kept up remarkably until this time, suddenly collapsed. We had nearly fifty prostrated in one day. A portion of them recovered before the 12th. Losses since May 24th : one killed, four wounded, five captured. The sergeants remaining to us, who had served as officers since the campaign opened, were here mustered according to their commissions.
June 12th left the works at Cold Harbor, and on the 13th marched to the James river, crossing next day at Windmill Point, and remained on the south side waiting for rations that day and night. June 15th marched to the line in front of Petersburg and bivouacked behind captured earthworks. Our strength was 16 officers and 224 enlisted men.
Petersburg Assaults. — June 16th, while the roll was being called, a well-aimed shell burst in our ranks, injuring several, among them Capt. John C. Perry, commanding the regiment, — Lieut. -Col. Merrill being off duty, — and the com- mand devolved upon Capt. Benj. C. Pennell. Soon the Seven- teenth Maine and 20th Ind. were moved out and formed in line of battle without supports ; the orders were to advance and take the enemy's intrenchments and batteiy about lifty rods distant. We moved forward in line of battle, over stuljby but level ground, under a storm of bullets, shell and solid shot, poured
SEVENTEENTH REGIjVIENT HISTORICAL SKETCH. 63
into US as we advanced, cominij from the veterans of Lee's army. Our line shriveled and the alignment was broken. We failed to reach the main line, but took and held an out- work about midway the lines. A short time elapsed when we re-formed the two regiments at this point, expecting to have a support, but none came, and we moved forward a second time, gaining some ground, but with no better success ; holding the advanced position, however, under a murderous tire until we were withdrawn towards night. Colonel Egan was wounded. The whole First division charged at sunset upon the same line, and were likewise repulsed. Our loss was : killed and mortallj^ wounded, 1(3 (amongst them one of the color-bearers. Corporal Leonard Pride) ; wounded, 2 officers, Capt. John C.Perry and 2d Lieut. Jordan M. Hall, and 37 enlisted men. Ne.xt day the Seventeenth occupied a portion of the advanced line used for skirmishing, keeping up a galling tire which drove the opposing skirmishers from their pits. Captain Pennell was instantly killed while attcm[)ting to living down with a Sharp's rifle the " stars and bars " planted on their works opposite our colors. The command of the regiment then devolved upon Capt. Edward Moore, who was succeeded the same evening by Major Gil- braith, of the 20th Ind., detailed temporarily by General Birney to this special duty with our regiment, whicii he well performed until July 10th, when relieved by return of Lieut. -Colonel Merrill to duty.
June 18th a general assault on the enemy's works was made, with very small success but with frightful casualties. We charged at the Hare House along a ridge (overlooking the plain where the First Maine Heavy charged) . The small ad- vancement of our lines was secured by earthworks thrown up in the night in close contact with the enemy. Here we remained in the works until relieved on the 20th Ity the Ninth corps.
Loss since June Kith, killed and mortally M'ounded, one officer and 13 enlisted men ; wounded, 18 enlisted men.
Jerusalem Road. — June 21st the Second corps extended the lines to the left beyond Jerusalem Road. Next day a por- tion of our division in this movement was outflanked and cap- tured in the new breastworks. Our brigade was ordered to
64 MAINE AT GETTYSBURG.
charge and retake these works at dayljreak of the 22d. As we were drawn up in an open field to undertake this task each man nerved himself and prepared for the worst, in many instances leaving valualiles and messages with the surgeon. The word was given ; the line moved forward in splendid style. Before half the distance was gained the enemy gave a feeble volley and left the work, which we occupied without trouble, with loss of one killed, two wounded and three missing. The regiment lay behind works after this, not engaged although at the front.
July 12th the corps moved from the front and encamped, doing dail)' fatigue duty, levelling old works, etc. An official nominal list of our casualties for May and June was compiled, showing the number to have been 376, of whom only 32 were missing, which included those taken prisoners. Five officers were killed and fifteen wounded, being a much higher percent- age than that of the enlisted men.
July 26th marched to the James, crossing at Jones' Point.
First Deep Bottom. — Moved forward about two miles and performed picket duty until relieved on 28th, when at dusk we recrossed the river and marched in rear of the investing lines until morning ; next evening after dark we marched to the Hare House and quietly relieved Hicks' troops of the Ninth corps in the intrenchments. This was in preparation for the famous Mine Explosion which occurred next morning, July 30th, near by us. Returned at nightfall to our camp in reserve, where we stayed until August 12th.
Second Deep Bottom. — August 12th marched to City Point and emiiarked on steamers. At 10 p. M. steamed uji the James to Deep Bottom, where we landed in the morning.
Advancing on the 14th, the enemy fell back into his strong works. We were estal)lished on the picket line at a large corn- field, doing that duty until the 19th. The main attack was made on the right, by the Tenth corps and a portion of the Second corps, all under General Birney. Failure followed temporary success. Skirmishing was continuous on the picket line, punctuated with artillery fire. Colonel Chaplin of the First Maine H. A., in command of the picket, was killed quite near the Seventeenth. Our loss was only four, wounded.
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT HISTORICAL SKETCH. 65
Returning to the Petersburg lines we were put into the trenches, relieving the Thirty-second Maine and another regi- ment.' The opposing works were about 500 yards away ; with us was Ames' N. Y. liattery, relieved by Wliite's Fourth Maine battery. One-third of our men were held constantly under arms in the works, with pickets in front. This was north of Fort "Hell" in an ordinarily healthy location; many deserters came in. The opposing pickets were at lirst peaceable, with commercial dealings ; September 10th our picket line was advanced, which brought on a scrimmage. The brigade Officer of the Day was Capt. Edward Moore, whose duties brought him into this affair. We had a few wounded, amongst them Lieut. Joseph S. Hobbs at the main works. Then there began constant picket tiring, day and night, except for a half hour at sunset, each day, by consent, when pickets were changed on both sides. We suffered a useless loss from this picket tiring.
Peebles' Farm and Fort Hell. — October 1st moved from the trenches, making a movement " to the left," to extend our lines and establish them with earthworks, which being accom- plished we returned on the 5th and were placed in Fort Sedg- wick (known as Fort " Hell ") . Mortar shelling was frequent, and on the evening of the 11th a concentrated tire from many came into our fort-, descending all around and causing some loss. October 15th were withdrawn and encamped back from the works. Colonel West, who had been absent, wounded, since May Gth, returned to duty. Lieut. -Colonel Merrill resigned, and took his leave of us. The regiment furnished picket details for the front. October 24th Lieut. Wellington Hobbs was killed and Lieut. George A. Whidden permanently disabled by the same bullet ; Lieut. George B. Dunn also slightly wounded, same night.
BoYDTON Road. — October 26th the Second and Third divis- ions, under Hancock, marched to the left, crossing Hatcher's Run on the 27th, and pushed to the Boydton Road. The enemy nearly surrounded us. The Seventeenth was finally posted to guard our line of retreat, and constructed a barricade which General Hancock commended, adding," fix them so that you can fight on either side." The regiment was selected to escort the
66 MAINE AT GETTYSBURG.
ambulances, filled with wounded, liack to the works, in advance of the troops, after nightfall. An all-night march. October 30th we were placed in Fort Rice, remaining until November 29th, when we moved again to the left near the Peebles' House, at the southerly turn of our lines. December 7th the Fifth corps and our division, with some cavalry, all under General Warren, made an infantry raid, marching beyond the Nottaway River to Jarrett's Station on the Weldon railroad, and then destroying the railroad in a most thorough manner. Twenty miles of it was put "ho7:s de C07nbat" from the Nottaway to Belfield. Our troops liurned many buildings on the return, as revenge upon inhabitants who had murdered men that fell out. No encounter with the enemy. After this we encamped, out of the works, near Fort Dushane, as in winter quarters.
1865.
Colonel West, who had been appointed to Brevet Brigadier- General for his conduct at battle of the Wilderness, arrived at the front January 8th and was placed temporarily in command of the brigade. General de Trol)riand being absent, and later was assigned to command another brigade. He did not return to duty with the regiment. Captain William Hobson, in command by seniority, was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment January 18th.
Hatcher's Run. — February 5th our division, under Gen- eral Mott, followed by the Second division, marched to Hatch- ers Run, and our Ijrigade forced the passage of the stream under fire. The crossing was secured by forming the brigade in a crescent, one flank resting upon the south bank. The object being an extension of our works to the left, the line was established and intrenchments built, when we encamped near the Smith house, resuming camp duties, picketing, etc., and the usual routine. February 22d the 2d U. S. Sharpshooters was disljanded and its company D was transfeiTed to the Sev- enteenth ; by this we gained about a dozen fine soldiers. March 15th the regiment was re-transferred to the Second brigade, now commanded by Brig. -Gen. B>Ton R. Pierce, formerly Colonel of the 3d Mich, regiment, an ideal leader.
SEVENTEENTH REGIifENT HISTORICAL SKETCH. 67
March 25tli a demonstration was made against the enemy's picket lines in our corps front, as a diversion to aid in the recovery of Fort Steadman, wliich the enemy had captured from the Ninth corps. Our move was successful, provoking an attack upon our corps that we repulsed, and captured pris- oners. The loss of the regiment was small.
Counting up the regimental casualties from August 19, 1864, to March 26, 1865, we found them to be one officer and eleven enlisted men killed and mortally wounded, and three officers and twenty-five enlisted men wounded.
March 29th broke camp at 6 a. m., marched on theVaughan road, crossed Hatcher's Kun and advancing towards Boyd- ton Road, made connection on our left with the Fifth corps. Next morning advanced in line about a mile and found the enemy's skirmishers, in view of his main line of works, from which his artillery opened. Our lines were strengthened with breastworks.
At this time the strength of the regiment was about 300, rank and file. The following officers were on duty with the regiment : Lieutenant-Colonel William Hobson, commanding ; Major, Charles P. Mattocks (rejoined for duty ilarch 31st from prisoner of war since ilay 5, 1864) ; Adjutant, George A. Pai'ker ; Captains, William H. Green, Isaac S. Faunce, Gustavus C. Pratt, Chai'les C. Cole, George B. Dunn; Fu'st Lieutenants, Rol)ert H. Mathes, William H. Sturgis command- ing company B, Parlin Crawford commanding company F, Joseph S. Hobbs commanding company H, James M. AVebb commanding company C, Schollay G. Usher, Dexter W. How- ard commanding company E, William H. Copp ; Second Lieutenants, Fayette ]\L Paine, Albert L. Bradbury, Edwin A. Duncan, Asa G. Cliai-les, Charles H. Parcher, Sumner W. Burnham, Edwin W. Sanborn, Thomas Snowman. Other line officers, on detailed dut}' in the field, were Capt. Joseph A. Perry, at division hospital ; Capt. George W. Verrill, A. A. D. C. on staff of General Pierce ; 1st Lieut. Edward H. Cric, acting regimental quartermaster ; 2d Lieut. Edwin Emery, lirigade ambulance officer ; quartermaster Josiah Remick, as 1st brigade quartermaster.
68 JIAIXE AT GETTVSBUEG.
Fall of PEXERSBrEG. — The general assault upon the defen- sive works was ordered for 4.30 a. m. April 2d, to commence on right of our army, after a night of cannonading. Eai'ly in the morning General Pierce sent two regiments, with an aide, to "feel" the works in front, which we found nearly evacuated, and they were secured by these, being the first from the divis- ion ; the remainder of the brigade then advanced to the works. Without delay the brigade marched towards Petersljurg upon the Boydton Plank Road, sending in advance an aide and orderly to scout the way ; the enemy had fallen back to the outskirts of Petersburg, where Lee had stretched a breastwork across to the Appomattox. Approaching this line we found resistance, also an artilleiy tire from across the river. The Ninth and Sixth corps had carried theh* front, except a couple of forts. We formed, connecting with the troops of the latter on our right. It is related that wliile the Seventeenth was thi'owing up a breastwork here, about twilight, two strangers came along and stopped on the line of work, conversing together, peering and pointing in a peculiar manner. Colonel Hobson ordered them to " get out of the way," which they did without any " back talk." The storangers were afterwards discovered to be Lieut.- General Grant and ^laj. -General Wright.
Lee evacuated that night. In the morning the pursuit began, and we marched twenty miles. Stragglers from Lee were plenty. The pursuit continued energetically, and on the 5th we came up with his rear guard.
Deatoxsville and Sailor Creek. — April 6th the First brigade had the lead. Lee had changed his course. About 2 p. M., when the enemy made a stand, the Seventeenth, with an- other of our regiments, was lent to the First brigade, to prolong its line, which at once formed and impetuously charged under a hot musket and artilleiy fire. The Seventeenth, after break- ing their line, wheeled to the left and charged upon those Con- federates who still held to their works, capturing about seventy- five prisoners, including several oflicers, and the battle-flag of the 21st N. C. Lieutenant-Colonel Hobson was wounded in the fii'st advance. The command of the regiment then devolved upon Major Mattocks, who detailed Captain Green to
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT HISTORICAL SKETCH. 69
act as a field officer. The division then, in line of battle, advanced about two miles, where the enemj^ was again found. Then the Seventeenth was returned to its own brigade, which in turn took the advance to charge. Moving forward under musketry and artillery fire, we crossed a small stream, where we routed a skirmish linej|^d kept on up a ridge ; the rest of the brigade separated and aHved to the left, while the Seven- teenth alone n\ade connection with the First division on our right, as planned. General Humphreys, the corps commander, was present, who at once ordered another charge, when we pressed on, completely routing the enemy, who had made a stand at some buildings, and driving him across and beyond Sailor Creek. His wagon train fell into our hands with a large batch of prisoners. It was a headquarters train, and proved rich plunder. Six barrels of whiskey was the load of one wagon, which was wisely poured into the brook. The loss was : killed and mortally wounded, seven, including 1st Lieut. Schollay G. Usher ; wounded, twenty-seven, including Lieut-Colonel Hob- son, Captain Dunn, 1st Lieut. Webb, 2d Lieut. Duncan; 1st Lieut. Hobbs was slightly wounded, but not disabled from duty.
The pursuit continued next day, the Second division in the lead ; crossed the Appomattox at High Bridge, then on fire, where the enemy made some resistance, but gave way, leaving eighteen guns behind. In the afternoon came up with him, strongly intrenched, in a strong position at Farmville. Skir- mishing followed, and feints of attack, the object being to detain them. In the night our foe decamped, and on the 8th the hunt began again, passing through New Store. Late at night, or rather at daylight of the 9th, got witliin striking dis- tance. Sunday, April 9th, we continued the march until about noon and halted, about two miles from Appomattox C. H.
The Surrender. — About four o'clock in the afternoon General Meade, coming from the front, announced the surren- der of General Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia, at Appomattox Court House.
April 11th marched for Burkesville Junction, remaining there until May 2d, when the long march began for Wash- ington ; on the way passing through Richmond, Fredericksburg,
70 MAINE AT GETTYSBURG.
and other places memorable in the lonsj strife ; finally reaching Bailey's Cross Roads, near Washington, where we encamped and remained until mustered out of service, June 4, 1865.
The regiment, under Colonel Mattocks, took part in the Grand Review in Washington on May 23d.
The men whose terms of service held beyond September 30, 1865, were transferred to the First Maine Heavy Artillery regiment : this transfer also included three officers. About 300 enlisted men and thirty officers were present June 4, 1865, to be mustered out, and these came back to Maine with the organization. A large number of our comrades were absent, wounded and sick in hospital, who were thus dejirived of the great joy of returning home under the colors.
The Seventeenth, returning to iVIaine, arrived in Portland June 8th, where it, and the Twentieth regiment, were received with enthusiasm and were highly honored by a puljlic recep- tion. June 10, 1865, the organization was disbanded.
ROSTER.
The following information relating to officers of the Sev- enteenth Maine regiment is obtained from the Volunteer Army Register (pai-t 1), 1865, and other reliable sources. Officers at Muster-out, June 4, 1865.
Colonel: Charles P. MaUocks, May 15, 1865, — brevet Colonel from Major, April 9, 1S65; brevet Brigadier-General from Colonel, May 13, 1865.
Lieutenant-Colonel: William Hobson, Jan. 18, 1S65, mustered out June 6, 1S65, — brevet Brigadier-General, April 6, 1S65.
Adjutant: ist Lieut. George A. Parker, Jan. 18, 1865.
Quartermaster: 1st Lieut. Josiah Remick, Nov. S, 1862.
Captains: Joseph A. Perry, Nov. i, 1863; Edward Moore, Nov. 16, 1863, — brevet Lieut.-Col., March 13, 1865; Edwin B. Houghton, Nov. 16, 1863, mustered out June 11, 1865, — commissioned Major, not mustered; William H. Green, Dec. 22, 1863, — brevet Major, April 9, 1865; George W. Verrill, March 14, 1864, — after Feb. 3, 1865, detached, on brigade staff, acting as Asst. Adjt.-Gen., Asst. Insp. Gen., and Aide-de-Camp, also served on Military Commission to examine officers; Grenville F. Sparrow, July 4, 1864; Gus- tavus C. Pratt, Jan. 18, 1S65; Charles C. Cole, Jan. 31, 1865.
First Lieutenants: Edward H. Crie, June 5, 1864, — corrtmissioned Captain, not mustered; Robert H. Mathes, July 4, 1864, — brevet Captain, April 9, 1865; William H. Sturgis, July 4, 1864, — brevet Captain April 9, 1865;
ROSTER OF THE SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT. 71
Parlin Crawford, Nov. 4, 1864, — formerly of Third Maine; Lloyd W. Lamos, Nov. 5, 1864; Joseph S. Hobbs, Nov. 17, 1864; James M. Webb, Jan. 18, 1S65; William H. Copp, Feb. 12, 1865, formerly of Third Maine.
Second Lieutenants: Albert L. Bradbury, Jan. 16, 1865; Asa G. Charles, Jan. 18, 1865; Edwin A. Duncan, Jan. 18, 1865. — brevet ist Lieut., April 9, 1S65, commiss'd ist Lieut., not mustered; Charles H. Parcher, Jan. iS, 1865; Edwin Emery, Jan. 20, 1S65; Sumner W. Burnham, Jan 26, 1865; Thomas Snowman, Jan. 31, 1865; Horace B. Cummings, Feb. 12, 1865; Charles G. Holyoke, Sergeant-Major, — commiss'd 2d Lieut., not mustered.
Surgeon: Nahum A. Hersom, April 11, 1863. Assistant Surgeons: Nathaniel B. Coleman, Nov. 21, 1863; James G. Sturgis, Nov. 3, 1864.
Chaplain: Joseph F. Levering. Dec. 7, 1863.
(Dates given above refer to rank or commission, those given hereafter refer to date of the event. )
Died.
Captains: Almon L. Fogg, July 4, 1863, of wounds at battle of Gettys- burg; Milton M. Young, Aug 13, 1S63, of wounds at battle of Gettysburg; Ellis M. Sawyer, Nov. 28, 1863, of wounds at battle of Locust Grove, — com- missioned Major, not mustered; Benjamin C. Pennell, June 17, 1864, killed in battle of Petersburg.
First Lieutenants: G. W. S. Fickett, Sept. 24, 1862, of disease; Willard M. Jenkins, Nov. 18, 1862, of disease; Dudley H. Johnson, May 3, 1863, killed in battle of Chancellorsville; James M. Brown, Nov. 27, 1863, killed in battle of Locust Grove; James S. Roberts, May 23, 1864, killed in battle of North Anna; Wellington Hobbs, Oct. 24, 1864, killed in action at Petersburg, — commissioned Captain, not mustered; Schollay G. Usher, April 6, 1865, killed in battle of Deatonsville or Sailor Creek.
Second Lieutenants: William C. Winter, Jan. 25, 1S63, of disease; Hiram R. Dyar, July 2, 1863, killed in battle of Gettysburg; Benjamin Doe, May 6, 1864, killed in battle of Wilderness; Walter F. Noyes, May 24, 1864, killed in battle of North Anna; Newton W. Parker, — commis'd 2d Lieut., not mustered, killed in battle May 6, 1864; Edward G. Parker, — commis'd 2d Lieut., not mustered, killed in battle May 12, 1864.
Quartermaster: ist Lieut. Jacob T. Waterhouse, Oct. 23, 1862, of disease.
Transferred and Promoted out of Regiment.
Captains: Edward I. Merrill, Dec. 11, 1863, to Inv. corps as Captain, — brevet Major, March 13, 1S65; Isaac S. Faunce, June 4, 1865, to First Maine H. A. First Lieutenants: Newton Whitten, Dec. 28, 1S63, to Inv. corps; Dexter W. Howard, May 6, 1865, app't'd Captain in i2Sth U. S. Col. Troops, — formerly of Third Maine; Fayette M. Paine, June 4, 1S65, to First Maine H. A. Second Lieutenants: Edwin W. Sanborn, May 6, 1865, app't'd ist Lieut, in 128th U. S. Col. Troops, — formerly of Third Maine; Daniel J. Chandler, June 4, 1865, to First Maine H. A.
Discharged on Account of Wounds.
Colonel: George W. West, April 27, 1865,— brevet Brigadier-General, Dec. 2, 1864.
Adjutant: ist Lieut. Charles W. Roberts, Dec. 16, 1863.
72 MAINE AT GETTYSBtTRG.
Captains: Augustus Goldermann, Aug. 19, 1863; John C. Perry, Sept. 14, 1864; Sumner S. Richards, Oct. i, 1864; George B. Dunn, June 3, 1865. First Lieutenants: Frederick A. Sawyer, Sept. 24, 1864; Henry L. Bat- tels, Oct. 3, 1S64; John N. Morrill, Oct. 20, 1864; George A. Whidden, Feb. 4, 1S65, — commissioned as Captain, not mustered. Second Lieutenants: Thomas W. Lord, Sept. 20, 1863, — afterwards in U. S. Army, retired as Cap- tain; Franklin C. Adams, Oct. i, 1864, — promoted to ist Lieut., not mustered; Jordan M. Hall, Oct. 3, 1864.
Resigned and Discharged.
Colonel: Thomas A. Roberts, June 2, 1863.
Lieutenant-Colonel: Charles B. Merrill, Oct. 7, 1864.
Adjutant: ist Lieut. Putnam S. Boothby, Oct. 31, 1S64, — previously resigned as ist Lieut., Dec. 2. 1862; re-commissioned.
Captains: Andrew J. Stinson, Oct. 5, 1862; William H. Savage, Dec. 4, 1862; Albion Hersey, Dec. 21, 1S62; Isaac S. Faunce, Jan. i, 1863, re-com- missioned as Captain, Jan. 23, 1864; Uriah VV. Briggs, March 21, 1863; George W. Martin, March 26, 1863. First Lieutenants: John P. Swasey, Nov. 19. 1862; Benjamin G. Ames, Nov. 20, 1862; Otho W. Bumham, Feb. 3, 1863; William Roberts, August 5, 1863; Charles E. Hubbard, August 28, 1863. Second Lieutenants: Madison K. Mabr>', Dec. 10, 1862; Prescott New- man, Dec. 29, 1862; James M. Safford, Dec. 31, 1862; Danville B. Stevens, May 20, 1863; Ralph H. Day, May 21, 1S63.
Surgeon: Henry L. K. Wiggin, Jan. 31, 1863. Assistant Surgeons: Paschal P. Ingalls, March 2, 1863; Louis E. Norris, Oct. i, 1863; William Wescott, Dec. 11, 1863.
Chaplains: Harvey Hersey, Oct. 27, 1862; Jeremiah Hayden, Aug.
29, 1863.
Otherwise Left the Service.
Capt. James O. Thompson, Feb. 23, 1S64; 2d Lieut. Stephen Graffam,
Nov. 25, 1864.
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