The Portland daily press., 1862-10-31
Experiences and Labors of the Me. Sd.
BATH. Oct. 2S. 1862.


what has been done by the Third Maine Regt.,
it is but justice that more should be known of
them, and having a little leisure / will give
brief history of the Regt. The Regt. was for
med at Augusta, and was composed of men
from the Kennebec valley. We were muster
ed on the 4th of June, 1861, and broke camp
and started for Washington on the 9TH of the
same MONTH Upon arriving in Washington
we were put into camp of instruction at Me-
ridian Hin, back of the City. We remained
there month, when, on the 9th of July, we
started for Alexandria. We camped just below
Fl Ellsworth a few days, and then moved to
Clermont, the place formerly owned by Com.
Forrest. We remained there drilling till the 10Th
OF July, when we took up our line ofmarch for
Richmond by way of Manassas. On the 21st
we were engaged in the battle of Bull Run,
and lost several in killed, wounded and pris-
oners. Many were here untitled for further
service by over taxing their strength. We ar
rived after the retreat, in Alexandria, the day
after the battle, and the next day moved back
to Clermont. The Regt was here much re-
duced by sickness. On the thirteenth of Au-
gust we moved in near Fl. Ellsworth to Bella
voc, or Flag Hill. The monotony of Camp
life was here broken only by picket and IA
tigue duty, and by drills and reviews. On the
2Sth of August the Regt. was engaged in
skirmish at Bailey's Cross Roads, while there
on picket. On the 4th of Sept. we exchanged
our muskets for rfed muskets, but these we
were never destined to use in battle, for after
wards we received the Austrian rifles. On the
first of Oct. the positions on the left were all
changed and the Sd was stationed at Fowls
Hill on the Old Fairfax Road. About the 1st
of Nov. we built log Easements to the tents,
and went into winter quarters. Here we re-
manned drilling when the weather would per-
init, till the 1st of March, 1862, when we en-
barked for Fortress Monroe. We disembark-
ed at Old Point Comfort, on the Goth. From
that time we have been active, never stopping
more than week at place except at York
town, where we arrived the 5th of April. Dur
ing that memorable seige we took an active
part in performing fatigue and picket duty
At Hampton and at Yorktown was our first
experience in living in shelter tents. Many
times we were the object of the aim of rebel
gunners, and all the time were within shelling
distance Of them.
On the night of the 1st of May, we were
shelled while lying in the rifle pits; and ON the
Sd, the day before they evacuated Yorktown,
we were sheed very fiercely-one shell pass
ing through the top Of the pit, throwing dirt
all over us. On tire 4th they wisely left, and
we started after them. On the next day was
the battle of Williamsburg, in which, in the af
ternoon we took part. The next morning
we were deployed as skrmishers and were the
first to enter the works of the enemy From
this time we advanced slowly TO the Chicaho-
miay, which We crossed at Bottoms Bridge on
the 25th of May. In the battle of Seven Pines,
commonly called Fair Oaks, which was fought
on the 3lst of May and 1st June, we took an
active part. The second day the Regt charg-
ed through piece of woods and drove the en-
emy nearly mile. In this action we lost We
| ry heavily. At the battle of Fair Oaks, fought
on the 25th af June, we advanced on the left
as skirmishers, having been on picket then two
days and two nights. On this, the third night.
we relieved the first Mass, which had been on
| picket but one night. During the night we
were twice opened~apon by the rebel infantry,
and both times held our own. On the 10Th we
started on thai famous retreat from Richmond,
and were among the last to leave the 'front.'
The next day we were engaged ut Charles Ci-
ty Cross Roads. On the first of July we had
quite celebration at Malvern Hill, during
! which We were shelled almost incessantly.-
The second we reached Harrison's Landing,
and on the third were sheled by light field
battery. While at Harrisons Landing we were
not idle, for we drilled and built breast works,
which kept US pretty busy. Here we received
| Springfield rifles, with which the Regt. is now
armed. On the 18th of August, We started
| down the Peninsula, and on the goth reached
Yorktown, from which place we embarked for
| Alexandria. 1t was just five months from the
! day We disembarked at Fortress Monroe to the
day We embarked at Yorktown. Upon arriv-
ing at Alexandria, we were Immediately or
dered to report TO Gen. Pope, which we did at
Warrenton junction. On the 23d of Aug. we
started back, arriving at Manassas on the 18th,
our brigade being the first one there after the
rebels had completed their work of destruc-
| tion.
On the 10th and Both we again fought at Bull
Run, our Regt being on the same ground as
in the first engagement. The second day, when
the retreat had begun, Gen. Kearney tried to
rally the brigade to go to the front of battery
till the pieces could be got off. The Third was
the only Regt. which would rally and follow
him, which was done amid the cheers of the
men working the battery. The pieces belong
ed to one OF our Maine batteries. On the 1st
OF Sept we were again engaged at Chantilla
Here we expended our 80 rounds of ammuni-
tion and held the ground with empty guns till
relieved. In this action we lost great many
men. When going in we met a Regt. coming
in great disorder. But we occupied the ground
on which they stood and held it. On the Sd
of Sept, we reached the Potomac at fort Lyon,
where We remained, recruiting our strength
and getting whole clothes, till the 10th. For
two weeks we had scarcely had time TO wash
our faces, and upon arriving at fort Lyon they
were begrimmed by the smoke of two battles.
On the 18th of Sept the Regt. was ordered
TO Poolsville, at which place they now are
! In the late raid into Penn. and Maryland, they
took part in preventing the rebels recrossing
into Maryland. They were shelled two hours
,,..A