The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-02-09
A Maine Boy at Arkansas Post.

w hciSfCf tHcic HkubiuS, SOOhCi VI iatT
we hear of some son of Maine in the midst of
it. The class of 80 in Waterville College, will
remember the name of WILLIAM HENRY
BALDWIN, of New Sharon. Mr.. Baldwin is,
or was until recently, a Cincinnati lawyer in
successful practice. Returning from tempo
rary absence in Europe last summer, he ac-
cepted a lieutenant colonel's commission in the
SD Ohio volunteer infantry. This regiment
went into action for the first time on the 18th
January, at Arkansas Post. Many Of the
men were sick. The Colonel was unable to
lead his regiment. Lieut.. Col. Baldwin left
sick bed on board the transport to take COM
mand The regiment landed on the north
bank of the Arkansas river, and occupied the
extreme left OF the Union line. The following
extracts are taken from Col Baldwin's report:
Soon after sunrise we fell in rear Of Blount's
battery tSeventeenih Ohio), and advanced
within two hundred yards OF the edge of the
woods, and formed ON the leif of the 18th In-
diana, facing the euemy's works. threw out
a company Of skrnishers to the edge OF the
wood, who Immediately opened fire ON the en-
emy's skirmishers and kept II up more OF less
briskly until they were Withdrawn, drawing
enemys batteries.
About noon a written order was brought
me, that We should advance when the Six
teenth Indiana advanced, adapting our move
ments TO theirs. An hour or two afterward
Captain keigwin, aid TO Gen. Burbridge, or
dered me TO move the regiment to the LEFT OF
the siege gun, some two hundred yards to the
rear Of our position. Immediately marched
the regiment TO the rear In line of battle, to-
M ri Inn ra1 n
Whillden. another aid OF Gen. Burbridge, or
dered me to resume my former position imme-
dlateIy, which | did. Soon after, Captain
keigwin renewed the former order to move
back, In order To uncover the siege battery, rs
II was about 10 open upon the enemy's works,
and TO draw In my skirnishers. Immediate
ly complied with the order. In few minutes
amer the regiment had taken the new position,
was ordered to move II to the old position
ON the ieft OF the Sixteenth In1iana, aud when
that regiment advanced to advance with it.
commenced to advance at once, at the same
time sending sergeant with orders to the
commanders of the skirmishers TO advance to
their former position. Before the captain re-
ceived the order, the regiment met and passed
the skirmishers, who afterward came up and
took their place In line.
The regiment had just resumed the old po-
sition, when the 10th Indiana commenced to
ouv&fftcs anu III Couptl1uct Win my OTQtf3
we advanced with them. In passing out of
the woods and climbing fence at its edge,
our line Of battle was somewhat deranged. The
regiment on our right did not stop to dress
their line, but advanced upon a run, shouting.
My regiment did the same, advancing with it.
We were Immediately assaulted, both by the en-
emy's infantry and artillery, but continued to
advance until about three hundred yards from
the woods, when we halted. availing ourselves
nGx hat. L.
ground afforded, and poured in our fire with
good effect upon the enemy, who were partial
ly protected by piles Of brush, clumps OF trees
and stumps We had occupied this position
but short time when heavy fire of musket-
ry was poured in upon our right flank. MY
attention was then called to the fact that the
troops on our right had fallen back. looked
and saw them near the woods, retreating We
were upon the extreme left, and no other Fed
eral troops were in sight.
Immediately ordered the regiment to fall
back to our old position, where the other
troops were forming, and reformed upon that
line. We were then ordered to advance upon
the enemy, which we Immediately did, not
hating until we had reached position in adj
vance Of that We had reached before, and new
er yielding step, but advancing little by lit
tie till the enemy surrendered, when We were
within point blank range Of the tort
'hct .uaOi ~ nVuluicuicu ptONO<tu- dDOut
the middle Of the action, TO take the coors TO
the front, Corporal Fisher, acting as color SER
geant, claimed the right to take the colors
wherever they ought to 60. The Major then
led the color guard to the front, and the regi-
ment advanced and formed upon them. Cor
poral Fisher was wounded in the hand, but
continued to carry the flag until he planted IL,
riddled with bullets, upon the Fort. Total
casualties 50, out Of 420 men in action; killed
8; wounded 50; missing l.
Many of my men had exhausted their sup
ply of ammunition-60 rounds each-long be-
fore the close OF the action, and supplied them
selves, as far as possible, from the cartridge
boxes of their killed and wounded comrades,
and those whose guns had been rendered I'M
serviceable. At the time OF the surrender
there were but few cartridges remaining in the
regiment. w. ii. BALDWIN,
Lieutenant Colonel commanding.
Col. Baldwin omits, what is mentioned in
his Generals official report, that his regiment,
never before under fire, was the first TO plant
the Union flag within the enemy's works.
Their gallantry was attested by their loss-SS
killed and wounded out Of 42O. No other reg
iment lost so many. The fact that only one
man was missing, is evidence of a state of dis
cipline not often found among raw troops.
New England has no occasion to boast Of such
men this. The plainest recital of their
deeds is eulogy enough.