The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-07-30


cipate in the second battle at which Gen,
Pope was defeated. At tCrampton's Gap, near
South Mountain, the 9th was support,
casualties, one wounded man only. In the
battle of Antietam, the regiment supported
Franklin's battery in part of the field where
the heaviest fighting for the day had been,
but were not attacked and made no attack.
A few men only were wounded by distant
firing.
They recrossed the Potomac Nov. !, , but
were not in action till Dec. II, when they
formed a part OF Franklin's attack on the left
below Fredericksburg, but were. not actually
engaged, and lost only few men wounded.
On the lst OF May, 1868, the 9th Maine
crossed the Rappahannock under Franklin, a
mile and half below Fredericksburg, and
were on picket duty below the river at the
crossing. On the I'd they skirmished with the
enemy's lines, having six or eight killed and
wounded. On the Sd took place the storming
of Murye's Heights.
The main body Of the rebel army had been
for several days occupied with Hooker's attack
at Charlottesville, too remote for any CON-
munieation with Franklin, and the fighting at
Murye's Heights began just as Hooker, over
come by an incomprehensible paralysis, fired
his last gun and began TO prepare his retreat.
ade, which consisted of the 3lst and 43d New
York, 6lst Pennsylvania, 9TH Wisconsin, and
9th, Maine, was ordered to carry the heights
above Fredericksburg, the same which Burn
side had Intellectually assailed in December,
and where French's, Hancock's, and Howard's
divisions, had been SO fearfully slaughtered.
The enemy trusted TO his batteries and the
natural strength of the place TO repel our at
tack, and were completely surprised by the
boldness and impetuosity of Burnham's ad-
vance,
The 9th Maine were placed in a single line
in the centre under command of Lieut.. Col.
Harris. On their left was the 3lst New York
supported By second line composed OF part
of the 9Th Wisconsin. The rest of this regi-
ment were flung out as skirmishers before the
whole line. On the right the 6lst Penn, and
43d N. Y, were ordered to advance in column.
Col. Spear, who led the column, being killed,
the two regiments on the right were thrown
into confusion, and their march delayed until
after the works were carried by the centre.
The 3lst n. Y, who had but two or three
days to serve, did not advance promptly, SO
that their support, the 9TH Wisconsin, charged
through them and arrived in the enemy's
works a moment after the 9th Maine had
planted their colors within them. Thus this
gallant regiment, though in single line, aud
unsupported on their right, dashed up the hill,
driving the sharpshooters from their first line
behind a low stone wall, and carrying the
earthworks above in spite of the fire which
swept the ground over which they charged
and the enfilsding fire of the unbroken lines
in front OF their right supports. The whole
light division captured seven pieces of artil-
lery and 500 men. The loss Of the 9th in this
battle was 10 killed and Ill wounded.
The friendship between the 9Th Wisconsin
aud the 9th Maine is worthy of special men,
ton. In Sept, 1861, they were placed in the
same brigade, and they left the front for Wash
ington, to be discharged, on the same day
During llihis time they camped and fought
together, and have been sworn friends OF each
other--each soldier standing up for the repu-
own. 1t was fitting that the stalwart lumber
men of the Northwest should iraternize with
their brave comrades OF the State which gave
so many OF them birth, and the noble blood
they have poured out on so many glorious
fields, to purchase the restoration of the au-
thority Of the Union.
On the evening of the 4th of May the retreat
across the river having been already in pro-
gress, the 9th was ordered to support two COM
panies of the 3lst New York on picket guard
above the Gen. Sedgwicks pontoon bridge,
supported by the 43d New. York. The rebels
came down in force, surprised the picket line
and made prisoners Of the whole-about 22j
men.
An Alabama brigade occupied all the roads
leading to the bridge, and commenced flank
attack upon the 9th Maine who faced to the
left, and, standing in the edge Of the wood,
awaited the attack. The enemy's volleys
passed over the heads OF onr men, who open
ed brisk and deadly fire upon the rebel brig
ade, which broke and retreated with heavy loss
Col. Harris then withdrew his men quietly
down the wooded bluff of the river, and
marching down the bank under the cliff, gain
ed the bridge and got safely over. Gen. Sedg-
wick was surprised at the safe return of the
regiment, supposing that not man of them
could escape slaughter or capture. The en-
tire loss in this affair was 35 prisoners, part Of
them wounded.
In advancing through Maryland to attack
Lee in Pennsylvania, the sirth took the road
nearest Baltimore, making the distance from
Fairfax to Gettysburg 120 miles in six days
At Gettysburg they were In the extreme left
held in reserve, and did not fire gun or lose
the 18th of July, they attacked the enemy
taking forty prisoners, and killing and wound
ing many of the enemy without the loss of a
man.
They were not engaged again till the 18th
Of November, at Rappahannock Station. Al
this place the rebels had a pontoon bridge
across the river, defended on the north side
by two redoubts upon the bluff, with rife-pi.:
connecting them and stretching across a bow
of the river from bank to bank. These work;
were held by about $500 men and four pieces
of artillery. Gen. Russell had orders TO at
tack these works, and formed his line about
/ three O'Clock in the afternoon. The 9th Ne.
/ then numbering, officers and men, $40, were
thrown forward as skirmishers, Col. Harris il
command.
About dark they were ordered to attach
the works, and advanced in skirmish line
supported on their left by about forty O
the goth Maine, and actually captured the en-
emy's line of battle and two of their guns
and cut Off the retreat by the bridge, losiu,
in the advance l40 men-40 killed and 10,
wounded. Col. Harris fell, heavily wounded
Five minutes after the 9th Maine boys 60
possession of the works, they We're joined b
4 their old comrades of the 9Th Wisconsin h