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

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cts were compelled to chose between flight
and surrender.
Soon after this battle the army went into
winter quarters at Brandy Station, where they
remained until the memorable campaign un-
der Gen. Grant opened ON the 4th of May Of
the present year. On the 9th of May the
Maine 9th still apart of the 9th Corps was en-
gagged at the Wilderness and lost or 6 men,
but were not in that part Of the Union lines
that suffered heavy attack. On the Sth at
Spotisylvania, being in the front lines
they lost a few more men by the enemys sharp
shooters. On the 10Th they were in the attack
of the rebel works on the right, which they
carried, but Gen. Johnston's division coming
up with a superior force they were compelled
to fall back aud did so losing heavily. The
loss to the Regiment was 125 men, but as the
rebels held the ground it is not known how
many were killed wounded or captured. Maj
or Fuller who had been in command Of the
Regiment since Col. Harris received his wound
at Rappahannock Station was severely wound
ed in this battle, and Capt. Theodore Lincoln
Jr. the senior Captain assumed the command
and has since held it,
On the 18th OF May the regiment mustered
only 70 men for duty and being employed as a
support of Hancock were under fire hours
losing officers and meu killed and IL
wounded. Daily skirmishes ensued but no
casualties were experienced until the arrival
OF the army at Coal Harbor, where for twelve
days the remnant ofthe Regiment was employ
ed digging rifle pits and skirmishng in close
proximity to the enemies defences, losing in
all about Is men.
On the 14th of June they went up the James
river by steamboat reached Gen. Buffers
quarters the 18th and Petersburg the 20th.
They remained in front OF Petersburg till the
I 10th of July and were sent to Washington to
be discharged, where they arrived on the 18th
and volunteering to remain 30 days for the
defence OF Washington, were marched into
Fort Stevens. As the attack of the raiders
however had been repelled, they, were relieved
on the 18th, and ON the 18th sailed from Balti-
more in the Steamer Weybasset, arrived at
Boston the 2lst and in this city on the p.
There have returned to Maine, officers and
men, 107. There were left in hospital. 5S
men, whose time expired the 10Th inst. There
remain In the service more recent recruits,
whose time has not expired, about 23s men,
who are classified as the 9th Maine Battalion.
The first loss of officers was at the storm
ing of Murye's Heights. There fell the gal
liant and lamented Major Joel A. Haycock, of
Calais, also Captains Sewall c. Gray of Exc
fer, John II. Ballinger, of Machias, Ralph
w. Young, of Rockland and Thomas P.
Roach, of Eastport. These were all estimable
and noble men, whom the country, their
townsmen and their comrades will remember
with grateful respect and admiration. Capt
aims Benz. l. Buck, of Bucksport, George
w. Burnham, of CherryHeld and Lieut.. Nc
Kinley, of the same place were wounded in
this battle.
At the capture of Rappahanock Station,
Capt. Reuel w. Furlong, of Calais. Lieut.s
Henry A. Waite, of Calais, Lyman f. Wiki
ins, of Brownsville and james B. Mckinley,
wounded at Fredericksburg, were killed.
These losses have deem bitterly deplored among
wide circles of bereaved friends, where these
brave and excellent men have been known
and esteemed Col. Benz. f. Harris, of Ma
chias, Adj. Chas. A. Clark, of Sangerville,
Captains. Joseph G. Roberts, of Corinth, Chas.
S. Wetherell, of Searsport, George w. Burn-
ham, of Cherryfeld, and Lieutenants Solo,
mon Morton and Percival G.. Knowles, of
Bangor, l.. w. Smith, OF Steuben, Edward
Williams, of Calais, Elliot Chamberlain, Of
Oldtown, Horace Jacobs, OF Cherryneld and
John c. Hoyey, of Ellsworth were wounded
In the battle of May 10th, Lieut.. Isaac c.
Campbell Of Pembroke was killed, and Maj.
Geo. w. Fuller, of Corinth, Capts. Charles T.
Wetherell, Fred. b. Ginn, OF Bucksport, Fred
A. Hill, OF Machias. and Leuis. j. l.. Peirce,
of Machias, Dawes, Of Bucksport. Geo. Blan-
chard, of Calais, were wounded.
I On the 18th were killed. Lieuts. James n.
Norris, of Oldtown, L. w. Smith, of Steuben,
1 and on the ith June, Capt. Williams of Calais
and Lieut.. William II. Coan were wounded.
I The officers who have returned are Capts.
Theodore Lincoln, jr., of Dennysylle, in COM
mand, j. G. Roberts, of Corinth, l.. w. Smith,
of Oldtown, Fred. A. Hill ofM-chias, Fred. b.
/ Ginn, of Bucksport, l.. L. L. Bassford, of Cal
I ais, and Leuts. j. l.. Pierce, of Machas, Solo.
w. Weston, of Bangor and John c. Honey,
/ of Ellsworth.
/ In the name of the nation whose flag they
have defended, and of the State whose name
they have made illustrious by their heroism,
we welcome to the rest, and affection of homes
that will receive them with tears and prayers
of gratitude and joy these reterdas, not vete-
rams in years, but in that they are the surviv-
! ors of three years war such as God grant
may never again afflict our country. They
have been in ten general engagements and in
innumerabe skirmishes They have led the
attack in three battles, where they left on the
field not less than half of their numbers engag-
ed. But they have never finched from dan
ger nor turned their backs to the enemy. Their
very good name has been fatal TO them, since
in not a few instances, they have been selected
for dangerous service, because the Generals in
command have known, that here was regi-
ment that, if ordered, would march with a
cheer "into the jaws of hell" with a devotion
equal TO that OF the famed Light Brigade at
the Crimea.
1t must not be thought that OF the 1900 men
that have been since its organization attached
to this regiment, the waste of life alone ac-
count or their now thinned ranks. Not more
than $50 men in all have fallen in battle or died
of wounds. About as many more have died OF
diseases, and full 1000 men are now alive includ-
ing those still in the field recently recruited
Nothing but restored Union, and peace on
I &ha hastc If for oil
the precious young lives that have perished
along the bloody march of this regiment. We
wait with hope and confidence that such sac
riflce offered by bleeding hearts may be accept
ed The noble survivors we will cherish with
honor and gratitude because they have peril
lnd THAR lives in cnntnsf 81 vital To 1is and te