The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-03-26
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.


The CAMPAIGNS OF THE SEVENTEENTH MAINE
By Edwin B. Houghton, Member of the Regi-
mel ment. ono Vol. limo. PIP. sS4 Portland; Short
1t is not often that we have the pleasure of well
coming book of SO purely indigenous growth as the
one before us, Written, printed, and published in
Portland, having for its theme the heroic achieve
ments Of the glorious Regiment of which Portland
and vicinity justly proud, it is emphatically
ahome prodct and it therefore with especial sat
iscton that we note its many points Of excellence
The record OF facts from which it has been prepared
is comprised largely in private diary kept by the
author during his entire term Of service with the
regiment; and the events he records will be found
narrated with viyidness which only eyewitness
could give to them The description of the bloody
fights around Chancelorsvle, which resulted to the
Union forces in the loss Of the gallant Berry, to The
rebels in that Of Stonewan jackson, is especially
graphic. We quote single passages: Ca" h7i' =
Wecontinued to advance, driving the enemy stead
h Deere , u.s. anu yust before sunaown had pushed
most favorable appearances, wnen suddenly and I'M
cordingiy ,eil back to the field from which we had
started in the morning; and what was our surprise
on the plank road where we had passed the previous
night and which we supposed was held by troops.
Here we learned that during brilliant successes,
the Eleventh Corps, composed principally of Dutch
man, had ingloriousy and disgraceIuly broken, and
thai our whole corps was now cut of from coInmu-
nioation with the remainder of the army. --a.'F
The sunset was piling Its temples of fire. of blood
and amethyst over the forests and hills, that seemed
to touch the flaming west and the shades OF evening
began to envelope our little ban the truth became
fully apparent to the rank and file, OF te desperate
nature Of our situation. Stout hearts SANK, and
whisper OF misgiyng OF doubt was heard. Star
omcers dashed furlous'y back and forth, and COM
road must be- regained before daycbt'. Inc plank
At about nine o'clock, P. NJ, the lines Of attack
were formed in the following order: Wards Brigade,
constituting the first line, with its left resting on the
marrow road, through which we advanced on
the morning and in which was posted the Fortieth
the Seventeenth Maine, in column by cnmna INV
filling the road from side to side and constituting
tUensy tines; the REMAINDER of Hayman's Brigade in
srs WI 'ne second line and supporting Gen
The moon was full and the sky was cloudles.. AT
and in that bright moonlight this foriorn hone. every
man conscious OF the desperate nature of the Under
taxng determined to reach the plank road die in
Tue atoenpt moved cautiously and steadily forward
through the thick Forests mounted officers dsmount-
60 and accompanied their men on foot. The brigade
commander and his staff after the dispositions were
all made, dism0unted and sent their horses to tile
rear. A hurried farewell" was said and the groups
separated each to the position assigned him with the
troops. With bayonets fixed, the line Steadily adj.
vanced short distance when suddenly a confinu-
Gus sheat Of flame from the muzzles of the enemy's
guns indicated the positions of their lines, which
had hitherto been unknown; and perfect shower Of
bullets whistled around us and through the forest
a
YELL through The dense gloom of the forest our lines
advanced, and comrades touched the elbow Fron,
aon , a., ana rignt and left the artillery opened
and the nash OF the heavy gums the trail Of the dead
~ shot and SHE'LL as seen through the oyerhs ncina
branches added to the fearful sheet of fame from tie
infantry In compact masses, was indeed magnifi-
cent but terrible sight Almost to the enemys lines
we found that they had taken advantage of the
breastworks we had erected and had in addition con-
sructed almost mpenetrabIe abattis in their 'front.'
In the road In which the Frtieth and Seventeenth
were advancing and where the trees afforded mo pro-
maj fhQ frAr III,
pie 10 add to the horror OF the position many Of the
soldiers in the left companies excited by the shower
oaded and tne wnsting Of the bullets around them
~ cue asrect9a OF the enemy, but really doing more
N the ranks of the companies in front The
fierce and murderous yoIlevs in thai; ;nm,sdat
mont and the fire Of friends In their rear .vaversT
~ psessng back in disorganizcd masses un-
~ o1. PSay a.ter company unable to stand firm was
pressed back In disorder. 1t was not until eighteen
~ ess hroa g twenty IN column had become more
two companies Seventeenth sooS rn a5 , t
broken columns were reformed. - " anu WIG
For their courage and steadness on This occ.s;on,
the Companies Of Captains Sawyer and Mattocks
were especially compimented by General ward
Our author gives an amusing account OF the sub-
terfuges to which in intervals of naction the bome
sick soldiers resorted to obtain leave of oh.a,,o
One officer received telegram urging him - ~,
wished to see his wife alive to come home At Cue no
The dispatch was annexed to application ~"
leave OF absence, ana IN less IMAM how.
the officer was ON his way rejoicing, and his wife mat
him In New York. OF course he wished to see bor
nIve! General Meade was particularly indulcent IN
such as wished to visit the North for the purpose of
funllng matrimonial engagements and the mania for
getting married Increased at fearful rate. Not |
lew married men succeeded in procuring leaves of
absence upon this very plea. o. - -'IzT0l =
r, one ingenious old bachelor cut from the New York
portion Of the police court reports noticing
sne sentence to Biackwells Island of woman bear
M ms own name and Of conrse, presumed to be his
49, ms was anxeu 10 an application, and leave
s,r b 70 allow him to go home and provide
ihiS ntee book cannot fail to have great value
is, 70 esefs member of the Regiment, and second
W III shia, and their name is legion, who have at
some time bad friends connected with IL. In addi
ton to this IT has the more general and permanent
value OF being truthful record SO far as it oes Of
scenes and Incidents connected with the war and ora
oil the sources from which the future historian will
be able to draw material for a comprehensive and
adequate history of the great rebellion In the A.
be found complete lists OF all officers and
men who at any time belonged to the Regiment as
also OF the different commissions issued to the ocer
throughout the entire period OF its existence. .i
We must noto omit to call attention to the admira
Ole nee, s1icai execution Of this book 1t is hand
somely Inred, ON clear white paper and vary neot
~ aiu asteIuuy D. und, the whole finish Of the vol
ume rejecting much credit upon the enterprisrp
ts Tor sale by Short and Loring. -af
SS-The Arg1s announces that Ersyy Satur