The Portland daily press., 1871-08-17
The I1th Maine Regiment

/ Inc Asu Nhaihe Hteklm1ent
The Surviving members of this Justly famou
regiment will celebrate its 9th anniversary to
morrow, Friday, the 18th, by an excursion t
the islands, embarking on board the steame
express from Custom House wharf, where th
arrangements previously made will be full.
carried out. Adj George A. Parker, of Lew
istoh' Will read the annual history. The othe
exercises at the islands II consist of break
last, Association business meeting, clam-bak
and short speeches. Gov. Perham, Adjt. Gen
Murray, Mayor Kingsbury aud other gentle
men are expected to be present. p, I5l..t
The following is a brief sketch of the splen
did record of the 18th Maine brilliant enough
in itself to give the Pine Tree State the envia
BILE place sue holds in the history of the wal
for national life: ...
Fredericksburg the first one-was the frs
action in which the 18th Maine participated
and there by finely executed maneuvre, I'M
der hot fire, it toiled AN attack of the enem,
and drew from the rebel Gen. Hill. under 8
| subsequent truce, written compliment TO oul
Gen. Berry upon the handsome manner in
winch his troops we're handled, an ack nowl
edgment almort without a parallel during the
war.
BY the steadiness and unfiinching vaor OF
this regiment at Gettysburg, in the famous
Wheat Field, after both its thanking regiments
had latt the line, it kept the enemy at bay I'M
I'll relieved by two fresh lines of battle ItWas
on thus point OF the line that the main attack
OF the enemy was made on the second day at
Gettysburg, and had they broken through the
line of the 18th Maiue at that crisis our IL f.
centre would have been pierced and Little
Round Top taken IL reverse. For nearly an
hour the safety of our whole army rested upon
the stout hearts OF this regiment. Its loss. of
course, was frightful. 4 ......l -
Again in the Wilderness in 1864 we find IT,
after having recruited its strength to 400 men
during the winter, ON one day engaging SINGLE
handed with rebel brigade, and in a square
stand-up fight driving the enemy from their
position, taking many of them prisoners; and
on the next morning, at break of day, in the
front line, moving down into the dense under
growth with fixed bayoneCs in that terrible
double charge of the Och of May, for the enc
my were on the point of charging our lines at
the same moment There this regiment hand
in hand with their brothers of the 4th Maine.
having completely broken through the enemy's
lines and doubled them back, took their stand
at the edge OF the woods on the plank road
against the foe pressing upon both TANKS, and
grmly waited, while their nambers were melt
ing away waited for the help which never
came, to press on and complete the work. In
their rear some hundreds of wards plenty of
troops were lying fiat ON their faces; in front,
not any further, although unknown to them
We're the headquarters of Lee himself The
opportunity was lOst instead of line of bat
tie to aid them, up rode, alone the glorious
white haired Gen. Wadswortb, full of FIRE. and
the only general officer on that part of the
held, waving his sword and cheering the hearts
OF the gallant Maine boys for victory. But,
alas! then and there, at the foremost poiDt
reached by our troops that day, the General
fell from his horse, shot dead. Not until every
round OF ammunition was used; not until all
prospect OF support was gone and the enemy
had collected and reformed their troops, did
these Maine boys reluctantly, coOlly and SLOWLY
move to the rear. One half their 400 were al
ready killed and wounded .l '
AT SpottSylvania, on the 18th of May in
hancock,s famous charge, the gallant remain
ger, numbering less than 200 rank and file, is
still in the front line and the very first to set
foot upon the rebel breastworks. and. 40 izing
the cannon of the enemy to turn their enns
upon them. Here one of its privates cant nred
a Major General (,Johnsoul and the frui is OF
Tue charge III every respect are well known. 4
Inc history of the regiment is full of lust
such good work, and the Survivors can proudly
look back and recall it all. May all assemble
on the 18th, and respond TO their names at roll
call at the hour OF 8, 40 a. w., on Custom House
wharf in Portland u,fH -
IT'S OFFICERS HEROIC ENGAGEMENTS.
The first officers of the 18th Maine were:-
Colonel-T. A. Roberts, Portland; Lieutenant
Colonel-C. B. Merrill, Portland; Maior-G.
w. West, Fort Kent Plantation; Adiutant-
Charles w. Roberts, Portland; Quartermaster
Jacob L. Waterhouse, Portland; Surgeon
II: .. X. Wiggin, Auburn: Asst. Surgeon
William Wescett, Standish; Chapain-Har-
vey Hersey, Portland. WI
The last officers were: Colonel-C. P. Mat
tocks Portland; Lieut.. Colonel-Wm.- Hob
son, Saco; Adiutant-George A. Parker, Lew
istoD; Quartermaster-Jos iah Remick, Port
land; Snrgeon-Nahu@ a. Hersom, Sanford.
Asst SurgeoDs-N. B. Coleman, Portland,
aud James u. Sturges, Standish; Chaplain
j. +. Lowering, Portland, aow of Concord, N.
H. -
Major West was made Colonel Oct. 2, 1853
and discharged April II. 1865; LIST Lieut., Q. P.
Mattocks, Portland, was promoted to Captain
Dec. IL, 1858. and Colonel May 9, 1865; LIST
Lieut.. p A. Boothby of Biddeford was pro-
NOTED TO Adjutant Jan 4 1864. and discharged |
Oct: 81, 1864; DR.. Pascal Ingalls, of Casco, was
Assistant Surgeon from September II, 1862, to
March 2, 1868; and DR.. L. E. Norris of Hamp- |
len, from April 10, 1868, to Oct. 1, 1868; Rev. |
,: Hayden. of Portland, was Chaplain from |
March 26, 1868, to Aug. 20. 1868.
The "reminiscences will be interesting to the |
I'D veterans who will assemble on the coming |
occasion, as also to their brothers in arms |
everywhere.
1t was mustered into service in this city Aug,
3, 1862, for three years, by Maj. j. W. T. |
TPfdner, y. .. A, and mustered out at Wash |
ngton June 4, 1866, at Bailey's Cross Roads,
" Capt. Charles h. Hayes, A. c. M, by or |
iers from the War Department. The reinlist- |
ID men were transferred to the 1st Regime MT |
Maine Heavy Artillery. The regiment left ior |
home June 4tb, the same day Of muster ont, |
ana arrived at this city on the 9th, and was |
paid Oft and discharged on the 10Th. Company
D., I'd United States Sbarpshootels 8, was trans.
erred to this REGIMENT Feb. LIST, 1865.
The following is the official list OF battles in
which this regiment bore a gallant part
fredericksburg, Charlottesville, Gettysburg,
Auburn, Nine Run, Wilderness, Pc River,
Spoltsylvania, North Anna, Toiopotomy, Coal
Harbor and Petersburg. With such noble
record and interesting associations the 18th
Maine can boast of prestige which is noble |
to themselves, glorious Inheritance
to their posterity apd an honor to the State |
and nation. ~ 81 ~ u EW 80 A~D |
ACCIDENT ON THE GRAND Trunk RAILROAD. /
MIR