Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-09-06
Third Annual Reunion of the Survivors
of the Nineteenth Maine Regiment.

1
| The Nineteenth Maine formed in August
1862, at Bath, in response to the Presidents first
call for "three hundred thousand more" lis ten
| companies, all filed to the maximum, were raised
chiefly in Waldo, Somerset, Kennebec and Saga
dahoc counties. Among its earliest captains were
| Col W. ii. Fogler of Belfast, Col. J. W. Spaud-
| ing of Richmond, Gen. l. w. Staibrd of Port
| land, Col. j. w. Welch of Augusta Hon. Nehemiah
| Smart of Searsmont, DR.. Parsons OF West Water
| vile, and W. l.. Whitmore of Bowdonham. The
ranks were composed of intelligent farmers, me-
| chancs, and business men. Its first Colonel was
| +. ID. Sewall of Bath, under whom it went to the
front and entered into active service. 1t reached
| Washing on while the second battle of Bull Run
was in progress. The roar Of that battle, which
| was distinctly heard in. Washington, was the first
hostile conflict that ever sounded in the of the
| regiment. The regiment participated in every
succeeding battle of the Potomac army, until the
| surrender, except Antietam. 1t bore an honorable
and distinguished part in the battle at High Bridge
| by saving the bridge, in the face of the enemy
after it had been set on fire by the rebels, enabling
one wing Of the army to cross the river in mediate
| ly in the pursuit Of Lee, and thus probably has
| tened the surrender
| Upon joining the Army of the Potomac, the
| regiment was assigned to the First Brigade Of the
| Second Division of the Second Army Corps. This
| assignment was held until the close of the war.
The regiment during its term of service under
| every army commander from Mcclellan TO Meade.
Among the more immediate superior officers under
/ whom it served, were Generals Sumner, Couch,
| Howard, Hancock and Webb,-names famous in
the history of the war.
| After the battle of Fredericksburg,-w the
| regiment received its first baptism OF fre-Col.
Sewal resigned, and was succeeded by F. L.
| Heath of Wateryie, the next in rank. Col.
Heath's health became impaired and in the fall of
| 1868, he resigned. Selden Connor, of the 9TH
Maine was commissioned to fill his place; after
Connors severe and almost fatal wound in the
Wilderness rendered him incapable of further
service, |. W. Starbird was made Colonel and
| filled that position until the war ended. He was
breveted Brigadier General, for gallant services.
| after that time Lieut. Col J. w. Spauldipg COM
manded the regiment, accompanying it home to
Maine to be mustered out in May 1865.
| The Nineteenth was emphatically "fghting
regiment" From its first entry into Virginia with
fun ranks, until its return home with comparative.
| " few men, it was at the 'front.' and as often as
| there was hack" at the enemy in the form of
skirmish, raid or battle, the Nineteenth was al
most sure to have part in it. 1t suffered greatly
at Gettysburg, and lost men in every battle of
| note. The names of sixteen battles are borne on
| lis flag, by order of the General commanding the
| army as, follows:
| Fredericksburg, Tolopotomy,
1 Chancelloryille, North Anna,
| Gettysburg, Coal IIarbor,
Bristow Station, Petersburg,
Mine Run, Deep Bottom,
| The Wilderness, Reams Station,
| Spotsylvania, Boydton Road,
| River Pc, Strawberry Plains
| The above named battles comprised not less
than fifty bloody engageme MS, in which the reg-
ment suffered in killed and wounded. In brief it
was considered one of the most reliable regiments
in the Second Corps; it. was in every fight 10
which that corps participated. Perhaps it will be
remembered, land is evidence of the work done by