Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-12-05

battery.
Among the several batteries sent into the
war from Maine none was more efficient, or
saw harder service than the Fifth Maine Bat
terry. Going to the front in the spring of
1862, it continued there till mustered out at the
close of the war in 1865. The battery was
made up with special care as to the character
of the men received into it and as to the ca
pacity Of the officers appointed to command
them. Geo. Francis Leppien, the man chosen
for captain, was thoroughly educated artil-
lery officer, having been trained at one of the
best military schools in Europe. His reputa-
ton was very great and the battery under his
command was said to be surpassed by none
in the United States service, either volunteer
or regular
In the forenoon of yesterday members of
the battery began to gather at Grand Army
Hall. 1t was a pleasant sight to see the
greetings of old comrades, some of them not
having met for fourteen years. After the
first rapturcs of pleasure at meeting once
again, and after each had inquired of the 9TH
err as to his prospects in life, they were en-
gagged in recounting the stirring scenes of the
war in which they had participated. There
were twcnty-three members present, out Of
the 22s enrolled. Letters were received from
fifty absent comrades, signitying their desire
to participate in the meeting. At ~ o'clock
dinner was served in the rooms adjoining the
hall. Justice Aspinwall was detailed stew
ard, and catered according to camp rules.
The hour was pleasantly and profitably spent,
making it an enjoyable occasion.
At the business meeting held m the after
81, c,ll ,lE ala ntaIf Co.
the ensuing year:
Presdent-Charles o. Hunt.
Vice resident-John +. Chase.
Sec'y and Treas-Thos. Is. Mennealy.
At eight o'clock in the evening the mem
bers of the battery and many invited guests
sat down to a sumptuous banquet which was
generously donated by the ladies and gentle
men of the city. Thos. b. Mennealy called
the company to order and invited comrade
Justice Aspinwall to offer prayer. The vi
ands were then disposed of, amid the liveliest
sallies Of wit and humor, and most happy
spirit marked the whole evenings enjoyment.
At the close of supper Major Stevens of
West Waterville addressed his comrades.
He referred to the hard fought battles at
Gettysburg, and commended again the gal
antry of those who stood by him in those
trying hours. He recalled many pleasant
events in camp life, and said it was crafty
ing to know that the services of his battery
had not been forgotten by the government.
The name of "Culp Hill'' had been changed
to "Stevens Hill'' in honor of himself and
his battery. He referred to the maps pre-
scented to the G. A. X. Of this city. Copies
of the same had been sent to him, as a token
of special regard to the members of the bat
terry gathered at that time.
The next reunion will be held at Lewiston.
Resolutions were past thanking the ladies
for their generous Donation in food services,
&C. Also to the Kennebec and Lewiston
Journals and Maine Farmer for friendly no.
tees, and the Grand Army of the Republic
for the use of their rooms.
sketch OF the Services of the Battery. A
Brilliant Record.
The Battery was organized at Augusta,
Dec. 4, 1861. Its officers were, Capt, Geo.
+. Leppien, Of Pennyslvania; Senior lst
Lieut., W. +. Twitchell, Portland; Junior
1st Lieut., G. T. Stevens Belgrade; Senior
md Lieut., A. b. Twichell, Bethel; Junior
End Lieut., Ezra Clark, Portland. The COM
pany laid encamped in the rear of the State
House till March 10, 1862, when they were
transferred to Fort Preble, and then to
Washington, where they spread their tents on
Capitol Hill. Having received their horses
and equipments, in May, they were taken by
transports down the Potomac and landed on
the Virginia shore, and Immediately set out
to join McDowell's army at Fredericksburg.
The first engagement the battery participated
in was at Cedar Mountain in August. Then
the Union army began to fail back on Wash
ington as a portion Of Lees army under Stone
wall Jackson was pressing them, and there
were several engagements between the two
armies. On the 18th of August, the battery
with other companies. was ordered to Thor
oughfare Gap to oppose the rebel general,
Longstreet, who was coming through to aid
Lee at Bull Run, and all that night their
division held Longstreet in check in order to
prevent him from joining forces with Lee in
giving battle, and also to give the Union
forces an opportunity to come up to the aid
of Popes army.
On the Both, the battery was at Manassas
Junction, and on the 3lst took part in the sec
ond Bull Run battle. In this engagement
the battery, which now numbered about one
hundred men, was supported by q New York
and Pennsylvania regiment, but these reg
iments having retreated they were left in \
hazardous situation, and only came out of it
with ranks greatly thinned by DEATH having
lost thrty-eight men, among them their first
Lieut., the same number of horses and four
field pieces. The company was now so re-
duced in men and horses that it was necessa-
ry to return to Washington to be recruited
and newly equipped, but when Gen. McClel-
Ian began his march to Virginia, the Fifth
Battery was in his army. They did some
heavy fighting at Fredericksburg, took part
in Burnside's famous mud march, and in the
Spring of 1868 were engaged at Chancellors-
vile, where their gallant captain had his leg
shot off and soon after died from his injuries at
Washington, while Lieut.. Twitchell was Sc
verely wounded, and some forty others were
slain, and forty-fve horses killed. so that it
was necessary to obtain the aid Of the infant
ry in getting their cannon from the field.
They were in the fight at Gettysburg, and
were Of that army of eleven thousand men
who on the first day held in check Hills
whole rebel corps. The company was in ev-
cry days battle at Gettysburg, and was the
only battery in the Union army but what was
relieved in the fight. They participated in
all the movements of the army during the
summer of 1863 in the fall engaged at Mine
Run, and in the winter lay at Culpepper. In
the spring Of 1864, the battery, with its forces
recruited was in the service again, joining
Grant and participating in every battle from
the time he crossed the Rappahanock till
July II, of that year. Was in the battle Of
the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Ann,