The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-02-28
THE BOTH MAINE.


Sergeant Il. n. Fairbanks, of the S0th Maine,
writing from Bangor, Maine on the 10th inst,
gives an interesting account of Walkers
charge on Benedict's brigade at Pleasant Hill !:
Tie account Of the Red River expedition bas IN
terested me much The writer, so far as am able
TO Judge gives very truthful, fair and accurate
history; by far the best have read.
was member of company E, 30th Maine VOL
unteers, Sd brigade. lst division, 10Th corps L
have some recoliections which / VIII submit 10 m
comrades concerning the battles of Sabine Cross
roads and Pleasant HILL La Referring 10 my diary
of the war; under date of the 9Th of April 1861 L
find that the Both Maine detailed to guard the
wagon train. The day rainy, and the regiment
obliged to march some five or six miles after
dark in the pine woods. and it was dark that we
could not keep together, unless were eontinu-
ally saying, this way. &c, thus following each
others voice We eamped as best we could in the
woods, and were not in the best of condition for
the work before the Sth of April. In the
morning we were some eight miles from Pleasant
Hill, and with our train pushed on to that place.
when we were relieved by the l52d New York VOL
unteers.
Marching fast, we came up with our brigade in
camp at Carroil's Mills at o'clock D. M. Just in
time TO receive the order TO go forward with the
brigade. Benedict's brigade was hurried forward
and we obeyed the order "double-quick," which
was given about one and half miles from where
we took up our line of battle. We went into the
fight on the right by file into line " as support.
and the left of the regiment suffered some; Major
Whitman and some twelve or fifteen men were
wounded.
The enemy were handle6 roughly and repulsed
in this battle of Sabine Crossroads, although not
sufficiently to give the Union success. Gen.
Banks had allowed his army to string out In line of
march in such manner that no large force could
be concentrated at short notice, unless he should
fall back an act which he seemed ready to en-
brace at the very first opportunity.
have always supposed our regiment the last to
go into action at Sabine Crossroads, and this gave
me excellent chance to observe the rout of the
cavalry and transfers. In my opinion the several
commands preserved their order better at Bull Run
than did General Albert l.. Lees division st the
fight; and saw something of the Bull Run disas-
ter. This remark is only applied to the cavalry
and teamsters. saw very few infantrymen, as we
passed on to the 'front.' falling back.
The firing ceased after dark, and we re-
manned in line of battle until 10 O'clock at which
time the chief of staff of General Banks came and
gave the order to fall back in the same order in
which we had come upon the field" well re-
member this as gave the officer drink of water
from my canteen, and heard his order when given
to Colonel Fessenden. Back we turned and were
marching the remainder of the night. At daylight
General Emory detailed company E, of cur regi-
ment, to keep back the cavalry, who were riding
past US, very much to the annoyance of Gen. Emory
who said to one, Don't you know that n cavalry
man should never pass an infantryman?" They
continued to press by Us, and finally Gen. Emory
drew his pistol and shot at who refused to
stop, or he attempted to run his horse around some
bushes. We reached Pleasant Hill on the morning
of the 9th of April ut about o'clock.
notice that the historian of this article referred