The Portland daily press., 1885-06-22

Undl portion OF IHe CITY. III August, looz, tle
Reserve Brigade was formed under Brig Gen
Godfrey weitzel, who had been on Gen. Buffers
stan as a Lieut. OF engineers of the regular army
and had just received this well-deserved appoint.
ment in the volunteer service. Why this was
called the sReserve Brigade" is not now remem-
bered, forit was at once ordered to the 'front.' and
was from that time constantly engaged in active
In Louisiana, the 1st Maine participated in the
following engagements and operations: Affair at
Red Church, Sept 81 1862 So Battle at Geogias
IA, SO; Battle of Bisland April H. 10, 80;
Seige Of Port Hudson, May 81 to July 8,
SO; Battle Coxs Plantation, July ID, '63, besides
innumerable smaller affairs. These battles have
not the hlgh-soQndlng names OF Gettysburg and
Anteitam; but they were quite as hazardous and
fully tested the discipline, courage and endur-
ance of the troops engaged,
In the year 1868, many changes had befallen in
been made Captain and Adjt. Gen. of Weitzels
Brigade and was killed at Port Hudson; Captain
Thompson had resigned by reason Of ~ health and
had gone into the La. Cavalry Harding did not
have Boston with the command, Z. d. Haley, of
Gardiner, John E. Morton, Woodstock, John w.
SanboTn of Washington and John s. Snow, of Halo
WELL Sergeants had been appointed Lieutenants.
in the shoulder, while making recogniZance of
cavalry and was laid off active duty some so days
The Battery was at this time under Major General
William b. Franklin commanding the 9th Army
Corps, one of the ablest officers Of our army.
In 1864 the term of service OF a large proper
ton OF the three years men III the army being
soon TO expire, general orders were received from
Washington, granting thirty days furlough to all
men who should re-enlist, and leave of absence to
the officers to recruit their commands. Under this
order Capt Bradbury re-enlisted erery man Of his
company that had been spared by disease and
casualties in action, and in FEBRUARY, '64 they re-
turned to Maine, the men scattering to their homes
and the officers making recruiting headquarters at
Augusta The thirty days furlough having ex-
pred the company, now well filled by new re-
was ordered to report to Burnside, then at Anna
polls organizing his Petersburg expedition; but Of
conrse, horses and guns had been left behind at
New Orleans and they were ordered to Camn
Barry, Washington to be fitted for the field
Al this time, the heavy Artillery Regiments,
which had been since 62 stationed In the forti-
fcatiOns about Washington were ordered to the
front, and fifteen Batteries-the First Maine
among aS them-were ordered to occupy the defences
fantryl who had volunteered for this special ser
vice The First was at once ordered to Ft. Lincoln
Oh the BladensblIrg road and subsequently Capt.
bradbury was placed in command of Forts G. +.
Smith and Strong on the South side of the Poto-
mac On July 4th, 1854, information was reeeiv-
ed of the advance of Gen. Early upon Washington
and the LIST Maine. through the favor of Gen.
Howe, Chief of Artillery, at Washington was re-
mounted and took the field, where they were first
engaged in and about Fort Stevens July 10-11
TheA9th Army Corps to which the Battery had
been attached in the department of the Gulf now
arrived in preparation for Sherdan's Shenandoah
Valley campaign, and upon request of Nal. Gen.
Wm. H. Emory, commanding. the Battery was or
dered to report to him and remained with that
corps until Che close of the war
1t participated with distinction in the battles of
Charlestown. Halltown, Winchester, Cedar Creek,
Fisher Hill, Newmarket, Edenburg and numerous
skirmishes, receiving special mention from Gents
Grover and Emory
There were seven Batteries from Maine, and by
special orders from the War Department they
were organized into a battalion, Capt. Bradbury
being promoted to Major in August, 1864, but not
mustered as such until September when he became
Chief OF Artillery, 10th Army Corps. Lieuten-
ant Morton most gallant of1icer having been
killed at Cedar Creek the two vacancies were I'LL
Imam nf 5f@ Grx :.
Mooney to be Lieutenants. Lieut. Sanborn was
wounded at Winchester and Lieut.. afterwards
Mooney afterward Lieut.. They We're brave cal aid
elncient officers. The casualties of the Battery
were EN- officer an and ls enlisted men killed.
The Battery was mustered out of the service
July 10, 1865.
Second Battery,
was organized at Augusta, Nov 3oth, 1861, and
remained there until March 10th, 1862, when it
left for Portland, and stationed at Fort Preble
until April LIST, when it left for Washington. On
the 9Th of June it took part in the action at Cross
keyes, Va, and in the skirmishes at Strasburg
June LIST, at Woodstock, June I'd Mt Jackson
June 4th, Newmarket, June 5th Harrisonburg
also engaged in the action at Bull Run on the
Both. On the 10th of December the battery went
manned until May Sd, 1863, when it was engaged
in the battle of Charlottesville. This battery
also took prominent part in the battle Of Gettys-
burg. During the months of February and March,
1864, and until the 26th of April the battery was
at Camp Barry, at Washington it was then as
signed to the 9th Army Corps and proceeded with
the Army OF the Potomac on the advance toward
Richmond. On the 18th of October, after num-
Der OF engagements with the enemy the battery
it remained until May Sd, 1865, when 1t was or
dered to Alexandria On the 31st it left for
1es 4 arriving at augusta June 9th On the
service and the men were paid and finally dis
charged.
Third Battery
was organized at Augusta December 18th, 1861
On the LIST of April it left for Washington They
were detached on the 14th to act as Pontooniers
under Gen. Mcdowell, in which capacity they
served until Nov. 18th, when they returned to Fort
Lincoln, where they engaged in building battery
MAINE" In March, 1868, the Third Battery was
transferred to the First Regiment Heavy Artillery,
Me- Vols, and assigned as Co. M. On the 9th of
January, 1864, II men, threefourths OF the whole
number of men then belonging to the battery, re-
enlisted for three years, and arrived at Augusta,
Me-, January 21st when the men were granted
furlough OF 80 days, rendeZyoused at Augusta on
tne "a OF February, preparatory to reofning the
First Heavy Artillery. At this date orders were
received from the War Department. detaching the
organization from the latter regiment. and re-
organizing it as the Third Battery of Mounted
Artillery, with orders to report at Camp Barry.
washington, where they arrived on the 28th Of
February On the 9th Of July it proceeded to City
the Ninth Army Corps, then in position In front of
Petersburg. before the rebel works in front of
Cemetery Hill, which position it occupied until the
10th of August, being more or less engaged daily
with the enemy's batteries. 1t bore an honorable
part In the general engagement of July 3Oth-the
nine explosion. On the Both was transferred to
the Reserve Artillery Corps, Army Of the Potomac,
and on the 25th Of October, moved to the defences
o. 0y bbo t t having been In position in the
burg from the 9th OF July till the 25th of October
with but three days exceptions 1t remained on
duty until May Sd, 1865, when it left for Wash
ington on its way to Maine, arriving at Augusta
on the 9th, and on the 18th was mustered ont Of
service, and on the 22d finally discharged
Fourth Battery
was organized December 21st, 1861 and arrived
at Washington on the Sd Of the April, and was
stationed at Fort Ramsey, near Alexandria On
the 29th Of June 1t proceeded to Harpers Ferry,
Va, and marched up the Valley Of the Shenan-
doah with Gen. Segel's command. On the 9th of
August it took part in the battle of Cedar Noun
tain. On the 18th the battery returned to Cul-
pepper. On the 18th they had a brisk engagement
with one Of the enemy's batteries at Sulphur
Springs. On the 18th Of September they partci-
battery took position on Maryland Heights. On
the AID OF July it was engaged In the fight at
Mapping Heights, and on the 18th Of October had
a sharp fight with rebel battery at McLean's
Ford On the 3oth Of November 1t took part in
the engagement at Mine Run. On the LIST Of June
IL lOuBHI tlic cltH1y db OOlu hdTDOr IOr three
hours. The battery remained In service until
June 18th, 1865, when it was mustered out of the
United States service and discharged.
Fifth Battery
was organized at Augusta, December 4th, 1861.
On reaching Washington they encamped on Capt.
tol Hill. On the 9th of August they took position
at Cedar Mountain, under heavy artillery fire.
On the 77th they took part in the engagement at
Thoroughfare Gap, and at Manassas on the 30th
On the 18th of December, at the battle of Fred
erlcksburg, was under the fiercest and heaviest
cannongde of the day. On the I'd of May the bat
terry took part in the battle of Charlottesville
and In this engagement suffered severely. On the
LIST OF July they engaged the enemy at Emmetts-
burg, and on the I'd and Sd took prominent part
in the general engagement at Gettysburg. Arriv-
ing at Washington on the 18th of July, 1t partci-
pated In the general operations of the Sixth Corps
thus taking part in the defensive campaign for the
protection of Baltimore and Washington. The
battery was heavily engaged with the enemy at
Opequan Va. from 10 O'clock a. m. till late in the
afternoon. At the battle of Cedar Creek, October
10th, it took prominent part On the 21st Of
june the reduction of the army having COM
menced the battery was ordered to Maine, and
arriving at Augusta on the Both, was mustered
out Of the United States service and discharged.
Sixth Battery