The Portland daily press., 1885-06-22
Eighth Maine Infantry.
The Eighth Maine Regiment, composed of the
the following companies:

was organized at Augusta, Me-, September 18th,
1861, when the following field officers were
elected by the company officers and appointed
, and commissioned by the Governors
Lee Strickland Colonel
John d. Rust, Lieut.. Colonel,
Jos. 5. Rice, Major.
On the 9th OF September they left Augusta for
Homestead, Long Island. On the 10Th they re-
ceived orders to march to the defences of Wash
ington, subsequently for Fortress Monroe. Va.
when they formed a part of Gen. Sherman's *
petition to Port Royal, S. C. At the surrender of
this place, on the eighth of November, they left
and landed at Hilton Head, S. c., being thel first
regiment from the North that set foot upon the
soil of South Carolina Col. Strickland was forced
to resign on account of i'll health and was sue
ceeded by Lieut.. Col. Rust, Captain Twitehell
being promoted to fill the vacancy They were here
several months, engaged building Notifications
and skirmishing with the enemy They occupied
Jones Island and mounted batteries preparatory
for the reduction of Fort Pulaski. Col. Rust re-
ceiyed orders to embark his command for Tybee
Island, Ca, and take command in the reduction
of Fort Pulaski, where they bore a conspicuous
part in the bombardment and lost the following
officers: Seargent Major Edgar A. Perry, Rock
land Chas. L. Howard I'd Lieut., Portland and
John r. Sprague, I'd Lieut., Parkman and when
the fort surrendered, Gen. Benham, as a cOmpli-
ment to the gallantry and superior behavior of
the eighth, ordered their colors to be the first
raised on the fort. Col. Rust being in command
during the SIEGE received the surrender. On the
21St OF December the regiment was ordered to
Hilton Head, where Thos.. kgore, I'd Lieut.,
died of disease, and on the 30th of May, to
Beaufort, S. G., Col. Rust commanding the post.
acting as Brigadier General Here they were de
tailed to guard the different plantations and
islands from rebel incursions, and had frequent
SkirmShes with the enemy The Eighth was
called one of the most efficient regiments in the
department, and its drill was publicly pronounced
nv Cen S1XtOn. Military Governor .sS1nprior 10
that Of any troops he had ever Witnessed regulars
not excepted March 10th, 1868, Col. Rust was
ordered to Jacksonville, Fla, with his command
to take Jacksonville, and landed under fire of the
enemy, and ordered the gunboats Norwich and
John Adams to open in support of our batteries
with his command occupied the city. On the 25th
Col. r., ordered reconnaissance in force, with the
9Th Maine on the right, and drove the enemy's
pickets they. being constantly shelled by the
enemy. Our lines being satisfactorily established
on ground previously occupied by the enemy, our
forces retired with small loss in the Sth Maine.
March goth, 1868, Col. Rust received preemptory
orders from Gen. Hunter to evacuate jackson
vile, Fla, with MS command and proceed to
Beaufort to make preparation to participate in
the contemplated attack on Charleston, and en-
barked for Stone river where they on transports
during the bomhardment of Fort Sumpter, after
which they returned to Beaufort Subsequently
they received orders to proceed to Charleston but
owing to a severe gale and storm this attempt was
abandoned and they were obliged to return to
Hilton Head where they We're engaged doing
guard and picket duty, when the regiment re-en-
to Augusta. Me While there thew presenteS 5o
Rust with a Coloners uniform throughout, in
Guiding an elegant gold mounted: sword and
spurs, and very elaborate horse equpage, as a
token of their high esteem for their commander
During their furlough Col. Rust made a successful
application for the 8th Maine to be transferred
from the department OF the South to the Potomac;
this regiment having suffered intensely with
malaria, southern and swamp fevers, with great
oss of life, and were much reduced in vitality
On the 18th of April, 1864, the regiment pro-
ceeded to Washington, D. c., when Col Rust was
placed in command Of the Second Provisional Brig
ade, Third Division. On the 18th he was ordered
by Maj. Gen. Casey, to report to Maj. Gen. Butler,
and on the 30th, Col R., was placed in command
of the Second Division of the Army of the James
The regiment was in active service until the close
of the war, and the following officers were killed
in action or died of their Wounds Henry E.
Tozier, Waterville, Captain; Chas f. Munroe,