Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1886-06-22
BArrLE.scARRED JOHN y. CHASE

IA u Lt 'oNthiED SNhN - N'''s'
Among the ba,ile-scsrrtd veterans OF
the civil war that vent from Maine, Is
John n. Chase OF Augusta. lie Was rug.
gei farmers boy. eighteen years OF age,
when, prompted by sense OF loyalty, he
rallied 10 his country's defence. lie was
the nfth one Who enlisted In this State un-
der the nrsi call for troop. In 1851 Your
brothers OF his also enlisted, two OF whom
were kllled aud two were woanisd. lie
took part In all the battles OF the P0tomsc
from the fifst hull Run 10 that Of Get,ys-
burg. During his entire term OF service
the post OF duty and of danger always
found him present That IL the testimony
OF BIS Captain, which has been Onen en-
pressed. lie never splrcd 20 rank. not
even 10 wearing the cheyrons OF q Corpor'
al. lie was content, As well ~ proud, 10
simply being eanuonser, No. !, OF the 5Ih
Maine Battery.
Two weeks ago, Private Chase was In
Washington, when Gen. Black, COmmls'
.loner OF Pensions. Ia Introducing him ~
hi. friends, said "IIer's msu who prob
.bly has more wounds on bis person than
any soldier living"
Gen. Black ala not speak unadslseily.
For nearly three years Private Chase went
through every ardaous sni trying can.
psigu OF his battery without scratch, to
be al last battered and broken by rebel
shell on TIE bloody neli OF Gettysburg.
lie bears for,y.slght wounds a. the me-
msn,oes OF that battle. IL scarcely seems
credible that one could have passed through
such . FEARFUL baptism OF blood aud SIN
survive. The story may be told IN afeW
words
The 5th Maine Battery WAS attached 10
the -, Corps under Gen. Reynolds. IL
WAS the third day OF the nsht, aud the bat
terry Was posted on Seminary or Weeds
I'm. The rebel Gen. Pickett was making
his famous charge on our len centre, aud
Q terrible artillery duel was In progress.
The battery Vas In hard place. being be-
tween cross nres. The air Was full OF the
missiles OF death. The heroic Chase, with
his shirt sleeves rolled up and bis face
black with powder aud smoke, was In the
act OF rsmmlng home q cartridge, when
rebel shell fell soost three feet from him
and burst The fragments dew In sll al.
reciions. Chase Vas thrown nearly rod
from his gun and fell iusensible. His
clothes were literally stripped from his
body. Ills RICH, arm Was blown Oh, bis
left eye literally torn from lts socket, while
his breast and shoulders were gashei with
wounds. lie WAS carried 10 the rear.
Two days aflsrward when the dead were
buried, he was being conveyed with Others
10 the grave. Agrosn from him attracted
A,te .tlon. when be was discovered 70 be
alive. Upon recovering consciousness,
the 1rst words that came from bis lips
were "Did We win the baitlei'
Private ChAse's pluck a. ChAncellors-
Vile received the commentator OF Gen.
Hooker. Ills battery Was facing q most
destructive DIRE from the enemy's batter
les. All the officers and men OF his battery
being either killed or wounded, be with
another brave comrsde, nfed his gun seven
times amer the other guns OF the battery
had ceased work. The KUN WAS dragged on
by the two, the horses having been shot
or disabled, to prevent Its capture by the
enemy, which shortly sfterwsrd occupied
the position that had been vacated by our
retrestlng forces.
Private Chase talks with enthusiastic
esrnestness about the splendid record the
5ih Maine Battery made during the war,
bat In his modesty, rarely II ever alludes
10 the gallant part he bore 10 It's many
ssngulnary contests. lie IL now IS years
OF age, and receives . pension OF CSC
month from the government, whirh VIII
be shortly increased 10 siG q month by
special act Just passed by Congress upon
the recommendation OF General Black.
Daring the past two sessions OF the
Maine Legislature be has served s q
Messenger in the House OF Representa-.
iiyes -LSvisfOR Journal.