The Republican journal., 1886-06-24
Battle Scared John f. Chase.

HIS BRAVERY WITH THE FIFTH MAINE BAT
TEKE-FORrI-EIGHr WOUNDS.
Among the battle-Scarred veterans of the
civil war that went from Maine is John f.
Chase of Augusta lie was Il rugged farmers
boy, Is years of age, when, prompted by a
sense Of loyalty, he rallied to his country'S de-
fence. He was the fifth one who enlisted in
this state under the first call for troops in 1SG1
Four other brothers of his also enlisted, two of
whom We're killed and two We're wounded. He
took part in all the battles of the Potomac from
the first Bull Run to that of Gettysburg. Dur
ing his entire term of service the post of duty
and of danger always found him present. That
is the testimony of his captain, which has been
often expressed. He never a>pircd to rank,
not even to wearing the chevrons of 4 corpor-
al. He was content. as well as proud, in SIM
ply being cannonier, No. |, of the 9TH Maine
battery. Two weeks ago Private Chase was in
Washington, when Gen. Black. commissioner
of pensions. in introducing him to his friends
said: "lierc'> Il man who probably mas more
wounds on his person than any soldier living"
Gen. Black did not speak unadyiSedly. For
nearly three years Private Chase Went through
every nrduous and trying campaign of his bat
terry without scratch to be at last battered
and broken by rebel shell on the bloody field
of Gettysburg.
HE BEARS As WOUNDS
as the mcmcntoeS of that battle. 1t scarcely
seems credible that one could have passed
through such Il fearful baptism of blood and
still survive. The story may be told in few
words:
The 9TH Maine battery was attached to the
1St corps under Gen. Reynolds. 1t was the
third day of the fight. and the battery was
posted on Seminary Or Weeds hill The rebel
Gen. Pickett was making his famous charge on
our left centre. and terrible artillery duel
was III progress. The battery was in a hard
place, being between cross fires. The air was
full of the missiles of death. The heroic Chase,
with his shirt sleeves rolled up and his face
black with powder and smoke, was in the act
of ramming home Il cartridge when rebel
shell fell about three feet from him and burst.
The fragments flew in all directions. Chase
was thrown nearly rod from his gun and fell
insensible. His clothes We're literally stripped
from his body. His right arm was blown off,
his left eye torn from its socket. while his
breast and shoulders We're gashcd with wounds.
He was carried to the rear Two DAYS after
ward, when the dead were buried he was be-
ing conveyed with others to the grave. A
groan from him attracted attention, when he
was discovered to be alive. Upon recovering
consciousness the first words that came from
his lips We're:
IBID WE WIN THE BArTLE"'
Private Chase's pluck at charlottesville re-
ceiyed the commendation of Gen. Hooker.
Ills DattcfN was facing a most destructive fire
from the cnemy's batteries. All the officers
and men of this battery being either killed or
wounded, he, with another brave comrade,
fired his gun seven times after the other guns
of the battery had ceased work. The gun was
then dragged off by the two, the horses having
been shot or disabled to prevent the capture
by the enemy, which shortly afterward occrl-
pied the position that had been vacated by our
retreating forces.
Private Chase talks with enthusiastic ear
nestness about the splendid record the 5th
Maine battery made during the war, but, in
his modcsty, rarely if ever alludes to the gal
liant part he bore in its many sanguinary con
tests. He is now 43 years of age, and receives
pension of $3G a month from the govern
ment, which will be shortly increased to SAG a
month by a special act Just passed by Congress
upon the recommendation of Gen. Black.
During the past two sessions of the Maine
Legislature he has served As a messenger in
the House of Representatives. [Cor. Boston
Herald