Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-05-19
Maine at Getteysburg.
NJ. W. ARTHUR.

w rltten Tor the heuIeDec journal.
| The writer is indebted to Gen. Mulholland
for the data following, which time and space
permitting might be extended to fill columns
of the Journal:
Gettysbu was not only the most important
battle of the war of the rebellion, or in fact
of the century, but it was the most hotly
contested. More men were either killed or
wounded in proportion to the number en-
gagged than in any battle of modern times.
Maine men performed truly heroic part,
and no troops from any State excelled them
| in the grandeur of their heroism or the i'm
portance of their services. Indeed it
General (then captain James A. Halls 2nd
Maine Battery that opened the battle. This
| battery occupied an exposed point to the left
of the Chambersburg Pike, where it was
placed by Gen. Reynolds himself a few
moments before he was killed, and opened
the fight on Pegram's New Orleans battery,
| stationed on Heirs hill. Soon the infantry
of Ieath's Confederate division swept over
the field and charged the guns.
The infantry supports were driven back,
but the battery held its ground until the en-
envy reached the guns a fierce hand to hand
| fight followed; the battery was outtianked
| both right and left, nearly every horse being
| killed and the gunners had to save their
pieces by hauling them off by hand some of
the guns were captured by the enemy, but
shortly were re-takeu by Cutters brigade.
| The 9Th Maine battery, commanded by
| Can't G. T. Stevens, a member of Seth Will
| lams Post, was engaged near McPhersons
woods and during the second and third days
| of Getty sburg were stationed on Cemetery
| Hill, where the 9TH did splendid execution in
| Al. g.. al, the, |
Tigers. Gen. Muholland related thrilling
incident of the battle of Charlottesville in
which the 9TH battery was engaged and in
which the dashiug Capt. Lippeau then com
| mandng had his leg smashed, Causing his
death believe) and every officer disabled.
the horses all killed and the guns were
saved by the men of Gen. Mulholand's regi
ment, being hauled off by hand.
The 10th Maine Infantry in the first
days fight. This regiment volunteered to
advance to a knoll beyond the line of battle,
and hold the enemy in check while Gen.
| Robinson. who commanded the division,
could form his lines. Nobly it performed
| its work but lost eightythree per cent of
the men engaged. Col. now GeneraD
Chas W. Tilden, an honored citizen of
| Hallowell himself being captured, and Cap
tains Lowell and Whitehouse were among the
! killed What left of the regiment
fought on Cemetery Hill until the end of the
| battle.
The 3rd Maine Infantry Col Lakeman,
opened the battle on the second day. Au-
gusta has host of worthy citizens who were
in the s.old Third" and it has furnished
number of commanders for this post. The
| Third Maine was pushed to the left of the
| Peach orchard and ordered to find the enemy.
| They found them and held them in check
| until twice ordered to fail back, and then
were only ready to yield their ground when
the third order came. The color bearer and
every member of the color guard were either
killed or wounded. The Sd Maine lost
more than one-half of all that went into the
fight either killed or wounded. Gen Sickles,
a moment before he was wounded, losing
leg. said THAT little 81 Maine saved us to-
dav." General MHlhollands description of
The event as give TO the writer sends the
blood leaping to i'ie finger tips and klndles
the eve of the yt'ran, like the bugie blast
sounding the CHI &c on the field of death.
The 4Ib Maiqe made splendid charge
near the Devil. Den, Col. Walker who COM
manded was uDght to be killed, and is so
reported on TIE roster of the army, but he is
alive to-day.
| The l7tll Maine made for itself a noble
record in tl.e lefle of the Devils Den.
After cur troops had been driven back
from the !,.virs Den and Peach Orchard,
Gen. H ,ock saw Rebel Division advanc-
ing thry "a weak gap in our lines, he had
no troo at hand to meet the attack, except
the Is Minnesota and 10Th Maine, two little
repim Is to check Rebel Division; but
witbo 4, A moments hesitation both moved
forw. and poured their fire into the rebel
lines the fire was returned and the
Fir.t Minnesota fairly blown away
). ari the 10Th Maine in few
m tutes lost. 200 linen and IL offers out
. the 400 who went into the fight, but they
blurred a flag, piece of artillery, and twice
: many prisoners as they had men left, put
what was better they held the enemy until
Gen. Hancock could order up troops to save
the position.
saved the kew to the battle Little Round Top
in magnificent charge at a critical moment
tho inheritance of the services rendered by
tbe ooh Maine in the engagement cannot be
oyerestimated, and the graphic description OF
Cen. Mulholland is intensely interesting.
The 5th Maine, the 9Th Maine, the itf
Maine. Col. Selden Conner of Augusta
fougbt with the Sixth Corps near Little
, Ronnd TOP. A battalion of the 10th Maine
was engaged in the Twelfth Corps at Culp'
hin. and the grand old First Maine Cavalry
fougbt with Gregg's Division on the right OF
onr lines at Rummells farm. 1t was tins
e regiment while en- route to Gettysburg, tina
, at Aldie made charge, driving the enemy
moro than half mile, and losing a brave ane
noble an officer as ever drew saoef
: Col. Calvin s. Douty, who was killed. Au
r eusts has many worthy citizens who on man!
/ fields helped to make the record OF tna' co"