Western appeal., 1888-10-13

Capt. E. c. Babb, was born in the thrifty
manufacturing village of Saccarappa-an
Indian name-in the town of Westbrook,
adjoining the city of Portland, Me-, on
the first day of February, 1884.
His mother, Mary Winslow, was a lin
cal descendant of Gov. Winslow, of Mass
achusetts, who came from England in the
Mayfower, landing on Plymouth rock on
the 22d Of December, 1920, with no white
person, aside from his own company,
nearer than jamestown, Va, and the
whole country forest where not even
the sound of the woodman's axe had ever
been heard
Capt. Babb was fortunate in securing
good English education in the common
schools and select grammar school Of his
native town. Like many Yankee boys,
he commenced life for himself by teach
ing school, and soon Afterwards learned
the trade of marble cutter From the
age of 2l to 2S he was engaged in lumber
shire, and was in the latter state when the
war of the rebellion opened. IL. was
one of the earliest to enlist in the Ninth
N. Fl. regiment of infantry in June, '62.
August 22d, having been made sergeant,
he left Concord with his regiment for the
seat of war, when dark cloud hung like
b1 ho
of McClellan's reverses on the Peninsula.
He maintained his connection with the
same regiment till the surrender of Lee
and the close of the war, and during this
time the regiment lost 1900 men killed
and wounded, or $50 per cent more than
it's original numbers. He participated in
the battles of second Bull Run, South
Mountain, Antietam and Fredericksburg.
Until December l3, 1862, but four pro-
motions had been made in the regiment.
For gallantry and special service in the
last named battle, Sergeant Babb was
promoted over six first sergeants, to the
rank of second lieutenant It was also
during this battle that warm friendship
sprang up between him and 1t. Col.gGeo
Fl. Chandler, a younger brother of the
late Secretary, VIM. =. Chandler, of the
Navy Department, which was never
interrupted till the death of the latter
| three years ago, in Baltimore.
After Burnside's failure at Fredericks-
burg our hero accompanied his regiment
end the 9th Corps, to Kentucky, and from
| there they were sent to Vicksburg where
he participated in the siege, and after
the fall of Vicksburg he went to Jack
son, Miss. with Gen. Sherman and
participated in the battle which resulted
in the capture of the city and the retreat
of Gen. johnson and his forces into the
interior the State. He then left Miss
issippi late in August, and went to Ken
lucky, where his regiment which had
dwindled down to 200 men, of whom9but
IS were reported for duty, was detailed
to guard the Kentucky Central Railroad,
with headquarters at Paris, the seat of
Bourbon co. From here Lieutenant Babb
was detailed and ordered to report at
headquarters of the Second Division. of
his corps, which he accompanied to East
Tennessee, and served as staff officer
during that memorable campaign in the
winter of 1854, which has been aptly
called the "Valley Forge of the war of
the rebellion. It was here, on the 1st day
of January, that his second commission
from the Governor reached him, making
him First Lieutenant.
The spring of 1864 found him with his
regiment at Annapolis, recruiting it's
ranks and preparing for the final campaign
under Gen. Grant. Joining the Army of
the Potomac he was in the battle of the
Wilderness and Spottsylvania, May 18th
and 18th. The regiment went into the
battle of May 18th with 400 men. It was
on the extreme right of the Ninth Corps,
and moved up to join the left of the Sec
ond Corps, feeling how much they were
needed on Hancock's left. They moved
Nu1CAly anu HtuCIdCCtu from fsLlGt
corps and were completely surrounded.
In cutting their way out the regiment
lost in killed and wounded over half its
numbers. Lieutenant Babb and his regi-
ment though so greatly thinned il its
ranks, was in the battle of North Anna
River, May Ath, in a very severe engage
ment On the 9th at Talapotamy Creek,
at Gold Harbor June Sd, in the battle of
Petersburg June 10Th, and charged the
line in front of the Stands House at 8
o'clock, a. M, the following day, capt
uring the line of works with a number
of prisoners, and battery of artillery
and the colors Of the SD Tennessee regi-
ment. He was with his regiment con-
tinually under fire directly in front Of the
fort, which was blown up July 3Oth, and
was engaged in all the battles before and
around Petersburg, until the final surren-
der He was commissioned Captain Han
uary /, 1855. At the time Of Lees sur
render Capt Babb and his command were