The Portland daily press., 1889-10-09

Angle stands massive granite cube SUI
mounted by pyramid. The inscriptio
tells the story:
Fineteenth Maine Infantry Regiment
| First Brigade second Division,
Second Corps.
In the evening of July 2nd this regiment a
position at the left of Battery g.. 5tn u ,
helped to repel the enemy that had driven IL
Humphreys Division, taking one battle fiaI
and recapturing four guns.
On July 3rd, after engaging the enemy
| advance from this position, 1t moved to tn,
| right to the support Of the End brigade, ant
Joined in the final charge and repulse Of
Pickett's command
Effective strength July 2Ed 405
Killed and mortally wounded, 90,
Wounded not fatally, 1877,
Missing 4.
| Two other faces of the monument beal
| each the date 1868 and the trefOi of the
| Second Corps. In front of this monument
| stretch out the broad fields over which
| Pickett's men came; and across which sped
| the storm of shot and she'll that preceded the
| charge.
Nineteenth In the battle, explained tho
position No Maine officer bore q drawer d
more brilliant part on that field than did he
but his account of the battle occupied me-
over three minutes. But it will repay til,
reader 70 pause here y moment for the whole
svo,H Oh she Nlneseenth es cleaned from the
SURVIVORS OF the field
On n the 10th of June. the Nineteenth Maine
was at Falmouth. Va, on the Rappahan
mock opposite Fredericksburg. The Second
corps was the last body of Union troops Ia
ieaye the Kappahannock. Its line of march
.ooK the Nineteenth across the old Bull Run
pattleheld to Thoroughfare Gap. one of the
June they crossed the Potomac at Edwards
Ferry; From there they moved to Frederick
CITY. lying there a day or twO. Here first
the Nineteenth began TO feel the impulse that
was hurrying the Army of the Potomac
North. On the night of the 2Sth of June, the
Iivea at Uniontown. They were then on
the borders of Pennsylvania. At that time
Bnford was in the immediate vicinity of
gettysburg, preparing to bring on the fight
On the morning of July LIST it fell to the duty
OF the Nineteenth Maine to act as guard OF
the Corps teams This brought 1t in the ex.
treme rear of the corps But at noon it was
relieved by another regiment and ordered to
take Its place In column. About this time
rnmorS began to come in of fight at Gettys-
Durg. Alter taking position in column the
Nineteenth marched all the afternoon aud
until one O'Clock, when they bivouacked ON
the Taneytown road about three miles from
Cemetery Ridge. AT the time they went into
Dlvcuack It was the first hour of July 2nd,
the second day of the battle.
At early dawn the Nineteenth moved 10
the field, taking position en- the left of the
roa about half way between Round Ton
and Cemetery Hill. Here they remained un
I'll noon, with nothing going on except the
r;ont OF troops taking position to the
rlgnt ana lett. Lees men were also taking
position, though not in Sipht
ABOUT noon they saw Sickles's men move
OUT TO make the angle at the Wheatfield.
HIS corps was lying to the left of the Nine
teenth, but his movement was plainly ap-
parent, and that part of his line on the En-
mettsburg road was in plain sight of the
Nineteenth. The peach orchard was also
well in view.
Sometime after the attack on Sickles. Cald-
wells Division OF the Second Corps went out
to help Sickles. This left the Second Corps
line weak, but Hancock patched it up as best
he could. When Sickles was evidently hard
pressed, Hancock moved the Nineteenth
Maine, which still remained on its line of
the morning. to position in advance and in
support Of Weir's United States battery.
General Hancock gave the orders for this
movement In person. This was sign that
work was at land.
The regiment that was here waiting num-
bered 400 men and officers. Col. f. E. Heath
commanded; and the other field officers were
Lieut. Colonel VIM. Ii. Cunningham and
Major James w. Welch. The regiment was
paigns on the Rappahannock for the impor-
tant work before them. They had never.
however, up to this time had an opportunity
to show what they were good for in great
battle. The moment was at hand when they
were to have and improve that opportunity
Very soon after tile position chosen by
Hancock had been taken, Humphreys
division on the Emmettsburg road began to
show signs OF breaking up; and very soon
began to move slowly and reluctantly to the
rear, this line of retreat coming directly
toward the position of the 10Th. The Con-
federates were following closely in great
force. When the remains of this division
came within about $50 PAGES of the front of
the 10Th, General Humphreys and a portion
Of bis staff rode down to the 10th and ordered
Col Heath to have his regiment, who were
lying down, arise and stop his command
with their bayonets. Capt George l.. Whit
temore. OF Bowdoinham, heard the converse
tion which followed. Col. Heath refused to
allow MS men to arise, fearing that they
would be swept away In the crowd of Hum
pbreys' men. Then Humphreys rode down
the line of the 10th. ordering the men
up. Col. Heath followed ordering his men
to lie down. Then" says Capt. Whittemore
Humphreys ordered Col. Heath to the rear"
II was put here replied Col. Heath sbv
an officer Of higher rank for a purpose, and
| don't intend to go the rear. Let yOur
troops form in the rear. and we will take care
OF the enemy in 'front.'"
Humphreys then rode off, and his troops
continued to fall back, picking their wav over
the Nineteenth. who still remained living
down. As soon as Humphreys last man had
passed to the rear, the regimen. was ordered
up. Major ID. K. Parsons, then a captain of
the 10TH, counted thirteen battle flags pass
ing over the line. Some of the men as they
went over said to the 10Th. men; "Hang to
it boys, we will form in your rear" The
Excelsior brigade did try to form, but soon
drlfted away. The pursuing rebels were
then right upon the 10th. Col. Heath thinks
they were within 80 PAGES, Capt. Whittemore,
MAJOR y. e. Parsons, of Oakland, Sergeant
A; E; Nickerson, Privates Frank Adams, and
Alvah Jellison. all of whom were there,
think 90 PAGES is certainly maximum esti-
mate. color bearer was coming at double
quick several rods in front of the Confederate
line. Inc order was given Drop that color
bearer. a private drew his musket and
fired. The color bearer dropped. The
Nlneteenth were then ordered to fire. This
hre evidently stopped the rebels, as they
returned the lire at once. For a short time.
none non OF the survivors can tell how long, the
C 1wO liS Ssrs excnaaged IRE During this fire
that rebel regiment was deploying in his
front. The Colonel went to that part of the
line at once, and found the rebel regiment
IN double column, in the act of deploying.
hcy Wcio nOt over 20 yards from the left of
the 10Th. The Colonel at once threw hack
the left files of Capt. Starbird's company SO
as to get an enflading fire on the rebel regi-
ment, telling Starbird to "gye it to them"
The Confederates melted right away. Being
IN column they could make no Resistance.
Inc ieft company was full company of 40
men, and its fire had terrible effect at that
short range. The Colonel at once returned
to the centre of the regiment. where the
Lieutenant Colonel reported that the rebels
had got in On the right and cut the 10Th off
therefore the order was at once given to face
to the rear and march in retreat, Weir's
battery meanwhile had not fired gun being
deserted by the cannonneers who probablv
went to the rear with Humphreys men,
The Nineteenth retreated about twenty or
twenty-five PAGES, when, getting out of the
smoke, 1t was found that the rebels had not
ilanked them on the right. Then, at once.
the regiment faced about, and the order was
given to charge. The rebels remain-
ing on the front saw them coming. and
ieii down, as sign of surrender and the
passed over them, going three
quarters OF the way to the Emmettsburp
road, from which Humphreys men had been
driven. Several stands of colors. MANY Dris-
lners and four guns that had been aban- |
Toned by Humphrey were captured by this |
iariHg and gallant charge. Tine Nineteenth |
emaned within less than q 100 wards |
II the Emlnettsburg road, until it was re- |
'alled about dusk. One of the captured gnns |
VAS hauled into the lines by rebel prison
RS. PA''0