Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1889-06-14

Total enrolment, 2I02.............. 42i S39 l2SJ
This regiment also lost tue most men in sin
gle engagement Of any Union regiment, having
had $50 engaged in the assault on Petersburg,
June Is, 1864, and losing 604 killed and wounded.
almost u per cent. The First Minnesota lost IS
per cent and the 14lst Pennsylvania &c per cent
at Gettysburg. both regiments being but mere
skeletons These three incidents are unprece-
dented In war history The extent Of such great
losses can ne more readily understood when
compared with the charge of the famous Light
Brigade ut Balaklava, the six hundred made i'm
mortal by Tennyson. Lord Cardigan led 673 me:l
into tina, charge Of which ll3 were killed and
lG4 wounded, total loss OF al, 36.7 per cent,
about one halt Of the loss of the First Maine Mt
Petersburg, pro rata, while in both cases some.
body blundered. 1t was all magnificent, but
fame won at awful cost. An item has gons the
rounds OF the press that the Seventh New IIamp-
shire had more officers killed III the assault OIL
Fort Wagner than was lost by any other regi-
nent In single action, eleven in all Too much
honor cannot be bestowed upon the gallant 7th N.
H., but VIC are seeking facts and history must be
correctly written. The desperate character OF the
two assaults were quito similar. but the First
Maine contributed fifteen commissioned officers
to the sacrifice that sad 18th Of June, as follows:
CApta Samuel ". Daggett b; Frederick c:
Howes g: Andrew j. Jaquith. l: H. y. p.
9pooner, L; Lieutenants James ". Clark and
Samuel r. Hlscock, E; Albert G. Abbott, b. Ed
ward s. Foster, G; Thomas 8. Drummond. D;
Gardiner H. Ruggles. F; James T.. Hall and Nell
sGn Bridges G; Allen E. Barry, H. Samuel ",
Crowell l; and Charles e. Morse. Of Co. H. fifteen
in all who met death.
hss lot Al Arr nrpnD,zpA
and mustered in. 1000 strong, at Bangor Maine,
Aug. 2lst. 1862. as the 18th Infantry. and upon
taking the field. was assig ned to the defenses Of
Washington. where 1t was thoroughly disci
plined aud drilled in both artillery and infantry
tactics In which 1t reached q high rank of pro-
ticiency. When the War Department decided to
create a heavy artillery corps the 18th Maine was
selected as one OF tho regiments and Dec. 10,
1868. assumed the name which 1t ever tier bore
90 honorsbly. The regiment was recruited to
the artillery standard OF twelve comp MES and
l,so0 men. The large majority of the new men
had previously served in the two years and nine
months regiments, whose terms had expired, one
Of whom, Capt. Thomas Foster, OF 2nd Maine III
fantry, received commission In the new organ.
ization. A few months later. after Grant had
encountered such terrific losses in the Wilder
ness battles, the entire division OF heavy artill
was ordered to reinforce him, leaving Washing.
ton Sunday, May l6, 1854. With their rites
brightly FURNISHED. dressed in handsome new
uniforms that had never been soiled, they
presented the appearance OF the ideal aud most
asthetic bandbox soldier. They arrived at
spotsylynnia, Va, May 18th, aid got q reception
by the ragged and bat,ie-besrimmed veterans Of
the Potomac army that was decidedly nncoln-
ment by Grants left flank toward Richmond had
already commenced and the Heavy Artillery d.
vision was assigned to guard the teams and pro-
tect the rear during the advance. The day FOL.
lowing their arrival the Rebel General Ewel! left
his entertainments and iiercely sssaileti the right
flank, designing to capture the entire supply
train Of Potomac Army. 1t Was bold push,
and II successful must, have proved most disas-
e. teous to The Union eanse The heavy artillcry
regiments double quicked TO the front, deployed
their columns into line Of battle in excellent
order and went into action in magnificent
p shape. 1t was fair stand.up fight. Ewells
veterans having tho advantage Of protection by
some portion oi abandoned rife pits, but after u
bloody contest he was driven back across the
river and tho 5bandbox boys had won their
spurs aud the . aaisc ofall their future comrades
In this their arxt engagement the First Maine
lost l47 killed or MORALLY wounded aud 33l
moro wounded. The regiment was assigned to
1T brigade. Isl Div. OF md Corps. being the Di-
vision formerly commanded by General Phil
Keafney, and which retained the red diamond
as their distinguishing badge TO the end OF the
war Ts1 regiment participated In several
minor engagements from spottsylvanis to Peters
bars. wheie Juno Ia II was nearly annihila ed III
Al attempt 70 trcak the rebel line and cffecl a
n Judgment Inside their works, II was a forlcru
e hope ana 4 movement considered impossible VI
success by Col Chaplin aud 4encral McAiister
ii and every man understood IL, bu. no one fall
tered and at the order moved promptly forward
into TIE sheet I'll 8se, SS
Cannon TO the right of them.
Is Cannon TO the len OF them,
Cannon In front OF them
sssg yDlleyed and thundesed,
and the inniadipg ale OF all the infantry that
& could crowd che works In their front yas
pourott Into he faces Of this devoted band.
Vhots eonpanies went down beneath the fury
n 81 Ike ahock. Grape. canister she'll, schrspnel
and i pasiect torrent 81 minie, balls was pouring
in their faces hut the survivors pressed ON, and
!. when these lsfs had reached within twenty
Yards soE The Rebel parapet. and no supports
3 colning M. the few who had not been blown
away ~ tiss tornado of lire fell back OVER u 9
5dsad and dying 10 the pits from whencs they
Il aiyaiicssl. IA shercc frrs Nas naaintlinca all
nisht ana TIE day following, mating ~ exsr,.n
~ pertlops so snecur The wounded, " hose cries
II a. Wsser ana islief we're mast pte0is 4, hear.
asd sesssal dAsing fellows ws.s He'd 4, ~. NJ
81 Is assist them Two hundred AND tsi,
~ kilNd mute xht Of died from wonnss Afld s.