Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1889-05-23
Total enrolment, 2202.


This regiment also lost the most men In a
single engagement Of any Union regiment,
having had S}2 engaged In the assault on
Petersburg, June Is, 1864, and Otiug t04 killed
and wounded, almost 10 per cent The First
Minnesota lost 80 per cent and the I4lst Penn
sylyani,a % per cent at Gettysburg, both reEi.
ments being but mere skeletons. These three
incidents are unprecedented In war history.
The extent OF such great losses can be more
readily unders TODD when compared with the
charge OF the famous Light Brigade at Balakla-
va, the six hundred made immortal by Tenny-
son. Lord Cardigan led 6f3 men into that
charge, OF which liz were killed and l34 wound
cd, total loss OF 247, or 30.7 per cent, about
Onc-half OF the loss OF the First Malnc at
Petersburg, pro rata, while In both cases
somebody Numbered. II was all magnificent,
but fame won Mt awful cost. An Item has
gone the rounds Of the press to the effect that
the Seventh New Hampshire had more officers
killed In the assault on Fort Wagner than was
lost by any other regiment In q single action,
eleven In all Too much honor cannot be be-
slowed upon the gallant 18th N. H., but we are
seeking facts, and history must be correctly
written. The desperate character OF the two
assaults were quite similar, but the First Maine
contributed fifteen commissioned officers to
the sacrifice that sad 18th Of June, MS follows:
Capts. Samuel W. Dsggett, b; Frederick G.
spooncr, Ii Lieutenants James W. Clark and
Samuel T. Hiscock, II; Albert q. Abbott, Is
Edward y. Foster, G.; Thomas 8. Drummond,
ID; Gardiner H. Rugglcs, r; James 4. Hall and
Nelson Bridges, q; Allen r. Barry, II Samuel
w. Crowcll, !, and Charles C. Morse, Of Co.
l., fifteen In all who met death.
The LIST Maine Heavy Artillery was organized
and mustered In, 900 strong, at Bangor, Me-,
August 2lst, 1862, as tho 18th Infantry, and
upon taking the field was assigned TO the do
lenses OF Washington, where twas thoroughly
disciplined and drilled In both artillery and in
fantry tactics, In which It reached high rank
Of proficiency. When the War Department
decided to create heavy artillery corps the
18th Maine was selected as one OF the regi-
ments and Dec. 10, 1883, assumed the name
regiment was recruited TO the artillery stand
ard Of twelve companies and 1,S00 men. The
large majority OF the new men had previously
served In the two years and nine months regi-
ments, whose terms had expired, one OF whom,
Capt. Thomas Foster, OF End Maine Infantry,
receiving commission In the new organiza-
ton. A few months later, after Grant had
encountered such terrific losses In the Wilder
ness battles, the entire division Of heavy ar
tillery was ordered TO reinforce him, leaving
Washington Sunday, May IL, 1864. With their
rifles brightly FURNISHED, dressed in handsome
new uniforms that had never been soiled, they
presented the appearance OF the ideal and most
aesthetic bandbox soldier. They arrived at
Spotsylvania, Va, May 18th, and got recep-
ton by the ragged and battlc-begfimmed vet
uncomplimentary to their artistic makeup.
The movement by Grants left flank towards
Richmond had already commenced and the
Heavy Artillery Division was assigned TO guard
the teams and protect the rear during the adj
vance. The day following their arrival the
Rebel General Ewell left his entertainments
and fiercely assaulted the right flank, designing
10 capture the entire supply train Of the Poto-
mac Army. II was bold push, and II sue
cessful must have proved most disastrous TO
the Union cause. The heavy artillery regi-
ments double-quickcd TO the front, deployed
their columns into line of battle in excellent
order and went into action In magnificent
shape. II was n fair, stand-up fight, Ewell's
veterans having the advantage OF protection
by some portions Of abandoned rifle pits, but
after bloody contest he was driven back
across the river and the bandbox boys had won
their spurs and the praise OF all their future
comrades. In this, their first engagement, the
First Maine lost III killed or mortally wounded
and 81 more wounded. The regiment was
assigned 70 LIST Brigade, LIST Div. OF End Corps,
being the Division formerly commanded by
General Phil Kcarney, and which retained the
red diamond as their distinguishing badge to
the end Of the war. The regiment participated
In several minor engagements from Soptsylva-
MIA 10 Petersburg, where june 10 II was nearly
annihilstod In an attempt To break the rebel
line and effect Judgment inside their works
II was a forlorn hope and movement con-
sidered impossible Of success by Col. Chaplin
aud Gen. McAllistes, and every man under
ltood II, but no one faltered and at the order
hsved promptly forward into the sheet OF nre.