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

iobh eiioiiinchoi ~SoSs va oDJ 1000
This regiment also lost the most men In
single engagement Of any Union regiment,
having had SD engaged In the assault on
Petersburg June 49, 1864, and cling 604 killed
and wounded, almost 70 per cent. The First
Minnesota lost 81 per cent and the l4lst Penn
sylyania 70 per cent at Gettysburg, both regi-
ments being but mere skeletons. These three
incidents are unprecedented In war history.
The extent OF such great losses can be more
readily understood when compared with the
charge OF the famous Light Brigade at Balakla-
va, the six hundred made immortal by Tenny-
son. Lord Cardigan led 6T3 men into that
charge Of which liz were killed and ia wound
one-half Of the loss OF the First Maine at
Petersburg, pro rata, while In both cases
somebody Numbered IL 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 a single action,
eleven In all. Too much honor cannot be be-
slowed upon the gallant 9TH 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, ns follows !:
Capts. Samuel w. Daggett, b; Frederick G.
Howes, @; Andrew j. Jaguith, /; II. N. i.
Spooner, l.: Lieutenants James w. Clark and
Samuel 7. Iiscock, r.; Albert q. Abbott, Is;
Edward y. Foster, q; Thomas s. Drummond,
ID; Gardiner II. Ruggles, +; James Il. Hall and
Nelson Bridges, q, Allen II. Barry, II Samuel
w. Crowcll, i, 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 LIST, 1862, as the 18th Infantry, and
upon taking the field was assigned to the do
fenses Of Washington, where twas thoroughly
disciplined and drilled In both artillery and in
fantry tactics, In which 1t 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
which IL ever after bore so honorably. The
regiment was recruited to the artillery stand
ard Of twelve companies and 800 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 2nd 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 Is, 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 rccep-
ton by the ragged and battlc-begrimmed vet
Grams Of the Potomac Army that was decidedly
uncompllmentary 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 fercely assaulted the right flank, designing
TO capture the entire supply train OF the Poto-
mac Army. II was a bold push, and II sue
faaI h.u
the Union cause. The heavy artillery regi-
ments double-quicked to the front, deployed
their columns into line Of battle in excellent
shape. II was fair, stand-up fight, Ewelfs
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 la killed or MORALLY wounded
and 33l more wounded. The regiment was
assigned 10 LIST Brigade, LIST Div. OF End Corps,
being the Division formerly commanded by
General Phil Kcarney, and which retained the
red diamond Us their distinguishing badge to
the end Of the war The regiment participated
In several minor engagements from soptsylva-
MIA TO Petersburg, where June IL II was nearly
annihilsted In an attempt TO break the rebel
line and effect lodgment inside their works
II was forlorn hope and movement con-
sidcred impossible Of success by Col. Chaplin
aud Gen. McAll1stes, and every man under
!tood II, but no one faltered and at the order
heved promptly forward into the sheet OF hre.