The Somerset reporter., 1891-09-03
The Fifteenth Maine

The following from the Portland Press
is particular appropriate for our columns
as the Fifteenth Maine Association holds
its annual meeting here September 10Th.
The records of the Maine Regiments in
the war Of the Rebellion are gradually be-
ing made up. SO far they have been done
by members of the organizations, and
they have often gained in vividness and
detail what they may have necessarily
lacked in strict impartiality. Some of
these histories are made up largely of
personal incidents and anecdotes OF camp
and field; others of them have treated
their subjects with a broader view Of
campaigns and battles To the latter
class belongs THE Story of the Maine
Fifteenth" just completed by Major II.
| A Shorey. The history OF the Fifteenth
Maine is not SO reple,e with thrilling bat
tie scenes as are the histories of those
Maine regiments which served sll their
time in the great campaigns of Virginia.
Regiments that could show ON their ban.
ners names like Fair Oaks, "Antietam, "
3" Fredricks burg, " Charlottesville, =
| Gettysburg" THE Wilderness" and the
Siege of Petersburg might look with
something like disdain upon regiment
whose banner could show no more famous
VOID than the name OF nn obscure battle
field in Louisiana. Yet of everything
that could try the soldier with the eX-
ception of severe loss in heavy battles,
the Fifteenth Maine probably experience
ed as much as regiments that fought on
more famous fields. Upon two occasions,
during Banks retreat in the Red River,
the regiment sho wed its gallantry in bat
tie; and its conduct proved that it was
worthy a place besides sister regiments
of greater opportunities Aside from
battles, the service of the Fifteenth was
probably AZ arduous as that OF any other
Maine regiment. campaign in Buuisi-
ana and Texas was far more trying than
in the cooler and more hracing climate
of Virginia, In its four and Il half years
of service the Fifteenth experienced ser
vice in Florida Louisiana, Texas, South
Carolina and Virginia, and its men were,
so far as campaigning was concerned,
seasoned veterans superior even to the
famous heroes of the army of the Poto-
mac. When the Nineteenth corps, OF
which the Fifteenth Maine was part,
was transferred to Virginia, il was found
that the men who had trsmped up Red
River and lack, could, in the marches OF
the Shenandoah campaigns, surpass even
the men OF the removed Sixth corps. The
author of THE Story of the Name FIT
teenth' has adopted the excellent plan of
telling the story of the Campaign in con
nection with the story of the regiment
This would not have been practicable In
writing the history OF regiment active
ly engaged in the great campaigns of the
army of the Potomac; but in the case OF
regiment engaged in minor operations,
like Buffers capture OF New Orleans and
Banks Red River expedition, this was
perfectly easy. OF battles there WAS a
dearth, but of long and tedious marches a
great abundance. In the two battles par
ticipated In by the regiment it list at
Pleasant Grove only one killed and -four
wounded, and at Pleasant Hill, where it
made II gallant and successful charge, on
ly twelve wounded. But the men who
were broken down by the hard marches
and the deadly climate were az numerous
AS the losses of other regiments on bloody
heds. or 1852 names borne on the rolls
in the four and half years OF service
over seven hundred and thirty were re-
turned as having died of disease, been
killed in battle or discharged for disabll.
ty. Very few having been killed or
wounded in battle these figures represent
principally the su1erings from marches
and climate. The vicissitudes of the ser
vice seen by the regiment have been de-
scribed by the author In an entertaining
way, while at the same time he has car
ried along clear account OF the general
campaigns. The work is illustrated with
photographers OF nearly every officer
who served with 1t, including Colonel
Isaac Dyer, Lieutenant Colonel II. b.
hurry and Major +. NJ. Drew. To the
old soldiers Of the regiment these pict.
ures will possess peculiar and tender
interest. Some of them have been taken
lately, and show men with gray hair and
advanced In years. Others Of them were
taken in the days of soldier life. and
show the smooth and hoyish faces of the
young men of lS6l.ls65. The work Ia
neatly printed and bound. and makes as
handsome a volume rs any old veteran
could wish to have in his library or upon
his parlor table.