Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-04-09
Copyright by An

longed to Hancock's corps (the Second), that
had borne the brunt OF the hard fighting
OF the previous six weeks in Grants Will
derness campaign, including the battles of
the Wilderness, Spottsylvania and Cold
uarbor, and had lost in these conflicts
over 1900 killed and wounded out OF a to
tai OF 5000 engaged. At Petersburg, on
the 10th and l1th of June, the corps lost
heavily, and on the 18th was ordered to
push forward where the Confederates had,
as it transpired, planted their last ditch"
The point where the First Maine charged
was a salient built BY Gen. Colquitt's
troops. part OF Beauregards defensive
force, and known as "Colquitt's salient"
1t was a bare ridge called Hare's hill,
and was in front Of tae site of the Hare
hou where the Union fort Stedman af-
terward stood. Several attempts had al
ready been made by troops Of the Second
corps to carry the salient but notwith-
standing the fact that repeated trials and
failures had been noted at army head
quarters, word came to Gen. Gershom
Mott to try again with his Third division.
Mott protested to his superior, Gen.
Birney, then commanding in Hancock's
stead, that it was sheer murder, a repe-
tition Of the slaughter OF Cold Harbor.
NY DtAitIS " YOU dFt 10 ASSAULT, Nalu
Birncy
Il knew, said Mott, explaining his cou-
duct aftcrward. that it was useless to ex-
pect suicide en- masse from my old troops
who had seen the wolf had felt his teeth
and bore the sears. All could hope was
that a heavy artillery regiment. the First
Maine, innocent Of the danger it would in
cur would lead OF with a dash. carry the
works with rush. and then it was my
duty to take care that old, steady regi-
ments were on hand ready to support,
press and profit by any advantage won by
the gallant forlorn hope from the green
woods Of the Penohscot" " During the
Wilderness campaign the Second corps
had been re-enforcel by several regiments
Of heavy artillery acting as infantry. These
regiments had not seen much service in
the field previously and on account OF the
extra number enrolled were very large
organizations
The First Maine, at the time OF the order,
lay some distance back from the scene Of
the charge, and the men learned that they
were to 90 in where other troops had failed.
Every man on extra duty vas called on to
handle a musker, and the total roster, as
have it from Mai Fred c. Low, who wa, a
lieutenant in Company B. was S53 men
The regiment was formed in three bat
tallons Of four companies each, each bat
TALON led by a maj jor, and hal what is
called a battalion front-that i, there
were three lines OF two ranks each, one
line leading and the others following sue
TIE fllS. "aas iir a6CSlnsCers brigade, and
several other regiments OF the brigade were
formed behind it in the same order. On
either side of McAlliSter's brigade was an
other brigade, formed in the same order, so
that the force under Mott was three col
umns Of a brigade each. the First Maine be
ing at the head OF the central column.
The key TO the Confederate line lay in
front OF the First Maine, about 500 yards
distant, The intervening space was an open
field, slightly rising toward the enemy
The Confederate batteries on both sides OF
ColQuitt salient and the infantry As well,
could rake the ground over which the
column was to charge Gen. Nc .Allister
was, at the time, temporarily commanding
another brigade and on attempting an
sault with this command over the very
ground where the First Maine was to lead,
his men fell like forest leaves under a hail
storm" and he gave 1t up. When he
learned what was on foot with his own
brigade he said, God help tGem They