The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-04-07
The Late Lieut.. Col. merrill,

10 he Editor OF the Press:
Early in July, 1868, when the confident
hopes Of the loyal North for speedy termI-
nation Of the Rebellion had been crushed by
the defeat Of Mcclellan In his attempt to
take Richmond, President Lincoln issued his
proclamation asking for 10000 men for three
years service. There was an immediate
movement in Portland to respond to this CALL
Amongst the first of the patriotic citizens
to tender their services were the late Colonel
Thomas A. Roberts aud Charles B. Merrill.
Esq. the subject Of this sketch. The nuc-
leus Of a regiment was formed which soon
grew into the 18th Maine Volunteers, its
ranks, in few days. overfowing with men
from this section Of the state eager to serve,
and disappointed il denied the privilege
Mr.. Merrill was com nissioned Lieut.. Colo
mel Of the regiment, and with 1t went out to
Virginia to serve his country. Those who
knew him as a soldier will remember him as
friend, kind In heart, helpful In need, SPAR
ing in censure. devoid of military strut, mod
est, earnest and brave In doing his part in
the great work. On the long and tedious
marches, when the boys were ready 10 sink
with WEAKNESS, ofttimes Col. Merrill,
buOukublui VI WOuiu bkklhO up Wibu
his deep and sonorous voice, John Browns
Body, or Three Hundred Thousand More"
and the inspiring songs taken up along the
line put new vieor into weary limbs. AL
though sedate In countenance there always
lurked beneath. a vein Of odd humor, no
matter what the surrounding circumstances
for Instance, while lying under the fierce ar
tillery fire at Gettysburg preceding Pickett's
charge, when the shells were bursting all
around and the fragments hurled like hail
fol Marrill NTH a cnhar foaa ftaru
to soldier and gravely suggested that he
should take off his blouse and stop up the
cracks In the rail fence, which was some dis
tance In front; the joke was not lost on its
recipient.
Lieut.. Col. Merrill was In command Of the
regiment In the important battles Of Cham
cellorsville, May list and 2nd, and Gettys-
burg, July 2nd and Sd 1868 In which, taken
together, the regiment lost In killed and
wounded one;half its number. In the for
mer OF these he was struck but not disabled.
He also commanded the regiment In the af-
fairs at Mapping Heights and Auburn in
1868: being engaged In other duties he did
not take part in the battles of Locust Grove
ing been relieved from duty on recruiting
service, he rejoined the regiment just after
the battle Of Spottsylvania, and taking com
mand led the regiment at Fredericksburg
Road and In the charge at North Anna, May
23rd. He also commanded the regiment in the
months Of July. August and September, 1864
in the trenches before Petersburg, at:the fa-
nous Fort He'll. in skirmishes, and under
| fire almost continual, incident to that hard
and dangerous kind Of service. As a fight
| ing unit the 18th Maine made good record
| for itself. and reflected glory and honor upon
| its commanders, to whom In all cases 1t was
largely due.
The writer having lived for months with
Col. Merrill In that closest possible intimacy
aft orded by tent life, can bear testimony 10
Il ruin Efn md
| ed thoughts, brave and manly character.
| G. w. VERRILL.