The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1892-05-05

TWIN tEb3kANTb OF COMPANY A
THE brothers 8. W. and p. N. ClAFk.l
Maine took the lead Of the division, and
when the troops saw that they cried out
Fight today, boys; the First Names IN
the advance"
Gregg dismouuted his men and built
rude breastworks, and then the Maine men
opened the fight and ended Il, using both
carbines and revolvers.
Though ordered to retire. the men did q
slowly, turning 1t every ridge and fence
and clump Of trees for one more volley. 81
they held on till q battery came 10 theiI
aid. and they helped TO defend that when Il
ran out Of ammunition. OF the 800 men
engaged II were killed and % wounded
Hampton was held up until the wagon
train was beyond reach. Sheridan left The
Army Of the Potomac Aug. I, 1854, but
Gregg's division remained behind at Peters
burg. following the fortunes Of Hancock Ia
bis expeditions on the Confederate dankR
The regiment added four battles TO its lisl
during August, and In September was 70
enforced BY eight companies Of Mains
troops transferred from the First District
Of Columbia cavalry. The strength wa
about 500 with this increase. On Oct "a,
at Boydton Road, 10 wels killed and q
WpuuAGu IN - bANA.G ukut WIN w HUl
HAmptOn's mounted forceA
The First Maine at that time belonged
to q brigade commanded BY Col. c. H.
Smith, Its former leader, who was o cap.
tain In the regiment In 1861. Cilley, the nrst
recruit and the hFst man wounded, had
gravitated 10 the top and led the regiment
The highest casualty list Of all was ct
Dinwiddle Court House, March 81, the pre-
kV.,r . Ma Eonka GkaHsl.Aa. -
was forced to give ground all day and At
length Smiths brigade was called upon 70
defend n creek crossing against heavy odds.
The First Maine diBmounted and advanced
In a deployed line to meet charging cavalry.
They opened fire with Spencer and Henry
rifles, and 10 shooters, and the Confeder.
ate column trembled, wavered and parted
right and left, soon TO melt away In form
less wreck Of dead horses and men. In Thu
fight the First Names loss was q killed
and GO wounded.
At AppomattOx, Smiths brigade wa
placed In the last gap opened 70 Lee, tn
Lynchburg road. The fighting On Sunday
April Q, that ended In Lees surrender
began on the front Of the First Maine, and
Its loss there was killed and 10 wounded
The total loss Of the regiment killed and
mortnlly wounded was ID Officers and 10
men, the highest suffered BY any oAvalrJ
regiment In the Union army.
The First Maine was Organized and LED
throughout by volunteer officers. 1t Lon
colonel, 3 majors and 9 captains killed n
action. At st, Mary's Church its colonel
lieutenant colonel and . major warO
wounded.
And ali this noble record was made b
average men. The twin sergeants, who's
pictures from photographs taken durinn
the war accompany this sketch, would nol
stand out on an artists canvas 20 grandly
as do some Of the Uhlans and DFagooni
that rode at GrOvellotte and Sedan, but
they are types Of the First Maine troops
| for whom there can be no gFander eulogy
than the simple record Of their persistent
daring. Another thing, have Stated that
the regiment was led By volunteers Early
In Its career cast iron rule Of antiprufal,
ity and total abstinence was promulgated
at headquarters THIS may not dignity
anything, but some ways would have q
that for troopers in the field there was no
redeeming vice left except fighting, hencs
the thirty-six battles on the First MAinob
Gag GEORGE l. KILMRR