Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-09-17

appeared to me, saw a rebel run his bay
onet through the brave officer, and his men
were dragging him from the field, when l
was hit at the very close of the battle, as
far as the sgd was concerned.
have always believed that the action of
the colonel commanding the brigade in halt
ing the 32j was a grave mistake; that we
could have quickly reformed and charged
the enemy successfully, because their lines
were broken and weakened; in fact, this
movement was made few minutes later by
McCandless' brigade of the Pennsylvania
Reserves, who charged across the field, the
enemy fleeing without making any serious
resistance. The regiment reformed after
reaching the woods, under the command of
Major Edmunds.
IL can be said in connection with this
fight. that Col. Jeffords of the 4th Mich.
was the only Union soldier known to have
been killed by the bayonet at the battle Of
Getty sburg, and this fact tells without any
further description how desperate was the
fighting between the gallant I'd Brigade and
the Confederates.
| The loss of the SD in this battle amour
ted to 81 killed, wounded and missing: GU a.;
of total of 229, Zone company being on
detached service,) who were engaged, or
80 1-2 per cent, and included one commits
stoned officer killed, and s wounded; 8 en-
listed men killed and So wounded, with 5
missing, who were taken prisoners; 10 of
| The wounded afterwards died from the eff
feet of their wounds.
The 4,h Mich. lost % killed, GA wounded,
and rs taken prisoners. | am unable to
give the per centsge of loss sustained by
h,t or hoe
larger than that of the CID Penn. even,
which amounted to 40 1-2 per cent. 4 Of
ficers and "a men having been killed, 10
officers and 81 men wounded, and 40 taken
prisoners.
The next day Col. Prescott resumed COM
mand, but the regiment was not called again
into action, the enemy making his famous
| charge on the right.
| 1t is the custom and the privilege of
regiments when their monuments are dedi-
Gated, to tell the history of their organiza-
| lions, to sing their praises and recount their
glory. These events bring back to memory
| the dangers they encountered, the long,
| weary marches they made, the deeds of
| heroism performed, the sufferings they en-
dured for their country and humanity.
Their hearts swell with pride, and with
| recollection comes the belief that theirs was
one of the best, if not the best regiment in
| the armies of the Union. And is is well
| that it should be so. The worth of a mill
tary organization is determined by its esprit
| lie corps, and the man who is proud of its
reputation and jealous of its honor is sure
to make an honorable record, whether on
the march, in camp, or on the battlefield.
Therefore, l shall be pardoned if speak in
eulogistic terms of the 32d Regiment, whose
honor and reputation is dear to me, and in
whose services | glory. 1t was composed
of some of the best material furnished by
| the state of Massachusetts during the War
of the Rebellion; sturdy yoemen, intelligent
mechanics and business men, with many
who had received classical education in
the academy and college. One company
was raised on the Old Colony shore, COM
prising men who were descendants of the
Pilgrims, from the home of Gen. Benz.
Lincoln, the friend and companion of Wash
ington, aud of John A. Andrew, the war
governor of Massachusetts. Another was
| recruited 10 the historic town of Concord,
| and still another from under the shadow of
Bunker Hill. Middlesex county furnished
some of her best blood from Newton and
| Woburn, while one company comprised
hardy fishermen from Gloucester, enured
to danger, brave and self-reliant.
These men had been brought up under
the inspiration of patriotism and loyalty
which came from their homes and surround
| ings, and was exhibited in the conscientious
| performance of duty.
The organization commenced at Fort
Warren in November, 1861, under the
name "lst Battalion Mass. Infantry" and
was for time limited to six companies who
garrisoned the fort in which were confined
certain political suspects, the prisoners cap
tured at Roanoke Island, Confederate Of
fcers from West Virginia and Fort Don
aldson, it was also our privilege to have in
charge Mason and Slidell, the Confederate
commissioners to England, after their cap
ture by Captain Wilkes.
In May, 1862, the battalion was suddenly
summoned to Washington, Lieut.. Col.
Parker commanding, and organized as the
SD Mass. Regiment. From Alexandria
we embarked on transport and Joined the
Army of the Potomac at Harrison's Landing
on the 30th of June. At once assigned to the
% Brigade, LIST Division, 9TH Corps, it
shared its fortunes until the war ended.
The first commander of the brigade was
that skillful fighting sold er, Gen. Charles
| Grltf1n, who soon was promoted to the COM
mand of the division, and continued until
the surrender at Appomattox. He fought
his division in every battle of the Army of
the Potomac, with the exception of Gettys-
burg, bis absence at that time having been
caused by illness. The corps commanders
were Generals Porter, Butterfeld, Sykes,
Meade and Warren.
The name of every battle of the Army of
the Potomac from Malvern Hill to Apo
mattox is inscribed upon the bsttle-f flag of
the SD Massachusetts Regiment, but its
heaviest losses were sustained at Fredericks-
burg, Gettysburg, Spottsvlvania, Cold Har-
Dor, Petersburg and Hatcher's Run; the
largest relative loss being at Spottsylvania,
or Laurel Hill as known to the regiment,
the loss reaching 80 1-2 per cent. of the
number of men engaged. .....
In the volume giving "the regimental loss
es in the American Civil War;" 800 regi-
ments are selected on account of their
heavy losses in battle. and designated as
"the fighting regiments of the war" in
this list are included II regiments from
Massachusetts, one of which is is the 32d,
and better still the four regiments which
for two years comprised the I'd Brigade,
viz tho atb Mich cod Damn OIL, on5 GOA