The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-03-19
The 18th Ne.

| Inc Iotn NE.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: This regi
ment has a record covering nearly five event
full years OF hand service. The 10Th Me. en-.
tered the service under the call OF Septem-
Der, 1861, authorizing Maine 10 raise at the
| expense of the General Government one regi-
ment of cavalry five regiments of infantry
and six batteries of light artillery. The
| winter of 1861 found Us housed in canvas
tents on the bleak and iceclad bills of the
kennebec; themes, in the early Spring of 1862
by months sea-voyage we were trans
planted to the burning sands Of an island OF
the Mississippi; month later saw us fol-
lowing Farragut and Butler TO the conquest
OF that hotbsd of rebsldom, the city of New
Orleans, with a Summer of camp-life ada
cent TO the mSlaris-infected swamps of the
| Mississippi, where, by death and disease,
the regiment became fearfully decimated,
burying moro than 100 of our boys in Lou
lsiana swamps; trip in the Fall for nine
months period of recuperstisn to western
FLORIDA; the return to Louisiana in the
Summer of 1868 for another period of ma
laria-poisoning in enlarged allopathic doses
and with most fatal results; tine Fall of that
year finds US upon q transport feet leading
the advance of q memorable campaign along
the southern coast of Texas, where, in a tenn
pestuous sea-yoyags fraught with imminent
danger, forced marches upon the sea-poundea
beaches of the islands, besieging and captur-
ing rebel fortresses, and hardships and pri-
yations lnnumerable, we were engaged
through the Fall and Winter of 1863 and to
March of 1864. That the boys keenly
reiished that variety of life is evinced by
the fact that while there, and the season of
the Texas Northersn was at its hight,
three-fourths of all present re-enlisted as
veteran volunteers for another three years.
term. In March, 1864, we abandon the
Texas coast, return to Louisiana, skip across
the state to the Opelousas and La Fourche
regions, and engage in that ever-to-be-re-
Inen bered 6OO-miles march, the Banks Red
River expedstIon-a campaign of which it
Is Just to say that for heroic, soldierly work,
the fatlgues of the march, hairbreadth es-
capes, desperate battles fought and loath-
ssme pris0n-life experiences, if not on ac-
count of results attained, it is worthy a
place On the historic page side by side with
the narratIye of that much-written-up cam
paign known as "Sherman's march 10 the
sea-" Feur months of this experience and
we are again making a mysterious sea-yoy-
age, terminating on the Potomac battalion
OF our regi nent reaching Washington at that
eventful period in the history of the war
when Early engaged the Union forces in
battle SO uncomfortsbly near the White
House. 1t joined in the chase with the
Sixth Corps up the Valley, an ex-
ceptionally severe march; and while Sheri-
dan was gathering his forces for the
heroic work of Winchester, Cedar Creek.
and Fishers Hill in the Fall, the re-
enlisted men took their ong-promised
veteran furlough, spending month in
Maine and returning to the Virginia Valley
In October In season to take place az part
and parcel of the Army of the Shenandoah,
where the non-re-enlisted men had remained
all the while. Here the regiment did serv-
ice In the Fall and Winter of 1864 and the
Spring of 1865, being Of the force that was
marching up the Valley in the direction of
Lynchburg when the flag of truce was raised
by the rebel commander preceding the sur
render of his forces to Gen. Grant at Appo- |
mattex. The regiment was also of that |
pageant which marched in the |
Grand Review at Washington at the close of |
the war. But even then its service was not |
as it was Immediately after asked |
to again return to the malaria-infected "a |
giens of the South, spending more than |
year in adventurous service in Georgia and |
South Carolina during the troublous period
between the withdrawal of mill
tary law and the restoration of civil law
bending the setting up of the reconstructed
State Governments. On the 9th of July,
1865, the regiment received its final mus
er-out, and July Is little party Joined its
Lieut.-Col. and Breyet Brig
len. b. b. Murray, In returning to the Gov
'rnor OF Maine the regimental banner we
lad honorably borne for a period of four
Tears, seven months and IL days We re-
all the dreary months of those terribly-de-
Summers In Louisiana and South
jarOlina; those pathetic funeral services at
lamp Parapet and at other points-how.
lay after day and week after week. we
owered the wooden boxes containing the
emains of loved comrades into what little
If earth was found in those fever-cursed
wamps. The record of 24O deaths and 231
disability discharges for 1S61J64, and of SO
leaths and "a disability discharges for our
asst years service-an aggregate of 33S
Ieaths and sos disability discharges-tells
he story of our sacrifices more eloauently
han can words of mine. / need not re-
cunt the achievements of the regiment in
he desperate battles in which it was en-
aged or speak of its gallantry all through
Is long term of service. In every emer-
ency of its long term of service the old 18th
eroically acquitted itself 1t never dis
IGNORED its officers, its State, its country.
Tor valor in battle and fidelity to every SOL
ierly duty its record is unimpeachable
While for patient, enduring, self-sacrifeing
forts in the country's behalf in The days of
hat country's direst peril it is deserving of
place upon the States roll of honor by the
ide of the most ilIustrious of Maine organi-
FL. A. SHOREY, Bridgton, Me.
The 1sthKy.
liver, KY, Dec. 90, 1861, to serve three
ears, and was mustered out Jan. IL, 1865.
oil. Edward III. HObson, the first COM
lander of the regiment, was promoted
General, Nov 80, 1862. He was :
lcceeded by Col. William Z. Hobson. The
,mmand served in Hascall's Division.
wenty-third Corps, and lost eight officers
nd 80 men killed and six officers and 1877
led. I
The Goth Ky
The regiment was organized at Smithland.
~, in January, 1862, for three years, and =
as mustered out Jan. IL, 1866. Lieut.. Col. 8
harles S. Hanson, of this regiment, was
romoted to Colonel OF the 37th Ky. in De-
mber,- 1868. Capt. James w. Craddock =
as made Colonel of the 10th Ky. May 5,
'62 Second Lieut. Wickliffe Cooper be-
me Colonel of the 18th KY. Cav. in May,
'63. Col. Sanders ID. Bruce, who COM
anded the goth KY. when it took the field, A
signed June "a, 1864. When mustered out d
4 II 1