Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-31
men to advance or men to stand, there

men to advance or men to stand, there
20" viii see the grani'e from over our
Maine hills marking the spot where i
Maine regiment advanced or a Maine
regiment stood.
| Over there to the West, on Seminary
Ridge, where the first days conflict be-
gan you will see The monuments of
,, Halls I'd Battery, Stevens 5th Battery
and the tall slender ohel;sk of the 18th
Maine.
~ little ful Their on IS 4 modest tablet
of the 10th that marks heroism as great
and courage as steadfas- as made i'm
mortal that little band of Spartans at
old Theomopylae. 1t was four O'Clock
| in the afternoon. Largely outnumbered
and almost surrounded by the Con-
federates the order was given for our
forces to retire to Cemetery Hill. But
to aid that retreat son,e regiment must
be sacrificed. The Division Command
er rode up to Col. Tilden and gave the
order to advance and hold that posi-
lt'On at any COST
The officers of the 18TH knew what
that meant; they We're advancing to
certain capture or certain death. But
not a man f,inohed. .'he advance was
made, the position taken, while the
other regiments were IN retreat. The
Confederate forces Swarmed upon them
in front and on the flank and i'm twenty
minutes it was over. OF the 275 officers
and men that entered tine battle. the
brave remnant of the J00O strong that
left this city less than a year before. r.
men were killed or wounded and 159
were taken prisoners. Less than 40
Ifoun1 their way back to Cemetery hill
where our line of battle was reformed
that evening. Col. Tldan was asked to
surrender. 1t was inevitable and he
plunged his sword into the ground and
broke it at the hilt. A rebel officer
sprang to seize the colOrs which are
dearer to soldier than life itself. In
an instant the boys in order to save
them from capture tore them from
their slaves and divided the pieces
among themselves. They carried them
in their captivity TO Libby prison.
treasured them as precious relics and
today i'm the home of many an old SOL
der Of that gallant regiment you will
find a star or bit Of faded silk that is
as true a badge of heroism as the Cross
of Victoria or of the Legion of Honor.
Look at the scene of the second days
conflict. when with lines reformed the
battle was renewed. Where is Maine
Out there in the famous peach orchard
where the fatal angle was formed is
the Sd Regiment under Lakcman; to
the left in the wheatfield. where the
great Reaper YVES gathering rich ha--
vest that day, was the 18th under Mer-
rill; down in Devils Den. well named
too. was the 4th under Walker; back
on Cups Hill was the 5th Maine Bat
terry. doing such noble service that the
name of its commander, Maj Stevens, |
has been given to the spot where it |
stood. while struggling for the mastery
of what proved TO be the key to the |
situation, Little Round Top was the |
10th under the gallant Chamberlain.
The second day had ended and still |
the battle had not been won by either |
side. The respcctives4prces had retired, |
Lee to Seminary Ridge, Meade to Gem
ctcrv Ridge.
The afternoon of the third day sees |
the two great armies facing each other |
for the last and fatal grapple. Each |
seemed to realize it. Two hours of ter |
rifle cannonading are followed by a |
deathlike stiffness. and then issuing |
from the Confederate lines on Seminal |
ry Ridge and making straight for the |
Union center on Cemetery Ridge, |
across that beautiful valley mile in |
width. is seer through the dissolving |
clouds of smoke the very flower OF the |
Southern army. That charge of Pick
EFT will go down to posterity alongside |
tho cha Of ho iCh pvip ond. |
though the men who made it were then
our enemies, simple justice must rec
ognize the valor and the brilliancy of |
their Iced. But kinsmcn OF equal valnr |
stood ready tn meet them. Column af-
ter column Of the advancing host was
swept down. tut others took their place
and the advance continued close up to
our very guns. W len after fierce hand
to hand struggle the tide was turned
the COnfe,' erate forces were repulsed
and driven back across the valley, and
the INVASION of Northern soil was
stayed. There, today. near the umbrel
IL like copse Of trees on Cemetery
Ridge stands beautiful monument
rected by all the states whose soldiers
bore a part in that final onset. an open
hook Of bronze resting on a granite
tase, and fixing TIE high water mark
Of the Rebellion. The State Of Maine
Is there; and close by Is the monu-
ment OF the 18th. which under Col.
Heath of Waterville, was in the thick
.st Of the fight.
Other organizations from Maine took |.
,art in that memorable battle and an II
,ppreciative State has placed a monu-
nent in commemoration Of each.