The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-02-16
armies had surged furiously 10 and fro

armies had surged furi0usly b and fro
and each had been driven by the other.
At this moment the rebels were at bay
all along the line. The Union troops
for the second or third time had nearly
reached the enemy's works and had
paused for moment to take breath
and gather strength for the final
charge. The pause was fatal to victory.
That it did not bring defeat to the
| Union army, let us be thankful. The
enemy, quick to take advantage of a
weakness, suddenly struck our left
, flank and threw it into a panic. A
whole division, six thousand or more
panlc-stricken men, were rushing to the
rear like frightened sheep. 1t was in
deed dark day for the Stars and
Stripes. The tide of the battle for ten
minutes or more had been setting most
fearfully against them. What could
save the day? The 10th Maine was re-
plenishing itself with ammunition at
this time. A whole division Of Union
troops were coming down the road with
| a rebel division close at their heels. As
the Federals passed where the 10th
Maine lay and the rebels came at close
range, Col. Connor wheeled his regi-
ment parallel to the road and delivered
vOlley after volley into the rebel divi-
sion. Never did line of battle change
front more opportunity. and seldom, it
ever, was volley delivered of more
telling effect. The enemy faltered,
half dismayed at the ambush they
thought they had been led into. 1t
was difficult for their officers to keep
them from fleeing. They felt we had been
playing one of our tricks by retiring,
and by the slaughter in their ranks
thought they had met whole division.
The check was complete, and in the
meantime the Union line was reform
ed and the day was saved. Never was
brief period of time more valuable
to the Union forces, and this by hand
full of men, less than three hundred,
who threw into confusion whole rebel
division; but not without cost. Col.
Conner was borne from the field Grip
pie for life and narrowly escaped cap
ture by the enemy.
If we had known at the time what
great service we had rendered we
should have felt better Our losses had
been fearful. We went back few
rods where we found some muddy wa
ter and there we ate our dinner. This
must have been three or four o'clock in
the afternoon. Then we started to find
the remainder of the brigade. 1t was
but short distance, perhaps mile,
yet we were so weary from the excite
ment and labors of the day that it was
with difficulty we could get along.
How much | would have given to
have gotten out of that. | own up to
those things now, because | think the
truth should be told. l am little curl
Gus to know if all who went into bat
tie felt as l did, and this may induce
some one to speak. | have heard so
many times that honesty is the best pol
icy thought would like to test it and
see what would come out of it.
After dark we drank some coffee, and
then wrapped in our rubber blankets
laid down to rest, and if possible to
sleep. Our bodies were too weary to
rest, and our minds were fitting away
through the forests in front and fight
ing the battles of the day over and over
again until late at night. Troops were
marching by us all night, asking us
what regiment? and we would reply,
Nineteenth Maine, when one of them
called out, chow about that frying
pan," abiding to the frying pan story l
told in the early history of the regi-
ment. At that we all laughed, and that
made us feel better and we went to
sleep. From that time forward it was
fighting, skirmishing and marching
most of the time until the surrender of
Lee. Most of our commanders had
been served as Col. Conner had been
Col. Welch at Spottsylvania, Col, Fog
Ter and Col Starbard at High Bridge.
In the year 1864 the losses of the 10th
Maine were: killed and wounded, 1O1;
wounded, not fatally, 300; taken prison.
ers, 1873; total, 533 out of GA.
left the 10th Maine in 1864 to take up
services in the Veteran Reserve Corps.