The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-03-14
The 18th Maine Regiment.
A BRIEF SKETCH OF ITS VARIOUS
ENGAGEMENTS,

ENGAGEMENTS.
The death of General I. w. Starbird
recalls some of the important events in
connection with the history of the 10th
Maine Regiment, in which he served as
captain. The regiment was mustered
into the service at Bath, Aug. 25, 1862,
| for three years, or during the war. 1t
left Bath, Aug. q, under the command
of Col. Sewell, who had seen service
under Gen. 0. O. Howard. The regi-
ment arrived in Washington on the
afternoon of the Goth and the next day
crossed the Potomac and was assigned
for duty in the forts to protect Wash
ington. On the 30th of September the
regiment left the forts to join the Army
of the Potomac at Harper's Ferry, and
was assigned to the 1st Brigade, End
Corps. On the 3Oth of October it left
Harper's Ferry for Warrenton, Va,
reaching that place Nov. 9th, and on
the 18th marched to Falmouth, arriving
there the 18th.
vi GiC llCil VI DCSClAUCl Vic lCSl-
ment marched down the river opposite
Fredericksburg and that afternoon
crossed the Rappahannock into the city
of Fredericksburg. About noon, Dec
18th, with the rest of the brigade,
was ordered to charge Marye's Heights.
The regiment was hardly four month
from home, mostly green country boys,
and what we saw and went through in
the succeeding twelve hours will al
ways remain. Although As years have
come and gone. the events of that day
remain fresh in memory. The brigade
was formed in columns by regiments,
the 10th leading. The regiment march
ed on to the field close in front of the
rebel works. The boys frightened up
their belts. Some wrote their names
and number of the regiment on little
slips of paper and pinned them to their
clothing that they might be known if
left on the field. While standing there
in line the 18th Massachusetts, LIST Min
nesota and SD New York were in our
rear, not more than ten feet apart,
waiting for the word to 60. The rebels
opened raking fire from their works
in our front and the men then dropped
to the ground, and the 10th being in the
lead was somewhat protected by little
rise in the ground in our immediate
front. The other regiments had no
protection and what we saw in few
moments will never be forgotten, by
the writer at least. One shell which
passed over my company and seeming
ly not more than three feet above, ex-
ploded in the regiment in our rear, kill
ing twelve men and wounding many
more. 1t took the whole company. We
laid there from about noon until mid
night, when we were recalled. A more
trying position the regiment was never
placed in, as we had to lie there and
think where the next shell would
strike.
The night of the 18th the regiment
recrossed the river and marched back
to the same ground, where we broke
camp on the morning of the 18th and
built winter quarters. Feb. 21st, Col.
Sewell resigned and Lieut. Col. Heath
took command. That long cold winter
on the hill we shall never forget. 1t
cost the regiment over one hundred
good men by sickness-more than it
lost in any one battle it was engaged
in. The suffering there l know some
thing about, for 1 was one of the num-
Der carried to the regimental hospital,
which was nothing but canvas tent
with scarcely any fire and tallow can
die for light. The only covering was
single blanket and an overcoat. J.
came out and joined the regiment wheu
it started for Gettysburg June Is, 1868.
On the goth we crossed the old Bull
Run battlefield and on the 25th crossed
the Potomac at Edwards Ferry. We
had one man killed in a skirmish
with Stewards cavalry. July LIST the
regiment marched 80 miles with 80
rounds Of ammunition and eight days
rations = quite load on hot day.
About midnight we camped within two
miles of the battlefield of Gettysburg,
and early next morning the regiment
took position near the center of the
line of battle, the End Corps being held
in reserve. OF the part taken by the
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