The Republican journal., 1908-09-17
The l4th Maine Regiment.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES OF COLONEL
GARDNER.

At the recent meeting at Rlverton OF
the Maine Commandery of the Legion
of Honor very interesting paper on
sePersonal Experiences with the 14th
Maine Volunteers from 1861 to 1865,
was read by Col Ira B. Gardner. Col.
Gardner began by saying that the 14th
Maine Regiment left Augusta about
Feb. /, 1862, under the command OF
Col. Frank S. Nickerson, as a part OF
Gen. Buffers army. to capture New
Orleans and assist in opening the Miss
issippi river. The writer of the paper
was IS wears of aye and was orderly
sergeant of Co. /, which was the right
company of the regiment. The regl-
ment embarked at Boston on the sail
ing vessel North America, arriving at
Ship Island Miss, about a month later.
Continuing. the colonel said: "Here we
remained about four weeks, drilling and
getting accustomed to camp life. Cen
J, W. Phelps had command Of our bu
pade and as 1t was our first experience
in brigade drill, the general, who was
an old regular army officer, sometimes
lost his temper at the ignorance of our
officers. had been promoted to second
lieutenant i'll April and first lieutenant
in June, On Gen. Buffers approach
the rebels had burned, disabled or hid
den in the bayouS most of the river
boats. leaving him without tranSporta-
tiCn. Learning from a colored man
that one of the steamboats, had been
sent no the river and run into Plaque
mine BAYOU. about 100 miles up the
Mississippi. | was sent with my COM
papy. am engineer and a member OF
Gen. Buffers staff to recover the steam
er. We found the steamer and with the
aid of some colored men we also found
some OF the missing parts of the engine
which had been buried or hung up IN
trees. and before daylight had stea IN
up and run the steamer back INTO tne
Mississippi The captured steamer dld
good service in the movement OF troops
and supplies.
"Whiie in New Orleans we were en-
camped in Lafayette square, dong
guard duty and searching for concealed
government property. Gen. Butler and
Gen. Shepley, military governor, had
headquarters in the st. Charles hotel.
The morning papers announced one
morning that Gen. Butler and Gen.
Sheplev would address the citizens that
evening from the balcony OF the MOTEL
on the policy of the government. Fear
ing trouble, | took position in door
way opposite the hotel. quite early: The
streets became packed with people Tor
several blocks and when the hour ar,
rived Gen. Shepley came forward ana
explained the policy of the United
States government, with the eVldent
purpose of encouraging mon Senti-
ment. When he had finished he retired.
Gen Butler came forward, bowed ana
at once stepped back. | thought then
and am still of the same opinion, that
he would have been shot if he had given
the opportunity" Col. Gardner at this
POINT told of the landing at Baton
Rouge and going into camp. Shortly
after Brig. Gen. Williams, who was in
command, issued an order that all COL
ored people except those necessary Tor
the officers servants, should be expelled
from the camps. This order was not
obeyed by Col, Halbert E. Paine of the
4th Wisconsin, who argued that ii the
colored people were expelled from the
camp they were virtually returned to
their masters.
In a graphic manner Col Gardner
spoke of the battle which took place, in
which he was commended for what he
did in railying men Oh the right wing
of the regiment. The 14Jh Maine, with
the lst Indiana, bore the brunt of the
rebel attack and the loss of the former
regiment WAS SO killed and 50 wounded.
of the IndIanianS "a were killed, 9s
wounded and four missing. The 9th
Michigan. which was sent to the assist
ance of the DIST Indiana. lost - killed,
II wounded and six missing. The total
loss in the engagement Was $50. inns
was the first engagement IN Which the
l4th Maine took part. Breckenridge
reported his casualties at 467 and he re-
lied upon the ram Arkansas to come to
his assistance, but owing to the break
ing of some of her machinery she was
run ashore about four miles above
Baton Rouge and later was blown up.
Our naval force was expecting her and
was prepared to meet her, but her fail
ure to appear enabled them to render
the Union troops some assistance.
Had the Arkansas been aole to do what
Gen. breckenridge expected of her, the
result of the battle might have been
very different. Aug. 9th was devoted to
burying the dead aud getting back into
camp again. Col. Cahill, the senior
officer after the death OF Gen. Will
liams, said in his report of the battle
that for his efforts in building up his
regiment, the most serious task of a
commander, and, his conduct in the
field. Col. Nickerson of the 14th Maine
deserved the highest praise.
Col Gardiner paid d high tribute to
Col. Halbert E. Paine, who was releas-
ed from arrest and sent to Baton Rouge
after the death of Gen. Williams, say
ing that he was a scholar and gentle
man. One had only to know him to
love him. Col. Paine made an appeal
from Gen. Cutters order to burn the
town and evacuate it, and was success
full to that extent that Butler was in
duced to countermand the order to
burn. Col. Gardner remained on the
staff of Col. Paine until about Nov.
/. when on account of the resignation
of his captain he was promoted to that
position and ordered TO his regiment.
He spoke of Col. Billy Wilson's famous
New York regiment, saying that they
had not long been on shore after JOIN
ing his brigade before they were a
drunken mob, while he was called on
to preserve order. He commenced to
arrest them and lock them up and by
night he had 10 of the regiment In Jail.
From his experiences with the regl-
ment it seemed that they were not sent
to the war to help put down the rebel
sir nf