Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-12-02


lHeath's directions, but the stuff of the
men who could under such conditions
accomplish so delicate and difficult
feat without losing their formation.
After resuming our original lines we
had orders to fix bayonets, and theil
came the ringing order from Col.
| Heath to the front, and OH the resi-
ment started like a tornado, yelling all
the time at the top of our voices, cap
turing many prisoners, two STANDS OF
| aolors. three pieces Of artillery ana
four cassions. The cannon and cas-
| sions were among the captures OF the
enemy from the 3rd corps.
| The regiment did not stop at the guns
hit kent right on and when nearly to
tho road we were overtaken by an aid
we supposed from Gen. Hancock's staff
and demanded of Col. Heath where he
was going. Col. Heath replied, 1--WE
are chasing the rebels" the aid eau
toned him to go no further as he would
be captured When we stopped the
right wing could not have been more
than four rods from the road as the
regiment struck the road at an angle.
| In charging across the field no other
troops assisted or fired again. 1t was
the 10Th Maine regiments fight, ex-
| clusivay.
AS it began to grow dark so our
movements could not be plainly seen
| The regiment retired taking the three
12-pounders (brassl were captured and
four cassions, and hauled them back
to our lines to about the place we
charged from. When we returned we
of infantry the
position we had left an hour before.
When the regiment appeared upon
the scene with the three guns and four
cassions the whole line went wild with
cheers and enthusiasm for the 18th
Maine for their brilliant charge and
capture. Congratulations poured i'll
thick and fast
After our return the regiment took
up position in rear of the new lines
of troops, and lay down to get some
sleep with our ranks badly torn, as the
rCll call showed our loss to be about
1876 There was no further disturbance
that night. The next morning the regi-
ment was moved to the right about
SIS rods little to the south of the
copse of trees. About sunrise Co. B., f.,
D., and E., were detailed and sent up
on the skirmish line in front of our
division under Capt. FOlger of Co. u.
We moved to the right and then out
toward the Emmettsburg Road at Bat
tallion front and nearly reaching that
road halted and took distance by the
left flank. After deploying we lay
down flat and commenced business as
skirmishers. To say these four COM
panies had a severe and terrible day
out there is putting it very mildly
for no man could raise his head with
out receiving a compliment from the
enemies skirmish line, and I dare say
we made it fully as uncomfortable for
them
The heat in the glaring sun was in
tolerable and we had been without
food and water since the morning be-
fore.
The regiment remained quiet during
the day waiting and watching to see
what the day would bring forth, so the
time wore away anXiously until l p.
m. when the Confederates broke up
the quietude by the opening of about
$40 cannon on our center, mainly on
our division, forming one continuous
battery, laundering their showers Of
shot and shell into our lines.
All we had to do was to flatten out
little thinner and our empty stomachs
did not prevent that. About 8 p. m. the
fire on the Confederate line ceased,
ours already having been suspended by
order of Gen. Hunt to let the guns cool
and get ready for the coming storm. 1t
now rad become perfect stiffness, al
most like quiet Sabbath morning. 1t
was nearly 10 minutes before the Con-
federate infantry came in view. Pion-
GERS proceeded them and 1evelied the
fences on the Emmettsburg Road so
| their lines were not broken in cross
| ing. except a small section thrown out
at the Cadora House.
We were pretty thoroughly cooked
through when the enemy came near us
we rose and started for the rear and I
can speak only of my own experiences
| in my attempting to walk. 1 found l
| had no use of my legs having lain so
long they had become numbed or para
| lyzed but in a few minutes they got
into order so l could trudge slowly to
the rear. Most of the men fired about
two rounds in the retreat.
| The enemy did not respond. They
could not have been over eight rods be-
| hind us, SO near that our own officers
in our own lines, called us to come in
quickly so they could fire. Some por-
! tions of our line fired on us thinking
us to be the rebel skirmishers. 1t has
| been stated that Pickett's division was
preceded by cloud of SkirmiShers.
This I think is a mistake as the men
of the four companies saw no skirmish-
ers only what were already on the skir-
| mish line, and they were absorbed in
| to the main body of troops as they
came up or remained on their own
! lines.
will give Col. Heath's version from
| his manuscript: when Picket got
within range we opened upon him but
| his line of march struck the End brig
adc Of our division which gave away
| IN Jer the shock. I Immediately put
the 10Th Maine in motion for the gap
cut it was impossible for to get them
in any order. Everyone wanted to be
first there. We went up more like a
mob than a disciplined force. Howev-
err, we got there and in time helped
stop the invasion"