The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-06-01
5OTH Anniversary
OF THIRD MAINE
Will Be Observed In
Hallowell June 5
This Is known as the Famous Fight.
ing Regiment and Won Many Laur.
els.

ne 5Smt-ceHteHHidi OF the depart
ure of that splendid fighting regiment,
the Third Maine Infantry, from the
State capital to the front, will occur
Monday, June 5, 1911. The survivors
of that regiment will hold their an
nual reunion at Hallowell on that
day to celebrate the event that means
so much to them.
On the morning of June 5, 1861, this
regiment, the first one of Names
three years regiments, broke camp in
front of the State house and marched
to the capital where the men were ad-
dressed by Governor Washburn. Col.
o. o. Howard, in command of the
regiment, responded briefly to the ad-
dress then proceeded to the station
where train was in waiting to take
the regiment on it's destined way to
the nations capital.
AS these thousand young men gath
cred as they were from the homes of
the Kennebec valley, proudly march
ed from the State house to the sta
ton on that splendid June morning,
the streets were lined with citizens,
many of whom were near relatives of
the men in the ranks, who came to
bid them lasting farewell. AS the
train started to roll out from the sta
ton there were affecting scenes en-
acted when sons and brothers and
young husbands were forced to push
their mothers and sisters and wives
from their embrace lest it be too late
for them to leave the cars.
The Third Maine was the first regi-
ment to march through Baltimore af-
ter the trouble occurred with the
Massachusetts Sixth. Col. Howard
had given instructions to the cap
tains of the companies to march by
platoons at the right distance so that
they could wheel into line and open
fire at a moments notice if attacked
There were Confederate flags waving
and hurrahs for Davis and the
Southern Confederacy but no brick
bats were hurled nor hostile shots
fired as there were when the Massa-
chusetts Sixth marched over the same
route. Col. Howard had warned the
mayor of the city that if any of his
men were injured he should return
the same by ordering the regiment to
give battle to the enemy right in the
streets of Baltimore.
The third Maine reached Washing
ton on the night of June g. and the
next day went into camp on Meridian
hill, north of the city, July 6, ii cross
ed the Potomac into Virginia. The
regiment received It's first baptism of
fire in the battle of Bull Run July
81, and followed it up through all the
campaigns of the army of the Poto-
mac until the three years expired
June 4, 1864.
The following are the general bat
ties in which the Third Maine bore a
conspicuous part during it's three
years service: First Bull Run, Siege
of Yorktown Williamsburg, Fair
Oaks, Oak Grove, Charles City Cross
Roads, White Oak Swamp, Malvern
Hill, Second Bull Run, Chantilly,
Monocacy, Fredericksburg, Chancel-
lOreu;lIo Cottyeb,,ro Nynnnino lIiobtc
Autumn Mills, Kelley's Ford, Orange
Grove, Mine Run. The Wilderness,
Spotsylvania, North Anna and Cold
Harbor.
The terrific battle of Cold Harbor
was fought June 3, the day before its
term of service expired and some
we're killed and wounded on the very
last day of their service.
The records show that the third
Maine had 134 men killed on the bat
tlefleld and stands well up to the
front among the Three Hundred
Fighting Regiments"
1t is estimated that not over 100,
or one in ten, of the one thousand
who left Augusta fifty years ago are
now living, and only fifty or sixty will
be able to muster at the approaching
reunion. The following are the sur
yivors who reside in Skowhegan and
went to the front with the regiment:
w. H. Weston. Jefferson Savage, Sam
uel F. Emerson, d. F. Fish and Simon
Grover. They are planning to attend
the fftieth anniversary at Hallowell
June ), and will make a visit to the
grounds where they broke camp on
that to them, eventful morning