Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-08-21
OF THE
G. ALL A n T 18TH
MAINE REGIMENT
Annual Reunion Will Be Held on
Wednesday, Aug. 26, with
Comrades at Clinton

Waterville Me-, Aug. 20-(SpeciaD
An event that is being looked for
ward to ~ Grand Army veterans all
over the State of Maine is the re-
union of the 10Th Maine Regimental
Association, which is to be held Aug.
26 at Clinton. Veterans from all
over the State, survivors of the 10Th
and the many battles in which she
participated will a~E19le in the quiet
little town TO celebrate the renewing
of old comradeships and to experience
the sensation of again being shoulder
to shoulder with the same men who
stood side by side in the great rebel
lion.
Captain Silas Adams of this city,
perhaps one of the most active Grand
Army veterans in Maine, is taking a
very conspicuous part in the task of
assembling the old soldiers. Captain
!, Adams is a historian of no mean cali
ber and his historical sketches have
entertained and enlightened many OF
the citizens of Maine. The history of
| the 18th Maine is remarkable one in
more ways than one, and in view of
| the approaching reunion, Captain
Adams consented to write the follow
| ing brief sketch of the regiment, es-
pecially for the Kennebec Journal
readers:
Sketch of the 10Th Maine Regiment.
AS time in its rapid flight, measur
| ing its increasing distance between
the date of the Civil War and the
| present, we find the masses of our
people are forgetting about that great
event that stirred this country from
| center to circumference and brought
millions of men into the field, armed
and equipped and during the four
years of conflict the world saw the
most severe fighting and the severest
| losses ever known in the worlds his
| tory. AS a people we are drifting
away from those eventful times as
only a remarkable chapter in our his
tory. In a retrospective view, in
| turning back the pages of history let
us review the history of the 18th Me.
Regt., one which was raised in Knox,
Lincoln, Waldo, Sagadahoc, Kennebec
and Somerset counties. The organi-
cation consisted of 80 officers and 969
men and rendezvoused at Bath the
first days in August. 1852 The COM
Ing together of this homogeneous
company of young men from all walks
and trades of life had to be moulded
into a regiment. or fighting machine,
that could quickly be put to the bat
tie front in few days. They were
young men. Yes. the average age
was twenty and one-half years; the
younger being II and the older 35
years, very few above 80. Every
i i
and the boys who came to camp in
their latest style of garment and 9TH
ers in working clothes were obliged to
exchange them for the army blue of
the most unique pattern and sublime
fit. AS soons as we had learned some
of the rudiments of Caseys tactics
they made ready to go to the front.
On August 20, 1852, the regiment was
formally mustered into the u. S. SER
vice. Two days later the regiment
left the old campground early in the
morning end marched to the depot at
Bath and boarded the train for
Washington, d. c. Thousands of
people from the city and surrounding
towns met them thus early to shake
hands and give the parting blessing to
their relatives and friends. Many
blessings were bestowed upon them
for the last time. Many were left
buried and unburied on many battle
fields. Many died in Rebel prisons,
while others suffered by wound and
died in hospitals. The regiment ar.
rived in Washington, D. c., August 30,
and marched over the long bridge to
Arlington and there they plainly heard
the battle raging at Bull Run and
Chantilly. the mighty explosions from
the artillery and volleys of musketry
and it did not carry much joy to their
patriotic hearts. The regiment march
ed up the hill and then it marched
down again. across long bridge over
to the east branch into the forts,
remaining there until Sept. 20 drilling
on heavy artillery. Our next move.
Sept. 80, was to Boliver Height at
Harpers Ferry and was assigned to
the LIST Brigade, I'd Division. I'd A. C.
On Oct. Goth the Corps started from
here and marched down the Louden
Valley, reaching Falmouth, opposite
Fredericksburg Nov. 18th. Dec. IL
the regiment crossed the river on q