Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-03-20
Editors Letter Box
The 6th Maine Battery.
Editor Kennebec Journal:

The sth Maine Battery.
Editor Kennebec Journal:
In your issue Of March 7th, current,
Capt. Stevens has taken UP a large
space to correct a mistake of date in
a letter written by me to the National
Tribune and published therein on Dec.
10th. 1915. My letter was in reply to a
letter published in the National Tribune
Sept. End, which was as follows:
Editor National Tribune: Please
give record Of the 5th Me. Bat.-Henry
Turner, Mercer, Me-. r. F. D. /.
This battery. called Stevens's Bat
terry. was organized at Augusta, Me-
Dec. 4. 1861. and mustered out some
time between June II and July s. 1866.
1t was commanded by Capt. Greenleaf
T. Stevens all through its service. be-
longed to Robinson's Division. First
Corps, and lost 18 killed and II from
disease, etc. 1t took active part in the
following battles: Charlottesville,
Gettysburg, Wilderness. Spotsylvania,
Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Cedar Creek.
Opequan, Fishers Hill, etc.-Editor
National Tribune"
This statement being called to my
attention, l wrote to the Editor Of the
National Tribune as follows:
Editor National Tribune: In your
issue Of Sept. I noticed an inquiry rs
to the record of the 5th Me. Battery
and your reply to the same. l should
like to add few facts to, and also
make a correction in your letter. You
state that this battery was command
ed by Capt. Greenleaf T. Stevens all
through its service, and in correcting
this should like to quote few para
graphs from the 'Adjutant Generals
Report of Maine for 1854 as follows:
1T was during this year (1S64) (this
date should have been 1869 that the
battery took part in the battle Of Chan
cellorsville, where, in an open field
and officers faced the most destructive
fire that could be put forth from three
Of the enemy's batteries. at distance
Of less than 700 yards. The battery
was carefully and effectively worked
until of four officers Capt. Leppien was
mortally wounded, six men killed, %
wounded, 40 horses killed or disabled
and the ammunition in the timber ex-
hausted. 1t was also during this year
that the battery took such a prominent
part in the battle of Gettysburg, oc-
cupying several prominent positions.
Capt. Stevens was wounded the second
day of this battle, and the battery was
in charge Of Lieut.. Whittier the re-
mainder Of the battle. At the close of
this battle the battery was again left
with but one officer unwounded, many
men killed and taken prisoners.
at was a source of much happiness
to Capt. Leppien. after he was wound
ed, to know that Of all the batteries In
the army mentioned in General Orders
for proficiency and correctness of drill.
his Leppien's 5th Me. } stood first in
the list, and whatever 1t may have ac-
complished for itself and the honor of
the State, may be considered direct
result Of his (Capt. Leppien's) constant
care. labor and study.
Capt. Leppien came to Augusta in
November, 1861, and on the 18th of the
same month, was commissioned Cap
tain Of the 5th Me. Battery Of Mounted
Artillery. In his Is months service in
the field he more than fulfilled the
most sanguine anticipations Of those
who knew him best. His reputation
was such that in the openly declared
opinion of the Chief of Artillery Of the
Army of the Potomac. No better bat
terry than Leppiens could be found in
the United States service, either volun-
teer or regular For considerable pc
riod Capt. Leppien filled the position
of Chief Of Artillery to Gen. Ricketts,,
and Gov. Coburn commissioned him
Colonel of the Maine Artil-
lery, March 26. 1853"
WILLIAM B. WEBER,
5th Maine Battery,
Chestnut Hill, Mass.
The letter from which l made my
quotations is found in the Adjutant-
Generals report on pages 81 ard 62,
and was dated Jan. 9, 1864. and l ne
elected to change the date as l should
have done in referring to the battles.
but outside Of this one mistake I fail
to find that Capt. Stevens has pointed
out any errors of statement in my let
ter.
1t was not to tell what I did in the
war but to give every man a square
deal that was asked to write the let
ter of Dec. 10th in the National Trib-
une, and have received a splendid let
ter from one Of the boys" thanking me
for it.
consider that Capt. Leppien was
one Of the best of officers and one Of
the best of citizens. There is In the
same report of the Adjutant General
over full page of eloquent eulogy Of
him. the last paragraph of which I will
quote.
"He sleeps in a hero's grave His life
was short. but 1t was long enough to fill
up the full measure of true greatness.
Possessed Of all that could make this
world desirable-wealth, culture, social
position. grace of bearing. manly beauty.
personal popularity.-he yet accounted
them all as. nothing, and freely gave
himself to the cause which he regarded
as the highest and holiest.
"Such life. however brief, was made
full and perfect by such death. Let us
remember him with JOY and gratitude.
and in after years when in story and song
shall be told the brave deeds Of the
brave men of this great era. let no child
in Maine forget the youthful hero. who
on the bloody heights Of the Rappahan-
mock. laid down is life in defending the
~ A.