The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-02-03
An Historical Sketch of the
Sixth Maine Battery.

The Sixth Maine Battery was recruit
ed in York, Aroostook and Waldo coun-
ties. Capt. Freeman McGilvery of
Searsport was the first commander; first
lieutenant, Edwin B. Dow, Portland;
second lieutenants, Fred A. Morton
of Augusta; and William H. Rog-
ers of Stockton. 1t was organized in
November and December, 1861, and
April LIST was ordered to Washington, D.
c., and arrived there April Sd. The bat
terry consisted of four light 12-pound
brass pieces and two 3-inch rifle pieces.
with about ore hundred and twenty five
men. In this little sketch | shall only
refer to the part taken in the battle of
Gettysburg on the I'd and Sd days.
In the patched-up line to stay the tide
which had rolled the advanced line of
Dan Sickles back from his first position
appeared the Sixth Maine battery, COM
manded by Lieut.. Dow. The battery
at this time consisted of four 12-pound
brass guns, with one hundred and three
men and ninety horses. The battery ar
rived on the field in the early morning of
July I'd. During the first part of the
day the battery was held in reserve and
! the men were anxious spectators of the
struggle between Sickles and Long
street. About six o'clock Lieut.. Dow
was ordered to report to Major Freeman
McGilvery, who commanded the reserve
artillery of the I'd Corps.
All the batteries on the line had moved
off but the Sixth Maine and the 9Th
Phillips, Mass. McGilvery, whose brav-
cry and sagacity were valuable at this
hour, directed Dow to hold the position
at all hazards until requirements could
be brought up The Sixth Maine and its
officers were equal to the demand of the
hour and their chief. The Sixth Maine
and 9Th Massachusetts used grape and
canister upon the enemy with such pre-
cision and rapidity that the line could
not advance and had to retire. 1t was
about O'Clock p. m. when the enemy
was repulsed. The Sixth had expended
one hundred and forty rounds of am
munition. Before the battery left the
field Lieut.. Dow and his men brought
seven guns from the field left by other
batteries and not carried off by the
enemy.
The morning of July Bird, having re-
paired damages and received new sup
ply of ammunition, Capt. Dow again re-
ported to Major McGilvery, who was at
| that time bringing into line all the re-
serve batteries under his command on
Cemetery ridge, knowing full we'll there
was where the enemy would make
their last charge to break through the
Union line. Tbirty-nine guns were
placed to meet Pickett's charge. In
front Of those guns slight earthwork
was thrown up to protect the men sup
porting the guns. At the rear was the
End Corps and some of the 3rd. About
l o'clock the enemy opened upon the
Union center with about one hundred
and fifty guns. 1t was the memorable
cannonade that preceded Pickett's
charge. Soon McGilvery's guns began
a slow but well directed fire on some of
the single batteries most in view. Some
of them were driven to the rear before
the enemy came il sight.
About 8 o'clock Picketts division came
into view, aiming directly for McGilverys
batteries. Two Of his brigades never
reached the Union lines. The McGilvery
batteries poured such whitening fire
that the enemy never succeeded in get
ting within musket range. McGilvery
trained Dow's Sixth Maine battery upon
the advance of Pickett's men. No forest
interviewed in the even plain and the
cannoneers of the Sixth moved the
enemy down like grass before the sythe.
One brigade reached the Union line and
came over the stone wall, where they
met more of the boys from Maine. It
was all over in short time and the
battle of Gettysburg was won.
The original time of service of the
Sixth Maine battery expired Dec. 81,
1864, but it re-enlisted for three years.
Capt. Dow was discharged for disability
and Lieut.. William H. Rogers of Stock
ton was commissioned captain and COM
manded the battery until it was muster
ed out of service June II, 1865, at Au-
gusta.
Capt. McGilvery, after his promotion
to field Office, was for some time in COM
mand of the First Brigade of Artillery,
Army of the Potomac. He was daring
and successful officer and distinguished
himself at the battle of Gettysburg. At
the time of his death he commanded one
hundred guns. He was wounded in the
hand at Deep Baton and it was neces-
sary to administer chloroform to ampu-
tate. He did not survive the operation.
Thus ended the life of noble soldier.
Capt. Rogers took command of the bat
terry, making as gallant record for him
self as its former commanders had made,
returning after it's muster out to his for
mer home in Stockton.
Freeman McGilvery was one of the
| many noble volnp men of Searsnort who