Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-07-13


Nineteenth Maine. 1t was while he
was in command of this regiment
that he received at the, Wilderness,
May 6. 1864, the very serious wound in
his thigh by which he was disabled
from further participation in the war.
OF that battle, General Conner has
left on record, in one of his war pa
pers, a careful, extended account SO
far as that memorable battle came
under his own observation He says
he was wounded late in the forenoon
of May in Longstreet's flank attack
upon the Union line, forcing it to re-
tire down the plank road. With the
on coming Of the enemy, without
aiting for orders because of the
rapid approach of Longstreet's men.
Colonel Connor hurriedly changed
front on his left company, in this
way bringing his regiment on line
with the plank road and only pace
or two from it. Then as soon as the
road was clear of troops belonging
to Union regiments that were falling
back, Colonel Conner ordered his
men to fire. His was the only Union
regiment that was left at that point,
anu just SuCIl SSItlCS was ucSuSu
General Alexander S. Webb, Colonel
Connor's brigade commander, who
was near at the time witnessed this
movement, which not only held up
the enemy, but prevented them from
seeing the rout. While the regiment
was thus in action at close range,
something like a sledge hammer. Cen
eral Conner says, struck his left thigh
and felled him to the ground. One OF
his captains, coming to his assistance,
placed him upon blanket and by the
strong, faithful hands of his men he
was borne to a place of safety for
surgical attention. General Webb, at
the close of the day, carried the story
of Colonel Connor's heroic and ex-
ceedingly valuable action to the head
quarters of the army and on June II
in recognition of the Importance Of
his services on that day. Colonel Con-
nor was made brigadier general of
volunteers.
From the battlefield General Con-
nor was removed to the hospital in
the Gordon house at Fredericksburg
and later to one Of the hospitals in
Washington. There long and weary
months were passed, indeed more
than year, before he could be re-
moved to his home III Maine. The
wounded leg was shortened by the
surgeons, but the wound never closed
and it was only by the use of crutches
that he walked in all his added years.
OF course, during his three years
and more in the army, General Con-
lf,,1
possibilities connected with war SER
vice. But when with this service
ended. he was assured in the hospi-
tai of a new lease of life, what
thoughtful consideration of his future
must have been his as he looked out
upon the world and wondered his flu
ture. The disadvantages under which
his life-worl< henCeforth must be done
could not have escaped the serious
thought of a young man of twenty
five as he faced the limitations under
which he would labor because of his
wilderness wound. No gloomy fore
bodings, however, were allowed to
trouble him. The larger outlook upon
the world which he had secured
awakened and strengthened hope and
for new endeavors In whatever direc-
ton the added years should indicate.
So nigh is grandeur to our dust,
So near is God to man.
When duty whispers low, Thou must,
The youth replies. l can.
When at length his recovery had
been such as permitted him to devote
l.; L.,
General Common in 1868 received an
appointment as assessor of internal
revenue for the third division of
Maine In 1870 the Maine districts
were consolidated and General Con-
nor was made collector of internal
revenue for the state. Having re-
oeived the Republican nomination for
governor of Maine in 1875, as the
successor Of Governor Dingley. he
resigned his collectorship, accepted
the nomination and was elected gov
ernor. SO acceptably did he discharge
the duties Of this high office that he
was twice reelected, and at fourth
election he was not only the nominee
OF his party, but he received the
largest vote Of the three candidates
the legislature electing the Greenback
candidate.
At the close Of his governship
General Conner received from Presi-
cent Arthur an appointment as U. S.
pension agent. From this position he
retired when, after a few years. a
business opportunity in Portland
opened to him. Here he and his fam
lily found an exceedingly pleasant
home, but in 1893 he was again sum-
moned to public service as adjutant
general of Maine, a position that
brought him back to Augusta and
which he retained during the four
years of Governor Cleaves admins
tration. Then he was again made
L. S. pension agent and he continued
in the position until at length the
pension business Of the government
was transferred TO Washington. From
that time until his death General
Conner made Augusta his home, leav-
ing it occasionally, however, for such
public and other duties as were suf-
ficiently alluring to call him forth, or
the conditions of his health permitted.
| With his old army acSocia+oc Gov