Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-06-04
OLD THIRD
CONTINUED from Page one)

Yorktown, Charlottesville. Fair
Oaks, Fredericksburg. and Gettys-
burg. In % engagements, out OF a
total enrolment of 1856 men 1t SUI
fered in killed and MORALLY and oth-
erwise wounded 4Ss. and SO more died
in Confederate prisons.
The Journal is indebted to DR.. VIII
liam McDavid, secretary -treasurer, OF
the Third Maine Regiment Assoeia-
ton, for the following most interest
ing account of the Third Maine Regi-
ment:
Sixty years ago at this time, less
than a month after the firing on Fort
Sumpter, there was encamped on the
State grounds in front of the state
House, a regiment which afterwards
distinguished itself as being classed
as one of the 100 fighting regiments
Of the Civil War. This was the Third
Maine Regiment. commanded by COL
Oliver o. Howard afterwards major
generaD. The regiment was COM
posed of Kennebec boys, from Show
hogan to Bath. Augusta had two
companies: Co. r, commanded by
Capt. Henry G. Staples and Co. l,
Capt Moses B. Lakeman.
"Of the 100 men of Company b who
left Augusta, only three are left, N. L.
Folsom, Frank White and myself.
The 4th of June the regiment was
mustered into the U. 8. service, and
early in the morning of the 5th left
Augusta for Washington. On the way
up State street, the regiment halted at
the Augusta House and was address
ed by Gov Washburn. Then led by
the old Augusta Band, playing The
Girl Left Behind Me- we marched
down Grove street and Rines Hill, at
the foot of which we entrained.
THAT afternoon we reached Boston
and received our first meal away
from home on Boston Common, the
ladies. as in Il later war, providing
the good things. That night we were
on the Fall River boat and reached
New York in the morning. | think
the proudest day of my life was
when marching down Broadway with
a thousand comrades, we were cheer
ed by tens Of thousands of New York
citizens, our band still playing The
Girl 1 Left Behind Me l guess it
was the only tune they knew.
Arrived in Philadelphia, we we're
met as usual by the good ladies with
sandwiches and coffee. Then the
Third left Maine, the boys did not
expect to do any fighting until they
reached Virginia, but in Philadel-
pria we learned that we were the
first regiment to pass through Balti-
more after the Massachusetts Sixth.
That regiment was assaulted by an
angry mob and there the first blood
in the war between the states. was
shed. We were ordered to load our
guns preparatory TO our march
through Baltimore for we all believed
we would be attacked
Arrived in Baltimore. We took up
our march acroos the city from one
station to the other The streets
were crowded with people, but there
were no cheers. no smiles. no waving
of flags, such as VIC received in New
York. But there was no assault.
They let us pass, and that night we
slept in Washington. Here we re-
manned until we crossed over into
the sacred soil of Virginia. What
the regiment did in Virginia is a
matter OF history.
You will pardon me if relate to
you some personal experiences. On
the 18th of June, 1862, | was taken
prisoner in White Oak Swamp during
the seven days fight and afterwards
! taken to Richmond. Here | was cared
for in Castle Thunder" anything
but castle. 1t was while a prison
or that had an unusual duty to per-
form. and that was with others tt
! carry amputated arms and legs from
the hospitals to carts on the street
and have them carried away and bur
led outside the city. Many a mar
living today may have Il leg or al
arm buried in Richmond. Va.
Il was exchanged in the carly fal
and joined my regiment at Harrison's
Landing. ] found the regiment out il
front as usual, and the boys soor
learned Of my return and gave me &
hearty welcome. I walked into the
company streets ragged, dirty
wretched released prisoner of war
come back to join his comrades once
more in battling to preserve the in
tegrity and perpetuity of a Govern
ment that stands today in the from
rank of the nations"
To this stirring article written b.
DR.. McDavid, it may be added thai
he was promoted to a corporal in the
service, and in 1862 he was sent on
detached service to raise men for The
Third Maine and to drill them DR.
McDavid being very proficient in the
manual of arms and in the military
movements.
The first engagement of the Thirc
Maine was in the first battle of Bull
Run, June 21 1861.