Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-06-22
Editors Letter Box
An interesting Experience

Editor kennebec Journal,
Augusta. Maine.
Dear Sir:
The passing of John NJ. Williams
from Readfield removes from the
activities of earth one of that towns
unique characters and most valuable
citizens. During my pastorate in
that town 7 heard him tell on Diff
ferent occasions and most effective
~ the following thrilling experience.
He always recalled with profound
gratitude to Almighty God, that
fearful experience. And with intense
emotion would relate the solemn
covenant he made under those cir
cumstances, in the face OF grim
death. He was very gracious
brother. a true friend. an honor
able business man, a noble citizen, a
genuine Christian gentleman. In his
home and out of 1t he was ever the
high minded man of God he cove
nanted to be in that trying hour dur
ing the Civil War.
The following related experience
which / possess in his own hand
writing, dated May q. 1920, always
thrilled me when related in his
unique way. I asked him to COM
nit it to writing. which he did.
Thinking it may be of as great in
terest to many others as it has been
to me I venture to give it the wider
currency through the columns of the
Kennebec Journal. which is read by
so many of his neighbors and
friends. John M. Williams was much
beloved. will be greatly missed, and
forever held in highest esteem for
his sterling manhood.
Sincerely.
VIM. WOOD.
THE experience of Sergt. John M.
Williams. of Readfield. Co. F. list
Maine Regiments in The Forlorn
Hope
On May 21st. 1852. Gen. N. p.
Banks, commander of the 10Th Army
Corps with division commanders,
Generals Sherman. Augur, Weitzel
and Grover invested Port Hudson,
with Admiral Farragut's fleet below
this great stronghold. with the NOR
tar fleet, with q continuous can
nonade by the land batteries and
Farragut's fleet and the mortar
fleet. until the 26th Of May. Cen
eral Banks decided to try and cap
ture the place at ) o'clock the 9th
of May.
Volunteers were called for For
lorn Hope of one hundred men to
charge the enemy's works from the
center, General G. G. Augur's Divi-
sion. Ninety-nine men responded,
and your humble servant made the
one hundredth. Before the assault
a terrific cannonade was ordered by
Farragut's feet and the mortar fleet
and the land batteries. When the
batteries ceased firing, that was the
signal for The Forlorn Hope to
leave the woods and charge the en-
emy's works followed by the five
| brigades under General Augur.
We were marched to the edge of
the woods. Lieut.. Col. O'Brion of
the 18th Massachusetts volunteered
to lead US in the assault. General
Augur praised us as brave men to
+ take the chances that we volun-
| teered to take when the firing of ar
tillery ceased.
| Col. O'Brion led US by the right
flank by tours. He was magnifi-
cent officer. He went into the fight
in full uniform and red sash. shin
| ing mark for the deadly sharpshoot-
! ers. In five minutes after leaving
/ the woods he was shot through the
! heart.
| We kept on toward the Rebel
works under terrific fire of artillery,
t., infantry and sharpshooters. At last
/ found myself up to the enemy's
F! Notifications and discovered that I
was all alone. The 'Forlorn Hope
had evidently been annihilated. I
J found shelter behind a large live oak
| tree that had been fallen to impede
! the charge of our men.
/ could have plain view of the
! five brigades as they followed the
! forlorn hope, and could see great
swaths moved through their ranks.
:. At last with great losses they were
obliged to retreat. The Union bat
teries of seige guns opened on the
Rebel Notifications. Ten-inch shells
roared a few feet above my head.
1 have heard that Sherman made
the statement that War is he'll" I
could agree with him thoroughly.
! l knew in a short time I would
be made a prisoner. if stayed where
| was. SO l made UP my mind to
make a race for life. ! had about
six hundred yards to go. About
| half way to the woods whence we
started was large stump. I made
I up my mind to make that my first
stop. I started for that as my OBJ
jective point.
] first made a covenant with AL
mighty God that IL He would carry
me safely through I would become
| His faithful servant. ] seemed to
| fly rather than run. score Of
sharpshooters in the trees inside the
Rebel works opened fire on me. They
were the deadliest marksmen in the
| world. could hear the whine of
the bullets and feel the wind of them
! on my face. I fell exhausted behind
the protecting stump.
| After resting, I made the last run.
They probably expected I would do
lust what I did do. And again
was greeted by another storm of bull
let's. but reached the woods I'M
+ harmed.
! fell on the ground and thanked
God for His wonderful Intervention.
have fulfilled my covenant with
| God. and am an humble lay preach
! err"