Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-01-09

history, full of action and replete
with deeds of bravery.
Col. Morrill, was recently awarded
the Congressional Medal Of Honor. q
most distinctive honor.
The following relative to the Coll
! onefs war record is intensely inter-
esting:
Lieut.. Col. Walter Goodale Morrill,
was born at Williamsburg. Maine.
Nov. Is, 1910. He entered the
service in April. 1861. as a member
of Co. A. of the celebrated Sixth
Maine Infantry, and upon the organ
ization of that regiment he received
warrant as one OF the sergeants of
his company. He served with the
Sixth Maine through the Peninsular
| campaign under Mcclellan, doing gall
meanwhile, promoted to orderly SER
geant of his company.
His soldierly bearing and courage
attracted the attention of his superior
officers and he was repeatedly recon-
mended for promotion. Accordingly.
on the organization of the Goth Maine
infantry. he was commissioned second
lieutenant of one of its compa mics and
transferred to that grand fighting
! regiment. which was commanded first
by Gen. Adelbert Ames. and later by
Gen. Joshua l.. Chamberlain. two
officers who achieved rare and de-
served distinction. Young Morrill,
steadily earned promotion under them
being lieutenant colonel of his reCi-
! ment at the close of the war. lie was
with his regiment under Chamberlain
at Gettysburg. wherr it, magnificent
charge on Little Round Top as the
Confeierates We're occupying it. saved
that position for Mcaic's army and
made possible the victory for the
Union forces which crowned that
| bloody field. lie was with his reg :
ment. always at the front. and ALWAYS
the incarnation of courage. in the
desperate fighting OF the Wilderness
campaign under Grant ut Cold Har-
Dor. at PetersburSh, and at the sur
render of Lee.
Where Record Was Won
| He Won his congressional medal OF
honor at the battle of Happahannock
| Station. Nov. Z. 1863 He was then
| captain of his company. and not quite
% years of age. lie was OF more
than ordinary height. brown haired
and grey eyed. burned to bronze:
he was large honed. broad shouldered
muscular. without an ounce of extra
| flesh: more resolute face was never
| n a rrjnI nv Of ic ha
vigilant. keenly observant. of few
words. and of potent force in action
He had faith in his men and they had
| faith in him, and followed where he
| led.
| The Confederate ,osition NJ Ranpa :
hammock Station was skillfully chos
en-
| In front of the position. and on oil
sides the ground was open for three
fourths of mile. with absolutely
nothing to cover the approach of tho
| troops.
| No other troops were sent over
the two brigades mentioned being
Sufficient to man the works: and
| though inferior to the enemy in mum
bers, the nature of the position was
such that he could not attack with
front more extended than our own
! The remainder of F,arly's division was
placed in supporting distance, one
regiment being stationed in the rife
trenches on the south bank, east OF
the railroad.
| The Union forces. across oper
ground, We're compelled to approach
this position cautiously and Will
skirmishers only. Over the vast
plain down the river and below tn,
railway came'the skirmish line OF the
Fifth Corps, those nearest the cnem,
being men from tn, Goth Maine, com
manded by Capt. Morrill,. They APP
preached the right flank OF the Con
federate position. Directly in front
of the works were skirmishers from
the Sixth. Corps. consisting OF five
companies of the Sixth Maine, Capt
Morriils old regiment. These Joined
his line at the railway ami he found
himself acting with his old comrades
once more. Slowly the Confederate
skirmishers We're pressed back until
they were driven into the works
This fighting was over the ground
where the pretty village of I.rming-
ton now stands. Then the field was
bare and bleak. A road about lJC
! Yards from the intrenchments was
reached by the Sixth Maine, and I'M
der the cover of its shallow ditch n
long halt was made. Capt. Morrill,
advanced his men and kept in touch
ar tho iIx1yo M,
at this point. with Confederate bullets
whistling around him. he exchanged
greetings with his old comrades who
were nearest to him. Lying at III,
| railway cmbankment he talked Ions
and earnestly with Capt. Lyman II
wilkins of his old company in the
Sixth Maine. Capt. Wilkins told him
of premonitiOn that this was his
! last fight, and no reasoning would
convince him that he would survive
The forcboding was too true. His
brave life went out on that heroic
field.
| Word to Their Line
AS darkness approached the Skin
'rish line of the Sixth Maine was
doubled with the other five com
panies. and Gen. ID. 4. Russell com
manding. sent word along the thin
line thus formed thats they were "a
assault and carry the enemy's works
in front. The undertaking was peri
lous to the last degree, and impossible
except in wild transport OF sublime
/ heroism. There We're no orders for
Capt. MOrriIrs men to ioin in this
assault and share its perils and glory