Twentieth Infantry.--Cols., Adelbert Ames, Joshua L.
Chamberlain, Charles D. Gilmore, Ellis Spear; Lieut.-Cols.,
Joshua L. Chamberlain, Charles D. Gilmore, Walter G. Morrill,
Thomas D. Chamberlain; Majs. Charles D. Gilmore, Ellis Spear,
Atherton W. Clark, George R. Abbott. This was the last of the
three-year regiments raised in the state in the summer of 1862.
It was rendezvoused at Portland and mustered into the U. S.
service Aug. 29, 1862. The original members whose term of
service expired prior to Oct. 1, 1865, were mustered out at
Washington, D. C., June 5, 1865, and the enlisted men of the
16th Me. infantry and the 1st Me. sharpshooters were
transferred to the 20th, June 5 and June 21, 1865,
respectively. The regiment as thus reorganized was finally
mustered out near Washington, July 16, 1865. On Sept. 3, 1862,
the 20th left the state, and on the 7th went into camp at the
arsenal grounds, Washington, D. C. Attached to Butterfield's
brigade, Porter's division, it formed a portion of the reserve
at Antietam, and was under fire for 36 hours at the battle of
Fredericksburg, where the men acted with great gallantry in
this, their first serious battle. A list of the important
battles in which the 20th subsequently engaged includes
Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Rappahannock Station, Mine Run,
Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Totopotomy, North Anna river,
Bethesda Church, Hatcher's run, Petersburg, Weldon railroad,
Peebles' farm, Boydton road, Gravelly run and Five Forks.
After the battle of Chancellorsville, Col. Ames was promoted to
brigadier-general, and Lieut.-Col. Chamberlain assumed command.
Under his command it formed the extreme left of the line at
Gettysburg on the second day of that sanguinary contest and was
hotly engaged for many hours. Its total loss was 3 officers
and 134 enlisted men killed and wounded. At the opening of the
spring campaign of 1864, recruits and returning convalescents
augmented the numbers of the regiment about 100 men, so that it
numbered 347 muskets. It was still attached to the 3d brigade,
1st division, 5th corps. On June 6, 1864, Col. Chamberlain was
assigned to the command of the 1st brigade of the division and
Maj. Spear assumed command of the regiment. In the gallant
charge on the enemy's works at Peebles' farm on Sept. 30, 1864,
it suffered a loss of 57 men killed and wounded, out of 167 men
taken into action, but captured 6 commissioned officers, 70 men
and a piece of artillery. Its whole number of casualties
during the year 1864 was 298; and it received 200 recruits. In
Jan., 1865, it mustered 275 muskets for duty. On the
completion of negotiations for the surrender of Lee's army, the
20th was one of the regiments designated to receive the
Confederate arms.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 1
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Gettysburg after battle report:
Report of Col. Joshua L. Chamberlain, Twentieth Maine Infantry.
Field near Emmitsburg, July 6, 1863.
Sir: In compliance with the request of the colonel commanding
the brigade, I have the honor to submit a somewhat detailed report
of the operations of the Twentieth Regt. Maine Volunteers in
the battle of Gettysburg, on the 2d and 3d instant.
Having acted as the advance guard, made necessary by the proximity
of the enemy's cavalry, on the march of the day before, my
command on reaching Hanover, Pa., just before sunset on that day,
were much worn, and lost no time in getting ready for an expected
bivouac. Rations were scarcely issued, and the men about preparing
supper, when rumors that the enemy had been encountered that day
near Gettysburg absorbed every other interest, and very soon orders
came to march forthwith to Gettysburg.
My men moved out with a promptitude and spirit extraordinary,
the cheers and welcome they received on the road adding to their enthusiasm.
After an hour or two of sleep by the roadside just before
daybreak, we reached the heights southeasterly of Gettysburg at
about 7 a. m., July 2.
Massed at first with the rest of the division on the right of the road,
we were moved several times farther toward the left. Although expecting
every moment to be put into action and held strictly in line
of battle, yet the men were able to take some rest and make the most
of their rations.
Somewhere near 4 p. m. a sharp cannonade, at some distance to
our left and front, was the signal for a sudden and rapid movement
of our whole division in the direction of this firing, which grew
warmer as we approached. Passing an open field in the hollow
ground in which some of our batteries were going into position, our
brigade reached the skirt of a piece of woods, in the farther edge of
which there was a heavy musketry fire, and when about to go forward
into line we received from Col. Vincent, commanding the
brigade, orders to move to the left at the double-quick, when we
took a farm road crossing Plum Run in order to gain a rugged
mountain spur called Granite Spur, or Little Round Top.
The enemy's artillery got range of our column as we were climbing
the spur, and the crashing of the shells among the rocks and the tree
tops made us move lively along the crest. One or two shells burst in
our ranks. Passing to the southern slope of Little Round Top, Col.
Vincent indicated to me the ground my regiment was to occupy,
informing me that this was the extreme left of our general line, and
that a desperate attack was expected in order to turn that position,
concluding by telling me I was to "hold that ground at all hazards."
This was the last word I heard from him.
In order to commence by making my right firm, I formed my regiment
on the right into line, giving such direction to the line as should
best secure the advantage of the rough, rocky, and stragglingly
wooded ground.
The line faced generally toward a more conspicuous eminence
southwest of ours, which is known as Sugar Loaf, or Round Top.
Between this and my position intervened a smooth and thinly wooded
hollow. My line formed, I immediately detached Company B, Capt.
Morrill commanding, to extend from my left flank across this
hollow as a line of skirmishers, with directions to act as occasion
might dictate, to prevent a surprise on my exposed flank and rear.
The artillery fire on our position had meanwhile been constant and
heavy, but my formation was scarcely complete when the artillery
was replaced by a vigorous infantry assault upon the center of our
brigade to my right, but it very soon involved the right of my regiment
and gradually extended along my entire front. The action was
quite sharp and at close quarters.
In the midst of this, an officer from my center informed me that
some important movement of the enemy was going on in his front,
beyond that of the line with which we were engaged. Mounting a
large rock, I was able to see a considerable body of the enemy moving
by the flank in rear of their line engaged, and passing from the direction
of the foot of Great Round Top through the valley toward
the front of my left. The close engagement not allowing any change
of front, I immediately stretched my regiment to the left, by taking
intervals by the left flank, and at the same time "refusing" my left
wing, so that it was nearly at right angles with my right, thus occupying
about twice the extent of our ordinary front, some of the
companies being brought into single rank when the nature of the
ground gave sufficient strength or shelter. My officers and men understood
my wishes so well that this movement was executed under
fire, the right wing keeping up fire, without giving the enemy any
occasion to seize or even to suspect their advantage. But we were
not a moment too soon; the enemy's flanking column having gained
their desired direction, burst upon my left, where they evidently had
expected an unguarded flank, with great demonstration.
We opened a brisk fire at close range, which was so sudden and
effective that they soon fell back among the rocks and low trees in
the valley, only to burst forth again with a shout, and rapidly advanced,
firing as they came. They pushed up to within a dozen yards
of us before the terrible effectiveness of our fire compelled them to
break and take shelter.
They renewed the assault on our whole front, and for an hour the
fighting was severe. Squads of the enemy broke through our line
in several places, and the fight was literally hand to hand. The edge
of the fight rolled backward and forward like a wave. The dead
and wounded were now in our front and then in our rear. Forced
from our position, we desperately recovered it, and pushed the enemy
down to the foot of the slope. The intervals of the struggle were
seized to remove our wounded (and those of the enemy also), to
gather ammunition from the cartridge-boxes of disabled friend or
foe on the field, and even to secure better muskets than the Enfields,
which we found did not stand service well. Rude shelters were
thrown up of the loose rocks that covered the ground.
Capt. Woodward, commanding the Eighty-third Pennsylvania
Volunteers, on my right, gallantly maintaining his fight, judiciously
and with hearty co-operation made his movements conform
to my necessities, so that my right was at no time exposed to a flank
attack.
The enemy seemed to have gathered all their energies for their final
assault. We had gotten our thin line into as good a shape as possible,
when a strong force emerged from the scrub wood in the valley, as
well as I could judge, in two lines in echelon by the right, and, opening
a heavy fire, the first line came on as if they meant to sweep
everything before them. We opened on them as well as we could
with our scanty ammunition snatched from the field.
It did not seem possible to withstand another shock like this now
coming on. Our loss had been severe. One-half of my left wing
had fallen, and a third of my regiment lay just behind us, dead or
badly wounded. At this moment my anxiety was increased by a
great roar of musketry in my rear, on the farther or northerly slope
of Little Round Top, apparently on the flank of the regular brigade,
which was in support of Hazlett's battery on the crest behind us.
The bullets from this attack struck into my left rear, and I feared
that the enemy might have nearly surrounded the Little Round Top,
and only a desperate chance was left for us. My ammunition was
soon exhausted. My men were firing their last shot and getting ready
to "club" their muskets.
It was imperative to strike before we were struck by this overwhelming
force in a hand-to-hand fight, which we could not probably
have withstood or survived. At that crisis, I ordered the bayonet.
The word was enough. It ran like fire along the line, from man to
man, and rose into a shout, with which they sprang forward upon the
enemy, now not 30 yards away. The effect was surprising; many of
the enemy's first line threw down their arms and surrendered. An
officer fired his pistol at my head with one hand, while he handed me
his sword with the other. Holding fast by our right, and swinging
forward our left, we made an extended "right wheel," before which
the enemy's second line broke and fell back, fighting from tree to
tree, many being captured, until we had swept the valley and cleared
the front of nearly our entire brigade.
Meantime Capt. Morrill with his skirmishers (sent out from my
left flank), with some dozen or fifteen of the U. S. Sharpshooters
who had put themselves under his direction, fell upon the enemy
as they were breaking, and by his demonstrations, as well as his
well-directed fire, added much to the effect of the charge.
Having thus cleared the valley and driven the enemy up the western
slope of the Great Round Top, not wishing to press so far out as to
hazard the ground I was to hold by leaving it exposed to a sudden
rush of the enemy, I succeeded (although with some effort to stop
my men, who declared they were "on the road to Richmond") in getting
the regiment into good order and resuming our original position.
Four hundred prisoners, including two field and several line officers,
were sent to the rear. These were mainly from the Fifteenth and
Forty-seventh Alabama Regt.'s, with some of the Fourth and
Fifth Texas. One hundred and fifty of the enemy were found killed
and wounded in our front.
At dusk, Col. Rice informed me of the fall of Col. Vincent,
which had devolved the command of the brigade on him, and that
Col. Fisher had come up with a brigade to our support. These
troops were massed in our rear. It was the understanding, as Col.
Rice informed me, that Col. Fisher's brigade was to advance and
seize the western slope of Great Round Top, where the enemy had
shortly before been driven. But, after considerable delay, this intention
for some reason was not carried into execution.
We were apprehensive that if the enemy were allowed to strengthen
himself in that position, he would have a great advantage in renewing
the attack on us at daylight or before. Col. Rice then directed
me to make the movement to seize that crest.
It was now 9 p. m. Without waiting to get ammunition, but trusting
in part to the very circumstance of not exposing our movement
or our small front by firing, and with bayonets fixed, the little handful
of 200 men pressed up the mountain side in very extended order,
as the steep and jagged surface of the ground compelled. We heard
squads of the enemy falling back before us, and, when near the crest,
we met a scattering and uncertain fire, which caused us the great
loss of the gallant Lieut. Linscott, who fell, mortally wounded.
In the silent advance in the darkness we laid hold of 25 prisoners,
among them a staff officer of Gen. [E. M.] Law, commanding the
brigade immediately opposed to us during the fight. Reaching the
crest, and reconnoitering the ground, I placed the men in a strong
position among the rocks, and informed Col. Rice, requesting
also ammunition and some support to our right, which was very near
the enemy, their movements and words even being now distinctly
heard by us.
Some confusion soon after resulted from the attempt of some regiment
of Col. Fisher's brigade to come to our support. They had
found a wood road up the mountain, which brought them on my
right flank, and also in proximity to the enemy, massed a little below.
Hearing their approach, and thinking a movement from that quarter
could only be from the enemy, I made disposition to receive them as
such. In the confusion which attended the attempt to form them in
support of my right, the enemy opened a brisk fire, which disconcerted
my efforts to form them and disheartened the supports themselves,
so that I saw no more of them that night.
Feeling somewhat insecure in this isolated position, I sent in for
the Eighty-third Pennsylvania, which came speedily, followed by
the Forty-fourth New York, and, having seen these well posted, I
sent a strong picket to the front, with instructions to report to me
every half hour during the night, and allowed the rest of my men to
sleep on their arms.
At some time about midnight, two regiments of Col. Fisher's
brigade came up the mountain beyond my left, and took position near
the summit; but as the enemy did not threaten from that direction,
I made no effort to connect with them.
We went into the fight with 386, all told--358 guns. Every pioneer
and musician who could carry a musket went into the ranks. Even
the sick and foot-sore, who could not keep up in the march, came up
as soon as they could find their regiments, and took their places in
line of battle, while it was battle, indeed. Some prisoners I had
under guard, under sentence of court-martial, I was obliged to put
into the fight, and they bore their part well, for which I shall recommend
a commutation of their sentence.
The loss, so far as I can ascertain it, is 136--30 of whom were killed,
and among the wounded are many mortally.
Capt. Billings, Lieut. Kendall, and Lieut. Linscott are
officers whose loss we deeply mourn--efficient soldiers, and pure and
high-minded men.
In such an engagement there were many incidents of heroism and
noble character which should have place even in an official report;
but, under present circumstances, I am unable to do justice to them.
I will say of that regiment that the resolution, courage, and heroic
fortitude which enabled us to withstand so formidable an attack have
happily led to so conspicuous a result that they may safely trust to
history to record their merits.
About noon on the 3d of July, we were withdrawn, and formed on
the right of the brigade, in the front edge of a piece of woods near
the left center of our main line of battle, where we were held in
readiness to support our troops, then receiving the severe attack of
the afternoon of that day.
On the 4th, we made a reconnaissance to the front, to ascertain the
movements of the enemy, but finding that they had retired, at least
beyond Willoughby's Run, we returned to Little Round Top, where
we buried our dead in the place where we had laid them during the
fight, marking each grave by a head-board made of ammunition
boxes, with each dead soldier's name cut upon it. We also buried
50 of the enemy's dead in front of our position of July 2. We then
looked after our wounded, whom I had taken the responsibility of
putting into the houses of citizens in the vicinity of Little Round
Top, and, on the morning of the 5th, took up our march on the Emmitsburg
road.
I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
JOSHUA L. CHAMBERLAIN,
Col., Comdg. Twentieth Maine Volunteers.
Lieut. George B. Herendeen,
A. A. A. G., Third Brig., First Div., Fifth Army Corps.
-----------
Report of Capt. Atherton W. Clark, Twentieth Maine Infantry.
Camp near Beverly Ford, Va.,
August 14, 1863.
Lieut.: In compliance with circular of August 12, from
headquarters Army of the Potomac, I have the honor to report that
on the morning of the 5th ultimo this regiment moved forward on
the battle-field of Gettysburg, and occupied the Carolina road during
the day.
At night, marched 10 miles in the direction of Emmitsburg, and
bivouacked at midnight near Marsh Creek.
Early on the morning of the 6th, marched 1 mile, and bivouacked.
Resumed march on the 7th through Creagerstown, and bivouacked
6 miles above Frederick City and 18 miles from bivouac of previous
night.
On the 8th, moved in heavy rain 12 miles across the Catoctin
Mountains, and encamped near Middletown in the afternoon.
On the morning of the 9th, the regiment crossed over South
Mountain (a detachment of it assisting the train in its passage), and
encamped near Boonsborough in the afternoon, 8 miles from Middletown.
The regiment moved early on the day following, and in the vicinity
of the enemy, on the Sharpsburg pike, near Jones' Cross-Roads,
was thrown forward to act as skirmishers. It was soon warmly engaged,
and, after a severe and protracted skirmish, held the pike.
The loss to the regiment was 2 killed and 6 wounded and missing.
On the 11th, the regiment moved along the pike and westward,
through field and wood, 2 miles, and bivouacked.
On the morning of the 12th, advanced to the Williamsport road,
and the next day crossed the Williamsport road and threw forward
pickets.
On the 14th, marched to Williamsport, and the morning following
returned, marching through Keedysville, over South Mountain, and
encamped near Burkittsville, having marched 20 miles.
Moved forward on the 16th to vicinity of Berlin, where the regiment
bivouacked until the afternoon of the 17th, when it crossed the
Potomac, and marched 5 miles to Lovettsville.
On the 18th, 19th, and 20th, marched to Goose Creek, 30 miles
from Lovettsville.
Resumed march on the 22d, and bivouacked near Rectortown, 10
miles distant from Goose Creek.
The regiment took part in the operations of the 23d and 24th, in
Manassas Gap, returning on the 25th, and encamped near Orleans,
after a march of 20 miles.
Resumed march in the morning, and on the 27th ultimo encamped
2 miles south of Warrenton.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. W. CLARK,
Capt., Comdg. Twentieth Maine Volunteers.
Lieut. John M. Clark,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Third Brigade.
Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 27. Part I. Reports. Serial No. 43
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Report of Maj. Ellis Spear, Twentieth Maine Infantry.
HDQRS. TWENTIETH VOLUNTEERS, Near Petersburg,
Va., August-, 1864.
LIEUT.: In accordance with Special Orders, No. 209 (extract 5),
dated headquarters Army of the Potomac, I have the honor to submit the
following report:
I.
On the morning of the 4th of May the regiment crossed the Rapidan,
and in the afternoon went into line of battle on the left of the Orange
Court-House road, and there bivouacked for the night. On the morning
of the 5th I threw up earth-works and cleared the trees in front. At
12.30 p.m. advanced through the woods in second line of battle about
three-fourths of a mile, emerging into a section opening under heavy fire
of musketry from front and left. Observing from cessation of fire on the
right that that part of the line had not come up I immediately deployed
a company as skirmishers across the road and in the wood, and been
back my right, and, with the regiment originally in my front, which
being flanked had formed in rear and faced also to the right, held the
enemy in check until, passed from right and left and in front, we fell
back to our original works, bringing off 35 prisoners, with loss of 10
men killed, 58 wounded, and 16 missing. Lay in line of battle on the 6th
in front of the works. Lost 2 men killed and 10 wounded. The 7th I
advanced under command of Lieut.-Col. Herring, with orders
to push the enemy back as far as possible, and ascertain his position and
force. Their skirmishers were driven at once through the woods until
they opened fire of artillery and musketry from a line of earth-works,
when I withdrew out of range of the musketry, and occupied an interior
line as support to the picket. Loss, 2 officers killed and 1 wounded; 2
men killed and 10 wounded.
II.
At 1 a.m. of the 8th followed the brigade to Spotsylvania Court-House.
Arriving at Laurel Hill at 8 a.m., this regiments was ordered to report
to Gen. Crawford. Advanced toward the enemy
and lay during the day under heavy fire of artillery. At 6.30 a.m. I
moved forward, with other detachments of the brigade, under command
of Lieut.-Col. Herring, supporting a line of Gen. Crawford's
division, under severe fire of musketry, and halted in close proximity
to the front line, then at a halt and firing, when suddenly in the twilight
the enemy rushed on my line. After a sharp action heavy were repulsed,
leaving about 100 prisoners, including 4 commissioned officers captured
by my regiment. Loss, 1 officer killed and 2 wounded; 5 men killed, 13
wounded, and 2 missing. At 3 o'clock on the morning of the 9th I was
ordered to withdraw and report to the brigade.
Took no active part in the operations of the 10th and 11th. Loss, 1
killed, 2 wounded. Moved to the right on the morning of the 12th and
occupied earth-works; back again at midday, and to the left; in support
of a portion of the Ninth Corps at night. The day following moved to
the right and entrenched, and at night marched to the left occupied
ground vacated by a part of the Ninth Corps; 1 officer wounded. From
the 13th and to the 20th, inclusive, occupied rifle-pits in front of the
enemy near Spotsylvania Court-House; loss, 1 killed.
III.
Moved at 1 p.m. the day following, being in advance, the regiment
under command of Col. Chamberlain; took part in a skirmish with
the enemy's rear guard of cavalry and artillery, losing 1 wounded.
The regiment crossed the North Anna River in the afternoon of the 23d
and took part in the action of that day; 1 officer wounded. Then pushed
on to the railroad and occupied a line, with some skirmishing, in front
of the works of the enemy until the night of the 26th. Loss, 3 wounded.
IV.
Marched to [vicinity of Mangohick Church] on the 27th, and crossed the
Pamunkey the day following. Moved forward again on the 30th,
supporting a part of the brigade, them skirmishing with the enemy. On
the 1st day of June the regiment moved forward and entrenched. Loss,
1 man killed. Fell back on the 2d, with some skirmishing, and
occupied an interior line of rifle-pits. Loss, 2 officers wounded.
The day following advanced with the brigade, making a left half wheel,
and pushed the enemy back, losing 22 men wounded, 2 killed, 1 officer
wounded, and 1 man missing. On the night of the 5th moved to the left,
and bivouacked in rear of the Ninth Corps. Marched on the morning
of the 7th, and moved out to the support of the picket-line near the
Chickahominy.*
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ELLIS SPEAR,
Maj., Cmdg.
Lieut. L. C. BARTLETT,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 573-67 OPERATIONS IN SE. VA. AND N. C. [CHAP. XLVIII.
[Series I. Vol. 36. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 67.]
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Report of Maj. Ellis Spear, Twentieth Maine Infantry, Third
Brigade, of operations June 12-21.
HDQRS. TWENTIETH MAINE VOLUNTEERS,
Near Petersburg, Va., August-, 1864.
LIEUT.:*
V.
Moved on the night of the 12th [June], crossing the Chickahominy early
on the morning of the 13th, marched up the right of the river, and
bivouacked during the day. Moved again at dark toward the James. On
the 14th marched to near Wilcox's Landing. On the 16th crossed the
James, and marched toward Petersburg; bivouacked at midnight. The
regiment was in reserve during the action of the 18th, and on the day
following. Loss, 1 killed, 2 wounded. On the 21st moved with the
brigade across the railroad, and at dark advanced, went into position,
and threw up earth-works. This line the regiment has occupied, doing
fatigue and picket duty, since that date, during which time the loss has
been 1 officer and 5 men killed and 7 men wounded. The total loss
during the campaign was 4 officers killed and 9 wounded, 33 men killed
and 128 wounded, 19 men missing in action.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ELLIS SPEAR,
Maj., Cmdg. Twentieth Maine Volunteers.
Lieut. L. C. BARTLETT,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Third Brigade.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 464-80 OPERATIONS IN SE. VA. AND N. C. [CHAP. LII.
[Series I. Vol. 40. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 80.]
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Report of Capt. Joseph F. Land, Twentieth Maine
Infantry, of operations August 18-28.
HDQRS. TWENTIETH MAINE VOLUNTEERS,
August 28, 1864.
LIEUT.: I have the honor to transmit the following report of the
part taken by this command in the operations since the 18th instant:
On the 18th of august the regiment broke camp and moved with the
brigade to the Weldon railroad; threw up earth-works on the westerly
side of the road, near the yellow House. On the afternoon of the 19th
moved to the right in support and returned. On Sunday, the 21st,
assisted in repelling the attack of the enemy; suffered no loss. A small
number of prisoners were brought in by the picket. Since then the
regiment has remained encamped behind earth-works.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOSEPH F. LAND,
Capt., Cmdg.
Lieut. C. H. HAND,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Third Brigade.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 468-87 OPERATIONS IN SE. VA. AND N. C. [CHAP. LIV.
[Series I. Vol. 42. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 87.]
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Report of Lieut. Col. Walter G. Morrill, Twentieth
Maine Infantry, of operations March 25.
HDQRS. TWENTIETH MAINE VOLUNTEERS,
March 28, 1865.
CAPT.: I have the honor to report that this regiment left camp about
7 o'clock Saturday a.m., March 25, 1865, and proceeded toward the
right of the army, remaining there until noon. From thence proceeded
toward the left near Hatcher's Run, acting as support to the Second
Corps in their advance. Remained upon the field in their support during
the engagement, then proceeded to camp, which was reached about 11
p.m. Lost one man, slightly wounded.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WALTER G. MORRILL,
Lieut.-Col., Cmdg. Twentieth Maine Volunteers.
Capt. E. S. FARNSWORTH,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Third Brigade.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 273-95 N. AND SE. VA., N. C., W. VA., MD., AND PA. [CHAP. LVIII.
[Series I. Vol. 46. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 95.]
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Report of Lieut. Col. Walter G. Morrill, Twentieth Maine Infantry.
HDQRS. TWENTIETH MAINE VOLUNTEERS,
April 14, 1865.
CAPT.: I have the honor to report the operations of the Twentieth
Maine Volunteers and First Michigan Volunteers, which were under my
immediate command during the engagement at the Five Forks on April 1, 1865.
At 3 p.m. we were formed for a charge, my command being in the
third line; in this order we advanced three-quarters of a mile and halted.
Gen. Bartlett ordered me to move my command by the left flank
some half a mile; halted and fronted. Were ordered by him to charge the
enemy on his flank, which I immediately did; carried the enemy's
works, capturing a large number of prisoners and the battle-flag of the
Ninth Virginia Regt. After doing this the enemy began to press us
very hard on the right flank, and I sent Brevet Maj. Clark to report to
Gen. Bartlett the state of affairs. The enemy still continued to press
us very hard, and we were losing men very fast. I also sent Capt.
Sidelinger to Gen. Bartlett, and he immediately ordered a regiment
in on our right, which relieved us at once, and, more troops coming up,
the enemy began to fall back, and we continued to press him for the
next three miles, when we gave up the pursuit and came back to the
breast-works and bivouacked for the night.
In justice to all under my command, I have only to say that every
officer and man did his duty well and faithfully; there was no skulking,
and every one was in his place.
The loss of the First Michigan I am not able to report. The loss in the
Twentieth Maine was 7 killed and 23 wounded.
Respectfully, yours,
WALTER G. MORRILL,
Lieut.-Col., Cmdg. Twentieth Maine Volunteers.
Capt. WILLIAM FOWLER,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., First Division, Fifth Army Corps.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 865-95 N. AND SE. VA., N. C., W. VA., MD., AND PA. [CHAP. LVIII.
[Series I. Vol. 46. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 95.]
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