Tag Archives: Gettysburg

Fathers from Gardiner sought the 16th Maine’s dead at Fredericksburg

New Year’s 1863 proved bitter for Gardiner resident John Berry. He was a lumber dealer, with real estate worth $2,800 and a personal estate worth $2,500, according to the 1860 U.S. census. Four sons lived with Berry and his same-age wife, Mary; the oldest boy, 17-year-old George H. Berry, worked as a clerk, possibly in […]

A soldier named Moses

Moses Davis rubs shoulders with Joseph Simpson, a comrade these past 160 years. They probably knew each other way back when; if not, they have certainly had time to introduce themselves. Joe’s from Waterville, by the way. Moses has probably made acquaintances with his other next-door neighbor, Samuel C. Brookings, a youngster from Pittston. He […]

The Wentworth brothers three

Three white, albeit slightly weathered veterans’ headstones stand side by side by side in Hope Grove Cemetery, located on the Hatchet Mountain Road (Route 235) not far from Hope Village (the built-up area around the intersection of routes 105 and 235). These headstones belong to the Wentworth brothers. Two of them got here before the […]

Maine impersonates Ohio

A Saco adolescent aged remarkably before joining the 16th Maine Infantry Regiment. Whatever his actual age, he experienced war at its worst during the next four years. According to the 1860 U.S. Census for Saco, George A. Deering was the youngest living-at-home child of James M. Deering and Charlotte Deering. A wealthy merchant, James Deering […]

Heat and rain plagued the 5th Maine Infantry’s march to Gettysburg

At Chancellorsville the 5th Maine Infantry Regiment had fought with the 2nd Brigade (Brig. Gen. Joseph J. Bartlett), 1st Division (Brig. Gen. William T. H. Brooks), VI Corps (Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick). Led by Col. Clark S. Edwards, the 5th Maine had taken and administered drubbings at Salem Church and had escaped along with VI […]

The 3rd Maine and Cadmus Wilcox’s Alabamians duel in Pitzer’s Woods, part 2

Ordered by Maj. Gen. David B. Birney to probe southern Seminary Ridge on Thursday, July 2, 1863, Col. Hiram Berdan and his green-clad sharpshooters crossed the Emmitsburg Road and advanced into Pitzer’s Woods. With Berdan came Col. Moses B. Lakeman and his 3rd Maine Infantry Regiment. You can read part 1 here. The sharpshooters took […]

Excellent new book details the advance to Gettysburg

For too many Americans learning about Gettysburg from novels and movies, the actual battle took place July 1-3, 1863 and involved nothing more. Civil War buffs know better, and with their recently released “If We Are Striking For Pennsylvania”: The Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac March to Gettysburg, Civil War […]

The midnight ride of Thomas Hyde

Clattering into “the pretty little town of Manchester, Md.” on Tuesday, June 30, 1863, the 7th Maine Infantry’s peripatetic young Maj. Thomas Hyde anticipated an evening spent flirting with “fair Union ladies.” Appropriated as an aide pre-Chancellorsville, he arrived with Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick and the VI Corps staff. As they marched into Maryland and […]

New knees and all, Maine re-enactor marches on Gettysburg’s 2022 Remembrance Day

Carrying a full pack, one Maine-based Civil War re-enactor participating in this year’s Remembrance Day parade at Gettysburg ventured forth on “my new knees” replaced last year. Not knowing how well they would handle the long march to the Gettysburg National Cemetery, he went forth proudly representing Maine heroes who had fought at Gettysburg 159 […]

New book titled Gettysburg Faces is a compelling read

With his recently released Gettysburg Faces: Portraits and Personal Accounts, Ronald S. Coddington has brought to life the Gettysburg Campaign by connecting readers with the faces and names of people participating in it. A compelling layout and easy readability make this a “must read” book for everyone passionate about Gettysburg. A specialist in Civil War […]