The Maine bugle ... campaign; 1-5 Jan. 1894-Oct. 1898 - Maine.gov

286 THE MAINE BUGLE.
persons. We did not get it completed last fall owing to the fearful crisis in the money
market, but shall complete it early this year.
Note.—The act securing the above appropriation was secured almost alone by Comrade
Daggett, and under his supervision is the home being built and governed.
WAS A FIGHTINC; MAN FROM THE WORD GO.
Reuel Thomas, 20th Me., of Cambridge, Mass., writes:
The BuGLh has arrived; was much pleased to see our old Col. Ames's face. They
may say what they please airaut Ames, he was a fighting man from the word go. Now-
let the Bugle blow, so that the echoes may be heard from Maine to the Rio CJrande.
My last Bugle the boys have at the Engine House. They may want it at the City
Hall next. Would not be surprised if Gov. Greenhalgh should send for it at the State
House. General, this publication is going to take in the whole of the United States
before five years. So blow. Bugle, blow.
Note.—Comrade Thomas's joke is largely a fact. The issues of the Bugle are in
the Harvard University library and in the State Library at the State House.
Din col. CHAPLIN OFFER HIS SWORD?
Henry E. Sellers, ist Me. Hvy. Art., of Bangor, Me., writes:
In Comrade F. C. Lowe's communication to you of December 22d, relative to the
First Maine Heavy Artillery I think he gives the impression that the order to charge
January i8th, 1864, came from Gen. Mott direct (see Walker's History Second Corps).
It came from Gen. Mead direct, transmitted in regular order to Col. Chaplin and
delivered to him by Major J. W. Starbird on Gen. Mott's staff. I was present and
heard the order, viz. : as given to Majors Sheppard and Grossman and Capt. Clark
commanding battalions : " We have orders to charge those works immediately. Go in
in light marching order, with bayonets fixed." I did not see Generals Birney or Mott
during the day. I do not think Comrade Low saw them. In his letter in the Echoes
of January 4th, he says he had seen Joel Brown of Co, I, who corroborates the story
that Col, Chaplin offered his sword to Gen. Birney (now says to Gen. Mott). Now
Brown's memory, as he states himself, is hazy. Comrade Low was not present, he
tells me, when Col. Chaplin tendered his sword to Gen. Mott; did not see it; never
saw a man, a member of the regiment that did, I believe that facts only should be
stated, that correct history may be developed.
OUR FIRST taste OF MILITARY SERVICE IN VIRGINIA,
Pearl G. Ingalls, Co. B, 8th Me., of Razorville, Me., writes
The campaign of 1864 to participants was so full of striking incidents and varied
scenes from beginning to end that it will remain vivid and fresh in memory through
life. This campaign, with the Eighth Maine, virtually commenced on the fourth day
of May, when we embarked on board the steamer Hero at (iloucester Point and
steamed down the Pamunky, and the next morning found us at Fortress Monroe,
whence after a few hours of anxious speculation as to our destination we commenced
enjoying the beautiful scenery up the James river, and the conviction became settled
that " On to Richmond " was our objective point. At 7 o'clock i'. M. we reached
Bermuda Hundred, where under cover of the gunboats we disembarked and
bivouacked in an open field for the night. At an early hour on the morning of the