This data originates from: Maine at Gettysburg, Report of Maine Commissioners, prepared by The Executive Committee, 1898, for and in behalf of the State of Maine, by Charles Hamlin, Greenlief T. Stevens and George W. Verrill, of the Maine Gettysburg Commissioners' Executive Committee.

4th Maine

FOURTH MAINE REGIMENT, SECOND BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION, THIRD ARMY CORPS, AT THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.


THE Fourth Maine regiment was involved in the desperate battle upon the advanced line projected by General Sickles, and belonged to Ward's brigade. Like the Third Maine, it was one of the truest veteran regiments in the army of the Potomac. It left Maine June 17, 1861, bearing upon its banner the inscription "From the Home of Knox," indicating the portion of the state in which it had been recruited. Major- General Hiram G. Berry, who had but recently met a glorious death at Chancellorsville, was its first colonel. It was led to Gettysburg by Colonel Elijah Walker, who had won an honorable reputation for bravery in the campaigns of Virginia. The Fourth Maine arrived on the field with Sickles' corps about 7 o'clock in the evening of July 1st, the first day of the battle, having moved up with the corps from Taneytown by the way of Emmitsburg. The regiment brought onto the field about three hundred men and officers. About nine o'clock in the evening of their arrival Colonel Walker received orders from Major-General Sickles to establish a picket line to extend along a portion of the front of the left wing, as the Union line was formed at that hour In obedience to this order the regiment moved out, crossed the Emmitsburg road, and after advancing thirty or forty rods, established a picket line. In the woods to the front were the Confederate pickets also, and in those same woods the latest accessions to the Confederate strength were gathering after their march from the passes of South Mountain. The night passed quietly, but at daybreak a desultory skirmish fire began between the opposing picket lines, which was continued until 9 or 10 o'clock in the forenoon of July 2d. From that time until afternoon, when the Fourth was relieved by the 1st Mass. (a), there was quiet on this part of the picket line. When the Fourth went onto the picket line the evening before, the Union line was extending from Cemetery Hill towards Little Round Top in a line nearly straight. But as the regiment rejoined the brigade, events were so shaping themselves, as has been noticed already in connection with the advance of the Third Maine, that General Sickles felt impelled to advance his corps to the higher ground in his front, where it made the angular line from Devil's Den up to the Peach Orchard, thence northerly along the Emmitsburg road. This new line was formed between two and three o'clock in the afternoon. The station of this brigade was at the left extremity of this line, and the Fourth Maine was at the left extremity of the brigade. The official report of the regiment, made directly after the battle and before history had made famous every hill and valley on the field, speaks of taking position on a " rocky hill." This was the hill to the right of Devil's Den, that wonderful ravine where nature has disposed precipices and huge bowlders in a wild combination meriting the name which is given it. The Fourth Maine was stationed to support two sections of Smith's 4th N. Y battery of 10-pounder Parrott's. To the left was a gorge where flows towards the south a small stream called Plum Run. Across and to the east of the Run rise the precipitous sides of the two Round Tops. On the right of the battery and extending through the timber to the Wheatfield were the 124th and 86th N. Y., the 20th Ind. and 99th Pa. in the order named, the direction of the line trending towards the Peach Orchard. The 2d U S. Sharpshooters, also of Ward's brigade, were thrown forward as skirmishers about one-third of a mile in advance beyond Devil's Den in a southerly direction. Hood's division of Longstreet's corps had been creeping upon concealed roads southward out beyond the left of our lines that occupied a section of the Emmitsburg road, and had at length advanced to that road beyond the Union pickets, in a wood behind a ridge, at a point about 1,300 yards south from (a) There is some disparity in the several sources of evidence as to the exact time when the Fourth was relieved at the picket line. FOURTH REGIMENT ENGAGED. 161 the Peach Orchard and about the same distance westerly from Devil's Den. A group of signal men on Little Round Top had detected the enemy's movement and signaled the fact to Meade's headquarters. Approaching 4 o'clock Smith's battery opened fire into the woods at the Emmitsburg road, quickly receiving a reply from some batteries pushed out on a hillock near the road. West of that road, along a general ridge diverging from the road as it extended northward, the enemy's battalions of artillery were admirably posted, and some of them joined in the opening attack. They threw shell at the Devil's Den position as well as at the group of signal men, and paid their respects to the Peach Orchard batteries, not overlooking Winslow's battery in the Wheatfield,—light twelves, —not very effective in reply at that range. There was no longer doubt where the heavy hand of battle would fall. The audacious advance of Sickles brought upon his thin, extended lines the first and most furious attack of the enemy. It was about 4 o'clock when the soldiers of Ward's right, looking in the direction of the Emmitsburg road, saw clouds of Confederate skirmishers emerge from the woods, followed by heavy lines of infantry They were Robertson's and Law's brigades of Hood's division, and, as they came on " in line and en masse, yelling and shouting," as General Ward described it in his official report, in 1863, with the memories of the day fresh in his mind, they were opening the second day of the battle of Gettysburg. On Robertson's right, moving directly towards Round Top, Law's Alabama brigade advanced, but more silently The position at Devil's Den had been pointed out to the subordinates of Longstreet as first to be attacked and carried. Doubtless it appeared to Longstreet to be the left of the Union line, and indeed it was at that hour. But General Hood had discovered the importance of Little Round Top, and sent Law's Alabama brigade, with which the chang©es of the advance associated two re©giments of Robertson's Texans, to pass around Devil's Den, scale the heights and attempt the seizure of Little Round Top. By order of his superior officer, but contrary to the judgment of Colonel Walker, the Fourth Maine was moved from its position in the rear of the battery to the left, and extended across the gorge of Plum Run in such a way as to defend Ward's left flank and rear, and in a measure the approaches to Little Eound Top. When the exigency of the contest demanded it Ward gave a further support to the battery position with the 99th Pa., taken from his right. The battle now began with Ward's line, directly against which the two remaining regiments of Robertson— 1st Texas and 3d Arkansas—advanced under Robertson's immediate command. The attack was fierce, and the first struggle for possession of the battery was chiefly between the 1st Texas and the 124th New York, the latter seconded by the 86th New York. About this time Ward's line was reinforced upon its right flank by the coming-in of the Seventeenth Maine to the south edge of the Wheatfield, which struck the 3d Arkansas and diverted it from the attack upon the battery, at the same time menacing the left flank of Robertson, who fell back a short distance without securing the coveted prize. Robertson's next attack with his two regiments was directed more upon the right of Ward's line in an attempt to outflank him, which was spiritedly made but steadfastly resisted during a prolonged contest, ending by Robertson falling back again. In these first two attacks the Fourth Maine had taken no part except by about 70 men, with 3 officers, whom Colonel Walker had deployed south of Devil's Den as skirmishers ; these men, reinforced to some extent by the retiring U S. Sharpshooters and the skirmishers of other regiments of Ward, had caused the on-coming Confederates much annoyance and delay, besides quite a loss, as the latter were taken in flank on their first advance; these skirmishers were in fact one of the causes of the separation of Robertson's brigade into two parts, (a) and the detour made by Law's troops in getting to Little Round Top. These skirmishers held their ground while Robertson attempted the battery position, and until at a later time when Benning came in, which will be seen further on. Meanwhile, Hood being wounded, the command of his division fell to General Law, who with his brigade was moving upon Little Round Top. Finding as he advanced beyond the Plum (a) Official report of Major Bane, 4th Tex., Rebellion Records, serial no. 44, p. 401.



FOURTH REGIMENT ENGAGED. 163


Run valley that insufficient strength was exerted against the Smith battery position to capture it, Law detached two regiments from his extreme right, the 44th and 48th Alabama, and directed them to move across to the left and attack the battery in reverse. Following out these instructions, the two regiments moved by their left flank to a point about two hundred yards from Devil's Den on its easterly approach, halting there in the thin growth which fringed Plum Run and in view of the Fourth Maine. Here the two Alabama regiments were swung; into line facing the gorge. The 44th Alabama, being immediately opposed to the position taken by the Fourth Maine, became at once the particular antagonist of the latter. (See diagrams on pages 251 and 194.) The 48th Alabama, advancing northerly along the sloping side of Little Round Top, parallel with Plum Run, passed the position of the Fourth Maine after exchanging a few compliments, and presently had a duel with the 40th New York. When the Fourth Maine first stretched across the Plum Run gorge there were no Union troops on Little Round Top. Colonel Walker, mindful of his left flank, sent out some skirmishers into the woods on the slope, but before they met the advancing enemy, Vincent had arrived upon the crest and the skirmishers of his 83d Penn., 16th Mich., and 44th N Y regiments advanced down the hill ; this advance of skirmishers, immediately engaging those of Law, induced Walker to believe a line of battle would follow to connect with him on his left, and so he drew in his flankers. The 4th Alabama of Law and the 4th and 5th Texas of Robertson passed up Little Round Top in their circling advance ; and the 47th and 15th Alabama up the slope of Big Round Top. The liring began on the slopes of Little Round Top fifty rods or so to the left and rear of the Fourth Maine, which, posted in the valley, had not yet fired a shot. It was now nearly 5 o'clock, perhaps nearer 4.45, when in the edge of the wood of small pines appeared the 44th Alabama, its right upon the flank of Colonel Walker and uncomfortably near ; the latter immediately opened a destructive fire upon the enemy while he was forming his lines, and at the same time arranged the Fourth Maine as well as possible to confront 164 MAINE AT GETTYSBURG. the advancing line, making use of the bowlders, which sprinkled the ground, as much as circumstances permitted. The Alabamians came on in a truly heroic manner, but were met with equal firmness by the Maine men, although the latter were much less in numbers. The advance was checked and they soon gave it up, retiring into the woods, where they were completely concealed behind trees and rocks. From behind these natural protections they kept up a biting musketry fire upon Walker's men, who in the open valley were placed at great disadvantage and suffered large loss (a) . It was now past 5 o'clock. The two contending forces were in a close grapple, extending from the left of the Union line, — which now was Vincent's spur on Little Round Top occupied by the Twentieth Maine,—around its south crest to Plum Run and thence southerly to Devil's Den ; and on the other side of the battery ridge Robertson's line had been prolonged westward by Anderson's Georgia brigade about half the distance to the Emmitsbur^ road. The whole line was alive with burnino; powder. Smith's battery, at Devil's Den, was abandoned by orders of its captain. The other section of the battery, located up the valley northerly some distance, was now manned for action. All the desperate efforts so far made, from both sides of this flat-iron-shaped position, where the field pieces rested, to capture it had proved futile. Robertson was desperately anxious to take those guns, and finding that Benning's brigade of four Georgia regiments was nearly in his rear, as a support to the right of their lines, he asked Benning to help him. Benning had intended to support Law's brigade, and supposed the troops contesting with Ward to be Law's, not distinguishing them in the wooded lands. This error on his part, possibly, saved the crest of Little Round Top from capture. Perhaps it seemed important to the Confederates to wrest this ridge from our troops in order to protect their own at (a) Colonel Walker has recently requested the Commissioners of the Gettysburg National Park to move the flanking stones marking the direction of his line at this period. The position of these stones as found Sept. 21, 1897, would make the Fourth Maine face the Smith-battery position; whereas, as he stated to the Commissioners, at date named, upon the ground, his line faced a quarter-circle to the left of this; that he met the 44th Ala. in his front, at first a little upon his left flank, and that his line if prolonged to the left would strike upon Little Round Top Stakes were then driven into the ground to mark the corrected places for the stones. FOURTH REGIMENT ENGAGED. 165 our left rear on Little Round Top from being surrounded and captured by an attack from their rear, as was easily feasible by an enterprising general with a smart brigade, so long as they were only protected by two regiments, the 44th and 48th Alabama. The Confederates also desired to secure possession of a stone-fence which starts at the summit of this ridge near the battery, and runs westerly, affording a complete curtain and breastwork to hold that ground and dominate the woods in front to the Wheat-field. (See diagram on page 194.) Robertson had twice essayed to seize and hold this fence without success. After the second attempt, General Ward advanced his centre and right to take possession of it ; (a) this occurred just as Benning was also advancing. Without delay Benning had formed his brigade in a line east and west, perpendicular to the trend of the ridge, and moved forward, his left centre regiment aiming directly at the battery position, the right centre regiment having Devil's Den in its course, and the regiment on the right of that moving up Plum Run. Benning's left regiment as it advanced mingled with the 1st Texas of Robertson and they became amalgamated. As his lines, advancing through the growth that fringed the stream, emerged into view, they were subjected to a plunging shell fire from Hazlett's battery of 10-pounder rifles placed on the summit of Little Round Top. This battery played an effective part in the struggle, both against Longstreet's guns at the Emmitsburg road and with its sweeping fire down the slopes, searching out the recesses where troops were ambushed, and demoralizing; their charges. The 44th Alabama had felt its power, and, until night closed, this battery and its infantry supports on the crest completely dominated the southerly end of the ©gorg©e and the rid©ge near Devil's Den. Benning©'s reinforcement to Robertson for attack, moving directly upon the point, thus taking both sides of the line of Ward in flank, must in the end be irresistible to the small and decimated regiments arraying themselves to meet it. As Benning advanced, the two wing©s of his bri©gade conver©ged somewhat towards Smith's battery Taken unawares, the skirmishers of the Fourth Maine and other regiments, being virtually surrounded while hotly (a) Official Report of General Ward.— Rebellion Records, serial no. 43, page 493. contesting the advance on the Den from one direction, were scooped up by Benning as prisoners. The 44th Alabama, seeing the column of Benning coming up the Run and through the rough fastness of Devil's Den, at once came forth to join in the fray The Fourth Maine gallantly held them at bay, but in conjunction with this overwhelming force at his front, Colonel Walker became at length aware that others had advanced as far as his right flank, close up to the abandoned guns of Smith. "What followed is well described by Colonel Walker himself in his address at the dedication of the monument, given on another page. The experienced eye of Colonel Walker at once convinced him that the key to the whole position rested at the battery, although the possession of the guns themselves amounted to nothing ; it formed the sharp angle to Ward's line, and once in the possession of the enemy he could rake the line of Ward, as first established, its entire length, and destroy the organizations that were attending to the advance of Anderson towards their front. Without hesitation Walker drew his small remaining force from the nest of bowlders in the gorge, hastily got it into line and charged home with the bayonet upon Benning's men, who had entered the battery, and drove them out in a fierce encounter. Assisted by the 99th Penn. (a) in keeping off the Confederates from the gorge side of the hill, and by the 124th N. Y on his right, he succeeded in repelling repeated assaults in a hand-to-hand contest for some considerable time, which enabled Ward to arrange the 6th N. J., (b) and 40th N. Y regiments, that had been brought in to his left rear in Plum Run valley, so that a withdrawal of the brigade could be safely effected, its thrust-out angle being no longer of importance as a tactical point. Colonel Walker claims with good reason, that after he recaptured the battery its guns might (a) Major Moore, commanding the 99th Penn., in his official report of the battle says: "* * * the engagement became very general with the enemy, who was throwing a large force against our brigade in hopes of breaking through our lines. I was now ordered by General Ward to march my regiment double-quick from the right to the left of the brigade. This movement rapidly executed placed my command on the brow of a hill overlooking a deep ravine, interspersed with large bowlders of rock. Here the conflict was fierce. I held my position for over thirty minutes * * * " See Rebellion Records, serial no. 43, page 513. (b) The regiment commanded by Lieut. -Col. Gilkyson with others of the Third, or Jersey, brigade of the Second division had been sent by General Humphreys, under orders of General Sickles, to the support of the First division, and was made subject to the orders of General Birney. — Rebellion Records, serial no. 43, page 534. have been used safely and effectively in defending that position. The Fourth Maine and the brigade retired by order of General Ward. After safely reaching the rear the command was turned over to Capt. Edwin Libby, the wound of the Colonel proving very severe. The retirement of the brigade from this advanced position, probably after 6 o'clock p. m., was not followed up by the enemy beyond the stone fence, and about the same time Cross' brigade of Caldwell's division of the Second corps advanced into the woods where the right of Ward had rested. This ended the fighting of the Fourth Maine on July second. July third the regiment was with the brigade in reserve. At the crisis of the assault upon our lines in the afternoon the regiment, together with the Third Maine, 99th Penn., and 20th Ind., all under Col. Lakeman, were hurriedly moved to the right to the support of the Second division, Second corps, and were ordered into a position in rear of a battery at that point. The enemy, however, had just been repulsed, and the regiment was not actively engaged. It remained here during the night, and early July fourth was advanced to the front on the skirmish line, having two men wounded. The regiment's entire loss was, killed and mortally wounded, 4 officers, 19 men ; wounded (not mortally) , 1 officer, 43 men ; missing and prisoners, 4 officers, 69 men. A MARKER to denote the position of the Fourth Maine when in support of the Second corps, afternoon of July 3d, at close of the enemy's assault, stands upon the east side of Hancock avenue in an easterly direction from " High Water Mark " monument. It is cut from Maine granite, adorned with a red granite diamond, and has the following inscription: 4th Maine Regiment July 3 in Support here Captain Edwin Libby In Command. July 2 Engaged at Devil's Den Colonel Elijah Walker In command, wounded.


HISTORICAL SKETCH.

The Fourth Maine regiment of infantry was composed of volunteers mainly from Knox, Lincoln and Waldo counties. It was raised and organized under an act of the legislature of Maine approved April 25, 1861, authorizing the raising of ten regiments in anticipation of requirements that were soon to be made by the general government to aid in suppressing the rebellion. The original organization when mustered into U. S. service was as follows:

FIELD, STAFF AND NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.

Colonel, Hiram G. Berry, Rockland.
Lieutenant-Colonel, Thomas H. Marshall, Belfast.
Major, Frank S. Nickerson, Belfast.
Adjutant, Jabez B. Greenhalgh, Rockland.
Quartermaster, Isaac C. Abbott, Rockland.
Surgeon, William A. Banks.
Assistant Surgeon, Elisha Hopkins.
Chaplain, Benjamin A. Chase, Unity.
Sergeant-Major, S. H. Chapman.
Quartermaster-Sergeant, John H. Crowell, Winterport.
Commissary-Sergeant, Julius S. Clark.
Hospital Steward, Charles S. McCobb, Boothbay.
Principal Musician, Isaac Prince, Belfast.
Fife-major, Henry E. Burkmar, Belfast.

COMPANY OFFICERS.

Co. A. Captain, Henry W. Cunningham, Belfast.
First Lieutenant, Richard S. Ayer, Montville.
Second Lieutenant, Isaac C. Abbott, Rockland.
Co. B. Captain, Elijah Walker, Rockland.
First Lieutenant, Orrin P. Mitchell, Rockland.
Second Lieutenant, Julius B. Litchfield, Rockland.
Co. C. Captain, Oliver J. Conant, Rockland.
First Lieutenant, Charles A. Rollins, Thomaston.
Second Lieutenant, Charles B. Greenhalgh, Rockland.
Co. D. Captain, Lorenzo D. Carver, Rockland.
First Lieutenant, Thomas B. Glover, Rockland.
Second Lieutenant, Charles L. Strickland, Rockland.
Co. E. Captain, Stephen C. Whitehouse, Newcastle.
First Lieutenant, James O. Dow, Newcastle.
Second Lieutenant, Frederick E. Hussey, Newcastle.
Co. F. Captain, Andrew D. Bean, Brooks.
First Lieutenant, James S. Huxford, Brooks.
Second Lieutenant, Charles H. Burd, Belfast.
Co. G. Captain, Edwin M. Smith, Wiscasset.
First Lieutenant, William H. Clark, Wiscasset.
Second Lieutenant, Gustavus Rundlett, Wiscasset.
Co. H. Captain, G. J. Burns, Rockland.
First Lieutenant, John C. Cobb, Rockland.
Second Lieutenant, B. P Brackley, Rockland.
Co. I. Captain, Ebenezer Whitcomb, Searsport.
First Lieutenant, William E. Burgin, Searsport.
Second Lieutenant, James N. Fowler, Searsport.
Co. K. Captain, Silas M. Fuller, Belfast.
First Lieutenant, Alden D. Chase, Belfast.
Second Lieutenant, Horatio H. Carter, Belfast.



The organization, after the first battle of Bull Run, began to change by resignation. The vacancies in the company officers were filled by promoting non-commissioned officers and privates, so that by January 1, 1862, the regiment got firmly upon a war basis. Captain Elijah Walker had become Major, and before the spring campaign of 1862 opened, was promoted to the colonelcy- The original company H was disbanded September 21, 1861. The officers left the service ; but the enlisted men were not discharged, they remained in service, and faithfully performed their duties to the end. To take the place of this a new company H was recruited at Bangor and Belfast, and in November, 1861, organized with William L. Pitcher for Captain, and Albert L. Spencer and George F Bourne, as Lieutenants, all from Bangor. The active service in the field performed by the Fourth Maine is so fully outlined in the dedication address of Colonel Walker, which appears on the preceding pages, that a recounting of the same is omitted here.