MaineMilitia.com

Its Always a pleasure to have you and your"essence of coffee" around the fire, but I will have to say you missed a fine Santa Fe bean soup......
Well the next day dawned cool and brezy and turned out to be warm and breezy...rumors of severe t-storms for the afternoon were abounding.... the dress parade was held witout incident and at the officers call it was reveled that sundays battle was open ended and we would have the high ground. at that time the plan was once again to have the massive two clumpanys but as the formup foir battle began it would be smaller units, the 15th/1st maryland was assignd a position on the hill behind an apple tree....when the battle was joined and orders came we moved down the hill and went into line at the edge of the field in the center of the confederate "line" we kept up a good rate of fire only to have the union move up their cannons and keep their infantry behind the line. the infantry fired little. or took hits, as we began to ruin out of ammo hits were taken and my company went from two ranks and then to one at which point we went into a "skirmish" line around a apple tree....we then took orders to support the far left...and with three or four men fell in the line of the 35Va.cav (dismount) face to face with a union company of same or less strength that would not take hits as I watched my four go to two then one the union stood there despite full unloading of multishot revolvers.....with the confederaste line decimated by pure necessity the union had the field without even half empting their cartridge boxes by just moving up their cannons so we couldnt take the field safely......
Going back to camp, it was time to do a little fluid rehab whilewatching the western sky....I went to get the wagon and we started to take down but became rushed as the rain began to fall.....then the monsooon hit! high winds torential rain and lightning. Capt porteus and Capt Perkins of the staff came over and assisted in the throwing of the stuff onto and into the trailer, no sense to run about as we were already soaked I relaxed and just packed as best as could...... a wet ride home for one tired family.......
Seamus

Cogito sumere potum alterum