The Journey Continues.....

The steamer Bay State went "passing up the Sound between the Long Island and Conneticut shores." On the morning of the 24th the regiment touched at New York where they changed boats for Elizabethport, NJ. Upon reaching there they boarded the cars for Baltimore via Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The night long train ride found the men of the 7th sleeping on the hard seats and straw covered floors of the cars. The morning of the 25th found them in York, Pennsylvania where they met the first troops that had seen action, "red caps".  The route southward from York to Baltimore seemed “semi hostile” with soldiers posted along their route, but before long they arrived in Baltimore and camped in the western part of the city.  (From a letter to the Maine Farmer written August 26th and printed on Sept. 5th 1861 by a member of Co. D.)

150 years ago today

Below is a paraphase of a letter written on Aug. 26th by a member of Co. D, 7th Maine Regiment and published on Sept. 5th in the Maine Farmer. 

On August 23rd 1861 the 7th Maine Regiment began their journey south to join in the fight to preserve the union.  They would strike tents at 1:00 a.m. at their camp in Augusta and three hours later were marching to the train depot to board the cars.  They arrived in Boston at 4:00 p.m. and marched from the train station to Faneuil Hall where they were fed a splendid supper.  After resting and filling their haversacks rations the regiment marched to the Fall River depot where they boarded the cars again and by midnight were on the steamer Bay State.

The 7th Maine Regiment -The following companies compose the 7th Me. Regiment, rendezvoused at Augusta:          

Houlton Company, Capt. Freeze, (Company A)

China Company, Capt. Jones, (Company B)

Unity Company, Capt. Robinson, (Company C)

Bath Company, Capt. Hyde, (Company D)

Fairfield Company, Capt. Conner, (Company E)

Biddeford Company, Capt. Cushman, (Company F)

Portland Company, Capt. Gilman, (Company G)

Bangor Company, Capt. Cass, (Company H)

Presque Isle Company, Capt. Rolfe. (Company I)

Monmouth Company, Capt. Norris, (Company K)

Seven of the above companies were in camp Friday last.  Two others came in on Saturday, and the other, the Monmouth Co., arrived on Monday.

(Bath Times). August 19, 1861 The Lewiston Daily Evening Journal - Lewiston, Maine.