March 2022 Maine at War Posts

by Brian Swartz

Posted on April 3, 2022

In March 2022 my Maine at War blog examined topics ranging from a Gettysburg mystery solved to Confederate mayhem upon the sea and a young soldier’s last letter before the Wilderness.

After his CSS Tallahassee captured the packet ship Adriatic on August 12, 1864, Capt. John Taylor Wood transferred that ship’s passengers and crews to another captured ship. Wood then burned the Adriatic. He also burned the schooner Spokane of Calais, Maine that day. (American Heritage Century Collection of Civil War Art)

March 9, 2022: Reign of terror off Nova Scotia, part 1

John Taylor Wood and the CSS Tallahassee evade Union blockaders off Wilmington, North  Carolina and steam north to raid Yankee shipping near New York City. When the Navy comes looking for him, Wood heads northeast to find easier pickings.

March 16, 2022: Reign of terror off Nova Scotia, part 2

Hoisting British colors aboard his CSS Tallahassee, Capt. John Taylor Wood stalks Yankee merchant ships plying Canadian waters near Cape Sable Island. He’s successful beyond his wildest dreams.

March 23, 2022: The last letter home, part 1

A few days before the 20th Maine Infantry heads into the Wilderness, a young private writes “a few lines” to his parents living in rural Piscataquis County, Maine.

March 30: 2022: The last letter home, part 2

Finishing his chatty letter to his parents back home in rural Maine, Alonzo Z. Parsons shoulders his rifle and gear and marches into the Wilderness with the 20th Maine. The letter makes it home.

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