The Portland daily press., 1862-10-14
r. Z G T. p T 10 N
SEVENTH MAINE REGIMENT,
GREAT ENTHUSIASM.
Brilliant Escort, Speeches, the
Dinner, &c.

|
23d, 1861 1t was composed of about $50
men, rank and file. 1t was organized August
22d by the election of Capt. E. C. Mason, 18th
U. S. Infantry, as Colonel; Selden Conner of
| Fairfield, Lieut.. Col, and Thomas w. Hyde of
Bath, Major.Col Mason, having failed to OBJ
tain leave of absence from the 18th, resigned
and Thomas II. Marshall, ESQ.,, of Belfast, was
elected in his place. Col. Marshall died at
Baltimore on the 25th of October, 1861, from
fever contracted by exposure and fatigue,
while in the discharge of his duties. Colonel
Mason was again appointed to the vacancy
and took command
In its campaign of about founteen months
the regiment Mas taken part in all of the hard
fought battles by the Army of tie Potomac
but one. At Lees Mills, Yorktown, Savage's
Station, White Oak Swamp, Williamsburg lin
Hancock's famous charge) Mechanicsville,
Golding's Farm, Malvern Hill, South Noun
! tain and Antietam, this regiment was in the
brunt of battle, and so great was their valor
at Williamsburg, that by permission of the
Major General the name of Williamsburg was
inscribed on their banners.
The regiment has been reduced by sickness
and death to about $50 men, of whom only
about $50 are effective for service. SO high
was the estimation in which it was held by
Gen. Mcclellan, that he told Gen. Franklin the
highest compliment he could pay it, was TO
order its return home. The application of
Gen. Mcclellan TO the Secretary of War was
successful, and the regiment was ordered to
| this city to recruit.
The Arrival
The regiment left Boston in special train
| at s o'clock yesterday morning, and arrived
at the depot in this city at ten minutes past
one o'clock. An immense crowd, comprising
both sexes, had assembled in the vicinity of
the depot TO greet the soldiers. Before the
soldiers left the cars ladies were passing at the
side distributing beautiful boquets among them.
They were received at the depot by the com
miitee Of arrangements on the part of the
city. As they emerged from the building
shouts of welcome rent the air The cheering
was most vociierous, and the ladies waved
their handkerchiefs. Salutes were fired from
field pieces near the depot. The officers and
soldiers looked worn out with the hardships
and privations they had endured. Their BAN
ners, rent with bullets and stained with blood,
were brought back with them. There were
l46 men in the regiment who came through to
this city. The sick and wounded, about
dozen, were placed in carriages, and as they
passed by the 18th U. S. regiment the band
played and a salute was given.
Two companies of the 18th U. S. Infantry,
under command of Capt. Chase, accompanied
by Poppenburg's Band, met the 18th at the de-
pot and escorted them TO State Street. Here
was drawn up in line a procession under the
direction of Otis Cutler, Esq, Chief Marshal
consisting of three battallions of the 23d, 18th
and 9th Maine regiments. The LIST battalion
from the 9th, was commanded by Lieut.. Col
Wentworth; the I'd battalion, from the 25th,
was commanded by Maj. Tolman the Sd, from
the 23d regiment, was commanded by Maj.
Soule; the whole under command of Col. Fes-
sender. The High School Cadets, to the
number of 100, under Capt. White, made a
very handsome appearance. Then came the
Portland Commandery knights Templar-
grand and imposing. The Portland Fire De-
partmeut, under command of Chief Engineer
II. c. Barnes, Esq, brought up the rear. This
was composed of the members of the
Machigonne, Falmouth and Cumberland
steam fire engines, Ellsworth Co., No. 3,
Ocean, No. a, Davidson, No. 8, Dirigo, No. s,
Pacific, No. Q, America Hose Co, No. /, and
Washington Hook and Ladder Co., Mol. The
18th U. s., with the It'll Maine, passed the
line under sautes, and formed on the right
The escort then marched past the Maine It'll
and the L. S. 18th, when these latter filed in,
and were escorted TO the new City Hall. All
along the route, from the depot to the City
Hall, the It'll was vehemently cheered by the
crowd gathered in the streets, and by ladies
in the doors and windows and on the roofs of
dwellings who waved their handkerchies. Many
of the houses in State street were decorated
with flags, among which we noticed the Iesi-
dences Of Edward Fox, Esq, Martin Gore,
Esq, Mr.. Alvah Libby, and Mr.. William Ham
mond. A flag was strung across the street
below Spring street Another was thrown
across Congress street, from Misses Jones' and
Geo. r. Davis residences. The dwelling house
of ii. J. Libby, Esq., head of High street. was
beautifully decorated with flags, and so was
the Preble House.
Besides Poppenburg's Band, the Portland
and East Auburn Bands furnished splendid
music. We were glad to notice our friend
Chandler leading the Portland Band.
In the Hall.
The procession arrived ut the hall about two
o'clock. Pie hall had been beautifully decor
ated for the occasion, more gaily than ever
before, with flags and streamers and flowers,
and implements of war. Over the stairway
was the inscription
WELCOME GALLANT It'll"
Over the platform and on the sides of the
hall were flags festooned, bearing the inscrip-
ton "Antietam," Williamsburg" "White Oak
Swamp" malvern Hill," Lees Mills" "Sav-
ages Station" "Mechanicsville,' 'Goldings
Farm South Mountain yorktown" On
the platform was miniature tent, inscribed
Headquarters 18th Regiment with sentinel
pacing in front OF it. The soldiers were taken
into the "Senate Chamber" where a collation.
was provided for them. The officers partook
of a collation. in the Mayors room.
After the 7th Regiment had entered their
quarters, and the 18th u. 5. companies with
the fremen had entered the hall, the Battaiions
from Camp Lincoln marched to the Kennebec
Il