The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-12-28
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Honor to Whom Honor is Due.

Mr.. EDrToR:-I doubt If it ever occurred to
our citizens, that there moves in our midst,
one of the really well deserving Officers of the
Regular Army. In almost every number of
the /" Press" take up, my eyes are met by the
announcement, 3Col., ,"r"Major," or "Capt. some
body, has received promotion ofBreYet Brig,
or Brevet Col, for meritorious services And
while it is true that many are en-: tiled to these
distinctions from grateful country, it is no
ess a truth, to say that many who are recipi-
ents of these public honors are less deserving
than others who get nothing. have often
wondered why it is that the name of Major
T. L. Casey has not appeared among your list
of officers honored for distinguished services.
IF the old chief atthe Head Of the Engineers
Dept. has neglected his subordinates, while
erecting his own fame upon their structures,
the country, and the people should not, the
Secretary of War ought not) I venture to
say, Mr.. Editor, that few among US know lit
tie of the very great and important services
rendered by Major T. L. c., to the nation and
to this State. Just look at it. Shortly after
the first battle of Bull Run, he was ordered
from his duties at Fortress Monroe, Va, to
Portland, to place our coast in a state of de-
fence. He arrived, and upon reconnaissance
of our coast line what did he find? Not sim
Gle gun platform in position, from Eastport to
Kittery fit to mount AZ FOUNDER gun neith-
er did he find gun fit to put in a casemate,
nor casemate built in which to place gun.
Fifteen worthless old "a Founders, mounted
upon shaky, wooden carriages in the old
work at Fort Prebble, were the only guns up
upon our coast aud they constituted the de-
fence of the large commercial city of Portland.
Such was the defenccless condition of the
coast of Maine in the first year Of the rebellion
How different was the situation before the
war terminated. Let our citizens look with
pride upon that noble structure of massive
granite blocks, standing upon Hog Island
Ledge, with its grim visaged iron monsters
looking through the casemate embrasures, the
new works at Fort Preble, and the strong
bas.ions of Fort Scammell, all lblistling with
heavy cannon; then turn to the new case
River, commenced by this officer in the sec
end year OF the war, also the new and improy
ed works at Fort Knox, on the Penobscot Riv-
er. Five permanent fortifcations brought to
their present advanced state Of Completion by
the fndefatiguable energy Of this truly jealous
and patriotic public servant. So that ere the
war was ended, we had 1877 sea coast guns of
heavy calibre, rifed and smooth -bores, mount
ed in casemates and en-barbette, with plenty
of ammunition, ready for use in any emergen-
cy-1S of these are Is inch guns, throwing a
solid shot weighing $50 pounds, the other cali
bres are 10 inch columbiads, projecting solid
missile of 1923 pounds, and 100 Founders and
800 Founders PARROTS. In additionto those, he
selected positions and built in 1883 the batter
les at Rockland, Belfast, Castine, Machias-
port and Eastport, placing in them their ar1rla-
ment. In July 1854, when the National Capt.
tai was attacked by the rebel Gen. Early, he
was hurried off to Washington for eonsulta-
as to further system OF defence Tor Its protec-
ton. The scare being over, he returned TO
his station here. We next find him IN Sep
tember of the same year at Sandusky, Ohio,
selecting positions, and projecting schemes for
the defence of the lake shore; still the fortifi-
cations of Maine under his superintendence
90 ahead. Again he returns to his post, and
when the expedition is ordered against Fort
Fisher, he is dispatched with it; the work of
that combined force concluded, we find him
once more busying himself about the fortiflca-
tions ofour State. Such, Mr. Editor, is brief
resume, but not all of the role he has perform
ed during the rebellion. And believe it to
be shame to have those meritorious services
go so long without receiving public
recognition. Thinking it due to my fellow
citizens that they should know who are the
working officers, and the condition Of our de
fences in the past and in the present, the
foregoing Is submitted for the Information OF
the readers Of the @Press' by
h a1iF9a An OBsERvEA