The Portland daily press., 1868-07-09
Soldiers and Sailors Convention.
The Boys in BJa1e aUiL Vote
as they Fought.
Great Enthusiasm.

at half past ten yesterday morning the long
procession of delegates from the eastern por-
tion of the State to the two conventions
marched down Congress street. Conspicuous
in the ranks for their orderly march and
steady tramp were the men wearing the red,
white and blue badge of the returned volun-
teers. Three bands from Kennebec towns fur
nished music, and of these the foremost as
the procession passed Deering Hall played lie
sabre de mon pere" as joyousy as if there were
no more serious combats in the remembrance
of the throng than the feat of General Fritz in
the opera. After escorting the delegates to
the State convention to City Hall, the soldiers
and sailors returned to Deering Hall, a banner
bearing portrait of General Grant was dis
played upon the platform, and the convention
was called to order by Adiutant General John
Z. Caldwell, formerly of the 11th Maine, one
OF the signers of the call. Among the soldiers
present were General Varney formerly of the
I'd Maine, General White of the 31st, General
Plaisted of the 11th, Col. Farnham of the 10th.
Col. Sanger of the 9th, Gen. Tilden of the
10th, Gen. Cilley of the 1st cavalry, Gen
Boynton of the 9Th, Gen. Harris of the 9th,
Capt. Nash of the 10Th, Col. Noble of the 9th
Capt. Clark of the 11th, Capt. Shorey of the
10Th, Col. q. A. Smith of the 18th, Gen. Beal of
the 10Th, Gen. Virgin of the 23d, Gen. Hall of
the 1st battery, Gen. j. NJ. Brown of the 2Oth
well, it is necessary to stop somewhere. The
floor of the hall was filled though not crowded
with the real heroes of the war-worthy de-
scendants of Cromwell's men of iron, and
none the worse for a touch of amenity and jol-
lity which the men of Naseby lacked
Chaplain Merrill Of the 1st cavalry was call
ed upon to invoke the blessing of Heaven up-
on the proceedings of the convention. After
the prayer Gen. Caldwell made a brief but
stirring address. They had come together, he
said, to testify that they were determined to
do their duty in peace as well as in war (ap-
plause); to assert that those who now profess
their willingness to surrender all that was gain
ed by hard fighting misrepresent the soldiers
OF Maine cloud cheers; to declare that they
mean to vote as they fought; and to express
their conviction that the distinguished general
who contributed more than any other man to
carry the country safely through the war, is
the man now, to use his own emphatic words.
to give the country peace. (At this point the
convention rose by a common impulse and
without waiting for the name of Grant gave
three cheers fit to take the roof off and a royal
Bengal tigerD have heard those sounds on
the battle field, continued Gen. Caldwell, when
they carried dismay to the enemy, and 1 am
glad to hear them to-day. We should be recre-
ant to ourselves and false to the most sacred
memories if we were not now ready to testify
to the country that in this hour the soldiers OF
Maine will neither finch nor fail. (Applause.)
Gen. Selden Conner had been expected to
PRESIDE but feared the effect Of excitement up
on MS health and did not appear. Gen. Oald
"eli at the conclusion Of his remarks nomin-
ated PRIVATE Luther w. Bradford of the
10th Maine for temporary president. AS Mr.
Bradford advanced to the platform with the
empty sleeve betokening the loss of an arm
carried away by rebel shot at Hatchers
Run with the regimental colors, he was re-
ceived with storm of cheers, repeated as
two more One-armed soldiers, Amos G. Hardx
of Bangor and David Lombard formerly of
the 10Th Maine, were nominated and chosen
secretaries. j. f. Miller of Portland was
added to the list of secretaries and the tenn
porary organization was complete
Col. Smith of Skowhegan, Gen Plaistei of
Bangor, w o Fox of Portland, Gen. Caldwell
of Ellsworth and Gen. White of Bangor were
then appointed committee ON permanent or
ganization, and committee ON resolutions
was appointed as follows:
AndrOscoggin-Geo Chandler.
AroOstOok-Walter Morrill,.
CImberland-J Land.