The New York herald., 1870-08-02
NAHANT. Mass, August 1, 1870.


This charming midsummer retreat has to-da
been the scene OF gathering OF unusual interest
and importance The veterans OF the Eighth Massa-
chasetts regiment, those brave fellows VINO marched
through Baltimore, who opened the way from Anap
oils to Washington at the birth Of the rebellion and
saved the National Capital from the grasp OF the
rebels assembled here for their annual reunion.
Two or three hundred were present, and among the
number was the irrepressibe Ben Butler, who went
with them as commander when the nrst call was
made for troops. The customary social reunion
took place In the early part Of the day, and this
was followed by fish and clam dinner in the Relay
House.
Afterwards the veterans assembled under little
clump OF cherry trees upon the sea beach shore,
where they were acceptably entertain for a While
by q brief address from Major Ben Perey P0ore
which embraced among the features full military
history OF this section Of the State from the ancient
Indian wars down TO the present time.
When Major Poore had finished there were loud
calls for General Butler and he could not do other
wise than respond General Butter, addressing the
company comrades said that 1t fair that once
In while he should be allowed to sten and he had
listened with great interest 70 the address Of Major
Poore. lie had not come, he said, for the purpose
OF making q speech, for he had made too manv
speeches during the last seven months either
for his own good or the comfort OF others.
He desired only TO speak OF some OF the memoirs
OF the early days Of the war, because they
were the beginning Of his connection with
the Eighth regiment He referred pleasantly
to some of the incidents OF their early connection
with the war in It's earliest days, Including the time
when they were waiting for buttons 10 be sewed on
their overcolts, which Governor Andrews and the
State OF Massachusetts furnished them. He remem.
bered, also, how the of Essex OF the Eighth re-
glment opened the way from Annapolis to Washing
ton when they believed danger was Ia front OF them
and OF man finched from duty On The 10th OF
April came an order from Washington for four regi
ments OF Massachusetts men TO move to the Capital,
and at the same Time went an order for some regu-
lars, then 10 barracks In Detroit The distances to
Washington were equal, but the Massachusetts men
there In four days. having passed through Bal.
tim0re and the regulars did not arrive until thirty
days later. when the danger was all over He wanted
also, he said 10 tell his comrades a bit OF poliGcaI
history de was at the famous Charleston Conven-
tiOn In 1860 As SEINE present might remember, and
that convention broke up and reassembled In Balti-
more. He was sure that the division OF the demo-
cratic party then begun would bring trouble, for
1t assembled in Baltimore under circumstances
which sooner later must bring on war II a recon-
clliaton was not effected. indeed, all the men who
followed the fortunes of Mr.. Breckinridge were
tain that the republicans, under MI. Seward, who
carry the next election. At this time meeting
wan arranged IN Washington for the reorganiza:
to meet about December Is, 1860, and IN
pursuance OF that arrangement he General
secession convention had met in south Carolina aud
had sent oommissioners to Washington to present
the ordinance OF secession to President Buchanan
He (Buner) met Slidel in Washington and also
Mr.. Mason, Mr.. Breckinridge, Mr.. Clark, Of mis-
souri,; Mr. Rice, OF Minnesota; Judge BacK who
was then Attorney General, and other prominent
democrats. Some Of these men he found were as
ardent Union men as any In the land, and others
We're agreed upon the dissolution OF the Union.
They had come to the conclusion they would nave
new confederation. IN which should be the States
OF Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, kentucky and
asked what was TO become Of New England, and
was told 1t would bo left out In toe cold
sontherners asserted that the Northerners would
not fight. "WhO will bght uS - said SltleiL az
w for one" m General General ,ss soter rephea; appaMase
Will be against yOu,o remarked Sidell. "When we
march In this war" replied General Butler. 1--WE
win have all traitors hanging on the trees behind
u.s." Applause.l
He was then SO sure OF war, Butler said, that he
left Tor home ut once reaching Boston the 3d OF
January. lie Immediately saw Governor Andrews
and told MIN pretty much what he had told hts
hearers. He told him further that ne believed the
would come when the inaugura ION Of President
Lincoln took place, on the 4th OF March. The Gov
ernor replied that he was very much surprised at
was best TO be done. General Butler advised
him first to furnish the militia with OvercOais and
equipments. Governor Anarews agreed and an p ap.
ridicue which The democratic and some OF The re-
publican papers induiged 10 was very great Some
claimed that the overcoats would be eaten by moths
and others asserted that he (Buuer) largely
tsrested In the Lowell mills aud was anxious for
government contract tAppause). Such charges had
been often made against him before and since, aud
he had not got over receiving them even now. II
was but Justice 10 Governor Andrews, however, TO
say that his farseeing sagactty conprehended the
Importance OF the coming crisis and provided
for it, and hence 1t was that Massachusetts men
were ready TO march as soon as they did.
Had South Carolina been as active she might
have forwarded the 600 men she had when
Sumter fell into Washington, and captured that
city almost without q struggle, and the war would
have had di1erenG history, but probably
the same result General Butler said he would state
some other things, explaining how he happened to
be thrown into connection with the Eighth regi-
ment, hut 1t was hardly polite to do so. In the
Massachusetts militia the Sixth and Eighth regi-
mcnts all there OF military strength in the
country at that time, outside the little handful OF
ihen educated at West Point and In the regular
army, and 70 the men OF Massachusetts, who marched
to the front In that Gay and nour the country
more than to any other body Of men. Tn did not
60 to the front for bounty but for patriotism. In
conclusion General Butler urged the continuance OF
such reunions untn the last surviving comrade mad
followed the honored ones gone before.