The Portland daily press., 1871-06-07
The 6Sth Anniversary Of the Portland
Light Infantry,


IL THE HEART OF THE PEQUAKET COUNTRY.
Five thousand people, at least, agreed that
yesterday was the greatest day that Fryeburg
ever saw since Chamberlain fred that famous
gun 'that weighed TOM at Paugus, and
scored one on the epidermis of that celebrated
"original settler;" for the bars were let down,
and the people of that lovely and renowned
village were given modern mode of cOmmun-
icatiOn with the rest of mankind. Seriously,
however, the Portland Light Infantry msde
Fryeburg the scene of the celebration of their
68th anniversary. and the informal opening Of
the Portland & Ogdensburg railroad to an i'm
portant point upon its projected lice; and at
6 80 yesterday morning this venerable corps,
headed by the Portland Band, turning out 80
uniforms, took up hundred or more of its
honorary members and invited guests ct the
Preble house, and marched TO the Portland &
Kennebec station where they took train for the
home of the Pequakets. Little by little the
company increased at each station, growing
sensibly larger at Baldwin, Hiram and Brown
field, until the cars were completely packed
with young men and maidens, old men and
children; and when the Fryeburg station was
reached at 10:15, the train gave forth living
freight of at least 600 souls The progress from
Hiram was slow, for the road was only partial
ly ballasted. At Fryeburg complete ovation
was received; the grounds around the station
being covered by a dense crowd of people who
had gathered, not only from that but the ada
cent towns for distance of at least twenty
miles, while the groves looked the surround
ings Of an Old-fashioned militia muster-feld-
1t is said that never before in the history Of the
town were SO many people collected there; all
came to see the pioneer railroad train and par
ticipate in the anticipated festivities. The mil
itary and their guests marched to the village
under a burning heat and amid opaque clouds
of dust to the Oxford House, where they stop
ped momene to breathe and clear their
Threats with draught Of cold water; and then
made turn through the village. Hating mo-
ment to pay salute to Maj. d. r. Hastings,
one of the Directors of the p. & o. road, that
gentleman invited them to his ample grounds
where under the cool shade of the trees, he
dispensed liberal hospitality. The soldiers
lunch being finished, Capt Mattocks Of the
Infantry, called for ''three cheers and q tiger"
for their entertainer, which were given with q
will, and the Major responded In happy man.
ner, welcoming the corps to FLyeburg, and
thanking them for the honor they had done
him. Major s. @. Harrington and Hamilton
Willis, ESQ.,, who assisted Major Hastings in
his pleasant duties, were called out in like
manner, and Mr.. Willis responded in beau
tiful speech, in which he referred to the rich
historical associations with the town abounds,
and the new era opened to it by tue exte nsion
of tie iron bands; and proposed the health OF
Gen. y. j. Anderson, an honorary member OF
the Infantry, land past commander.) Tie
General was, as usual, very happy in his re-
Spouse, but was interrupted by Capt Mattoeks
who ''knocked the bottom out Of his speech
by calling for three aud a tiger" The Gen
eral paid handsome compliment to the town
>of fryeburg, which had done so much to for
ward the railroad enterprise, and partially ex-
pressed his exultation that within thu short
space of year and a half fifty miles of rail-
road had been extended into this beautifu, re-.
gion. He referred to the pleasant associ atoms
clustering around an organization like the In.
fantry, snd the enthusiasm which grew from a
hearty cooperation with an ancient corps like
this, which embraced the aged veteran aud the
boy shouldering his musket for the first time
A fine select piece from the band terminated
this pleasant visit and the boys marched bacl
to the Agricultural Fair Grounds near the de
pot, where breakfast was soon spread and eat
en-. Discipline came TO an end then, and Their
was variety Of minor sports. FoOt-ba wa
attempted and given up on account of tn
heat. Practical-iokes followed, and membe
who was celebrating the Both anniversary c
his connection with the Infantry, was arreste
by corporaps guard, tried by drum-hea
court martial aud ridden OF rail, but his leg
were 80 long that his feet touched the ground
Another white coat" was carried in baske
for some infraction of the PARTICLES OF war. -
And by the way, there were eight white
coats in the ranks, four of whom were cello
brating their SO.h anniversary. While th
company and the honorary members were at
distant part OF the field engaged in large
practice, the band entertained the crowd wit
fine music in addition to the informal snort
going on around them. The prizes for tarpe
practice lat 125 paces) were awarded as follows