The Portland daily press., 1874-10-06
L HE PRES S.
TUESDAY MORNING, OCT. 6. 1874
Objects Of the Grand Army.
Address Of Hon. Charles II. KimbaII at
the Opening of the q. A. A Fair.

1
| think it safe to assume that no one can
fail to be interested in a brief recital of some
OF the touching incidents in the early part of
| the great four years rebellion; neither can we
| fail 10 take deep interest in the brave sur
| viyors OF the war; especially the sick and
| wounded in orr midst, or of the widows and
| orphans OF the noble men who so freely gave
| their lives for their country.
10 commemorate the startling events OF
| the great war, the grand and heroic acts OF
citizens and soldiers, historians have gath
cred together documentary evidence and of
| hclal details, while the genius of poets has
ent its charm to weave into verse the
touching events OF the great struggle, and
| the pen OF romance has indited the most
| touching stories of dangers of battles, of love
and horror, and all have adorned the noble
soldiers with crowns of victory and glory.
| This makes it doubly hard for me in the short
space of time allotted me tonight to interest
orinstruct you, but for the sake of those that so
much need your sympathy and aid, 1 consen-
ted to bring few facts concerning the OBJ
jects of this grand fair before you.
The mind instinctiyey runs back to those
momentous days and hours in the early part
of the year 1861. The memory of those days
as well as the heroic deed OF our armies and
fleets, OF the officers and men, especially of
our friends and acquaintances, individually,
can never be forgotten; they wero written in
blood before the eyes Of this generation; they
sank deep into our hearts and can never be
effaced.
How plainly we remember that 18th day of
April when we received the startling news
that the rebels were firing on Fort Sumter!
The act was deliberate and meant war.
1t was by order of L. P. Walker, the con-
federate Secretary of War, to Gen. Beaure-
gard to at once lombard the doomed for.
tress. The brave and gallant Major Ander-
son held out until the last moment, but
when the walls were falling all around
him and the fort was actually in flames
he reluctantly ran up the white flag.
This did not stop the rebel guns. They still
continued to pour shot and she'll into the
burning fort. Beauregard sent Col. Wig
fall, one of his aids, to the fort, to say to
Major Anderson that they should not regard
his white flag until the American flag was
hauled down. The following touching in
cident will convey to your mind faint idea
of the feelings of the brave man and his little
band of heroes on that occasion. Major Ander-
son left Fort Moultrie and entered Fort Sum-
ter on the 26th day of December, 1860, taking
with him the flag he had used at Fort Moultrie,
he decided to raise it on Sumter the follow
ing day and stand by it until the last mo-
ment. When the flag was all ready to raise
the Christian soldier held the lines in his
hands, called his men and workmen round
him and with others knelt down and
poured out an earnest prayer to Almighty
God for support, encouragement, and mer-
cy. When the words of the speaker ceased
his men responded amen. Major Anderson
then drew the Star Spangled Banner to its
place over Sumter and the band played Hail
Columbia amid loud and exultant cheers by
the men. To haul down the flag was worse
than death to the brave Anderson; but the
stern command of the vctors was: 'TVe shall
dllo,o you no parley, pull do,Dn your flag sir,
and surrender or .fght." To fight in the
crumbed, burning fortress was impossible,
and so the American flag was hauled down.
That was day never 10 be forgotten by us.
The excitement was intense. The feeling
South was jubilart and guns were fired in
nearly all the Southern cities. Truly we
could say whom the gods wish to destroy
they first make mad.
In the North the news was received with
sorrow and sadness; but it awakened feel
ing of determination never before reached.
The same day, April 18th, President Lincoln
issued proclamation calling for $4,000 men;
also proclamation calling an extra session
of Congress, to meet on the 4th day of July.
On the 10Th day of April Gov. Washburn,
of Maine, issued proclamation calling an
extra session of the legislature to meet on
the 22nd day of the month, ''then and there
to consider and determine on such measures
as the condition of the country and the ohli,
cation of the state may seem TO demand"
During that week nearly all the military COM
panies in Maine met at the various armories
and voted unanimously to hold themselves in
readiness to promptly respond to the call
of the state and nation. The enthusiasm in
military circles was at its highest. On the
never to be forgotten 10Th day of April, the
Baltimore secessionists fired on the Massa-
chusetts troops. How quickly the news of
the rash act spread through the land! The
battle of Concord on the very same day of
the same month So years before, says Ban
croft, brought the political contest between
England and the colonies to a summary end
log and inaugurated the war of the revolu-
tion. The news of the Concord fight was
sent over the country by courlers, by beacon
lights and bonfires. The news Of this fight
was sent with lightning speed to all parts of
the civilized world, and the people at the
North sprang 10 arms with wonderful rapid
ity. None of us that had arrived at the
years of understanding will ever forget that
day. l well remember as was on my way
up town met the late lamented Senator
Fessenden and told him the news as it had
been but a moment before received. He
stood still for a moment and silently listened,
while tears trickled down his cheeks, and
then calmly said: "WeN, it has come at last"
Up to this time very large portion of the
conservative people of both sections of the
country had strong hopes that some compro-
mise might be effected and peace restored.
From this hour all hopes of peace vanished,
and the only hope was to conquer peace.
The entire northern press agreed in say
ing, on the Goth, that the last ray Of hope
for peaceable solution of our trouble had
passed, and many thought the President
would at once call for 100000 more troops,
saying that it is mercy that this thing
should end in the shortest possible space of
time. As Bancroft says of the battle of
Concord, so it may be said of the fight in the
streets of Baltimore; it brought the political
contest between the North and South to
summary ending and inaugurated the war of
the rebellion. The aggressive spirit of the
South showed itself everywhere. The peo-
pie at the North were ready to act with ener-
gy and spirit. Political matters for a time
were laid aside and all were ready to do for
their country the best they could. Sunday
April 21st, was one of the most exciting
days of the war. A public meeting assem-
bled in front of the old City Hail that could
be numbered by thousands, from notice of
less than two hours; speeches were made by
@. c. Woodman, VIM. P. Fessenden, F. o.
| j. Smith aud Albion Witham and one other
| This was the first great war meeting in Port
land +; bat one feeling prevailed, and that was
to defend the flag and to stand by the gov
ernment and the constitution.
The Legislature met April % and Gov.
WashbuIn delivered a brief, patriotic and
pointed address, which was received withgreat-
est enthusiasm by all present. Immediate
| ly at its close Mr.. Gould of Thomaston, one
| Of the ablest and most prominent Democrats
of the state, introduced resolution pledging
| the entire resources of the state in men and
money to the vigorous support of the govern
ment in an effort to put down the rebellion.
| The Legislature promptly responded to the
| patriotic recommendations of the Governor
and the wishes Of the people. Gen. Veazie
| of Bangor rendered the state loan of $50,-
| 600; other banks and bankers promptly fol-
lowed. Enlistments went on as they never did
before, and probably never will again. The ex-
element continued to be intense. Business was
neglected or at stand still. The calm, dig
niied Judge Davis adjourned the supreme ju-
dcial court on the 23rd day of April, stating
that his mind was so pressed with the cause
of bis country that he felt he ,cas unfit to tly
a case. He had ho doubt the lawyers, clients
and jury felt the same.
| Troops began TO pour into Portland from this