Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-06-05
However" said he, II feel 1t all here" pointing
to the region of the heart.
oAi,.. aasoaxu Ial fnl1n,ra.

Col. c. A. L. Sampson of Bath, George E. Brick
EFT of Augusta.
Corresponding Sccretary-J. II. Reynolds Of
| Bath.
Tlcasurer-Geo. 5. Fuller of lIaoweI.
In behalf of the resident members of the Third
in Bath, Mr. Wiggin extended an invitation to the
| regiment to hold its next meeting in Bath. The
invitation was accepted, and it was voted to hold
the next reunion in Bath, on the first Tuesday OF
August, 1876.
The committee to ascertain the number present
in the several companies, met in different parts Of
the hail. and afterwards reported thai III were
present. The following committee was appointed
on resolutions-Lewis SelbiDg F. G. Barker, c.
| Fl. Arnold
| The meeting then adjourned to afternoon.
| At three O'Clock, the regiment formed on Water
street, and photograph was taken by Mr.. Henry
Bailey. The line of march was then taken up to
the State House, desire being expressed to salute
the colors. Cheers were given for the old Third
flag, and Col Staples made brief remarks in refer
ence to the dead of the regiment On the return
march up State street, the Grammar School child,
rem greeted the soldiers with three cheers, and
sang america" Cheers were given in response.
| banded for the afternoon.
The comrades reassembled al Granite Hall, at
| seven in the evening.
The committee on resolutions reported As fol-
lows;
Whereas, after the lapse of fourteen years since
the muster-in of the Third Regiment Infantry
Maine Volunteers, a portion OF the surviving
| members have assembled for the purpose of effect
ing an organization to perpetuate the name and
| memory Of the regiment:
Resolyed, First Of all, that we re-afflm the love
and devotion we have always felt for the OLE flag,
| and the cause of our country.
| Resoiced, That we will ever cherish in kindly,
| though mournful remembrance, cur comrades
whose names have been stricken from the muster
| roll by the grim hand Of death.
Resolrei, That our heartfelt sympathie. are cx-
tended toward the surviving relatives of our de-
parted comrades. May they be strengthened and
comforted in their sorrow by the knowledge that
| those precious lives were sacrificed in that most
| sacred cause.-The defence of their country.
Resolced, That although we have been mustered
odt of the service of the United States, yet we
still IN our hearts retain honest pride in the old
Third Maine, and consider every man q true broth
| er and comrade, whose name appears with honor
on the roll.
Resolced, That we have lively appreciation of
the soldierly and chvalrc conduct OF Capt. j. {.
u. Smith of Co. X, 18th South Carolina Regiment,
in returning TO member of our organization his
1
iiecting nothing but honor on both parties.
Resolred, That our gratitude is hereby rendered
| to the press of Maine in general, and the Kenne
bee journal in particular, for many fayors and
courtesies.
Resoited, That our thanks are jus " returned
to the Maine Central Railroad Company Cor facil-
tiles of transportation afforded to members
from different localities.
Resofted That we truly grateful to the
citizens Of Augusta for their cordial greeting and
generous entertainment.
The resolutions were unanimously passed.
On motion of Col. Sampson, thanks were ex-
tended to Lewis Selling for his efforts in arrang-
ing for this reunion.
Col. Lakeman announced the following Exccu-
tive Committee
serg't Chas. 7. Hooper, Co. "A; Corp. Lewis
Selbing, b; j. c. Morrison, c; Capt. W. II. Wat
son, d; Capt Geo. S. Fuller. f; serg't John Put
IL; John Il. Dodge, l; c. l.. Hammond. X.
A letter was then read from Capt. John c. b.
Smith Of Columbia, s. C., returning to Lieut.. II.
\. johnson, the sword captured from him during
the rebellion. The letter speaks in high terms of
Lieut.. Johnson's bravery, and closes with the fol-
lowing sentiment;
May all animosties be buried, and hereafter may
| amity and an earnest cooperation prevail between
| the States OF the Union, for the general good
The sword was then presented to Lieut.. John
son by Lewis Selbing, in the following remarks;
Comrades Of tie old Third Apparent misfor-
tunes may sometimes turn TO pleasure, an instance
of which we have to note tonight A comrade
Of ours, who faithfully performed his duties, and
thereby well earned his promotions, was untor-
tunate, within the short period of one month al
which the term of service expired for which he
had enlisted, to be taken prisoner Of war, and al
though being an officer and could such expect
more lenent treatment, 1t is reported, and the re
port must be true as it came direct from his cap
tors, he behaved in such q manner to win the
admiration OF his enemies, and We are even in
debted to him for the opportunity we have this
evening. The sword an emblem Of war, is in this
the olive branch of peace the harbinger of the
return of true brothery feelings between the
North and South, and the assurance that there is
the mutual regard and honest admiration existing
between the North and South which can only re-
suit in the assurance that this is bat one country
undivided.
Lieut.. johnson, | have now the pleasure to place
In your hands the sword, which through circum-
stances beyond your control was taken and kept
from you, but permit me to assure you that even
in the act of surrendering the the gallant
Capt. Smith Of South Carolina, you have proved
yourself true to the trust which the Company put
in you when first presenting this sword to you.
May you have the pleasure of keeping it for many
years, not to be drawn except in defence Of right
and justice for our beloved country, side by side,
and shoulder to shoulder, South Carolina and
Maine against common foe.
Lieut. johnson, on receiving the sword, replied
as follows
Comrades:-It is with pleasure and satisfaction
that receive this sword second time from your
hands, not for its intrinsic value, but for the
| associations that are connected with it. Most of
you know that it was given me in the field by MEM
bers of my company, and for this reason was very
dear to me, and on that memorable day in the Will
derness when the fortunes of war threw into the
hands of the enemy, and this sword was taken
from me. felt as if | was parting from a friend
and it was not without struggle, both physical
and mental, that gave it up.
The history of this sword since that hour is not
known to u.s. only this, that it fell into the hands Of
a brave southern soldier and gentleman, and the
respect l have for Capt. j. c. B. Smith, Co. X,
18th South Carolina Infantry, is such as one true
soldier bears to another; for had he not been all
have represented, there would have been no OPP
portunity for this second presentation. Very
likely this sword has been worn by my captor, and
used against cause during the last few months
of the rebellion, but such are the tickle chances of
war
But comrades, the war is over and an event Of
the past, but its scenes and incidents will always