The Portland daily press., 1875-01-09
"THE BLCEs.,
Second Relation of the Portland Me
chanic Blues.

Last evening the Portland Mechanic Blues
held their secood reunion at their armory IN
Old City Hail. The whole affair was grand
success. The invitations were confined to
few of the friends of the company and the
wives and daughters and sweethearts OF tne
several members. AT eight O'Clock the armory
was filled with large and pleasant company.
The exercises of the evening were opened with
prayer bv the Rev. Mr.. Bicknell. The Arons
being present, furnished some excellent music.
Can't. Pennell then announced that Ad]utant
Chas w. Roberts had been engaged to furnish
history of the company, and he had prepared
such history, but was detained at home, and
that Lieut.. II. II. Rich would read it. The
history was quite long and very interesting.
We give few facts contained in it, which may
be of interest
On the 23d day of Janury, 1907, number OF
citizens of Portland sent petition to the Gen
eral Court of Massachusetts asking permission
to organize company of light infantry in
that town. Permission was given and the
officers were chosen the next April. The COM
pany was called the portland Mechanic
Blues" The following is list OF captains
from that time until 1861: Martin Nichols,
John W. Smith, Thomas Osgood, Lemuel
Clark, Thomas Todd Silas Smith, John b.
Scott, Daniel Gilbert, Jr., Eli Hamlin, Leon
ard Stoddard, Charles f. March. James Sweet
sir, William p. Stoddard, Wendall 2. Smith
and Thomas A. Roberts. This company per-
formed duty In the war of 1872. A draft was
also made from the company during the NADIA
waska war in 1889.
At the breaking out of the rebellion the
company was the second in the state to offer
its services to the government, and on the 18th
of April, 1861, was mustered into service for
two years. At this point this history gives
unite a minute account of the company during
the war.
In the spring of 1866 number of the former
members of the Blues gathered and went to the
islands. There the Portland Mechanic Blues
Association was formed. The organization
continued until the 3Oth of December, 1867,
when the old charter of the company was re-
newed.
At the election which followed, George W.
Parker was chosen captain. The history
closed with a short sketch OF several OF the
oldest officers and members of the company.
At the conclusion Of the sketch the club fur
nished song. Capt. Pencil then called upon
Col. Parker, who responded in few we'll
chosen remarks. He alluded to the late Lieut..
Wescott as worthy member who had done
much to keep the company together. He was
followed by Rev. Mr.. Bicknell, who was Ad-
jutant of the 9TH Maine Regiment Remarks
were also made by Messrs. Rich, Kimball,
Illsley and Jacobs. At the close of the speech
making the company was invited to visit the
dining hall. The ward room had been fixed up
in fine style and decorated with flags and
bunting. The lady friends of the company
had loaded the tables with good things SO that
they fairly groaned Rev. Mr.. Bicknell invoked
the divine blessing and the company began
their task. While at the table Mr.. Bicknell
was elected Chaplain of the company. After
the tempting viands had been thoroughly dis
cussed the company returned to the armory,
and the music was resumed. Several lady vo-
calists arrived and the festivities lasted IN til
late hour This company is now in exec llent
condition and their ranks are full.