The Portland daily press., 1875-07-31
First Reunion of the 3lst and 3Sd Maine
EEepipnen1s.

| First Reunion of the 3lst and 32d Maine
Regiments.
| The first reunion Of these regiments tool,
| place yesterday, and although the first which
has been had, was in every way successful and
satisfactory. The military history of these
regiments is somewhat peculiar one, and it
may, perhaps, not be out of place to speak of
it here. The two regiments were raised at the
same time and went into camp at Augusta in
the early winter of 1864, but the exigencies of
the services required that every available man
should be in the field at the opening of that
grand campaign which began in the Wilder
ness, and these regiments were hurried to the
front before their organization was fairly COM
pleted, leaving che state in April They were
placed in the I'd brigade I'd division 9th Burn
side'sl army corps, the balance of the brigade
being composed of the 9th, 9th and 18th New
Hampshire and % Maryland, all veterans IN
acquainted with the requirements of military
life as they were these regiments entered at
once upon service of the most severe and ardu.
GUS character and shared in all the duties re-
qured of their veteran and disciplined com
panions, and to their honor be it said, they sus-
tanned the reputation of Maine troops general.
ly. But the constant and fatiguing duty they
performed, and the severe losses sustained,
rapidly depleted their ranks, and the two com.
mands were consolidated by orGer of the War
Department. aud the united organization known
as the 31st Maine. Because of the consolida-
tion, the reunion yesterday was joint one,
embracing those who served in either regiment.
Nearly hundred of the old comrades partic-
pated, and the day was one long to be remem-
bered.
At arrival upon the island, substantial and
acceptable lunch was served by Mr. Trefethen
of the Montreal House, the place selected for
the gathering having been Trefethens landing,
on Peaks Island. After the arrival of those
who came upon the second boat, and the dis.
cussion of thu good things provided by the
obliging host, the business meeting was held.
Gen. John Marshall Brown, formerly 1t. Colo
mel of the 32d Maine, was selected as chairman,
and Sergt II. c. Houston as secretary. The
first regular business was the perfection of
permanent organization, as no regimental as
ISOLATION has previously existed in this regi.
ment, but the feeling of comradeship and the
desire to utter friendly greetings too strong
for repression, and business was temporarily
suspended to enable the boys to speak the
thoughts that filled their minds. Capt. 81. r.
Sargent opened the ball with few remarks,
and was followed by Lieut.. ]. J. Chase, who
was an especial object of interest to his COM
rades from the fact that eleven years ago that
very dav he had been left for dead upon the
field at the mine explosion, and is now totally
blind from wounds there received. Then Capt.
s. E. Bryant spoke, and Surgeon Kicker fol-
lowed. 1t. Col. Brown then made some ex-
tended remarks as to the history and service of
the sd Maine, and the terrible suffering it en-
dured. Capts E. s. Reyes and 81. 81. Bur.
bank then addressed their comrades, the latter
telling of his life in rebel prisons, and escapes
therefrom. An allusion made by Lieut. PEN
dexter brought up Capt. Sargent, who related
the circumstances of the escape and death of
Lieut. Pierce, one of the many brave men of
the 32d Maine.
At this stage a committee to nominate per-
manent officers for the Association was chosen,
and when they had retired to perform that
duty, the speaking was resumed, Capt. G. W.
Reyes Quartermaster Hall, Capt. T. P. Beals.
Lieut.. Goodrich and Capt. A. f. Noyes, each
making more or less extended remarks. The
committee reported, and the following officers
wereselected to serve for the ensuing year:
President-Daniel White, Bangor.
ENTHUSIASTICALLY. f. Wentworth, Kittery;
John Marshall Brown, Portland; o. E. Bart
lett, Skowhegan. sa.-erE.
Treasurer-H. R. Sargent, Portland.
Secretary-HeDry G. Houston, Portland
Surgeon-Dr r. R. Kicker, Lewiston.
Chaplain-Rev. Geo. G. Crawford, Bruins
wick.
Historian-H. H. Burbank, Alfred.
Associate Historian--Geo. G. Crawford,
Brunswick.
Executive Committee-H. T. Sargent, Port.
land; Thomas P. Beals, Portland; John D.
Anderson, Gray; N. R. Lougee, Lewiston;
Jos. A. Hobbs, Portland.
After this matter had been disposed of, an
original poem, written for this occasion, was
read by II. G. Houston, and by vote of the
Association, he was requested to publish the
same. The poem will appear in our issue Of
Monday.
The Drum-Major, Fred. G. Scott, was
authorized to reorganize the old regimental
drum corps, and all former members of the
corps are requested to communicate with Drum
having the drum corps in condition for service
at the next reunion.
Capt. Sargent and Lieut. Col. Brown spoke
of Corporal Mackin who is now lying at the
point of death from consumption, in this city,
and many kind wishes were uttered by his
comrades.
The following resolution. offered by Capt
Burbank, was adopted:
Resolved That while we grasp with keen
and lively grip the hands of present comrades,
reviving the associations of our past, we do
recall with solemn pleasure the names of our
absent dead, and would this day affectionately
brush from their tombstones the dust of
decade.
The association voted to unite as an organi-
cation in the proposed general reunion of all
Maine soldiers next year. The thanks of the
association were rendered to the several rail-
roads centering here, and to the press of the
state, for courtesy shown and facilities afford
ed, tending to make the occasion a success.
No further business remaining TO be done, the
meeting adjourned, and the comrades amused
themselves as inclination prompted till called
to partake of an excellent and we'll gotten-up
clam bake prepared by Mr. Trefethen, after
disposing Of which, they passed the remaining
time in playing football, &c., or in talking
over the old days of battle, and recalling those
recollectiops which belong only to soldiers.
The association returned to the city about 6
o'clock, well satisfied with this first gathering
of old comrades, and determined that it should
be only the beginning of similar occasions, to
be continued so long as ga corporal's guard"
remained.
CENTENNIAL CONFESSIONAL full meeting
of the Maine Centennial Board was held yes
terday at the Falmouth. The question under
consideration was whether or not the state
shall make. in addition to individual exhibit
tons, distinctive showing of her natural re-
sources, such as her crops, metals, woods, fish
cries and other material products, as some of
the states have already decided upon. 1t is
understood to be the opinion of tie Commits
sion that Maine can hardly do more than bring
out the best possible results through individual
efforts, and forego the attempt to make col
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