The Portland daily press., 1876-08-10

Year after year the veterans of the Main
regiments which brought such glorious renowl
to the Pine Tree State and wrote their valor il
characters of blood on scores of battle fields
have discussed the matter of holding a genera
reunion OF state muster of the ex-soldiers O
the state. Letters by the thousand have beer
written respecting it, and comrades have grown
eloquent over the subject, but nothing was don,
until last fall, when few veterans residing II
Portland undertook the enterprise in earnest
Their efforts resulted in the formation of tn,
Association of Maine Soldiers and Sailors a
Grand Army Hall, in this city, October 26
1875. After general consultation, the organi
cation was completed by the choice of Gen. j
L. Chamberlain as President, one Vice Pres
dent from each of the regiments, batteries, ETC.
Adjutant G. A. Roberts, Port and Secretary
81. G. Houston, Portland, Assistant Secretary
Major Charles Walker, Portland, Quartermas
ter; Col. Frederick Robbie, Gorham, Paymaster
DR.. S. G. Gordon, Portland, Surgeon; Drs G..
W. Colby, Waldoboro, A. G. Hamlin, Bangor,
Assistant Surgeons; Rev. G. G. Crawford,
Brunswick. Chaplain; Executive Committee,
Gen. G. l. Beal, Gen. J. NJ. Brown, Major G..
M Brown, Major W. Fl. Green, Colonel T. A.
Roberts, Major Charles Walker, Major Fred.
Robbie, Lieut.. Z. w. Roberts and Henry c.
1 Houston.
| At a meeting of the Executive Committee,
held in Grand Army ball May II, 1876, it was
decided that an encampment, as originally pro-
| posed, was impracticable the present season,
and in place thereof, it was decided to invite
the several regimental organizations and bate
ries to celebrate their reunions at Portland, on
the same day, and Thursday, August 10, 1876,
was fixed as the time. 1t was proposed to make
| an excursion to one of the islands in the harbor
on that day, where the several organizations
would have an opportunity to hold their annual
meetings, and such other exercises as they
might desire. Arrangements, however, were to
| be made by the general committee, for amuse-
ments proper to such an occasion, together with
| breakfast on the arrival of the steamer at the
island, and mammoth clam bake, in which
all would participate without regard to organi.
| cation. 1t was also decided to hold grand
| campfire, and it was finally determined to &C.
| cupy Little Chebeague
The Executive Committee prepared their cir
culars and forwarded them at once to all the
regimental organizations, where there were
any, or to members of the different regiments,
giving the programme for the reunion, and the
matter was thoroughly canvassed throughout
the state Many of the Maine regiments that
had previously had no organization, proceeded
to form regimental associations, and decided to
take part ill the reunion.
The veterans began to come on the morning
trains from thu East and North, and went to
the headquarters at Grand Army Hall. 1t was
day of surprises Men who had not met since
their muster-out in 1865, more than II years.
found it difficult to recognize the comrades
whose elbows they touched in those days of
toll, danger, devotion and glory. Eleven years
had wrought changes. Crow tracks had made
their appearance at the eyes corner. Time had
sifted its gray through many heads and remov-
ed from others their natural covering. The
soldier of 1865 had become the citizen of the
Centennial year. AS they met they peered into
each others faces. By degrees the comrade of
bloody fields and weary marches was disclosed
by the familiar voice or some feature of the
face. Then the men clasped hands and fire.
quenty embraced in the exuberance of their
joyful meeting; indeed, the eyes of strong men
were moistened and their voices quivered with
emotion. The old fields were fought DER again
during the day and the old memories revived
Precious meeting, indeed!
All the parts of the programme published
yesterday morning relative to the reception,
were carried out faithfully. The various asso-
Citations designated to do escort duty, did it in
an excellent manner
At LIS p. m. the first large body of veterans
arrived at the Maine Central station from Ban
gor. They numbered 40 men, and belonged to
different regiments. They were met by COM
rades George E. Brown and Frank Patterson,
of the 9Th Maine, and escorted to Army and
Navy Union Hall. Another body of 30 men
arrived via the Grand Trunk and proceeded to
Grand Army Hall. After 2 D. m. Grand Army,
Army and Navy Union, Lancaster and Recep-
ton Halls and the Preble House were filled
with veterans, as well as the sidewalks in front,
and the main streets, renewing acquaintance
and forming new ones, all full of life and hap
Ply as ''clams at high water"
The visitors arriving from Boston and Ban
gor, by rail and boat, at and 81 o'clock, were
given collation. by the city government, the
~hAoJOA UCluS CudlIu6u VI tu6 C0mmlGGoo, 1t
was 61 O'Clock when the lunch was finished.
The several organizations then proceeded to
places assigned them for the line. They did
this as naturally aud easily as if it was the year
1864 instead of 1875. Some of rhe commanders
had forgotten Casey and had had not learned
Upton. One of this unfortunate class said to
his fellows sect into four rows as you used
to and 60 endways.'
Gen. Chamberlain and staff had their head
quarters in Grand Army Hall. At Il the line
of march was taken up in the following order:
FIRST DIVISION.
Chandler's Band.
I'd Cavalry, Major Hutchinson-40 men.
list, 10th and 10Th Infantry, Gen. G. l.. Beal-2OO
men.
I'd Infantry. Gen. G. W. Roberts-5o men,
Sd Infantry, Gen. j, I Smith-5O men.
9th Infantry, Capt, Roberts-l5 men.
7th Infantry, Lieut.. Phair-36 men
9th Infantry, Capt. j. q. Beal, 20 men.
18th Infantry, Gen. j. A. Hall-70 men.
18th Infantry, Capt. A. II. Purington-7O men.
SECOND DIVISION.
Continental Band,
9TH Infantry, Chaplain 4. W. Bicknell-1OO men.
18th Infantry, Capt P. F. Quimby-4O men.
18th Infantry, Gen. Issac Dyer-4O men.
10th Infantry, Col. A. W. Wildes-45 men,
18th Infantry, Gen. West-125 men.
18th Infantry, Col. Q. A. smith-4O men.
l5IH Infantry, COl. L. w. StarDlrd-15 men,
10th Infantry, Major A. W. Clark-3O men.
Invited guests in carriages.
THIRD DIVISION.
Medford Band-25 pieces.
Boston Veteran Association, Col. Lakeman-15o
men.
Naval Association, Capt. w. E. Dennison-5O men,
Unassigned Infantry. Capt. III. d. Purington-2I
- men.
25th and Both Infantry, Capt. s. H. Abbott-7o men.
alst Infantry, Gen John Marshall Brown-l5 men.
Drummajor Scott.
Light Artillery, Sergeant P. B. Mennealy, 40 men.
Regiments not mentioned were either not
present or not present as organizations.
The streets along the line of march were
thronged with people, who in various ways ap-
plauded the most notable procession of men
that ever marched in the State of Maine. Each
regimental organization had its distinctive
flags and badges. All theaold pride of regi-
ments was revived Commanders and men
marched as they did eleven years ago. Men
never were more proud. Men never had more
abundant reason to be proud. There were at
least twelve hundred veterans in line and the
count of tickets showed that at least fifteen
hundred veterans including fifty guests went
down to Little Chebeague.
Considerable time was taken in getting
aboard the barge and steamers which sailed
from Portland Pier All the WuaryeS in the