Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-09-16


oftheir coats. They were some of the sur
yivors of the Third Maine; men who fol-
lowed the flag, and on many hard fought
battlefield attested their loyalty to the
Union. This regiment was raised mostly in
the Kennebec valley. Soldiers kept step to
the beat of its drum from the ship-yards of
Bath, from the shops and stores of Augusta.
and from the farms which lie along the riv-
er. No regiment has a brighter record. Its
reunions have been very successful, and the
one of yesterday was no exception.
Business Meeting.
At the business meeting in the afternoon,
President Watson in the chair, the roll call
showed 70 comrades were present. Prayer
was offered by Rev. E. w. Preble of Bangor,
chaplain of the association. The silent roll
showed that six members of the association
had died within the past year. Election of
officers was then proceeded with, which re-
suited as follows:
President-W. II. Watson, Bath.
Vice Presidents-C. NJ. Lane, Skowhegan;
j. S. Smith, Bangor; c. H. Greenleaf,
Bath.
Surgeon-Dr. G. f. Brickett, Augusta.
Chaplain-Rev. f. w. Preble, Bangor.
Secretary-Lewis Selbing. Augusta.
Corresponding Secretary-R. Y. Crockett.
Bath.
Treasurer-George S. Fuller, Hallowell.
Executive Committee-H. G. Staples, J. S.
Bangs, Band; J. II. Raymond, Co. A Geo.
NJ. Bean, Co. b A. j. Packard, Co. c.; w.
H. Higgins, Co. ID; Il. II. Fairbanks, Co. +;
John Putnam, Co. f w. NJ Graves, Co. G.;
I. H. Young, Co. H; John S. Wiggin, Co.
/; John w. Boswell, Co. X.
TWAS voted that the next reunion be held
at Skowhegan, on or about the middle of
August, lS8l-the exact date to be determined
by the executive committee. -
Evening.
The exercises of the evening Were very
successful. Spite of rain and mud there was
a large attendance. The faces of the com
rades were wreathed with smiles as they
greeted their friends and acquaintance.
Three long tables, laden with viands, and
graced with bouquets of gay flowers greeted
the eye, while the aroma of hot coffee saluted
the olfactories. On the stage sat the Home
Band from Togus, discoursing their sweetest
strains. 1t seemed as if they never played
DWELL. In the galleries we're large num-
Der of spectators. The hall looked very
prettily. There was no attempt at elaborate
decoration In the rear large flag was
gracefully looped. Around the galleries at
short intervals were small flags, with stats
crossing each other, on ground of evergreen.
The effect was very pretty and neat. In
addition to this, between the flags were the
names of some of the battles in which the
regiment participated. What a flood of old
recollections must go swelling through the
mind Of a soldier as he reads the names of
Manassas, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair
Oaks, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp,
Malvern Hill, Bull Run, Chantilly, Fred
ericksburg, Charlottesville, Peach Orchard,
North Anna, South Anna, Spottsylvania,
Wilderness, Glendale and Brandy station.
The old Third was no kid-glove regiment.
The history of the rebellion could be written
In the blood of its heroes who fell in all the
principal battles of the war. But, coming
down to last evening, what hand shaking
there was as old comrades recognized each
other! Everybody seemed to know every
body else. After a blessing upon the ban
quet had been invoked by Rev. Mr.. Preble OF
Bangor, 'the boys" sat down to a sumptuous
repast, which they discussed at their leisure.
The Thirds Matron.
All at once, upon the arrival of the eight
o'clock train, there was great stir In the
hall. What could it mean? What had hap
pened? All at once Col. Lakeman sprang to
his feet, and called out:
Here's our matron, boys. Three cheers
for her."
You ought to have heard the old veterans
hurrah. Three cheers and tiger. There
was rush for the table where a pleasant
laced, bright little woman sat shaking hands
with dozen soldiers, and talking with them
all in one breath. 1t was Mrs. c. A. L.
sampson of Bath, the Florence Nightingale
Of the Third. She it was who accompanied
the regiment through thick and thin all
through the long, weary years of war, whom
every soldier loved and revered. God bless
her. That is the prayer of every veteran
who was in Granite Hall last evening
AFTER the Banquet.
Supper was eaten. The Home Band piayeu
another of its sweet airs, and then Rev. MT.
treble Of Bangor read some very interesting
"reminiscences of the regiment The Ihlru
Maine pitched its first camp in Augusta ana
Its members first donned the blue in our falr
city. A sketch of the battle of Bull knn'
and the part played in it by the Third, was
then read. Then after medley by the band'
Z. W. Whitehouse, Esq, was INTRODUCED Us
TOAST master, and oficiated to the satisfaction
0aIl. In few happy remarks ne pu, the
company in the hest of hnmor. The iolio~-
ing toasts were given and responded to-