The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-07-02
FIRST MAINE INFANTRY.
Election Of Field officers.

The election of Field Officers of the First
Maine Infantry took place at the
armory of the Portland Mechanic
Blues yesterday morning, Col. A. M Benson
OF the Governors staff presiding. There were
present all the commissioned officers of the
new regiment except Capt. John F. Fitz and
LIST Lieut.. Morris NJ Fuller of the Norway
Light Infantry, as follows:
Capt. G. A. Weston-Portland Light In
fantry.
Capt. c. W. Davis-Portland Mechanic
Blues
Capt. Henry NJ. sprague-Auburn Light
Infantry.
Capt. ]. j. Lynch-Portland Montgomery
Guards.
Capt. Edward H. Ballard-Capitol Guards,
Augusta.
Capt. C. P Berry-Biddeford Light In
fantry.
Capt. J. W. Berry-Richards Light In
fantry.
LIST Lieut.. Henry A. McDonald-Po
Light Infantry.
list Lieut.. Chas. F. swett-Portland Me-
chanic Blues.
LIST Lieut.. Frank P Merrill-Auburn Light
Infantry.
LIST. Lieut.. T. E. HartEett Portland Mont
gomery Guards.
LIST Lieut.. ]. E. Fossett-Capitol Guards,
Augusta.
LIST. Lieut. L. H. Kendall Biddeford Light
Infantry.
LIST Lieut.. G. W. Drake-Richards Light In
fantry.
I'd Lieut.. Berry A. Norton-P Portland Light
Infantry.
I'd Lieut.. Daniel A. Northumberland
Blues.
I'd Lieut.. VIM. W. Pentengill-Auburn
Light Infantry.
I'd Lieut. G. B. Keith-Norway Light In
fantry.
I'd Lieut. j. J. Lappin-Portland Mont
I'd Lieut. W. H. Williams Capitol Guards.
Augusta.
I'd Lieut.. c. E. Hoyt-B iddeford Light In
fantry.
fantry, Gardiner.
secretary.
Capt. Sprague offered the name of General
John Marshall Brown for colonel, and the
nomination was seconded by Capt. Berry Of
Biddeford. AS no other name was offered for
the position, Capt Sprague moved that Gen.
Brown be elected by reclamation. Capt.
Berry of Biddeford however called attention
to the law requiring written ballot, and on his
motion Capt Berry of Gardiner was directed
which was done, the general thus receiving
unanimous vote
The name of Capt. Henry M. Sprague of
Auburn was offered by Capt. Berry of Gardi-
ner for Lieut.. Colonel Lieut.. SWEET of Port
land offered that of Col. j. T. Richards of
Gardiner Capt. Berry said he thought the
position of Lieut.. Colonel and Major should
be given to regular line officers. For four
years they had kept the militia of the State
alive by persistent endeavor. They were
active, efficient and untiring. Last winter
showed the value of the organization.
Lieut.. SWEET thought Col. Richards was an
admirable man for the position and was a man
of social position, influence and wealth.
Capt. Berry thought all these three things
good in themselves, but that there were other
things also to be borne in mind in making
the election.
A committee to receive votes was appointed
and reported.
Whole number of votes. ..................21
Necessary for a choice. ...........11
Col. j. I. Richards had.........n.5
Capt. j. j. Lynch.
Capt. III. M. Sprague. ..............5
Capt. Henry NJ Sprague... ....-8
and there was no choice. The second ballot
resulted as follows:
Whole number of votes. ................22
Necessary to a choice. ....................12
Col. j. T. Richards had ......... s
Capt. Henry M. Sprague .........17
and Capt Sprague was elected.
Prior to the second ballet motion to declare
the votes cast for H. M. Sprague as for Henry
M. Sprague was declared out of order by the
chair. Capt Lynch also protested against the
use of his name for the position. The nomin-
alton of Capt. Sprague was made unanimous.
An officer said as Portland-in the western
part of the district-had the colonelcy and.
with it the regimental staff-and the eastern
part of the district the lieutenant colonelcy, it
seemed to him the northern should have the
majority and he would nominate Capt. Edward
II. Ballard of Augusta for major. The names
of Capt. w. w. Whitmarsh of Norway, Capt.
J. w. Berry of Gardiner and C. P. Berry of
Biddeford were offered. The first ballot stood
as follows: