The Portland daily press., 1881-08-24
The Boys in Blue Renew Old
Friendship.
THE GRAND REUNION OF 81
FAIRLY BEGUN.
The Executive Committee Pressed
for Accommodations.
THE FIRST DAY DEVOTED TO ORGAN
IzATION.
The Euoamnmouf Nornad uS-o~. N
THE FIRST DAY DEVOTED TO ORGAN
IzATION.
The Encampment Named Hiram G..
Berry.

The great reunion of veterans of the war
which virtually closed with the surrender of
Lee at Appomattox sixteen years ago began at
behring's Oaks yesterday under the auspices
of the Soldiers and Sailors Association of
Maine. Year after year the veterans of Maine
whose regiments brought such glorious renown
to the Pine Tree State, and wrote their deeds
of valor on scores of battle fields have dis
cussed the matter of holding general re-
union of the ex-soldiers of the State. In 1876
few veterans of Portland took hold of the
matter in sober earnest. They did not attempt
an encampment but they invited the several
regimental organizations and batteries to cele-
brate their reunions at Little Chebeague Aug.
10, 1876, and partake of huge campfire and
clam-bake at that spot. These old soldiers,
who acted as committee of arrangements
and executed the invitations, had previously
formed the Association of Maine Soldiers and
Sailors Oct 26, 1875, with the following organ
ization:
President-Gen. Joshua L. Chamberlain.
Secrea4ry-Lt. Charles A. Roberts.
Assistant Secretary-H. G. Houston.
Quartermaster-Maj.C Charles Walker.
Paymaster- Frederick Robbie.
Surgeon-Dr. S. G. Gordon.
Assistant Surgeons-Drs. G. W. Colby and
A. G Hamlin.
Chaplain-Rev. G.. G. Crawford.
Executive COMMUNICATIONS. G. L. Beal
and j. M. Brown, Col. T. A. Roberts, Majors
W. H. Green, Chas. Walker, Fred Robbie, Its.
G. W. Roberts and Fl. G. Houston.
The veterans responded to the invitation in
large numbers and Portland witnessed the ex-
citing scene of 1900 war-worn heroes marching
through her streets eleven years after the close
OF the war, bearing the tattered battle-fags,
that told the history of the nations struggle
for existence, while the bronzed and SCARED
soldiers responded with animation to the wild
hurrahs that greeted them on every side. But
the memories of that day are not forgotten and
and need no repetition here. The affair was
SO great success that tho committee decided
to hold an encampment at some future date
and this year they determined was proper
time. How heartily the old comrades have
responded, the crowded camp ground and the
city filed with men whose civilian coats are
adorned with badges-the ribbon of the Amer
can Legion of Honor-will testify. But the
men are changed vastly from their appearance
five years ago. Those few years have had
greater effect upon them than they would upon
ordinary men. Every twelve month makes a
heavier mark upon old soldiers than upon
citizens brought up to life of only ordinary
excitement. Old wounds will make their pre-
sence felt. Still there were many vigorous,
manly figures among the assembled multitude,
and when the drums beat, the old regimental
pride was aroused, bent forms were straight
ened and the column of tours marched as in
the days of 81.
Yesterday was devoted to organization. At
an early hour the grounds in the vicinity of the
grand entrance to the Oaks were occupied by
dealers in soda, cake and other kinds of re-
freshments who were busy putting up stands
for the display Of their wares Inside the en-
trance, on the great piles of bark belonging to
the adjoining lanyard, the advertisements of
all kinds of medicines and other goods stood
out prominently in letters, two or three feet in
length. Children amused themselves romping
over the close-cut turf and in the driveway,
and squads of veterans slowly gathered from
every quarter The early trains and boats
brought quite a number of arrivals-the Port
land and Rochester bringing 6O-and by noon
there were some 300 to 400 on the grounds The
freeman McGilvery Post G. A. R. of Sears
port, marched into camp % strong. Their
officers were:
Post Commander-G. L. Merrill.
Senior Vice Commander. w. Black.
Junior Vice Commander-E. B. Sheldon,
Surgeon-Dr. e. Hopkins.
Chaplain-A. A. Nye,
The post took the tents assigned them and
not only adorned them with flags but embellish-
ed the entrance with beautiful banner of
white silk with blue fringe and tassels, and
bearing the inscription Freeman McGilvery
Post, Searsport," in gold and blue letters. The
18th Maine, Is strong, were under the COM
mand OF l.. W. Hanson, the Paris Veterans,
Capt. H. M. Bolster, had 40 men. The
Mechanics Falls detachment numbered %
men under Capt. q. s. Buchanan. The 7th
Maine had 15 men.
The executive committee were early in
camp and their duties were exceedingly
laborious, leaving not single moment unoc
cupied. Young lads in blue uniforms with
white caps, oficiated as orderlies and were
sent on errands in every direction. Under the
flagstaff, in front of the Commander-in-C Chiefs
tent, two twelve Founders frowned on the busy
scene about the tents. Fifty cases of arms ar
rived from the United States ars email at Angus
ia. AS fast as different organizations reported
they enrolled their names on the books at
headquarters, received white badge inscribed
"Maine Veteran Reunion 1881" and were then
assigned their quarters. Owing to the diff
Gin Of fhn
found necessary to change the order of encamp-
ment from that reported yesterday. The fol-
lowing are the tents with the regiments as
signed to them:
mechanic Falls Veterans.
and 3-17th Maine.
and 5.Farmington and Wilton Veterans.
and massachusetts Veterans
l0-Searsport Veterans.
11-15th Maine.
II. 10th Maine.
13-9th Maine.
14-14th Maine
10Th Maine.
16-Sth Maine
17-31st-Maine
18-32nd Maine
I9-13th and 25th Maine.
20-11th Maine.
2l-Paris Veterans
22-l7th United States Regiment.
"a and 25-20th Maine.
26-24th Maine,
FIFTH Battery.
28-1st Cavalry.
29-2nd Cavalry.
30-4th Maine.
31-13th Maine.
32-Navy.
33-12th Maine.
81 and 35-1-10-29th Maine.
36-Piscataquis Veterans
37-3rd Maine.
38-1st Battery.
39-Waterville Band
40-21st and 23d Maine
41-Chander's Band.
42-Mexcan War Veterans
43-2nd and 9th Batteries.
The 9th Regiment decorated their tent very
handsomely, while beautiful bououets LENT