The National tribune., 1881-09-10
REUNION OF MAINE VETERANS,

/ y
address by Ex-Governor Israel Washburn, prayer
and benediction by W. c. Haskell. Upon the
platform were many prominent military men,
including Gen ThOm, of the Engineers e. S. A.,
Gen Beal, Col. Lakeman Col Dana, of the first
Wisconsin Cavalry, Gen. Joseph G. Smith, of Ban
gor, and Col J. NJ. Brown, of the First Maine
regiment. At the close of the Governors address
the band played the " The Star-Spangled Banner"
after which Gen. Chamberlain introduced Gen.
O. o. Howard as follows
COMRADES AND SOLDIERS: We have named this
camp after hero who sacrificed his life to the cause
of his country. God spared another hOnOred name
and he who bears it is here present before you.
Every man will remember the gallant soldier
who lost his arm at Fair Oaks, and who waved
the stump alOft as signal of victory and led his
battalion against the enemy. introduce to you
Cen Howard.
AS the general came forward he received
by three hearty cheers, which were long and con-
tinued and repeated. Gen. Howard then said:
GOVERNOR PLAIsTED, COMRADES, LADIES,
AND GENTLEMEN: | am not used to being met
with this sort of battery. | thank you very
much in behalf of the soldiers, sailors, and COM
rades gathered here to-day for this welcome.
| You do we'll to welcome us to the old State which
we love. The man is no man who does not love
his country and appreciate the place of his birth.
! remember my native town. its lakes and sur
rounding hills, the view of the Androscoggin, and
beyond, the White Mountains in the distance /
am glad to see the children press to the front
(referring to several scores OF small boys who, by
the Generals invitation, climbed on the front of
the PLATFORM That is the sort that make men
! who continually press forward, who are the sol
ders and sailors of Maine. | was associated early
with the Sailors and / always had great respect
! for the broad-shouldered lad whose parents al
lowed him to go to sea. I recollect the speech of
Mr.. Choate in New York at the unveiing of the
statue of Farragut, and the magnificent portrait
ure of that strong man. / am glad to have the
sailors welcome me, and under the shadow of that
great name [ will embrace them all. Comrades
soldiers. came ON this field in wonderment.
did not expect to meet again the old First Maine,
the Second Maine, the Third Maine, the Fourth
| Maine, and so on through the whole list. [ was
welcomed by them heart to heart and hand to
hand, those who have hands left. Who are these
soldiers? l had brigade composed of the Third
Maine, the Fourth Maine, whose colonel was
Hiram J. Berry, after whom this camp is named ;
the Fifth Maine and the Second Vermont. We
stood where we could hear the zip of the bullets
and the screech of the shell. They looked in my
face with smile, and went calmly forward to the
baptism of blood. A few had legs and arms left
but all retained their warm hearts. They are here
to-day and welcome me home. Yes shouted
a veteran. "we We're there The general then
sketced in spirited manner the outline of his
/ campaiUoS at South NountaiD FredericL- Sburo
Charlottesville, Gettysburg and Chickamauga
The proceedings of the Reunion were varied by
procession and q mock fight in which the First
and Second regiments of Maine militia took part
The fight represented the battle of Yorktown.
The French forces were represented by the Maine
militia, under command of General John Marshal
Brown as Rochambeau; the Americans by the
veterans under command Of General G.. VI. At
wood Of Boston, as Washington; the British by
the Portland Cadets, four companies OF the Sec
ond regiment and Seventh Maine battery under
command of Captain Stowe, OF Dover Maine as
CORVALLIS. Col. Isaac>S Bangs of Waterville.
division commander, led the American line; Gen.
Chamberlain conducted the whole by signals from
the crest of Bramhall. The hour for the engage
ment was p. M, but the presence of several Of
the leading British officers at the American head
quarters at $50 p IN. indicated that the nOn-com-
batantS need be III haste to retire. In the
meantime the crowd on the sides of Bramhall hill
became more dense The spectators were brOiling
in the sun, and perhaps not as patient as General
Washington and staff, who had reined their
horses back into the shade of some tail ems. At
the French headquarters, Marquis Lafayette sat
patiently on his white horse waiting for the skir-
IL
At 42G the first gun opened on the English and
the skirmishers advanced, while the British artle-
~ replied and the British skirmishers were driven
back. The French line advanced and the tusil-
lade between the skirmishers grew lively. The
firing grew rapid and brilliant skirmish took
place. Again the American line advanced with
cheers and the French advancing more slowly
but in fine order the British were driven back to
their station on the hill Next came deter
mined sOrte of the British driving back both the
French and American lines. The spectators now
got excited and crowded upon the battle field I'M
pedng the movements of the French. The Brit
ish drove the Americans back upon their bate
ries, which were served rapidly, and after fierce
fnsllade the whole line advanced and the British
are driven back on the run to their hill Both
French and American lines rushed UP the hill
which was carried at A., amid tremendous cheer
ing. The American army was drawn up in line
with the French line in front of them, and Gen