Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-10-14
AROUND THE cAMp FIRE
Ahe noys liza Blue Welcome Their Ola
Comrades of the War

by invitation of w s. Heath Post M. II
u. A r. of waterville. abou, In con,aaa.
from neighboring Posts assembled in CITY
man, Waterville, Thursday evening. Der 9th
ror ABOUT 20 minutes after enterins the hall
nothing was heard but the greetings NJ ola
comrades IL was interesting 10 watch the
aces OF these SCARED veterans All were
cheefInI; but the faces of some Expressed
great JOY. while others smoked in alien, co.,
tentment. BY my side was a soldier h., Ala
not have the use of his lower limbs. I'm, psad
TWO clutches to help himself along Having
come some distance, he was somewhat weary.
ana as pain darted through hi. Iir,b.
tne muscles would contract snasmodir.
any and his limbs would be drawn mn
rom the moor. hut the old soldier smoked
ing.
After being called to ordor by Comrade
ndnRS' a seiectlon was renderd by the indie
pendent band of Waterville. The e,mrade.
then Joined heartily in singing MARCHING
through Georgia " The st ,ries and rem,ni.cen,
ces which followed were highly interesting and
1old IN that free and easy style, peculiar TO
comrades OF the war. Remarks were made
by Comrade Emery Of f.. b Pratt Post. No.
w, FAIRFIELD; Comrade Benson Of Joseph w
Williams Post, No. Sidney; Comrade King
OF w. ). Heath Pot. No II, Wateryille.
Comrade Motley of A. J. Billings Post. No,
liz, China; aud others Mark Twain's war
tactics. read by Comrade Bangs, was highly
appreciated by the veterans. As we
listened to the touching incidents of
the war, looked into the earnest faces of the
conrad and heard the inspiring strains of
music, We could imagine ourselves upon the
battlefield We heard the roar of the can
hon' saw the advancing lines, looked upon the
wounded-and the blue smoke of battle
rom the pipes OF the comrades-hung like a
| CLOUD over the scene. About nine O'Clock
acting Commander Bangs ordered an attack
on the rations in the hall below. Bv skin.
manoeuvre of the commander, our lines were
thrown entirely round the six long tables and
the commander then ordered an advance all
along the line. In an incredibly short time
The rattle OF plates and the clash OF knife in
ulcated that they had encou nted the enemy
Inc eng tgement soon became general Our
boys were In splendid condition and had il
not been for the fact that reinforce
ments OF the evening were continually arriv-
ing, we shOul,i have made sweeping victory.
AZ 1t was. we retired in good order, without
the loss of single man. and With but few
disabled. After retiring to the hall above,
the roll was called and the following posts
were found 10 be represented: VS.. Heath,
No. IA, Waterville; STEPHEN Davis, No IL,
Pittsfeld; Vincent Mountfort, No. 90, Bruins
wick; X. II. Mullen. No. 80, No Vassalboro ;
Cutler, No. As, Togus; Billings, No So,
| Clinton; Elbridge 7. Pratt, No. 80, Fairfield ;
Sergeant Wyman, No. 81, Oakland; J. p
Jones, No. l06, So. China; A. Billings.
No. l72 China. Also the post at Sidney the
name of which we did not learn One
comrade was present from B. +. Butler
Post, Lowell, Mass.
The following corps were represented: LIST,
I'd, Sd, 9Th, 9Th, 7th, 9th. 10Th, llth, 18th,
18th, 10th, l9th. 22d, oath, and the LIST Maine
Cavalry Corps. There were represented the
following Maine regiments of infantry: lat,
I'd, Sd, 4th, 7th sth, 9th. 10TH 18th. l2th,
18th, 18th. 10th, l7th 18th. 10Th. Goth, 2lst,
23d, Path. 25th, 2Sth, 10Th, Both. 3lst Also
there were present members of the LIST and
I'd Cavalry, LIST ID. c. Cavalry, 4th Battery
and the navy. Other States represented
were New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Min.
nesota and Iowa.
| Remarks by comrades Reynolds, Dutton,
Channi Z. Day. C. .omhs and others. Com
rades Day and Commits r lated touching in
cidents of thor life VIII L. prisoners of war.
The question of n G A. X. Relief Associa-
ton was discussed, and a meeting called at
Fairfield, "Wednesday evening Oct Goth, for
the purpose of organizing such an association.
| After singing John Brown" cheers were
| given for w. s. Heath Post the Independent
band and Commander Bangs. The comrades
Joined loyalty in singing the closing song
| America