Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-07-01
q. A. r. LETTER.

f.. ~@x q. A. r. LETTER. -
Grand Times in Portland, Maine---
Fine Camp---Splendid Parade.
CAMP FEssENDEN, June "a, 1885.
:'Minnesota Headquarters train arrived |
safely in Portland, over the Grand Trunk |
railroad, Monday noon. Our journey was |
very pleasant one. the company being social
and the weather propitious.
Having left Austin Wednesday noon. we
arrived in Chicago early Thursday morning,
and devoted the time until our departure over
the Grand Trunk Railroad, at o'clock D. M.
to visiting the great painting. 1.-THE Battle of
Gettysburg This famous work of art, 400
feet in length by 50 in height, is arranged in
circular form within the walls of an octa-
gonal building, and has the singular property
of placing one in the center of what appears
to be great field of battle. The illusion is so
complete, that with but slight stretch of the
imagination, one seems to stand or move amid
the very scenes depicted, and the canvas is
changed into veritable landscape and sky.
Looking straight before you, you see the bat
tie raging, and turning your head toward
either shoulder, you see the hospital quarters
and reinforcements. No one visiting Chi
cago should neglect to see this realistic battle
picture.
Saturday morning the excursion was trans
ferred to steamboat at Kingston, Ontario, and
we spent the day on the St. Lawrence river,
looking at the summer resorts and villaees
along the banks, and in running the nume-
rous rapids, which, by the way, is quite an
exciting diversion.
Saturday evening, we rejoined our train at
Montreal, which remained until Sunday even
ing, 10 o'clock, when we pulled out for Port
land.
On Sunday, the Austin delegation mtde a
good record for themselves by atteb hiding
church, and in the afternoon climbed Mt.
Royal, an elevation of 700 feet, which COM
mands fine view Of Montreal, and the great
Victoria bridge which spans the St. Lawrence
at this point. One Of our party, a Wisconsin
veteran, was assaulted by party of ribbon
men, roughs, and badly injured by being hit
between the eyes with stone, they having
mistaken him for an Orange man, on account
of his yellow badge.
Monday morning our train entered the m-
vines OF Northern New Hampshire, and We
had rare treat in looking at her granite hills
and cloud capped mountains, heightened with
the reflection that we were only passing
through. Even the traditional sheep, wrest
ling with the perpendicularity of the country
and persistently inserting their noses among
the stones tor the last spear of grass, did not
appear.
AS we entered Maine and began to strike
the more inhabitable parts of the country,
we were surprised to see the fields overgrown
with white weed ono Of ho 0rootost poc<, of
any country, and exceeded by nothing except
to Minnesota.
AT PORTLAND.
On arriving at Portland we all reported at
Minnesota Headquarters, United States Hotel.
Those who wished went to camp, while the
rest sought entertainment elsewhere.
The camp was beautifully located on Num-
JOY Hill, a fine eminence overlooking Casco
Bay. The camp was divided into two wings,
the larger. one mile in length, facing to the
northeast, called "Camp U. s. Grant," and the
other, facing east, and much smaller, called
Scamp Fessenden." This less camp was as
signed to the Western troops so as to give
them the best possible view Of Portland har-
Dor, the islands and ocean beyond. The front
line Of tents was assigned to the Minnesota
delegation, the best position in the whole
camp. Sitting in my tent door and looking
down and out upon Casco Bay the eye is de-
lighted with one of the finest marine views
along the entire coast. Before us lies Port
land harbor, filled with steam and sailing
craft of all descriptions, for the anchorage is
the best along the entire coast. Rising out of
the water are the massive walls of Fl. Gorges,
now abandoned, but famous as the last fort
built by Jefferson Davis, then Secretary of
War, before the Rebellion. Beyond are FITS.
Preble and Scanned, which defend tie en-
trance to the bay. The harbor is land locked
by many beautiful islands, and presents a
tranquil sheet of water, ~ miles long by IL
miles. or about 700 acres, capable of floating
thousands of ships at once. These islands are
| covered with summer resorts and houses and
churches, and for 200 years had not road or
horse on them. To the right may be seen the
city Of Portland, rising gradually from the
harbor. To the left the waters of Casco bay
extend miles away, island-guarded like the
harbor. Rising above the dark rim of the
horizon to the northwest. are seen the peaks
of the White mountains, 80 miles away. The
camp is lighted at night with electric lights,
and furnished with numerous casks of ice
water at convenient intervals.
Aside from its natural beauty, Portland has
many historical attractions. A few rods back
of my tent are the remains of an old Revolu
tionary fort which was captured by the Brit
ish. In the ole burying ground near by, are
many interesting monuments. Two especial
| ly attra cted my attention, those of Captain
William Burr oughs, of the u. S. brig "Enter-
prise,' and Capt. Samuel Blythe of His Maj
esty's brig "Boxer," who both fell in naval
engagement of Portland on the 5th OF Sep
| TENDER, 1918, when the "Boxer'' was captured.
They were brought ashore and buried side by
| side with imposing ceremonies. Longfellow,
a native of Portland, refers thus to the event
in one of bis poems:
II remember the sea-flght far away.
How it Numbered DER the tide,
| And the dead captains, as they lay
In their graves, o erloOking the tranquil bay
Where they in battle died."
Near these was the grave of Lieut.. Waters,
aged IL, killed in the same action. His mon
ument was erected by the young men of Port
| land. Also the monument to Lieut.. Henry
WadswOrth, uncle to the poet Fl. w. Long,
fellow, after whom he was named, who was
killed in the assault on Tripoli, 1904. Another
| monument of interest was that in honor of
Commodore Preble of Revolutionary fame.
his son commander in the War of 1912, and
his grandson, commander in the War of the
Rebellion.
AS Portland has been settled over $50 years
many Of the grave stones are very aged. and
covered with peculiar inscriptions. 1t was
! strange taste which carved and inscribed these
old memorials of the dead.
THE MARCH.
The review of the Grand Army by Gen. Lo-
gan Tuesday was an imposing affair. The old
soldiers, representing all the loyal states and
territories, marched through the streets of
Portland for three hours, over 10000 strong.
The city was not as extensively decorat
ed as Minneapolis last year, neither we're the
| crowds as immense. 1t is estimated $4,000
people witnessed the parade. As We marched
| in the ranks of the Minnesota delegation, can
not give much idea Of the general appearance
of the procession.
At the head of the Minnesota column was