The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1886-12-08
a Maine Battle Flag.

When the Grand Army boys from
the Pine Tree state started out 10
attend the reunion in sa Francisco, the
newspapers of Boston and westward had
much to say about the flag of the 2d
Maine regiment which was being borne
to california by certain gallant survivors
of that brave regiment Some of the ar
ticlcs were true enough To barely touch
upon the truth Some left mother earth
in the very first line and went soaring oil
into the regions of the lost Lenore.
That flag has Il history of lis OWN, and
quite an interesting one too. | will give
il II YOU,
In ia about the time that Major Amber
son marched out of Fort Sunpter, Cal
iferuis WIS in good deal of a quandary As
10 which side of the fence she would
take. She was largely onicercd by south
ern Ssmpa'hikcr~. Her business men
however were luyal to the core. The
presidents rHll for volunteers settled the
question That meant business, and Cal.
ifornia'- business men put ont the Amrri=
can Hae. california could not very well
send m n, hut she could send money
which Size did generously, and She could
make tags.
Nainr. as represented in California,
came 10 tho front. and, calling her daugh-
ters together in true quilting party style,
got up Il lla4 fof the lir~t nf her boys in
the ticll It was made mp Of the richest
imported silk edged with gold bullion,
mounted ON stan OF native wood, with
a silver fcrrule a foot long, and sur
mounted hy solid silver battle axe
weighing several pounds. This national
emblem was worthy of the donors, tire
rl.,.i,,irnfs and the raus. hntb unheld
NJ. t;enr.,r II Ilayeeck the son of II
nionrrr and n native of Maine. and who
"a. .,hani lraxino California; tn enter the
znitrd stale. service. wa. uiypu the
eu.tn,l,#af tI,e aau with instruc ions Ia
nresrni The dap on behalf of the donor,
tathr regiment from Maine frs in the
deI1 Kftrr conference with Hon. IInni-
haI U,inlin vire-pre,itlrnt of the Tnitrd
states choice fell on the I'd regiment.
fbpn enroute for Manassas. Mr. Hay.
cock arrived Al Ccnfrryille in lime Ia
m,ln thu. presentation thr dav hefnre tbp
battlc of iull Run.
Thr nrr.nnfation WAS = fine snectacle.
.rhn rr,,i,nrnt wa, formed in hollow
,ouare the brigade to which the regi.
u,eut hrlorqed ,urroln,inp il and in like
formation. On near Knoll. attentive
and interested. sat on their horses Irwin
Mcdowell. the General in chief. and hi>
staff and the secretary of war. From
the hin around looked down with curious
gaze Mcdowell, 10000 bows in blnr. In
the centre of the reaimental square stood
the colonel and his brilliant stan, Il Lnlt
dozen members Of Congress. and Other
DISTINGUISHED individuals. and the bcare,
# the tlnr from the far Off Pacific Coast.
Now comes in the romance and tn,
aa,yuina of the tragedy that followed q,
the next day. Mr.. lIavcock presented
the nae Mr.. French of the auditors de
partmcnt read AN ode The speech OF
Mr. lIaycock WAS short md : irrmp.
was there and heard it. | wondered how
he could make il short. considering tn,
time and circumstances He wa, a youn,
man Won see. aud had not learned th,
trick of listening 10 the sound of hi,
own voice. As he turned 10 the coloi
bearer. ii magnificent six footer. ano
placed the color, in his hand he conclnd
ed hi, speech with these words Let II,
stain he on t his nar save the stain Of n
/ patriot'~ blood. This broke down The
/ discipline of the brave boy from Maine
and he answered loud and clear. "Non,
shall sir How well lie kept his wor,
we shall see later on. Colonel jameson
the commander of the regiment replir,
to Mr.. liaycock, speech in lifting terms.
How about the romance and tragedy
Well. the romance Law in the color henr
er's speech; the tragedy next day whc,
that brave lad kept hi, word I'm les
than u hours from thr time the aau ,,a,
placed in hi, hands he went into battl,
with his regiment. Neither he nor an,
| other man i'm that reoiInrnt hnd rvpr In,