The Portland daily press., 1886-06-25
THE FIFTH MAINE.
The Reunion of That Regiment in
Portland Yesterday
Abstract of Adjutant George w. BIck-
neii's Report.

The twenty-fifth anniversary of the mus
tering in of the Fifth Maine Regiment oc
Cured yesterday and some fifty Of the sur
vivors Of that famous regiment celebrated it
in Portland. AT Thatcher Post Hall at noon
the comrades gathered, nearly every one of
whom was a member of the regimental asso-
citation and all wearing badges Of the old
sixth army corps. Among those present
were Gen. c. S. Edwards, Bethel; Capt. III.
P. Bucknam, Mechanic Falls; Capt. E. M.
Robinson, Philips; Capt r. NJ. Stevens, Al
fred; Rev. James Crowley, Jefferson, N. H.;
Lieut.. William E. Stevens, Concord, N. H.. !;
Lieut.. H. Mayo, of the Sixteenth New York !;
NJ. E. Wentworth jackson, N. H.. Rev. and
Adiutant George w. Bicknell, Lowell,
Mass. N. H. Lugee, Great Falls, N. H.; l..
S. Prentiss, Lewiston; S. n Littlehale, S.W.
Sanborn, Bethel; Ed. Z. Cobb, Limerick,
and many others. This city was represented
by Gen. Il. S. Thomas, Major George p.
Sherwood, Capt G. E. Brown and others.
The first part OF the programme, which in
cluded carriage drive about the city, was
somewhat interfered with by the threatening
weather, but notwithstanding this a number
of the visiting comrades availed themselves
of the opportunity it gave Of visiting the va
rious places of interest about town.
On the route the comrades stopped on
State street at the residence Of the daughter
of the regiment, Mrs. Hooper, who was a
daughter of Lieutenat Spillerlof Co. K.,-a
lady who is now lying very sick with con-
sumption, and Captain Bucknam, acting
ing for the regiment, entered the house and
paid his respects.
At p. m. the comrades sat down to din
ner at the United States Hotel, which was
we'll served, and at its conclusion story and
song followed.
The City Hall.
At s p. NJ. the veterans had assembled in
the anti-room of City Hall, headed by the
president of the association, Brig. Gen. c.
S. Edwards, and having among their guests
Gen. C. p Mattocks, of the 18th Maine, Ma
jor H. S. Melcher, 10th Maine, Samuel Shorey,
1st Cavalry, and Captain II. B. Sargent, SOD
Maine. AT $40 the regiment and their
guests marched on to the platform amidst
loud applause. There was a fair audience,
but not as large as it would have been if it
had not have been for the disagreeable
weather. Flags were prettily grouped at the
rear OF the stage, and vases of flowers lent
their perfume to the speakers desk.
AS soon as the distinguished guests were
seated the Maine State Fife, Drum and Bu-
gle Corps, which furnished excellent music
throughout the evening, played 'Day in
Camp" Col. Edwards, then addressed the
audience, welcoming them in the following
words:
COLONEL EDWARDS REMARKS.
Felloac Comrades and Citizens of Portland:
AS l look over this vast audience my
thoughts go back Twenty-Five years ago to
the time when the Fifth Maine was mustered
into the United States service here at Port
land. Well do l remember the cordial and
hearty reception given us by the good peo-
pie of your beautiful city when on our way
to the front. 1t was then at the depot the
mother bid her son, and the sister her
brother the last farewell also the blushing
maiden clasped her lovers hand, and her in
ward prayer that he would claim her on his
return, but many. were sorrowfully dlsap-
pointed. Yes, | also remember the recep-
ton rendered us on our return. At North
Berwick your city fathers were there to re-
ceiye our little squad as it could hardly be
called a regiment To say that the hospital
ity and enthusiasm so characteristic of
Portland were maintained throughout the
struggle but family expresses the feelings
that there existed and still exists, manifested
by the cordial manner in which you enter
tanned the troops of the Grand Army one
year ago.
We numbered as regiment when we left
the State 1910 men, and receiving many hun
dreds recruits in the three years at the front,
and returned with but ZIG. The battlefelds
from Bull Run to Petersburg, they could
but speak, would account for those who are
not with us today.
Since those stirring times new genera
tion has come onto the stage of action, with
whom a knowledge of the war is merely his
tory, and not of memory. The large num-
hers of young people present indicate that
the same feelings that prompted their
fathers and mothers to heroic acts. is still
alive; and were our country again in danger
our ranks would soon be filled. But | will
not occupy your time as there are many pres
ent to whom we would all be glad to listen.
Col. Edwards then introduced Lieut.. w.
E. Stevens, who read the first and last orders
issued to the regiment. The first was the
usual marching orders of a regiment issued
by Col. Donnelly, when the Fifth broke camp
at Portland. The second was issued in June
1864, after the regiments three years service