The Portland daily press., 1889-05-09
What the Centennial Display Taught
a Maine Veteran-A Confederate
Who Was clad Hls Cause Failed.

Col Joseph B. Peakes Of Dover, who was
In the city yesterday, had an interesting
story TO tell the PRESS about the New York
centennial ''It Is old news for you, / sup
pose," said he, "but Il was big enough
show to give me something 10 talk about FOR
the next i've years. The display made by
the militia was such as to cause great many
pleasant reflections TO one who knows what
the militia OF the country was In 1861"
Col. Peakes Is an old militia man went
through Baltimore In the Massachusetts
sixth; served afterwards In the First Maine
Cavalry and for years commanded the indie
pendent Piscataquis Battalion; so the ques-
ton naturally followed: Ibid you nOtic,' n
marked improvement In the militia gathered
In New York over the Massachusetts Sixth
In 1861, when II was the first regiment 70 re-
spond TO the Presidents eall?"
You may depend upon IL, / did" said be.
THE militia saw In New York would com
pare well with regulars. There were the
Pennsylvania and Ohio troops, who rolled
by In heavy marching order. with knapsaeks,
haversacks and eanteens, all ready to 20 in
70 camp or battle. There was the Fifth
body Of men as regular troops. Virginia
sent splendid contingent. When / com
pare those splendid troops with the Massa-
chusetts militia Of 1861, and the Massaehu-
sets militia was about as good as any, the
contrast seems very great. went In the
Sixth Massachusetts,, a private In Co. ID in
Lowell. Half the men In that company were
young fellows like myself who had been en-
listed on short notice, how short notice you
can judge from my experience. About
think 1t was the 15th,-I was standing by
my boarding house In Lowell. where l was
studying law, when Capt. Charles Jones
came along. He looked so sober
asked him what was up. He said Presideat
Lincoln had called for soldiers, and that the
Sfwfb RaOfuaanf xunFtIH "a for INoakfursor.
In the morning. He asked me II i didn't
want TO 60. l said yes, ana he took me down
20 the arm0ry Immediately, where enlisted.
Half OF that company were recruited on as
short notice. We were armed with old fash
loned muskets, flint locks, l think; but In
Boston we exchanged them for Springfield
muskets and also obtained uniforms, which
were, think, the worst fitting uniforms l
ever saw. i think our company, so far as
new men and equipment was concerned was
companies. AS we marched through Boston
a man in the crowd said loud enough for our
officers to hear, i should like to go?'
'.'Step right into the ranks said our or
derly sargeant.
"The man stepped In, an overcoat was put
onto him, and he went as a part Of the
Sixth Regiment though he was never en-
listed. That mans name was Charles A
Taylor, and he was killed on our march
through the streets OF Baltimore. AS look
OeSh oh ~ hoWg tuAb OAAtn IAtklultub Sttuls
IKE posse OF boys, poorly armed and
equipped. and owing even what arms and
equipments they did have to the energy and
foresight OF Gov. Andrew. who began In
january to prepare for the crisis which he
foresaw. 1t was wheh compared the reRl
ment, as knew 1t In 81 with the splendid
Massachusetts Fifth that march at New
York, that realized the Improvement Of
citizen soldiery. The rapidity with which
that army OF forty or nity
York the other day contrasts strangely with
the delays Of 1861. IL took weeks and months
TO collect In Washington In 1861 as many
militia Jas got together In New York In two
days. In three days now 1900 men could
be massed in Washington. In 1861 as many
months were necessary.
During thesnavall.parade Colonel Peakes
was on the steamer Erastus Wiman, and met
there gentleman Of the stan Of Governor
Lee Of Virginia. That gentleman, Colonel
Lewis by name, was Confederate veteran,
OF Stuarts Cavalry, as he told Colonel
Peakes: The latter, upon learning this fact.
said Il have had the pleasure OF meeting
you before, Colonel Lewis"
"Where? asked the Virginian.
AT Brandy Station"
You didn't belong to the First Maine
Cavalry, did youp
81 did," replied Colonel Peakes.
"Give me your hand" exclaimed the Vir-
ginian, and taking Colonel Peakes's hand he
wrung It again and again, saying: "You
whipped us beautifully that day, and / am
always glad to meet man from a regiment
that could fight"
Soon after this the ex-Confederate. after
looking fer time on the magnificent die
play Of natural might and glory, turned 10
Colonel Peakes, and with tears glistening lr
his eyes, said: II am glad we did not win
as see now. | am proud OF this nation
and thank God that Virginia Is part oh