The Portland daily press., 1891-08-14

A. ID. Alden, Henry ODER,
Daniel Brooks, b. ID. Babcock,
G. III. George, Otis Il. Mitchell.
Capt. E F. Davies, Luther Bradford,
4. (. Partridge, Henry Hackett,
Capt. ]. B. Parker, DR.. W. w. Eaton,
j. ID. Brooks, B. 5. Morgan,
Capt. VIM. Davis, A. b. Hodgdon,
]. J. Lamb, 5. G. Pratt,
ID. s. Thomas, Freeman III. Cyrus,
Geo. HI. Haskell, Moses G. Dow,
Hon. John w. Deering, G. A. Dever sux,
Capt. j. y. Lord, Gen. c. w. Tilden,
Maj. s. O. Belcher, 7. L. Roberts,
Thos. s. Hopkins.
In the evening the veterans with their
| friends and guests to the number Of about
one hundred gathered in the Casco Bay
House and did justice to bountiful
banquet given by Hon. John w. Deering.
After the rations had been served, Hon. j.
S. Hopkins of Washington called the as
semblage to order and introduced DR.. Eaton
to act as POSTMASTER. DR.. Eaton apologized
for accepting the position. saying he did so
only out of love of his old regiment the
Sixteenth which to him was the grandest
regiment in the whole army. He was glad
to meet his brother veterans once more and
shake them by the hand.
DR.. Eaton introduced Gen. G. w. Tilden
of Hallowell, who was colonel of the regi-
ment during the war. Gen. Tilden expressed
surprise at being called upon to make
speech especially to open the battle which
he thought he could better do in an open
field than in banquet hall. He was happy
to meet his old comrades. He would rather
meet with the old Sixteenth than with all
| the other veteran associations. He paid a
glowing tribute to the memory of his friend,
the late Capt. Geo. III. Deering, who was
man of large heart, and who greatly enjoyed
meeting with the comrades of the Sixteenth.
The POSTMASTER then introduced Hon.
John w. Deering who was received with
three rousing cheers. Mr.. Deering feelingly
alluded to the life of his brother and his
connection with the Sixteenth Regiment
Association.
Major S. G. Belcher was then introduced.
He said:" The reunions Of the Sixteenth are
the most agreeable things look forward to.
They indeed are red letter days to me-" He
gave a sketch of the career of the Sixteenth
regiment from the time of Its going out until
1t was captured at Gettysburg, and pic
tured how it was that this regiment
held the post of honor at that fight, enabling
the Union army to retreat through Gettys-
burg and get into position on Cemetery
Ridge, from which position the day was
won. The order to the regiment was: "Hold
the position until you lose every man." and
1t was executed.
The POSTMASTER then introduced Corporal
Tanner, as man whose heart Is as large as
any mans heart can be, who works in the
interest OF the soldier every time. II
Corporal Tanner arose and was greeted
with three rousing cheers. He said: II am
citizen from another state, good way
from home, but If you do not think l feel at
home amongst you. you are greatly mistak-
en-. do not know of a better place to find
rest than In this part of the country, and
when IL ound would be with the members of
the old Sixteenth. l felt that i would b 20 10
my kingdom come. A man must have been
in the army to appreciate regimenth reun-
ions. Ii man had a single
mean streak in his nature he coulnd't
remain long in the army before 1t
would show up. We learned to appreciate
men for just what they were worth. A man
would pretend and crisis would come, he
would fail and the vision disappear. Some
modest, unassuming fellow would suddenly
blossom forth and we would realize that we
were communing with man. The effects
of the war are now resting upon our fore
heads, but think voice you all when say,
as say for myself. thank God that l was
born when was. that ] got into the army as
did, and stood up and fought as long as 1
could. Another thing-the freedom we feel
on these occasions. We used to dream
about Just such things as these when we
should have knocked the Confederacy out of
existence. l shall not try to explain how the
Erok %,,lk oc tad 4, bad ,fk
out of Libby prison. have sometimes felt
when have been the guest at the table OF
some comrade that l would like to have a
private word with the good lady of the house.
/ would tell her that whenever her husband
to call him down by asking him II he remem-
bered what he used to get during the war.
Remind him OF the Olden days when the
bread was crust on both sides and all the way
through; when II i was in good condition
and the boxes whole it would walk along.
When the old farmer who visited the camp
was told that b. G. 492 on the bareback meant
that 1t was made 492 years before Christ. We
all remember those days Of fasting without
much prayer; the days OF four days rations,
and how the particles Of coffee were cher
ished. A man during the war had greater
chance to do noble deeds than ever occurs
now.
not intend to mention, speak of 1t because
of the Introduction given me by the toast
master. wish to say that while
was Commissioner of Pensions. l
did absolutely nothing out of generosity,
did what did legally. and If the files of that
challenge which presented to the proper
authorities, the broad challenge to take any
or all cases and put them to the test Of the
law. For the right to call down an improper
pension is no less provided for by law than
the other right to advance pension uDjustly
and improperly moderated"
The challenge was not then accepted, has
not been since accepted and this say DELHI
erately In the presence OF the press, never
single act Of mine while &c commissioner Of
pensions, and this l say deliberately
said then and say now that it was dis
grace to ne government to send out PEN
Office long before this 1 would have wiped
out the disgrace.
But, my comrades, 1t is not now as 1t was
when bullets were flying. Then the earth
and the fullness thereof was not too good for
you are asking for everything. But then, Of
course, we cannot understand the divine pur-
pose that created some of our critics. Do we
ask too much? The world is better because
our men fought from 1861 to 1866. We failed,
and s thank Cog that we failed along the line
we have ceased to indict the Divinity for
creating some men white and some men
black (applause). We rewrote the organic
law and plucked from 1t the lie that one man
could have ownership Of another. We stood
In line for united family as well as united
country.
The fighting material Of the South land
was splendid, as good as the world ever saw
and this may say freely In the presence
OF you veterans cemented by the blood of
400, 900 brave men the Union is better than
Of old, alike for the North and the South.
There Is no flag like our flag but there Is
no banner to us like the old battle banners
that we saw when those who are now snarl-
ing and biting at our heels were at home, for
as we see them our lives reform. Good
night my comrades.
Hon. j. S. Hopkins was then introduced
and interested the assemblage with anec-
dotes and advice.
As it was necessary for several to catch
the boat the gathering broke up.
lst-l oth-2oth Reunion.
The 1st-10th-29th Maine Regimental Associ.
alton went to Long Island yesterday for their