The Portland daily press., 1894-08-22

saw, or half saw, the Seventeenth an
other time, after the struggle had be-
gun. From the heights of Round Top,
through drifts of smoke he saw the Sew
ehteenth IN that deadly line, swaying
oack and forward in the mighty strug-
gle IN the Wheat Field. His own regi-
menu was formed in the rear OF theirs
Tor while, sbut it couldn't stay there,
ana was quite glad to be double
quicked back to Round Top.
"hen this regiment organized for
the war, all the glamour o. the first
muster had departed. The playing of
hands, the waving of handkerchiefs,
were gone, and as we marched through
the cities, shiver passed over the spec
ators, for they knew that every man had
written his name on deadly roll.
l know that this Seventeenth Maine
had an enviable record in the Army of
the Potomac, for conduct on field and
III camp, and though our organizations
were different, although you wore the
diamond while we wore the cross, the
two will be emblazoned together on the
records of fame.
Mr.. Verrill then read letters of regret
from General De Trobriand, who COM
manded the Seventeenth's brigade, and
who requesed that his health be drunk,
mot in water, but in good, generous
wine, as my protest against the Maine
law"
COLONEL EDWARD MOORE
was called upon to respond for General
De Trobriand. He said that the latter
came to this country with the Orleans
princes, but while they went on to Nc
CIellan's staff, he asked for regiment,
and got the 55th New York. Later he
was appointed a brigadier. At the close
of our war he went into our regular ar
my as colonel! He is now retired, liv-
ing in the winter at New Orleans and in
the summer at Long Island and in Brit
tany, France. When Colonel Moore
dined with him last winter,sshe sent his
Sd and 4th Maine regiments.
Another letter was read from Colonel
Clayton McMichael, now of the Phila-
delphia North American, and formerly
of General Birney's staff.
GENERAL WEST,
the second colonel of the regiment, was
called on, and recalled the fact that
when he joined the Seventeenth as its
major, he had come from the Tenth
Maine, where he had commanded Co. 6,
made up largely of deserters from the
English troops in the Canadas. Colonel
West recalled the attitude of England as
favoring the South. but that company
was splendid body of men. The COM
pany lost 1915 per cent Fin killed and
wounded. 1t taught him what good
soldier was. for,it was splendidly drilled
and trustworthy anywhere. The same
qualities found in the Seventeenth, ex-
emplified gloriously at Gettysburg.
EX-GOVERNOR ROBBIE.
upon being introduced, ssaid: "Brcthers
and Sisters. (Laughterl I used to
talk at the grange. and feel somewhat
at home now, because many of you are
from the farms. 1t was my fort une,
thirty-two years ago, to be the paymas-
ter who gave to each man in his regi-
ment thirteen dollars advance. Time
has wrought many changes since then.
Grey hairs have taken the place of
black. remember that in 1861, Gov
ernor Wash burn, of whose council / was
assmemb received message from Pres
ident Lincoln asking how many men
and how much money Maine could
pledge for the Union. He replied" ten
thousand men and a million dollars.
How did Maine fulfil that promise? You
know that she sent $4,000 soldiers and
gave sixteen millions of dollars Those
men were the flower of Maine. But their
numbers are decimated : now. Of the
1900 who were enlisted in the Seventeenth
scarcely 500 are alive now. Governor
Ropie closed with spirited panegyric
on the soldiers of Maine, and the moth
ers of the. soldiers of Maine.
COLONEL F. N. DOW
was called to respond as the representa-
tive ofsthe United States government.
He said he mad been greatly interested in
the remarks that had been made. and
felt almost like an intruder. Although
he was honorary member of another
regiment. he had not even relative who |
was connected with this regiment. He
therefor felt honored by being called |
upon. He did not go to the war, but he |
had many old companions who did go |
in this regiment, and he believed that no |
soldiers had more gallant record than |
they.
Mr.. Verrill next read letter from.Cap-
tain Tyler, of the regular army, formerly
of Berdan's First Sharpshooters, which
G General Mattocks's commanded. He re-
called that General Mattocks was very
popular with the men, but insisted in
getting in front of the skirmish line in
the Wilderness. On one of those occa-
sions the Johnnies got him ana bore