The Portland daily press., 1895-08-16

I
fighting of the great civil conflict. The
organization of the Seventeenth Infantry
is still maintained, and the regiment is
now doing service in the far West. The
18th Regiment Association held its
annual reunion at the Granite Spring
hotel, Long Island, yesterday, and few
words in relation to the history of the
regiment will be interesting.
LIFE OF THE SEVENTEENTH
On May Sd, 1851, Lincoln issued a
| proclamation adding number of regi-
ments to the regular military establish
ment, and as one of them the 18th In
fantry came into existence. 1t had three
battalions. The first field officers of the
regiment were named as follows:
Colonel, Samuel P. Hemtzelman.
Lieut.. Col, j. Durell Greene.
Majors, Abner Doubleday, VIM. H.
Wood and George L. Andrews.
Fort Preble was designated as the head
quarters. What was known as "Poppen-
berg's band' enlisted and became the
18th.
band This band became famous as one
of the finest bands in the service. Old
Portlanders will remember this band and
it's stirring music. Charles Grimmer was
member of it. In March, '63, the regi
ment left Fort Preble and Joined "Sykes
Regular Brigade at Arlington Heights.
The regiment has an active and honorable
past throughout the great struggle Its
history from March, '62 to October, "a,
| Is, ~ he
famous regular division of the Fifth
Corps. and wherever that Corps was en-
gagged the 18th gave good account of it,
self. The per cent of loss it sustained has
not been figured out, but in the number
of officers killed it was exceeded by nc
other regiment, and equalled only by the
First Cavalry, and Fig hteenth Infantry,
both larger organizations. Since the war
the regiment has been actively employed,
and has served a tour of over sixteen
years, long, :, term of continuous service
than any other regiment of the army with
one exception. 1t will be seen from this
brief outline that the reunions of the 18th
most always be of exceeding interest to
its members as we'll as the public.
THE REUNION.
A beautiful day greeted the association
on the occasion of it's third annual re-
union yesterday, and the sail to Long
island was greatly enjoyed. The business
meeting was held in the parlors of the
hotel. President Sergeant Debeck called
the meeting to order and made pleasant
III - of1o
tary, Lieut. Rice, made his report which
was accepted The following officers were
cleo ted:
President-George f. Ward.
Vice Presidents-James Emerson,
James Brine, John Collins
Secretary and Treasurer-H. f. Rice.
Chaplain-F. A. Gowen.
Letters of regret were read from Gov.
Cleaves, II. P. Burleigh, A. L. Albee,
H. N. Fisher, George Jameson. Capt r..
NJ Rogers, and Matt F. Tippax. Mr..
Tippax was diminutive drummer boy
when the regiment went into service and
is now government officer at Columbia,
Tenn
At the dining table the following people
sat down: George F. Ward, H. +. Rice,
Lillian NJ. Sturgeon, James Emerson,
P Lobdell, George W. Debeck, James
BRINE, F. A. Gowen, S. S. sSturgeon,
Mrs. S. S. Sturgeon, E. l.. Green,
Earle G. Dow, Mrs E. B. Green, Guy
Elmes, A. M. Elmes, Mrs. W. A. Elmes,
William f. Hudson, Mrs. W. K. Hudson,
May G. Hudson, Andrew Clifford, John
H. Collins, Samuel Butterfeld, Josephine
Bennett, William E. Bennett, Alice
o 'Malley, Charles Rice, Ephriam
Hodgdon. Eugene Sullivan, @. W. Ben
nett, Mary E bearing, Alfred S. Dear
ing Mrs. O. Malley, P. O.. Malley, H.
E. Rice, (. G. H. Mason, Gertrude
O'Malley, G. II. Miles.
Landlord Prince provided an elaborate
and excellent menu, which was thorough
ly enjoyed. President Ward commenced
the post prandial exercises by calling on
Sergeant Sturgeon.
THE SPEECHE
Comrade Sturgeon expresse d his great
pleasure at seeing so many present, and
made an eloquent and forcible speech,
urging greater love for patriotism and
love of country. and a greater veneration
for the men who fought that the nation
might live. Mr.. Sturgeon touched on
important question of the day TOO. In
relation to the silver question he said
''Men are still trying to force silver upon
the country at a fictitious value. Now
the boys have all had a practical applica-
| tion of cheap money While we wera
perilling our lives to save the Union, our
government was paying us for our ser
vices with the magnificent sum of
thirteen dollars per month in currency
that was worth less than six dollars in
gold, while our less fortunate neighbors
were engaged in the very arduous but
less dangerous task of Ginning The