The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-04-02

of these two instruments. The little
Chandler boy had "a fife at an earlier age
than he can remember. His mother had
musical ear, and used to encourage and
assist her son in his work with the fife.
Whatever tunes he once heard he could
remember and reproduce. at the age of
ten he was SO proficient that be was
thought worthy to play the fife at the
May muster in Merrimac. Those were
the days when indulgence in rum and
ginger bread were the great designations
of the occasion, and when the drummer
aud ifer were next in Importance as ex-
citers OF martial ardor. The yonthfGl
flfer acquitted himself creditably, and
no doubt felt even prouder than he did
MANY years later when, at the head of
his famous and splendid band, he
marched through cheering thousands in
Bo ton and New YorE escorting the First
Regiment of Mainet Volunteers to the
war.
The band did not ealist at that time.
After passing through Boston, and down
Broadway TO the ever-memorable dinner
al the Astor house, they continued on to
Washington out of feeling of compan-
ionship for the regiment. All WAS fur
MOL at the Capital, and Mr.. Chandler
and his men finally got away, hungry
and nearly out of money. Later Mr..
Chandler enlisted band for the Tenth
Maine regiment and served in the war
with it. they were at the battle of
Cedar Mountain, but arrived a little
late for Antietam. OF course the must
clans did no fighting; but it is said that
in rivalries between the various regi-
mental bands, the Tenths never met its
superior and rarely, if ever, it's equal.
I'VE intended to do as we'll as any of
them. said the old gentleman the other
day." as his eyes lighted up with the
stirring memories of thu war.
But at the early age of ten, visions of
the adventures into which his musical
career would lead him, had not probably
crossed the youths mind. From the fife
lie took up the clarionet, and then the
bugle. At the mature age of 10 he made
his debut as musician. his instrument
then being fife. He organized a band
while still youth, being It's leader and
manager when he was II FEARS old. He
went from Merriamc to Nashua, thence
to Lowell, Mass, thence to Boston, COM
ing to Portland in 1643. He was invited
here to manage the band, which he has
made famous all over the Northern
States. The band had benin existence
but shiftless management was running it,
The men who were behind tie enterprise
were Of the opinion that the1, was money
in the business if it was p pperly han
died, and accordingly secured Mr.. Chan
dler's services. Of the band of 1s43 he is
the only one left the city. Tie Portland
Band, as it was first called, vas the band
of this section for many Years, taking
part in all of the celebrations occurring
here and many in other partsoF the State
up to the breaking out of the var.
The First Maine Infantrya chose the
Portland Band as the regime: al baud
when il was mustered in. + When the
First Regiment was merged nto the
Tenth, Mr.. Chandler's music,s ps were
continued, as they also were hin the
Tvs enty ninth, with the exceks ON of a
short time, when by order of tIst Var De-
partment, there We're no bands l. WED.
Returning from the war the Iso d took
up it's place again, which it, Is held
ever since. The longest trip ihe band
ever took was in 1884, when, + h the
Portland Commandery il wento4 Mon
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