The Portland daily press., 1895-06-22

gan to hit the bags. When one came very
near, knocking bag out of their hands,
Stevens started back, but Immediately
returned saying "I'll never leave until
this is done. -
The following officers were elected:
President-Algernon S. Chapman, of
Bethel.
Secretary-A. S. Twitchell, of Gorham,
N. H.
Warren o. earn ey, of Port
land.
Executive Committed. r. Pi cree,
Somersworth, n. H. II. K. Hale, Norridge
wock.
Two of the most interesting letters read
were the following:
Newark, N. j., June 18th 1895
Comrades 1t is one of the keen dis
appointments of my life that I cannot be
with you at this time of your gathering
and meet you face to face.
the more regret this as it is probable
you will not have present with you any
one of the officers that served with you
n the field Staples, Bundy and Lap
ham will not answer to the call again,
and Thorp, our youngest officer, by
reason of duty, is probably beyond reach.
Thirty years. a generation in human
life, have passed since we were mustered
out Of service one morning in June. /
recall the personnel of the 9TH Maine Bat
terry as tried men and true No carpet
Knights, but good soldiers as ever shout
dered musket, or trained gun on the
enemy's redoubts Indeed, it seems to
me that they were little better timber
than the ordinary soldier is made of, and,
coupled with intelligence, were pattern
soldiers, and exemplary men,. and stead
fast and loyal to the end. feel that it
would invigorate my body and mind to
look upon yoar faces again, and grasp
you by the hand, but / can be with you
in spirit, and express in feeble words a
part only Of what is in my heart.
You. my comrades, that are alive to
day salute! / bear in my heart for you
respect and love. would that / could
give you length of days, and multiply the
joys of life.
/ trust you are as loyal to the call of
mercy, truth fand duty as you were of
yore, and that in your respective spheres
you are as exemplary as you We're in
camp, and as brave and unfiinching as
you were in the face of the enemy on the
historic fields of Virginia.
May the last closing days of your lives
be your best and happiest in the con-
seriousness of duty done; and though pain
and weakness come to you from the hard
ships and exposures you experienced, and
uilO NOttuuS iCCGlN6t III tIS S6ENJC0 Ol your
country, may you never repine, or regret
that you offered your lives for her preser-
Walton in the hour of her peril.
l commend you for your devotionssto the
9TH Maine Battery Association, and for
the bold front you maintained although
your numbers are less and less when the
roll is called sHHold the Fort'' SO long
as there is man left
Taps have sounded for many of our
gallant comrades, and the lights are out
God grant them peaceful rest, and a
joyous awakening at the great reveille.
Cordially yours.
Hartford, June H. 1896
A. S. Twitchell, ESQ.,, Secretary of the 18th
Maine Battery Association, Gorham,
NH:
My dear Comrade-I have delayed re-
plying to.invitations. to the reunion IMPORT
land June 21st hoping that affairs might
so adjust themselves as to enable me to
be present and join with my comrades
in the exchange of cordial greetings and
renewal of friendships which were formed
when we tented on the battlefield and
'drank out of the same canteen, as well
as to otherwise enjoy the exercises of the
Both anniversary of the muster out of the
gallant 18th Maine Battery. But the bust
ness of the closing days of the legislature
renders my presence in Hartford inpera
tive, and therefore I will have to forego
the pleasure of meeting the survivors of
the Battery with whom I served in the
stormy times of the war; Let me say,
however, that it gives me pleasure to note
how many of the men are living yet and
to observe from the excellent history pre-
pared by Sergeant Twitchell, and the pho
tographs therein, that not only has time
dealt gently with my comrades of the
Seventh, but that they have had a fair
share of hanpinaSs and SI1ccass which
will, I trust, continue to be theirs until
the Supreme Mastering out Officer calls
upon each one of us to answer "here''
Regretting my enforced absence, de-
sire you to remember me to all the COM
rades, and with renewed assurances of
my regard and esteem,
| remain,
Yours sincerely,
sa SAMUEL FESSENDEN.
Mr. Fessenden was formerly secretary
of the Republican National Committee