The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-08-30
TWENTIETH MAINE.
General Joshua l. Chamberlain
Speaks.
MEMORIES OF WAR TIMES RE-
CALLED AFTER DINNER.
cenaral Holm Marshall Brown Speaks
The Names of Those Present-oihcers
Elected.

slO
The Names of Those Present-ofhcers
Elected.
Thursday was the thirty.third anniyer-
sary of the muster in of the Twentleun
Maine Regiment The event was oo-
served by dinner at the Clup House Oh
Great Diamond Island. large NUMBER
of veterans were present. including -uen-
eral Joshua L. Chamberlain. General
Chamberlain commanded the Division
of the Fifth Army Corps, before whlch
Lees army laid down it's arms. Inc
Twentieth was one of the regiments
drawn up in that famous line
After dinner Major Fl. S. Melcher,
who presided, read telegram conveying
the information that General ELLIS spear
Of Washington had been detained and
could not be presnet.
A letter of regret was read from HOW
ard L Prince of Washington.
GEN. JOSHUA L. CHAMBERLAIN
was next introduced as the old command
er of the regiment. He was received with
hearty and prolonged applause lie began
by saying that there used to be an old
saying: May you be late in returning
to Heaven. He supposed the reason
why he was SO late in getting to the din
ner was because he was coming to so good
a place. AS he came in on the flank and
enfiladed the line, he knew why Lee con-
cluded to surrender. You know welwere
pretty near to the Confederates that last
night, so near that they could hear our
band. You will remember that night
that our bands played, ''The Girl Left
Behind Me- Lee knew that the way
home to that girl lay through Appomat-
fax court house, and concluded that he
would better surrender. But speaking
seriously, the great force which inspired
the Northern soldier was the eievating
and holy inspiration of the home which
he had left behind him in the North. The
home, with its attachments, its memories
and it's loved ones, was the great force
behind our armies For after all it was
our homes for which we were fighting.
For it is the institutions for which we
then fought that are building up the no.
Bile manhood and womanhood of today.
General Chamberlain referred to an eve
ming which he recently had with General
Maine of yours was the best regiment
ever saw. . General Chamberlain said
he had hoped to bring Colonel Merriam
with him, but the latter had been unable
to remain SO long in Maine
In conclusion. the speaker referred to
Mrs. Chamberlain. who was present ne
recalled that she could not go to the war
for he leftsher at home to take care OF
the two little children But she told
him: "Your duty is with your country.s s
flag in the hour of her deliveranoe.
Here she is and her heart is with you.
cloud applause.)
tion of the regiment at the presence ol
Mrs Chamberlain.
GEN. JOHN MARSHALL B ROWN
first adjutant of the regiment, was intro
duced next and received with applause.
Although he had not been with the regi-
lnent when it earned its great laurels, he
said he yet had a great pride IN the
achievements of the regiment, for he felt
that he had part in forming the regi-
ment. This was a double anniversary
for on the day when this regiment was
mustered IN, thirty three years ago, a
great celebration was held at Popham to
observe the anniversary of the settlement
of that spot by the English. He was on
the train going to Popham,, when he re.
ceived telegram signed Chamberlain,
informing him that he had been chosen
adjutant. He left the train and returned
to Portland. That telegram was now
cherished relic. In conclusion, and
amidst applause, General Brown ex-
pressed his pleasure at meeting the regi-
ment again.
Other speeches followed by Department
Commander Green, Adjutant Roberts Of
the Seventeenth Maine, Mayor Fogler of
Augusta and others.
President Melcher suggested that his
tory of the regiment be written, and af-
ter considerable discussion in which sew
eral members took part, the following
committee was appointed: j. L. Cham
Samuel L. Miller, E L. Wetherell.
The following officers were elected for
the ensuing. year:
President-H. S. Melcher.
Vice President-George W. Reynolds
Secretary and Treasurer-Samuel L.
Miller.
UyI. e IL