The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-08-12
THIRTEENTH MAINE.
Anniversary of One of the Fighting
Regiments

4 Large Gathering of Veterans at Bidde-
Wilt Enthusiasm-Next Meeting to Be
Held in PortIaed.
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.1
Biddeford, August 1.-THE intense
haat of today could not wilt the enthu-
siasm of the survivors of the gallant old
18th Maine, who gathered here In large
numbers with their families to celebrate
the annual reunion of one of the fighting
Maine regiments. They came from many
points in Maine. Massachusetts and New
England, and even from such distant
points as Philadelphia, Indiana and
Iowa, came survivors of the 18th to
greet once more their old comrades of the
sixties. The boys of '61 became youthful
again in mind and heart when they
gather for their renewals of old associa-
tions and though the heads of most of
the veterans have been silverad by on
ward march. of time they enter into the
spirit of these amusements with the same
vigor that they shouldered their muskets
and marched to the front in the dark
daisy of the sixties.
Heretofore reunions of the Thirteenth
Maine have been held usually near Port.
land, but by invitation of Capt. Good
win and the other local members of the
association. it WAS decided to meet in
Biddeford this year. The programme for
the days entertainment included q ride
on the eleotrios to Old Orchard. dinner at
Hotel Thacher and meeting for bust
ness sooiability, and yarn-swapping at
the new hall of the g. A. r. posts in the
upper story of City building.
The guests were escorted to the hall
Immediately after their arrival, ana
spent an hour in the exchange of greet
ings with old friends and new, inciden-
tally inspecting with interest the new
quarters of the Grand Army, which have
recently been equipped with much new
furniture. The pretty little parlor Of the
posts came in for an especial share of adj
miration and the adornments of the as
sembly room, as we'll as the convenient
arran gements of the kitchen were noted
with interest.
The Thirteenth Maine numbers among
its mem bers Neal Dow Of Portland, who
went out with the regiment as colonel In
81. The captain of the company In
which the Biddeford men were, was
William r. Swan of Paris. Amos g.
Goodwin Of this city WAS first lieutenant
The fne0 yyera rnucterod in in Novap,har
Isl, and went to Ship Island in the
Mississippi, where they remained four
months, when six companies garrisoned
Fort St. Philip and Fort jackson at the
mouth of the Mississippi and two COM
panies garrisonei Fort Maoomb in
Louisiana.
They stayed in garrison until August
'6s, when they were assigned to provost
duty in New Orleans until October GO
ing from there to Texas and the mouth
Of the Rio GTande and capturing Fort
Brown at Brownville opposite Matamo-
ras
The regiment then went back to Point
Isabella on the coast, and later up along
the coast capturing the forts on different
islands as far as Fort Esperanza on
Matagorda Island. From that time until
February, '64, they made raids up and
down the coast, and then went back to
Berwick City, La, to participate in the
He'd River campaign from start to finish.
In July, "a, tho regiment was ordered
to Washington and arrived there in season
to assist in driving out Early, who was
then making his famous raid From
there they went up the valley of the
Shenandoah, taking part in the battles of
he nineteenth Of September and the
'neteenth of October. Tho winter was
spent in Winchester, Va, and in the
spring they started to 60 up tile valley
w',en the nows Of Lees surrender came.
The regiment participated in the grand
review of troops at Washington In June,
rs, and then went down to Savannah,
6a., finally reaching home August 30, 65.
When time had been called for the boys
to renew old acquaintance and shake
hands all round, special electric cars were
boarded and the party enjoyed ride TO
Old Orchard ana return, the cool breezs
OF the trip being very grateful.
On returning to Biddeford the dinner
WINS served at Hotel Thatcher and so
large was the attendance that the dining
room would not hold them all at once.
Seated around the table were: e. A.
Biokford, Bangor; g. F. Mariner. West
brook; D. Y. Harris wifs and son.
Henry S. Thrasher, Portland; B. B.
Fuller, Auburn, Eben S. Burns, Port
land; Nelson Howard, Lewiston; A. B.
Macon Der, Worcester; Fl. L. Kallock.
Kennebunk; Norbert J. Moore Provi.
dence; D. j. Trip, WATERFORD; Charles
W. Herrick, Hartland; 6. T. Berry.
Portland W. H. Foster, Brideton; BENZ.
F. THOMPSON, New Portland; A. J.
CLARK, Greene; A. W. Clough, Everett;
Mrs. NJ. A. Seavy, Biddeford; Mrs. J.
F. Bragdon, Portland; John +. Bragdon
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