Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-06-26
ENJOYABLE Time.
Reunion of the Fourth Maine
Battery Association.
Members Of Valiant Command Re-
new Acquaintance Of Late War.
Officers Elected for Ensuing Skowhe.
gan Veterans Show Their Hospitality.

| glorious Fourth is with us. Not the
| glorious Fourth of July, but the gal
liant and valiant Fourth Maine Bat
terry Association.
| Today the comrades of the above
\ association, together with their wives
and children, have met in the 14th
annual reunion in G. A. X. hall. The
| old Boys We're young again for the
| day. The renewal of comradeship
| each year has come to be as dear to
them as in the trying days of the war,
when at roll call they glanced about
| to see who was missing. 1t is no.
ticed on all occasions o. the reuniting
Of the veterans Of the Civil War, that
almost the first question that is asked
| after first greetings is:
| Who's missing. this year."
| 1t is only once a year that they
| have an opportunity to ask the ques-
ton. when in the years ago they asked
| il every morning.
| Today. G.. A. X. hall was filled with
| Grand Army men. many of whom We're
| members of the Fourth Battery. but
| most of them had just dropped in to
| extend the hand of welcome and COM
| ladeship to the visiting veterans. The
| Fourth Maine Battery was mustered
| into the service at Augusta. Dec. 81
| 1861. The regiment did not proceed
| TO the front until March, 1862 Capt
| o'Neil w. Robinson of Bethel. was the
| first commander of the battery and
/ served in that capacity nearly two
| years. when for meritorious service he
| was promoted to the rank of major of
artillery Capt. Robinson died in 1863
| of disease contracted during service
| Capt. Robinson was kind and brave
| officer and his men loved him dearly.
| Charles ". White of Skowhegan, was
| he second commander of the battery
| and served with distinction during the
| term of service Of his command. The
| battery participated in the engage
| ment at Cedar Mountain, where the
men We're constantly under hot fire
| from the enemy for several hours,
| losing several men and horses Rap
| pahannock Station came next, and
| history tells US what that engagement
| was.
Then Sulphur Springs. Antietam
with its slaughter. Warping Heights,
McLain's Ford, (Union Mills. Mine
with it's exhausting struggle. Spottsyl-
vania with its carnage. North Anna
Cold Harbor, and then in front of
Petersburg for the whole siege of more
than. nine months The Fourth was
among the first to lay the siege and
staid to the end. firing the first shot
into the city on the 18th of June, 1864.
After the occupation of the city of
pafarSh,1rer hv TEadara1c ha
ment was sent to City Point, where it
remained until the surrender of Lee.
when it was marched to Washington.
camping at Fairfax Station and finally |
leaving there for home on the third
day of June. 1865, being mustered out
of the service at Augusta. Me-, within
a few days.
The whole term of the regiment was
three years and six months These |
reunions are made regular family |
gatherings for the comrades and their |
families, and, today. it was noticed |
that large number of ladies We're
present. wives and daughters of the
members of the association.
Among those present, today, from
out of town. were Mrs. Dr. Brown of
Norridgewock, sister of the late Capt.
w iHlCy SOiIiI dQc anu >. DedTDOIn
Everett, Mass, Mr.. and Mrs Judson
Ames of Montreal, Ethel II. Jones,
president of the association, and wife.
Comrade and Mrs. Frank Jones, Com
rade William H. Brooks and Mrs.
Brooks. Mrs. Cyrus NJ. Williams. relict
of the late Sergeant Williams of Au-
gusta. Cyrus Sturdy of Togus, Com
rade Abel Davis of Pittsfield, who has
the distinction of being wounded by
the first gun fired during the battery'sI
first battle, that of Cedar Mountain.
The members of the association re-
siding in town are Marion Mills, Mark
Harville and Peter Hurd. The local
honorary members of the association
are G. E. Stafford. Mr.. and Mrs. Gard
ner Benson.
The battery, during the war; num-
bered in all 800 men, of whom about
100 are now living. The average at
tendance at the reunions is As.
The following ladies. Mrs G. B. SAT-
ford. Ms. Marion Mills, Mrs W. F.
Bacon. Mrs. H. F. Kimball, Mrs Far
rand, Mrs. NJ. l.. MARI. Mrs j. Fl. Will
lams. Mrs. Max Harville and Mrs. ,
Gardner Benson of Russell Relief, had /;
charge of the provision of a sumptu-
Gus dinner in G. A. r. hall, this noon.
and as Skowhegan ladies are famed as !.
nothing more need be
said on that score, other than that
the dinner was thoroughly discussed
and heartily enjoyed. a
Comrades Mills, Harville and Hurd i
took the visitors in tow after dinner.
and after short stroll about town. q
the party visited Hayden lake. via the
line of the Somerset Traction Co. An a
hour was passed in sight seeing and
The return trip was taken.
At the business meeting, which was
called at O'Clock. the reports of the d
secretary and treasurer were read and n
accepted, and the following officers e
were elected for the ensuing year: I.
President Z. ii. Jones of Augusta. n
c. f. Dearborn of Mt d
Vernon: secretary. J. II. Jones of Au-
susta treasurer, Marion Mills of Skow-
lcgan. -
In the evening the veterans met in a.
he hall and listened to some very able =
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