Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-09-30
HELLO, C0MRADE"
First Maine Cavalry Holds An
nuaI Reunion at Belfast.
The Boys in Blue Own the City,
Given a Splendid Welcome.
Report OF Business Session and a Sketch
Of Regiments Career.

Belfast, Sept. 29.-(Specia).-The Goth
annual reunion of the 1st Maine Cav
airy Association was held in Belfast,
yesterday, Wednesday,. The weather
was perfect and more than 100 com
rades Were present from all parts of the
State, some from Boston, Newburypor1,
Hyde Park, Mass, and Pawtucket, r..
l. 1t was a goodly sight to witness the
greeting among the veterans, some
having not met sine the war.
Thomas II. Marshall Post, G. A. r.,
kindly gave the visitors the use of
Memorial hall and extended every
courtesy, and there is where the 1st
Maine made headquarters. The fore
moor was occupied in welcoming new
arrivals, story telling, etc.
The officers of the 1st Maine Cavalry
Association. who were all present, are:
President, Samuel Quincy. Belfast;
vice president, John Hart, Burnham:
corresponding secretary. Gen. j. p.
Cilley, Rockland: secretary and treas
urer, \. S. Haskell, Pittsfield.
Among the veterans of the 1st Maine
Cavalry present were Albert Edge
comb, Alfred Pierce, D. w. Gage, Gil,
man Harris, George Jewett. c.. ..
Stone, George Redding. Mr.. Lincoln of
Boston; l.. p. Tobie. Pawtucket, r. l.:
C. N. Lang. Portland; George w.
Getchell, Brewer: Sewell c. Young.
Isaac L. Richardson, Bucksport: u. r.
Lincoln, Hyde Park; Frank Hinckley.
Bluehill; John Lane, Searsmont; War
ran Jordan. Volney H. Foss, Bangor:
Elijah Gay, Center Montviile: NJ. j.
Allen, Skowhegan; f. J. Savage. Fair
field: G.. &. Stowe, n. c.. Stowe. H. E.
Stowe, (threc brothers, Co. A, Of
Dover; A. p. Friend. Thomas Gray.
Brooksville, F. &. Lowe, Waterville:
Alexander Jenkins, Newport: Isaac
Bingham, Clinton: J. b. Loring. Charles
Jones, Howard Clark. Rockland: N. 5.
Emery. Waterville; r. a. Heal. Lin
colnville: James w. Achorn, r. F. Pen
dleton, Camden: G.. w. Barnes, Water
Vile; Mr.. Woods. Winterport; Richard
son. SWanville. (S3 years of age, oldest
man in regiment. L.. l.. Rose, S. i.
Rose, r. L. Russell. Leeds; e. Burton.
Il. T.. Burrows. A. c. Strout, o. E.
Copeland. l.. X. Fales. Thomaston; NJ.
Davis. Friendship; S. Burrows, Waldo
boro: Sewall C. Young. Rockport; J. l..
Knowlton. Liberty: c. Z. Moulton,
Orr's Island: l.. Copeland. Corinna: a.
II. Rolfe. Old Town; Marcellus Went
worth, East Union; Joshua Dow. Eph-
riar. East Union; S. J. knowlton.
Brewer: Melvin Allen, Skowhegan;
Plummer Butler, South NorridgewoclS:
S. X. Richards, DR.. A. O. Stoddard,
Oscar Clark, John Q. Bruce, Alonzo
Dutch, E. L. French, Belfast. Many
ladies accompanied the visitors.
From 1 until 3 p. NJ. a huge clam
bake was served or the shore nea the
battery and greatly enjoyed. From >
until Z p. NJ, a splendid supper was
served in g.. A. L. hall, donated by the
citizens and arranged by the members
of the Relief Corps. Later there was
a campfire, after which many of the
comrades attended the theatre
At the business meeting the following
officers were elected: President, Isaac
Richardson, Bucksport; vice presidents,
Edward Jordan. Bangor. Augustus Devrr-
aux, Ellsworth; secretary and treasurer,
o. S. Haskell, Pittsfield; corresponding
secretary. Gen. ]. p. Cilley, Rockland.
The association will hold its next re-
union in Bucksport.
The Il. c., a branch of the list Maine,
elected these officers: President, +. Il.
Lowe. Waterville; vice presidents. T.. r.
Carr, Pittsfield. O. w. Cole. Etna, Charles
Jones, Rockland. 1t will meet on the sec
ond Wednesday of next September at
Pittsfield.
A finely prepared supper was served at
Memorial hall at 5 o'clock. The women
of the Relief Corps worked hard and did
themselves proud.
Memorial hall was crowded in the even
ing. Addresses were made by Gen. Ci!iey,
Major Brown of Bangor, w. II. Clifford.
commander of Thomas Fl. Marshall Post,
f. p. Tobie, Pawtucket. Al Stafford,
skowhegan. Letters of regret were read
by Gen. Cilley. After reading the re-
grets, the comrades stood for a minute
with bowed heads in Acknowledgement.
The reunion has been a grand success.
The history of the LIST Maine Cavalry
is too well known to need much com
menting upon, particularly in the State
it honored so well, yet one never tires
of reading the valorous and patriotic
deeds done by men in all ages. Why
should we tire. then. of dwelling upon the
heroism displayed within our own men,
DRY, and giving just honor to those heroes
who yet survive and reverent thoughts
for their comrades who have responded
to their last bugle call?
While the reunions of these veterans
are of the nature of a general good time,
vet a tinge of sadness borders around
them hat can't be effaced. AS they meet.
today, one has but to note the disap-
pointed looks here and there to know
that some comrade gave his last greeting
but a year ago. And so it is and will con-
tinue to the end with the old soldier. one
by one they answer the final roll call.
until the gallant list Maine cavalry will
again be united in brilliant array upon a
plain untarnished by the spirit of war.
The 1st Maine Cavalry completed its Or
ganization in November. 1861. The war
department up to this time had but little
faith in this branch of the service. which
afterward proved so invaluable. After
the organization of the LIST Maine it re-
manned in camp all winter in Augusta.
and there were strong possibilities of
there being no disposition made of the
regiment. The authority to organize the
regiment was received early in Septem-
Der. 1861, and by Nov: :. it was com,
nleted and consisted of 70 companies. All
had reported and We're formally mustered
in at headquarters. the fair grounds in
Augusta.
DC in number. in command of Jonathan
p Ciliey of Thomaston. afterward lieu
tenant colonel and brevet brigadier gen
eraI The latter also had the honor Of
hoiro tho first name on the reeimental