The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-25
THE CLEAVES RIFLES.
Named on Honor Of Ex-Governor
CleaVes Of Portland.
PRESENTED WITH A STAND OF
SILK COLORS.

At westbrook Last Night Carroll W. Nor
rilI, Esq, of This City, Made a Graceful
Presentation Speech and Mayor Cloud
man Briefly Responded.
The recently organized military COM
pany at Westbrook, known as the Cleaves
Rifles were presented last evening with a
stand of colors, the gift of ex-Gov. Henry
B. Cleaves of this city in honor of whom
the company was named. The presenta-
ton was made by City Solicitor Carroll
W. Morrill, of this city and the pleasing
ceremony took place in Cumberland hall
in Westbrook before a large gathering of
the citizens of that city.
A special car left Portland at seven
O'Clock for Westbrook having on board
quite a delegation of Portland people who
were invited by the Cleaves Rifles to
witness the flag presentation. Among
these gentlemen were Mr.. Morrill,, Col.
D. O'C. O'Donohue, Councilmen May
berry and Stone, A. Leon Hanscome, Mr..
oIlDDClis I'LL. OtCctl, hlCudlo ~ NdoS1SJ3
Esq, Capt. John D. Printable, Mr..
Horatio Clark, Mr.. Thomas Malone,
Alderman Moore, Major Charles G. Col
Inns, Capt. George A. Dow and Sergeant
Major Waldron of the Maine National
Guard and several others. On the arrival
of the Portland delegation at Westbrook
they were met by Capt. Starr of the
Cleaves Rifles and his officers and es
corted to the company's armory in the
Forest Street Grammar School building.
Here some time was passed in inspecting
the company's quarters, which are very
handsomely fitted up and well arranged.
At about eight o'clock a line was formed
and headed by the Presumpscot band and
escorted by the Rifles the Portland dele
cation marched to Cumberland hall.
Here were assembled many Of the fairest
of Westbrook's ladies and large num-
Der of prominent citizens.
The Portland delegation was presented
| to Mayor Cloudman and some of West
brooks city fathers and then escorted to
seats in the hall where the company,
wearing for the first time the natty blue
uniform of the Maine National Guard,
were drawn up in line. Capt Printable
bearing the handsome silk flag accom-
panied by Mayor Cloudman and Mr..
Morrill, then entered the hall and the
company presented arms. Mr.. Morrill,
having been introduced by Mayor Cloud
man then stepped to the front and made
most graceful speech Of presentation.
Mr.. Morrill, said:
Mr. Mayor and officers and members of
the Cleaves Rifles:
1t is my privilege to act by invitation,
as the exponent of delegation of Port
land gentlemen sent to your prosperous
and beautiful city on a pleasant mission.
We come at the request OF the brave
soldier and distinguished civilian whose
name you have adopted, to present his
compliments and to bring his message of
good will and God speed to the Cleaves
Rifles of Westbrook.
We are impressed with your splendid
appearance and soidierly bearing and
congratulate your fair city on being SO
proudly represented in the National
Guards of the State of Maine. We con-
graduate you also on the suspicious name
you have chosen. No name could be
more appropriate or tend in a higher
degree to inspire military company with
loftier sense of duty or more devoted
love Of country. 1t is a name which sug,
gests bravery, loyalty, and integrity, and
| It should be the Jealous care of both
officers and privates that neither unsold-
| ierly conduct or ungentlemanly deport-
ment brings reproach upon the organiza-
ton which bears it.
When the lurid clouds of war hung like
| black pail of death over our country,
hIos- - IsnN
| or truer patriot than Henry b. Cleaves.
Sitting his ambition for collegiate edu-
cation and deferring those studies which
were to fit him for that profession in
which he has since risen to such emil
nence, no one but himself knows the sac
rifice it cost him, a boy at the age of
twenty two, to leave his pleasant home
in Bridgton for the hardships, privations,
and perils of a soldiers life. The man.
date of duty and the call to arms were too
strong to be resisted and from 1862 until
the close of the war he was in the active
service of his country under Generals
| Fessenden and Banks, in the Department
of the Gulf, in the Army of the Potomac,
and in the valley Of the Shenandoah. His
military record was such that it COM
mended him to Secretary Stanton who
offered him commission in the regular
army which he declined.
| The same traits of character which
made him an exemplary soldier have
made him an exemplary citizen. By
worth and merit he has constantly risen
| in the estimation of his fellow citizens
who have repeatedly honored him with
successive preferments and elected him
Governor of the State, and, without dis
arrangement to any of his able predeces-
| sors, think we may truly say Maine
never had better Governor than he
| During his administration as chief execu-
tive more aid and encouragement were
given the soldiery of Maine than they had
received for many years, and largely
through his fundamentally the National
Guards Of Maine today, in discipline,
| equipment, training, and in every feat
ure of excellence compare favorably with
the National Guards of any New Eng
| land state.
We are all proud of our citizen soldiers
and honor them for their manhood, their
devotion to duty, and their loyalty to the
| flag. To the true soldier nothing is dear
er than his country's flag; to him it sym
bolizes everything. worth living for and
everything worth dying for. ireside,
home. kindred, friends, liberty, country
itself. His martial spirit kindles at its
t. l.