The Portland daily press., 1897-03-04
FORT FISHER.
Gen. Adelbert Ames Tells How 1t
Was Captured.
GIVES TO LOYAL LEGION HIS
ACCOUNT OF THE AFFAIR.

Shows HOW History Has Been Falsified
and Too Many Honors Bestowed on
One Man-March Meeting of Maine
Commandery of Loyal Legion Great
Success--Tribute to Late Gen. Beals.
The regular March meeting of the
Maine Commandery of the Military Order
of the Loyal Legion OF the United States
was held last evening at the Falmouth
hotel. In many respects this meeting
was the most interesting and notable that
the oommnndery has ever held. Nearly
sixty members of the order were present
The business meeting of the COM
mande1y was held ut six o'clock, at
which Paymaster William II. Anderson.
u. S. NJ, commander, presided. Much
business Of Importance to the COM
mandery was transa cted.
DR.. william Rogers of Bar Harbor was
elected a mem Der of the oommandery for
the first class. His record Is as follows
Acting masters mate, U. 8. N, October
II, 1862, acting ensign for courageous
conduct" July 13, 1858; honorably dis
charged from the service September 49,
1865; served on U. s. S. "Rhode Island"
and U. S. ship "Onward."
The following casualties were reported !:
D led in Norway, December II, 1885,
Companion George Lafayette Beal, late
hrigadier general, and brsvet major gem
eral, U. S. V. Died in Oklahoma City,
January. 2s, 1897, Companion Henry G..
Thomas late major and paymaster
brevet brigadier general, q. S. A.; late
brigadier general and major general, ".
S. V.
The following tribute in memory OF
Gen. Beal was read by DR.. Seth @.
Gordon:
GENERAL GEORGE L. BEAL.
George Lafayette Beal, son Of Ezra
Fluent and Mary Ann Beal, wan born in
Norway, May 81, 1925. His parents were
prominent people in the early days OF
the town, and were among those most
interested in Its growth and prosperity.
The son, inheriting their integrity, gave
promise in his youth of Lis manhood.
He was educated in the public schools
and Westbrook Seminary, after which he
learned the TRADE of bookbinder at Cam
bridge, Mass, returning to his native
town, where he engaged in the business
under the firm name of Moves 81 Zeal.
In April, 1851, he married Belinda
Thompson, daughter of John Thompson.
of Rumford. She, with two daughters,
survive him.
In 1853 he accepted the position Of
agent OF the Canadian Express Com
Ipany. In those days such position was
much more important and hazardous
than at present, inasmuch as the fac1l1-
ties for carrying money and valuables
were much less and the risk much great
or. During the eight years he was en-
gagged in this position he was always
found strict and faithful In the perform
ance of duty, even under very trying sit
nations at times. At this time he WAS
deeply interested In the militia system
of the State, so that at the breaking out
Of the Civil War he was in command OF
Norway Light Infantry. Upon the
Capt. Beal promptly called his men to-
gether and soon had full company ready
to report for duty. They left Norway
April 97th, 1851, apd were soon mustered
as Co. G, 1st Maine Regiment, Vol.
Unfit, which Immediately went to Wash
ington, oamped on Meridian Hill and
commenced the routine OF the soldiers
life The Regiment returned to Maine
in August '61, without seeing active
service. The 10th Maine was soon or
eanizeil and Capt. Beal was made
colonel Dot. 4, 1861. This Regiment
was in all respects one of good soldiers
and officers and saw some Of the hardest
battles of that and the following two
years, under Pope and Mcclellan. AT
the battle of Antietam Col. Beal's horse
was shot under him, and he,was wounded
in both legs; after q short furlOugh he
returned to his command. The 10th was
a two years Regiment and discharged
at expiration of the term of service.
Col. Beal at once reorganized such of
his old commands as would le-enlist, and
adding to them he was again In the field
| in December, 1868, with the Goth, which
was ordered to the Department of the
Gulf under Banks-in time to participate
In the Red River campaign and engage
J In the battles of Sabine Crossroads and
Pleasant Hill, doing gallant service.
Col. Beal received special marks OF con.
(Dwight) by being placed in charge
Of the retreat, because, in his own words,
"the Regiment had sshown itself capable
of any duty" He was made Brevet Brig
} adler General in August, 1854, "for gal
lant and meritorious services during the
war" and full Brigadier IN November
following. While in the campaign OF the
Shenandoah Valley. His brigade was
always at the front and participated In
many of the severe battles. March ID.
1868, he was brsveted Major General
"for long and gallant service In the
field" The Brigade remained in service
after the surrender OF Lee. md in June
Gen. Beal was assigned to the command
of eastern South Carolina, where he re-
manned until June, 1865, when he was
mustered out, after moro than five years
of almost continuous service. He retired
with the respect and love of all his mer
and officers and richly honored by his
government.
Gen. Beal possessed in high degree
the spirit of noble soldier. Strict as
disolplinarian, exacting in all posi-
, tions, his supreme love of justice com
pelled from his subordInates most will
ling submission. Being willing to lead
, as we'll as to follow, he won the conf
, dence of his men, and his presence wal
always q stimulus to heroic Deeds
Braye. cautious and prudent he soor
} became one of the trusted officers of The
army. From his early manhood he had
loved military science and perfected him
seif in its details, and was from the frs,
? ~ tina war teacher and leader. His