Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-24

measure DC yours. may peace anu pros
perity attend you one and all ard ma.
a grateful country ever do right by il
noble defenders and see to 1t that in tn
declining years of your lives, you shall
not need those temporal gifts your sacri
fees have so richly earned.
Again | cordially welcome you to on
city and we trust that when you shai
return to your homes, You will carr!
with you pleasant recollcctions of .thi
day,
IN response to the mayors address
Comrade Ames of Montreal. spoke a.
follows:
In responding to the words to which ",
have just listened. | feel how ifadeauat,
and feeble are my words to express the
feelings that are entertained by evers
towards the beautiful city of Augusta
and its good citizens and | regret exceed
ingly that it has not fallen upon soms
one better qualified fer the duty,
For many reasons your city has lone
had and will always continue to have 4
very warm place In our memory and af-
fections. 1t was here nearly IS years agt
that We came among you and had oul
first experiences as in soldier life. II
was here that we were organized as a
battery and spent the winter in CAMP
life near the old State House. Well dc
We remember the many kindnesses shown
and the care given by your citizens to
those of our sick in hospital and the
hearty God speed that was given US
as we took our departure from you to
enter upon the scenes OF danger and
hardship of a soldiers life upon the bat
tie ground. Upon our rolls were the
names of many Augusta boys honored
and respected and loved as comrades for
their sterling worth, and the good name
of the battery was due in a large meas
mp IN bai MOI her
of them are honored and respected citi-
zens among you today. others among
whom are Phillips and Jimmy Alien have
passed to the other shore.
The first names to be placed on the
rolls of the battery were the names of
Augusta boys and If | mistake not the
first one to enlist in the battery is here
with us today and one whom we were
always proud to claim as a comrade and
whose worth you all know. | refer TO
Comrade w. II. Brooks. The first one
of our number TO fall on the field Of con-
fiict was an Augusta boy, Byron Phil
lips.
And while we were trying to do our
duty as best we could. and to do our part
in the great conflict for freedom and
right, and in sustaining the nation 5
honor we well remember how we were
sustained by the many kind words of en-
couragemefft and cheer that often came
to us from the friends here.
Ana aIttf more imam three years u tt-
tive service on the field with the old
Army of the Potomac, when peace had
again daWned upon the nation. and the
last armed foe had disappeared. 1t was
TO your good city that we returned and
the kindly welcome and greeting that
was given MS will newer be forgotten by
an old 9TH Battery boy. 1t was here that
we as comrades. separated to return to
our homes and enter upon the more
peaceful duties of life that was before us.
And as at times you have so kindly and
generously greeted AMI entertained us at
our reunions the old kindly feeling for
Augusta has been strengthened and in
creased.
Today as some of us, who still remain,
again meet in your goodiy city. many are
the "reminiscences of the past. of the days
of our boyhood. that crowd upon us.
and as we walk your streets We almost
expect 10 meet the forms and hear the
voices of the comrades that we knew so
we'll that have already answered to the
final .'roll call" or that are prevented by
advanced age or infirmities from being
with us.
To us. who are now well past the
meridian of life. in again revslting the
scenes which bring to us so many pleas
ant memories and associations, II Is win
feelings nearly akin to that of our revis-
iting the old home after long absence,
and we feel that we are among friends.
Again in behalf of the 18th Maine Battery
Associa ton allow me to thank you for
your kindly greeting and the generous
hospitality that is shown to us.
AT noon the gathering sat down to
dinner which had been prepared by the
ladies connected with the battery in
this city. About sixty people were pres
emf at dinner. which consisted of baked
beans and brown bread. pies. cake, etc,
and the way which the eatables disap-
peared spoke of good appetites ana a
keen appreciation of good cooking.
After a social hour at the tables the
meeting adjourned until o'clock in thu
afternoon.