Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-22
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- Soou news to the LIST Maine
Regiment at chickamauga and to the
people Of the State that the regiment
will at once be moved to Maine. The
regiment Is sadly broken up by sick
ness until 1t little resembles the mag
nificent body Of men which we knew
in this city. last May. With over $50
men already at home on sick furlough.
as many more sick in camp, and u
large share of the rest unfit for duty.
the regiment Is q demoralized organ
ization. Its spirit was broken. no
doubt. by its failure to see active SER
vice, and now that the war Is over the
men are anxious to get back to their
homes and business where they are
needed. 1t is probable that in few
days the regiment will be encamped
on the old familiar field of Camp
Powers. How long they will be Kept
here is uncertain, but it Is presumed
the regiment will be mustered out as
soon as the war department can make
the necessary arrangement. This is in
accordance with the announced policy
of the government to muster out about
100. 900 of the volunteers at once, AMI
more as soon as the public service
will permit.
No state sent a better regiment into
the field than Maine. It's ranks We're
full; it was completely equipped and
superbly differed; and in drill and dis
cipaine 1t was so near perfect that it
has been commonly called 1.-The regu-
lars" in Camp Thomas. 1t has been
admitted by all to be one of the best
among the half hundred volunteer
regiments at Chickamauga. 1t wanted
active service and deserved to see It,
but fate was against it, and the weeks
and months dragged by in dreary rou-
tine. The unhealthy location OF the
camp had its inevitable effect in the
Southern climate, and the rugged boys
Of Maine began to lose the enviable
reputation of being the healthiest regi-
ment in camp. Soon the sick list grew
at an alarming pace and death claimed
a dozen of the bravest and best in the
crowded hospitals. Sickness and re-
peated disappointments could only dis
hearten and discourage the regiment,
and when the close of the war ended
its possibility of seeing active service
it is natural that most of the boys
want to get home. So it is we'll that
men whom the government is to mus
ter out at once. 1t is well for the regi-
ment. and pleasing to the people of
the State. If the reported plan of the
government to include in this number
to be mustered out all the volunteer
cavalry and artillery, is carried out,
Maine will shortly be with no repre-
sentatives in the volunteer army, except
the Signal Corps of 40 men. Those Of
the officers and men who want to re-
main in the service, and no doubt there
are some, will have little trouble in
getting transfer to another regiment.
The LIST Maine was ready for any
service when it left Camp Powers in
May. It is no fault of the regiment
that it has had no chance to win glory
in battle, and that it's members have
died from fever instead of from bullet
wounds. 1t has obeyed the orders that
came and conducted itself from first to
last in a manner worthy a regiment Of
Maine men. 1t has filed the place
assigned it, and therefore has done its
duty we'll. It's ranks are thinned by
death and sickness, and the dying and
the suffering were as truly in the cause
Of the flag as they were in the regi-
ments which stormed the intrench-
ments at Santiago and Manila. The
regiment deserves and will receive .
glorious welcome home. To it is due
every honor that belongs to brave men
returning with the gratitude of a ma
ton to the homes which they left when
the flag was in danger.