The Portland daily press., 1898-06-27
ORR FOR CHICkAMAUGA.
Gen. MattOcks's Old Regiment Give
Him a Sword.
PORTLAND CITIZENS PRESENT
HIM WITH A HORSE.

Mayor Randall Has Worldwide Were
Present-Great Occasion at Boswortt
Post Hall Saturday Evening-speeches
By Prominent Men.
Gen. Charles P. Mattecks. a distin
guished son Of Portland, whose recent
appointment to brigadier generalshiI
in the volunteer service of the United
States was in recognition of his valiant
services as colonel of the old 18th Maine
regiment, in the civil war, has received
orders to proceed at once to his command
at Chickamauga. He left on the moor
train yesterday. 4
For several days some of his Portland
friends and comrades had been busy
preparing to give him a fitting send off.
On Saturday evening he was invited te
social gathering in Bosworth post hall,
where were assembled about so of Port
lands best known citizens.
The occasion was ostensibly termed a
farewell reception, but the chief object
in holding it was to afford an opportu-
nifty to present Gen. Mattocks with tokens
of Portland's esteem for him. His COM
rades of the 18th Maine had purchased an
elegant sword, belt and sash, while the
fund subscribed by other citizens had
been devoted to the purchase of a horse
and equipments.
The former gift was broughtsin and
displayed on the officers table just before
the arrival of the parting guest. The
horse was led down from the stable at
an opportune time and was hitched out
side of thu post hail. awaiting the word
from his owner, when the speeohmaking
and the hand-shaking were over.
The presentation exercises began i'm
mediately after Gen. Mattocks arrived.
He had hardly been seated when he was
greeted by Major VIM. H. Green OF
was thus adore ssed:
"Comrade: The country after an un-
interrupted peace Of 33 years, finds itself
foreign power, thus calling for a large
increase in tho regular army and navy,
and the calling of 1875, 900 men from the
national guard, and $4,000 volunteers. AT
such time it is very gratifying and en-
couraging to know that the President
looks to such veteran officers as served
in the war from 1861 to 1865, men of ex-
perience and weil-known ability, who are
able to fill high commands;
and among those appointments made
none has given more satisfaction and
enthusiasm than tire appointment of
Comrade Charles p. Mattocks, to be full
brigadier.
ffYour old comrades of the regiment are
delighted, the G. A. E. comrades pleased,
and prominent citizens and the public
generally are unanimous in praise of this
action of President Mckinley and the
administration.
''It has been deemed proper at this time,
by your associates of the 17th Maine, to
present you with some token of their
affection and esteem. and to remind
you, when far away in the service of
your country, that you have left behind
in the good old state of Maine comrades,
companions and friends who are watch
full and anxious for your safety and sue
cess.
In behalf of the 18th Maine, have the
honor, and the great pleas
ure to present you this sword and belt.
AS you will readily see, it is one Tor
service, and not for ornament. We know
that it will be used on all proper occa-
sions in defence of the country and the
fag-as effectually as you used similar
weapon upon the fields of Fredericks-
bury, Cedar's, Charlottesville, Gettys-
burg, Mapping Heights, Kelley's Ford,
Locust Grove, Mine Run, the opening
scenes insthe Wilderness and the closing
scenes at Petersburg. Sailors Creek and
Appomattox.
"Receive it and with it thu best wishes
of your friends for your safe return to
family and the good and loyal city of
Portland
With an earnestness and tenderness of
speech that indicated sentiment right
from the hearb Gen. Afattocks replied
Comrades and friends: &I fesl that the
time for me to speak has passed. I am
not insensible to the gratitude which I
feel toward the comrades OF the 18th. If
this presentation is on account Of any
feeble services / may have rendered as
commanding officer of that organiza-
tion, l may say that whatever success /
may have achieved in those days was due,
not to myself, but to the men who COM
prised that regiment.
s'I believe no man has ever been in COM
mand of bettsr set of men than were
the soldiers of the old 18th. I see before
me tonight men whose gratitude | shall
never be able to repay. never knew
them VIXEN they were not ready to go as
far into the face of the enemy as I. The
only difficulty l had was in keeping them
Tar enough in the rear that 7 1nighG have
H-->'~~ ~ WIZ S5ASAy Vi u1AOlI esO4llOFO-
ment.
= Il Sc before me Sergt. Bishop, one of
the two surviving color bearers of the
regiment VINO took part in our last bat
tie. The only time I ever had occasion
to admonish him was when he refused
to let me take the colors, but repIied
that he would take the colors along as
far as L cared TO go. 1t is needless to
add that he did take them fully as far
as | cared to go. -.--.s
''In that final engagement in which we
captured more prisoners than we had men
in the command, with two stands of col
ors, a field piece and 13 officers swords
at our feet. the conduct of our regiment
was a most brilliant one. l believe that
when history is written it will be found
that the 18th Maine did as much as, if
not more, than any other regiment in
the service from this state.
''If the present policy.,of the administra-
ton, to keep the regiments recruited up
to their full war strength, is continued,
l do not see why the Mains troops should
not make as good showing as did the
Maine regiments during the last war.
D. Nr.roc nsour,h, o,o