The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1898-08-25

| and comparisons made of the present war
| and the civil war,
| AT one o'clock the Winterport fire depart-
ment came out and trial tests were made
| OF the new water system. The two hose
| companies started at the same time and ran
certain distance, and in less than one
minute four streams We're playing on the
| buildings near the church, with only the
natural pressure. The streams went more
than ten feet above the vane on the church
steeple, which is estimated to be 100 feet
| high The hosemen seemed to thoroughly
| understand their business, and it is evident
that a fire could not make much headway in
the village
| At o'cloc} when the President again
called to order Union Hall was packed with
| people TO listen to the exercises OF the after
noon, which We're under the auspices of the
| WOman's Relief Corps. Prayer was offered
| by Rev. D FL. Piper, followed by singing by
the choir. Miss Lesan of Winterport then
gave the following address of welcome
! Feteroas Qf the Gallant 26t:
| A third OF century has passed since you
| returned from the conflict OF siege and battle,
| LAID aside the hablments of the soldier, and
| resumed again the avocations OF peaceful life
| To-day the survivors of your noble regi-
| ment meet once more in glad reunion to
| perpetuate the friendships and associations
| formed in those early days so pregnant with
war and civil strife The record of your
/ heroic service has for many years adorned
| the most mOmentous pages of our nation s
| history. Iuseparable from the valorous en-
| gagements of war are the victories of Irish
| Bend and Port Hudson.
In no light regard do the citizens of this
| town and community hold this assemblage
| OF Names most gallant sons; and sincere is
! the welcome they extend to you, gallant de-
| tenders of Our nations life and flag But if
| the welcome of the civilian is heartfelt
| language fails to portray the qualification
| which your presence affords your old time
| brothers III arms, comrades of the camp and
| held With you they shared the weary
| march side by side you went forth to con-
| ttlct: shoulder to shoulder you endured the
| storms of battle.
| AS you meet to-day the years of your ma
turer life recede and the days of your young
manhood rise again. Ouce more you behold
a nation ) life IN peril; once more you rush
| TO arms at your country's call.
| AT this time how vividly you remember
| those valiant comrades who sleep to-day
meath southern soil.
| ION fame 8 eternal camping ground
| Their silent tents spread.
| And glory guards with solemn round
| The blvOuaC of the dead, y
| But while you lament the cruel DEGREES of
| war you rejoice that to-day "Old Glory"
rioats over a united people. With intense
| gratlticatlon you behold the sons of north
| and south alike now enlisted in common
! cause and upholding the hon of one COM
mon flag.
| As each successive year finds the great
| republic you fought to save moving with in
creasng power and majesty ever onward
| with the march Of time, posterity will pay
| yet deeper homage to the memory Of the
| citizen soldier; and in the ages yet to come
| the patriotism of Americas loyal sons will
| continue to be the inspiration of the bard
| the theme Of the historian
As you approach the eventide of life,
| lightly may you carry the weight of age, as
time bears you onward through life's golden
| autumn. After the heat aud encounters of
4 former years, may your days be rich with
happiness and filled with calm con tent.
May many reunions of this regiment still
/ md the veterans in large assembly: and in
that final reunion which shall summon the
| soiilers OF every nation and cline, may you
answer the roli-call an unbroken band hay
/ ing fought a good fl ght and won the crown.
Mrs. Belle j, Palmer of Monroe respond
ed as follows;
| l have the pleasure and honor, in behalf
| OF the comrades of the 26th Maine Regiment
/ here assembled, to express our grateful ap-
| probation and to sincerely thank you tor
| your very cordial welcome, and courtesies
| extended.
This regiments service was short, but very
| severe. 1t was organized in Bangor, Oct.
II, $50, under command Of Col N. H. Hub
| bard, TO serve n ne months. Left the State,
| Oct. sd with 9l5 men for Washington, d. C.,
| on Nov. 9Th they embarked for Fortress
/ Monroe, V. A, arrived at Hampton Roads
| on tne 11th, next was ordered to Newport
| News, where they remained until Dec. 1st.
| This day they embarked on board steamers
| for New Orleans, arriving in that city the
10th, and Immediately proceeded to Baton
| Rouge, where they We're assigned to 3rd Bri-
| gade OF Growers Division. They remained
at Baton Rouge until the 10Th of March,
| 1868, when they joined il the reconnaissance
to Fort Hudson, returning on the 10th, and
| on the 23th of March embarked for Donald
| sonville, La. Early on the morning of the
14th of April they We're engaged with the
enemy Irish Bend near lin, La, and
/ met with severe loss. They arrived at Fort
Hudson on the Both of May and We're engag-
ed in supporting Battery until June 18th,
when they participated in the assault on
| that day and then returned to their former
position. After the surrender of Fort Hud-
son they remained on duty inside the fortti-
| cation at that place until the Goth Of July
when they embarked for Maine and reached
| Bangor Aug g. 1863 and We're mustered out
| of the U. S. Service the 18th by Lieut.. f. E.
| Crossman, 17th L. S. Infantry, having lost
during the short term of eleven months,
killed, II, died of wounds, Is, died of dis
ease, 96, desertion, -, previously discharg-
| &c, -, absent, sick, etc, Co. leaving 6SS men
| mustered out at Bangor
| OF the nine hundred and fifteen men that
| left the State more than five hundred were
! young, unmarried men. Too much cannot be
said IN praise Of these young men. 1t has
| been said "Al tnat a man hath will he give
| for his life" And while all contribute of
their substance the soldier puts his life at
| stake and often yields it up in his country g
| cause. The highest merit, then, is due the
soldier. What | think about this extraor-
binary war IN which we are engaged is
what every Amer can citizen thinks. Ii is,
/ indeed great event. Our soldiers and par
| tlcularly our volunteer soldiers, are a grea
| source OF pride to this country. They fought
with dash and vim worthy of veterans, and
| the heroic patriotism they displayed in their
wonderful series of fights is a source of
great qualification to every American citi-
zen 1t ls different thing fighting on land
| from what it is on sea. Not that wish to
| uetract from the vaor and skill of our sail
| ors At sea after battle, the ship is wash
| ed down and the sailors don their natty
wnite uniforms and the officers go down to
the cabin to well spread tables. On land,
the soldiers in trenches are exposed to all
nf oil oI,n