Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-21

registered mail as soon as 1t shall hav
been properly engraved.
Very respectfully.
G. D. Meiklejohn.
Assistant Secretary of War.
| Major Haskell acknowledged receip
of the letter as follows:
Washington, D. c
November %. 1898
Honorable G. d. Meiklejohn. Assistan
Secretary of War.
Dear Sir: am in receipt Of syoul
Very kind letter of even date informing
me that by direction of the Presi.
dent the medal Of honor has beer
awarded me for war service in 1852.
! am profoundly grateful to the gov
eminent for its highest military deco
ration SO promptly conferred
Very truly yours
+. w. Haskell.
Whitman and True's Maine in the
War" says: The heroic and manly
conduct OF Sergeant Major F. W. Has
kell of Waterville, who was after
wards promoted to adjutant of the
during this engagement, led Colonel
Staples and Lieutenant Egan of the
Fortieth New York. to call Governor
Washburns attention to it in terms OF
commentator. The former in a letter
to His Excellency stated that "he was
in advance of the line during the whole
time, constantly cheering on the men.
For his gallant and meritorious con-
duct on this occasion he has won the
praise and admiration of the entire
regiment. Where all did their duty,
it is difficult to single out; but so much
has been said concerning young Has
kell that l have determined to inform
your Excellency of the fact He richly
deserves d commission and / take
pleasurein commencing him to your fav-
orable commentator. The latter officer
in his communication said that while un-
der calling fire, he observed young
Haskell leading the men on the left of
the Third, when no other officers were
near him whom he could observe. His
conduct was so brilliErt as to be wor-
thy of an officer of any rank
John s. C. Abbott's The History of
Maine" in speaking Of the promotion
Leeds. Me-, To the rank of brigadier
general and the promotion of Major
Henry G. Staples to become colonel
refers to the ever memorable seven
days battle and adds: I'm this change
of front, Major F. w. Haskell of Wa
terville, so greatly distinguished him
self as to win very high commenda-
ton"
The measure for reorganization of
the militia and the formation of a vol
unteer army, drawn by Adjutant Gem
eral Richards of Maine, and Captain
Morton, was introduced in the House
by Representative Burleigh as the
press dispatches have already related.
General Richards, resident of Kenne-
bee county, is likewise entitled to be
counted among the notable third dis
trict men who have figured in one way
or another in the developments on the
last week in Washington. Several bills
OF similar character have been intro
duced in the House this session. All
have been referred to the House COM
mittee on military affairs, Of which
Representative Burleigh Is a member.
In the next Congress, and the reOrgarl-
ation of the militia and the formation
of volunteer army, will hardly sbe
seriously considered by Congress be-
fore that time. Mr.. Burleigh will be the
Republican member of that committee
ranking next to Chairman Benjamin !
F. Marsh of Illinois. He has been fort
innate there in the number Of Republic |
cans now rating him on the committee,
who will not be members of the next |
House. The same good fortune has |
followed him in the committee on pub |
lie buildings and grounds, OF which he |
is now the seventh Republican mem |
Der. In the next Congress Mr.. Bur- |
leigh viii be the fourth Republican |
of a committee that will have
to pass upon legislation affecting mill |
lions OF dollars worth of property.
Representative Bur1eAgh introduced |
a concurrent resolution authorizing and |
directing the secretary of war to, fur
nish estimates of the cost of imbffking |
the harbor at Cape Porpoise, Maine, in
accord with recommendations already |
made by Colonel P. c. Hams and now
on file in the war department.