Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-18
WANT A FLAG.
Our 1st Maine Heavy Artillery
Is Without a Banner.
But the Boys Keep on Winning Honors
Down at Savannah.
Scores Of Compliments Have Put Maine Sol.
diers on Good Behavior.

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The artillerymen finished their frs
weeks work in Georgia tired but hap
Ply. 1t was the part they took in the
review of the 18th Army Corps tha
made them tired and it was the praise
they got on that occasion that made
them happy. No one but themselves
knew they We're tired when they
marched to the camp from the scene o.
the review two miles away. They
came over the hard, smooth streets OF
the city and out to the turnpike botl
made by chain gangs, with firm ever
steps and heads erect.
Those Maine men are as fresh a!
when they came down. remarked {
spectator who stood on one of thu
greens in the outskirts of the city a:
the Yankee boys marched along be
tween the crowds which lined the thor.
oughfares. And when the country
road was reached and order of out Of
step was given they whistled and sans
as if they hadn't marched a step OF
taken part ip any exacting military
heard from all sides and the exuber.
ance was unbounded.
The march to town early in the af.
ternoon was made under a sun thai
seemed to be pouring tons of hot all
directly on to this part of the earth
When the park was reached the bat
TALON was marched to one side almos;
directly opposite the reviewing stand
which was against the fence and fac
ing the center of Sayannah's great pub
lie pleasure ground.
Directlyin front of us was large and
very imposing soldier statue erected in
honor of the Confederate dead. On our
right was the LIST North Carolina and
on our left the 4th Virginia, and We
were not disappointed to be thus sur
rounded by institutions of the South
for although it grieves me to say it, the
Maine boys have received more kind
treatment than they did during the
whole six months in Maine.
We are the only Northern and East
ern troops here and the battalion which
you must know performs the functions
of and stands for a regiment is the
only organization here which is not
provided with a state banner. Not a
square inch of cloth have the Maine
men to throw out to the Southern
breeze to show from what state they
come. Every other state represented
here has presented the regiments with
state flags. The LIST Maine Artillery is
alone in being without the usual ban
ner.
The men went onto the park withou.
music. They marched along the west
ern part of the park, across the south
side and up the east side. past the re-
viewing stand in a manner that called
forth admiration from every one of the
thousands of people present.
The voice of General Lee was heard
above the talk and the men heard him
say as plainly as the Lewiston boys
ever heard the mill bells:
There are some men who know how
to march,
Words of praise rang in the boys
ears and sent joy to the hearts of both
officers and privates as the battalion
left the park and went on to the hand
some streets lined with the most fash
ionable residences in Savannah. The
occupants of these houses and their
guests who were on the verandas, in
the windows and on the roofs, cheered
and applauded the Maine boys as long
as they were in sight. No one got such
signs of appreciation except the Geor-
gia regiment which carried very hand
some state colors behind band which
played Dixie" and other Southern
airs.
But who are they?' asked hundreds
of admiring spectators. Some knew
and the remarks were curious as we'll
as complimentary.
They are Yanks," said one man with
a great show of spirit. "but they are
all right"
There's some regulars" said anoth-
er. they ought to do better than vol
Just like one man." was the enthu-
siastic comment of another.
The Engineer Corps officers congrat-
ulated the Artillery officers. Soldiers
of all ranks who were not in the pa
rade fired complimentary remarks at
the Maine boys.
If the people of Maine want to share
the honors of it's crack military organ
ization, let them send down some kind of
rag that will let people know where the
much-admired battalion is from The
battalion is capable of winning the APP
plause of the public and the admiration
of the military authorities every day in
the year if the opportunity should be
offered, and no one objects to doing 1t
incog if the people of Maine are satisfied
with that order of things.
The day following the review men from
other regiments visited the artillerymen
and congratulated them. No less than
~ photographers haunted the camp, TAX
ing photographs of everything and every
one in camp. Not an hour passed that
congra tulations did not come from some
quarter.
The very first announcement made by.
Capt. Crockett on the evening of parade
day was that passes woulu be issued to
any man not on guard who cared to ask
for them. Some were too tired to go
back to town, but many took advantage
of the sweeping offer.
General Lee in a few remarks to the
Continued on page g.