The Portland daily press., 1898-09-08
TALKED OF TWO WARS.
Interesting Session Of the Maine
Loyal Legion.
INSIDE LIGHT ON THE MILES-AL-
GER CONTROVERSY.

Capt. ThomasP. Beals Graphically Des-
cribes the Attack on Fort Hell-Gen.
tional Guard, but Advocates Closer Re-
lations with the Regular Army.
The banquet hall of the cafe at River
ton park was peopled by distinguished
company of war veterans, last evening.
The occasion was the September meeting
of the Maine Commandery, Military Or
der of the Loyal Legion of the United
States This organization has held many
pleasant reunions at picturesque River
ton, and have usually beenffavored with
weather more propitious than that OF last
evening, but never in the history of the
commandery has q meeting been more
thoroughly enjoyed.
Gen. G. W. Tilden of Hallowell presid-
ed both at the business session and at the
literary exercises following the banquet
At the business meeting 1t was voted to
send the following congratulatory mss.
sage to Gen. Mattooks:
"The Maine Commandery, Military
Order of the Loyal Legion of the United
states, sends greetings to Companion
Brigadier General Charles P. Mattocks,
and congratulates him on distinguished
service in two vars
The following letter, in reply to mes
sage sent at the last meeting TO Capt.
Wildes of the United States cruiser Bos-
ton, was read:
u. s. S. Boston,
Off Manila, Philippine Is.
July 8, 1898.
Maine Commandery, NJ Q. L. 1. U. s.:
Dear Sirs and Comparions-The resolu-
ton by the oommandery OF May 4th, OF
congratulation on the victory in Manila
Bay of May LIST, is at hand, and ] desire
to express my warmest thanks for this
evidence of interest, good will and ap-
of action on that great day; how great
day it was and how 1t has affected our
oountrymen, we are just beginning to
learn.
I think it safe to say that the spirit,
morale and discipline of the squadron
were such, and we were SO we'll led and
handled, that the six ships were capable
of doing the very utmost possible for their
size and power.
There is still work ahead. Manila is
to be taken. and the powerful Spanish
reserve squadron met. Until this is done
there can be no rest for us. With best
regards and good wishes for the com.
mandery. believe me
Your most obedient servant,
Frank Wildes
Captain, U. S. N.
Paymastsr Charles W. Littlefield of the
United States navy, eldest son Of Bvt.
Lieut.. Col. Charles R. Littlefield of Ken
nehunk, was elected to membership in the
second class.
The recorder gave notice that the 14th
annual meeting of the commandery-in-
chief of the order will be held in Boston,
October H.
An announcement was also made of a
number of new additions to the library
of the command cry since the last meet
ing.
At 7.3O the veterans and their guests
took possession of the dining hall and
partook of ono of Caterer Smiths Tempt
ing spreads, after Divine blessing had
been invoked by Chaplain II. A. Phil
brook of Middletown, Conn.
The following occupied seats at the fes-
tive board: Gen. G. ". Tilden, Halo
we'll; Maj. 81. S. Burrage, Surgeon S.
c. Gordon, Adj. Charles W. Roberts, G.
W. Verrill, Capt. A. L. Turner, Maj.
VIM. II. Green, Capt. B. M. Redlon,
Maj. Charles Walker. Maj. Fl. S, Meloher,
Capt. Thomas P. Beals, Lieut.. Charles
o. Hunt, Maj. Sidney W. Thaxter, Capt.
Thos. J. Little, Capt. Charles W. Ford,
Capt G. e. Marshall, Maj. Charles H.
Boyd, AdJt. Edward NJ. Rand, Lieut..
James W. King, Paymaster VIM. II. An
derson, Capt. John W. Deering. Harry R.
Virgin, ESQ.,, Mr.. Edward d. Noyes,
Portland; Col. R. g. Carter, Warrington,
United States army; DR.. M. FL. Stmons,
surgeon, United States navy; Capt. Fl.
N. Fairbanks, Bangor; Lieut.. Wainwright
Cushing, Foxcroft; Gen. Selden Conner,
Augusta; Acknowledgment Atwell W.
SWEET, Bangor; Maj VIM. H. Spencer,
Waterville; Hon. e. B. Mallet, Freeport;
Chaplain a. A. Philbrook, AIiddletown,
Ct; Capt. Hebron Mayhem, Westbrook;
Capt. Charles G. Graham, Cumberland
Mills; Lieut.. D. L. Warren, Togus;
Capt. S. B. Strang, Chattanooga, Tenn. !;
Assistant Surgeon Alfred Mitchell, Bruins
wick; Capt. q. S. Blanchard, Watervills.
After the banquet Commander Tilden
of Hallowell raped for order and intro
duced Capt. Thomas P. Beals of Port
land, who read paper which graphically
described the charge on Fort He'll, at Pet
ersburg, April IL, 1865, which he, as the
senior captain led.
This is an abstract of Col. Beal paper:
IN A CHARGE NEAR FORT HE'LL,
PETERSBURG.
April 2. 1865.
Where tho Jerusalem road, running in
to the city Of Petersburg, Va, passed
through the earthworks of the contending
forces, little east of south of the city,
there had been hot contention from the
first approach of the Union army. The
right Of the original line of Confederate
works, rested on this broad road. After
our army arrived in June, 1864. an at
tempt was made to turn their works by a
flank movement. But the enemy were
on the alert and baff1ed It, But this did
mott hinder the movement to the left.