The Portland daily press., 1899-01-06


States surgeons. nearly or quite, one
third OF the non-commissioned officers
and men in the regiment were rejected.
This left a complement of officers with
about one-half the requisite number of
men. The United States officers would
not accept or muster into the service
any company until there was a full COM
plement of non-commtssioned officers
and privates.
There were great difficulties In obtain
ing enlistments from the Second regi-
ment to I'LL the companies or the tfrst,
as a disinclinatfon existed on the part
of most OF the officers and men OF the
Second regiment to do 80, although ell
very very anxious to go TO the front u
they could be permitted to have their
own organization. Beside. the officers
and men believed that there would soon
be another call. when they could 20 as a
regiment. Hence. but few enlisted, with
the exception Of the Bangor company.
under Captain bennett. Captain Dem
nett had his company examined, and
used 1t to fill what was lacking in two
companies of the First regiment, taking
himself a second lieutenancy. which hap
pened to be vacant. He was one OF the
best officers in the guard. Had been edu-
Gated at Annapolis commissioned him
as a first lieutenant before the regiment
was mustered out. I should have been
glad could l have seen an opportunity
TO have raised him TO the rank OF cap
tain
At this time. when we sorc1y needed
men. the University of Maine sent us
more that 10 splendid volunteers. IA
miliar with military tactics and drill.
who enlisted as privates. 1t was timely
and much needed aid. 1t encouraged
others. 1t was an act that the state
should not forget.
There was also quite a number of men
OF the several companies of the First
regiment who passed the examination.
but declared that they did not feel that
they ought to- or could, volunteer unless
something was given TO them to leave
with their families that were very needy.
While matters were in this condition.
realized that something must be done.
and done quickly. as i was extremely
anxious that Names quota. for the credit
of the state. should be filled at an early
date, and we succeeded in being the 18th
state to do 50.
About this time there was considerable
anxiety in some of the towns and cities
along the coast fearing that they might
be attacked by gunboats or cruisers OF
the Spanish navy. And some persons
were very urgent that an extra session
of the Legislature be called. could not
comprehend how an extra session OF the
legislature would furnish to them an
adequate or additional protection, or
should have called II at once. WIS con-
WINGED, after a careful examination,
that the only real and effective defense
for our coast towns was to establish bat
terfes and mines, and to obtain from the
United States cruisers to sail along the
shores, and in conjunction with our dele
cation in congress We succeeded in OBJ
tanning two cruisers. and having the
coast very generally and effectually for
titled.
1t turned out in the end, however. that
all fears of an attack were groundlese.
Personally, ! should have much pre-
ferred to have called an extra session.
and been relieved from the responsible
ity by legislative action. But was con-
fident that a very large majority OF the
people I'm Maine were opposed to calling
1t. and felt constrained to obey what
felt to be the wishes of that majority.
unless some exigency should compel me
to do otherwise.
l examined as to what the state did to
aid enlistment in the early part OF the
war of 1861. found that an extra session
o. the legislature. called by Governor
Washburn in April of that year passed
an act Chapter 6s, section 2. Laws of
1861 authorizing and directing that
gratuity or bounty of $22 be paid to ear y
private $24 TO each musician: s26 TO each
corporal; $34 to each sergeant and to
first sergeant $40. who should enlist and
be mustered into the service OF the
United States, and that these several
sums were paid to the first 10 regiment
organized. Later on very much higher
bounties were offered and paid.
consulted with Colonel Kendall, who
commanded the regiment, and with sew
eral captains Of the different companies,
and they informed me that some OF their
men had been In the strikes in Lewis
ton and Biddeford. and must have aid.
/ told them 10 send out recruiting officers
to the towns and cities where the COM
panles of the First regiment had been
organized. and endeavor TO fill up these
companies with the least possible delay,
and l authorized him and them to state
TO all men enlisting that they should
have the same treatment and the same
gratuity as was given by the act of April.
1851. TO the soldiers OF the first 10 regi-
ments, assuring them that l would either
raise the necessary funds TO do this my
self, or call an extra session of the .egis-
lature, and recommend that II be done.
in which event l had no doubt 1t would
be.
After due elaboration. i finally decided,
under all the circumstances, 20 pay this
bounty to the men on my own personal
responsibility, trusting and believing
that after you had full knowledge of
the facts, the needs OF the men and the
urgency OF immediate enlistments that
the wisdom and propriety. as well as
the necessity of SO doing, would COM
mend itself to your judgment, and the
act be ratified by you. There are GER
tainiy as cogent reasons for pay ng this
small bounty to these volunteers as there
were to those in 1861. Many of the men
were in pressing need of some money
to purchase little necessary articles for
themselves, and others must have some-
thing to send to their very destitute
families or leave them in want.
While we were graphing with and
overcoming these difficulties, incident TO
filling the quota by using the National
Guard. / was constantly receiving nu-
merous applications, from all parts 4
the state. from patriotic citizens who
desired 10 raise companies. and who ex-
pected to be commissioned in those COM
panieS, Offering services Of themselve 3,
and various numbers OF volunteers. ami
II had felt at liberty to disregard the in
struotions from Washington to use the
guard. and to accept these volunteer
cOIODanies | could have raised several