The Somerset reporter., 1899-09-14
ANNUAL REUNION.
Second Maiue Cavalry to the
Front.


numbers.-"The Bows of 50" enjoy them
selves Officers elected Banquet held.
The Second Maine Cavalry was one of
Names gallant regiments. None more
so in that war waged in defense of the
life of our beloved government in the
dark days of the "Great Rebellion.
Following is brief resume of the ser
vice of the regiment:
The SECOND Maine Cavalry Regiment
WAS organized at Augusta, Me-, from
Nov. Both, 1863, TO Jan. I'd, 1864; aud
Jan. llth having been assigned to the
Department of the Gulf commenced
leaving Augusta for New Orleans, La
Companies A and ID, and about half of
q. being the only portion OF the regi-
ment which had arrived at New Orleans,
were, on the 18th of April, ordered to
proceed to Alexandria, La, where they
arrived on the morning of the 2lst, and
being assigned TO duty with the Sd
Cavalry Brigade, participated in the
engagements at Cherryvile Cross
Roads, Marksville, Avoyelles Prairie
and Yellow Bayou, and rejoined the
regiment at Thibodeaux, June lst.
The main body of the regiment ar
rived at New Orleans, in detachments,
on the 18th, 10Th, 22d and 23d of April.
On the 9th of August, the regiment EN-.
barked ut New Orleans for Pensacola,
Fla, arriving on the llth, and encamped
near Barrancas, employed in fatigue
duty, besides taking part in quite a
number of raids, to Mariana, IN Sept
ember, and to Pollard, Ala, in Deem
Der. During the year, the regiment
lost by deaths one officer and 27S enlist
ed men.
Ga the 23i of Feb, 1895, Lieut.. Col.
Squirting, with 300 men. attacked the
enemy in considerable force at Milton,
Fla, and after sharp encounter, com
pletely routed them. On the 10Th Of
March, the regiment joined Gen. Steele's
command, concentrated at Pensacola
preparatory to the movement which
resulted in the capture of Mobile and
The opening of the State of Alabama to
the advance of the Federal troops
During the whole campaign, the resi-
ment rendered efficient service, had
several encounters with the enemy, de-
Stroyed large amount of railroad and
munication with Gen. Candy, besieg-
ing Spanish Fort, and capturing large
number of the enemy.
After the fall of Mobile, a detach-
ment OF the regiment was assigned to
the 10Th Army Corps, being the only
Cavalry with that body of 10000 men
rhe detachment did efficient duty
during the long march of nearly 200
miles to the city Of Montgomery, Ala.
In August the detachment WAS ordered
to return to Florida, and rejoined the
regiment at Barrancas. The regiment
was then broken up and small detach-
ments were stationed at various points
throughout Western Florida to pre-
serve harmony, and to suppress any
insurrectiOnary movements that might
take place. By the lst of December,
the entire regiment was concentrated
at Barrancas, and mustered out of the
u. 5. service on the 9Th by Lieut.. Z.
NJ. Schryver, Assistant Commissary of
Musters. Twenty-Five commissioned
officers and about 116 enlisted men
were mustered out and discharged in
Florida, to become residents of the
South, making oath of their intention
TO remain there, and receiving from the
Government, mileage in lieu of trans
portation.
The remainder of the regiment, COM
prising IA officers and 500 enlisted men,
embarked on the Sth for Augusta, Me-,
where they were paid and finally dis.
charged on the 2lst.
The original officers of the regiment
were Ephraim w. Woodman, Wilton,
Colonel; John F. Godfrey, Bangor,
lieut.. colonel; Charles A. Miller, Rock
land, major; Nathan Cutler, augusta,
adjutant; John F. Williams, Belfast,
quartermaster; James Cleveland, Jr.
commissary; Geo. w.
Martin, Houlton, surgeon. Moses
French, Of Scion, served as captain of
Co. X. throughout the terms of service
of the regiment, and Eben Hutchinson
of Athens served as major from Jan. 4,
1864, until the muster out of the regi-
ment.
The officers of the Association for the
past year were: Henry D. Moore,
Haddonfield, N. j., president; +. B.
Billings, Lynn, Mass, G. W. Soper, Old
Town, Me-, Robert McDuf, Lagrange,
Me-, vice presidents; Geo. r. Smith,
Augusta, secretary and treasurer; G. G.
Small, Boston, historian.
The comrades mostly arrived on the
10 30 a. m. train, Wednesday, but few
arrived on the afternoon train of the day
before, and some came by team from
surrounding towns. Headquarters were
established at Hotel HeseltOn and there
the comrades congregated aud heartily
greeted each other with the warm hand
clasp and cordial salutation.
The first formal meeting of the associa-
ton was held in G. A. Il. Hall at 2
o'clock p. M. President Moore called
the meeting to order and prayer was
offered by Rev. w. F. Berry of Water
vile, after which the report of Geo. X.
Smith, the secretary and treasurer, and
that of S. C. Small, historian, were read
and accepted.
Officers were elected as follows:
Henry d. Moore of Haddonfield, n. j.,
president; Sylvanus C. Small of Boston,
Robert McDuff of Lagrange and B. F.
Pettengill of Iceboro, vice presidents;
Geo. r. Smith, Augusta, secretary and
treasurer; S. G. Small of Boston,
historian.
Comrades of the association responded
to their names as follows:
STAFF.
S. c. Small, Boston, Mass, Quarter