The Portland daily press., 1900-09-06
Paper of Evening By
Capt. 9. w. Ford.
Charge Of First Maine Cavalry at
Brandy Station.

mandery of the Military Order of the
Loyal Legion was held last evening at
Riverton park casino and was att ended
by about fifty OF the companions of the
commandery, A business meeting of the
commandery was held at six o'clock in
the smoking room of the casino. The
meeting was presided over by Commander
Major S. W. Thaxter.
At the business meeting the applica-
tions of Adjutant Horatio Staples of
Portland of the Second Maine Infantry
for membership-of the first class, and
Harold WHY'S chamberlain of Bruins
wick Maine, eldest son OF Major General
Joshua L. Cham berlain, were received
and referred to the Investigating commit
tee.
Messrs. Silas Adams and Isaac Strio k
land were elected to membership of the
first GLASS and were obligated into the
membership OF the commandery.
Stanley Bisbee was elected as a COM
panion of the second class. Received by
transfer from Massachusetts, MIR. Robert
II, Gardner of Gardiner, Me.
A vote expressing the 81 mpathy of the
commandery was extended Companion
Fernald ON the death of his son. who died
recently as a result of wounds received in
battle in the Philippines.
The memor ial committee, composed of
Major Cha rles II. Boyd, Captain George
W. Verrill and Lieut.. Charles W. Rob
erts. presented a memorial on the life
and labors OF the late Captain Thomas
Porter Beals of the 32d Maine Infantry
who died as a result Of an accident in
Portland, June 81, 1900. The memorial
tribute was read by Captain George W.
Verrin for the committee and was a COM
plete record of the life and service of the
late Captain Beals.
1t was voted to hold the December
meeting of the commandery at the new
hotel at Fairfield, Me.
At seven o'clock the banquet was served
i n the assembly hall. Divine blessing
was invoked by former chaplain, r ey. H.
A. PhiIbrook The following were seat
ed at the tables Major Sidney W. Thax-
ter, General John Marshall Brown, Ed
ward Deering Noyes General Selden
Conner, Rev. Joseph Il. Kelley, Harold
w. Chamberlain, Col. S. G. Gordon,
Paymaster a. w. Anderson, Lieut.. Ed
ward M. Rand, Assistant Surgeon AL
fred Mitchell, Major E. Bowel, Lieut.. ii.
b. Sawyer, Col. Charles w. Littlefeld,
Paymaster Charles r. Iittlefeld, U. s..
N, James E. Hewey, Esq, Harry K, Vir-
gin, Esq, Hon. e. 3. Mallet, Capt. c..
e. Marshall, Lieut.. Enoch Foster, Capt.
Thomas Clark, Lieut.. Silas Adams,
Capt. H. S. Blanchard, Capt Danville
B. Stevens, Major William II. Green, Jo-
seph T. Lane, Brevet Major goth Maine
Regiment New York commandery LIE.
gion; Thomas W. Lord, captain, U. S.
A.; General Charles P. Mattocks, Rev.
H. A. Philbrook, chaplain 8th Maine
Regiment; Col. r. G. Carter, U. S. A.,
Washington, D. c., late 18th u. S. Caval-
ry; Capt. James M Thompson, Col. Ed
win Ilsley, Major Charles II. Boyd, Capt.
Charles w. Ford, Major A. Il. TWitch ell,
Major II. S. Burrage, Lieut.. Charles
o. Hunt, Capt. Thomas j. Little, Capt
j. w. Thompson, Bangor; Major Charles
Walker, Ensign John o. shaw, Bath
Capt W. II, Fogler Capt. B. J. Hill,
Auburn; Adjutant Charles w. Roberts,
Capt. George w. VerriIl, Capt. @. c. Ora
ham, Capt. Hebron Mayhem. Capt. b.
M. Redlon, Capt W. w. Whitmarsh
Capt. A. L. Turner.
After the banquet, cigars were lighted
and Commander Thaxsr introduced Com
panion Capt. Charles w. Ford
The title OF Captain Fords paper was
''The G barge OF the First Maine Cavalry
at Brandy Station" Captain Ford by
way of preface reviewed the events that
led up to that celebrated charge. After
the battle charlottesville, and the retire
ment of the Union troops across the Rap
pahannook, several weeks elapsed before
any movement of Importance was made.
That battle had been practically drawn
battle, and both sides waited to recuper-
ate. During the latter part of May
General Lee directed the rebel cavalry
commander Stuart to cross the Kappa
hammock and take up position to guard
the right flank of the confederate army
as 1t passed on Its way North and act as
a shield between it and the Army of the
Potomac. Stuart expected to surprise
the Union forces, but Hooker had re-
ceived information of the proposed move
and ordered General Pleasanton and the
Union cavalry to oppose it. 1t was dur
Ing the engagement thus brought on that
the First Maine cavalry made it's famous
charge. Buford has been repuIsed and
two of Gen. Fitzpatrick regiments were
fleeing to the rear when the First Maine
dashed on to the field. What followed
Captain Ford relates as follows;
General Fitzpatrick, whose feelings may
be imagined, upon seeing two OF his regi-
ments thus repulsed and fleeing to the
rear, dashed up to Colonel Douty and
said, In q voice plainly heard by every