Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-08-13

nucleus Of he citizen soldiery at the
least expense tc the State.
This ercampment must have been q
good one. for in his report as inspector
general. Brig. Gen. J. Manchester
Haynes of Augusta. says: ..On the &C.
casion OF the review of the command
by Maj. Gen. Chamberlain and staff. the
l.field presented at once the brilliant
pageant Of medieval tournament with
the splendid ranks of modern military
science."
Closing his report, Gen. Haynes says
The art of war can be acquired only
by practice in the field. 1t NAV he diff
fcult, after the terrible stimulus Of
actual war. with the confidence and Sc
curity derived from victory, to feel
much interest in the mock parades of
the muster field: but this emotional re-
action should not draw reason with it.
We are but mortals vet, and may he
called upon to repeat some naces IF
history that now seem vulgar and OBJ
solete.''
The Legislature of 1874 corrected the
discrepancy between the number OF en-
listed men in a company and the num-
] q.
provided that pany of infantry
should contain no more than 80 or les;
than So enlisted men. 1t was also pro-
Nidcd that officers be commissioned for
six years, some question having aLisen
/ in ne unattached organizations in re-
gard to this point.
In 1874, Melville w. Folsom of Ban
gor succeeded William III. FogIer of
[ laI Of
In 1876. Co. G, of Auburn, had n new
| deal of officers Henry NJ. Sprague
was made cartain: Leonard A. Pray
first lieutenant, and Frank p. Merrill
second lieutenant. In '76, the encamp-
'nent was ncld at Brunswick
The enc2mpment of 1878 was held ut
Waterville. The Legislature of 1873
| failed to elect a major general and so
| Gen. Chamberlain resigned and TIE I'M
attached companies We're temporarily
! added to The First. The Legislature of
70 remedied matters and returned
Gen. Chamberlain 10 his old post. In
| 10 Col. Ma-tacks and Quartermastar
| Gallagher resigned. These were among
the darkest days in militia history. The
Legislatures of 80 ana '79 refused 10
provide funds 10 uniform the troops. as
the State had agreed when he First
Regiment was formed. The inspector
generals of the time make extended re-
ports on the disreputable conditions of
the uniforms. Brig. Gen. S. Clifford
l3elcher Of Pennington. in his report
| for 1879 says: THE militia insist that
they have always performed all of the
duties required by them, While the
State had failed to furnish sup
| plies and money to the militia as
promised by statute. The militia feel
agricved by this action of the State and
say that it has not kept faith with
| them. A great State cannot afford to
break it's faith under the plea of econ
| omy.'
The following year, 1880. saw Il new
| First and Il ev Second, constituted by
the following order:
| Adjutant-Gencrals Office.
Augusta, June IS, 1880
| General Orders No. -.
|. The organization heretofore
known and designated the First Regi-
ment of Infantry, Maine Volunteer Mi
iitia, is hereby di5banded and all field
staff and nom ommissioned officers are
hereby honorably discharged from the
| military service of the State.
III. All enlisted men of the Maine
| Volunteer Militia who enlisted prior 10
April 1st, 1880, me hereby honorahly
discharged from the military service of
| the State.
III. The following named companies
will constitute the First Regiment Of
Infantry. Maine Volunteer Militia. viz.
Portland Light Infantry. Portland. 90
! A. Portland Mechanic Blues, Portland.
| r. I to
Co. c: Norway Light Infantry, Norway
Co. d; Montgomery Guards, Portland.
90. T.: Capital Guards, Augusta, Co. r:
Bidleford Light Infantry, Biddafori
co. G: Richards Light Infantry. Gardi-
rer. CO. r.
W The following named companies
will constitute the Second Regiment &c
Infantry. Maine Volunteer Militia. viz
Crosby Guards, Hampden. Co A; Her.
soy Lirht Infantry. Old Town. co. r:
Dexter Light Infantry, Dexter. Co c;
Tillson Light Infantry. Rockland. Co
D: Sltowhegan Light Infantry, Skow
hogan. Co. r; bought Guards, Dover
Co. f; Jameson Guards, Bangor, 60. G:
Belfast City Guards, Belfast, Go. Fl.
V. All public property heretofore is
sued to and now in the possession of
! the iiSiu- stun anu
staff of the First Regiment of Infantry
| VI V. NJ, will Immediately on recent
of this order he carefully hacked and
shipped by freight, properly invoiced.
to Cor. George l.. .3eaI. acting quarter
| master general. Augusta Maine.
Bv order Of the Communicating
| Chief.
GEORGE L. BEAI..
| Adjutant-
Under the foregoing order, the fell