Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-03

"
the stated and regular meetings, which
all have sacredly obligated themselves
to do.
Before closing this address l should
be unmindful of my duty to the COM
rades. if | did not extend to them my
sincere thanks 70 rtheir hearty CO.
operation in all matters pertaining to
my duty. When unanimously elected
to the position of commander of this
Post it was perfectly clear to me that
the honor conferred required the per-
Torrance Of every executive duty which
the Office implied These duties have
been in the main agreeable but have
time and comfort, and the assuming of
positions which while personally objec-
tionablc. became necessary in order to
assert our rights, and perform our du-
ties to each other and to the Post.
Whether the latter duty has been sat
isfa ctorily performed or not, is left to
the kind judgment of the comrades. |
wish again to heartily thank you for
the kindness with which you have con-
dcned my mistakes. and also for the
assistance you have rendered to me
during my short experience as your
commander.
The new post commander. Josiah w.
Bangs. is a wcll-knoEn Augusta citizen.
having lived here nearly all his life. His
military service was in the band of tn"
Third Maine Regiment in the War of the
Rebellion. In fact Mr.. Bangs was one
of the organizers of that company OF
men. The band was mustered into SER
vice. June t. 1861 Fenelon G. Barker,
then of Augusta. now living in Colorado,
was made the leader, and Mr.. Bangs was
made director, the positions which they
had held in the Augusta Cornet Band.
The band started for the front the next
| day after being mustered in and were
| for a short time stationed on the grounds
| of Columbia College in Washington.
| While stationed there Mr.. Bangs and Mr..
| Barker wrote the first set of music books
| for the band. The regiment was soon
| sent to Alexandria and participated in
| the famous battle of Bull Run. At this
| time the band did camp duty but after
wards in time of battle were ordered in
company with all other regimental band.
to take stretchers and remove the wound
ed to the rear out of danger. They the:
got their first taste of real fighting and
|
battle of Fair Oaks. Mr.. Bangs was de.
| tailed to assist the surgeons in their am.
putations.
| The band participated in the battles OF
Williamsburg. Yorktown. Fair Oaks anc
the famous seven days retreat from be
fore Richmond to Harrison's Landing
besides others of less repute. 1t was mus
| tered out of service by general order:
N Il.
mental bands then in service, and tn,
members of the Third Regimental Bant
returned to their homes in August, 1862
having served about 10 months
During the seven days retreat from
! Richmond, Mr.. Bangs was sick but re
manned with the band until the last day
| when he fell out from exhaustion. Ill
was picked up and placed in an ambu
| lance with another sick comrade from
Augusta by the name of Carr. Carr die,
on the way and Mr.. Bangs was ais,
| thought to be dead. Both were laid down
beneath tree upon the arrival at tn,
landing.
| The following morning "A New Yorl
surgeon CHANGED to come that way look
ing for missing ones from his regimen
and, finding that Mr.. Bangs was still
alive, though unconscious. he placed hin
| in his ambulance and when the patien
returned to consciousness he was
miles from his regiment and was lying OF
some straw in a barn. Here he wa
found 10 days later by Sergeant Nye o
the Third Maine, who took him to hi
regiment Soon after this the order dis
charging the regimental bands came, anc
| in dine time Mr. Ramps returned home
having lost 4 pounds of flesh during hi
absence.
After the address by Commando
Bangs. George c. Sheldon. Esq. captain
elect of Henry G.. Staples Camp. S. of V.
was called upon and responded for thd
body in a very eloquent and pleasin:
manner. Mrs Lottc NJ. Reed sang twic
and so captivated the audience that sh
was compelled to respond to an encor
both times. AS soon as the other eXer
ciscs had Deen brought to a close tn
members of the Post and their guests sa
| down to an oyster supper to which al
did justice.
The new commander has made the fol
lowing appointments for the ensuing
year: Committee on visitation and relief
George T.. Gay, eX-officio, William Ii
Brooks, cx-officio, o. o. Stetson, FREE
Gannett, J. u. Libbey, Sewall b. Cross
Ruel W. Dutton, Charles H. Davis. w
IL. ii. Ware. James ii. Jones; hall com
mittee J. W. Bangs, cX-offcio. Lewis Sci
bling, s w. Lane; committee on Memo
rial day. }. w. Bangs, cX-oflicio Levi
Sclbing William McDavid, w. Lane
James W. White Geo. +. Gay, Albert y
\ Nichols. Charles +. Nash: finance com
mittee. $. W. Lane Charles f. Nash
William II. Brooks; armorcr Andrew a
Nicholas: sentinel. Michael Hickey.
OFFICERS INSTALLED.