The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1903-08-20
The 26th Maine Regiment
Holds a Reunion in Belfast, Aug. 1ath.


gress when The Journal went to press last
week, and was partially reported in that
issue. The following officers were elected
Pres, 1. A. Conant, Belfast; treasurer, A.
E. Clark, Belfast secretary, D. W. Billings,
Swanville; executive committee, l. A. Con-
ant, D. W. Billings, F. S. Walls. D. o.
Bowen, Ansel WadswOrth; finance commit
tee, j. W. Black, G. W. Morse, E. B. Mad
docks.
Joel Maddocks of Burkettville was made
an honorary member.
The companies reported members present
as follows: A, 6: B, 6; D, 8; F, 4; G, Z; l..
10; K, IA; II, 4; total, IS.
Voted to have the next years reunion in
August
The committee on neurology reported the
following deaths: E. A. Pratt, 70. A, Jud-
son W. Jewett, Co. l, J. B. Getchell. Co. l.
Alonzo B. Twombly, Co. l, Amos l. Brown,
Co. A, James B. Powell, 20. D, James Col
son, Co. d, VIM. H. Roberts, CO. A.
Mayor Small's address of welcome, deliv-
cred in the afternoon, was as follows
FELLOW CITIZENS AND VETERANS OF
THE 10Th MAINE: 1t gives me pleasure IN
behalf of the municipality to welcome you
to our city. We feel honored by your pres
ence here to-day. The pleasure is genuine
after so many years to see so gOOdly num-
Der assembled at this reunion to enjoy and
perpetuate the comradeships formed many
wears ago in the camp, on the march, in the
trenches and upon the battlefield. The
same patriotic spirit which caused you to
shoulder the musket and follow the flag IN
1ol t1,nr .f1nx- 1stil
glows with unabated fervor in your breasts.
The memory of your deeds, your sufferlngs
and the final triumph of the cause for
which you fought must form a pleasing
Renaissance and ever be source OF pride
and satisfaction to you who participated IN
the stirring events of the war OF the Rebel
lion-the results of which have come down
to us fraught with the blessings of peace
and prosperity which the success in arms
toward which you contributed have vouch-
Safed to us. AS years roll on the import
ance and full significance OF your achieve
ments will be more and more appreciated,
and as your ranks grow less serrled your
valOr and patriotism shall be more tenderly
remembered and shall shine with ever in
creasing lustre. The noble part which the
State of Maine took in the suppression OF
the rebellion is a matter OF history and also
a source of pride to every citizen of this
commonwealth. On many important fields
where fighting was most desperate, where
logged determination and indomitable
courage were needed, ''the men from
Name were there-and stayed there.
Many hard fought field and dearly bought
victory was won by their valor. The men
from Maine never retreated in face of foe
where human endurance was possible to
sustain their position, and never caused a
blot on the proud escutcheon of our State,
and never the occasion for tear of shame
to fall over any disaster that could be i'm
puted to cowardice or pusillanimity. The
State of Maine is proud of her wal
record. She sent into the field and into the
navy during the four years of strife by en-
listment and re-enllstment in round
numbers siXty-one thousand men-equal
to her total enrolment in 80. Her gal
liant sons never deviated from the path
of duty. Their patriotism, courage, hard
ihood and intelligence were never sur
passed by any army in the world. Wher-
ever on the pages of history are recorded
deeds of heroism they have been equalled
by the sons of Maine. The brilliant charge
of the six hundred at Balaklava with its
frightful sacrifice of life was more than du-
plicated by the 18th Maine at Spottsylvania
The defence of the pass at Thermopyle by
the Spartan three hundred, position con-
sidered, was equalled In brllllancy and sur
passed in results by the Goth Maine at Lit
tie Round Top. The story of the 18th at
Antietam and the 10th at the Wilderness
and Gettysburg and of the 26th at Irish
Bend and Port Hudson will live in the
annals of the State and be handed down to
future generations as examples OF unSur-
10Th, did well your part towards maintain
ing the prestige of our State in those days
YOUR record No regiment with equal OPP
portunities for distinction has more points
to its credit. Recruited in '62, when the
full significance of the rebellion was gener-
ally comprehended and it had become
known that to go to the front meant serious
encounters with desperate foe and still
more deadly encounters with climate and
disease, the men of the Goth did not hest
tate, but like Cincinnatus and Putnam left
the pillow in the furrow, left the shop,
the factory, the forge, the counting room,
defense of the flag, for which they braved
the perils of the sea and the deadly MAS
ma of swamp and bayou as well as the
bullets of the enemy, which the north had
learned to respect for their courage and gal
liant defense of cause which they deemed
to be Just. The 26th went to the front de-
termined to do their duty and carried out
that determination without wavering and
without complaint. Regiments, like in
diyiduals and cities, have distinct in
dividualty made up from the sum total Of
the temper and character of the units Of
which they are composed; The ga Guard
of Napoleon which could die, but never
surrender, the LIST Me. Cavalry, the I'd, Sd,
4th, 7th, 18th. 10Th and Goth Me. Infantry
were conspicuous for their steadiness and
reliability and to this list of famous Or
carnations should be added the 18th, which
for discipline, for intelligence, endurance
and courage was not surpassed by any other
organization from our State, and we believe
the State of Maine furnished troops second
to none in our own or in any other army
of modern times. With this just trib-
ute to your valor l will pass briefly to the
thought of what this country owes to the
soldier. During the period of its colonial
ton the soldier and his musket were the
most important factors in maintaining the
existence of the cOlOniSt in his new home.
The pillow and the sickle were useless but
for the watchful eye of the soldier and his
unerring bullet. The garrison and the SEN
tinel were of more material value than the
church and the schOOlmaster. Overlooking
granaries and contented herds went down
in ashes, or were driven away by the Turk
ing savage but for his protection. House
and family were marked for the brand and
tomahawk and eternal vigilance coupled
with wholesome fear inspired by the SOL
diery alone furnished adequate security.
The struggles of the revolution against
British oppression and misrule gave birth
to the republic The herOism of the Cont
mental army from Bunker Hill to Yorktown
is familiar to every school boy. The boon
of freedom, of good government, of equal
rights, of free speech, of religious liberty,
of schools, of the protection of life and
property and a high state of civilization
have not only been made possible but have