The Republican journal., 1904-06-16
MEMORIAL DAY IN SEARSPORT.

To THE EDITOR OF The JOURNAL:
Through the kindness Of c0mrade OF
McGilvery Post, have received copy of
the Memorial day exercises in Searsport,
for which wish to express my thanks. l
am glad to be remembered as one of the
"bOys" who bore an humble part in the
great struggle from 1876, to which the
town contributed so largely of its loyal
sons. In reading over the list OF citizens
still engaged in their work of devotion to
country and in loving remembrance of
their comrades, am reminded Of the many
deeds of bravery, Of their sufferings and
privations, so long endured and so nobly
| withstoOd during those eventful years.
Each coming year is adding to the great
"Grand Army" which has crossed, and is
still crossing, the "dark river" to the eternal
camp ground. There is no halting in the
procession; but on and on they march in
unbroken column, which is only to cease
its marching when the last comrade takes
his place around the "bivouac of the dead
Sad though these memories be, yet there is
cause for rejoicing in the fact that we have
~ COuubIy GLo1 pC%So t"AN PhooPOAAuJ
prevail throughout this broad land of ours.
The future of our country is made secure,
| with liberty vouchsafed to every individual,
however high or humble he may be; and
our Nation stands to-day the strongest, the
grandest and best on the face of the earth.
All these blessings, which are so manifest
on every hand, are ours to enjoy through
the loyalty and devotion of our soldiers in
war and citizens in peace. Among the
names l notice many comrades from the old
! 4th Maine, the 10Th, Goth, 14th and 9th Bat
terry; and in recalling these grand organiza-
'tions to memory | cannot pass them by
without some alluson to individual mem
bers who stood Ikea wall of rock against the
waves of Rebellion at Fredericksburg, An
tietam, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, the Wild
erness and Port Hudson. Bravely the
boys did their duty and we know there are
heroes among them could their story be told.
The citizens of the town may well feel
proud of Col. McGilvery and his 9th Bat
terry; of Charlie Bckmore, a full major at
the age Of % years; OF how valiantly they
fought at the Devils Den and the Peach
Orchard at Gettysburg; of that modest cit
iZen and brave soldier | will take the lib3r-
ty to name, William b. Sawyer, who when
the colorS went down, rushed out and pick
ed them up and held them aloft when the
staff was shot in pieces in his hands.
while the regiment was engaged in repeil-
ing the charge of Pickett's Division. Eben
Whitcomb, who received fatal wound on
the same bloody field; and another, but
mere boy, Frank E. Whltcomb, who car
red orders at Mobile when the ground be-
meath his feet was hot from the cannonad
ing and the air blue with the smoke of bat
tie There were those who did the duty of
loyal citizens who deserve mention and
whose names we hope to see some day en-
glaved upon marble tablet in some Memo
rial hall of the town; men who gave their
means most liberally-Wm. McGilvery,
Phineas Pendeton, Samuel Curtis, and our
good old citizen, Uncle Eben Sawyer, who
said he had no money to contribute, but
would offer his son upon the altar of his
country and would gladly go himself if his
age would not disbar him. Such loyal
hearts can be found only where the spirit
of patriotism prevails. Nothing like it is
seen unless it be the French citizens at the
siege of Calais in the time of Edward the
Third. Nor can we forget the stirring
speeches Of jeremiah Merithew, Rev.
Stephen Thurston, Gen. Frank S. Nicker-
son, and others who placed country above
party and gave their voices and votes to
put down the rebellion. But | fear | am
presuming too much upon the space in the
good old journal and will now draw this
article to close. Let us be thankful that
the old flag waves over united country
that Truth and Reason are enthroned and
Treason has no abiding place in this bless
ed land of ours, which at last is saved from
disruption by the willing sacrifices of its
citizens. +. B. 3.
Lynn. Mass, June 5, 1904.