Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-06-09
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LOCAL MATTER
THE ARoosTooK WAR.
A Journal Correspondent Recalls oo'"'
interesting "reminiscences.

Editors Kennebec Journal:
One of the old residents OF fast
Readfield was speaking lie" ny
.,nce- of the old musters ana tralhihs
days NJ the State militia. The muster
was IN the ground now USED LOT the
s.me nurpose in Augusta, ana on the
cccasion referred to, Gov. Fairiield re-
,,,.wed the troops. Edward Kent had
met been elected governor for the en-
s,,;ng term and some one called out as
Gov Fairfield drove by, Come John,
cot off that horse and let Edward get
on Gov. Fairfield was fine looking
man and was a commanding figure on
a horse.
This talk about the militia brought
M the subject of the trouble In the
ArOostook region which occurred about
this. time Among those drafted from
the Readneld company were william
III. Dudley. J. A. SanbOrn was captalS
at that time. Many of the military
titles of former residents were acquired
bv serving in the militia. There were
Col. Oliver Bean, Col. John o. Craig
COL. Daniel Craig, Major Jacob Morrill,,
Captain Richard Judkins. Capt. }. a.
Sanborn and many others we might
mention. Muster days were frequent
and large crowds were in attendance,
CAPTAIN SanbOrn was not drafted ana
those. who were were in charge OF COL
onel PhiIbrick of Mt. Vernon. AS
above stated. Mr.. William Dudley Oh
the artillery company was one of those
drafted from the Readfeld company to
ioin the troops that were ordered INTO
inhabitants in their supposed rights to
the land that was being deprived OF It's
valuable forest growth.
AS Mr.. Dudley's business affairs
needed his attention, his father, Ste
phcn Dudley offered to go as his sub
stitute and was accepted. Il never
wanted to go to any place so much i'll
my life" said Mr.. Dudley, "as did to
the Aroostook." The troops We're in
camp for while in Augusta and We're
duartercd n portion of them, for time
on Rine's Hill. A large building was
used for that purpose. The march 10
the ArooStook region was q long one
and was full of incident. Mr.. Dudley
was perhaps the oldest man on the
march but he was full of life and ac-
tiyity. A member of his company
named Caldwell said one day. Mr..
Dudley, you are too old man to go on
n tramp like this" Shortly after this
Mr.. Caldwell in crossing some ice
slipped and fell; Mr.. Dudley was
astride him in an instant and said,
Mr.. Caldwell, you are too old man
to be on Il journey like this" This
was highly rclished by the company.
Unlike Sherman'S March to the
Sea" no great damage was done to the
country through which this army
passed. yet along the way the residents
had reason to remember the passage
of this body of soldiers. 1t created
great interest of course and there were
pIenty of fun loving members in the
ranks to do something to be remem-
bered by those whom they met or came
i'm contact with on the route. Al one
schoolhousn the scholars rushed to
doors and windows to get view of the
unusual sight and Il band of soldiers
seized the schoolmaster and carried
him some distance and plunged nm
into n snow drift to the great amuse-
ment of the scholars.
When near their destination some
teams were met and the troops were
Informed that there was large force
of troops awaiting their arrival and
more were on the march. when an Old
veteran in the lead exclaimed as he
hurried on, ID EN-, let them
comet We can fire lead as fast as they
can" Comfortable quarters were pro-
vided and the State militia enjoyed for
some time all the novelty of an en-
Campment with none of the horrors or
actual warfare. We have Mr.. Dudley
for the authority of the statement that
it was. found after arrival i'll camp
that the cannonballs were of too large
size to be used and more had to be sent
from Headquarters. before the artillery
could be of service.
Life in camp was a pleasant change
and Mr. Dudley said at any time of
night YOU would find some singing.
some playing cards, some smoking and
some broiling pork over Goals. Word
was sent round at one time that the
troops were to be put on an allowance.
While in the commissary department
where the soldiers were drawing "a
tons. Mr,Dudley put his foot under
barrel of crackers and tipped It over
and there was Il scramble for them. L
tell you," said he. Word was re-
ceived from headquarters that the
troops were to have full army rations
and that was the last we heard about
being put on an allowance" In the
meanwhile the famous Webster and
Ashburton treaty was signed. defining
the boundary between the two countries
and giving us the use of certain waters
TO run our logs and the war was over.
But the adventures and experiences
lasted with many to the end of their
days. Mr.. Dudley died in 1862. at the
age of 73.
G A. MACE