Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-06-09
The Maine Battleflags.
Bangor Ncws.)

During his Memorial day address at
Pressure Isle. Congressman Powers of
the Fourth Maine district related 4 bit
of history to the assembled veterans
and their friends, which should not be
forgotten. 1t is a happy faculty which
Mr.. Powers has to dig out from the
n!oldy official documents the bright
bits of romance and heroiSm in every
day life, and cast them upon the screen
so they may show up in a pleasing
light. In fact, the manner of telling
lends great charm to the stories. In
stead of leading up to the point and de-
veloping a grand climax, Mr.. Powers
just rOams through his memory and
gives his hearers a glimpse here and
there, and every time he relates Il tale
he story has close application to the
subject ur Ter discussion.
The address at PIesque Isle was
characteristic Of the speaker. Here in
front of him was a group of brave men
veterans of the Civil War. 1t was
needless to descant upon their bravery
ard sacrifice. The story of the war has
been told and sung for years. Every
body admits the forttudc of those WHO
riSked everything for an idea. The de-
sire of the orator was to snow just how
brave the Maine soldiers had been. To
do this and to do it effectively Mr..
Powers compared the Maine troops
with the soldiers who went from other
states. In arriving at his estimate he
related the historical fact that when
the North and South exchanged battle
tiags-the banners captured by the
northern troops returning to the States
where the regiments were mustered iii
at the South, and the flags taken by the
Confederate troops going back to the
northern states. from whence they
ent to the war-when these ex
changes Of the trophies Of victory were
effected it was found that not a single
flag borne by a Maine regiment was
returned. The reason for this was OBJ
vious. No captured flags We're re-
turned to Maine for the very good rea-
son that no Maine regiment lost a sin
gle flag during the entire war.
1t was a splendid tribute paid to
worthy men. The story was told in
happy manner and told at the right
tEIe. Naturally it stirred up the feel
ing of those who heard the remarks to
the highest pitch. Here was Maine, a
small state among giants. Our pOpu-
lation was very sparse. and our incli-
nations TO- war were not marked. But
as Of old, and as today, Maine was
willing to fight for the right. Hence
we sent out more than 10000 men to do
battle for our institutions. a per cent.
greater than any other state in the
Union. There " ere more than thirty
Tn aci-
ments of cavalry, a double regiment or
heavy artillery, and hundreds of men
who went into the navy. These men
went early and stayed long. They
fought bravely. The First Maine cav
airy was in more engagements than
any other regiment that went to the
war, and the First Maine heavy artll-
lery had greater per cent. of losses
than any other regiment that saw
service. These are historical facts
known to everybody. And now Mr..
PAYERS adds another bit of history
which is fully rs important as either Of
the foregoing. In all the fights III
which Maine troops were engaged. not
a single Maine regiment lost its colors
to the enemy. From; the first Bull Kun
to Approximation four weary years OF
blood and death and glOry-eVery
Maine regiment held fast to its stan
lard. and though the foe was deter
mined and frave, even to rashness. the
colors waved above our men in the end.
Among the many happy hits which
Mr. Powers has made during lonS
and busy life, none came so near home
to the hearts of Maine men as did this
una%rned talc Of fact. related to the
people af Il, busy village in ArcostooH
county.