Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-06-29

That famous son Of Maine, General
o. o. Howard. the One-armed. the only
living commander Of an army In the
Civil War, was the honored guest OF
the Army and Navy Club Of COnnec-
ticut last Saturday evening at the an
nual banquet at the Pcquot House.
New London. going there from the
BOwdOin commencement. he uellVerol
the principal address OF the evening.
his topic being Some Noted Public
Men and Generals tina. I Knew In the
COS" In the opening he paid warm
tribute to the late James G. Blaine and
spoke of his early life n Augusta. the
opening paragraphs of MS address. as
reported in the Hartford Courant, were
as follows:
The first man of note thar comes into
my mind in view Of my subject is
James G. Blaine. My first distinctive
recollection of Blaine was when l was
stationed at Kennebec Arsenal. Blaine
was then living at Augusta, and the
editor Of the Kennebec Journal. HaV-
ing friends in the regular army MIR.
Blaine soon made himself known to
me after l took command Of the ar
senal. One day l came ever from the
east side of the river to the business
part of Augusta. The Offices of the two
opposing papers. the Kennebec journal
and the New Age. Were side by side.
and each had a balcony Just above the
Easements. The editor of the Age spoke
to Blaine from his balcony just AS
Blaine reached his from the stairway.
He called Blaine to an account In UNI
measured terms for something pub
lished in the Journal. Blaine answered
in his sharpest style and belabored the
democratic editor till he was glad to
flee for shelter. / WAS standing on the
opposite side of the street and heard
the sharp controversy. This con-
troversy 1 recalled with great distinct
ness when Hon. Roscoe COnklin re-
ceived his terrific castiga ton on the
floor Of the House at d later day.
When aroused, no man could easily
meet Blaine in debate and never could
any one bring him to terms by abuse.
Blaine did me many good service
while stationed at the arsenal. AS
speaker of the Maine House he aided
me to get a bill passed by the Legis-
lature which gave to the children with
in the grounds Of the UEited States
Arsenal right to attend the schools
of the city; a right before that time
denied them except by the payment of
tuition. 1t was natural that being of
about the same age our families should
become acquainted the one with the
other, at this early period of 1854 and
1855.
Six years later I was just completing
my four years detail as an instructor
Of the Military Academy in May, 1861
The Civil War as it is now called, was
already upon us and the officers of the
army were separating and taking sides
for and against the United States
General Warren, who had been On
assistant professor with me. had be-
come the lieutenant colonel of the
Duryea Zoaves, and Alexander Nc
DOWell McCOok, a cO-instructOr, had
rushed off to Ohio ard taken the col
onelcy of the First Ohio. Many other
officers had resigned from the army Or
obtained leave of absence. some to go
South and some to abide by the flag.
Day by day we were watching General
Benjamin F. Buffers operations in
Maryland, and the excitement at West
Point ran high. had written the gov
ernor of Maine. Israel Washburn. beg
cling for chance amnl l. the vOlun-
teers. He had replied 20 me that there
was no opening for me as all the Off
GERS were elective.