The Republican journal., 1906-09-20
VETERANS DAY
At the Maine State Fair. Gems. Cham
berlain and Howard Among the Guests.

/ Del lam duu IluW dtU faliiOLS luC ouCSto.
The greatest gathering of veterans of
| the civil war gotten together in Maine
since the formation of the Grand Army
| of the Republic was held at the Maine
State Fair grounds in Lewiston, Sept.
9Th, it being veterans day at the fair.
| For weeks the preparations for the
event had been in progress and the re-
suit amply justified the expectations of
| the originators of the reunion.
Admission to the fair was free to
every man who wore the Grand Army
button or badge and they came from all
over the State in throngs. A big tent
had been erected on the grounds within
which were set tables for 1000. Promptly
at the hour of noon chairman Charles
! Herbury of Lewiston gave the order to
! let the men into the tent AS they filed
down the long aisles it was frequently
remarked that 1.-The boys are not all
dead yet
The tables were served by the Sons of
Veterans. Shepley camp of Portland
came for the purpose, while the mem
beers of \. c. Pray camp Of Auburn
and Custer camp of Lewiston came out
in full force.
AS Col. F. NJ. Drew of the reception
committee walked up the aisle arm in
arm with Gen. O. O. Howard and Gen.
Joshua L. Cham blain, cheer on cheer
arose from the multitude of threats to
which the distinguished guests bowed
acknowledgements.
Chairman D. B. Stevens called the
members to order and called on Rev. J.
True Crosby of Auburn, who gave an
earnest invocation and then the great
crowd fell to eating. Every arm of the
old service was represented at those Ia
bles and every degree of rank, from the
major general down.
The venerable EX-Gov. Alonzo Garce-
Ion, "a years of age arrived just as the
dinner hour was closing and was greet
ed with cheers.
Department Commander Fred 5.
Walls OF Vinalhaven came in Just after
the dinner and received welcome
| Then came Gen. George II. Nye of
! Boston, who formerly belonged to the
+ 1st, 10th and 10Th regiments.
! The great parade came at 2 o'clock p.
m. The line was led by the LIST Maine
cavalry, headed by its colonel Gen.
Jonathan p. Cilley of Rockland. i. II.
Tobie and {. B. kenney Of this regi-
ment were the mounted aids of Marshal
Col. Nelson Howard of Lewiston.
( Next came the 1st, 10th and 10Th regi-
mental association led by Capt. Emer-
son of Lewiston. He, too, was mount.
ed and had for mounted aids, Murray B.
| Watson and George &. Clifford of Au-
| burn. Edward Sawyer of Auburn was
the color bearer and G. II. Welsh of
| Boston carried the banner of the as
ISOLATION.
Then followed regiment after regi-
ment led by their Old officers in most
cases. Not all the men that sat at the
tables joined in the march as many
were too old and crippled, but fully
1000 men followed Marshal Howard.
On the grandstand and in the presi-
dents box sat the reviewing party, con-
sisting of Gen. Joshua L. Chamber.
lain, Gen. O. 0. Howard and Gen
| Merriam.
AS the long line passed the grand
stand cheer upon cheer arose from
entire line passing into the big tent,
where the speaking was to take place.
| AS the roar of cannon died away Gen.
| G. P. MattockS of Portland arose and
called the assembly to order. He intro
duced Senator VIM. P. Frye who de-
| livered the speech Of welcome.
Other speakers were Gen. Oliver 0.
Howard, Gen. Joshua L. Chamberlain,
Gen. Henry c. Merriam, Richard K.
| Galley, Gen. John T. Richards, Mai.
John D. Anderson, L. C. Bateman, Col.
| Albert W. Bradbury, Frederick S. Walls
and Maj. II. H. Burrage.
In connection with this gathering sew
eral Maine regimental associations held
their annual reunions. The 1st Maine
cavalry, the largest association in Maine
met at the fair grounds and voted to hold
the next reunion at Peaks island. The
following officers were elected: James
W. Bracket, Peaks island, pres; Charles
W. Skillings, Portland, sec-treas: Gen.
J. ?. Cilley of Rockand, cor sec.
The oath and 2Sth Maine regimental as
sociations held joint reunion previous
| to the big dinner of the veterans. They
elected the following officers: Joseph
Hatch of Richmond, pres; George E. Fos-
| ter, Lisbon Falls, W. H. Mckinney,
Emden, vice pres; George R. Foster,
Lisbon Falls, sec. treas; Zephas Walker,
Emden, chaplain.
The 18th Me. regmental association
| had an enthusiastic and well-attended
session at the fair grounds previous to
the soldiers dinner. They elected these
| officers: George T. Jones, Waltham,
Mass, pres; John Haley. Saco, and Frank
Haskell, Lewiston, vice pres; W. H.
Greene, Portland, sec.-treas. They vot-
ed to hold their next reunion at Farm
ington.