The Somerset reporter., 1907-04-11
Lee Has Surrendered. "

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Tradition has it that some members
of Russell Post, who fought with
GRANTS army in the campaign for the
capture of Richmond, filled with Joy
and patriotism on that Sunday morn
ing, the 9Th of April, 1855, when Lee
made formal surrender to the Union
commander, then and there made a
pact with each other to celebrate the
anniversary of that day so long az
two or more of them should remain
alive. In the years preceding 1859,
before the formation of Chamberlain
Post, the memory Of the great surren-
der was easily kept alive, and it's i'm
portance was often dwelt upon in the
stories told at the camp fires of that
organization during the four years of
its existence. Russell Post was insti-
tuted in December 1883 and in it's
councils the great day which marked
the cessation of important hostilities
was often remembered. Later, about
the year 1885, the First Maine Cavalry
Reunion association was formed,
chiefly of members of the Russell
Post and this society was the first in
Maine to formally celebrate Lees
Surrender, giving banquet and
carrying out an appropriate program
at Hotel Heselton on April 8, of that
year. Since that time the ninth of
April has witnessed a suitable observ-
ance annually and the custom estab
lished by the members of Russell
Post, through the First Maine Caval-
ry Assn, has been taken up by other
veterans organizations until the pres
ent year, from announcements in the
various papers of the state it appears
to have become. almost universal
Throughout the state.
The veterans were never previous
ly called upon to face such a storm on
"Surrender Night" as filled the air
last Tuesday evening. Many of those
who opposed the Rebel armies about
Richmond found the elements too
much for them on this occasion and
of the eighty people who assembled
at the New Skowhegan House, but
about one fourth were veterans of the
war between the states. They were
the hosts of the occasion, however,
bustling about to make the citizens
who had joined with them feel at
home, relating army tales to interest
ed groups, and organizing practical
Jokes at the expense of this and that
member of the party, their activities
M a u n thDir InpN harE
larger than the actual count would
show.
Adiutant Walker ordered the charge
on the dining hall at nine O'Clock and
none were reluctant to avail them
selves of the opportunity to partake
of the excellent supper served by
landlords Tuttle. 1t had been plann-
ed to carry out a program in some
what formal style, with speeches and
songs, but formalities were not popu-
lar and the most of the numbers were
cancelled. The diners listened with
considerable interest to speech
from the chairman, Post Commander
jefferson Savage, while he told of the
organization of Company X, the first
company enlisted from Somerset
county. An element of impress
siveness was lent to Mr.. Savage's
story from the fact that he spoke in
the room where the company met to
organize, in May 1851, the hotel then
being kept by Mr.. Lyford.
The storm was waiting outside TO
meet the banqueters as they turned
their faces homeward at the midnight
hour, and one of the company was
heord To remark that Lee WOuld have
been more considerate of those who
were to celebrate his defeat, had he
deferred his surrender until June.