Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-02
EDITORS TABLE

|ccptamcc, and. obtaining Il leave Of alb
sence fastened at once to Augusta.
Arriving 1T the Maine capital re Tolnr
the following. letter from NJ" Blaine
which lad been rrInaiicd from West
Point:
Augusta, 9th al May, 1861.
My Dc.r Howard: You were
chosen to the command of the Third
Regiment yesterday and public opinion
Is entirely unanimous in favor Of har-
ing You accept the position. Yru wili
10 at ,.ncc notified of Your election
officially The regiment is enlisted Tor
| three years. and will be called into scr
vice u; once. You must hold yourself
ready Ia come 1T Il moments notice.
J understand, the Lieutenant Colonel
is an admirable military man, one that
will be- botl, efficient ami agreeable.
Truly yours, in great haste.
(SianedI BLAINE.
Lieutenant Howard at once forward
ed to Washington his resignation from
the regular army III order that he might
be able {" promptly take up tho now
duties that were before him. of thes,
| days he writes AS follows:
Israel Washburn was governor Of
Maine. He had y large. strong farc.
fun OF Icsolutc purpose. and habitual'v
covered his eyes with glasses Tor near
| sightedness. so hat he did not pre-
possess Il stranger on first approach:
but the instant the Introduction had
passed a wonderful animation seized
him an changed tho whole man. II
| wa; at lh;.: time replctc with patriotic
enthuSiasms and ener2T. and soon held
Va foremost place among the war COVER
norS Of his time.
The next morning after my arrival il
Anguish. tn" governor was earl" in his
Office at the State House. He had
hardly thrown aside his light OvcIcoat
and taken his chair. when a young
man with a brisk. business air opened
! the door and entered without ceremony.
He paid no attention to the governor !:
ioccS" welcome; but, opening his large
eyes i" their fun. Kept mis- mind steadily
upon the matter in hand He said:
"Iou know. governor. I recommended
to YOU and to the Third Regiment Il
v"un" man from the regular army,
! Oliver .. Howard. q lieutenant, teach
| ing AT West Point"
''Oh. yes. He belongs to Maine-to
Leeds; was born there. He was elected.
Will h" accept''
Howard is already on hand" an
swrred the governors visitor. land 1
will bring him NJ and introduce him,
| if YOU are al leisure"
"Ccrtainly Glad lie has come 50
xoon." anl0ered waxhburn. Have
him come up
This energetic visitor was james G..
Blaine one could hardly find Il more
striking character. His figure WAS good
-iitarlv six feet ana we'll proportioned:
his hair. what YOU could see Of it under
his SOFT hat pushed far back. WAS a
Galkish drown. 1t showed the disorder
due 20 .undrv thrlsts of the fingers.
His coGt, q little long. was partially
buttoncd. This. with the collar. shirt
front. ard nccktc. had the neSlfGee air
of n dress never thought of after the
! first adjustment His head vas I,
mode! il size and shape. with a fore
head high and broad, and he had. as
/ you would anticipate in strong face,
a large hose. But the distinguishing
| featurA of his face was that pair of
dark gray eyes, very full and bright
| He W.i1 no beard. had q slight lisp in
speech. with Il clear, penetrating nasal
| tone. He excellcd tho nervous Wash
burn in rapid utterance. Nobody in the
/ Maine House OF Representatives, where
he had bcon for two years and of
which he was now the Speaker. could
match him in a debate. He was. as an
opponent. Sharp. fearless. aggressive.
and urcumpromi>inc: he always had
l,rit ri l.
lage editor and as dobatcr in public
assemblies. blow for blow with ever
increasing momentum. Yet from his
corslrimatc management j" had al
ready become popular. Such was
Blaine AZ thirty years Of age.
When I WAS presented the governor
ar"s" quickly. took my right hand in
both of his and shook it warmly
"Many congratulations. my younG
fric I'd. You regiment is already here
across the way. You must hasten and
help us to get it into shape. At frs
YOU will find the boys little rough
but we've got YOU Il first-rate adJutant
haven't Wc. BlaITC?'
Il think. governor. YOU will have t.
let the Colonel choose his adjutant an'
organize his staff himself" anSwere,
blaine smiling. That reply wi.s helpful
to ne. ard Washburn rejoined:
wei. we'll: all right" adding pleas
antly: Introduce Burt to the colonel
II guess they'll agree. Don't forget.
BE sure. Governor Washburn,"
said, Il shall always respect you
wishes and we will soon be ready 70
the 'front.'
Just 80. Just 50. How ! like the tru
ring. We will put down this rebellio
in short order with this sort of spirit
eli, Blaine"" Thus Washburn ran on
Continued On Page Eighth