Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-06-05

teach truthful history and to spread
and sustain the doctrine of equal
rights, universal liberty and justice TO
all.
Third To help the members of the
Grand Army of the Republic and all
honorably discharged Union Soldiers,
Sailors and Marines, to extend aid and
protection to their widows and or
phans, and to honor the memories of
their heroic dead through historical
exercises and the proper observance of
Memorial Day and Union Defenders
Day.
"Fourth:-To aid and assist worthy
ana ptedy members Of our order"
The growth of the order was slow at
first, and it was not until the fall Of
lsS2 that Garfield Camp, No. l was
organized in Watcrville, Maine. This
was the first camp organized in New
England.
From that time on the order grew
rapidly, and on april -, 1853, the
Division Of Maine was permanently
organized with Frank i. Merrill Of
! Auburn as the first commander As
Il temporary measure the country had
| been divided into six Grand Divisions,
the New England States forming the
! First. General Isaac $. Bangs Of
! Waterville, Il prominent Grand Army
man, was Professionally placed in COM
mand, and it was largely due to his
| eXcrtinns that such rapid progress was
! made us to enable Il permanent
! Grand Division to be organized IL
| ptcerlber, 1888, with Frank II. Challis
OF Manchester, n. H., as commander
Some years later, when the order was
| firmly established ana the Grand Divi-
| sions had served their purpose, they
| were abolished.
| The or.ier is now in a flourishing
corditinn throughout the United
| States.
The sons If Veterans Of Maine have
reason to be proud Of the part they
have taken in the upbuilding Of tht
or,:cr. A brief sketch Of the life Of the
founder Of the order cannot fail to bt
Interesting to the readers of thu
Journal.
Major Augustus p. Davis, tho
| founder of the order of Sons of Veter-
ans. was born in Gardiner, Maine
| Nav u, 1872. He was the son OF
| Anthony 6. Davis. and a direct de
scendant of capt. Isaac Davis, who
| fell April 10, 1lI5. at Concord bridge
the first engagement of the ReVoiu'
tionary War.
The boyhood Of Major Davis. up t
| his fourteenth year, was passed II
| Gardiner For the next ten years h'
| followed i sailors life. portion Of th'
| time in the United States navy, leaV'
| ing the same as Il petty officer.
| On the breaking out of the Crlmea'
war he crossed the ocean and as VOL
untcer entered the French naval marin
service. doing duty as q subordinaI
officer. At the close Of that war he re
turned to the merchant service of III
United States. where he continued un
til 1880 when he retired to go into bust
ness with his father in Gardiner.
On the breaking out Of the Civil Wa
| in 1861, he enlisted in one of the frs
regiments recruited from Maine an,
| was soon commissioned captain in tn
| 18th Regiment, Maine Volunteers. Il
| the spring of 1860 he was commissioner
| ma jGr and was EOnOrably mustered on
j Of the service in the fail of that year
! He was several times mentioned il
| general orders for bravery, and wa
considered by his superior officers as ;
cool. intrepid and fearless soldier.
On his retirement from the service h