The Republican journal., 1909-09-02
The 26th Maine Reunion
Held in Belfast August Goth.

Held in Belfast August 26th.
The 26th Maine Regimental Association held
their annual reunion in Memorial Hall Thurs
day, August 26th. as the guests of Thomas H.
Marshall Post and Circle.
The morning session was called to order by
Secretary H. NJ. Chase of Swanville. On mo-
ton of Comrade Fred S. Walls of Vinalhaven
Comrade J. w. Black of Searsport was chosen
president pro tenn. Comrades John S. Gilmore,
Andrew Hopkins and P S. Staples were made
a committee to nominate officers for the coming
year.
1t was voted to procure memorandum book
in which to keep list of the names of the COM
rades.
A vote of thanks was extended to Mr.. Walls
for relieving the association of its Indebtedness
The committee on nominations reported and
on motion Comrade Morse cast the vote for the
following list of officers President, J. W. Black,
Searsport; vice president, Henry Staples, Bel
fast secretary and treasurer, H. M. Chase,
Swanville; executive committee, D. o. Bowen,
A. l. Conant, ]. W. Nash; finance committee ].
W. Ferguson, L. C. Morse, j. S. Gilmore; COM
mittee on resolutions, D. o. Bowen, F. S. Walls,
Capt. Frederick Barker.
The afternoon session was called to order at
1.30 o'clock by President Black and after few
remarks on the program to follow he called
upon Comrade L. C. Morse of Liberty, who
spoke interestingly of the old feelings. which
were ever new, of the old scenes never to be
forgotten, and of the old faces, after lapse of
40 wears, forgotten. He gave statistics show
ing the small percentage living of the once
strong, young men of the 26th. OF the tour
Morse brothers. two have passed beyond, one
is infirm and the speaker was alone at the re-
union.
The granddaughter of the regiment, Mrs.
Charlotte Thorndike Sibley Hilton OF Chicago,
was greeted with applause as She left her four
little children, waving their Stars and Stripes,
and took her place on the platform. The tears
which dimmed the eyes of the veterans as they
listened to her brief and appropriate remarks
told better than words their love for their
charming adopted granddaughter. She said she
never intended to miss another reunion. A
hush fell upon all as she referred to the late
Capt. Anse Wadsworth. In her opinion the
word grand should be applied only to the
Army of the Republic. She closed by repeat
ing verse of the poem on the G. A. R. by
Dennis Mccarthy, which she said she often
sang as lullaby to her children.
Capt A. E. Clark's remarks were brief but
to the point When he enlisted friend ques-
toned his courage, and he replied that he had
patriotism and love and would use what cour-
age he possessed. 1t mattered not if his pillow
was stick or stone, he was confident he would
come out all right.
Capt Abner W. Fletcher of Burnham, Co. A.,
gave some of the unwritten history of the
26th relating memorable incidents when the
regiment was taking its part in the struggle on
the Mississippi waterways. To those whose
knowledge of the war is based on history
alone, his remarks were a revelation. He
closed with the wish of blissful future for his
comrades.
In response to her number on the program
Mrs James F. McKeen said that Mrs. Hilton
had referred to Dennis McCartys poem,
which she had selected and she would be
pleased to have Mrs Hilton's little daughters
Katherine and Charlotte substituted. Miss
Katherine responded with a piano solo, and
then with her sister sang wearing of the
Green"
Rev C. H. Mckinney of Searsport gave a
brief address on Patriotism, which was pleas
ingly delivered and soundly applauded. He
said he was born four years after the close of
the Civil war. These reunions he believed
gave broader view of the struggle and a
larger sense of patriotism. School teachers
would do well to attend these meetings, that
they might more wildly explain to their
pupils what means. War is the brutal
way of settling disputes, and arbitration the
best. Children should be present at the Me-
mortal Day exercises. Arbitration is the
American principle. He grew to honor more
and more the G. A. r. They had one other
greae foe to meet and he hoped they would
meet that day with courage and the end be
peace.
Conrade Morse said that to this regiment,
to F. S. Walls as commander and himself as
patriotic instructor, belonged the honor of
placing the flags over the school buildings. He
repeated with fine effect the pledge to the
flag.
j. w DidCh SPOKE VI lHS lHIluGIce Ol CHllu-
rem on the G. A. R.
D. 0. Bowen of Morrill, spoke as member of
the 26th who had shared it's every day exis-
tence, and compared its history with that of
other regiments. 1t saw only months service
but lost 16S of its $50 men, endured severe
hardships, contracted malaria, sacrificed
health, and many returned crippled and dis
abled for life. He commended the policy of
preparing for war in time of peace by the con-
struction of new battleships and the main
tenance of standing armies.
The committee on resolutions reported as
follows:
Whereas, Since the last annual meeting, in
the usual course of Nature, and by an irrevo-
cable decree of Divine Providence, Death has
entered ranks and taken away from our
midst the following Comrades, viz VIM. H.
Nash, Hiram Clark Ira Smith, Geo. S. Kim
ball, Lewis B. Morse, Albert S. Nickerson,
Nahum S. Piper VIM. F. Brown and Daniel
Dolloff, and while we mourn not as those with
out hope, yet we sincerely miss them from
these annual meetings; and whereas we wish
to give expression to our feelings at this time,
in regard to this separation; therefore, be it
Resolved, That we strive to emulate what
ever was good in their lives, and remember to
keep before the present generation the sacrif-
ces they made in defence of our country and
flag.
Resolved, That we sympathize with the
relatives and friends of the deceased and cnm-