The independent-reporter., 1910-12-15
COUNTY VETERANS
At SK0WHEGAN
J. w. Fogler Delivers
Address of Welcome
Officers We're Elected for Ensuing
Year.

The fifth anniversary of the Som
erset Veterans Association and La
dies Auxiliary was held in the Court
room, Municipal building, Skowhegan
Friday, December 8. The meeting
tendance, in enthusiasm and in ali
that makes up a patriotic and inspir
ing session. The boys in blue
seemed young again as they gave the
fr&ternal clasp of hand to their COM
rades; the ladies came in large num-
bers to prove their loyalty and sim
cere devotion in expressions of sym
pathy and good will. Never, in the
five years history of this association,
CT one that gave greater satisfaction
and success.
Promptly at the appointed time, Col
e. E. Gould sounded the gavel call
to order and the Adjutant called the
roll of officers, who responded to
their names as follows: Colonel f.
E Gould; Lieutenant Colonel F. H.
Wing Major, Sewell w. Smith; Chap
lain, Cephas Walker Adjutant, S. F.
Emerson; Quartermaster Samuel
Vose.
After singing, What a friend we
have in Jesus the 23rd Psalm was
repeated by the audience and Rev. ].
r. Wilson of Soon offered prayer,
many present joining in the Lords
prayer.
The Adjutant and Quartermaster
submitted their reports for the last
quarter which were accepted.
Comrades F. H. Wing and d. Nj.
Norton were appointed to go to the
station and escort to the hall Depart
ment Commander j. w. Webster and
Past Department Commander w. X.
Dana, who were expected on the in
coming train.
Comrade J. w. Fogler In behalf of
the Veterans, Ladies' Auxiliary and
citizens, gave the address of welcome
which is given below:
On behalf of Russell Post, G. A. R.
and the citizens of Skowhegan, | well
come you here today.
1t Is perhaps not present in our
minds that we are gathered on his
toric ground. Nor are we conscious
perhaps, of echoes that come down to
us from the past, of great deeds done
here in the twilight of our early his
tory. Nor have you, perhaps, for the
moment remembered, comrades, that
as members of the Grand Army of the
hepublic. you were actors in great
drama, some of the early scenes of
which were enacted along the shores
Of our beautiful river. One hundred
and thirtyfiye years ago a little army
was toiling its difficult way up the
courses of this river through an al
most impenetrable wilderness.
On the 30th day of September, 1775,
they passed the carry of Skowhegan
falls, struggling along through the
swift current of waters, and tugging
their heavy batteauX, with almost
superhuman energy, up the steep and
ragged banks of the river. Where now
is the hum of industry and the busy
feet of trade was the deep silence of
the forest, broken only by the dull
roar of the falls. They bivouacked
here for the night The weather was
SO cold that the uniforms of the men,
soaked with water. froze upon their
limbs as they slept before the great
fires built for their protection. From
nere they passed on into the depths
OF the wilderness and the gloom of a
northern winter. And, what they suf-
fered of cold and hunger and priva-
tion and death on that memorable
march of Arnold to Quebec, no ton
que has told and no pen can describe.
On the day corresponding with this
In that year, Arnold, with the brave
remnant of his army, lay before the
walls of Quebec, awaiting the fateful
results of that expedition which, but
for the aintheartedness and coward
Ice of some of his followers, might
have made Canada a part of the
United States, and ended the war of
the Revolution almost before II be.
gan.
We walk about daily over the
ground which echoed to the football
Of these brave and hardy men. We
go about our daily affairs upon the
very scene of their exploits and yet do
not realize the greatness of the events
which have gone before us. We are
even unmindful of the great names
which figured in this historic eXpedi-
ton. When we think Of Aaron Burr,
and his strange and brilliant career
in American history, it is difficult to
associate him with the slender youth,
the son of college president who en-
dured all the hardships and dangers
of this expedition with the strongest
and toughest of men. Nor do we
think of Morgan. afterward major
general and one of the most famous
fighters of the Revolution, the right
hand man of Gen. Greene in his
Southern campaigns, as one of this
heroic company. And we forget, too.
Dearborn, who also became a major
general and afterwards famous as
Jefferson's war secretary. And Ar