The Republican journal., 1913-06-12
The Waldo Veterans AssOci7-
ton.

ton.
The June meeting of the Waldo County Vet
eran association was held Thursday, June 5th,
with Honesty Grange in Morrill,. The wealth
er was perfect and 65 we're present. 1t was
voted to hold the next meeting June 26th, at
Silver Harvest Grange hall, Waldo. no
session will be held in July. At noon the ladies
of Morrill, served delicious repast, which was
followed by the usual smoke talk, in which the
veterans fought their battles DER again"
The afternoon session opened with an organ
solo, "Deeds of Valor' by Helen Merriam,
during which the school children marched in,
carrying flags. D. O. Bowen then gave the
following address of welcome.
Mr.. President. Comrades of Waldo County
Veteran Association, Ladies of the G. A. R.:
In behalf of Honesty Grange, IN behalf of the
Comrades of Morrill, and fellow citizens.
bid you cordial heartfelt welcome. For them,
| wish to thank you for the honor you confer
upon us in meeting with us year after year
in the beautiful month of June when all ma
ture is at her best
In the years that have passed we have tried
, to make the day you spend with US so enjoy
able that pleasant memories of it might linger
long in your minds. We greet you again to-
day with the warm handclasp of true comrade-
ship. Comrade Bowen is obliged to extend
his left hand instead of his right. He is one
year older than when You met here before,
and has been told many times the past six
weeks that he ought to have known better
than to be climbing trees. Well Comrades,
don't think shall climb any more trees this
year. but l will say that though OBJ liged to
greet you with my left hand, my heart is the
same and responds to those generous inn
u-bic hind topofhar in clnSa
radeship. 1t is fitting on these occasions that
we hold ir loving remembrance the memory
of those, who have so often met with us in the
past but now have finished their labors and
passed on before:
On the rolling tides of memory comes to US
vision grand
Shimmering over hills and valleys from the
fading battle land
Rising higher, coming nearer. till it seems but
scarce day
Since the gathering hosts assembled and the
armies marched away.
Comrades: That steady tramp that shook the
hills and crmsoned sea and land
Sounding from the Northern lakes to the
banks of the Rio Grande,
Falls now with feeble echo that seems unll Ike
their martial tread,
For the boys who marched in 81 are all grown
old-or dead.
IL Is meet ana proper also lnat Will tHdHk-
full hearts recognize that Divine pow Ter
who has kept US in the hollow of his hand
while the surges of time have beat about our
lives and given US the opportunity OF witness
ing the wonderful achievements of the pre-
sent day. On account of the great celebration
soon to be held on the battle-ground at Gettys-
burg most every one has read over and over
again the history of that titanic struggle, the
charges and counter charges, around Little
Round Top" and Cemetery Hill" The his
torian has depicted best he could the terri
Bile slaughter, the scenes of horror, of agony,
when piles of dead and wounded lay along the
trenches and walls OF the stubbornly contested
field. As | look over this audience l see
comrades who were there, who stood shoulder
to shoulder with those who fell on those days
of death.
But Gettysburg was only one of a thousand
great battles fought in defense of our Union
and Flag. While Gettysburg was being fought.
Vicksburg and Port Hudson. after along siege,
were forced to surrender. Some half dozen
Regiments of Maine boys were there and suf-
fered equal toll of death with those at
Gettysburg. Some of those who returned
from the malarial swamps of Louisiana and
the long siege of Port Hudson here to
day. Comrades, if you could describe some of
the scenes of those days in your own lam
guage it would be of intense interest to this
generation. Like you, my war history could
be briefly told. but if you cared to fill in the
diers life of sacrifice.
was a private in Co. A., 26th Maine, was
with the regiment every day during its service,
which was largely in Louisiana under Gen.
Banks. Our first battle was at Irish Bend, then
on the long march up and down the Bayou's
La Fourche and Teche, back to New Orleans
Baton Rouge and Port Hudson. l was Slightly
wounded at the latter place. 1t would take
me long time to tell you what l saw and ex-
perienced in that strenuous campaign, which
could appeal only to the minds Of those with
like experiences.
Port Hudson surrendered and the 18th Maine
came home and was mustered out, leaving
fifth part of its number under the Southern
sod Next enlisted in the LIST Maine heavy
artillery, was in the fierce fighting at Spottsyl-
vanla, 400 killed and wounded in our regiment.
The men who stood at my right and left in the
front rank were killed, and myself wounded.
After short time in the hospital at Washing
ton, D. c., EaIly made his celebrated attack
on Washington and was sent to help man the
big guns at tort Stevens; there / pointed a "a
FOUNDER siege gun which sent she'll into the
rebels 1900 yards in front This was said to
of the war.
Abraham Lincoln was in the fort daily, and
under fire from rebel sharpshooters A sur
geon was shot through the leg but few feet
from him. Great anxiety was depicted on the
countenances of all the great officials who
CdIHe III lTO1u washington Eally ana MS
army were defeated and driven back, to never
again return to disturb the region about the
Capitol.
rejoined my Regiment at Petersburg. A
comrsde and myself dug hole in the ground
to live in, like the others. We went to the
rear to gather leaves to lie on. While there
rebel bullet pierced him, and lived, only
few feet from him. During the siege of
Petersburg, constantly under fire from mimic
bullet and bursting she'll l was promoted from
corporal to quartermaster sergeant; later
to first or orderly sergeant; later to
a second lieutenant and later still to first
lieutenant. Read the history of the closing
scenes of that great campaign, which led to
the surrender of Gen. Lee at Appomattox, and
you have the concluding part of my service as
a soldier, for was there with the LIST Maine
Heavy Artillery. on the field near the Mclean
hotise and was ready to rejoice with the thou
sands about me in view of the end of the awful
carnage and slaughter, and the prospect of
united country under the Star Spangled Ban
ner. Friends, in giving you this running de-
scription of an old soldiers life during the
Civil War, you must remember that it is but
an epitome of every other soldiers life, with
little variation. Rem. ember. also that have
not described our camp-life, our long, and
often cruel marches, our nights and days on
picket and skirmish line, our feelings before
after the battle. when the roll was called
and our tent mates would no more respond,
days, and perhaps months, in hospital