The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-03-11
The Blue and the GRAY.
Waldo County Veterans Addressed by an
Ex-Confederate, who is an Honorary
Member of their Association.

| Grand Army hall never saw more conpenial
or more enthusiastic gathering of the men
who wear the little bronze button, the mem.
bers of their allied bodies and invited friends
than were gathered to do honor to the Waldo
County Veteran Association, Thursday.
March 4th. At the business session in the
morning. President Crockett presiding. 66
members were present. 1t was voted to hold
the next meeting at Frederick Richie Grange
hall, Waldo, Thursday. May 9th. The April
meeting is to be omitted, as usual, because of
the bad travelling at that time of year. seven
comrades were reported as having died since
the last meeting. Joshua W. Black, George
Harding and Samuel Morse of the 26th Maine:
Frederick Adams of the oath; John Jackson,
Frank Rowe and D. A. Bowers of the 4th
Maine
I At noon bountiful dinner was served by
the ladies of Thomas H. Marshall Circle. as
sisted by members of Emma White Barker
Tent and of the Ladies Auxiliary of Camp A,
E. Clark, S. of ", to about 3OO Colonel
Charles E. Williams of Bangor Confederate
veteran, who was made an honorary member
of the association at its last meeting. arrived
| d
ing. After dinner the veterans enjoyed their
usual smoke talk
| The afternoon session was called to order by
President Crockett and Rev. David Bracket
offered prayer, The program was under the
direction of the Circle. and its president Mrs.
Augusta Fletcher, called Mrs Julia A. McKeen,
chairman of the entertainment committee. to
preside, which she did very gracefully After
a piano solo by Miss Helen Ellis, Mayor Robert
F. Dunton, welcomed the veterans, saying that
no other organization III the country was as
worthy of welcome as they He called atten-
tion to the fact that it just so years ago
Lincoln was inaugurated as President for the
second time, land after speaking in fitting terms
of his life and character, read his Gettysburg
address. He said that he doubted not that the
North and South would rally as one man
should the country at this time be drawn into
war with the European powers. There
would be no North, no South, but one flag, as
was demonstrated in the Spanish American
war 16 years ago.
That the remarks of Mayor Dunton were
appreciated by his audience shown by the
close attention given them and the general
and hearty applause at their close.
The response was by Comrade George L.
Merrill of Searsport, who thanked the Ladies'
Circle for their generous hospitality and said
that the veterans always looked forward to
the Belfast meeting with unusual pleasure.
Col. Charles E. Williams was then called up.
on and was greeted with loud applause He
was born in Virginia Feb. %, 1874, and was
educated in the William and Mary College and
the University of Virginia, and when the Civil
War began was attending military academy
He enlisted in the Confederate army and
served until the close of the wal. when he sur
rendered his command to Gen. Joshua L.
Chamberlain of Maine. Col. Williams was in
the first battle of Bull Rum and was with Lees
Army in its greatest engagements. He said
his roommate in college was Massachusetts
boy and they left at the same time, one going
to Washington to join the Union army, the
other to Richmond to join the Confederate
army, little realizing that it would be nearly
five years before they met again except in
opposing lines; but when the over
they shook hands and began their friendship
exactly where it left off in their college
days. Col Williams said he had vs-
tied every State in the Union and that
Maine was the best of them all for home,
and he loved it. A Bangor Yankee had cap
tured him and had since made him happy
home in this grand old State of Maine. Their
son inherited love for both sections of the
country, as he was the son of daughter
of Maine and of veteran of Virginia. He
admonished the Sons of Veterans to be true
to their party principles, but first, last and
always to be loyal to their countrys flag and
be ready to fight for it. He spoke of condi-
tions in this country should it be drawn into
the European war; and said: "If there is
other war shall be too old for active service,
but can at least go in the commissary de-
partment and still be doing service for the old
flag" At the close of his address Col. Will
! liams was given three hearty cheers and a
| tiger. AS he obliged to return to Bangor
! on the 220 train many who would have liked
to shake his hand were unable to do so.
! Mrs, Dora Frisbie and Mrs. Charlotte Nc
Donald with Mrs Albert T. Gay, accompanist,
sang 1.-The Little Bronze Button" Rev. H. B.
| Sellers thanked the veterans for the good fell
lowship extended him and spoke of the sacri-
| tlceS they had made, Inc Time Will come,
he said, "when war will be impossible" Miss
Helen Ellis gave piano solo, ami Mrs. S. A.
Parker followed with very effective render
ing of 1.-THE Slave Boys Race for Freedom"
She was encored and responded with bright
little anecdote Rev. Arthur A. Blair ex-
pressed appreciation of the courtesies extend
ed the clergy by the veterans and spoke of the
sacrifices of those who went to the front and
of those who remained to suffer at home. He
admonished the Sons of Veterans and their al
lies to keep ever green the graves of the G. A.
R. Miss Alice E. Simmons, Daughter Of
Veteran, read effectively, "a Talk of Kings"
and responded with "Grandma Asleep" Geo.
E. White, with Mrs. Albert T. Gay, accompa-
mist, sang a tenor solo and led a chorus in sing
ing "When Johnnie Comes Marching Home"
This completed the program, and the veterans
then in vote of thanks expressed their ap-
probation of what the Circle and Auxiliary
had done for them. Mrs. Fletcher, President
of the Circle, said it was pleasure to do what
they had done and that thanks were unneces.
sary.
A campfire followed, with President Crock