Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-31

our children up into the State House
on the Hill and walk lingeringly and
lovingly before that array Of battle
flags which makes Maine hearts beat
fast, our eyes moistened, our sight
| dimmed. Battered, torn, shattered
worn, in rags and shreds, but still
hanging together, ringing forth like a
clarion at night, liberty and union for
mankind and America.
| Wonderful are the stories those
grand old flags could tell. superb tile
| lessons they would teach-Devotion
| Spellbound, enraptured. far into the
darkest night would we sit, should a
single one open its bleeding lips and
begin to recount its story Of Names
Part in Matchmaking these United
States and freeing civilization. Many
are the flags there-too many are the
| flags finding repcse elsewhere that are
! as much companions Of those in the
glass cases as East is now of Yves,
and both of South.
| In thinking of the absent battle FLAG
one belonging to the 18th Maine comes
to my mind, and l may be speaking tc
some survivors of the very incident
wish now to relate. You all recall
those eventful days preceding the
Gettysburg campaign when Federal
success was not as far reaching as
hoped for, and you remember far bet
ter than l may CLEAN from history the
anxiety of the hour when Confederate
troops started their invasion of the
North" 1t was in July, 1868. that cir
Cumstances brought the rival forces
together a Gettysbul e-there to take
place the turning point battle of the
whole war
There have been times when Maine
troops and Union soldiers lost stan
cards under as inspiring conditions
but it is saying no word of dispara ge
ment to any other body of soldiers in
any way to say that there has never
been a more heroic or more splendid
llcss of F'lags-not 20 the emmy but tc
posterity.
Confederate forces on July | had
pushed with excessive numbers the
First and Eleventh Corps of the Union
Army outnumbered three to two until
in the middle of the afternoon the
Eleventh Corps vas driven back in dis
order, thus leaving the rear line of the
First Corps exposed. Even now the
First Corps had fought he limit Of
prudence and it could only be saved
from its entangling position by an
heroic sacrifice. This sacrifice came to
the 18th Maine and those soldiers ac-
complished what any Maine troops
would have done. and offered to do at
any time.
Union troops must retreat-Confed-
crate forces must be delayed
l can picture to myself the hurried
march of the boys in blue. swinging
rapidly into position. under circum :
stances calling for the sturdiest of
blood and nerves-kr owing the fate of
the two Army Corps depended on their
doing their duty. The 18th Maine ad-
>ancing when all other Federal regi-
ments were retiring. owing to the tre-
mendous pressure of overwhelming
forces. advance and hold that hill at
any cost" Advancing with the stars
and stripes Of Old Glory-advancing
with the pine tree or the golden shield
in the field blue Of the State from
whence they came-Dirigo-I lead. !
can see those 275 men with Arm lips
true American hearts. sincere Ameri-
can patriotism. driving their sturdy
| limbs, advance into a position Of GER
tain anninilation. confronting a force
OF 10000 men, reinforced by fresh and
vigorous troops. Firing shot after shot
at the enveloping gray lines. keeping
the whole Southern Army at bay
while weary and limping the re-
ip6or 90 ha
see that little line stand fast, unsup-
ported and unaided. now falling gently
back, dealing its deadly blows, now
doomed to positive surrender. l see
the Confederate forces cutting Off their
retreat. and see them hemmed in on
three sides. but still thorn in the f1esl,
engaging the Army Corps Of the
South. I see them fall back along the
ridge they so valiantly defended And
see the moment come when no lon
ger can they offer resistance / hear
| the word spoken and there. enveloped
by the enemy. I see those few re
naming soldiers Of the 18th Maine
rent the stars Of those two priceless
banners In twain. seize those dear old
Flags. tear them into shreds. piece by
piece. and put them in their bosoms
Lost beyond all reclaim-lost but never
gone. Not captured or surrendered
gut still held fast By the soldier bows
who taught to us in those fearful mo.
ments lessons we should never. never
forget.
Carried into Andersonville and the
haunts Of Libby prison. Wrapped in
the bosoms Of Americas fairest-there
tc be stimulus for better times to
ceme-there to be a memento of a
great day in the past. there to be un
folded later as an inspiration to
American manhood and American
ideals. o, too little do we remember
the lessons taught by the comrades
6ead and gone-of this remaining few,
survivors Of struggle that we today
might belong to the grand and won
derful Nation Of these United States.
Grand in extent. wonderful in oppor-
tunity, spotless in reputation. a bright
spot, the bright spot in the world to-
day and the one place which peoples
Of all countries have hocked to better
themselves.
Too seldom does our mind revert to