The Republican journal., 1916-08-24

hold IN check an entire division OF Con-
federates at any cost. How 1t was done
is familiar matter of history. Only an
officer who had the supreme confidence
of his men and devotion stronger than
death could have demanded such a sacri-
flee and have been obeyed without an in
stant's hesitation.
That General Tilden had the love and
veneration of his men was attested in
the spring of 1864 when he made bis SEN
sational escape from Libby Prison
through the famous Rose Tunnel, after
seven months imprisonment and re-
joined his regiment down on the Rapidan
near Cedar Mountain. On the morning
after his return the enlisted men OF his
regiment presented to him magnificent
black horse costing $500 and saddle
and bride costing 500 more.
Colonel Illden was captured a second
time In a battle near the Weldon Rail-
road on August Is, 1864, but made an
other exciting escape on the morning of
August goth, two days after the battle.
Thus he and the men who honored him
fought on and were together in the final
campaign ending at APPROXIMATION, where
the regiment stood in line when the flag
OF truce came in and while the two great
Mclean house enacted the final scene in
the great drama of the Civil war.
Activities as Private Citizen.
AT the close of the war General Tilden
returned to Castine and quietly took up
the pursuits of private citizen, where
he laid them down to go to the front in
1861. He remained in Castine IA wears,
X1Jhi ba
the brick business and later in the gran
lite business. He removed to Hallowell
in 1879 to become secretary of what is
now known as the Halowell Granite
Company
General Illden was always a Repubi-
can but was never active i'll politics.
During his residence in Castine he was
town treasurer for number of years.
He Was also a representative to the leg
lslature and was for a term of years
treasurer of Hancock county. He was
secretary of the Maine Senate for
period of ten years and was inspector
general of the National Guard during
the administrations of Governors Con-
nor and Davis. Had his aspirations
turned IN political direction, undoubt-
eddy he could have had any position with
IN the gift of the people of Maine.
General Tilden was twice married,
first to Julia Osborne of Belfast, who
died in 1872. and again to Lucy Emma
Osborne, a sister of his first wife. At
the time of his death he was treasurer
OF several industrial companies and
president of the Maine League of Loan
and Building Associations. He was a
member of Hancock County Lodge, No.
4, Free and Accepted Masons of Cas-
tine, and past commander of the Loyal
Legion. In religion he was a Univer-
saist.
Having often expressed the wish that
he might live to attend the 50th ami
versary of Gettysburg, this wish was
gratitied, when accompanied by 46 sur
vivors of his regiment who had taken
part in the battle, General Tilden had
the privilege of standing with them so
years afterwards on the identical spot
where the Sixteenth Maine made it's su-
preme sacrifice.
General Tilden was never happier tn an
at the annual reunions of his regiment,
where surrounded by his old comrades
the meeting seemed more like the home
coming of the members of a large family
than anything else. At every point and
under any circumsta ces, either in mill
tary or civil life, his record shows that
he was always actuated by the highest
motives.
Companion Tilden was buried at Cas-
tine in the cemetery where lie the re-
mains OF his ancestors. A second SER
vice was held in that town in the Uni
tartan church on the day following the
service at Hallowell, where he died, and
the building was completely filled by
fr,a L
life. Not only was his memory made
special subject of tribute at the
annual reunion, but his surviving COM
rades will strive to emulate his worthy
example until each has answered the
last roll call, while looking forward
to reunion in the great hereafter