The Republican journal., 1916-08-31
The Nineteenth Maine.
Annual Reunion of This Famous Regiment
in East Vassalboro.

Annual Reunion of This Famous Regiment
in East Vassalboro.
The 10Th Maine Regiment never met
with a more patriotic reception than it
did Aug. End at East Vassalboro, where
the 44th annual reunion was held. MANY
flags were displayed in the village and
the Grange hall, where the reunion was
held, was handsomely and deliberately dec
Grated with flags, beautiful flowers and
Company banners, as we'll as posters an
nouncing the names of all the battles in
which this famous regiment took part,
The meeting was called to order by
the president, James Phillips of North
Vassalboro, at about 11.45 a. m., and
after prayer by the chaplain, Rev. George
R. Palmer of South Portland, and
word of greeting from Augustus W ash
burn of New Jersey and James w.
White of Augusta, the meeting was ad-
( journed until 1.30 in the afternoon. I'M
mediately following the opening of the
afternoon session the veterans were cor
daily welcomed by George H. Gates. the
| town treasurer. The response was made
by Henry w. Nye of Fort Worth, who
in his remarks gave some very interest
ing facts about his home town.
A letter was read from E. G. Pierce of
| Chicago, announcing the death of his
father, Capt. Elbridge G. Pierce, which
occurred on tae 18th of March, and also
letter from Charles B. Finn, mem
Der of the 10Th Maine, who is president
of the Metropolitan Lumber company in
! Chicago, saying that if any remembered
I him he would be glad to get letters from
all.
Siias Adams, secretary of the assoca-
ton, reported that he had been over the
roster very carefully and as near as ne
could tell there were 127 members of
the regiment now living of the original
company who went out of Bath. Thirty
nine members of the 10Th Maine were
reported present, and twelve visiting
comrades, as follows: James W. Irv-
ing, Mt. Vernon; Albert C. Ballard,
Lynn, Mass. James W. White, Augusta;
Augustus Bradbury, Fairfield; W. l.
Holmes, Fairfield; F. ]. Savage, Fair
field; John Mckay, honorary member;
Charles E. Tobey, Vassalboro; George
W. Goulding, Oakland; P. H. Longley,
Norridgewock; H. E. Merriam, Gardi-
ner. TWenty-one deaths since the last
reunion were reported, two more than
for the year previous.
At noon the ladies of the Grange at
East Vassalboro served a splendid din
ner at handsomely decorated tables, to
which the veterans did full justice, ad-
ding hearty vote of thanks at Its con-
clusion. Several visitors were present,
including j. H. Nye from Fort Worth,
Texas, and another gentleman from
New jersey
| Officers were elected as follows: Presi-
dent, Levi M. Poor, Augusta; vice presi-
dent, Charles NJ Tallman, Richmond:
secretary, Silas Adams, Waterville;
chaplain, George R. Palmer, South Port
land; executive committee. Melville
Smith, Augusta; B. L. Fairbanks, Mount
Vernon; William E. McDavid, Augusta.
Mr.. Poor, the new president, had the
distinction of having been in command
of the smallest company for the longest
period of any officer in the Civil War;
Owing to sickness, absentees, deaths
and wounded soldiers, Co. D. was re-
duced to one man. Mr.. Poor had charge
of this diminutive company from May
9th to June 18th.
| Togus was selected as the place for
the reunion of 1917, the exact date to be
later selected and announced.
The 10Th Maine Regiment was raised
in Knox, Lincoln, Waldo, Sagadahoc,
hSllu6UeC anu OOtilelSeL Inc
organization consisted of 80 officers and
1863 men and they rendeZvoused at Bath
during the first days of August in 1862.
The average age of the men was 20
years.
The regiment arrived in Washington
Aug. 29th, and marched over the long
bridge to Arlington, and there plainly
heard the battle raging at Bull Run and
Chantilly. The regiment marched over to
the east branch into the forts, remaining
there until Sept. 29th, drilling on heavy
artillery. During tnl battle of Chancel-
! lorsville the regiment was guarding the
telegraph wires uniting the two wings of
the army. 1t was in the center of Pick
ett's charge at Gettysburg, losing during
the two days 220 out of 440 men.
At the opening of the campaign under
Gen. Grant May 4, 1864 the regiment
went into that battle with SIG men, and
was engaged in the battles of The Will
derness, Spottsylvania, North Anna
River, Totopotomy, Cold Harbor, Peters,
burg, Jerusalem, Plank Road, Deep Bot
tom, Bailey's Creek. Ream's Station and
Hatcher's Run. 576 men being killed,
wounded and missing, the exact number
| they started in with six months before.
In 1865, with Col. |. D. Starbird in
command, the 10Th Maine Regiment had
the honor Of saving the bridge over the
Appomattox River, known as High
bridge, enabling the Army to cross it
and head off Lees army, which resulted
in his final capture.
During the two years and 10 months
service of the regiment it had received
| 279 men by transfer from the 4th Maine
Regiment, So from The Home Guard
Company and recruits enough to make
up 1850 men, borne upon their rolls dur
ing the war. OF the SO officers who
went out with tne regiment only one is
alive today. Col. j. ", Spaulding Of Bos-
| ton. OF the men there are ABOUT 1876