Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-07-12
''M|LL|KEN RECT"
HAS new PROMISE
OF GOING ACROSS
Congressman Pc t e rs
Receives Word from
Secretary of War
That They Are Soon
to Be Filled Up and
Have Overseas Serv-
ice - Brief History
of 1st Maine Heavies

The fortunes OF the "Milliken
Regiment" organized and drilled
for six months as list Maine Heavy
Field Artillery" and then converted
into pioneer infantry, have been fol-
lowed with conflicting emotions by
the people of the State, Friends of
both officers and meE have known
Of their anxiety for overseas service
and have sympathized with them in
their tiresome, disheartening wait
ing for the orders that never came
to sail They have been promised,
over and over again, a chance" to
go across, only to be disappointed
and settle down again to study and
drill (without arms) and wait for
someone to take an interest in them
and give them a show.
Governor Milliken, Senators Hale
and Fernald, and others have been
| unceaslng in their endeavors to do
something for this remnant of the
regiment organized for artillery
! cNA 49, ~ Will NC IcCdtltu lfldI InG
Dingley battery Newiston), ma
jority of the Bridgton battery and
about 20 men from each of the
other batteries were cut out Of this
regiment for trench mortar bat
teries While they were at Bruins
WICK shortly after called together
there and CHARTERED at the college
grounds. The remainder of the
regiment. about 100 men, was
shortly sent to Westfield, Mass. and
later TO Charlotte, n c. There they
passed the winter in mud to their
knees. without guns or other fight
ing equipment, Chad never seen a
heid gun with the exception Of one
they made from log and cart
Wheels) There practically every
man had his turn in hospital with
pneumonia, lung. bronchial and
throat diseases. and some cases of
! meningitis.
At Charlotte they received num-
per or false encoura gements on re-
ports that they were to be filled
up to war strength and sent to En-
rope. Then they were sent to Snar-
tanburg early in February. where
! lhey have since remained aIternat-
ing between hope Of service for
winch they enlisted, and disgust ar
their usage
No military body ever had finer
personnel. The 700 was larpeIv
made up Of young professional and
business men. college athletes and
some with more or less military ex-
perlence. Many Of them had broken
up their homes and left Young wives
ana little children to the care Of
others. Promising careers toward
winch all their previous lives had
oeen aiming and working, were
thrown over because thew beliared
Cncle Sam needed them more-and
nee sam mas permitted them TO
rot ana wear out their patience and
enthusiasm for a year unrecopni7ad
While sending across hundreds az
thousands of draftees not one-ter+b
as well fitted in physique. mentalitv
and training.
some or these men have not onlv
ioSt heart but health. but undAr q
new promise of opportunity to do
the part for which thew enlisted
may ne expected to rapidly regain
botn, IN most cases
rms new promise referred to
IS FOUND IN the following letter fron,
congressman John A. Peters ia
bialne 5. Viles of Augusta:
Ellsworth, Maine.
July 10th. 1918.
Hon. Blaine Viles.
Augusta, Maine.
Dear Blaine
me situation of the First N.ina
Heavy Artillery, now the 56tb BIZ
heer infantry, at Spartanburg. s. C..
mas oeeh giving US all great deal
ol concern. l had the opportunitv
TINS spring of going over the n,atter
quite fully with one of the officers
tie was very guarded in his stare Z
ments and militarily correct in his
! atQtude' but from this and other IN
FORMATION received I felt justified
making complaint to the Secretary
OF War, which I did.
called his attention to the fact
mat this was volunteer reeinoane
MADE up Of some Of the best material
IN Name, that it had been the,a
about year and had received very
little useful training. that there was
not gun in the regiment excen+ 5n
rifles that they had stolen, that tbev
had never shot at mark. and that
they We're kicking their heels anyions
for work and for a chance to he If
service. and, in substance, that
thought it crime that this cron If
material, than which there is moth
ing better in the country, should nor
be used 70 good advantage, and
suggested an immediate inspectioo
and investigation Of the circun-
stances.
| am happy to say that I now hava
letter from the Secretary Of War
in which the following paragraphs
occur:
This regiment has been des-
ignated for important overseas
service. 1t is about to be filed
to the maximum authorized
strength and will sail shortly
Full use will be made of the en-
cellent material in this regiment
The conditions you refer to
at this camp will be fully inves-
tigated and any remedial action
that is necessary will be taken"