Re-classed 03409 E. S THIRD ANNUAL RE-UNION OF THE FIRST MAINE CAVALRY ASSOCIATION, HELD AT PORTLAND, SEPTEMBER 9, 1874. Members of the Association assembled at Grand Army Hall at 9 o'clock A. M. At 10 o'clock line was formed, and headed by Chandler's Band, they marched to Custom House wharf, where they took the steamer Gazelle for Peaks Island. Precisely at 12 o'clock the Association was called to order by the President, Major GEORGE M. BROWN, and the business meeting was held. Voled, To dispense with reading of records of last annual reunion. Voted, That a Committee, to be composed of one member from each Company, be appointed by the President to nominate candidates for officers of the Association for the ensuing year. Sergeaut Aldrich, Co. A; Sergt. A. C. Strout, Co. B; Lieut. H. C. Libby, Co. C; Sergt. Brown, Co. D; Capt. B. H. Putnam, Co. E; Frank W. True, Co. F; Sergt. Little, Co. G; Sergt. J. W. West, Co. H; Sergt. Jonathan Littlefield, Co. I; Sergt. Wm. M. Herbert, Co. K; Sergt. A. J. Sawyer, Co. L; and Lieut. E. Jordan, Co. M, were appointed as that committee. The following Committee was appointed to report three places from which to select one for the annual re-union in 1875: Gen. J. P. Cilley, Major J. D. Myrick, Capt. C. C. Chase, Sergt. Henry Little and Major B. F. Tucker, and they reported Belfast, Rockland and Skowhegan. Voted, Unanimously, that the next re-union be held at Belfast the first week in September, 1875, the day to be selected by the local Committee having the matter in charge. Two Comrades were reported as deceased since our last reunion, viz: Charles H. Allen of Newport, Me., in March, 1874; Oliver B Littlefield of Portland, Me., in March, 1874. The Committee to nominate candidates for officers of the Association for the ensuing year reported as follows: President-MAJOR S. W. THAXTER, Portland. Vice President-CAPT. J. B. LORING, Thomaston. The report was accepted, and the officers nominated were elected. Voted, That we hereby express our approval of the idea of holding a general re-union of all the Regiments in the State, and that the officers of this Association for the ensuing year, with the addition of Gen. J. P. Cilley, shall constitute a Committee to confer with Committees of other Associations in regard to the same. Major J. D. Myrick, Capt. W. L. Boyd and Capt. Joel Wilson, were appointed a Committee to consider the matter of a suitable Memorial to our deceased Comrades of the Regiment, to be erected by the Association at the State Capitol, Augusta, and to report upon the same at the next annual re-union. At one o'clock, P. M., adjourned. After the adjournment of the business meeting a drill and dress parade were held under command of the field officers present, at the close of which the regiment executed a daring and brilliant charge upon a monster clam bake, and succeeded in securing an immense supply of commissary stores. The balance of the afternoon was spent in social intercourse, fun and story telling, and the Association returned to the city at 5 o'clock. In the evening the Regiment met at Grand Army Hall, where a collation was partaken of. The stage in the rear of the hall was trimmed with flags bearing the names of the battles fought by the regiment-sixty-eight in number-a larger number we believe than any other regiment, regular or volunteer, participated in. On one flag were the names of the departed officers-twenty-three in number. When the tables were ready for the company, the ladies were seated before the doors were opened. Major Paul Chadbourne offered prayer. The President, Major George M. Brown of Boston, acted as Toastmaster. After the inner man had been satisfied "the feast of reason and the flow of soul" commenced. The first toast of the evening was "OUR DEPARTED COMRADES." Responded to by General CILLEY, as follows: Departed Comrades!--Why say departed? Is what we can see and feel alone near us? Are there not a multitude of persons, who come in close contact with us yet are alien to us and separated as far as the South pole is from the North? Are there not others, the sunshine of whose presence has warmed our hearts, and afterwards though wide oceans rolled between, still seemed near to us? They comfort us. With their rich retrospect of association they gild and render our memories and lives brilliant, even as the setting sun when concealed from our view clothes with vermillion and gold, hill-top and clouds-a glory and a promise that shall draw forth the cheerful day from darkness, and shall again touch the East with light. Nothing intrinsically good, if pleasant to us, is ever lost. Only that we abhor and dislike is separated from us. Whatever we assimilate to ourselves becomes ours, and is in fact ourselves. In proportion as it is good and true, it becomes permanent in us as our bones and solid structure. In our regimental life, those, to whose memory speak, touched our lives. In the living body of the gallant First Cavalry, we served as parts and members, as hands and feet, as right and left, as near the head or the foot, but alike useful, in that each part contributed to the perfect whole. Can the foot forget the hand? or the hand forget its brother hand? Tell me ye uncomplaining bearers of empty sleeves, does not the missing arm in dreams and in many frequent moments tingle to its fingers' end, as it was wont to do when your warın blood coursed through all its veins? What is once ours, or in our better selves, is never lost. It remaineth till spirit instead of blood shall clothe it in more beautiful form. My heart refuses to believe or think of our departed comrades as dead, in the full meaning of that terrible word. They live in the purer air of a country purged from a gross national sin. They live in the purpose of a better national life. They live in the glorious hope of a happy commonwealth born of sacrifice and of blood. No gloom shall tinge my speech, no unavailing tear shall dew our eyes. Our gallant dead are not far from us. They surround us and sit with us. What a tower of strength are their very names as they stand before us, piled one upon the other till the arch of this hall walls them from the stars above. The long list of names, beginning with that of Col. Douty, and ending with that of Capt. Heald, mark the history of our regiment from the victory at Aldie to the surrender at Appamattox, and show in letters of blood that our gallant squadrons were led, not urged to triumph. Can we mourn their departure? Enjoying the rich inheritance purchased by their blood, does not the very abundance of our blessings make the price paid priceless? Beyond and above value? Come to the bridal chamber, Death! Come to the mother's, when she feels The groan, the knell, the pall, the bier; And all we know, or dream, or fear Of agony, are thine. But to the hero, when his sword Has won the battle for the free, Thy voice sounds like a prophet's word; And in its hollow tones are heard The thanks of millions yet to be. For thou art Freedom's now, and Fame's, The next regular toast was— "THE WOUNDED AND DISABLED." Responded to by "Dr. S. C. GORDON" of the 13th Maine, as follows: Mr. President and Comrades:-When at six o'clock I received an invitation to be present with you, I did not expect to occupy this position. I only felt thankful that I could be present and participate in a reunion of a Cavalry Regiment that has a record so noble as that of the First Maine. The only reason I could possibly see why I should be invited was, that I participated in a slight degree in accomplishing the same result that all you did. But being called upon by your President so recently, since I sat at the table, I can do this :-One of the things that were always taught infantry—not so much the medical staff as the rank and file-was to be able to repel a charge of cavalry. I simply put myself on my infantry tactics-what little was taught me-and endeavor to repel as far as possible this attack of the First Maine Cavalry, and if I am not able to give you anything as sharp as bayonets it will not wound you. Pres. BROWN. I never attacked the infantry but once, and never want to again. Dr. GORDON. Well, you may be wounded yet if you come into our department. Mr. Chairman, I am happy to say one word in behalf of a portion of the army whose history has never been written except as it is written in our own professional language. Deeds of brave men who are living are written without numbers. Major Generals, Brigadier Generals, Colonels, Lieut. Colonels, Majors, Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants, |