and you know we are admonished to forget the things of the past and let by-gones be by-gones.

I was talking with a gentleman from a neighboring town not long since, and he said the women were exceedingly hard to please. He said no matter what he did his wife would not be pleased with him. He said he took a notion of to sit up late and study, and his wife told him it was useless to burn out oil and he had better come to bed; and he took a notion to go to bed. She soon told him he had better sit up and be storing his mind with useful knowledge. When he was late to his meals she would clear the food away before he came, and when he came in early she would ask him what he was coming round at that time of day for. If this were true of Pittsfield ladies, I fear your humble servant would not be enjoying the sweets of married life. Again, in some of the neighboring towns we hear the expression, "hen-pecked husband." I suppose it is a phrase intended to cast opprobrium upon the fair sex. Here in Pittsfield we never hear of a man, or "hardly ever," who is under that particular form of monarchial rule termed "petticoat government." I believe that this a great thing for us here, for it shows that our ladies are living up to the gospel injunction of old St. Paul, "Wives submit yourselves to your husbands." But, seriously, Mr. President, we thank her sincerely for these gifts. I believe if there is any individual in our whole country who deserves to be honored, it is he who went forth in the hour of our country's peril to save her from disgrace, and to bring about that happy consummation by which we can have one flag floating over our whole country, without a star erased.

Again we thank her, many of us, because we feel that it is an honor not only to those who survive but those who fell. I was not old enough at the time of our great conflict to go into the service, but I had an older brother who enlisted in the First District of Columbia Cavalry, which was afterwards. as we have learned to-night, consolidated with the First Maine. He went forth and threw himself into what I trust future developments will prove were the arms of a grateful country. From the battle of Wilson's Raid we received the report that he was missing. And I assure you that in every family reunion in social life, in scenes of mirth even, we are reminded that one is missing. And I feel, to-night, that I can thank the ladies of Pittsfield for these things, inasmuch as I take them to be tokens of respect for those who fell as well as for those who live. We sincerely thank you, ladies, and I extend to you my hearty wish that the blighting curse of war will never again rob you of your fathers, your brothers, your sons or your husbands.

Capt. HowE:

"THE SECOND CAVALRY DIVISION AND ITS PROUD MEMORIES."

And I call again upon the gallant commander of the glorious old Third Brigade, Gen. SMITH.

RESPONSE BY GEN. SMITH.

Comrades: It seems to me eminently proper that the Second Cavalry Division should be proposed at any meeting of the First Maine Cavalry, which was assigned to that division when it was created and organized, and served prominently with it to the end of the war. For the high esteem in which we were held we should all feel under grateful and pleasant obligations to the organization. And I regret that there is not here, to-night, one of its distinguished commanders to speak for it. How heartily would we welcome that gallant and competent soldier, that sincere, earnest and unselfish friend, David McM. Gregg! He was no sensational soldier. He was devoted to the work in hand without any thought of what would be said of him. He was indeed a soldier and a gentleman, without fear and without reproach. How enthusiastically we would welcome that hero, Gen. George Crook! At first we thought he had rather more courage than discretion, because he was always the advance guard on the march, and he was always in the front and thickest of the fight. But experience has shown that he always had a level head; and since the war he has won his star by hard and effective service on the frontier.

The Second Cavalry Division was always part of the Army of the Potomac, and it was never absent from it. It was the ever watchful eye of that army that never slept. It was often the bulwark behind which that army rested. When a campaign was ended and the army sat down to rest, the Second Cavalry Division marched to some outpost and stood guard. It was always under marching orders, and never waited long for the orders either. No soldier of the Second Cavalry Division could ever wash his shirt with any assurance that he would have time to dry it. He could not sit down to pare his corns without the risk of being surprised half corned. If he had an opportunity to kiss his sweetheart, he might be called away before he had half kissed her.

I have spoken of the Second Cavalry Division and its proud memories. That leads me to follow the division, but I haven't time to do it. Whereever I recall its marches, its campaigns or its battles, I am reminded of its proud memories. But as I think of its proud memories, I also am reminded that they are mingled with sad recollections. If I follow it to St. Mary's Church, there I find that we missed Ellis and Phillips. I follow it to other battle-fields. and I find that we missed Bartlett, Sargent and Collins and Heald and Stayner. and a host of others that I cannot name to-night. Yet there is one of the Second Cavalry Division that I will venture to name particularly. I think many of you will remember him. He was young, he was handsome, he was accomplished. His body was carrying thirteen scars, all received in the war, when in that last campaign Janeway, of the First New Jersey, received his fatal shot. I say that I find the proud memories are mingled with sad ones. We do not care to dwell much more upon them this evening. But we cannot think of the Second Cavalry Division without running through the long

list of names. Who can think of the Second Cavalry Division without thinking of "Dolly" Weir, always in the front, riding about the Division. sticking his horse's head into somebody's tent early in the morning before they wanted to see him. Then running down the list we have Kilpatrick and Crook and Davies. And then we have-O, I cannot stop to go on. The Second Cavalry Division is certainly a most interesting theme for me, and I—yes, I will stop. [Loud cheers and laughter.]

The following letters were read:

Capt. W. S. HOWE

PORTLAND, Aug. 4, 1880.

My Dear Sir: I have received with great pleasure, your favor of the 2d instant, inviting me to the Annual Reunion of the First Maine Cavalry, at Pittsfield, on the 25th instant. I now hope to be present on that occasion, and shall be if I can, without very serious inconvenience.

I well remember this noble regiment; and it will afford me the highest pleasure to meet once again the brave and gallant young men—they were young men nineteen years ago, and they seem young to me now-who went out then so high in heart and full of hope to defend and preserve their native land, and who performed so well all that they had promised or hoped, as to become the observed and praised, not only of friends at home, but of the ablest officers of the Union forces who had the opportunity of witnessing their conduct in the field and in the camp, and also of honored representatives of the armies of foreign lands; and let me say, that I have never heard this regiment spoken of in terms of more just knowledge and discriminating praise than by our great and illustrious captain, to be praised by whom is the highest honor, Gen. U. S. Grant. It never wavered, long may it wave!

Very truly yours,

I. WASHBURN, JR.

FORT LYON, Colorado, Aug. 20, 1880. Comrades: In these days of quick transit, when a thousand miles can be accomplished inside of forty-eight hours, or a continent crossed in a week, your gathering place for this year is not very far away from the plains of Colorado, from whence I write you; but as I have decided that it will be impossible for me to be with you, Pittsfield seems very far away indeed. In June, I had hopes of going east this fall, and counted upon starting early enough to be with you at another Reunion.

It is with keen regrets that I write you now instead of telling you then, how I prize the memories of my connection with our glorious old regiment. When Gen. Smith wrote me he had decided to go and asked me to

join him, it made it seem still harder that I could not say yes. I envy him and you; him, the magnificent reception he will have from his old command and comrades, and you the delight you will have in greeting him after so many years.

For five years I was able to be with you, for four I have been in Colorado; if alive, and I find it possible, I will be with you next year. To all who are present, I send most hearty greetings, and remain, Very truly, your comrade,

G. M. BROWN.

EAST POLAND, Me., Aug. 24, 1880.

To GEN. SMITH, and the old First Cavalry:

Comrades,-Your warning to the annual muster has been received; and you must prick me on the roster as sick and unable to appear. My arms— particularly my Bible and Hymn book-are in good order; and all my equipments are in satisfactory condition. The old white horse, with which you used to be familiar on the tented field, is yet sound and hale at the age of twenty-three. The saddle and bridle of the war still hang by his venerable side; and when he looks towards them, as he does every day, I have no doubt he recalls the times that tried horses' souls. He still paws in the stable-yard and smells the battle from afar. His neck is still clothed with a portion of the old thunder; and he yet starts at the voice of the pistol and cries aha! at the shouting of his patriotic countrymen. He remains a thorough patriot. Had he the ballot, he has sense enough to vote as he fought; and he has no patience with those shallowheaded people—to say no worse of them—who, though born at the North, are ready to put Southern rebels on guard over the Great Republic. His "horse sense" is so genuine that he deems it ruinous to trust the Nation to that section which did its worst to overthrow it. As an animal, he knows that leopards do not so readily change their spots, as to make kittens of them in a moment; and when there is fodder to be distributed, he knows his rights and stubbornly refuses to be "counted out.”

The horse and his rider" both send their greetings to you. They both rejoice to be with you in heart at this time of peace; and though knowing full well that "war is terrible," they both hold themselves in readiness, at the tap of the first drum, should another battle be demanded to save the unity, liberty and grandeur of our common country.

With our sincerest greetings,

and in the name of "man and beast,"

I have the honor to be, comrades,
Your old chaplain,

B. F. TEFFT.

The thanks of the comrades were heartily given to the ladies of Pittsfield for the banquet and their pleasant services thereat; to the Grand Army Post for the use of their hall, and for escort; to the Glee Club for their merry songs during the evening; to the band for their fine music, and last but by no means least, to the resident comrades who served as committee of arrangements.

As an evidence of the merit and interest of the entertainment, it may be stated that the exercises lasted until after one o'clock in the morning, and that scarcely any one present, citizen or soldier, man or woman, left the hall till 12.30 o'clock. And even after the exercises were closed, the comrades seemed disinclined to separate, but gathered together in knots at the Lancey House, and told stories hour after hour. And at daylight they commenced again, and kept up their enjoyment until the trains had separated them for another year, while those whose homes were in the same direction, continued the pleasures of reunion a time longer.

Thus passes into history the ninth annual reunion of the First Maine Cavalry-one of the pleasantest of all its pleasant ones-made especially so by the presence of their beloved and brave commander, Col. Charles H. Smith.