RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AT THE Eighth and Ninth Annual Reunions, HELD AT LEWISTON AND PITTSFIELD. 1879-80. AUGUSTA: SPRAGUE & SON, PRINTERS. THE EIGHTH ANNUAL REUNION Of the First Maine Cavalry, was held in Lewiston, September 2d, 1879, and was equally pleasant with its predecessors. The comrades living at Lewiston and Auburn had worked with a will, and were ably assisted by the citizens of the two cities. The comrades from abroad began to arrive early in the morning, and found themselves cordially welcomed at the several depots by the resident comrades, and long before noon they were enjoying all the pleasures of reunion, which means more to old soldiers than the civilian has any idea of. Headquarters were at the City Hall, which had been kindly tendered the Association by the city, and City Hall and vicinity wore a lively and happy appearance all the forenoon and until half-past three o'clock in the afternoon. There were greetings the most cordial, hand-shakes the most hearty, God-bless-yous the most devout, and inquiries after each others welfare the most sincere and heartfelt. There were comrades there who had not seen each other since the musterout, or even for a longer period, and their greetings might well be hearty. How the old memories welled up; how thoughts went back to the various scenes through which they had passed; how the voice was hushed at the mention of those whom they had seen die in battle or the hospital, or at hearing that this or that loved comrade had died since the war; how the comrades enjoyed the meetings and the greetings, and how fondly they lingered to talk over the old times. They had grown older since they were serving together-some of their heads are now tinged with greysome are beginning to feel the effects of their service in failing health-some have all these years suffered from wounds received or illness incurred in the army-but for the day they were as young as they used to be, and for a day all the anxieties and troubles of life were forgotten, and they were happy and free from care. How the old stories were re-told; how the old jokes repeated; how glorious memories held |