The Tenth Annual Reunion

OF THE

FIRST MAINE CAVALRY

was held in Dover, Aug. 31, 1881, and was a delightful occasion to all who were fortunate enough to be present.

The Bangor Whig, in its report of the proceedings, says: "One of the most interesting of the military events of the year was the gathering of more than one hundred and twenty-five veterans of the glorious First Maine Cavalry, at Dover and Foxcroft, on Wednesday last, for their annual reunion, and to pay their tribute of affectionate remembrance at the grave of their gallant leader, Col. CALVIN S. DOUTY, who fell in the fatal charge at Aldie.”

Mayo's Hall was decorated and thrown open as headquarters for the veterans who arrived in large numbers during the forenoon, and were hospitably cared for by the local committee and the citizens generally.

At 1.30 P. M., the cavalry-men, wearing their yellow badges, led by Gen. J. P. Cilley and Douty Post, G. A. R., under command of W. Cushing, marched with Dyer's Band to the Academy grounds in Foxcroft, where they formed a hollow square for the presentation of a portrait of Col. Douty by his widow to the Post which bears his name. The estimable lady was escorted to the centre by Col. J. B. Peaks, who, in her behalf, presented the large and handsomely framed, life-size crayon portrait, drawn by Miss Nellie Mann of Bangor, and pronounced a very fine likeness.

In tendering the gift, COL. PEAKS spoke feelingly as follows: Comrades of Douty Post:

In behalf of Mrs. Douty, I am here to present you the likeness of the officer whose name your Post bears-Col. Calvin S. Douty. I can assure you that it is exceedingly gratifying to Mrs. Douty that

those brave men who fought for the Nation's life, now residing in this community, have seen fit to associate themselves into a Post of the Grand Army, and to honor the name of her late husband by naming it Post Douty.

And it is especially pleasant for Mrs. Douty to present you with this memento on an occasion when so many of the comrades of the First Maine Cavalry have gathered from all parts of the State, aye, from all parts of New England, to honor the memory of him whose mortal part lies beneath the sod in yonder cemetery.

Comrades, no woman in this broad land made greater sacrifice for her country than did Mrs. Douty; but I am requested by her to say that the many manifestations of respect which have been shown on the part of his comrades, and especially the comrades of this Post, to the memory of Col. Douty, have been exceedingly pleasant to her, and have assisted in reconciling her to her great affliction; and she presents to you this likness as a slight token of her love for you all.

The portrait was accepted on behalf of the Post in the following eloquent words of HoN. E. A. THOMPSON :

In accepting this beautiful gift, this Post desires me to extend through you to the donor, their heartfelt thanks for this renewed remembrance of Douty Post.

We feel proud of the name that we bear, because it was the name of one of our most honored citizens, and because it is the synonym of honor, loyalty and bravery. We remember, some twenty years ago, when the life of our noble country was in danger, and when our martyred President appealed to the loyalty of the North, that Calvin S. Douty, then in the prime of his manhood, surrounded by all that makes home happy, blest with a noble wife and lovely children, freely offered his services, leaving all he held dear, fully realizing the risks and dangers, and went forth cheerfully to fight the battles of his country. We remember when death cast its shadow across that happy home, once and again removing loved ones; when it seemed as through all his hopes were to be crushed, how he manfully returned to his duty, and there remained with his noble regiment until the sacrifice of his life was demanded.

All of these things are as familiar to us as household words. Today his old comrades in arms come from the East and the West to

grasp each other by the hand in this, his native place, and to visit the last resting place of the dead, made sacred by his dust.

It is useless for me to speak any word of praise for Col. Douty in your presence. You know him as only one comrade can know another. You have seen him in those places that try what stuff men are made of. You were with him when he poured out his blood to consecrate the soil on which only freemen may tread.

You can love him no more than his friends and neighbors. We yield to none in our desire to do him honor. Such men as Col. Douty never die. Their heroic deeds, unquestioned bravery, and unflinching loyalty, are part of the history of our country and will be read so long as the deeds of noble men shall be held worthy of imitation.

Neither, Mrs. Douty, can we forget how much you sacrificed. We know not how many sad, lonely hours come to you, but we do know that you have no regrets that your noble husband followed the line of duty, and gave his life that his country might live. I assure you that you will find no truer friends than those who with your husband braved the dangers of war. We thank you for this likeness of one we loved, and when the last member of this Post shall, alone, be hastening to join the noble band of heroes gone before, it shall be his duty to place this gift among the battle flags and mementoes of war at our State Capitol.

AT COL. DOUTY'S GRAVE.

A most impressive scene followed as the veterans filed past one by one to take the hand of the widow of their fallen commander, and more than one gray bearded veteran of the war was not ashamed of the tears which fell from eyes that had looked unmoved upon the horrors of a score of battle fields, as he gazed upon the life like portrait of his loved commander and pressed the hand of the noble woman who cheered him on to duty.

The procession was then reformed and proceeded, with a large concourse of people, to the Dover Cemetery, where a handsome monument marks the resting place of Col. Douty's honored remains. The people quietly gathered around the monument, Mrs. Douty leaning on the arm of the venerable ex-Vice President Hamlin, and

after a solemn dirge by the band, a most beautiful and touching prayer was offered by Rev. C. A. Plummer.

GEN. J. P. CILLEY, of Rockland, then paid the following earnest and affectionate tribute to the memory of his gallant chief:

It is my regret, as it is your regret, that our distinguished comrade, Major Thaxter, is detained and unable to give the expected tribute to the memory of our honored Col. Douty. I can only say, in filling the gap in our proceedings thus left open, that no more grateful duty could be assigned me.

The eloquent voice of your own townsman, A. G. Lebroke, is to portray his character as a citizen and neieghbor.

The limits of my beat are to recall Col. Douty, the soldier, as we comrades knew him in the field.

At the first approach, this difficulty presents itself before me—to separate the man from the soldier.

We all remember the story of the eminent painter of Rome, around whose studio multitudes of young men gathered, to catch, in some degree, the master's preeminent power of color and effect; who, when asked by a young student how he mixed his colors to produce such beautiful results, replied, with the gruff asperity of old age, "I mix myself with them."

So, neighbors and townsmen of Calvin S. Douty, I can best indicate his character and success as a soldier, by saying that the same sterling man who walked your streets, the same efficient sheriff who executed your laws, the same trustworthy and accurate surveyor who run your lines, mixed with the army blue of military power and directness, made the doughty Colonel, whom we, his soldiers, obeyed and loved.

It was my privilege to command a company in his Battalion, and under his leadership to first hear the hiss of bullet and screech of shell. As I call him to mind, as a Major at Camp Penobscot, in Augusta, in the cold winter of 1861 and 1862, I remember comparing him with the military bearing and proud horsemanship of Maj. Stowell, and the beezy activity of Maj. Allen; but there were traits about him that required the clash of steel to burnish into shining brilliancy. How distinctly do the first experiences of our army life come back to our memory!

I would like to recall other impressions of Maj. Douty during that memorable winter, but it soon passed, and in the muddy March