Record of Proceedings at the Annual Re-union

who went forth to those fields, who suffered from wounds and from sickness, who suffered in the prisons by night and by day-their story can never be told. And I feel like the reverend pastor, described by the Irish poet who says:

"The broken soldier, kindly bade to stay,

Sat by his fire, and talked the night away,
Wept o'er his wounds, or tales of sorrow done,

Shouldered his crutch and showed how fields were won."

I can appreciate that sentiment as I never appreciated it before as I hear these tales of soldiers whose names are new to me, but whose struggles and whose fields, many of them, are not; for my men helped to dye many and many of those same blood-red fields, of which your General has spoken so eloquently.

And in speaking of one whom you all admire so much and so justly as your citizen, first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of the people of Maine, let me say that my first day in this beautiful town of Brunswick brought to me a strangely suggestive truth. As I conversed with General and ex-Governor Chamberlain, I found that by some peculiar providence we two had been nursed in the same hospital, under the same surgeon, and, for aught I know, had occupied the same cot. Didn't that reveal a bond of union in our hearts that nothing else could equal? For what is there like the struggles and sacrifices of war, where it is allowed to take but one mouthful from the canteen that serves a company? What men look upon the face of the earth are more closely bound together.

Yea, fellow citizens, who may be looking upon these old soldiers, so proudly honored in the State of Maine, you cannot too highly commend and appreciate the service they have rendered. And coming, as I do, from the Peninsular State, if I should essay one sentiment it would be this: The Peninsular State, greeting the Pine Tree State, would take a bough from the pine, typical of her noble men, and weaving a wreath with the fir of the Peninsular State, would place it upon your brows. [Applause.]

PRESIDENT SMITH said:

Comrade Drinkwater wishes to say a few words for the "D. C's,” and more especially in reference to Lieut. Mountfort. I don't acknowledge any "D. C." You are all First Maine Cavalry to me.

COMRADE DRINKWATER said:

Comrades and Ladies: Unexpectedly to me I have been called upon to speak, and the little I have to say will be in regard to the regiment known as the First D. C. Cavalry, that was incorporated into the First Maine Cavalry in the summer or early fall of 1864. And I will say right here that every member of the First D. C. Cavalry feels honored that his regiment was united with the glorious First Maine. This First D. C. Cavalry was raised in Maine. We were mounted in the spring of 1864, most of us only two or three days prior to the great Wilson's raid, and we were sent out in his division, in Cox's brigade, to cut the South Side railroad.

If ever

a green regiment went into a hard trial it was on'that raid. The regiment was in continuous service from that time till after the capture of the Weldon railroad, when they were sent to guard a large amount of cattle for General Grant's army; and it was there that we were almost annihilated by Hampton's Cavalry. They came up on the left of our great army and destroyed almost our regiment. In that regiment was an officer raised in this town, enlisted from this town, and he was an honor to this town. I will relate an anecdote of him that happened at Reams' Station, that succeeded the capture of the Weldon railroad, where we were in continuous action for many days. We were out of ammunition, and a large number of us boys were detailed to go down to City Point and bring ammunition to the ground for our regiment, which was armed with the sixteen-shooting Henry rifle. We had just returned at break of day, and the fires were just started to heat a cup of coffee, when there was a gun, and another, and our pickets came rushing in, and the rebs were coming upon us before we had time to gather up our arms or even mount our horses. Capt. Freese, Lieut. Mountfort and myself ran down across the field, and there was a rebel cavalryman with a seven-shooting rifle very near us. He would drop on his knee and fire, and up and run, and drop and fire again. We three were close together. Capt. Freese was a little mite excited, as I know I was myself, and he said, "Lieut. Mountfort, shoot that damned scoundrel." He had a revolver in his own hand at the time, but hadn't thought to use it. But Lieut. Mountfort, as brave a soldier as ever went forth to battle, dropped on his knee, brought his revolver across his arm, and that reb didn't trouble us any more.

He always declared that he would never. be taken prisoner. On the night of September 17th, if my memory serves me right, when

the regiment was surrounded while they were asleep, and had hardly time to get out of their tents before the rebs were upon them, Lieut. Mountfort rushed out and attempted to rally the men; but they were immediately surrounded, and a rebel officer rode up and demanded his surrender. Mountfort, with nothing but his saber to defend himself with, surrounded by his men, declared he would surrender never, and he died, shot through the heart, on that early morning in September.

He was loved by his company; he was loved for his manhood, and for his soldierly qualities. I have since met the officer who was in command that morning, and I reminded him of the incident, and he remembered it, and spoke of him as a brave officer and said it was a cruel shame for him to die. But such was war.

At that time orders had already been issued for the incorporation of our regiment into the First Maine, and that is why I particularly wanted to speak of the First D. C., because Lieut. Mountfort did not live to serve with the First Maine. He would have been one that every officer and every soldier would have been glad to have associated with. I think every soldier of the District of Columbia Cavalry feels as much honored in being recognized as a member of the First Maine Cavalry as the soldiers who went from Augusta in 1862 with the original First Maine. I will not detain you at this late hour. I did not expect to say anything till a few moments ago. I only wished to contribute a word to the memory of that man whose name should be known to every child in this town, and honored as a patriotic and brave soldier.

The Business Meeting

Was held at 2.30 P. M. on the grounds of Bowdoin College; President Smith in the chair.

A committee, consisting of comrades Loring, Palmer and Bradbury, was appointed to name three towns from which to select the place of reunion for the next year. The places named were Belfast, Bath and Auburn, and the latter place was selected by acclamation.

Voted, That the date of the next reunion be left with the local committee to determine.

The Treasurer's report was read and accepted.

ELEVENTH ANNUAL REUNION FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year.
President-Henry Little of Auburn.

Vice President-Lieut. Henry A. Willis of Thomaston.
Recording Secretary-Lieut. Edward Jordan of Bangor.
Corresponding Secretary-George L. Duston of Auburn,
Treasurer-Gen. J. P. Cilley of Rockland.

J. P. CILLEY, in account with First Maine Cavalry