The Maine bugle ... campaign; 1-5 Jan. 1894-Oct. 1898 - Maine.gov

336 THE MAINE BUGLE.
George B. Safford of the Eleventh Maine Infantry Association
was detailed by President Goodwin as toastmaster and officiated
as such gracefully with well chosen words.
Gen. J. P. Cilley responded to the sentiment " The First Maine
Cavalry" with his usual pleasing earnestness. The First Maine,
he said, lost more men during the war than any other cavalry
regiment in the service and was in more fights than any other
regiment. The love of members of the association was strong.
They have expended $5,500 in the publication of the regimental
history and were proud of that history. No other regiment has
its history so grandly written. The annual reunions are of
great interest and enjoyment.
Charles W. Skillings of Company F entertained the audience
in a disquisition upon the " Grand Army Button " and its sig-
nificance. John A. Logan said, "one button for all, regardless of
position or rank."
Hon. C. A. Marston of Skowhegan responded ably to the
" Sons of Maine as Soldiers and Civilians." He knew, he said,
nothing by actual experience of Sons of Maine as soldiers but
their record is made up and it is a bright one. He spoke of
meeting three thousand sons and daughters of Maine in one
grand meeting in California at the annual meeting of the Maine
association, and alluded to Maine's crop of brainy men.
A. C. Drinkwater of Braintree, Mass., graphically related an
incident in the military career of Gen. B. F. Butler, indicating
his methods of punishing traitors and his later efforts, while a
congressman, to alleviate the effect of that punishment upon
the wife and children of the traitor executed in the interest of
law and order in New Orleans.
Letters of regret were read from Governor Cleaves, Senators
Hale and Frye, Congressman Milliken, Gen. C. H. Smith of
Eastport, Major H. C. Hall of Chelsea, Mass. These let-
ters were filled with patriotic sentiments, appreciative of the
work of the veteran soldier and of the First Maine Cavalry.
At the close of the banquet M. F. Ricker moved a vote of
thanks to the local branch of the cavalry association and to cit-