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

360 THE MAINE BUGLE.
the first movement was as follows :
' Movement by battalion, in
eschelon 20 paces! A puzzled look overspread the countenance
of the colonel. He scratched his head, moved uneasily in his
saddle, and slowly repeated the order, ' Movement by battalion,
in eschelon twenty paces.' What in h does he mean? "
A poem was read by Master Hector McLean. Dr. H. H.
Smith responded for the " Ninth Maine." His statement of the
charge on Fort Wagner, Morris Island, by this regiment was
highly complimentary to that organization and very descriptive
of the event. He also gave an account of the part taken, and
losses sustained by the regiment in subsequent engagements.
The doctor stated that by reason of excessive claims of other
organizations, in the past, the boys of the Ninth had almost
been made to believe that they had not fought at all. Be that
as it may, when the doctor was through with them, the applause
which he received was indicative that his eloquence had con-
vinced them that they really had been "in it" after all.
A reading by Miss Nellie Reynolds, entitled, " I marched
with Sherman from Atlanta to the Sea," was very pathetic, and
touched every heart. At its close there were many damp eyes,
especially among the old soldiers. Miss Reynolds was encored
until she returned and responded by reciting " We have drunk
from the same canteen."
The next toast, " The Grand Army of the Republic," was
responded to by Post Department Commander J.Wesley Oilman
of Oakland, who gave a description of the organization from
its inception to the present time, and thought the country could
ill afford to part with its influence, which was always cast for
patriotism, right and justice.
Mrs. Helen DeCamp, an army nurse, gave an interesting
description of transpiring events during the war period, and the
sacrifices made by the mothers of that time, and declared that
if necessary they were as ready now to offer their husbands and
sons for the salvation of the country as they then were. Com-
rade L. A. Albee, being called upon, made talk in advocacy of
the service of the Ninth Maine, and discoursed upon various