USA > Maine > Biographical encyclopedia of Maine of the nineteenth century > Part 34
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liquor is sold secretly in violation of law, but in large districts of the State the liquor traffic is nearly or quite unknown where formerly it was carried on like any other trade." Governor Nelson Dingley, Jr., in March, 1874, wrote to the Chicago Advance, that "in more than three fourths of the rural sections open dram-shops are almost unknown, and secret sales comparatively rare. Drinking habits have ceased to be fashionable, and total abstinence has come to be a common virtue, instead of, as formerly, a rare exception." In 1876 Governor Connor said in his annual message to the Legislature : " It is a matter of common knowledge that they (the laws prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors) have been generally enforced, especially in the cities and large towns where the traffic is most persistently attempted to be carried on in defiance of them. The law, as a whole, fairly represents the sentiment of the people. The opposition to it presents, in appearance, a strength which it does not in reality possess." Governors Crosby, Hamlin, and Lot M. Morrill furnish similar testimony.
The vast majority of the Republicans of Maine vigorously uphold the policy of Pro- hibition ; the entire delegation from Maine in the Congress of the United States certified, in 1872, that the consumption of intoxicating liquors in the State was not a fourth of what it was twenty years before, and that the decrease was " largely produced by what is termed prohibitory legislation." The Supervisor of Internal Revenue, Wolcott Hamlin, who was certainly in a position to know whereof he affirmed, also wrote : " I have no hesitation in saying that the beer trade is not more than one per cent of what I remember it to have been, and the trade in distilled liquors is not more than ten per cent of what it was formerly."
These carefully-weighed testimonies, so deeply gratifying to General Dow and to all the friends of humanity, have received the emphatic confirmation of the prosecuting attorneys of the different counties in the State. Several mayors of cities add their witness, that "many persons with the best means of judging, believe that the liquor trade now is not one tenth as large as it was formerly. We do not know that such an opinion is not correct, but we content ourselves with saying that the diminution of the trade is very great, and the favorable effects of the policy of Prohibition are manifest to the most casual observer." In many sections of Maine the sale of liquor is wholly suppressed. Officials speak gleefully of empty jails, inmates of workhouses greatly reduced in number, and of wonderful improvements. In Bangor, where the law was enforced in 1872, the mayor wrote to General Neal Dow, that "the records of our Police Court show only about one fifth the number of cases before it, as compared with last year. For a portion of the year the weekly number of commitments to the station is about the same as the daily was last year." He adds, "The law is being enforced throughout the State as never before, and with wonderful success." The U. S. Census of 1870 exhibits statistics of the same complexion. Thus the number of persons convicted of crime in 1860 is given as
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1215, while in 1870 the number had fallen to 431. So the number of paupers in 1860 was 8946; in 1870 only 4619. The U. S. Census of 1880 exhibited a further gratifying decrease of the dependent and criminal classes. The number of paupers is returned at 32II, and of prisoners at 408.
Even the opponents of the prohibitory law in Maine admit that its influence is, on the whole, " decidedly beneficial in helping to maintain a proper tone of public sentiment." The last unwilling witness to the efficacy of the statute is Mr. Murray, the British Consul, who had repeatedly reported to his Government that "the Maine Law is a failure." This gentleman, in his report for 1875, made the important admission that "as regards the towns and villages there can be no manner of doubt that the law has been nearly success- ful." The clergymen of different denominations, than whom there can be no more com- petent witnesses, unanimously declared that it has been remarkably and beneficently successful. Last of all, the Judiciary Committee of the U. S. House of Representa- tives reported in 1874 to that body, that the effect of prohibitory laws has been greatly to lessen the consumption in all the States having such laws. This, "the committee believe, will be conceded by every candid man living in such States." For these marvellous results General Dow is, under God, largely entitled to the credit.
Nor has the sweep of his influence been confined by any means within purely Ameri- can limits. It compasses civilization ; it penetrates barbarism. Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Iowa, and Kansas prohibit the traffic in all intoxicating liquors. Massa- chusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Georgia, and other States have local-option laws. In Maine, at this present time (1884), the affection of the people for the statute that is the distinguished honor of their State is undiminished-nay, increasing. Its provisions have been made more stringent, and are more rigidly enforced ; while the principle of Prohibition has been made a part of the organic law of the State, in the adoption of a constitutional amendment, by a majority of over forty-seven thousand !
Should the Congressional committee of inquiry into the extent and evils of the liquor traffic ever report, the mind of the American people will be more clearly enlightened as to the destructive character of this social curse. Correspondingly the indignation of citizens generally will be inflamed against it, and Maine prohibitory history repeat itself in most of the United States. Should the amendment to our National Constitution, so strenuously and admirably advocated by U. S. Senator H. W. Blair, ever be adopted, then will the labors of Neal Dow have received National consummation.
The United Kingdom Alliance, which was organized in Great Britain in 1853, received great help in 1857-8, in 1865-6, and again in 1873-4, from the personal and uncompen- sated labors of General Dow in that country. Its specific aim is " the total legislative sup- pression of the traffic in intoxicating beverages." Toward that end it is making swift and
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sure progress. In Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and Canada-all English colo- nies-Neal Dow's name is received and honored as that of one of the greatest philan- thropists and reformers of his day.
At the ripe age of eighty years Christian civilization combines to do him honor. His hoary hairs are a crown of glory, because found in the way of righteousness. What in other cases would be flattery, or at least eulogy, is in his but the simple and unadorned truth. Neal Dow has lived long enough to achieve marvellously much, and not least of his triumphs is that he has trained thousands of other ardent and unselfish spirits to carry his work on to perfect consummation, after he has retired to an everlasting repose.
In the prosecution of his philanthropic and providential work, General Dow has by invitation addressed legislative committees of nearly every Northern State, and popular gatherings in almost every large city of the country, on the subject of Temperance. Since his return from his last sojourn in Great Britain, he has devoted his time and energies almost exclusively to the Temperance cause, giving a splendid illustration of genuine Christian philanthropy. He aims only at what is practical and attainable, and that by the best means.
In 1880 he was made, against his own wishes, the Prohibitionists' candidate for the Presidency of the United States. He himself did all that he consistently could for Garfield. As contributor to the New York Tribune, Independent, and other papers, on various topics, General Dow zealously promotes the great end of his life.
Neal Dow was married on the 10th of January, 1830, to Maria Cornelia Durant May- nard, daughter of John Maynard.
Nine children, of whom four are living, were the fruit of their union. Of these, Louisa married Jacob Benton, ex-member of Congress from New Hampshire ; Emma married William E. Gould, Cashier of the First National Bank in Portland ; Cornelia remains unmarried ; Frederick N., his son, is Collector of the Port of Portland, Maine.
UBBARD, JOHN BARRETT, was born at Hallowell, Maine, February 4, 1837. The Barrett family, from which he derived his middle name, had its representatives in the roll of "embattled farmers" of Concord, who at the outbreak of the War for Independence "fired the shot heard round the world." His mother's father, Oliver Barrett, was born at Concord, Massa- chusetts, October 14, 1764, but removed quite early in life to the town of Dresden, Maine, adjoining the town of Alna, where he married Elizabeth Carleton. They both lived to an advanced age, and reared a large family of children to pursuits of varied usefulness. In
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their later years they changed their residence to Hallowell, near that of their daughter, Mrs. Hubbard. There Mr. Barrett died in December, 1843, and his widow in June, 1865, in the ninety-second year of her age.
The daughter first referred to, Sarah H. Barrett, was born at Dresden, March 4, 1796, and is now (1884) living at her home in Hallowell. In 1825 she married John Hubbard, who, having passed a life of exceptional value and honor in professional labor and in the public service, died February 6, 1869. They had six children, of whom four, two sons and two daughters, grew to maturity.
John Barrett Hubbard was the elder of these sons. He was prepared for college at the Hallowell Academy, entered at Bowdoin in 1853, and graduated with his class in 1857 ranking among its first scholars and being assigned what was known as " English oration' or "first part" in the graduating exercises-a recognition of good scholarship then given to eight or ten in a class of fifty. He was a favorite with his class; a leader in athletics; a representative man among the students in all matters of college interest ; and president dur- ing his Senior year of one of the two undergraduate literary societies. From his early years he had been taught to appreciate two elements of success in life, to which New Eng- land communities attach especial importance-a thorough education, and the self-reliance that arises from self-support.
After graduating he engaged in teaching for about two years ; first at Hallowell, where he had charge of the academy from 1857 to the autumn of 1858, and afterward near Mont- gomery, Alabama, where he taught a private school during a part of 1858 and 1859.
Returning to Maine in the summer of 1859, he commenced the study of law, and soon after became a student at Portland in the office of Mr. Edward Fox, then a prominent lawyer, and afterward distinguished for many years as Judge of the U. S. Court for the Dis- trict of Maine. Here he remained until the following spring, when he resumed teaching, first in charge of the high-school at Salmon Falls, New Hampshire, and next as principal of the high-school at Lynn, Massachusetts. This position, important from the number of pupils and teachers, and a salary larger than generally obtained by instructors at that time, he secured without any special influence, and in competition with many applicants of greater age and experience than himself.
He retained it until October, 1861, when he entered upon that new profession to which he surrendered his plans for a peaceful life, and dedicated life itself. He had been highly successful in the management of his school; had maintained for it an advanced standard of excellence in discipline and study, and had also made considerable progress in the direction of his own chosen profession of the law, to which his leisure hours were con- stantly given. He and his younger brother, who was then fitting himself for the same pro- fession, had some time before decided to unite their fortunes in its practice in the city of New York, to which both looked as their future home. But the stirring scenes of 1861
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appealed to him, then a young man of twenty-four, with irresistible force. Indeed, the appeal was one he did not seek to resist, when once assured that the country had need for the services of her sons.
In the early days of 1861 the impression prevailed at the North that the war would be of short duration, and that no troops would be required beyond the small number then called for by President Lincoln.
The difficulty with which the people of the North were brought to understand that a contest had commenced which would seriously task their strength, is strikingly shown in the Memoirs of General Sherman. In the spring of 1861 he came from Louisiana. "In the South," he says, " the people were earnest, fierce, and angry, and were evidently organ- izing for action ; whereas in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio I saw not the least sign of pre- paration. It certainly looked to me as though the people of the North would tamely submit to a disruption of the Union." Even so late as October, 1861, this great General's sagacious forecast of events varied so widely from the erroneous popular estimate, that he was counted insane and "crazy" for declaring that two hundred thousand troops would be needed to carry the war to the Gulf of Mexico and destroy all armed opposition to the Government in the entire Mississippi Valley.
While the popular impression seemed to have some foundation, and the belief prevailed that there would be a speedy adjustment between North and South, Mr. Hubbard deferred the interruption of his chosen occupation. But in the fall of 1861 the aspect of affairs was changing. Tardily indeed and unwillingly the North recognized her needs; but when they were recognized she found brave sons who were neither tardy nor unwilling to meet them. The time came at last when it was clear that whatever any patriot can owe his country, was then due to the American Republic from her loyal citizens. Those who preferred the claims of family or of business to the claims of country, still devoted themselves to business and to family. But there were others who acknowledged their duty to country as next to their duty to God, and who felt that service to both then pointed in the same direction. They abandoned business without regret. They severed family ties, not without regret, but without hesitation.
Among these men was John B. Hubbard. With characteristic self-reliance he made and acted on his own decision without taking advice from his family. Writing to his father, October 20, 1861, from Lynn, he says that he has been offered and has accepted the position of first lieutenant of a battery then about being raised in Maine in connection with the Twelfth Maine Regiment of Infantry. He states his reasons, admits that the course he is following may to many seem ill-advised, and concludes with the request that no letter shall be written to dissuade, "for I have acted as I thought for the best, and have fully weighed the arguments on both sides."
The position accepted was in the First Maine Battery of Mounted Artillery, under the
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immediate command of Captain Edward F. Thompson, which, with the Twelfth Regiment, under command of Colonel (afterward Brigadier-General) George F. Shepley, was to form part of a force then being raised for General Benjamin F. Butler, designed for an expedi- tion to the extreme South, and which in fact occupied New Orleans in the following spring.
As soon as a substitute could be found to take charge of his school, Mr. Hubbard left Lynn and reported at Portland, where the Maine troops were going into camp. The part- ing from his pupils and friends was marked with testimonials of esteem and presentations of sabre and pistols, which he carried until he entered the battle-field for the last time. He at once engaged in recruiting for his battery throughout the State, and on the 4th of December, 1861, received his commission from Governor Washburn. The battery obtained its full complement of men about the middle of December, was mustered into service December 18, and on the 19th left Camp Butler, near Portland, to rendezvous at Camp Chase, Lowell, Massachusetts, with other troops of the Butler expedition. The departure of the expedition was deferred for a time in consequence of anticipated difficulty with England in connection with the seizure of Mr. Mason and Mr. Slidell, Commissioners from the Confederate States, upon the British steamer Trent, by Captain Wilkes of the U. S. frigate San Jacinto. For this reason, and perhaps also to divert public attention from its actual destination, rumors were current that the expedition would be abandoned or its direction changed.
Finally, on the 6th of February, 1862, the battery embarked on the sailing-ship Idaho, and early on the 9th sailed from Boston Harbor for Ship Island, in Mississippi Sound, whither other portions of the force had preceded it. On the voyage the Idaho encountered severe squalls off Hatteras, and in New Providence Channel, between the Bahama Banks. On the latter occasion the ship lights were deranged, and they narrowly escaped a disas- trous collision. This circumstance illustrated the character of the troops that made our Northern armies, among whom men were always found fitted for any special employment and equal to any crisis. Many of the battery's men had been sailors, and on the first inti- mation of extreme danger the ship's rigging was alive with them, and with their aid she was brought safely through.
The Idaho reached Ship Island March 10, 1862. Lieutenant Hubbard's buoyant temperament had found cause for congratulation in each new situation, yet pleasure in every advance. Despite its lack of natural advantages, he had good words to say even of Ship Island. In a description of the place he admits that it is wholly destitute of vegeta- tion, except at the upper or extreme end, where are some hard pines, swamp-grass, palmet- tos, etc .; that in the windy mornings the sand piles up like snow-drifts in New England ; that the gales carry away their tents even when secured by extra ropes thrown over them like the chains that anchor cabins on high mountains; and that the sea-water has been
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swept across portions of the island with such force as nearly to drown their horses. " How- ever," he writes, "I like the place. It must be very healthy, for its surface being covered with perfectly dry sand no miasma can be generated." Pure fresh water is easily obtained by digging three feet. We shall be very pleasantly and comfortably quartered. I am glad to be once more among so many friends and such stirring scenes."
In the latter part of March General Butler arrived at Ship Island with his staff. Active preparations at once commenced for transporting part of the troops to the main- land. The battery was fully equipped with its guns and horses, and was assigned to a brigade of Maine troops under command of General Shepley. Another, the brigade com- manded by General Williams, who in the following summer met his death at Baton Rouge, embarked on steamers and transports, March 31, and awaited news from the mortar- fleet and frigates, which left Ship Island a week earlier, with the intention of attacking Forts Jackson and St. Philip, on the Mississippi.
It is familiar history how Farragut attacked and passed the forts, and gave the City Council of New Orleans forty-eight hours to decide between surrender and bombardment ; how the Council decided not to resist the occupation of the city ; how the forts capitulated to Commander Porter, while Farragut with the city under his guns compelled its authori- ties to respect the flag of the United States.
On the 5th of April the press of New Orleans had said, "Our only fear is that the Northern invaders may not appear. We have made such extensive preparations to receive them that it were vexatious if their invincible armada escapes the fate we have in store for it."
On the 26th of April Farragut's fleet had passed the tempest of artillery from the forts and was before the city, and the only defence left its populace was the spasmodic rhetoric of their mayor. General Butler with his small force of troops took formal pos- session of the city on the Ist of May, and soon after nearly all the garrison was brought up from Ship Island. The First Maine Battery reached New Orleans May 14, was camped for four days in one of the cotton-presses near the Levee, and was then assigned more per- manent quarters in Tivoli Circle, a small park on the line of St. Charles Street.
Here they remained until the following September, serving, as Lieutenant Hubbard writes, as a terror in esse and a power in posse to check any revolt in the city or attack from without. Rumors of both were frequent, and not groundless.
The city was large, and the force of occupation small. The vigorous but sagacious policy of General Butler had restored perfect order, and checked among the adult popula- tion those open indications of hostility which at first abounded. But it could not change the hearts of the people, devoted as the greater number were to the cause of the youthful Southern Confederacy. The children still shouted " Hurrah for Jeff Davis! hurrah for Beauregard !" The parents still shunned all recognition of old acquaintances now identi
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fied with the Union causc. "Fear, and not returning affection for the Union," writes Lieu -. tenant Hubbard, "is the restraining power. The native-born rich and influential citizens are still bitter in their feelings, and maintain a contemptuous non-intercourse." On one occasion he had received orders to go out with a section of his battery and an infantry support and attack a party of the enemy threatening to cut off the Union pickets on the Opelousas Railroad, but before the detail had left Algiers it was ordered to recross the river. A report had reached the city that General McClellan had been routed in Virginia, and the citizens were so exultant that General Butler gave orders to patrol the city through the night. Another report that McClellan had taken Richmond soon followed, and a great rcaction of feeling was at once observed. "The faces one meets while passing along the streets," writes Lieutenant Hubbard, "arc barometers to show the state of the political atmosphere. They are either greatly depressed or greatly elevated."
There were also repeated rumors of attack from General Lovell, who had been in command at New Orleans when Farragut approached, and General Magruder, who in the summer of 1862 was in command at Camp Moore, across Lake Pontchartrain. Thus the force within the city was kept on the alert. "An order from headquarters," writes Lieu- tenant Hubbard, "sends to us every night two companies of infantry, one of which stands guard inside our encampment, and the other, divided up, takes position as outposts on each of the streets leading into our camp. Any surprise, therefore, is impossible ; and in from six to ten seconds after an alarm we can have two of our guns sweeping the streets with canister, while the other guns will not be long behind."
On the 5th of August occurred the battle of Baton Rouge. The attack was vigor- ously made by General John C. Breckinridge, and was repelled after a fierce contest by the Union troops under Gencral Thomas Williams, aided by gunboats which covered the city's river front. It was near the close of this engagement that General Williams was shot dead by a ball through the heart. An incident following this fight is contained in one of Lieu- tenant Hubbard's letters, which, as it bcars impress of the time and was given him by one of his own command, may excuse a brief digression. General Williams' body had been placed on a small steamer (the Wightman), to be brought to New Orleans. The captain of the Wightman had been a violent Secessionist. A gun was placed on her, and four men of the Maine battery wcre detailed to work the gun during the trips between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. On the downward passage with the body of General Williams, and with a large number of wounded on board, the Wightman met one of our gunboats, the Oneida, going up. The boats were nearly on opposite sides of the river, but the pilot of the Wightman ran her across, and directly into the Oneida. The Wightman sank. The majority of the wounded were saved, though there were many hazardous escapes and many were lost. "One woman was on board and was drowned. She was a woman of the town, and had probably gone up the river as mistress to some officer or soldier; but coming
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down, she did that which many a woman who would have despised her would not have done. During the whole night she was around among our wounded soldiers, and had torn up and used all of her underclothing for bandages. She was engaged thus when the boat sank. Only the wounded and powerless were near her, and so she met her fate."
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