USA > Maine > History of the Seventh Maine Light Battery, volunteers in the great rebellion also, personal sketches of a large number of members, portraits, illustrations and poems > Part 11
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Augusta, Me.
II. G. Mason
West Bethel, Me.
A. B. Merrill
Bangor, Me.
C. M. Bixby
Chicopee, Mass.
J. E. Benner
Waldoboro, Me.
C. G. Kenney
Portland, Me.
D. H. Merrill .
Saco, Me.
Frank S. Wade
So. Norridgewock, Me.
Isaac F. Lapham
Litchfield, Me.
Albert Billings
Portland, Mc.
. R. M. Berry
Unity, Me.
William Hamilton
Unity, Me.
Howard P. Todd
Lyndon, Me.
Austin F. Twitchell.
Portland, Me.
C. C. Dalton
Cambridgeport, Mass.
F. C. Fuller
Somerville, Mass.
E. P. Whitney
Boston, Mass.
H. E. Hale
So. Norridgewock, Me.
C. O. Randall
Orono, Me.
A. S. Chapman
Bethel, Me.
Joseph Lapham
So. Auburn, Me.
Ivory C. Hanson . Orrin R. LeGrow
Portland, Me.
A. J. Woodbury
Charlestown, Mass.
John G. Preble
Woodstock, Me.
James E. Dudley .
Easton, Me.
R. S. Hysom
East Boothbay, Me.
Samuel Taylor
West Poland, Me.
Rumford, Me.
Rufus V. Farnum Charles Stewart . Alexander Boyd
Gardiner, Me.
Oscar Blunt
Thomaston, Me.
G. W. Marston Albus T. Field
No. Boothbay, Me.
Pittston, Me. .
Hartland, Me.
Auburn, Me.
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BRIEF SKETCH OF THE ASSOCIATION.
Geo. H. Blake .
Portland, Me.
John Goudy
Bristol, Me.
J. L. Bennett
East Hiram, Me.
Loring C. Simpson Alna, Me.
Ezra Ridlon, Jr. Woodstock, Me.
Wm. M. Hobbs
Norridgewock, Me.
J. H. Dunham .
No. Paris, Me.
Aaron A. Merrill .
Pine Point, Me.
A. C. Gurney
Gorham, N. H.
Wm. H. Thompson
Anburn, Me.
Chas. A. N. Waterman
. Litchfield Cor., Me.
The next meeting was held at Maranacook, Sept. 9, 1886, at which time twenty-two members were present. President A. S. Twitchell presided, and all the officers elected the year before were unanimously re-elected. This was a most enjoyable meet- ing, all present taking dinner together upon the grounds, and having a picture taken of all in a group. The annual en- campment of the G. A. R., Department of Maine, was held on the grounds the same day; and at the close of their meeting we were all. invited to the grand stand, where a social meeting of the Department was being held, and where Lieut. Staples and Sergt. Twitchell being called upon, briefly responded. This was the last time Lieut. Staples ever met with us ; and being then on his way home from a Western trip, though tired, he was full of courage and hope, and his presence was an inspiration to us all.
Sept. 7, 1877, twenty-four of the members met at Lewiston, Me., the meeting being held in the office of the Maine Farmer, on the State Fair Grounds, it being also during Fair week. The President, Vice-President and Secretary being absent, the meet- ing was called to order by the Treasurer, O. R. LeGrow, A. B. Merrill acting as Secretary. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year :--
President Orrin R. LeGrow, Portland.
Secretary .
Alonzo B. Merrill, Bangor.
Treasurer Warren O. Carney, Portland.
244
SEVENTH MAINE LIGHT BATTERY.
Executive Committee.
A. B. Merrill. Bangor, Il. E. Hale, Norridgewock,
W. O. Carney, Portland, A. S. Twitchell, Gorham, N. H., L. F. Jones, Andover.
A.S. Twitchell, Albert Towle and W. B. Lapham were appointed a committee to draw resolutions on the death of Lient. Daniel Staples, whose death had occurred since the last meeting of the Association.
Letters regretting their inability to be present were read from B. F. Berry of Wyandotte, Kan., and A. S. Twitchell of Gorham, N. H.
Sept. 12, 1888, the Association again met at Lewiston, and on the Fair Grounds. es before, during Fair week. The day was so wet that the tent could not be prudently used, and this meet- ing was therefore held in a room under the grand stand. President O. R. LeGrow called to order, and the matter of the Battery history was earnestly discussed, as the most important thing before the meeting. No progress was reported; and after a full discussion, it was voted to ask Comrade A. S. Twitchell, who was not present at the time, but who arrived after the close of this meeting, to write the history, and if possible ensure its accomplishment. The following resolution was also passed :-
Resolred, That it shall be the duty of each member to notify the Secretary of the Association of the death of any member that may come to bis knowledge. with a statement of the cause, so far as it can be learned.
There were twenty-seven members present at this meeting. and all the officers of the preceding year were unanimously re- elected.
.
The next annual meeting was held at Camp Benson, New- port, Me., Aug. 14, 1889, nineteen members being present. The President, O. R. LeGrow, having died during the year, II. E. Hale, of the Executive Committee, called to order. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year : -
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245
BRIEF SKETCH OF THE ASSOCIATION.
President .
Herbert E. Hale.
Vice-President
Augustus Bradbury.
Secretary
A. B. Merrill.
Executive Committee.
W. O. Carney.
A. B. Merrill.
Thos. S. Simms.
A. S. Chapman.
Elias A. Lothrop.
From a report of the Secretary, it was learned that of the ยท whole number who were enlisted in the Battery, 154 were then known to be living ; and their addresses were on the Secretary's book. Sixty-two were known or reported to have died, making nearly all accounted for, through the diligence, mostly, of the Secretary, Comrade Merrill, in his efforts to aid the Historian in his work.
The death of the President was deeply felt, as he had been one of the most constant members at our annual meetings, and was greatly beloved by all. Comrades A. S. Chapman, A. B. Merrill and E. A. Lothrop were appointed a committee to draft appropriate resolutions upon his death ; and the following were presented and unanimously adopted : -
WHEREAS, It has pleased God to call from this world our dear Comrade and President, Orrin R. LeGrow, late member of the Seventh Maine Battery Association; therefore,
Resolved, That we, the surviving members, do fully sympathize with his widow in her bereavement.
That we, here assembled at our annual meeting, fully realize our loss individually, and pray that God in his merey will sustain the widow and prepare us all to meet him in that land where there are neither wars nor partings.
That a copy of these resolutions be placed on the minutes of this meeting, and a copy sent to Mrs. O. R. LeGrow, Portland, Me.
In view of the prospect (at that time) that the next National Encampment of the G. A. R. would meet in Boston. Mass., Comrades James S. Lowell, Frederick Fuller and C. C.
246
SEVENTH MAINE LIGHT BATTERY.
Dalton were appointed a committee to provide quarters for the Association in Boston, where it was decided to meet in 1890 ; and every known member of the Battery was to be notified and urged to be present.
At this meeting it was also voted that an annual due of $1.00 should be collected of each member, and that the payment of that sum, annually, should be the requisite for membership in the Association.
In conformity with the action of this meeting at Newport, 39 of the members met at 28 Broad street, Boston, the place provided by the committee, on the 13th day of August, 1890, in the forenoon. It was a most enjoyable meeting, as there were many present who had never before met since the muster-out at Augusta in 1865: Comrade B. F. Berry coming from Kansas City, Kansas, and John T. Savage from Rockford, Ill. I am not able to find any record of this meeting, except the register which was kept, giving the names of those present. Officers were elected for the ensuing year, the subject of the history and of the Association badge earnestly discussed ; and the Historian, who was present, was able to report progress in both matters. and to obtain much new material for the work. After the adjournment of this meeting, a few returned in the afternoon for a social meeting, and were exceedingly pleased to find Capt. A. B. Twitchell, now of Newark, N. J., and Orderly Sergt. O. J. Pierce of Chicago, Ill., who had arrived, but too late to be present at the annual business meeting. This was the first of their meeting with any considerable number of the members of the Battery since the war; and the warm, heartfelt greeting given to these officers made the occasion one of great enjoy- ment, which will long be remembered by all who were fortunately present.
The following is the list of those present and who were registered at this meeting in Boston : -
247
BRIEF SKETCH OF THE ASSOCIATION.
1. B. Twitchell.
W. B. Lapham.
O. J. Pierce.
A. S. Twitchell.
C. M. Bixby.
Il. E. Hale.
Geo. W. Churchill.
C. C. Dalton.
E. A. Lothrop.
Win. II. Thompson.
. Wm. Martin.
Samuel Y. Reed.
Harvey H. Webber.
R. S. Hysom.
E. T. Harden.
Frank S. Wade.
: W. E. Stevens.
Andrew J. Woodbury.
Henry H. Goudy.
C. G. Kenney.
Charles Stewart.
C. V. Richards.
John Goudy.
Stanley C. Allev.
F. C. Fuller.
Edward P. Whiting.
Levi F. Towle, Jr.
David R. Pierce.
J. S. Field.
James S. Lowell.
B. F. Berry.
Joseph W. Bean.
John T. Savage.
H. G. Mason.
J. H. Anthoine.
J. E. Dudley.
Joseph T. Merrill.
Augustus Bradbury.
Archie S. Cole.
There were also several others in the city and at our head- quarters, who failed to register.
The next and last annual meeting prior to this publica- tion was held at Skowhegan, Me., Sept. 15, 1891, at which time nineteen members were present. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year : -
Wm. B. Lapham
President.
II. E. Hall
Vice- President.
Frank S. Wade
Secretary.
W. O. Carney
Treasurer. 2
C. V. Richards
Rufus V. Farnum G. F. McDaniel
Executice Committee.
Comrade A. B. Merrill, the secretary for several preced- ing years, was reported very feeble and unable longer to attend to the duties. A vote of thanks was unanimously passed for his valuable services while holding the office, and much sym-
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SEVENTH MAINE LIGHT BATTERY.
pathy was expressed for him. It was also voted that the next annual meeting be held at Augusta, Me., at such time as the Executive Committee should select.
In the evening a grand banquet was served, to which the members were invited. Comrade C. V. Richards read the original poem, which is herein published, by his permission.
All our meetings since the organization of our Association have been greatly enjoyed by all who have attended; and while there are enough left to meet annually. they should not be forgotten : for we cannot call the roll too often to keep us in line with each other while fighting life's battles. We are scattered from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Lakes to the Gilt; but our hearts beat in unison as when we together listened to the whistling minnie balls and the bursting shells.
Every year adds to our death-roll, and brings those of us who are spared nearer and nearer together as we ap- proach the close of service. Some of those who have been most constantly with us have crossed over, and we miss them as we gather around our camp-fires. Comrade Merrill, who was so deeply interested in our work, and who labored so hard to obtain the personal history of all the Battery members, has been taken since our last meeting. He died at his home in Bangor, March 24, 1892, suffering severely, but patient to the end.
He took great interest in our history, being of great help: and the last thoughts which he was able to express seemed to be concerning it and his comrades, whom he loved next to his immediate family and his God. Ilis is the last death reported prior to publication. Who will be the next? is a question none of us can answer; but as one by one we drop out, this Company increases on the other side. And let ns hope for that grand re-union where there is neither war nor rumor of war, but where all is peace and love.
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