General Lafayette in Maine Vol 2 page 206 206 SPRAGUE'S JOURNAL OF MAINE HISTORY General Lafayette in Maine The following is from the old Maine Historical and Genealogical, Recorder (Vol. 4-NO. 4), now Out of print. The Editor in a foot note said: "We have gathered the above sketch of LaFayette"s visit to Maine, from the local papers of that time, which chronicled the incidents as they occured. We have heard our grand-parents recite the story of the General's visit to their town with so much interest that we ventured to publish the narrative anew, hoping it may not be entirely without interest to our readers at this time, though we regret that our space will not allow a reprint of some, at least of the excellent and patriotic speeches, and toasts brought out by this occasion." General Lafayette visited this country four times. He landed first in South Carolina, April 24, 1777, was commissioned as Major- General in the United States Army, July 31, the same year. He returned to France, embarking from Boston in June, 1779. He recrossed the Atlantic, landing in Boston, May 11, 1780, returning to his home at the close of the campaign. In 1784, at the invitation of Washington, he again visited the United States, landing at New York, August 4, but returned to France the following December. President Monroe, by a resolution of Congress, invited La- Fayette once more to this country. It was not until the General's fourth and last visit that he came east of Massachusetts, and at this time, accompanied by his son, George Washington, and another member of his family, Mons La Vasseur, he visited each of the twenty-four states and many of the principal cities. Although he arrived on this occasion at New York, August 15, 1824, he did not reach the State of Maine until nearly a year later. LaFayette, on his way to Maine, passed the night of June 23, 1825, in Dover, N. H. On the evening of that day, a committee of citizens of South Berwick waited on 'him and invited him to breaf- fast with them the next morning, which invitation he accepted. At 8 o'clock on the morning of the 24th he arrived at the bridge which is on the boundary line of the States, to which place he was escorted by a Committee of the New Hampshire Legislature, and given in charge of Colonels Dunlap and Emery, the Aids of Governor Parris. On the line of the State, under a civic arch of evergreens festooned with oak leaves and adorned with roses, Colonel Dunlap, in an appropriate ad-dress welcomed him to the State of Maine, to 2o8 SPRAGUE'S JOURNAL OF MAINE HISTORY nounced as the "Nation's Guest," by Colonel Emery, one of the Govern-or's Aids. The General was addressed by Ether Shepley, Esquire, chairman of the Committee, and he replied in his usual happy manner. He, was then escorted to Cleaves' Hot-el in Saco, by a numerous cavalcade under the direction of Colonel George Thatcher, Chief Marshal of the day, and his Aids. The procession proceeded through the principal streets of the towns,-across the bridge over the Saco was erected an elegant arch bearing the motto, "WELCOME LAFAYETTE,'" and on. one column, "YORK- TOWN 17-19 OCT. 178I," and on the other, "VERSAILLES 5-6, OCT. 1789," while the sides of the bridge were tastefully decorated with evergreens. Across the second bridge at the foot of Cutts' Island, was also erected another arch on which was the following line taken from a French play and applied in the original to La- Fayette,-"j' ADMIRE LA PRUDENCE, ET J' AIME SON COURAGE." Near the stone building in Main street, another ele- gant arch was thrown across bearing the following inscription, "THEN I WILL EQUIP ONE MYSELF," at the sight of which the General was visibly affected. At one point in the procession he was greeted with the simple and affectionate welcome of the school children of both towns, the girls %dressed in white and the boys wearing a badge on which was inscribed, "WELCOME LA- FAYETTE." The General appeared much pleased and received their salutations with evident emotion. The sides of the streets were thronged with citizens anxious to testify their joy and grati- tude by loud and repeated huzzas. At the hotel a great number of gentlemen were introduced, among them many revolutionary sol- diers, and some who belonged to the General's Light Infantry. This scene was interesting beyond description. It was impossible for many to suppress the rising tear. From Cleaves' Hotel, he was escorted to the house of Captain Seth Spring in Biddeford, who was a soldier of the revolution, and in the battle of Bunker Hill. After partaking of refreshments and, tarrying until evening, he was escorted to the house of Mrs. Thorn- ton, widow of the late Marshal Thornton, who with a feeling that did her honor, threw open her house to receive the Hero, and a large number of ladies and gentlemen of Saco and Biddford and the neighboring towns. Here were introduced with many others, Mrs. Thacher of Thomaston, daughter of General Knox, and Mrs. Sav- age, widow of a revolutionary Captain who was personally reward- ed for his bravery by LaFayette. GENERAL LAFAYETTE IN MAINE 200, f the ley, usual Saco, ge Sion s the tto, RKI 5-6, rated tts, mg La- SON ele- ion, hich he boys LA- ved reets ati- of Sol- This for The General passed the night and breakfasted at Capt. Spring's. On Saturday morning, at 7 o'clock, he was escorted by a numerous cavalcade as far as the village of Scarborough, where he was received with the same feeling of gratitude by the people, that had cheered him on all his journey through the States; and about 9 o'clock A. M. (June 24, 1825), General LaFayette entered the town of Portland. Although he had been the round of the whole country, and received the attentions and gratulations of a whole nation for almost a year, so that the subject might be supposed in some degree to have lost its novelty, yet we doubt whether he had in any place met with a more cordial and warm reception than in this town; and what is more remarkable, notwithstanding the whole year of fatigue duty which he had gone through, witnessing almost the same scenes from day to day, yet he showed not the least mark of apathy, but seemed to greet the old war-worn veterans of the Revolution with as much enthusiasm, to exchange salutations with the public functionaries with as much animation, and to shake hands with the thousands who thronged around him with as much feeling and affection as he possibly could have done on his first arrival in this country. On his arrival in Portland, he was met by the Committee of Arrangements, the Selectmen. and citizens of the town on Bramhall's hill, where he was addressed by the Hon. Stephen Longfellow in behalf of the citizens, to which the General replied as usual. A procession was formed to escort him through the towns, including his son and Mons LaVasseur. The military escort consisted of four uniformed companies of light troops. They were the Portland Light Infantry, the Rifle Company, Mechanic Blues and Brunswick Light Infantry; the latter with a spirit that did them much credit, voluntarily marched from Brunswick to this place, a distance, of twenty-six miles, in complete uniform, to join the escort of the day. About fifty truckmen dressed in white frocks appeared in the cavalcade and added much to the appearance of the procession. The General rode in an open carriage, drawn by four white horses, his head uncovered and accompanied by Colonel Dunlap. The procession, as it moved through the principal streets of the town, passed under many beautiful arches of evergreen and roses thrown across the streets in different localities; one across Dan- forth street, at the intersection of High, with the inscription, "WELCOME LAFAYETTE," "BRANDYWINE 1777," another 2IO SPRAGUE'S JOURNAL OF MAINE HISTORY across the head of Free street, on which a live eagle was perched, at-id on the arch these inscriptions-"WASHINGTON AND LA- FAYETTE," "WELCOME CHEVALIER," "SANS PRUR ET SANS REP.-ROACH." On Free street the school children num- bering about twelve hundred all dressed in uniform greeted him; the girls holding wreaths of flowers which they waved at the General and threw into the street as he passed; and the boys wore badges -of blue ribbon on their hats inscribed with "WELCOME LAFAYETTE." The General looked on them,with affectionate interest as he passed with his I-lead uncovered before them. An arch was erected at the foot of Free street, inscribed with "WEL- COME TO OUR PARRIS." Across Middle at the head of Ex- change street, was an arch inscribed "YORKTOWN." At the head of King street another, on which stood a FULL RIGGED MINIATURE SHIP, and upon the arch was inscribed "I SHALL PURCHASE AND FIT OUT A VESSEL FOR -MYSELF." Another arch was thrown across Congress street in front of the Universalist church and near the State House, where the Governor and Council were in waiting. Salutes were fired on Bramhall's Hill, Mount joy and at Fort Preble; and the bells rung during the movement of the procession. It was estimated that near fifteen thousand people saw La- Fayette -during the few hours he remained in the town. A platform was erected in front -of the State House and covered with an extensive awning where the General was addrssed by President Allen of Bowdoin College and in presence of the officers and stu- dents of the college, received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. After some time spent in greetings, etc., the procession moved to the house of Mr. Daniel Cobb on Free street, where lodgings had been prepared for the General. Here refreshments were taken, and here also he was addressed in behalf of the Grand Lodge of Maine, by William Swan, Esquire, Grand Master, and other members of the Fraternity. And as LaFayette could not ex- tend his journey beyond Portland, he was addressed here by the citizens of Thomaston, Bath, Hallowell, Augusta and Gardiner; to all of which the General responded in his happy way. At 4 o'clock the General partook of a public dinner at Union Hall. which was prepared and served in elegant style. The guest spent the evening at the house -of Governor Parris, which was thrown open to the citizens. LaFayette left town Sunday morning about GENERAL LAFAYETTE IN MAINE 211 7 o'clock without any parade and returned to Saco on his way to Vermont. He took breakfast at Captain Spring's in Biddeford, tarried a short time with Colonel Emery, and attended divine service at the church of Rev. Mr. Tracy; immediately after which, he set out for Concord, where he arrived the same night. The town of Harrison was so named from Hon. Harrison Gray Otis, and was formed from the towns -of Bridgton and Otisfield, and was incorporated by act of the Legislature of Massachusetts, March 2, 1805. The part taken from -the -town of Otisfield was sur- veyed by George Pierce, Esq., and lay between the town line road, extending northwest and southeast, and Crooked river. The part lying between the old line of di-vision -and Long pond, containing about 8,5oo acres, formerly constituted the "second division. of Bridgton." This was surveyed by Benj. Kimball, Jr., in 1793, who Jaid out go lots of about go acres each. The original bounds of Harrison, as given in the act of incorpora- tion, comprised that territory south of a line cast, 15 degrees north, passing through Island pond, and included between Crooked river and Long pond. To form the town of Naples eleven tiers of lots were taken from the southern end, lying between Crooked river and Long pond. The first town election was held at the home of Naphtali Harmon, near the place where the first town house was built in 18o6 or i807. At this time there were 49 male residents in town, 41 of whom cast ballots at the fall elections. A second town house was erected near the first, in 1825. The third was built in the village, in 1871, at an expense Of $2,200. The town of Bucksport was first settled in I762 and was called Buckstown in honor of one of its earliest settlers, Col. Jonathan Buck. The town was incorporated June 25, 1792. In 18I7 the name was changed to Bucksport. The village is beautifully situated on the eastern bank of the Penobscot and enjoys one of the finest harbors that magnificent river affords. Bucksport is the terminal of the Bucksport branch of the Maine Central railroad and is 18 miles from Bangor. (c) 1998 Courtesy of the Androscoggin Historical Society ************************************************* * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. 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