The hostilities of the aborigines compelled the early settlers of New England to act on the defensive, to be armed for the fight, and sometimes to plunge into mortal combat.  Hence military companies were early organized, and military trainings with arms, equipments, music, officers and stimulating drinks, became a great institution.
     The burden of military duty was cheerfully borne.  A military officer was a titled and much respected notable.  The training, especially the general muster, was an event of peculiar interest.  So it was, when the settlement of this county commenced.  But for several years the people were too few and too remote for regular military organizations.
     The first military companies formed in this county, were the volunteer companies already noticed. The first regular organization, it seems, was in Sebec, about 1815.  John Wells was elected captain.  In 1829, he was promoted to major, but he soon moved away.  After him, William Sands, Advardis Shaw, Joseph Chase, Abijah Chase and John Nelson, successively commanded this company.  Capt. Shaw, in 1826, was chosen major.
     About the same date, 1815 or 1816, the Atkinson company was organized.  Its commanding officers have been Luther Turner, Daniel Chase, Oliver Crosby jr., Jacob Sherburne, Elisha L. Hammond, James R. Ayer and Albert Hutchins.
     Mar. 27, 1824, Capt. Daniel Chase was chosen major, and Sept. 9, 1826, promoted to lieutenant-colonel.
     In the spring of 1816, a company was formed in Foxcroft, also including all who were subject to enrollment in Dover.

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Samuel Chamberlain was its first captain.  In 1821, he resigned, and Job Parsons succeeded him.
     As this was preeminently the cold season, many were un able to equip themselves, and brought only a fence stake, when called out for manual exercise.  Capt. Chamberlain generously blinked this, requiring each to do the best he could.  After him, Isaac Weston, Salmon Homes, Sylvanus Longley, William Parsons, Charles S. Hammond and Ellis Robinson held this office.
     When a new regiment was organized in 1824, Capt. Weston was appointed to summon the commissioned officers together for an election of field officers.  He was chosen lieutenant colonel.  He resigned in July, 1826.
     In 1817 or 1818, the Sangerville company was formed.  Robert Carleton was elected captain.  After him, William Oakes jr., Aaron Morse, Isaiah Knowlton, Samuel Robey, John Douty, Jonathan Roberts and Daniel Spooner successively filled the office.  Captain Carleton became major and colonel.  Capt. Oakes was promoted to colonel, and Capt. Morse, to major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel.
     The Guilford company was organized in 1818.  William Stevens, William Webber, Leonard Howard, John H. Loring, John Monroe, Stephen Ellis, William W. Lucas and William McE. Brown have filled the office of captain.  Capt. Ellis was chosen major.
     In 1823, a company was formed inDover. In this, David Haynes, Benj. Dow, Daniel G. Owen, Ira Rowe, A. D. Fuller, J. R. Leighton and Asa P. Dow held the office of captain.
     About the same time, a company was organized in Parkman.  Solomon Brown was chosen captain.  He soon re moved from town, and Lieutenant Samuel Clark commanded it.  At length Ransom Dunham was chosen captain.  He was soon promoted to major, then Abel Curtis jr. was chosen captain, and after him, William Briggs, Daniel Tyler, and Adam Macomber commanded this company.  On the formation of a new regiment, Capt. Briggs was chosen colonel.

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     In April, 1824, the Milo Light Infantry was formed, embracing persons from other towns.  Winborn A. Sweat, I. W. Mitchell, Moses Sturtevant, Charles Durgin, Rice Dow, Samuel Stinchfield and Benjamin Sands successively commanded it.  This company dressed in uniform and made a fine appearance. Capt. Mitchell rose to a colonel, and Capt. Dow to lieutenant colonel.
     A company of Cavalry was formed in 1827, chiefly of persons in Foxcroft, Dover and vicinity.  J. S. Godfrey was elected captain.  He died soon after, and Isaac Blethen succeeded him.  In 1834, he was chosen major of cavalry, and Hiram Douty was elected captain.  He was also promoted to colonel, and Robert Cutts was chosen captain.  Silas Paul was the next captain, and he also was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and colonel.  A. S. Bartlett was then elected captain, and after him, Leonard Robinson.  Lieut. Silvanus B. Byram was promoted to major of cavalry.
     In 1828, a company was organized in Brownville.  Phineas Morrill was elected captain.  The history of this company is not very easily written.  It evidently became unwilling to do military duty, and sometimes avoided it.  C. R. Hamlet and F. B. Howard were captains.
     A company of infantry was formed in Milo in 1829.  Nymphas Turner, J. W. Furber and George B. Stinchfield successively commanded it.  Capt. Turner was promoted to major and lieutenant-colonel.
     The Wellington company was organized in 1830.  Thomas Sears was chosen captain.  After him, Isaac Pease and Isaiah Huff filled the office.  Lieut. Nathaniel Dennett of this company was elected lieutenant-colonel, when it was connected with the Athens regiment.  A company of Light Infantry also was organized in this town, and Oliver D. Wiggin was chosen captain.  He was promoted to major, but afterward the company run down.
     In 1836, another cavalry company was organized in Sebec and vicinity.  B. S., Cilley was its first captain.  He was promoted to colonel, and Charles Wingate became his successor.

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     The Abbot company was duly organized in 1836, and J. S. Monroe chosen captain.  After him, Columbus Crockett filled that office.  Capt. Monroe was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
     In 1837, a company was formed in Blanchard.  Bowman Varney was its first captain.  He was chosen major, and John R. Baker succeeded him.
     The attempts to organize and officer a company in Monson were frustrated until 1839.  Then Clement Cushman was chosen captain, and it was brought into line.
     A rifle company was organized in Sebec, called the Rifle Greys, in 1839.  A. M. Robinson was the first captain.  After him, Abijah B. Chase commanded it until trainings were abolished, in 1844.  Capt. Robinson was promoted to major, and then to colonel.
     A company was formed in Medford, including persons in LaGrange.  Levi R. Gray was chosen captain.  He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and then Alvin H. Garman was chosen captain.
     In 1837, a Light Infantry company was formed in Parkman.  Henry Williamson was its first captain, and Jesse Nutting, its second.  Nearly all of this company volunteered and marched to Aroostook, in the Madawaska war.

REGIMENTS AND REGIMENTAL OFFICERS.

     The earlier companies of this county were included in the fifth regiment, of which Isaac Hodsdon of Exeter was colonel, Captains Wells and Carleton were elected majors, when thus connected.  The general muster was then in Garland.  But after 1820, these companies mustered by battalion in Dover, usually near Eli Townes residence.
     In 1824, all the companies from Milo to Parkman were organized into a new regiment, known as the Fifth Regiment, First Brigade, Third Division.
     Mar. 27, 1824, at an election of regimental officers held in Foxcroft, Major R. Carleton was chosen colonel, Capt. Isaac Weston, lieutenant-colonel, and Capt. Daniel Chase, major.

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     Col. Carleton appointed J. S. Holmes, adjutant, Reuben Ordway, quarter-master, and Seth Nelson, pay-master.
     In 1826, Col. Carleton resigned, and Capt. William Oakes jr. was chosen colonel.  Lieut-Col. Weston resigned soon after, and Major Daniel Chase was promoted, and Capt. Advardis Shaw was elected major.  In 1829, Major Shaw resigned, and Capt. Aaron Morse succeeded him.  Lieut-Col. Chase next resigned, in 1831, Major Morse was promoted, and Capt. I. W. Mitchell elected major.
     In 1834, Col. Oakes resigned, Lieut-Col. Morse succeeded him, Major Mitchell was advanced to lieutenant-colonel, and Capt. N. Turner chosen major.  Col. Morse appointed Elbridge G. Thompson, adjutant, and Joseph Hammond, quarter-master.  Col. Morse held the office until 1839, and resigned just before the militia were called out to march to Aroostook.  The quota of this regiment was one full company of sixty privates, with officers, non-commissioned officers and musicians.  It was raised by draft, and joined the embattled host in Bangor, and boldly marched to the line, and then marched back again, without the loss of a single man, killed or wounded.
     In 1839, Lieut-Col. Mitchell was elected colonel, Maj. Turner, lieutenant-colonel, and Capt. S. Ellis, major. Col. Mitchell appointed Josiah Dow, adjutant. Lieut-Col. Turner resigned in 1841, and Capt. Rice Dow succeeded him.  The same year, Maj. Ellis resigned, and Capt. A. M. Robinson was chosen to succeed him.
     In 1841, the divisions of the militia through the State were arranged anew, and this regiment became Second Regiment, First Brigade, Ninth Division, but its companies remained as before.
     Early in 1843, Col. Mitchell resigned, Lieut-Col. Dow had left for parts unknown, and Maj. A. M. Robinson was elected colonel, Levi R. Gray, lieutenant-colonel, and Ensign C. H. B. Woodbury, major.
     In the fall of this year, the regiment mustered as usual, but it proved to be its last.

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PARKMAN REGIMENT.

     In 1838, a new regiment was formed, including companies in Parkman, Abbot, Blanchard and Wellington, in this county, and also those in Harmony, Cambridge and Ripley, in Somerset County.  This regiment was named Fifth Regiment, First Brigade, Eighth Division,  Captain William Briggs was elected colonel.  As Lieut-Col. Dennett and Maj. Wiggin were within its appointed limits, they were transferred, retaining the same rank.
     Col. Briggs appointed Thomas Seabury, adjutant, Alden Briggs quarter-master, and Cornelius Gower, pay-master.  Col. Briggs resigned in the summer of 1832.  Lieut-Col. Monroe mustered the regiment that fall..  The companies in Sangerville and Guilford were petitioning to be annexed to this regiment, but in 1844, the legislature abolished all trainings, and the martial spirit sunk quietly to sleep.

TRAININGS.

     Up to 1825, the companies were required to train three times annually, in their respective towns, besides the muster.  Then the legislature abolished the May training.  The autumnal trainings were continued.  Up to this time, twenty-four rounds of powder were furnished by the town to each soldier, to fire at the training, under the command of the officers.  This too was then omitted.  Still the training was to many a great occasion.  A brisk set of boys and not a few men out side of the duly enrolled, would appear as appreciative spectators.  The officers treated freely both soldiers and spectators, not always omitting the boys.  These trainings would call out the old revolutionary soldiers, some of whom then survived.  The military parade had an attraction for them.  Inspired by the occasion, they would recall the adventures of their past campaigns, while some of the boys would crowd up near, and listen with as much zest as these honored veterans would relate them.  These brought home to our eager minds, the reality and severity of that long and victorious struggle in which our nation had its birth.

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     But the muster was emphatically a "general muster."  The gathering of armed companies, the music by the band, and by the combined strains of drums and fifes, the regimental officers in full uniform, mounted on the most imposing steeds, and, above all, the general and his aids in full military dress, combined attractions which moved all classes.  The manœuvres upon the field, the review by the general officers, and the rattle of so much musketry, when powder was furnished, made up a grand and beautiful spectacle.  The pageant was highly ornamented by the uniform and show of the cavalry, and of the light infantry, which constituted the acknowledged flower of the regiment.  But outside the line, there were other objects of attraction.  Tents, carts and wagons furnished refreshments for the hungry, in the most of which strong drink was invitingly displayed. 
     Among the spectators, all classes were represented.  Grave, sober and aged men in limited numbers, discharged military officers, men of middle age exempt from military duty, boys of every age and description, and some females, too, would be there.  Preeminently it was muster day to hard drinkers.  The place swarmed with them, and there would be confusion, profanity, low jokes, quarreling and fighting, contrasting widely with similar gatherings of the present time.  Let it be understood that the early musters of this county are here pictured.  Of the later, the writer was not an observer.  In these latter, to some extent, a change had reached the train band.  Some companies had voted to dispense with treating at their trainings, and many officers and soldiers had become total abstainers.
     But we must turn another dark leaf in the history of those times.  The elections of military officers were scenes of the direst, drunken carousals.  The successful candidates wet their honors with liberal treats.  The lovers of rum scented it far and near.  They gathered like vultures to their prey, and many went home dishonored and degraded, as a dark background to the military honors conferred.  But many began to feel that military duty was an onerous

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and needless waste.  Such began to avoid it by craft and dodging.  Some officers elect would neglect to take their commissions from the post-office.  Warrants sent to privates by some careless hand, requiring them to warn the company to meet, would fail to reach them.  Some would elect incompetent commanders, whose level best was a mortifying failure.
     All the laurels of the Madawaska war had faded, our north-eastern boundary had been amicably settled, no one dreamed of the gigantic rebellion which has since drenched those southern fields with blood, so, the wisdom and talent of our State in legislature assembled passed an act in 1844, abolishing all military trainings.  It was a great step, upward and onward.  Industry, temperance, morality and religion by this, cast off a mighty burden, and the State received no damage.

OUR WARRIORS.

     VETERANS OF THE REVOLUTION.  Several of three were among the early settlers of this county, to some of whom allusions have been already made.  But all should have an honorable and lasting record.  the entire list is not here given, but the following are known to have orne arms in that patriotic struggle.  Abiel Packard of Monson, Eben Deane of Blanchard, Jeremiah Rolfe of Abbot, Ephraim Andrews of Parkman, Consider Glass and Nathaniel Stevens of Guilford, Aaron Rollins, G. Spooner and Henry Leland of Sangerville, Thomas Towns, Zachariah Longley, Eleazer Spaulding and Allen Dwelley of Dover, and Ezekiel Chase of Sebec.  Probably there were others in the lower towns, whose names the writer never learnt.
     Generally they were hardy and resolute men, who lived to a good old age, revered and honored by their younger associates.  But they could not continue always.  They

"By the wayside fell and perished,
Wearied with the march of life."

as all must.  Peace to their patriotic memories!

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     A still larger number of soldiers from the war of 1812, came and settled in this county.  A list of them, if attempted, would be too defective.  Some ten or more resided in Guilford, but when pensions were granted to such, only one, Isaac Edes, survived to receive it.
     The Madawaska war, a part of which I saw, has been sufficiently emblazoned.  Its surviving veterans, for hardships endured and dangers faced, must have a pension too.
     The Mexican war, in spite of its distance and burning clime, drew som recruits fro this region.  Here again, no reliable statement can be given.   But four whom the writer had instructed in the school-rooms of Guilford, were in it, Steadman Davis jr., Joseph Young, Alexander Stevens and Sebstian Buck, and three of them saw our national banner wave over the Capitol of Mexico.  Two of them, and another from Parkman, Philo Harlow, did not live to return.
     In the late civil war, this county filled its quotas with promptness and liberality.  Their names and companies are all in the adjutant-general's published reports.
     The roll of honor repeated on the annual return of each decoration day shows that we bled away our life, as well as our money.  While the names of Col. C. S. Douty, and of Maj. C. P. Chandler, a native of Foxcroft, and many other heroes, who fell upon the battle field, are gratefully honored, the sacrifices of this part of Maine will not be forgotten.

CHAPTER XXX