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Comrades Bunker and Haley Tell of War on Land and SeaOf the 260 G. A. R. veterans who made up the James M. Parker Post of Bar Harbor, three are now living. Of those John Thompson is now living in Providence, and two live on Mount Desert Island. The following brief histories of these two local representatives of the mighty host of young men who started marching and sailing into the mouths of the shotted cannon of the Confederacy 67 years ago is printed to accompany the story of Bar Harbor’s Memorial Day ceremonies:Comrade George ' Bunker of Otter Creek is living, at the age of 82 in the same little community from which he went to Ellsworth at the age of 16 to enlist in the First Maine Heavy Artillery. He is one of four sons of the late William G. and Patience Day Bunker who went out in response to the Union’s need. His three brothers did not come back. One, injured in the battle of Spottysyl-vania Courthouse, in the same regiment with his brother, died in Andersonville prison.A. S. Bunker and Charles F. Bunker were together in the 11th Maine. They died in action. The brother who survives today went from Ellsworgth to Washington when a boy of 16. He had left Otter Creek determined not to wait for enlisting age. He saw heavy fighting before that great day of the surrender of Lee at Appotmattox Courthouse, when he was one of those who knew the terms, knew that Lee was only a little distance from them, in conference with Grant, and was one of the soldiers, who knowing, the news first, flung their caps into the air within the same five minutes that General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain of Brewer, had in formality received, for Grant, Lee's sword.Comrade Bunker fougnt under General Hancock, corps commander, with Gen. Mott as division commander and General Detrobian as brigade commander. He served too under Col. Chaplin of Bangor.He fought at North Anna, Cold Harbor, and at Petersburg. In -the latter battle he says, their regiment numbered 800 and they came out shattered, with 600 lost in ten minutes of fighting. It was at Spottsylvania that Mr. Bunker was shot in the knee, but only slightly; and that was the only scratch he got in the whole war. He wras mustered out in Bangor and came home to a little farm at Otter Creek. He no longer runs a farm but he is still active, thinking nothing of a walk from Otter Creek, or longer for that matter, several times a week. Mr. Bunker says that he never for a moment regretted' the years from his enlistment first dutyFort Sum ter clay of his musteringout orN^ylS, 1864; and that he re-as the best day of his life.A w laatyf the mi can 81of tha only t but tc who h Last in Lai raer ai for cat Maine The so to young who L audien playin Dorr.Mr. career His m cert sit their enougt at Cor in Sha summe His his las to quh sical cc gold pr spaces to pay he can: termini Hep vile for picture Nation His ments i Harry“The N Gilda August Family Marian He h Buffalo cities, a engager dramati pheum *VETERennis JTuley, one of the three last members of James M. Parker Post, Grand Army of the Republic, served dur-After exercise: a shore sentativ that ha* George Haley c Ellswort ly of Ba here on honor. Spanish Sons of America: Nelson tTHp Hi
Newspaper Details
Bar Harbor Times
Bar Harbor, Maine, US
Wed, Jun 06, 1928
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Barbara C.
NA, 10 Mar 2017
Other Publications Near Bar Harbor, Maine
Bar Harbor Mount Desert Herald
Bar Harbor Record
Bar Harbor Times
