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Colonel, 13th Maine Volunteer Infantry
Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers
"Father of Prohibition"
It's difficult to know what to say about Neal Dow. An internationally known celebrity well before the war for his tireless campaigning against liquor, he was the author of "The Maine Law," the toughest statute against the sale and consumption of spirits anywhere in the world. When the war broke out, his prominence was such that he had to be made a Colonel when he offered his services. He badgered the Adjutant General and Governor with hourly bulletins offering advice, suggestions and demands that read like the pompous effusions of a self-important pest, yet betray a genuine concern for his men. He made his regiment "take the pledge" (although some of the boys were able to sneak across to visit the grog shops in Augusta once the river froze over.) Many anxious mothers wanted their boys to go in Dow's outfit - the "Temperance Regiment" - in the hope that Dow would make sure that ne'er a drop of demon rum would touch the lips of their darlings. The regiment wound up under the command of General Butler. It is said that the two men detested each other; yet Dow prospered and was promoted to Brigadier General under Butler's aegis. He saw some action at Port Hudson, was wounded, and finally captured. He managed to antagonize both his Confederate captors and fellow prisoners in Libby prison by giving temperance tirades to starving and thirsty men; spying and keeping lists of prison officials' misdeeds, as well as those of other prisoners. Both guards and prisoners accused him of hoarding food and blankets and it was a great relief to all when he was finally released in exchange for Fitzhugh Lee, of all people! His personal courage was never in doubt, however, and he went home to continue his lifelong assault on the evils of drink; for which he was and continues to be greatly admired.
Transcribed Copy of Neal Dow's letter.
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