Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-02-08
MIR. FooT,s spEpop.


amendment to include the Pittsburgh volun-
teers in the war of 1872. As the subject is a |
matter of interest to Vermonters, and as the
speech brings out some of the most remarkable
documents of our State history, we have con-
cluded to give the speech entire. The amend
ment of Mr.. Foot was adopted.
Mr.. President, when this bill was under
consideration some days ago, moved an a.
mendment to the effect that the Pa.tsbure
volunteers should be included with its provi.
sions. This was, accepted by the Senator from
Maine MR. FEssENDEN) as an addition to an
amendment which he had previously offered,
ard that the amendment, SO modified, is the
question now pending before the Senate, as |
understand it; and on the latter clause Of the
amendment particularly, which was accepted
by the Senator from Maine, on my suggestion,
| desire to submit very few remarks, in adj
dition to what | took occasion to address to
the Senate at the time | moved the PROPOSE
ton. I had hoped that such a proposition
would meet with no resistance and no objec-
ton in this body, especially from the friends of
|
oppo sition to a proposition so manitestly just
as tn is is, will be withdrawn, or, at least, that
it wi II be overcome by the voice Of the Senate.
| unit lertake to say that no class of beneficial
ries, included within the provisions of the bill,
press mt stronger cames upon the consideration
and bounty of this Government, as none rem
derea more essential service to the country in
the v ar of 1872 than those Plattsburg volun-
teers. Your country, at the time, was inva-
ded by "a hostile army Of fourteen thousand
stron g, and where you had no adequate regu-
lar 70 rces to resist its march ; and these voun-
teers, obedient to the call of duty and patri-
otisul, turned out upon the first sound Of alarm,
met that invading army upon the field ofbat-
tie, routed and drove them back over the Can
ada line. They, indeed, turned the fortunes
of Il he day, saved your regular troops from
disa strous defeat, and delivered your country
from the presence and the depreciation OF a
host lie and prerodatory army, boastfui and
conf lent of vic DRY. The 11th day of Sep
temb er, 1914, is little less memorable in the
anna Is of the last war with Great Britain
than is the 9Th of JAM, 1915. Both are can
noni zed in the grateful recollection Of the A
meri can people. The battle of Pattsburg
was to the war of 1872 what the battle of
Sars .toga was to the war of the Revolution J;
and the honors and the glory Of that day be-
long !, in good part, to those in whose behalf,
as N act Of impartial justice. | ask you to
ext end the benefits OF this bill.
| rs the claims and service Of these volun-
tee rs are very well set fourth in a report made
to tho House of Representatives by the Com
mil tee on Military affairs, in March, 1850,
ant as the report is not long one, will
tai e leave to read it, fi.-. -.s.
........, D. MARCH %, 1850
Mr.. j. A. KING, from the Committee on Mil
it's .ry Affairs, made tho following report
The Committee on Military Affairs. to whom
WI Is referred the petition of the volunteers of
V ermont for compensation Tor their services at
tt lie battle Of Plattsburgh, in 1914, report
That it appears from the petition Of more
I'll ian two hundred volunteers from the State of
ermont, that they, and many Of their deccas-
Q q companions, were at Plattsburgh in the month
G i September, 1874 and were present at bat
: tie on the lth of that month. serving under
the immediate orders Of General Strong of that
State, and under the command of General Al
exander Macomb, who held the garrison at
Pittsburgh at that time that while engag-
, ed in their ordiaary Occupations, they heard
. that the British army, Of fourteen thousand
men, under the command of Sir George Provost,
accompanied by n powerful fleet, had invaded
4 the nolghboring State of New York, with the
= avowed purpose of conqnering the fort at Patts-
) burgh, and the American feet then lying at an
i, Choir in the lake; that General Macomb, with n
: garrison of only fifteen hundred men, had, in
:, this imminent peril and emergency, called upon
s the Governors Of Vermont and New York, for a
( militia force; and, as the population of that
4 part Of New York was sparse, and large num-
Der Of men could not be suddenly collected in
. season to repel the enemy, the alternative was
t presented to them of volunteering to cross thu
q lake, and to hasten to the aid of their brethren
whose 6residss were threatened by powerful
foe, Or to await the attack upon their own soil
r They preferred the former and, leaving theil
II pows in the furrow, and the tools of their trade
"a where last used, they seized their arms anC
reached the field of battle in time to take thci,
: part in the decisive check which was then civ.
i en- to the British army that having done theil
n duty, and seen the army Of the enemy in full
), retreat, and his fleet in the possession of the
a gallant McDonough and his brave sailors and
no further aid being required at their hands
Z they returned us they came, without any COM
10 pensation for their services beyond the common
/. share Of glory which each had right to claim
= for himself and his State. that they come now
y before Congress to ask for such compensation
IL for their short but efficient services on that me
7, inorable occasion as had been awarded to others
10 under similar circumstances, and particular,
n to regiment of militia, (the fourth regiment
10 second brigade, and third division of Vermont,
suddenly collected by its colonel, and also pres
ent and aiding in the defense of Plattsburgh, Oh
the 18th of September, 1914, the officers an
men OF which regiment were allowed, BY tn
act OF lo40,a compensation equal to one month
- service on that occasion. As no distinction cal
10 DO made between the services Of these two bray
!, bodies OF men so should there be no differerc
In their compensation; and, when the statemen
II made by the petitioners is fully sustained an
y. borne out by the official dispatch of the com
be manding general, it is recommended that b
be prepared, authorizing and directing the pre-
- per accounting officers Of the Treasury to adius
W. settle, and pay u compensation to the volur
teers of the State q Vermont who were preseI
1e at the battle Of Pattsburgh and to the represer
re- tatiyes of those that are dead, and which sha
10 be equal TO one month services each.
so In this connection. I will further claim th
re indulgence of the Senate by reading a part
graph or two from General Macombs repo,
Of the battle of Plattsburg, in which he pay
Il. a just tribute to the service Of the Vernon
in volunteers: .... -....tt...4,.
ms HEADQUARTERS, PLATTsBuRe, Sept. Is. 1874
Is, SIR: | have the honor to communicate, fo
We the information of the War Department, tn
ge p irticnlars of the advance of the enemy int
If the Territory the United States; the cireun
h. st snces attending the seige of Plattsburg an
he de Tense Of the posts intrusted to my charge.
in The Governor General Of the Canadas, 81
n; George Provost, having collected all the dspo
he abln force of Lower Canada, with view