Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-09-09
The rrilitsrs>ate son at Brandon

AAS AA4AtidIy SSS .ys~iVn W o1hilu.'
An account of the meeting Of the Military
Companies at Brandon, we condense from the
reports to the city papers.
Sept !. Referring to the gathering, the re-
porter Of the Journal says:
An event, comprehending nothing less than
the Inauguration of new era in the military
historyof Vermont, having as its aim the resus-
cltatiofTof her Volunteer Militia system, and
the first military gathering that has taken place
in the State since 1874, is transpring in this
delightful town to-day. The occasion is fraught
with interest, not only to the people of this
State, but to the friends and supporters of the
.oiitary system everywhere. Vermont has for
nearly fifteen years been without an active mi
litia. The large drafts which, prior to that
period, were made upon the State treasury for
the support of the militia, brought the institu-
ton into dlscredit with the Legislature, and all
appropriations being cut off, the military spirit
gradually subsidized, and the system fell into de-
cay.
Under the old organization, now entirely OBJ
solete, the Militia of the State, comprising then,
as now, all able-bodied men between the ages of
eighteen and forty-fve, not otherwise exempted
from serving, consisted in 1892 of twenty Reg-
ments OF Infantry-divided into eight Brigades
and four Diyisions-ffteen Companies of Cav
airy andsix of Artillery, including Is, 500 men.
The Staff at that time consisted Of one Cap
tain General, one Lieutenant General, four Ma
jor Generals, eight Brigadier Generals, one Adj
utant General, and one Commissary General
The munitions of war owned by the State in
1903, consisted of II 1914 stand of arms, 1859
pairs of pistols, 748 holsters, and 1901 sabres.
In 1910 the enrolled Militia of The State COM
prised 2l,3O4 men. These were divided into
three Divisions, nine Brigades of twenty-eight
Regimsy leach, and one Regiment of Riaemen.
The Et2itia of Vermont were a body of brave,
hardy, Robust men. The name of the Green
Mountain Boys is celebrated in story, and no
better troops were collected from any part of
Europe or America during the Revolution, in
which they shone conspicuous, than the regi-
ment raised among the mountains Of Vermont.
Enured to hardship, labor and economy, those
essential qualities for a military character, it
required only discipline and active service to
mold them into formidable army in defense of
their Liberties These distinguishing character
lstlcs OF the fathers of Vermont, are to be found
no less prominent in their sons. The race of
hardy monntaineers have preserved their physi-
cal stamina, transmitting through successive
generations healthy flow of the vital elements,
which the free and bracing atmosphere of these
hills has iannCd into fame of patriotic devo-
ton. The same spirit of daring which charac
terlzed the perilous adventures of Allen, Warner
and Baker, names familiar to the ear of every
Green Mountain boy, is now rife among the
people, requiring only the occasion to call it
into activity" n
The display Of soldiers in town far exceeded
the most sanguine expectations Of the movers in
the experiment.
Extra trains were run from the north and
south over the Rutland and Burlington Rail-
road for tbS conveyance of the troops and the
people Hooking to Brandon, who came in large
numbers to witness the display.
As the several companies reached town, their
arrival was signalized by discharge of cannon
The following is a list of the companies present :
Allen Greys, Brandon, Capt Bush; LIST It,,
q. Ii. Forbes; I'd It,, A. A. Knapp; uniform,
light gray dress coats, pants and caps, with
white facings and white pumes mastering 80
guns.
Woodstock Light Infantry, Capt. Washbun 4,
LIST It,, &. NJ. Brown; ID It., j. E. TAYLOR !;
50 It., William Pelton: uniform, dark gray
jackets, pants and hate, with white facings and
white pompon; mastering IS guns
Howard Guards, Burlington, LIST 1t. Ed. Iy-
man in command; I'd It,, G. S. Blodgett; Sd
It,, L. W. Page; uniform, light blue pants,
dark blue trock coats and hats, white and blue
plumes; mastering 80 rifles.
Ransom Guards, st. Adams. Capt. House !;
lst ~. 6usL SsennAad---aa-4Lt., a. O. Brars-
ard 3D. LII, e. PConger uniform, dark gray
coats, pants and hats, scarlet facings; muster
ing rs guns.
Middlebary Light Guards, Capt. Hayward &;
LIST It,, Grin Abby I'd It., 7. B. Marvin Sd
It,, A. A. Brooks; uniform, blue-black dress
coats, pants and hat, white facings and white
pompon.
Rochestes-Gmards Capt. Haskins: LIST It,,
VIM Tinkham; I'd 1t, +. Fales Sd It., j..
ii. Cooper; uniform, white pants, blue frock
coats, white and blue plumes; mastering 20
guns.
Green Mountain Guards, Bellows Falls, Capt.
Cochran; LIST It,, G. D. Cook I'd It,, Solon
Perry; uniform, blue coat, pants and hat, faced
with red, with red and white plume. This
company had rear guard wearing bear-skin
caps, and all carry knapsacks of deer-skin,
which were worn by the Keene Light infantry
on their memorable march from Keene to Con-
cord in 1898, when the company visited Gen.
Jackson.
Green Afsuntain Rangers, Granville and
Rochester, Lieut.. E. L. Jewett commanding
Est It,, j. w. Campbell; I'd It,, S. S Peck ;
UNIFORM, white pants, green coats, red and
white plumes mastering 81 guns, and four
pioneers.
Green Mountain Guards, Swanton, Capt.
Hale LIST It,, F. n. johnson I'd It,, 7. B.
Marvin; Sd 1t. A. A. Brooks; uniform, black
coat and pants and white facings, black hats,
green tacings; mastering 26 rifles.
Caoendish Light Infantry, Capt. Deane an
able body Of men in citizen dress, not having
yet procureda Uniform
Most of the above companies bring with them
full bands of music, forming in the aggregate
some seven or eight bands, the effect of which
has been to fill the town with the stirring music
to whose thrilling cadence the Greer Noun
tain Boys We're wont to tread the way to vic
tory or death. "
In the afternoon the companies were drilled
by Adjutant-G General Stone of Massachusetts,
The evening was passed in a brilliant levee, at
which number Of distinguished guests were
present. =
Sept. 2. The principal event of to-day, wa.
the exercises attending the review by the Gov
ernor.
Iamedisa sssiisssr She arrival of The Governor
at camp, Adftant General Stone, in command
of the troops, ordered them to prepare for re-
view which was promptly complied with. The
Commander Caief, accompanied by the Of
ficers of his staff, passed along the line to the
right, thenoe-in the rear to the left, the troops
receiving him with military honors due his rank