Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1861-08-27

were destroyed in your charges against the
masked batteries of Great Bethel
We welcome you back, then, New England
Guards, to your homes and your iresldes, to re
ceive the warm hand grasp Of relatives, friends
and neighbors, to a renewal of the social joys Of
life. And although the war is not yet ended,
yet we shalley consider that, as the faithful
representatives Of Vermont, you contributed not
a little to the general cause in which every pat
riot soul is now engaged. And when rebellion
shall cease in our otherwise happy land, and
traitors receive the doom Of annihation that
awaits them, then as American citizens, you will
have the proud satisfaction OF knowing that you
assisted in the noble work Of bringing back our
Government to its original unity and splendor,
and depart with the feeling that in the hour Of
your nations trial Gou stood forth as the cham
pions of liberty justice and right, that you en-.
deayored to do your duty Once more we bid
you welcome.
Towhch, Mr.. Drew Of WolcJtt, private in
the New England Guards, spoke as follows:
Lad,es and Geademn We mourn, and we
rejoice we rejoice that we have again returned
10 our homes and 10 the bosom OF our families
we rejoice to find our friends in SO good health
whom we have cndeayored to serve our country
we shall be no more. Our officer commanding
voice and the beat Of the drum will call us to-
gelher no longer. The greatest pang of all Is
our country-lor her we weep, for her we
mourn, for her we have offered our lives and
we are ready again, whenever the emergency
requires it, to shoulder our arms and march to
the battlefield We have fought for the Tn.
ion, we meant to stand by 1t, We claim to be
possessed with the spirit Of freedom. Our pur.
pose has been to maintain our national honor,
and to uphold our national flag. My country
men we have endeAyored 10 be faithful to that
sacred cause in which we enlisted. If we have
not, it has been an error Of Judgment We
remembered that VIC were sons OF Vermont,
and she needs no comment on her past history.
There are her Aliens, her Starks, her Benn.
iugton and her Hubbardton. We have endeav
ored to keep these pages shining brightly. We
arc proud to say that we are American citizens,
but prouder yet are We to be able to say that
we are citizens Of Vermont.
Fellow citizens, we are again among you, but
| assure you there is not one OF this Company
who, il he knew his country really needed his
services would stop only to bid his friends
goodbye. There is the same spirit beating
within our breasts to-day that there was three
months ago. We will cling to our country
with the same tenacity. We los her, and
under her flag ye are ready to die Gentlemen,
we are in the midst Of a revolution, the wick
edest, believe, ever known to the world. 1t is
a struggle betwixt life and death. The contest
which is to decide whether the prograss OF free
dom shall be onward, or this Government, which
has 50 long been our protection, shall crumble
into ruin. VIII that flag which waves over
the capitol Of Washington, which bears the
name Of him We hold 70 dear, our glory and our
PRIDE trail in the dust? 1t will not trust.
| believe there is q popular heart largo enough
to save the Union. May we never see the yes
sci 20 to wreck, the keel Of which was laid by
the hand OF Washington, jefferson, Mad
ison, a Hamilton, the Adamses and the JAYS,
and all that figured in our early and virtu0us
days, but rather declare the S,ar-spangled Ban.
ner shall wave from its mast. Our brothers
blood, which was split on the 2lstof Jolly, calls
for Justice. Our war-cry is ' Onward, Justice
and Liberty The cry of Liberty has knock.
at every door in New England Its echo
has reached every heart and heartbstonc. VIII !
you not, then, NY coantrym,a, join hart and /
hand in ono cause, our Country Lit Us r
mVauNE lhal lNcW hUghiUV ls lhc pluCe WAef /
the first cry of Liberty raised its voice. where
the cradle Of its infancy was rocked and when |
the American Fag falls, 1t fall it must let US
be wrapped in It's folds.
Ladies and Gentlemen Of Mortified, one and |
all, we as soldiers return to you cur thanks for |
the many kind favors received from your hands, |
for the interest you have manifested in our wei
fare, and for this reception. You will ever
have our best wishes for your future happiness
and prosperity.
Respected Officers, my bursting heart is too full
for utterance at this parting hou. can only
say that We believe you have been faithful to
your Company aId faithful to ltur Countr
May your future life be as happy and glorious
rs your past three months have been honorable.
The Guards were then marched into the din
ng Hall Of the Northdell House, where good
had been ordered by the citizens of
Mortified Rev. o. II. Tilotson asked an ap.
propriate blessing. After breakfast Aud
Lang Syne was sung by Calvin Cady, Esq,
and the Company dispersed feeling well pleased
with .hcir reception and entertainment.
NoRrHFIELD