Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1861-06-25
GREEN MOUNTAIN FREEMAN, JUNE Is, 1861.
The Soldiers Of the Republic.


To-day Monday the Second Regiment of
Vermont troops have started for the war
They are as noble looking body of men as
any State can show and are enthusiastic in
their desire to serve their Country against the
Infatuated rebels striking at its Life And IN
this respect they are only type Of the great
Northern army that has gathered with such
wonderful alacrity at the call Of the Govern
ment.
The history of the world fails to Furnish
a parallel to the mighty voluntary moyemen
Of the citizens Of this Republic IN support Of
the constituted authorities There have been
no impressments 10 CONSUMPTION, no drafting,
for the Northern army. The whistle of
Rodcrick Dhu did not produce more start
ling result upon the apparently lonely Scottish
glen, than was effected by the Presidents proc
lamation. The lightning bore the message 20
the borders of the Republic, and thousands,
tens Of thousands, hundreds Of thousands in
stantly left the pursuits Of peaceful industry,
and clothed themselves in the armor of the sol
der. The notes Of the " ear piercing fife, the
martial rattle Of the dram, the measured tramp
OF the gathering columns, drowned the hum Of
quiet industry, aud awoke a military spirit
that had slept for almost fifty years From
tower and spirc and stoeple, from root and
chimneys, from windows and balconies, from
steam cars, from carriages of every description,
and even from the horses brides, blossomed
the National coors The ploughman, as he
drove L" his team aGell whistlci Yankee boo
die; and the atmosphere itself was not more
omnipresent than the spirit OF patriotism.
The result of all this patriotic enthusiasm
has been to bring into the field a citizen sol
diery Of a material better in its moral, phJsi-
cal and intellectual qualities, than ever before,
since the days Of the Revolution marched into
actual warfare to the notes Of martial music.
1t il not, as is too often the case, the scum Of
society that has now taken up arms but it is
the honest, Industrious, reputable, law.abiding
citizen that has offered himself as soldier to
defend the Flag.
The war is contest for all that we as
people hold yauable,-a stable Government,
and Freedom under the protection Of the Con-
stitution and the Laws,-and our very best
men, men Of property. Of reputation, of hon
orable positions, and in lucrative pursuits, have
gladly gone forth to uphold that Government
and to maintain the Constitution and enforce
the Laws, A body Of men Of better character
in every respect than the present soldiers of
the Republic never shouldored arms.
And the troops Vermont is sending to the
Rcenes Of the war to assist IN tho defence or Re
publican institutions need not be afraid Of
comparison with the very best Of their compan
ions in arms They are Green Mountain
Boys, aud in their ranks will be found the
qualities that have made that name respected
and loved wherever known. They 90 on an err
rand in which there is much danger, but in
which there is for them also certain honor. As
each Company and Regiment leaves our green
hills, we bid them " God speed with grief at
parting, to be sure, but with the blessed belief
that he whose privilege it now is to be a soldier
Of the Republic will have the most honorable
place in the history Of our times, and is making
for himself name aud fame that will live long
after we who are staying at homo have been
buried aud forgotten.