The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-06-24
The Soldiers of the Repu bile.

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 tho mighty voluntary movement
Of the citizens of this Republic in support of
the constituted authorities. There have been
no impressments no CONSUMPTION, no drafting,
for the Northern army. Tho whistle of
Roderick Dhu did not produce a more start
ling result upon the apparently lonely Scottish
glen, than was effected by the Presidents proc
lamation. The lightning bore the message TO
the borders of the Republic, and thou sands,
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 drum, the measured tramp
OF the gathering columns, drowned the hum of
quiet industry. and awoke a military spirit
that had slept for almost fifty years From
tower and spiro and steeple, from roof and
chilnneys, from windows and balconies, from
steam cars, from carriages of every description ,
and even from the horses brides, blossomed
the National colors. The ploughman, as he
drove " his team afeld " whistled Yankee Doc
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 citizen SOL
diery of a material batter in it's moral, phys-
cal and intellectual qualities, than ever before,
since the days of the Revolution, marched into
actual warfare to the notes of martial music.
1t is 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 a soldier to
defend the Flag.
people hold valuable, "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. body of men of better character
in every respect than the present soldiers of
the Republic never shouldered arms
And the troops Vermont is sending to the
scenes of the war to assist in the defence of Re-
publican institutions need not be afraid of a
comparison with the very best of their compan
ions in arms. They are g Green Mountain
Boys and 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, wesbid them 6 God speed y 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
fer himself u name and fame that will live long
after we who are staying az home have been
buriel aud forgotten.