Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-08-23
THE FIRST VERMONT.

Yours, S.
THE FIRST VERMONT.
The paying of of the First Regiment COM
menccd at Brattleboro on Thursday, and oc
cupied two days, Gen. Baxter paying for
twelve days of service previous to the mus
tering into the L. S. service, the State Treas
urer dispensing the : month additional
pay, voted by the State, and pdymaster
Halsey paying the wases due from the gen
eral Government. The amount of money 50
paid to the r. gimcnt was about sirty thou
sand dollars The shekels whether of metal
or paper (the State paying in Bank bills and
the United States in gold) were accepted
without reluctance by the men in fact they
took them with the same cheelfulucss with
which they would have taken Big Bethel or
Norfolk Navy yard if they had had an equal
chance They received full pay from the
Goth of April, being some ten or fifteen days
pay more than they were expecting. This.
with the hospitality Of the people OF Brat
tleboro, of which the boys speak in high
terms, consoled them fully for their tedious
delay at Brattleboro, They return to their
homes in the main well suited with their
four months experience, with their officers,
and with themselves More than hall the
regiment already avow their intention to
re-enlst
Friday evening at about six o'clock, after
various slight delays, the Regiment took
special tram for Bellows Falls, where it was
divided, the Bradford, Northfeld Water
/ bury, Swanton and ST. Albans Companies
| taking the VI Central route to their respect
i've homes, while the Cayendish, Rutland,
Brandon, Middlcbury and Burlington com
panies came by the Rutland road, reaching
Rutland at half Tast twelve, Burlington at
half past three, and St. Adams at six D clock.
The people were out to greet the returning
Volunteers at every station, and at each OF the
places where companies were left thc citizens
were on hand with music and torchliGht pro-
ccssions to receive them The St. Al5ans com
pany stopped over at Mortified and went
home this forenoon.
RECErTION OF THE LIGHT GUARD.
The uncertainty as to the time Of the ar
rival Of the Burlington Company interlered
somewhat with the intended demonstrations
Of welcome here but their reception was
hearty one and as good, doubtless, all things
considered, as if there had been more of it.
The Home Guard, Capt. Page, had procured
the Westford drum band, and with the
ETHAN Allen Lancers' held themselves in
readiness to do escort duty. At two O'Clock
\. NJ, the approach OF the train having been
announced by telegraph, the bclls were rung
to rouse the citizens large number of whom
| turned out of their beds to welcome "the
BOYS" and collected at the depot. Vt half
/ past three the train arrived amid the cheers
of the multitude the Light Guard formed,
! and escorted by the Home Guard and the
Lancers marched up to the square, where
they were addressed by Hon. Daniel Roberts
in the following words which express so ap-
propriately the common feeling and welcome
! of the community
Mr. ROBERTS ADDRESS.
Captain Peet, and m,n of the Burlington Light
Guard
| How well We ell remember that pleasant May
morning, three months agone, when you met the
men and women of Burlington, some yodr reia-
tivcs and associates all your friends, here in the
Town Hall to bid and to receive kindly adieus.
all unknowing but they might prove last adieuS.
! WonanIy tears bedewed the cheeks of mother,
sister, wife, at that parting and manly bosoms
heaved, and stern lips quiyered with unwonted
emotions, as yielded up our loved ones to the
uncertain chances of war. But the blessing OF
God Almighty, so solemnly invoked in your be-
half at that parting, has attended and brought
you ell back again, not one missing, to these
peaceful scenes, and to the embrace Of klnsmen
and friends. Let us be duly thankful for so kind
| ly providence.
Burlington welcomes you, not kindly merely,
but proudly, for you have deserved well Of your
friends and of your country. You were Of the
first Of tho sons of the Green Mountains TO catch
the rallying cry of your insulted father-land aud
! 10 rush to it's rescue. You were Of the first to
] take armed occupation of tho so called "sacred
soil" of Virginia, self desecrated by rebellion, but
consecrsted anew by the flag you planted there,
| We have heard Of you in the camp as subordin-
/ ate to authority, orderly, sober, well behaved.
! We have heard of your sturdy labors in en-
/ trenchment and forlifcation masters of the spade
/ and pick. Our hearts have followed you upon the
scout in the skirmisb, and on the battlefield,
beating proudly at the display of your loyalty,
and prowess. God bless you, my good, brave
friends, for the example you have set US, laggards
at home, of devotion to country, of loyalty to
truth and justice and civil freedom, in your three
months campaign.
| And now returning to us,rar-woTn, travel-worn
and weary, we welcome you to happy homes and
warm hearts, and such rest as the exigencies of
the times may justify. We do not forget that
Freedoms battle is not ended, but only just begun,
and that our country at this moment, as much
ever before, demands sacrifices of her sons-sacri-
fees, do say'-nay rather let call it devotion,
selfprowpted, Of money, arms, hearts-blood, all in
| defense of those institutions which have made
great and free people, and of that glorious flag
which waves oyerto protect us. Grateful to you for
the past,s it too much to ask of your late loyalty,
that you employ your apprenticeship in war
but as lesson learned for future usc, and that,
! so far may be allowable in each individual
| case, you illustrate your future lives, by devot-
ing matured soldiership to the service Of our
common country, which is also the csuse Of law,
| order goYernueut and fraedorn thrn- o. hnut the