Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-10-17
GOV. FAIRBANKS
vALDDIcToRY ADDRESS.


late extra session of the Legislature, furnish suici-
ent reason why should depart from the usual custom
in retiring from the Executive office, and commune
cate briefly in an address to the General Assembly.
the transactions of the past lew months and especial
y those pertaining to the organization and equipment
Of troops for the service of the United States.
Immediately after the passage of the act Of April
Goth, providing for the appointment of Regimertal
and Field Officers the LIST Regiment was detailed
from the Uniform Militia, for three months service
under the requisition of the President of the United
States, and OIL the second day of May mustered at
Rutland.
| This Regiment, under its accomplished commander
Col Phelps, did important service at Newport News,
and honoraby mustered out Of the service of the
United States nc Bratteboro the 18th Of August.
On the 9TH Of May orders were issued for recruiting
| the second and third Regiments of Volunteers under
the provisions Of the act of April Goth, entitled "An
net to provide for raising six special regiments"
These were filled with great dispatch, and mustered
Mt Burlington and st. Johnsbury early in June.
The second Regiment, under Col. Whiting, left
Burlington for Washington City June gath.
The third Regiment was ordered forward by the
Secretary of War, July 18th, and left ST. Johnsbury
under command of Coone-now Brgadicr General
Smith, July cath.
On the 9Th of August commissions were issued for
raising the fourth and fifth Regiments Of Volunteers
which were filled nearly or quite to the maximum
number of 1916 each, aud mustered at Brattebo-
no and St. Adams September l2th-i4th.
Washington City, Sept. 2lst. and the fifth under Col
Smnlcy, left St. Adams Sept. 23d.
These several Regiments have been uniformed
equipped, furnished with army wagons and horses
and armed with rifle muskets ut the expense of the
State.
On the 18th of September recruiting officers were
appointed for raising the sixth Regiment of Volunteers
which was filled with great promptitude, and muster
ed at Montpelier, the first week in October under
the command Of Col. Lord-beng fully equipped and
uniformed ready to be ordered forward to the scat Of
war
These five Regiments are composed principally Of
he m Of thp nd
der their educated aud experienced commanders, will
it is believed, form Vermont Brigade.
On the seventh Of August, ! issued commission
to Capt. l.. Weston, IT,, TO raise company OF practic
ed Sharp Shooters to be organized upon the plan OF
Col. Berdan, approved and authorized by the Pres
ident and Secretary of War. This company was re-
cruited to the maximum number, and lett west Ran
doph for Col. Berdans Regiment in the army of the
Potomac on the 1ith of September
On the 25th of September issued commission to
Capt. H. Il. Stoughton TO raise second company OF
Sharp Shooters.
These companies have been, or are to be, armed,
uniformed and equipped by the general Government.
A regiment of mounted cavalry has been raised by
voluntary enlistment under commission issued by the
Secretary Of War to Col l.. Il. Platt. have author
lied Capt l.. r. Sayles of Leicester, TO raise squad
of cavalry, TO form part offs regiment apporton-
cd to the several New England States to be organized
uniformed and equipped by Gov. Sprague of Rhode
Island, ond denornnated tic New England Regiment
of Mounted Cavalry. This order is subject to the d.
rccton Of the Legislature.
These several corps are composed OF intelligent IN
dependent -voluntcers-cnlisted for three
yeuis or during the war; and the aacity with which
they have volunteered and entered into the service OF
the country, is remarkable and gratifying expires
sion Of the devoted patriotism OF our citizens, and an
unmstakable pledge Of the loyalty Of Vermont to the
government of the United States and the cause ofthe
Union.
should do injustice to my own feelings, rs well as
to the officers aud men in service should fail To mem
ton the uniform testimony which has been communi-
Gated to Of the excellent conduct Of our troops
Those of them who have been in active service have
been under excellent discipline, and have, when N
posts Of danger and fatigue displayed Il GOODNESS,
courage and endurance rot exceled by soldiers in the
regular army, while their moral bearing and exempla
ry department has for them the confidence and
appreciation of their superior officers.
doubt not that the Regiments which have recent
y Joined them, well as the soon to follow, VIII
do themselves equal credit end prove an honor to the
State and country.
1t will be recocced that the act Of the extra
sion, authorizing the raising Of these special Reg
ments, is independent of any previous organization
or statute The responsibility Of raising organizing
unitorminC nrining and equipping them is made the
sole duty of the Governor.
In the absence of any existing military organiza-
ton, authorized code, this duty has been embar-
RAISING and laborious and not unfrequenily respon
sibte. assumed for which no specific authority
existed. But in all cases care has been taken to con-
form to the obvious intent and meaning OF the act
aforesaid
BY the provision of this act the term of service is
limited 10 two years and each non commissioned Off
GER musician and private is entitled to receive from
tho State of Vermont seven dollars nor month i'm nd
dton 10 the CONDENSATION maid nv the limited States
The rcousition of the President Of the United States
for troops for three wears or during the war made it
expedient and necessary to atopt form of contract
in accordance thereto, while ut the same time it
made to conform to the provisions of the aforesaid
as follows 1--WE enlist and agree to serve for the first
two wears under and by virtue of the provisions of
the act of the Legislature of this State entitled AN
act TO provide for raising six special Regiments for
immediate service for protecting and defending the
constitution of the IIniOn' approyel April &C. 1861
and are to receive he CONDENSATION therein provided
nnd for the third year under the laws rules and reg
nlations relating ia the army of the United States
and such further compensation if any as the Legs
loturc of the State of Vermont NAV hereafter pro-
vide"
Ii will be seem therefore that should the term of
service be extended TO the third year the soldiers thus
serving will not be entitled to the seven dollars per
month extra nav without further Legislative provi-
sions Every consideration of equity and justice de-
mands that nroy,ous hould be made for placing the
several corps of citizen soldiers upon the same foot
inc in this regard
Owing TO the circumstance beyond nv control it
has unt1l the present time been impossible to obtain
he vuchers necessary for nrenoin properly the alb
stracts 10 he presented 10 the Treasury Department
Enr tho ro;rhnrsenent of exnonses incurred by the
state
An estima,e certified nv me to be within the
omorpt or,unlI,. exnendc1 f,r the first second and
tL;rJ rec;mnnts ,,ni C,ry,r1od 10 WASHINGTON by 4
" Stewnrt va Ipsncctnr or Einnnce early in Sen
,on,ber nn, ih n,in,",e fortv ncr cent. or one
L,nIreh rJ thnusond fSlo3 OOO) dollars
has baon refunded 3ri nlacnd in the state Treasury
Tho u,nount of ,ynrr,-,,ts drawn nv me unon the
ra, ~ 70 1 GI & tho AN If octnhcr il