The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-01-21
SursuAS, WAsn'N Co, n. y, J
Dpc. :. 1861.

Henry l.. MINER, ESD
Dear Sir:-On looking over your di-
gest Of the history Of the town o. Man
chester as published in the second nun-
Der of the Vermont Quarterly Gazetteer,
cr October 1861, see that you state that
the records Of the proceedings OF the Copn-
cil Of Safety appointed by the convention
convened at Windsor TO discuss and adopt
the consti ution, but which had been pre-
malurey dissolved (july 2, 100 by
Burgoyues ; invasion, are all, prior TO Aug.
l5. l777, irrecoyerably lost. That Coun-
eli OF Safety, you say, met at Manchester,
July 10, l777. You refer to Thompson's
fancy sketch Of that meeting, It's members
and proceedings, rs given in his work,
/" he Rangers, or the Tory's Daughter
Is his statement given there reliable /
read that work some years ago, and sup
posed it was made up partly Of facts and
a good deal oi fancy, ! supposed that he
had the natnos of the Council right, aud
pei haps the substance Of their proceedings
correct. II Was undoubtedly Il dark pc
riod Of lhe Revolution, about July, II.
TicoumerUga lad fallen; Burgoyne nd
vaucing with 4 strong army, backed by an
orgmized, powerful government, only 70
be opposed by few scattered, pennllcss,
not to say dishearteprd Rcbeis as they
were styled--il is moi surprising that hum
dreds should flock 10 the loyal army for
protection and TO save their property.
Thompson gives the NAMES Of that
Council Of Safely: Thomas Chiitrnden,
President, two brothers Fays, two Robin
sens, Matthew Lyon, Benz. Carpenter,
Ttos. Rowiey, NAHUM CIalk, Gideon
Olin, Pad Spoouer, Ira Allen, Gen. .a-
cob Bayley, and. Squire Spencer.
Spencer, he says, deserted TO Burgoync
before their meeting in July, II. The
other embers met and organized at Man
chester, July l777, to devise means to
carry on the war. No money no State
credit, he enemy rictorious, BsUgoyae al
Fort Ana, tories focking to him in all di-
rections even one OF our Council is gone.
What shall we doy We cant enlist sol
ders, we have not the meaHs TO eqaip
Them. feed them, or pay hem One pro-
posed that each man Of the Committee
turn out and solicit volunteers ard 20 and
lead item. Another would second that,
but thought they needed a regular force,
however small, 70 rally around, and named
one company Of 100 men. ALoiher mem
brr would 20 little higher, and named
two companies, OF GO men each.
At this stage of the days proceedings,
(nuw nearly niglh,) Ira Alien, the young
est man Of the Council. addressed the
President. and -aid, Mr.. President, 90
TOR neither proposition. i move that Tbs
Council raise a full regiment, appoint their
officers, and take prompt and speedy meas
ures for their enlistment Ghimerical,"
says one; Impossible, utterly impossible
to raise pay for half Of them" said several
voices.
Near night, about lime to adjourn, Mr..
Clark proposed that their young colleague
who offered this proposition with 50 much
confidence ia the discovery OF way 10
carry it into execution, and who is said to
be very fertile in expsdienis, be appointed
a committee to devise ways and means of
paying the bouuiies and wages Of the reg
inIeni lie proposes to raise, and that he
make his report to the Council by sunrise
tomorrow morning. Agreed 70. and ad1
journed.
Next morning at sunrise, Allen met the
Council promptly, holding an open sheet
Of paper IN his hand, The ink hardly dry.
The report being called for, he arose
and said, My report CONSISTS u two
parts;
lst, The nomination Of a list Of officers
from Colonel 10 .ubailerns iof . Regimen
70 be 4sled tbe RoHgers