Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-10-16

IN hospitals IN more southern IaltuuUs
or near the tide waters, have also yielded
very kindly to hospital treatment in the
climate of Vermont.
Having enlarged the hospital accom-
modations ia Vermont, at the expense o
the state, for the benefit of her own sol
diers, have preferred to let the matter
remain upon that basis but if it shoulc
be judged desirable for the state to turn
these improvements over to the general
government, and receive reim5ursements
for the expense incurred, that can prob
ably be done, with the condition imposed
by the government, however, that then
the hospitals shall be general hospitals,
in the strict sense, no more for the benefit
of Vermont soldiers than those OF other
states.
Reference is respectfully made to the
annual report of the adjutant and tspec.
tor general, for further information upon
this subject, as conveyed in certain facts
and statistics from his office, in the re-
ports of the surgeons in charge Of the
hospitals in the state, and in the reports
OF the commissioners to visit our soldiers
and procure their transfer to Vermont.
Reference is further respectfully made
to the annual reports of the adjulaut and
inspector general, and of the quarteTmas-
ter general, for further information upon
various matters connected with military
affairs, so fully treated therein as to need
no further elucidation in this communica-
ton.
Early in June last, l received com
munication from the war department,
dated the I'd of that month, authorizing
and requesting me to raise two regiments
of veteran volunteer infantry, and one
battery of veteran volunteer artillery, toI
serve for three years unless sooner dis
charged, and to be composed of men who
have heretofore been enlisted and haveI
served for not less than nine months, and
can pass The examination required by the
mastering regulations of the United
States; and informing me that if these
troops are raised they will be credited as
three years men in the quota Of the state.
Five regiments of nine months troops
were then returning 10 the state, to be
mustered out of service and as the gov
ernment was evidently 10 need Of more
troops, to take the places of the nine
months men from the various states
whose term of service was about expi-
ring, and Vermont would of course be
expected to furnish her quota under any
new call for men, orders were according
ly issued by the adjutant and inspector
general, on the Sd of August last, calling
for the enlistment of the regiments and
the battery above named. 1t was sup
posed that these troops would be readily
enlisted. Unexpectedly, h however, a
great amount of sickness prevailed among
the nine months volunteers, after they
had returned to their homes, which de-
tered speedy enlstments in these pro-
posed new organizations.
The five regiments Of nine months
volunteers, composing the second Yer
mont brigade, returned to the state in the
month of July last, and were mustered
out of service at Rrattleboro,-a part in
July and the remainder in August. In
my annual message of last year, had
occasion to speak of the Vermont troops
hen in service, in the following terms
Their valor on every field, and il every
situation in which they have been placed,
rivals that of the early heroes of Yer
mont, justifes their noble origin, and
proves that the race has not degenerated,
but is now, as of old, capable OF the most
heroic and manly deeds, and may be re-
lied upon in every emergency The
application Of this language to the second
Vermont brigade, is justified by its whole
bearing while in the service. The con
luct of these nine months volunteers, in
every duty they were called upon to per-
'orm, whether in guarding a long line of
country, 10 rapid and prolonged march,
Or in hurting back the furious charges Of
The enemy on the bloody field at Gettys-
burg, showed clearly that they possess
he high qualities which have on so many
occasions been illustrated by our earlier
egiments and then they there again de-
nonstrated, that in steadiness, reliability,
and endurance, the Vermont
roops are not excelled by those Of any
state or country.
In closing this brief communication,
deem it proper to affirm, that the unity Of
purpose and effort, the good order, and
obedience to authority and to law, the
broad nationality of sentiment, and the
patriotic sacrifices, which haYe character
zed the people of Vermont in :heir en-