Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-08-12
Special correspondence of the journal
THE OLD VERMONT BRIGADE.

In these days Of battle, When the mourning
Of hearts follows the conflict Of hands, and
the brave deeds Of the living are ever shaded
by the recollections Of the dead, it would
hardly be possible to I'll single page for the
public eye, that was not in some degree his
toric Of the national arms. The age Of hero
worship will never end. To admire fortitude
and vaor, and fearless patriotic manhood, is
only to be human. a single soldier whose
highest purpose is to serve his country faith
fully, has already lived an unwritten volume
Of most thrilling history. His deeds should
be immortal. One million and four hundred
thousand Of such soldiers have already writ
ten their names in the shining galaxy. How
little Of that immense compendium will pos
terity ever learn. Not every thousandth man
will preserve the diary Of his eveutful service,
with all his trials and triumphs Of body and
Of spirit. How meager, therefore, must be
any history Of this rebellion that will ever
exist. The statesman may speculate as to ita
causes and results. but the historian will
never weave completely its warp and woof
into one unbroken web.
II the talent OF the whole country was di-
rected to preserve a record Of what transpires
with The ' Vermont Brigade" alone, the story
would still be very poorly told. No other
Brigade has seen more constant and arduous
service in the Army Of the Potomac, and none
has secured a more spolless record before the
country. How repeatedly have they been
| the subjects OF the com pliments of their com
mandefs, and how rarely has Vermont sol
dier been the victim of any censure OF re-
proof whatever their provoca,ion or condi-
ton We read that colder has stolen a
horse, or robbed poor widow, or got drunk
or deserted, and for various offences, a score
or two are daily lodged in guard house, but
how seldom is NermOnter found on the list.
a Vermont soldier has a higher Specification.
They can read and understand the constitu-
tion Of their country, and they are determ-
ined to fight every rebel who is in arms
against it. 4 hey understand just as well as
General Grant or Abraham Lincoln, the great
issue Of the hour. They feel that il is a
weighty responsibility to become their coun-
try's deierders. They inscribe upon their
banners Death to traitors and doing and
daring have become the deeds they love.
Let me say a word further Of what is
known as the old Vermont Brigade. While
they have served their country maniully, the
State from which they hail, owes them an es-
pecial debt Of gratitude. They have main
tanned with intelligent zeal the record Of the
Green Mountain Boys, and have earned hon
ors for which the State will welcome them
gladly to the illustrious roll, with her heroes
OF 90 ! spent last Sunday in their camp
some three miles north of Georgetown. But
there was osey linked with the great pleas
ure Of that association, the bitter reflection
that only hundreds stand now in the lines
where thousands were two years and hal
ago. What remain of the regiments are mod
eli soldiers in every sense. They were never
looking better or feeling better than now
When they came into the city from Grant
entertainments two weeks ago, the univers 4
inquiry seemed to be, how fer is it out t.
the rebels :" When told, only four or fv
miles" the response was" hope it is so
and we'll play there before night
This desire was literally gratihed with som
OF them, for on that same afternoon, the
With Others Of the 9th corps met the enem
between six and seven o'clock and the en-
gagement followed which induced the rebel
10 retreat from our front during the night
Yesterday m2rning the corps was ordered t.
advance again, and last night they encampe,
near Rockville, some Is piles towards Har
per's Ferry. Speculation as to the purpos
is useless, but il is generally understood b
the best infol med, that the Vermont Brigad
will remain for some time IN the vicinity G
Washington With this description Of th
Brigade as it now il, come TO the conclusio
most important to all Vermonters, viz. =
those regiments must be filled up with Tt
cruiis. The State owes 1t to them a hr'
duty. The Government has kindly granite
the privilege Of brigaiing together fave
that is not Usually granted. Both the Prit
and the honor of the State is therefore II
volved in the keeping up Of the Brlgad
: And now, while they are in this department
is the most favorable period for the mob
work.
It should be known to the people Of II
State that their Representative Mr. Baxte
does not remain in Washington as an idle
4, or for SCI fish purposes. Few men or wome
have ever iabored more devotediy, or vii
more benevolent hearts, than have Mr.. al
Mrs Baxter since the adjournment Of Coz
gress especially, in visiting all the hospita
in this vicinity and in relieving as far as
:, in their power the WEAKNESS of the woupde
soldiers lot. Mr.. Baxter has humauely co
- seorated himself to the work as bushes
He has bough, him team for the purpos
and with baskets bountifuly filled, in comp
=, nv with his most excellent lady, he daily di
. tributes where most needed, tokens of syT
:. pathy and morsels of material comfort, tn
> the patient soldier will never forget TO
: dying hour. know Of no other Cougres
=. man, nor the wife of one, who are at prese
:, engaged in a similar work. W. H