Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-02-25
Farewell Levee TO the Fifth Rcui.
meMl.


meMt.
Editor Ratlana Herald - The farewell
levee in honor of the officers and soldiers
of the Fifth Vermont Veteran Regiment
was given at the Brandon House, Bran
don, VT, February Sd, 1854.
The soldiers are entitled to great praise
for their gentlemanly department and
military bearing upon the occasion.-
The affair was under the skillful man
agement of Col. Merritt and Capt w. b.
Robinson, and was decided success
After partaking of sumptuous supper,
the getting up of which reflects credit
on. the proprietor of the house, toasts
and speeches followed Among those
called for was Lieut.. NJ ]. McManus,
formerly of the 5th who spoke substan-
TALLY as follows
Mr.. Chairman, and Fellow Soldiers of
the Fifth Vermont
Let me assure you that consider it
great pleasure and distinguished honor
to be permitted to see once more these
men with whom it was my fortune for
a time to associate upon the tented field
OF Old Virginia-yes, and well may any
man, woman or child in Vermont con-
slider 1t an honor to be permitted to min
gle with and shake the warm hands of
these War-worn veterans of the 5th Yer
mont these illustrious heroes of many
hard and well contested fields. Soldiers,
Vermont owes you debt of gratitude
and respect, for nobly have you sustain
ed the honor of the Commonwealth and
added luster, by your heroic deeds. to
the world renowned valor of the old
Green Mountain State. You have borne
her banner through the solid phalanx of
stubborn and infuriated enemy, and
planted it where bullets flew like hail.
before the teeth and steel of rebel hosts.
on Mary's Heights at fredericksburg
When the telegraph announced the saw
ing of the Sixth Corps by one of the
most brilliant and daring bayonet
charges Of the war, and that too, made
by our own Vermont Brigade, think
you for moment, what were the feelings
ofyour friends at home Why, there
was not loyal man within the limits
of our noble little State whose heart was
not filled to overflowing, and every
voice, trembling with patriotic emotions
exclaimed, "long live that iron clad
brigade. Fellow soldiers, your services
in the field, your gallantry in every en-
gagement with the enemy, and your
determination to conquer whenever and
wherever you have met the hosts of cot
ton-headed rebeldom, has won for YOU a
reputation as enduring as the Green
Mountains OF your own dear native
State In addition to the seIfsacrifcing
deeds In your country's cause, you have
again enlisted for a period of three years
longer, in order that you may wipe out
the last stain and eradicate the dismem-
bered and broken fragments of this ac-
cursed rebellion. This very act of yours
after a period of toll and fighting and
blood, shows your confidence in the gov
ernment and your love of country; yes,
it has crowned all your former achieve
ments with a diadem of patriotism and
national devotion. The day of general
reckoning with Rebellion is near at
hand, and to you is assigned the duty of
the final settlement The starving con-
scripts will never stand before the we'll
filled ranks off veteran army composed
of men like these no they never can
stand before the cream of the Sixth
corps and the flower of the old Vermont
brigade. Your next advance viii lbe one
that will cause rebels to tremble in
their boots and make their toes jingle to
the tune Of Yankee Doodle. In a short
time peace will be the fruit Of your no
Bile efforts, when you will return to your
homes of peace and plenty to fill up the
vacant places around the iresides of
your own choice, in q land redeemed by
your own strong hearts and hands on the
blood stained fields of charlottesville.
Antietam, Banks Ford, Savage Station
and Gettysburg, and long may you live
to enjoy the well deserved praise of a
generous and thankful people. Then
the wreaths and laurels Of neyer-dying
fame so bravely contended for and SO
gloriously achieved, may justly be en-
twined around your manly brows as an
honor to yourselves. your children, and
your children's children Then when
this cruel war is over, as we hope it will
be soon, as nation we shall be stronger
then ever before; a band OF freemen
manning 200 Founders viii exist in one
continuous line from Maine to Texas,
the booming of whose guns will rever-
berate in tones of thunder
THANK GoD, is FREE. Fellow Soldiers,
who is there who will not be proud in
after years, of the fact that he once be-
longed to the grand army of the Poto-
mac, or the Cumberland, when the en-
sign of America, wherever seen, will be
respected by the nations OF the earth,
and the navies of the world will dip
their colors, and the combined artillery
of every nation will act in concert in
firing those grand salvos in honor OF that
starry banner for which you have so
bravely fought and your gallant COM
rades died, TCoa.l
------ ------------