Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-06-30
REvIEW on THE NINTH REaIMENT


strsct of which we give below:
MAJ. Brooks and the Soldiers of the Ninth
Regiment:
am here to welcome you to home and
peace. The hour, place and circumstances
are proptious. They speak to US of tranquil
scenes and remind you OF home. II was
strange sight, indeed, to us four years since,
when we listened to the martial tread Of ciu-
zen soldiers departing to engage in the de-
fence Of their country; and ever since we
have watched you every hour as you periled
your lives in preserving the honor of our
common country. And nobly have you stood
your part from the hour in which you went
forth from our State under the command Of
Col StannArd. among the bravest and best Of
the officers of Vermont. The memorable
Ninth have always been found msnfully c,riv-
ing in the field for the noble cause in which
they had enlisted. To you, Soldiers, was en-
trusted the honor and fame Of the Green
Mountain State and always have you main
tanned it inviolate.
But scenes have changed and now you are
about to resume your place as citizens Of the
State. The War has accomplished all we
have hoped and asked for. Severe and ardu-
Gus duty it has been for you to assume the
office of a soldier, to leave the peaceful walks
Of life, and the homes Of your childhood, to
/ peril all in field And so it is also pleasant
duty for you again to assume the peaceful
pursuits Of the citizen 1t has been prob
lem as to what would become of our citizen
soldiers, now that the war was ended. From
the long habit of the camp and battlefield, il
was questioned whether the soldier could re-
turn quickly to the walks of peace and indus
Try. That problem is yet unsolved, and you
are to do your part in solving it. 1t is to be
seen whether you can resume the habits Of
the citizen and lend your voice to the resto-
ration Of that national harmony, which, if not
preserved and perpetuated, all we have secur-
ed by this war is lost. As for myself, have
no fears Of the result. ! speak to Vermont
soldiers and ! will vouch that as you lay aside
these iusgnias OF war, and as easily as you
restore the musket to its place, and the sword
to it's scabbard, you will as quickly re-assume
the pursuits of peace.
This is the first occasion upon which have
met the " Old Ninth" have been near you,
but never before seen you face to face. But
you have none the less been the subject OF my
thought, solicitude and care, and ! am proud
to say that in the record of the braveNermont
troops who have fought so nobly in the war,
you will occupy high position. And now,
as the most distinguished compliment | can
offer to your behavior and prowess, is letter
from Maj Gen. Evens Of the 24thCorps, which
well attests your bravery and soldieIly char
acter.
The letter following was then read byAdj't
Gould;
HEADoUARTERs, Sd DIVISION,
oath A. c., ne1r Richmond, Va,
June l4.h. 1865. J
His Ercellency John g. Smith, Governor Of
the State of Vermont
GOVERNOR The 9th regiment of Vermont
Vols, Colonel and Brevet Brig. Gen. +. H..
Ripley, commanding, to-day leaves this Divi-
sion for Vermont there to be finally discharg
ed from the United States service.
The 9Th, after much good service on the
southern peninsula of Virginia and in North
Carolina, in the various conflicts Of 1863 and
'64, was transferred to the Army of the James,
and Joined in the simmer OF 1854 the 18th
corps, from which this division was formed.
1t bore an honorable part in the ful
assault on Fort Harrison, Sept goth, 1864,
and in the affair of the Williams burg Road of
Oct. 9th, '64, and was one Of the first regi-
ments to enter Richmond on the morning Of
April Sd.
Throughout all its services with the Army
Of the James, and, as | am informed, in all it's
previous service, it has borne the reputation
of most brave, reliable and well disciplined
regiment, and at several examinations has
been pronounced the best equipped and dis
cplined regiment in this Division, composed
of eighteen (lS) regiments. ! commend its
officers and men to you as in every way wor-
thy Of the considers ion Of your Excellency
and the patriotic people OF the State of Yer
haua sha
of the State which sent them forth {; they
have bravely borne their part in vndicating
the principles Of free government and they
come to claim their share in the common
happiness which the glorious ,esults OF our
triumph will ensure to us and the millions
who are to come after US. have much con-
fdence that they will not be found to be
worse citizens because they have been brave
and true soldiers, that they will bring back
to their native hills not the vices, but the
virtues of the camp and that fidelity, fortitude,
energy and perseverance will be found to
mark them in the various ways of life to which
they may hereafter be called.
All who went forth under the flags OF this
regiment will not return although more for
tunate than many of the regiments who have
gone from your gallant State, yet it will be
found that war by its twin agencies of battle
and disease has fearfully thinned their num-
bers. ! do not record them here, yet CRATE
full and loving hearts will recall the names OF
ali of these. he who heads this Roll Of Hon
or however, the senior officer Of the regiment
who fell in action was so we'll known to me
personally that cannot but claim to shar 9
some portion Of the grief which will spring up
anew as this gallant regiment returns without
MIN. Major Charles Jarvis, killed in action