Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-04-14
THE NINTH VERMONT IN RICHMOND
"a. VIRGINIA.


Mr. Editor Before thie reaches you the
telegraph will have announced the fast Of the
fall Of Richmond Anthems Of praise will |
have been sounded far and near, one stimuli !
taneous Notwithstanding shout rever berated
throughout the leghth and breadth Of the
nation, and started on lightning wings to in
form foreign nations Of the downfall Of the
rebellion ! HailNappy day - The great
work accomplished F! The nation rejoices
and heaven itself smiles! John Bull trem-
bles and LOUIS Napoleon suffers and STAN
mers and shakes in his boNts Rebels and
copperheads at home skulk to their hole and
within month spout for the Union and cry,
God bless Abraham LincolnV' Another
grand thing in the proud programme Of April
5, 1855, is the fact that VERMONT WAS A.
HEAD Indeed such is the fact for It was
a portion of the 9th regiment VT vols. that
first had the honor Of unfurling it's banne, in
the rebel capital Of the defunot would-bS-
confederacy New York, Pennsy lvania and
Maryland may claim the honor Massschu-
sets may put in her accustomed braggadocio
about her troops but the fact nevertheless
remains that the picket line Of our brigade
one hundred men selected from the 9Th VT.
as skirmshers-hesded by Capt. A. E. Lea
venworth Of Co. X, and 1t. j. G. Baker Of
this company and 1t. Burnhsm Cowdery Of
Co. G., we're first on the spot The Captain,
with coat off and sword in hand, proudly led
the one hundred sons of the Green Mountain
State in advance.
Sunday night last we we're ordered to be in
readiness, and early in the morning the order
came to move. The regiment started at o.
clock, and before ., had passed the federal
defying works and entered the long sought
city itself Imagine our jubilAnt feelings at
the sight of the stars and stripes floating on
the treason-concocting capitol. No enemy
was encountered on the march--pothing save
indications of hasty retreat. All the forth
fcatons about the city were left undis turbed
in some instances the very guns left loaded
and primed ready to FIRE as our troops APP
preached but for reasons too apparent to
the beaten rebels, they RETAINED from dis
charging them and left in all haste. Previous
to its evacuation the city was fred, or that
1 portion of it on the James river, where the
destruction Of property was immense. Owing
to distractions in the river our gun boats did
not reach the city until to-day, when they
came proudly putting along up the James az
though 1t were a common occurrence for the
past four years. One of the grandest sights
of the war was that when our roops entered
the city. Such shouting, long, loud and
deaening, may possibly be imagined, but
not described Never was there, and proba-
bly, never will be, SO happy day to the Oath
aud 25th army corps as was the Sd of April
1865. -Four long years have passed since the
old flag hoated in the city, and indeed 1t was
reason enough for soldiers to be jubilant.--
The troops were promptly followed by the
immense trains Of the two corps and several
batteries of artillery, which was sight i'm.
posing in the extreme. 1t was indeed proud
and happy day to be in the city of Richmond
-one never to forgotten. We doubt if there
was soldier present VINO did not rel dice that
he was member OF the noble army of the
Union.
President Lincoln arrived here to-day, and
is thus early enjoying the day OF thsnksgiv-
ing and praise. 1t is indeed proper that he
should share the rejoicing at the very earliest
moment, for no man has greater occasion for
being happy than he. What say copperheads
now Do Hail Columbia" and " Yankee
Doodle" sound to their ears as they did to
the secesh of Richmond, which our brigade
band played with such gusto in the street,
last evening Methinks it must, for both
have been enemies to our country-one fight
ing with his cowardly tongue, at home, anC
the other with his sword IN the army Blu
their race is run-their sands Of life run GU
and victory once more perches upon oui
banner in Every state in the Union. G.