Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-08-22
The Celebration mt bennington.

tou Sciooiabion uutli the IoilOWluS uay,
and for the time being put an effective
damper upon the proceedings, a great
concourse OF people were present on
Saturday and participated in the festlvi-
ties.
The day opened warm, but with
threatening clouds which indicated rain,
but about ten O'Clock light breeze came
up and carried them away, and very fine
weather prevailed until late in the after
noon, when the very heavens seemed to
have opened and let down a long pent.
up and accumulated supply of water,
which though not hindering the cele.
bration in any manner, had the effect of
thoroughly drenchlng thousands of peo-
pie.
At 1890 a. m, the procession was FORM
ed in accordance with the programme,
and marched through the principal
streets of the village, in the following
order:
l. Bennington Cornet Band.
2. Co. d, 18th regiment VT. State
Militia, under command OF Capt. E. C.
Houghton.
8. Arnold Hose Company OF North
Adams, Mass.
4. The fire department OF Bennington
under command OF George Benton, Chief
Engineer.
5. Representations of the msnufac.
lures OF Bennington, consisting OF ex-
hibitions from Bradford & Sons knitting
mill, Putnam's clothes wringers, Carney's
cotton mill, H. E. Bradford g. Co.'S knit
ting mill, SHOWS steam engine COVER
nors, from the mandatory Of Adams
& Co., Packer, Bingham s. Co.'s wad-
ding works, Dewey's ochre works, scott's
Furniture ware rooms, Adams ochre
works, and Parker, Bingham g. Co.'S
waddiHg works.
The procession was under the mar.
shalship of Col. Cady, assisted by
Messrs. J. H. Woodman and G. A. Packer,
and after performing the allotted line Of
march halted at the speakers stand,
fronting the Mount Anthony House.
when the President OF the day, Hon. W.
S. Southworth in a few brief and terse
remarks in which he alluded toI the
events which called the multtudes to.
gether on the occasion and particularly
the commencement of work ON the Le-
banon Springs Railroad, introduced to
the auditory Hon. Horace Greeley, who
took the stand and made s speech Of
about an hours length, wrought in his
usual forcible, entertaining and instruct.
tive style.
He commenced by saying that who.
ever undertakes to address an audience
with which he is not familiar, oftentimes
appears under difficult circumstances,
as not unfrequently he finds himsel! sd.
dressing those who know more concern
ing the subject matter under discussion
than does the orator himself. He would
therefore allude chiefly to the Battle Of
Bennington, as it was matter OF which
we all knew the history. He was one
who claimed an interest in the renown
OF that triumph as he was born in the
town with Gen. Stark, who led the
American forces, and with Captain Nc
Lesry, who had won honors and glory
while leading his company at Bunker
Hill, and who fell at the head of the
same troops in leading them to victory
at Bennington.
After abiding to the unsuccessful
movement OF Arnold against Canada, he
spoke OF Burgoyne's attempt to suovert
the colonies how in a spirit OF bragga.
docio he entered upon that campaign
with an immediate and CO. operative force
amounting to 10000 men, while the
American troops to oppose his attempt
did not number one.half of his own.
The battle was fought by New England
militia, who left the field, plow and
workshop, to defend their country's
honor and their own firesid es from the
invader, aud who turned out with such
unanimity as to leave but few behind,
though even then the enemy's ranks far
exceeded their own in point and num-
bers as well as drill and discipline; who
came forth at their country's call, in the
face of the defeats and reverses of the
preceding campaign, and who were so
signally successful in defeating one of
the mother cOuntry's finest armies.
The surrender of Burgoyne was the
first act which made it apparent that the
colonies would triumph, which gave
courage to Franklin, then at the French
court asking that We be recognized and
aided as belligerents When word went
across the ocean that Lieut.. General
Burgoyne, with all his forces, had been
compelled to surrender, the world saw
that our war was not merely rebellion,
but great revolution.
He would not longer dwell on this
| subject, which was familiar to most of