Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-10-28


most active and the most rebellious race oi
the continent. We are proud, to night, to
claim descent from such ancestry.
1t was stated BY Gen. Washbrrn, that the
total expense OF arning, equipping-includ-
ing bounties and State pay-of all our men
IN the late war, was 50 9,OOO,O 600. This seems
a large sum for US; though New Hampshire,
by way OF comparison, equal to US in all
respects, incurred an expense for like service
OF >l3 100000. In this you have an index
of our people.
Again, we had occasion to send during
the war to recruit our regiments in the Gulf
Department, at one time, body of $50
men they went without guards, and on
landing at New Orleans were permitted the
freedom of the city, when the officer in
charge was told that he would never see
half OF his men again. But they were
ready, and proceeded the next day and night
by rail and boat to franklin, having every
opportunity to desert if they 30 desired.
At roll call on the morning after arrival,
ecery man responded to his name. A sister
state short time after sent like body of
recruits over the same route, guarded by
fifty soldiers. On arrival at Franklin, fifty
failed to respond at roll call. Does not
this tact fairly indicate the quality of the
men that Vermont sent to the front :?
Should We wonder that they did their duty,
their whole duty, in all places and under all
circumstances
Vermont stands pre-eminent among her
sister states, and We have reason to be
proud OF her history in the past and with
the spirit that animates the children, need
we fear for the future? Not long ago a
little one, kneeling at its mothers side,
prayed,
Now lay me down 70 sleep,
pray the Lori my soul TO keep,
If l should never pray again,
y Lord bless Vermont and Maine.
The President said that ex-Governors
Dillingham; and Smith had been expected to
be present and also respond TO this toast ::
but both were unavoidably absent. The
latter, however, sent letter, which was
read by the Corresponding Secretary
2. The assembled Wisdom and Virtue of
pernaont The industry, prosperity, liberty
and long-timed honor of the State look to
you tor protection, suggestion and counsel.
Responded to by Gen. Stephen Thomas.
Gen. Thomas, among other good things,
said the Constitution did not require the
Senate to be composed of ''men most noted
for wisdom and virtue - he therefore called
up Speaker Grandey as the most fitting ex-
ponent of those qualities.
3. The Union. Purchased and preserved
at the cost of life, and blood, and treasure,
may it encircle the wealth and freedom and
intelligence Of America. May it endure
while its eternal hills stand, the proudest
monument of soldier's sacrifice
Responded to by Col. j. B. Mead, and 1t
Col. w w. Grout. Col. Mead spoke elo-
quently of the value of the Union, and as
the Carthaginian bequeathed hatred OF the
Romans to his sons, SO should we hand down
to ours devotion to the cause for which we
fought
4. f;enys6,rgh. Responded to by Col. w .
u. Neaz y, who spoke clearly and earnestly
OF the bate in its military results, which
he thought had been deprecated in favor Of
It's great moral and political influences
). ChaIin's Farm and Fort Hdrr3son.-
Oen. Stannard IN response gave a succinct
narrative of the storIning Of Fort Harrison
and cautioned his hearers TO remember that
the brave seli-sacrifcing soldiers of the Union
Were not all from Vermont.
6. The National Congress Senator Ed
munds responding. said more men had gone
To Congress from the army than went 10 the
army from ongress, and they were found
taking the lead there as in military life.
tie said that in every country there could be
no liberty without physical courage. and SO
Massachusetts, had fifty chosen for her motto,
EnSe peat pIdciddH, sub nberfdle grliefen.-
W ith the sword she seeks soft peace under
liberty
6. Cold Harbor-Gen. Henry and Col
Pingree, each gave some account of their
personal experience in that the most desperate
and hopeless of all the battles of the war
:. Cedar Greek Gen. W ellis replied brief
ly and called up 1t. Harrington. who graph
really related The most remarkable cavalry
achievement of the war
The Rank and FLEW ithout whose
stubborn fighting their officers would have
secured but few honors.
Gen. Foster in response said that he al
ways had men in his command whom he be-
lieyed 10 be his superlors in intellect, and
that he thought it took far more courage to
be good private than good officer. 1t
would always be of regret to him,
that he had never carried a musket in the
ranks.
9. Tie Memory OF the Dead, who gave
their lives that the Nation might live.
Received in silence, the band playing
dirge.
10. The Vermont Officers Re Union So.
ciety y:-its purpose, condition and prospects.
Responded to by Lit. g. G. Benedict, who
gave Col. Proctor the credit of being the
founder of the Society he urged all who
considered the friendships and memorie. of
the war worth perpetuating to attend it's
meetings, and urge their comrades to do
the same.
II. The Orator Of The Ersning Gen |
Nashburn after returning his thanks for
the honor done him, proceeded to discharge |
q duty entrusted to him by 1t. Col. j. II. |
Piatt. formerly Of Gen. Sedgwick's staff, |
that of presenting Scdgwicks 3 9th Corps
Headquarters flag As he spoke he unfurled
the flag; .. sight of the old, well known
gnidon. with its field of blue, its white
cross and red - &" the whole Society sprang
to their feet, and gave three of the resound-
ing, old time cheers.
Col. Pingree receiving the flag in behalf of
Society said
Gen Washburn, accept, in hehalf of this
Society, this token so fraught with sacred
under which SO many of us
fought, and which brings back to US SO strong
ly the honored memory of the brave and |
Sedgwick, that hero whom we all |
learned to love so dearly. | confess that on !
seeing this flag unfolded, here, where we are |
surrounded by all that exalts and ennobles |
the acts of peace, | speak in acceptance of it,
with distrust, difhdence, never felt when |
we followed it into the din of battle 1t |
brings memories of scenes never to be forgot |
ten, memories of sorrow for our general who |
fell beneath it in the foremost angle Of our |
front line of works at Spotsylvania This |
flag recalls, too, memories of peculiar JOY |
We looked up to it as beacon light We |
knew wien We saw it that - Uncle John /" |
Sedgwick was there. We followed it always |
with the feeling which the crusad, rs felt to-
wards the heart of Douglass, when they flung |
it before them into the ranks of the Saracens
with the cry, " Lead on, brave heart, we will |
follow wherever thou goest'' We never saw |
that flag turned one foot to the rear, save by |
orders from higher source than the general |
of the Sixth Corps. We saw it at Antietam
and Frederi .ksburgh and Chancellorsyille. I