Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-06-24


both men have been indicted by the
Grand Jury and held for trial at the term
Of the United States Court which meets
in Buffalo next August.
OF the second Regiment
The fifth annual reunion OF the oec'
ond Regiment took place at Grand army
of the Republic Hall in Burlington, last
evening. 1t was well attended, ana was
altogether a successful affair. The chair
was filled by Gep. George J. Stannard,
who performed the functions OF the office
in his usual graceful manner. Sergeant
il. spaulding, of Burlington, was chosen
Secretary, in the absence OF Major +. y.
Cole, and the usual business connected
with the society transacted, after which
the members adjourned to City Hall,
where large audience was already col
lected, to listen to an Grafton by Col.
Charles II. Joyce, of Rutland. The ad-
dress was well written and finely deliv-
cred, and gave the best satisfaction to the
audience, the speaker being frequently
interrupted by applause. We regret that
our space will not allow us to give 1t en-
tire. but can only make the following alb
stract:
Mr.. President and Comrddes, LADIES
and Gentlemen. most cordially thank
YOU for the honor conferred on me In
choosing me as the one to address you here
tonight, and could bnt wish the task had
fallen into ADLER and better hands.
Eight times the SHOWS of winter have
come and gone, since thousand gallant
men, in all the pomp and pride of glori-
Gus war, stood upon yonder camp ground
and with uncovered heads and uplifted
hands, in the presence of God and their
fellow men, bound themselves by a sacred
oath, to defend the government of their
fathers, the homes, the hresides, and the
affairs of their native and adopted State
against the fierce and traitorous assaults
of the corrupt and domineering spirit Of
the Southern slave power.
And now after having passed through
the tolls, the sacrifices, and glorious vic,
tories of that eventful period, the rem.
nant of that devoted band come back here
to-day, to celebrate the anniversary Of
their solemn vows upon the altar of THEN
country, and to exchange those warm
and hearty greetings which are known
only to those who have together shared
the privations and dangers of the camp
and field.
You come here upon this happy festal
day to see each familiar face, and hear
the well remembered voice, whose tones
have SO often cheered you amid the dull
monotony of the camp and the fierce con
Aict of the fight.
You come here to receive the soldier.
warm and hearty grip from each loved
comrade, and to renew and keep alive
your acquaintance and friendship, com.
menced amid the sufferings and priva.
tions of weary marches, long campaigns
and bloody encounters with the foes oil
liberty and your country.
You come here to-day to pledge your
selves anew to freedom and free govern
ment, and here again in the presence OF
each other, and upon the sacred altar OF
your common country, and on the very
spot where eight years ago you were bap-
tized into her service, to swear for her to
live, for her to die.
Soldiers of the Second Vermont, l bid
you hearty welcome to this reunion OF
kindred spirits In the name of that gal
liant regiment, whose worthy and honored
sons you are, and the cherished memories
of your fallen comrades, whose noble
deeds shed halo and lustre upon every
page of our country's history, | bid you
welcome; and in the name of the in
teljsent and liberty loving people of Yer
mont, l bid you thrice welcome to this
festival.
The speaker then went on to give a
brief history of the general government
from the landing of the Pilgrims down to
the 12th of April, 1861, how we had
prospered and became the terror Of mon
archists, and the home of the oppressed
e III --.~';--r On that memorable day
the war gun of slavery ,o".Iad .I.rnn,h
the land, and our glorious flag, for the
first time, was dishonored aud disgraced,
going down before Il traitorous crew.
Then if was that twenty millions of free
men stepped forth from the easy Walks
of life, and with high resolve and manly
hearts, declared that cost what it might,
this Republic, the worlds best treasure
and its last hope, should not die at the
hand of the traitor and assassin. Then
it was that the yeomanry of Vermont left
their usual vocations and rushed to the aid
of the government, to make good the
prophecy that Vermont, having fought
her way into the Union, would be the
last to desert it. Youth and old age We'd
with each other III maintaining the ma
tional honor and safe ". The part taken
by Vermont in this struggle needs no
recounting it stands out in bold
relief, challenging the plmir,tion of
the world. No grander culogy
could be pronounced upon her soldiers
than the memorable order OF the lamented
Sedgwick, when forming the g,lland cops
for the last bloody charge OF SPoftsyiva-
mia. whom. with the awful responsibilities
of the hour apparent "a his mind. he ex-
claimed in the presence of his noble bat
talions, Put the Nermoutnr- ahead and
keep the lines well closed up" It was the
old Vermont Brigade that first checked
the fierce onslaught of the rebel hord6s of
Early in the Valley, and turned u lisas-
trous defeat into one of the most glorious
victories OF the war And when The brave
and dashing Sheridan, III his immortal
ride to the front. came upon this adamau-
tine barrier of Vermont hearts and Yer
mont bayonets, and was told that it was
the Second Vermont Regiment and the
old Sixth Corps, he shouted in the full
confidence of his ardent and impetus ma
ture, "Then we are safe"
The speaker, after paying a high tri-
butte to the bravery OF other Vermont re-
giments, recouuted III brief the history oi
the Second from the time of its muster
into the service to the last battle of the
war, alluded in touching terms to the
former comrades who had given their
lives to preserve that of the nation, and
hoping that their memory would be for
ever perpetuated in the hearts of those
who had survived the conflict