Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-07-09

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company of irrepressible and invinciblc
Horribles and Antiques, numbering over
seventy, paraded the streets and raised
many a broad grin of satisfaction and
delight as they passed. AT ten o'clock
the procession was formed, and under the
marshalship of Geo. l.. Fletcher, Esq,
aided by his assistants, Warren G. Will
liams, Joel d. Powers, Charles L. Fletch-
er and Chas j. Tarbell, marched through
Main street to the stand. The exercises
upon the stand were commenced at eleven
o'clock, and were opened by prayer by
Rev. G. Hubbard next followed the
reading of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence by the Rev. A. B. Flanders, after
which the orator of the day, Col. Chas.
III. Joyce, held his vast audience of five
thousand people spell-bound for an hour
while he delivered very able and elo-
quent exposition of the principles and
purposes which underlie the framework
of our government, and told in words of
living fire the story of the trials and
hardships through which our country
had passed to enable her in truth and
deed to celebrate her natal day with all
men free and equal" After the ora
ton there was an intermission of one
hour, and on coming back to the stand
the toast master of the occasion, Rev. E.
S. Foster, read a list of toasts which
were happily responded to by various
gentlemen present. The Keene Band
furnished most excellent music for the
day, and everything passed pleasantly,
quietly, and without accident.
The young ladies representing the
States formed the most attractive part OF
the procession, and the Lodge of /. O.
o. Fs. recently established in Chester
though small in numbers, appeared in
new and handsome regalia and added
much to the interest of the occasion. In
response to the toast vermont at Get.
tysburg," ii. Henry, one of the commit.
tee of arrangements, read the following
beautiful letter from Col. w. G. veazey
RUTLAND, VI, July I'd, 1869.
HUGH HENRY, ESQ.,, Chairman Com. Of
Arrangements Dear SIR Your in
vitation to me to be present at your Gel.
ebration on the Sd instant is received.
1t would afford me great pleasure to
accept, but am precluded by another en-
gagement. The celebration of one OF
the most important events in history, the
natal day of our Republic, is always an
occasion of great interest. But in addi-
ton to the interest that gathers about
the anniversary of our Independence,
you have special reason to remember and
be proud Of the Sd day of July. Prior
to and during the first years of the war,
it was one of the follies of Southern
ism . to affect to despise Northern man.
hood and valor. Gone Southern man is
the equal of five Yankees was the
boastful remark that daily tingled the
ears of the Union soldier. Near the
close of the day on the Sd of July, six
years ago, when the slopes of Gettysburg
had become bloody by three days of thu
stubborn fighting of 200, 900 men, wher
1T became apparent to all that the next
clash Of the contending armies must moi
only be decisive of the battle but prob
ably of the fate of the Republic, then 8
little band of 800 men, many of then
from your own town, all of them from
your vicinity, the remnant of the Regi
ment that had already performed prodi
gies of valor, voluntarily rushed upor
the last charging column of rebels O.
more than five times their own numbers
and did not halt until every flag of tina
rebel column was lowered, and ever,
man had disappeared, killed, captured
or escaped. The flags of that column
are to-day trophies in the capitol al
Washington. That charge ended tn,
battle of Gettysburg. That hour yindi
Gated Northern valor. From that mo.
ment the wave of rebellion was ever af
ter repellent. The story of that une
/
quail struggle and glorious victory, upon
which thousands of veterans in both ar.
mics gazed in amazement, will long be
told. The anniversary of that day is
worthy of your recognition. Those of
us who are left of that little band have
one favor to ask--that when the setting
sun shall mark the closing of each Sd Of
july you may remember kindly those
and the families of those who ON that
evening hour of the Sd of july 1863
performed the patriots last duty and
gave their lives to their country.
have the honor to be very respectful.
ly your humble servant,
w. G. VEAzEY."