Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-06-02

force employed for its destruction, by
force employed for its preservation"
That call came on the 18th of April,
1861. And, to the honor of Vermont. it
stands recorded in history, that "No State
in the Union responded to the Presidents
Proclamation more heartily, more willing
ly, or more promptly"
Only IL days after the call a great
Union meeting was held in yonder beauti-
full village. Its numbers were estimated
at 'over 10000" Speeches were made by
Hon. ?. W. Hyde, Of Hydeville, Hon. c.
NJ. Willard, of Castleton, Willard Child,
and others. Great enthusiasm prevailed.
Forty-one men enrolled themselves as
members of volunteer company, and
chose James Hope for Captain, John
Howe for First Lieutenant, and Henry
D. Noble for Second Lieutenant.
The First Vermont Regiment was
organized at Rutland. History says it
was one of the most remarkable of the
many that entered the service. It's
Colonel, ]. Wolcott Phelps, was gradu-
ate of West Point. Nearly one-tenth of
its numbers were graduates of New
England Colleges Many were profess
sional men of high standing, and among
them was the late lamented Governor
Washburn. Many of the privates were
men of high standing, if we may Judge
from the fact that ten men from one of
the companies lay down upon the
ground for measurement, and formed
a line 81 feet and 10 inches in
length the average height of each
man being little over 6 feet 8 inches
n,,+ he sc IS
the regiment left Rutland on its way to
the seat of hostilities. In response to the
cheers of the people, private soldier
lifted up bis voice and said: The Vermont
Regiment, citizens in peace, soldiers in
war, give you the sentiment embodied in
the charge of the Grecian matron to hel
son "We will bring back our shields, OF
be brought back upon them" That
promise was dearly redeemed, in the for.
tunes of war which subsequently, befel
the Green Mountain Warriors.
June and July each sent ont its regi
ment. Two more followed in September
and sixth in October, making in all over
5000 men armed for the coming fray. A
Cavalry Regiment was subsequently, or
gained, and the State exceeded every re-
QUESTION for men during the four years o.
deadly strife.
The First Regiment was the first to in
wade Virginia's 'sacred SOIL" The othel
regiments were known as the "Vermon
Brigade" 1t was my privilege to look il
upon their camps in the vicinity of Wash
ington, before they crossed the Potomac
and l will not speak the admiration awak
ened by the spectacle I beheld.
That Brigade was the flower of tht
Sixth Corps, and from it's first battle q
| Lees Mills, on the Peninsula near York
town, to its last splendid achievements a
| Appomattox, where Lees army was cap
| tured, it was always in the thickest of tn
| fight, and it is no wonder that Vernon
had many mourners after every fresh en-
gagement. Fifty-eight of her brave son
fell in their first battle, 14S in the second
Their graves are not here. Hundred
subsequently met the same fate on th'
| Peninsula, at Antietam, at Fredericks
burgh, at Charlottesville, at Gettysburgh
in the Wilderness, at Coal Harbor. in tn
Shenandoah Valley, at Petershurgh. Anc
their graves are not here.
But their memory is here. The home
they left are here. The trophies of tn
brilliant successes that cost them thei
highest tribute in our power, in the hon
ors we bostow upon their comrades, IA
We gather here, to plant upon their humbl
tomb,
The vernal tiowers bright in their own fresh, liv
ing bloom.
The history that shall do them Justice
will tell the story of men of renown
whose daring deeds gave imperishabl
fame to the grandest Corps that eve
faced foe." They nobly bore their par
in those mighty achievements which hav
preserved to us our nationality-ou
government-our country-and the fal
Of our country -
Flag OF the free hearts only home,
BY angel hands to valOr given"
| Forever rUdJ THAT staudard sheet, ant
while it floats, let yearly honors crown
the graves of those whose last earthly
lispings were,
90, tits sweet Tor ones ,untry to die -