Litchfield enquirer., 1870-09-15

stratum, Legrand Todd, Josiah T. WSdsworib. Tnaries Mnna ct warner. William Wright, Edward k Meed, ChaTles Williams, Miner 0. Wedge. NORTH S1DE-Dayid Davenport. Ben;sm;n E;,. 1ey, Frederick Grant, Ira Rough, Edward L Auri6urt, George A. Hoyt, jr., Henry L. Lane Danlei Matthews. Thomas Mann, John Murphy The proportions of the monument strike the eye agreeably at first sight. and a crit. cal examination gives no room for cbanoe ] or the impression. It is every way neat ana appropriate, and will long remain to teii US aifecting story; it is the work of the Plymouth Quarry Company, and cost the
 On the arrival of the Second Heavies commanded by Major Els, the ceremonies or dedication commenced, a dense throng surrounding the monument, which was handsomely decorated with evergreens and noWers. The assemblage was called to or. der by George Pierpont, Esq. Rev. J. w. backus of Thomaston, offered a fervent Thomas, rector of St. Peters, delivered & well written address, aboundinQ in good { thoughts not theoretically conceived. but based on actual experience,
 The address of the Rev. E. B. Hillard was elaborated with considerable care. | written in a clear, vigorous style. and handsomely delivered No report tbat we could give short of the address itself conld do the speaker justice. It was listened to attentively to the close. though the people had been long standing
 | Gen. Joseph R. Hawley being present. was called upon and responded in brief but stirring speech, reminding the people Of the obligations they were under to the men who had gone forth from them to battle for the right. and whose lives had ! hpnn cooriRna1 i,n u1o, mi monuments, said the speaker, are worth something; they speak to you of the past; your children will look upon them and be reminded of glories that have been achiev- ed in their behalf. In the erection of this monument you have done we'll; you have done the best thing you can do for your country
 At the close of Gen. Hawley's speech, the line was immediately reformed and the march down the hill commenced. Ar irving at headquarters, the Second Heavies filled American Hall, where, previous to drawing their rations, the time was spent in the transaction of business, Col. l.. W. Vessels of Litchfeld, presiding, and Lieu tenant Granger acting as Secretary. An animated discussion arose as to where the next reunion should be held, which result ed on motion of Mai N. Smith of Wood. bury, In favor of that town. Mai. Smith said that next year Woodbury would deali- cate Soldiers monument, and the pres ence of the Second Heavies would add in. terest to the occasion; he gave them :, hearty invitation to come and bring their wives and children his proposition brought down the house.
 The following officers were elected for the year ensuing:
 President-Lieut. Salmon A. Granger, Winsted. corresponding Secretary-Capt. A. B. Shumway, 1 Litchfeld
 Recording secretary-Capt J. N. Coe, Bridge port.
 Treasurer-Lieut. w. w. Birge, Torrington. Executive Committee-Lieut. Col N. B. Smith Capt. Eli Sperry, Sergt M. D. Smith, Sergt H. Hotchkiss, J. Hall jr., all of Woodbury Committee to confer with other regiments con- corning general reunion next year-Adj T. F. Vail of Winsted.
 J. D. Bradstreet announced that rations were ready and waiting. The Hall was soon cleared, and the ''vets" with keen ap petites were immediately on the march, led by the spirited music of the Thomas. ton Band to the spacious tent pitched in rear of the Congregational Church where the 'rations" were displayed in the most tempting manner. The honored guests l were welcomed in neat and fitting speech | by Thos. J. Bradstreet, Esq, after which the tables which extended around the en- tire circumference of the tent and others occupying the central portion, were filled chiefly by the Second Heavies who mum. bered about 25O The Thomaston band and 8 considerable number of invited guests sat down at the same time. The Ladies of Thomaston deserve the highest praise for the liberal manner in which they responded to calls upon their generosity; the tables were literally loaded with the very best of everything that could conduce to the perfection of first class entertainment. Roast turkey, meats, sandwiches, pies, cakes, puddings, melons, pears, peaches, nuts, confectionery, tea, coffee, &c.,, constituted the bill of fare, and all these in inexhaustible quantities. The first brigade having finished their rations, another took its place and this in turn gave place to others; at last accounts the rotat- ing process was still going on with little appearance of exhausting supplies. Out side the tent under the shade of trees, the stand was erected, and around this, after dinner, the "boys'' and people assembled to listen to speeches-Lieut. Salmon A. Granger, presiding. After music by the band, Gen. Hawley was introduced by the president and was cordially received. He said he had something against the Oou.- mittee of arrangements; he did not like the idea of @ speakers stand for such an occasion-the table was the best place fox after dinner speeches. He was carried back to the scenes of the past, he felt their influence upon him: he belonged to the 2d Heavy artillery and was free to boast of it: he knew what short rations, what hardship Meht; he, in common with his brethren in arms, had experienced these things. War might be pleasant under some cifcumstan- ces, but something would go wrong-there were trials to be met, while those most hard to endure were not in active duty on the battle field but such as tried the pa. tience-half rations and standing all day in peppering rain. There were some ' grumblers among us, but the Erumblers ! often made the best soldiers. Our war has proved that no government on earth is SO powerful as republic; it has had it's effect upon other governments, the great war now raging in Europe has been influenced by it. Napoleon feared the people; he at- tempted to use the army for selfish pur. poses and here was his mistake; his army was not we'll appointed-it lacked intelli- gence and discipline. On the contrary Prussia had followed the example of New England; her children have been forced