Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-01-12

having been presented, it was voted tina
the Society recommend the constr uctio
r of such hall, and committee consistin
of Col. Tracy, Col Pitkin aud Col. Farr
ham was appointed iu furtherance Of fh
object.
The motion by which the Sooiet
agreed to meet at four O'clock ~ iudiv
dual members was rescinded, aol
motion prevailed that when it adjourne
it be to meet at the Baadwell House, an
that it proceed to the Opera House in
body. Col. Samuel E. Pingrey was ehose
marshal for the occasion.
A report from the committees appointe
to prepare obituaries of deceased soldier
was called for, but as only one was read,
to report, no action was taken upon tn
subject. The meeting then adjourned.
THE GRAFTON.
Agreeable TO adjournment, the mem ber'
of the Society met at the Bardwell House
about four o'clock, and under escort o.
the Wales Cornet Band marched to the
Opera House to listen to the Grafton by
Rev. E. M. Haynes. late Chaplain of the
Tenth Regiment.
| The floor of the house WAS reserved for
the members of the organic .tion and in
vited guests, the general public being ad-
mitted to the side seats and the balconies
~, oil
most every available seat being occupied.
Gen. Wells introduced the orator of the
occasion, who spoke as follows:
Mr.. President, Comrades, Ladies and Gen
Hemen:
I had thought that there would be some
disadvantages attending the Reunion of
Vermont Officers here, not experienced by
similar gatherings heretofore at the Capt.
toll of the State-at least that there would
be wanting some sources of inspiration
easily accessible there. But 1 had for
gotten the Vermont soldiers, that
would superintend the preparation,
and that the people of Rut-
land would furnish the additional fea-
lures of the occasion. SO far it is COM
plete. The comrades are here, the dear
old flags, stained with smoke and riven
in staff and seam, that you bore so steadi-
ly, through almost every contest of the re-
bellion, and though coveted so much by
the enemy, you at last brought home in
triumph, are here.
When these two meet-the flags and
the men who followed them-there is, and
ever will be, commingling of sentiments,
impossible to describe, but such a. exalt
nations and dethrone tyrants.
Perhaps you think that these fragments
of silk clinging to these soiled and broken
sticks are sorry types of the great banner
that nations honor as the flag of the Re-
public, but ace recognize in them the long
heroic story of Liberty's conservation, and
you must remember that the less you see
the more there is of them.
I greet the flags and you with gratitude
which I wish could be measured, by the
devotion given, by living and dead to
these glorified symbols of the Nations
greatness.
| speak to you tonight of names and
deeds-which though familiar-with which
you have been identified, and which you all
remember with a viyidness which time and
age will not dim, yet are among the purest |
classics of our history: classical not by the |
fable and romance that clothe them in i'm |
the mythical heroism of Greek |
and Roman story, nor by remote periods |
which deprive them of all continuity, but |
by the fresh glory which surrounds them, |
the patriotism and devotion that inspired |
and sustained them, the associations that
eXalt every estimate of true manhood, of
noble Sacrifice-the worth and enduring
grandeur of their achievement.
We come again to listen to the alarm of
War, to experience once again the patriots
humiliation at the insult to his country's
Tag, the defiance Of her laws: once more
we feel the struggle that forced hope and
resolve up to duty and activity before our
imperiled institutions. We shall contem
plate with pride the developments wrought
by the necessities cf the hour, and so pass
On to the scenes of victory.
Already the memory stirred by this occa-
sion and loosed by this brilliant asSemblage
awakes the first martial strains that broke
INTO every home in the land, converted all
he popular music of the day into peanS of
var, that taught boys to whistle yankee
Doodle" and churches to supplant their
invocation by singing,
my country, it's of thee
They recall the solemn councils that kept
rood bed-fellows awake through dreary
lights and crowded darker days with re-
norselesS opportunities, that finally yielded
Ill. in cheerful sacrifices for the heal
ne of the nation. We shall invol-
recall the scenes of enlistment,
he first encampment, the transforma-
ion of citizens into soldiers, and the solemn
paths we took, with uplifted hands, to de-
end the country which had given US birth,
,r shelter, else die in the deadly breaches
hat led to the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of States
md the overthrow of her constitution.
We shall go over the parting ceremony,
he hurried transportation, the joyful oya-
ion, the camps beyond the Potomac, on the
and along the smaller streams
hat flow down into the Gulf and the sea
he trepidation and fear that rose on the
Irst intelligence of an approaching conflict
With the foe, and the manly determination,
courage and thought of duty that swept you
m, through flaming walls of fire, to break
ripple lines of steel, or held you firm, I'M
moved by fiendish yell, in contempt of
eath, as these your own mountains, thatI
ear their gloomy SUBMITS in defiance of
eaven's storms! This was the crucial test
LII these scenes and experiences, without
ur bidding, will pass before you in factI
nd shadow, as we meet in this annual re-
nion of comrades in arms.
But in all this, with thousand added and
thoughts and emotions that trav-
rse the whole system of ethical science, we
ave only reached, in statement, the first i.
ne of battle, or the hated skirmish line,
there victory and defeat, death and glory,
ct wait to divide the spols of the unmeas- I.
red contest
And ventursome must be the pen that l,
Undertakes to describe, and bold the thought :
hat endeavors to picture, the scenes that
ollowed.
You fought battles, suffered defeats and
ron victories, but who can delineate either ? .,
'ou have seen, scented, heard, felt and tasted I
1.-THE whole five senses have grappled the
wful problem at onCe-and yet its solution :
a profound mystery, mystery that deep q
ned with its successive engagement :
ntold by the added forms of speech, assist :
d by experience which elsewhere holds its :
wn. The simple reason is. you cannot feel, =
way from the scene, as you do when &C :
yely in it, and the needed auXiliaries for a
erfect description are wanting. We are =
cquainted with words enough, but their :
leanings, as interpreted by great deeds, are :
lexpressible in prose or verse.
"Who,"* as it has been said of the old t
otomac army, that looks upon you now, +
may read through your calm coun- a
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