Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-10-27
First Re-Union of the Eighth Vermont
Regiment.


Too few of the Vermont regiments in the ls'e
war, have as yet organized regineutai reunion
societies The Second and the Tenth have NAM
taiued such, with spirit and success. All to the
number may now be added the Eighth. b.
leving that the record and renown Of their regl-
ment, and the friendship and esprit de corps oil
its members afforded the conditions for euc-
cessful reunion organization, the leading ofncers
of the regiment, Gen Thomas, Msjor Barstow and
others, after due consultation. decided to organize
a regimentsl society, and to thst end issuei
call to all the members Of the regiment TO meet
at White River Junction, on the l9ih OF octo-
her. the anniversary of the bloodiest AMI most
glorious battle for the regiment in its history
that Of Cedar Creek. The members OF the tirs'
and Second Vermont Batteries, which we've Al
tached to the brigade to which the Eighth be-
longel in the service, were also invited to meet
with them. Eighty members Of the regiment
responded to the call,-a larger number we
think, than has gathered at any previous reg
mental reunion in our State. There we're
present:
FIELD AND STAFF.
Gen. Stephen Thomas, who raised and hrsi
commanded the regiment; Col. J. Is. Neal i's
last commander; Lieutenant Col L. NJ. brG"h'
Lieutenant Col. A b. Franklin, MAJOR D. H.
Bars,ow, Major S. NJ Grout, Surgeon H. H.
Gillett. Assistant Surgeon S. II. Currer, Quar-
termasters Edward Dewey and James WEIGH,
and Ouartermsster's Sergeant W. IL. fillmore
THE LINE.
Co. A. Captain Moses Mcfarland, First Ser
geant S. c. Hill. privstes Roger Hoyey, George
Remick, G. W. Boynton, Noah Boynion,
Farnham, NJ. P. Kent,
Co. D, Captain F. D. Battlefield, Sergeant ".
/ Livingston, and priyates Isaac Blake and I. NJ.
| Ferrin.
Co. c, Captain S. Z Howard, and privates G.
| L D,nforth, A. P. Hswley, Sergeant 7. E. Her
rimsn, NJ. II. Wilcox. n. E. Annis, Henry
Co. D, Capt. C. B. Leach, Capt W. H. Has
kins
Co. E. Capt L. NJ. Hutchinson.
Co F. Privates J. AinsEorth, y W. Wood.
Co. G, J. W Green, J. Leshare, 5. Culver, J..
F LYMAN. G. W. Ellsworth, c. C. Pierce. c.
Webb
Co. H. Lieut.. W II. H. Iolton, Privsies II. j
Stowe, Henry Kilburn, C. Brown.
c.. |. Lieut.. G. T. Selleck, Priyates ). c
Morse. A 5. Warden, W. J. Parker.
Go X. Ii. G. F. French, Privstes George W.
! Hin. II. W Hunter, 5. L. S.mmonds, ). H..
| Parker f. S Pierce, Oscar Thomas, D..
Grant, J. c. Olcott.
First Vt. Battery, Priva:es D. Clark. c. ".
Ransom.
Our ,is;, intended to be a complete roll Of all
present, we perceive to be imperfect. There we're,
as we have said, so members Of the sth present,
and very good looking, geutlenlnly and order
ly set Of fellows they were.
The regiment met in the afternoon, IN the
spaciou. ballroom Of the Junction House They
we're called to order By Col Mead and organized
Temporarily by the choice Of Gen. Thomas as
President, It. Col L NJ. Brown, Secretary, and
C NJ Ferrin, Assistant Secretary.
Some stirring speeches were made by Gen.
Thomss. Col Mead, and by - Father Blake.
The old gentleman last named was quite a chArac-
te- il the regiment He enlisted, when quite adj
vancei in years. as fter While the s;h VS..
At Brstleboro, one Sunday morning.as the regi-
meat was formed in hollow square. Col. Thomas
remarkes in the hearing Of some Of his cti;er'
that he wished they had chapIain,-nc
chaplain having been as yet apFointed-thsi
they might have come religious services, or Al
le,,ts PRAYER. The Captain Of Company B
repiisi that there was an old ffer in his com
psnv who had been q minister, and was good for
As good prayer as anybody. send him out
here" was the Colone.'s response. Cap AN
Spau.dinr at once went for the h'er
3. Blake said he, the Colonel IS going to cal
on You for prayer, and l want You to give
them good gun" The Col, who hal not
heard the Captains mi 1nc;on, took the hoaestoli
musician By the arm, as he came ont from the
ranks. and slii ''' Fiitr. understand that
YOU IRE a minister. and waat you TO make the
first prayer before this regiment, and mind you
don't splre f5s p5ris-.' Thus iouby instruct
ed. the ffer msis prayer, which every oa'
who heard il still remembers lie continued IL
the service as fter out when the Chaplain
Was absent, as be was a COOL deal Of the time
Father B,ake'ofh,iated regularly AMI acasP.ahil
A. ch.plain. until Col Thomas, recognizing his
sterling qualities, procured his appointment a.
chaplain Of = colorel regiment The Old gentle
man WAS delighted to meet once more 50 many
members Of HE old regiment, on this occasion
and Ii. speech ab.uniel in spicy stories Of
their service.
The temporary organization WAS subsequently
male the permanent organization Of the socie'l
with some aliitionsl ciisers, SIS follows
{ OFFICERS OF rHE SOCIETY.
P,esi4nt-Brig Gen. Stephen Thomas
Tice- PresiieHis-Cspt NJ. Mcfarland s,rgt
". n. Gilmore. Sergt a. y. Moore.
ecralries-Lieut Col. Z. NJ Brown, c NJ
Ferrin.
Tre40rsr-Gen Stephen Thomas
Ersruare C0nmtass-Col. J Z. Meal MAJ
J. I. BArstow.
A committee Of arrangements for the Reunion
and supper in the evening was appointed a
follows Col. Mead, MAJ BarstoW, Surgeon
Cu-rier. Caprs HoRsrl and Butterhell.
A committee to look upthe rcgmea'al record
sui to prepare record Of all members Of tn
regiment who hal died, Was appointed As follows
Cspt. H.skins, c NJ. Ferrin, Lieut.. Holton-
Capt. Howard was appointed Marshal for tn
evening. and Father Blake, Chaplain.
TWAS votel that the so,iety Holt regular
, meetings cree il two years.
EVENING.
In the evening after session the Society
formed in the Hall, and, headed by the St
; Johnsbury Band. which WAS il attendance
f marched down to the dining hall to supper. In
Guiding the invited guests and Band, shout
one hundred persons filed the tables Gen
Thomas took the head OF the centre table; st his
right was Major Bsrstow. POSTMASTER Of the oe
casion. at his left, Chaplain Blake, anil on righ
snd left. Col. 5, Z. Pingree of the 81 Vernon
Volunteers, Col 5. NJ Pingree Of the4th, Adj
J.. NJ. Poland Of the 10Th, and other officers
The Hall was decked with the Vermont AM
national colors Of the Sth regiment, bearing thu
names Of Cotton. Bisland, Port Hudson, Win
( chester, Fisher Hill and Cedar Greek, and OF
} either hand hung the flags Of the LIST and :,
batteries. Grace Was said by Chaplain Blake
. and all fell to with a will Mr.. Barron, tn
peniSl host of the Junction House, had evidently
= laid himselfout on the supper The bill Of far
was long and bountiful one, comprising
oysters in several styles, soups, poultry, anC
meats in variety, and subsantials and delicaciei