Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-10-25


Greek battle.
The last Rogimcntal Commander, Colonel j. d.
Mead, called the meeting to order, and suggested
that it would probably be the minds Of those pres
ent that General Stephen Thomas preside, and he
was called to the chair amid cheers and clapping
Of hands
Colonel Il. VI. Brown was chosen Secretary,
.C. NJ Ferrin Assistant Secretary, General stephen
Thomas Treasurer, Captain Moses Mcfarland
Sergeant, W. II Gilmore and A. j Morse Vice
Presidents
On motion Of Colonel Mead, a committee Of
six was appointed business committee as fol- |
lows.
Colonel j. u. Mead, Lieut.. George H. Scllick
Major j. t. Barstow, Lieut.. f. d. Butterfeld,
Surgeon 5. II Currior, and Captains r. Howard |
Rev Isaac Blake being called upon respond
ed in some very spirited remarks. He referred to
one particular occasion when the rebs opened
sudden yolley upon the regiment. The bullets
were flying thick and fast about him, and al |
though he had never shot a rebel, having entered
the service as musician he felt more iorcibly |
than ever before the truth Of the scriptural saying
that " Il is more blessed 10 give than to receive"
Gen Thomas, Col Mead, Capt Mcfarland and
others were called out, and responded in remarks
appropriate to the occasion, after which there
was a recess, and a general hand-shaking among
old comrades, many Of whom had not met before
since being" mustered out" 1t was social oc-
cason much enjoyed by all present.
There were in all about eighty members Of the
regiment present, embracing the following
FIELD ASD STAFF.
Gen. Stephen Thomas. who raised and first
commanded the regiment Col, j B. Mead it,
hstc1mmanler Lieutenant Col. f. NJ Brown,
Lieutenant Col A. B. Franklin Major j. l..
Bautow, Major 5. NJ. Grout, Surgeon II H. Gil.
lett Assistant Surgeon $ II. Currer, Quarter
masters Edward Dewey and James WEIGH, and
Quartcrmastcr's Sergeant W II Gilmore
the LINE
Co. A., Captain Moses Mcfarland First Ser
geant 5. c. Hill, primte- Roger Hoyoy, George
Remick, c. W B1ynton Noah Blynton, B. Farm
ham, NJ. p. Kent.
Co. b., Captain F. d. Butterdeld, Sergeant
W. Livingstone, and priya,es Isaac Blake aud c.
NJ Ferrn.
Co. c., Captain 5. f Howard, and privates G
l.. Danlorth, A. p. llawley, Sergeant r. t. Her
riman, priyates NJ II. Wilcox. y. f. Annis, Hen.
ry Eaton.
Go. D., Captain C. b. Leach Captain ". H.
lIaskns.
Co. r.. Capt l.. NJ. Hutchinson.
Go. f., Privates j. Ainsworth n W. Wood
! Co. c., j. W. Green, j Iesharc, S Culver, j
F. Lyman, G. W Ellsworth C. c. Pierce, c. G.
Webb
Co. H., Lieut.. W II II llolton. Pryates H.
j. Stowe, Henry Kilburn C. Brown
Go. L., Lieut.. G. r. Scileck, Pryatcs j. c.
Morse, A. 5 Warden, " D. Parker
Co. X, It, G.. +. French, Priyates George "
Hill, H. W. Hunter, $. L. Simmouds, 5. II.
Parker, L. 5. Pierce, Oscar Thomas, A. d.
Grant, J G. Olcott
First w. Battery, Prim,c4 D. Clark, c W.
Ransom
The temporary organization was subsequently
made the permanent organization, with the addi-
ton Of the following Executive Committee Col.
j. b. Mead, Maj. j. l.. Barstow.
EyEvNG.
j Reassembled in the hall at o clock and the re-
port OF the business committee was accepted and
adopted 1t was voted to meet again for another
reunion in two years.
a committee to look up the regimental records
and to prepare a record Of all members Of the
regiment who had died, was appointed as follows
Capt llaskins, C. NJ. Perrin, Lieut. IIoton.
The society then formed in the hall, and. head
ed by the st. Johnsbury Band, which was in at.
tendance, marched down to the dining hall to
supper Including the invited guests and band.
Lab. L., Il
Thomas took the head Of the centre table at his
right was Major Barstow, toastnaster Of the oc-
casion, at his left, Chaplain Blake, and on right
and left, Col 5. f. Pingree Of the % Vermont
I Volunteers, Col $ NJ. Pingree Of the 9Th, Lieut.
G. G.. Benedict Of the l2th, and aid 10 Gen Stan
nard, Adit. j. NJ. Poland Of the 18th, and other
officers. The hall was dccked with the Vermont
and national colors Of the sth regiment, bearing
the names of Cotton, Bisland, Port Hudson.
, Winchester Fisher Hill and Cedar Creek, and on
either hand hung the flags Of the lst and 81 bat
tories. Grace was said by Chaplain Blake, and
all fell to with d will Messrs Barrons, genial
hosts Of the junction House, had evidently laid
themselves out on the supper. The bill of fare
was such an one as the proprietors of the June
ton House and the Twin Mountain House"
have a most extended reputation for providing
f embracing oysters in the various styles, soups,
poultry and meats in variety, and substantials
and decacies, too many to enumerate all nicely
cooked and well served
f After full justice had been done to the feast.
the regular toasts were duly read in order and the
responses called for in his own very handsome
and appropriate way, by POSTMASTER Barstow
They were as follows
!. THE EIGHTH VERMONT.
Responded to by General Thomas, who was
greeted with hearty applause. After expressing
his attachment TO the regiment General Thomas
said that the Eighth was no ordinary regiment
1t was organized under peculiar circumstances for
special service at the South, under General But
ler whose reputation as daring officer was
known to all, and It was expected that the service
would be OF more than common risk and import
ance. IL was composed Of picked men, stout in
frame and stOut in spirit. Every profession and
every trade was represented in its ranks The
regiment was raised in the winter, and went into
| camp in deep snow Two years later, January
9th, 1868, about four hundred of the men re-
enlisted amid snow and mud so fearful that Gen
Franklin remarked that none but very good men
would have re-enlisted under such circumstance
1t was the lot OF the regiment to be isolated from
other Vermont regiments. The eth went out with
IT. but were soon separated from it, The Sth had
made its record alone, and he was willing to trust
! its record to postority. The regiment never lost
a nag, though he had seen every man of the color
: guard shot down one after the other. On the
memorable 10th Of October, 1864, seven years
ago to-day, the 9Th bore its colors where no others
save those OF that brigade We're seen. Colonel
Thomas related some of the scenes, Of the famous
crossing othe Pike, and advance across the rayine
out OF sixteen officers in the line, thirteen were
I killed or wounded. The old 18th Connecticut
God bless her, applause and cheers for the I2th
Connecticut), and the nth New York, suffered
q almost severely, The brigade went in with IF
., teen hundred men, and lost a third in killed and
: wounded, They held their position till no other
colors were in sight to support them, and when
the army advanced under Sheridan, they were the
. first to reach their camp OF the morning
a Passing from memories of the field General
Thomas said he might never meet the regiment
y again but he wanted once more to bid them
= keep in mind what they had fought for, and who
brought on the war, We will forgive our south
C ern brethren when they show fruits meet for re-
G pentenoe; but at present they tell us the lost