Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-10-25
Reunion of the Eighth vermont.

ton on the 1SGn OF OcGObGE3 thO SAHA'~
of the battle of Cedar Creek, for the purpose
of forming a regimental society. In response
to this invitation some eighty members OF
that Regiment and of the 1st and I'd Vermont
Batteries met in the afternoon of Wednesday
last in the spacious ball room Of the Junction
House, and were called to order by Col.
Mead. when Col. Thomas was appointed
temporary chairman. We oOndense from
the Free Press the following report of fur
Their proceedings:
Some stirring speeches were made by Gen.
Thomas, Col. Mead, and by - Father Blake.
The old gentleman last named was quite
character in the regiment. lie enlisted,
when quite advanced in years, as a hfer.
While the Sth was at BrattlebOrO, one Sun
day morning, as the regiment was formed IN
hollow square, Col. Thomas remarked in the
hearing of some of his officers that he wished
they had a chaplain,-nO chaplain having
been as yet appOinted-that they might have
some religious services, or at least prayer.
The Captain of Company b replied that
there was an old ffer in his company who
had been minister, and was as good tor
praver as ANYBODY. - Send him out here,
was the ColoneI's response. Captain Spauld-
ing at once went for the ffer. " Blake,
said he - the Colonel Is going to call on you
for prayer, and | want you to give them o
good gun" The Colonel, who had not
heard the Captains injunction, took the
honest old musician by the arm, as he came
out from the ranks, and said, - Fifer, | IN
derstand that you are a minister, and | want
you to make the first prayer before this
regiment, and mind you, don't spare the
polcder.' Thus doubly instructed, the ffer
made prayer, which every one who heard
it still remembers. He continued in the
service as a fifer but when the Chaplain
was absent, as he was a good deal of the
time, Father Blake oficiated regularly and
acceptably Chaplain, until Col Thomas,
recognizing his sterling qualities, procured
his appointment as Chaplain Of a colored
regiment. The old gentleman was delighted
to meet once more 50 many members of his
old regiment, on this occasion, and his speech
abounded in telling stories Of their service.
The permanent organization Of the Society
was made as follows:
Presideut-Brig. Gen. Stephen Thomas.
+ Vice Presideufs-Capt. VI. Mcfarland,
Sergt W. II. Gilmore, Sergt. \. j. Moore.
/ SecretqrieS-Lieut. Col. +. NJ. Brown, Z.
/ NJ Ferrin.
! Treasurer-Gen. Stephen Thomas.
/ Erecltire C0mmittee-Col. j. B. Mead,
( Maj j L. Barstow.
\ committee to look up the regimental
records and to prepare q record OF all mem
bers of the regiment who had died, was ap-
pointed as follows Capt. Haskins, c. NJ
Ferrin. Lieut. HoltOn. Capt Howard was
appointed Marshal for the evening, and
Father Blake Chaplain.
1t was voted that the Society hold regular
meetings once in two years.
EVENING.
In the evening after a session the Society
formed in the Hall. and headed by the St.
IJohnsbury Band, which was in attendance,
marched down TO the dining hall to supper.
Including the invited guests and Band, about
one hundred persons filed the table The
Hall was decked with the Vermont and ma
tl0nal c0l0rs OF the Sth regiment bearing
the names of Cotton. Bisland, Port Hudson,
" Inchester, Fisher Hll and Cedar Greek,
and on either hand hung the hags of the lst
and y batteries. Grace was said by Chap
lain Blake, and all fell 10 with a Will After
tull 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 Toast
master BarstOw- They were a. follows:
The Eighth Vermont.
Responded 10 by Gen. Thomas, who was
greeted with hearty applause. After ex
pressing his attachment 70 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 Gen. Butler, whose reputa-
ton a daring officer was known 70 all, and
il was expected that the service would be of
more than common risk and Importance. II
was composed OF picked men, stout IN form.
and stout iR spirit Every profession and
every trade was represented in It's ranks
The regiment was raised in the winter. and
went into camp IN deep snow. Two years
later, Jan. >, IS63, about four hundred of
the men re-enlisted amid snow and mud 50
E fearful that Gen. Franklin remarked that
none but very good men would have re
enlisted under such circumstances. 1t was
the lot of the regiment to be isolated from
other Vt. regiments. The It'll went out with
it. but was soon separated from it. The Sth
had made its record alone, and he was Will
ing to trust its record TO posterity. The
8 regiment never lost a dag, though he had
seen every man of the color guard shot down
one after the other. On the memorable l9tb
of October, 1864, seven years ago to-day, the
cth bore its colors where no others, save
those of that brigade, were seen Colonel
7 Thomas related some Of the scenes of the
famous crossing Of the Pike and advance
across the ravine, when out Ofsixteen officers
in the line, thirteen were killed or wounded
I The old 18th Connecticut, God bless her
, (applause and cheers for the 18th C0nnecti
D cut) aud the 18th New York, suffered
. almost as severely The brigade went in viii
! fifteen hundred men, and lost third II
killed and wounded. They held their posi-
ton TIL no other colOrs were in sight t.
support them, and when the army advance.
under Sheridan, they were the first to react
their camp OF the morning,
p Passing from memories of the field Gen
. Thomas said he might never meet the
I regiment again but he wanted once more I,
: bid them keep in mind what they fought for
1 and who brought on the war We will for
2 give our southern brethren when they show
fruits meet Tor repentance but at presen
: they tell Us the lost cause Is not lost, bu
only suspended. There Is worse talk to-dar
al the south, than there was before the war
; Under such circumstances 1t Is for Us to keel
bright the love of country which had led u
. into the service. lie considered the Sth
model regiment. Second to none, among th
best. Tie knew they were as good citizen
as they were soldiers, aud such he wisha
q them ever TO be.
r General Thomas spoke with much earnest
! ness of feeling, and was heartily applaude
It in the course of, and at the close of hi
> response.
!, , Vermont an ne War
+ To this sentiment Lieut. q. G. Benedic
. was called on TO respond and did so briefly
/ Col. Sam1 E. Pingree of the Sd Vernon
d was also called on. and responded.
e 3. Winchester and Cedar Creeks
1t Col. j. b. Mead responded, narrating in
d cidents of the battles named
IL Lieutenant Colonel Franklin was mex
II called on, and begged to be excused fror
d speaking, which drew from Mai. Barsto,
n the remark that Col. Franklin &" alway
g showed retiring disposition, except i
E battle"
y Capt Howard told of Col. Franklin
lie speech to the surgeon, who after nroIonoe