Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-08-15

what he saw the Vermont troops do at Get
tysburg. Gen. Stannard was then called |
ont, and made an exceedingly effective little
speech, which was received with the utmost
qualification. Gen. Robinson spoke next.
lie declared he could not make speech
but did not prove it, Gen. Griffin, who is
fluent talker, was next called out, and
then Chaplain Trumbull of the 10th Con-
nectieut, Gen. Sprague of Mass, Governor
Converse, and Gen. Veazey.
The speakers were all greeted and ap-
plauded with the heartiest cheers.
The review and speaking lasted some three
hours, and nobody found it tedious.
TIE SPEECHES.
Gen. Veazey first introduced Gen. Devens,
of Massachusetts, as the Commander-in-chief
of the Grand Army of the Republic of the
United States, and proposed three cheers
for him, which were given with hearty
will
GEN. DEyESs' SPEECH.
Addressing the soldiers as " comrades
Gen. Deyens congratulated them on being
able to meet in so pleasant gathering and
to bring together so noble and true-hearted
band, as any composed of the soldiers OF
Vermont must be. Such a meeting recalls
events of thrilling interest pleasant re
miniscenees; sad recollections of those who
marched and fought and suffered with US,
and who have passed beyond the veil. 1t
has been said that such reunions of soldiers
tend to keep alive the passions OF the war.
The charge Is unjust. No body OF men are
so glad to be at peace with all ,as the soldiers
who know what war Is. But the soldiers
have right to remember what they have
done for their country and their government
and the country has n right to preserve
their record Such holding of an honored
past in memory, fosters an honorable nation
al pride, and excites people to noble emu
lation As the example of the men of 70
was an inspiration to the men Of 1861, so
will the example of the men of 81 be to
those who after you will till these fertile
fields. The men of former days who
fought with Ethan Allen and with Stark,
were not better men than Vermont sent
to the war of the rebellion. The Nermonters
of to-day are no alien offspring of the Green
Mountain Boys of old On every battle
field of the late war, by noble courage and
by steadfast faith, they proved themselves
the bronze of former time recast. To tell
of the service done by your regiments,l Is the
task of the historian, and | will not at
tempt it. But | may say that their record
is not unfamiliar 10 me. | see here many
men with whom | was associated IN the
army. Your 9th Regiment was under my
command | recognize before me an old
Brigade flag Of my Division, the flag Of the
first Brigade that entered Richmond. That
Brigade was commanded by one Of your
Colonies Gen. Devens went on TO speak
on the attachment oftrue patriots to the flag,
and told how he stood in Richmond, the day
of its capture and on the piazza OF Mrs. Van
Lew, the noble and true hearted. lady who
did 50 much for our soldiers, IN Libby
Prison. and heard her describe her emotions,
a, after four years of waiting for the right
to triumph, she saw at last the lines OF
| loyal bayonets marching in over the New
| Market road, and over them the American
| Aag-how she and her household sank down
! on their knees and thanked God that they
saw it once more wave IN triumph. ten.
| DevenS alluded also 10 the men Of the old
| First Vermont Brigade, as among the truest
of the true, and recalled three brave New
| England soldiers. all now dead. who were
present when be first reported a. BrlgadIer-
/ General-BroOkS, commanding the 1t v r-
mont Brigade cheers John >edgwick Ire
newed cheerngl ana a gallant Massachu-
D
| the gallantry Of your Second Brigade. You
are TO be concentrated on meeting here 50
many men who distinguished themselves at
| Gettysburg. the decisive battle OF the war
| Col. Neazey here Ichcers, Gen Stannard
| lcheersl and Gen Doubleday prolonged
| cheerinel. Time would fail to pursue the
/ history of the Vermont regiments, who
won on these and other fields 50 proud
name. And when | remember how noble
and united your State was throughout the
war. cannot but hope that some memorial
I structure will yet rise AZ the capital oil your
| State in honor Of YOUR dead. who fell IN the
war. and in commem0ratI0n Of the for the
| Union. a. the statue Of Ethan Allen, lately
erected at Burlington by your patriotic clti-
Zens. Commemorate, not only ms worthy
deeds, but the era which he helped 10 make
| 50 glorious for your State. here lOilo"eI
an eloquent and touching aposrophe TO the
Union dead. which we should DO injustice 10
by any abstract. In Inclusion zen. Deyens
reminded his hearers that there was stu
call to show their patriotism by iaitnill per
Torrance of their duties as citizens, and by
resistance to the forms Of corruption and
decay which attack prosperous govern
ments; and urged them 70 stand together
always, in the support Of all that makes the
true dignity of the Union and the safety
and happiness Of its people.
The band here played an appropriate
dirre for the dead soldiers Of the Union.
Gen. Joseph r. Hawley was next nitro
dueed by Gen. yeazey, and was received
with hearty cheers.
GIN. HAwLEY' s SPEECH.
Gen. Hawley said he was glad, as Con-
necticut man. 10 meet the NermOnters here
assembled. There l. no man in the land
who does not know them by reputation,
and there is no Connecticut man that i not
proud 10 claim c0usin-hIp with them. More
than q quarter ofour towns have their name
sakes here. The names OF many OF your
people are familiar Connecticut names. and
we furnished You your present Goycrnor,
who i a native Of my district. - You are
largely part Of Us, and we are proud OF
YOUR deeds and of your fidelity in all sorts
Of contests. Abiding TO the predictions ol
foreign statesmen that our republic could
not carry on great war. Gen. ii. SAID We
had demonstrated that whatever could be
done by whole people, could be done bY
free people. and in fact that no people could
carry on 50 long and 50 great a war as such
a people. Strong against foreign and do
nestle foes, We have not yet demonstrated
our power 10 resist the evils which come
with prolonged peace. They may yet des-
troy u, unless every man becomes IN the
true sense, politician. This Is especially
the duty ofthe soldier who knows what It
l>costs to set that flag in glory against the sky.
Abiding to Gen. Deyens' description OF
scenes al the occupation of Richmond, ten
/ Hawley sad that about that time II iell TO
him to receive ten thousand Union prison
ers returned from the Southern prisons.
They came IN ten long trains, and he well
remembered how they looked, As they tum-
bled out of the cars, haggard. ragged,
filthy, wasted with long confinement.
thousands Of them sick, hundreds actually
dying from starvation and the malara OF
the rebel prison-peus.
Yet they want Us 10 forgive EN-. -
shouted a voice from the ranks below.
Wait till they repent replied Gen
Ilawley amid loud applause, and went on
with hi story.
As these poor fellows realized that they
were once more within the MON lines, their
first act was TO throw away their old bat
tered tin cups and plates, relies of their I'M
priSonment which many Of them would now
be glad to regain. As they gathered before
me, said the General, tried to give them a
little timely advice-what | wanted 70 do
was to sit down and cry-but / told them OF
the kettles of coffee and supplies of beefand
hard tack our boys had provided for them,
and cautioned them against taking too much
into stOmaebs long unused to a full meal.
As they passed on, TO the camp provided for
them. at a turn of the road stood great
arch Of eyergreens spanning the highway,
which our boys had raised to welcome them,
and over it waved the old flag You should |
have seen them, as they came in sight OF 1t. |
Some shouted with ala their might. some |
knelt and prayed, thousands sat right down |
and burst into tears. How that nag spoke /
to them-what sacred memories it revived
1t is only after such scenes that we can |
realize what our country's flag Is to US,
And now its stars and stripes speak to US of |
half a million of our brothers, who died in
its defence, and who look down on Us now
Nv comrades. we shall not easily be |
taught to forget what was sad or