Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-11-06

/ ~ sOuI special CisIldIcHtSt yeStSIudJ 1uOi'
ming cat short the proceedings of thu
tenth annual session of the Vermont
Officers Reunion Society at the com
meneement. of the address at the evening
meeting, at the Town Hall. We now
/ give an LL..-5s
! ABSTRACT OF THE ADDRESS. ~
We have come up. here tonight as sol
diers, fraternally to commune, leaving
home and things, to touch eaeh others
hearts with Goals from off the altar. 1t
is not now just before the battle, nor af.
ter the battle, but is long after the fight
ing is over. 1t is here, in our own be-
loved State, where we have come up to
commune together in friendship and fra
ternity. | am not going to repeat the
causes of the war. There were enough
of them to bring it about, and we only
wish tonight to record some of its
scenes. Our State, Vermont, is unique
in her mountains, rivers and hills. The
orator here detailed some of the early
history of the State, and referred to
the importance of Lake Champlain
as a highway for trade and travel. Here
in such country lived our sires, hardy,
sclf-reliant men, acquiring their glow
from pure mountain air and honest toll.
They were strong in deep moral persua-
sion, so that they arose above success,
ever. pre- eminent in morality, dignity
and honest worth From such you
grew, and no one was more lily prepared
for the calamity of war than the sons
and daughters of Vermont The strug-
gle came, and its four years are broken
Gu the shores of eternity.
As early as January 1861, Governor
Fairbanks ascertained how many men
the counties had, and he set about find
ing out how many would enlist. Then
followed the extra session of the Legis-
lature. and the Governors address. The
First Regiment was organized and did its
duty well as was testified by its MEM
bers being made drill-masters and officers
of other organizations, but the history
OF these men need not be detailed here,
for an ADLER pen than mine has re-
corded the dates and particular service
Of each, being none other than that of
the beloved and lamented Peter T.
Washburn,
The orator detailed briefly the record
Of Vermont in the notable battles of the
war, and referred to a pamesake of his
who, fighting, fell at the terrible battle
of the Wilderness; none nobler none
braver said the speaker. The war was
ended, and Old Virginia and the low
land countries had heard from Vermont.
The soldiers returned, some wounded,
and some mained, but all have received
the respect of mankind The widows,
orphans, fathers and mothers of those
who fell will ever be cherished with. re-
spect This is the first result of the
war The second was emancipation.
No one can venture to speak of finance,
but let US hope that the panic will re-
suit in good; herdpan must be hardpan.
Let us also hope that economical gov
ernment will ever be. ours.
Vermont will yet have her Macauiey,
and when he puts his pen to paper, her
greatness will be secure, and the truths
of history will be vindioated. :5.-
The address bad the merit of being
very brief, occupying only some twenty
minutes in its delivery. 1t was received
with applause at its finest passages and
at its close ....,-. .,.-.. ..5-