Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-02-18
The Camp Fire.


band and the choir deserve and, we know
, have the hearty thanks of the Post fol
their generous assistance.
Commander Livingston first introduced
Chaplain N n. Glazier, who related some
experiences of hospital life. Chaplain
Glazier thought the battlefield required
no more steady courage than the expert
ences of the hospital. The active courage
of the one did not distance the passive
courage displayed in the other. He was
himself wounded at Spottsylvania, and
being taken to Il hospital near Washing
ton, was there when Early threatened the
city in the summer of 1864. The city was
in fear, and he was himself thinking that
very likely Early might come in, till one
day he heard the tramp of soldiers and went
to the window and saw that the Sixth Corps
was going by, and in it the division to
which belonged the old Brigade. He knew
Early would 90 then. and he went. The
chaplain also related how soldier in hos
pital held an artery that had sloughed, and
which medical skill could not avail in re-
storing. while for three hours his wounded
comradc took leave of his friends, and
prepared for the long journey, which he
began when his fellow-soldier's hand
ceased to keep his life-blood in his body.
Major George T. Childs of ST. Adams
was then introduced, and gave most elo-
quently the reasons for organizing the
| Grand Army, and those which make its
maintenance desirable. He urged those
whose country was saved by soldiers in
| the field, to remember the promises made
when those soldiers went out. The prin-
ciples of the Grand Army have nothing to
do with politics, but each member in his
own party is to work for honest govern
ment. The principles on which the or
glnization rests are Fraternity, Charity
and Loyalty No other body of men SO
truly know the meaning of fraternity as
those who know what comrade " means
who have learned it in camp and on the
field. The charity of the Grand Army
nnlike that of other organizations, is not
limited to its own ranks, or to the families
of those who are members of it. 1t goe-
Oat to the help of all needy and distressed
soldiers, or their widows and orphans, no
matter where found. The Grand Army
i'll Massachusetts, Lust year disblrsed more
than $4,000 in charity. Within this or
ganiZaton none on whom a stain of trea-
son rests can come; it nurses that loyal
which sprang to arms when Sum,er fe |.
and which. undaunted through the Who'll
dreary war, savel the nation. The Crane !
Army without need of legislation but b, |
keeping alive the memories of other tl;lv>. /
makes one day in every year sacred t,
those who fell for their country Thi /!
alone would give the organization a right |
to life. 1t then deserves the support Ct
the community, and the best endeavorS OF |
all who have been soldiers to keep up al
interest in it. Ney. when before his exc
cution addressed by his titles said. . cal |
me not Marshal, nor Duke, but q soldier /
of France" The child in this nation, /
who, when his companions boast of VIII; t
their fathers were, can say, my father
was a soldier of the republic" need fear
no equal claim
Rev. l.. H. Stone was then introduced,
and gave some "reminiscences of the first
He praised Colonel Phelps for
always giving the chaplain due respect,
and insinuated that there were Colonies
who hardly did that
Commander Livingston then introduced
Colonel Randall, who asked to be excused
from giving an account of the battle of
Gettysburg, as the evening was already
well spent. He then proceeded to relate
some incidents of war time, and told what
Il campfire was az the boys find it in the
field. In passing, he paid his compliments
to Mr.. Stone. by saying he was in doubt
the speaker intended to be per
sonal or not, but if SO he wasn't hit He
had always given them Il chance to per-
form their religious duties and had never
known any difficulty about the matter if
the chaplain could only be got up when
the regiment was at the front The Colo
mel after having introduced his audience
to regularly built campfire, brought on
some of the attendant circumstances in
the shape of " contrabands," and said they
often made much amusement by their
tricks. He related how one of them. a
youthful shade, was sent by a neuraloic
officer for Il hot brick, and having been
gone an: Internationally long time returned
with laggard feet to his ir;lte master. Net
only was he late, but the hot brick was
held coolly in his hand. You rasca'. Il
you've been gone half an hour, and the
brick is cold now" Guess you'll find it
hot enough" replied the contraband. band-
ing it to him. Sure enough. he did. for
one end had been in the fire, and the other
piled with wet rag during the heating
process. The officer. however, took n
healthy sweat chasing the darkev. and be-
came we'll.
General Thomas was called ont, and
tcld of hot days fight in Louisiana. He
spoke but few minutes though, as he did
not feel so much like talking AS the audi
ence did like listening to him. We hope
-he Post will give other public camp fires.
1t which both Colonel Randall and Gene
ri Thomas may speak at length. Ger
'ainly, this one was Il complete success.
A letter from Rutl md in the last Mar
hester journal. dominates Hon. Harmon
Garfield. of Arlington, for Governor. F.
D. Douglass of Whiting is also mentioned
rs a good man for the pltce
INTERNAL REVENUE APPOINTMENTS
Collector Mason has recently made the