Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-06-03
Decoration Day at Mortified.

uoPicoo vi OoI JOHNSON were most I'M
pressive. Capt. c. A Curtis was Marshal,
and this made certain most orderly and
well arranged series Of exercises. The
graves outside Elmwood were decorated
in the forenoon, and in the afternoon the
principal exercises were held at Elmwood
The procession was large and was headed
by the Mortified Cornet Band.
Co. F. LIST Reg't, n G., of VT, and the
n. L. Cadets followed, and then came the
long line of citizens. The singing at Elm
wood was excellent. Prayer was offered
by Rev. G. V. C. Eastman, Col. Randall,
of Montpelier, delivered the address, after
which came the decoration. We give an
abstract of Col Randall remarks:
Col Randall spoke of the propriety of
observing the day, as we'll for doing honor
to the memory OF our fallen companions,
as also for preserving the scenes and events
in our own memory, as old age dims our
mind He said he was sure that the South
had acted iudciously in including the Tn
ion graves in the decoration services, and
thought it would do much to wipe out the
prejudice existing against them, and rec
commended that we do the same, not for
the reason that they We're engaged in Il
Just war, but for the reason that harmony
cannot be expected among the great flmi-
ly of states so long as we fan our hostility
to the South continually; and farther for
the reason that they were men like our
selves, created in Gods image and emit
tied to some charity, and that while we
only decorate the known graves. God has
made provision for the decoration of the
unknown Southern us well rs Northern, by
the abundance of wild flowers he has sur
rounded them with. This season of the
year is the season of flowers, and all ma
trlre is fresh with the newness of the sea-
son, and corresponds with their young
lives, and the more strikingly reminds us
of the sacrifice they made.
The speaker claimed that the peculiarly
rugged condition of Vermont produced
correspondingly rugged and courageous
set of men, and that that state or nation
most noted for the sterner and manly vir-
tues of industry, sobriety, chastity, tenn
perance, contempt of luxury, &c. was
most noted for its valor in time of war,
and that Vermont compared favorablv
with the other states in these respects, and
this was verified by the number of her
slain on the field of battle.
He spoke of civil war as being a bad
investment in this country for its origina-
tors, and said the better minds and better
statesmen We're becoming flvorably i'm
pressed with the p-Opriety of referring to
arbitration and judicial decision questions
of national dispute; so all might reason
ably expect that war would not soon again
be known among us. He, however, adj
vOcated the propriety of training a por-
ton of our youth in the art of war and the
scenes appertaining thereto. While human
imperfectiOn exists, nations as we'll as in
dividuals do not always observe the right
and we should at least be prepared to act
in self defense. He spoke of the impor-
lance of rightly instructing them in this
/ high calling, asserting that the bravest and
most successful generals had been the most
scrupulOuS gentlemen, and that a black
| guard or bully was not fit to be entrusted
/ with the command of an army and the
conduct of war.
/ He spoke in glowing and appropriate
/ terms Of the services performed by the
organizations of Vermont troops and the
part assigned them in the war. No soldier
of Vermont turned back from the foe, but
alright, a'left, above, below, he whirled
| the rapid sword" and went down in the
| furious charge His comrades rushed on
and his body was left where it fell. No
sacred rite of burial was ever accorded it.
no funeral sermon read ut his grave. His
body lies where it fell mid the brakes and
the chapparel. His bones are scattered
and disintegrated.
He said that probably our day as soldiers
is past; that the grave would soon encom-
pass Us, and if our graves are deco
rated it must be by other than comrades
hands. for they too will all have passed
away; that the green sod will be laid over
US, and that when the asperitv of parties
and factions shall have died away cor
rect Judgment will be formed of the ser
vices rendered. and the sacrifices made.
The speaker WIS frequently applauded
by the large concourse Of people assem-
bled showing that their hearts beat in
unison with the sentiments uttered by him
WEST RANDOLPH.-DecOrat Day was
duly observed by Post Ellsworth and by the
citizens. Music was furnished by the West
Randolph Cornet Band.
Gen. Stephen Thomas gave the address
Owing to the oppressive heat and the fact
that the speaking was out doors after the
ceremonies of decoration, the Generals dis
course was not long but it was full of thing,
worth thinking of.
lie briefly sketched the growth of our
country, and with a few words told of the
coming of the war; called Us to look at til,
soldier leaving home, in the tent. on the
march, on the field of battle, in the hospital
Il,
patriot grave. Speaking OF the decoration
he said that the observances of the day
were not for bravery but for patriotism
the secret of it I'LL was the cause for which
they died. 1t is not that we loved then
more than many who have died ut home
but they gave up their lives for us WhilC
the General would forgive those who RAISED
their hands to strike instead of to save the
nation, if they repented, he would n pu
them side by side with the patriot dead OF
this day. Honor their bravery, praise thei1
manhood, but do not lie to those growing
up and say it is as well to die in a bat
cause as in good one. Sad will be the
dav when treason and loyalty are held il
like esteem, when he who fought for the
wrong is honOred like him who fought TO
the right and when it shall be said tn
hand that struck and the hand that save(
the country were alike. Why not pension
the manned living if we strew flowers or
the graves of the 5 uthern dead? Mucl
better would it be, the General said,to pen
sion MANNED and repentant rebel thai
honor unrepentant treason as we do patriot
ism.
RANDoLPH-At the Center the grave
: of soldiers were decorated in the forenoon
and there was a short address by Colone
l Mead.
Observation-Disclosures Day was yer
5 generally observed in this town Pos
Ainsworth, No. So G. A. R., performe
: the beautiful ceremony of decorating tn