Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-11-24

Drlgade worthy of fuller recognition tha
they had received. One was its share
the engagement on the old Plank Road. i
the Battle Of the Wilderness Gen. Getty
who commanded the division of the Unio
army engaged at that part Of the field, ha
.oid the speaker, that in an interview wit
the rebel General Gordon, after the surren
der at Appomattox, Gen. Gordon told hin
that he commanded the confederate fore
opposed to him (Getty) and that il nnm
Dered his own and Heth's divisions. Ia 90,
strorg that his purpose was to cut Of
Hancock S corps from the rest of the Fedora
army and to capture the reserve artillery o
The army OF the Potomac, which was parked
IN the rear of Getty's division that the,
were preparing 10 attack when thew yeri
themselves attacked so desperately tina,
they had ell they could do to hold their own
and they did no more. Gen. Getty then in
formed Gen. Gordon that bis division only
numbered 5000 men, and that the part ot
1t which attacked him. and the only mart
which fought on that side of the plank road
was single brigade-the Vermont Brig
ade. The Old Brigade then fought nearly
a third OF the rebel army. They went in
5000 strong and left a thousand men on
that bloody held: but they saved Hancock
and the reserve artillery Ct the army. Tho
%
works near Fort Steadman, at Petersburg
when the Vermont Brigade headed the col
nmn' pushed through a rayine and through
strong abatis, and captured works
whose loss to the enemy decided the fall of
Petersourg, ard the fate of Richmond and
oI me reoel army and empire. Gen. Grant
sad ne had often regretted his inability TO
attend these reunions. He had come | 300
miles to attend this. And while here and
enjoying fully this occasion, his iov was
mingled with sadness, at finding here sn
small number of his old companions in
the service. Many have left the State. many
are dead but he had hoped to meet more
here. For no body of men had be more res
pect and affection than for the soldiers of
that brigade. While live" said be" let
me i've IN the regard Of my comrades. and
IN the enjoyment Of the civil liberty secured
by our arms; and when / die, it will be
enough, II they wrap me in the old flag,
ana write on nv grave stone lie once com
Dended tie First Vermont BRIGADE -
Gen. Grant spoke with deep feeling. and
with strong effect. His remarks were list
ened to with the deepest interest, and as he
sat down. amid long applause, Colonel
Hooker proposed three cheers for the gal
l9nt commander ofthe old Vermont Brigade.
GENERAL l.. A. Grant, which were given
with the heartieSt feeling
Lieutenant Benedict thought it should
tc SAID for the Second Brigade. that thew
never thought of standing in the light OF
the FIRST Brigade. Their best hope was not
10 dlSgTaee the record made by their BROTH
eIs cl the old Brigade. They were proud
Of that record. The State was proud of it
prcuter perhaps than Gen. Grant modest
y supposed-and he trusted it would vet
be worthily written.
Colonel A. b Jewett here offered reso-
luton thanking Hon. Geo W. Hendee for
the appointment to Wes. Point of the son
Of bis old comrade. Colonel Barney.
Ihls was followed by "Tenting tonight
on the Old eamp-gr0und," by the Glee
CLUB.
VI 'IHE CAvALKyH-It lost IL brightest ana
b94yest spirit when Custer ieil.
Lieutenant Willard Harrington respond
ed. lie sketched Clusters history and his
frank and fearless character. The cavalry
would never forget his broad sombrero and
howlng locks, 50 often seen in the front on
the charge. Critics have called him reck-
les but his men did not think so-and
the untquallCd record of his division. with
Its captures Of 10000 men. 100 pieces Of
artillery, % standards, and seven general
othccrs, was his full yindicat
VII 1NEw HAlrsurnE AND HrR so1DIrRs,r-
Brave and loyai. they were with Us at Bennington
as well as on TIE fields cf the rebel on We are
proud oi our sister state.
Colonel Henry 3. Asherton, of Nashua.
\. IL, formerly Ct the Fourth Vermont
Regiment, responded. in lieu OF Major E. W
Farr, OF Llttleton, who had expected to be
present, but was Unexpectedly called home
lie spoke interestingly Oft the old relations of
New Hampshire and the New Hampshire
grants. and alluded to the patriotic charac-
ter Of the men O! both States
The Glee Club here rendered the moving
melody When the muster roll is calling.
III be there"
NlIi. THE MILUtA O. yERH0Nr.-Its neasure 5
more than Peck and its GTes never wither the
GTeenleat."
Col Theo 5. Peck, Of the National Guard
Of Vermont. was called upon. lie said per-
hays /; was not misfortune Tor our State |
that it has a militia force, and that the men
it sustain 1t with 50 much in |
terost and spirit They had 400 old soldiers |
now IN the First Regiment, and if called |
On they would render a good account of /
themselves, and, a. before, form a nucleus /
Tor a larger and more effective force He .
added good word for 1t. Col. Greenleaf-
Is one who returned from the war with four
)r i've bali holes in his body and a record
second 10 that of no other Vermont soldier
MAJOR John W. Newton believed the mill
IA was worthy Of support. He was not
ashamed to be IN it and to contribute his
hare towards raising its stardard.
IN. The WOMEN or VERMONT. Without them
ur state wo ID he wthuu. infantry, and the in
an'ry would be without support.
Colonel Roswell Farnham was called on
o respond. He said that if he must scin-
IL late be could not ask better subject.
: was rot one of the phantoms which men
lug in vain. Alter various pleasant and
Witty remarks, he went on 10 maintain
hat, without joking, the soldiers of YER
mont would not have been what they were
Without the support. the patriotism, the
aith OF the women. He alluded to the con-
lectIOn between patriotism, love Of country
nd love OF home, which is love of mother.
wife and child Col. Farnham spoke with
he deiicacy and respect for wOmaGly char
eter which marks the true gentleman. an d
n closing called upon Captain Richard
imith, of Tunbridge. to complete the sub
ect, VINO certainly made the most unique
nd original response Of the occasion. lie
old about tho woman he first fell in love
mOther-and how often be thought
f her counsels while he was in the army, es-
'eeiallY, in certain pretty hot place at Saw
ge station he never should have staid where
le did. with bullets flying around him from
he rebs, not thirty feet away, if he had not
bought Of his mothers Larting promise to
ray TOR him, and been sure that he would
not get hit. Capt. Smiths quaint ways OF
,utting things Kept the tables in a roar,
nd il be had omitted his final, unreport-
bile pun. his speech would haye been one
4 the happiest Of the evening.
Gen. Pitkin called for still another song
rom the Giee Club, and they sang Il
owe my Jane Melissa, smid general merri-
nent.
y. TUE HusMrRs-miiitary and political. Their
ace 5 eternal.
Captain j. {. Baker responded for the
'hummers, which class, be said, were fear
ally misunderstood. Thev were thorough
y and intensely loyal They had a more
taking" way than any other class in the
rmy He recalled the story Of Klpstrick's
aid on an important bridge. in Georgia.
vhich be found the bummers bad taken and
,een holding for him for half day.
Colonel George W. Hooker, after char
cterisiic mirthful introduction, perpet-ated
n exceedingly witty and spirited speech,
which conyulsed all with constant laughter.
be 'bummers," Colonel Hooker contend
d, were always at the front. The name
hummer implies bravery, loyalty and
iscipline Of the highest order After the
oast had been assigned him, he consulted
Webster and found hummer meant a
ald-headed gentleman but in this remark
e bad no reference TO the worthy chief
Magistrate of the State. lie also Consulted
obnson. who defined hummer" as mean
ne the Press" lie also found a defni-
ion, which made q hummer synonymous
With legislator. lie disclaimcd all inten-
ion to be personal; but he remom bered the
ime at Savage Station, referred to by Capt.
mith. and truth required him to state that
e did not see the things Capt. Smith saw;
ut did see Capt. Smith sitting on rubber
lanket, playing draw poker. He would
OF try to do justice TO the political bum
iers, but left that for Lieutenant Benedict
'olonel Hooker sat down amid long ap-
lause.
The Glee Club were again called on and
bowed that neither their stock of songs or