Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-06-23


the excellent address of Mayor John W.
Newton. of St. Albans. delivered on Dec
Grafton Day in that village:
| remember that in the autumn of the
year OF 1859, when the company OF cavalry
to which | had the honor to belong was
mustered into the service of the United
States, young soldier, who had by his
quiet manners, his extreme modesty, to-
gether with a scrupulons and intelligent
performance of duty, won the well-deserved
appointment Of company clerk, came quiet
ly into my tent, saying he wished few mo-
ments' conversation. Said he: Il am
thankful for the confidence you have shown
IN me IN appointing me to this position,
but am persuaded had better not accept
It, ltmay relieve me from active duty, and
am afraid The boys will think l have
soughtit, am cowardly, disposed to shrink
from hardship and danger. However much
l might enjoy the work under other circum-
stances, | cannot consent TO lay myself open
to such charges Our conversation wa.
quite prolonged, and resulted in his keep
ing the place, the duties Of which he per-
formed TO the entire satisfaction OF US all
bringing the same fidelity and industry to
this work with always characterized him.
The conversation of that day gave me an
insight into the inner workings of his mind
atd | discovered that 1t was no hasty decI-
sion formed under the pressure Of the pecu-
liar excltment of those times that had forced
him. at length. to iOrego the society and
comforts Of Christian home to relinq uish
the college hono-s which seemed within
easy grasp, and face the dangers and hard
ships OF a private soldiers lite but stern
and profound conviction that his country
needed his service, and that, too, to accom-
plisd high end, and evel lie itself was
not too costly an Offering for the sacrifice if
thereby the end might be attained. watch
ed him with deep interest during the compar-
atively short time remained with the. regi-
ment. and found him ever true and faithful !;
often volunteering for hazardous service,
when less resOlute spirit would have seen
the hand Of duty pointing to legitimate and
pressing camp work. And so on, with un-
wavering fidelity he performed every task
until on the 9TH day of May, 1864. at the
battle Of Craig's Church, in the Wilderness.
he was severely wounded and taken prison.
er. From this time until the day of his
death. the llth Gay of September following,
his was a lie of uninterrupted suffering.
The march of more than hundred miles on
the journey from Lynchburg to Anderson
vile, when tainting and bleeding, be was
forced at the point Of the bayonet, can only
be imagined. The long months of prison
life, when hopes 80 often disappointed grew
fainter and fainter; with wounds unhealed
Tor want OF proper care, body wasting
from day to day by actual starvation,
were at last ended by death. am told by
a comrade who shared his suferings and
survived, that all this while no murmur
ever escaped his lips. His was a heroism
that could do and dare and suffer. His was
life fully consecrated. Aud whether bv
his quiet Christian example, or as morning
and evening he gathered his associates
about him for religious conversations, or
commended them and himself in PRAYER
to the God he was serving, we have an ex-
ample Of Christian patriotism and heroism
that may well challenge our grateful ad-
miratlon.
have given this short account of the life
and service OF Joseph Partridge Brainerd,
not to rack your minds with the remem-
brance of those dreadful years, bot to en-
kindle your sympathy and admiration for
these men who 50 nobiy suffered hoping ID
stimulate you 10 undertake a work which
seems to be demanded, and which think
most properly belongs to the members of this
Post.
" Z 4LA4tAlbIA A4I lsN' VI AlAulAGE anu
Hurlburt and Lewis. of Warren, Minor and
Mooney. Of Underwood. Sawyer, Cook and
Parsons, OF Orr, Peterson, Garvin, Roberts.
Mitchell and the two Brainerds, and per-
haps others unknown TO me, all brave and
devoted men, whose memory We this day
honor as we strew their graves with garlsnds
of evergTeens and flowers How the eye
moistens and the heart swells, as we recall
their deeds OF valor and their lives of sacri
fee. Let it be our mission to see to it that
some suitable and lasting monument Is
erected TO their memory.
| had thought some work OF granite,
bronze or marble, that should beautify our
public park. when it shall be redeemed from
its present wreck and ruin, would be most
appropriate. 4 far better way, however,
has been suggested in private. and ! an
glad of the permission to present it to you
publicly to-day. Let US erect on the most
public thoroughfare in our village, Memo
rial Hall, of modest proportions and mod
crate cost. The architecture shall be as
modest as the lives and characters of the
men We honor, as durable as the memory
of their brave deeds. We will furnish the
rooms to receive our town library. and add
to 1t a pleasant reading room. to besupplied
with the mOntllY magazines and daily
newspapers OF the country. On marble
tablet within this room, shall be cut the
names of those already gone, and as the
years roll on, and each one OF US is sum
moned, our names shall be added. The care
of this room shall devolve upon the mem
bers Of this Post, as long as one is found who
is able TO see that the room is cleaned
warmed and lighted 1t shall be opened
every evening, and be free to all. We
will endeavor to make it attractive to our
young men and thus make it great power
TOR good in this community. Ny comrades,
if this meets your appreciation let US bend
our best endeavOrs to this work. and ! am
sure it can be accomplished