Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-04-14
nm. Grand Army or,he nepubI,c.

As Decoration Day approaches, little
review of the condition of the Vermont
Department of the soldiers organization
will be of general interest. The Depart
ment now numbers eighteen posts, having
post in almost every considerable town,
Brandon, 81. Johnsbury aud Woodstock
excepted 1t numbers a little short of a
thlusand members.
On the Goth of January last, Col. II. S.
Peck was elected Department Commander;
and on the 18th of February announced the
Department staff as follows;
Eben Tapln, Burlington, Assistant Adj
iutani General; Ed. Il. Greenleaf, Burling-
Ton, Assistant q. NJ. General; Chas, L.
Spauding, Burlington, Inspector Willard
Harrington, st. Adams, Judge Advocate
Rev. n. n. GLACIER, Chaplain II. j. Coffee,
Montpelier, Chief mastering officer.
On the same date Col. Peck addessed 10
each member of the order in Vermont
circular letter, urging him TO use his per-
sonal exertions to increase tho member
ship, 10y bringing into 1t all good and true
men who were honorably discharged from
the service; and saying that record will
be kept in each Postor every comrade who
has brought recruits during this year, and
the same will be put upon "Roll of Hon.
or" TO be published at hc nert 4 nnual En-.
cdmpment.
"Remember, comrades" adds the COM
mander, "tl at we are fast passing away.
Not many years hence, this order will be a
thing of tile past but while we live, let
us stand together in genuine comrade-
ship"
On the 18th of February the appointment
Of an aide de camp in every Post was an
nounced, those for Windham county being
Geo. +, Green, Brattleboro, A. Sturges.,
jamaica, Frank L. Ray, WILMINGTON.
On the Doth OF March, circular was sent
TO soldier in each town in Vermont, the
portions OF which OF general interest are as
follows:
CoMRADE This is sent you for the pur-
pose of requesting all soldiers in your town
TO organize, make the necessary arrange
ments, and on the 30th Of May, 1876 Deco
ration Day. stIew the graves of our fallen
comrades with flowers. II has been la
mentable fact, that ia many places in Yer
mont this duly has never been performed /;
that men who have fallen in the defence ofthe
noblest cause ever known, have been suffer-
ed to lie forgotten and unrecognized in their
graves. Now the order of soldiers known
as the Grand Army of the Republic have
thought this to be one of their duties, and
in this Centennial year of our Republic
have determined to try and have every SOL
dier's grave noticed, be it "known or I'M
known" If there are graves in different
parts OF your town, please have committees
detailed to see that they are properly deco
ratad. Should the season be late and flow
ers hard TO procure, VIC would suggest that
lna hn nj In
graves; also that flower.seeds be strewn
upon the tops of the graves, which will
spring up and bloom during the entire sea-
son. Every Post of the Grand Army will,
on that day, turn out to perform the sad
hut beautiful duty, and each will send a
report thereof to Headquarters. We hope
you will do the same. and also send copy
of any newspaper containing your proceed
ings, which will be filed among the records
OF the Order.
T. S. PECK, Department Commander.
EBEN TAPLIN, Asst. Adjt. General.
We cannot doubt that as a result of these
timely suggestions, the graves of our he
roes will be moro carefully and generally
decorated this year, than they have ever
been. And we trust that Col. Peck's patri-
otto efforts 10 arouse increased interest in
the order will be fully appreciated and find
hearty response in all quarters. As he
says in his first general order: "There is
work for all, and in this the Centennial
year of our noble Republic let us make
such an advance that in after years we shall
be able TO look back 10 this time with pride.
Let all delinquents in each Post DE reused
to duty, so that every soldier and sailor in
this State will be a member of the Order.
It is suggested that in counties where there
are but few Posts, and there arc parties en-
titled 10 membership living in adjacent
towns, the members, individually, get
them to join the nearest or most conven-
lent POST and when Decoration Day
comes, it will no longer be known that a
soldiers grave was neglected in Vermont"
Eree DrssS