The Bennington daily banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1877-1877, 1877-08-17

That Event.
The early morning mood of Centennial
day in Bennington was one of boistrous
pride and flaming joy; pride speaking from
the mouth of the cannon, joy flaming from a
Thousand flags; and this was the voice OF
the centennial morn, breaking out in the
uttered shout Of roaring guns and ringing
bells, and in the unutteIable yet eOmpTe-
hensible message Of n perfect sunburst Of
Natioual flags that large and small blOOmed
that feeds en- those memories that belong to
no party but are meant for mankind. The
day, on the whole. was favorable; and
mp TO 10 o'clock a. m, about the time the pro-
eession began to move, was marred by an Oc
casiOnal sun-showeT, but, by II o'clock n. M,
the clouds cleared away. and the anniversa-
~ of the somewhat dimlnutive battle of Ben--
ningtOn, by comparison, had, from this time,
a sun as brilliant as that of Austerlitz, and as
hot as the summer heats in Hades. The Off
cial programmes, already published, accu-
rately indicate the arrangement and cOmpo-
aud it is sufficient to say that the Reviewing
Stand containing the President and his par
ty, was reached about noon. It's passage was
witnessed by an immense cOncOurse of peo-
ple---say 25,000---and occupied q full hour in
transit, the ranks containing 5000 persons
civic and military. As a spectacle the pro-
cessiOn was even finer than that of yesterday,
not because il contained more brilliant mil
itary companies. for the far-famed Boston
Cadets were the only additions of this sort
not because the column was kept better |
closed up, for it was inferior TO that Of yes
asrsiayy ia these rospeets. tho da5'.,vas bot
Tor and the roads less favorable for march,
ing but because it contained larger bat
TALON of Vermont veterans, the fellows that
every thoug ghtful man cared to see, and the |
81 ght of which stirred him to deepest emo |
tion, since these rugged survivors had known |
that soldering with the pence militia is at
best but a very thoroughly organized mode
OF amusement, while the war they had Crap
pied with was a fearful collision and con-
hict of cruelties. ..-
"A single drop ef manly blood
The surgng sea outweighs."
wrote Emerson, and this line rose to or
memory us We looked On the earnest faces Of
~the Veterans" IN our Centennial procession
to-day. marching amid the hearty, Sponta-
nsons applause OF cloud OF witnesses
There We're plenty OF gay militia in brave
uniforms, and all the bright pauoply that d,
tho pride and pOmp 0. glorious war. But the
people were mute until tIe em5attled farmers
line OF Vermont veterans came marching
steadily along vita the trick OF the old rout.
step In their tread These men, weariu.
10 complete military trlppings, here anu
there a fellow with cap or chevron or an
army blouse that spoke OF his old calling, bur
oitener the only sign OF service was the olo
free stride Of the bold cam paigners, the lonl
RAllop of "Ssdgwck's cavalry" that could tire
the deep hate OF the rebel leader, aud rushed
on needless OF his fire. The spectacle OF these
veteran battalious always strongly moves US,
for We notice every year the gaps whers death,
that relentless, and unerrng old sharpshooter,
has dropped another victim, and think how
the ghostly army OF UuIOn soldiers IS being
constantly recruited from the army OF suryi.
wing comrades, until tina time Is not far DIS
IRnt when the army OF our dead will be as
mighty ia numbers as were the glitterng 10.
gions that million strong moved as one man
when the great soldier Grant waved his sword
like the magic wand OF Prospero and set the
halting masses rolling in living waves OF battle
over the defiant land OF rebellion. So When
Col, Hooksr's Division passed we felt that the
assurances oil the safety OF tle republic was
hot tue military spirit that shone in splendid
uniforms aud poishe arms Of the militia but
1t was the nAdtiSn OF heroism and self sacrifice
that comes bjrns unto the ear on the wal
drums and the slriden scream OF ths iie tba,
Is the iavorito field music Of real conflict
harshlE inspiring notes that tell that stout SOL
diers, not merely most puissaut peacooks ana
birds OF Paradise aro passing. The other or
ganlzations seducsd The eyes OF the people.
but the veterans as Dickens huely said
dropped stones into the deepest reeesses of
our hearts and memories and FLASHED the
water into our eyes"
The review over, President Hayes rose and
in a clear voice and with very genial manner
congratulated the immense audience on the
day. the glory Of the occasion celebrated, |
and on the presence Of so many Of the brave
survivors of the great war that is gone, and
then remarked that perhaps the people
would like TO make the acquaintance of
some of his distinguished party. he intro
duced the Hon. E. J. Phelps, President OF
the centennial commission, who promptly !
seconded the Presidents little pleasantly by
Introducing Secretary Eyarts, who spoke a
few words of weIghty and digni6ed elo-
1uence appropriate to the occasion.
PreIi1sn1 Hty5i then called out Govern
Fairbanks, who ably lodged the blow and !
pushed General Devens' portly person, fgur-
atively speaking, between him and his Au |
dieuce. Devens spoke as be always does in
manner at once elegant and impressive, |
and soon made his bow amid great applause. !
President Hayes then called out Postmaster
Key, who spoke long enough to satisfy his
audience that he was a well-wisher to the
Union, and earnestly bought to bind up the
wounds os war. and make the waste places
blossom like the rose. President Hayes then
making a pleasant allusion TO Molly stark,
introduced the granddaughter and great
granddaughter Of General Stark, those