St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-08-17
Wednesday August Is.

Wednesday August 10.
VERMONT'S DAY.
The Declaration of Independence OF
the United States in July, l776, prompt
ed the assembling of the convention
which met at Westminster, Vt, Jan:
Is, I777, and voted that the district OF
land commonly called and known by
the name of the New Hampshire Grants
be new and separate state, and for
the future conduct themselves as such.
1t is in cOmmemoratiOn of this event
that the people, under the auspices of
the Bennington Battle Monument Asso-
citation, joined in series of public
patriotic demonstrations which COM
menced here this morning.
Copius showers fell during the night,
laying the dust and preparing the streets
for the passage of the procession, and
the sun being obscured, the weather
was favorable for the patriotic festivi-
ties, which called forth thousands OF
the hardy and fair daughters of the
Green Mountain state. At sunrise the
booming of the cannon of Fuller's bat
terry. awoke the echoes among the sur
rounding hills, and the church bells
rang out peal of joy. The uniformed
militia of Vermont, New Hampshire
and Connecticut, and the army of Vet
Grams in camp Ethan Allen, were early
astir, and at half-past nine marched to
the foot of County street, where the
procession was formed under the direc
ton of Major A. B. Valentine of Ben
ningtOn.
| THE PROCESSION.
The formation of the column differed
somewhat from the official programme.
The duty of escorting the state officials
and other civic dignitaries, fell to the
First Regiment, N. G., of Vermont, a
splendid body of men 700 strong, which
presented a fine appearance in their
gray and white uniform. Then came
the Governor of this state, the Execu
tive Committee Cf the Bennington Bat
tie Monument Association, and the
Vermont Centennial Commission and
invited guests in fourteen carriages.
The Second Division was headed by
the Putnam Phalanx of Hartford, Conn.,,
in their picturesque uniform of the
revolutionary period, followed by the
NOW OioOpS, vi
the Amoskeag Veterans, Major Wal
Capt. Vaughn, As men State Capitol
Hinsdale Guards, Capt. HosfOrd, 35
men Manchester War Veterans, Capt.
Dodge, Sc men, escOrting the state
officials of New Hampshire and the City
Government OF Manchester. Among
them are Governor Prescott, ex-Gov-
errors Hartman and Smyth, Gen. Matt
Head, Hon. Il. A. WoolsOm, Col. Scion
A. Carter, and ColOnels B. w. HOyt,
John Bracewell, George L. Ordway,
George H. Stowell, NJ. A. Haynes and
j. E. Pecker.
The third division, under Col. Hooker
of Brattleboro, with an imposing staff
of mounted officers, was the browning
feature of the procession, composed as
it was of the war veterans of Vermont
in their every day attire, rough and
ready for duty in the hour of their
country's danger. The First Brigade,
embracing the southern county bat
taliOns, numbered about $50 men The
Second, Col. Butterfield, was 300 strong;
the Third, Col. Tracy, from Rutland
and Addison counties, 125 men; and
the Fourth, made up of the yeomanry
of Washington, Orange, LamOille, Or
leans, Essex and Caledonia counties,
600 strong; making a total of about
300 men.
Atprecisely $3.50 the procession, which
had been formed upon the various
streets near the depot, began the line
of march through the various streets.
Every available seat upon the side
walks, the house-tops and the limbs of
trees, was occupied by spectators. The
waving of flags, the huzzas from the
crowd and the hearty welcome poured
from both old and young, were acknowl-
edged by the veterans in oft-repeated
cheers for the ladies and the patriotic
decorations. Along School, Main, Sill
yer, Union, South and other streets, the
completed and tasteful displays were
almost innumerable. Upon every hand
were to be seen flags of all nations,
arches bearing patriotic notices. The
music from the bands playing old fash
Toned tunes, as the pageant moved
along resounded through the lofty sides
of the surrounding mountains.
A FINE DISPLAY.
The military display was pronounced
to be the finest ever seen in this section
while the long line of carriages, inter
jected at appropriate places conveying
the distinguished guests, were objects
of much interest. When the head of
the column passed the north arch, span
ming Main street fIOm the Putnam to
Stark Houses, an immense thrOng of
people were congregated. The police
were kept busy keeping back the surg
ing mass of humanity, while huzza after
huzza rent the air.
The head of the column wheeled
again into Main street and headed tow
aid Camp Stark. The crowds surged
to and fro, and it was with great diff
cult that the police were able to keep
the street clear. From windows and
housetops, from every elevated position
came greetings to all, while not few
of the prominent gentleman in carriages
were presented with handsome bOu-
quets.
When the head of the column reach
ed the entrance to Camp Stark an i'm
mense thrOng of people were already
there to welcome it. Gov. Fairbanks,
who occupied landon, drawn by four
magnificent bay horses, was welcomed
not only by VermOnters, but by those
who had come from different and dis
tant points. The barOuche conveying
Gen. Banks, Hon. Richard rockingham
Hon. George b. Loring and Hon. w.
IL. II. Bingham was received with loud