Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-02-01

| mont OF Vermont, Granu Army Vi tue he'
public, opened a. II O'Clock a. m. Wednes
day, January 3Oth, at the Hall OF Stsnnard
Post, of this city. Some sixty delegate:
and members were in attendance. The
Encsmpment was called to order by Col. I. 5.
Peck. Department Commander Comrade
A. J. Noyes, of Bennington, officiating SIS
Senior yice-Commander, R. j. Coffee, Of
Montpelier, as Junior Vice Commander. and
G. G. Benedict as Chaplain. The record
of the last Encampment was read by A. A.
G., Eben Tapfin.
Commander Peck then presented his
address as Department Commander.
COL. PEcK's ADDRESS.
Comrades:
Time has again brought US to our ANIMAL
Encampment. and We are now assembled to
renew and perpetuate the duties and obli-
cations of this noblesi of orders, and to
look alter the interests of the survivors OF
the men who lett all for their e1untfy's
good. anG who counted their lives as moth
ing that the Nation might live" We are
this day again reminded of our duties to
our manned and wounded comrades and to
the widows and orphans of our heroic dead,
Let the presence of 1.-THE empty sleeve,
"the wooden leg" and the blauched cheek,
or the broken down body, remind us Of the
cost of our national unity. and lead US here
and now TO coDsecrase ourselves anew to
our country. Let US close up our faso
depicting ranks and resolve with more en-
phasis than ever, that as We did our best tt
save the Nation. in her time OF trouble, 50
II A.. ali Lar. ana
Of US remains, to sustain this order OF veter-
ans. in which the highest honor aud rank
is to be simply 'conrade." and to be
permitted to march forward with the rest Of
the Grand Army shoulder TO shoulder"
waiting for the reassembling above, where
wars and rumors of war are not known.
Comrades, we have certainly reason to be
greatly encouraged at tbs advancement OF
the order, Curing the past year. Leaving
the statistics to the several staff officers, to
present in their annual reports, ! will
merely say, that though the year
has been one of universal depression,
and one in which many occurrences have
come up to draw our attention from inter
est in the order. there have been eight
Posts mustered and reorganized IN this de-
psrtment, viz: Post Chsrles j. Ormsbee,
Brandon Post Custer. Bennington Post
Bailey, North Troy Post Rodman, North
Pownal: Post Waterson. Chelsea Post Eli
Ellenwood, Cambridge; Post c. F. Smith,
Stowe. There have been 21s members mus
tered in, and II reinstated, this year-a
total gal, OF $50. So you see the order is
healthy and gaining. The Department OH
GERS have done everything that could be
thought Of, to increase the interest OF the
comrades In the order; and through the
mercy Of God who watches over each and
all of US most tenderly, much has been done,
and the order is sound.
would suggest to the Council OF Admin
istration, that the matter OF abatement OF
all dues of poor and worthy comrades (who
are unable to paw up to January LIST. 1878.
be considered, and some method OF pro-
cedure in their case be sug gested. | also
direct attention - communication receiv-
ed from the National Hesdq uarters relative
to the increase OF Soldiers and Sailors pen
sions. and request that proper action DO
taken thereon
We have reason to be proud of the part
taken by the comrades of this Department
at the Centennial celebration of the Decla-
ration of the Independence Of Vermont,
and of the Battle of Bennington, held
August is and Is. 1871 They formed the
nucleus and railying point OF the whole
gathering Of veterans, and our members
filled many positions of responsibility and
trust at that time. | take this opportunity |
to thank the comrades of Coaster" Post,
~, Bennington, for the many acts of kind |
ness which they showed to our members, |
and to the other veterans. on that occs-
sion.
Permit me to call your attention to the |
matter OF founding a Soldiers and Sailors |
Home" A report on the subject will be |
submitted by the committee to whom the |
matter was referred, to which | ask your |
earnest attention. Situated as | have been |
for the past two wears. the need Of
such an Institution has been deeply impress |
ed upon me. There are len to-day within |
our State suffering for the want OF such q |
Home We must all work for the accom- |
plishment of this object. and never rest |
until the State of Vermont has provided a |
Soldiers Home.
During the past year, several Posts have |
erected head-stones over the graves OF their |
dead, and | trust all will STE that this |
duty is performed. as necessity shall re-
quire in future.
| present one more request. Let these
delegates, at the first regular Post meeting
after their return home. bring up the mat
ter OF soldiers monuments. My comrades.
this business has bsen too long delayed. 10 a
lew years We shall be gone. aud who will do
il then? Move in the matter at onco, in your
own way so that within five years every town
or county in the State shall have erected |
some testimonial, no matter how humble, |
bearing the names Of their dead, and the |
organic atoms in which they served, so that |
future genera tions may be instructed there |
by to appreciate and reverence what these |
men did for them and their country.
~
which position. by your cour
tesy, have had the honor to hold for the |
past two years. is finished at the close OF
this Eucampment In laying down its re-
sponslbllity l must be allowed to impress
upon nv successor the duty. not to let the
order lag or falter, Don't let the men
struggle! Thanks to the energy Of our
Post Commanders. and other officers, as
well as to tho efficient Department staff |
which it has boon my good fortune to have.
We have done splendldly. All have worked |
early and late, for the best interests OF the |,
order. To all Comrades who have stood up \
80 manfully for our order. let mo say here, i
your services will never be forgotten. and =
while the Department Commander may re-
ceive the credit, At IS NOT his, but yours. and
he is only too glad to give you, in this
feeble manner. your award of praise.
Finally. commend you as an order, and as
to the God OF Battles, whol
will guard and guide you now, in time
of peace. as He did in the dark days of
War and Rebellion. Remember, as long {
as you live, to obey the order you heard 50
many, many. times, during your army
life: Close up on the Colors Forward,
March (which meant. then as now
VICTORY.
Thta fara opd oyaaliant addrae |
was received with hearty applause.
Assistant Adjutant-Gsneral Taplin pre-
sented his report. showing that eight me-
Posts had been mustered and reorgsnize
during the past year, at Brandon. Benninf
ton, North Troy, Bristol, North Powna,
Chelsea, Cambridge ard Stowe The toll
gain in membership during the year VS.
$50. and net gain lf9 members. The rtl
of the order numbers $50 members. lie
report was clear and comprehensive dou-
ment and was received with applause.
Assistant Quartermaster-Gencral E E.
Greenlcaf presented the Quartermasr-
Generals report. showing a balance of
Sl95 in the treasury.
Medical Director c. P. ThaYer preseted
IN interesting report, giving statistis of
the injuries of ninety-six comrades who
were wounded in the war, receiving from
one to eight wounds apiece.
The Encampment then took resss for
dinner.
AFTERNOON.
The noon trains brought q nuDer of
delegates. swelling the number preent to
upwards OF seventy-fve.
On re-assembling. the Encampnef pro-
ceeded to the election of Department Ulcers
for the year ensuing. For Department. Com
msnder, Col. Peck was unanim,usl' re-
elected; but positively declined to serve
another year. His declinaticn wa accept
cd, and the following officers were mani
mously elected: