Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-02-01
"Oh Whist muster roll Is theirs,
How bright the record shines;
Like SONS vast forest OF the North,
drown all OF giant pines,
Beneath whose shade the nearer shrubs
Die out the trunks betxeen,-
Our forest has no under-bush
And the soil 1t guards Is clean.
GEO. Ii. BIGKLow,
P. p. PITKIN.
JAMES ii. DYER. Com
ALEX. e. WATSON, mittee
STEPHEN Thomas,
II. &. LULL.
R,xlinn.nn u. 1879

1
This excellent report was accepted. and
Comrades Thomas, Veazsy, Barstow. Farm
ham and Peek, were appointe committee
to bring the subject before the next legisla-
lure. In compliance with q request from
the National Headquarters. the subject
OF modification of the Pension Laws of
| the United States was taken up. The pro-
posed act in addition to and in amendment
Of the existing law, was read, and the sub
ject waI referred to a committee consisting
Of Comrades j. Ii. Goulding j l.. Barstow
and StaJ hen Thomas.
A re0lution of thanks to the Central
Vermont, Burlington and LamOille, and
other roads extending the courtesy of re-
tu'n tickets. was adopted, and a resolution
oftbanks to Post Stannard for courtesies
offended to the Encampment.
The Installation of the new Department
cheers then took place in due form.
| After vote to print the report of the
lncampment in pamphlet form. the State
1ncampment was closed, the delegates
generally remaining to the Campfire and
upper in the evening.
THE CAMPFIRE.
| Grand Army Hall was filled with COM
AIDES, at the evening gathering. Post Com
nander Gen. W. W. E-.ry presided. and
called up in turn champion story tellers of
the various regiments. Everything was in
formal and of-hand. and army yarns.
"reminiscences. and jokes, with an occa-
sional interlude Of singing, filled the hours
till o'clock, when supper was announced.
This was spread in the hall of the Young
Mems Christian Association. on the floor
below. Long tables of clean pine boards
filed the room, furnished with tin plates
and cups, and laden with pans of hard
tack, cold pork and beans, cold meats,
pickles, etc. Steaming camp-kettles sup
piled hot coffee All fell to with hearty
relish and all voted the " bareback sup
per" distinguished success.
Returning to the hall above another hour
or two was spent in song and story.
Before breaking up. the following despatch
and letter. being among the replies received
to invitations to be present at the supper.
we're read by Col Peck:
WAsHISGrOs d. c., Jan. %. 1873.
To Col T. S. Peck, Commander, sc.
Thanks for your invitation. Make my salutations
to the Savionrs Of the Republic. Every passin
year as il diminishes their numbers, augments the
honor that in all the future will he their monu
ment- Go. +. EDMUN Ds.
RUTLAND, VT, Jan. q 1873.
col. T. S Peel, Department Con nnander, G. a. Il.
DEAR COLONEL: Your letter requesting me to
be present at the Campfire and Department En-
campment 10 just received, and l should be very
glad indeed to comply, but expect now it will be
impossible o~ing To the Supreme Court being in
session here, this week, and my engas ements be-
fore the Court | regret exceedingly losing any
one OF these occ.sions To nv mind It is loss that
uothing can compensate Tor. This I'D soldier COM
radeship is the best reward tf oar service. l
think We find no such sincerity, hesrtnesi snc
good fellowship anywhere as in those soldier gath
orinss; and the mission OF the q. A. r., to keep
all this alive and fresh is worthy ana noble.
Please extend my regards to the comrades. aud nv
regrets that Cannot he present to enjoy the song
and story they gathered about the Camp
fire. Yours in +, q. and L..
At ii O'Clock the gathering broke up.
after singing Old Lang SYne. All in all it
was perhaps the pleasantest and most sue
cessful encampment of the Department, as
yet held The cause of fraternity. Charity
and Loyalty" is the gamer by every such
meeting and this one was worthy to be
numbered among the red letter days" of
the order
The new Commander of the State Depart