Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-05-17
Col Proctor's Military aud Ci,I Rec.
ord.


speCts IL was honorable TO the man and cred
fable to the State. When the war broke out
he was in the Office of his cousin the late
Chief-Justice Isaac I. RedGeld assisting him
in the preparation Of his law books, and in
his practice in Boston. His income was con-
siderable and his prospects every way pleas
ing. But having been a member Of a militia
company in Cayendish, his native town. he
was filed with the martial spirit and a sense
Of duty, and he Immediately wrote the cap
tain Offering his services rs Il private soldier.
He heard nothing in reply for some days, and
then letter came from his old townsman,
Gen. George +. Davis, asking him if he would
accept quartermastcr Of the Sd Vermont and
TO answer by telegraph. He passed the letter
across the table to his distinguished kinsman,
who said, Il know what answer you will
make, but don't want You to 20 your in
come shall be more than that of quarter
master if you will stay with me-" But he nc
ccpted. and then came an order to report at
Burlington by next train. This left no time
for preparation or for visiting his family. He
broke the news to them by letter. written up
on the cars and handed to a ueiphLor as he
passed through his town. when he assumed
Office his excellent business faculties and
trustworthy character were not long unob-
served by Col Smith, who afterwards became
known as Gen. Badly" Smith and upon the
luAltA lipllbAloh ne lbbh lieutenant lfOt-
tor upon his staff. and there kept him as long
as he was content to remain in the quarter
masters department. While in this capacity
he had chance TO show prowess in an en-
gagement at Lcwlnsyille, under the eye of
Gen. Mcclellan, and was complimcnted by
that officer and recommended for promotion.
Afterward, he became Major Of the 18th Yer
mont but before having opportunity for
much service, was prostrated with a sickness.
during which for a long time his life was
despared Of, and his conyalescence was only
in time to enable him to accept an unsought
an unanimous election as Colonel of the 18th.
In this Office h. served faithfully and accept
ably, being popular with his men and through
ont the second brigade. The day before the
brigade reached Gettysburg and when it was
not known that battle was impending. his
regiment and the 12th-from the mere cir
cumstance Of their being ahead in the march
were ordered away to the right to guard
train-a service which, on the march is often
very dangerous. After proceeding a few
miles they were met by General Sickles and
staff, who informed them that n battle had
commenced and our troops were being hard
pressed He ordered the regiment that was
numerically the stronger to turn 10 the left
and march rapidly to reinforce Gen. Rey-
nolds. A count was ordered and though it
was manifest that the adjutant Of the 18th
had made false return, Col. Proctor did not
question it and Immediately led his regiment
towards the conflict reaching the field at the
same time of the rest of the brigade The
next day he received an order from Gen
Doubleday to return to the train. no other
provision having been made and the rest Of
the army having arrived to meet the enemy
He tried to get excused, but without avail
Therefore, if he did not share the dangers
hat ha lot 81 :. +
his. He did a soldiers duty. and no soldier
has been heard to say that he did not do it
well or that he shrank from any that others
shared. If the only test of good service were
to be killed or to come home riddled with
bullets, then three-fourths Of the army failed
But in behalf of every man who ever took his
life in his hands and risked all for his coun-
try, We repel with the Indignation it deserves
the covert soiling Of soldiers reputation
and in behalf of the patriotic millions who
love their country and honor its brave de-
Tenders we would visit rebuke upon those
who degrade politics by SANDER and forget
that the liberty they abuse was won and pre-
served by others blood.
As to Mr.. Proctor's business life. little need
be said. After leaving college he became for
several years a hard working and successful
farmer. After leaving the army he again be
came farmer though having a short term
of law practice in partnership with his old
cOmrade, Col. Neazey. When the Suther-
land Falls Marble Company became involved
in litigation and It's business was seriously de-
pressed, he was appointed, 10y choice of the
parties and without his effort. its receiver.
He has developed the business beyond all ex-
pectaton and by such honorable means that
he has to-day the confidence and esteem of
his competitors, and the voluntary political
support of most of them. He gives employ
ment to from POO to 800 men, and large va
riety of machinery. He works untiringly
and is not only making the property Of the
company Of great value. but is afTording sus-
tenance to many who might otherwise suffer
in these times of general depression. We
have information that his men are highly in
dignant Mt the charge that he is not kind to
them. They say that while he manages his
business to the best advantage he pays all
the wages that they can expect is always
kind To them, never refuses a hearing, or de
MES reasonable request, and many n time
gets up in the night to visit them in sickness
and sends his team for the doctor.
Akin TO this charge Of hard heartedness is
that of his severe ecOnomy-so severe that he
is accused Of living meanly. 1t is true that
he does not live in palace, and so long rs he
Is developing great property in which 9TH
ers are interested, this is creditable to him
rather than otherwise. But he lives in bet
ter house than Gov. Peck's, as good one as
| Gov. Fletcher's and nearly as good as those
ofNiov. Converse, Gov Dillingham; and Hol-
brook. His wife is an accomplished lady and
his children would be an ornament and bless
ing to any household He is public spirited
and never withholds liberal contributions
from causes that meet his appreciation.
And the personal are no more
false than the political charges against him.
His conduct has been furthcst possible from
intrigue combination. The nomination
sought him, not he that, although since as
PERSONS have been cast upon him it would be
strange if he has not been active. We have it
from the lips of a member of the State COM
mittee that they knew nothing of the wishes
of those of any aspirant when they called the
convention. They called it early for three
reasons first, the season is so early that the
usual time would have interrupted the early
haying of many farmers who wish to attend /:
second, the courts Of two or three counties
will be III session the last of May, and fore
part Of June third, there are district and
county conventions TO be held and time must
be allowed for them. So these objections.
like the others, melt away. Col. Proctor, if
nominated, will be candidate of the sturdy
industry-loying and thrift promoting people
of Vermont. He is not a demagoguc pander-
ing TO all factions. He is never all things to
all men. He looks after his business, and
whatever political preferment he has had,
has been because of his merit and that which
We predict is yet in store, will come because
he Is fit type of those sterling chaacteris-
ties which have given the people of Vermont
IN honored name and standing in the world
What the Burlington Free Press says
81 ~.