Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-06-18

line of march was then taken up 10 the How
ard Opera House, which was soon filled to
its utmos, capacity.
THE PUBLIC EXERCISES.
The interior decorations OF the opera
House were simple and effective. A trophy
of flags, tastcfully disposed. filled the centre
of the rear of the stage while on either
hand was a mimic camp with tents and
stacked arms. The front OF the gallery was
draped with long bands of red, white and
blue, the latter bearing the various corps
badges The badges of the 5th and 9th and
other corps ornamented the front OF The
stage boxes President Sickles and the
officers of the Society, and distinguished
guests occupied the stage the members oil
the Society, the veterans and citizens filled
the house, while the gallery was thronged
with the beauty and grace of our city ard
other towns The Sherman Band occupied
the orchestra.
THE PROCEEDINGS
ODeutu Will ttlt NuliOGo puSi' "i4'
calls reveille, guardmounting, inspection,
etc. the familiar sounds of which were
greeted with cheers by the soldiers present,
interspersed with army airs, such as Tramp,
tramp" Marching through Georgia, etc,
by the Band to which the veterans added in
some cases the words When the applause
which followed had subsidized Gen. Sickles
called the Society to order with the following
words
Comrades. We have heard the hugle call and
as ALWAYS we answer ..here." | have the honor
now to call this Society to order for its Eleventh
Anniversary. And will ask our comrsde, Chap-
lain Brasfow of the 18th Vt Regt 10 ask the d.
vine blessing on our proceedings
Mr. Brastoy then appropriately and de
voutly addressed the Throne of Grace.
Mayor Hatch had designated as his spckes
man on the occasion Hon. Daniel Roberts,
of this city, who then welcomed the Society
as follows:
MIR. RoBERTs's ADDRESS.
General Siesles:
ton in the of the city authorities and IN be-
half OF the inhabitants of the city, 10 bid you and
the society OF which you are the honcred pLesueht
welcome. II is "A great pleasure 10 us and We es.
TEEN II u distinguished honor that the society OF
the Army OF the Potomac in selecting place of en-
campment for their annual reunion nave CHOSEN 10
mitch their tents here for the occasion. We VIII DO
what We can TO make your stay pleasant 10 you,
feeling that in honoring you and your comraues We
| best honor ourselves Here, far removed from
war battles sound" tho companions and com
| rades of the field and tent may peacefully night
| their battles DER again, I, and you, General, can
shoulder your cruich aud show how fields were
| won,'-as was Getiysburgh.
| You come to us not as YOU visited Virginia IN fire
| and battle smoke, the scourges OF God-speakihg
reyerently,-but with the lilies OF peace upon your
brows, "a peace achieved by the sacrifices, Inc
pers, the heroism and the victories oil war Tor me
| sake of a peace which should secure nationality
and freedom for all peace established In right
| eousness and that shall endure. And SO we salute
you. and greet you. and welcome you 10 our nos
ptaty and hearts, battle Scared heroes OF Vlrtofl-
| Gus war for the right.
III could think of You as mere soldiers OF for
tune hirelings In the bloody trade OF war. the
| Duyad Dagettys of the trade, ready 10 serve the
prince or party that pays best we might sympathise
with the sentiment of that British officer who, in re-
Elective mood, said to his companion, LAS we think
of it, comraie, ours is a damnable trade" But, re-
membering how II was. for the most part, that you
came to be soldiers at ALL that II was molly SENT,
| mept OF patriotism and righteous indignation al
the parriclal attack upon the nations lie that H.
spired you rush from the peaceful paths OF lie 10
the nations defence, that for the sake of duty as
sacred and impelling as any in religion you toled
and fought and bled, and, alas how many lied that
| the nation might live" and that government OF lhe
perish from tine earh,n but he secured forever, We
greet YOU As OF that trade, but rather Is voluil-
| teers in the army OF the Lord, coming up TO lhe
| help Of the Lord against the mighty. II was the
| cause that sanctined the work, the heart IN Inc
| work that made that work heroic, and It's accom-
| plshment moral victory grander, thousand
i,mes than the vulgar victories Of kings and en-
perors. II Is OF the precious dust OF those VINO
gave their lives for their country tempered with the
| blood OF brave men wounded aud dying Tor that
cause that the good genius Of America has com
pounded the cement that shall hold fast In place
every stone of the renovated temple OF liberty but
tressed anew be her fortress and stronghold anu
beacon to the races of mankind struggling Tor
| light and freedom Esto ysrpetur.
And so We thank you, General. and every loyal
soldier OF the republic and revere you, aud bid God
bless you, and welcome, welcome, welcome
Mr.. Roberts's excellent address was fol-
lowed by hearty applause from the audience.
GEN. sICKLEs's RESPONSE.
Mr. Roberts: In behalf ofthe Society of the Army
OF the Potomac, thank you for these eloquent
words OF welcome, and thank also the ladies' and
gentlemen who compose this large and brilliant
audience for the cordial manner in which they nave
recognized that welcome. We are happy 10 meet
here to-day many of .he repi esentative men OF
yermont-her worthy Governor, whom last met al
Gettysburg under very different circumstances, al
the head OF a Vermont Regiment. tApplausel your
iustrous Senator tIong applause, the audience
and guests rising and cheering an senator E fsa
greetingl. the Mayor Of your city and other eminent
men of Vermont. We are glad also 10 greet mere
so many OF our comrades on many baitle-neds,
who formed part of the generous tribute to YER
mont TO the National cause. We meet, not 10
revive anmosties, but TO renew old memories
TO exchange greetings and to feel again me magic
touch OF the elbow. Applause We cannot WISH
Vermont without recalling some OF the men anu
facts OF her revolutionary history-the Intrepid
Allen and the capture OF Ticonderoga the astute
and gallant Stark, the hero OF Bennington; ana
Burgoyne's characterization OF the Nermonters as
"a suen and rebellious race hanging on my nahAs
like a thunder cloud" As New Yorker, also, !
Inn recall The imminent danger oil y war De-
tween my State and the little upstart on her east
ern border and the consummate diplomacy with
| which Vermont coutrived TO gain all her points.
| 10 deceive the English diplomaiists and 10 bane
| the efforts of those who tried 10 Induce her 10
| yield her territory TO the State Of Sew l"rS- In
III amid dangers and intrlgues on all side, YER
mont formed her constitution and planted the seeds
of her future renown. We IN II slavery forever
| prohibited common schools In every town, an
On such solid foundations WIS reared the fabric OF
her prosperity. tApplause.l 81
Coming down 10 the war Of the rebellion, we hnd
that Vermont contributed 10 II more soldiers than
had citizens In the war of the Revolution, send
ing 10 1t one In every nine OF her populaton-a pro-
portion not equaed by any other State In ancient
| or modern times. There are witnesses mere 10 inc
| WAY in which the vermonters bore their share OF
| the conrict-Sheridan tlOng applause and cheer
| ingl, who saw you hight in the Valley and al Five
Forks; Slocum lapplausel, Miles lappiausei
and McIntosh lapplansel, who led you
| on other hard fought fields. / might adi some
| ties. !nony myself. / well remember as was on
| my way from Emmetsburgh 10 Getfysburgh, July
ls 1868 observing on the left OF the ROAD cohsi-
derable body OF troops evidently the guard OF some
of the army trains. on inquiry, found that was
II brigade of Vernon. troops attached 10 the flrst
Army Corps and commanded 10y Gen stanharu.
| loud and hearty applause.l / thought the trains
could take care of Themselves II moved Tour niles
back, and ordered Stannard 10 select regiment 10
guard the Trains and 10 bring the rest 10 the front,
| promising him a handsome entertainment thete.
As II WAS hot July lay ana Inc
Vermont boys We're lounging comfortably IN
| "A pleasant grove, ! feared the order Wuulh NOT
he well received hut as rode on ! soon heard
cheer after .cheer from the grove. 1t WAS Inc
cheering OF \ ninc-monihs brigade, VINO hAu seen
no lighting and whose time WAS about efplrlhY..
and who then welcomed An order 10 move mo
battle. glad TO know that they were not TO 80 nome
without taking part In hight. That shout reveaea
the character Of the men-ihe character they nav
horne from 1875 To this time-as alwayH brave anu
ready 10 serve their country.
Gen Sicklcss speech was received with
three rousing cheers, led by Colonel G. w.
Hooker from the stage.
The ST. Adams Glcc Club then sang finely
"Praise TO the Soldier" and were heartily
applauded.
The poet of the occasion was then intro
duccd by Gen. Sicklcs as follows:
at has always been part Of our duty 10 illus
tra,c history by the efforts of poets and
orators. This time We have found our poet
on the shores of the Pacific, rich IN genius rs
in gold. | prescn. to you the poet OF the
Sicrras, Joaquin Miller"
Mr. Miller's poem was delivered by him
with spirit, and was received with ample ap-
plause. 1t was as follows:
'BEYoND TIE RIVER.
'Iet US cross over the river and rest under the
shadow OF The trees.
Along Poiomacs shadowy shore
still glide the ghost-whlte battle clouds
Dark Libya, dreamer as OF yOrc.
Sees mighty marshale hosts In sirouds
In thunder hears far cann"n-foir:
He sees dread giants battling there,
When llghtnings flash fierce swords IN ait.
lie feels warm tears when plantlve winds
And pltylng wlr-elouds pause und weep,
Where thrice an hundred thousand kings,
Immortal rs Columbia sleep.
q remnant OF that persisted host
Rise up Recfoss that ghostly shore
Alyan In p.eh l.