Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-01-16

deriving motive for the preservation oi lht
memories of those days Therefore, in these
times, WHEN politicians set aside the verdict
of the last great arbtcr; when base metal Is
gildcd to pass as pure gold; when weak
scnimcntality gloritics alike the blue and the
gray, there is necessity for us 10 impress
upon all within the sphere of our influence,
our sense of the magnitude of the crime
that 50 nearly made wreck of our free insli-
tulions, and to cngrait in the hearts Of the
coming generations our hatred of treason,
tyranny and oppression, and our love Tor
loyalty, justice and mercy.
| From Biz Bethel where the lamentcd
Washlurn demonstrated his ability 10 com
mand in the field, and 10 make 4 serious
business of glorious war (as in after years
with his great executive ahility-in arduous
labors he showed the ardent affection of his
great heart for his old comrades) 10 the last
victory at AppomaitoN where rebellion made
its last courageous stand. the sons of Yer
mont were ever AT the front, battling brave
", inclligcnty and honestly for the right.
Where defeat and disaster seemed over
whcming as al Bull Run, none ohcycd or
dcrs with greater alacIity. endured fatigue
and extra duty with 81 much patience, or
contributed more by chcerfullncss and good
discipline to restore order, encourage the
dcspondent and rocStablish again the lines
of defence against the enemy.
would like To return with you 10 old
| Camp Griffin, 10 ills weary days Of company,
rcgimenlal and brigade drill, to laugh over
our blunders-to the long nights of uncom-
Portable picket duty. and the false alarms of
the early morning, which, unlike the child $
false cry of wolves, never taught us 10 heed
any the less the long roll that warned us of
the approach of the enemy; and also TO the
bedside, in tent and hospital. of the poor
comrades, who, 50 early broken down hy
! fatigue, exposure and excitement, and as
! sailed 10y disease, gave their lives as the first
offering ON the altar of their counlry-to the
grand reviews where with heavy kapsack
and full equipments, the weary soldier
| braccd himself up 10 appear like Il Stalwart
| hero. and thanked his stars it was over, un-
/ less the generals pretty daughter should
| smile upon them and ask papa to ''!rot en-
/ round again | would like 10 20 back with
| Won 10 the Peninsula, and recall the DAYS of
| short raiionS, where the choice of pork and
! hard tack, or unlawful toraging was decided
/ hy the weather or the number of miles of
corduroy road we could build before the
supplies gave out. To Lees Mills where by
their charge through fire and wafer the gal
liant Ncrmontcrs received double baptism,
made doubly sacred 10y the fall of the brave
Reynolds, the mortal wounding of Nevns,
and the loss of equally brave and gallant
boys who charged with them. To Williams
burg. where we marched up the hill and
down again, stumbled through the abhatis
and wadcd through the mud full of ardor
and eager for the fray, hut alas. failing Ia
cover ourselves with glory. To the Chicka-
hnminy. whose maarial swamps and pcsti-
lcntial sun sowcd the seeds for Il harvest of
death, more certain and dreadful than the
field of battle; and 10y the aid of whose tur
bid waters the rebels sought TO destroy our
army by piccr-mcai; but where 10y aid of
Yankee pluck and doggrd perseverance, the
much needed rc-cnforccmcntS were forced
over Grapevine bridge and the field of Fair
oaks was won. To Golding's Farm. where
disaster again began 10 oycrwhcm our arms.
To Savage Station, where such savage havoc
was made in our ranks and death came to So
many of our hest and biavcst where Ram
say. .ComStock. Barber, and the youthful
Sumner fell. To White Oak swamp, and
the al nj hit marching and all lay manTu-
wiring and fighting of the cvcntful six DAYS.
To the dreadful days of drill toll, sickness
and death at llarrisons Landing. To the
welcome return TO the national capital from
whence. with fresh courage and renewed
determination. was again sci out in the 'on
2d Bull Run or Manassas 50 Soon called II
halt and 10 the following movements,
which SO nearly established what the boys
called the regular express line between
Washington and Richmond. Then came
the rebel advance into Maryland. where the
NtrmuntcrS first met them at Crampton's
Gap. and the tide of battle turned in our IA
vor: followed hv the bloody battle uf IN
tictam, where Smith and his Maine and
Vermont regiments 81 gallantly took and
held the corn field now lost and won four
times \ dearly bought victory WAS this
bloody fight. where q loss Of morc than -
zoe men wa- the heavy price pad more
than 35,UVJ friend and Toe placed h"rs dc
coB,bdt in one battle, only serving To mark
an era in the war one cnv of the faithful
brood the progeny of the inion, of treason
and rebellion.
Then once more Il return 10 the sacred
soil of old Nir.inia-O. how sacred now,
Baptized with the blood of Freedoms foun-
dcrs. now set apart and dedicated anew by
the blood of Freedoms noble defenders.
We recall the magnificent martial array
that under Burnside dashed its self in pieces
against the hiistling hills of Fredericksburg
where among the noble dead, left once more
to hallow the soil, We made the grave of the
Gallant Quimby And We remember not
without grim humor the cycntiu mud cam
pai.n," where as heroic display of cndur-
ancc, devotion, and cheerful obedience To the
call of duty was exhibited rs on any hattie
field of the war. We remember the SHOWS
and rain that made each tour of picket duty
50 much to be dreaded, and the long winter
of depression and dcspondency, which the
enemy at home by their shameful plottings,
and dismal croakings made as uncomfort-
Al.
made 10y the elements aud the enemy in
front. We remember, as if it were ycscr-
day, the emancipation proclamation of the
President, and the earnest discussions of ii
hy our intelligent snldicry about the bla2in"
camp-iircs. How by some, al first il was
severely criticised as political measure, in
volvln@ new purposes for the war, and as
likely 10 surround us with complicated and
inSurmountablr difficulties. But how quick
~ was It's wisdom demonstrated, as i mill
iary necessity; how soon was all cayil
hrShcd, and that great measure established for
ever and for ever, and the dial hand of time
passed and marked as finished another great
epoch in the ajrsic march of 0iIr national
civilization and history.
We then recall the events of the carlv
summer of 1Si; The second crossing at
Fredericksburg, the capture of Mary's Hill
and the heights behind fredericksburg, and
the desperate encounter at Salem Heights
were the brave Gleason fell. and where,
though We beat the enemy oil at every point,
YET the course OF events elsewhere obliged lis
To- retire across the river \ month later for
the third time We crossed the klppaannocE,
al fredericksburg. where the Ncrmontcrs rs
usual, led the way, crossing in the boats ard
charging up the hill. Sergeant Moran. who
hut few weeks before had been relieved
from the charge of dcS"rtipn. now being the
foremost man Ia dash upon the rifle pits and
receive the surrender of the rebels holding
them. This reconnaissance having drtcmin-
cl the movements of the rchrl army :l.ain
commenced a rotro.radr movement for the
protection of Washington, and finally to
meet the enemy upon the desperate field of
G,ttyshur.
All, WlEii visions of grand martial array
| ui two great armies rise before me at that
name What echoes ui battle thunder come
back 10 us, alscrncs Of desperate charges
diss"lying before "a wall of fire, of charge
and counter charge, whole regiments melt
Ing away like frost work, their places quick
| " filled 10y fresh ONES. while the terrible
carnage multiplied What Il chastity. dread
| lul Sshi remained when the storm of battle
was hushcd Ah' what II celebration of the
niiion'S birthday the national ilag ilnliing
viciori";lS over llnsr bloody fields, were 80,
b0o, frirnd and fnc. children Of the nation,
! lay grim in death, or wrilhin. with the pain
/ ni dreadful wounds.
The whole nation put IN mournin. at one
| blow, and on the glorious national holiday -
u dav Tor me forever lmllowcd and stddcnrd
| 10y ih" mcn"ry Of the brave patriots who
died that the glorious day might he prrscrv-
! cd To us.
Among them were ilI. y"un.r soldiers Srn-
moi. Hamilton and lawt"n. veterans in curir
/ agc and devotion, il not in service. There
Ncrmuni's soldiers for the emergency, found
| their grand opportunity and srandly used
/ it.
| cannot refrain from giving onr incident,
showing the bravery nf these new troops, rs
| "ivcn hy correspondent of that day:
! ~ liit" after i've. firrcr rebel charge drove
! back The infantry Ind mcnJ'"d the batteries. or
lriS sent To- l;i.clrw. III" cNtrrur l-ii. tn
| hold htS position at any hazard short of sheer
annihiiaiiun. iiil couple more batteries h,'
/ hr"nph Z" iis support. Er~"rNIng his hrra little