Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-01-14
Oflcers' and Cavalry Reunion.

The annual reunion Of the Vermont Cavalry
Association and Of the Vermont Officers took place
at Brandon last week on Wednesday and Thurs
day respectively. They passed off successfully
and were thoroughly enjoyable. We shall he
glad TO welcome them here at their next reunion
during the session Of the legislature.
CAVALRY REUNION
The Vermont Cavalry association met at the
Farmers club house and was called to order by
Major W. L. Greenleaf Of Winoosh At the
business session in the afternoon the following
officers were elected for the year ensuing: Pres
ident Captain +. S. Stranahan Of st. Adams; vice
president, Captain g. L. Lapham OF Washington,
d. c.; secretary, Sergeant W. N Goodnow Of
Middlebury; treasurer, Warren Gibbs of Burling-
ton; auditors, Lieutenant J. X. Rice Of Brdport,
and Lieutenant Eli Holden OF Barre.
| At the evening session after an excellent supper
at the Brandon House, the members OF the asso-
citation and a large number Of invited guests en-
| joyed rare treat in listening to an address by
Professor L. II. EIigley Of Middlebury college.
| The subject as announced by the speaker was
sketch OF the cavalry organizations during
| the late war" The cavalry service was at first
used only as an aid to the other branches OF the
| service. 1t was detached into small fragments
and used mostly for picket duty and for scouting
purposes. Later, experience demonstrated that
1t could be made efficient in large bodies and
whole regiments, and even brigades OF cavalry
were successfully employed in the latter part Of
the war. Early in the war they were very inad-
equatey armed, carrying only sabers and revolv-
ers, but later their efficiency was greatly increased
by providing them with improved carbines in.
stead OF revolvers. Near the close Of the war,
being massed and properly armed, they were
quite rs efficient as any other branch Of the ser
vice, and for certain purposes indispensable in
successful operations against the enemy. Major
lligley then gave history OF the various engage
ments in which the Vermont cavalry participated,
much Of which was Of thrilling interest and well
calculated to excite the pride and rouse the patr-
otto fervor OF every loyal vermonter. The ad-
dress was well received and proved the speaker
to be both a soldier and scholar
OFFICERS REUNION
The sixteenth annual reunion was held in the
hall Of the Brandon farmers and mechanics club
The meeting was called to order by Colonel A. S.
Tracy of Middlebury, president OF the society.
Captain C. II Forbes of Brandon was chosen Sec
rotary, pro TEN. Prayer was offered by Colonel
John b. Mead. After routine business was trans
acted, a committee, consisting OF one officer from
each regiment, reported the following list of of
ficers, who were elected: President Surgeon
George Nichols of Mortified; vice-presidents
Major A. B. Valentine, Captain U. A. Woodbury.
secretary Major James S. Peck; treasurer Major
Levi G. Kingsley; executive committee Captain
Fred f. Smith, General Perley 2. Ptlin and Cap
tain John w. Clark
The president appointed General W. W. Henry,
Lieutenant George II. Bigelow, Colonel G. W.
Hooker, Lieutenant g. G. Benedict, Captain Will
lard Harrington and Major George w. Childs COM
mittee on toasts, and General Pitkin, marshal
On motion of Captain Woodbury., which was
feelingly seconded by Colonel Hooker, commit
tee was appointed to prepare suitable resolutions
on the death Of Colonel George p. Foster. Cap
tain Woodbury., Lieutenant q. G. Benedict and
Colonel Porter were appointed such committee
Resolutions OF respect to the memory of Surgeon
Willard A. Child of the Tenth Vermont and Of
thanks to the Brandon farmers and mechanics
club for the use OF their hall, having been
adopted, adjourned until evening.
The evening trains brought quite an addition to
those in attendance on the reunion. At half past
seven o'clock Marshal Pitkin formed procession
in front of the Brandon House, putting officers Of
different regiments together. The procession.
escorted by a drum corps, the Sprague Guards
and Ormsbee Post Grand Army OF the Republic
proceeded TO the town hall On the route cannon
were fired and several places illuminated and
red, white and blue lights were burned on the
walk during the passage of the procession. Ar
irving at the hall the escort opened ranks and the
veteran officers passed through into the hall
which was beautifully trimmed and decorated
On the platform were Colonel Tracy, General
Pitkn, Governor Proctor, Colonel harrington, Col.
one Hooker, Colonel Mead, Captain Ormsbee,
Captain Dunton, Major Carr, Captain Cahee
Lieutenant Campbell, Lieutenant McCoin, Cap
tain Forbes and Colonel Lewis, the orator of the
evening. The president, with little delay called
the audience to order, and called Colonel j. B
Mead to open the exercises with prayer, which he
did in an appropriate manner. Following the
prayer music by Relies orchestra, after
which Mrs. c. NJ. Winslow sang the Star
spanged Banner" supported by an efficient
chorus. Colonel Tracy then introduced Colonel
Lewis, the orator OF the evening as one of Yer
mont's bravest and truest soldiers and promised
the audience treat If Mr.. Lewis could talk as
well as he fought The address was most excel
lelt, anu WAS llsttHtu 10 WIFI CLOSE attention 10
the end, and was closed amid great applause
The glee club then sang the " Soldiers Chorus "
from Faust, which was received with great en-
thusiasm. The drum corps gave army calls and
reveille and Major Childs sang grandly, Glory
IIallelujah," the audience joining in the chorus
After the usual resolutions Of thanks the meet
ing adjourned to the banquet, which was the
most elegant entertainment ever given by the So
ciety. After supper was over the following senti-
ments were read by the toast master and re-
sponded to AS follows Vermont" respondent
Governor Proctor; "Our Country" respondent,
Ex-Governor John W. Stewart; THE Vermont
Officers, respondent, Colonel William W. Grout;
" The Orator" respondent, Colonel j. Il. Lewis A;
1.-THE Ladies" respondent, Colonel Roswell W.
Farnham; 1.-The legislature" respondent, Lieu
tenant Henry Ballard.
About one hundred officers were present at the
reunion, which closed with grand military and
civic ball, Relies orchestra furnishing the music
WAITsFIELD.--Snce the great excitement over
the incendiary fires has subsidized, only now and
then ripple has broken the quietness OF this pro-
verbally quiet valley. We are a conservative peo-
pie who stand by the landmarks in religion and
politics, and are not greatly prone to follow new
isms, yet are ready to expouse the cause of right
whether it be in the majority or mnority.....
There has been little increase OF interest in the
temperance cause evnced by the churches in
the early winter, shown by the proposition to
unite with the lodge of Good Templars in holding
a temperance mass meeting or a series OF evening
meetings, whose object should be to arouse new
interest in this most worthy cause. The lodge In
the first evening gave the audience a temperance
drama, Three glasses a day" which was well
acted and seemingly appreciated by the audience,
and among the other exercises was temperance
essay written and read by Mrs. l. b, Boyce. The
second meeting was held in the Methodist vestry
The lecture by Rev, Church Tabor of Montpelier
was highly interesting one, and was spoken of
in complimentary terms by those who heard it,
Miss Ida Robinson also gave fine recitation be-
fore the lecture, These meetings are expected to
OF Good Tempars celebrated their eleventh ami
versary by an oyster supper, which the little
ones belonging to the families of members were
made happy by being admitted to enjoy. DR.
Pardos series OF lectures on phrenology and
kindred subjects awakened some attention, but
moi enough to secure him very large audiences
-. The agricultural meeting December ooh was
well attended In spite OF the short notice given,
the hall being quite crowded in the evening The
general complaint WAS that the meeting WAS not