Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-10-28

comfort Of virginia soil make dearor 10 mo the fresh
Of these mountains We return TO you after hay-
ing taken part In most interesting celebration. YER
mont has performed well her dutyin COMMUNICATING
the last great battle Of the Revolution The ceremo-
MES that have witnessed have fixed deeply In our
minds the Importance Of tho event commemoratedi
and this celebration itself will take It's place among
the important occurrences OF our countrys history:
10 not only brought together the most distinguished
Of country, its officers, civil, naval aud mill
tary, well as the French aud German visitors, o-
GERS aud representatives Of former allies, but II
also brought into friendly relations the troops and
citizens of than score of our states. The sol
diers OF the Rebellion on both Sides showed desire
to forget the past and to prove that they citizens
Of ono grand country. The events Of the days we
spent at Yorktown Of the most interesting char
acter and every hour seemed fun Of instruction and
patriotic inspiration. cannot say too much in praise
Of the officers and troops who accompanied me- their
good conduct praised by ALL ON the journey, In
camp aud especially at the review their appearance
ana bearing were such as 10 give the people Of the
state just cause OF pride Thetwo companies selected
to represent the state have shown that they were well
worthy Of the honor; while the band has not only
added to pleasure, but helped take good posi-
ton among the troops from other states at Yorktown
But must not forget our friends Of the Burleigh
Corps who have contributed so much to our success
on this occasion, aud take this opportunity to pub
lcy thank them and the patron Of the Corps Hon. II.
O. Burlegh Of whitehall NY, for the generosity and
patriotic spirit shown by him in adding this corps
Kindness In this greeting, bid you goodbye.
Cheers followed the close of Gov. Farm
hams speech, and Hon. W. II. TeTt of White
hail. N. Y, speaking for the Burleigh Corps,
returned thanks for the oourtesies extended to
our New York visitors, and referred in humor-
Gus terms, which elected frequent applause,
to the delight which both Vcrmonters and New
Workers. felt at being able to shake of the
suliocating dust Of orktown and return to
the fresh air, green hills and pure water of
Vermont. As Mr.. Tefft closed the First Regi-
ment band played selection good-byes were
said, and soon after the battalion, minus the
Brattleboreans, were again ON their home
ward way. Intelligence since received gives
the welcome assurance that the governor and
staff and both military companies reached
their respective homes in due time on Satur-
day afternoon and evening" and in each case
received a cordial welcome.
Retrospective.
That there were discomforts aud inconven-
fences attendant on this Yorktown excursion
is not to be denied, but we believe that with
all the members Of the Vermont delegation
consciousness Of this fact is lost in a sense Of
pleasure in the trip as a whole. Such, at
least, is our own experience. Several of the
officers accompanying Gov. Farnham were
charged with the performance Of trying and
eXacting dutes but in every case these du-
ties were most efficiently performed, and to
these gentlemen the members of the battalion
feel deep sense of obligation. During the
whole excursion Col. Childs, as Chief Of staff
proved anew his well-known ability as an eX-
ecuiive officer; Gen. Peck was untiring in his
efficient services, and the whole command are
under especial obligation to Gen. Kingsley for
his capable management Of the difficult prob
lem of transportation and subsistence. In
many respects the duties of Surgeon General
Bingham were more exactng and unremitting
than those of any other officer Constant
calls were made on his patience and profess
sional services, but in every case he cheerful
ly responded, and it is largely due to his
watchful care and skillful attendance that the
command returned home without a man on
the sick-list To Mr.. David Mckenzie of St.
Adams, Assistant General Passenger Agent Of
the Central Vermont railroad, TO whom refer
ence has already been made, the command
are under great obligation for his management
subject. of course, to Gen. Kingsley's APP
proyal-of the transportation arrangements.
On all sides Major Tenney won golden opin-
ions as II model officer in command of the
battalion. Lieut. Col. Estey, though having
no command, was actively interested for the
comfort and well-being of the battalion, aud
his well-trained military eye was quick to see
aud suggest how the right thing should be
done at the right time. Lieut.. Gov. Barstow,
the centennial commissioner from this state,
was often at the Vermont headquarters, and
was untiriug in looking after the interests of
the state.
Every member of the state delegation will
cordially endorse every word Of the handsome
compliment paid to the First Regiment band
by Gov. Farnham in his Brattleboro speech.
Wherever the band was heard-on board boat
in camp, or on parade--it never failed to draw
an admiring and appreciative audience. To
this band, as representing the first state add
ed to the original thirteen, the compliment
was extended of an invitation to give the
opening concert in the grand pavilion on
Wednesday afternoon. To the battalion gleo
club, also, the command are indebted for
mauy an hours enjoyment in transit and in
camp, With the members Of the Burleigh
Corps many pleasant acquaintance we're form
ed or renewed, and our Vermont troops felt
much satisfaction in having admirable a
body of mon added TO their ranks.
Gov. Farnham feels great pride in the ex-
cellent behavior Of his military escort and
well he may. From beginning to end not a
member Of the command was guilty of an act
unbecoming a soldier and gentleman. jolly,
rolicking, overlooking fun there was, and
plenty of it, but Of rowdysm and turbulence
there was none. The captain and purser of
the steamer Sue said on Friday morning that
during and since the war they had carried
many troops but ne yer body of "such Or
derby and well-behaved gentlemen" OF SIM
liar tenor was the testimony of the gray
haired steward of the CITY Of Worcester, who
said TO us on Friday night There amt no
use talking they are the boss company. l
have been steward for 40 years, and we have
carried great many troops but l never saw
a company Of such gentlemen" In reply
we could only say that we knew these men to
be representative Vermonters and New York
ers who were simply obeying their natural
instincts and impulses.
The general arrangements for the eelebra-
ton and the lack of order and method in car
ryDg out the programme have been the sub.
ject of much criticism, and not without rea-
son. To New Englanders there seemed to
be no responsible head for the proceedings
and the management appeared to have tried
TO cover too much ground, and TO have I'M
dertaken a larger affair than they could prop
erly carry out So far as Vermont was con-
cerned, however, no one had any fault to find.
Every possible attention was shown the state
and her representatives, and in coming years
every member of the Vermont delegation will
look back with pleasure and satisfaction to
the part which his stats had in the celebra-
ton Of the one hundredth anniversary of the
great event which brought the War of the
Revolution to a close.
THE BATTALION ROSTER.