The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-07-15
GRAND ARMY MATTERS.
THE ANNUAL REUNION CELEBRATION
Or THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS.
Official Orders OF the Past and New Commander
Embellishments for the Coming Encamp-
ment at Gettysburg Memorial.
What the Various Posts are Doing.

The last issue of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
contained brief account of the Reunion of
veteran soldiers at Burlington, Vermont, on
the Sd and 4th of July. We CLEAN addl-
tional interesting particulars from the Burllng-
ton Free Press, which says: The annual he
union Of the veteran soldiers of Vermont
opened at Queen City Park on Monday, July
Sd. Much of the space was covered with
the tents, of which there were about two
hundred and fifty, ample accommodations
being thus afforded to all the soldiers IN
attendance The tents are arranged by counties,
very pleasant and convenient arrangement;
and of everything which goes to make up
the pleasure and comfort Of camp life nothing
was lacking
The first day was devoted to receiving and
quartering arrivals. Every train brought in
large numbers of veterans, and by night nearly
one thousand were on the ground; and the
morning trains brought numerous accessions to
the ranks. Every county in the State was
represented, with one exception.
Just before dusk there was a grand dress
parade, which was very interesting. After
this the camp-fres were lighted, and then
it was that the camp presented truly
martial appearance. In front of the group Of
tents was kindled fire of logs, round which
the veterans gathered and fought over their bat
ties and made the air vocal with camp songs.
The tents shone white under the ruddy glare of
the fires, and the groups Of soldiers, many of
them in military attire, brought into strong re-
lief looked picturesque enough to have satisfied
even Oscar Wilde. The veterans evidently
enjoyed themselves to their hearts content,
and to an outsider the scene was striking and
memorable. 1t was far into the night when
the last story was told and the last song sung
and indeed we doubt if the rising sun did not
dawn on the closing passages. There were
many meetings. too of old and long-separated
friends and many formings Of new acquaint-
ances; and in all, the hours sped rapidly and
pleasantly.
Every regiment which Vermont sent to the
front was represented, as well as nearly every
town in the State, and the aggregate number
was about twelve hundred-a much larger
gathering than at any previous Reunion. The
attendance was very large indeed, probablynOt
less than seven or eight thousand, including
people from all parts of the State. Great credit
for the satisfactory manner in Which every
thing passed off is due to Commander William
tt,
in promoting the success of the Reunion; and
Adjutant-General Warren Gibbs and Quarter
master General William Smith made most
painstaking and competent officers There
was, of course, general regret at the nOn-at-
tendance of General Grant and General Han
cock. There was every expectation on the
part of the managers that they would be pres
ent, and it was not their fault that they were
not. General Grant was unable TO come on
account of an injury sustained in the Long
Branch railroad smash-up; and it was not
until almost the last moment that General
Hancock found he would rot be able to attend.
General Grant sent the following letter:
LoHG BRANCH, July 3.
Dear General: ! find that it Will be i'm
possible for me to meet the Vermont veterans
al their approaching Reunion, as l had looked
TO do. Ii has been-and is-lny expectation TO
pass through Vermont this summer, and
would have been glad to happen Ill at the sol
dieTs' Reunion. ! was not sure until. Withia a
day or two that l would not run up there eSpe-
cially for the occasion, but events have trans
pired which make it necessary for me to re-
main here tor tins week. Hoping the veterans
a pleasant Reunion and many returns Of them,
] remain,
Yours, very truly, .. S. GRANT.
General Hancock telegraphed as follows:
GOVERNORS ISLAND, July 3.
l regret exceedingly that my duties have
prevented my being with you, as mad hoped,
during your Reunion. Please express 10 my
many friends among the Old soldiers OF Yer
mont my best wishes. Tell them I remember
their gallant deeds with pleasure.
". S. HANCOCK.
Many of the leading military men Of the
State were present, among them Col. Redfeld
Proctor of Rutland, Gen. John L. Barstow Of
SbeIburn, Mai A. 3. Valentine Of Bennington,
Gen. p. P Pitkin Of Montpelier, and many
others.
BUSINESS PROCEEDINGS.
On the morning of the Fourth the different
regiments held Reunions and formed pcrna-
nent organizations. The First cavalry elected
c. d. Gates president and J. c. Squires secre-
tary: the Sharpsbooters, c. Peck president
and II. s. Hodge secretary; the Fourth, II. E.
TAYLOR president and T. ]. Coffee secretary;
the Sixth, r. N. Walker president and C. L.
Norton secretary; the Tenth, A. g. Valentine
nresident. A. w. Fuller and DR.. f. j. Foster
yice-presidents, and George Z. Davis secretary
The Vermont Association of Prisoners Of
War was also formed, the organization being
completed in the afternoon by the choice of the
following officers: president, Warren Gibbs Of
Burlington; vicc-president, D. J. Stafford of
Morrlsville secretary treasurer, Henry o.
Wheeler of Burlington; executive committee,
ID Curry, Gilbert Buckham, and J. II. Stock
well.
Ii was voted to hold a meeting Of the AssO-
citation at Montpelier. next fall, at the time of
the meeting Of the Officers Reunion Society.
A large number Of names were enrolled on the
list of the association, and it starts out under
very favorable auspices.
THE PARADE AND REVIEW
before His Excellency Governor Roswell Farm
nam and staff came Off at two o'clock D. m
With the Governor were Adjutant General
Theodore S. Peck of this city, Quartermaster-
General L. g. Kingsley Of Rutland, Surgeon
General L. NJ. Bingham of this city, and Coils
II z Tutherly and Horace j. Brooles of Bur-
1ipoton. William L. ROWcll Of North Troy, NJ
K Paine of Windsor, and DIN Scott of Ben
pington. The review was particularly pleas
ont and interesting affair. The veterans
,urned out in large numbers and executed the
,nauouyres with facility surprising under
tl,e circumstances, the parade being watched
with much interest by the assenbiase Of spec
tafors. Music was furnished by the sherman