The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-07-15

poured forth from the farm and the counting
house, from the factory and the shop, from the
lumber camp and the college, one and all urged
by the demands OF duty, willing Offering.
Our regiments were not purchased or driven to
the field The veterans of to-day were the
volunteers OF 1862. The Vermont brigade was
the product Of eur common schools. 1t was IN
effect tho State itself in the person of its youth,
the choicest and best within its boundaries,
that was present in the Wilderness, at Gettys-
burg at big Bethel, and at Sailors Creek. The
first and the last engagement of the war sent
our mountain sons to their burial. In the
bloodieSt conflicts the banner of our little state
waved side by side with the Stars and Stripes,
and no Vermont regiment ever lost to the en-
envy its battle flag.
The total enlistments from Vermont were
over thirty thousand. Our population was
about three hundred thousand. One-tenth at
first docs not seem large proportion. But
think moment. OF these three hundred
thousand one-half-fiye-tenths- women.
Three-tenths more were children or aged men.
The total number of men of military age was
only about sixty thousand. A large part of these
were lncapactated from military duty by i'll
health or disability, by their professions, and
the exigenCies of home requirements, by hon.
orable inability to respond of many kinds, so
that practically nearly every one of our able
bodied youth was present or accounted for IN
the armies Of the Union. The total enlistments
credited to orr State by the War Department
were 1922. This number exceeded the pro-
portion due from Vermont in the distribution
of quotas among the Northern States by 1,5l3
men. OF this number there died in action, of
wounds or OF disease, before discharge, a total
of 5,12S. How many more were disabled and
broken down, no one can tell. The engage
mcnts in which our troops took honorable part
are enrolled in the records of the State and
Nation. it will not weary you if l briefly
cnumerate the number of actions participated
in by each command. The First Vermont,
three months regiment, was at Great Bethel
The Second took part in twenty-eight engage
ments from the first Bull Run to Sailors
Creek. The Third in twenty-eight. The
Fourth in twenty-six. The Fifth in twenty
five The Sixth in twenty-five. The Seventh
i'll five The Eighth in seven. The Ninth in
four. The Tenth in thirteen. The Eleventh
in twelve. The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and
Sixteenth, nine-mOnths' men, were in Han
cocks front at Gettysburg. The Seventeenth
was in thirteen battles. The First company of
SharpshoOterS was in thirty-seven. The Second
and Third companies IN twenty-four. The
cavalry regiment fought the enemy no less
than seventythree times, from the Shenandoah
Valley in the spring of 1862 to Appomattox
Court House. LApplause.J
Colonel Walker was given asvote of thanks
in the form of three cheers and tiger.
Governor Farnham was then called for, and
as he appeared before the assemblage was
greeted with three rousing cheers. He briefly
excused himself from speaking and introduced
General Barstow as another war governor,
who is to be my successor" Gen. Barstow,
who was also received with cheers, expressed
his pleasure at being present at a meeting
of so many of his old comrades.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
A business meeting was then held, at which
the following officers were elected for the year
ensuing:
Commander, Col. Redfeld Proctor, of Rut-
land; S. V c., Gen. W. w. Henry of Burling-
ton; j. V. c., Col. C. d. Gates, of Morrisville.
General Henry then read Gen. Grants letter
and General Hancocll's telegram, already given,
and the following telegram from Hon. John
Gregory Smith:
ST. ALBANs, July 4.
had hoped up to this last moment that I
might be with you to-day to participate in the
soldiers Reunion but to my great regret Cir
cumstances which ] cannot control will pre-
vent. The grand proclamation of the mar
tyred Lincoln which struck off the letters
of the poor slave and elevated him to man
hood, unfortunately was not broad enough
TO lnanuInlG the slave 10 business or ClrCum-
stances, TO which | belong; and hence | must
endure the bondage and serve in the fctters
till some higher power releases me, and will be
with you in spirit, however, and beg that you
will convey my compliments and fullest fellow
ship to your comrades.
JOHN GREGORY SMITH.
Last on the programme was dress parade
by regiments, which was executed to the great
satisfaction of veterans and spectators. The
evening was devoted to camp-fres. The Re-
union was grand success, which ali con-
cerned are to be congratulated; and if future
ones equal it the soldiers will have cause for
rejoicing.