Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-07-07
SOLDIERS REUNION.
An i'nWreccdentedly Large Attend
aiCc of Veterans.
An Immense Assembly of Speota-
tors.

An Immense Assembly Of Specta-
tors,
The Grafton of Col. Walker-OMcers
EIcctcd-Gencrnl Notes.
The annual reunion of the Veteran Sol
d;ers of Vermont was held at Queen City
Pail, on Tuesday, July 4th, 1882 and proved
in every respect gratifying success. Every
regiment which Vermont sent to the front
was represented, ms well us nearly every
county and nearly every town in the State,
and the aggregate number was about twelve
hundrcd-a much larger gathering than at
any previous reunion. The attendance was
verv large indeed, being probably not less
than seven or eight thousand, including peo-
pie from all parts of the State. The special
train from Rutland brought up thousand
people, and there was "a large turnout from
the North and East and the Lamoille Wiley.
The weather was everything that could be
desired, aud with the park and its surround
ings in gala trim, all the cXttrnals were fn-
vorabe to most successful aifair-and that
Is Wllul llIt ItIulilpu WIS, III tNtlt ItSlttNs
Great credit for the satisfactory manner in
which everything passed of is due 10 Com
munder William w. Henry, who spared
neither tune nor trouble in promoting the
success of the reunion and Adjutant-Gener-
al Warren Gibbs and Quartcrmaster-Gencral
William Smith made most painstaking and
competent officers, There was of course
general regret at the uun-attcndance of Gen.
urant aud Gen. Hancock. There was every
expectation on the part of the managers that
they would bo present, and it was not their
fault that they were not. Gen. Grant was
unable to come on account OF an injury s,is-
tanned in the Long Brauch railroad smash
up; and 1t was not until almost the last mo-
mcn that Gen. Hancock found he would not
bc able to attend. Gen. Grant sent the fol-
lowing letter;
LuNG BRANCH, July 3.
Dear General find tina, it will be i'm
possible for me TO meet the Vermont veterans
at their approaching reunion, as had looked
to do. Ii has been been-and is-ny cx-
pectation to pass through Vermont this Sum-
MGR, and | would have been glad to happen
in at the soldiers reEnion, | was not sure
until within day or two that | would not
run up there especially for the occasion, but
events have TRANSFERRED which make it neccs-
saiy for me TO remain here for this week.
Hoping the veterans pleasant reunion and
many returns of them, | remain
Yours, very truly,
L. S. GRANT"
Gen. Hancock telegraphed as follows:
"GovERNoR's ISLAND, July $.
81 regret exceedingly that my duties have
prevented my being with you, as | had
hoped, during your reunion. Please express
To my many friends among the old soldiers
of Vermont my best wishes. Tell them |
remember their gallant deeds with pleasure.
w. 5. HANCOCK"
Many of the leading military men of the
State were present, among them Col. Red
field Proctor of Rutland Gen. John l.. Bar
stow OF Shclburn Maj. y. b. Valentine of
Bennington, Gen. p. Z. Ptkin of Mont
pclcr, and many others.
Forenoon Proceedings.
in the forenoon the different regiments
held reunions and formed permanent organ
izations. The First cavalry elected e. ID.
Gates president and j. c. Squires secretary /;
the Sharpsho5tcrs, c, Peck president and
Ii. 5. Hodge secretary ; the Fourth, ii. f.
Taylor president and r. j. Coffee secretary
the Sixth. r. NJ. Walker president and C..
l.. Norton secretary the Tenth, A. b. Val
entine president, A. w. Fuller and DR.. +.
j. Foster vice-prcsidenis and George T.
Davis secretary.
The Vermont association of prisoners of
the war was also formed, the organization
being completed in the afternoon by the
choice of the following officers
President Warren Gibbs of Burlington.
Vice Presidcnt-D. j. Stafford of Norris
vile.
Secretary -Trcasurcr-Henry o. Wheeler of
Burlington.
Executive Committce-C. D. Curry, Gil
Der, Buckham, j. II. Stockwcll
1t was voted to hold meeting of the AS
ISOLATION 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 Excelencv Governor Roswell
Farnham and staff came off at 9 o'clock, p. m.
With the Governor were Adjulanl- General
Theodore S. Peck of this city, Quarter
mastcr-General l.. G. Kingsley of
Rutland, Surgeon General l.. VI. Bingham of
this city, and Coils. ii. +. Tuthcrly and
Horace j. Brookes of this city, William Il.
Rowcll Of North Troy, NJ. X. Paine of Wind
sOr and DIN Scott Of Bennington. The re-
ing affair The veterans turned
out in large numbers and ex-
ecuted the manwuvres with facility
surprising under the circumstances and
the whole thing was watched with much in
terest by the great assemblage of spectators.
For this as for all the exercises of the day,
music was furnished by the Sherman Mill
tary Band OF this city, whose playing won
universal praise. Following the review
came the Grafton, by Col. Aldace f. Walker
of Rutland, who was introduced by General
Henry. Colonel Walker spoke as follows
Col. walkers Grafton.
Comrades We have assembled here, to-day, for a
social reunion. II is reunion OF veteran soldiers
and OF Vermont sol Tiers. our organization Is
This is no, our rrst assembling. We have met
before. We first mustered beyond the Potomac
tiver. Perhaps not IN any one day or at single
common cause obeI ing the same motivew we Joined
the ranks OF one army, the army OF our country
under one nag me nag or our NATIVE a h npnE
was washed out IN the blood of the conflict The
Rag for which we fought, and under which our fel-
lows died. Is IN fact and IN truth the nag OF The free
to-day.
''plag OF the heroes who left us their glory
borne through their ba,tle-helds thunder and
lame,
Blessed in song and lumned in story
Wave DER us all who inherit their fame.
Up with our banner bright,
Sprinkied with starry light
Spread It's fair emblems from mountain to Shore
While through the sounding sky
Loud rings the Nations cry
Union and Liberty-One eyermore !"
And the freedom to all, which Ia the essence OF
liberty, and without which true liberty Is not has
not merely been declared as the announcement Of a
principle, the bare enuncation OF right II has
been fortified by monuments which Will stand SC
lOag as our Constitution cndures; for power tC
protect the oppressed IN every State has been given
10 Congress IN terms Of precision which the Su
premr C.urt has found ample 10 warrant the most
effective legislation.
mi my g lmrallns. [ do moi nrnpOse to WEARY you