Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-03-23

At the centennial celebration OF the organi
cation of Rutland county in 1881, among
the papers read was one by Cyril Carpenter
OF Rutland on the early military history of
the county. Describing the General Train
ing" once so great day in Vermont, Mr..
Carpenter said
My first knowledge OF military affairs was
obtained in my native town-lra. Though
the longest town in the county, il has the
shortest name The place of rendezvous for
the militia on training days, when warned to
appear armed and equipped as the law direct
ed, with musket, knapsack, cartridge box,
printing wire and brush, with two spare
finls-no breech-loadels in those days--was
at the inn OF Captain Daniel Graves, whose
sign was bulls head, suspended between
two posts about 90 feet high
The captain was not only popular tavern
Keeper OF his day, but an energetic business
man, carrying on tanning, shoe making,
manufacturing hats and an ashery.
This was the centre Of attraction, not only
on training day, but for other public gather
ings. Here, on the first Tuesday ia June,
paraded the militia company, for the annual
inspection of arms, military drill. etc, with
fife and drum ITO stir the blood and move
the ann" The election of officers took place
here, which was usually done by marching
the company by the commissioned officers,
seated around bass drum for table, us
tcllcrs, when the honored one would come to
the centre, doff his chapeau, and with that
stereolyped speech, "Gentlemcn, officers,
and fellow soldiers" ETC., either accent or
decline the honor conferred upon him.
Not only was the militia here on training
days, for il was the holy day Of holy days,
but the old and the young were here, the
boys with their observation-disclosures Wen
dell Phillips, it is said, claims its manufac
ture is now among the lost arts-and coca.
sionally an old Revolutionary soldier, whose
patriotism had caught fire from the fife and
drum, or from the fire bottled up in the on.
GERS quarters. aud all having good time,
Old soldiers living over again days gone by
Certain customs were prac,iced in those
days worthy of mention, viz, tho waking
up OF olilceis on the morning Of June train
Ing, when squad or platoon of the young
and ardent soldiery would at very early
hour present themselves at the officers
d0er with muskets, surcharged, when bang
on goes morning salute. The officers soon
appeared and invited them in to take some
thing to drink. The beverage was usually
on these occasions decantcr OF ST. Croix or
Old Jamaica, well spiced with cherries or
lemons. Sometimes both the muskets and
those who handled them would become over
charged, when Of course something would
''busr--explode. To become a lutte OK.
hilarated on these occasions was thought to
be no sin. The title OF captain, colonel, or
general once attached to mans name, was
as hrmly hxed MS that Of Emperor
While company commanders were all men
OF Character and influence, some amusing in.
cidenls would sometimes occur, they not
having The benefit of West Point military
education. Some Of their orders were not
always strictly in accordance with the tech
nical military language For instance when
on the march, and wishing 10 pass some OBJ
stIucting objecls, desiring 10 diminish
'front.'" they gave the order "huddle up"
The martial music In olden times consisted
chiefly OF the fife, snare drum and bass drum.