The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-08-01
Company A, Sixth Vermont Regiment,

W. have Just been furnished a report
Of the second annual reunion of the sur
vivors of the above organization. which
was held at the Pierce House in this
village on July t. The meeting was
called to order by the president, Zira
Elliott of Lincoln. and the secretary
read the record of the previous meeting.
These members of the company were
present Zira Elliott, Frank Clark and
Lorenzo Dow of Lincoln and f. A. Bar
ney, II. d. Maynard. j. p. Kirby and G.
C. Huntington of Middlebury. Mr.. Ell
lott made an interesting address and
read a history of the company. The fol-
lowing officers were chosen: President,
Zira Elliott; vice-president, Ii. ID. May
nard; secretary, 5. j. Sargent; treasurer,
Caspar Dean; executive committee, j.
p. Kirby, Daniel Bent, Chas. Hunting
ton; corresponding secretary, c. l.. Nor
ton chaplain. Zira Elliott; Messrs. Elliot
and Sargent were made committee
to draft a constitution and bylaws for
the government of the association. The
executive committee will decide upon
the time and place for the next meeting.
This letter, from Lieut.. F. G.. Butter
| field and Sergeant Parker, was read:
WASHINGTON, D. c., June 2S, 1884.
H. ID. Maynard, Esq;
Dear Comrade Your kind invitation to
attend the annual reunion of Co. A. 9th Vt.
| Vols came in due time. 1t is with regret
that we are compelled to forego the pleas
ure of being present. The extended ses-
sion of Congress brings so much business
before the bureau to which We are both at
| tached that it will be impossible for us to
get away from Washington for some weeks
to come. Were it otherwise. nothing would
| haU N IN
have accepted your invitation and thus had
the opportunity of taking by the hand those
of our old comrades who yet survive, and
to have enjoyed with them a re-union of
the old company"
We often think of our old comrades in
arms and talk over the long. gone scenes of
camp and field, and it is a source of pleas
ure and pride to realize that we served so
| long with them, and in command whose
| record has become part OF the history OF
our beloved country-a command whose
| career from first to last, from Lees Mills
to AppomattoX, is without spot or blem-
ish. unsullied by bad conduct in camp or
on the march or by dishonor in battle.
| Comrades, you did your duty gFandly. A
saved country shall know your memories
while there burns in the breasts of Ameri
cans the fires of patriotism or still remains
in this fair land the germ of liberty. AS
the years go by our ranks are depleted.
and while many man still carries the
marks of the enemys bullet far more wear
the grey badges of declining years and all
of us show the effects of the hardships and
| exposures of the campaign, which are be-
ginning to tell upon us, however We may
have. by the aid of youthful vigor and
manly strength, through all these years
carried ourselves erect and tried to laugh
away these hurts, 40 less deadly in the
end than the wounds received in the heat
of conflict. 1t is confidently believed that a
grateful country will speedily extend that
assistance-too long delayed-to all who
wore the blue and gave the best of their
lives to thir country's cause in her hour of
peril and thus make certain that no old
soldier who stood so bravely between the
enemy and the nation shall lack the COM
forts of life in his declining years. Ies,our
ranks are broken One by one oar comrades
are falling Let lis never forget the days
of our patriot service. Let us keep green
the memories of the fallen, cherish their
brave deeds, emulate their virtues care
for their widows and orphans, and let us
who remain close up our ranks, be faithful
to our country do our duty. in civil life
with the same patriotism which actuated us
in war, ever remembering for what We
fought, for what our brothers died. Again
expressing regret that we cannot be with
you, wishing you happy reunion and
asking you to give to each and every com
rade a hearty and effectionote greeting,
we remain as " in the days gone by"
Your comrades,
+. q, BUTPERFIELD,
j. Z, PARKgR.