Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-10-03

THREE HUNDRED VETERANS IN LINE OF MARCH
A BRILLIANT CAMPFIRE AND AN INTER
E,rING TIME.
The meeting Of Grand Army veterans
announced TO be held with the Brattleboro
post on Thursday Of this week came of ao.
cording TO program, the weather proved In.
vorable aud the occasion was one of much
interest and grand success in every respect.
Al Of the seven posts invited were represent
3D. while some old soldiers not members of
the order were present The residents of tho
West River valley region came on the regular
morning train, and were given dinner at the
Brooks House by invitation OF Col. Hooker.
The members Of the Hinsdale post came by
team early in the afternoon, and the Keene
and Bellows Falls posts came by special train
from the latter place, arriving about 3 p. NJ.
They were met at tho depot by the Brattleboro
post, accompanied by Tyler Camp, Sons of
Veterans, and the First Regiment band.
Many Of the visiting members we're accom-.
panied by their wives or 9th 5r relatives add
ing considerably to the numbers in attend
ance. At 2:30 =. NJ. line was formed at the
depot, with Col. Geo. w. Hooker, past Depart
ment Commander, in command, in the follow
ing order
First Regiment Band, SOW.
Sedswick Post OF Brattleboro, 80 men,
t. II. Stoughtun Post Of Bellows Falls, Gj men, head
ed by drum corps
sclswick Post Of Keene, 70 men, headed by drum
corps.
Sheridan Post OF Hinsdale, 1s men.
Hooker Post Of Londonderry, 40 men
Burchird Post OF Towushend and Nowfane 2s men,
Tyler Camp, S. Of ", Of Bratteboro ID men.
The few members of the Weston, Jamaica
and Wilmington posts present did not appear
in line as organized bodies. The line of march
was up through Main street, around the Com.
mon, mp Chase, out OAK, up High, down
Green to Elliot, down Elm, out Frost, up
Birge, around Brook to Canal, up Washing
ton, ont Central, around Prospect down South
Main aud up Main to the town hall The
fact that on this long walk the veterans made
only two halts shows that 20 years of home
life have not seriously affected their powers
of endurance. On Canal street the battalion
stopped in front Of Geo T. Greene's residence
to salute Comrade Fred E. Root, a disabled
veteran, and the baud played several pieces
tor his benefit. Many residences along the
ila Of march were handsomely decorated
with bunting, and the works of the Estey or.
gan company were closed in honor of the oc-
ca-iou The march was followed by a dress
parade in front of the town hall
At G:3O the band sounded the call to sup
per, which was served in the town hail.
Plates were laid for 430 persons, and the
whole number who joined in the slaughter"
including the ladies of the relief corps, speak.
ers, and other invited guests, could not have
been less than 800. The bill of fare included
baked beans, brown bread and butter, cold
meats, pickles, cheese, doughnuts, coffee, etc,
and proved entirely adequate to the occasion,
both in quantity and quality.
Supper over, at half past O'Clock the mil
iary orchestra ushered in the reign of senti.
ment, and Col. Hooker made brief but
hearty speech of welcome, and introduced ~
the first speaker Hon. j. L. Martin. Though
Mr.. Martins speech, like most that followed
was brief, We have only space to characterize
it as one highly complimentary to the citizen
soldiery of the state, eloquent in expression,
aud every way betting tue occasion. a reel
tatiou, The Dying Volunteer" by Miss Ma
bel Subway, followed After another piece
FROM tue orchestra, Rev. +. L. Tower was
called upon for a speech, and responded in a
few remarks brim full of wit and humorous
anecdote. Rev $. II. Lee followed in some
what similar vein, declaring, to begin with
that to be called up as he had been was
pretty big price to pay for free lunch He
expressed his appreciation, not only of what
the soldiers had done, but OF what they are
doing to-day in fostering the spirit of patriot
ism, which without their influence would be.
come latent. Sealing Mary's Heights" was
recited by j. w. Clayton of Brattleboro. Col
Hooker then called up the gallant Col Babbitt
of Keone, who expressed the opinion that due
credit had never been accorded to the loyal
women of the North for what they had done
and suffered in behalf of the Union cause
during the war. The expression of this SEN
tment-the truth Of which Col Hooker would
of course be the last man to deny-was fol-
lowed by the latter syly observing that he un-
derstood upon inquiry that Col Babbitt had
been married just two years! The next
speaker was Rev. Z. w. Whitney, who spoke
.t,Ne.aiativaIxy 30 the cpIIiarai a,I
ticularly that in which the Grand Army or
ganization is now engaged. He thought that
the best way of honoring our dead soldiers
was TO minister to the needs of their widows
and orphans, and expressed AN earnest
hope that the contemplated project of
erecting a soldiers monument in Brattlsboro
would soon be carried out Commander o.
n. Wardwell of the Jamaica post was next
called upon aud made a five minute speech
which in humor and eloquence was not ex-
celled during the evening. Rev. l. McAnn
being introduced made brief but interest.
ing alluson to his experiences while an agent
ot the Christian commission. Lieut.. COLI. j.
Estey of the National Guard was called upon
as the representative of the present state
militia, and in his brief speech expressed the
opinion that the state troops of today are
composed of very much the same material as
were the troops who SO CALAMITY upheld our
nag III the war OF the rebellion. Comrade
Chaplin of Stoughton post being next called
mp, made interesting allusion to the Fourth
Vermont regiment and some of its heroes,
living aud dead. Dr.. Blake of Walpoe re.
spOuded briefly to the commanders call, and
was followed by Maj A. p. Childs, who in
some well chosen remarks strongly advocated
the plan, recently preached, of endeavoring
to secure the appropriation of funds now in
the hands of the general government for
founding state asyl um for disabled veterans.
Tue speaking concluded with some interest
ing "reminiscences by A. V. Cox. Elk. Gov.
Holbrook and other distinguished guests were
present from whom speeches were expected,
aud who would have been gladly listened to
had time permitted. Music from the orches-
ira interspersed the proceedings, which were
highly enjoyed by the veterans and all others
present. At 1915 O'Clock the campfire broke
up, and the visitors were escorted to their
trains, which soon after departed In all re-
speots this gathering was one of the best ar
ranged and most enjoyable Grand Army meet
iugs ever held in the state, and reflects credit,
not only upon the committee who had it in
charge, but upon all who attended, the whole
ATTAIN being marked by good feeling and per
feet decorum.