Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-02-06

oensured for attempting aud prevented from
carrying out-namely, increasing our armies |
by organizing aud arming the freedmen.
The Generals Brattleboro friends we're now
anxious that the country should again have
the benefit OF his services, aud a movement
in this direction was made by them. In
December, s62, on the occasion Of a visit of
Gov. Hobrook and bis staff to Washington
to arrange for the establishment OF military
hospitals in Vermont, Gen. Phelps accompa-
MED them, and at the end OF an interview
with President Lincoln and Secretary Stan
ton, both of whom spoke in the highest
terms OF the Generals military ability and
personal character, Mr.. Lincoln directed that
commission as Major General of Volunteers
be made out and given to Gen. Phelps-the
understanding being that he was TO hold this
commission as chief officer in command of
the black troops. A few days later Gov.
| Holbrook was surprised to see Gen. Phelps
back in Brsttleboro, and upon inquiring OF
him as 10 what this meant the General said
| that, when II came to the arrangement Of
details, he had insisted on certain things
which Mr.. Lincoln did not see At to grant,
and he had therefore thrown up his commits.
sion and returned home. From this time on
he was always severe and even bitter in his
estimate of Mr.. Lincoln, regarding him as q
weak man and time-server
His Life since the war.
In his later years Gen. Phelps has lived
a somewhat secluded life, devoting his time
| largely to literary pursuits. Besides a work
on Secret Societies, which he translated from
the French, he was the reputed author of a
volume entitled "Sibylhe Leaves" pub
lshed by Joseph Steen in 1873. His more
4 recent works are book designed for the
young ON Good Behavior" and a work on
Madagascar" He was one of the leading
officers of the Vermont Historical Society,
and wrote the history Of Guilford for Miss
Hemmenway's Historical Gazetteer. He was
also an occasional contributor TO the leading
literary educational and scientific periodicals
of the day. He was deeply interested in edu-
catonal matters, and for several years was
president Of the Vermont Teachers A9soca.
ton. His prominence as an Anti-Mason led
to his becoming the nominee Of the American
party for President in 1880.
April 80, 1888, in the 10th year of his age,
he was married to Mrs. Anna b. Davis, who
with an infant son survives him. For nearly
a year past he has lived with his wife and
child in the house in Guilford where his death
took place During this time he has taken an
active interests in the affairs of that commu-
nifty and has kept up an almost oeaseless lit
erary activity. He was an earnest advocate of
the adoption OF the metric system, and it was
only one evening last week that he delivered
an interesting and instructive lecture in the
village school house on weights and meas
ures Among his latest papers and memo
randa was found list of questions on the
same subject for the school children.
An EstImats Of His Character.
A juster estimate of Gen. Phelps's charRc-
ter could hardly be written than is found in
the editorial columns of The Phoenix of Dec.
20, 1861, the issue being the same which
contained the proclamation reprinted above.
This article was from the pen OF the late Col
Charles Cummings then editor Of The Pho
nix. II is more notable from the fact that It
lisa piece Of contemporaneous criticism, writ
ten in time Of excited and unsympathetic
public feeling. We reproduce the main por-
ton:
1.-THE unnecessary and foolish proclamation OF Gen.
Phelps ia source Of modification to the many admir-
crs OF his military skill and talent In this state to
none more than to his persona friends who have
known him intimately from his early youth Since
the appearance OF this singular document have no.
ticed that several Of exchanges aHcrbe II to the
insanity Of its author, charitaby believing that no
man Of Of his conceded professional ability would
commit such mistake II OF a sound mind Those
best acquainted With Gen. Phelps well know that he is
In many respects singular and that bis eccentrctes
are as much the result Of hereditary Influences Of
education aud habit Upon this subject Of slavery he
Is an Aboitionist in the ordinary accepton Of that
term OF the wrongs, Outrages and barbaric chArac-
ter and tendencies Of the peculiar Institution be has
thought much and he has hesitated to avow his
sentiments thereon. While In the army he suffered
both IN his intercourse with his brother officers an
in professional promotion by too free utterauce Of
his sentiments on this subject and upon bis own adj
mission, he was led to tender tue resignation Of his
place in the army from these causes.
Gen. Phelps Is an earnest Rnd sincere man. He
loves integrity and truth, aud despses shams oppres-
sion aud wrong wherever they may exist. As an 10.
stance Of his sense Of Justice and his aversion to all
that OF outside shows we may remark that
he peIsistenty refused brevet rendered him by the
government before he left the regular army. He has
away with him amounting almost to stubbornne ness Of
eaisng things oy their right names, aud Of charging
guilt upon evil doors whatever may be their position
in society As man and a soldier he stands above
reproach, above suspicion. While At Newport News
he enjoyed the confidence OF Gen Butler bis superior
officer, and won the warm personal friendship Of
cry man 10 his command His proclamation is, in our
Judgment the fruit OF his peculiar views aud intense
hatred Of slavery. 1t the result OF an cratic ten
dency that has long existed. In all the practical
tails Of war his pecularties will only manifest them
selves in the ability with which he will serve his coun-
try and diseomht her enemies"
That Gen. Phelps was IAN earnest and sim
cere man" no man ever doubted. In his
hatred OF shams there was not only no mere
outside show"-his feeling against every
thing OF the kind was so intense that it car.
ried him. in his later years, at least. beyond
the verge of liberation on any subject on
which he did not agree with the general pub
lie or individual sentiment. Perhaps his
characteristics in this direction may be best
summed up In the one statement that he was
man OF decided and intense convictions on
every vital subject, while he was utterly in
tolerant of any opinion which did not agree
with his own. 1t was always his belief that
the fact that, in the days Of bis early army
service, he was pronounced Wing, while
his associates were Democrats kept him from
the promotion which was his due.
His private life was spotless. From his
boyhood to his death there was nothing which
even savored of vice, dishonesty or impurity.
Always dsbeliever in secret societies. his
hatred Of such institutions, from FreemAson-
] down ntal l.
later years to a monomAnia. To him the de-
generacy OF modern times was an ever-present
reality, and in his mind every theme Of
thought or conversation led almost inevitably
either TO this topic or TO the way in which he
conceived our modern society TO be honey
combed and undermined by the malign infiu-
ence OF Freemasonry.
To those acquainted with his parentaee,
and especially with the eccentrcities which
marked his mothers character, It was evident
that the law of heredity had claimed only too
full sway in q character which in its essence
was conspicuously noble and manly
Ii was inevitable that those who knew Gen.
Phelps well in daily life should often allow
his eccentricities to obscure the real man to
their vision. They were annoyed by his pee
oadilloes, and forgot the sterling, uncompro.
missing character of which these were only the
unfortunate incident. In such case the near
|
We have great pleasure in reproducing else
where the tribute paid to Gen Phelps's mem
ory by Gen. Hawkins, the commander of the
celebrated Hawkins Zouaves of New York,
who was assigned to Gen. Phelps's command
in the early days of the war.
The EuneraI.
The funeral services of Gen. Phelps were
held at Christ church, Guilford, on Thurs
day morning at IL O'Clock. The burial SER
vices were said by the Rev. VIM. H. Collins,
rector Of st. Mchaers church, Brattleboro.
who also delivered sermon from the text,
Gen. x1vn- 2; 81 know not the day of nv
death, in connection with Matt. XIV. "a
Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as We
think not the Son of Man cometh." The
discourse pictured the uncertainty of human
life and dwelt impressively on the necessity
OF preparation, through the means ordained
OF God, for the hour OF dissolution. At the
close of his sermon Mr.. Collins said
THE late General Phelps was a mau Of strong con-
vetons aud OF strong prejudices. He was not aways
tuhy understood even by those who knew him st
HIS views OF men and Affairs differed widely from
those by whom he was surrounded; yet no one can
deny bis honesty and sincerity Of purpose. He was
man OF unblemished reputation, Of remarkable mem
DRY, learning and scholarship. While IL nav be said
that he not wholly n