Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-10-09
MEMORIES OF THE WAR,
DEDICATION OF A MONUMENT
On the Battle Field of winchester, va, by
the Veterans of the Eighth Vermont
yoIunteers-Presen and Ac-
ceptance of the Mouumenr.
WINCHESTER, Va, Sept. 81, 1885

d
WINCHESTER, Va, Sept. 81, 1888.
To the Editor of the Free Press and Times
On the 10Th of September 1885, the an
niyersary of the battle of the Opequan,
for Winchester as the Confederates called
it), the society of the Eighth Vermont
Volunteers dedicated monument to
commemorate the services of that regi-
ment in that battle. The monument was
the gift of Colonel Herbert f. Hill who
served in the Eighth Vermont. Colonel
Hill, a true Vermonter although residing
now in Massachusetts, still holds dear the
reputation of his native State, and especl-
ally cherishes the reputation of his Old
regiment, which did such valiant service
in the war of the rebellion. He was an
active participant in the battles in the
Valley, and desiring to mark the spot
where the Eighth Vermont and Twelfth
Connecticut made the charge on the 10Th
of September 1864 he ordered this monu-
ment for landmark for future visitors
and to perpetuate the history of the en-
gagement The monument stands upon
the ground where the charge terminated
which broke the rebel centre. 1t is a
shaft and base of beautiful Vermont mar
BILE, some ten or twelve feet in height
placed upon a solid brick foundation. 1t
is on high ground and easily seen from
Winchester. The inscription on the base
of the monument is as follows "HOnOf
the brdUe This monument Is erected by
the Eighth Vermont Regiment as u mem
Oridl to those lphO fen IN the chdTge maze
here September 10, 1864 This monument
Is the gift Of COmrddc Herbert b. HUI"
1t was appropriate to dedicate this on the
anniversary of the battle, and on Satur-
day morning the members of the Shenan-
dOah excursion party, citizens ana eX-
COnfederates, went out TO participate IN
the dedicatory exercises. Colonel Hill
was detained by illness at his home in
Boston, and the address which he had pre-.
pared was read by Colonel John b. Mead
1t was as follows
Col. Hills Address.
Veterans Of the armies of Grant and
This is memorable occasion. The sur
viving members-otficers and men-of
the Eighth Vermont Volunteers are as
sembled to dedicate a monument to mark
the ground covered by that regiment in
its famous bayonet charge made twenty
one years ago this very afternoon. We have
as witnesses during this service not only
many brave sons of Vermont and sister
States who fought in the Union Army,
but also war worn veterans who served
in the Confederate army. We are on his
toric and sacred ground, for on and near
this spot the veterans of Sigel, Banks,
Crook and Sheridan of the Federal ar
mics, and Early, Ramseur, Gordon, and
Stonewall Jackson of the Confederate
armies have struggled at one time or anoth-
er in fearful and bloody encounters from
thefirst to the last of the civil war The
Eighth. Vermont, in erecting. this monu-
ment, knows to-day no North, no South.
This shaft speaks for American valor, and
such valor is public property and belongs
to the nation; and while the heroic action
of a Vermont regiment is designated, the
Confederate veteran may proudly point
to this very spot as proving his own bray
cry and heroism in contending in hand
to-hand conflict, an American himself
with an American.
1t was on Sept. 10Th, 1864, and the hosts
of Early and Sheridan were locked in bat.
ties embrace. The Confederates had re-
pulsed and by gallant counter-charges
driven back the Federals, and the result
hung trembling in the balance, when
Gen. Stephen Thomas, as brave an officer
as ever buckled sword on his own respon
sibility during this crisis ordered the bay
onet charge referred to, and rode himself
with drawn sword in front of the line OF
steel bayonets, recovering more than the
lost ground and holding the same till the
close of the battle. This charge proved to
for victory or defeat, but rather to com
memorate the lofty heroism of the reg
ment and to mark the pathway of desper
ate fighting where noble men gave VI
their lives is this monument erected and
with equal prOpriety should the Confed
crate veterans mark the locality of gal
liant charges by their own troops
AS at Gettysburg, so here (where eleven
battles We're fought during the war;
where fighting ragged fiercely, ough
memorials to be erected, that the resident!
of this beautiful valley as well as the visi
tor from abroad may have no difficulty il
locating the position of regiment or bri
gade which took part in the far famed
contests in and around this historic city
And now, through you, Gen. Stephel
Thomas, President, | present this monu
ment to the association of the Eight
Vermont Volunteers. May it ever stan'
in its purity before the generous citizen
of the Shenandoah Valley pleasant re
minder of the fraternal and happy greet
ings of veterans who fought during tn
war as only Americans could fight Blu
who, when the war was over shook hand
as cordially as they had fought fiercely.
This monument was cut from the Gree
Mountains of Vermont and chiseled IL
the extensive works of one of Vermont
governors. Col Redfield Proctor, VIII
commanded a Vermont regimtnt during
the war AS it left a scene of busy life an
prosperity, so may it bring to the sacre
soil of Virginia nothing but good wi
and prosperity, memorial of everlastin
friendship and reunited country.
General Stephen Thomas, the old Cole
mel of the Eighth Vermont, accepted tn
monument in behalf of the Regiment, i
the following words:
General Thomas's Response.
SIR: When / contemplate the youthfl
ri M lam NAT lad hn m
sent, Col. Hill, to enlist into the United Stat
service when less than sixteen years of age
when remember what good and faithful so
dier he was TO the close OF that great contest
how he has travelled over the various battl
fields of this, our common country, since tn
war and like a Chr stan, has gathered the re
mains of fallen heroes found upOn thos
fields and deposited them in National GENE
teries ; how true he Is and has been to I'll
constitution and flag of our Union and til
great brotherhood of man ; and how, by il
dustry and integrity he has risen from tn
poor American soldier boy to be the Amer
can citizen of affiuence and now in lookin
upon this marble gift TO the old regimen
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