Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-10-02
Is Burlington IA Military Blank :?
LSt. Adams Messengcr.1

In fire companies and organizations of
this character, the little city of Burlington
ranks withouta an equal in this section of
country. Inc young men there seem to
be altogether absorbed in this sort of or
ganization, to the exclusion of everything
else. There is something in the atmos-
phere of burlington repugnant to military
companies and always seen. JudgeW Wales
of that city often relates the difficulties
attending the formation OF the Old "IloW-
ard Guards" Moses Church and himself
undertook such Il work, which they urged
for long time with so little apparent sue
cess that Oh urch became entirely dis
Outraged. But Mr.. Wales was unyleld-
ing in his purpose, and told Church, for
the good name of the town, that the pro-
ject should not be abandoned until they
had made one more effort, and that
Church might be captain and he Il pri-
waite, and together they would parade the
streets until company was recruited.
In due time company was organ
lied, the Howard Guards, which
went out in the first regiment during the
war ; and that was the last of it. AT
ter the war was over, and during the
fever heat of military times, there was II
company or two in service for Il short
time, but with the decline of the military
spirit they event up Afterwards com
pany ~ Of the Vermont National Guards
was organized, which was poorly sus-
talned, and last year that institution fol
lowed suit TO the grave, There Is a va
cdnCy i'll the regiment OccasiOned by the
dropping out Of company "E," and the
question is whether Burlington will be
able to fill that vacancy : The city ought
not to be Il total blank in this RESPECT. She
has young men enough of spirit, if they
are disposed to take hold of the matter, TO
organize and maintain one of the best com
in, Rata h,.N Il
the opportunity pass to some small town
Fire companies are all right and necessary
but everything should not be wrapped up
in fire companies. Military companies III
the larger towns are equally necessary,
and 1t is shame that Burlington is so far
in the rear in this matter, and so entirely
deficient III manly, military spirit.
Our friend of the Messenger is not quite
accurate in all his statements 1t is hard
ly correct to say that the atmosphere of
Burlington has always been repugnant to
military companies. When the old
Howard Guard was organized through
the efforts of Judge Wales, Moses
Church, Edward Lyman and others,
the military spirit was at "a very
low ebb all over the State. Burlington
did good service in the revival of the
militia, before the war, and was not much
behind any other town, either in the for
nation OF a military company, or in its
quality when formed. The service of that
company in the First regiment was by no
means the last of it. The Ii Oward Guard
Capt Page, formed company G. of the
Twelfth regiment-and it was good com
pany, II 1t did comprise some Burlington
| lawyers and merchants, q dozen college
graduates and one or two editors. First
and last burlington sent some Screen hLH-
area men to the war, in half Il dozen or
more different regiments. OF late years it
! IS too true that other organizations have
largely taken the time ana interest of our
young men, to the exclusion of the militia
and while we do not agree with the Mes
ScHgCr that there is nothing manly that is
not military, we do think, rs we
| portant to sustain an efficient military
| Organization in our state. And in any
such public service we are sorry to see
! Burlington in any respect behind the fore
| most. SO we are obliged to our st. Adams
contemporary for its help in stirring up
our young men. Some of them are already
wide awake on this subject and enough
we think will join them to give us Il good
company for the first regiment, IN addi-
tlon TO our university battalion, which has
Deen able to set pretty fair example to
the militia in drill and discipline. Our
citizens still know bayonet when they
see one and as long as Adjutant General
Peck lives here, Burlington cannot be "a
military blank" But we want military
company, and good one in Burlington.
Shall we have 1t