St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-10-28

in war. That gallant soldier, Brook
was very prond of his command, and
you could have no higher testimonial.
also was proud of you, and that feel
ing is with me today as then.
After we were separated | watched
with interest your doings, and after
every battle looked first to see what
had been done by the Vermont brigade
and the old third regiment. AS new
er had any misgivings, so my JOY was
always increased at the tidings of
your sturdy valOr on the field of battle
So far as | know you never turned
your back on the enemy in your front,
nor at Lees Mills or Williamsburg, nOi
at GOrding's Farm, Savage Station oil
Antietam. In the bloody murder at
Fredericksburg you held your ground
and captured prisoners, and at the
equally misdirected battle of Cold Har-
Dor | saw you under fire.
You are now n gray haired remnant
of the thousand gallant men who left
the cool green hills of Vermont for the
heat and dust of Virginia, who gave up
the comforts of home for the tolls and
hardships of the camp, and who eX-
changed the peaceful fireside for the
shock and din of battle. The Others
have fallen by the bullet, were worn
out by camp disease or have succumb-
ed since the war to the broken health
due to the hardships of the soldiers
life. Your sacrifices were great, and
your reward is mainly in the apprecia-
ton by the historians of the good work
wrought by you. When you vOlun-
teered for the field the land was torn
by civil war. You can now look on a
country in which you find true unity
and where those who were in old times
your foe would vie with You in defense
of the ''hag." When your military life
began there was a class of human be-
ings in bondage which degraded and
competed with free labor and corrupt
ed the moral sentiment of the nation
When you laid aside your arms that
class had been placed among the indie
pendent labOrers of the earth, anC
their bread came to them in proportion
to their intelligence and industry, and
their former prOprietOrs now rejoice in
their deliverance as great advance IL
political economy. When your work
began your country was hardly cOnsid
cred third rate power in the world
now there is no nation that feels strong
enough to make war upon the Cereal
Republic"
You have proved the strength of {
people where all men are free anC
equal. You have shown to all the ma
tiOns of the world that men who hOlC
and use the ballot, approaching its re-
sponsibility, will risk their lives in de-
Tense of the government under which
they share the blessings. In what age
of the world was ever so great work
done in the same time No nation
can reward all its defenders, but your
task is done, and you must find your
compensation in the pages which re-
cord your deeds, and in the knowledge
your children's children will have OF
the benefits you have conferred upOr
them.
The tie which binds those who have
fought side by side under the some
regimental flag should be among the
strongest known to man. The hearts
of such should be filled with friendship
and charity towards each other anC
the hand always Outstretched to aid {
comrade. Let it be so with all of III
in the years that are left, and as ont
by one we fall away from the annua
gathering let those who keep the feas
close in the ranks and remember tt
court the memory of those who have
Joined the other battalion of the ole
third regiment.
AffectiOnately your first colonel,
VIM. F. SMITH.