Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-04-09
vERMoNTIN THE CIVIL WAR.
Review Of the First Volume of the Of
fetal History by Col W. G.. Neazey.

Review OF the First Volume of the Of
fetal History by Col. W. G.. Neazey.
The plan adopted by Hon: g. G.. Benc-
dict, the State historian, for his military
history seems to me to be Il good one. In
the first volume just published he has in
n measure combined history and biogra-
ply The title, Vermont in the Civil
War, fairly imports the scope ofthe work.
Instead of writing history strictly, that is
combining himself to methodcal record
Of the important events concerning the
State during the war; he gives in this
volume history of the first six regiments
each separately, and then of the first brig
ade. His plan seems to have been to give
record of each military organization
furnished by the State, treating each in
fantry regiment as unit. The second
volume will, therefore, probably embrace
all the infantry regiments subsequent to
the 9th and the cavalry, and the several
companies of artillery and sharpshooters
This plan necessarily causes some repeti
ton, but it is the only way by which the
record could be made measurably com
plete If anything is lacking in the exc
cution of the plan it is evidently due only
to the fact that Mr.. Benedict has not been
furnished with more material from the
living witnesses. That he has solicited
the facts, we all know : that many have
not responded as they might, some of us
also know that he has utilized all the
material that he could get and treated it
with even judicial fairness, and put it in
very attractive form, and made a marvel
lousy full record the volume bears I'M
mlstakable evidence. The introduction
tells in "A word how great was the effort,
the sacrifice and the glory of Vermont.
Every school child should commit that To
memory The volume then opens with
alluson to the difficulty of the people of
the North to believe in the possibility of
civil war, and to the unprepared condi-
ton of the northern States, and especial
ly of Vermont, for war. Chapter ILL., is Il
most thrilling and eloquent presentation
of Nermonts response to the call to arms
1t is worth to the reader the cost of the
volume and to the youth of the State it
will he invaluable as a perpetual inspira-
ton. Then follows the history of the
regiments, except the 1lth, that constitu-
ted the first brigade, and the history of
the brigade as an organization. Every en-
gagement, large and small, in which these
regiments participated, is described sutli-
GENTLY to show the part taken by them.
The name of every man killed or wound
ed in each action is stated in notes the
number who died from sickness and not
wounds the number captured the num-
Der discharged for different causes the
number of recruits from time to time ;
per centage of losses as compared with
nj 10 nj HOY tuta ia
tail of fact of this kind is given The
story is calmly told throughout in plain
language and clear style. The author
seemed unconscious that he was reciting
facts that would thrill mankind through
out the ages to come. Yet it must be so,
because nothing in history surpasses this
!, record of brave deeds and patient service
; The history of the Potomac army is a
proud one, but it is a sad history; sad to
me beyond endurance because until Get
tysburg it was substantially history OF
4 needless failure Yet it was Il proud his
! tory, because the army always fought
! splendidly and because its terrible losses
and the blunders of its leaders could never
dishearten it, and because at last when
real leader came it destroyed rebellion
Its misfortunes and defeats seem, how
ever, rather to increase than diminish the
glory of the Vermont troops because theil
fighting was always effective and success
full. In all of its battles, defeats rs we'll
as victories, for four years, some portion
at least of the first brigade participated
Many times it fought against tremendous
odds. 1t stormed Notifications : it charged
batteries it fought every kind of a battle
offensive and defensive yet from first tC
last, it never failed to equal the best and
to win brilliant success whenever that
, was possible and to receive the highest
concentrations of its commanders and
} associates. This is what the unvarnished
story of Mr.. Benedict brings out with 4
, clearness and power and inherent evidence
; of truth that settles all debate ; and wher
we receive from the same able and faith
full pen the history OF the other regiments
and companies, which is known to be VI
brigade, the position Of Vermont in the
civil war will be forever established at til,
pinnacle of military renown ana patriotic
service. Nothing concerning the war has
! yet appeared that will compare with thi.
= work in interest to Nermonters every
where Such a history is the best kind OF
monument tothe brave men whose decd
furnished the material for it,
, w, q. NEAZEY.