Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-06-01
VERM0NTS HERO FALLEN,
DEATH OF GEN, GEORGE JENNlSON
STANDARD AT WASHINGTON.
Successive Colds Bring on IA atal Attack
Pneumonia Dies at his Post of Duty
A sketch of Gen. Stannard's Life
aud Services to his Country.

While, on Memorial Day, the people
ware covering sOdded graves with iloWerS,
a new grave was opening for the brave gen
eral, who 10y common accord has borne for
many year the title of Nermonts repre-
sentative soldier. While the veterans and
citizens were marching and bands were
playing in Burlington, and banners bear
Ing his name embodied in that of the
soldiers post were borne aloft in the
bright sunshine. General Stannard lay
dying in a distant city. He was then In
The thoughts of hundreds. His name was
mentioned in speech and prayer. At the
gathering of Post Stannard and the Young
Mems Christian association in the evening
he was again remembered. and the sym
pathy and prayers and wishes expressed
for his recovery were telegraphed to MN
at Washington, but it Is doubtful II he
had strength and consciousness to receive
the message. The first news of his serious
illness came on Monday noon, and Tues
day noou brought the sad word OF his
DEATH
George Jennson Stannard-the sixth
son OF Samuel and RebeCca petty stan
nard-Vas born in the town of Georgia,
Vt, on the 10Th of October 1870. The
family Is ut English descent HIS grand
father came to Vermont from Connect
cut and settled in Farhaven. The old
farm house of his father, which was the
home of his bONhOOd, stlll remains upon
the old stage road in Georgia, about four
miles south OF the village of st. Adams
He had such education as the common
schools OF the State afforded at that time,
supplemented by two terms OF lnstruc-
ton in the academies of Georgia and Ba-
kerstield. Between the ages OF ID ana 20,
tlyt,t N \ prnDllttrS q MS
station in life, he worked on the farm
summers, and taught district school win
ters There was some thought OF giving
him a classical education but his health
was no, deemed strong enough to permit
him TO he confined to study, and, in lSi1,
he went to st. Albans to be clerk tor the
St Adams Foundry company, consisting
of Messrs G.. q. Smith, w. &. Smith and
s u. Eastman, of that place. His elf
cheney and fidelity to his duties, and his
resolute spirlt-the latter shown COnspicu-
ouslv on one occasion in queling Il row
among the foundry hands-commended
him to his employers and in a year or so
he was placed in the chief charge of the
business, which he retained till 1860,
when he formed partnership with Mr.:
Edward \. Smith of st. Adams, leased
the foundry property, and became a JOINT
proprietor of the business He was thus
engaged at the outbreak of the war, in
the spring of lS6l.
Young STANDARDS military tastes early
showed themselves. At the age of ii he
became a member of the old "tlOodWood
milltla-a name given in dtrlSlOn to the
citizen suldicry of that lime, aud intend
ed, doubtless, to suggest that the adjust
ment of their ranks on parade was about
as precise as the arrangement OF the sucks
of flood wood thrown on shore IN Il freshet.
He was orderly sergeant OF his company
in 1881, when the militia was called out
ia ssl,
ed with the Canadian instruction. lie
was soon after elected 2d lieutenant, but
had not been commissioned when the mil
ftia was dlSD8uded.
He was in after years prominent among
those who underworld to revive the mill
tia and to secure an available military
force in the State, by means of indepeud
ent volunteer companies. He was active
in organizing such "A company in St Al
bans, in 1856. under the tllie of the kan
som Guards, and was elected lst lieuten
ant of the cumpany-ThOmas House be
ing captain, and George II. Conger, e
lieutenant. His capacity for command
was soon recognized, and on the orgauiza
ton of the An regiment of Vermont vol
unteer militia, III 1875, otunnard was elect
ed it's colOne-being the colonel second il
rank in the State. He held this position
when, in April, lSGl, the firing upon For
Sumter aroused the nation to the stern
fact and duties of civil war,
On President LincOln's first call for vol
unteers, Col. Stannard at once rendered
his services, by telegraph, to Coy. Far
banks-being, 1t Is believed, the first CT
monter to volunteer. lie also prompt.
communicated with the captains OF tn
companies composing his regiment, T.
learn if they and their men would vOlun
teer and, receiving Affirmative answer
from all, he offered his regiment for sci
vice in response to the call for one froI
Vermont he offer was at first aCcepte
bS the State authorities but it was atte
wards determined by them and by I'll
legislature, then called in extra session
to pI gauizt a regiment of 10 cOmpanie
se!,, ed from the list, I'd and 18th regimen
OF tie militia, under command of Co
JoAu w Phelps, reserNing Stannard Il
some responsible position in one OF Il
two additional regiments winch II was Il
cided to raise.
The I'd re limcnt of Vermont voluntee
was organized IN May, and Staunard WI
commissioned as its Lieut. ColOnei-it
ing de- med best by the Governor lin WhiC
opinion Stauuard COlnCldcd) to give Il
chief command to "A West Point gradua
Of SOME experience in active service. III
regiment assembled III Burlington, III
WAS under the command of Lieut.. &C
St3nuaId Tor a few days, until Capt. lie
~ Whiting of Michigan, was appoint
colonel, and took command. Lieut.. CO
SL0LldlN Wis llluSltlt'l llllo inc l.
service with the regiment, at Burlingto
IN the l2th of Jane, 1851, by Col. Jol
hains, afterwards of the rebel army, a
left for the field on the 24th OF June, Isl
The regiment was attached to the br
ade commanded by Col. o. O. Howard "a
took part in the first battle of Bull Ru
1t was brought into action, near the clio
OF the battle, to cover the retreat of 9th
portions OF Gen. McDOwell's army, "a
was engaged Tor half an hour. The re
ment was cOmplmented by Col. HOWa
Tor It's steadiness under fire, and in th
the first pitched battle of the war, G.
Stanuard exhibited the qualities Of p
sonal bravery and self-pOssession VIII
always distinguished him in action
Soon alter the colonelcy of the I'd re
ment was offered to him but distrUsti
with characteristic modesty, his capac
for the chief command Of regiment, 4
feeling, also, under obligations to REM
with the ID regiment the officers and n
of which had already become much
tached TO him, he declined the position
The Vermont regiments then in serY
were brigaded in the fall of Sol, and ",
into camp near Chain Bridge Lieut.. {