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

the inspiration of the war, and called
for cheers for the old Sd which were
given, the band closing the exercises
with "Hail to the Chief"
The banquet.
After the address the members of the
Sd and invited guests repaired to the
town ball where mine host, B. G. Howe
of the Avenue house had ready a
sumptuOus banquet, about $50 plates
being spread. The tables presented a
very attractive appearance and the
supper was good and admirably served.
The hall was decorated with flags and
bunting, while over the platform was
the motto, Welcome, Sd Vermont
Volunteers" Grace was pronounced
by Rev. S. S. Brigham and then came
the supper. The banquet over, Sena-
tor II. C.. Bates called the company to
order and acted as tOastmaster. Some
of the toasts were very happily intro
duced by Senator Bates with brief
sketch of the war record of the one
called upon.
The Toasts and Responses.
l. By history and reputation the
best skirmisher ever sent to the front,
the old Sd asks him to skirmish to-
night. Loved and hOnored as our gov
ernor, but dearer to the veterans of the
Sd as their brave and trusted Lieut..
Cononal l. DinOraa
Col. Pingree was very deeply affect
ed by the scenes of the hour. He had
greeted many comrades during the
day, he said, whom he had not seen
since the regiment disbanded. These
men went to the front deliberately,
and fully prepared to fight to the end.
After 25 years | meet you again and to
speak in the presence of the memory
of those days when all talk was silenc-
ed amid the din of arms. Speaking OF
skirmishing Col. Pingree said that the
first skirmish line ever known in the
army of the Potomac was formed from
the Sd regiment and so skillful were
two companies engaged in the practice
that by order of "Baldy" Smith they
were made the two thanking companies
of the regiment. This subject recalled
the name of Lieut.. Chandler, who died
in Minnesota a few weeks ago, the
first soldier the speaker ever saw call
ed out to do bayOnet exercise. Col
Pingree declared, that without wishing
to detract from any other the 3D. Yer
mont was the best regiment that ever
this he found i'm the fact that it went
into camp in st. Johnsbury and that
the people of this town gave them en-
cOuragement and the inspiration to be
come the best regiment. Pleasant al
fusion was made to some difficulties
that occurred in camp, to the two Cap
tains Seaver and Weary, who brought
their brides and spent their honey
moons here, the serenade at the st.
JOhnsbury house when Co. A. present
ed arms, etc. The joy of this present
hour, said Col. Pingree in conclusion,
has been to me greater and has been
filed with more solid enjoyment than
any other event of my life.
2. The intelligence, patriotism, de-
vOtiOn and bravery of the private SOL
der ; the lever that raised them from
the ranks to commanders. To them
we owe the preservation of our ma
tiOnal life. May the gratitude of low
ing hearts be their everlasting monu-
ments, Capt. Charles H. Woodbury..
Capt. Woodbury. responded that
making speeches was something he had
never attempted to do and he could
not begin now.
3. Captain, Major, Lieut.. Colonel
of the Sd, detailed commander of regi-
ments out of the state, colonel of the
10th, a hero of Gettysburg, a just
judge the man who knew most about
the personnel and morale of the Yer
mont soldiers. We wish him to ram
BILE for time this evening. You al
ready know his name, WheelOck @.
Weary.
Col. Veazy spoke with much feeling
of the days experiences. The recOl-
lectiOns of 25 years ago had never been
brought up so wildly. 1t seemed but
yesterday that we came to st. Johns
bury to be mustered in. | remember
so well the greetings of this people,
the pleasant camp, the drilling, etc.
Happy allusiOn was made to the hon
in fhnSn
also to that grand old man, Gov. Eras-
tus Fairbanks, and the good advice he
gave the men. The God bless you's of
the people were recalled as the regi-
ment left for the front, a regiment that
was never excelled in efficiency. If
there was ever a time when the 3D.
failed to do it's duty history makes no
record of it. When, after year and a
half of service, Col. Veazy was offered
promotion to the colonelcy of another
regiment, he told Gov. Fairbanks that
he "would rather be Lieut.. Colonel of
the Sd Vermont, than colonel of any 9TH
er regiment" In closing, allusiOn was
made by the colonel to his recent trip
across the continent.
A. The orator of the evening, the
grand old commander of the grand old
Sd Vermont. Always in front from '6l
to IS, never daunted, always modest
and retiring. May he long be with us.
Stand up that we may look on you, and
speak to us, Col. Il. o. Seaver.
Col. Seaver was received with three
rousing cheers, and responded briefly.
If had a thousand hearts, he said, as
have but one, they would all beat a
cordial raSnnnSa tn this ualcnma