Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-02-05
THE &. y. II. COMMANDERS.
Records of the New Commanders of the
Vermont Department..
COMMANDER CHILDs.

NOhMN \ I'IIs ~ ill-bN'
The new department. commander,
George L. Childs OF st. Adams, was born
in 1872, in CharestoWn, Mass. He is a
son of Hon. Francis Childs, who is an
old-time Republican, was Il friend and
associate of sumner Phillips and Wilson,
and has held many important offices.
Within few hours after Fort Sumter
was fired upon COmrade ChildS enlisted
in the Charlestown City Guard, being
then but IS years Of age. lie went to
the front in the Fifth Massachusetts In
fantry, and took part in the first battle of
Bull Run. He was taken prisoner and
for IL months experienced the horrors of
Libby, Salisbury and New Orleans pris-
ons. He was paroled ut Salisbury july
%, 1862, and returned home in impaired
health. After the war he went South for
his health and lived for Il time in New
Orleans. Returning to Boston, he re-
sided there until his removal to st. Al
bans in 1873 Colonel Childs was com
mander of Post II, q. \. X. of Charles
town, Mass, two terms, and was subse-
quently chief mastering officer of the de-
partment of Massachusetts, on General
Deven's staff. In 1873 he became private
secretary to President j. Gregory Smith
of the Central Vermont railroad, which
position he now holds Commander
Childs was chief of the governors staff
under Governor Farnham in 1850, and in
1884 wa, a Republican presidential electOr
and the messenger to Washington. He
delivered the annual address before the
Vermont Officers Reunion society in 1854,
and has delivered numerous Memorial
day oratiOns, speaking last year in Og-
densburg, y. y. He l. one OF the trustees
of the soldiers Home in Vermont and
Past commander of Post llurlburt q. \.
r. of ST. Adams
SENIOR YICE-COMMANDER HATHoRN.
Senior Vice-COmmander II. f.. Hathorn
of Ludlow, entered the service as n mem
Der of Company of the Eleventh Yer
mont, at the age of IS years, and was with
the regiment III the Notifications of Wash
ington till it joined the Old Brigade in the
spring of 1864 He was with it in all the
battles of the Army of the Potomac, from
SpottsylVana TO the surrender OF Lee.
He joined the q. a. X. in 1858 was a dele
gate to the first department enCampment,
and has had four elections as commander
of Howard Post, q. a. r., of Ludlow. On
the occasion Of his last installation in that
Office he was presented with Il handsome
chair in token of the respect of his com
rades, and appreciation Of his efficiency rs
commander lie is manufacturer of
harm sses, carriage trimmings, &c, in
Ludlow and deservedly popular with all
classes whose respect Is worth having
JUNIOR VICE-COMMANDER TRICK.
Comrade f. II, Trick of Burlington, the
new junior vce-Commander, enlisted in
September, 1861, in Company /, Fifth Yer
mont regiment, at the age of q years and
was detailed us an assistant in the com
missary department of the Old Vermont
Brigade, and made receiving clerk in the
Office of the brigade commissary. lie re-en
listed for he war in lNli3, WAS made com
missary sergeant of the Fifth Vermont
regiment, in March, 1864, and was commits
stoned as second lieutenant of Company {
of that regiment in June, 1863 but unde
the rules Of the war department, wa
mustered out rs commissary sergeant
He was with the brigade and regiment il
all its service till the close of the war
Since then he has resided i'll Burlington
He has been twice elected as commander
of Post Stannard, q. a. r., of this city
and has made one of the most e1licien
commanders, the post has ever had.