Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-01-22
VERMONT VETERANS.
THEIR ANNUAL REUNION IN THIS
CITY.

A Most Auspicious and Happy Gathering
The Exercises Wednesday and Thurs
day-The Exercises at the Opera
House and ut the yau Ness.
The series of military reunions to which
Vermont veterans have been looking Tor
ward with great expectation for months
past opened in this city Tuesday with
the thirteenth annual meeting of the So
ciety of the First Vermont Cavalry. Early
in the day the trains brought large ac-
cessions to the small number of veterans
who arrived the night previous and in
the afternoon the familiar faces of many
prominent officers from all parts of
the State were To be seen on the streets.
Probably at no meeting of the society in
late years was the attendance so large us
at that of Tuesday and the exercises OF
the day were carried out in most sue
cessful and satisfactory manner. The
meeting of the society was opened with
business session which was held at the
American hotel at 3 O'Clock p. m, Sergt.
Warren Gibbs of st. Adams, president of
the society, in the chair. The reports of
the secretary and treasurer were read and
adopted. The secretary's report showed a
membership of over 100 about 30 of whom
were present The quartermaster' $ report
showed a balace of Sl4.22 III the treasury.
Twenty new members were admitted to
the society after which officers were elect
ed as follows
President-Sergt S. IL. Wood, COM
pany l.. .
acknowledgement ii. G. Smith of
Company A, George Austin of Company
b, l.. X. Stiles of Company G, Sergt
George p Blair of Company, d; VIM: G;
Company f, II. \. Leach of Company q,
Sergt II. o. Edison of Company II, Joseph
Enos of Company |, Louis Goulett of
Company X, Sergt.. ;. II. Potter of Com
pany l., Peter Lander of Company NJ, A.
X. Wanzer of the staff.
Secretary-Capt. o. II. Wheeler of Com
Treasurer-Lieut. w l.. Greenleaf of
Company l..
ESse"iivS s PEStt aS of
Lieut. Eli Holden of Company G..
A letter was read from Lieut.. Eugene
A. Consigny, the last adiutant of the reSi-
ment, enclosing $40 note to be used at
the discretion of the society. BY
vote of the members it was de
cided to devote it to the purchase of II
copy of the forthcoming History of Yer
mont in the Rebellion" to be kept at the
headquarters of the society. The society
then adjourned to meet at the dining room
of the Van Ness House at $50 in the even
ing, for the annual banquet.
1t was the general understanding that
the next annual meeting would be held at
Montpelier the day previous to the annual
meeting of the Officers Reunion society
THE BANQUET.
The banquet of the Cavalry society was
held in the smaller dining room of the
Van Ness House. which was neatly deco
rated with flags for the occasion. The
table extended the entire length of the
room and was set in handsome shape, be
ing decorated with several elegant floral
designs Nearly fifty plates were set, the
largest number required at any meeting
of the society 80 far. The menu was elab-
crate and the service was prompt and
efficient. At the conclusion of the ban
quet the tables We're wrapped to order by
President Gibbs, and the remaining time
was devoted to "reminiscences of the war.
Prof Goodrich, the chaplain of the so
ciety, made some happy remarks after
which Capt. II. o. Wheeler was called
upon. He was gratitied at the excellent
attendance and hoped that each member
of the society would make it a point not
only to attend but also to bring some one
else with him.
Gen. Wells said among other things,
that during Il recent trip in the West ne
met an old friend of the regiment, who
said he would like to meet the boys. but
not in the old way-his name was Col.
Mosby.
Comrade Stranahan of St Adams
thought the present the largest meeting
the society ever held. lie thought 1t
the duty of each member to attend and
bring some new man with MN.
Comrade Potter of West Hartford said
this was the first reunion he had attended.
He supposed he had had enough of that in
the war but he now found he was mis-
taken.
Col. w. l.. Greenlef knew of no greater
honor that he could have than to be &
member of the LIST Vermont. He had not
had much service in the field, but he hac
the champion hospital record, having been
in fifteen Union hospitals and three Con
federate He then related an amusing
story.
president, said he was proud to be eligible
to such II society. He thought the com
mittee on nomination had made grea
mistake, especially in relation to the pres
ident He thanked the society for tn,
honor, however, and would endeavor Il
fill the Office to the best of his ability.
Comrade EVarts of the LIST New orr
cavalry, upon request, exhibited ii unique
cane, having all the cavalry emblem
carved upon II, which he received iron
Charles II. Dwyer, rebel scout, wnon
he met while visiting the valley of TIL
Shenandoah last year.
"Drew's hash was the toast to Whlcl
mine host Drew was called upon to re
spond and he made II speech that brOugh
down the house.
Comrade lde of st. Johnsbury was Gale
upon and he took advantage of the OppOr
tunity TO urge veterans to request thel
town representatives to support an Fprt
priation to enable Vermont veterans t
erect memorial on the field Of Gettys
burg.
Comrade Stranahan said that he though
the present legislature would have vote
the appropriation framed for that purpos
if the circumstances had been ullcrel
and he was certain that the next would.
Quartcrmaster Dewey was called upo
and gave some interesting remlnlscenct
of his experience with raw and hungr
recruits and also while under arrest i
Pennsylvania as rebel spy.
Remarks were also made by Comrade
Cook, Squires, buchanan, Barrett, a.