The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-06-09

ior Pollard and several groups of
regimental officers. There are also
some twenty-five or thirty military maps.
The original roster is given, with
sketch of the military record of
the officers, a list of promotions,
and of battles and skirmishes in which
the regiment was engaged, ETC.. also
an appendix giving accounts of the
proceedings attending the dedication of
the monuments erected by the Eighth
Vermont at Winchester and Cedar
Creek.
The Eighth Vermont had an event
full history and an honorable record. 1t
was raised by authority of the legisla-
ture, but was recruited, armed and
equipped by Colonel Thomas, under di-
rect instructions of the United States
government, through General Butler.
In an important sense these troops be-
longed to the general government, and
not to the state where they enlisted,
and were not entitled to share in the
state aid so lavishly provided for other
Vermont troops. The organization was
perfected in January, 1862. Early in
April the regiment joined General
Buffers contingent at Ship Island. For
two years the history of the regiment
was made in the Department of the
Gulf. During this period it took part in
the engagements at Raceland, Boutee
Station, Bayou DIES Allemands, "The
Cotton" Bisland, Port Hudson and
Donaldsonville. General Buffers treat
ment of this regiment while it was
under his command is favoraby COM
mented upon, and letter from the
General is inserted in which he declares
that no regiment has better history
than the Eighth Vermont. In 1864 the
regiment was transferred to the Shen-
andoah Valley, Virginia, and was as
signed to the advance column of the
Nineteenth Army Corps, under General
Emory. From this time until the close
of the war the regiment participated
in the battles of Opequan (Winchester),
Fishers Hill, Woodstock, Cedar Creek
and Newtown, besides in number of
skirmishes of more or less Importance.
The regiment was mustered out of serv-
ice in June, 1865. During its period
of service it had an aggregate of LIP
men; there were seventy-one killed in
action; thirty-three died from wounds
received in action; two hundred
thirteen died from disease, and eight
from accident In this connection other
interesting statistics are given.
The regiment particularly distin-
guished itself in the important bat
ties of Port Hudson, Winchester and
Cedar Creek. The charge which it
made at Winchester is regarded as one
of the most brilliant and daring achieve
ments of the campaign, and is credited
with having decisive effect upon the
battle. At Cedar Creek the regiment
passed through terrible ordeal-occu-
plying the most exposed position in the
brigade, and finally engaging the enemy
in hand-to-hand conflict. Out of one
hundred forty-eight men and sixteen
officers of this regiment who entered
this fight, one hundred ten men and
thirteen officers were killed and
wounded. The description of many of
the battle scenes are admirable and i'm
pressive, and the work also contains
interesting variations of incidents in
camp and field An interesting chap
ter is that reciting the patriotic
and statesmanlike conduct of General
Thomas at the special session of the
legislature called in 1861 to provide the
ways and means for raising troops. He
was the only democratic member of the
special committee to which was referred
the various bills on the subject, and
was also member of the committee on
ways and means. He foresaw that the
country was on the eve of gigantic
contest to preserve the Union, and he
advocated the most vigorous and sweep.
ing measures to meet the great emer.
gency. His counsels were needed, and
subsequent events confirmed their wis
dom.
THE Knights of Labor convention al
Cleveland has adjourned, after demon,
strating that there are serious dis
sensions in their ranks, and that the
majority is not controlled by wise coun-
sells. Mr.. Powderly is left at the head
of the organization, but the advisory
board is largely made up of men who
are not in sympathy with the moderate
course that he has pursued. The rad
ical policy decided upon by the conven-
ton makes it plain that Mr., Powderly
has been overruled and defeated by the
men whose determination is to rule q,