Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-03-26
"Vermont the civil WAR"

The first volume of the long expected and
loug delayed history of the part taken by Yer,
mont soldiers and sailors in the war for the |
Union has been delivered to Brattleboro sub. |
scribers this week Mr.. Benedict in his preface
mentions fly the causes that have delayed
the work and at the same time have put for.
ever beyond reach much information that the
historian could have only at the mouth of liv-
ing men. He modestly says that the task as
signed him was not to give an entertaining
description of war scenes and army life, but
to record facts, and it has therefore been his
,Gort to set down the noble record of the
Vermont troops in such connection with the
general history of the war as to show what
they accom- pished and the relation of their
service to that of the larger organizations TO
which they belonged and his controlling pur.
pose has b, en- to be always lust truthful and
impartial,
In his opening chapters Mr.. Benedict pro.
&C eds at once with his record, describing the
spirit that actuated the people of Vermont and
the steps taken by her governor in the early,
anxious days of 1861. To the younger men
who read the book, no part Of it will be of
more interest than these first chapters, which,
without any attempt at fine writing or elabo.
ration of detail so wildly reproduce and il.
lustrate the Esprit of 'Gl." The plain record
of facts is enough to do this. Gov. Erastus
Fairbanks, staid stable citizen faithful pub.
lie servant and devoted patriot that he was,
watched the gathering storm with anxious So
lctude, and put himself in communication
with other New England governors as to the
steps of preparation which it would be wise
and prudent to take. The governors answer
to the attack on Fort Sumter and President
Lincoln's first call for u 900 troops was in
Simultaneous his proclamation calling for
regiment for immediate service and for a spe-
cal session of the legislature bore even date
with the Presidents proclamation, and is be-
lieved to have annotated by at least day all
similar proclamations issued by the governors
of the other free states. 1t sends the blood
coursing through the veins with thrill to
read of the wave of patriotic feeling and
popular enthusiasm which then swept over
the state; how public meetings were every
where held when the young men declared
their readiness to enlist and the older men
pledged their money without stint how com
papies of men began drilling in all the larger
towns, the women went to work to make uni
forms for the militia companies that were to
form the regiment, and the national colors
appeared on public and private buildings by
the thousand, until no more red, white and
blue bunting was to be had
The legislature convened on April 25th, and
the trains which brought the members to the
capital were greeted with a national salute
from the brass guns captured bv Gen. Stark
at Remington. On motion of Stephen Thorn.
az. stauuch and patriotic Democrat that he
was and is. the members took the oath of al.
lepianee 10 the United States government in
addition to the usual oath within "a hours a
hill snnropriatinO one million dollars for war
expenses had passed both houses by unani.
nous votes and in AZ hours the legislature
had eompleted its work and adjourned bay
inc authorized the enlistment and eouipmepi
of six regiments in addition TO the one al
ready under organization. and passed act,
giving 81 month state nav to each priyate
providing for the relief of soldiers families
at state expense. levyinR the first war tax o.
ten cents on dollar of the grand list, an(
giving the governor all necessary. power fo
organizing the regiments and sending then
TO the field. The action of the state wa,
prompt. generous undertaking. and well il
advance of any requirement which had We
been made by the general government.
From this point the history takes up tn,
record of the several Vermont regiments il
detail. The First regiment rendezvoused a