The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-12-23
+" BALDY" SMITH.

lie Writes Letter TO the Veterans OF the Sd VI.
At the recent Reunion of the I'd VT, held at
St. Johnsbury, the following letter from Gen.
w. L. Smith, familiarly known as Baldy," was
read:
To the Survivors Of the 81 Regiment Vermont
Volunteers.
BROTHER VETERANS: IL is with great regret
that i find myself compelled TO give up the
hope of being with you at ST. Johnsbury on the
occasion OF your first gathering since the war
As il was the place from which you set out for
the field, its selection is eminently appropriate,
and my pleasure would be great in joining you
where, under the auspices of Gov. Fairbanks.
first saw the flag of the regiment quarter
of "A century has passed away since that day,
and the picture of the thousand brave men
then encamped in the beautiful valley is still
before me. You were there in the prime OF
manhood. ignorant alike of tho duties and
hardships Of a soldier, but free from all ambi-
tious notions, and Lad abandoned yOur peaceful
ayocations for the dangers Of war 10 defend the
Government TO establish which your fathers
had fought at Bennington.
No purer sacrifice has been made by mortal
men. Called TO the defense OF Washington
after the battle OF Bull Run, we were first sent
10 the Chain Bridge, where your drilling be-
gan; then, crossing into Virginia, the Winter
was spent in preparing for the coming cam
]
and discipline in a battle will not look on that
| Winter as miSspent. My immediate command
/ over you was short, but still long enough 10
| give me an abiding confidence in the regiment.
| 1 thought Vermont should stand or fall by the
reputation made by its volunteers fighting in a
solid body, and my influence brought into ex-
! isience the Vermont Brigade. With that your
record is indssolubly associated. OF that rec
ord you ought 10 he proud, for it is second To
none made in the war. That gallant soldier,
! Brooks, was very proud Of his command, aud
| you could have no higher testimonial. also
was proud Of you, and that feeling is with me
to-day as then.
After We were separated watched with in.
tercst your doings aud after every battle looked
first TO see what had been done by the Vermont
Brigade and the old Sd regiment. As ! never
had any misgiyings, so my joy was always in
creased at the tidings OF your sturdy valor on the
field Of battle. So far as / know you never
turned your back on the enemy in your from
at Lees Mills nor Williamsburg. nor al
Golding's Farm, Savage Station or Antietam
In the bloody murder at Fredericksburg yoI
held your ground and captured prisoners, and a
the equally misdirected battle Of Cold Harbo
j saw you under fire.
You are now a gray haired remnant Of tn
thousand gallant men who left the cool greer
hills of Vermont for the heat and dust of Vir
gina, who gave up the comforts of home 70
4 lhe Tolls ana hdrusnlps OF the camp, ana WI
exchanged the peaceful fireside for the shocl
aud din Of battle. The Others have fallen b,
the bullet, were worn out by camp disease, o
have succumbed since the war TO the broker
health due TO the hardships of the soldiers lie,
lour sacrifices were great and your reward
. mainly in the appreciation by the historians q
. the good work wrought by you. When yO
volunteered for the field the land was torn b
civil war. You can now look on a country i
which you find true unity, aud where thos
, who were in old times your foes would vie wit
, you in defense Of the flag. When your mill
tary life began there was a class Of huma
beings in a bondage which degraded an
competed with free labor aud corrupted tn
moral sentiment Of the Nation. Whe
e you laid aside your arms that class ha
: been placed among the independent labOreI
q Of the earth, aud their bread came TO them i
q proportion TO their intelligence and industry
D aud their former proprietors now rejoice i
s | their deliverance as a great advance in polit
g cal economy. When your work began you
4 country was hardly considered a third rat
. power in the world; now there is no nation tbs
y feels strong enough 10 make war upon Oh
a Great Republic"
= You have proved the strength Of peopl
q where all men are free aud equal. You hay
n | shown 10 all the nations OF the world that me
who hold and use the ballot, appreciating II
responsibility. will risk their lives in defens
Q of the Government under which they share I'll
n blessings. In what age OF the world was ey,
10 great a work done in the same timer n