The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-04-12

not Infrequently retained. unresolved,
through the whole process Of baking,
and remain an unwholesome ingredient
in the finished bread. The carbonate of
ammonia cannot be used as substitute
for cream of tlrtar.-[N, Y. Weekly
Tribune
The Annual Campfire of Custer Post
Notable speeches by Visiting Com
rades-HIstOrIcaI Paper by COmrade
Downs, Etc.
This occasion was graced Saturday
evening by several eminent members OF
the Grand Army, together with large
number of those who enjoyed the hon
ors without making speeches. 1t was
red letter evening for Custer Post. A
side from visitors from our own state
the evening train brought Col. E. l..
Cole of Post Willard, Troy, N. Y; Col,
LeGrand C, Tibbits of Hoosiek Falls;
Commander Worden of Wood Post and
thirty men; Commander Amidon of
Sanford Post, North Adams, with thirty
more, besides the other visitors from
Troy and the surrounding towns of this
vicinity, to the number of fully one
hundred. Bennington hospitality, al
ways proverbial, was equal the occa-
sion.
Col. LeGrand C. Tlbbits is favorite
with the comrades of Custer Post, and
on this evening, introduced to an in
creased audience, he made very pleas.
ing and felecitous address. Col. Coles
oratoriral powers are well known in
Grand Army circles and his speech was
very entertaining. Commanders Wor-
den and Amsden were enthused with
some of the fire which nerved them at
the front, and all the speakers seemed
to fit the day and the place. Post Com
mander Capt Frost called upon the
Hon. John V. Carney to speak for our
local talent and he happily responded.
Others gave short addresses.
Isaac Brown, the ''inimitable Brown"
was present in ell his glory of comic
song, and banjo solos on his guitar.
Comrade Fuller assisted, and the two
together more than redeemed the prom
Use made one year ago,
Comrade Albert NJ. Downs read his
torical paper which we give below,
That part Of it referring to the death of
comrade was very timely and closed the
article.
The Sons of Veterans turned out and
performed escort duty to the visitors,
their drum corps assisting materially.
THE HISTORICAL PAPER.
Another year of our existence as a
Post is numbered with the unreturning
past. To night we muster for another
years service, not with untried undici
plined recruits as when we mustered for
the war, but with veterans, tried and
true; with armless sleeves, shattered
limbs, honored scars and broken con-
situations as proof of service, each hav-
ing an honorable discharge from the
United States Army or Navy, which en-
titles them to membership in our noble
order Heroes of many battletields,
who preserved our Union and made it
worthy to endure. are bound together
by ties that naught but death can sever.
With none but such in our ranks, with
f. l.. IL G. for our motto, we enter up
on our twelfth year.
Though our hands are hardened and
stained with toll and our step lost its
youthful vigor, yet who among us
would. if he could, exchange his well
earned title of veteran for youth, form
or wealth. With such comrades who
would not touch elbow, who not min
gle, who not be seem
In the spring of 1877 few ex mem.
beers of Post Newton Stone and Post
Parsons, that had surrendered their
charters, saw the necessity of organising
post here. Previous to our centennial
and soldiers reunion a meeting was
held at the Stark House. Comrades A.
j. Noyes, Fred. Wellman, j. w. Will.
Iams, II. II, Allen, 4. S. Canady, W. H.
Sears, NJ. d. Stewart, John Clark, N. o.
Wilcox. +. c. Ray, NJ. F. Barney, J. L
Waters and A. NJ. Downs were present.
A committee of Ave was appointed to
canvass among the veterans of this vi
cinity for names to start post De
partment headquarters were notified of
the desire, and April 4th was named as
the date of muster. Department Com
mander, 7. S. Peck, with Assistant Ad-
jutant General Taplin, met us at the
Park Guard Armory. The recruiting
comrade reported rs names obtained
to join post. SO of them were present
and Commander Peck mustered us in.
A. q. Patchen was elected commander,
ana Fred. Wellman adjutant. Many
met for the hsrt time, the comrades rep
resentng several States and all branches
of the service. At a subsequent meet
ing the balance of the post officers were
elected and the post named for Gen. G.
A. Custer, name revered by every
union soldier and feared by every rebel.
Our organization was now completed.
Our funds, after paying charter fees
and procuring few necessary supplies,
were depleted. When soldiers, we could
in barren country. supply ourselves
without money and without price
why not in a land of plenty with no
Pro VO. Guards, and where the citizens
knew nothing of the foraging skill of
veteran.
Fortunately we had small squad of
the ''theving !4th" among us and they
gave US points from their months SER
vice. Comrade Rudd said to me: you
pass a dozen farmers when you come
down to meetings, their wood don't
cost them anything, and II you can't fill
your buggy with wood from their pile
you are not any credit to the 57th New
York" Another Of the same command
said disposition a Tequisltion and eK-
pectatiOn with imposition was all that
was necessary to stock us up" They
had the first, made out the second and
sent out an expedition. They tried
their imposition on comrade Williams.
One would ask him into the alley to
have glass of beer while six stood
ready 10 gobble up what wood be had
sawed. He would leave Jack to pay for
the beer and 90 over 70 comrade Cady's
woOdshed, load up and 90 to head
quarters. Steal from q cavalry man
no other infantryman had the gall,
One Of them stopped comrade GIbson's
bake cart, begged a chew from the driv.
eT, while another removed the Inch pin
to let a wheel run of and then raid the
cart. They would have STOLEN Graves
bank and carried 1t up to the aTmoTy
only for Wyman. That regiment saved
the day at Gettysburg. Is it wonder
that Pockets division turned baeR when
they met them there!
We made the armoTy our headquart-
ers until scout reported that demand
would be made on US for rent. We
slung knapsacks and unslung In tbs
NOyes block. Increasing membership
with increasing demands for rent forced
US 70 move again. Thinking OF no
quarters 80 oongenisl to our habits rs
the Good TemplqrS Lodge we sent in our
applications. Their latch string was
out for bqmmers so they bid VS. wei
come. The brotheFs insisted on an In
spection of our canteens, and we all
drank from the same canteen 10 old
army style (no proof furnished the "long
auger" liegur.) The sisters declined TO
furnish each comrade with spittoon,
and went back ON their boosted charity
in 80 small matter as tobacco smoke.
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