Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-10-19

yAsfdrosses by Lt.-Col. l.. E. Knapp, Gov.
Dtningham, Lieut.. Gov. Woodbury.
and Others.

ana Otnerst
MONTPELIER, Oct. 1.-THE third annual
reunion of the 18th Regiment Vermont
Volunteers was held here this evening.
The galleries and floor of the House of
Representatives were crowded with sol
biers and citizens gathered to witness the
amp fire and to see the countenances OF
the''old vets" light up by its glare. Inc
Brooks Womau's Relief corps to the num-
her of 40 did escort duty for the regiment
The Gen Stephen Thomas camp sons OF
Veterans were present in uniform. EX-
Gov John GREGORY Smith was expected to
bepSYesent and to address the veterans, out
M the last moment wrote as follows
ST. ALBANs, oct, II, 1888.
M- Dear Dol. Lucia;
am very sorry that must dsappoint you
Tor this evening, but my regret i'll that par
dicuiat IL ,vCrehadowed by my own dlSap-
pointmc Mt ut not being able to meet yourself
aud the regiment, auu TO exchange friendly
greeting ~1tn you all. This, however, can.
nOS be. he continuous ahors OF the past
few daye, en- tOrctd by circumstances beyond
my control, have set me back very much IN
the prugr ~ was making in the way of I'M
Prov ment. II, find myself IN a condition
khis morning when am advised 1t would not
De ale for me t. undertake the excitement
incident TO the occasion. VIII you klndIy
snase nv apolopies TO your comrades, and ac
,as,pt for W urself assurances Of my high re-
rsra and my slncere regret that am so cir
NasNslanCed
l
J. GREGORY SMITH.
After the Montpelier military band had
executed medley of national airs Colonel
9.neia president of the reunion association,
having briefly given sketch of the histo-
~ of the regiment, introduced Lieutenant
Colonel Lyman +. Knapp, of Middlebu ny,
-'Rs a MI dest man but one full OF fight,
which pleased the boys. Lieutenant
Colonel Knnpp's address was chiefly a
sketch of the service of the 18th with
especial reference to its part in the battles
of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, the
waffle Of the Petersburg mine, and other
5ioody battles.
col. KNAPP's ADDRESS.
Col. Kuapp's address was chiefly occu-
u,ed with Il historical sketch of the regi-
lDent. He said
The war had been waged with uneX-
nApl.d fury and determination for more
Shau three years. The battlefield with
sts horrible details of death and wounds,
Lhe camp with its incidents of comedy
and amusement, the wearisome march
The hasy blvuuac, the scenes of sickness
in the hospitals, and even the terrible
yr,son pens of the South had been so fire.
4nently aud so widely pictured to the
,leople at home, that hearts were not so
costly moved us in the earlier stages of
iAe var, and perhaps there was scarcely
anything to tell. Besides, war CORES
eoadents found by actual experience that
hey Jared better and mad their incon-
yenieLcee reduced to a minimum at gene
Tal headquarters ; and that their bread
snd JUtter WAS quite as well provided for
~ serving up complimentary notices of
1o9se III high places, and giving general
information of the movements of the
ARMY aud the results OF battles, as by eX
posing heir precious persons to the dan
gecB.Df the battle field, TO secure Incl
dents end details.
Hence the disasters or sufferings, or
achievements Of single regiment were
scarcely noted. So when the little nth,
only battalion of seven companies.
Without drill, reduced by sickness, re-
.seived its first baptism of fire in the VIII
derEess and stood its ground against
Deavy odds and wore the encomiums of
nigh officers for its noble record, at an
expense of loss in killed and wounded
of q per cent of the men actually, en-
ragged, there was not even ripple of eX-
element through the country and 1t was
searcely mentioned in a local paper. This
circumstance has stood upon record for
nesrly q quarter Of century and yet 1t
IS doubtful # a dozen of our intelligent
aud well Informed people have ever real
wed ills full meaning and Significance
So. too, while a grateful people are
seady TO accord all due credit and praise
for service rendered and sufferings en-
tureA, circumstances have frequently
rc3so7ed 70 deprive certain events and
transactions of Importance OF their right
XII place il history and IN the estimation
~ 1be public,
a cl,i5e ia point is the part taken by the
!7th IL the bat lie of Spots ylvania Court
House, N8y u, 1854. General Hancock,
witt BIS gallant second corps, aided by
The arst Vermont Brigade, All organize
HOE thau which none ever won higher
cJt.ORiuuls or deserved them II ore, had
,ust&Akeu the bloody salient about which
',,.gs haaf al al ~
tne confederate Gen. Gordon, by supreme
eferL succeeded in d.slod giug Gen. Blr-
tI r. command from the eastern face of
lho GGlient, and, flushed with victory, the
rDeMy pushed hard upon the demural'zed
troops q. Bruey's division, across an open
Seld Gen. Griffin Was Just emerging
from the scattering wood in their front,
RIA 'ohs of his regiments, the 9th New
Hampshire, Was swept back with Bir-
,ey's troops in their mad retreat and the
Alignment of the remainder OF Griilin's
.G!gAle was somewhat disturbed. But
,s,s 81. h Vermont and the 9Th and 18th
llaG Hampshire coolly readjusted their
.sAs,flZtzleut aud pressed forward to receive
4as- .1ny. < of Gordon IS furious charge, and
-risS.t a,,eAr enough sent yoley after vol
ieIJ.fa.lN we'll directed aim, into the enc
sliea. ia. .Is, cutting them down with won
drosia i45I1 ghter, until they were etfectual
~ che3gg4c. And so the tide of battle was
turnrE again, and the second corps was
3aue3 '-rJI6 serious disaster and possibly
from roin aud the fame of their glorious
9Gaisgel3aG, which might otherwise
n.va Seen F7rested from them as soon IL
wSs1, WaG preserved to them, and the ser
'5icS Ras cElg recognized by the promo
1,oN CT Gen Griffin on the spot, though
no loryee pendent was there 10 note th
portion OF the story aud the part our brig
&sie took ia this brilliant action came wei
nigga being overlooked and forgotten il
making ~ the record for future ages Il
GPCLSg.
crave pardon OF comrades for thu
,aaalging in bit of grumbllng whicl
syIz " III AZ bear me witness, was neve
heard in The nth, probably more becaus
ne iit1 no time for it, than from any priu
,;st,. ,Re had on the subject.
I'm gassing wish to refer briefly to tn
-hrsS attack upon the works of Peters
burg, 3 Une II and IS, ga and the par
'lake,3 by che nth regiment in these bat
.Aes. After two days OF one of the hare
est marches of the war, the army of tn
potomee struck the Notifications on tn
80 Dat