The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-09-05
Orange County Veterans Reunion.

had preceded.
Orange County Veterans Reunion.
The old soldiers of Orange county held
their sixth reunion last Wednesday and
Thursday, at Camp Phil. Sheridan, which
was pleasantly located upon some high
ground west Of Brooktield pond. The at
tendance of veterans was good and many
members of the Woman's Relief Corps and
Sons of Veterans were present. All were
finely entertained by Henry Freeman Post
and its Relief Corps. Nothing in their power
was left undone that would add to the COM
fort or pleasure of the visiting veterans and
friends. AS one old soldier quantity said,
Brookfeld has the biggest post and Relief
Corps of their size there are on the conti-
nent and commander that is very nearly
everywhere" Nine posts and several Re-
lief Corps were represented. III. f. X.
Hall Camp, Sons of Veterans, a detachment
of Norwich Cadets and the Mortified
Guards were present Music was furnished
by the Brookfeld glee club and band and
the Braintee band. A twelVe-pounder was
used for salutes fired by the Norwich Cadets.
Lodgings were furnished free by the Brook
field people ard great hospitality was
shown. 1t is estimated that about four thou
sand people attended the reunion.
Wednesday evening a campfire was held
in the grove at the camp. A huge pile of
fuel surmounted by large casll of tar, was
kindled at the same time as the campfire.
Leutenant-colonel Peck of the reunion
forces presided at the campfire. After
prayer by Chaplain II. G. Webster, Six
teenth Vermont Regiment, Rev. Il. ID. Met
calf of Brooktield was introduced and gave
the address of welcome. The Brooktield
glee club, an excellent one, sang America
and then, in response to a call, " Marching
through Georgia" The club sang often
and was often encored. Surgeon =. ID. Brad
ford, Fifth Vermont Regiment, was next
introduced. He said that men of his pro-
fession were supposed to hold their tongues,
but proceeded to prove that his tongue was
not made to be held. He spoke of his pride
in being Nermonter and an Orange county
boy; of the pride he had in being member
of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Comrade II. A. Huse of Montpelier,
another Orange county boy, said he was
asked to get General Thomas to attend this
reunion but found that the general now, as
well as twenty-five years ago, would not be
led. The general says, " Come" not Co."
Comrade Huse expressed pride at being
an Orange county boy, and spoke in high
regard of the worth of his old comrades of
the Twelfth Vermont Regiment, who lacked
only opportunity to prove that they were
second to none others.
General Stephen Thomas was greeted with
hearty cheers, as he was introduced as
another Orange county boy. He paid elo-
Quent tribute to the BOYS that fought and to
the women who sent the boys forth to fight
and then did so much for their comfort. He
said he was an Orange county boy, and not
such an old one either. He expressed love
for the county and urged that it might
progress in improvements. He spoke ten
derby of his mother who cared for him after
his father went to the war of 1912 and who
never came back, filling somewhere an I'M
known grave. He expressed gratitude that
he was permitted to live in the period of the
late war and take part in its battles. He
spoke for some time of the old soldier and
his deeds and closed with some humorous
stories He received three hearty cheers
and tiger as he sat down. Upon call of
Comrade Huse three hearty cheers and a
tiger were given for the good people of
Brookfield who had made possible this en-
joyable meeting.
Thursday at half-past nine A. NJ, the
Mortified Guards had skirmish drill that
pleased the old soldiers, bringing to their
minds the old days at the front. This was
followed by speaking. Orderly -sergeant
Wa1bridge, Company b, Fourth Vermont
Regiment. opened with rafting good
speech. Miss Johnson of Williamstown re-
cited Sheridan's Ride. Chaplain Webster,
"who was willing to fight as well as pray"
followed with a fusilade of humorous
Stories closing with a rebuke of those that
sheer at the pensoner General Thomas
gave some "reminiscences of his old army
life and closed by bidding his comrades OBJ
serve how rapidly the old soldiers were be-
ing mustered out and to prepare themselves
for their final discharge Rev. Mr.. Metcalf
who served in Company b, Third Vermont
Regiment, followed with voley of humor-
Gus stories. The call TO the dinner given
the veterans and friends closed the speak
ing at this time.
AT two o'clock P. NJ. Colonel Albert
Clarke was escorted from the village to the
camp and made an excellent address, in
which he gave some statistics of the part
Orange county took in the war and spoke
of the deeds of such men as General Thomas,
Captain George 7. Hebard and Major John
{. Stearns. AT the close of the address a
dress parade was held, in which three hun
dred or more soldiers took part. This was
followed by the business meeting, which
was presided over by Adiutant George w
Flagg of the reunion forces. 1t was voted
that the next reunion he held at Tunbridge,
and the following officers were elected :
Colonel, Cassius Peck, Brookfield Iieuten-
ant-colonel, Henry II. Hayward, Tunbridge;
major, George w. Flagg, Braintree; Quar-
termaster James l.. Farnham, Tunbridge;
surgeon, DIR. Story n. Goss, Chelsea; chap
lain, Rev E. e. Herrck, Chelsea execu-
tive committee, Albert Whitney, Charles
B. Smith, Wallace w. Swan, Tunbridge. A
vote of thanks was rendered the people of
Brooktield for their generous hospitality,
and pleasant and greatly enjoyed reunion
was closed.