The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-10-24

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mortal Association invited Vermont, 10
common with other states, to erect
monuments on this field in honor OF her
sons who fought here, it Immediately
pledged itself to become the guardian OF
such monuments. In pursuance Of that
implied pledge this association now
cheerfully renews the same in express
terms, and accepts the trust, in full ap
probation of the responsibility which it
incurs.
Having myself been one of the Yer
mont commissioners who acted for the
State in the work of selecting and decid-
ing upon designs, preparing inscriptions,
contracting for the execution, and set
Ting the question of location of the five
monuments, which Vermont this day
dedicates, it would be uabecoming in me
to speak in any personal sense OF the
quality or appropriateness Of these struc-
lures, or OF the honorable and important
service which the men performed on
the different parts of this great field, in
memory of whom, and of their deeds
these structures are erected. But the
directors of this association have selected
me from their number to speak officially
for them to-day, and have directed me
to say in their behalf that they have
noted from first to last the patient acqui-
escence of the Vermont commission in
those restrictive rules and regulations
especially as to material, location and
inscriptions, which the association had
adopted for general application, when
the necessity and wisdom of which
would not be easily apparent to persons
not familiar with the causes that made
such rules a necessity. The directors
desire to express their appreciation and
gratitude for the intelligent considera.
ton which the commission from Yer
mont has always exhibited in all CORE
spondence and negotiations between
them.
The directors further advised me to
say that, in acoeption this trust, they re
cognize the high quality of the service
which was performed by the various
Vermont organizations, at vital points OF
the battle, and the excellence and appro-
priatness of the structures erected to
commemorate that service and the men
who performed 1t, They recognized that
a State whose military force was so near
ly wholly engaged in this battle, as was
that of Vermont, should have a monu
ment here not limited to single organizl'
tions, but dedicated to the honor of them
all.
Within a short radius from one spot on
this extended battle field, many things
occurred of the greatest historic interest
and Importance. 1t was here that the
battle eliminated at the close of three
days of fierce and desperate conflict. 1t
was here that history has recorded that
he rohallfAn tA,,nhn1 hiuh
mark, and in the sense intended by the
statement it is a true record, 1t was
here that Hancock and Stannard stood
on the extreme front of the Union lines,
until they received the ugly wounds
that nearly cost them their lives; and
even then refused to be taken from Ethe
field until the shouts of victory rang from
Cemetery Hill to Round Top. 1t was
here that the Second Vermont brigade
stood in what turned out TO be the pivot,
al point of the battle, but several rods to
the front of the general battle line, and
in the gap between Pickett's and Wilcox,
and swung first to the right and charged
into the flank of Pickett's division, and
then swung back to the left and charged
into the flank of Wilcox. 1t was in this
last movement by the sturdy sons of
Vermont that the final desperate onset
of the enemy in this momentous battle
was crushed.
The directors of the association con-
CURED with the commission that this was
the one spot where Mennonite monu-
ment should stand. Copied as it was
after model which Grecian genius pro-
duced two thousand years ago, and
which has stood the test of the centuries
since, as the most perfect model of monu-
mental architecture, built of sold granite,
taken from the same Green mountains
that bristled with thinking bayonets
when rebellion threatened the nations
life, surmounted by the figure in bronze
of Vermont's great volunteer soldier
overlooking the field of his most bril-
liant achievement, with the same calm,
but determined, expression that was on
his face when he saw the great charging
column steadily move down upon his
little command, and when he seized, as
with the inspiration of genius, the ad-
vantage which b position afforded, and
accomplished the most decisive results
The directors recognize that this struct-
ure fittingly and nobly commentaries
the men in whose honor it is erected
and appreciates the high duty resting
upon the association to preserve ii in its
beauty and glory.
The directors also desire me to say that
in like degree do they recognize their
duty as to the other monuments which
Vermont has erected in especial honor
and commemoration of the several or
CARNATIONS respectively of the State, on
other parts of this memorable field.
From the summit of Round Top, to
the Taneytown pike, guarding the left
flank of the army, and at the same time
within ready call of any other portion Of
the line as reserve, was the position Of
the First Vermont brigade, whose his
tory is commensurate with that of the
Potomac army, and whose fame is I'M
surpassed in military annals. On that
line, on the avenue bearing the name of
their corps commander, the great Sedg
wick, is the line in granite, fitting type
of: the courage and quality of the brig
ade, aroused by the noise of the battle,
and ready to spring on the prey that
should venture to cross its path.
In front of Round Top the First Yer
mont cavalry followed the heroic Farms
worth in that reckless, but most gallant,
charge upon the lines of Laws infantry
brigade; a charge as certainly into the
jaws of death as that of the cavalry at
Balaklava, but most important, and per-
haps absolutely essential, as flank
movement to relieve the pressure on the
the left centre, which PIckett's and the
other divisions of Lopgstreets corps
were making by their renowned charges.
This ID the well selected location for a
monument to the brave riders in SO bat
ties and engagements Of the war in
which they participated.
Away to the front, beyond Seminary
Ridge, from which the enemy made his
famous assaults on the second and third
day of the battle, Vermont company
in the First regiment of United States
sharpshooters, discovered and developed
the movement of Longstreet to gain the
Round Tops and turn the Union left flank
of the second day Of the battle and with
their comrades Of that regiment, delayed
the movement by skillful and hard fight.
ing, until dispositions were made by
Sickles to meet it. On that extreme
front fittingly stands an elegant marble
column to tell the story TO generations
to come Of the gallant and important
service Of these brave rifiemen.
Between that and the cavalry monu-
ment. near the Slider House, another
historic point of this field, two other
companies of Vermont sharpshooters, In
the Seconed regiment of that famous
command, first received the advance of
IOngstreet's corps, as it swept like
tornado from the crest of Seminary
Ridge into the ravine between the
Round Tops, which has been appropriate
ly designated as Devils Den, and there
those skilled marksmen chung with such
pertinacity and until so enveloped by
the foe in front and TANKS as to have
acquired for the place the sobriquet Of
the "hornet's nest"