The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-10-23
Fourth Regiment Reunion.

FOUrIn regiment Reunion.
The second reunion of the Fourth Yer
mont Regiment was held in Montpelier on
Thursday of last week. About seventy
veterans met to recall the stirring scenes
of 1868, and decidedly pleasant occasion
1t was. A meeting of the executive com
mittee was held in the morning at ten
o'clock At half-past one in the afternoon
comrades began to gather at Capital Hail.
where for couple of hours a social reunion
took place. The business meeting was at
four o'clock, Colonel S. NJ. Pingree of Hart
ford, president of the association, pre-
siding. The treasurer's report showed a
balance of S44.S7 on hand. Treasurer r.
7. Farrell stated that sos had been re-
ceived as contributions from nine comrades
The election of officers then occurred with
the following result: President, Colonel S.
M. Pingree; vice-presidents, Charles c.
| kinsman of Rutland and Captain l.. w
| Fisher of Danville; secretary and treasurer,
! T. T. Farrell of Waterbury; executive com
mittee, Sergeant w. f. Bliss Of East Cal
ais, Captain w III. Humphrey Of Essex and
| Sergeant X. j. Coifey of Bennington, with
! the other officers er.oHcjO. An appropria-
ton of Sl5 was made to provide for the ex-
| penses of the treasurer and secretary, after
| which the business session came to "A close.
1t is to be regretted that there was not a
larger audience present at the exercises in
the evening at Capital Hall. 1t was evil
IDENTIFY not generally understood that they
were to occur then and there. Those who
attended had the pleasure of listening to
| four speeches that could not well be sur
! passed in the interest they evoked The
music furnished by the Apollo quartette was
excellent both in the selections and the
manner in which they We're rendered The
veterans of the Fourth, with invited guests,
! had seats on the platform. Comrade f. j.
Coffey of Bennington acted as marshal, in
| Producing, when all were seated, Colonel
| Pingree as president of the evening. Prayer
was offered by COmrade S. b. Blodgett of
Cabot, and music by the quartette con-
| sistng of Messrs. +. w. Bancr #, Herbert
Chapman, Charles Lowe and b. NJ. Shepard,
! followed. Colonel Pingree spoke briefly
noting the fact that of the 1858 men who
had been members of the regiment but
seventy could be present at the reunion.
| Comrades of the Fourth are scattered among
all the states of the Union, but more rest in
| Virginia than are elsewhere.
| Colonel George w. Hooker of Brattle-
boro was introduced as the first speaker.
He spoke of the Vermont soldier as type
| of the best American soldier. He was
animated by stern sense of duty, not
personal ambition. He enlisted because
the air of his state taught him the watch
words of freedom and unity. Colonel
! Hooker outlined in some detail the history
of the Fourth regiment. paving at the start
"A noble tribute TO Colonel f. II. Stoughton,
! whom he called the ideal soldier. The
| speaker described the capture of Virginia
regiment by four companies of the Fourth
and the difficulty in which he himself be-
came involved by refusing to surrender the
! captured colOrs to the commander of another
| brigade. The love that the army had for
General Mcclellan was referred to as
not surpassed by that of NapoleOn's sol
diers for the emperor. Various Incidents
connected with the Fourth were recited by
| Colonel Hooker in eloquent language. He
spoke of the pride he felt, when at Gettys-
! burg at the dedication, that he was "A Yer
mont soldier. Parents should take their
children there to teach them patriotism.
/ The monument of the First Brigade is the
most impressive of the five, The trip 10
New York city and the fearful slaughter at
the Wilderness were touched upon briefly.
| One of the proudest facts in Vermont's his
tory is that not one Of her soldiers was court
marshaed or arrested for cowardice. In
closing, Colonel Hooker explained the SPLEEN
did record of Vermont troops by saying that
no state cared for its soldiers as did this
| state.
After music, Governor w. p Dillingham;
was introduced. He referred to the indi-
| vidualism of Vermont soldiers as their dis
tinguishing trait. The people of Vermont
come nearer an equality than do those of
any other state. Governor Dillingham;
spoke of the aggressive stand of the state
against New York and later against the colo
NAL government before the revolution. 1t
fought the war out independently. and for
twelve years knocked for admittance to the
Union, which was finally gained. Coming
home from Gettysburg, Governor Dilling-
ham said, he had attended a very interest
ing exercise at the high school in Water
bury. only day or two ago. The black
board was covered with a plan of the
Gettysburg field, and every scholar in the
higher grade read an essay on some aspect
| of the subject. He was very glad to add
remarks of his own to the patriotic exer-
else, which he thought might well be imi-
| tated The governor sat down amid loud
applause,
Lieutenant. Governor Woodbury. was
warmly received and spoke 10 the great
pleasure of the veterans of the Fourth He
had many friends in this regiment, whom
| he was glad to meet. He pited man who
| could not attend such a gathering and en-
Joy it, He referred touchingly to the late
Colonel George p Foster. The lieutenant
governors remarks were brief but warmly
| received.
General Stephen Thomas was given three
rousing cheers as he was introduced. He
pointed out some of the great steps forward
that have been made in the last quarter OF
a century. Vermont had hard time get
ting into the union, but she will never go
out. II freedom ever leaves this country,
il will leave Vermont last. General Thomas
believed in teaching the children all the
lessons Of the war, especially that il was a
rebellion led by men who had been edu-
Gated at the expense of the government.
He paid high compliment TO the Vermont
brigade.
Music closed the exercises at the hall.
Line was formed under command OF Mar
shall Coffey and the veterans proceeded TO
the Pavilion, where the banqset was served.
The quartette interpreted the after-dinner
speeches with selections Ii was nearly
eleven o'clock when the speaking began.
Colonel Hooker acted as toast-master.
Speeches were made by Major c. c. Kins-