The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-06-20
WITH FLASHING SWORDS.


And Decked in Snowy Uniforms and Wav-
ing Plumes,-CantOns of Patriarchs Mill
tant, Department of VermOnt,-HoId
their First Annual Field Day in the Mar.
BILE City.
We condense from the HedrM report
of nearly two columns:
Come again. PAtriarchs
You had glorious day, pleasant
meeting, and educating drill, fine
march, happy reception, a gay ball, an
appetizing collation., and all in all a most
delightful time. Your marching, your
uniforms, your general appearance, was
subject to flauering criticism you made
happy impression and it is hoped that
your welcome was cordial and fraternal.
Although small in numbers, a fine ap-
pearance was made; and when at 2:30
the march began. the people who lined
the streets quickly recognized the merit
of the review. Headed by the band that
Burlington may well feel proud of. the
Sherman, the Patrilrchs marched off,
following the line OF parade outlined in
the Herald. The business streets were
well filled with spectators. while along
the residence streets every house had its
groups of admiring ladies. On the line
Of march many and complicated and
graceful mar muvres were executed with
promptness and with certainty. With
noddiDR plumes, and glistening swords
and glitteriDg uniforms a charming pic
ture was made, Banners, wrought with
skillful hands AMI emblagDned with gold
en- strands and varid-coored tints shone
in the sunlight. There were constant
changing7, movement following move
ment, in file, by twos, by threes, by
fours, changing fronts wheeling, com
pany front, platoon movements. and
score of maImuvres unknown to Upton.
But they were all done and truly appre
ciated.
The parade was formed in this order I:
Sherman's Military Band q. d. Sherman lead.
er, II, NJ: Price, drum major.
Lieut.. Col. N. NJ Pufrer and STAFF.
Mai. l.. c. Grant and Staff,
Canton No. of Burlington, Capt. l.. G. Burn
ham, commanding
Canton M, 4, Bennington, Capt. F. NJ TIFFANY
commanding.
Canton No, q, Rutland Capt Louis Y. Green.
commanding.
The personnel of the line showed near.
ly one hundred swords, which was less
than half the number reasonably expect.
l..
JohnsbuTy, more than one hundred
swords, and two others on the east side
Of the mountain were either not repre
scented, or no one but staff officers CON
nectPd with Canton Bradford and Can
ton Palestine of B'attleboro, were pres
ent.
At little after Z O'Clock the Sherman
band marched down Center street, tax
II ip
House, and the first dress parade of the
canton ever held was in progress AT
the right was the Burlington contingent;
next The Bennington, and then the Rut-
land, Directly to the front and center
were grouped Lieut., Col. N. NJ. Puffer
and staff. The GeneT4lissimo of the
Army, Ex-Gov. Underwood of Kentucky
ind present Grand Sire of the |. 90
was represented by Col. Fl. L. Stillson,
A. A. g. and Lt..COl, j. II. Jones, A, S.
u. Inc line was formed under the or
ders of the different captains, and then
AdJutant Tiffany assumed command.
At parade rest the band sounded off
marching to the end of the line. counter
marching and then returning to its post.
The command was surrendered to Col.
PUffer, when the manual was executed.
]
and alter a short parade around the
Depot Park the order for dismissal was
given.
The department, as a whole made
ctedltable showing, but there IS much
room for improvement, This is the
first field day and the first general parade
the department has ever held, and for
this reason it was not expected that the
kn
ing was superior to the drilling but the
latter will improve with practice. Some
minor defects wers noticed, beginning
with the formation of the line; itrequir-
ed too much time and dressing to form
It, In the order "parsde rest" the Bur-
lington company executed it without
first coming to the order. Four of the
members of the Burlington canton wore
no uniform dress coats and the captain
Of this company failed to salute the colo.
mel when reporting, The Rutland COM
pany was very slow in executing the
movement rear open order" The Ben
DingtOn company had several members
at the carry" when the others were at
the "order." Two of the colonel's staff
wore no white gloves, having brown in,
stead; and one of the staff stood with
Dis nduuo DtHlnu 0lb DdCk. Inc uTUm
majdr wore no belt and his coat was I'M
bottoned. Besides a slowness in the
execution of the manual, these were the
most noticeable defects. 1t is safe to
say these mistakes will not occur again.
At the conclusion of the march the
parade was dismissed until evening.
The music by the Sherman Military
Band was as fine as ever was heard in
the streets Of Rutland, and in itself was
enough to render the day one long to be
remembered. A high class Of music
rendered with great smOothness and pre-
cision, excellent rhythm and time de-
scribe the work of the band, which was
in the highest degree praiseworthy and
enjoyable.
The day closed with a grand reception
at Town Hall in the evening. When
the concert began at o'clock the bal
COW was well filled with spectators,
while the guests occupied seats on the
floor, The music of Sherman's orches-
ira was as good as was ever heard in
Rutland. The orchestra played with
great artistic finish, delicscy and brilli-
sncy; and its music was an irresistible
charm to all who knew even the rudi-
ments of dancing, The promenade con-
cert presented a well selected program.