The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-05-09
THE CENTENNIAL.


auguration of George Washington as
president of the United Stated at New
York on April 80, 1889. As in the strug-
gle for independence the Green Noun
tain Boys" of 1775-89 won impeTishable
fame, so did their descendants in the
centennial commemoration of the crown
ing events of the revolutionary period
win proud distinction for the part
taken bv them on this occasion.
The Green Mountain State, through
her patriotic sons, has ever been among
the first to respond to any call for men
and money in the time of war or in the
reign of peace. At the centennial celC-
bration of the Concord Fight" at Con-
cord, Mass, in 1875, at the celebration
of the centennial of American independ-
ence at Philadelphia in 1876; at the cele-
bration of the one-hundredth. anniver-
sary of the battle of Bennington in 1877,
at the Yorktown celebration in 1882 and
at the celebration in New York of Evac-
uation Day in 1882, Vermont was credit
able represented by her civil officers
and military forces as she was in the
contest for Freedom and Unity" in
colonial days.
In December, 1888, the attention of
His Excellency Governor William P,
Dillingham; was directed through COM
munications received from committees
in New York having the matter in charge
to the proposed centennial celebration
of the Inauguration of George Washing
ton as president of the United States to
be held in that city in April. Letters
were subsequently received from the
New York centennial committee invit-
ing the governor and staff and militia to
be present at the celebration and partic
ipate in the exercises and parades incl
dent thereto.
These invitations could not be accept.
ed.at once on behalf of the State by the
governor as the Legislature had made
no appropriations for sending the nation
al guard to the inauguration centennial.
In this contingency Governor Dilling-
ham appointed Adjutant-General T. S,
Peck of Burlington, and Hon. Levi X,
Fuller of Brattleboro, commissioners to
go to New York to attend conference
held by the committee on the plan and
scope of the celebration. The report
made by these commissioners on their
return home was of character that in
duced Gov, Dillingham; TO decide in
favor of representation of the national
guard of the State at the centennial.
Pursuant to a request made by the New
York centennial committee, and in ac-
cordance with what seemed to him to
be advisable, Governor Dillingham; ap
pointed State commission to represent
Vermont and provide for the attendance
of the national guard at the celebration,
The work and results of that Comm 80 on.
also the names are well known to our
readers, The programme which had
been prepared for the use Of the Yer
monters, lies before us. On the first
page were printed the dates 1775 and
1889 on either side of the Vermont seal
and below were the words, Green Noun
tain Boys, Washington celebration,
April 29-May l, Headquarters Fifth
avenue Hotel. On the second page ap-
peared the official programme Of the
celebration, The third page contained
the followin roster:
His Excellency, Gov. W. p. Dillingham;.
His Honor, Lieut., Gov U. A. Woodbury..
STATE COMMISSIONERS.
Ex.Gov. j. Gregory Smith.
Gen, John g. Mccullough.
Col. Levi X. Fuller.
Gen. Theodore S. Peck
Gen. Perley p. Pitkin.
Col. Franklin Fairbanks.
Gen. Levi G. Kingsley.
Col Bradley B. Smslley.
Gen, William II. Gilmore, treasurer,
Col. Charles S, Forbes, secretary.
GOVERNORS STAFF.
Brigadier General T. S. Peck, adjutant and in
spector general.
Brigadier General W. II. Gilmore, quartermas-
ter general
Brigader General Henry James, surgeon gen.
eral.
Brigadier General F. E. Alfred, judge advocate
general.
Colonel W. Seward Webb, inspector of rifle
practice.
Col. H. f. Taylor, A. D. c.
Col. M. o. Perkins, A. D. c.
Col. Charles s. Forbes. A. d.
Col. E. d. Bennett. A. D. C,
Col. 7, d, Butterfeld. A. d. c.
Col. Il. ]. Kimball, A. d. G.
Col l.. e. Leavens, A. d. &,
Col. George o. Tyler. A. D. e.
Col. W. A. CrOmbie, A. D.. C.
Capt. j, II, II. Garfield.
The fourth page had reproduction
of the statue of Eathen Allen with up
lifted right arm, beneath which are in
scribed those famous words: "In the
name of the Great Jehovah and the Con.
tinental Congress- The programme
was handsomely gotten up and will
make a pretty souvenir of the great cele
bration and the part taken by Vermont.
n
The entire trip was great success,
not only from military point of view,
but also from the pleasures and enjoy
ment attending it. The Vermont troops
took good care Of themselves they
brought their own rations, plenty of
good coffee being furnished them by
Quartermaster General Gilmore on the
steamer, they had plenty Of food, plenty
OF room, and plenty of time, and enjoy
ed the trip. This cannot be said Of all
the troops which went to York. Many
relied upon the provisions tend Tered by
the entertainment committee, and wei e
short of rations. This could not be other.
wise, for with such an immense crowd
Of people, in addition to the troops, and
the short time in which to do things, it
is no wonder that the men suffered.
But from the start Vermont started to
take care of herself, and did 80. Gen.
Gilmore was indefatigable in his efforts
to provide for the comfort of the men,
and was ably seconded by Col. William
Smith, brigade quartermaster, Lieut..
Charles r. Fuller, Regimental Q. NJ.
Lieut.. Skinner, Q. NJ. of the 1st battal
ion, and Lieut.. Thomas Harmon, Q. NJ.
of the light battery. The truth is, the
Vermont troops are commanded by Off
GERS who look after their men, This is
another point that cannot be said of all
the troops present in New York. Many
men were left to take care of themselves
as best they could, while their officers
were enjoying the festivities and pleas
ures OF the city. Great credit is due
Gen. w. L, Greenleaf commanding bri-
gade, Col. julius j. Estey commanding
LIST regiment, Lieut.. Col. G. G. KlnsmaD,
Major George H. Bond, LIST regiment,
also Major Joel G. Moulton command.
ing LIST separate battalion, and Col, Levi
X. Fuller commanding light battery, for
the untiring and persistent attention
given to drills and all matters of detail
in preparing the men of the several Or
CARNATIONS for this campaign, and what
is said of the above can be said Of all
other commissioned and non-commis-
stoned officers and privates Of the bril-
gade. There was no complaining, no
SHRINKING Of duty, but one and all did
their best for the honor and reputation
of their corps, State and county, and
the high praise bestowed upon them is
the reward Of many weeks Of self denial
and strict attention to military duty.
While the people OF Vermont must ever
be under obligation to the gentlemen
who have paid their money that the
State might be 80 well represented at
the centennial, too much credit cannot
be given the officers and men themsel-
yes for the original arrangement of this
expedition.
NORWICH UNIVERSITY.
The alumni association will meet at