News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-10-02
Some Noted Vermonters.
COL. wHEELoCK G. vEAzEY.

COL. WHEELOCK G. YEAZEY.
Col. Wheelock G. Veazey, the sue
cessor of Gen. Alger as commander OF
the Grand Army of the Republic, is
one of the most unassuming ana
modest men of the day. A stove pipe
hat never fits him and a claw-hammer
coat is probably not among his
earthly possessions. A dozen years
ago he was virtually rendered the OIL
flee of Governor of his native State,
but declined in favor of the present
Secretary of War, who was one OF his
classmates in college.
He was among the youngest OF vol
unteers, enlisting as a private but
rose rapidlyand at Gettysburg found
himself in command of a fine regl-
ment.
Just before the memorable charge
on Pickett's Division he was convers-
inc with the late Gen. Stannard. then
brigadier, and commenting on the
havoc that division was making on
the Union lines, when Stannard said:
by the eternal, | can't stand this.
| want to charge. Colonel, we Will
take the responsibility. Rush to
YOUR regiment and lead.
To this Col. Veazey replied as fol-
lows, of which fact | have heard Gen.
Stannard speak personally: IF we
don't dislodge the devils, charge the
responsibility on me"
Stannard dispatched the orderlles
of his division, with Col. Veazey's reg
iment in the lead, charged over the
stone wall and Gen. Stannard, with
out orders, won the stars of major
general and the title of "The little
man who saved Gettysburg, " while
the new commander-of the Grand
Army-offered to assume all the lg-
nominy of defeat, if such should have
been the result His command lost
heavily and he was in the very thick
est of the fight, but escaped unharm-
ed. Col. Veazey was always at the
front when action was required, but
it is well known that he never solic-
tied a personal promotion.
HON. MATT. CARPENTER.
Matthew H. Carpenter was born in
Moretown, Washington Co., VT, not
far from the state capital, Montpelier.
His parents were very poor and Matt.
was one of the boys at large, about
the town.
A country lawsuit, one day, was
being held in rural school house and
the people were all out. Esquire Dill
ingham, afterwards member of Con-
gress, Lieut. Governor and Governor,
still living, along into the nineties,
and father of the present Governor,
was one of the leading counsel. Matt.
was there, an attentive listener. The
case in due time was given to the
Jury and it was late at night, but
Matt. fingered and Mr. Dillingham;,
noting the youth, called him up, ask
ed him several fatherly questions, and
said to close: my boy, come and live
with me and | will make a lawyer OF
you"
Mr. Dillingham; returned to his
home in Waterbury some 20 miles
distant and the next morning, on OPP
ening the front door of his house,
found young Matt. Carpenter on the
door steps, half asleep. He took him
in, fed him; for time found him use
full as a chore boy and at last took
him into his office.
In due time he married one of Gov.
Dillingham's daughters, and the rest
of his life is well known to the politi-
cal world.
Matt Carpenters life was full OF
humor if not romance. While prac-
ticing law at Milwaukee, passing
down the street one day, with his
brother-inlaw and partner. he no.
ticed lot of children marching out
of a convent, when he said:
"Well, what children are these
who supports them?"
As soon as the facts were explained
he felt for his vest pocket which con
tanned, in bills, something like SAC
and he turned about, walked to the
, door of the convent, when a sister
came to answer his call. He simply
handed her the roll OF bills and said
MADAM, use this for those children,
and walked on to his office.
On returning home for dinner, Mrs
Carpenter solicited a little money fol
some sociable purposes for her church
Matt. reached for his vest pocket
found it empty, and when he explain
ed was mildly upbraided, but in re
ply said: My dear, what's the odds
the money l hurriedly gave away
possibly thoughtlessly, will do some
body's children some good, so call il
your donation, and if your people
call for an explanation of your short
age on contributions, when the facts
are known think you will be entirely
exonerated.
Matt. Carpenter was allowed to fin
ish his dinner.
COL. GEORGE W. HOOKER.
The recent reunion of the Crane
Army recalled many interesting
events connected with the late con