News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-06-19
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs hut to do and die -


When these exchanges had been actually
made, the novelty was gone and the heroism
had become very common. Nothing but pat
riotism could fill the ranks with men effective
for service.
There were few conscripts in the Vermont
Regiments. The total number of soldiers
from this State was 30 .242, which is more
than one-tenth of the total population of the
state, and more than half the able bodied
men between the ages of Is and 40 years.
Vermont has the record of having the small
est per cent of able bodied men of age to bear
arms, but she sent 1900 more men to the seat
of war than was her quota. If you take into
the account the native Nermonters who as
volunteers i'll other states bore a noble part
in the war, you make a record that is not
equalled by any state in the Union, of equal
population.
But after all it is not so much how many as
how well. The real question at issue is how
did the soldiers of the Green Mountain State
acquit themselves under arms? Were they
valiant or cowardly? Were they worthy the
noble fathers of the Revolution? Whether we
consider them from the stand point of moral
character, orderly conduct, dress parade in
camp, doing fatigue duty, on the march, or
on the battle field the boys of Vermont, could
always be trusted. Along every line of duty
they rendered efficient service From Big
Bethel to Appomatox the soldiers of Vermont
of whom you formed II part always displayed
that loyalty to the old flag, that love for the
country which made you often the pride of
the nation.
At Bull Run the soldiers of the North and
South first met in strong force upon the bat
tle-fied. Here by reintorcements on the part
of the enemy, an apparent victory was
changed to disastrous defeat. In this bat
tie the first Vermont soldier fell, and the same
shell that took his life relieved Lieutenant
Governor Woodbury. of his arm. In the
bloody fray of Lees Mills little later, the
soldiers of Vermont bore the principal part
Few battles in which small number were
engaged ever suffered SO sorey In this bat
tie fell young William Scott, who had been
court-martialed and sentenced to be shot for
sleeping at his post, where he had volunteered
to take the place of a sick comrade The
matter was brought to the ears of the Presi-
dent and he was pardoned, and the pardon
taken by the Presidents own hand to insure
its reaching him in time. He fell where the
dead were lying thickest, and his dying pray
err was for the President who had given him a
chance to prove that he was no coward
At Williamsburgh the soldiers of Vermont
proved themselves generous, as they had
fore been brave. Not called into action they
nursed the wounded rebels dried their clothes
and covered them with their own blankets.
In the advance toward Richmond, by McClel-
Ian, n large share of fatigue duty fell to our
soldiers, which they cheerfully bore, sharing
with the Test the fatigues and pains of war
In theseven days battles of this campaign the
one known as Golding's Farm was the first in
which the Vermont troops were engaged.
Here they did good service as supports of
Gen Hancock.
Had Mcclellan then massed his forces and
marched on to Richmond apparentlyit might
have been taken. Instead of this he was
planning a retreat the order for which was
given that very night.
Bonfires were made of the new tents receiv-
ed "A few days before and all camp equipments
which could not be carried back. Vast guam