St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1891-09-10
THIRD VERMONT.

Wednesday afternoon and evening
and about 60 members were present.
A business meeting was held first at
D. M, with President Skinner in the
chair These officers were elected for
the ensuing year: President, Daniel
Skinner of Barton Landing; vice
president, J. E. Elbridge of Warren;
secretary and treasurer, Samuel E.
Pingree of Hartford; executive COM
mittee, Carlton Felch, St. Johnsbury,
chairman; c. H. Woodbury., Con-
cord; and T. J. Hastings, West
Glover.
The matter of choosing a place
for next years meeting brought out
quite protracted debate. Some
thought they were overtaxing ST,
Johnsbury's hospitality in meeting
here year after year, and proposed
that it be held at Montpelier next
time One member from that town
said that only four comrades of the
Sd Regiment lived near Montpelier,
so that place was abandoned. Ma
jor N. P. Bowman, as commander of
| Chamberlin Post, extended hearty
invitation for them to meet here
again next year, seconded by Mar
shall NJ Montgomery, member of the
Third Regiment, and it was finally ac-
cepted, President Skinner saying that
the meetings at White River juno
ton and Newport while very en-
! joyable occasions were not we'll at
tended because neither town is cen
trally located. He favored St. Johns
bury and was glad that the COM
rades were of the same opinion. The
hat was then passed and over SO
was raised to defray expenses for the
coming year
1t was then moved that vote of
thanks be extended to Chamberlin
Post and St. Johnsbury people in
general for their genuine hospitality
on this and past occasions. Col.
Pingree, in speaking of this matter,
said that St. Johnsbury was really
the home of the Third Regiment, for
it was from this place that our boys
took the cars 80 years ago for Rebel
dom. Sec'y Proctor told me that no
where on the Presidents trip through
Vermont did he receive such a royal,
genuine, heartfelt welcome as in ST.
Johnsbury."
The meeting then adjourned until
7:3O p. m, and the intervening time
was spent in story telling.
The evening session began at 7.3O.
President Skinner called the house
to order and introduced the speaker
of the evening, Col. John S. Tupper,
editor of the Brandon Union, who
gave short character sketch of Gen.
Grant He was, he said, born of
humble parents, in school he was a
dull scholar; he graduated from
West Point at the foot of his class
and was given the lowest position.
In the Mexican war he won consider
able distinction for bravery and was
advanced from time to time. With
him war was a business and he de-
voted all his energy and tenacity in
carrying it on. In civil life he was
unsuccessful and want often stared
him in the face. He was too gener-
Gus and cared too little for money to
win his way in a commercial life.
When the civil war broke out he
was at first recuiting officer for Illi-
nois He afterwards went out as
Captain Grant and within three
years he was at the head of all the
armies of the United States, and
within II years he had twice been
president and had sat before the
kings and queens of nearly every ma
ton, the most popular and admired
man in the world. Something be-
sides luck brought him all this honor.
1t was the combina tion of many rare
qualities. He had foresight; he
never planned and lost, though some
of his victories were dearly bought.
He counted every cost beforehand
and gave his adversary credit for be-
ing as wary as himself. He was
cool, collected, persevering, and his
Judgment was good. He was mod
est to a fault
When a victory was gained his dis
patch read Gen Blank took such
a place." though all knew Grant
had planned the entire assault. He
rarely used the personal pronoun
81" He was charitable, ready to