Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-01-09
CURRENT AFFAIRS.
TIE sErENrH rkRMoNr.
Wv. Benedicrs. History of the Regiment
10 be Issued separately.

VIZ. Heuedicts' History OF the Regiment
TO be issued Separately.
Announcement comes from Col VIM G..
Holbrook of New York that, by the ready
consent Of Hon q. G. Benedict 1f Burling-
ton, our state military historian, $50 copies
Of the first - pages Of the second volume
Of Mr. Benedict's "Nermont in the Civil
War, containing the history Of the Seventh
Vermont Regiment, are to he bound up in
separate volume for the benefit Of mem
bers or friends Of the Seventh who may
wish them This is to he done because the
edition Of 500 copies Of Col llolhrOoks ex-
cellent history Of the Seventh Regiment
proved inadequate to meet the demand, and
as its main portion is reproduced in Mr.
Bencdict's volume the opportunity is ia
vorsbe one to supply the lack. Col. Hol-
brook nodestly and courteously says in his
preface to the proposed volume, that he re
CARDS Mr. Benedicts narrative, coming as
it does from dsinterested and more able
writer Of greater value than his own,
aud he adds
II take this opportunity To cordially
| thank MIR. Benedict, ON behalf Of the regI-
ment for his liberal gift, and for the com
plmentary manner IN which he has sketched
ITS career, convinced, as | am, that all who
are familiar with the services performed by
the ,th will he gratiiied by the lair and
candid treatment the regiment has received
/ ut his hands.
/ We quote from this point the closing por-
| tion OF the preface in full, pay ing, a. 1t
does, a generous tribute to the excellent,
| competent, aud painstaking character Of
| MIR. Benedict's work as a whole
1t was, unfor, uuatcly, the fate of the
eth during Its entire service, to operate IN
/ fields Tar distant from Vermont, aud, ex-
cept iOr brief period shortly after its
/ departure from the state, to be isolated
| from all other Vermont regiments, and, for
/ the most part, from all other eastern troops.
hence, unlike the regiments from our state
which were brigsded together, It has a sep
arate and distinct history. Up to the time
of the appearance of my publication, there
were few, If any, Of the people in Yer
mont, who bad any knowledge, or even the
| slightest conception. Of what the ith EN-
/ dured aud trumphantly passed through, or
how patrioucally and noby 1t performed its
full duty under unusually trying and dis
| heHrtenlng circumstances IL Is therefore
particularly pleasing to me, as | have no
doubt 1t will he to all the members of that
gallant organization. to find the services OF
the regiment recorded by an historian 50
painstaklng and Just "a Mr.. Benedict has
proved hims elf To he
Personally, consider Mr. Benedict =
work one of the very best Of the many
state records of soldiers and sailors that
has vet been published No one who has
not attempted the task Of writing military
history. has the slightest conception Of the
difficulties which IA conscientious writer has
to contend with lie must he able To dis
crimnate between truth and fiction, 50 as
not to he misled 10y the highly culored
tales which some old, and mayhap worthy
cumrade will relate, AS through the mirage
Of memory, he fights hls battles Ger He
must be prepared to meet with total indii
ference ON the part of many capable OF
I giving facts but who neglgently withhold
them until it is too late aud then rise up to
decry his work for errors of omission or
commission, which, If they IN fact exist,
are due largely. If not entirely, to the pro
crastinatiuu or iuHttentIon OF these pess
mistic critics 80 far as my own knuwl
edge extends Mr. Benedict has adhered
strictly to facts Hence his history is
free from the fables aud mythical stories
which impair the value of some Of the
books written about the war To chroni
Gle the achievements Of /, distinct regi
ments of infantry, some serving apart
from others one Of cavalry. often serving
in detached parts three batteries of light
artillery, serving apart three companies
of sharpshoo,ers belonging To different
reg ments aud also serving apart besides
giving an account. unfortunately. but nee
l.rta ,f bs. its... # aat1
ors. aud Of the very distinguished and val
liable duty performed by the staff in all the
different departments " here officers serv
ing in that sphere were required-and il
included all branches of staff service
no light undertaking, and II would be
| strange II some errors and naccuracIe.
were not to be found IN n history eNten
sive and involving the career Of 50 mauN
separate organizations.
much might he added to the work, such
for instance, as giving Il more extended
record Of the staff. aud of native Vermont
llIcers aud soldiers who distinguished them
selves m other armies and fields than thos,
Of which Mr. Benedict treats There shuul,
also Ice II record of the invaluable worl
which the civil authorities accomplished II
raising. equipping and sending to the iiel,
that Incompatible body of sudiery whicl
not only enhanced the renown 80 justl
earned 10y the Green Mountain boys Of old
but ever must place Vermont among tn
foremost Of the Uuion states for the pa
triotism reliability and courage of its pee
pie
In my Judgment it is matter for con
graduation that We have so complete II hi,
tory Of the glorious part taken hv GU
soldiers and sailors in the war for the Union
The author deserves high praise for his Ia
borous and well-executed efforts His his
tory should find a prominent place in tn
libraries of all who care for the fame q
Nermonters and trust the day is not ia
= distant when a supplemental volume wi
II appear, recording, in appropriate manner
the services of those who, although No
combatants in the field, did so much t
stimulate the zeal of those who were, an
to aid them in their patriotic endeavors
r "WM. G. HuLBRook,
Late Colonel eth Vermont Veteran Vol,
New York Jan / 1891 ~