The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-03-18
Seventh Vermont Reunion.

The third reunion of the Seventh
Vermont regiment was held at Rutland
on last week Tuesday afternoon and
evening. The first reunion was held
in Rutland in 1879, and the second in
Burlington in 1888. There were over
hundred comrades present on Tues
day, and the reunion was voted the best
the regiment had held. AT two o'clock
the regiment, i'll command of Colonel
William G.. Holbrook of New York, was
photographed by Comrade G. w. Mich
OILS as the men stood in group on the
steps of Memorial hall. Company d,
known as the Rutland company, with
onlytwenty-twO survivors, was next pho
tographed. The regiment, headed by
drum corps of od-timers, then
marched to Baxter Hall, where the
business meeting was held. The Off
GERS elected were: President, William
G. Holbrook of New York; vice-presi-
dents, Colonel ID. B. Peck of Cleveland,
Ohio, Colonel H. M. Porter of New
York, Lieutenant Colonel E. n. Bull
lard of Swanton, Captain William Gro
nan of Rutland, Captain John l..
Moseley of Mortified, Captain Henry
Stowell of Troy; secretary, w. II.
Ward of St. Johnsbury. A committee
of six was appointed TO select the place
and make arrangements for the next
reunion, which it was voted to hold two
years hence.
In the evening a campfire was held
at Baxter hall. Colonel Holbrook pre-
sided, and referred to the departure of
the regiment from Rutland twenty-nine
years ago. He said he did not think
there was regiment which did any
better service than the Seventh Yer
mont. After singing "Tenting on the
Old Camp Ground" letters of regret
were read from Frederick Holbrook of
Brattleboro, Governor Page of Hyde
Park, Secretary-of-war Proctor, Com
mander-in-chief Veazey, who said that
nothing but imperative official business
prevented him from attending, General
l.. A. Grant, Senators Edmunds and
Morrill,, Ex-Governor Pingree, Hon. w.
w. Grout, General Il. S. Peck, Colonel
Estey, Colonel Fuller, Major Valentine,
Ex-Governor Smith and others. Cap
tain w. H. Ward read paper on the
service of the regiment, in which he
said: 1.-THE history of the Seventh is,
perhaps, the least known of any Yer
mont regiment. Its entire service was
in the department of the gulf. 1t was
our lot to serve with other troops than
those from our own state. In the expe-
dition against Mobile, the Seventh was
the only New England regiment. At
first some of the western troops called
us tenderfeet,' but they soon dropped
such expressions, and by doing our
duty squarely and promptly wherever
we were placed, we won their respect
and friendship. Taken from the ex-
IRENE north to the extreme south, the
strong, hardy constitutions developed
by the braCing climate of our Green
Mountain homes enabled us TO endure
the climate of the scenes of our service.
We did not participate in as many bat
ties as other Vermont regiments, yet
we had deadlier foe to face, one whose
poisons pierced our very vitals. The
air we breathed and the water we used
for cooking and drinking purposes were
laden with poison and death, and re-
quired just as much courage TO face as
the bullets and shells of an armed foe.
The Seventh regiment was mustered
into the United States service at the
fair ground at this place February II,
1862, numbering OLA officers and men.
Twenty-nine years ago to-day we folded
our tents, packed and slung our KNAPP
sacks and marched to the depot and on
board cars bound for New York, where
we embarked on two sailing vessels,
the right wing on the ship Premier, the
left on the Tamerlane, with sealed or
ders to proceed to sea. Both vessels
were towed down to Sandy Hook to
wait better weather. When we did
start the two vessels parted company,
and we did not see each other again til
we reached Ship island, which proved
to be our destination" The speaker
dwelt upon the monotony of the stay at
Ship island, and reviewed the work of
the regiment in the Vicksburg cam
paign, in which Colonel Roberts was
MORALLY wounded. He referred to the
trouble with General Butler, which re-
suited in the vindication of the Seventh
from the charges made against it, and
reviewed the history of the regiment in
Mississippi aud Pensacola. Captain
Henry Stowell read paper giving the