The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-05-22

In our issue of April 30th, we gave in
full General Orders, No. 22,n issued by
the Commander-in-C Chief of the G. A. r.
TO this order in its four parts the
reader is referred while reading that of
Custer Post, No. ~, which we print in
full below. 1t will be seen that especial
pains have been taken this year to reply
to the question: what mean We by this
service?" After reverent recognition
of the care of Divine Providence which
turned the scale of battles on the Union
side, the veterans purpose to ask the
children's cooperation as well as the
adults, to suitably observe this ami
versary.
The fast thinning ranks of the veter-
ans can do no better service now than to
emphasize the facts of history, the priu-
ciples for which they fought and for
which so many died. Memorial Day
presents the opportunity to give most
Instructive object lesson to the rising
generation who sadly need the knowl-
edge. To our children the war for the
Union is Just as real as that of the Revo-
lutiOn-no more, and scarcely as much,
because of the mugwumping of our
school histories. When writer in a
leading magazine deliberately says that
the rebel prisoners North were as badly
treated as the Union soldiers were in the
rebel prison pens of the South, it is
high time that the truth was told, so
that our children may not be misled by
such total perversiOn of the facts.
And memorial day orators should eX-
plain the real circumstances that rebel
prisoners were treated more like sum
mer boarders than liKe prisoners, in
| prant destination from tha ctoryntinn nd
death which faced the Union soldier
who was prisoner South; that when
the exchange was made the South re-
ceived back its soldiers hale and hearty,
while it delivered a remnant of living
skeletons rather than men of stature.
Those of us who saw this thing with our
own eyes cannot but let our indignation
rise at the emasculatiOn of history
which is taught to our children as the
story of the rebellion. Therefore, we
BAY let the children participate in the
exercises and let the orators use terms
BETTING these perversion of facts. The
terms confederate" for rebel, and
''civil strife" for rebellion may be used
by those VINO prefer them, but follow
ing the revolution, a tory" was called
tory. The Post issues the following:
| HEADQUARTERS G. A. CUSTER
PosT, No. AZ, G. A. r.
BENNINGTON, May 20, 1891.
Post Orders No. 3.
| |. CoNIRADEs-1n compliance with
the General Order No. %, you will as
semble OH the above named day in your
Post at o'clock, a. M, for the purpose
of honoring our brave and beloved dead,
and with sOldierly tenderness and love
garland their graves with beautiful flow
ers-let us recall their sutferings, their
heroism on the battlefield, that their SUI
preme fidelity in the prison pen, may in
spire and strengthen amongst ourselves
the bonds of fraternity and more gen
erOus charity for our comrades, who are
sick and in distress, and the destitute
wards of our grand army. Let us re-
new our pledge of manhood and loyalty
to each other, our country, that the flag
under which they fought, and from the
shadow of whose folds they have been
promoted to the grand army above,
may never be dishonored; that the coun-
try for whose union and supremacy they
surrendered life may have the fervent
and enthusiastic devotion of every loyal
and patriotic citizen.
III. Custer Post No. AZ, G. A. r., Wo-
mans Relief Corps, Camp Ray Sons of
/ Veterans, will attend memorial services
by invitation from the Rev. A. S. Gill
bert, pastor of the Baptist church in
North Bennington, on Sunday, May oath
at 2:30 p. M; leaving Bennington on
cars at 2:15 D. IN. Comrades will appear
in uniform as far as practicable. Camp
! Ray, s. o. ", will act as escort.
III. The following comrades are here
by detailed to confer and act with SUI
Z n,.,,Nn.I,,,fo nF ,.,,l,l,a aala.1n g.
mote patriotism, etc:
Bennington Graded school, Professor
Davis-Past Post Chaplain VIM. L. Muir
ply. North Bennington Graded school,
3 Prof. Dressel-Comrade III. Il. Cushman.
st. Francis de Sales, Rev. FIR. Michaud-
Past Captain A. j. Griffin, Camp Ray.
Henry and Bennington Falls schools
Past Commander A. j. NOyes.
I Nv. Decoration of graves will be OBJ
served and performed in cemeteries by
the following named comrades, who are
hereby appointed TO act as superintend-
ents, assisted by comrades and citizens:
Bennington Center cemetery-G. A.
Custer Post with band, at 9 o'clock a. m.
Full attendance. WoOdfOrd City Gene
tery-Comrade Cutler. South Shafts
bury-JuniOr Vice Commander A. A.
( Collins. Chapel cemetery - Comrade
Bowles. Towsley cemetery - Comrade
Spafford. Kinsley emetery-Comrade
Merritt Rudd. Mapletown cemetery
Comrade NJ. V. b. Armstrong. Sol
diers' HOme-Past Commander A. NJ.
Downs. Hinsdillville cemetery - Past
Commanders Noyes, Puffcr, and Q. NJ.
S. Allen.
/ V. At rs o'clock p. M, Custer Post
G.. A. r., invited organizations and
other guests and citizens generally, will
form on Union street, right resting on
South, in the following
ORDER OF PROCESSION.
Chief Marshal and Assistant Marshals, Ito be AN
pointed later)
Bennington Citizens Cornet Band.
Camp Ray, 3. U. ". Capt. MAurer, commanding
Custer Post. q. A. X, Jas. b. McNamar, com.
mandngi
Bennington Rifles, Capt. Fillmore, commanding,
/ WomansR lief Corps. Miss Ann Day. Com
mandinR,
Bennington Fire Depaitm Chief Tiffany
commanding
President Of the Day, 4. D. Yelling, ESQ.
Ora or, Comra1e A. z. Childs
Olergymen and invited guests Selectmen Presi.
dent of the Village and Veterans In Car
ruges.
! At the close Of memorial services the
procession will reform and proceed to
Free Library Hall, where the Grafton
will take place, after which the process
| sion will reform aud move to the de-