Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-08-19

The Stars and Stripes FIutter from
Every House-Genernl stark's Victory
Proudly Celebrated-Grand Day for the
Plucky Little Green Mountain State.
BENNINGTON, VT. Aug. 19.-If the lit
tie band of farmers who marched out Of
Bennington one day in August, 1777, to
meet the vanguard of Gen. Burgoyne's
army could come back in their shirt
sleeves and cowhide boots to join the
brilliant parade that moved this morn
in g toward the monument erected on the
scene of their heroism the contrast would
be startling.
What would be the emotions of old
John Stark, the brave leader of the
heroic ckwoodsmen, who gave the
famous order Calm at their waistcoats
boys" if he could look upon the rotund
figures of the Putnam Phalanx of Hart t.
ford and the Old Guard of New York;
What would he think of the soldierly
bearing of the West Point cadets? What
would he say of the Grand Army, the
Knights of Pythias, the Patriarchs Mill
tant and the Sons of the RevolutionP
Would the old General go into the
fight again with the army gathered here
to-day and put Burgoyne's to flight, or
would he ask for the farmers, armed
with their f1intlock muskets, and say to
them: There they are boys. We beat
them to-day or Molly Stark's widow ?"
Day to be Remembered.
The celebration in this city to-day
marks a double event in the history Of
the Green Mountain State-commemor-
ating it's admission into the Union, just
100 years ago, and the unwilling of the
monument in honor of Stark's famous
victory over the British forces under Col.
Baum in 1777.
This achievements, like the battle of
Bunker Hill, acquired celebrity because
it dealt death blow to a dangerous mil
itary movement at critical juncture.
Stark, With an inferior force, COM
pletely routed the English troops, cap
tured their cannon and seven hundred
prisoners, and by his success added to
the triumphs which made possible the
independence of the colonies from Brit
ish rule.
The monument is plain shaft of
magnetism limestone. 1t is Al feet
square at the base, and is 30I feet and
10 inches in height. The total cost of
the shuft was 800, 900, of which the fed
eral government contributed 100000.
There were fully 80, 900 people in town
to see to-day's proceedings.
The Great Parade.
The procession was very imposing.
The procession formed on the grounds Of
the Soldiers Home. At 9:30 n. m. a gun
from Fuller's Battery was fired as the
signal for the start. The column march
ed through North street to Gage, Gage
to Stafford, Stafford to Main, down Main
street, passing under the grand arch
near the Putnam House When the head
of the column reached Dewey street a
halt was made to enable the President
and party to take their positions in the
reviewing stand. The column then
| passed in review.
At the Monument.
The literary exercises at the monu-
ment were as follows: Introductory re-
marks by the president of the day,
Judge \ Wheelock G. Veazey, United
| States Interstate Commerce Commits
| sioner; prayer, the Rev. Charles Park
| hurst, editor of Zion's Herald, Boston;
| address of welcome, Gov. Carroll S. Page
of Vermont; address and formal transfer
of the monument to the State of Yer
| mont by ex-Gov. B. F. Prescott of New
Hampshire, president of the association
| acceptance on behalf of the State by
Gov. Page; music; centennial Grafton by
Edward j. Phelps, ex-Minister to Eng
land; remarks by President H IT rison;
music; benediction.
The Banquet.
At the conclusion of exercises at the
| monument the banquet took place on the
| Soldiers Home grounds. The post-pran-
| dial exercises followed, with responses
to toasts by President Harrison, mem
| bers of the Cabinet, the Governors of the
| different States and other distinguished
| guests.
The States invited guests number full
| ly 700, including President Harrison
| Vice President Morton, members of the
| Cabinet, ex-Speaker Reed, the Governors
| of all the Sta tes and distinguished sons
of Vermont residing in other States and
| those residing at home.