Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-20
BENNINGTON'S DAY.
THE BATTLE MONUMENT DEDICATED
WITH DUE POMP.
The President Present-The Orator Hon.
r. j. Phelps--Everything Lovely
A History Of the Monument.
[By telegraph TO the Dispatch.l

(By telegraph TO the Dispatch.l
BENNINGTON, vT., August 19.-The appre-
tensions of rain entertained last night |
proved groundloss and Bennington's great |
day dawned clear and beautiful, and at an |
early hour all was hustle and stir with the |
arrival OF many thousands of visitors to |
join the thousands already here. martial
music. marching bodies. and hurry OF
preparations for the parade. 1t seemed as
though the surrounding country for miles
had emptied its entire population into the
historic town. The decorations. so elaDo- |
rate and beautiful. were spared the ex- |
pected dampening and were the adrnira- |
tion and wonder OF every rural eye.
THE PRESIDENT.
Colonel w. Seward Webb. accompanied |
by mounted Grsnd-Army post, escorted
President Harrison from General McCui- |
lough's house to the Soldiers Home. where
Governor Page and all the living ex-Gov-
ernors of the State were waiting to greet
him. The President alighted from his
carriage and was escorted into the house,
where be remained short time while he
was introduced TO the distinguished
guests. He then resumed his place in the
carriage. which. with other vehicles, took
their places in line.
THE PROCESSION.
At Q o'clock the guns of Alters battery
doomed the signal for the formation OF the
divisions. The column. except carriages,
formed on the parade-ground and, as usual,
was slow in getting INTO position, so tnat
it was 1890 O'clock before the procession
moved. with the Putnam Phalanx OF Hart
ford in the position of honor a. escort 10
Tho DractHapt in, tha md with n score
of carriages following containing distln-
guished guests.
The camp-grounds, where the Soldiers
Home is situated and where the Vernon
National Guard has been in camp for
several days. was filed with people when
the procession moved. The President
doffed his hat in salute TO every manifes-
tation of applause, and to keep the nerce
rays of the sun from his head Colonel
Webb held an umbrella over him.
The procession. as it passed through the
streets to the monument-grounds. was
viewed By thousands of people, the Presl-
dent and many features of the pageant re-
ceiving generous applause.
THE PRESIDENTIAL REVIEW.
The column moved through North,
Gage. Stafford. and Main streets to the re-
viewing-stand. Here q short halt was
made. The column then passed in review
before President Harrison. The latter re-
ceived many flattering greetings from the
marching columns and acknowledged
them by bowling. The procession con-
tnued its march through Main street and
Monument avenue TO the massive ana
lofty p4llar Here the first division, except
the batteries, were massed on the west side
of the monument, the second and third
divisions except carriages on the east
side. The batteries then took positions
and fired a national salute of twenty-one
guns. Meantime the President and party.
the orator of the day, Hon. Edward j.
Phelps, Governor Page, and other dlstin-
guished speakers and guests. with the re-
representatives. of the press tabout forty peo-
pie in alb had taken their positions on the
piatform at the base OF the monument.
Around and about the open spaces were
black with the multitudes gathered from
many States to witness the ceremony OF
the dedication.
AT TIE MONUMENT.
When all were III their places and quiet
had been secured Hon. WheelOck G. Nea-
Zey, ex-commander-in-chi OF the Grand
Army of the Republic, arose. advanced to
the front of the platform, and addressed
the vast cOncourse. Rev. Charles Park
hurt. ID. d.. of Boston, editor OF Z,on' s
Herald, then offered prayer, the assembled
| thousands assuming n reverent attitude du-
ring the delivery. At the conclusion of the
PRAYER. Governor c. $. Page was intro
| duced and delivered an address OF well
come. The Governors remarks were hanG-
| sOmelv applauded and Ex-Governor B. +.
| Prescott. of New Hampshire, president of
| the Benningtou-Battle Monument Asso-
| citation. was received with enthusiasm as
| he stepped forward to transfer the monu-
ment. the result of the associations many
wears Of effort. TO the care and keeping OF
the State. Governor Page accepted the
noble Offering in a brief speech.
THE ORATOR OF THE DAY.
Music followed. and the president of the
day. General VeaZey, came forward lead
inc the distinguished scholar, diplomat,
and orator. Hon. Edward j. Phelps. A
roar of applause greeted their appearance,
| and when the last murmur had died away
| Mr.. Phelps delivered the grafton OF the
| day.
appreciatiye manner. and applause greeted
| the finish as the beginning, which was re-
pewed with increased intensity when
President Harrison was introduced ana
! smoke of his qualification at being present.
| Ii was late in the afternoon when the Presi-
dent finished and the literary exercises
were brought 10 close with music and
| the benedlction.
A BANQUET
The divisions then reformed. with the
| carriages of each division in its rear, and
marched through Monument avenue, Main
| and North streets TO Camp Vermont, where
| the troops and other organizations were
| dismissed The escorts and carriages pro-
| ceeded ID large tent near the Soldiers
| Home. where the banquet was served,
over 5000 people sitting down to the
table.
night with great display OF fireworks.
| HISTORY OF THE MONUMENT.
| To-day's celebration is the elimination
| of long series OF events covering GEN.
| tury. August 10th. the anniversary OF the
| battle of Bennington, IL 10 the people OF
Southern Vermont what the Fourth otJuly
is to the country at large. For nearly hity
| wears there has been more or less prepara-
tion for the building of suitable monu-
| ment. The first organized effort was IN 1898
| The Legislature of Vermont IN that year ap.
propriated -, 900. with the condition that
The cornerstone of the proposed memorial
be laid on August 10th following, and that
the sum of 81 600 be raised by private SUD-
scriptIon. While these conditions were not
fulfilled and the appropriation lapsed. the
| agitation cOulllucu. III io'c- ~ e.A~ 49,
nington Historical Society, and subse'
ouently the Bennington Battle-Monu'
meat Association were organized-the
latter chartered by the State OF Yer
mont. with an appropriation OF Sl5.
0O0. conditioned on the raising OF 5000
more. The celebration of 1877 followed
These incidents and the subsequent actor
by the States of New Hampshire and Mas
sachusetts and the national Government
caused the erection of a noble shaft on thu
site of the Continental storehouse, the oo
iectiye point Of Colonel Baum's expedition
in I777. The cost of the monument ant
Site has been, in round numbers. SlOO, 600
Massachusetts contributed $4,000. New
Hampshire 1880. the Federal Govern
ment $40 900, and Vermont $4,000, and
supplemental appropriation for the site
The balance has been raised by priyat'
subscriptions.
THE MONUMENT ITSELF.
The monument stands on commandin!
site 2s3 feet above the Wallomsac river
This river flows through the village OF Ben
nineton. The foundation OF the monu
ment is the solid rock Of the mountain OF
the top of which was situated the Ben
nington of the Revolution. The structur
il an obelisk, built Of native stone, AM
faced with Sandy-Hill dolomite. Tn