The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1891-06-05
MEMORIAL DAY EXERCISES.
Continued from the LIST Page.)

MEMORIAL DAY EXERCISES.
Continued from the LIST Page.)
In the second year of the war, Moseb
made n raid into Fairfax court house an
carried of a general officer, who unwisel
preferred to make his headquarters at th
village rather than with his brigade while
was encamped at the rail road station thre
miles away. 1t was the habit OF Presiden
Lincoln, while he was carrying this grea
nation on his heart, to rise very early an
throwing on his long dressing gown, goin
into the telegraph office In the executive
mansion to hear the news. One morning.th
attired, he approached the operator and II
his fatherly way inquired, wei; my son
what Is the news this morning. II an
sorry to say, Mr.. President" replied the oper
ator. "that It is bad.'' "Well, what Is t!'
said the president. "Moseby, sir, made ,
raid into Fairfax court house last night anc
captured Gen. S. and 80 muies.' Mr.
Lincoln took pen from the table ana pre-
tending to write upon his hand, said, my
son, with this pen l can make brigadier
general In five minutes; but l am mighty
sorry for those mules"
Grant was soldier born. His career IN the
Mexican war exhibited those qualities OF
self.reliance and dash which made him the
leading figure Of the great rebellion. HIS
progress e unexampled in history While
others delayed aud held councils Of war. be
acted upon his own responsibility and con.
quered success. When the country was de-
pressed by frequent disaster In the east, he
revived the dropping spirits by brilliant VIC,
tories IN the west. While others planned and
pondered. he executed. In the hour of VIC
tory he was as magnanimous to the van
ouished as he was relentless in battle. The
one, unseIfish purpose which he kept steadily
In view, the restoration OF the Union accom-.
plished, he began forthwith the rebuilding OF
the shattered south; The parole wnicn ne ne
! respect, and when it was proposed to d1sre'
gard the terms of the surrender which ne
dictated, he threatened to resign his office OF
general of the army. The nation Wnl.n
trusted him, sustained him In this critical
period He lived to see the whole ia ns at
the south mingled its tears with those of the
north at his tomb. He fought for principle
and not for aggrandlZement. The nation
founded by Washington and saved by Lin.
coin. was GENE nteo and made perpetual by |
Grant.
err treated with most atfectionate touch. His
was an exceptionally versatile and brilliant
character. A soldier by education he weared |
of the inactivity of soldiers life In time OF
peace, and resigned. Then In turn he became
a banker, lawyer, merchant, instructor
and executive officer all In the brief space OF
about ten years. Then the war cloud burst,
and he was almost alone In grasping at once
and prophecving the eGormity of the contest.
He had been much In the south. He knew
the temper and determination OF the people.
He knew that when their hot blood was
aroused no ordinary defeat or disaster would
serve 10 cool 1t. He went on to Washington
to impress these views on the administration
W hich couldn't seem to realize their import
ance. He accompanied his brother John.Just
then appointed senator, to see President Lin
colin whom he met for the first time, and he
tells how the senator said to the president
hat his brother had just come from Louisl-
ana and could tell him of the condition OF
.hings there. "Ah!' said Mr.. Lincoln, show
ire they getting along down there" Sher-
nan said, They think they are getting along
'wimmingly-theya are preparing for war"
sOh. well,' replied Mr.. Lincoln, Il guess we
will manage to keep house"
Sherman was amazed at the apathy and
went back to st. Louis mad. He was still
angry when the president called out 10000
roops for three months. He said TO me on |
me occasion, firmly believe that we sacri- ,
iced 200, 900 lives and as many millions of
money In learning the art of war. A j the '
lime his heart was burning with zeal and t
waiting bis opportunity which soon came '
n his appointment as colonel of the Thir. G
eenth Regular Infantry. {
But 1t Is not my purpose now to rehearse k
lis military career with which you are for v
he most part familiar. Fertile In resources, +
III energy, III Q
~ and unflinching in purpose, he led his men =
who adored him, to repeated victory, until at o
asst he pierced the empty shell OF the confed- n
racy and showed how futile was further re- d
stance to the veteran legions, Injured to t
very hardship, skilled in hundred engage .
neAts, patriotic to the very core and fnvfnci. G
he In q word, the finest army the world Il
yer saw. Warm hearted and generous, his II
st official act as general OF the army was TO RI
ltfcipate his compulsory retirement by two n,
ears in order that Sheridan. who bad not hi
e promise of long life, might the earlier w
made Commander-in Chief. His trip m
ound the world where unlimited honors be
ere heaped upon him, Is fresh In our I'm
amories-and the incessant and overwhelm- so
.entions bestowed upon him in his own
I'D are complete refutati0n OF the III,
horism that Republics are ungrateful. tio
Lat me come now to the period, when hav- an
: received the highest hOnOrs and reaped an
the rewards of war, he began really to en- or
life, to enter more fully into its rational A.
assures. And 1t was during this time that IN.
act him and learned TO love him for his to
his unbounded generosity, and Ain
superabundance of the milk of human toj
ldness which make him perhaps more Co.
rm personal friends than any public man ori
his day. regard 1t as one of the greatest we w.
vileges of my life that l have been favored nro
h his close friendship. He was the most a. a.
Bresting conversatonalist have ever met ma
his fund of "reminiscences was seemingly 90
X0auStlDle. VI course L nave met MIN at tho
ny army reunions, and one Of my annual be.
les as secretary of the society of the army fail
he Potomac was to secure his attendance.
lall never forget the address he made at . 60
of our meetings In Philadel phia on June Co..
f the centennial year. The meeting was aU
/ In the Academy of Music and the body th hi,
he house, which had been reserved, was ma,
ked with veterans. The stage was deco. Ere
ID after the style of camp, with canvas
Is, stacked muskets, several three Inch b
"a cannons with which the boys fish
become familiar besides cannon he /
5 and other muniments OF war. II
uped In front were a number of dis. pag
ingushed officers who had lea these boys Mar
ne front through storms OF ieaden nall and lead
aiming shell to final victory. There were Ora
eral Winfield Scott Hancock, whom Nc The
Ian had fjtly suinamed the superb, who the
sided; the venerable General John A Dix, line
orator of the occasion whose eplgram. Yves
ic order to the commander ofthe Revenue Kind
ter will Re remembered as long as pa. sum
tism Is honored; General Sheridan, the beers
shall Ney of the Union Army; General had
ker, who repudiated the sObriquet of inpl,
yhting joe" as he said he much preferred of Ii
,e to war; General Hartranft. then gov. form
,r of Pennsylvania, Center b Mcintosh the
left a good leg at Winchester, all of zeall
m ''have since crossed over the river and tiOn
under the shadow or the Trees" besides near
eral Henry w Slocum. whom sherman grea
AIRED was bis most efncient lieutenant only
eral John Z Robinson OF the First Corps; And
erals W W Averill of the Cavalry, Geo iay