The National tribune., 1892-04-21
VERMONT
FROM THE BAY STATE.
What ia Going On Among the Veterans OF Tha
Section,


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Memories Of II
years ago have been crowding in upon the las!
few days as j have been pushing along over por-
tons of the road pursued by Lee in his last cam
paign. Every moment of my four and one-half
hours ride over the once much-coveted Southside
Railroad full of interest and stirring incidents
Of the last roundup at Appomattox Courthouse
were frequently suggested. had no difficulty In
crossing The lofty piers OF the bridge at Farmvlle
whose tresties when last Eaw them were burning,
having been wantonly set on fire by the Johnnies
an they s.ubbornly wrested with the fates just
about to overtal1o them. Such an act was Ia COM
plete harmony with the iHexcusable wickedness
which made that last campaign necessary. Satur-
day, April .. stood with my con at Appomattox
Courthouse where that great military chieftain
with his shattered battalions who had followed his
fortunes under a banner with a strange device, saw
that banner trai!ed in the dust and the Stars and
Stripes waving ia triumph above them, and recall
ing what occurred that spot that historic
Sunday, received, as IT we're, a new baptism OF
patriotism and loyalty. Is most inspiring spot,
Of which may say more later, aud felt prouder
than ever Of even the humble part the writer had
IN making IL redletter event in the annals OF this
gre Republic.
The 10Th Mass battery held its annual Reunion
and dinner at Young's Hotel, Boston, on Fast Day,
April Z. The meeting the most largely at
tended Of any in its history. there being IS present
! Up 10 this date the Association has had but one
| President, Maj J. Henry Sleeper, and one Secre-
tary, Lieut.. Cbas y. Pierce. During the year Mai
Sleeper has died. yice-President William Z. Endi-
! colt presided at the meeting which elected Lieut.
/ Chas. Z. Pierce President, he having declined to
| was elected Secretary. A son OF Mai Sleeper was
present as guest Of the Association. The meeting
! was made unusually Interesting by the pTcsenta-
lion TO The members of relies from the fight al
/ Reams's Station, Va; battle in which the com
psny lost 20 men. it's guns. and all but six OF its
/ horses. The relics were forwarded for this pur-
pose by friend OF the company, now living on the
field The reading Of a letter from this friend, de-
! scrptive of the battlefield she saw IL the mex
day after the battle, developed the interesting fac
TO the veterans that Charles Mason, a swing drivel
| who SD in the top OF the head as he lay by
the side Of s horses and WAS left for dead on ths
field lived for % hours and wa. buried in family
lot three miles from the station, where the body
! still remains. He was mere boy of l6 when hs
joine The battery recruit Ia the Winter OF 81
| Speeches from Mai Milbrey Green and many
other OF the veterans present closed very success
| ful gathering.
| Ia recent General Orders Department Com
| mander Churchill announces his personal staff
the most imposiug in numbers which the Depart
! msnt has ever seen. Ia respect the Com
| mander has fairly laid himself open TO criticism
1t il ia allowing himself military titles. It,
| say that Gen. David w. WardrOp and Col. William
/ NJ. StrRcban are appointed Aids is a breach O
/ Grand Army principles which Comrade Churchill
| Is too old q campaigner 20 commit. This is ever
| worse than addressing comrades by titles of pas
rank III tie Order. Both practices are objection
able. aud should be discontinued by whomsoeve
| practccd.-B., Boston.