Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-10-20
OUR OLD AND NEW COMMANDERS.
The Military Records of Cen. william L.
Greenlenf and Col. Julius j. E,tsy.


the retiring commander of the Vermont
National Guard has been connected with
| the military forces of the State for nearly
| q years, and has served in every position
| from private to brigade commander. He
! first enlisted in June 1861, in a company
| forming for the 2nd regiment OF Vermont
| voluntocrs but as more men were offered
for the regiment than were required to com
| pete it's organization, the company was not
accepted. When Hn additional squadron
was authorized for the LIST regiment OF cav
! airy Inc was one Of the first to enlist, and on
August II, 1862 was detailed as recruiting
officer for Go. l.. of the new squadron.
While the company was rendezvoused ct
st. Adams awaiting muster-iu, ne was
made an acting corporal and detailed to
drill recruits. At the completion Of the
company organization he was appointed
second sergeant, and was mustered into the
United States service as such, Sept. 80,
1862.
While engaged with his company in charg-
Ing confederate battery at Hngerstown,
Md. in July, 1868, he received three
severe wounds, aud having his horse shot
under him, was left within the rebel lines
and reported as among the killed. He
managed, however, to conceal himself, and
the enemy retiring during the night, he was
left between the lines and made his way
back TO Hagerstown the next day, and was
sent to the cavalry corps hospital.
Recovering from his wounds he returned
to duty with his regiment, and was pro
NOTED first sergeant March /, 1861 On
May 8, 1864, during the wilderness cam
paign, be was commissioned second lieuten-
ant. A few days later owing to the dis
ability and detail Of other officers, he was
placed in command of his company, and
continued TO serve in that position until
June % 1854, when he was again severely
wounded ut Nottoway Court House, Va,
during q cavalry raid, and fell into the
hands of the enemy on the 29th, when the
command having become surrounded by the
enemy, was obliged tosabandon its artillery
and wounded, and cut its way out as best
it could
After being confined in prison hospitals in
Petersburg and Richmond be was exchanged
in November, 1864 and sent to the Baxter
General hospital, now better known as the
home for Destitute Children, in this city.
February 8. 1866, lie was commissioned rs
first lieutenant. and before fully recovering
from his wounds rejoined his regiment at
Nottoway Court House few days after
Lees surrender. The regiment being or
dered 10 North Carolina to join Gen. Sher-
man, and his wound having rsopened from
the exertion of riding, he was sent to the
Seminary hospital in Georgetown, d. c.,
from which he was honorably discharged
"for physical disoblly from wounds received
in action, " June -, 1863.
In March, 1863, he recruited Company +,
First Regiment Vermont Militia, and on
the goth was elected and commissioned as
its captain. He served in that capacity
until August 4, 1871, when he was elected
major OF the regiment. The militia force
of the State having been reduced to one
regiment by the law Of 1872, it became nee
ssary to elect field oliicors for the regiment
thus organized, and on April 10, 1873, he
was unanimously elected major of the pres
ent First Regiment Vermont National
Guard. On the removal from the State of
Lieut.. Col. Davis, he was selected for that
position, and was commissioned lieutenant
colonel February 10, 1870.
On the appointment OF Col T, S. Peck to
the position OF adjutant and inspectorgen-
eral he was elected commander of the regi-
ment, his commission such dating from
June II, 1881. In November, 1886, he was
elected brigadior general and commander OF
the Vermont National Guard, and was sue
cessively reelected without opposition by
the Legislatures OF 1855 and 1890 Having
declined to again be a candidate his com
mission and term of service will expire on
November 30
During his long period Gen. Greenleaf
has given earnest attention to the duties de-
voiVing upon him US an officer, and has at
tended every encampment and officers
school since 1869 He commanded the ex-
petition sent to quell the disturbance MT the
Ely mine in july 1888, and was also in
command Of the Vermont troops at tie
Washington centennial parade in Now York
April 30 1889. Ito was the chief marshal
at the dedication Of the Bennington battle
monument last year, receiving much praise
for the manner in which the details OF the
parade and the handling Of the column we're
carried out. Gen. Greeneaf has been Il
careful, dillgent and efficient commander,
and he will carry with him in his retirement
the good wishes of the members Of the VA
tioual Guard and all with whom ho has
come in contact.
Colonel Julius j. Estey, who is generally
cancelled to be General Greenieafs proper
successor, and who will no doubt be unaui-
mou5y elected Is such, has also been for a
long time in the military service Of the
State He was cadet at Norwich Univor-
siy from September, 1861, TO January.
1863, and was elected and commissioned
second lieutenant in the 10Th Regiment of
Vermont militia, December 30, 1864, re-
signing tue Office just prior to the reorgani-
zat.on OF the force in tho following year
He again entered the service az captain of
the E7tey Guard Company |, First Regi-
mcnt Y. y. g. and was commissioned
May 80, 1874. Under his energetic man
agement the company at once took high
rank for efficiency and discipline, and, with
fl,a R..r,.