The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-10-07
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.

This county has never had that office
and we learn that Mr.. II. r. Cushman of
North Bennington, is, to be candidate
for it before the present Legislature.
What may be the plans of others we are.
not advised, but we do know that
General Gilmore, the present efficient in
cumbent, has held the Office long time,
and we think it probable that the claims
of Bennington county to the place will
carry weight inasmuch as no citizen of
it has ever held the office. This is all
the more possible as Mr.. Cushman's.
record in the Union army is recalled.
He was in the Quartermaster-G Generals
department during nearly the entire war
as Quartermaster Sergeant, then as
Regimental Quartermaster, and at times
acting Brigade Quartermaster. A man
who run The Quartermaster's department
of a regiment through the campaigns of
the Army of the Potomac successfully,
ought, certainly, to be competent to do
the work of the Office in times of peace,
In this connection it gives us pleasure
to quote personal letter from Mai. Cen.
Grant, now assistant Secretary of War;
and commander of the old Vermont
Brigade, written to a gentleman of this
town, upon this subject. Gen. Grant.
says:
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 18th, 1892.
M Dear COlonel:-I did hope, while
in Vermont recently, to spend day or
two in Bennington and see you and other
friends there, but my stay in the good
old State was unexpectedly cut short,
and returned here about five days
earlier than had calculated upon.
was glad to learn that our friend and
your townsman. Henry T. Cushman, is
spoken of for Quartermaster-G General of
the State. He would make good one.
l don't know who else is spoken of for
the place-there are many good men
but don't believe you can find better
man for the position in the State, or one
more worthy and deserving He was
quite young man during the War, but
he made an excellent Quartermaster.
He was not only an excellent Quarter
master, but he was a brave and gallant
soldier. | shall never forget, when the
terrible Battle of the Wilderness left the
Old Brigade with but one staff officer,
how Lieut.. Cushman, and two other
Quartermasters, volunteered to serve
during the emergency. 1t was gallant
act ofsitself; and Lieut.. Cushman not
only volunteered, but he performed gal
liant and conspicuous service all through
the battles that Immediately followed
the Wilderness, including the "Bloody
Angle" 1t would do many veterans lots
of good to see the State of Vermont rec
ognize his ability and afficient services.
1 hope to see you at the National En-
campment in September. TheIe will be
a reunion of the old Sixth Corps, which
of course will include all of the Divisions
and Brigades of the organizations.
Truly yours,
l.. A. GRANT.
Lieut.. A. ]. Robbins was one of the
Quartermasters spoken of. Robbins
was wounded in the first engagement
and retired from the field, while Mr..
Cushman remained through the seige
and until Grant recruited his staff from
the Eleventh Vermont which joined the
Brigade. Mr.. Robbins, because of his.
wound, has received medal of honor
from the War department. Would it
not be proper thing for Vermont to
recognize Mr.. Cushman's service by
giving him the place of Quartermaster-
General? We think sO-hence this
;ola md ithaca suUOastiOnS