The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-12-19
Daughters of American Revolution
Echoes.

THE FIRST SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE.
The members almost all came to Mont
pelier on horseback. The outside farmers
took tn sir horses and kept them durin the
session. Everybody who had spare room
took boarders. The farmers wives rented
their feather-b beds and bedding for 50 50 for
the session. The clearinghouse keepers
and members kept side 'boards which were
plentifully supplied with wines and liquors.
story is told of one whose family
took "sessi oners " to board. One day he
came home quite disguised with drink.
To the horror of his wife and children, he
entered the parlor where his session
boarders" were sitting, and delivered him
self OF the following remarks: This legis-
lature is pack of - fools! [ don't see
what such a stupid, lousy set were sent here
for. They don't know enough all together
to make lawl" He was soon hustled out
of the room and put to bed. The next
morning he vas told by his outraged
family that he must apologize. He came
down stairs, entered The room, and ex-
what he had said the day before. All
seemed pacified and expressed their salts
faction with his explanaio Getting up
to go, as he was closing the door, he thrust
his head back into the room and said: "It's
very unfortunate; but when I'm drunk, I'm
id apt to speak the TRUTH
NO BLocKHEADs FOR MISSIONARIES.
During religious revi yal in Montpelier,
a charity scholarship was started for the
education of young men as missionaries to
the Indians. Three great, overgrown, awk-
ward youths from Waitsfield were so i'm
pressed during the revival that they offered
thems ,lves as missionaries Accordingly
they were boarded round" Will, they
were in training, until they became great
burden to the community. One day old
Deacon - said, as the question OF where
the candidates should be sent was being dis
cussed, 81 have heard that the Indians say
wen repent and turn Christians If they
won't send those blockheads to preach to
usP"
RECoLLECrIoNs OF THE BATTLE OF PLATTs-
BURGH.
The whole countryside was greatly ex-
cited by the British attack on Plattsburgh.
Governor Chittenden ordered out the mill
tia az far north as Waterbury. The Mont
pelier militia were not called on. The gov
ernor was opposed to the troops leaving the
state. The Federalists were opposed to the
war, and Vermonters were mostly Federal
lists. A company of volunteers was raised,
however, in Montpelier, when the news
came that the British were at Plattsburgh.
A drummer and fiter went through the
streets beating up volunteers. The proces-
sion started from the old Pavilion, making
great din and lhurrahing. Nearly 100
recruits fell in They organized by APP
was on Friday. Saturday morning the com
pany left for Pittsburgh in wagons. Vol
unteers and stragglers Hooked into town
from Danville and other places. A guam
tity of arms was stored in the old Davis
barn " back of the Pavilion, under charge
of United States corporal and guard Of
ten sol Tiers.
For several days before the " alarm the
authorities had impressed every team and
wagon in the village and loaded them with
| - fAl m
coming into the village was Immediately
loaded and sent. The teams and soldiers
reached Burlington on Saturday night
Almost every able bodied man went. Ihere
was great Anxiety aud distress In the VII
lage 1t took whole day for news to come
from Burl ngton. Every one supposed that
the Montpelier vol lnteers would be In the
light. As 1t turned out, they did not reach
Plsttsburgh in time to be engaged J. The
battle began on Sunday morning Inc peo-
pie assembled in church, as usual, but the
sound of the cannon soon dispersed the
congregation. Almost all the villagers went
to the top of Langdon HILL" where the
cannon could be more distinctly heard. All
supposed that the Mont pelier company was
in the battle. The greatest excitement
prevailed. The news OF the result reached
Montpelier Monday noon. The Burlington
stage came in, flying a white flag with the
word " VIoToRYl" Upon this, the whole
village beg An to " celebrate"
few from Montpelier, who went be fore
the company did, participated in the battle:
Thomas Reed, Jr., Ell jah Tyler, and per-
haps others.
The stage was greeted with cheers, as 1t
brought the first intelligence from the seat
of war, and when we learned that the Brit
ish had reiterated the JOY and exultai on
were unbounded.
The Montpelier company came back in
squads on Monday, Tuesday and Wednes-
day The villagers stayed on the hill during
| n Al.
weeping and praying for those who were
supposed to be engaged in the battle.
THE above recollections are compiled
from paper read at recent meeting Of
the ID. A. r. ANTIQUE.