The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-10-24
Vermont Officers.

The thirty.frst annual meeting of the
Reunion Society of Vermont Officers was
held in Montpelier last week Wednesday.
The business meeting was held at the state
house, Major Valentine of Bennington, the
president, in the chair. The records OF the
last meeting were read by Colonel Fred e.,
Smith, the secretary, and, with the treas.
urer's report were adopted. On motion,
the offices of secretary and treasurer were
consolidated. A collection of S35 for
local expenses was taken. A committee Of
one member from each organic .tion repre-.
scented was appointed to nominate officers
for the year ensuing. After brief delibera.
ton, they reported as follows: President,
f. NJ Haynes Of Rutland; first vice presi-
dent, III. o. Wheeler of Burlington; second
vice president, H. 7. Cushman of Burling
ton; secretary and treasurer, Colonel Fred
T. Smith of Montpelier. These officers
were unanimously elected. An executive
committee consisting of @. G. Klnsman, w.
c. Landon and L. G. Kingsley was elected,
1t was voted TO hold the next reunion at
Rutland
At seven o'clock in the evening the mem
bers of this society formed in front of the
Pavilion, and, headed by the Montpelier
Military Band, marched to representatives
hall, here the anniversary exercises were
held. General w. W. Henry acted as mar
shall, and Major A. B. Valentine presided.
Prayer was offered by Chaplain E. NJ.
HAYNES Alter patrlOtlC selection by the
band, Ma or Josiah Circuit of Derby was iu-
troduced as the orator of the evening. His
theme was Lincoln in the Civil War"
going back to the early days Of the war, and
the circumstances that surrounded Abra-
ham Lincoln during the first years of his
administration, touching upon the Mason
and Slidell episode, and tracing in an in
tensely interesting manner the fortunes of
the Army of the Potomac, as it was associ
ated with and supporting the president, un-
til Mcclellan was removed from its com
mand. The speaker eulogiZ I'd Grant as the
greatest general of modern times, whose
ceaseless energy and untiring devotion has
never been surpassed in the history of any
nation. He closed by eloquently summing
up the career of Lincoln, who stood in the
time of his country's greatest peril, doing
the right things at the right time and in the
right way, admired in life, and adored and
revered in death. Long live his name and
memory. On motion of Governor Wood
bury, the thanks of the society were rendered
Major Grout for his interesting, able, and
scholarly address. and he was requested to
furnish copy of the same for publication.
About two hundred persons, including
many ladies', sat down to the banquet, which
was served at the Pavilion about nine
o'clock. To enumerate the prominent peo
pie who were there would be to mention
the names of nearly all who enjoyed the
affair, and it will not be attempted Grace
was said by Rev. E. j. Ranslow of Swanton.
Major A. B. Valentine presided at the "flow
OF soul that followed the discussion of the
elaborate menu, and first called on Col. U.
A. Woodbury. Col. Woodbury. was glad
for once that he had not been called upon to
respond for Vermont in an official capacity
and had no speech prepared for the occa-
sion. Although he had been given no SEN
timent to respond to- he appreciated these
gatherings more and more as the years go
by. He esteemed it privilege to meet
every comrade and grasp his hand. He in
vited them all to call upon him at the exec.
utive chamber.
Major Hiram Steele of Brooklyn, N. Y,
was next called upon He appreciated the
cordial greetings of his old comrades more
than he could express, and spoke feelingly
of lot of old photographs in his possession
that are full of tender memories of those
who have joined the silent majority. After
the war he located in Natchez, Miss, as a
cotton planter, and later as a practicing at
torney. He had there an opportunity to be-
come thoroughly acquainted with the peo-
Pile we once called rebels, and now call
the solid South. Although at all times a
republican, his personal relations with this
people had been very pleasant, and nc
greater mistake can be made than to think
there is the slightest spirit of disloyalty in
the South One of the greatest results OF
the war is that no one in the South would
have the result of that war reversed or
slavery re-established. The people there
may be- and are, sore over the tariff and
other things, but that is not disloyalty to the
flag.
F. w. McGettrick of st. Adams made q
bright speech in response to an invitation
TO speak for party that is scarce in Yer
mont, and Hon. II. e. Root of Bennington
responded briefly for the stay at-homes,
Captain 5. s. Leach of Fort Ethan Allen
responded for the United States army
He said that 1t is very difficult matter
to make the American soldiers, as a body
do wrong, and spoke warm words of APP
prevail of the well established system Of
militia, or citizen soldiers, in Vermont
The regular army and the militia are tC
form our fighting force il the time of wal
should ever come.
Commander c. f. Branch read a very
long and somewhat tedious manuscript in
response TO The Grand Army" and e. r
Morse of Proctor responded in a bright one
minute speech for the Sons of Veterans
IL was after midnight when Colonel
George L, Childs, editor of the st. Adams
Messenger, was called upon to speak fol
THE Adopted Sons" but those present
forgot their WEAKNESS as he most eloquently
spoke straight TO his subject for about ten
minutes.
General Mccullough was called upon to
respond for The ladies'" but had left the
hall, and Judge w. G. Veazey was the last
speaker, He referred to the unique organ
ization Of Vermont officers, and to the din,
ner rendered General Stannard at the old
Pavilion thirty-one years ago, when the Re-
union Society OF Vermont Officers wa
formed. There is nothing like thi, society
in all the worl" IL belongs TO Vermont
il Is V rmunt product, and so it always
will remain. In stirring words, Judge
Veazey eulogized General Stephen Thomas
who had just left the hall, for his action in
the legislature at the time the war broke
out, in advocating the proposition that Yer,
mont raise million dollars to help carry
on the war, and pay its soldiers 81 pei
month extra out of its treasury. On mo-
ton OF Colonel Butterfield, the secretary
was instructed to send to General Thomas
message Of love and respect from the
| society,