News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1894-08-16

to give them here We have all read or heard
OF old Gen Putnan's going into a cav" and
shooting a wolf, when the dogs would not
enter. Well, that was IA baby performance
compared with our great bear hunt, which
took place 40 years ago the ensuing winter.
Everything about il Is great. The hunt was
also on Mansfield Mountain. The bears,
three of them, we're driven into a corridor
corner on that mountain and after a fierce
fight with them there. two were driven into
one cave and one into another. The cave,
deep one, was several times entered by one of
the hunters with great difficulty, and the
bears, two Of them, were shot by him and one
by one dragged from the cave with such as
sistance as the two Others could render. They
weighed about 200 pounds each and we're
brought off Of the mountain that night, a
distance of four milpS
Alusion to the military history of Stowe
in the war of 1912 at Plattsburgh Is not
made on account of any brilliant performance
of it's men in the Geld of battle, but to show
the kind OF stuff the early settlers we're made
Other pluck aud their constant and in
domitable perseverance and endurance under
adverse circumstances and great difficulties.
When the battle of Plattsburgh took place
there we're two companies in town called
the Light Infantry" and the "Eloodwood.
Besides these there were a few men who be-
longed to a company in Washington county
called the Light Horse" The British came
into Plattsburgh on freemen's meeting day.
Cannonading was heard here the next day.
AT night news came of the condition OF
things at Plattsburgh and the adjacent
country The citizens of Stowe were al oused.
The night was dark, the rain fell in torrents
and the roads we're very muddy. No military
officers attempted to call out any man or eX-
ercise any control over them. However,
portion of all the companies and some that
belonged to no company, to the number OF
80 men, got together about midnight, and
with no rations, guns or ammunition, and
some of them poorly clothed and some scarce
ly shod at all, started for Waterbury over
a half made muddy road through the
dense woods which enclosed it nearly all the
way, with the rain descending as for a
freshetupon their half protected bodies. They
reached Waterbury at about daylight and
there found portions of companies from
Montpelier and other towns gathered on a
piece of ground in a kind Of parade, and Col.
John was making speech to them. The
Stowe men Joined the throng and by Col.
Peck's advice they proceeded to Burlington
without observing any particular order, OBJ
tanning small quantities of food in houses as
| they passed. At that time a man by the
name of Eldridge kept hotel some three
miles out of Burlington. The men asked
permission to rest their tired limbs on his
disregarding that they filed his barns and
sheds with dodgers. In the morning some of
| the Stowe men found that flock of turkies
had occupied higher position through the
night than they had.
In the morning they gathered in parade
near the college in Burlington, when Col.
| Peck made another speech, in which he signi-
| fled his purpose to cross the lake to Platts-
burgh, but declined to advise Others to go or
| n no TIA ascertain who OlEnOSpd to
| go with him he requested that the men should
| form a line and when he pronounced the
word "march," those who declined to go
should step three PAGES to the rear. More
! than one-half remained firm in their position
At this time there were at Burlington 15O
men from Stowe. Some started later in the
night than the first squad and some the next
day. The Stowe men all submitted to the
command of the Captain of the light infantry
company. They drew their rations, procured
some beef and pork and a large Kettle in
which to boil their meat, but before K was
half cooked the drum called them to the
wharf to be ready for crossing. In great
confusion they strung the half cooked meat
in bags upon their shoulders and as they
went the grease ran down their backs and
dropped on their heels. Large loaves O.
bread were carried by thrusting a stick
through them and shouldering them. AT
they went they drew their guns Friday
about sun down as many as could be taker
went aboard the open top sail boat, which
when viewed little distance from the shore
looked like sheep yard. After about two
hours sailing the boat was becalmed and be
gan to leak To make any progress the mel
were called upon by turns to bail and row al
night. About day break they reached Ketch
um's Landing in Peru, not deeming it pru
dent to go direct to Plattsburgh. Forty mel
from Stowe crossed in the boat. More cam
over Saturday and Sunday following. Tn
main battle was fought and the British de
feated on Sunday. The men from Stow
we're not engaged in action but they we're il
situations of danger and among the fiyin,
bombs and bullets. None we're killed or sc
riously wounded.
The record of Stowe in the war to pu
down the rebellion is thought to ba highl.
credtabe. All the calls of the government
for soldiers were promptly met, and at tn
close of the war Stowe had credit reckoneC
in years, and including 13 men who enlisted
for three years in the regular army, of s.
years. OF the men who went forth from
Stowe to take part in that terrible Struggle j
may be said with entire truth that no brave
men ever faced the perils of war. Their valo
fully sustained the glorious reputation o
the Green Mountain Boys One OF Stowe
boys who enlisted at the age of Is and servet
nearly four years, carried the colors of hi
+ regiment and at the battle of Petersburg
placed them on the enemy's breastworks. Ii
recognition of which and his unfinching dis
charge of duty he was promoted to a frs
lieutenantcy. This is bnt single instance
An examination of the very able and com
pete report and record of Hon. Robt. Savag
included in the history of Stowe will shoV
that it is almost invidious to single out an,
particular Stowe soldier. | am happ.
to assure the people of Stowe that provision
has been made for rescuiDg the story of thes
noble lives from times obivious obscuratio
+ and to perpetuate their name and fame t
the latest posterity.
had contemplated few words on tn
natural advantages of Stowe as a residence
+ but am reminded that have already take
time that belongs to others, and abrupt
withdraw.
(Other Addresses, &C., on Pages and u