The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-10-24
SOLDIERS BUDGET.
Eighth Vermont Regiment.

The annual campfire and banquet OF the
Eighth Vermont Regiment Association was
held at the Montpelier House, last week
Tuesday evening AT nine o'clock the old
heroes, the famous command of ''Vermonts
grand old man." General Thomas, filed into
the attractive dining room, where flags and
bunting covered the walls Toastmaster
Fred K. Smith called the convention to or
der, and with them a goOdly number OF
wives, mothers, daughters and sisters OF
these brave blue. coated heroes. Prayer
was offered by the chaplain. The happy
company then commenced the pleasant
duty of partaking of the excellent menu
prepared by Landlord Sparrow. Among
the prominent people seen at the tables
were General Thomas, Colonel Fred e.
Smith, Elk Governor j. l.. Barstow, Quar-
termaster General W. II. II. Gilmore, De-
partment Commander G. f. Branch, Cap
tain Fl. e, Foster, Captain Moses McFar-
land, Secretary 9. NJ. Ferrin, Colonel j. II.
Goulding Colonel II. e. Taylor The Gu
tire number of covers laid was siXLy-niue.
AT the conclusion of the banquet Colonel
Smith raped the assembly to order. He
said: 4" | extend to all of you hearty wei
come. am glad, comrades, to see you all
still so loyal to the old days Governor
Woodbury. came in at this time, and was
given loud burst Of applause. Kingsbury
Foster, son of the gallant Captain Foster,
member of Governor g. S. Page Camp, Sons
of Veterans at Barre, gave au excellent war
recitation. Chaplain f. Nj. Haynes OF Rut-
land said: The Eighth were the gallant
Vermont boys. They won the respect OF the
people of Vermont and should always be
remembered by Vermonters."
Department Commander Branch then
spoke for the Grand Army, giving short
history of the organization. The next
speaker was Colonel George n, Carpenter
OF Boston, who, in his humorous style, read
paper on few unpublished facts con-
corning several comrades of the Eighth.
The hits were received with many shouts of
laughter from the gay company. A letter
of regret was then read from W. II II. Hol.
ton Of New York. Captain s. e. Howard
of Boston said: 81 am glad to be with you.
did not intend to say anything tonight,
and shall not be responsible for what say.
He then gave few pleasant anecdotes, pay
ing his best respects to Poet Carpenter. Dr.
Leisure of Keene, n H., gave his experience
with the Eighth Vermont
Governor Woodbury. then said " Very
glad to be here | have enjoyed the history
and wit. | do not suppose you care about
hearing of Vermont. You all know it. /
do not like the word Excelency, and COM
missions signed by me Will be minus that
word. | once drilled Co. A of the Eighth.
If it was better drilled than other com
panies, you can credit it to me. III it was
poorer drilled, it was due to the officer who
succeeded me-" The governor closed with
a tribute to General Thomas. Lieutenant
Governor Mansur expressed how pleased
he was to greet the Eighth or any other
Vermont soldiers. He told of the fierce con-
fict of Cedar Creek, where he was wounded
He could only say that the Eighth was as
good as any regiment from Vermont. The
state sent her best fighters. Colonel John
CurTier of North Troy, an honorary mem
Der of the association, was the next speaker.
A telegram was read from Captain Dutton,
who is in Florida.
Amid laundering cheers, General Thomas
was Introduced. He said: a." l am glad that
i am here to express my gratitude for the
brave deeds of the Eighth and all the boys
in blue, both east and west. | want these
reunions kept up when ] am gone. May we
go on, and let us declare that liberty shall
never depart from Vermont. Comrades
have a love of country next to that of your
God. | AIN glad to see the mothers here.
They will teach loyalty to their sons and
daughters 1t IL worth living forever to
meet with such gathering as this. There
were good men from every state on the
field OF battle; but, God bless the grand old
Vermont Brigade. The laurels we won be.
long not 70 us, but TO Vermont. If l could
speak like Woodbury. and Mansur, l would
do So l am glad Vermont honors her old
soldiers. No other state ever had so many
veterans for governors. l would rather
have the sword of Cedar Creek than the
gold of the millionaire. Now, conn AIDES, do
not grow lukewarm in these reunions.
bid you Godspeed and farewell"