Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-02-01
THE CAMPFIRE.
Wednesday Evenings Feast Of
Reason and Flow of Soul,
which the Veterans Declared to Be the
Best Ever Held By the Eucampment.


Best Ever Held by the Encnmpment.
The armory. where Wednesday even
ing's campfire was held, was elaboratelv
and appropriately trimmed the decora-
tiOns used for the military ball having
been left to do service on this occasion.
The north end of the hall had been fitted
with a wide platform, and here were seated
large company, including the speakers
Of the evening, visiting members of the
state department and of the WOmans Re.
lief corps, and citizens of the town Hav-
ing a prominent place on the stage, and
occupied by the chairman of the evening.
Col G.. w. Hooker, was the chair made of
the fence rails from the Gettysburg field,
presented to the local post by eX-Gov. l..
X. Fuller. The balcony above the stage
was occupied by the First Regiment band,
whose excellent music was much appre-
ciated by the audience. which filled the
floor and galleries and crowded every foot
of room.
Promptly at 1880 Col. Hooker called the
audience to order and briefly extended to
the visitors the cordial welcome which the
presence of so large an audience made it
unnecessary to put into words. Then,
with an appreciatve reference to the work
which Gov. Frederick Holbrook did for
the country as well as the state. in he
troubled days when the war was in prog
ress, he introduced the venerable war gov
ernor, one of only two who are now left in
the country. He was greeted with hearty
applause as he came forward and with dig
nifty and remarkable vigor spoke at some
length. After expressing his satisfaction
at once more meeting the veterans of Yer
mont, whom he has always regarded in
a sense his "boys,n he went on to allude
to some of his recollectiOns of President
Lincoln and to the correspondence be
tween himself and the President. 1t was,
he supposed through letter of his to the
President, after the drawn battle of Antie-
tam, that the first suggestion came of
call for 300. 600 threeyear volunteers, fol-
lowed soon by another call and he had prom
ised for Vermont that she would furnish
her quota of the forces. These two calls
were effective in closing the war. An esti-
mate of Lincoln noble and great charac-
ter and qualities was given in clear, defin-
lite Language, and In conclusion he took
pleasure in certifying to the valor of Yer
mont men on every field and in every stu
alton, which justified their noble origin
and proved that the race of "Green Mount
an hbN Has llUl NN-t'lltl dLttl.
Gov Woodbury. was the next speaker
introduced, and Col. Hooker bespoke for
him such reception as was due to "the
one-armed governor of Vermont" which
was heartily accorded. The governor re-
terred to the memories be had of Brattle-
bor6, of his coming back here from the
war poor boy, with but one arm. and
when some question arose later about ac-
ceptng the reen.istment Of one-armed
man, GOV. Holbrook had si!enced object
ors and accepted him. GOV. Woodbury.
pronounced this an extraordinary occasion,
remarking with surprise upon the size of
the audience, which had gathered to show
their interest in the men VINO had saved
their country in the hour of peril. Yer.
mont troops served with bravery equal to
that of any state. and in no other state
has this bravery been recognized by giving
places of honor to the soldier as in Yer
mont, there having been no time since the
days of Gov. Proctor when this element of
the people had not been represented among
the highest officials of the state. This
was attributed to the true motive, the graf
itude of the people for the service render
ed.
Department Commander Branch of
duced, gave an eloquent, polished address,
touching upon the historic recollections
suggested by Brattleboro, and tender mem
cries revived OF the war days. There is
something uneXplainable, he said, in this
great body, grand in organization, in pur-
pose and in achievement, and he expressed
great pride in an organization which had
given to the country a Lincoln and a
Grant, and TO the state Stannard and
Holbrook. The men who put down the
Rebellion are nothing if not loyal to them
the old flag is priceless among them pat
riotism is stronger than party. The veter-
ans were urged TO increase their devotion
to the order, and to keep in touch with
each other, for courage, comfort and peace.
AT this point the band rendered "A day in
camp which was well received by the
audience, and al its close Gen. Lawler of
Illinois, national communicating chief, was
happy introduced 10 the first encampment
which he has attended since his election to
that position.
Commander-in-Chi-f LAWYERS Address.
Gen. Lawler was given a rousing round
of applause as he came forward. He de-
clared himself very glad to meet the Yer
mont encampment for two reasons: First,
at the time of his election the Vermont
delegation had given him its solid vote
and second, he was glad to come To this
cradle of liberty and breathe the air of pa
triotism, and TO listen to the man who
stood by the side of that emancipator of
the world Lincoln. The somewhat boast
fui stories of the men who were the bone
and sinew of the forces which went out to
fight fol Old Glory and the saving of the
country, are eXcusable. They are the out
come OF a love to get together and live over
the days of that stormy period, and all that
was then accomplished is appreciated CRATE
fully by the loyal people of a great country.
pleasant feature of the Vermont organi-
zation, in the speaker mind, was the fact
that men who grew up as neighbors and
friends, and Went out together to the front,
came back again after the great struggle
was over TO live side by side, and to meet
in these encampment meetings with diff
ferent feeling than exists in many other
states, where departments include men of
so many different states and regiments
The great army, formed of picked men,
the most stalwart of the land, though I'M
tried, soon became the best the world had
ever seen, under leaders equal TO any pro
duced in ancient or modern times And
after the struggle was over while all Eu-
rope looked eXpectantly and wondeIinglv
on, the vast armies disbanded and returned
to peaceful pursuits, under the old form of
government, and, because they had given
themselves to their country in troublous
times, were better citizens than ever be-
fore in time of peace. Soldiers have been
honored with every position in the GIFT of
the people, from President down. The
suggestion of an approaching change i'm the
highest office in the land and the probable
ity OF seeing an Old soldier there again soon.
brought on tremendous applause Gen.