Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1895-05-03

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mud.
The fourth month of the wear, com
monty known as April. is peculiarly sug
gestiye Of memories of the late War q
the Rebellion. On the 18th day of April
1851, flash from n mortar battery Ia
Gated on the south side of Charleston
harbor. followed an instant after by {
bombshell, announced the opening of tn,
bombardment OF Fort Sumpter, aud or
April 9th lo65, four years thereafter, tn,
Confederate army under General Lee wa.
Internationally SURRENDERED Ia General
Grant, April, 1ilS6l. President Lincoln
drafted the first call for troops: April
| 1, 1868, the shot was fired which stilled
the beatings of that great heart forever
April 10Th 1861, the 9th Mass, hurrying
To the relici OF the Capitol, WAS murder.
ously attacked while passing through
Baltimore, and on the same date the
militia companies forming the First Regi,
ment Vermont Volunteer Infantry were
selected. April -, 1861, the first enlist
ments from Brighton are recorded, eleven
men having Joined Co., d., Bird Vermont
of which company but four OF the origi-
nal members were present at the final
muster oft in 1865, among the number
being George ". Curricr, now a select
man of Brighton who was a participant
in all the battles in which the old
Vermont Brigade bore so honorable a
part. April 10th 1862, Orlando l.. Stew
ems, a brother of Calvin L. Stevens of this
town, was killed i'll action at Lees Mills,
Va, his being the first death while engage
ing the enemy from among the volunteers
from Brighton, SO far as can learn from
the records. In reviewing so much of the
foregoing article as relates to the civil
war am forcibly reminded of the fight
OF time, The tremendous excitement
which followed the firing on Fort Stump
ter, an excitement which for the time dis
solved political differences and cemcntcd
the convictions of the people of the North
into practically unanimous determine
ton to uphold and maintain the Union;
the succeeding war meetings on which
occasions strong men wept because of
the insult to the flag of their country;
the organization of companies and regi-
ments and the enrolment therein of
friends and schOolmates; the departure
tor the front and then-then the terrible
awakening as the silent form of one who
but few short weeks before had left the
Green Hills of his native State in obedi-
encc to the call of duty was borne to its
last resting place, are but as yesterday
that is past in my memory, though the
dial OF time has recorded with an accu-
racy indisputable that 4 third OF 4 cen
tnry has elapsed since we learned that
war means not only quick and instant
death but that incurable wounds and
wake, which is part of the price de
manded that this government of the
people should not perish from the earth"
1t was President Garfield who said
that he always felt like taking off his ha,
to every boy he met because of the posi-
billties that might be in him. This re.
mark applies with greater force to the
United States than to any other country.
and as an American to the manor born
believe that not alone the boys but also
the girls should be taught that tIle posi-
bilities now ~,irrln their reach have been
secured at vast expenditure of treasure
and life, and also limb as the empty
sleeve OF many a veteran ahuudantly tes-
tihes. There can be no discount on
patriotism without q corresponding de.
teFioration i'll the qualities of loyal citi.
zenShlp, in default of which there will be
a cessation OF national life.