The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-10-23
"reminiscences Of Olden Time.
BY AN OLD FARMER.


visiting Vermont The Vermont legis-
lature of 1924 directed Governor Van
Ness to give him a special invitation to
come this way. General Lafayette, in
his reply, stated that he had no inten-
ton of quitting the country without Wis
ting Vermont; that he had long had
desire to meet the good people of Yer
mont. His speeches all through the
state showed that he deeply sympa-
thized with Vermont In her early strug-
gle for freedom and good government.
General Lafayette and party entered
Vermont at Windsor early on the morn
ing of June 2S, 1926. He was expected
at Windsor on the 9th, and great prepa-
ration was made to receive him; but he
YVES behind time day. The writer,
although lad of six or seven summers,
we'll remembers how disappointed the
men were when they returned on the
night of the 9th without seeing their
beloved general; but the crowd re-
manned in Windsor over night, and all
hands rallied on the morning of the
2Sth. The general and suite crossed
the Cornish bridge at an early hour,
and he was welcomed, in behalf of the
people of Windsor, by Horace Everett
and then introduced to Governor Van
Ness, who welcomed him to the state
in a very able and eloquent address.
1t was in the generals reply that he
complimented the Green Mountain
Boys as being the first to proclaim, on
the ramparts of British fortress, the
authority of Continental Congress.
1t was a gala time for Windsor;
but Lafayette's stay was short. At
Woodstock he was addressed by Titus
Hutchinson, at Royalton by Jacob Col
lamer, and, tradition says, at East Ran
dolph by the Rev. Wilbur Fisk. To all
of these speeches Lafayette made APP
propriate replies.
l.. the evening of the same day, La
fayette addressed the people of Mont
pelier, in reply to the welcoming speech
of Judge Paine of Wllliamstown. Those
were the days of Morgan horses. A
Waitsfeld man told the writer that he
walked to Montpelier, remained all day,
heard Lafayette speak in the evening,
and walked back to Waitsfield the same
night. That man gave three sons to
the Union cause in the Civil War. Two
of them never returned and the third
of the next day Lafayette met the la
dies of Montpelier at the Brick church,
where he was addressed by the gifted
Mrs. Watrous. 1 have that address and
Lafayette's attempted reply before me.
The general, after thanking the ladies
for their greeting and giving them his
best wishes for their happiness through
life, said, "Mrs. Watrous, l have no
language to express the emotions
feel" After giving the ladies cordial
address, he took his departure for Bur
liDgton.
General Lafayette spent over year
in this country and passed through
many thrilling scenes, but 1 know of
but three instances on record when he
lost his composure and was overcome
by his emotions. One was on meeting
the ladies of Montpelier at the Brick
church, another at the tomb Of Wash
ington, and lastly when he babe Pres
ident Adams adieu on the eve of his
departure for France. 1t is recorded
that these dear friends embraced each
other and wept like women.
| saw an extract from a Carolina
newspaper not long ago, which repre-
sented Lafayette as being poor
speaker, asserting that he often spoke
English in so broken a manner that he
could not be understood. Now, l do
not believe one word of this. | have
always believed that he was an elo.
quent speaker, with perfect command
of the English language. He visited
all parts Of the country, was addressed
by the best orators of the nation, and
his replies were all finished produc-
tions and appropriate to the occasion
when they were uttered.
General Lafayette visited in Burling-
tan on June 20. Extensive prepare
tons had been made to receive him,
and his arrival was announced by the
booming Of cannon on land and water.
The troops were marshaled with full
ranks, and banquet was given him al
the residence of Governor Van Ness
Lafayette visited all the institutions OF
learning and laid the cornerstone of the
South college. He finally departed fol
Whitehall on board the steamer
Phoenix" with all the honors of war
When General Lafayette YVES al
Montpelier, ne learned that an old com
panion-in-arms was imprisoned for debt
in the county Jail at Danville, where he
had been incarcerated for nearly four
teen years. After General Lafayette
had shipped on board the Brandy
wine " for France, he sent draft tt
General Fletcher of Lyndon to pay the
debt for which his old comrade was
held in durance, and the prisoner was
set free. 1t appears that this prisoner
was General Barton of Providence, r
l., who was the owner Of wild lands il
Vermont, which he sold to actual set
tiers. General Barton's title to these
lands not proving good, the actua
settlers were dispossessed of thei
farms with the improvements thereon
1t was alleged that General Barton re
fused to refund the money he had re
ceived for these lands when he ha,
the means; but General Lafayette coul,
not endure the thought that an old sol
der was 10 distress and not extend /