Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-03-29
OUR YOUNGEST SOLDIERS
Surprised All With Their Pro-
ficiency in Drill
The Work q r the 40 Girls was Feature
About s2OO Cleared for the Battalion.


lied in October under the auspices of the
Young Mems Christian association, made
its first public appearance at the armory
Wednesday night in an exhibition drill.
The armory was filled with the friends Ct
the young soldiers, whose proficiency in
the manual and the various evolutions
was warmly applauded.
After music by the First Regiment band
the volunteer company of young ladies en-
tered the hall, followed by the battalion. At
the close of the opening march, the 'ca-
dets' (boys under 12). in their uniforms
of blue blouses and white trousers, came
swinging up the hall, looking very proud
and happy as they were greeted with
rounds of applause. Major F. W. Childs
was in command and put the lads through
the setting up exercises, after which part
of the manual and various movements
were given. The cadet officers are: Cap
tain, Percy Crowell; lst lieut.. Harold
Adams; ID lieut., Frank Pratt; LIST sergt.,
Lyndon Chase
Company 3 next took the floor under
the command of Lieutenant Haigh of the
Estey Guard. This company's work in
cluded more of the setting up exercises,
manual and evolutions than that of the ca
diets and received many expressions OF APP
| Captain. George A. Childs: lst lieut.. Geo.
| Adams; I'd lieut., Louis Allen 1st sergt.,
! Arthur Hough
A volunteer company of young ladies
| from the High school, commanded by Col.
| Bond, next showed what young women can
| do in the way of military drill. They were
| dressed IN white with broad red sashes and
! red carnations Like their brothers they
went through the setting up exercise,
/ which was followed by various military
! movements. as well as some fancy drilling,
| Their marching was remarkably good. the
| distances and alignment being almost per-
feet
After a song by the Georgemalin quartet,
eight picked men from the Estey Guard
Sergts. Putnam. Curtin, Hopkinson, Field
and Greasy, Corps Worden and Henkel
| and Private Davis, by Cap
tain Estey, gave a short drill including the
| bayonet exercise, which was given with a re-
treshing life and snap.
Company A. the veterans of the battalion,
commanded by Lieut.. Halgh was the last
company to drill The ground covered by
them included more of the school Of the
\ company than either of the other divisions.
! Their drilling was a credit both TO their
| instructors and to themselves The Off
| Waterman: lst lieut.. r. II. Morey: "a
lieut., 7. Adams; 1st sergt., II. Hotchkiss.
a song by Capt. George Childs which
received a hearty encore, was followed by
| guard mount. The guard consisted of four
details from Company a under command
/ of Sergts. Wilcox, Fisher, Baker and F.
Adams. Capt J. Gray Estey acted as the
old officer of the day, Capt Waterman as
the new officer of the day, Lieut.. Haieh as
adjutant, Lieut. Morey As officer of the
guard, Lieut.. 7. Adams as supernumerary
officer of the guard, and Sergt. Curtin as
sergeant major. After this ceremony was
concluded. several pickets were posted. and
their challenges were an entertaining fea-
ture, Harry Wales's post 1, IL O'Clock,
and alrs well,' bringing down the house
The grand review followed, the young
women commanded by Col. Bond, having
the right of line. The reviewing party
consisted OF eX-Gov. Holbrook, ex-Goy.
Fuller, Gen Webster, Coils. Austine. Han
non, Hooker, Taylor and Miles, Major
Bush, Principal Beverage, Revs. c. O..
Day, A. j. Hough Z. S. Morse and Mrs.
Cobb, president of the Daughters of the
American Revolution. n. F. Cabot. Mrs
L. X. Fuller, Mrs. j. j. Estey, Mrs G. W.
Hooker and Mrs. Frank Fisk also had
seats with the reviewing party.
After the battalion had passed in review
they We're drawn up in line and eX-Gov.
Holbrook addressed them. His remarks,
which are given in full, were especially ap-
propriate, coming from one so well fitted to
speak on such an occasion.
EH-GOv. HOIbrOok's Remarks.
Young Iadies:-How can one fnd suitable
words To express our delight IN observing the
Spectacle you have presented TO us 10 night: The
grace and beauty of movement, its regularity
and precision IN winding IN and out of intricate
evolutions have 10 the eve Of the on-lOOker been
like what beautiful poem is TO the ear, in its
graceful rhythm and cadence Of flowing meas
ureS May YOU mature into graceful womanhood,
as fair and bright polished stones IN shape and
feature, and especially in mental culture aud
adornment. 10 be ornaments in many happy
households. The true position OF woman is be
coming more and more recognized in these later
DAYS, especially in our own country; and therefore
1t becomes more and more important that she
should IN early life acquire the culture and &C
cOmplisnmeuts fitted TO grace and adorn her lu-
creasingly higher place.
YOUNG men and bOUs,-Y on have also delighted
US all with your exhibition drill, showing such
proficiency in the manual of arms and IN evolu-
tions. You are of much credit to your instructors
and are entitled 10 much yourselves in what you
have shown us tonight.
what constitutes a state?
Not high-raised battlements or labored mound,
Thick wall or moated gate;
Not cities proud with spires and turrets crowned;
No; men, high-mInded men,
But know their rights, and, knowing, dare main
tain.
These constitute a state"
The truth of these sentiments was well illus
trated by the Union people OF our country IN the
late war. General Scott, early in the late war.
said that from ms army experience with Northern
and Southern troops. the men of the South, of
more not and lmpetuous blood, more familiarity
with the use of tire arms, and more generally eN
pert as horsemen, would at the trst have the a d.
vantage of the men of the North; but he felt sure
that ultimately, the sturdy endurance and firm
! determination, and obedience % orders Of the
I men of the North, and the familiarity with the
use of fire arms acquired IN their training IN the
field as soldiers, would enable them in the END %
triumph in the contest. How literally true his
The time has not yet come in the progress of
mankind when governments can dispense with
reliable force behind them TO MAINTAIN law and
order. In our own country, under government
so mild in It's restraints as scarcely 10 be felt 10y
the governed, all patriotic observing citizens are
aware that military organization and drill must
be maintained, TO ensure preservation Of law and
order against the wild passions of the lncOnsid-
crate mob. For myself have had occasion to
know how il was In the sudden outbreak of our
late Civil war, that, lacking previous attention %
home military organization in times OF peace, the
Northern states were wholly unprepared for war
and were suddenly forced into great and bloody
and long-continued struggle with the enemies OF
the Union, almost as helpless as infants at the
start.
SO, my young friends, l am personally greatly
pleased to see that you are thus early In life pre-
pairing yourselves for such military service as
your country may perchance require of its citi
zens in the future, and nobody can tell how soon
May God bless you all, my young friends
At the conclusion of the governors re-
marks the audience joined in singing
America" Another march and the com
mana "break ranks closed the entertain,
ment. The large audience who watched
the excellent work, and noted the interest
and pride of the members of the different
companies could but have felt, in addition