Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-02-13
THE VERMONT VETERANS
ELECT COL. N. M. PUFFER DEPART.
MENT COMMANDER.
A Patriotic Speech Before tho Encamp
ment by Gen. walker-Time of the
Meeting Changed to June Other
Onsess and Delegates.

Rutland, VT, Feb. 1.-THE Goth annual
l encampment of the Vermont department
of the Grand Army, which opened in this
city with reception last evening, is un-
commonly well attended. Notwthstand-
ing the comrades who have dropped by
the wayside, there are more veterans pres
ent than at any encampment for several
years past. There are also more than the
ordinary number of ladies in attendance
upon the annual encampmont of the Wo-
mems Relief Corps, an organization auxi-
liary TO the Grand Army, which holds its
meetings at the same time.
The list of visiting veterans Is not only
large, but also includes many prominent
man, among them being Gov. Woodbury.,
Lieut.. Gov. H. NJ. Mansur, Mai. a. q. Val
entinc of Bennington. Gen W. Y. Ripley,
Gen. c. G. Kinsman, Gen. L. G. Kingsley,
w. w. Necdham, j. B. Scully, Gen. r. s.
Peck of Burlington, r. T. Farrell of Wa
terbury, Col. ii. f.. Taylor of Yrattleboro.
ex-Gov. Il. j. Ormsbee of Brandon, ex-
Gov. Farnham of Bradford, Past Depart
ment Commander Il. ID. Morgan. l.. b.
Harris of Lyndon, Gen. w. III. Gilmore of
Fairlee. Capt. s. II. Durham, II. A. Hath
orn of Ludlow, Col. j. IL. Bond of Brat
tleboro, Past Department Commander
Hugh Henry of Chester, Col. N. NJ. Puffer
of Bennington, A. ID. Jodovin and Andrew
Somers of Hinesburgh and the depart-
ment officers.
N. NJ. Puffer of Bennington was elected
department commander to succeed Barney
Cannon. jr.. of Bellows Falls. The de-
partment again showed its great and en-
during respect for two of it's distinguished
members, Gen. Wheelock G. Veazey, past
commander of the Grand Army of the
United States, and Gen. Stephen Thomas,
who is now too feeble to attend the en-
campments, but whose bravery is not to
be forgotten. 1t was voted TO send them
kindly greetings and good wishes.
Gen. Ivan n. Walker, national commando
er of the Grand Army, in company with
the proper committee-Ciov. Woodbury. and
Lieut. Gov Mansur-appeared before the
convention and made an address of some
length, in the course of which he severely
criticised the present national admnistra-
ton for its lax way of dealing with the
soldiers. He said that it was time the
laws In regard to pensions were enforced
they should be. Old soldiers must no
longer be prosecuted, dropped from the
rolls without motive or reason. Their
rights should be protected. Gen. Walker
was recently in Washington when he freed
his mind about the matter to the pension
department. His speech was very patrio-
tic and met with general approval.
Gen. j. w. Burst of Illinois, quarter
master general under Gen. Lawler, follow
ed Gen. Walker with a pleasant five min
ute speech. n resolution changing the
date of holding the encampment from Feb
ruary to June passed unanimously. This
was prODaDly tDe most important DuSlloSS
transacted 1t was not done, however,
until after considerable discussion, which
was participated in quite largely. Such
movement has been on foot for two
three years but action on it has always
been postponed. Veterans from the small
towns favored the change to man while
those from the larger towns opposed in
debate, but not by vote. New York and
many other States have their encamp-
ments in the summer. %
The morning business session was de-
voted entirely to the hearing of reports of
department officers including Commander
Cannon'S address. The encarnpment re-
opened at o'clock and proceeded to the
election of officers for the ensuing year,
with the following result:
Commander, Col. n. NJ. Puffer of Ben
nington: senior vice-commander, II. Il.
Perkins of st. Adams: junior vice-com-
mander. ID. w. Davis of Chester; medical
director, j. ID. IIanrahan, NJ. D., of Rut-
land; chaplain. Rev. w. s. Smart of Bran
don; OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES to the nation
al encampment, n. 7. Bowman of st.
Johnsbury, past department commander;
alternate, Gen. w. II. Gilmore of Fairlcc;
representatives to national encampment,
il. w. Sperry. Cavendsh, a. w. Fuller of
ST. Adams, A. McGaffey of Burlington,
O. Il. Evans of Arlington, G. S. Pierce of
Nergennes, =. s. Chase of Bratteboro.
Richard Smith of Enosburgh, w. A. Smith
OZro Meacham of Brandon; council of adj
minis tration, l.. Il. Harris Of Lyndonville,
A. II. Woodward of Rutland, Charles Wells
of Waterbury, Henry Heath of Bethel,
and T.. r. Holden. The committee on
nominations was composed of Col. r. ].
Coffey, Eli N. Peck, C. II. Webb and G.
II. Pond.
The only spirited contest for honors
was between Col Puffer and Col. Joel C.
Baker of Rutland for department COM
mander. The vote stood as follows:
Whole number of votes cast 2l5 of which
number Mr.. Puffer received 149; Col.
Baker "a and Col. e. W. Jewett of Swan
ton Q. The fact that Roberts post of Rut-
land has furnished four department COM
manders operated against Col. Baker.
Mr.. Puffer is prominent citizen of Ben
nngton, who served with distinction in the
war. He enlisted as a musician in the End
regiment, but was mustered within year
when all bands were mustered out He
re-enlsted in Company f and served while
the war lasted. Mr. Puffer is now engaged
in manufacturing. He has been grand
patriarch of the Patrlarchs Militant of the
State and also grand representative of the
grand lodge of Vermont l. o. o. f. The
new commander will not name his APP
pointve officers for several days.