Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-08-14
ON FORT DUMMER'S SITE.
POcumtuck Valley Associations
Field Day.

Outlines OF the Old Fort Plainly Mark
ed---a Delightful Place for the Exer-
cIses I'm Col. Hunts Orchard. IL Was
Day to Enjoy and TO Remember.
The 26th annual field day of the Pocum-
tuck Valley Memorial association, held yes
terday on Col. Jno. Hunts Fort Dummer'
farm, near the site of the old fort, proved
an occasion of great interest to the as
semblage of 1900 or 1900 people, residents
of Brattleboro and Vernon and visitors
from Massachusetts and New Hampshire,
who participated in the proceedings. The
point of interest in the morning and
throughout the day was, the site of Fort
Dummer, on the river bank, on the Brooks
farm, where George A. Hines, assisted by
Judge Wheeler In fixing accurately the To-
cation, had carefully surveyed the outlines
of the old fort and of the houses and the
"citydale" within its walls, marking them
with stakes and broad white tape. Ora
peres of flags were hung to indicate the
two main gateways. The object lesson
thus afforded will never be forgotten by
those who visited the spot. 1t appears
from this survey that about two-thirds of
the old Brooks farmhouse, now owned by
E. H. Putnam, stands within the site of
the fort Over the entrance on the west
side were hung the stars and stripes, the
Vermont state flag and the British colors.
The visitors gathered at the site of the
fort on the arrival of the morning trains,
which stopped to leave passengers there.
After all points of interest had been eX-
amined procession was formed, and headed
by the First Regiment band, line of march
taken to Col. Hunts orchard, which pre-
sented a hospitable appearance with
stand built for the speakers and seats ar
ranged in the shade of the spreading trees.
After music by the band followed by pray
er by Rev. j. II. Babbitt, DR.. II. d. Hol-
ton gave the address of welcome, saying in
substance:
Standing under heavens blue canopy we look
out upon fertile fields that yield a cheerful and
abundant harvest at the gentle solicitations OF the
husbandmen. The waters Of the beautiful river
come silently down from the north like memories
Of the past, and glide placidly, mid banks of
blooming flowers and sprinRing ferns on their
eternal journey, reminding of our hopes for
the future. little to the north the eye rests on
grand old Wantastquet, standing through all the
years, a bold sentinel guarding the valleys peace
Civilization stretched out her hand from the Mas
sachusetts Colony and fixed her bounds here, at
once a stay to savage barbarity and a protection
to the pioneers who had settled IN the valley be-
low. In the name of the Daughters of the Ameri
| can Revolution, whose guests you are, l bid
Of the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial association,
as well as to the representatives of the Pilgrim
Society Of Plymouth, the Deerfield society, and
Fort Massachusetts Historical society OF North
Adams. To all assembled here am directed by
the sons and daughters of the settlers of the New
Hampshire grants TO bid you most gracious vel
come to this historic place.
We bid you welcome In memory Of Lieutenant
Timothy Dwight, in memory Of Captain Joseph
Kellogg Captain Josiah Willard, the three com
manders OF Fort Dummer. and their brave
associates, its garrison. In memory OF its chap
| lain Ebenezer Hinsdale, who gave name to our
neighborng New Hampshire town, whose soil
| drank the blood OF Sergeant Taylor and his men,
part of the garrison of this fort who fell victims
| of the savage foe. We bid you welcome In MEM
DRY Of one whose aptitude in writing inscriptions
| TO perpetuate the memory Of his parshioners is
evidenced in various graveyards in this vicinity
| the poet-parson, Bunker Gay, who preached
| righteousness, temperance and Judgment to
come. In the name of all the residents past and
presen. these equivalent lands" we bid you
| welcome. May the inspiration which we shall
/ this day draw from the contemplation OF the
| patriotic and heroic lives of these historical
characters of an earlier day fill us with renewed
love of country and impress us with the respon-
sibility which has been transmitted to us to pre-
serve inviolate the republic and its institutions.
Let us rise one man in defence of our country s
honor and integrity. Let us see to Il that her
economic theories, or the barbaric ideas and Gus
| toms of an inferior civilization.
I'VE need, methinks the prophet hero still
| Saints true Of life, and martyrs strong OF WILL
| To tread the land, even now, as Xavier trod
| The streets OF Goa, barefoot, with his bell,
| Proclaiming freedom in the name Of God,
| And startling tyrants with the fear of hell.
| Soft words, smooth prophecies are doubtless well
But to rebuke the Ages popular crime,
| We need the soul of fire, the hearts Of that old
| time'
Hon. George Sheldon, of Deerfield, the
well-known historian and antiquarian and
the president of the Pocumtuck Valley
association, who was to give the response,
was deferred from attending by the severe
heat, and his manuscript was therefore
read by his niece, Miss Jennie Arms OF
Greenfield.
Il would return thanks" the address said, "tC
| the Bratteboro Daughters Of the American Rev
| olution and their allies. whom you so eloquently
represent; and 1t should be clearly understood
| that today these Daughters embrace not only
| the gentlemen of the committee, but also all thu
| resident sons Of Vermont. Thanks to one and al
for this generous tender OF the freedom OF the
ESaent Lands think t5s U will be wei
spokesman in regard to the appeal at the close o
his stirring address. Do not fear sir the results
Of this invasion. Although we may not, like ou
| plain spoken Hindu friend, -
Walk barefoot through the valley, with fiery bool
and bell,
Condemning all who differ to the raging flames o
well,
In the presence of the ladies we soften this t.
Hades)
Doubt not, sir, that among US every man and
dame and maid is
A patriot true and blue.
Mr.. Sheldon then referred in detail TO the scenes
In the early history OF the Connecticut valley
which Fort Drummer and the waters of the Con
necticut gliding past its site have witnessed, anc
notably to that scene, March B. 170i when the
captives surviving from the Deerfied massacre
were marched up through the snow trail TO the
ravine at the mouth of the West river, where dog
and sledRes were waiting TO hasten them on theiI
way to Canada. The parts borne by Capt Kel
| logg, Chaplain and Colonel Hinsdale, Col. JOSIAH
Willard and others in the history Of that earl!
time were appropriately mentioned. In conclu
the ground of the orator OF the day, l will onll
say Fort Drummer was established TO prevent In
vasion from the north, but time turns things top
sy turvy, and today 1t is garrisoned to stop an in
vasion from the south And when we find thai
the Daughters of the American Revolution holt
the fort, and see the preparations to receive us
it is manifestly impossible 10 lead our assocla
ton any farther north and we surrender at dis
cretion."
After selection by the Hinsdale gle
club, double quartet of young men VIII
did themselves credit, the historical ad
dress was given by Rev. DR.. Walker, hi
son, DIR. Williston Walker of the Hartford
Theological seminary, relieving his fathe
by reading the concluding portion. Din
ner followed the conclusion of the address
the guests of the day being served at table
spread under the trees. The excellent col
lation was furnished and served by tn
Brooks House. Upward of an hour wa
spent in discussing the dinner, the banC
playing selections meantime. Owing h
, the heat Miss Baker of Cambridge, Mass.
was not prepared to give her sketch of Je
NINA Howe, the fair captive, and the frs
exercises of the afternoon was the poeI
, written and read by Mrs. Jennie Stebbin
! Smith of Brattleboro. Hon. M. l. Reed
nauer on Fort SartWell. with q preliIninar