Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-09-09
ORANGE COUNTY VETS"
HOLD THEIR ANNUAL REUNION
AT RANDOLPH.

including Gen. stephen ThomaS--A
Rousing Campfire Election of Off
cers.-A Really Notable Event.
The clear tones of a bugle, sounding re-
veiile, the roar Of a morning gun from
Castle park, the notes of aThe Star
Spangled Banner" accompanied by the
throwing to the breeze of fine new speci.
men of "Old Glory,n gave notice early
Tuesday morning of the date of the annual
reunion of the veterans of Orange county.
The sun shone brightly and soon the
business places and many of the homes
appeared deeked gayiy in flags and bunt
lug. BY the time the morning mail ar
rived, many veterans had come in from
neighboring towns. The line was formed
near the depot and when the form of the
revered Gen. Stephen Thomas appeared he
was given three cheers and a tiger, The
parade moved in the following order, un-
der direction of j. +. Eldredge, colonel of
the Reunion society; George W. tlagg,
lieutenant colonel; George II. Hoyt, ma
jor; j. p. Cleveland, adjutaut, and e. Il.
Sault, quartermaster:-
Green Mountain band.
U. S. Grant Post, No. So, of Randolph,
with drum corps
Daniel Lille Post, No 81, of Bethel.
Ii. II. Baxter Post, No. Ill, of Stock
bridge.
Henry f. Freeman Post, No. 9s, of
Brooktield, with drum corps, and many
veterans of scattering posts.
Carriages containing guests and ciu-
zens.
The line OF march was taken up to Camp
Col. Chandler, Mari Castle park. Upon
arriving, the ''vets" broke ranks to enjoy
general handshake and good visit, fol-
lowed by dinner served to about 300 per :
sons by the w. h. q. OF u. S. Grant Post.
This was a very delightful occasion, the
tables beneath the trees being spread with
large array of edibles that the "vets"
and their families assimilated in manner
suggestive Of recent escape from Libby.
AFTERNOONS EXERCISES.
At 80 the exercises began from a stand
erected in the grove. j. +. Eldredge pre-.
sided. Rev. III. T. Barnard of Bradford
offered prayer.
Henry W. Tewksbury delivered the ad-
dress OF welcome. He eulogized the vol
unteer soldier OF the rebellion, especially
the Vermont volunteer, saying there was
more intelligence in one regiment Of Ner-
mont troops than in Nap leans entire
army. He referred to Col. A. u. Cham
dleris irlportant services during the war
as telegraph assistant to President Linz
coin. Greeting Gen, Thomas he took his
/ hand ana reminded him Of the occasion
when the general refused to surrender to
the Confederate officer, replying, "Siri 1t
| is too early IN the morning, and besides
YOU are disrespectful.n He rendered Ran
dolph's welcome, bidding the old soldiers
/ to sDrink from the same canieen and
nothing will be said if you paint the town
red . sentiment that was warmly ap-
Rev. E, j. Ranslow of Swanton gave the
principal address. He said he spoke un-
| der the disadvantage of not having been
an Orange county veteran or even sol.
4 Gier at all, his service having, peen on
4 man-of-war Put he possessed the advan-
1 tage Of being able to eliminate himself.
4 Most of his honors bad come since the
I war He had been addressed as "General :
/ in Roston. as "Captainn at Woodstock, but
al home he was just plain private.
He spoke with some pride OF his deiense
/ OF the veterans in late years from asper.
sions cast on them by non n-combatahts'
j Some of these latter people were ABOUT as
/ sincere patriots as was the other fellow
nous " no showed the Methodist deacon
/ now worn the knees of his pants were
\ from constant kneeling in prayer: Inc
deacon. after further inspection OF his at
/ tire remarked, "Your knees may De worn
out praying but | am sure the seat o o.
your breeches is completely Moru az az
! baekslidingn These people remlndeu
him Of the slave who escaped TO Canaua
and was asked by pro slavery man u he
aid not think he would have Jared petter
baclr in old Virginia. "Massa, de place Is
onen II We wants it," he replied. THESE
critjcs ~ the old soldier might have Z cen
old soldiers themselves, many oil tnemi
had they cared TO. .,,h those
who condemned these reunions as calcu
lated to foster hatred OF the south. W ht
Ifnion soldier never hated the Southi ne
simnIv took pp arms to do his duty IN int
preservation OF the Union: Inc IohieueI
ate Gen. ID. Ii. fill had said that the CIV ~
war would pass into history ~ lia.uS uiu w
Enslish Wars OF the Roses. Nobody caIeu
nog whether their ancestors fought lol
tha red rose or the white. The reunion
inspires patriotism and recalls memories memoir =,
- he heroes who laid down their llVes vi
have since passed beyond -.
What great task it was to put gov cow !.
the Rebellion The North was ulFiueu
49,, south united. Tue South was pre-
lsaS. Wy SV tha North was not. We were tn'
invading army; they the defenders OF tneil sll
-, q iresides. Then they were brave ii,Si' ,i
h-oyer men never smiled at death. w w.
80 nothing by giving them due creuI.
Tsha. uVe conquered such brave men ulaNe. ss'
our triumph the greater. But one rjah, snius
we must Insist upon. We VIZ ;ar,
tbey we're wrong. we WeIS no1 ove IN,
Il,'sS -, ~ iop,ifotus called out by Presiuen
Pg.ss,l, PgeSS Ii nut down the disturbances 1S am
LII LII "a II I'VE were not like Charies All
W. Sweden, who said no music was was =
49,, " - III him as the song OF pulets, -,
MeIo ass nnre duty and inspiration. IN, Inc ros mS
Wa W. Z great Transition period. Grant os soS'
Wa, wa q drawer of cord wood IN TOUT noi, snoI
from from ~ ~ commander in chief. Llneon ar,
y,e yeaI,s = viii. Grant was its executor ~. ~
/ VI, ,e,,S our children are its rlen lesSeI;s
We a. ~ told of the Union prisoners ~ oSl'i
! IL. STbo were offered their IIeeuo.r JIM
tsaSy puy Tonld enlist in the southern a,,,r, si~,
afs but Who showed their Loyalty o1s 9s soldier soldier
-. y, nrison TO stsrve. We oiS 80, ~
5 r5st stilI guard our country IT IToa sIl i'm
aan,srs of 1ihilsm, socialism elu ~ ~,
,,,nrsIitv He closed with vlvlu uss01 .b =
: ,9el, ,no1a1 ~ ibe late Buffalo encampmeh' sH
4 sSes rss warmly ~ applauded. a,oa wit
Cen Thomas was then sos NJ
.hTee cheers as he stood up 70 sea- ,s;rn
!, General IS IS years old and quaT qs,,ss an
mi he spoke about twenty nn,ion lnic III
Jus listened to with close st.ens,oa, i,,,onie
Ssngbter- Mrs. Nswcomoi scco.N sccs. X n,
/, bin, ne said be wss glad 10 gIee. .e - 1
NM nI1l, county comrades once . mo.eh hsfoi
s.asSv I be town of Randolph iohg - I
{ 49, var when il was q mere hli;sics a
Z rs ono a war Democrat and his Po,t;;1N at;on Ar