St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-01-29
A BRAVE VERnONTER.
A Notable Tribute to Native of St. Johnsbur

Times Herald the following concerning
DR.. George II. Ide ofMiwaukee, native
of this town and one who has many
friends and relatives in this vicinity:
"The Green Mountain boys established
reputation Tor dauntess courage and
undying love of country in the war OF
the revolution That reputation her
people have ever maintained. Can any
one recall any occasion during the war
of the rebellion when a company, reet
ment or battery composed OF Vermont
troops showed the white feather or did
less than they were able to do on the
field of battle? 1t is safe to say no. An
equally good record was made by the
troops Of other states, but it cannot be
said of all the troops of all the states
that there were not occasions when some
of them failed to meet expectation. Cen
orally when there was failure, it was
attributable to failure on the part of
officers rather than the rank and file.
Now let me tell ola Vermont hero in
war:
"a 17-year-old Green Mountain boy
left school to enlist His first great bat
tie was Gettysburg. He was tall and
awkward, but as brave as Maceo, and
he had acquitted himself so we'll that the
captain of the company, within few
months OF his enlistment, gave him the
position of first sergeant. The regiment
was under fire for an hour at the time of
Pitketts famous charge before it was
ordered in. There were pale faces and
trembling limbs on every side, but our
hero was as cool and collected as if in
classroom and had smile and word
OF cheer for his comrades. To one who
seemed little more frightened than his
fellows he said: Cheer up, Jim, you have
the chance Of your life today.
Yes said Jim, and right smart
chance to lose it, too
1.-The tide will turnin favor ofthe union
from this battle. Let us all do our duty
-oday, SO that in coming years we may
remember that we had a part in the
turning of the tide
Jim and all who heard the young
patriots outburst, as it mingled with the
screening and bursting of shells and the
whlrrng of solid shot, became interested
and to degree Gained down.
"a little later came the order, Fall in
The first man on his feet was the Young
Vermonter, who, with smile on his lips
and CHEEKY voice. urged promptness
and an unbroken front. In that way he
went into the battle. He fought like a
very tiger, at the same time doing the
1uty of half a dozen men as file closer.
When the great charge was over, Pickett
lad been driven back and the 300 or 400
oeching cannon had ceased their roar it
was found that the earth had drunk the
blood of many of that Vermont company.
Ibid we co as well as you expected.
'aptain !? asked the orderly.
Better, sergeant, better but look at
our thinned ranks. We no longer have a
company
That is true, captain, but the tide has
We now know that we have a
The republic has produced many such
leroes, but did any state in the union. in
proportion to her population, produce
more than Vermont? This story, which
heard years ago, came back to me last
vening as heard another in connection
With that same Vermonter.
when the war ended he completed his
ducation and entered the ministry.
about twenty years ago he was called to
leading Congregational church in Mil
yankee, OF which he has been the pastor
yer since-Rev. George H. Ide D. D. He
the same courageous, truthful, earnest.
'atriotic man that he was as a soldier in
'attle. He takes up subjects that manv
'thers pass by. In the late presidential
ampalgn he was the first preacher in the
tare to point out the dangers and to
ondemn the unpatriotic sentiment of
he Chicago platform.
1t is as necessary to stand ND and
peak tor the country today said this
nan OF courage, as it was to shoulder
1uskets and buckle on swords in 1861
nd though minister of the gospel and
landing in a pulpit, nothing shall pre-.
ent me from raising my voice in warm
1g,'
But that is not the story.
This brave soldier, devoted minister
nd superb citizen has recently had oc-
aston to manifest his courage under
lore trying circumstances than anv
Inch developed at the battle of Gettvs.
urg' Two years ago growth on one of
is lips rendered an operation necessary.
was thought that he had entirely es-
'ped all danger, but short time ago
ne growth re.appeared in his throat and
mother operation was decided upon.
he chances were against him. All of his
lends dreaded the result yet they knew
lat without an operation death was
ot far away If this man was disturbed
did not show it in his face in his