Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1897-08-13
National Guard Past aud Present.

The following appreciative words are
from the pen of e. IL. Davenport of Brat
t'eboro, editor of the Brattleboro Reformer.
The present National Guard of Vermont,
in which the safe justly takes so much
pride, and which was never before, in
point of discipl ne, mora's and equipment,
in so high state of efficiency, so nearly
fulfilling the ideal of what National Guard
should be, as the repuH lies arm of defence
is the direct heir of the organization of the
three brigades that were rails ed at the time
of the rebel raids from Canada in 1868.
The reorganization and consolidation into
a regiment of ten companies was made in
1871 and from that time there has been a
marked and steady increase of intert st and
improvement. until the present force con-
sists of one regiment of y companies
divided into three battaiicns of four com-
panies each, under the command OF Ma iors
o. d. Clark, LIST battalion; j. II. Mimms,
2nd bait lion; II. D. Flllro-e, Sd, with a
'our-gun bait Fry organized and for years
&C )mmanded by the late Gov. Levi X. Fu'-
Ter, and now comman led by the very alb e
and efficient Capt. f. ID. Weld, besides the
No witch Cadets o. the University at North,
fitl l under the skilled command of Lieut..
Hovey, U. S. A., who muster on their own
grounds.
The organic ton is one that fills admi, a.
bly, the latest ideas of military science
forming nucleus from which brigade
could be placed in the fl II on very short
notice. The formation of the II companl' ;
is upon the United Stats regulatio $ The
uniform is that OF the regular army. The
regiment is armed with the latest improved
Springf, Id rifle, 45 calibre, which many Of
the army officers regard as the best weapon
tor practical purposes in use.
PAST AND PRESENT OFFICERS.
The brigade commanders since the re-
organization in 1871 have been Thomas o.
Seaver, l.. &. Kingsley, w. l.. Greenleaf,
Julius j. Estey, the present commander.
The regimental commanders have been L
S Peck, w. L. Greenleaf, j. j .Estey
G. G. Kinsman, George H. Bond, who
has commanded the regiment since 1895.
PARTICIPATION IN HISTORICAL EVENTS.
The regiment or detachments of it hav,
taken part in the folio wing events: Cen.
tenrial of the Battle of Bennington ii
August, 1877; laying of the corner stone
of Bennington battle monument; dedica,
ton of the Bennington monument; Phlla.
delphia centennial 1876; laying corner
stoae of the Yorktown monument in 1881
Centennial celebration of the evacuation Of
New York in 1889; Inauguration of Presi-
dent Mckinley March 4, 1897; Grant
memorial parade, New York, April, 1897
Queens Jubilee at Montreal. June. 1897
The personnel Of the National Guard,
| steadily rising from the 81, is now at its
highest. Many of the best Dung men OF
| the state are identified with it and its in
struction, invaluable in the development of
welt-rounded manhood, physical and mora
are deeply interested in the military work
and make great sacrifices to keep the
organization up to its level.
The national government is giving its
al | to some extent and under the able and
careful management of our genial Quarter
master General Gilmore, the wants OF the
troops are always well provided for.
Col George II. Bond, to whcs' unre-
hitting care, mastery quali'i as a
tactician and enthusiasm-i spring person
Atty, so much of the fine condition of the
Guard is due, has the better qualifications
for his duties in the fact that he has risen
from the ranks He is v. teran of the
war for the Union, serving in the 10th
Vermont, in Stan"ards briga lie, and after
wards two years in tn" 2ud Massa 'husetts
He also served in the three brigades
raised in '65. He joined the Es'ey Guard
at Brat leboro in June, 1873, and was SIC
cessively promoted to be ,rgeant, first
lieutenant, captain, major, lieutenant ccl,-
mel, col m | by brevet, and finally colonel
OF fine military presence, prompt, accurate
and skil'ul in evolutions, his popul .rity
is deservedly great. His progressive sue
cess is the product of thorough study, and
preparation by diagrams to form mental
pictures of what he wants done and then
of impressing it on his suhordinates. The
regimental work in evoluti ms, for which
this year he has his first opportunity be-
caus, OF the target practice bith' rto, is an
lus ration of what such preparation means
for the advancement of the service.