Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1897-08-11
National Guard Past aud Present.

The folio wing appreciative words are
from the pen of G. ii. Davenport of Brat
t'cboro, editor of the Brattleboro Reformer.
The present National Guard of Vermont,
in which the state Justly takes so much
pride, and which was never before, in
point of discipl me- morals and equipment,
in so high site of efficiency, so nearly
fulfilling the ideal of what National Guard
should be, as the republics arm of defence
is the direct heir of the organization Of the
three bri gades that were raised at the time
of the rebel raids from Canada in 1865.
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, urtil the present force con.
sists of one regiment of II companies
divided into three battalicns of four com
panes each, under the command OF Majors
o. d. Clark, LIST battalion; j. H. Mimms
2Ld bait lion; II. d. FIJI roe, Sd, with a
'our-gun battery organized and for years
,mmanded by the late Gov. Levi X. Fu!'
Ter, and now commanded by the very alb,
and efficient Capt f. d. Weld, besides the
No witch Cadets o. the University at North
fell under the skilled command of Lieut.
Hovey, u S. A., who muster on their owr
grounds.
The organic ton is one that fills admir- a
bly, the l.t4st ideas of military science
forming a nucleus from which brigade
could be placed in the fiji on very shor
notice. The formation of the II companls
is upon the United Stat regulatio $ The
uniform is that OF the regular army. The
regiment is armed with the latest improved
Springfield rifle, As caibre, which many o
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.. G. Kingsley, W. L. Greenleat,
julius j. Estey. the pre- sent commander.
The regimentsl commanders have been I
S. Peck, w. L G,eenleaf, j. J.E,tey
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 following events: Cen
tenral of the Battle of Bennington ii
August, 1877 laying of the corner son'
of Bennington battle monument; dedica
ton of the Bennington monument; Phila
delphia centennial 1876; laying corne
stone of the York; own monument in 1881
Centennial celebration of the evacuation o
New York in 1889; Inauguration of Presi
dent Mckinley March 4, 1897; Gran
memorial parade, New York, April, 1897
Queens Jubilee at Montreal. June. 1897
The personnel Of the National Guard
steadily rising from the FIST, is now at it,
highest Many of the best young men o
the state are identified wi b it and its in
stru,tion, invaluable in the development o
wet-rounded manhood, physical and moral
are deeply interested in the military work
and make great sacrifices to keep the
organization up to its level.
The national government is giving it!
aid to some extent and under the able ant
careful management of our genial Quarter
master General Gilmore, the wants OF the
troops are always well provided for.
Col George II. Bond, to who's, unre
hitting care, mastery quali'i as (
tactician and enthusiastic spring person
atty, so much of the fine condition of tn,
Guard is due, has the better qualification
for his duties in the fact that he has risel
from the ranks He is a We teran of thu
war for the Union, serving in the 16tl
Vermont, in STAN ards briga lie, nd after
wards two years in thu 2nd MaSSa 'husetts
He also. served in the three brigade
raised in '65. He joined the Es.ey Guar
at Brat leboro in June, 1873, and was suc
eessively promoted to be sergeant, frs
lieutenant, captain, major, lieutenant cello
mel, col IN by brevet, and finally colonel
OF fine military presence, prompt, accurat
and skil'ul in evolutionS, his popularit
is DIES srvedly great. His progressive sue
cess is the product of thorough study. an
preparation by diagrams to form menta
pictures of what he wants done and the
of impressing it on his subordinates. Th
regimental work in evoluti ms, for whicl
this year he has his first opportunity be
cause OF the target practice hith.rt', is al
illustration of what such preparation near
for the advancement of the service.