The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-08-03
Vermont s Troops.

The war is not yet over and the need
of military service, on large scale, is
not likely to end when peace with
Spain is concluded. If Vermonts
regiment of troops, enlisted for two
years, is not wanted in Porto Rico for
fighting, it may be wanted for garrison
or other duty incident to military occu-
patton of the island. If the Vermont
troops are not wanted in Porto Rico
they may be required in Cuba, or with
Dewey in the Philippines. The boys
would go, eagerly, when and where
called, and remain to the last minute of
their enlistment, and very likely many
of them would enlist again if the full
purpose of their first period of service
had not been accomplished.
In response to the natural longing of
the Vermont regiment to see service,
Senator Proctor had employed his iniu-
ence to procure its assignment to duty
in Porto Rico. To this Ex-Governor
Woodbury. "protests" in long tele-
gram to Secretary Alger, and in another
asks Senator Proctor to withdraw his
request to the Secretary of War to
order the regiment to the front, Gun
less there is fighting to be done" Mr..
Woodbury. seems to be under the i'm
preston that the Senator is trying to
arrange an Excursion" for the boys,
and, forgetting that it is now four years
since he was governor and spoke by
authority, interposes veto of the pro-
posed movement The Free Press is
willing to have the Vermont troops cut
to pieces as the rough riders were in
front of Santiago, shut our people can
not want to have them shipped simply
to do garrison duty" in Porto Rico.
There is probably wide difference of
opinion as to what sour people want"
1t would not be surprising if "our PEG.
pie" were polled on the subject they
would be found to be quite unanimous
in the expression of the desire that the
national government be not interfered
with in its ordering of troops to Porto
Rico or any other part of the theater of
war. "Our people" might, further,
have 30 clear an idea of soldierly duty
that they would want their military
representatives to obey orders and go
to Porto Rico, or any other place, to
fight or to do garrison duty, as they
were commanded.
A striking characteristic of the YER
mont soldier in the civil war was ex-
emplifed by the famous and oft quoted
order of Gen. Sedgewick, in great
emergency, "Put the Vermonters
ahead and keep the ranks we'll closed
up" The regiment at Chickamauga
is made up of the sons of the sires that
fought at Gettysburg, Cedar Creek, and
on almost every other eastern battlefield
Of the rebellion. and are heirs of the
martial glory of the State. 1t inks
them to lie ingloriously in camp while
their comrades, on sea and land, are
winning imperishable renown. They
pray for the resurrection of Sedge-
wick's order, and Senator Proctor has
presented their petition at Washing
ton. Some unpropitious influence has
come between the Vermont troops and
their aspirations. Some malign fate
has followed them from the beginning.
There are hints and open accusations
as to the location and nature of the in.
cubus that has withheld them from fol-
lowing "where glory waits" and where
their traditions and their natural i'm
pulses impel them to go-to the fore
front of the battle. If Senator Proc
tors powerful hand has laid the demon,
who shall interpose to again enthrall
men hungry for actionp That has not
been the way of Vermont, nor is it
now Vermont's way.