Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-09-15
FOURTEENTH VERMONT.
SUCCESSFUL MEETING OF THE REGl.
MENT IN VERGENNES YESTERDAY.
and Lotter From Hon. G. G. Benedict-
Henry A. Bond Elected President
Othor Officers.
(Special to tho Free Press !

Especial to the Free Press) |
Vcrgennes, VT, Sept. H.-.About GO old
veterans of the 1lth regiment, Vermont
Volunteers met here to-day for a reunion
which was held in the city hall. The
meeting was called to order in the fore
noon by Lieut.. r. G. Middlcbrook, the
president OF the day.
An address of welcome was delivered by
Rev. J. H. Robinson, committees were
appointed and the meeting adjourned un-
til afternoon. This afternoon the various
committees reported.
These officers were elected: President,
Henry Bond of Co. f, Castleton; vice.
presidents, Capt. II. o. Gore, Co. A, Benz
nngton; William ID. sherman, Co. Il,
Rutland; Otis G. Eddy, Co. c, Bondvillc;
Capt. C. Il. Averill, Co. d, Orwell; Otis
Abbey, Co., Il, Middlcbury; Charles II.
Manlcy Co. L, West Salisbury; Amos
Fatneaudc, Co. q. Brandon; W. p. Kins-
man, Co. H., Rutiand; William Claxton.
Co. !, Charlotte; Capt. William H. Num-
Co. X, Troy, n. y; secretary, J.. II.
Shepard OF Fair Haven; treasurer, c. L.
Beach of burlington.
The next meeting will be held in Cas-
tleton in September in 1870
Hon. c. c. BENEDICT was unable to be
present but sent the following letter
which is published below:
LITTER FROM HON. G. G. BENEDICT
Burlington, Sept. IS, 1895.
+. II. Shepard, Secretary 18th Vermont
Reunion Society:
Dear Sir and Comrade:-I am not very
wcll-am threatened with ii rheumatic at
tack, to which | am occasionally subject
and greatly fear that | shall not be able
to attend the reunion Of the FourtecntlI.
tomorrow If this should be the case, |
trust that you will give my greeting 20
the comrades assembled, and express nay
I No.
pleasure of meeting them on such pleas
ant occasion.
! | have always held the members of your
regiment in high regard. II was composed
Of the best Vermont material. whioh is
the same as saying that IL was Of the
: ucst material possible. | knew Col. Mich
! OILS well. and had frequent opportunity to
lnOtice his good care of his men and their
excellent discipline. Major Hall was my
longtime friend. | stood by his side more
! than once on the field OF Gettysburg, and
noted his coolness and courage under fire.
With others OF your regiment | had
friendly relations. l recall many incidents
in the service of the Fourteenth Vermont
from the first review. under Gen. Casey
in which II took part, on Capitol I'M. -
its baptism of blood at Gettysburg. On :hc
I'd and cd OF July, 1868. ! saw the regi-
mont MS 1t led the column of the Second
Vermont Brigade to rc-estnbish the bro
OF Cemetery Hill. near the close of the
second day of the battle | was near its
line and saw the FIRST of its men that feb
in action, struck down, during the opening
cannonade of tho third day. My rccollcc-
lion IS that ! took to Col. Nichols, us
Pickett's division came in on its great
charge. the order from Gen. Stannard 10
hold the fire of the regiment till the enc
my came within close range, and then 20
meet them with the bayonct. | saw the
Fourteenth open fire few minutes later,
and noted its effect upon the cuemy $
lines in front | took an order to Lieut.,
Col Rose, while the four right companies
of the regiment We're supporting the flars
attack to the left, which brought grief 20
WilooNs and Perrys brigadcs, and
brouHht the battle Of Gettysburg to Ils
g!oriuus cloSe-and was with the battdl-
ion, till the enemy in front threw down
their arms. | admired the conduct of the
regiment in that great pivotal battle. and
recall it with pride and pleasure TO this
day.
The Fourteenth Vermont lost more men
killed and wounded than any other Yer
mont regiment that day; and its part IN
the victory cannot be forgotten or OBJ
: scurcd.
Tine regiment closed its term of service
with the proud distinction of being the
only Vermont regiment or separate Yer
mont organization, that never had on It's
rolls tho name Of n single descrter.
1t is doubtful If this can be said of an
other regiment that served as long as the
Fourteenth In the entire army of the Po
tCnlac.
, Remembering some of these things
am especially unwilling to stay away
from your reunion. II compelled to tc
absent it will be my loss moro than yours
, Faithfully yours,
r G. G. BENEDICT.
,Tl,a Get ,,
, October, when the monument erected b!
the regiment will he dedicated was thor
oughly discussed and many propose Il
: talIc in tins excursion. This was one rea
5 son why there were not more here to-day
Councillor Burton w. Potter then deliver
= ed an excellent address.
2 The following resolutions were adopted
Whereas We, the members of the -Four
teenth regiment, Vermont Volunteers
have hcen so cordially welcomed and hos
pitablN entertained by our comrades O
y Ncrgennes, it is hereby
j Resolved, That wo express our heart
y thanks for their kind treatment of us ar
= for their efforts to make our reunio
pleasant and successful, and.
n Whereas. We learn from the report O
- our secretary that Capt. Joseph Joining
= of Co. r. Lieut.. Charles W. Mason of e
: G, and II other members Of our regimen
(. have died since our last meeting. it Is
o Resolved, That We express our grief ia
IS the loss of our brave and patriotic CON
radcs and our sympathy to their sorrow
- ing friends and relatives,
c. e. ABELL.
+. NJ. MOUIlTON.
II S. g, CHENEY.
I, A camp fire was to have been held thi
y evening but it was thought best to om
s It.
IS 10000 PEOPLE AT ST. JOHNSBURY.
Especial to the FREQ Press)
y st. Johnshury, Vt. Sept. 14.-Brgt
!. skies brought 1OG0n pcOplo 10 tho Cali