The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-06-04

ceived recognition due. The splendid
patriotism of some men in this class
was exemplified by the case Of Gov.
Morton of Indina, who, hampered by
disloyal Legislature which refused
to vote appropriations, borrowed mon
ey enough on his own personal credit
to keep his States quota of troops
going forward
"Vermont's part in the great strug-
gle,' said the orator, Though more
than twice told tale, never loses its
interest The population of the State
in 1861 was but 315, 116, and the total
enrolment for military duty was but
| SO, $50, yet the number of men furn-
ished for the war was "a, 238 Thus
one in every ten of the population en-
| listed, and of the able bodied men of
military age, every alternate man
went to the front. More were killed
in battle than from any other northern
! State, in every battle in which they
were engaged they won distinction.
and not one of their organizations ever
| lost flag in battle.
| "Montpelier's enrolment was 236,
but the town sent 2S3-a surplus of AZ
over all demands, and the largest sur
| plus III lll6 Oldl6. llulu6uldtOly uPOh
| the bombardment of Fort Sumter the
diverse political elements in this town
fused into one unquestioning Union
party. A large public meeting in
front of ST. Augustine's church gave
assurance that native and adopted cit
liens were alike loyal. When the
Legislature met in special session the
streets glowed with the national colors.
When the members of the House found
themselves unable to respond to the
speakers call to sing the Star Span
gled Banner" two hundred ladies and
gentlemen of Montpelier gave it to
them from the balcony at the evening
session, and it was heard by many for
the first time. The town took early
action for the raising of troops, per-
sisted in the work to the end, and
provided for their comfort with I'M
stinted liberality. The women held
fairs and after the establishment of a
general hospital here they were untir-
ing in looking after the comfort of
the sick, the wounded and the conva-
lescent. 1t may interest you to recall
that the selectmen in 1861 were
Charles Reed, Joel Foster. Jr., and
Jacob Smith; in 1861 Mr.. Foster, Mr..
Smith and Carlos Bancroft; in 1868
and 1864, Mr.. Foster, Mr.. Bancroft
and Henry Mutt. At the town meet
ingg held in June, 1861, the town vot-
ed to raise company and George
@. Shepard, John W. Clark and Fred
E. Smith were appointed war COM
mittee Before long Messrs. Clark
and Smith themselves entered the
service and the people were so patriot
ic that Mr.. Shepard found his occupa;;
ton gone. The town made a proud
| raoprI oil tbrnn oh tha trU1n0 -
OF the great results of the war,
those must immediate, direct and i'm
potant were thus summarized: First,
the restored Union; second, emanci-
patton and the wonderful progress of
the freed people; third, the institu-
ton of national currency; fourth,
the building of Pacific railroad ;
fifth, and perhaps most important of
ALL international arbitration. In
conclusion, of the vast armies of citi-
zen soldiers, returning to the status
of citizenship from which they sprang,
Col Clark said:
"The decentralization, which so
, many feared from the war, did not re-
suit. On the contrary, soldiers and
people were tried as by fire and greatly
, improved In this group of veterans
{ you have beheld for generation, you
, see your very best citizens. They are
poor possibly, broken in health prob
ably, but manly and true certainly.
You see in them relics of AnUietam
4: and Gettysburg, of Shiloh and Chick
amauga-of all the more than four
> hundred fields of blood. By their
4 sides fell your brothers and your sons.
a Their hands helped lead the trembling
f African TO liberty They were led
| and praised by the illustrious Grant,
r they were seen and thanked by the
n martyred Lincoln. Because of them
4 the greatest experiment in self gov
Y eminent is an established fact and the
: spirit of liberty sits enthIoned in the
, hearts of men. Upon their tattered
S banners CLEAN the glories of success,
( and above all success they see the
Q smile of God Green be the memories
o of our comrades mustered out Long
T live the veterans who survive For
! ever thrive and greater grow the State
S that letters neither limb nor brain and
e leads the nations into light and right
: and peace
|