The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-12-24

to the Union camp was effected. Re-
connoitering early in the morning of
the day of the battle, Oct 10. 1864,
Thomas was suddenly confronted by
small body or rebel cavalry and this
command was addressed to him: Sur
render you id Yanke, ~ Not lust
yet-it's too early in the morning."
was the cool reply, and wheeling his
horse Thomas added: Besides, your
language is not respectful " The colo
mel made hasty retreat through a
shower of bullets This was the pre-
Jude to the rush of Early upon the
Union lines To check the Confeder-
ate advance, Thomas then in command
of brigade, was ordered across the
pike along which the rebels were ad-
vanoin3. Said Gen. Emory, the Off
Ger who gave this order to Thomas,
many years after, on the same
field: II never gave an order that
caused me more pain than the one |
gave you that morning. knew it
was sending you into the jaws of
death and never expected to see you
again Thomas made a bulldog
fight, withstanding the Confederates
till compelled to fall back from point
to point. till the Sixth corps could get
into position to make stand, and the
time thus gained by Thomas, like
that by Major Keenan, at Chancellors-
vile, was Of the utmost importance
to the Union army ON that eventful
occasion. General Thomas was in the
thickest of the fight in that long day
of decisive battle, always performing
service of the greatest value to the
Union cause.
THE FUNERAL.
From far and near the old veterans
of the civil war gathered to pay
their last respects to one of their num-
Der whom they all loved as an officer
and man. The old blue uniforms that
had long been hanging in the closets
were donned once more and the
sad procession led its way to the
Church of the Messiah, where the fu.
neral exercises of General Thomas
were to be held. OF the old Eighth
Vermont regiment, General Thomas
own pride, about twenty answered to
the roll call These few, who had sum-
mered and wintered with the General
on the field of strife. escorted by
Brooks Post, were the first to enter
the church. Nearly one hundred vet
erals were present. a large number
considering the difficulty many find in
travelling on account of age and dis
ability. A detail from Company II
acted as body bearers and the honorary
pail bearers were Col. f. E. Smith,
Capt. l.. M. Hutchinson Of this city,
Geu. W. H Gilmore of Fairlee, Ma
jor j. l.. Barstow of Shelburne, Capt.
Henry e. Foster, of Derby Line and
DR.. U. M. Ferrin of Essex Junction.
Capt. o. II. Ford of East st. Johns.
bury was in com mand of the Eighth
regiment which LED the procession
into the church.
Among the members and officers of
the Eighth who were present in ad-
dition to the pail bearers were Capt.
B. f. Bowman of Randolph Capt. A.
P. Hawlev of Passumpsic; Capt. o.
FL. Ford of East ST. Johnsbury Lieut..
Perry Porter of West Burke; John
Hatch of Randolph; W. A. Silsbury
of Newbury; J. W. Averill of Barre
Charles A. McClusky of Montpelier;
John W. Getchel of North Montpelier;
Jacob Robinson ana ii. II. Wedge of
Montpelier; Warren S. Clark of North
field; .. U. Lathrop of Williamstown;
W. S. Horton of Oxford, N. H..
George l. Beckley of Barre; and W.
II. Jones of Derby Line. Other mem.
bers present from out of the city were
Capt J. E. Eldredge, W. E. Bliss, L.
Myers and y. M. Clark.
A special detail appointed from the
Loyal Legion was present among
whom were: Capt. E. j. Ormsbee,
Capt. U A. Woodbury., Lieut. f. S.
Strananan and Capt. T. S. Peck, and
H. E. Perkins, ST. Aibans.
Among the floral tributes-which
were many-was a shield in the colors
of the flag, from the directors and Off
GERS of the United States Clothes Pin
Company; a solid shield of carnations,
decorated with a bunch of roses, from
the officers of the Eighth regiment;
oycas wreath decorated with roses,
tied with purple ribbon, from the
Brooks Post; pillow of white carna-
tions, roses, and lilies, with the in
scription, Grandfather" from DR..
Charles Newcomb. And there were
many other beautiful floral tributes.
Rev. DR.. ]. Edward Wright made
the funeral discourse, synopsis of
which is subjoined:
Speaking of General Thomas char,
acteristics, Mr.. Wright first mentioned