Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-08-07
THE COUNTY VETERANS.
Annual Reunion at Townshend Of Old Soldiers
Association.

Annual heunl0n az IoWnsnend OF VIC o0lulors
Association.
The annual reunion OF the Windham
County Veterans association was held
at Townshend, Saturday, and was one
of the best in the history of the organ
ization. The specialtrain that left Brat
tleboro at 9 :15 was crowded and passen-
gers from the intermediate stations
had standing room only. At Towns.
bend the soldiers were formed in line
under direction of Col A. B. Frank
lin, and headed by the Wardsboro cor
net band, marched to the village square.
Col. Kittredge Haskins, president of
the association, called to order and
these officers were elected for the en-
suing year: President, Col A. B.
Franklin of Townshend; vice presi
dent, Barney Cannon of Bellows Falls;
secretary and treasurer, G. M. Russell
of Wilmington; executive committee,
l.. P. Bailey, G. F. Brown and M. H.
Pember. The meeting in 1904 will be
held at Putney.
Dinner was served in the town hall
and the executive committee, consist
ing of Col. W. H. Miles, H. H. Hol-
brook and H. M. Twitchell, together
with the ladies of the Relief corps and
others, deserve great credit for their
efforts in this direction. The line was
again formed and regular dress parade
was held, Col. George H. Bond acting
as adiutant. One hundred and fifty
four soldiers were in line and as the
band marched down and back, it
seemed quite like old days. Col. Has
kins asked all old veterans who were
not receiving pensions to step to the
front. Nine responded.
Breaking ranks, the speaking exer-
cises were held from the rostrum erect
ed for the purpose in the shade of the
spreading naples. Fully 800 persons
were in the audience. The chairman
congratulated the committee and all
others upon the unqualified success of
the meeting. An earnest prayer
was offered by Rev. George F. Baker,
pastor of the Congregational church,
followed by vocal selection by Mrs.
Dale, "We We're Soldiers Together in
the Days of the War.
Col. Haskins addressed the comrades
as remnant of the great army that
rose up in the days of the Rebellion,
in defense of native land, to uphold
the institutions of the Republic. I'm
have been had the Confederacy sue
ceeded. Today the whole country, East
and West, North and South, rejoices
that the verdict was as it was, and
such leaders as Gen. Rosser, Gen.
Lee, Gen. Joseph Wheeler
declare that it was the very best thing
that ever happened to the South;
though the ordeal was terrible, the re-
suit was glorious Mr.. Haskins spoke
at length upon pension matters. He
said that since he became member of
Congress 80 cases had been placed in
his hands; that he had succeeded in
having 12o allowed. He related ais ex-
periences in bringing matters before
the House and before the proper com
nittees, not forgetting to say word
for "Uncle Cy. Sulloway.' Rev. Mr..
Royal sang very effectively, "Shou' der
Shoulder Together.
In introducing Capt. W. H. Taylor
IF Bellows Falls, the chairman referred
20 Gen. E. H. Stoughton, after whom
5he post was named, as one of the most
brilliant officers that went out from
he state; but owing to the unfortu-
1ate incident at Fairfax Court House,.
March 9, 1863, Gen. Stoughton died -
If broken heart. Capt. Taylor ex-
pressed his pleasure that he could be
PRESENT. Ransom E. Hathorn of Lud-
ow, the next speaker, was department
in 1902. He spoke of the
Hearty receptions that he had been ac-
orded to him wherever went and
declared that once Vermonter, al
rays a Vermonter. Col. Franklin re-
DICED in the achievements of the great
rmy that marched away to fight the
nemies of our country and said that
lille we have grave duties resting up
Il us at the present time in the solu-
ion of the Philippine question. he
rmly believed that it would all come
ut for the best and that we should es-
ablish good government on these dis
ant islands.
Col Thomas Harmon, superintend-
ut of the Soldiers Home at Benning-
IN, said that there were at present los
lmates at the home: 20 were in the
ospital and nine absent on furlough.
ince the home was instituted 437 have
cen admitted; 152 have died. He
ordially invited al friends to visit
lie home. Mrs. Dale sang "They
ave drafted him into the army re-
Giving hearty applause. Rev. Mr.
oval demonstrated the fact that he
as an orator as well as a good singer
i'd furthermore that he could tell
DRY. c. NJ. Russell of Wilmington
'oke in regard to the unparalleled
yalty of the prisoners of war. Dur
e the war 200 soldiers were TAX
! prisoners and suffered untold pri-
ltions and hardships. But when
aviation was almost overcoming their
ave hearts, when reason was totter-
g, liberty was offered them upon one
ndition-that they would swear allie
ance to the Confederate government.
hat was their answer? Less than
10 per cent of that 115, 200 were will
g to accept liberty on such terms
ley preferred to suffer all rather than
prove false to the cause they had
-orn to defend.
Col. Herbert E. Taylor was the last
eaker, the chairman observing that
always kept the best until the last
u. Taylor has happy faculty in
Dry telling and was at his best on
is occasion. He closed by exhorting
e comrades to keep young in spirit
en- though they could not in years
keep up comradeship in every way,
r the years are soon coming when
2 last will have passed away. The
ercises closed with the singing of
nerica, with cheers for the good peo-
, of Townshend for the Royal good
ne afforded.
\ reunion of Company d, 10th Yer