Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-02-12
Vermonters at Critical Moments.
Tribute OF Lieut.. Gov. Guild Of Massa-
ehusetts at Vermont Veterans Associ.
ton Banquet.

ehusotts at Vermont Veterans Associ.
ton Banquet.
1t is not our habit to lament shortcom-
ings in the history of Massachusetts. vet
am sure in extending the welcome of
the commonwealth to the soldiers Of YER
mont that YOU will agree with me that
Massachusetts made her geatest mistake
In not insisting in 174O (when King George
gave them to New Hampshre), that the
Green mountains, first guarded by Massa-
chusetts men at Fort Drummer, should be
permanently kept with all their future
history within the borders of Massachu-
sets.
OF the history of which Vermont is so
justly proud no chapter is brighter than
that OF her services in the civil war. In
reading the history of that war Massachu-
sets and Vermont can afford to be gen.
erous each to the other in the noble rival
ry of common loyalty II Massachusetts,
ships suffered from the raids of the con-
federate pirate Alabama which a Mas
sachusetts sailor sank Vermont was the
only New England state invaded from
Canada by confederates. II Massachu-
sets was the first to shed her blood for
the Union, Vermont was the first to raise
Union earthwurks on the soil of Virginia
and also to assault a confederate forth
fiCation.
England, the nation remembers Vermont's
| splendid sacriiitc 1t is much to say that
little Vermont put $4,000 men into the
Union blue. 1t is more to say that the
| Green Mountain state responded to the
call OF Abraham Lincoln with ten soldiers
for every hundred of the states popula-
ton. We honor the Massachusetts, color
bearer who boosted old Glory never
touched the ground How shall we honor
state whose blood flowed in we'll
nigh every battle in the war but whose
colors in those four years of bloody con-
| llict never were touched but by the hands
OF her own sons.
As in the revolution it was the happy
| fortune of Vermont at Bennington to
stand victorious at the parting of the
ways between the losing and the winning
! of a great cause, as in the war with
| Spain ii was given to a son Of Vermont
to change the destiny of the nations with
! the most complete naval victory in re-
corded history. SO in the great rebellion
there are two marks deep cut in the
cliffs of northern loyalty. marking the eb-
/ bling Of southern success from its food
| tide which the eternal erosion of time
| shall never wear away
When Picketts yelling veterans flushed
| with memories of victory. charged at
! Gettysburg. and the scales of destiny
| trembled on an even plane the first stag
gering shock to that superb advance. the
| first of the series of blows that drove the
/ southern cause backward from Little
/ Round Top to Appomattox came from
| the new recruits Of STANDARDS Vermont
/ brigade.
/ When Sh, ridan at Cedar Creek rode up
/ to men who We're not retreating. veterans
| Of a score of battles whose superb re-
I sistauce. a regiment against a brigade. a
| skirmish line against a division. made
/ possible the miracle Of a rout TRANSFORMS
| ed into victory. and asked. what
/ troops are these? the answer came.
/ Sixth corps--Nermont brigade
Honor is yours that such deeds wcr.
done by Vermont Greater honor is Ie
/ that they were not lone for Vermont but
] for our country.