The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-09-22
THE VERMONT MILITIA.

Daring the ten days they were out
of the State, the Vermont militia
had large dose of hard work and
learned much about military matters.
They we're given experience in army
life and the work of the battlefield.
Practically the only difference be-
tween the work that they did and
that which would. have fallen to their
lot had it been actual warfare lay in
the difference between the effect of
blank cartridges and ball cartridges,
The lessons of the camp and field were
made as realistic as possible the COM
missary department was forced to
adapt itself to war conditions, feeding
troops on the march and in the face
of the enemy; the officers, from gen.
erals to corporals, each had his lesson
to learn,
The best of it all is, however, that
the Green Mountain Boys did their
work WE'LL learned we'll the lessons of
the manoeuvres, and we're credit to
the State while away. From some
source or other, as yet unascertained,
a press despatch was sent out from
Manassas and found it's way into sew
eral of the New York and Boston
papers, which reflected seriously upon
the discipline of the Vermont troops.
The despatch stated that the Vermont
militia refused to march to the review
on Saturday, in spite of the COM
mands, threats and persuasions Of their
officers. The statements were lies,
and whoever was the fabricator is I'M
worthy of associating with decent
men. They were lies made up out of
whole cloth, and whether they arose
from jealousy of other troops, or from
the desire of some reporter to make
sensational story, there was absolutely
no truth in the report
BY the circulation Of those lies an
injury was done to the fair name of
Vermont which no amount of denial
can make good. The sensational re-
port OF insubordination will go where
the denials and the plain statements
of fact will not CO. The men did not
disobey orders; they were ready and
willing to take part in the grand
review. Many were physically in
capacitated, but such as could march
would have marched, regardless of sore
feet and tired bodies, hsd the command
been given. There was the best of
discipline in camp, all of the time,
and it makes the blood of the militia
men boil with justifiable rage to read
the stories of characterization. The
lie to the effect that the Vermont reg
iment was the only one that stayed
away from the review might be en-
dured, for that might be excused by
ignorance or misinformation; but the
other, never.
One Vermont militiaman died on
the way home from disease directly
accountable to the privations of
camp. Many more were sick. There
can be no question that the authori-
ties in charge must have learned one
lesson at least. They must have
found out that the manoeuvres in
Virginia were too extensive and ex-
baustiug for raw militia. Nearly a
week of solid work, marching at all
times of the day or night, eating at
irregular intervals food Of Indifferent
quality and quantity, sleeping very
little-suoh a life without time for
becoming acclimated or Injured to
hardship was too much of strain on
the youth of the country taken from
the stores, offices, and various other
positions. Too much work was
crowded into short space of time.
The wonder is that the men stood il
as we'll as they did,
The manoeuvres ought to become
permanent practice, for they were
productive OF much good to the mil.
tia. But reason must be used ant
the work better planned, The Yer
mont militia will probably be GLAD
to go again, not with the idea of its
being pleasure jaunt. but for the
purpose of learning more about mil
itary matters. They are in earnes
and so showed themselves. The SAM
stuff is in them that was in the boy
of 10 and '61.