The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1905-07-06

The hanehestef Soldiers Monument A.
ISOLATION has delegated to me the pleasant
duty Of presenting to you this besutiiu
monument. think you will agree with
me that II is Of appropriate design, well
proportIoned, and Of artistic hnish. But
monument 10 valued, chiefly, not for III
beauty. but for what II represents, for the
story It tells.
The Gree K historian Thueydides relste'
that monument Was erected at the pasi
Of Thermopylae to the memory Of the 500
spartsns who kept back for three days ths
Immense army Of Xsrxes, and who were
all slain. This simple monument 10 40 OBJ
scure valley was esteemed more Lishly by
the patriotic Greeks than tho magnificent
Parthenon At Athens adorned by the match
less PhIdiss.
Some Of those now present may remem.
Der back to the fall Of 1861. Company 4,
Of the 9th Vermont Regiment was recruit
ed here and you may remember them -
they last appeared mustered on this green
before leaving for the seat Of war. They
we're stalwart fellows full Of hope and cour-
age and eager for the fray.
In June 1862 Mcclellan made his master
ly retreat from the Chict ahominy to the
James, In which he lost neither gun nor q
wagon. This retreat was made possible BY
q thin line Of soldiers, mostly Vermonters.
placed at Ssvage's Station to keep back the
Confederate army. TIL darkness these men
kept their post, but at what sacrifice. ln
the csnter Of this line WAS this same Co. K.
That fsteful morning the company muster.
cd fifty.six muikets At the next roll call
only seven men remsiDed to answer to their
names.
This monument tells their story, and
more. It tells the story Of John Roberts,
Of Manchester, and his four sons who, in
l775 entered Ticopd pderoga with Ethan Allen.
1t tells the story Of Captain Nathan Smith
and bis men at the Battle Of Bennington.
II tells the story Of Captain Burnham and
his company at Ssvage's Station; the story
Of Csptain Munson and bis company at
Gettysburg; Of Colonel Dudley and his men
In the Wilderness and at Spottsylvanis; Of
Manchester men who guarded the northern
frontier from Burgoynes Invasion to the
end Of the war OF those who we're at Platts.
burgh In 1914; Of Manchester men who
we're at the front In almost every battle
fought by the Army Of the Potomac. 1t 10
. story Of which Manchester people may
well be proud and which this monument
will always call to their mindf, for the
names OF these men % far ~ they can be
ascertaiued, have been placed upon Its
shields.
Since he 10 no longer with us Il may be
proper for me to state that to the late +. h.
Orvis more than to any one else the con-
struction OF this monument IL due. The
Soldiers Monument Association Was 6rst
proposed by him ard he WAS the largest
contributor TO its funds. Until bis death
be was the most earnest worker among its
members. Though not soldier himself be
slways had warm place In bis heart for
'.the boys 10 blue" He WAS also . close
student Of the early history Of the town
and State and had an equal veneration for
the soldiers Of the War OF the Revolution.
II Was at bis iuagestiop that the monument
includes the men from Manchester who serv-
ed In all our wars. Ethan Allen WAS bis
ideal hero and 1t Was his earnest desire that
the statue Of our earliest patriot should be
Ito GROWING glory. Whether our statue IL
correct representation Of Allen or not, 1t
10 certainly . typical representative tf .
Vermont soldier. You can all see that he
/. sturdy AID brave; that he will not ainch
10 the hour Of dsrger; that he 10 ready for
every hardship that be viii answer when
duty calls ether 10 time Of war or 10 time
OF peace, and of ,uch we're our soldiers from
MAncht ster.
And nov We lesve It with you our duty
done. May 1t always remain TO ytu and
your children after you forever, ad NAV
the story 1t tells always inspire 10 you
and them the loflIest ideals Of patriotic
virtue,