Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-09-14

ural healthfulness of our climate and
the purity of the water that flowed from
our mountain springs. caused to be\ es
tabished and erected upon these grounds
n general hospital which wes thoroughly
Differed and equipped for the treatment
Of the sick and wounded. AS originally
constructed 1t would easily accommodate
600 men. In the summer of 1864, follow
ing the advance of our army under Gen.
Grant towards Richmond there were
sent here sick and wounded soldiers so
that at one time there were 100 patients
under treatment. This enormous over
flow, beyond the capacity OF the hospital
proper were cared for under large tents
constructed for hospital purposes. At
one time. soldiers of ev.ry loyal state in
the Union were inmates of this hospital.
Between the date OF its establishment
and 1865 over $500 sick and wounded SOL
diers received treatment within it's walls;
and OF this large number but 95 died.
Twenty-one of these were buried in the
Soldiers lot" purchased and now own
ed by the government in yonder Pros
poet Hill cemetery; the remains Of two
have since been removed by friends or
relatives, and nineteen now remain whose
graves are marked by suitable marble
headstones, representing many different
states.
Vermont lost during the war in killed and
died from wounds and disease 1924 men.
OF the killed in battle the proportionate
loss Of Vermont was greater than any other
loyal state except Michigan-and that
state, like every other northern state.
had many native Vermonters among its
troops. And Vermont expended for war
purposes nearly 10000 900. OF which
amount the several towns expended near
ly five and one-quarter million dollars
without any hope or expectation of re-
endorsement by the general government.
N as.fot
organizations, and the number OF deadly
engagements in which they. severally,
participated, ! have endeavored TO avoid
mentioning any man by name. The Of
ficer who held the highest rank. down
along the file of men to the beardless boy
who beat the drum, were all brave, loyal
men who loved their country and its
flag: no sacrifice too great for them to
make-they did their duty each and eV-
cry one; and to make mention of the
name of this or that one might well be
regarded, at least by some, as an in
vidious distinction. which, in a presence
like that congregated here, ought not to
be made.
Right here as on all occasions of this
kind the question naturally suggests it,
self-Why all this sacrifice in blood and
treasure? Were the results wrought out
worthy OF these hecatombs OF human
lives which were so freely offered in
Q
l cannot stop to discuss the origin and
cause of that rebellion 1t is familiar to
nearly everyone here present II is suf
fcent to say that the great vital prin-
clple involved was one of sovereignty.
Whether the power and sovereignty of the
Nation was greater than that OF the
states. OF the arch conspirators. Alex
ander II. Stephens, afterwards vice pres
ident of the sso-called Confederacy. in
November. 1860, said in speaking Of the
heritage our fathers had handed down
TO us, that 1T is the most beneficent
government of which history gives us
any account" And Jefferson Davis a
few months before he withdrew from the
United States Senate to accept the Of
fee of president of the Confederacy,
speaking from his seat in that body de-
clared IL to be, "The best government
ever instituted by man, unexceptionably
administered. and under which the peo-
| pie have been prosperous beyond COM
parison with any other people whose
career has been recorded in history
Edward Everett has told us that in
| the winter of 1S60-61 within his own
personal knowledge. II having in sub
stance, been admitted to him by one
of the most influential leaders OF seces-
| sion, that, because, for the first time
since the adoption OF the Constitution a
President had been elected without any
| of the votes of the South, they were to
assert the authority and right of the
states to secede from the Federal Union,
occupy the national capital and seize the
| public archives of the government by a
bold and sudden movement on the 4th of
/ March, 1861. Their purpose becoming
/ known, this foul conspiracy was frus-
| trated through the forethought and prep
aration made by that veteran chief, Gen.
! Winfield Scott then in command of our
slender military force which he mob
| liked In and about the capital.
To destroy "the best government ever
instituted by man" and under which the
people had been prosperous beyond COM
parison with any other people" as stated
! by Mr.. Davis they fired upon their
country's flag, forced upon the general
government a war which. for the mag
nitude of its proportions and the extent
of its field of operations, has no parallel
in history. Imagine for a moment what
would have been our condition today had
we failed of success; had we not pressed
the chalice of bloody war to the lips OF
our misguided brethren and compelled
them to drink out OF it to its bitter
dregs, Time will not permit me to pic
ture to you the direful effects that would
have resulted In two hostile governments
within the territory carved out by oul