Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-09-14
MARKS OLD CAMP GROUNDS
GRANITE MONUMENT SUITABLY
DEDICATED WEDNESDAY.
over 1900 People Attended the Exer-
cises on Fair Grounds-Fine Dedica-
tory Address by Congressman Has
kins-Gov. Bell and staff Present

koky <AoaAS's ~
kins-Goy, Bell and staff Present.
Over l.200 people gathered on the
Valley Fair grounds Wednesday after
noon TO witness the unveiling and dedi-
cation of the granite boulder placed
there as a marker of the spot where
the Vermont regiments were mustered
in and ont of the service of their coun-
try during the four years OF the olVii
war. The exercises were held IN con
nection with the annual reunion OF the
Windham County Veterans associa-
ton, and the presence of the old sol,
diers added much to the solemnity OF
the oceasion. Governor Charles j. Bell
and his staff were also present. Inc
day was ideal. A bright sun tempered
bv cooling breeze smiled on the
crowd during most of the exercises, al
though for a short time a cloud IN the
west caused looks Of apprehension to
he thrown in that direction. The dedi'
cation exercises were held at 2 o clock,
the speeches being made in front of the
prandstand after the monument had
been unveiled
During the forenoon groups OF grlz-
2led veterans gathered in various shady
places on the fair grounds to hght their
battles over again aud relate various
incidents, humorous and pathetic, OF
their experiences while bearing arms IN
the eountrv's service. AT noon the vet
Grams sat down to a bountiful dinner
served in the dining hall by the Wo'
mans Relief corps and the Following
hour was devoted to the election OF OF
ficers for the ensuing year.
Just before O'Clock the veterans
formed in double file and made ready
for the march to the marker, when II
sitnated at the northerly end of the
grounds inside the race track. To the
Strains of Marching Through Georgia,
played by the First Regiment band, the
column started. Bent and dropping hg-
ures perceptibly Strengthened, hating
stems became more firm and dim eyes
took on a new light as the boys IN
bluen formed a hollow square about
the marker. The guard of honor con
sisted of Charles C. Miller, Henry D..
Allen. James p. Elmer, Roscoe FISHER,
George E. Selleck. Peter $. Chase, Caleb
p. Nash. Wells c. Stone, Samuel ,.
Hunt, John NJ. joy, George ID. odeil,
Harry Rowe. William III. Tyler, Sanford
A. Smith. Fred T. Stewart and Cyrus
Ramsdell, members of Sedgwick post
G. A. r.
After the bugle eall aad the invoca,,
tion by Rev. George b. Lawson the band
plaved America and DR.. HID. Holton
made the address of welcome. lie sand;
The various patriotic organizations OF
Brattleboro something over year ago
met in Joint committee to consider the
placing of an appropriate marker upon
this historic ground. AS result Oh
their labors we welcome you most cor
dially to the exercises of this occasion
made possible by the cooperation OF
various patriotic citizens of the state,
who have contributed toward the neces-
sarv EXPENSES incurred. The granite
block is from Dummerston, the inscrlp-
ton on the bronze tablet IS from the
pen of the Hon. G. G. Benedict, the
historian of Vermont in the Civil war
The bronze figures were designed by
citizen of Brattleboro, and the drawing
for the model was also by resident
artist This plain is forever memorable
by reason of being where more than
10. 900 loyal patriot sons of Vermont
were mustered into the national service
and went forth to give their llves II
necessary to preserve the union. IT Is
with particular pleasure that we recog
nize so many veterans OF the cohihcI
who after so many years are aple 10
march on the "Old Camp Ground.
God bless you and keep you yet many
more years.
This monument is erected to mark the
epoch in your lives when your beine
was dominated by patriotic love OF
country and fixed determination 10
maintain a government where every
person should enjoy the greatest free
dom compatible with the rights OF ev'
ery other person. But not alone to you
who survived the perils of the camp
and shock of battles but to the com
rades who in camp or battle or prison
nen laid down their lives to MAINTAIN
these principles Together you received
from our fathers great trust, to nam
tain unsullied "Old Glory" the EN-
blem of freedom. This you did most
nobly even to the washing away OF the
blot of slavery and welding the various
states into one strong nation. May the
generations vet to come maintain with
equal patriotism and purity the en-
larged trust you have imposed upon
them.
At the close of DR.. Holton s remarks
the band rendered another selection
and as the strains of The Star Spangleo
Banner burst forth Miss Margaret n
Root raised the flag which draped tne
granite marker and thus unvelled ~
4 fife and drum salute was then rem
dered by veteran drum corps com
posed of G. Z. Sturgis, H. E. Meacham
w. F. Forbush and H. A. Reynolds. Az
the band played the Centennial Marcf
the crowd walked to the grandstanc
where seats were taken to hear the re
naming speeches. The guests of honol
were Governor Charles J. Bell, Mrs
Bell and two daughters, General n Y
Williams and two daughters Of Bellows
Falls, Adiutant- General W. II. Gilmore
of Fairlee. Colonel and Mrs. Albert
Dale, Colonel and Mrs. G. W. Scarf
Colonel and Mrs. M. D. Roberts, Colone
and Mrs. F. S. Billings and Charles l
Walter, secretary of civil and militar.
| affairs.
Speech of Dedication
The first of the speeches was givel
by Congressman Kittridge Haskins. III
said in part:
In 1860 the population of Vernon
was 315,09s. The report of our adJu
tant general credits Vermont with h9v
ing furnished during the war of tn
rebellion 34,23S men. The records o.
the war department at Washington
credit us with 1000 additional men WHIT
nrobably enlisted in other than oul