Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-07-05

known In Colchester nearly as long as
the town has had name
Colonel Munson was OF The third gen
Grafton known to his town. His grand
ia ther William Munson came here a young
man, from Dover, N. H., IN 1880; was en-
gagged in the lumber trade with Ira AL
len, afterward going Into the same busi-
ness for himself and acquiring large
landed property. 1t is said that at ono
time he owned more then one half Of
the town lots in Colchester. lie raised
a large family of children, fourteen in
number, William r.. the father OF C1l
Munson being the fourth He lived on and
owned the farm south of and adjoining
the cemetery. on this farm William Day
Munson's youth was spent, from here his
first venture into the world was made,
going to Norwich University, whence he
graduated as civil engineer and where
he acquired the military tactics and a
soldierly bearing. From this time Col.
Munson was famlliary known by all the
people of this town and vicinity. being
prominently identified in all public affairs.
Here with us are his son, William Nun
son. and his daughter. Mrs. Winnie
Wright Of tho fourth generation,
and the fifth generation are here
also. five in number, one of them
being William Herbert Nunson, who
Is the fifth William in direct descent known
to the people of this town Here in this
group of graves in this old cemetery are
buried three generations of the Munson
family. This tablet VIC dedicate to-day
will he n source of pride and great inter-
est to the citizens of this community
land to the children and grandchildren
lstill greater; and with what interest and
Isatisfaction the future genera tons will
view and read this enduring tribute to one
Iof their ancestors Centuries hence. Col.
Munson's descendants will study this in
cription and learn thercfrom that this an
lccstor was, first, a scholar; that in about
the middle of the 10th century he was a
soldier In the great Civil War of that
period; that he was an officer in the
18th regiment from his own State; that
he was engaged in the great battle OF
Gettysburg of which history is replete;
that at critical time in this battle
when the Union forces were stubbornly
attacked he fought bravely in the rcpuse
of the enemy, and finally they will read
with qualification that this tablet was
placed here by his comrades, who fought
with him. who knew him well in war and
their respect and affection for him.
After five generations more have come
and gone and still more after them, this
tablet will remain to proclaim these facts
in the life of their ancestor, Col VIM.
d. Munson.
Now, Mr.. Chairman. For, and in behalf
of the citizens of this community, for the
family and for the long line of descend
ooh lot
now accepted.
COZ. CLARKE's ADDRESS.
The address of the occasion was deliver
ed by Col. Albert Clark. of Boston, pres-
ident OF the Homo Market club and a
former member of Companies l and G..
Col. Clarke spoke as follows:
MP. CLARKE'S ADDRESS.
Comrades and citizens: On this 45d an
niversary of the greatest battle in the an
nails of our country, t is most fitting
that this group OF survivors should hold
its annual regimental reunion at the grave
Of the latest of their field officers to pass
away. We thank his children for per-
hitting us to place upon the monument
which their love has reared the tablet
which we now dedicate. 1t gives in APP
propriate language his military record.
but particulars were necessarily left to
be spoken. From data furnished me by
his long time conrade and townsman,
the accomplished secretary Of our assoc
citation, Judge John II. Lyon, I am able
to present the facts of his career and
from personal knowledge we can culog-
ize his fine qualities and worthy deeds.
William Day Munson was born in this
town of Colchester February 18th. 1893.
He improved his opportunities for educa-
ton and was graduated at Norwich Uni
versity in 1854. his class being one ahead
of Admiral Dewey's, although Dewey. by
reason of having received an appointment
to the L. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis
left Norwich at about the time Munson
left The next year was written tho
famous song OF that institution, entitled
The Old South Barracks. Oh" which
was sung to the West Point tune of
Benny Ravens, Oh" and It is appro-
pirate here and now to recall its tribute
to the heroes TO be:
ITO the Army ard tho Navy
Each prospective grand hero
Who went out from among NJ,
To fight his courtry's foe
May he win crown OF laureis.
Where'er Fames hreezes blow.
And shout amid the battles blast
For the Old South Barracks. OH"
Soon after graduating, having developed
proficiency in engineering studies, young
Munson was appointed assistant engineer
on the St. Croix and Lake Superior rail-
road, which ran 1876 miles from Point
Prescott on the Mississippi river to
Superior on Lake Superior He was there
two years, making the preliminary sur
vey tho first year and locating the road
the next, and then for two years he was
surveyor for the county of St. Crox in
Wisconsin, Engineering opportunities IN
that vicinity being then exhausted. he
returned to Vermont and engaged in sur
veying and farming until the outbreak
OF tho Civil War.
In 1851 he recruited lo0 men for bat
terry of artillery and was elected captain,
but after he had drilled the company for
one month it was disbanded by order of
Governor Fairbanks, because he with
many others believed that the war would
soon end. The next year when the Thir-
teenth regiment was recruited Nunson
was elected captain Of Co. y, and in that
capacity most Of us first knew him.
Somehow we did not hear OF his military
education but we saw his soldlerly bear
ing and 1t did not take us long to dis
cover the efficiency of his company.
Others of us would not admit then. how
ever. nor will admit now that Co ID