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

be absent and Munson was otherwise en-
gagged Boynton was designated to COM
mand the regiment. Nothing out Of the
ordinary occurred until the line was form
ed for dress parade, and then Captain
Lonergan asserted what he considered his
right and undertook to dlsplace Boynton
as regimental commander. Standing near
together, both issued orocrs-the CUSTOM
airy dress parade orders-which were
partly obeyed until they became so con-
flicting that the company commanders
did not know what to do, and then Royn-
ton ordered the parade dismissed. Some
of the companies promptly marched to
quarters and there being only n minor
ity left, Captain Lonorgan wisely con-
cluded to transfer the controversy from
the field to brigade headquarters. Cen
eral Stannard came to the regiment to
investigate, but as the new commissions
had by that time arrived, he did not
deem it necessary to subject anybody to
discipline, and thus what might have
become a very serious incident was
closed with as little i'll feeling as could
have been expected
Happily Lieutenant Colonel Munson was
IN no way blamed for his promotion and
he had no part In the event lust related
His nvariable politeness and considera-
ton for others won and held for him The
respect OF those who had felt entitled to
his place and in every respect he made
good" On the second Gay of the battle
of Gettysburg, as this tablet states, he
had command of the loft wing of the
regiment. which was detached on the
south of Cemetery Hill and sent to n
more exposed position on the west front
to support some batteries While he and
one half of the regiment were in this po-
sition they had an opportunity near sun
set to witness the brilliant dash made
by Colonel Randall and the other FIVE
companies, at some dlstan to their left
down past the corpse of trees which he
came famous the next day a the "high
water mark Of the rebellion" and where
a battery which was about to he seized by
tho enemy was hravelv recovered by them
and drawn to the rear, amid the cheers
of many thousand men. Munson and his
mon had every reason to bo just as proud
Of this achievement as though they had
been in the charging column, for they
were keeping back a body of the enemy
which otherwise might have overwhelmed
Randall and his little band. I say this rs
commander of one of the charging com
panies and I give equal credit to the
presence, not far to our left and rear,
of General Stannard and the Fourteenth
and Sixteenth Vermont regiments. which
constitute: all the rest f our brigade
that took part IN the battle.
After nightfall the regiment was re-
united and the brigade took the position
which it held the next day until it moved
forward to meet and help to repulse
Picketts charge That thrilling event has
been described SO many times that there
is nc occasion for me to repeat the great
story here, bu. | hope Il will not be
thought amiss for me To say to the
civilians and especially to tSe young peo-
pie here, that this group of comrades
before me now went through that blazing,
kissing. roaring hell of fire and death.
doing deeds that shine Respondent in
all the worlds great feats of arms and
contributing their full share to the de-
c'sive result of that turning battle of the
war. Colonel Munson DISCHARGED his duty
to the utmost, and though slightly wound
ed, he did not leave the field. The peo-
pie of Colchester may forever take pride
in pointing to this grave as that of an
officer without rcproach, Il hero tried and
future trials and emergencies his exam
pie will inspire other youths TO stake their
all ana do their hest when country calls
Having been mustered ont with his regi-
ment at the expiration Of its term. he
devoted himself TO homo duties for a
year and then accepted an appointment
by Governor Smith to recruit colored
volunteers in the State OF Georgia and
4 la l1,1 TO ~
mont under the call of July IS. 1864. for
100000 men. Proceeding to Nashville
Tenn. and Marietta, Ga. he and the
other agents, of whom there were more
than fifty from different States. learned
that General Sherman vas strongly OPP
posed to such recruitment, although il
had been authorized by act of Congress
and the provost marshal informed them
that enlistments would not be allowed
and If they obtained any recruits no
transportation would be furnished for
them. In fact, as fast as able bodied
men came within the Union lines they
were given employment by General Sher-
man at good wages in building ard re-
pairing roads. bridges and earthworkA
and in the transportation Of supplies, con-
sequently It was impossible to obtain
any recruits. and as soon as Colonel Mum
son had satisfied himself of this, he con-
scient.ous!y returned to Vermont, so as
to save tho State expense. In 1856 he
was elected by the general assembly
a brieader general and placed in COM
mand of the first brigade % the first
division of the formidable militia force
which the State then maintained but
soon reduced to a peace basis. Thus
closed his military career, which had not
been great but was in all respects credit
able.
Thenceforth he devoted himself chiefly
to the duties of private life, although
he was sheriff of Chltteuden county for
four years in the late sixties. From
boyhood he was fond of music and be-
came an accomplished player leader and
teacher, For many years he conducted
the music In his church. He excelled as
violinist and was the organizer and
leader Of the Munson orchestra, whose
hne music is such an attractive feature
of this occa sion. In the spring of 1878
he went to South Carolina and for seven
years was occupied in teaching music
and managing a music store. After re-
der of his life in surveying and in as
sisting his son with whom he lived
Colonel Munson was married In Cleve-
land O., cn the 22d of January, 1857
to Julia A. Henderson of Sherbrooko
Canada with whom he lived happily I'M
til her death in 1878. Many of us re-
member what handsome couple they
were. OF the four children born to them