Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-08-06


There has just been hung in the Kim
ball Public library commission bearing
the signatures of two presidents Of the
United States and creating Huckins
storrs, 9 Randolph man, lieutenant
colonel in the United States army. The
commission is signed by James Madison,
then president, and by James Monroe, his
secretary Of state, who succeeded him in
the highest Office of the land. The old
document reads as follows:-
tsThe president of the United States of
America, to all those who shall see these
presents, greeting. Know ye that, re-
posing special trust and confidence in
the patriotism, valor, fidelity and abili-
ties of Huckins Storrs, have nominated
and, by and with the advice and consent
of the Senate, do appoint him lieutenant
colonel of the thirty-first regiment OF in
fantry in the service of the United States,
to rank as such from the 23rd day of
February, 1918. He is therefore carefully
and diligently to discharge the duty OF
Iieutenant-colone by doing and perform
ing all manner Of things thereunto be-
longing, and do strictly charge and re-
quire all officers and soldiers under his
command to be obedient to his orders as
Northumberland And he is to observe
and follow such orders and directions
from time to time as he shall receive from
me or the furture president o: the United
States of America or the general or other
superior officers set over him, according
to the rules and regulations of war. This
commission shall continue in force dur
ing the pleasure OF the president OF the
United States for the time being. Given
under my hand at Washington this first
day Of January in the year OF our Lord
1915 and in the thirty-ninth of the indie
pendence of the United States.
James Madison, President. By COM
mand of the President OF the United
States of America, James Monroe"
The second war with England was in
progress when Colonel Storrs
was commissioned and sent to Platts,
burg, N. ", to assist in repelling the
invasion of the British.
The csA of the governor for Vermont
volunteers to meet the advance OF the en-.
envy on that point was responded to by
90 Randolph men, who marched to Wa
terbury the day after the call came, and
finally arrived in view of Lake Champlsir
to find no means of transportation pro-
vided for them.
! The battle was Sunday, Sept. IL, 1914
and news was received OF the victory o.
Macdonough and the retreat of the Bri
fish before the Randolph company board
ed an old sloop and headed for Platts
burg. The boat leaked, the crew wal
sick, the night foggy, the wind blew
and in q pouring rain the sloop RAJ
aground on the rocks near Juniper island
The men disembarked on the island bu
at last crossed to Plattsburg, saw the re
suits of the naval cannonade and then wen
home able to tell their friends and neigh
bors that they had at least been to tn
seat of war and had suffered shipwrecl
and the hardships of long march.
The commission of Lieutenant-Colone
Storrs was forwarded from New York t
F. A. GriswoId by the soldiers grand
daughter, Louise (Chittenden) Smytl
now the last of her family and naturally
DESTROYS to have this treasured reli
preserved after her decease. Writing
from her home in New York, she says:-
81 send you my Grandfather Storrs' com
, mission. He was commander of the da.
at the battle of Piattsburg and lived il
Randolph on what is now Tor was) calle'
the Herrick farm. My mother, Eliz
(Storrs) Chittenden, was the youngest o
twelve children and she is buried besid
. her father in the land he gave for buria
place, called, hear, the Moulton GENE
terry. He had full military funeral.
, would like to have this commission put i
, any place in the town that would be PROF
, er for it,"