Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-04-30
SECOND VERMONT PENSIONS.

Mr.. Editor
In your issue OF last week you reported
that a soldier by the name of Patrick
Chimney was dropped from the rolls of the
pension department, on account Of his
being a member of the I'd regiment, Yer
mont volunteers and not entitled TO a
pension as the regiment was doing duty
on the frontier and not actively engaged
in putting down the Rebellion; that this
regiment did duty on the Wabash instead
of along the Potomac. You reported the
above from the RUTLAND Herald.
Now, Mr.. Editor, let an old soldier tes-
tify in regard to what the End Vermont
regiment did; one who was v it'll the Sec
ond regiment from June, 1861, to July,
1865, and never absent but a few weeks
during those long, bloody four years of the
war and participated in nearly % battles.
The End regiment went 10 the front in
June, 1861, and was engaged in the first
Battle of Bull Run in July, 1851; in this
one battle more than any other Vermont
regiment. The Bird, 9TH, 9th and 9Th
came a few months later and all formed
what was known Is the Old Vermont
Brigade. This Old Brigade never was
dissolved during the four years of the war
and never left the front line except when
the police lost control of the city OF New
York and then the Old Brigade was
drawn from the Army of the Potomac
and took possession OF the city OF New
York for a few weeks until the draft was
executed. Those rebel sympathizers that
defied law and order in that great city
seemed to love the Old Vermont Brigade.
Why was the Old Vermont Brigade
taken for that duty in preference to any
other brigade of that great army OF near
ly 100000? 1 am sure IL was because we
were the best differed and because the
enlisted men were sober, obeyed orders
and could be depended upon. The spirit
gsde, and well 1t might
Again, the Old Brigade was withdrawn
from the Army OF the Potomac in the fall
of 1854. when the Rebel General Early
went round Us through the Shenandoah
valley and when the Old Brigade arrived
in Washington the Rebels were firing
into the city. Lincoln was on the forts
as we arrived on the outskirts of the city.
How the people on the streets cried for
joy that the city was not 10 be looted and
rszed by an invading army.
Then followed the Shenandoah cam
paign of three battles-Wi nehester, Fish
er's Hill and Cedar Creek. Late in De
cember the Old Brigade. including the
End Vermont regiment. returned to the
Army OF the Potomac there TO remain un-
til the Rebel army surrendered April q,
1865. April 2, the Old Brigade was in
the front line that Sunday morn before
dawn when it stepped slowly and softly
up against the dreadful works made as
strong the ingenuity of man could
make. but not formidable enough to stop
the Old Brigade and the 9th corps, who
Ill II -.
army was scattered to the four winds. A
few hours later, the Rebel president,
jefferson Davis. was summoned from his
church of worship and ordered the Rebel
supplies to be set on fire and during the
night following we saw Richmond and
Petersburg on fire from their own men.
Then followed the greatest race Of mod
ern warfare to see whether the Rebel
army would be captured or driven into
the Allegheny mountains to starve. They
chose to be captured.
Now, Mr.. Editor, please tell the Rut-
land Herald this great and good govern
ment has made no decree cutting on the
pensions of the End Vermont regiment
for being absent from the front, as they
never were absent from the front line.
Their path was strewn with blood. They
left numbers of the best soldiers the
world ever saw on countless battle
fields. No pension officer ever did or
ever will give out q decree that the End
Vermont regiment has no right to PEN
sions as IT has one more battle set to its
credit than any other Vermont regiment.
Somebody has made q bad blunder.
Never fear for the old Vermont End regi-
ment as her roll Of honor is built noun |
tain high.
Geo. w. Fiagg, late LIST Lieut., End
Regt., Vt. Vols.