Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-08-06

rebel invasion in the loyal state OF
Pennsylvania at the great battle Of
Gettysburg, you showed your mettlc.
Yes; there upon the soil of the loyal |
State of Pennsylvania YOU played your |
part we'll to render the field historic |
which has been visited by thousands |
from all nations. And when we recall the
eulosies Of the dead we know that the
part played in the dramatic scenes OF
those stirring times by the 18th Ver-
mont Volunteers will never be for |
gotten. Mark Antonys GRAFTON over the
dead body OF Julius Caesar, hundreds OF
years ago, concentrated one of the
brightest realities of Roman history And
because of tho fitness and propriety OF
these commemorative addresses do they
appeal to men of all ages recalling deeds
of valor and of heroism.
SO with the memorial address delivered
upon the grounds at Gettysburg by our
martyred President years ago, II will
be treasured for centuries by coming
generations. loyal to republican form
of government. and II will continue to
be read IN many a tongue over the
civilized globe and loved for It's simple.
| ity and truthfulness.
| Comrades. II would he presumptous
'huo"u lot me 10 wish TO entertain YOU
with oratory at this time and upon
this subject, following the master
minds that have preceded me. Mo- Il
| is not oratory that Is sought to be at
tanned; but language. carrying us back
to the time of long ago. to the time
| when the armies of Mead and Lee
we're clutching ut each others throats.
And here let me say with all due
modesty that your regiment, the old
18th Vermont. held tho post Of honor
In General STANDARDS Vermont Brig
adc And with such leaders as Colonel
F. V Randall. Munson, Boynton, and
AdjutantGencral Peck. made history
for YOU As years ago to-day
And when 1t comes to counting up
the number OF officers and soldiers
killed and wounded in that terrible
conflict none can more fully realize
the awful cost of preserving the Union
than the remnant OF the 18th Yer
mont Volunteers.
The great Civil War cost the lifo-
blood OF tens OF thousands of comrades
from every loyal state in the Union
and Vermont furnished her share for
the sacrifice.
Yes: we have other Vermont troops
that have left as proud a record. The
list Vernon. Regiment was the first OF
the Vermont troops to start the fight
Ing at Big Bethel, This was q three
months regiment. And next we soc
the 1st Vermont Brigade at the Battle
of the First Bull Run, and afterwards
with. Mcclellan on the Peninsular
campo ign nghting their way from
Fortress Monroe to Yorktown via
white House Landing. and ther
through Lees Mills, williamsburg nnc
Seven pines. until they were in camy
. upon the south side Of the Chckahom
my. within sight of tho rebel capital
And we then see them covering the re
treat to Harrson's Landing on tn,
James river.
General Lees FIRST move from Rich
mond was to throw out his main fore
to place called Meadows Bridge
and by so doing he abandoned the hlgl
I ground and marched the bulk OF hi
> army on to the meadows. His purpos
was to turn the right wing of Nc
: Clellans army. which was held by Fit
r John Portcr's corps. 1t was then tina
" we received our orders to retreat ,
L the James river.
Tho adjutant OF the regiment I
e which l was at that time serving. III
II 9Th Vermont Volunteers. raised hi
voice in protest asking as to tn
70 whereabouts Of Mcclellan ana exclain
l. ing that there Is here a lost oppo'
81 tunity.
He saw that We should have cut Lee
re- army in two. and plant cur artillery
IT the heights. and make a dash for Ric'
mond, and then change our base Of ope
atoms to the James River; and that
30 doing victory would be ours
= At the close of the war. Genera! Lon
" street, in his report OF the seven dag
y, fight, charged that General Lee ma
-. mistake in abandoning the advanta
:, Of the heights but that very fortunat
- " for them, the Union general did n
sec II.
-" The young officer who pointed out u
strategic opportunity vas my old
" brother, who was killed by IA rebel shar
shooter at Cold Harbor. Va, in Jur
" 1864, Major Richard Il. Crandal of I
" 9Th VI Vols. His last words were: M
' colonel, that I cannot be with you ney
let the rebels drive my regiment"
~ The good showing OF these ot,Hr troc
" from the Green Mountain State togeti
~ with the valor shown t.. the part y
- took at the battle OF Gettysburg
m h,bits the same proportion Of iron In I
s blood and, had you been on duty W
~. them you would have found that nc
would have led where others would
49,. have followed
its "n' -
," and looked upon our State and regime
al monuments. with Captain Stepl
Brown in bronze standing upon the sh
y, OF the latter I remember him as a CO
a,,, rade and as n dear companion-and ,
49,. could but think OF the bravery OF
colonel, and that II would have b'
,,t' only a tribute Of justice to have pla
a., Colonel Randall on his gray mare IN I
o-s placo Of honor. at the head of the
Va umn Of death as he was In life.
A portion of Pickett's division were
far ir advance of their support; a
to Without waiting for orders, and &c,
-ar, .ron the inspiration Of the NONE
Colonel Randall charged b. the
re flank and captured some 400 prison
orr HIS horee was shot from under him.
r,ar quickly freeing his spurred boo's
our rushed in front of his command and
dered his men not to fire on prisoners
y.r To his gailantry and bravery. to a Ia
~ extent. the l3th VI. Vols. owes Its
.,ny y,able place In the history OF the wa
,pas The battle OF Gettysburg gave TO
held living and dead inethperS Vi ''e '''n
hot mont . place In history. place tina
known 10 the world by our regime
arc monument,
mud. You served your country we'll;