Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-12-10
sENAToR FLAcc,s nEPoRr.
The Soldiers Home Visited By Com
rnlttee on MilItary Affairs.

The Soldiers Home Visited BY Com
ulttee on Military Affairs.
A feature OF the legislative session at
Montpelier Saturday morning was the re-
port OF the visit Of the joint committee on
military affairs to the Soldiers Home in
Bennington This report was written By
the chairman Of the committee, Senator
George w. Flagg OF Braintree, whose lit
erary Effort was received with acclaim and
pronounced a masterpiece Of reportorial
work. Il read ~ follows:--
To the General Assembly Of the State
Of Vermont:
Your standing committees ON military
affairs beg leave to report:
That on Nov. Is We took the early train
from Montpelier on our way to the Sol-
disrs' Home ct Bennington. When we
arrived at Rutland we were joined by
John A. Sheldon, secretary Of the Sol
diers' Home, who accompanied us during
the trip. Hugh Henry, the president Of
the Home, failed to join rs on account OF
the trains failing to connect. Upon ar
rival of the legislative delegation ct Benz
nington at p. m, we found ample con-
veyance In waiting to convey as to the
Home proper, where Mr.. and Mrs. Han
non gave us q cordial greeting. Your
legislative committee Immediately began
the inspection Of the Home. first the out
buildings, stock and tools, hay and grain,
which we're in the pink OF condition.
The Home proper Is q fine structure well
adapted to its needs for the old veterans,
seemingly all'that heart could wish. The
hospital was crowded with sick veterans,
who were In such q condition as to cause
all 10 turn away with sorrow, yet the
nurses were seemingly doing ali that IL is
possible for them to do.
The inspection having come to an end,
we were invited to q beautiful supper.
which all seemed to enjoy. After the
supper we mingled with the old veterans.
We found many old comrades that were
with rs at the front in by-go1e days,
nearly one-haf century ago. We re-
manned with them, refreshing each 9TH
er's memories OF incidents Of the war nm
tai far into the night, when we retired to
comfortable rooms which were furnished
years gone by by the patriotic ladies Of
the Womanis Relief corps from various
towns OF the state. Early morning found
us on our way towards Montpelier, where
We returned in safety-all feeling wiser
ns we'll as assured that no state in the
Union IL more loyal to its defenders Of
the Union than Vermont. No state in
the Union treated her brave soldiers as
well-no other state having paid its sol
diers seven dollars per month during
their entire service.
Should we a. soldiers OF the past, as
well as citizens Of today. feel that Yer
mont Is second to none in this great
Union OF ours, which we believe has the
best government on earthg Again,
voters and citizens Of this beautiful Green
Mountain state, let as ask you what OF
these ex-soldiers Of the late war for the
Union7 Did they not 60 forth to war for
the Union from 1861 to 1857 Do you
remember in those days Of the struggls
for the Union, how proud you were OF
the part taken BY the soldiers Of Yer
mont7
Are not the soldiers OF this Home repre-
sented on nearly all the great battlehelds
OF the war; A portion OF these inmates
OF this Home were on those terrible wal
vessels which run mp the Mississippi
river and battered down the supposed i'm.
pregnAble forts. A portion OF these meE
were on the war vessels which ran tbs
batteries Of Port Hudson and vfcksburR
the great battles under McClsllan on tn
peninsula, on the heights OF Fredericks
0AAMs AkAAA = kH1NAA1A "a AA~Nc oAA NAAAA
rades were with Sheridan in the Shenan
doah valley. Nov, citizens Of Yer
mont, are you not proud OF the fact tina
when during the War OF the Rebellion
and when the great city Of New York re
belled against its civil government, thl
. authorities OF New York as well as tn
government at Washington, selected tn
old Vermont brigade Is the most temper
ate. the best disciplined and doubly sur
Of no lack Of couragef
Again these old veterans OF the HON
were with rs on that terrible march o
thirty-three miles from Maryland to tn
battlefield Of Gettysburg. Again wer
not these old veterans Of the Home wit
rs in the great battles of the Wilderness
Spottsylgania, the Bloody Angle, the 81:
months siege before Richmond and Pc
tersburg, and the terrible charge on thei
works April 2, 1865. which caused tn
capitulation Of Richmond and Peters
burg; also the surrender Of Lee and hi
armyf Also did not the Southern Con
federacy CRY out to the gods Of Iibert
that 9 Henceforth we will love and homo
: you for all time to come7'
(Signed)
? GEORGE w. FIAGG.
Chairman Of the Committee on Militar
Affairs.
Csigned)
CROSBY A. PERRY.
For the Committee on the House.