The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1909-05-14
Gnost of the st. Adams Raid.
(Spring6eld Republican,

N~Pi4'ShSiu
1t Is nearly 45 years since the St. Al
bans raid occurred, and in that long period
the young leader of it, Bennett II.
Young of Kentucky, has lived the life
OF an aducated, Christian gentleman de-
voted to his profession of the law, to the
church and to all good causes. He was a
confederate lieutenant when he was cap
tured in October, 1864; how he became a
general is not clear, unless the title was
awarded by popular consent to lift him
out OF the ranks of Kentucky colonies,
who abounded in such vast numbers when
the war was over.
When Gen. Young led his followers into
St. Adams, he was but q years of age:
and after Lees surrender finding himself
IN Canada, he studied at Queens college
IN Toronto, and later still, graduated from
the law department of Queens college, in
Belfast, Ire. He returned to Kentucky,
married and settled down as a lawyer in
Louisville He was kentucky's repre-
sentative to the Paris exposition in 1878.
member OF the kentucky constitutional
convention in 1890, and he has served as
pre- Dresden, Tsa1 Of the isvile public library
relating to Kentucky and to the Presby-
terrain church, and his name figures as
trustee, OF many charitable institutions.
1 hese facts are not without interest, since
tney snow what an estimable citizen Gen.
Dung has been and how much respected
he is in his own state.
Inc revival of interest in the Ken
tucklan, In these parts, is due entirely to
the approaching celebration of the 300th
anniversary OF the discovery Of Lake
Champlain. The local committee in charge
OF the exercises to be held at ST. Adams,
on July s. conceived the idea that the
leader OF the celebrated raid into the town
would make an ideal orator for the occa-
sion, and the outcome was that Gen |
L Dung accepted the invitation sent to |
him. Both the committee and Gen. |
\ Dung assumed that the war was over" |
and 1t certainly was in st. Adams. One |
OF the most agreeable features of the |
episode is that not note of opposition
TO the program was raised in the city of |
the raid; and it is the Judgment of most
outsiders that, if st. Adams was satisfied
with the excellent orator engaged, the
affair was no concern of Others But NUT
terlngs and growls, the faint echoes of the |
old-time thunderclap of war, were i'm
heard from some of the neigh
boring towns. Brandon, in particular was
a source OF disturbance. A former es-
teemed governor, Ebenezer j. Ormsbee
got into communication with a Grand
Army post and very soon the mischief
was done. The fact that there were OBJ
ectors in Vermont quickly reached Ken
lucky, with the result that Gen. Young
withdrew his acceptance of the
invitation to visit St. Adams in july;
md doubtless he will adhere to this de.
,lsion IN spite of the pleading of the
st. Adams committee, which has written
o him an admirable letter, begging him
o ignore the opposition of a few implac- \
ble outsiders who do mot represent the 9
rue sentiment and disposition of the PEG. Y
lie of Vermont" r
The general verdict in this section is t
hat we have reason to be prouder of n
t. Adams than of Brandon or any of c
he Vermont towns that got in St. AL s
ans's way on this interesting occasion. d
t. Adams could forgive and forget, al t,
hough it was the only town in the entire q
ountry northeast of Pennsylvania and n
tho that felt for a moment the harsh W
rip of war. That the raid was a form of +,
irregular hostilities difficult to excuse: al
nat 1t was a blot on the South's record t.
innot be denied, and we have no wish to
eny 1T. But what is war, what was that
articular war even, but a mass of blots
nd stains luridly darkening its splendors
heroism and sacrifice? On both sides, ne
lie blots grew in number, as the struggle DC
ngthened and only the terrible process hi
complete exhaustion could make the If
,sperate South succumb. The St. Al sill
ms raid was an act of folly. of futile 70
speration.s executed regardless of the DIR
les of organized warfare, possible only ne
man of Jacob Thompson's singular tic
eptitude and to an officer like LIEUT. is
1ung, who, with youthful zeal. was ready bu
: any hazardous mission that his supe- wi
RS chose to impose upon him. But, hav-
: said the worst that can be said. there
but one view of the episode to be taken !
lay. 1t is the view that the past is slo
I'D, its wounds healed, its feuds and Of oe
lses forgiven. Vi
That st. Adams has embraced this no
W Is clear from the episode. Brandon =
i not be long in overtaking St Al =
rs. For there can be no resistance to lid'
spirit pervading the letter to Gen. ~, M
ung from the st. Adams committee. ~. 4 ~
PRESSED so admirably in these lines: ct .ha
the devout intention of the men and . .ho
men of this latter day generation never 'iie
revive with bitterness the memories of
t cruel war. but to dwell in the fell y
ship and kinship of reunited people ciat
' and for all the days that are left TO Of {
crit