The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-09-10
WOMAN S HISTORY
IN WAR FOR
THE UNION
How Ones Left Behind Suffered
During Dark Days
LITTER BY N. M. PUFFER
Bennington Veteran Recalls Making
Of Company Flag and Other Incl
dents of Early coo
LITTER BY N. N. PUFFER

While attending the Bennington
County Veterans reunion at Manches-
ter a few days since, | was impressed
by the rousing loyalty displayed by
the women who had charge of the
supplies and comforts so needful to
all old soldiers. The day was ex-
tremely warm and uncomfortable but
they did not falter in their efforts to
make every one happy.
In conversation with Mrs. Sessions,
whose husband was an officer in the
Manchester company of the 9th Regt,
| | learned two things. First, that this
regiment lost more men in a single
| battle than any Vermont regiment IN
the war and that the Manchester
company lost more men than any
other Vermont company in the war.
have looked IL up and find she was
correct A the Battle of Savage Sta
| ton June 90, 1852. the regiment went
into the fight with 400 muskets. In
half an hour they lost 1873 men, kill
ed and wounded, nearly so per cent.
/ Their company entered the fight with
80 men and lost a.. Only Is left to
answer roll call that night, % Of
whom were killed or MORALLY wound
ed There were FIVE brothers and a
cousin by the name OF Cummings in
the company. all of whom were killed
or wounded. Only one recovered
from his wounds.
The second was that women had a
history in the war second only to men
behind the guns. / have been think
ing this over and have become con-
WINGED Of its truth, although there are
few who have come upon the stage
in the past 80 years that know or
can realize it, We may go further
and say women suffered greater than
any other class, which Is also true
and is appreciated by the veteran
about as early as recruiting began in
, Bennington, May '6l There was a
: call made through the pulpits and
press for meeting of loyal women tc
be held in the parlors of the old
Franklin House to perfect an organi
cation for the purpose OF procuring 9
suitable flag for the company ther
being raised. At this meeting the fol
lowing officers were elected: Presi
dent. Mrs. Frank c. White: vice pres
= ident, Mrs. Charles Thatcher, Jr., sec
!, rotary, Miss Julia Bingham; treasur
: er. Miss Mary Weeks. They appoint
:; ed an executive committee cOnsistin,
OF Mrs. David F. Squires, Mrs. A. p
/; Lyman. Mrs Isaac Surdam. Mrs. Jul
: ius Norton and Miss Maria Doty
I There was also committee to pro
!. lcure material and see to the makinj
y of the flag. who were Mrs. p. l.. Rob
inson, Mrs. ]. s. Robinson, Mrs. s
i NJ. Robinson. Mrs. Jedediah Dewey
4 Mrs. II. G. Root and Miss Sophie /
! Park. II was decided that q silk fla
Is would be the most suitable at an eS
pense OF not less than seventy.fiy
Il dollars and Mrs. ]. V. Hall. Mrs.
l. !. c, Cook Mrs. j Halsey Cushmar
Il Miss Gertrude Hubbell and Miss Eide
= Tia futile were appointed commit
% tee to solicit the funds.
\ AT a subsequent meeting held I
e the same place the finished flag wa
Is unfurled and the treasurer renorte
= MI bills paid. II was then voted tina
the presentation should take place 1
the Old First church on the hill Jun
? 9TH and a general invitation be @,
ID tended. This meeting was held rs a
~ ranged and proved one OF the mos
. notable In the history Of the churcl
nd Gov. Hlland Hall presided and IN
= combined choirs OF the village joine
- In singing patriotic music lead by IN
~ veteran chorister. ]. Seymour Me
Az rill. The presentation was made h
~ the Rev. J. Tucker Jr., OF North Be
" nington and responded to In behalf
a his company by Captain James I
cr Walbridge. As the men marched OF
10 at the conclusion OF the service eaC
was presented with q small Test
mont and bouquet OF flowers. The 1
soriptlon on the flag read, ITO n
- Boys Of 81 by the Ladies'"
"a. After three hearty cheers for n
M nag and It's donors the, compar
Is' headed by the band marched arour
- the square in front o. the Inn. IN,
down the hill to "Algiers." AS n
regiment was provided with n star
OF colnrs by the state our flag w,
- never taken TO the front but return,
to bennington for safe keeping M
Is now IN the custody OF our po.
'tc guardvc with watchful care. AT
The above named ladies' had start,
1913 the hag movement all the rest of n
- women In town oo' busy and Il won
- he hafd TO ennmcrate all the nj
X things that were furnished One
the most useful remember was
small but ingenious affair that ,
L learned TO call house wife. n ~
piece Of chamois perhaps ten inch
long with q pocket az the bottom
81 comb. small spool Of black lin
- and one Of white thread. Just aho
=" were two pockets, one with shirt M
- tons and thimhle. the other wi
n pants buttons: then a lapel with NO,
" les and pins and near the ton a nj
OF small scissors. The outside N
waterproof with ribbons sewed ON
L coud be rolled IN very small ma,
Is. age, tied and carried IN the coat no,
1T without Inconvenience.
! hope there win be no mistake
- 70 the notion Of writing this lett
complimentary TO women of the ~
y Is the prospect Of a Memorial h
That prompts II and a hone that ,vb
The movement IL projected the natr
tism Of the ladies' may be ne devo,
20 his cause as Il was 10 the car
N of hhertY and union. N toot m
- NUnra 20 -as.-N....t -