The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-09-22
MEXICAN WAR VETERAN
Major Luman M. Grout in Civil Wal
Also.

Major Luman M. Grout in Civil War |
Also.
Waterbury. Sept. 2O.-When vet
eran of the Mexican War resident of
Vermont has died in recent months it
has been claimed that he was the last
survivor of that war who had lived
In this state Early in this month, on
the death Of John NJ. Goodwin, of
Newbury, the same claim was set up.
But it would appear that all of these
claims have been erroneous.
When Markham, of Mortified,
Dodge, of Montpelier, and Templeton
of Worcester, died, within few
years, il left but one survivor of that
war who enlisted from Vermont and
went to Mexico. That person is Mai
Luman NJ Grout, Of this place, who
lives with and is the father of DR..
Don ID. Gront, superintendent of the
state hospital for the insane.
LumansD. Grout was born in FL.
more, March 8. 1923. He Is a great.
grandson of Col Samuel ElWore Of
Revolutionary fame and to whom the
| township was originally granted and
for whom it was named. On the
I ancestral acres. Young Grout grew TO
manhood, following the calling of
farming.
In lS47 he enlisted in Co d, the
Vermont company in the 9th New
ENGLAND regiment, recruiting for the
Mexican War In this command he
became corporal.
He tells the story OF the itinerary
as q it happened but Yesterday They
/ travelled to Franklin. y H.. by stage,
and thence to Boston and Newport
sailing from Fort Adams for Vera
Cruz In the schooner Keppler, the
ocean trim covering five weeks.
From Vera Cruz inland TO Pueblo
was made by wagon train. Notable
among the battles in which Corporal
| Grout was ENGAGED were those of Con
treras and Cheruhusco. In the lat
ter he was severely wounded In the
head AZ the close Of the war he re-
turned 10 Gilmore and married Phil
IRA ]. French. Of Morristown.- To
them seven children were born. all of
whom are living except the last born
who died in infancy.
In 1857 and 1858 Mr.. Grout repre-
scented the town OF Gilmore in the leg
isiaiure. During his terms the state
house burned and the construction Of
the present one was begun
Al the outbreak Of the Civil War.
he being one OF very few, in the
state. who had any practical know
ledge Of military tactics. In August,
1871. was called upon TO drill COM
nanv at HYDE Park. which went south
IN the 5th Vermont REGIMENT. r. G.
Benton was captain and afterward
colonel Of the regiment Later he
drilled n company for the LIST. Yer
mont cavalry: y. p Sawyer. captain.
who also afterward became colonel Of
his regiment Directly following this
CORPORAL Crout was commissioned by
Governor Holbrook 10 recruit com
pany for the Sth Vermont regiment,
and upon its organization he was
elected captain Of Co A. The Sth
regiment was In rendezvous at Brat.
tlehoro and left there for New York
In March 1862 Prom there II went.
hv sailing vessels. to Shin Island and
later TO New Orleans and under the
command OF Gen 3 +. Butler. took
mart IN the CAMPAIGNS Of the lower
Msslsslpni and Red River valleys.
December .. 1862. unon the pro
motion ri Lieutenant. Colonel billing.
ham. Charles Dillingham;. brother OF
Senator Dillingham; who enlisted
from Waterbury, 10 the Office OF col
onel Cantam Grout was promoted to
the position OF major OF the regiment
June II. 1863. he RESIGNED and
was honorably discharged from disab.
iliiy trnccable to the wound sustain.
ed at Cheruhusco.
Major Grout returned to his farm
IN Elmore whore. he continued to re.
side until 1874. when he sold the farm
TO his son Frank and removed to
Montpelier. where he continued farm
Ing until his wife died In 1884.
From that date until 1907 he resld
cd In Newport. n. H.. and Stoneham
Mass. where for several years he was
engaged In the retail butter business
At the latter date. following the death
OF his second wife. he came TO Wa
terhury to live with his son.
The major Is wonderfully well pre-
served for a man Of his years. He Is
un every morning AZ o'clock, and I
the weather permits takes a Ions
walk before breakfast. He keeps
posted In current events and nevel
feels that the day IL complete unit
he has thoroughly scanned the morn
ing papers.
lake most OF the Civil War veter
ans he took much interest In the Cub
nrnatdrlal contest In Vermont, an'
expressed great satisfaction when h