Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-05-04


the colors, and a moment later went
down, shot through the abdomen 10 an
officer who ran to- him he sa'd III
hit. Get at them If you can. Then TO
the men, Don't retreat, Keep nrlhS'
These were his last words
His body was brought to washington
and laid to rest with military honors III
the National cemetery ut Arlington
President Mckinley, members OF his CAP
met. and men of distinction In both MIL
| tarv and civil stations paying tribute 10
his mcrlory, Vermont being represented
by the adiutant and 1uartermasie -Eener-
al At the close of the services President
Mckinley said to them that Vermont
had had many brave soldiers. but none
braver than General Llscum.
At the age of II, in July, 1855, with
Henry Torrey, Lewis Francis, Lincoln
Benedict, Thomas Buclha,l. G. t. Good
ell and 81 others, he mace public con-
! fession of the Christian faith In the old
First Church OF Burlington, and through
the whole IS years of n strenuous life he
, lived in faithful conformity to the vows
thcu assumed.
| on the 4th of November. 1891. when
captain in the 10th L. S. infantry he
|
tary order Of the Loyal Legion. and with
Major General Oliver o. Howard. T. $.
A. (retired). Brig General stephen p.
Jocelyn, L. S. y. TetlredD, Colonel Her
bert s. Foster [. s. A. Tetired). Ad-
miral George Dewey. L. s. n, Rear
Admiral Charles Clark, L. s. y. ire
tirejD and others Of the army and navy
materially assisted In establishing for
this commandcry the proud position 1t
holds to-day among the q communicates
of these United States.
MODEST AND COURAGEOUS
Emerson u. Liscum was. indeed. a
modest hero and Christian soldier,
without fear and without reproach "
| After his death brother officer who
knew him well said of him: Ills mill
tary career was one continuous proof Of
his indomitable courage and skill as 4
fighter, his energy and agGrcssiVeness
as a commander and his constant de-
votion to duty, no matter what that
devotion might Involve. Personally he
was the soul Of honor and integrity. n
polished gentleman always. and man
whose physical appearance always in
spired confidence and respect. His sol
diers idolized him and his officers, even
though they might differ with him. never
withheld from him that loyalty born of
esteem and admiration"
"He scarce had need to doff his pride or
slough the dross Of earth
Fen as he trod that day to God so walk
ed he from his birth
In sinpenrss and sentleness and honor
and clean mirth.'
on the 22nd Of October, 1902, the state
of Vermont honored General Lscum by
placing his portrait near the entrance &c
the HAN of Representatives in the State
House, Montpelier an able address being
delivered at that time BY his longtime
friend Col. George Grenville Benedict.
a monument to his memory has been
erected by the officers and men of the
9th regiment. United States infantry
near the spot where he fell on the battle
field at Tien Tsn, China
And now, Mr.. Chairman as one who
played marbles with him on the streets
of Burlington in our boyhood days, went
to school with him in the old academy
fought with him in the fearful football
fights of those days. and marched with
him in the Howard Guard when our
boysh strength would scarcely permit
of our carrying the heavy muskets which
we later learned to use, deem it PRIV
ilege and pleasant duty to respond to the
call Of my friend, Mrs. I.iscum, and ir
her behalf to present to you this beautiful
bronze tablet of her soldier husband
General Emerson II. Liscum, which
am sure in your safe keeping will for
ever stand as a daily object lesson il
true patriotism to this and future gen
orations.
p ACCEPTANCE Fey MIR. VAN PAT~TE,N
The Hon. William ]. Van Patton, chair
s man Of the board of trustees of tn,
70 library accepted the tablet on behalf o
/ the board. His speech in part follows:
at Is with great pleasure and profoun(
h gratitude that on behalf ~ the board O
4 trustees Of the Fletcher free library
= accept this beautiful memorial tablet o
e the patriot soldier, General Emerson
= Hamilton Iiscum. The trustees are yer,
= glad that this building has been selecte,
d as the appropriate place for he pcrman
: ent location of this memorial and the,
assume It's care with deep sense OF it,
value as part Of the permanent posses
sons of this institution.
= After tho Christian church, the publ
u uplifting Of any community 1t gather
it. scores # individuals, older or younger
Il day by day, year after year and throug
- its service gives to all something of tn
I wisdom the aspiration and the hstor
y OF the past as these are recorded in tn
: printed page. No part Of that service
OF higher value or Of preater intcres
= than that which ministers to love Q
10 country and to the growth OF true pa
u triotism.
The shelves OF this library have hur
~ dreds OF books telling the story Of on
u heroes and 81 the great men who hay
!. lnbored, fought and died that this natio
~ might he born and that it might be prr
o served and fuhll its miss on, 1t is ou
FL earnest effort to promote the reading G.
L. these books. In Ill the annals Of tn
T. nation the record OF Vermont is amos
i peerless; from the day Of Ethan Allei
le Seth Warner, Remember Baker ana the
1t comrades to the day OF Emerson I.isCuH
Is the Green Mountain State has been q
the front where brave hearts have bee
Is ready to pour cut their life blood for III
J. cause OF their country,
y I'VE are glad that representative &
~ the Army Of the Republic are preser
with us on this occasion bat we remer
Der what n list of honored names. Star
r nard, Wells, Bepelict AMI many other
u who have passed on to the blessed Z,
Ia ture those whom we loved and who's
~ memory we del'Sl't to honor; bu. Of t1,1
J. all there was no Drawer soldier. no true
J. patriot than the man whose memory W
u honor today