The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-05-13
vERMoNT's ANSWER
Six Regiments Left the State Fifty
Years Ago.

a OlYll war veteran furnishes the
journal with the information that be
tween June 20 and October Is Of the
present year the Second, Third,
Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Vermont Reg.
iments win pass the 5Oth anniversary
of their muster into the United States
service and will pass a little later the
anniversary OF the formation OF those
regiments at Camp Griffin, Va, into
the First Vermont Brigade, number
ing about 5000 men, There is prob.
ably no record that shows how many
still live but few In this vicinity
have expressed desire to hold a re-
union for all who can attend II is
expected sufficient interest would be
manifested 50 a meeting could be ar.
ranged at some central point during
the early autumn Of this year.
Gen. w. r, n Brooks was first
commander Of the old Vermont Bri-
grade. OF the 1888 or 1S9 men who went
from Cabot Woodbury., Marshfeld
Calais, Plainheld, East Montpelier
II is thought only six are now living
in these towns, although there may be
others living elsewhere. The only
brigade officer now living is Gen. i. A.
Grant of Minneapolis, who was assis-
tant Secretary of War under Presi-
dent Harrison.
Benedicts Vermont in the Civil
War gives interesting data concern
ing these regiments. OF special local
interest is the fact that the two Mont
pelier banks each placed $4,000 at
the disposal of Governor Fairbanks
for the equipment of troops. James
x. Langdon Of Montpelier offered to
the State $4,000 from his private
fortune
The Legislature met in special SEES
sion on the 25th OF April with full
houses The trains which brought
the members to the capital were
greeted with a national salute OF "a
guns from the two brass field pieces
captured by General Stark at the bat
tie Of Bennington. Lieutenant Gov
ernor Underwood took the Senate
chair and Speaker Hunton (now liv-
| ing in Bethel that of the House. On
motion OF a leading democrat, Gen
eral Stephen Thomas Of West Fairlee
the oath to the government was ad-
ministered to the members in add
! tion to the usual oath. Within "a
hours of Governor Fairbanks appeal
4 for men and money, a s1,000,000 ap-
preparation for military expenses
passed both Houses unanimously and
/ in AZ hours the Legislature had adj
! journed having provided for formation
and equipment of six more regiments
/ in addition TO the one already called
/ for The sum voted was more than
any other State had yet appropriat-
/ ed in proportion to population. At
one session it was suggested that
they sing The Star Spangled Ban
ner," but no one could start the tune
and they had TO sit down again with
out singing.
BY energetic efforts Of the State Of
| fcers and patriotic women the first
regiment was equipped in short
time and by the 30th day Of April
everything needed was provided and
the companies were ordered to rem
| devious of Rutland.
The First Regiment consisted OF
Brandon, Middlebury, Rutland North
! field. Woodstock. Bradford. Cavendish.
! Burlington, ST. Adams and Swanton
/ companies. Captain John W. Phelps
OF Brattleboro was made colonel, a
graduate of the United States Mill
| tary Academy and a soldier of exper-
/ fence in Texas and Mexico. Captain
/ Peter T. Washburn of Woodstock be-
came adiutant and inspector general
/ of the State Harry Worthen a Brad
! ford lawyer was appointed major and
! the departure of the companies from
! their towns were scenes of extraod-
! idnary emotion The companies met
at Rutland May @ and left in a train
| OF 20 cars on the 9th of May.
| The Second Regiment had a share
in almost every battle fought by the
Army of the Potomac from the first
| Bull Run to the surrender of Lee. In
| its composition the Second was a
picked regiment and its 10 compan-
| les were recruited from Bennington,
/ Brattleboro. Burlington. Castleton.
| Fletcher, Ludlow, Montpelier. Tun-
/ bridge, Vergennes and Waterbury.
| Lieutenant Henry Whiting. 9Th U. S.
Infantry of Michigan was commits
stoned colonel, George J. Stannard of
St Adams was appointed lieutenant
colonel as one of the best officers of
one of the best military companies of
the State Charles II Joyce. a young
Mortified lawyer was appointed ma
jor, six years before elected colonel of
the First Regiment of State Militia.
Quartermaster Perley p Pitkin of
Montpelier, says Benedict, was one
of the best any regiment ever had.
His merit was subsequently recognize
ed by promotion to a colonelcy in the
| Quartermaster' Department and by
such trusts as the charge of the main
base of supplies for the Army of the
Potomac" The surgeon was n. II.
| Ballou of Burlington, the assistant b.
w. Carpenter Of Burlington, adjutant
Guilford S. Ladd of Bennington, chap
lain, Rev. Claudius b. Smith, Bap-
fist clergyman of Brandon. Among
/ line officers +. V. Randall Of Mont
| pelier subsequently colonel of the
18th and 18th regiments and Charles
Dillingham; (brother of Senator Dill
ingham) of Waterbury, afterward
lieutenant colonel Of the Sth Vermont.
The companies met at Burlington
June 6, while excursion trains
brought thousands to the camp. June
20 the regiment was mustered into
servica and narched for NVaShin ptOu