The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-05-10

go to make up the morale Of volun-
teer soldiers. Each company were
here from four to six weeks while or
ganizing.
BY the stubborn persistence of our
ancestors in the years leading up to.
and valor displayed in the Battle of
August l6, Ill., which proved to be
the turning point in the struggle for
independence, our town became one
of great historical interest. Our citi-
zens have never forgotten to give the
anniversary day a proper observance
and never will. The Historical so
eiety and many other patriotic
friends have subscribed literally of
time and monye to design suitable
memorials to mark each site of in
terest that will stand thousand
years. The result of which is one of
the most imposing monuments in the
world, three hundred feet high and
many smaller ones in place with
others in project, that will mark
every site of historical interest in
town.
In view of this thought and in the
interest of our historical reputation
as community is II not time, now
that half century has passed since
the civil war, that we give this mat
ter serious thought
| believe | stated in former let
ter that in the whole township of
Bennington there was not a monu-
ment, tablet or memorial of any kind
to even suggest that we furnished a
soldier for the civil war. It would
seem that the history Of the Old
Brigade Gin which Bennington was
well represented and all Vermont
troops in the service who helped to
liberate nine millions of slaves and
preserve united country should be
remembered. Especially as there is
no other town of it's size and pros
perity in New England that has not
some suitable memorial
Statistics show that eighty per
cent of all who answered the call OF
President Lincoln in the sixties are
now Cet us hope) in Heaven Less
than five hundred thousand of the
more than twenty seven hundred
thousand remain, and they are pass
ing on at the rate of forty thousand
each year. At the end of five years
| a majority will be gone, at the end
OF ten a sad good by to the veterans
, of 61-5.
, 1t has been the hope of my life and
, the desire of every living soldier
2 here that memorial be established
while a few are living to see and en-
7 JOY it. The Battle Monument and
? Historical society has taken the mat
! ter in charge and appointed a com
2 mlttee on ways and means who have
| decided that nothing less than a
t memorial building will subserve the
e interests Of the public and justify the
I society in their effort to maintain
: their standing in the line OF histori-
{ cal improvements This project
o seems large undertaking. as the
e building should cost from fifty to one
d hundred thousand dollars in order to
o compare with structures of like
l. character. The building should not
Z only AFFORD the Veterans a desirable
e hall for their gatherings, but should
be one OF such proportions that a
part OF II might be devoted to the
preservation of relics of both the
IT Revolutionary and Civil wars. II
L would meet long felt want by fur
n nishing suitable and safe repository
l. where all relics of value contributed
y by the townspeople might be
If placed and carefully preserved. Fol
p lack OF such an opportunity many
st have already been sold or lost as old
s. families have broken up. while 9th
IS ers have been destroyed or given
n away and taken out OF town entirely
b. But ! think that even now one
ri would be surprised at the extent ant
m value of the collection that could bt
ri secured. Collections that would no
Y only De OF interest to the genera
public, but would also be useful il
"A the education of the younger genera
20 ton.
e, II is no uncommon thing in thes,
d. times OF prosperity TO read of patrio
L. tic citizens or families presenting [,
t. their town or city a building 70
In educational or patriotic purposes a.
s.. a token Of good fellowship and Low,
ne Tor their home. AS we go forward II
as this work as society, let us try an,
Mt Impress upon the minds of those In
in terested the words of our Savior tina
IL. II is more blessed to give than L
receive and pray for the philar
thropist who will come forward. dis
IN tinguish himself and promote the at
nd miration OF every loyal citizen 4
~ Vermont.
"a Edward L. Bates. secretary of IN
ai Bennington Battle Monument an
ed Historical society will be pleased I
g answer inquiries regarding the prC
80 ject or any communications address,
MI ed to the committee, Hon. Henry I
Nd Cushman, Norman NJ. Puffer or Ec
or ward J. Hall will be promptly a,
"a knowledged
ds Vermonters Buried in Nation;
Cemeteries In the South.
ed. The adjutant generals report give
,m 1855 as the known graves, 227 {
ed which are at Andersonvile G,
six There is no means OF learning III
ial number OF unknown, but there ar
Ith very many. have been through Ii
lists carefully and think have m
names and location OF all Benningto
county men.
Andersonvllle, Ca.
VIM. A. Coomer IN An