The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-10-09
HE ADDRESSED 1900 PEOPLE
FROM CAPITOL P0RTIC0
After Concluding the Latter
Speech the President Left
for St. Johnsbuy on His
Automobile Tour Of Northern
New England.
State House, Oct. 0, 1912.

Business sessions of the Vermont leg,
islature were suspended this forenoor
during the exercises incident to the un-
yelling of memorial tablet to the
Common Soldiers of 81 65,' as typified
by eNGov John Abner Mead The occa-
sion was made the more notable by the
presence of President Taft, who stopped
in Montpelier during his tour of north
ern New England.
1t was busy day for the president,
following IN extremely strenuous day
yesterday, which ended shortly before
midnight last night at the public recep-
tion held in the Montpelier city hall.
The president made three addresses dur
ing this forenoon, speaking first to the
school children assembled in the city
hall, then coming to the State House and
delivering an address before the joint
assembly during the unveiling of the
memorial tablet and, finally, going out
side and speaking on the portieo of the
State House.
The House chamber, where the unveil-
ing of the tablet took place, was crowd
ed with people, largely legislators, state
officials and few invited persons. There
were gathered on the grounds about
l,500 people when the president emerged
to say few words. He occupied about
eight minutes in this address and then
prepared to resume his automobile tour
to st. .Johnsbury, where he was to be a
guest at luncheon of Frank H. Brooks,
president of the Fairbanks company of
that town. Before leaving he reviewed
some of the citizen -soldiery from Nor
wich university, which had acted as part
OF the guard of honor during his stay inl
Montpelier.
The exercises in the House were pre-
sided over by Senator Porter Fl. Dale. |
and the program was carried out as fol- |
lows:
Brief address, ...... President Taft
Presentation of the tablet to the state
for the committee H. B. Amey
Acceptance in behalf of the state. -.
..,...,...,.E ExGov. John A. Mead
Explanation of the tablet by the de-
signer ............,..,.... Miss Strobe |
Acceptance by the common soldiers
of Vermont of '6l-'65 by fellow
comrade Observation-Disclosures.
Hon. Felix w. McGettrick of Boston
President Tafts Address.
In the course of his address, President /
Taft said:
1T is peculiarly appropriate that this
memorial TO the private soldier should
be erected i'm Vermont.
Vermont had brave and competent
generals and officers, but that which has
given Vermont her eminence in the
war was not the services OF these Off
rers. conspicuous and valuable as they
were-that which has given Vermont her
honorable place in the history of the
war of the rebellion is the character of
her private soldier, as shown in the reg-
ments aud brigades that she sent from
this far-of Green mountain country to
battle for the union in the Southland.
The history of her regiments refutes
utterly the proposition that the individ-
nal characteristics of the private soldier. Il
his intelligence. his discrimination his
sense of responsibility play but little
part in making him a good soldier after /
be has acquired the machne-like sense
Of obedience to orders The Vermont /
regiments were distinguished as bodies J
that could he relied upon to do the work /
marked out for them. to hold for the
federal side in any engagement the inn 4
portant strategic points on the field OF ,
battle. References to the old Vermont
prs as the 'steadies' and 'reliables were \
,onstant in the language Of the respon- {
,ible general officers of the union [
throughout the war. II
'ln a statistical article giving a list I
Of the infantry regiments whose loss in \
killed was 200 or more. embracing every \
regiment in the northern army. there 1
Eere ~ regiments. and IL included the (
Second Third. Fifth and Sixth Vermont =
The roster Of the POO fighting regiments a
Embraced the whole brigade known a. I
the old Vermont brigade. The totas =
nmmber Of deaths in this brigade during {
the war included killed in action. deaths =
from wounds and from diseases aud in Z
fcbel prisons. 2.4l7. being about D per-
rent. Of the total membership Of the a
brigade aul original enlistments and re- n
fruits. II was engaged in 30 different
battles. the names Of which were em- q
troiderel on the colors cf its regiments 1
no unnecessary sacrifice Of life was v
fhargeable % reckless handling. for it ].
"a most fortunate in it, officers.
a !. 4