Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-06-04

| erations that Vermont raised men who
| dared do even more desperate deeds than
that famous charge of the Light Brigade
| at Balaclava.
1T is great pleasure to present you,
| the mayor of the city of Burlington, this
deed of gift"
THE ACCEPTANCE.
Mayor Burke accepted the gift for the
| city of Burlington, thanking the donor
for his generosity and the spirit which
had prompted the gift. He commented
upon the fitness of the location of the
| statue among the historic relies of
Battery Park, and within sight of the
beautiful lake, Of which all Burlington
lans and Vermonters are proud He said
| the present scene was one of inspiration
| and one which could never be forgotten.
THE MONUMENT.
! The base of the monument is made of
Barre granite and is eight feet square
| at the bottom and seven feet, three inches
! In height. The bronze statue of General
| Wells is eight feet, five inches in height.
| The statue is remarkable piece
| of work, done by J. Otto Schweizer of
| Philadelphia, Pa, whose artistic work is
| fast placing him in the front rank of
sculptors.
The statue is an exact duplicate of the
one erected upon the battlefield of
Gettysburg during the reunion there last
July, and bears q striking resemblance
of General Wells in action. The aged phys-
cal appearance of the general who at the
time was but % years of age, is explain
ed by the hard service which he had
been through. The haggard expression
upon the face brings out the anxiety of
General Wells, who at the time as major
at the head of the Second Battalion, First
Vermont Cavalry, knew he was leading
his men. whose faith In him was com
plete. to an almost hopeless charge. The
charge was that at Plum Run, 20 of the
200 men who entered never returning. The
poise of the drawn saber and the natural
rpples of the coat artistically bring out
action.
The bas-relof facing the plot of land
which was the old fair ground and upon
which the First Vermont cavalry was
mustered into service, shows the charge
made by the regiment near Round Top,
Gettysburg, on July 3, 1863 Major Will
liam Wells leading. Many of the faces
in the bronze panel are from such actual
pictures Of the Vermont cavalrymen who
took part in the charge as it was possible
to procure the pictures being taken
about the year 1861.
The inscription upon the tablet on the
front side of the monument briefly out
lines the rapid rise of General Wells
from first lieutenant and reads as fol-
lows:
William Wells
| Brevet Major-General L. S. Vols
1S37-lS92
First Lieut.. Co C, LIST Vermont Cavalry
October Il. 1861,
Captain Co. c Nov. IS. 1861,
Major Dec. 80 1862,
Colonel July ., 1864
, Brevet Brigadier- General L. S. Vols
. Feb. ~, 1865.
, Brevet Major General L. s. Vols.
. For Gallant and Meritorlous Services
March 10, 1865,
1 Biigadier General U. S. Vols. May 10, 1865
. Honorably mustered out Jan. 10, 1866,
. Once wounded and once a prisoner
Awarded Medal of Honor for most dis
9 tinguished gallantry at Gettysburg"
July g. 1863.
Commander of Sheridan's Cavalry Corps
The patriotic societies represented a
the unwilling of the monument We're th'
National Society of the Colonial Dame!
of America of the State Vermont; tn,
Vermont Society of the Colonial Wars
Green Mountain Chapter, Daughters o
the American Revolution; Vermont So
cety, Sons of the American Revolution
: Macdonough Chapter, United State
| Daughters of 1872; Stannard Woman
. Relief Corps: Sons of Veterans Jane
. A. Garfield Circle; United Spanish wa
. Veterans; Helen Gould Auxiliary OF tn
:, United Spanish War Veterans
= The arrangements at the monumen
- were in charge of a detail of the FRS
> Vermont cavalry, In command Of Georg
Mcbride of Company L. assisted by Gen
e eral Theodore s. Peck, Company F, a
,, c. Stougnton, Company L, Alphonz
y, Barrows. Company B.
REGIMENTS HARD SERVICE.
"a The First regiment, Vermont cavalry
n left the State for the war, December Il
1861. with one thousand men and on
thousand Morgan horses. Its total enlist
men; was 2304, of this number l,2l1 bein
re mustered out at various times, while it
o total losses amounted to 1898, 1872 ben
II killed, wounded, and died in rebel pris on
'e and of disease, and losses other than b
uedtH 'Vl' buTlllS It's iouT years seTNiC
u the regiment was engaged in seventy-si
or battles and combats, including the actio
at Gettysburg, said to be the mos
r desperate cavalry charge in the wa
+ for the Union, In which some two hur
al dred Vermonters participated, seventy
y five of whom were killed. wounded an
er missing.
re The monument is a fitting tribute (
ID one of Nermont's most gallant CON
IN manders In the War of the Rebellion an
Id the men who followed him Situated VI
on Battery Park, rich in history, ovel
e. looking Lake Champlain, and within
T. stones throw of the old fair groun
erected were mustered into service, Il
r. location is appropriate in every way
of The Second cavalry band played a
n, overture of patriotic selections. Memoirs
he day orders were read by Capt. C.
he Williams and Lncoln's Memorial day a,
as dress was admirably recited by Jof
H. | Farrar.
THE REV. DIR. SN1ART'S ADDRESS
IL The address of the day which &c
- lowed was made by the Rev. l.
nc Smart. b. d. He said that 1t was
IS grand day to be alive. 1t was a graz
u thing to be in the United States. 1t WI
VI grand thing to be with the BRAY
M many of whom had followed the ms
vi, whose statue was there unveiled !
iu said also that 1t was a grand thing
IL have the Second cavalry with us, (