St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1915-06-02
AT BARNET
Continued from page 60

kOOAIAA0C0 R05C "
it been permitted to do so it would
have committed the government for
ever to slavery. Defeated here the
South set up the doctrine of state
rights but the people said this gov
eminent and no one man can with
draw from it. We all know the re-
suit. Today we have a great nation
and those opposed to us then are to-
day just as loyal to it as we ourselves.
Vermont always stood high in the
war. William French of Vermont
gave the first blood of the Revolu-
tionary War. Soon after under Eth
an Allen they captured Fort Ticon-
deroga. In 1777 at Westminster
they formed a constitution, the first
to contain a prohibition of slavery.
The same body knocked at the doors
of congress and when refused admis-
sion formed an Independent govern
ment. They continued to fight for
independence and maintained an in
dependant republic until 1871 when
congress invited them to join the I'M
ion. In the Civil War Vermont gave
1900 more men than were called for.
The reputation of the old Vermont
Ii igade was the best of the army and
| it's men fired the last shots into Lees
retreating army. This brigade
stands alone in losing more men in
battle than any other. In all the
cavalry organizations of the war the
| Vermont cavalry stood fifth in the
number Of men lost in battle and 1t
captured more men than any other.
The First Vermont Brigade lost SO
per cent of all it's men in the first
week.
The miracle of the 18th century
was that the Civil War was fought
and won by boys. Of all those who
enlisted 81 per cent were under Il
and 43 per cent were under Is.
He then spoke of the Brock family
in Barnet saying three out of the
five members of that family went in
to the war and then paid high tribute
to James w. Brock who had come
back to his brothers and schoolmates
and has erected here this beautiful
monument. He then handed to the
town authorities in behalf of Mr..
Brock a title deed to the land on
which it stands and committed its
care to the people of Barnet.
Sen. r. w. SimOnds
State Senator Robert w. Simonds
of st. Johnsbury was introduced as
a son of Barnet and first spoke of his
memories of the earlier days of Bar
net and it's residents. He mentioned
many of the prominent families of
the old days and said, From these
came the men that made the United
States famous, the men who made
! Vermont famous"
In speaking of the monument he
said the state and power of a nation
/ l. IN "a WI ORC fhnT0 iC
thrift and truth. This monument
teaches a lesson of patriotism which
| is only love of country. Our fore
fathers placed their faith on certain
principles and called on God to wit
ness their rectitude of purpose. This
was at first consecrated to the sol
diers. Now it is the all souls day
of the nation. The wealth of ma
ton is in her great and heroic mem
cries and this is the day she makes
up her jewels and in the lessons of
this day is the salvation of the ma
ton.
He paid tribute to woman by say
ing that God never gave to the world
a great man without first giving it
great woman to bear him. He
then in behalf of the town of Barnet
accepted the gift of the monument
erected to the patriotism of the boys
of Barnet.
This was followed by the dedicatory
exercises of the monument by the
Grand Army of the Republic.
The concert In the evening
drew a large crowd from this place
and adjoining villages. They took
$98 at the door for the concert. The
amount taken for dinner was $66
and for the refreshments at Banquet
Hall $33, a total of $197 for the day.
This, after the bills are paid, goes
to the Village Improvement Society.