The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-07-03
Vermont In War.

1t should be gratifying to Vermont |
ers that the militia were modified and
started for the border so expeditions |
ly. To those familiar with the history
of the State, however, that promptness
will occasion no surprise; to respond
quickly to each call for service, and
then to give a good account of itself
till the need for service is over, is the
Vermont way. The following para
graphs from the recently revised His
tory of Vermont" by DR.. Edward d.
Collins, Professor of Pedagogy in Mid
dlebury College, will be read with
special interest just now:
when the President called for
troops Governor Fairbanks at once is
sued proclamation announcing the
outbreak of armed rebellion, and call
ed for special session of the legisla
ture, and for regiment for immediate
service.
1.-THE special session of the legisla-
ture had been called for the 25th OF
April. The members were greeted at
the capitol with the roar OF the two
brass field-pieces which Stark had TAX
en- from the Hessians at the battle OF
Bennington pouring out the national
salute of "a guns. Within twenty-four
hours both houses had passed by un-
animous vote an appropriation of one
million dollars for war expenses. In
forty-two hours from the time 1t met
the legislature adjourned, with its
work completed. 1t had passed acts
providing for the organizing, arming,
and equipping of six more regiments
for two years seryice-the govern
ment had called for only three months
troops-and had voted seven dollars
per month pay in addition to the thir-
teen dollars offered by the government
=, had provided for the relief of the fam
lilies of volunteers in cases Of destitu-
tion, and had laid the first war tax
ten cents On the dollar of the grand
list.
This work was without precedent,
and was equalled by the records of but
few States. Vermont had voted for the
war an appropriation of larger sum
than had been voted by any other state
in proportion to the population, and
their families. which took from first to
last four millions from the treasury OF
the State to say nothing of the other
expenses of the war.
Commissions for the recruiting of
troops were issued by the governor on
the 9TH OF May and three days later
the services of fifty full companies
were offered to the government-more
than twice as many as it was then
ready to accept.
"Besides the seventeen infantry reg
iments which Vermont sent from first
to last into the war, she sent also three
batteries of light artillery, one regi
ment of cavalry and larger proper
ton of sharpshooters than any Other
State, not to speak Of the Vermont
men who served as staff officers, sol
diers in the regular army, and as pri
Yates and commissioned officers il
other States.
Her cavalry regiment was raised IL
the fall of 1861, and was the first full
regiment Of mounted men raised IL
New England. 1t was the largest reg
iment but one sent from Vermont
comprising from first to last twenty
two hundred and ninety-seyen officer
and men. 1t had notable history
Previous Vermont regiments had beer
raised by State authority; the cavalr.
was raised under the direct authorit
of the-United States The regimen
served in the Shenandoah Valley, a
Gettysburg, in the Wilderness cam
paign. and under Sheridan
vermont had higher percentag
of men killed in action than any othe
State, while the percentage of the oil
brigade was higher even than that o
the State The five original regiment
of this brigade gave 4,747 officers an
men to the service of the government
1910 more were added to these durin
the war. making an aggregate of S,Sl
officers and men. The total wounde
was 2,32S 774 died in Union hospitals
57S were killed in action; 395 died @
wounds: 1875 died in Confederate pri!
onc.
vermont sent to the war ten me
out of every hundred of her population
She was credited with nearly thirt!
four thousand volunteers. out of L
tai enrolment of thirty-seven thousan
men liable to do militia duty None
her colors were ever yielded In actor
while In proportion to total number