Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-04
a. SURVIVORS At REUNION
45th Annual Gathering of First
Vermont C~avalrymen.
Exercises in Battery Park n Lake
View Cemetery at Statue and Grave
Of usneral william wells
supper ami Campfire.

The I5th annual reunion Of the First
Vermont cavalry in this city Thursday
was a notable success, "A survivors of the
famous 1880 cavalrymen that did so much
to break the shackles that bound the
slaves and thereby save the Union being
present at the executive meeting In the
afternoon at the Van Ness House and In
attendance upon the dinner and campfire
in the g. A. r. hall in the evening.
First on the afternoon program was a
parade In which the cavalrymen rode In
automobiles from the hotel to Battery
Park, The parade was escorted by a de-
tachment Of cavalry from the Post. and
the detachment included a number of
buglers.
The exercises at the park consisted Of
an address by Past Department Com
mander Pierce of vergennes, the sounding
Of the charge order by the buglers. and
the response to this order by the veterans
with the cavalry yell. All these exercises
took place around the statue of the late
General William Wells.
At the conclusion Of the exercises at the
Battery, the party then proceeded to Lake
the grave of their late and beloved general.
while Colonel Streeter Of B%rattleboro de-
livered a short talk on the character of
the man whom they hus honored.
From the cemetery the veterans motored
around the college buildings and down to
the residence of Frank r. Wells. After a
tour around this estate. the cavalrymen
journeyed out to the Post. Here they
were pleasantly and cordially received by
the officers. From the Post they returned
to the Var Ness House for their busi-
ness meeting.
BUSINESS MEETING.
The meeting at the Van Ness was
called to order by President Francis H.
Ketchum Of Randolph, who read the call
for the meeting. The next thing In order
was the report of the last meeting, which
was read by the secretary-treasurer,
Major 8. H. Wood of st. Adams. This
report showed the society to be in an
excellent financial condition.
President Ketchum appointed a COM
mittee composed Of Gen. T. S. Peck. Peter
Lander and c.. H. Gotta to nominate off,
GERS for the ensuing year.
After a short interval this committee
returned and reported as the next presi-
dent Of the society Augustus c. Slough
ton Of this city, a member of Company
l.. Major s. H. Wood Of st. Adams was
reelected secretary-treasurer. The re-
port was accepted and a vice-president
was elected for each company of the
organization. The deaths of 81 Of the
cavalrymen Of the First Vermont were
reported by the secretary since the last
annual reunion. 1t was voted to extend
thanks to Frank r. Wells for his work
in securing the automobiles that carried
the members in the parade: to Colonies
Arthur Thayer n William c. Rivers
g. ~. ...Ac kAo1v kANlr 10 v,aIipo The
reunion such a success. They also ex-
tend their thanks to all in this city
who helped make their celebration in this
city a pleasant one.
Past Commander Streeter Of Brattleboro
invited the veterans to old their re-
union next year in his town. and this
invitation was unanimously accepted.
The date Of the next meeting was not
set, but 1t will be some time about the
first Of September.
In order that the names Of the surviv-
ing members could be known with exact
ness to the secretary when he wished to
mail them notices Of importance pertain
ing to the First Vermont. the roster
was read, n changes were noted.
SUPPER AND CAMPFIRE.
At the close of the business meeting
at the hotel, the veterans went to the
IT,. "A. n. nan OH SHuTCH STREET,, WHeIe
a bountiful chicken pie dinner was served
by the women of Stannard Relief Corps.
They pleasantly and laboriously attended
to the needs of the cavalrymen, the sons
Of the veterans and invited friends. The
whole gathering numbered in the vicin-
ity Of rs.
Among those seated o the table
Of honor were the new president. Augustus
c. %Stoughton, and Mrs. Stoughton, Col.
Arthur Thayer, commandant at the Post
Mayor ]. Holmes Jackson. Postmaster
James E. Burke, Frank r. Wells. Colonel
Streeter of Brattleboro, Comrade Martin
Of California and Franc H. Ketchum
of Randolph. the retiring president.
The campfire which followed the dinner
was opened by the reading Of regrets
at their inability to be present from
Senator w. P. Dillingham;, Congressmer
Frank L.. Greene and Porter II. Dale,
Charles Lee Of Company D. William
Stafford of Company f, e. NJ. Putnam OF
Company B., Harry Ide of Company G,
f. D.. Dimick. brigadier-general. retired,
Louis E. Bonar Of Company T., w. II,
Hall Of Company I. and the reading of
an excerpt from an address Of a member
in California.
CONGRATULATIONS were read from the Gus
! ter cavalry reunion, and President Slough
ton was instructed 10 wire them the coi-
CALCULATIONS of this convention. Congrat-
| ulations were also received from George
lHillyer that evoked hearty applause.
Mrs. NJ. H. Sawyer sent a letter to the
reunion of regret from Colonel Sawyer
at his inability to be present. and 1t was
the sense Of the gathering that the SYM
pathy of those present be extended to
him.
The speakers We're General Peck. Mayor
Jackson, Colonel Thayer, c. T. S. Pierce,
IComrade Martin, President ~Stoughotn,
Charles Gotta. Peter Lander, John Bout
we'll, Henry Streeter. Frank r. Wells
POSTMASTER j. f. Burke. John L. South
wick. Charles Wells, q brother II the late
General Wells, Lucius Wells, Jonas Ste
Iyens, ex-President Ketchum. Seymour H.
Wood, NJ. j. Barnes and Charles E. Beach,
The evening closed by the singing OF
the star Spangled Banner"
M A DIT AC DnOD nav