Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-09-07
TROOPS IN wEsTFIELD
Three Trains Carrying Men and Equip
ment Here Monday-Soldiers Greeted
by Large Crowd.

ment Here Monuay-ooi"heAs "hooVeu
by Large Crowd.
All of the Vermont National Guard
have now left Fort Ethan Allen. The
trains bearing the last of the Vermont
troops, including about 80 members of
Company / of Brattleboro, went through
here Monday morning and forenoon,
for Camp Bartlett at Westfield, Mass,
among them being Maj. Walter o.
Cooley and Capt. Ernest w. Gibson.
/ The movement from the state reserva-
ton began Sunday, and carly Mon
day morning the first train, made up en-
tircly of freight, passed through Brat
tleboro About s clock train bear.
ing the horses and mules, the machine
gun, headquarters and supply compan-
les, with the exception of the band, ar
rived at the local station, and good
number of persons had assembled there
to meet any Company | men that might
be on board
At about Ills clock the troop train
arrived, carrying about 60 men. There
were II ears, and as the train pulled
into the station a crowd of about 1000
persons was waiting and cheered as each
car passed with the men leaning out of
the windows or crowding the car plat
forms.
The train stopped for orders and wait
ed about 10 minutes. During that time
! the Company | men scattered through
| the crowd to talk with friends and rcla-
tivcs, and many boxes of luncheon and
other gifts were presented to them.
Up toward the front end of the train
the First Regiment band alightcd and
lplayed Sousa s famous march, Hands
Across the Sea. 1t was rendered in an
excellent manner and the rendition won
the applause of those who were near
enough to hear the music
In conversation the men and officers
confessed that they knew not what the
plans were, although it is general cx-
lpectation that they will leave for France
soon.
After a stay which seemed short in
deed the call aboard order was given
followed by hurried and in many in.
stances fearful farewells, and the $50
boys in khaki were waved toward their
uncertain destination.
Temporary organization of the Depot
brigade of the Goth division was effected
at Camp Bartlett Tuesday by the nam
ing of Col. NJ. j. Hcaly of the First New
Hampshire as acting brigade commander
until the arrival of Brig. Gen. E. Leroy
Sweetser, who is expected shortly tc
take over the duties of organizing the
depot brigade.
Units assigned to this brigade are the
First New Hampshire First Vermont
Sixth and Eighth Massachusetts, all in
fantry commands; the First Maine Heavy
| AT
Hampshire, and the % men of the New
Hampshire quartermaster corps. The two
troops from the Second Cavalry have
been attached to the depot brigade TEN
porarily. To complete its personnel
field hospital company will arrive from
somewhere" soon. In all probability thi.
will be Connecticut unit, giving the depo
brigade representation from every stat,
in New England.
Transfers of men and equipment from
one regiment to another were being made
throughout the day. Drafts of more THAI
300 men from the Eighth Massachusetts.
were made to fill the ranks of the 1896
Infantry. Men from Maine and New
Hampshire rejected in the final analysis
were transferred back to the First New
Hampshire to await discharge. Men from
the lO4th Infantry, composed of the for
mer Second, Sixth and Eighth Massa
chusetts, will 90 back to the Eigth Mas
sachusetts. Their places in the lO4th In
tantry will be taken by drafts from TIN
remainder of the First Vermont Severa
Rhode Islanders and Vermont men VIII,
failed to pass the latest tests will 20 bacl
to one OF the regiments of the depot bri
gade. Then when all have been discharge,
the ranks of this brigade will be file,
IRON the new National army and enlist
ments in the regular forces The men will
be trained and later will follow the 26tl
division abroad At least, that is tn
present plan, as has been announced pre-
viously
Col. William H. Perry of the Eighth an,
Col. Thomas of the First Vermont wer
busting about all Tuesday, the Vermont
ers settling their camp and getting thing
To rights, COL Healey was organizing hi
temporary staff to carry on the work o
the brigade until Gen. Sweetzer arrives
Col. Ballentlne of the Maine "Heavies
mas the most nearly complete outfit in tn
depot brigade, and when the Maine an
tlliery Is ripened with training, he hope
to have one of the best regiments in tn
army.
There is one thing the depot brgad
prldes itself on, and that is its musical on
CARNATIONS. The Nermontcrs, Ne,
Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts out
lts each have an excellent band, and ther
WIN he no lack of music in the depo
brigade, The officers of this brigade hay
been excused from attendance at the cor
terences OF officers of the SD brigad
which takes place daily at the hcadqual
tiers of Gen. Cole