The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1919-06-05

Wo1fo " mere veuaseo - xuA-
Al the close Of the Civil War. Or u
War of the Rebellion, there were /
~ military service Of the Unite
states i,O2s 900 men. A still large
number had been enrolled and dis
charred. The Grand Army n th
dead more than $50, 900 more, must b
sdded 70 this roll.
The Rsv. w. j. Rutiedge, chaplain
of the llth Illinois Regiment, sug
rested 10 his major, Major Stephen
son, while in the Sherman campaign
that soldiers 10 closely allied In tn
fellowship Of service and suffering
would, when mustered out Of service
naturally desire some form Of associa
ton that would preserve the fellow
ship and the memories Of their com
mon trials and dangers. From thil
suggestion in time the Grand Army d
the Republic was formed. Many othel
societies have been formed ccmmem
erative OF times. places, events ant
persons, but none which had all ths
elements Of this. pure democracy
where major generals and high pri
vstes can meet upon level. where al
keep up the "touch Of elbow" In com
psnionship. and the sentiments oi
fraternity, charity and loyalty" alone
Revern fraternal intercourse; and IL
whose interest = day has been se'
~ apart for the decoration Of ths
graves a the heroic dead and th<
Dunday preceding Il is devoted u
apprupriate services when suitable
discources cheer many q weary and
sd heart by pious reference TO noble
needs Of those who went down In the
storm Of battle or died in army hos.
pital or prison camp.
The first Post was fully organized
at Decatur, Illinois, April 6, 1856.
Skinner Post No. "a was organized In
Manchester July l6, 1879, d. X. Sim
onds. commander. II was named for
Lieut.. Richard Skinner I'd, son Of Hon.
Mark Skinner Of Chicago, whose love
for his native town has been shown In
% many ways, and grandson Of Hon.
Richard Skinner, distinguished lawyer
and judge and at one time Governor
Of Vermont
Lieutenant Skinner, after graduat-
ing from Yale College, enlisted In Sep
tember, 1862, in the Tenth Regiment,
u. s. Regular Army; was detailed for
important work outside his regiment
for two years, part Of the time under
the direction Of Manchester's General,
Gen. Benjamin S. Roberts. He was
sent back to his regiment June "a,
1854, where in the action before
Petersburg. this regiment had been re-
duced to six officers and rs men. The
second day after his return he was
mortally wounded while in the trench
es by chance bullet and survived but
n few hours. A young man Of illus
trious parentage, highly gifted, thor
oughly educated, intensely patriotic.
his death was great loss to his fam
lily and TO the nation.
The Sons Of Veterans was organized
later 10 keep green the memories OF
their fathers and their sacrifices for
the preservation of the Union, and its
form was perfected in 1886,
"For Freedoms battle once begun
Bequeathed by bleeding sire to son."
and the John &. Blackmcr Post was
formed in December, 1889, A. j. Davis
commander. John Collins Blackmer
was born in Manchester. His grand
father, DIR. Jonathan Blackmer, was a
pioneer in Dorset and had an extern
sive practice there. His father was a
merchant in Dorset and Manchester
many years, and later in Indiana. His
mother, Fannie Collins, whose father
and grandfather were Elijah and Ma
thaniel Collins, pioneer farmers and
esteemed officials of Manchester.
Their farm is now owned by Alvin
Waters. After leaving Burr and Bur-
ton Seminary, John G. Blackmer was
clerk for G. w. Bradley, in Sunder-
land, for one year. He then went to
Indiana, enlisted in the 18th Indiana
Regiment as private, was promoted to
sergeant, was wounded and discharg-
ed; re-enlisted and was commissioned
1st Lieutenant and was in several bat
ties, including the siege Of Vicks-
burg. The wound he received troubled
him all his subsequent life and was
the cause Of the amputation Of his leg
years later. Many present will re-
member the accommodating friend,
the enterprising merchant, the Chris
tian gentleman, the brave soldier,
John {. Blnckmer
The Woman's Relief Corps was
formed IN 1856 to emulate the spirit
that united their fathers, husbands,
brothers and sons, to honor the mem
ory Of the. fallen and keep forever
sacred Memorial Day, as well MS to
assist the Grand Army Of the Republic
in its noble work Of charity. A chap
ter was formed in Manchester in jan
unry, 1856, Mrs. J. G.. BIackmer, presi |
dent Later an auxiliary to the Sons
of Veterans was established in April,
1907, Mixs Nina Marsh. president.
when Memorial Day was first OBJ
served In Manchester the veterans
nooembled would nearly fll one quar-
ter ef hall like this. Al the years
have rolled By they have disappeared
pne BY ope until only the little rem
nant we ~ today Is left. Years ago
The college boys had , favoFite song:
~Where. oh where are the Hebrew
children Z"
And the refrain VI.
NCone to the Promised Land"
WHARF are thc fathers, mothers and
su1nupesAry frieads who used to
mee< with these veterans on these
Dccasions. They, too, have gone to
~ Promised Land until today In town
Ihose remains - few that can almost
ssunt them upon the fingers Of my two
hnnds once repeated.
Becsnse of the changed character Of Il