The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1919-03-27
NEAR VERMONT REGIMENT
se2d Field Artillery, trained q, Camp
Drysn& Claims Ia be the Vermont
ORGANIZATION.

DevenA Claims 10 be- the Vernon
Organization.
Ever since the flrst Vermont regi
men, Lost i,s identity and our nation
nj guarsismcn were absorbed into othel
organizations, there has been q feel
ing Of regret that there was TO be nj
distinctly Vermont regiment 10 wiz
honor for the Green Mountain state
There was. however. one regiment In
France that was lcargcly composed oi
men from Vermont as viii be seer
from the following open letter TO Gov
p. W. CIenmont written by Corp. John
q. Hutton. Bennington boy. and 9
copy Of which has been received at the
Banner Office in Bennington:
Camp De Songc tG.rondc) France.
February "a, 1919.
To Hon. Percival W. Clement,
Montpelier. Vermont
Dear Sir,
Being Vcrmontcrs and much inter
ested in the politics Of the state, we
we're very much pleased to hear Of
your election and wish to congratu-
hate you heartily. We were glad 10
know that In your speeches you in
dorsed the paying Of state aid money
10 all in the service, volunteers, draft
ed men and nurses alike. This is Of
interest 10 us as we are almost all
drafted men. We have men from ev-
cry county and most Of the towns OF
the state in our regiment We were
the only regiment to get to the front
with entirely American equipment.
We had good American a. inch field
guns with good American tractors,
motorcycles, White and Dodge auto
mobiles and ammunition trucks that
showed the efficiency Of American
manufactures, and almost every gun
ncr was Vermonter.
The fighting is over but it seems
that the hardest part is the waiting TO
20 home.
We read an article in the Barre
Daily Times which asked for some
Of the rcgimental colors from regi-
ments which have served in France.
There is no organization in the A. Z.
+. composed entirely of Vermonters,
but our regiment has majority of
Green Mountain boys and we greatly
desire To see our standards in the
capitol at Montpelier. We are sure
that you will cooperate with us toI
bring these war mementoes back home
TO Vermont
Our regiment being corps artillery
belonged to no especial division but
when the armistice was signed, we
we're in position on the Heights of the
Meuse, backing up the Slst Division
(generally known as the Wild Cats)
who we're on the edge Of the great
plain of the Woevre which extends
twenty-five miles to Metz. During the
last few days, our infantry took sew
eral small villages and early in the
morning OF November 18th, we moved
our guns down from the ridge to new
positions on the plain from which we
could cover the further advance Of
the Wild Cats.
Throughout the war, the line had
changed very little at this point. Just
north, the German drive upon Verdun
had been shattered and just south the
line had been Strengthened by the ia
nous st. Mihiel offensive. 1t remain
ed to start the drive across the plain
TO take Metz when Germany accepted
the conditions Of the armistice which
demanded the withdrawal to the other
side Of the Rhine.
Not being put into the army Of oc-
cupation, we were sent to Camp de
Songe, near Bordeaux and are now
hoping for a speedy return to hte
United States.
Again corgratulating you, We wish
to assure you Of our support when we
are mustered out and are sent back
to vermont's green hills.
Yours sincerely,
John G. Hutton.
Battery c, 302d Field rrtillery
LIST Sgt John G. Kcnefck, Barre
Sergt. Robert B. Knox. Barre
Scrgt. Julian p. Rockwell, Swanton
Scrgt. Oliver Z. Tatro, Vergcnnes
Sergt- Foster !. Andrews, Morris
vile.
Sgt. Buell. A. Brewster, Cambridge
Sergt. Edward v. Eastman, Windsor
Supply Sergt Charles b. Estey,
Springfield.
Mess Sergt- Wallace J. Mayo. Mid
Sergt Raymond P. Gravious, Reads
goro
Sergt. Wallace Harrington. South
Sergt. Clarence Z. Badger, Hyde