The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-11-25
TO WRITE HISTORY OF
VERMONT IN THE WAR
Meeting OF the Committee Held This
Week But No Selection of
Historian Made.

| Burlington, Nov. 22.-There was a
meeting at the Hotel Vermont yester
day of the State commission having
charge OF the writing of Vermont !
history in tie World War. This
commission is made up of Justice
/ William H. Taylor Of Hardwick. chair
man, Fred G. Martin of Bennington
Major Edward Smith of st. Adams
Major Munsell CT Bellows FAILS and
Major H. b, Shaw Of this city, as sec
rotary OF the commission in place OF
julius A. Wilcox, his predecessor in
the Office OF civil and military af-
fairs.
Although nobody has yet been chos-
en- to write Vermonts history in the
World War. there are three men who
are candidates for writing II ether
as a whole or in part The American
Legion has recommended the appoint
ment Of Major Harold p. Sheldon OF
Fair Haven. now State fish and game
commissioner. to write the history of
the Vermont troops overseas. The
other two candidates for writing and
editing the history are w J, Bigelow,
formerly editor OF the ST. Johnsbury
Caledonian, and now on the editorial
staff OF the Brattleboro Reformer;
and L. F. Palmer OF Waterbury, Mr.
Bgelow desires to have charge OF the
work. while Mr.. palmer's application
seems to imply that he would be sat
isfied with a position. as assistant in
writing some part Of the history,
1t is not yet definitely decided just
how the history is to be written. 1t
is likely to be quite,a task in any
event. as the Vermont troops We're
split up TO such an extent during the
war that no one unit can be spieked
ont as distinctly a Vermont unit, as
was the case in. the Civil War.2lt will
be necessary TO follow UP the history
OF a number Of units in order to get
at any complete concept of WHAT the
Vermont boys did in the war.
One plan which has been discussed
is the placing OF one man in charge
OF the writing of this History heE to
have the general oversight and to
edit the work. Other men would
then be chosen as Wis assistants, one
to write the overseas story Of Ver-
mont's part iii the war, another to
write other sections. This plan is
and If necessary, other assistants to
write other sec ions. THIS plan is
only under discussion, however, and
may not be adopted
Walter H. Crockett, of the State
publicity department. and President
Paul H. Moody of Middlebury College
met with the commission yesterday
and discussed with the members the
general scope which the history
should covor. Both these men were
able to give valuable information to-
the commissioners in this regard
Mr.. Crockett from the standpoint Of
the civilian end OF Vermont's part in
the war, and President Moody frSm
the standpoint Of the military end,
he having been with the Vermont
boys overseas as a chaplain and close
ly connected with headquarters
Another meeting of the comm s.
sion is to be held in Montpelier in
the near future, when it is expected
that Governor Hartness will be pres
emit According to the law as enact
ed. the governor has to approve all
expenditures for the purpose of writ
ing this history, so It Is necessary to
confer with him before gong ahead
with the actual choice of an historian
It is expected that it will be possible
TO select q historian very soon, how
ever, and then 1t will be expected that
the man who is chosen will devote
himself diligently to the task and com
plete the history as soon as possible, |
Although no definite outline of the !
ground to be covered has been m2de
II Is the plan OF the commission that
the history will be just as cemprehen.
siye as possible, including not only |
The part which Vermont played on the
llghting front, but also her part at