In all of his business affairs, Sheridan was scrupulously honest. He was careful and exact with his accounts, prompt in all his engagements, methodical in all things. It can be said of him as it was of Lord Nelson that "His money never caused the widow a tear nor cost his nation a farthing.' The world knew that his heart was as humane as it was fearless; that there was not in his nature the slightest alloy of selfishness or cupidity; but that with perfect and entire devotion he served his country, with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength." And therefore the people of the United States, especially at the north, loved him as truly and as fervidly as he loved his country. Sheridan was to Grant what Marius was to Caesar, what Stonewall Jackson was to Lee. His style of fighting was like that of Frederick the Great, and Cedar Creek was to the Shenandoah Valley, what Freiburg was to Prussia. His quick manoeuvres were like Cromwell's at Dunbar, and the more we study his character, the more we admire the general and the man. The flag that was flung to the winds at Appomattox at last became clean. There was blood upon it once, but the stain is now washed away. Its stars once had behind them the background of barbaric slavery, but they are now the untarnished stars of the freeman's hope. Its stripes are no longer an emblem of cruelty, but have become the auroral lights of freedom. Upon the valiant leaders of our heroic army will rest the benedictions of untold millions in all time. to come. The glory of our nation, our genius for war, the valor and devotion of our soldiers, are impersonated in such leaders as Gen. Philip Sheridan. The address was received with frequent and hearty applause. At the close of the exercises in the hall the company adjourned to the Pavilion, where an elegant banquet was served to 170 members and guests. Col. George T. Childs acted as toastmaster, and responses were made to toasts as follows: "Vermont," Gov. Page; "Soldiers of Vermont," Lieut.-Gov. Fletcher; "United States Army," Secretary of War Proctor; "United States Medical Corps," Surgeon-Gen eral Baxter; “Militia," Capt. Mimms; "Vermont Legislature,” Speaker Start; "Camp Fire Story-Teller," Gen. Henry; “Soldiers' Home," Gen. McCullough; "Soldiers at the Bar," exGov. Pingree; "The Orator," Capt. Bisbee; "Woman," Congressman Grout. The responses were apt and the reunion full of good feeling. TWENTY-EIGHTH REUNION. NEWPORT, VT., AUGUST, 14, 1891. The twenty-eighth reunion of the society was held at Newport, on the 14th of August, 1891. The business meeting was called to order at the G. A. R. Hall by President Joel C. Baker. The usual Nominating Committee of one from each organization represented reported the following nominations of officers, who were duly elected. OFFICERS FOR 1891-2. President, Capt. U. A. Woodbury. Vice-Presidents, Capt. L. H. Bisbee, Capt. P. D. Blodgett. Secretary, Lieut. Fred E. Smith. Executive Committee, Lieut. J. H. Lucia, Montpelier, Lieut. W. H. Gilmore, Fairlee, Lieut. L. W. Shedd, Montpelier. The following resolutions were offered: Whereas, The Reunion Society of Vermont Officers takes notice that since its last reunion, one of its founders and most enthusiastic members, Gen. Perley P. Pitkin, has been called from us by death; while a grateful country has preserved in her archives the account of his labors and success in her behalf, at a time when that labor and success made victory possible, be it Resolved, That we, his surviving comrades of this Society, bow our heads in sorrow and humble submission over the empty chair at our banquet and the void in our hearts caused by our loss. Our sympathy and condolence go to his bereaved family, and with them we mourn. A tender husband, a loving father, a devoted patriot has gone, and the bereavement is not only to kindred and comrades but is a loss to every lover of his country and its institutions. His memory will be cherished as long as faithfulness to duty is recognized and honored, and in token of our appreciation and sorrow it is ordered that this notice be recorded as a part of the proceedings of this reunion, and a copy thereof be transmitted by the secretary to the family of our lamented comrade and associate. Whereas since the last meeting of this Society, death has taken from us Lieut. C. Henry Benton of Minneapolis, Minn., late first lieutenant of Co. D, of the 5th Regt. Vt. Vols., and Vice-President of this association, therefore be it Resolved, That in the death of Lieutenant Benton this Society has lost a valuable and esteemed member, the State a brave soldier, the Society a good citizen, and we hereby extend to his family and friends our sincere sympathy in their bereavement; Resolved further that the secretary be requested to send a copy of this resolution to Col. R. C. Benton at Minneapolis for the benefit of the family of Lieutenant Benton. The resolutions were supported by Lieut. G. G. Benedict and Lieut. L. H. Bisbee, and were unanimously adopted. THE PUBLIC EXERCISES. At 7:30 p. m. the members assembled at the Memphremagog House, where the procession was formed, headed by the Military band, the G. A. R. Post of Newport acting as escort, and marched with ladies and invited guests to the Opera House, where after prayer by the chaplain, and music by the band, the orator of the evening, Lieut. and Hon. E. B. Sherman of Chicago, was introduced by President Baker and held the audience in close attention for an hour and a half. At the conclusion of the address the cordial thanks of the society were tendered to the orator and a copy of the address asked for for publication. ADDRESS OF LIEUT. E. B. SHERMAN. THE WORK OF THE SANITARY COMMISSION. The condition of the government and the people of the United States in April, 1861, was peculiar and extraordinary. Seven States had seceded from the union and combined to overthrow it. Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee had refused to sustain the authority of the government against the seceding States, and while nominally neutral, were simply waiting a satisfactory pretext for joining the Southern confederacy. Mr. Lincoln had found the treasury empty, and the credit of the government almost destroyed. Floyd, the secretary of war under Buchanan, had transferred, so far as possible, the ordnance, arms and munitions of war to the seceding States. All the forts and property of the government within these States had been taken possession of except three forts, of which Sumter was one. The standing army of the United States, at best a mere handful, had been largely depleted by the resignation of many of its best officers. Washington was full of traitors, and every department was honey-combed with treason. Spies were as plenty as the leaves of Vallombrosa; every man suspected his neighbor, and confidence was utterly destroyed. Every heart was full of direst forebodings. For many weeks the loyal people of the north had been filled with anxious solicitude. Eagerly had they scanned every change in the political horizon. They loved peace and its concomitants, and dreaded and hated war and its accompanying horrors. While they hated slavery and deplored its cruelty, they revered the constitution and respected the laws. They were ready to sacrifice everything but honor to avoid an internecine conflict. As evidence of this disposition, several States, among them Vermont, had repealed laws apparently in conflict with the law of Congress touching the rendition of fugitive slaves, although the fugitive slave law was repugnant to every dictate of humanity and every sentiment of Christian philanthropy. To the fierce invective and fiery threats of the Southrons they replied in words of moderation and prudence. From the 4th day of March, when Abraham Lincoln took the reins of) government, till the 12th day of April, the people waited, watched, hoped, feared, tremulous with anxiety, almost breathless with suspense. One common thought, one common question stirred every heart. Would the impious traitors make war upon the government? Would they drive the dagger of treason to the nation's heart? Would they insult and tread under foot the emblem of the nation's honor? Would they drench with fraternal blood the soil of freedom? On Friday, the 12th day of April, the guns stolen from the government opened fire upon Fort Sumter. This and the attack upon the 6th Massachusetts regiment while passing through Baltimore, brought the whole country face to face with the stern realities of war. With that practical sagacity |