ment, and he called up Col. J. B. Parsons of the 10th Massachusetts, of Northampton, to say a word for it. Col. Parsons said that he fought in the 6th corps by the side of the old Vermont brigade for four years; and he was only saying what he had often said elsewhere, when he declared that it was the best brigade in the Army of the Potomac. It was so considered by uncle John Sedgwick, and by the corps generally. While all praise is due to the Vermont soldiers, the old Bay State was the first in the field for the preservation of the capital and the flag; and the service of her troops would speak for itself. The speaking closed with a brief and beautiful tribute to "Our Fallen Comrades," by Rev. N. Glazier of Westboro, Mass., who was a lieutenant in the 11th Vermont, and lost an arm at Spottsylvania. The speeches were interspersed with appropriate songs by an excellent male quartette, and music by the very fine Brattleboro band. A letter of regret from Senator Edmunds was read by Col. Hooker. At the close of the public exercises the society marched to the Philharmonic rooms and the adjoining Odd Fellows' hall where a bountiful collation was served. The officers were here the guests of the Philharmonic Society. The officers, as usual, needed no artificial stimulants to raise, or lower, their spirits. The gathering broke up in good order in the small hours, after a reunion which will long be a pleasant memory to all. Among the officers present were Gen. William Wells, Gen. William W. Henry, Gen. P. P. Pitkin, Lieut.-Col. E. H. Powell, Major E. D. Redington of Chicago, Major William Austine, U. S. A., who was the faithful mustering and disbursing officer in this State during the war, and other well known soldiers. TWENTY-FIFTH REUNION. 8 MONTPELIER, OCTOBER 14, 1883. The Society held its twenty-fifth reunion at Montpelier on the 14th of October, 1888. Of the 16 officers who signed the call for the first meeting 24 years before, six were present, viz. Colonels Seaver, Proctor, Veazey, Benton, Farnham and Major J. L. Barstow, with Lieut. Benedict, who drew the call for the first meeting. Of the officers who originally organized the society seventeen were present, with about a hundred other members. The business meeting was held in the General Committee room at the State House. In the absence of Gen. E. H. Ripley, the president of the society, the meeting was called to order by Vice-President Z. M. Mansur. Secretary F. E. Smith read the record of the last annual meeting and Treasurer Kingsley presented his report, showing a small balance in the treasury. The Nominating Committee of representatives of seventeen infantry regiments and the cavalry reported the following list of officers for the year ensuing, who were duly elected: OFFICERS FOR 1883-4. President, Sergt. Z. M. Mansur of Island Pond. Vice-Presidents, Lieut. F. Stewart Stranahan of St. Al bans, Lieut. Fred D. Butterfield of Derby. Treasurer, Major Levi G. Kingsley of Rutland. Executive Committee, Lieut.-Col. L. E. Knapp, Col. A. S. Tracy of Middlebury and Capt. N. F. Dunshee of Bristol. bury. It was voted to hold the next annual meeting in Middle The treasury was reinforced against future contingences by the customary voluntary contribution, Colonel Hooker passing the hat. The society then adjourned till evening. THE PUBLIC EXERCISES. The society with its guests assembled at the Pavilion at 7:30 p. m. and under the marshalship of General W. W. Henry marched to the State House, headed by the Montpelier band. The address was delivered in the Representatives' Hall which was crowded to overflowing, many being unable to find even standing room within. Vice-President Mansur presided, and after prayer by Chaplain J. A. Pierce of the Senate, introduced E. F. Palmer, Representative of Waterbury, State reporter of the decisions of the Supreme Court, late Lieutenant of Co. B, of the Thirteenth Vermont regiment, and author of the volume entitled "The Second Brigade, or Camp Life,” published at Montpelier in 1864, who delivered the oration, which was cordially applauded. LIEUT. PALMER'S ADDRESS. THE POSITION OF THE REBELLION IN HISTORY. There is no repugnancy in the assertion of Gen. Sherman that war is nothing but a savage barbarism and in the assertion of Mr. Lowell that civilization rides on a powder cart. There have been wars, and many of them, which have swept over nations, leaving almost nothing to compensate for their destruction, while on the other hand, it is now agreed, that there were battles and campaigns before the Christian era, which are still plainly operating in their effect upon the affairs of the world. I call your attention to the position which the late rebellion is to occupy in history. I am well aware that this is a great subject, and one that can hardly be touched in a short address, and that I am poorly equipped to handle it. None of you can possibly regret more than I the inability to be present of the distinguished gentleman whom you had selected to speak on this occasion. It would be difficult to put more error into a sentence than is in this: "Men's evil manners live in brass; their virtues we write in water." The monument which the Greeks erected at Plataea, more than 23 centuries ago, in honor of those who fell there; the monument, the highest in the world, just completed in memory of Washington; the monument which is now being erected at Bennington under the auspices of this State; the monuments now rising all over the decisive field of Gettysburg, these and a thousand more wherever civilization exists, and all art and literature are living proofs that the great world is not willing that the deeds of brave men in a holy cause should ever fade from its memory. But while nearly everybody admires personal bravery and intellectual power and attainments, when displayed either in marshaling forces in battle or in the pursuits of peace, yet it is clearly settled that these alone are not sufficient to ensure for one the lasting remembrances and gratitude of posterity. It is also clearly settled that after the actors in great events have passed away and their personal influence ceases, though entombed in marble mausoleum or pyramid, whether their works are long studied by the world and fondly cherished, is almost wholly dependent on whether the results prove beneficial to mankind; and that the results are largely dependent on moral forces and influences. In just two years after the battle of Waterloo, on its anniversary, Napoleon in his exile thus soliloquized: "Incomprehensible day! Concurrence of unheard of fatalities! My armies have forgotten me, even while living." But after nearly 700 years, the friends of liberty still pause on the field of Runnymede, and pay honors to Robert Fitz-Walter and the English barons who assembled there to defend their rights; but it is so and only so because of the principles in the great charter, which they there extorted from the king,—principles which still control the English govern ment, principles, many of which are in the constitutions, State and national, of this republic. After more than two centuries and a half, the friends of liberty still pause at Plymouth Rock and pay honors to the Pilgrim Fathers; but it is so, and only so because their principles are to bear sway over this vast continent. Guizot was clearly right when he said that ideas and principles are no less real than battles, and that the outward form of society was dependent on these. Indeed, they make battles. The one is cause and the other effect. If men really believe in education they build a school house; if in the orderly administration of justice, a court house, if in God, a church;in short, the whole outward form of a civilized state is but the result of principles,―rules of action. And it is especially true that back of every battle field of the rebellion were those moral forces, invisible but controlling, voiceless but appealing to the conscience and better nature of freemen, appealing until millions heard and obeyed, and you finally saw in the spring of 1864 that mighty and invincible army, with an invincible leader, saw that stupendous conflict and awful carnage, and the final surrender at Appomattox. Surrender of what? The flight of Davis, the fall of Richmond, the stacking of the rebel arms and trailing of the rebel flags, the surrender of Lee and his army, these were but the smallest part of that memorable scene. It was the surrender of human slavery and the triumph of liberty, that have thrown the splendor of historic victory over that field, and covered our arms with fadeless glory. The Union leaders and men displayed the sublimity of heroism and in as holy a cause as man ever died for. Professor Creasy, in selecting the 15 decisive battles of the world for his history, chose those which he regarded phenomenal of primary impulses, battles of which a contrary event would have essentially varied the drama of the world in all its subsequent scenes. The point that I especially urge is that this war belongs to that class of wars which have materially changed the course of events, and that for great good. To illustrate: The American revolution belongs to this class of wars because a new form of government was established in the world. So do the conquests of Charlemagne, for, although his vast empire fell with him, he had founded |